Claire the Afena Mom Blog

Albert Einstein once claimed the most powerful force in the universe was compound interest. That’s pretty impressive praise from the person whose work helped create nuclear power and atomic bombs....

I’ve been writing this blog for the past two years, and it’s been fun. My little girls have started school, my little man has learned to walk, talk, and dance, and Moose, the giant, towel eating wonder, has quadrupled in size. It’s been quite a ride.

Little man has a new favorite show to watch at home, and if you’ve had toddlers in the house over the past couple of decades, you’re probably familiar with the Wiggles.

It seems like every frugal living, money saving website tells you the same thing when it comes to paying down your debt: make a budget, track your spending, and spend less than you bring in.

Saving money is a lot like losing weight. It’s no fun, requires sacrifices and no one at a dinner party wants to hear about your plan. For many first-time home-buyers, trying to save enough money for the down payment on a house can seem like a diet that won’t end.

I love the 4th of July. I’m a big fan of fireworks, cooking out, and spending time with family. We’re committed to catching as many firework displays as we possibly can this year, and our community is definitely providing.

​When I was a kid, one of the staples of every summer vacation was floating the river. We’d drag a canoe down to the water, filled with oars, a cooler, sunblock, a camera and water floats. We’d all pile into the canoe until we realized someone had to push us off the land and into the current. So with shouted warnings not to fall out of the boat, my brother would stand up, hop out, and give us a push.

It’s Father’s Day, and I consider myself very blessed to be surrounded by 3 remarkable fathers in my life - my dad, my stepdad, and my husband. Fathers fill so many roles, often acting as a guardian, a friend, and a mentor.