Big changes in life provide opportunities to reevaluate your family’s financial needs. We’ve been reevaluating our needs, including our life insurance needs, as we prepare to welcome our baby girl. Personally, I don’t enjoy talking about finances in general. The specific topic of life insurance is even worse! After all, discussing this … [Read more...] about Caring for Your Family by Purchasing Life Insurance
personal finance
Christmas in July: Paying for Christmas Gifts with Credit Card Points
The cost of Christmas gifts can really add up. In today’s installment of Christmas in July 2014, we’ll look at a novel way to pay for Christmas gifts. If you missed the initial installment (which describes the purpose of Christmas in July), you can read it here. Credit cards are a contentious subject, especially among individuals who … [Read more...] about Christmas in July: Paying for Christmas Gifts with Credit Card Points
Growing to Love My Mismatched Furniture
My husband and I are experiencing some challenges as we rearrange to make room for the baby we will welcome this fall. Though it is sufficient, our townhome will never be described as spacious. When its small size is coupled with our motley assortment of furniture, it becomes challenging to find room for our possessions. When we first … [Read more...] about Growing to Love My Mismatched Furniture
Defining Simplicity
After writing about materialism earlier this week, I’ve been thinking about money and possessions. I’ve also been considering these things because my husband and I are reworking our budget in preparation for our baby that is due in October. When I consider money and possessions, my thoughts often turn to simplicity. Simple living has … [Read more...] about Defining Simplicity
Resisting Materialism
Having a baby is one experience that will open your eyes to how pervasive materialism is in our culture. My husband and I need things for the baby and I need new clothes to accommodate my growing belly. However, as we shop, I sometimes begin confusing my genuine needs with wants. Materialism is a way of thinking that emphasizes material … [Read more...] about Resisting Materialism
Talking About Money with Your Spouse
Whether you’ve been married 5 years or 50 years, the activities of daily life necessitate that you and your spouse make decisions about money. These decisions are often preceded (or followed, in some cases) by tense and unpleasant discussions. My husband and I have similar views on money and share common goals (this is one of the … [Read more...] about Talking About Money with Your Spouse
Tips on Tipping
While I was traveling recently I realized that I’m confused about the finer aspects of tipping. In the U.S., it’s considered proper etiquette to tip a number of individuals, including wait staff, bellhops, and taxi drivers. Why do we tip these individuals and not others? We tip pizza delivery drivers, but not the guy who comes to install … [Read more...] about Tips on Tipping
Does Healthy Eating Really Cost More?
A common complaint about healthy eating is that it’s expensive. I tend to share the perception that it’s costly. After all, when I grocery shop, fresh fruits and vegetables certainly appear to cost more than processed junk foods. I have wondered, though, if it really costs more to eat healthily or if this is a myth we perpetuate because we … [Read more...] about Does Healthy Eating Really Cost More?
