My Dream Business – What’s Yours?

plan of action
Do you dream of being an entrepreneur?   For most of my life I didn't like the idea.  It actually scared me quite a bit, the thought of having to depend solely on myself.  It seemed much safer to work for someone else.  But the truth of the matter is, jobs aren't 100% certain.  You could get fired, or the company could go out of business.  Of course bad things can happen to an entrepreneur too, but there are a few… Read the rest

Be Sure to Open All Your Christmas Cards

holidays
On Christmas Day I was cleaning out my closet.  No, I'm not a neat freak, it just so happened on Christmas Day I felt a little more energetic than usual and thought I would spend a little time organizing the shelves that Mr. A put in our bedroom last weekend.  I was organizing my yarn totes and going through the closet.  I came across a couple of small boxes with envelopes and mail and old bills.  Sometimes I can't decide… Read the rest

Christmas Memories – Please Share Yours!

holidays
Last Friday was our staff Christmas party and the ladies at my table got to talking about what Christmas was like in years past, as children and later on as parents.   We got around to the topic of the cost of Christmas and most of us grew up in rather poor households.  We all agreed that Christmas doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg in order to be enjoyable, even though it seems like parents spend far too… Read the rest
The House That Grandpa Built

Calculate The Mortgage Payment You Can Afford

budget
When you begin to look for your dream home it can be intoxicating walking through house after house, envisioning the future in each one, but it pays to keep your head out of the clouds when you're contemplating taking on debt for thirty years.  One important thing to realize is that you want enough money to live comfortably and a house payment within your means is vital to this decision making process.  A simple rule of thumb is to remember… Read the rest