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Apache is functioning normally

June 4, 2023 by Brett Tams

One shopper has discovered 18 Dollar Tree deals starting at $1.25, and they will create the perfect summer party kit.

Dollar Tree offers groceries, household items, and even some house décor with prices starting at just $1.25.

Dollar Tree offers several summer products for $1.25

This makes it a go-to spot for shoppers to find cheap deals and unlock massive savings, especially as inflation remains sky high on the majority of products at other stores.

Savvy shopper Maddi (@PeachyyMaddi) on TikTok routinely spotlights the top products you’ll find at your local store.

This week, she took to the platform to show off her favorite finds at the Dollar Tree, and a large majority of them will come in handy for the summer months ahead.

THE TOP FINDS

In her latest video for her “Boujee on a Budget” series, Maddi found an adorable glass cup with a lemon tree design priced for just $1.25.

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“First of all, it’s lemon season,” Maddi said as she looked at a whole display of lemon cups, plates and bowls.

“This makes me so happy,” she said to her 470,000 plus followers.

Next up were some more summery supplies for your kitchen.

“They have some very elegant finds for summer,” Maddi said as she admired a golden bee-themed vase.

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Plenty of seasonal lemon plates were available for $1.25Credit: TikTok / peachyymaddi

Some other $1.25 finds included ceramic incense holders and a minimalist flowery hair drawing you could use as new home decor this season.

“These are my favorite incense holders, and this is my favorite taper candle holder,” Maddi said.

But that’s not where the deals end.

“They have some beautiful other options too,” Maddi said, looking through colorful vases perfect for holding some flowers during your next summer gathering.

One piece of home décor truly captivated Maddi’s attention due to its humorous message: “Welcome. The wifi password is _____.”

“I love this wifi sign for when guests come over,” she said. “You can just have the password out.”

Other top home decor finds were banners with the words “Home” and “Love.”

Dollar Tree had a wide collection of summer itemsCredit: TikTok / peachyymaddi

Maddi said that no matter the season, Dollar Tree is always a good spot to find glassware, as she passed through an aisle of cups and glasses of all sizes.

There was also a whole section designated for wine glasses, all for the set price of $1.25.

“Then for storage, they had a lot of options,” Maddi said.

There were pink and gray storage containers alongside baskets that could double as a small trash can.

Plus, for cleaning supplies, Dollar Tree had what Maddi is calling the “Choose Your Character” setup.

“You start with the stick and add on whatever attachments you want,” the TikToker shared of the sweeping and mopping supplies on display.

Dollar Tree was also offering a mason jar with featured measurements so you can keep track of how much of any ingredient you have left.

When Maddi left that section, she found even more goodies.

“These cutting boards always come in handy, and so do these strainers,” Maddi said.

More seasonal finds included potted flowers and Fourth of July themed solar stake lights.

Altogether, Maddi was incredibly impressed by the store’s summer selection.

“Dollar Tree, you’re doing a great job for summer,” Maddi said. “Boujee on a budget approved.”

POTENTIAL HIGHER PRICES ON THE HORIZON

While Dollar Tree is generally one of the cheaper stores you can shop at, there’s some unsettling news ahead for fans of the bargain retailer.

Dollar Tree’s chief financial officer has warned higher prices might be on the way as the chain deals with record high inflation.

Stores have also been dealing with a surge of retail theft, making the higher prices more necessary than in years past.

The retailer intends to “improve our performance on shrink through defensive merchandising efforts, real estate optimization, and perhaps higher prices to compensate for areas of systematically higher shrink,” the company’s chief financial officer Jeff Davis said in a recent earnings call.

The store already face fierce backlash when it increased its base price point from $1 to $1.25 in 2021 after 35 years of charging customers just one dollar.

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One Dollar Tree fan revealed how she hit the “beauty jackpot,” discovering two items that regularly sell for up to $20 elsewhere.

Plus, these are the products you should definitely buy at the retailer plus two more you should avoid at all costs.

Source: the-sun.com

Apache is functioning normally

June 3, 2023 by Brett Tams

Most recently, Wood served as vice president of servicing at non-QM lender Angel Oak. She also spent more than five years overseeing foreclosed and bankrupt accounts at a non-agency lender that was acquired by Morgan Stanley and is now part of PHH Mortgage. She began her career at a mobile home lender, where she rose … [Read more…]

Apache is functioning normally

June 2, 2023 by Brett Tams

Save more, spend smarter, and make your money go further

Your beautiful, food-bearing refrigerator, sad to say, will not last forever.

They certainly last longer than, say, a light bulb, but expect to go fridge shopping every dozen years or so.

Before that time comes, you’ll want to start saving up, so you don’t wake up one day to a warm fridge full of rapidly-rotting food, and no money to replace the thing.

As with most things in life, there’s a best time to buy your refrigerator, and it turns out that might well be the month of May.

Semi-scientific analysis (like the kind Beakman used to do, only with better hair) has shown that refrigerators, unlike pretty much every other appliance on the planet, regards May as its Happy New year.

That’s the month when manufacturers will roll out the latest models, meaning the old ones need to go, and FAST.

So you’re far more likely to get a nice, steep discount on last year’s perfectly good fridge models during the month of flowers than any other time of year.

This might be surprising to you, since general knowledge states that most appliances are cheapest in September and October, when the latest models come out to play.

Why Big Fridge decided to do it in May, we have no idea.

Maybe they knew with the warmer months, we’d need something good and sturdy to store all those cold, refreshing drinks that’ll keep us going through the hot summer?

Or maybe they just chose the month out of a hat and ran with it. You never know with those faceless industry leader types.

OK, so you’ve committed to making a new refrigerator the perfect Mother’s Day gift.

Here are some other money-saving tips to keep in mind, so as to drive that price down as far as possible:

Go Shopping on a Weekday

As anybody who’s braved claustrophobic parking lots on the weekends knows, that tends to be the time most people do their shopping.

You, though, should be different.

Pick a random Wednesday, use a personal day at work (or hack mightily into the phone and complain of the Plague, that works too), and hit the local appliance store.

Prices may not be advertised as cheaper, but there’ll be much less rush, less competition to buy the best model on the sales floor, if you catch the right salesperson at the right time, you might just get yourself a bit of an “I like you” discount.

Memorial Day Super Sale

Memorial Day is a special time of year, when we celebrate our veterans by hitting the mall and drooling over anything with a 50% off tag attached to it.

This goes for major appliances like refrigerators as well, especially since the sale already occurs in a month where the old models are on semi-liquidation.

That one-two punch could net you hundreds, and possibly thousands of dollars in savings.

The End of the Month

If you can’t get away from your barbecue long enough to take advantage of a great Memorial Day sale, at least try to get to the store sometime at the end of May.

That’s when appliance dealers will be at their most desperate, because those shiny new models are coming in just days from then, and the last thing they want is to write off the old stuff as a 100% loss.

If they can get at least SOME money from you in exchange for them, that’s infinitely preferable than getting none.

Time it just right, and you could be walking about with a $1500 fridge for under $500. Now that’s how you save.

For those last two suggestions, by the idea, just hand Mom on IOU on her special day, and deliver the fridge later.

She’ll understand, especially if you stick flowers in the crisper drawer.

Mary Hiers is a personal finance writer who helps people earn more and spend less.

Save more, spend smarter, and make your money go further

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Source: mint.intuit.com

Apache is functioning normally

June 1, 2023 by Brett Tams

Last year the zipper on my winter coat broke. Not before time, mind you; I’d had it so long that I couldn’t remember exactly when I bought it. My best guess is 25 years.

Gut reaction: Oh no! I can’t afford a new coat. But of course I could. I have a regular writing gig. Yet I actually thought about getting a seamstress to put in a new zipper.

Folks, this coat wasn’t classy even when it was new way back in the mid-1980s. It was a navy blue, butt-length cloth coat with a hood, bought from the clearance rack for about $40. After a couple of dozen years of wear it was fraying badly, especially around the cuffs and pockets.

Paying for a new zipper would have been like putting a new door on a condemned property. Why not apply that money toward a new garment?

Because I was used to doing without.
Because I was afraid I couldn’t afford it.
Because I was afraid, period.

Call it a scarcity mentality, call it cheapskatery, call Dr. Phil and have him work me over. The fact is, I had trouble spending money because I remembered the time when I had nothing.

Still Stuck in the Pain

Like someone who’d gone through the Great Depression, I was afraid to loosen the purse strings. Sometimes I still am. And I’m not alone.

Plenty of the folks body-slammed by the current recession are also fearful, according to Dr. Ted Klontz, co-author of Mind Over Money: Overcoming the Money Disorders That Threaten Our Financial Health. Even after their finances improve, he says, it’s likely that some “are going to have a lot of difficulty (taking) care of themselves and their families in reasonable ways.”

Spending after a financial crisis is like dating after a divorce, Klontz says. “It’s a natural process to restrict it, because you don’t want to go through the pain again. What that would tell me is that you’re still stuck in the pain associated with that time.”

He’s right. To me, hitting the mall would have been as unnatural as signing up for one of those online dating sites. (Even though I do enjoy foreign films, taking long walks on the beach at sunset and reading to orphans.)

After a day or two I came to my senses and got a replacement coat. (More on that later.) It was a good sign that my personal improvement program — aka “Get a grip, Freedman!” — was taking hold.

Before you judge me too harshly, know this: If you’ve never done without, you have no idea how hard it can be to believe — to really BELIEVE — that the wolf is nowhere near your door.

Instead, you remain in frugal lockdown. You pay the bills, allow for a bare minimum of necessities, and hoard the rest in case something bad happens.

Knowing You Have Enough

These days I think in terms of living mindfully, which some people call living intentionally — i.e., thinking hard about wants and needs and then meeting them in a low-cost, preferably low-impact way.

In other words, I’m not hoarding every dime because something bad might happen. I’m saving so that something good will happen, such as buying a home of my own. In the short term, I’m using a portion of saved funds to do some of the things I want, such as traveling — or buying a coat. (We’ll get to that soon. Honest.)

What helped me, and what might help you, was creating a “spending intention statement.” Financial adviser Spencer Sherman suggests making a list of all the basics (including an emergency fund and a retirement fund), plus categories for long-term savings and charity. Pay those bills/honor those commitments each month. Congratulations — you’re solvent!

“If you’re saving money and you’re giving some money away, that’s telling you you’ve got enough — the rest of the money, you can spend,” says Sherman, author of The Cure for Money Madness: Break Your Bad Money Habits, Live Without Financial Stress — and Make More Money!.

So once I’ve paid my monthly bills, filled the larder with frugal vittles, mailed a check to an elderly relative, set aside money for quarterly taxes, and seen automated monthly savings siphoned off into an online bank, I know that whatever’s left over is mine to enjoy.

Sort of.

Where Your Money Goes — and Where it Stays

Should I really want to use up every dime? Should anyone, especially if you’re in debt, recently out of debt, or the kind of person who, before layoff, always spent like a sailor on shore leave?

Nope. And nope. That’s where the big, bad B-word comes in. Two B-words, actually: budget and balance.

The Balanced Money Formula, from All Your Worth by Elizabeth Warren and Amelia Tyagi

A “spending intention statement” is just a highfalutin synonym for “budget.” As noted earlier, an SIS eases panic and anxiety because it gives you a clear picture of where your money goes — and where it stays. It’s control. It’s choice.

Suppose you make your bills, continue to fund for the future and enjoy the occasional package of Sweet Tarts. If there’s any left over you can choose to put some or most of it into additional categories: new car fund, college savings plan, replacement winter coat. (Nearly there. I promise.)

Don’t forget a “fun” category. Fun is a major component of the “balance” side of the ledger. Do without entertainment for too long and you’re likely to bust loose and blow the budget. You’ll hate yourself in the morning. (The company that holds your credit card will probably send you flowers, though.)

Whether your idea of a good time is a monster truck rally or the New York Philharmonic, that part of the budget is yours to use as you see fit. Don’t deny yourself fun — but don’t try to run through every possible permutation in the same weekend, either. When coming off a long, dry, fun-less spell, it’s best to start small.

Oh, and to pay cash. Choose something you find both wonderful and affordable and treat yourself, using fresh green tender from your wallet. Leave the plastic home. You’re less likely to overdo it that way.

Savor and Appreciate

This is especially true if overindulgence was the reason you wound up in trouble in the first place. Learn why that was a problem, lest you repeat this particular history. Did you:

Try to cover up pain or loneliness by accumulating Stuff?
Strive to keep up with free-spending peers?
Have an entitlement mentality?
Fall into the trap of eating every meal out? (My friend knows a couple who routinely spends $700 to $800 a week in restaurants.)

Googols of self-help and personal-finance books exist to help you get to the bottom of your overspending. (You will, of course, get them from the library. Right?) Or you might want to seek help from a therapist, a reputable credit counseling agency or a group such as Debtors Anonymous.

One personal finance expert told me that it’s best to initiate or reinstate treats slowly. Maybe add one indulgence every couple of months, whether that’s a new video game, a perennial for your garden, brunch with your sister or a therapeutic massage. Just make sure that it doesn’t raise your total monthly budget by more than 5%.

Take the time to savor and appreciate each new treat, and to think about when — or whether — to add a new one. Having money once more doesn’t mean you can throw it around. (You could put someone’s eye out that way.) Even though I’m working to overcome my spending phobia, I’m still striving to meet needs and wants alike as reasonably as possible:

Ha! Told you we’d get there! I needed a coat but I wanted to save money, so I compromised: I went to Value Village in Seattle, where I found a barely-worn Eddie Bauer down coat for $14.99.

Keeping Money in Perspective

Being super-aware of spending isn’t a bad thing. It’s a reminder to send my bucks toward things that matter. That can be a small thing, incidentally — say, an ice-cream cone with my great-nephews. On a warm summer day while I’m on vacation, ice cream matters.

But I don’t need to have ice cream every day. If I do, it no longer matters. (It also plays hob with my cholesterol.) Thus skeptical spending keeps me from piddling away a ton of money on things that ultimately make no difference in my life.

Besides, remembering the tough times helps me keep money in perspective. It reminds me that I don’t really need much to live on. It also reminds me how blessed I am: After meeting basic needs I now have the luxury of selecting from among my wants.

So join me. Look for the place between paranoia and profligacy. Look for balance. And look in thrift stores on half-off days. I’m still mildly irritated that I spent $14.99. That coat better last another 25 years.

Source: getrichslowly.org

Apache is functioning normally

May 31, 2023 by Brett Tams

Katie Ridder is famed for her gloriously colorful spaces.

Recently, the New York City-based interior designer and author exclusively shared her most important home decor ideas and rules with us for a perfectly finished room.

So if your rooms are nearly there but not quite, let Katie’s advice help you get them over the line.

1. Include tiny, eye-catching details

Blue stripped wallpaper, inbuilt white shelves, bed

‘The thing that really marks out a well-designed and thought-out home is the really tiny details; that is often what’s missing, and what it takes a bit of thought to pull together,’ says Katie.

‘But when you introduce them – be it a beautiful trim on a lampshade or a painting that picks up on another color in the room or a high gloss paint finish on something unexpected – then the room comes together in a really special way.

‘A really brilliant example I have of this level of detail is Charlottenhof Palace, a former royal palace in Germany that has a blue and white striped room with fabric on the walls that looks like a tent; there is some red and white embroidery along the base of the upholstered walls, as well as on the curtains, which perfectly lines up and it’s that detail which brings it to another level. It might not be something you consciously notice if you’re not looking for it, but your brain registers it on a subconscious level.’

You can see Katie’s take on this above in the fabulous nook bed idea.

2. Make space for handmade pieces

‘I have such respect for artisans, of all kinds, whether they make beautiful lampshades or furniture or woodcraft; as a designer I rely on their skill to make pieces that make a room really sing.

‘Hand crafted pieces really bring something extra to a space because they reference the person behind the object and the time and skill that went into the piece.

‘Something handmade really elevates a room because by its very nature it is one of a kind. We used a decorative artist to paint the floors of one client’s home and it adds an unbeatable element of pizzazz.’

Our painted floor ideas gallery has plenty of inspiration for your own scheme.

3. Add personal touches

Painted mirror frames and folk chest Wicklewood

‘You don’t need a huge budget to add detail and personality. When my husband and I were first married, we decided to paint detailing on our furniture. He cut a stencil and I painted with it. In a recent project, I lined the back of a bookshelf with marbleized paper. It’s all about having something that no on else has; it forces you to be creative.’

Our painted furniture ideas are easy to copy for your own personal touch.

4. Ensure beautifully hung drapes

Blue walls, green armchair, white bedding

‘Beautifully hung curtains can look very smart. One trick I recently learned on a project is to tack the end of the curtain to the wall, and the middle of the curtain panel so that it all stays crisp, tidy and straight.’

We have all the curtain ideas you need to create a sumptuous scheme, whatever your budget.

5. Style your bed beautifully

Green wallpaper, blue bedframe, armchair

‘A beautifully dressed bed is important as it is often the first thing that catches your eye. I like to have a coverlet tucked in very tight and then a duvet or a blanket folded in thirds at the end of the bed.

‘What I’m trying to do is make the bed look smaller, so it doesn’t dominate the space. For that reason, I don’t like monster mattresses – they look so out of proportion – and I do not use dust skirts – I get the bottom of the bed upholstered. Bed hangings – curtains around the bed – are also a really nice touch if you have space.’

We have a guide on how to style a bed for the uninitiated.

6. Repeat design motifs

Green painted living room with green floral patterned sofa, striped side table, plant, cushions, artwork on wall

‘Tying in design details and repeating them subtly across a room is a subtle way to make a room feel pulled together. I had one project where I had a pair of vintage ceramic lamps, with circles in their design. I paired them with a fabric which had embroidered sunbursts on it – it wasn’t the same design, but it reflected it just enough to work.’

Our feature on repetition in interior design will help you learn how to achieve this seamlessly.

7. Shop for white lampshades

Blue sofas and armchairs, orange cushions, blue walls

‘Crisp white lampshades are the easiest and most stylish shades to pair with any lamp in any room; if in doubt, go white.’

8. Decorate the ceiling

cozy corner with grey u-shaped sofa and brown walls with art

‘You can never underestimate the power of wallpaper to transform the look of a room. I love a pattern. Don’t forget to look up: the ceiling can be a whole extra surface to decorate.’

Our ceiling wallpaper ideas and ceiling paint ideas offer up plenty of advice and inspiration.

9. Use red and blue

‘I think red has such clarity to it – it goes well with brown, navy, goes with everything. I often include red in my work. But I also think that you can never go wrong with the quintessential combination of varying shades of blue.

‘I’ve done a bathroom with patterned floor tile, cobalt wallpaper, and marine-colored curtains and it’s divine. In another living room in a Connecticut farmhouse, I’ve combined both red and blue, drawing on the two colors from the antique rug.

‘Even if you have disparate colors around the room, all it takes to tie the scheme together is to repeat a color in strategic places. The repetition doesn’t have to be in the biggest items, it can be picking up on a red in a painting and placing a red book on a coffee table and then on a border of a cushion.’

Decorating with red takes courage; decorating with blue less so – you can find advice for both in our features.

10. Introduce game-changing antique rugs

Bedroom with Scalloped Jute rug from Vanrenen GW Designs

‘Rugs are an amazing way to add layers of depth and color to a room; and a great way to update a look if you fancy a change. I love antique carpets because they have a gravitas and interest to them.

‘Antiques are really important to me because they set a tone for a room in a bold way. The history and gravitas behind them lends an historical texture that newer pieces just don’t have.’

We have expert tips on both choosing an area rug and decorating with antiques.

11. Don’t neglect texture

orange and white bennison fabric used as fabric walling in a sitting room setting by kate guinness design

‘Try to add textures on surfaces, because it brings a luxury air. Fabric on walls is particularly interesting to me because of the texture it provides, and the way that it can soften a room; my own living room is lined with a cream fabric that has a waxed French glaze. Or in a client’s kitchen I have used fish-scale patterned tiles behind the cooker and worksurfaces. The way the light reflects around the room adds a layer of interest and detail.’

12. Layer lighting

A fall color scheme in a bedroom with deep red walls, yellow stool and neutral bedding

‘Lighting is tremendously important and can instantly set the tone – or kill it. I think it’s important to have down lights in the ceiling; the apertures are so small now that they’re not as glaringly obvious as they used to be, and then you pair that within the room with sconces, table lamps, and lighting for paintings – different heights of light create different moods and layers of interest.’

13. Bring in flowers

Decorating ideas. Pink and white flower arrangement in planter and candles on console table.

‘Flowers are so important to me. I love to bring some element of living nature into a room – even if it is just a branch. It makes the whole room feel friendlier and alive.’

Where Katie shops

Fabrics: I adore Christopher Farr for bold and colorful printed and woven fabrics, Christopher Moore and Robert Kime.

Antiques: we use Alexander Cohane who sources from Europe.

Paint colors: are always Benjamin Moore or Farrow & Ball, because they do beautifully rich shades.

Lighting suppliers: are Collier Webb or Charles Edwards and our lampshades are all custom made by local artisans.

Source: yahoo.com

Apache is functioning normally

May 31, 2023 by Brett Tams

Ho, ho, ho!

Oh, oh?

Have you considered your apartment neighbors this holiday season?

Whether it’s a token for the season or “welcome to the neighborhood” timing, a small gift given in friendship can create warm feelings between neighbors, especially at this time of the year.

Check out these ideas about gifting for your good neighbors!

Your good neighbor policy

What makes good neighbors in your book? It might be the neighbor you trust to come into your apartment when you can’t be there to walk your dog or water your plants. Maybe it’s a neighbor who gets the mail when you’re out of town or who shares some of the cookies they bake with you. A good neighbor might just be a friendly face you see regularly, the person who smiles and waves and makes you feel like a good neighbor yourself. Whatever your criteria, make a mental note as you encounter these people that you’d like to show your appreciation with a small, seasonal gift.

Holiday gestures

For many, the holidays are the time for swapping all kinds of gifts with a generosity that may not show up during the rest of the year. Your holiday gift list for good neighbors might include:

None of these items need cost too much; the gesture itself conveys the sentiment of good cheer.

Liquid sustenance

In a cold season, why not share the warmth of a hot drink? Give your neighbor a hot cocoa set complete with good-quality hot chocolate and cheery mugs. If a drink with a bit of a kick feels appropriate, consider a bottle of wine (not too expensive!) or a tasty liqueur.

Welcome presents

When a new resident moves into a community, there’s so much to do to settle in. Meeting the neighbors might not be their first priority. So, whether it’s the holiday season or not, why not share an inviting spirit with folks who move in near you in the community?

Prepare a simple gift to introduce yourself and let them know you’re glad they’ve arrived. You can make something as simple as a batch of baked goods, adding a bundle of ribbon-tied brochures as a list of resources your new neighbor might like to know about. You can share info about local spots from schools and libraries to your favorite restaurants and movie theaters. Gift cards and coupons are thoughtful, as is the housewarming staple, a live plant. You could also assemble a decorative pail of cleaning supplies. Just about any act of thoughtfulness might brighten the day of your new neighbor and communicate your welcome!

Just because!

The nicest gifts are often those given “just because” — no belief, creed or annual celebration necessary! If you’re out shopping and find something that you know your neighbor would enjoy – something that would really complement her and her apartment — bring it on home to give! Flowers or vegetables from your balcony or patio garden make wonderful spontaneous gifts, as well. The gift of your time is another valuable thing you can share — especially if you are close friends with your neighbor.

Good neighbors are who they are because it’s their instinct — they certainly don’t expect anything in return. That’s why it’s so important to thank them in small, but personally meaningful ways. Share your holiday spirit with a present that says, “I’m glad you’re my neighbor!”

Photo credits: Shutterstock / Subbotina Anna, Amir Kaljikovic, Gayvoronskaya_Yana

Apache is functioning normally

May 30, 2023 by Brett Tams

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As Christians, we are called to be good stewards over the money and wealth with which God has provided to us.

So before we consider investing in stocks, we must find out if it is within God’s will!

Is investing in stocks a God-honoring way to grow our finances, or is it really being careless with God’s money?

What Is Investing In Stocks?

What Investing Is Not

Investing is not the same as gambling! This is actually where a lot of Christians develop a fear of the stock market. Most people who make this assumption do so either out of fear or ignorance. Some are fearful of investing because it seems so complicated, so they assume that no one can understand it and so everyone must be gambling! Others just don’t understand the mechanics of investing, or how much information is available to the common investor. It is beyond the scope of this article to catalog all of the ways in which investing is not gambling. Visit here to learn if the trading websites are legal and licensed.

True investing is not a “get rich quick scheme”. The bible is full of warnings about rushing to make money without any effort such as Proverbs 21:5

The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.

However, the concept of investing is not about throwing your money after something that you don’t really understand, hastily and without a real plan.

What Investing Is

The basic idea of investing in stocks is this: To participate in and benefit from the growth and earnings of a particular company, through purchasing shares of ownership. When someone has extra money and they want to look for legal ways to make that money grow, that is considered investing. The stock market gives individuals the unique opportunity to profit off of the growth and ingenuity of some of the world’s largest companies!

Does Investing In Stocks Show A Lack Of Faith In God?

Now that we have taken a very brief look at what investing is and isn’t, we now must consider whether someone who invests is demonstrating a lack of faith. Matthew 10:5-11:1 is a common passage that is brought up whenever discussing planning for the future, and trusting in God. This is where Jesus sends out his 12 Apostles to preach His word, heal the sick, and perform various miracles throughout Israel.

He gives them instructions on where to go, what to do, and dangers to look out for (and even uses this time to talk about future things). However it is Jesus’ instructions on what items to take along for the journey, that we want to take a look at now…Matthew 10:9-10 says:

Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support.

As we see here, Christ was teaching them to trust in the Lord for all provision and care. This would be experienced through the kindness of those to whom they ministered in these various towns. They were not to take extra materials with them (planning for their future need), because God would work things out so that they would have all that they need!

This should be a great encouragement to us as believers because we know that God is able to provide for us no matter what our current situation may be.

However, there is something that we need to take notice of when considering this passage. First, Jesus’ words to the apostles were specific for this journey. We can see that from looking at His words to these same men in Luke 22:35-36

And He said to them, When I sent you out without money belt and bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?” They said, “No, nothing”. And He said to them, “But now, whoever has a money belt is to take it along, likewise also a bag, and whoever has no sword is to sell his coat and buy one”.

He is now telling them to use normal means to provide for themselves (storing and planing for the future, buying, selling, etc), rather than just to go out with the bare minimum and count on God’s providence in a more pronounced way (as in the Matthew 10 passage).

This passage in Luke 22 is describing Jesus Christ’s last words to his disciples before he was crucified. He was giving them instructions on how to carry out God’s mission for them after His death. Therefore, it is clear that God was not condemning the concepts of investing, saving, and preparing for the future in Matthew 10, because he then instructs the disciples to make these concepts a part of their lives at the end of His earthly ministry.

So based on a proper understanding of God’s intention when sending the apostles out to preach, we can see that the ideas of investing and faith do not contradict one another.

Another idea that is often brought up is that of God’s general promise of provision negates the need to invest or plan for the future. In Matthew 6:25-33 we find these words:

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:25-33

…But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.

1 Thessalonians 4:10b-12

For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12

As we can see, God’s normal way of provision is to line up your abilities with someone who is willing to pay for those abilities, so you can work to support yourself. The ideas of God sustaining us and our human efforts go hand in hand. However, we must be certain to look to God not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.

30″But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31″Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32″For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

As you can see, Jesus tells his followers not to worry since God will provide the basic necessities of life – if He does it for birds and flowers, He will surely do it for His children (those who seek after His kingdom)! However, this passage does not promote a sinful life of laziness, where we just sit around and pray and read the Bible, and food, money, shelter, and all of our other needs will just fall from the sky. Even the birds have to work to build nests, find food and care for their young, but ultimately, it is God who provides for them all.

God’s provision means a lot more than just raining down the things that we need without us doing any work for them. God oftentimes will provide for us by giving us the ability to earn money – for at all times for His sovereign will to be done in our lives!

Of course, there are more things that can be said about how those common verses that are used to teach that investing and planning for the future is equal to lacking faith in God, don’t teach that at all. However, I think that we’ve seen enough from God’s word to make that clear. Let’s move on to the main question at hand.

What Does The Bible Say About Saving And Investing?

The bible actually has quite a bit to say about investing for the future, but I just want to look at one main example and then give a few verses as well. Let’s take a look at the “Parable of the Talents” to see what God has to say about investing:

14″For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15″To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16″Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17″In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more.

18″But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19″Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20″The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21″His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

22″Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.’ 23″His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 24″And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25’And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.’

26″But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27’Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28’Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’

29″For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30″Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ~ Matthew 25:14-30

I believe this to be the clearest picture of investing what God has given us in order to bear fruit for His kingdom. The fact that Jesus actually uses money to illustrate this point, should be a clear indication that God has no problem with Christians who take the money that God has given us responsibility over, and wisely invests it! In fact, he expects it!

To be clear, this passage goes way beyond money and points to whatever talents and spiritual gifts we have. The point is that God expects us to use what He gives us, and it is, therefore, a sin to bury them in the ground and fail to use it. Because of our economic system, money is the thing that we use in order to sustain ourselves. In times of surplus, we are to give abundantly and invest and save for the future, so that in times of lack, we will have provision stored up for us!

This was true in Egypt when God led Joseph to plan to save 20% of the harvest for 7 years in preparation of the devastating famine (Genesis 41:33-36). We can also see it in the rebuke of the lazy man in Proverbs 6:6-11:

6 Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise, 7 Which, having no chief, officer or ruler, 8 Prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest. 9 How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? 10 “A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest”– 11 Your poverty will come in like a vagabond, and your need like an armed man.

Here are a few more verses about saving and planning & investing for the future:

Proverbs 10:5 – He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.

Proverbs 21:5 – The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.

Proverbs 24:27 – Prepare your work outside and make it ready for yourself in the field; Afterwards, then, build your house.

Luke 14:28-30 – For which one of you, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’

1 Chronicles 22:5 – David said, “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord shall be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all lands. Therefore now I will make preparation for it.” So David made ample preparations before his death.

As you can see, God has a lot to say about planning and investing for the future.

Reader Questions:

Why do you think the bible speaks about finances and planning for the future so often?
Do you allow God’s word to impact your investing decisions?

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Source: biblemoneymatters.com

Apache is functioning normally

May 30, 2023 by Brett Tams

Are you interested in paying down debt? Here's how this couple paid off $62,000 in debt in just 7 months! Yes, it is possible to do this! Hello! Today, I have a great post from my blogging friend James. James and his wife paid off $62,000 in debt in just 7 months!

Shortly after we got married, my wife Andrea and I got serious about our finances and paid off all our debt.

This is the story of how we turned a profit on our wedding, combined our finances, and paid off $62,000 of debt in 7 months.

Related:

Where’d all the debt come from?

All the debt was mine. I was a dumb young kid and thought I’d always be able to out earn my stupid decisions. Until one day I couldn’t.

Despite a generous 3-year military scholarship at my pricey, private college, I had student loans to pay for:

my housing (~$12,000 x 4)
my freshman year’s tuition (~$30,000)
and a summer study abroad program (~$15,000)

Then shortly before I graduated, USAA, a military-member’s bank, offered me a $25,000 loan at the ridiculously low rate of 2% interest. USAA dubbed it a “Career Starter Loan,” but really it was their clever way of ensuring I’d be a customer for the foreseeable future. I used $15,000 to refinance my study-abroad loan, bought a new laptop, and put the rest in savings.

If you’re keeping count, that pushed my total debt upon graduating college up over $100,000.

So of course I immediately got serious about my finances, did a budget, and started attacking my debt, right?

Nope.

I bought a sports car instead.

I was 22 years old, only 4 months into my Army career, and had racked up over ~$115,000 in debt. All I had to show for it was a fancy diploma, a 3 year old Mazda, and $1,100+/month in debt payments.

My wake up call

As can happen in the military, I got hurt.

I always knew it was a possibility, but never thought it’d happen to me. Ultimately, the Army decided it was best if they “retired” me. Just like that my once promising career was over only two years after it started.

Fortunately for me, the Army is a huge, slow moving bureaucracy and I had some time to prepare for my unexpected new life as a civilian. Unfortunately for me, I got hurt during the financial collapse of 2008 and I was entering one of the worst job markets of my life.

I didn’t know how long I’d be without a reliable income, but I knew I’d still be expected to reliably come up with $1,100/month for debt payments.

I opened an excel file and made my first crude budget, subtracting what I needed to spend each month from what I made each month. Turns out I had more money leftover at the end of the month than I realized. I saved as much of it as I could and set it aside as an emergency fund.

Six months after leaving the Army, and nearly draining my savings, I convinced a Fortune 500 company to put me in charge of a $15M/year operation. Now armed with a decent salary I set aside one month’s worth of expenses as a small emergency fund and attacked my debts with a vengeance.

I finally understood what a hindrance my debts were and I wanted them gone!

If you’d like, check out this article to get the exact tools and tactics I used to attack my debts. Following this plan, I would’ve paid off my remaining ~$80,000 and been totally debt free in 3 years.

There was just something I had to do first.

Will you marry me?

My debt was no secret to Andrea, and to her credit, she didn’t really care. She valued me more than my debt and saw how hard I worked to get through my career crisis and get my act together. In fact, we grew closer through all the craziness.

We’d been together for 5 years at this point and it was time to move our relationship forward. I paid off a couple more debts, kept current on my remaining balances, and used my excess cash each month to save for an engagement ring.

In September 2011 I asked Andrea to marry me, she said yes, and we were married a year later.

In that year, I paid the minimum payments on my remaining debts and we saved all our excess cash to pay for our wedding and honeymoon.

We made sure to stretch our dollars by:

Booking a daytime wedding, it was a lot cheaper to rent a venue during the day than at night.
We rented centerpieces (the vases all the flowers went in) instead of buying them. I’m not sure what we would’ve done with 20 identical glass cylinders after the wedding, anyway.
Made our invitations and programs using kits available from craft stores.
“Hired” friends and family in the industry we would’ve been willing to hire even if we didn’t know them
Andrea’s aunt is a seamstress and made all the bridesmaids dresses.
Our DJ/Pianist was a friend.
Our Photographer was a friend.

In the end, we had a beautiful wedding, a great honeymoon, and were able to pay for everything in cash. We even had a bit leftover.

Joining forces

After our honeymoon, we moved into a new rental house and started combining our finances. Then once we could see all our money coming into and going out of the same account, we redid our budget.

Andrea and I both earned similar incomes, but now our expenses were much less as a married couple than when we lived on our own. We only had one rent payment, one set of utilities, etc. Since our “married” expenses each month were pretty close to what each of us spent as a single person we had a lot of cash left at the end of the month.

By this point, the debt was down to ~$62,000 and it was time for us to attack it.

Andrea and I both wanted to pay off the debt quickly, but we didn’t agree on how. The main point of contention centered around the money we had leftover from our wedding, wedding gift cash, and some of Andrea’s savings from her years as a responsible person.

Even though Andrea had shown me incredible grace, I still felt ashamed of my debt. I didn’t want it hanging over our heads and was willing to take drastic action to to wipe it out.

I wanted to throw most of our savings at debt, leaving just enough to act as a small emergency fund. Then once the debt was totally gone, we’d rebuild our savings to its previous level.

That plan would have us out of debt really fast, but was risky as it would leave us with only a small emergency fund for a while. I didn’t love this risky plan, but I was anxious to pay off our debts and was already used to living with only a small emergency fund. Besides, with two incomes I figured the odds of us having a catastrophic emergency were quite small.

Andrea, however, hated that plan.

She wasn’t comfortable with the risk and did not want to drain our savings. Having a big emergency fund gave her a sense of security I’d never experienced before and the idea of only having a small emergency fund freaked her out.

Balancing speed with security was a new concept for us. We viewed risk differently and had to come up with a plan we’d both be happy with. The more we talked about it, though, the less our conversations centered on our finances.

Instead, we focussed more on building the life we wanted.

Debt freedom and a big emergency fund were just some of the ingredients.

We both wanted to travel. We both wanted to give to charity. We both wanted to pursue work we love.

Paying off the debt would give us the freedom to do so.

We never wanted to worry about putting food on the table. We never wanted to wonder how we’d pay our rent. We didn’t ever want to be tied to a job we didn’t like just because we needed the money.

A big emergency fund would help us avoid those things.

Our plan for paying down debt

So here’s what we came up with.

We agreed to use some savings to pay off a couple of my smaller student loans completely. This still left us with enough of an emergency fund to maintain Andrea’s sense of security.
We agreed to keep our expenses to less than half of our combined income. We could’ve afforded to rent a fancier house and eat lobster every night, but we chose not to. This way, if one of us lost our jobs we’d still be able to pay rent and keep food on the table. While we were both working, though, we’d use the leftover cash to attack the remaining debt.
We agreed to stay focussed and pay off all the remaining debt in less than a year. If by our first anniversary we still had some debt we’d tap into our savings to pay off whatever small amount was left.

Assuming everything went according to plan, we’d be debt free with a healthy emergency fund within the first year of our marriage.

FINALLY DEBT FREE!

Everything went according to plan and we’re done paying down debt!

Seven months later we were totally debt free. ~$62,000 paid off and we still had a healthy emergency fund.

Or to put it another way, we paid off ~$115,000 in five years, about a year faster than if we’d not gotten married and I just paid it off myself. I paid off ~$53,000 in 4 years on my own, slowed down my debt attack to get married, and together with my awesome wife wiped out the rest.

Even more important than paying off the debt, Andrea and I learned how to set the course of our lives and take action to get us there. We grew closer as a couple as we faced the challenge of paying off debt. Best of all Andrea and I learned to work together to achieve great things.

Now it’s your turn

Maybe you’ve never talked about hopes and dreams or set goals with your partner. Or maybe you’ve never even thought about it for yourself. This can be tough and tricky, but I’d like to help you out.

It’s pretty easy to articulate a “what” and a “how” for money and call it a day. Take for example “Let’s pay off our credit card/student loan debt by cutting our expenses.” That’s great and responsible, but boring. Instead, as Andrea and I learned, start with “why” you want to do something.

Think about or ask your partner:

How would it feel to have an extra $100, $500, or $1,000 leftover at the end of the month?
How would you approach your career differently if you didn’t have to trade your labor just to pay Sallie Mae or Visa?
How much fun could you have?
How generous could you be?
What new options would you have in your life?

Taking this approach, you’d come up with something like: “I want to take a job for the love of it, give more money to charity, buy that thing I’ve always wanted without feeling guilty, and/or stay home with the kids. So let’s trim our expenses to pay off our debt.”

With a solid “why” like that, the “what” and “how” are just details. You’ll also be much more likely to stick with your goals when, not if, something comes along to distract you.

Pessimism is practical

If you find yourself struggling to come up with a worthy “why” release your inner pessimist. Think about all the things you don’t want in life. Think about what you’re afraid of. Then flip it by stating the opposite.

Take “I’m afraid I’m going to work as a corporate slave forever just to pay off my student loans” and flip it to “I want to pay off these loans so I can afford to work for a non-profit.”

“We’re going to be too broke to travel or have any fun when we get older” flips to become “I want to travel the world with our friends and family, so let’s save up a bunch of money to do so.”

Once you have your “why” figured out, “what” to do with your money and “how” will come more easily.

You’ll be able to withstand temptation and not get distracted by shiny stuff. And by working towards a worthy “why” together with your partner, you’ll learn to talk about money without fighting because you won’t just be talking about money. Instead, you’ll be planning and working towards a better life together.

I hope you and your partner will face the challenge of your finances, decide what you really want for your lives, and work towards your goals together. Aggressively paying off our debts actually brought Andrea and I closer together and deepened our marriage. We learned how to talk about tough subjects, set goals, and work together to achieve them. You and your partner can do the same.

Author bio: James helps couples handle and talk about money without fighting at loveandmoneymatters.com. Enjoy his blog post about paying down debt below.

What’s your family’s biggest financial goal? Why is it important to you? Are you currently paying down debt?

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Apache is functioning normally

May 29, 2023 by Brett Tams

By Peter Anderson 8 Comments – The content of this website often contains affiliate links and I may be compensated if you buy through those links (at no cost to you!). Learn more about how we make money. Last edited May 29, 2023.

Memorial Day is here! It’s become synonymous with being a day to enjoy family, friends and even a having a BBQ, but let’s not forget to take a moment today to remember all our fighting men and women over the years who have made the ultimate sacrifice, by giving their lives so that the rest of us might live free.

Over the years on Memorial Day I’ve had a chance to stop at my grandparent’s graves at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Bloomington, MN.

While I won’t make it there this year, it is always a vivid reminder of just how much so many have given. There is row after row of graves for our military men and women, so many of them having died while fighting for our nation.

A couple of times while I was there I found the graves of Medal of Honor winners there, and it was amazing to read of their sacrifices later on when I got home via a Google search.

My Grandfather’s POW Story

Being at Fort Snelling also reminds me of just how much my grandfather gave, despite the fact that he wasn’t killed in action. My grandfather, Fred Anderson, was in the U.S. Army Air Corps, becoming a prisoner of war in a German POW camp for over a year. What he went through couldn’t have been easy, and I’m just sad that he passed at such a young age (in his 60s) due to Parkinson’s Disease and a stroke. I was never really able to get a full accounting of his experiences as I would have liked.

I recently did find out a bit more about his experience as a prisoner of war by reading a book about the experiences of many others in the same prison camp as him, called The Last Escape, The Untold Story of Alled Prisoners of War in Europe 1944-1945.

My grandfather was a replacement waist gunner on a B-17 that was shot down in February of 1944. He had flown three successful missions with his crew, but on the fourth mission during “The Big Week” (see wikipedia) they were returning from a bombing run over Leipzig, Germany, and were shot down.

The entire crew parachuted out of the plane, but were quickly captured by the Germans. They were sent to Stalag Luft 4 near Grosstychow, Prussia where 6,660 other American POWs were held.

My grandfather’s capture was first reported to the International Committee of the Red Cross on February 22, 1944, and he was imprisoned for at least 473 days (1 year and ~4 months) according to the Red Cross.

His recollection of being liberated was in a hospital bed. He went to sleep one night in ill health as a prisoner of the Germans, and woke up to find the Russians had overrun the area. He eventually made his way to France where he recuperated, and then on home to Minnesota where he married and had a family, including his firstborn – my father.

When he left home before the war he weighed in at 180 lbs, and came home at a thin 130 lbs at the end of 1945. We’re so thankful he made it back, so many were not so lucky.

Since it is Memorial Day weekend the cemetery will be in full bloom with flags flying, and flowers on countless graves, in remembrance of loved ones. It’s usually a very stirring sight, and I may try to make it down there the day after to get a glimpse – and to say thank you in prayer for all those brave men and women.

So on this Memorial Day weekend, thank you to our veterans, and thank you to those who have already paid the ultimate price. You won’t be forgotten.

Source: biblemoneymatters.com

Apache is functioning normally

May 29, 2023 by Brett Tams

Source: TikTok/@olivebranchcottage

One would think a married couple would be on the same page about the decor present in their home. However, this woman’s husband definitely is not.

One would think a married couple would be on the same page about the decor present in their home. Decisions about artwork, color palette, furniture, and more are often joint when moving in together.

However, TikTok creator @olivebranchcottage, aka Morgan, proves that some spouses are not always on the same page as their partners.

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In fact, Morgan’s husband seemingly has no idea what many of their interior decorations even look like, making her viral home decor quiz all the more hilarious. Let’s get into her (relatively easy) questions, his oblivious responses, and the comment section’s reaction.

Husband reacts to home decor quiz question in @olivebranchcottage's TikTok. — Source: TikTok/@olivebranchcottage

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A woman gave her husband a home decor quiz — and his answers were interesting, to say the least.

The TikTok creator’s viral home decor quiz video started incredibly straightforward, with Morgan asking her husband to simply state the color of the circle painted on the wall of the plant room in their house.

After several seconds of deep introspection, her perplexed partner arrived at his first answer: “Like, a clay color. Like, orangish-brown.”

What followed proved he couldn’t have been more wrong. Morgan then showed a photo of said circle, which was dark green rather than “orangish-brown.”

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The creator upped the ante by asking her spouse what colors were on the rug in their bedroom, and, you guessed it, he answered incorrectly once again.

After he claimed their shared carpet was red and gold, the creator posted a picture of a white rug with blue flowers. However, to her husband’s credit, there were also small accents of pink and yellow, which could be what he was referring to with the red and gold comment.

And the last Q&A was the icing on the cake. When Morgan asked her partner to name what was in the picture hanging on their backdoor, he promptly asked, “Is that the one of the Italian town with like a little cow out in front?”

Nope! The image in the frame was of a little girl holding a puppy.

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The comment section had a few thoughts about the creator’s husband’s lack of awareness.

Picture of a little girl holding a puppy in @olivebranchcottage's home decor quiz TikTok. — Source: TikTok/@olivebranchcottage

While Morgan’s husband’s responses were undoubtedly amusing, TikTok creators in the comments noted that he could potentially have vision problems. “Hear me out … he might be colorblind,” one user wrote, followed by a crying laughing emoji.

Other people shared similar sentiments, but colorblindness didn’t explain his final answer.

“OK, do you have a painting of an Italian town with a cow?” someone asked. “Because that is SO specific.” Morgan then clarified that they do have artwork featuring cows in their kitchen. However, it contains an English cathedral, not an Italian town.

Bonus points for getting the cow part correct?

Source: distractify.com

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Reader Questions:

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Where’d all the debt come from?

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Will you marry me?

Joining forces

Our plan for paying down debt

FINALLY DEBT FREE!

Now it’s your turn

Pessimism is practical

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A woman gave her husband a home decor quiz — and his answers were interesting, to say the least.

The comment section had a few thoughts about the creator’s husband’s lack of awareness.