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May 8, 2012    |       4 comments

Don’t procrastinate!

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I have never had an issue with talking about death and dying and what we all need to do to help our loved ones when the time comes for our passing.  Maybe it has something to do with my parents having me in their 40’s at a time when people just weren’t having babies in their 40’s.  My mother often talked about her mortality–sometimes in a heavy way but more often with a healthy dose of humor.  While I can’t say this led to Mom being ready to do the “must do’s” related to mortality, it did give me a real sense of the importance of planning…not dwelling, mind you…but not completely denying the reality either.

With the issues regarding my Aunt in a nursing home and then my own aging parents, I just don’t put this stuff off.  What’s the state of your estate?  Take time this week to talk to your loved ones and make a plan of some sort.  It may not be feasible to buy your pre-paid funeral plan or figure out all details right now, but do something to move in that direction! Losing a parent at any time is a traumatic event, please don’t leave your kids with more trauma because you have not communicated anything about your desires for your funeral and done nothing to deal with the property you have at the time of your passing.  It will cost your loved one dearly on the financial front if they have to start from scratch.

In Texas, we can do a hand written will.  It isn’t ideal, but it is an option.  Look into your state’s laws and see what you can do yourself.  If you need help, there are a lot of very reasonably priced options for basic will drafting.  Be sure to have the various power of attorney documents as well and don’t forget the advanced directive.  I’m not giving legal advice here…this stuff is important and easily accessible on the internet.

Why the sudden rant?  I just spent 2 hours messing with stuff related to my Aunt not being able to handle her legal affairs.  It is a nightmare as it is…I can’t imagine if I didn’t have the proper legal documents to get me through much of the red tape.

May 7, 2012    |       43 comments

Housekeeper

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No, I do not have one but boy do I really want one!  About 6 years ago, I had someone come in every other week  just to really clean the house.  I made a point to instruct the housekeepers to not pick up the kids’ rooms because we are all responsible for doing the pick up, daily chores.  It is the scrubbing and sweeping and mopping and dusting and…and…and that is just not happening around here to any successful degree and I want help! 

Now…with that said…I want to share that the children DO have rotating chores on a chore board.  We had been very good about following this but in recent months, we have fallen off a bit.  It is on the “to do” list to get us all back on board.  The rotating chore list is great for us.  We have 12 “to do’s” ranging from the good, to the bad to the ugly.  These are not “daily chores” of picking up rooms, making beds, unpacking lunchboxes, etc…but instead taking out garbage, emptying dishwasher, loading dishwasher, dusting, sweeping, bathrooms, folding laundry, setting table, clearing table, cleaning out cars and the dreaded “backyard dog poo pickup.”  Each child has 3 chores per week.  We divide them in such a way that everyone has one they really dislike each week.  If the youngest one has chores that are sometimes difficult for her to do alone, one of the older ones steps in to help.  This worked like a charm for quite some time but even so the house needed a “deep cleaning” at least once a month.  The kids even joke about “oh I am almost done with the dog poo pickup and then it is all YOURS!” 

My “Money Mate” at the office (she doesn’t yet know I’ve bestowed this title upon her but she is my support system during the work week so this is what I have taken to calling her–) and I were discussing the issue of housecleaning today.  I shared that I was tired of the MESS that I can’t seem to get a complete handle on and that I felt guilty wanting a housekeeper…but I do!  Well, it just so happened that MM (Money Mate) had just read a blog post on how hiring a maid can actually save you money.  Time IS money so I know there is that factor but what I didn’t think about is what I could do with the time I do save…which is to save more money or make more money…something to think about!

I would have to make some budget shifts to make this happen and I think I am ready to at least scroll through the budget to see where I might free up some money to do this.  I am sick sick sick of cleaning my house.

 

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