New Happy Meals?!

I am LOVING McD's new happy  meal choice, rather than fries OR apples, you can  get a split with a little teeny fry and apple slices (normal size) with no caramel.  This seems like a great compromise...it is HARD to eat at McD's without indulging in fries, but the little pack only has like 20 of them.  I wish I could order that, too!  Half the calories/fat than the small fry.  Plus, my kids burn off the excess calories by running around the playland after they eat.  Two thumbs up to that marketing genius!!!

Could Poor Lifestyles Damage National Security?

This week I heard the stat that 75% of our youth will be ineligible for military service due to obesity, criminal records, or failure to complete high school.  I was outraged by this! I am sorry, but this stat does not make me feel patriotic or proud.  As a teacher, I try everyday to influence my students positively, addressing each of these issues at an appropriate level for their age.  But some part of me fears this will not be enough, and cringes to think of their futures.  My own children is my true jurisdiction.  Absolute commitment to raise them each to their full potential is high on my to-do list.  As much as I want them to be ELIGIBLE for military service, I started to think about if  I actually want them to serve.  (because I would be afraid...not because I would not be proud.  If my children enlist, I am going to be the biggest red, white, and blue fan in the world.)  The irony of this is that I once (very happily) joined the Army.  The year was 1995, and the world was a different place then.  In the year 2012, everything feels tenser, heightened somehow (or I know more now than I did then?) Parents of troops, I salute you. I'll bet your are beyond proud. I considered skipping this post because I certainly do not want to offend or seem uncaring.  I care (here I am thinking about it, and my little kids would not be eligible for another decade! My teen just doesn't strike me as the military type, but she could surprise me!) I was just wondering how hard it is as a parent to let your children do something that terrifies you?  Fear of harm for your children is the strongest fear I can imagine.  Sounds a bit silly, but if you really don't want your children to join the military, you could overfeed them and encourage a sedatary lifestyle (absolutely, sarcastically kidding here--although some scared, selfish part of me REALLY wants to seal the deal so my kids never sign up.)  In a sense, the "could your kids join the military?" is a compass of sorts on a healthy lifestyle (active, decent diet, good grades, and no trouble with the law).  If your children can or do enlist, you have done a great job as a parent!!!  So I am trying to raise kids who COULD enlist although the jury is out on if I want them to enlist or not.  I just can't imagine the fear and stress of having those troops be my babies!---But guess who never thought about that fear for myself 17 years ago??? Me.  I bet I terrified my mom enlisting!  She never really let me know that.  She was supportive and loving and my biggest fan.  Just like I want to be for my own kids, regardless of the choices they make in life.  Parenting certainly makes you see things you did not see before you were a parent!

FinanceWorks

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FinanceWorks If your bank or credit union is offering this program on its online banking site, I STRONGLY encourage you to USE IT!!! This is phenomenal!  I have never had an easier time making a budget, and calculating what is left from each category.  Nearly all the work is done for me.  Simply put in a goal for each category you need, check in every few days and verify if the categories they put every transaction is correct ( I check every day, because I like to see my balance every day).  Purchases can even be split (like Target, spent $120, $10 on clothing, $34 on groceries, $60 on household, ect.)  If your bank is not offering this, I seriously suggest shopping around for one that does if you want to see EXACTLY how much you are spending on what items!  Easy budget in a few minutes a day!

Judge Much??!?

I saw this link to another blog on a friend's facebook.  I am almost sorry I clicked the link http://inashoe.com/2009/09/open-letter-working-moms/  My blog was not made with the working mom or the stay-at-home mom thought.  I actually hoped both types would be able to resonate with the squeeze of little time, little money, and little kids.  But this letter made feel judged.  Like I need to justify myself, and the life I have chose.  But here is the hysterical part to me...Most of her suggestions on how a mom could afford to stay at home, I am already forced to do to make our budget goals every month (with the exception of the 13-year-old minivan...I just bought a 4-year-old one, and it was still more than I wanted to spend....but it was really important to my husband, so I caved)  I would be one of these moms who would WANT to stay home with my kids, at least while there are young (before school).  However, if I stayed home, we would have no health insurance (ok, we would apply for Medical Assistance), no retirement savings (making us dependent on Social Security which may or may not be there in the future), no life insurance (leaving the other spouse flat broke in the event of one of our deaths).  I do not work to buy name brand clothes, a big house, or a new car.  Oh, and the tidbit about sell your house so you can stay home with your kids...um, this was posted in 2009, the height of the recession. It was not a viable option then, nor is it now as we are $40,000 underwater in our 1500 square foot house in a neighborhood that is less desirable than we would prefer.  I have great friends who are blessed to stay at home, but they don't judge my working as a flaw.  It would be great if this blog could be judgement-free in regards to this topic because obviously, there is no easy answer to the question, "to work, or not to work".

How to Spend Spring Break, Without Spending All You've Got!

This week is DEFINITELY a big perk to being a teacher!  As a teen, I can remember my mom asking me what I wanted to be and I said, "a mom".  PROBABLY not the answer she expected, but I knew at a young age I wanted to have a family of my own.  My reality sank in a few years later when I realized being a mom was GREAT, but having money to take care of your family is kindof necessary to really enjoy your family.  What job would be perfect for a mom who had to work, but wanted to put her family first?  A TEACHER!!!  Of course, before I became a teacher, I didn't realize how often my classroom and its students were going to become a priority over my own children; but when push comes to shove, I can put my children first.  But this week, there is no choice to make! It is my kids first, all week long!  So, what is the problem? That pesky budget keeps me from doing what I REALLY would want to go do with my kids this week (i.e., vacation, or Disney, shopping spree...something new and great each day) and forces me to into a REALITY.  What can the kids and I have a blast doing, without going broke?
*Playgrounds
*Library
*Friends' houses
*Zoo (we have a membership)
*Arts and Crafts
*Cooking/Baking
*Cleaning (ok, more fun for me....but I really enjoy it!!!!)
Today we are setting out for AC Moore (Arts and Crafts store) to treasure hunt for some fun crafts we can create together, followed by McDonald's Playland (We will just order a snack, apple dippers , drink, just enough to not be lurkers or loiterers).
Tomorrow, we will be hitting the zoo with a picnic lunch (our membership makes this FREE!)
Thursday, LIBRARY, and paint shopping for my teenager's room (she will be busy painting Friday)
Friday, helping big sister paint (They will actually enjoy this, I promise!!!!)

Dream Vacation...ummm, no.  Realistic Vacation is more like it! But we are having fun, and making the most of what we have.  Please post any other ideas you have that are fun for the kids and attainable for those with a budget!

You Are Only As Smart As Your Debt

If this saying is true, I am probably a total idiot.  I embrace the whole "debt-free is the life for me" mentality. I love it.  I hate debts and the gobs of money banks make off of borrowing it to us. A few years ago, my husband and I agreed to DOLP (dead on last payment; this is a method of snowballing debt endorsed by David Bach) as well as REFUSED to take on any more debt.  He agreed. I agreed.  We succeeded for a while. And then we failed.   We have three kids and an overactive dog and years ago had completely outgrown our cars.  But because of DOLP we were to buy our next car CA$H.  The problem? Every time we had a few hundred saved up for said car, life would happen. Then, push came to shove.  The paid-off car (11 year old Kia Sephia) died a slow, tortuous, death.  The time to buy was now, we were backed into a corner!  Ok,  could we have gone to a one-car family? Truly, yes.  Would we go insane in the process? Possibly.  I have heard how awesome one-car families are, and "Yay, you!" if you are one.  But remember that, I don't want to be the cheapest family in America, thing?  We signed over another five years of payments.  Sad, but true.  However, instead of thinking of all the Benjamin Franklins I am kissing goodbye, I am thinking the the sanity I get to reclaim.

Long Time, No Post

And I am so sorry! One might think I didn't post because I didn't have anything to say...but on the contrary! So much has happened in the past few weeks.....we bought a new car, took a mini-family getaway, switched bank accounts....thankfully I am on my first day of Spring Break, and I do plan on making up for no posting!