This is really good... From Bella Online's Living Simply Site...

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art69293.asp/zzz

Living Simply Site
Lori Phillips
BellaOnline's Living Simply Editor



Tried and True Money Rules

Many people have gained their wealth the old-fashioned way with no need for pricey investment brokers or knowledge of Wall Street financials. No get-rich-quick schemes. No strokes of sheer dumb luck or inheritances from rich relatives. Smart people slowly build their wealth in steadily, quietly by following these three tried-and-true money rules.

“Spend less than you earn”
Simplest money rule is to spend less than you earn. If you don’t have the money, don’t buy. Don’t charge your purchases on credit. Too many of us don’t realize that we can get along without a lot of things. Rethink what is a priority. Sure food is a priority but can you eat a few simple meals now and then? It doesn’t take much calories or nutrition to fuel your day. In fact, many people can benefit from the occasional health fast which is to abstain from food for 24 hours (children and the infirm should not fast!)

We’re a spoiled nation, used to getting what we want now. You’ll find life goes on when you do without. And when you find yourself doing without a lot of the time, it is a good motivator for earning more.

“Pay yourself second.”
The actual saying is, “Pay yourself first,” but it’s important to give some money away first whether you tithe or donate to charity. Giving money away is a regular practice among the wealthy because they know that there is a universal law about money that brings money back to the giver. But the next vital step in this is to pay yourself second. By doing this, you’re planting seeds of wealth to grow.

Your “pay” should go into that savings that is set aside for your “working” money, the money that will work for you by earning interest. It doesn’t have to be a lot. Be even a little, if never touched, will grow magically.

“If you take care of the nickels, the dollars will take care of themselves.”
This gem came from a successful businessman who taught my husband a lot about money. When one pays attention to the little expenditures, the money leaks get plugged. The waste is cut out of the budget. Somehow, we don’t bother to count the tiny money expenditures the same way we don’t count the calories from tiny nibbles, but both add up.

Perhaps you’re heard these money rules, but do you follow them? Just do it and grow rich.

Good advice.

We don't own a credit card -- some days that's a good thing, and other days not so good. It's tough to live in today's world without credit cards.

I wish I were better with this stuff. NOT my strong point.

Leo Quinn is a financial guru who has good suggestions and ideas about paying down debt and so forth. He is a SMART man. We use his ideas. Pete and I both like his forthrightness and ideas. He has such a wonderfully positive outlook. I love that guy!

Parenting with a child who has special needs and a gov't that does not help more than peripherally and minimally, has been expensive. That said, we do not begrudge him the things we have fought for, worked on, tried, and provided. It's just very costly; I am being honest. I cannot call this a "leak" of $$, because it minimizes the importance of what we are trying to do for Noah. But "leak" the money does! At times, with a big family, it seems to GUSH! LOL!

We are trying a new supplement for N. as soon as it gets here. (Supplement is not new, but for N it would be new. KWIM?) Not specifically for ASD-- but I have been investigating it and looking at what it has been used for, and there are similarities with Noah's behaviour (ie BUSY) and traits that I think makes it a good choice for at least a try. It can't hurt and may be of help. More leaking?????? Maybe. But how can we believe it is not worth trying?

Opps misread the post

But yeah i can think of many leaks in my life, games, soft drink.... teddy bear collections.. SCRAPBOOKING...

... oh wait, scrapbooking isn't a leak...

Dave Ramsey is another good one for $$ advice. Fortunately, my dad was very good about teaching my siblings & me about $$. No matter how much we made he had us giving 10% to church, some to savings & keeping some. I remember making $10 babysitting & faithfully giving that $1 to church. LOL! I remember him talking to me about credit cards & investments. Before I graduated hs, he took me to his investment guy & had me put $500 into a money market. I've pulled it out since then but still, there was a lesson there. I will always be thankful my dad took the time to teach me about $$. To this day, he's still a great example of how to manage $$.

Thats great Stephanie. So many parents are "afraid" to talk about money, investments, etc.
I know my parents were. I have made sure my kids know about that stuff too.

My dad and grandfather had the talk with us. Hopefully I will have the same money talk with my DD when she gets older.

my big money wasters are exchange rates when paying for sb supplies in USD$, takeaways & softdrinks and textbooks (can be over $100 each and in a year I use up to

Jennifer, my brother & husband were able to rent their textbooks through a site called chegg.com. I wonder if that would be an option for you.