Claire the Afena Mom Blog

I know I write a lot about saving back money for emergencies. Whether it’s a car repair, a furnace malfunction, or a trip to the ER, you never know when you’ll need a stockpile of cash to see you through life’s mishaps.

I like to think that I learn from my mistakes. I’ll point to improved cooking skills (at least a little bit), stronger writing skills (at least I hope!), and better budgeting as proof of that.

According to recent studies, Americans are more concerned than ever about their finances. Unfortunately, most of us aren’t doing anything about it. A common misconception is that in order to conduct any type of financial planning, you have to have lots of money. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

We all know we should save more money than we do. Whether we need to pay down debt, build an emergency fund or save for retirement, we need to cut spending and increase our savings. It’s the only way to build financial security.

I love Easter. I remember hunting for Easter eggs and my Easter basket as a little girl. My mom would always put so much work into making it special. My brother and I would have jelly beans and the Easter basket grass strewn throughout the house for weeks afterwards.

When you start tracking your budget, one thing that will probably shock you is the amount of your family’s money you’re spending at the grocery store every month.

Do you have your green ready to wear this Thursday? St. Patrick’s Day is one of those strange holidays here in the US. We don’t really celebrate it too much, but we will pinch you if you’re not showing your Irish spirit with green clothing.

So this past weekend found my youngest daughter and myself sick. Not emergency room sick, but sick enough to want to lay around in our pajamas and watch television all day.