Michelle Singletary
Michelle Singletary
children mean college
I use my financial values to set my limitations. I have three children I want to put through college debt free. So that means I can't spend wildly or with disregard.
children parent students
If you haven't saved, your child may have to work. But do what you can to NEVER take out student or parent loans.
money children grandmother
If we aren't careful, our children will come down with 'affluenza,' a disease that causes them to confuse wants and needs. We need to teach our children what my grandmother taught me: Think twice about spending money you don't have on things you don't need to impress people you don't like anyway.
average milk three
I breast-fed all three of my children, because the milk is free. And I breast-fed them an average of two years.
college crucial good next paycheck penny poor save
Why are so many of us penny poor before our next paycheck comes? We're not good stewards of our money. ... It's crucial to save for what you say you value: a home, college and retirement.
bills card credit hide large money poor talk women
Too many women think it's impolite to talk money while dating. Or they have something to hide (such as large credit card bills or a poor credit history).
borrower servant watch
The borrower is servant to the lender, Watch out, or MasterCard will become your master.
roof-over-your-head financial ifs
You are NOT a financial failure if you rent. You are getting something for your money. A roof over your head.
hate school grandmother
The schools can't cover all the values that go along with how you handle your money. For example, a financial literacy class might not teach me to hate debt the way my grandmother, Big Mama did.
taken mean kids
Having kids doesn't mean they would have taken care o you.
kids blessing people
Kids can and are a blessing. But plenty of people without kids live and die just as happy.
retirement debt-free goal
You still need to save but being debt-free in retirement is and should be a goal.
names car firsts
I'm driving my old car until I'm on a first name basis with the low tow truck drivers!
simple track fancy
You don't need to waste money on a fancy program or app to do a basic budget. I've been using a simple Excel spreadsheet since 2005 to track my monthly budget.