A Christmas Challenge

You have been seeing Christmas stuff since before Halloween.  The commercials on TV will start up full force and already Christmas music is playing in the big stores.  Christmas is coming!  I am going to challenge you a bit here, try to only buy local for Christmas.

I am not talking about your . . . → Read More: A Christmas Challenge

Live for Today

“Live today.  Not yesterday.  Not tomorrow.  Just today.  Inhabit your moments.  Don’t rent them out to tomorrow.”   Jerry Spinelli

“So many people don’t live for today.  They are completely consumed with the future, and yet it is how we live today that creates our future.  It is what you feel today that . . . → Read More: Live for Today

The Basics of Financial Statements – Part 4 – Expenses

In the previous parts we introduced the financial statement, explained the path the money takes, and introduced the income statement. This diagram explains the other side of the income statement: expenses. All your expenses need to serve a purpose. They can increase your assets, provide you with sustenance or protection, or provide for your future. If your expenses are not serving a purpose then they are harming your financial health. . . . → Read More: The Basics of Financial Statements – Part 4 – Expenses

Simplicity

Why over complicate things that need not be complex? We seem to see things more complex than necessary. We hear people say this is hard or complex. And because of that we think of it as complex or hard. When if you think of it as easy it is it all comes down . . . → Read More: Simplicity

The Economics of Solar

The main difference between buying solar panels and getting your power from a utility is the way your payment is structured. Solar panels have a large upfront cost, like buying a house. Utility power is pay as you, like renting a home. There’s a point where your monthly payments to the utility will become more costly then the upfront cost of a alternative power source. This point is called the pay-back point. After you reach this point you can consider all the money you were going to pay the utility company a return on your investment. . . . → Read More: The Economics of Solar

Basics of Financial Statements – Part 3 – The Income Statement

Here is part three of the Basics of Financial Statements. The graphic below illustrates the income statement part of a financial statement. . . . → Read More: Basics of Financial Statements – Part 3 – The Income Statement

“Whatever you are, or whatever has happened, just be glad.”

Christian D Larson (1874-1954) wrote this in his book, Just Be Glad.

“Whatever you are, or whatever has happened, just be glad.  Be glad because you are here.  You are here in a beautiful world; and all that is beautiful may be found in this world . . . Just be glad, and . . . → Read More: “Whatever you are, or whatever has happened, just be glad.”

Froot Loops vs. Fiber

While watching TV the other day, a commercial came on for Fruit Loops and stating that they were now a source of fiber. For real? Seriously? It got me curious. I went to the Kellogg’s website and looked at the nutritional info for Fruit Loops. Yep, sure enough it has 3 grams of . . . → Read More: Froot Loops vs. Fiber

A Cloud of Thought!

I envision my thoughts as clouds, floating overhead.  When I want to look at one, I pluck it out of the sky, examine it and then let it go.  Sometimes there are so many thoughts that my head is overcast.  Sometimes they drop and fly around me like a cloud of gnats, little . . . → Read More: A Cloud of Thought!

Sustainable Energy Consumption at Home

I assume you use fossil fuels. It’s nearly impossible not to use them in the United States. They run our cars, fertilize our plants, and in most places they provide the energy that powers and heats our homes. In fact, almost half of the power used in the USA is consumed by our . . . → Read More: Sustainable Energy Consumption at Home