It’s time to replace that old car. Your repair bills are
starting to add up to more than the payment would be. But how
do you know for sure if you can afford another vehicle?

People ask themselves this question regularly, and not just
about cars. Unless you have control of your finances there is
no way to tell. You have to know how much your income is and
how much your bills and expenses are to find out if you have
enough left over for any purchase.

The only way to accomplish this is to have a budget in place.
Your budget has to be as accurate as possible and include money
for your long and short term savings. All of these things must
be considered before you can determine if you can afford to buy
anything.

The best way to start is to determine how much disposable income
you have. You do this by only using your take home pay plus any
other income you may have after any deductions.

The next step is to put down on paper all of your reoccurring
bills such as your house payment or rent, utilities, phone,
internet costs, car payments, insurance, etc. These are fairly
simple to determine, however, you will have to estimate bills
that do not have a constant payment each month like your
electric bill.

Now comes the hard part. You have to find out how much you
spend each month on your household expenses. This includes
everything from car gas to groceries. The most common method of
doing this is to keep track of everything you spend for 30 to
60 days, however, it seems like most people will not stick to
this for that long.

I would suggest that you sit down with a piece of paper and
brain storm what your expense are. I will tell you now that you
won’t be able to think of everything so you will have to make
adjustments later. It’s hard to remember things like Vet bills.

Now that you know what your income, bills and expenses are you
have to set up your savings if you don’t already have one. This
should be split into long and short term savings. This should
be considered just as important as your bills.

It is best to save at least 10% of your income with 50% each
going to long and short term savings. The short term saving is
going to be your buffer to cover unexpected expenses and possibly
for things that are only paid every three, six or twelve months.

Your long term savings needs to be invested in
some way. It is always best to consult a professional
financial adviser before making a decision how to
invest.

Now to answer the question “Can I Afford This?”. If you have
enough money left over, after considering all of the above, to
afford an extra payment then go for it.

Here is a simple formula:

Income - Bills - Expenses - Savings = How much money you have
to pay that extra bill

If the item you are considering is important you may want to
use some of your short term savings toward things like a down
payment. But remember you still have to have enough money each
month to cover the regular payment.

What if you don’t have enough to cover that extra payment? Then
you quite simply Can’t Afford It.

Terry Rigg is the author of Living Within Your Means - The Easy Way http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/ebookadpage.html and editor of the Budget Stretcher web site. Join the thousands of subscribers to The FREE Budget Stretcher Newsletter and get great articles, tips, downloads and a lot of Budget Help by visiting his home page at http://www.homemoneyhelp.com

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There are some things that we as persons, born on this planet, have no control over. Our own birth defects are included in that scenario. While there are those who believe that we ourselves choose what obstacles we must face and overcome in this life, prior to our earthly birth, I am not one who buys that. I did not choose to be born deaf.

Be that what it may, I was entered this world with a 70% hearing loss in both ears. It didn’t take my Mother long to recognize my hearing deficiency. She had been born a hearing impaired person too. My Mother determined that her child would not hide his deficiency, as she had been allowed to do.

Mom, as a child, had many siblings. Most of her sisters were older than she so hers were hand-me-down clothes. Poor, nearly deaf, she had taken a back seat in classrooms in an effort to not call attention to herself and her perceived inadequacies. Always, when called upon by a teacher, Mother would say, “I don’t know…” As she later told me, “The alternative answer would have been even more humiliating, I didn’t hear!”

I would never be allowed to make such an unwise determination. Every year, the first day of grammar school, Mother would march me before the teachers and tell them, in no uncertain terms, “This boy can not hear. I want him in a front desk, and I don’t want him moved around the room!”

As any otherwise normal kid would, I hated it. I asked her, “Why do you have to make such a big thing about this? I hear alright,” I insisted.

“Of course you do,” was her reply. “Because, I love you, I want you to hear what your teachers say and not have the articulation problems that I’ve had learning to form your own words correctly.

I didn’t really comprehend, until later, the significance of the second part of Mother’s answer. But yeah, I knew that she did love me. Even though I often resented the seating restriction, I was ever to be found occupying a front desk.

As a direct result of my “Pushy Mother’s intervention,” I was not distracted by classroom conversations which were not part of the curriculum. I couldn’t get away with anything because the teachers would catch me. And, I learned to properly pronounce most words because I “Heard” them. Mother’s vocabulary was excellent, her speech clear, as she had invested many childhood hours in a dictionary, looking up words that she felt she might need with emphasis on pronunciation. In grade school, I was spared that responsibility which I would not have taken upon myself anyway.

It wasn’t until high school that I learned to be stupid in my selection of where to sit. I never even considered that perhaps misunderstanding assignments, or not hearing what instructors actually said, had something to do with how hard I had to struggle.

Later, I was witness to what might have happened to me if not for having a “Pushy Mom.” A cousin inherited the same type of hearing loss I was born with. His mother didn’t bother to be pushy on this issue. He was shuffled along through school and treated like someone with a learning impairment. No wonder, for when he spoke he sounded retarded.

For a while, as an adult, I sold hearing aids. When I checked my cousin’s hearing, it was virtually identical to my own. Only then, did I fully comprehend and appreciate the wonderful gift my mother had given me by being “Pushy.”

If you have a child that doesn’t have excellent hearing, consider becoming a “Pushy Parent,” if only on this one issue. It is one thing that you can do for your child ~ on this planet ~ to level the playing field while he or she is too young to appreciate it.

Russ Miles is author of the novel, For Sale By Owners:FSBO.
A “Seasoned Real Estate NAR Broker,” disabled by Multiple Sclerosis, writes books and articles on varied subjects. Google russ miles
FOR SALE BY OWNERS:FSBO ISBN 0-595-28703-4,in trade paperback,
is available by phone or Internet:1-800-Authors to order direct!
Adobe e-book and hard cover editions also available FSBO at Amazon.com at Barnes and Noble and other fine booksellers.

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Things to Think About Before You Relocate Your Elderly Parent

Your home is now miles and hours away from your parent. The best thing would be to move Mom or Dad closer…or would it? There are a lot of reasons why it might make sense to relocate an aging parent closer to the rest of the family.

But, before you suggest a move, give it some serious thought. Be sure that this move would really be the best thing for all of you. Once you have made the commitment to relocate, it will be next to impossible to undo.

Following are some important things to think about before you make the decision to relocate an older person:

Can my elder get along without me (at least for a while?)

If my elderly parent don’t depend on me for regular assistance now, can the move wait until I have had a chance to learn about local elder resources here?

If I am working long hours, how much will I be able to assist my parent after the move?

Who will select, pack, or sell possessions? Will a house have to be sold?

Social Life

Is my elder confident enough to venture out and to make new friends in a strange place? Will s/he be leaving a good network of supportive friends?

If my aging parent is driving on familiar streets now, will s/he be able and safe to do so on unfamiliar territory, where the traffic may be much heavier? Is transportation available, or will I have to be the chauffeur?

Important Medical Questions

Does my elder have a long and close relationship with current physicians? Can we find equivalent physicians who will treat an elderly person? Many specialists, in particular, have reduced or closed their Medicare practices.

Will health insurance transfer to this area? HMOs are geographically limited.

Will the climate be a concern?

Financial Issues

Is the new cost of living affordable? Social Security and retirement income will not be adjusted if your parent moves to a place with a higher cost of living.

If s/he is currently receiving state benefits or assistance, what will the requirements be to qualify in the new location? Even within the same state, there is often a wait before services resume at a new address.

If a house must be sold, what are the financial (tax and other) consequences?

And this is the most important question of all…What does the elder think? If he is competent and able to make his own decisions, does he want to relocate? Will you spend hours of effort and anxiety trying to find the “perfect” answer, only to be told to mind your own business?

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Making homemade candles can be a fun hobby, whether making them as gifts or for yourself to enjoy. Candle making usually requires some experimentation, but when you discover how to make those perfect candles, it’s well worth the effort.

There are a few basic supplies needed for making most candles:

wax

wicks

mold or containers

wax melter

candle making thermometer

fragrances

dyes

putty for molds

First decide on a wax you would like to start with, there are three different kinds to choose from: paraffin wax, soy wax, and beeswax. Paraffin wax is most commonly used in candles, this wax is found at most candle making stores. Soy wax is all natural, made from soybeans, and cleans up easily with soap and water. Beeswax is all natural too, and making beeswax candles is often easiest because you simply wrap a sheet of beeswax tightly around a wick then seal it with your thumb, which means no melting is required.

To begin, spread newspapers around the candle making area. First you melt your paraffin or soy wax and it must be double-boiled. Usually you place a large pot that is about half-filled with water on a burner over low-medium heat, place a melter in the water, then gradually place wax pieces into the melter. When the wax has melted, you can add coloring or fragrance as desired.

To make molded candles, cut the wick two inches taller than you want the candle to be, then thread it through the hole at the bottom of the mold, then plug the outside of the hole with putty. Place a pencil or similar item over the top of the mold and tie the top of the wick to it, centering the wick. If the mold is cardboard, plastic, or glass, heat the wax to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. If the mold is metal, then heat the wax to 190 degrees. You can use a candle or candy thermometer to measure this. When the right temperature is reached, lift the melter by the handle and slowly pour the wax into the mold. Let cool for twelve hours then refrigerate for twelve more hours, then your candle is ready to be removed.

To make votives and other small container candles, you can use pre-tabbed wicks by simply placing them in the center of the votive candle molds or containers, then pour the wax mixture over and let stand for twelve hours, refrigerating the votives.

This should give you a good start in this enjoyable hobby.

About The Author

Jennifer Hall is a writer who provides information on shopping online for candle making and aromatherapy candles. When she’s not online, Jennifer’s spending time with her family, gardening, or playing the piano or accordion.

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You’ve heard it before. “You always have to pay your bills on
time or it will hurt your credit rating”. The fact is that not
paying your bills on time can also cost you a bunch of money.
The last time I checked being late on a credit card payment
can cost you as much as $29 each time. In some cases this is
more than the payment.

Most banks and loan companies also charge some sort of late fee.
Even my electric company tacks on 10% if you don’t pay on time.
The bad part of this is that most of the time making late
payments can be avoided. That’s because they are simply a
result of a lack of organization. If your bills and receipts
aren’t kept organized there is a good chance you will eventually
be late on a payment.

There is nothing more frustrating than receiving a bill for
something you know you’ve already paid and not being able
to find the receipt or cancelled check. In this case, if
you can’t prove you already paid it then you still owe it.
You have to have an organized filing system that you keep
up with faithfully. At Budget Stretcher I have a system so
that you can have your budget, bill paying and filing system
all in one convenient 3 ring binder.

To use this system you will need to setup a budget using
The Complete Budget and Bill Organizer. This organizer is
available free at http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/BBOonline.html .
I would suggest visiting this page to setup your budget before
you try to set up your organizer.

Whether you decide to use my Bill Organizer system or another
system you need to have one. I am going to go through my
system step by step.

Keeping track of your bills each month can be a headache. How
to organize your bill paying and keep track of those receipts,
canceled checks, loan papers and other important paperwork can
be made easy.

Below is a list of supplies you will need. These are available
at all department and office supply stores.

1 - Three Ring Binder 1 1/2″
3 - Document Protectors(Designed to insert in 3 ring binder)
15 - Pocket Dividers
1 - Write on Tab Divider

SETUP
Step One: Open your three ring binder. Insert your pocket tab
dividers. In front of the pocket dividers, place 1 Write on Tab
Divider. The Write on Tab Divider is designed to provide support
while you are writing on the Monthly Bill Summary.

Step Two: After you complete your Budget as outlined in the
The Complete Budget and Bill Organizer
http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/BBOonline.html
label the dividers. Start by labeling the first divider, Bills
to be Paid. Then label the rest of the dividers with the names
of your bills. See the below sample:

Divider Tab’s Labels

Bills To Be Paid

House Payment

Car Payments

Utilities

Telephone

etc.

Continue this until you have a divider for each bill. If you
don’t have enough dividers I suggest that you combine similar
bills. This could be all car payments, utilities or credit
cards.

Step Three: Place your Budget Form, Monthly Bill Summary and
Page 2 of the Monthly Bill Summary in the document protectors.
Then place them in the three ring binder in this order:

Monthly Bill Summary (this will be the first form you see when
you open your binder)
Budget Form
Monthly Bill Summary Page 2

USING YOUR BILL ORGANIZER
Step One: Gather all of your bill statements and payment books
and place them in the pocket divider labeled Bills to be Paid.
This is where all the bills are to be placed when you receive
them.

Step Two: On payday, look at section 2 of the Monthly Bill
Summary to determine which bills need to be paid that payday.
Write out your checks for these bills and get them ready to
mail. On the statement for each bill or in your payment book,
write the check number and date paid.

Step Three: File all statements in the pocket divider
corresponding to that bill. When you receive your bank
statement and after you reconcile it, also put the canceled
checks in the pocket divider corresponding to that bill.
File any correspondence in these pocket dividers.

Read more about Your Checking Account at:
http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/checkingaccount.html

One of the biggest problems people have with organizing their
bills and receipts is not knowing what to keep and what to
throw away.

First, there are really four types of files. Personal
(bill receipts, etc), tax files (any paperwork that is
required for taxes), long term files (mortgages, car contracts,
or any other contract) and important papers (will, birth
certificates, etc.)

Personal files are the files mentioned in the Bill Organizer.
At the end of the year, if the files aren’t too thick you can
consolidate them into one folder labeled with the year.
Examples of things in this category are: monthly insurance
statements, credit card statements, mortgage receipts, and
any other monthly statement. KEEP THESE RECORDS FOR TWO YEARS.

Tax files can be filed in a folder or accordion folder. These
items include: W2 forms, 1099 forms, All tax forms with
attachments and any other form that you receive that must be
reported on your taxes. KEEP THESE RECORDS FOR THREE YEARS.

It is best to keep your previous years tax forms plus the
three years before that. The IRS only audits back three years.
You can destroy older files.

Long Term files include your mortgage or lease agreements,
notes on car purchases or any contract that is still in effect.
Keep these files in a safe place. KEEP THESE FILES AT LEAST
UNTIL THE AGREEMENT HAS ENDED. MY SUGGESTION IS TO KEEP THEM
FOR FIVE YEARS AFTER THE AGREEMENT HAS ENDED.

Important papers should be kept together where you can lay
your hands on them quickly. You might want to use a safety
deposit box or at least a locked drawer. These items include:
wills, deeds, trusts, stock certificates, birth and death
certificates and any other extremely important documents.
KEEP THESE FILES INDEFINITLY.

As you can see this organizer will help you keep everything
in order. However, no organizer will be any good if you
don’t keep up with it.

One tip that will help you keep this organizer neat is to
eliminate any paper that doesn’t need to be there. Many
people keep the envelope that the bill is received in. You
will find that this will clutter your organizer faster than
anything else.

It is also not a good idea to fold your receipts or copies
of your statements unless you absolutely must to make them
fit.

Having a system to file your bills and receipts will make it
much easier to know what bills are due and when they are due.
Once you know this paying your bills on time is much easier.

Terry Rigg is the author of Living Within Your Means - The Easy Way http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/ebookadpage.html and editor of the Budget Stretcher web site. Join the thousands of subscribers to The FREE Budget Stretcher Newsletter and get great articles, tips, downloads and a lot of Budget Help by visiting his home page at http://www.homemoneyhelp.com

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Are you one of those people that pay your bills no matter what? That is an admirable trait to have when managing your money. You made the bill and you feel you are responsible for paying it. Good for you.

Now let’s talk about how much money you have to cover your household expenses after you pay all of those bills. Your household expenses would include your groceries, car gas, school lunches, and all of the other stuff that it takes to run a household. Do you have enough to pay this bill?

All to often, people tend to pay their bills and try to live on what’s left. This never works unless you have enough money left to cover these at home expenses. The grocery bill will always run about the same, you will always need about the same money for gas, etc. In other words, you need enough to live on.

I have seen this time and time again. Another bill is made and the money comes out of the household budget because there is no money available in any other category. Then what happens?

Many people resort to using their credit cards to cover their regular expenses. Since there is no other money available to pay their increased credit card payments, that also has to come out of their household expenses. This is how many people find themselves in over their heads.

There is only one way to change this cycle. You have to allow enough money in your budget to cover the things you need. You must do this even at the expense of your other bills. That could put you in a position that you can’t make some of your payments, but at lease you won’t be increasing your debt, except for possibly late fees. If this is your situation you need to seek help to reduce the payments on your other bills.

Naturally, there are many ways to cut your household expenses that will allow you to pay more toward your other bills. You can save a lot of money on groceries by using coupons, buying generic, not using processed foods, etc. The internet is full of ideas and tips to help you save. I would start by visiting The Frugal Shopper.

When you develop or revise your budget, always put the emphasis on your household needs. Once you have determined how much you need to get by, then you can see what is left for other bills.

Terry Rigg is the author of Living Within Your Means - The Easy Way http://www.homemoneyhelp.com/ebookadpage.html and editor of the Budget Stretcher web site. Join the thousands of subscribers to The FREE Budget Stretcher Newsletter and get great articles, tips, downloads and a lot of Budget Help by visiting his home page at http://www.homemoneyhelp.com

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I was seated around the kitchen table with my three children, enjoying a cherry slushie on a summer afternoon. My thirteen-year-old Rachel, was talking about weight. I told her I had had trouble with my weight in high school and dieted to the point of becoming anorexic. I explained that I had grown up in a family where my parents were strict about their own diets, and thus able to keep trim. They valued being slender and made it a priority.

Looking back on my teen years, I wondered aloud if the reason I had had to struggle with my concept of food and eating was due to my parents’ continual talk of maintaining their weight. “My friend Cathy had a problem like I did. But in her house, her sisters and mother weren’t thin, so there was constant diet talk.” Concluding my thoughts, I said, “Perhaps I felt I had to be thin in order to be accepted by my parents. Oh, well, every parent passes on something to their children. Some habit or way of thinking. No parent is perfect. I wonder what I’ll pass on to each of you?” I looked at my three children’s precious faces. Basically I was thinking, what will they bring to the therapist’s couch years down the road and claim the problem was something attributed to my parenting?

I dismissed the subject and started to talk about next week when my kids would go back to school. It was then that Elizabeth wrapped her arms around me and whispered in my ear with the certainty of her seven years, “There is nothing wrong with you.”

Wow! I felt as though God was seated right beside me and had revealed His acceptance of me then and there! There is nothing wrong with you! I hugged my daughter and smiled. “Oh, honey, ” I said, “That is so sweet. Thank you.” I didn’t add, “And how long will it take you to retrieve that sentiment? When you turn ten or fifteen?”

I began to ponder Elizabeth’s words as I continued my day. I wrote them in a notebook so I would not ever forget what she had said. How often we want to be told just those words. We wonder about our habits and behaviors, our weight, and what we are teaching our kids. Even in grief, as we cry or memorialize our loved one, we want to know that we are doing it the “right way.” Don’t we all want to know that we are doing the best we can in spite of our pain and circumstances? We thrive on knowing that we’re loved and appreciated.

Recently I have felt vulnerable as we have had our twelve-year-old house on the market. After the house has been shown, the realtor has someone from her office call to give feedback on what the potential buyers thought of our home.

I have to cringe when I hear certain responses: “The paint colors are too strong.” “It needs paint.” And my most detested because I cannot for the life of me know how one could come up with this: “There was an odor.”

This is the home where my son Daniel lived for his four short years. The weeping willow swaying in the front yard is his memorial tree. The garden on the side where we’ve planted tomatoes each spring is done in his memory. It is hard when anyone is critical of this sacred place where the memories are abundant and where we have laughed, loved, cried, grieved….and doubted.

Are we doing things right? Are we at fault? Is the house presentable? Will it sell? When? If it doesn’t, is it because we somehow failed?

We feel we are being scrutinized because others are strolling into our abode and casting criticisms. We have scrubbed the kitchen floor and even burned floral scented candles. Do the viewers of my home know how much time it took for me to get the mildew off the shower? We want to hear praise, not complaints. We desire to hear, “What a beautiful living room and what a fantastic screened-in deck! Wow, this is a great house for such a reasonable price!”

Likewise, we want to hear that we did the best we could loving our dear family and friends who have passed on. We want to know in our heart of hearts that in spite of the streaks on the window panes and the stain on the carpet, we loved well. We were doing it right and we were accepted and adored.

“There is nothing wrong with you.” I think that God, in His love, is trying to comfort me with those words each day. Now if I could take the time to believe them.

Alice J. Wisler, author of the memorial cookbook DOWN THE CEREAL AISLE, invites you to read more at her website, Writing The Heartache, http://www.geocities.com/griefhope/index.html

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The phone rang at 5 a.m. John was sure it couldn’t be good news at that hour. He was right. Mom’s neighbors were calling him from 850 miles away in Texas to say that she was out watering her roses an hour ago on a cold, early spring morning. John knew that she had been failing. She wasn’t the same Mom he could always count to stand by him. Now he needed to stand by her. But how?

Families are now living further apart from each other. This is difficult because your elders require ever-increasing assistance, yet the distance between you makes it difficult to perform the tasks of a primary caregiver. But most elders are reluctant to leave their home of many years to move to the town in which their adult children live. This reluctance can become a stressful point of contention between adult children and their parent(s).

Often, it is a financial issue. In-home care and assisted living can be much more expensive in New York or California than in the center of the country. Resources simply may not stretch as far to allow one to live as one chooses. Regardless of the reasons, many adult children find themselves far away and concerned that parents are not doing as well as they may insist in those telephone visits.

There are some ways to help manage long distance caregiving:

* Try to visit as soon as possible to assess the situation. Take notes of possible problem areas and gather information about senior resources in their area.

* Make sure legal and financial affairs are in place. Keep copies of important papers and telephone numbers of contacts.

* Plan ahead to have back up providers to care for your own family in case you need to make an unexpected visit to your relative. It is also a good idea to bank some vacation or sick days from work for these visits as well.

* Seek the assistance of a Professional Care Manager specializing in assessing and monitoring the needs of the elderly.

* Consider all the options before moving your relative, but begin talking with them about this possibility. You could be surprised to learn they are willing to move closer to you, but they never mentioned this for fear of burdening you with their problems.

* Retain a copy of the Yellow Pages that serves your parent’s community. The next time your parent calls and you need to locate resources, you won’t need to search out numbers or call information long-distance.

When you live hundreds of miles away from an aging loved one, there is a constant level of anxiety over his or her welfare. Every family must make their own decisions about how to handle the situation. Dr. Mary Pipher, in her book Another Country, Navigating the Emotional Terrain of our Elders makes a convincing argument for having the aging parent(s) move near the adult child who will, or currently handles their financial or care decisions. It is an option that should be given much consideration. Be sure to have a contact person who lives close to the parent periodically checking on their health and cognitive status. Better yet, also have someone who can act upon your and her or his behalf until you can.

About The Author

Linda LaPointe, MRA, has helped hundreds of families as an ElderLife Matters consultant and national educator. Find free informational articles, exercises, links, audio interviews and products to help families experiencing elder issues at her website http://www.SOSpueblo.com

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At some point every child asks that all time famous question. “Can I have a pet?” While owning a pet fosters responsibility and compassion, some children are just not ready to help take care of a pet. It is a huge responsibility and one that must be given careful thought.

There are many things you should consider as a family.

What kind of pet?

What kind of pet would fit into your life style best. There are many options from large dogs to little fish. You should carefully consider the needs of each and what you think will fit into you life style as well. The happiest pet is one with happy owners that don’t feel stressed by its care and needs. You should study into types as well as breeds so you know exactly what to expect breeds.

Can you afford the addition of a pet?

Now that you have decided on a type of pet. You need to consider the cost of owning a pet. Pets even if you are given on free are very expensive. If you have a dog or a cat there will be vet visits, food, licensing, toys and supplies and if your pet should become sick there are medications they may need. Owning a pet is very expensive.

Do you have the time?

Animals require attention just like we do as human beings. The need to be feed, groomed, walked, played with. They need to know they are loved. With out proper care they will suffer. Families that are going threw major changes such as a move or birth of a child or that work long hours may just not have the time.

My home

Do you live in an apartment? Is a pet ok with your landlord? Will you have to pay a separate pet deposit? Do you have the space? Is there room in the back yard for a pet to roam? Are there laws in your area regarding scooping and licensing? What are they?

My child

Is he or she ready? Owning a pet is a family matter. Never surprise your child with a pet they are not expecting. Expectations about the pets care and exercise should be laid out clearly. Many children loose interest in a pet after the first few weeks and leave mom and dad to care for the pet. Pets require gentle handling and understanding do you think your child is ready for that? How do they react to animals you see out in public? Are they rough, or afraid? It may be better if they learn some animal care before you add a pet to your home. Visits to the local animal shelter are a wonderful start and often the staff is willing to teach basic animal care to children.

Remember

A pet is a huge commitment. Many pets live for at least 15 years with proper care. Will you still want this commitment then? Puppies, kittens and such are cute, but they grow and have needs that must be met.

About The Author

Jennifer is a full time mother of nine children.She resides in a small fishing village on the coast of Maine.She has been married for 12 years to her best friend whom is also her loving husband.

You can find many more articles like this one at http://simplymoms.com as well as parenting chat and message forums; [mailto:zjgim@hotmail.com]zjgim@hotmail.com

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A family memory journal is a fun, easy way to preserve family memories. A couple of years ago I was sorting through a pile of unused journals (many given to me as presents!) and was trying to come up with a way to put them to good use.

One day after a family gathering, I sat down and wrote a short description of the gathering in one of the unused journals. I wrote where the gathering took place, the occasion we were celebrating, the names of the people who had attended, and anything about the day that had stood out in my memory. I did this for the next couple of family get togethers and then just stuck the journal in a drawer somewhere.

It didn’t seem like that big of deal at the time, but probably a year or more later I pulled out the journal again and looked at the entries I had made. It was really fun reading them again. I had already forgotten some of the things that had happened, or thoughts that I had at the time that fortunately I had thought to write down.

I’ve been really forgetful about writing in my family memory journal, but in the past couple of years have probably chronicled two or three family events a year. When you think about it, 25 years from now, the journal will be full of family memories.

Family journals are a great thing to pass down to your children and grandchildren. At the time they don’t really care about what’s going on, but some day they will appreciate being reminded of some of their childhood memories.

In the past year or so I’ve really gotten into scrapbooking. I was just thinking that my memory journal will be a great resource for my scrapbooking projects. Sometimes it takes months to get your photos ready and pages laid out. By that time you will forget any memories you had to go along with them. If you have your family memory journal, you can use it to add journaling to your scrapbook pages, with your memory as clear as if you had taken the pictures yesterday.

Don’t let time pass you by and let those special family moments get away from you. Sometimes an event as routine as “another family birthday party” might make a great memory later in life. Especially when older relatives start passing away, it’s special remembering the times they were involved in family get togethers. Someday when you’re that older person, your youngest family members will enjoy reading about their great- and great-great grandparents.

About The Author

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom of four. For more
inspirational articles and tips for everyday living, visit her
web sites at http://www.creativehomemaking.com and http://www.crafty-moms.com

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