Money Monday

Dave Ramsey is a financial guru and very well regarded in the financial realm. Here are is baby step to becoming debt free and in control of your finances.

Baby Steps

1. $1,000 to start an Emergency Fund

2. Pay off all debt using the Debt Snowball

3. 3 to 6 months of expenses in savings

4. Invest 15% of household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement

5. College funding for children

6. Pay off home early

7. Build wealth and give! Invest in mutual funds and real estate

Here is his printable. Want to know more about Dave? Click here to go to his site. Still need help with a budget (I do!!)? Want a free budget guide? Go here.

Where are you and where do you want to go? Have you done or tried Dave's plan? Did it work for you? Do you think this might work for you?

Whatever Wednesday

Garden Tips

Parade magazine had some good tips on Sunday. The link to the whole article is here. The tip I am most eager to try is the one about eggs shells and tomatoes.

Eggshells are a good source of calcium, essential for tomatoes; without it, they develop brown patches known as blossom-end rot. Just crush the shells and sprinkle the bits on the soil.

I'll let you know if it works!

Making resumes work

The News Tribune had a great article Sunday on making the most of your resume work. Be sure to check out other links on their page. There is even a free trail at a networking site. You may think you need not worry about this but odds are you know at least one person who is unemployed right now. So if you don't need it for yourself think about those you know.

Thrifty Thursday

Make Your Own

At Make your own you can learn how to make anything from your own insect repellent to skin treatments.

Learn to make your own soaps, lotions, and salt scrubs at Teach soap. These make great gifts too!

Make your own word searches, cross words and mazes at Discovery Education.

Make a Non-Toxic Cleaning Kit at Care2. You can do this using things you already have around your house.

The Simple Dollar has a ton of ideas. The one I am going to try this week is making my own laundry soap. I am about out of my killer stash from last year so....wish me luck!!

Free Book Download

Jean Chatzky's new book, The Difference

Click here for detials and link to free download Thanks to Marne at Making Life Sweet...one deal at a time

Thrifty Thursday

Free Entertainment

Again thanks to Christy!

***** Northwest Trek has a deal this weekend. Up to 4 kids (12 an under) can get in free with one paying adult. *******

Museum of glass - Free third Thursday of every month from 5-8pm
http://www.museumofglass.org/

Tacoma Children's Museum - Free first Friday of every month
* *You can also check out a play pass (free passes) from the Pierce County or Tacoma Library systems
http://www.childrensmuseumoftacoma.org/

Museum of flight - Free first Thursday of every month from 5 - 9 pm
http://www.museumofflight.org/

If you have a Bank of America card, you can get free admission to several museums on the first weekend of every month
http://promotions.bankofamerica.com/museums/

Remember you family will also enjoy things like (okay these are mine so don't blame Christy):

a bike ride, nature hike, a picnic at the park, playing ball out back, movie night(see what you have or borrow from a friend or check out the library), making dinner or desert together, or going to your local library.

What ever you do ENJOY your FAMILY!! And ENJOY LIFE!!!