Lisa Zahn

We don't hold family meetings regularly or often, but when we want the kids' attention, we call one to order after dinner. So yesterday, we notified them in advance and called a family meeting. The kids were quite wary beforehand. Turns out, they thought it was all good (except for the announcement of what their summer yard chores would be, ha ha). We told them about our "Mom and Dad Matching Plan": any activity they want to do, they pay half and we pay the other half. So basically, we'll match their money. When I said some people might find us abusive for expecting our kids to cover half their expenses at their age, Rose piped up with, "but mom, no kids I know get a $50 a month allowance!" Woo hoo! We're training them well... We extended our matching program to their future transportation needs and also said they might want to start saving for a car at some point (Eli has only two years before he can possibly get his driver's li...

Go here to enter to win one of five lifetime memberships to Financial Peace University . I don't need to enter because we're already lifetime members, meaning we can take the classes anytime, anywhere forever and our $93 is already paid. But if you haven't joined FPU already, go comment at Simple Mom's post to win! Also, if you look at FPU's webpage under Find A Class , you'll see a list of all the classes near you. Often they're offered at churches, but not always and there's usually several going on in any city. Good luck!

Today I want to share some links with you, things I've come across or am reading that are helpful on the subject of families, lifestyle and money. Here's a good post from a blog I just found, Plain and Joyful Living. The "M" Word One of my missions in life, and in this blog, is to show people they can live on less money than they think. That one income for a family, or even no outside income if you choose to have home-based businesses (farming, crafting, etc.), might just be plenty. In this post from Plain and Joyful Living , Tonya gives specifics on her family's income and how their family of 8, soon to be 9, is able to live on it. I appreciate when the taboo topic of numbers is discussed openly, as you could guess from my own blog! If you look around on her blog, it looks like this is a common subject for her, and I love it. I'm reading the book Better Off: Flipping The Switch on Technology by Eric Brende right now and it has me thinking a lot about lif...

Sorry I haven't been around all week. I'm not ill, but I have been having mild sinus headaches all week and it puts me in a bit of a fog. I used to have terrible sinus trouble but have gotten much better over the last several years. The main thing that has helped with my sinuses has been seeing a chiropractor but I have been unable to see him for a while. I need to make an appointment. Also, giving up orange juice and peanut butter, especially orange juice, has helped a lot. Dairy doesn't bother me like it does some people, but my former, lifelong breakfast of peanut butter toast and orange juice sure does. At first that was painful as I loved that morning glass of o.j., but now it's been so many years I don't miss it at all. Other reasons I'm in something of a fog have to do with the state of the world. I feel like I've placed a bubble around myself, protecting me from the horrible things going on right now. Japan, for which I can only offer up pra...