Affordable and Easy Getaways

Lots of people are in debt because they make things complicated. You make things complicated when you can’t afford simple. Buying a car with cash is simple. But since most people don’t have cash, they go into car debt and get complicated.

A year later and still some adjusting

It’s been about a year since I last posted on MoneyTalk, and a crazy one at that. It’s been a year of transition in our household to say the least. I’m no longer a part of the daily grind, but a 24/7 employee of the house and kids. Yes, I’m a stay-at-home-mom and quite proud of that fact. Although, my career choice has given me the wonderful opportunity to work from home, which I am doing for supplemental income.

Although there’s still some adjusting with the new schedules and such, it’s been something that we’ve all been looking forward to. Even during these times when life’s been hard for so many, we’ve been fortunate enough to not be affected by it directly. And that’s due to the fact that we’ve set ourselves up well, financially.

5 common mistakes new parents make

Let’s face it: Children aren’t the only ones who need to be taught proper money habits. Sure, their money plan may be simpler (saving to buy that Barbie or Tonka truck, or buying that Barbie or Tonka truck), but the basic principles of living on less than you make and saving for purchases with cash is something that adults struggle with. And you can’t afford to do that when kids come into the picture.

Here are 5 common mistakes that new parents make, and tips for avoiding them:

5 Simple Steps to Save on Groceries

Did you know that the average family of four spends $718 a month on groceries? That’s $8,600 per year. If you’re looking for some ways to help you save at the register, check out these money-saving tips from Terri Gault, founder of the GroceryGame.com

Baloney and the economy

I came across this article on Yahoo! News via The Motley Fool this morning that I have to share. I’m not going to waste anytime, so here you go.

Are most Americans really struggling financially?

I’m not sure that’s the case as much as the media makes it out to be. Sure, there are a number of folks that are dealing with some hard times. But, I would argue that the majority are truly in dire straights. In fact, I think the media is making it seem worse than it really is. Either that, or Americans are being outright idiotic when it comes to money matters. And that may well be the case too. Maybe I’m right in both cases.

Did you know that homeowners paid or will pay 580% interest in the first year of their 30 year mortgage?

Neither did I. But a Realtor in Mobile, Alabama wanted to enlighten the public and Dave Ramsey about this and tried convince us that United First Financial’s $3,500 computer software was worth every penny.

I busted our budget

Where I work, they provide a deli for employees to use during lunch hours. Prior to June, the deli was run through a partnership with a local high school that would give students some work experience. Because of that setup, the deli wasn’t always the most pleasant place, but it was convenient. There were days that weren’t so convenient however. Like, short days, snow days, and school holidays. On those days the deli was closed.

6 Money Matters to Stop Worrying About

I’m not a huge fan of Suze Orman. In fact, not much of one if I’m being honest. But, her latest feature in O at Home was one of the few Orman tidbits I can’t argue with. Simply put, it’s the soundest advice I’ve heard from her in a long time. Here’s how the article starts:

Some people just don’t get it

Saturday morning, a friend and I went garage sale shopping for baby stuff. We’re both expecting and are always looking for some bargains. We got a late start but she was able to find quite a bit of things she’ll need (onesies, blankets, etc.). I really didn’t need much since we stored our daughter’s stuff in the attic.