I know ‘stupid’ is a naughty word.  Thank goodness none of my nieces or nephews can read. 

Surely there are more than 5 stupid things you can do with your money, but I’d be writing forever. 

1. Ignore it.

I know many adults who are still intimidated by the terms finance, budget, and fiscal.  I’m still a little hazy on fiscal.  It’s all too common that people avoid thinking about their finances altogether.  If you ignore your yard, it’s still going to grow.  One day you’ll look outside and realize that it’s a jungle out there.  A little, consistent maintenance over time can result in a backyard escape you can be proud of (the yard is a metaphor for your finances, smooth, I know). 

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Article publié pour la première fois le 26/08/2010

Funny how often my thoughts are inspired by snack foods.  I wonder if there is a deeper psychosis behind that…

Anywho, I was chowing down on a handful of Cheetos at lunch today when I noticed how similarly shaped the orange cylinders were.  In fact, they were all nearly identical.

Not remarkable you say?  I beg to differ.

By now you know that I am not a sunshine and sprinkles kind of gal.  I don’t cry when I see rainbows.  I don’t sing along with Barbara Streisand songs.  And I actually really don’t like sprinkles.

But I do find a bag of Cheetos to be somewhat miraculous.

It’s not the Cheetos, though they are delicious, so much as the process of making the Cheetos.  Imagine how long it must have taken Cheeto Inc. (I know that’s not the name of the company, let’s just stick to the point) to perfect the Cheeto-making-process so well that they can produce kazillions of nearly-identical, puffy, little bits of awesome.

We can all learn a lesson from a bag of Cheetos.  A lesson about life and how to conquer any obstacle, climb any mountain, financial or otherwise!

This is starting to sound like the beginning of a really good screenplay…

Y’all better not steal my idea.  I will hunt you down, so help me (I’m shaking my fist)!

1. Focus on what you’re good at, and perfect it.

Chances are, you are capable at making one perfect Cheeto.  Maybe that Cheeto is remembering to clip coupons before you go grocery shopping.

Examine the process you used to make that one Cheeto.  Focus on how you can apply the same steps to make more primo Cheetos, like saving money elsewhere or making a budget that works for you.

2. Love what you do.

Look at Chester Cheetah.  I know, I know, I’d be excited too if I got to go around promoting a deliciously cheesy snack; might I add, without adding a single inch to my wasteline.

However, that type of statement right there is part of the problem.  Chester could spend all afternoon playing free online bingo and still not waste a dime in pursuit of decent entertainment, or have anxiety all evening after eating a delicious snack. Don’t envy Chester. How much you love what you do or have is not dependent on how much Chester loves what he does or has.  site de rencontre mondiale https://www.ronnipedersen.com/ypysti/11361 femme cherche homme pour mariage canada go to my blog click to read read here official source internet mujeres cristianas solteras costa rica radio niedersachsen partnersuche Happiness doesn’t have to be relative.

Furthermore, don’t make a financial, or any plan that you hate.  That’s a recipe for disaster, not a Cheeto.

3. Keep things interesting.

When Cheeto Inc. perfected their first form of Cheeto, did they stop there?  Did they say, “Well, I guess that’s it?”

No!  No, they didn’t!

Do you know how many forms of Cheetos there are out there?  Why, you’ve got your X’s & O’s Cheetos, your Fire Hot Cheetos, Puffy Cheetos, Crunchy Cheetos, there are a bunch of Cheetos.

Don’t rest on your laurels.  Keep things interesting.  Things can only get better (except for Fire Hot Cheetos, those were kind of a bust).

Article publié pour la première fois le 29/11/2010

I know that groceries are one of any household’s biggest expenses and it’s also the one commodity that often goes to waste. It’s pretty tough going to the grocery store and sticking to a limited budget. So if you want to save big at the checkout here are some smart ways of cutting back and saving big:

Create meal plans

Remember when you tried that diet that involved writing down everything you ate? Well a meal plan is the reverse but just as effective. Create a week’s worth of meals plans that use similar ingredients but have different tastes and only purchase the items necessary to make those dishes.

Shop with a list

I know what you’re thinking, that is never going to be me. A list is one of the most essential cost saving tools against overspending on your groceries. If you write down exactly what you need before you hit the aisles and stick to what’s on your list, rather than buying anything that looks appealing at the time you can save dramatically.

Buy bargains in bulk

15 cakes of soap for a 1/3 of the price? 100 toilet rolls for the cost of 20? You’re getting the idea now aren’t you? If you find a bargain of non perishable items, be it toiletries, cosmetics or even tinned foods that you use regularly take advantage of the cost savings and stock up.

Stick to store brands

You know that store brands are cheaper and usually of the same quality as well known labels right? Switch to store brands for all possible purchases and if you find the tastes really do differ then only buy non food items as you will still save a chunk of cash.

Clip coupons

This may sound like every shoppers nightmare, but it’s amazing how easily accessible coupons are. Often you will even find coupons next to the item you are buying in-store, and so many people just walk straight past them. Don’t think clipping coupons makes you look cheap; it actually makes you look smart and helps your bank balance look even better.

I hope you find this information useful and that you can use it to adjust your grocery shopping habits accordingly, saving you extra cash at a time when you really could use it.

Article publié pour la première fois le 21/06/2013

Our credit card will do more for us than we thought.  I wonder if it can do backrubs.

During my credit-card-research-bonanza last week I did the impossible:  I actually read the fine print!  Well, not really the fine print, the almost invisible print, actually.  Sure, Husband and I know our rates (not that they matter, because we pay off our complete bill every month) and our limits, but we didn’t realize just what our card could do for us.  I found a document for our World MasterCard titled, “Guide to Benefits.”  Initially I thought this to be one of those ironic pamphlets where ‘benefits’ really just means ‘ownership’ and the whole 17 pages were just legal butt-coverage for MasterCard.  In this case, I was luckily wrong. 

Turns out, that aside from whatever rewards program that your credit card offers, they may also offer you some free and clear (crazy, I know) benefits.  Here are the unexpected highlights of ours:

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Article publié pour la première fois le 01/07/2010

Now is a great time to review your W-4.  Why?  Because we just reviewed ours and are now reminding you, that’s why.

When you start a new job, you are thrown a lot of paperwork.  In that pile is a little form called a W-4; a daunting, boring, typically-tiny-fonted government form.  Most people will fill it out to the best of their knowledge, hope they haven’t done anything illegal, and forget about it.  Come tax time, many of these people are either completely shocked when they owe money, or totally stoked that they are getting a huge refund.  You should aim to be neither.  Rather than crossing your fingers and hoping for the best, wouldn’t it be nice to know exactly what to expect?  Filling out your W-4 properly can help you achieve this goal of greatness.   

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Article publié pour la première fois le 14/07/2010