My dishwasher just broke. I am currently hand washing everything until I can get around to buying a new one. I don’t mind doing dishes, so it’s not that hard for me to deal with, but the rest of the household does not like it. I feel that it is a great way to zone out and think. I seem to do my best thinking while my hands are busy with something that does not take a great deal of brain power. This morning while washing the coffee cups, my mind drifted to the question of what do I really need to be happy. It’s funny. I have been writing loads of Christmas cards and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and hopes for joy and love and good health and such. I do wish all of those for my family and friends, but what do we actually need? If they are anything like me, what they really need are at least seven of the following: ~ A challenge that is neither life threatening nor dreadfully painful but that helps you grow ~ Some form of creative expression ~ Work that keeps your mind very active and gives you the feeling of accomplishment ~ Walking, running, swimming, biking, yoga-ing, fencing, anything that makes your body move ~ At least three people in your life that tell you how much they appreciate and love you, regularly ~ The ability to travel, whether it is to another country or to another place in your imagination ~ Some form of creative inspiration ~ A luxurious bed with comfy sheets and a cozy pillow(s) ~ Quiet time to sit down and sincerely give thanks for the beauty and bounty in your life ~ One song that simply makes you dance (hopefully at least once a week – maybe even by yourself) ~ Something or someone for whom you can volunteer… | Read More »
Author: Tanya Winch
How to avoid the holiday expense hangover with grace and gratitude
They’re back! The same 26 holiday songs playing through every retailer’s speaker. The same peppermint bark at every checkout. The same car commercials with Santa promising you a new ride or a jeweler promising you a diamond solitaire with fuzzy lighting and expressions of engagement bliss. It is a love/dislike experience for me. On one hand, I truly love Christmas. I believe that Jesus is AWESOME and I am overcome with joy and gratitude at every candle-lit church service. I also absolutely LOVE to give a good gift. But, I dislike the rest of it. I struggle with the intense crowds, the heavy foods that I can’t resist, the awkward feeling when someone gets you a gift that you weren’t expecting, the fear that the driver in the next lane is egg nog impaired, the pressure to stay within your budget and still find meaningful gifts, and even (when I am completely honest with myself) my own desire to receive. It is overwhelming. This year, in order to save the “holiday expense hangover” (and for a multitude of other reasons including the family mandate that we adults will NOT purchase each other gifts), I am left to create my own “Grateful Gifts”. Instead of purchasing gifts that will put me in the red and potentially be unwanted or add to another’s already cluttered life, I am going to create handwritten notes for everyone in my family stating why I am grateful for them, explaining how they bless my life. This, hopefully, will fill everyone’s hearts, although it may still clutter up their lives/desks. I am anticipating that it will actually be harder to accomplish than purchasing presents. I am also anticipating that, even with all my good intentions, I will leave the grand majority of the notes until Christmas Eve and totally stress myself out about getting them written. It is clearly not going to take the pressure off of… | Read More »
Safety tips for savvy travelers
About three weeks ago, we traveled to Portland, OR. It was my boyfriend Doug and my first visit and we absolutely loved it – the waterfalls, the gorge, the coast, green green green everywhere. There was only one crack in our travel, and it was a big one. On our second day, we took to the coast. We had not seen an ocean in a year and were very excited. We parked and sprinted to the sand with mobile phones in hand for pics, completely forgetting to put our junk in the trunk. You know the rest of the story … Smashed window. Purse grabbed. Left with not even a quarter for a gumball and no ID to get to the bank for cash. Ugh. More importantly, I lost all of my Laura Mercier lip goop! Jeeze. That was worth more than the cash in my wallet! Luckily, I was able to contact my roommate back home in Texas and she was able to access my locked file cabinet where I had copies of all of my important documents, so on my return flight I was able to show TSA copies of my IDs. That got me wondering: what would happen if I had had no way to get copies of my ID’s while traveling? When I returned home, I researched online and asked my super tech savvy friends if they had some sort app or device or superior way to keep copies of their important documents entirely secure and yet handy while they are traveling. Here are the top five responses: 1) Keep a password protected zip drive on your key chain. 2) Take pictures or scan them and save the files on a secure app on your mobile. 3) Keep a folder in Dropbox (Be careful, though, due to the file sharing nature of this sitethis option may not be as secure as some of the others)…. | Read More »
The Fourth P.E.C.K. focuses on the Kids
Money is almost always a touchy topic when it comes to relationships, and it does not get easier to discuss when you get married. It is just good common sense to know about your intended’s money language, money comprehension and money fitness. This is the fourth and last installment of our P.E.C.K. pre-wedding money conversations! Our first installment spoke of the “P’s” – Practical. The second installment addressed the “E’s” – Emotional. The third covered “C’s” – Contractual. This installment is on the “K’s” – Kids All couples want their children to thrive, though this means different things to different people. Your idea of how to care for your children’s money needs, expectations and desires are so important to explore together. Let’s talk about the top nine kids and money questions to ask your intended before your baby’s first cry. 1 – How do you feel about gifts and toys? Some families have birthdays and holidays that are flowing with gifts – other families believe that too many gifts make all gifts seem unimportant. Some families feel too many toys are a distraction and others want more than enough. It’s a good idea to know where your spouse is coming from early, to help keep a unified front. It is simply practical to discuss this before your in-laws shock you with the opposite of what you expect. 2 – Do you want to send your kids to private school? Private schools can be a good family fit, though the cost can be prohibitive. If you feel it is very important that your children got to private schools, it is a good idea to speak about your hopes and dreams for your children before they step foot in school and to open an educational savings plan to help manage school fees. A qualified financial advisor can sort through the options available to you and help you choose the appropriate plan. 3 –… | Read More »
The Third P.E.C.K. in pre-marital financial prep is contractual
Money conversations are the topic of this four- part series: P.E.C.K. I am not talking about the “how-much-is-the-wedding-going-to-cost” type of discussions. Instead, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, I am again highly suggesting that you discuss money matters before you get married. Money does not get any easier to deal with once you’ve tied the knot. It is simply good common sense to know your intended’s money language, money comprehension and money fitness prior to joining forces. Our first installment of the P.E.C.K. pre-wedding money conversation spoke of the “P’s” – Practical, the second speaks of the “E’s” – Emotional, and this third installment discusses the “C’s” – Contractual. It is hard to hear the word contract and not think of … 1) Pre-nuptial agreement In general, most young couples will not even need to think about a pre-nuptial agreement. However, when there is large net worth(s) riding on the line, it is useful to consult a lawyer for a multitude of reasons. In addition, if you are arriving at a second marriage with children to consider, it is a good idea to discuss your estate and your legacy for your children. 2) What about insurance? There are so many types of insurance – car, health, home, life – and, to some people, insurance may seem too expensive or even unimportant but it quickly becomes VERY important when you run into trouble. I cannot stress how tragic it is to see a family devastated by the loss of a spouse/parent only to realize that they cannot maintain their home because there was no life insurance. It is imperative that you know where your spouse stands on the topic of insurance of all kinds. 3) Do I need a will? Always, yes. It is difficult to even think of, but so important and not particularly expensive, especially when you consider the cost and length of probate. Make a… | Read More »