As many of you know I am also a high school math teacher. This has been the first week of our school year and as always the start has been very hectic. Not only hectic for teaching but learning how to manage teaching, this blog, and the other businesses I am involved in.

I would love to say I am really organized but that isn’t true. I do fairly well being organized but it will take me some time to make sure I am balancing my priorities and time well.

This has been a different start of our school year. Over Labor Day weekend five of our students were involved in a major car accident. One of the students died and two are still in critcal care with major injuries. No alcohol was involved but none of the five were wearing seat belts. Read More

Labor Day is a US holiday that is always on the first Monday in September. Labor Day was developed to show the public “the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations” in the 1880s.

Most people today celebrate Labor Day as the symbolic end of the summer.

Growing up on a lake we saw Labor Day as the day when the summer crowd took out their docks and left the lake to the towns people. If you were a true “laker” your dock and boat usually did not get out of the water until the leaves on the trees turned colors. We always had our last pontoon ride going around the lake in marvel of all the beautiful trees surrounding our lakes. Read More

In this video Jim Rohn speaks about results. The measurement of the three pieces of personal development; philosophy, activity (discipline), and attitude is called results.

Jim Rohn is a philosopher, motivational counselor, business executive, and bestselling author. He has been recognized as the greatest motivational speaker of all time. He is one of the world’s most sought-after success counselors and business philosophers, with some of his most thought-provoking topics being sales and entrepreneurial skills, leadership, sales and marketing, success and personal development.

I hope you not only enjoy the video but the video helps you in your personal development.

Today is a special day in our family. It is my wife’s birthday today. I would love to tell you her age but Nancy would probably not like that. I will give you a hint though. She is the same age as me and I am 54.

This has been a different week for our household. I also teach high school math and we had to go back to school this week for teacher in-service. Teaching is one of the most stressful and rewarding professions that I have been involved in. Read More

Your credit score is so important and especially so in today’s economy. If you have an above average or excellent credit score it is so important to maintain your score. If your score is average or below you should be working on ways to improve your score.

Raising your score does not come over night but you can improve your score yourself. By improving one or two things you should see your score improve sometimes drastically.

1. Get Your Credit Report and Scores

This is one of the most important steps. If you need to look at your credit report and see if there is any thing that is being reported wrong. Read More

I grew up in Cumberland, WI. Cumberland is a small town surrounded by lakes. I am sure Cumberland is much like other small towns. Every summer they have a July 4th celebration and then Cumberland sponsors the Rutabaga Festival the third weekend of August.

Yesterday my wife and I went to the festival for the first time in 18 years. There always seemed to be conflicting schedules with what was happening in our kids lives and the Rutabaga Festival. Whether is was athletic events or taking our kids to college. There always seemed to be something that would pop up so we could not go back.

Without having any excuses this time we made the decision to go back to the Rutabaga Festival. I can’t tell you what a good time we had. My brothers and sisters and their families were there. Also our cousins and their families. But then we also got to see many people that I grew up with.

Of course we all are a little grayer and maybe move a little slower. But the smiles and the laughing were the same. How is it that good friends remember the same things?

Now I don’t know if we always will go back to the “Baga Fest” but we certainly enjoyed ourselves yesterday. It was good to be home.

What are your stories? What do your home towns celebrate?

I know this blog is about money. Most of my posts are ideas or maybe suggestions about your personal finances. I also have been writing and showing videos on self-improvement. I believe they go hand in hand.

In today’s tight times money has become a challenge again for many people. Are you or have you been in a spot where you are wondering how you can make some more money?

Are you in a job where you are trying to advance but it seems like you have hit the glass ceiling?

You feel like you are trying everything you can but it doesn’t seem to matter.

Well take a look at this video by Jim Rohn. He gives some excellent ideas on making yourself more valuable and giving yourself a chance again.

After watching please tell me what your thoughts are?

If you are trying to raise your credit score you first should know how credit scores are determined. Who you are or where you come from does not determine what your credit score is.

Five things are looked at in determining your score. However, two things make up 65 percent of your credit score.

Payment History

Payment history accounts for 35 percent of your credit score. Having accounts with a long history of making payments on time is one of the most important things your lender will look at. Read More

Your credit score is one of the most important things in your financial life. You need to know your credit score, what is on your credit report, and how the banks look at your credit score.

Your credit score is a three digit number and is designed to show how likely you are going to pay your debts on time and if you are using your credit wisely.

Lenders not only look at your score to see if you qualify for a loan but your credit score will also affect the interest rate they charge for your loans. Many people think banks are the only financial institutions that look at their credit scores but that is not true. Insurance companies, cell phone companies, landlords, and even future employers look at your credit score. Read More

Going away to college and leaving home for the first time. That can be pretty exciting scary, and confusing all at the same time. You are going to be faced with many new things, changes, and of course responsibilities.

You are going to learn many life lessons and probably the biggest lesson is how you handle your money.

Every bodies life is different. Usually when you are living at home most of the money making decisions are made for you or at least you can seek guidance from your parents.

All of a sudden in college you are making money decisions on your own. If you aren’t careful you might find yourself without much money. That is not a good situation.

Making smart decisions with your money not only helps you during college but also sets you up for life. Here are some ideas that might help you with some of your money decisions. Read More