Money Money Money

A few months ago I started working front line sales for a Return on Investment company who helps people receive not only the information, but also the motivation to reduce their debt and plan for their future through investments.

My husband Cade and I were recently married and have found that the financial strains and demands on our day-to-day lives are more significant than I ever could have imagined. Considering our country's social security crisis, planning for our (unborn) children's education, retirement, religious service, emergency preparedness etc is overwhelming.

Thanks to my great friends, and the phenomenon of finding what you are looking for, I have stumbled on a great little tip!

This gem came from my friend in Fresno, Emily. She is reading a book by Mary Hunt entitled Debt Proofing Your Marriage. During our short discussion Emily told me that Mary, the author, confronted a significant amount of debt and the book is her advise and tricks to both conquer debt and learn how to become more financially self-reliant so as to access the peace that comes from financial control and security.

In her book she discusses, among other things, the value of savings. She recommends 10% of our income should be donated to charity and another 10% should work for us while it is gathering interest in a savings account. Yeah yeah yeah.... that's pretty standard information but what I love about her approach is what she calls a freedom account. A freedom account it an account which into which you deposit a monthly amount which is personally determined by calculating your annual non-monthly expenses. Examples: insurance (home, renters, car, life), estimated annual auto-maintenance cost including registration, Gifts including Christmas, anniversary and birthdays, vacations etc. Example: a family who has the non-monthly expenses listed below,

400 dollars auto-maintenance costs
700 Gift Costs
500 Insurance Cost
TOTAL 1,600$

will put away $144 dollars a month each year in order to plan ahead for unexpected expenses which can, if not planned for inflate your owed amount on your credit accounts. Look at this quote:
"Before the advent of easy credit, people had no choice but to anticipate. They had to save up for everything because there was no alternative. Anticipating expenses and being prepared for those rainy days was the only way to deal with the reality of running out of money. Whether you had a lot or only a little, you never spent all of it. Anticipation meant survival."
— Mary Hunt, Debt-Proof Living

I really like it! I'll post more upon discovery!

Toward the lake, toward the start

After spending the weekend in doors, on the couch and acknowledging the hand of the Almighty and His compassion for our little family, we headed out. We went out into the afternoon fall cool and stepped heavily as if we belonged there. I remember 1994 riding my silver and orange Mongoose down to the river trail and the horrible bee sting that convinced me I was ugly.

Provo has changed. 12 years ago were slower, quieter and more free. The river trail has changed-the rope swing is gone and so are the rocks we pilled high in the river to create the deep pool that accommodated our diving- all that hard work! The trail from Harbor Park into the river trail is gone-there are houses there now, there are parks there and parking lots and planted prepackaged and imported trees.

Despite the changes of the last decade the trail is still lovely. Trees jut into the sky as evidence of the season's change is manifest. The drive to the lake down boat harbor drive satisfied my need to see things differently. Here are some photos from our walk....enjoy!