@stacey-daprile
active 6 years, 7 months agoForum Replies Created
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It really adds up! I am always on the lookout for great deals and sock the gifts away in my gift closet ready for the giving. Certificates for babysitting for friends with children is always appreciated – allowing fiends a night out without the littles is priceless! Sharing a favorite book you have read along with a plate of cookies could be super thoughtful. I have been totally touched by being given one simple, beautiful, and totally delicious cupcake. That gift was under $5 and was perfect!
Antoinette, I would love to have that type of health insurance. Josh, it is like they say, “Better to pay the farmer than the pharmacist.” 🙂 Kayla, It is nice that companies have begun to realize that healthy employees are good for the balance sheet. My school has brought in a yoga teacher for us to have free yoga classes on campus after school. A nice little benefit for us teachers.
I unfortunately chose my career position based on lifestyle first. Meaning I spent 15 years teaching at a private school because my own children attended this school.The school was a wonderful place to teach and for my children to learn. Having the same schedule and being at the same school made working and parenting easier to balance. But private schools pay comparably lower and are not part of the state which provides excellent retirement benefits for teachers. I wasn’t until my divorce that I needed to leave this teaching position because I had to make more money.
Now that I am a public school teacher I am part of the state retirement program. However, those 15 years of service will not count towards my retirement package, and therefore its a moot point at this stage in my career.
I was counseled by my master teacher to forgo the private school route and go straight to public. She had started in a local private school as well and said that in the end – the retirement benefits and financial benefits where the way to go. I didn’t listen to her.
On the other hand, my children had an excellent education and we had many years together at school.
Kayla, I am so happy that you and your hubby are fine! How very scary the weather has been! My heart has gone out to all of those affected by both hurricanes. Yes, those emergency funds are important. I have heard so many people talk on the news of simply not having the money to evacuate or prepare throughly.
And now the clean-up and rebuilding. That is going to take lots of money for many people as well!
Cara, those Sunday car drives to no where in particular was a staple as I grew up 🙂 I have wonderful memories of those days.
I agree – the little things really add up, and it is hard to find the right balance. I find that this is when having that set budget comes in handy. While it might feel like deprivation, if I only have x amount of money set aside for the little things – I pick and choose much more carefully.
I agree – it is hard!
Antoinette, dating can get expensive! Dinner and a movie can really add up. One less expensive alternative is meeting up for appetizers and a drink during happy hour, coffee and breakfast in the morning, or plan a picnic at the beach.
Kayla, I keep thinking that I should set up a Christmas fund. With six kids, it always stretches our budget. The presents, the food, the decorations, and entertaining adds up super fast!
Real estate can be a great investment – if you are willing to hold it long term. Right now housing prices are climbing, and in my area there is high demand. The houses that go onto the market are selling fast. But that is not always the case. When I went trough my divorce and we had to sell our family home in 2009, the prices were seriously depressed. Even though we had been in the home for 15 years – we walked away with very little profit.
I don’t think that there is a right or wrong answer. The questions you need to answer are are you willing to take on the responsibility of homeownership? That is a big one. How long do you think you want to be in the home? What is the potential for appreciation in the area? What are the tax consequences? Yes, it can get overwhelming, but in the right market – it might be a good investment. Or conversely, once you answer the questions -it might not be the right time to make this leap.
Good luck! You are facing a big decision.
I whole-heartedly believe in experiences over possessions! Keep in mind that all experiences do not need to be the big ticket trip somewhere exotic. Experiences also include an afternoon massage, attending a sporting event, a free concert in the park, and a morning hike up to a beautiful ridge to take in the view.
The thing about taking the time to enjoy an experience is that it really can rejuvenate your sense of energy and creativity. Those are bonuses to the business plan in the long run. So I guess my advice would be to think smaller. What activity/experience can you enjoy for one afternoon? A baseball game? Kayaking down a slough? A museum exhibit? Get away and just enjoy! Surround yourself with other people enjoying the same experience and soak in the wonder and awe. The work will be there when you return, and you will be ready to tackle the job.
I haven’t had a garage sale in a long time, but the key to success was setting up and being ready early. Serious hunters start their day early! Good luck!
I love that you would be generous! I think setting up my own charitable foundation would be the best.
Josh, when I went through my divorce and needed to move and set up a new household I gave myself a strict cash budget. Money was very tight and uncertain at that time. But I did go out and buy new furniture and decor to set up and make my new place feel like home. It was important to me to set up my new life and feel good about it. So while I was spending money on non-necessities (in the true sense of need vs. want), they were purchases that emotionally set me up to move forward. But like I said, I had a set budget of cash. When it was gone – it was gone, and I was not going to use credit to set up my new home. Good luck! Life changes can be empowering.
Kayla, I totally think that you are on the right track! That fact that consistent savings is part of your plan is what will get you there.
Kayla, we now have four college graduates – two more to go! I can say that the school choices affected the experiences that they were afforded and in that way, the school choice made a difference. Now, I also think that students are offered amazing experiences at many, many colleges and universities. It is all about taking advantage of the opportunities, getting to personally know professors, and participating in clubs and service groups. Four of our kids based their choice on the area of study and what they would have access to in their majors: Screen Writing (Film School) and English Lit; Nutritional Science; Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology: and Civil Engineering. Our Anthropology major choose her university based on location. She really wanted to study and live in a specific city.
Our Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology major is currently applying to medical school. They first look at grades and test scores – then they look at experience. I am not sure that the name of her undergraduate university will make a difference. It really is grades, test scores, and then experiences.
I think college is like so much else in life – you will get out of it what you put into it.
