How do you teach personal finance to boys who refuse to work, panic if they don’t have money, and spend every dime on gum and Pokemon cards? Still trying to navigate this “parent” thing, I haven’t yet found a successful, positive method of assigning chores, paying allowance, or discipline. Once I do, I’ll be sure and share it. However, I have discovered a great way to help encourage the boys to save money. [...] 
“Oh my word!” I exclaimed to my husband. “Did you see that?!” He and I both looked at each other with a slight sense of giddy and hope. The boys had been quarreling, tears and anger roaring up inside them, when one of them pulled back and cocked his arm read to knock out his brother. Just before his fist flew into the waiting nose, he paused, turned, and came running to me. [...] 
“I can’t believe you are buying these.” I couldn’t believe it was the IKEA clerk who said it. “What do you mean? ” I asked. “These hooks are amazing!” “Except…” she paused and slowed her speech as if speaking to a four-year old, “they are dog butts.” “Exactly. Dog butts!” I beamed. ”Aren’t they great?” She didn’t seem convinced. But I was. I couldn’t help it. I simply HEART dog butts. I [...] 
I’ve always loved the concept of being structured and organized. And, I’ve always been a complete loser at it. Blame it on my creative mind, ADD, procrastination, or whatever. It’s just who I am. I get distracted. I overcommit. I am constantly starting my organization plans over at square one. I’ve tried a thousand calendar formats and schedules, trying to structure sanity and productivity into my life; still, after 38 years my [...] 
Living in a wee home with a whisper of a kitchen, storage is a major issue. I’ve learned to whittle down dining and food prep tools to what I absolutely and truly need, and stock only ingredients that I really use. Short on time and haunted by constant requests for food, what I do stock, I stock well. As such, I often find myself running out of space. So, to counter my [...] |
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