A Mom's Advice to Millennials on Household and Budget Matters

How to Earn a College Degree in the COVID Era(in Less Time and for Less Money)

11/27/2018

Last updated: 8/14/2020

NOTE: I receive no compensation for any product or service I write about in this blog. This post simply offers my own opinion based on my own experience.

UPDATE: While this blog was originally written 2 years ago, the information remains timely and important in this era of remote and distance learning.

The regular readers of his blog have probably noticed that I've been absent for some months now. But I’d like to say that it is definitely not due to laziness or lack of wanting. No, quite the contrary.

I have been in the throes of grinding through a heavy course load towards a third subject area for teacher certification. And I don’t mind admitting that it’s been an exhausting boatload of work as I’ve tried to crank out as many credits as humanly possible in as short a time as possible.

You see, at my age, I simply do not want to spend 2 years pursuing another degree, so finishing in a timely manner (as quickly as possible, in other words) was of the utmost importance to me.

And that’s why I was so delighted to find out about and enroll in Western Governors University. This is the non-profit, on-line college and grad school that several western state governments created as a joint venture to serve the growing need for flexible, affordable education options in the fields of education, nursing, business, and information technology. It offers courses and degrees at both the undergraduate and graduate level.

Unlike many for-profit, on-line schools that have come under such criticism for their predatory tuition and lending practices and their lousy educational and employment outcomes, Western Governors (WGU) is, in fact, highly regarded and not a diploma mill at all.

It is also truly both flexible and affordable. In fact, the flexibility is beyond anything I could have hoped for. And as for affordability, it easily rivals community colleges for its value and low cost.

Here’s how it works.

Cheap, Healthy Cleaning Products and Habits That Save Money and the Environment

4/19/2018

Lately, I have been picking up a lot of litter in my neighborhood on my daily walks. And I have been struck by the particular trash items I see most often.

Of course, drink containers of all types make up a huge proportion of what people throw out, whether it’s water or soda bottles, coffee and fast food cups (with lids), or juice boxes. And, as has recently been noted in news articles, plastic straws are also big culprits. Smokers, I'm sad to say, are in a class of thoughtless and dirty all their own, based on the number of empty cigarette packages and butts I find everywhere.

But there are also a surprising number of household cleaning items that end up in the trash and litter I find. The most common ones are dryer sheets and wipes of all kinds, from baby ones, to Swiffer cloths, to Clorox throwaways.

I have always questioned these single use cleaning products as wasteful, and my experience on litter patrol has made me loathe them even more. I do not know if people just don’t realize the environmental costs of these convenience products, or if they don’t care.

And they apparently do not mind paying the often absurdly high purchase price demanded for them.

It's Tax Season - Here's How to Protect Yourself from Scams

3/19/2018

NOTE and UPDATE, May 8, 2018: Today, the Attorney General of New York resigned, due to allegations that he has assaulted several women. However, the advice he offers in this video is still valid, so I will keep it posted here. That in no way means I condone or excuse his actions. Nothing could be further from the truth.

It's that unpleasant time of year again when taxes fall due.

And that means it's also a time that's ripe for scammers.

To avoid being a victim of rip-off artists, here's a short video that gives you some pointers from the Attorney General of the State of New York. He summarizes what you should look for and what you should do if you encounter con artists.

It's good information and worth the 2 minutes it takes to watch it, either for you or for a loved one you worry might become a victim.

Related Articles - How to Do Your Taxes for Free or Next to Free
How to Avoid Telephone and E-Mail Scams

How to Choose a College Major in 7 Simple and Practical Steps

2/19/2018

I’ve been having a lot of discussions with students lately about their post-high school plans, and it’s once again made me feel the need to write on the topic.

I’d like to focus on a student’s chosen major or course of study.

I’ll start by stating quite firmly that I am NOT a proponent of following your bliss when it comes to college studies --- unless following that bliss ensures employability and the ability to support yourself upon graduation AND also avoids incurring major debt to get a degree in the subject.

I realize fully that this not a popular stance in this country today and is contrary to everything many parents, teachers, guidance counselors, and popular culture advocate.

After all, the prevailing notion is that college is a time for students to explore and find themselves, to try as many different majors as they can until they discover one that will bring them fulfillment and satisfaction.

I say that’s utter nonsense.

How to Do Your Taxes for Free or Next to Free

1/26/2018

Note: I receive no compensation for any of the products or services listed here. They are simply ones I know about and/or personally use.

I do not use any of the chain tax preparation services when I do our estimated taxes every year, but rely instead on tax software to help me prepare them on my own.

To be specific, I use TurboTax. It’s not perfect by any means, but it covers the topics I need for our tax situation which is more complicated than the typical one. That's due to our various revenue streams.

It gets the job done for a fraction of what it would cost me to go to an accountant, although the company is definitely trying to edge up the price in small increments that they seem to think we don't notice. So far, though, I've been satisfied enough with it to swallow those price increases.

But I've always been curious to see how much it costs to go to one of the tax services, such as H&R Block. I've always assumed it must be very cheap since so many of my friends – some of whom are struggling wage earners and have very simple returns – use them.

So I decided to do a little research into it.

And I was shocked at what I found.

Saving Money Can Open Up a World of Opportunity

12/14/2017

Updated 1/26/19

I'm a huge believer in household budgets, and in writing them to be very conservative. What I mean by that is that I am an unabashed, even passionate, advocate for living not just within our means, but well beneath our means whenever and however possible.

There are a number of reasons for my conviction about this, but here’s one simple and straightforward one that applies to every one of us who is not wealthy: you have absolutely no idea what life could throw your way, and it’s a very smart idea to be prepared.

One need only look at the people who faced the stress and financial uncertainty in the recent government shutdown to understand the value of saving for that proverbial rainy day. And it was not that long ago that people lost their homes in the recent Great Recession, which highlighted how the practice of taking on a mortgage smaller than the maximum we can afford on paper is actually a great idea. Socking away extra savings to ensure we have a safety net for hard times is an idea that never becomes outdated. Quite simply, living on less can provide great peace of mind.

But living simply on a budget and saving bring far more benefits than just providing a sense of security. Because, contrary to what many people think, budget living actually affords us the chance to spend when and where it matters to us, instead of frittering it away on things we don't need and won't remember. With nothing to show for it.

Saving and having some extra cash in the bank and in our investment accounts allow us to take advantage of unexpected opportunities that might come our way.

Here are some examples of what I'm talking about.

17 Ways to Spend Less Time and Money Doing Laundry

12/5/2017

Laundry consumes way too much time and money in many households. But, as my husband and I learned early in our life together, there are ways to streamline and economize on the process to save hundreds of dollars a year and greatly reduce the hours spent on this chore.

It took a while for us to figure things out, though.

When we first moved to New York City so he could earn his degree, we lived in a very small apartment in Bay Ridge, an “affordable” (a relative term, no doubt) neighborhood in Brooklyn that was about a 90-minute combined walking and subway commute from my job in mid-town Manhattan.

Half of my very modest take-home pay went to pay the rent, so our budget was tight, tight, tight. We learned to cut expenses wherever we could. And one place we did that was with our laundry.

Parenting, Children, and Household Budgets

11/29/2017

I had a conversation with a part-time teacher colleague today that just about blew my frugal mind. We were discussing food budgets, and she told me that she spends more than $600 per week for her household of five.

I’m pretty sure I gasped when she quoted me that figure, and I had to make an effort to close my mouth after my jaw dropped open.

When I mentioned to her that I’d managed to feed a family of six, including four teenage boys - who were varsity athletes - on a budget of $135-$175 per week, she shook her head adamantly and stated that she could never spend that little because her adolescent daughter insists on eating only organic and gluten free products and will touch nothing else.

When I asked if her child had celiac disease, she said she did not, but just “felt it is healthier to eat that way as a top high school athlete”.

I had to practically pick my jaw up off the floor after hearing this.

9 Steps to Finding an Affordable College: A Practical College Search Guide for Parents

11/3/2017

It’s that time of year when parents of high school juniors really begin to think seriously about college searches. And seniors are busily filling out their applications.

It’s also a time when many families get caught up in the excitement of it all and make choices that can seriously undermine their financial security and well-being for years to come. By that, of course, I mean taking on large amounts of debt to fund an undergraduate degree.

I’m not exaggerating when I say that student debt is a terrible burden for many families, one that jeopardizes the future of many a college student and the retirement hopes of way too many parents. Here’s a recent PBS news report on the issue and people who find themselves unable to retire due to their own or their children’s college debt.

Obviously, this is something families should try to avoid as much as possible, but sometimes parents and students arrive at the college stage of their lives without the necessary knowledge or tools they need to make informed decisions.

And occasionally, they’re even given wrong or ill-considered advice.

A Lesson in Gratitude and Humility for Me

10/16/2017

Looking towards the mainland of Greece from Agiokampos on the island of Evia.

Sometimes we need reminders about thankfulness, patience, and the role that luck and good fortune play in the blessings in our lives. In fact, it's been my experience in life that whenever I get a swelled head or feel overly pleased with myself about something, I pay a price for my arrogance.

I call it karma. Sometimes it can bite us hard when we forget ourselves, and sometimes it just offers a gentle - or not so gentle - reminder in unusual and unexpected ways .

That's exactly what happened to me recently on a trip to visit family in Greece.

9 Helpful Hints for D.I.Y. Projects

9/2/2017

It’s been a while since I posted anything to my blog here, but it’s not because I’ve been lazy. Just otherwise occupied and busy. Really!

Yes, it's true that my hiatus started with a very nice trip to visit a brother who lives in Ecuador. That was a fun trip full of spectacular vistas and great times. It was so wonderful to see him and the absolutely beautiful country he and his wife call home.

But that vacation was immediately followed by a family member’s major surgery and unexpectedly prolonged recovery time that called for my time and energy tending to her needs and those of her farm animals and garden.

Not for the first time, I was exceedingly grateful that my work allows me the time off I needed to be available to her. I was so glad to be able to help.

Then, after her recovery, I returned home and right away plunged into some long-planned renovations that we decided to finally tackle this summer.

This particular project was fairly straightforward and involved knocking out a wall between two tiny rooms to make a larger, more functional bedroom. A good deal of work, to be sure, but a DIY project that can usually be done within a reasonable time frame and budget.

As it was.

The Problem with Renovations
But here’s something that is seldom, if ever, discussed about renovations carried out on one part of your house.

And it's this: that newly pristine living space you just worked so hard to create always makes the other, non-renovated sections of the house look dingy, dirty, and dated by contrast.

Which is exactly what happened in this case.

The Hidden Cost of Sugar in Our Budget and Some Alternatives That Are Cheaper and Healthier

5/18/2017

According to the link here, the FDA plans to label all added sugar in foods.

That seems an excellent idea, and one that will help people eat more healthily and save money.

How, you ask?

Well, I think if people realize how much of their precious food dollars they are spending on worthless -- even downright harmful -- calories, it will make it easier for them to make adjustments and allocate their money so that they get more nutritional bang for their buck.

But in order for the sugar labeling to be really meaningful for the U.S. consumer, I think they should take it a step further and label the sugar content in teaspoons instead of grams.

Grams are almost completely indecipherable to people in the U.S since we don't use the metric system in this country (I won't go into how ridiculous it is that we don't, but it truly is absurd).

By way of information: 4 grams = approximately 1 teaspoon.

Tips to Save on Fruits and Vegetables

4/25/2017

I hear the complaint all the time that healthy eating is very expensive. But I know from my own personal experience that it’s perfectly possible to eat very well for very little money.

When my 4 boys were home, our typical, weekly food bill ranged between $135-$150, and seldom went over that, except during holiday times when I bought a lot of extras.

Expenses of around $25 per person were fairly typical. And now that it's just my husband and me, our bill varies between $35 and $70 per week, or about $200-$250 per month.

So, for the two of us, we spend on average about $32 per person per week, with some fluctuation. And that's with a fair amount of padding and spending on discretionary things we didn't make a habit of buying when our boys were home.

I have come to realize that this budget is miniscule compared to families I know who spend much closer to $50 per person, and some who even spend $100 per person for their groceries.

So, you might think we must be starving on that budget. But nothing could be further from the truth. We eat very well and include tons of fresh food, fruits and vegetables in our diet.

So, how do I do it? I follow some practices and avoid others to stay within those budget parameters.

Here are some of my specific pointers for shopping and cooking for a healthy diet that ensure we get our daily servings of fruits and vegetables without breaking the bank.

Healthcare Costs and Our Budget - A Personal Account

4/13/2017

Healthcare issues are a major consideration in most families' budgets, and now even more so with the large deductibles that even employer-based plans often require.

And if you’re on the individual market, then you are dealing with our highly flawed system up close and personal, and I feel your pain.

We are in that category, and as small business owners, we know just how exorbitant the cost has become.

It’s a situation that most people with employer-based insurance cannot understand or relate to because, typically, employer-based insurance is much cheaper and covers much more than individual policies do.

Now, despite the many problems with the ACA, many aspects of insurance coverage have improved since it came into effect.

As an example, prior to the passage of that bill, two of my sons could not even get insurance, simply because one had allergies, and the other had had surgery on his knee.

I'm not making that up. They were UN-insurable on the individual market, based on supposedly pre-existing conditions.

It was a source of endless stress to me when they were young adults, my husband was laid off, and we had to find our own insurance.

Prior to that, we had always had employer-based, so we were largely sheltered from the dark side of health care insurance in this country.

Life Lessons From Mom and Dad

4/11/2017

Mom and Dad enjoying retirement after years of hard work and successfully raising 9 children to independent adulthood.

I owe a lot to my Mom and Dad. I don’t think I can emphasize that enough.

They exemplified the very best of the Greatest Generation, and I was extraordinarily lucky to have had both of them in my life, no question about it. But in terms of kitchen skills and household management know-how, the credit goes mostly to Mom.

I did not fully realize my good fortune until I found myself falling back over and over again on her lessons in domestics while raising and launching my four children.

It took years and decades longer than it should have before I came to truly appreciate her fierce love for her nine children and the incredibly hard work she put into making sure that the transition to independent adulthood was remarkably seamless for all of us.

The thing is, my Mom’s own childhood did not exactly prepare her for the life she ultimately led.

Quite the opposite, in fact.

Raised in great wealth and largely by servants, she never even handled money before the age of eighteen.

And she most definitely was never given the chance to learn how to cook or budget. She always felt that her parents and those around her deemed her too much of the “dumb blonde” to learn.

So when she married my father, a man of modest means, she literally did not know how to boil water.

Mom's Multivitamin - A Salad with Every Meal

4/11/2017

Mom, can I have seconds on potatoes?”
“Have you had salad?”
“Uh-huh.”
“All right, fine then.”

This exchange, or something very similar to it, was very common at our dinner table when I was growing up. It might seem unusual for a couple of reasons.

For starters, the mere fact that we asked before helping ourselves to seconds is probably a novel idea in this day and age where kids very often take it for granted that they can eat whenever and whatever they like in their home.

By contrast, we knew better than to assume that any food was there for the taking.

Learning to Apply Old-Fashioned Thrift in Your Life

4/11/2017

Most people who know me will tell you that being thrifty seems to come naturally to me. I am never quite clear on whether they mean this as a mere observation, a compliment, or a critique, but I accept it as quite accurate.

The fact is that I honestly do not know any other way to live. It’s a simple truth that I derive satisfaction from saving money the same way others derive a thrill from spending it.

You would even be right to say that I cannot help myself.

What that means is that I don’t have a long list of wants. I shop only when I need something, and then I do it very purposefully and very quickly to get it over with as soon as possible.

I can easily turn a deaf ear to even the most insistent of advertising campaigns. And I also do not find it terribly difficult to stick to a budget.

So, yep, frugal is moniker that fits. And it's a trait that has enabled me to save tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years, savings that we have been able to use for our children's education and our retirement fund.

But it's not as if I am genetically wired to behave that way any more than anyone else is.

I simply have had a lifetime to nurture the careful habits that I first learned from my frugal parents. And that's something anyone can do, if they have an interest in doing so.

5 Things to Consider in College Aid Offers

4/10/2017

It's the end of the college application season, and acceptances have already arrived or will have soon. That means it's the time of year when students and parents are beginning the difficult task of weighing the various financial aid packages on offer.

It’s a major life decision that can have tremendous long-range impact on a student’s and family’s financial future. After all, we’ve all heard about the student debt crisis that’s all over the news.

But it’s perfectly possible to avoid the worst of the financial pitfalls that arise with college decisions.

Dirty Dishes Have a Tale to Tell

3/24/2017

I wrote this blog a while back, and recently came upon it while doing some updating to the website. It made me quite nostalgic for my Mom and my mother-in-law.

They were two remarkable women, so different in their backgrounds, yet so alike in their strength and practical, no-nonsense attitudes.

I miss them both very much. And so I re-post this blog in memory of them.

Basic Budget Worksheet

3/22/2017

As I mention in my blog about how to create a budget, here's a suggested template you can use as a budget worksheet.

I happen to like this one because it lays out what's a necessity, and what's not, and emphasizes savings as a necessary "expense".

It also breaks down budget categories into specifics so that you can see much more clearly what your expenses are and where you might be able to cut back.

Budget Basics: A Beginner's Guide for Setting and Sticking to a Budget

3/4/2017

Why Do a Budget?

It's really quite simple. We all have to live within our means unless we want to end up with bills we cannot pay.

And we actually also have to live beneath our means and find ways to save and put money aside if we have any hope of ever achieving financial independence one day – or even of retiring.

That’s the economic reality, regardless of income level. And a budget helps us establish control over our finances to accomplish just that.

Adjusting to Life on a Budget the Easy Way

2/22/2017

A while back I read a very interesting article on-line that details a young woman's one-year attempt to avoid purchasing anything that was not a necessity.

I was particularly intrigued by her revelations about the difficulties she faced.

Prior to taking on this project, she had never been able to set and stick to a budget, and wanted to challenge herself to do it. So she was really a novice to the whole budget living lifestyle.

When We Have Too Much Stuff and What To Do About It

2/15/2017

Most of us have way too much stuff.

Most of us worry about the clutter this entails. But "stuff" also takes a bite out of our budget in more ways than one. First of all, all those things cost money to acquire, which typically adds up to substantial out-of-pocket expenditures over time.

And then there's the fact that many people don't have room to store all their extra stuff in their own homes, so they actually end up having to pay for storage facilities. Sometimes for years at a time.

That's not cheap at all and can end up consuming far too much of household budgets and finances. And that's before you take into account the bother and even the stress of taking care of and dealing with all those things.

So it's generally a good idea to try to break this cycle of accumulation -- even if it doesn't come easy to most of us. Here are some strategies and approaches I've used over the years that have worked in helping me simplify and declutter.

Maybe you'll find them useful, too.

How YouTube Can Improve Your Bottom Line

2/13/2017

This is a follow-up to my last blog about how doing things for yourself (DIY) can save you enormous amounts of money.

And I am talking serious money – we have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars over the course of a couple of decades by tackling projects that we could have hired out.

And I also mentioned that YouTube is a great place to look for instructional videos to guide you through a whole range of DIY projects.

There you’ll find advice on how to do all manner of things, both big and small -- from home décor and crafts, to car repair and major renovations -- to get you started on doing more on your own and keeping money in your pocket.

An Example of a "Small" YouTube Fix
My husband used YouTube just this week for something he’d never done before when our printer stopped functioning.

Safe Food Handling Guidelines

1/31/2017

Even in its milder forms, food-borne illness is very unpleasant. But it's quite easy to avoid getting or spreading it by following some very simple techniques and practices for storing and handling food. Here are some of the most important ones.

<<Previous

How to Earn a College Degree in the COVID Era(in Less Time and for Less Money)

Cheap, Healthy Cleaning Products and Habits That Save Money and the Environment

It's Tax Season - Here's How to Protect Yourself from Scams

How to Choose a College Major in 7 Simple and Practical Steps

How to Do Your Taxes for Free or Next to Free

Saving Money Can Open Up a World of Opportunity

17 Ways to Spend Less Time and Money Doing Laundry

Parenting, Children, and Household Budgets

9 Steps to Finding an Affordable College: A Practical College Search Guide for Parents

A Lesson in Gratitude and Humility for Me

9 Helpful Hints for D.I.Y. Projects

The Hidden Cost of Sugar in Our Budget and Some Alternatives That Are Cheaper and Healthier

Tips to Save on Fruits and Vegetables

Healthcare Costs and Our Budget - A Personal Account

Life Lessons From Mom and Dad

Mom's Multivitamin - A Salad with Every Meal

Learning to Apply Old-Fashioned Thrift in Your Life

5 Things to Consider in College Aid Offers

Dirty Dishes Have a Tale to Tell

Basic Budget Worksheet

Budget Basics: A Beginner's Guide for Setting and Sticking to a Budget

Adjusting to Life on a Budget the Easy Way

When We Have Too Much Stuff and What To Do About It

How YouTube Can Improve Your Bottom Line

Safe Food Handling Guidelines

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