Gosh Obama – you have been in office a whole 35 minutes. Why haven’t you fixed the economy already?
Obama can throw a kajillion dollars at this economy and it won’t fix the problem.
As Suze Orman says, “What makes you think this is about money?”
 This is a problem in people’s hearts. This is a problem with how we think about money and things. This is a fundamental problem with our relationship to money, other people, our businesses, our government.
As soon as everyone takes responsibility for their part in this and changes their thinking – the economy will miraculously improve.
It won’t go back to …read more

I scored this healthy air popper from the 1970s at a thrift store for $2.

The top part is broken, but it’s still functional.

But, then I saw this really pretty Nastalgia Electrics Hot Air Popper . I thought it was so cute I bought one for my brother’s family for Christmas too. It was our special family Christmas treat.

It SUCKS!!!

It didn’t even pop a lot of kernels and the bowl it fills is 1/3rd the size of my other bowl. Popcorn – popped and unpopped – flies all over the room. The second time we used it – it smoked.

One side …read more

It’s so nice how open and communicative our President-Elect is about his plans and ideas.

Employers report they must send jobs overseas to find an educated workforce.

This is patently inaccurate.

The truth is we have all the talent we need. Women are this country’s most underused resource. We have insight, college degrees, years of experience and yet, employers would rather go to India than give us a family-friendly workplace and equal pay?

Invite the women back with tax incentives and initiatives that reward family-friendly work environments and you will see a profoundly positive shift in every sector of this nation’s personal, private and business life.

The last thing this country needs is to replace the fired and retired …read more

I know I talk about economics on here a lot, especially concerning frugality and NOT spending money.

But, I’ve given it some thought and though the Capitalists have F’ed things up royally with a complete and total lack of long-term planning or insight into how their business practices truly effect the overall economy and political stability of the United States and the entire world economy as a whole . . .

We need to spend some dough. As much as possible right now. By “possible” I mean as much as you can afford to spend in CASH. Credit card spending isn’t …read more

My cousin got married and I got to go to a really fancy wedding. There were “whispered secrets” about how much this shindig cost.
We had to drive 10 hrs round trip to Houston in the same day. I almost didn’t go to avoid the driving. But, then I went to the bathroom with a book and my kids wouldn’t leave me alone for two lousy seconds and I thought “Hey, I could read for 5 hrs straight without annoying kids screaming at me – I’m in.”

I had two really important goals to accomplish.
I’ve been praying and meditating …read more

So, seems these days everyone has a political reason to shop here or boycott there.
Did you know women are opening their own businesses at rapid, never-before-seen rates? (Over The Top Aprons)

I, personally, believe it’s because women want to work, find fulfillment and validation in work, need the economic stability of work, but don’t want to pay the unnecessary price of a patriarchal workweek which ignores the existence of children and women’s need for flexible hours.
(Baby Fabulous)

I want to see these new women-owned businesses succeed.
(Quirky Dolls)
My odds are on women changing this economy with these …read more

I want to introduce you to my Frugal Guru, Jen from Jlogged.com.
She recently redid her website to help people use their money wisely. If I want inspiration to stay on track with the family budget she’s my “go to.”
Jen’s one of the few people I can compare detailed notes with about income and out-go and saving and financing, etc.
She knows her business. Her business is living a larger life within her means.
And she lives a pretty good life, eats organically and reduces her carbon footprint, etc.
She’s doing Nablopamo and she’s writing about money for all 30 …read more

Unlike most of America – we have no car payments.

And we love it.

We keep an emergency fund of $1,000 for car repairs. And we use it. Lately we use it a lot.

Over the summer we drained it – more than once. Lately, we’ve been replacing batteries, alternators, air conditioning compressors, starters in our old 1990s wheels.

We accepted there will be no more air conditioning in our van and Thank the Good Lord winter is coming cause 103 East Texas heat and humidity is like unto hell.

Our second commuter car kept dying for no reason. We don’t know the reason and …read more

I AM Middle Class America.
My husband has a job at a fortune 500 company.
I work from home as a writer/blogger.
We went to college, spend the last 4 years paying off debt, bought a house earlier this year with a fixed FHA loan.
We’re doing all the right things.
Here’s how OUR economics look:
* Groceries went up 20% in the last year.
* Gas seems to be on ever higher roller coasters.
* Health Insurance Premiums are rising in January – AGAIN.

There will be no cost of living increases, overtime or raises at the company as stock prices are …read more