I took the grandkids to see Coco ...See MoreI guess I didn't push all the right buttons because my other post didn't show up. Elaine, I feel your annoyance when that happens to you!
Since I had plenty of time, I rode 20 miles at spinning class this am. It was a brutal grind because the instructor was feeling guilty for overeating yesterday.
I took the grandkids to see Coco last night. Beautiful animation and lovely tale about Mexican culture. Nice to see how their elderly are respected. A lot of the previews for other movies coming out soon seemed to be British.
We are enjoying a beautiful almost 50 degree afternoon. I wish my bike wasn't already hung upside
Hang in there and keep m...See MoreI am so glad to see the roll call still being posted! I continue to work out and count my steps. Happy to report weight is down almost 5 pounds since last posting. concentrating on smaller portions and no snacking at night. really not following ww, since I am not using all the points allowed. It's working, so far.
Bev, kudos on your willpower. Smaller portions and no snacking. Why didn't I think of that? Wink. Wink. Wink.
I could brag about 48,000 steps these past 4 days, but then I'd have to mention 16,000 the previous 4 days. And maybe the amazing holiday vegan food we've been eating--pumpkin risotto, pear cranberry stuffing, vegan cheese, etc etc etc
DGS still has Grandma's heart. We resurrected the "bridge walk" this year. He loved every minute; trucks, police cars, and boats. What's not to love when you're 2?
Saw "Wonder" yesterday. Great movie.
Heading back toward Indiana tonight. Thankful for amazing weather in The Big Apple for the holiday.
I do invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving and praise.
If you had to make a decision between getting completely out of debt or paying your kids' college tuition for a year, which one would you choose? They would have to take out a student loan otherwise.
-Consider the rates for your debt. If we're talking consumer debt such as credit cards, the rate is almost certainly higher than the rate for a student loan. If you have a low-rate home equity loan it might not make sense to pay it off.
-Done before the kid applies for financial aid it can reduce the parents' cash on hand, reducing their EFC (Expected Family Contribution). Although debt is considered in FA decisions some families choose to pre-pay bills such as the winter heating bill to qualify for more FA.
-There's nothing inherently evil about student loans. Some families feel having a little skin in the game motivates their student. Some families take out loans but the parents pay them off. Some need their kid to take out student loans to be financially secure and have enough for retirement themselves.
-Make sure you have enough cash on hand to pay for incidentals (books, travel, etc.) as well as an emergency slush fund. That slush fund could be something like a home equity loan but make sure you're not putting yourself in financial jeopardy should you have an issue like job loss or illness.
-If your kid is considering graduate school, particularly med school it will be in their best interest to come out of college without a lot of debt. That doesn't mean, however, that you should bankrupt yourself to get them there.
-Think about your own spending patterns. Will being debt free encourage you to spend more or will you be just as thrifty as if repayment wasn't delayed until after your kid graduates?
We are having a pretty laid back holiday with most of the extended families staying home or had other plans. Some of my adult nieces and nephews are getting together for a cousin Thanksgiving out in Oregon. This was planned at my mother's funeral in August when they decided to make an effort now to keep in touch. There are 17 of them and they live on both coasts and in between.
I hope all of you are getting some movement mixed in with your busy lives. The board has been very quiet lately.
Hang in there and keep m...See More