Category: Finances

Finances and money affects all aspects of family life, but it doesn’t need to control your family life. The blessing of working and earning is also a responsibility. Learning and disciplining ourselves and family to live within our means can sometimes be a struggle, yet rewarding.

Finances, Food, For the Love of Family

5 DIFFERENT Ways to Save on Food

I fall for it every time. Titles, images, call-outs that promise to save money at the grocery store lure me in. Call it an obsession, a trait, or simply being frugally conscientious, I’m clicking through to read the article. But the information tends to be the same, just recycled with new images and phrases. Yet, I read on. …because, when coaching an individual or teaching a class, fresh information is always welcome. The budget item that can be flexible and seems to get the most attention is food.  Most people tend to get their budget in balance by decreasing the […]

Finances, For the Love of Family

Defining Stewardship

My family and I own a small farm in Kansas. We love the farm. It has become a place for solace, rest and re-booting. While there, I enjoy walking the dirt roads, looking at the vast amount of space around me, and pondering. Last week, I was walking the dirt road thanking God for this incredible blessing of land and the people who take care of it for us. God used the opportunity to teach me what he means by being a steward of his blessings. Steward – a person who manages another’s property or financial affairs; one who administers anything […]

Finances, For the Love of Family

It’s Not About the Envelopes

Our grandmothers and great aunts used them and many budget experts promote them. Envelopes.  It seems antiquated. Especially in today’s world of automation and convenience, why use an envelope for your money? There are many reasons for not using envelopes. “It’s dangerous to have that much cash available” or “It’s embarrassing to pay with cash” or “I’m not going to look like an old man/woman using an envelope”. If you have said this to excuse yourself from using ‘the envelope system’, you’ve missed the point. It’s not about the envelopes, it’s about the cash. Most people spend an average of […]

Finances, For the Love of Family

$1000 in the Bank. 5 Ideas to get started.

              In Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University©, he outlines seven very basic, yet sometimes complex, baby steps towards gaining financial freedom. As a financial coach, I recommend following these proven steps and strategies. But sometimes getting started is hard.  As Dave says in the first video, the first step,  $1000 in the bank, is the easiest and yet one of the hardest steps. Easy because it is only $1000. Hard because it’s $1000. It’s also hard because it is the first step. The first step that requires commitment. First step to prove you are […]

Finances, For the Love of Family

5 things to Plan for 2016 Holiday Season

We are wrapping up Christmas 2015 and looking forward to 2016. Before we move ahead, let’s review, learn and plan for our NEXT Christmas and holiday celebrations. What were your favorite experiences? What made this Christmas and/or holiday memorable? Ask these questions not only of yourself but your family members. You may be surprised at what they say! For the Tucker family, our favorite experiences were being together, playing games, laughing. We also enjoyed giving to others – helping a young struggling family buy gifts for their children and monetarily supporting a start-up ministry. Memories are filled with emotion. Emotions […]

Finances, For the Love of Family

Money in the Bank – without a raise!

Gas prices have dropped significantly. If there isn’t a plan in place for your extra dollars, the money is spent unconsciously. Typically, our living expenses meet and/or exceed our income – UNLESS you have a plan. According to some reports, enough to save the average driver $50/month. According to CNN Money, the average gas price in October was $2.31, down from $3.27 earlier in 2015, saving Americans an average $1 per day or $365 per year. As of this weekend, the average price in Denver was about $1.77. Predictions are steady that gas prices will continue to stay down through […]