The Year We Raised Our Own Turkeys for Thanksgiving Dinner

holidays
Every year, our son AJ likes to remind us of the year we raised our own turkeys. Before I tell you the story, let me remind you to make turkey soup from your leftover Thanksgiving turkey carcass. Over the years in addition to turkeys we've raised steer, geese, pigs, lambs, ducks and guinea fowl.  We got our first chickens in December of 2002 just about six months after we moved to our acreage. In March 2003 we got our first… Read the rest

Black Friday Week at Amazon! Christmas Right Around the Corner!

holidays
Are you starting to feel the Christmas spirit yet? Of course the stores are all decked out, and certain radio stations are beginning to play Christmas songs on the radio.  But before Christmas comes the biggest shopping day of the year: Black Friday.  The day the retailers expect to break even, go “into the black”. I remember the first year I'd ever heard of Black Friday.  I was 16 years old, living with my foster family and I remember the… Read the rest

Side Gig or Take Out a Title Loan on Your Car?

automobiles
For those of us in the personal finance realm, the answer to that question is pretty simple. Just say no to the title loan. Several times a week I hear this commercial on the radio and it goes something like this: “Helpful” Friend: “Hey Mike, what’s up?” Entrepreneur Guy: “I’m short on cash so I’m working today. I have a side gig, I’m a clown for kid parties.” “Helpful” Friend: “Oh man! Why are you working on the weekend, you… Read the rest

I Finally Broke Down and Bought a Smart Phone!

spending money
I know, I know, after all the kicking and screaming and defensive posts on why I don't need a smart phone and here I find myself owning one and really, really liking it despite myself.  Right up to the moment I purchased the phone, and agreed to the data plan I was having misgivings and second guessing myself.  My son has been encouraging me for months to get a smart phone, and even my husband has one.  I was firmly… Read the rest