Michael and I were in Chicago recently, seeing our daughters and visiting the friends of our youngest daughter.  They are all now young adults and part of a generation of first grade kids I taught decades ago about the choices they have for money.  We treated everyone to a nice dinner.  It was lovely.  That night it was one of the top three things I remembered in my nighttime gratitude prayers.

Shortly after we got home, we received a handwritten thank you note in the mail from our young friends. Yes, you heard me right – a handwritten thank you note!  Not a big surprise coming from the young lady we had dinner with – but a note that touched my heart.

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It’s the start of the school year and with that comes the many school supply requests from the teachers and/or the school – and your kids as well!  With the back-to-school sales in full swing, it’s enticing to get these supplies in volume – much greater than actually needed because, you know, it’s on “sale.”  It is so easy to go beyond your budget just to get the best deal.  This year, try these ideas to help save you and your family time – and money.

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Talk to any educator and they are likely to agree the “summer slide” is real.  Often, the first two weeks (or more) of school are spent “reteaching” the concepts taught the previous year. So how can you help prevent this from happening to your kids?  Try reading. Taking time to read to or with our kids is a great way to help prevent that learning loss. And reading as a family is one of the best ways to spend quality time together and to strike up some meaningful conversations – especially during the summer.

To help you get started, I’ve assembled a recommended reading list of great money books for preschool to adult.

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My early lessons in life were all around saving – not spending. Somehow, I have managed to find a balance with the money in my life and have both saved and spent wisely.  This has proved to be the key to having my cake and eating it too.

I have often mentioned in this blog how I grew up with my grandmother living with us in the upstairs apartment of our home.  I absorbed many money lessons by listening to her and my parents talk about money during our mid-day weekend meals. The overriding theme of those conversations was the need to save.

Money & fear

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