I Was Away

I wanted to let everyone know what happened. My sister was diagnosed with a serious illness, and I had to fly across the country to be with her. Please, pray for her. I don't want to reveal too many details until I ask her for permission.

I am sorry I did not post for a while. I was staying at the hospital, and I couldn't work on my blog. My sister is some better, and is at her home. Another person is staying with her for now, so I was able to fly home.

I have several blog reviews and giveaways to do, so I will get them posted.

Managing Your Family Finances

Thank you to TurboTax for sponsoring my writing about household finances.Learn more about how TurboTax can help you find every tax deduction you deserve. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.



It is that time of the year when people focus on their incomes and paying taxes. Unfortunately, most people live paycheck to paycheck. They spend what they want whenever they want. Many people do that and discover they are broke, and they don't know where the money went. Many times they "run out of money before the month" as the saying goes. Also it is important to have extra money saved for those unexpected emergencies. To get control of household spending and start saving we need to set up a household budget.

There I said it. The "B" word. Even the word "budget" can make people cringe. I know it sounds boring and something only "nerds" do. But if you are serious about better managing your finances, a budget can actually give you freedom. You will have more control over your money, know where your money is going, and have a plan to reach your financial goals.

Here are some easy household budgeting strategies you can use to get started.

Earnings
Write down how much you and your spouse (if married) earn each month. If you get paid weekly, then multiply that amount X 4. If you get paid every other week, the mutliply that X2. It is more difficult if your income varies month to month. You need to calculate your annual earnings and divide it by 12 to get your average monthly income.

Expenses
Your fixed expenses are the items that stay the same from month to month, such as a mortgage payment, car payment, telephone bill, etc. Some expenses vary from month to month such as your electric / gas bill. You need to budget for the approximate amount of the bill. In the middle of a cold winter, you will likely need to plan on paying more for heating. Many companies offer a "budget billing" option where they spread the payments evenly over 12 months. The the 12th month the balance is corrected, and you will owe more or less that month.

Some other expenses can be more difficult to calculate. Some people recommend that you carry a notebook and write down everything you spend for 30 days. That will tell you how much money you spent and where it went. You might realize you were doing something like speding $500 in a month to eat out!

The Difference Between the Two
Find the difference between what you spend and what you earn each month. A portion of any surplus should be budgeted for investments or savings. If there is a shortage, then you have two choices. Either you lower your expenses or increase your income or both.

Setting up a household budget is important to manage your family finances. Then hopefully you can pay your bills and save for your future.

To thank me for participating I am to be sent $50.

Dinosaur Train Valentines and Make A Match Game Giveaway

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Buddy and the entire Dinosaur Train clan by downloading for FREE all-new Dinosaur Train Valentine’s Day cards. Click the highlighted area to download then print the PDF.
And for more Valentine’s Day fun, check out the new Flying with Buddy game that reinforces counting skills as Buddy collects seashells. Players use the mouse to control the flight of Buddy, Don and Tiny. Move the mouse UP and Buddy raises his legs, and Don and Tiny fly higher. Move the mouse DOWN and Don and Tiny fly lower, and Buddy reaches to grab the shells on the ground. After one minute of gameplay the characters return to their nest to count the treasures they collected. Check it out for FREE at the following link: http://pbskids.org/dinosaurtrain/games/flyingwithbuddy.html
The hit television series Dinosaur Train™ airs daily on PBS KIDS® (check local listings).

Dinosaur Train on PBS
The Jim Henson Company

AND find the “perfect match” with the Dinosaur Train Make A Match game from Pressman Toy!

In the Dinosaur Train Make A Match game, Buddy and his friends sharpen children’s memory skills in this special matching game that features a Buddy figure! To begin play, 48 game cards featuring favorite Dinosaurs from Dinosaur Train are shuffled and laid face down in 6 rows of 8 cards each. Players take turns turning over any two cards—so all players can see them—to find a matching pair. The game features “Take Buddy” cards, “Wild Cards” and “Lose a Pair” cards to add to the excitement. Players count their matching card sets at the end and add extra points for the player holding Buddy to determine who wins. The Dinosaur Train Make A Match Game is for 2 to 4 players, ages 3 to 6, and is available at Toys “R” Us stores nationwide for just $9.99.
Now you have a chance to win a Dinosaur Train Make A Match game!

For the first entry - tell me who would love to play this game.
Please, leave your email address, so I can contact the winner.

Bonus entries: Leave an extra comment for each one.

1. Subscribe to this blog
2. Follow this blog
3. Subscribe to my new blog Saving Simplified.
4. Follow my new blog Saving Simplified on Google Friend connect.
5. Leave a comment on any post on Saving Simplified to get 2 entries. (Please leave 2 comments on this post for 2 entries.)
6. Follow me @donnak4 and tweet about the contest. Then leave the link or your twitter ID.
Here is one you can use:

Win A Dinosaur Train Make A Match Game http://tinyurl.com/486xt72

This is for the US. Ends 2/28 at 11:59PM CST.
I did not receive any compensation for this post. The sponsor is sending the prize.

DixieRocks Giveaway

DixieRocks.com is giving away the choice of an Amazon Kindle, Ipod Nano, or a $150 Gift Certificate from GameRoomsUSA.com! Entering is Easy! Contest details can be found on thier facebook fanpage at http://on.fb.me/contestdr or on their website at http://DixieRocks.com/contest.