Financial Friday: Teaching Moments

Happy Friday, Divas!!! I hope everyone had a wonderful week and has an enjoyable weekend!


Today I had a great dinner with one of my younger cousins - a chance to catch up, celebrate her successes and discuss her "learning opportunities" from this past year.  She's a senior in college and one of her biggest struggles during her college years was budgeting.  During our talk, it clicked that while I was always told about saving money and being frugal, no one ever actually showed me how to create a budget or balance a checkbook.  I, like most people, had to learn by trial and error.  Lots of trials and tons of errors :)


What are we teaching our children? How are we adequately preparing them to handle their finances as adults?  Just think how different your financial standing could be if someone had taken the time to teach you at 9 or 10 years old how to budget and manage your allowance funds?  If being frugal and saving was a part of your day-to-day routine by the time you became a teenager and had your first real job???


My son currently has to split any money he earns or is given 10-50-40: 10% to church; 50% in savings; and 40% to spend.  If we go to the store and he wants something, he has to buy it if it's something that I hadn't previously planned on buying.  Having to spend his own money often curbs impulsive spending.  If he doesn't have his money (or enough), then he doesn't get it.  We don't do allowance advances - I equate that to loans/pay day advances.


After this evening's discussion, I've decided to take things to the next level with him and begin showing him how to "budget" his money when it comes to his video games, eating out, etc.  Our children definitely need to see us making wise financial choices, but they, also, need to learn how to do things for themselves in an environment where if they mess up it doesn't affect their credit score or have their lights turned off.


What financial lessons are you passing down to your children? What were the best lessons that you were taught growing up that you still implement in your adult life? 


Be Blessed Divas and remember to be a blessing to others :)
~Michelle

Thankful Thursday 2012: Week 2

Divas, divas, divas!!! It's been one of those weeks! I'm back at work part-time this week and the mornings are proving to be disastrous for me! I literally sat in my car Tuesday morning in the parking lot and bawled my eyes out. This is definitely an adjustment after being home for 3 months - hats off to mommies who are able to stay home for years with their little ones...I can only imagine how they feel on the first day of school!!!

I truly enjoy being a working mommy and know that it will take a few weeks (months, perhaps?) to completely adjust...in the mean time, if anyone has any legit work-at-home ideas send them my way...LOL

This year, I'm continuing my focus on gratitude and each Thursday is Thankful Thursday on DWP.  So here's my list for this week:

~My job's phase-back program from maternity leave.  Love, love, love this!!! It takes me 5 weeks to get back to working 40 hours a week, but I'm paid my full salary! This way I can ease myself back into work and wean myself off my afternoon naps :)

~My oldest son. He is such a big helper to me these days.  From playing with his little brother to feeding his sister while I get dinner ready.  It amazes me that my baby has grown and matured so much over the years.  (Mommy's still not ready for middle school next year, though!)

~My younger sister.  She stayed with me for almost a month to help out with the kids and watched my youngest two my first week back at work in the mornings so I wouldn't have to pay daycare for 4 hours a day.  And she was a cleaning fiend!!!

~The snooze button.  Whoever invented this little button is my hero.  I know I shouldn't use it as much as I do, but those extra 5 or 10 (okay 15!!!) minutes in the morning feel soooo good!

What about you, Divas? What's on your list for the week? Just writing this list helped to de-stress me some!  Have a wonderful day, be blessed and remember to be a blessing to others!!!

Family Traditions

Most families have special traditions that they pass down from generation to generation - a special recipe, get togethers, stories etc.  The idea that my children will pass on to their children some of the simple things we do together  warms my heart and makes the time we spend together even more special.

Every year for the past 24 years the women on my mom's side take a "girls' trip".  It's a week of food, bargain shopping, relaxation, and bonding.  We have huge meals with 3-4 courses - teaching the younger generation how to set a table and appreciate a fine dining experience in a family setting.  We look forward to my mom's quiche and homemade biscuits for breakfast each morning.  The evenings are filled with laughter, fashion shows, and tons and tons of memories.  I'm so excited that I now have a daughter that will be able to join me on this annual trip each year.

When I go home to visit my parents, I already know that by the time I pull up in the yard my Daddy will have my fried chicken and pork-n-beans waiting on me.  Simple sounding meal, but my Daddy puts his foot in it!!! My sisters and I have come to blows over someone eating the last bit of beans.  We even call the others if they are missing out to gloat that we've got our special meal.  Sure this meal probably originated during the "lean" times when we were growing up, but my Daddy turned it into something that we all love and cherish.

These traditions reflect the tight bond that our families have.  During rough times in life, I have no shortage of fun times to reflect on to cheer me up.  I know that I am blessed beyond measure when it comes to the love and bond that I have with my family.  There are some that don't understand the importance of spending time with them - often bypassing activities with my girlfriends because there's no way I could miss a family affair and have them having fun without me :)

Do you have any family traditions from your childhood that you enjoy sharing with your children?

Be Blessed Divas and remember to be a blessing to others!!! Cherish your family and the time you spend together!

~Michelle

DWP Tuesday: Calling All Divas

WHO:  Any DIVA who is Driven, Inspiring, Victorious and called to Action

WHAT:  A weekly spotlight of one divalicious woman

WHERE:  Right here on Divas With Purpose

WHY: Because we can all learn, grow and be motivated by one another.  You never know when your paths may cross and you'll be able to help one another.

WHEN:  Every Tuesday a different DIVA will be spotlighted

HOW:  You - yes, you...LOL...if you know of someone or are someone who has the DIVAtude then reach out to me at divaswithpurpose@gmail.com for more information

Motivational Monday - Wonderful You

When's the last time you gave yourself a pat on the back? Paid yourself a compliment? Looked in the mirror and said..."Dang...I'm divalicious!!!" If it's been awhile then my charge to you is to do something about that RIGHT NOW!!! 

"If I am not for myself, who will be?" - Pirke Avoth

I'll be the first to admit that I have not always had high self-esteem.  Honestly, it's only been in recent years that I've truly accepted and embraced me for who I am.  I could lay blame and play woe is me - but what's the point??? I finally realized that I am in complete control of how I see myself.  I may have made some questionable decisions in the past, but there are no regrets on my part - if I hadn't made those decisions in life, I wouldn't be who I am, where I am and what I am.

"If God had wanted me otherwise, He would have created me otherwise"

Johann von Goethe

While I constantly strive to better myself, to learn more, to grow and expand my circles - at my core, I am who I am and I am completely accepting of that.

"Other people's opinion of you does not have to become your reality." - Les Brown

My challenge to you all is to be accepting of who you are as a DIVA - a Driven, Inspired, Victorious woman who is called to Action. Love your curves or lack of; love your unique beauty (inner and physical); love your spirit; love all that is the essence of YOU!

Be blessed Divas and remember to be a blessing to others!!! Encourage someone today with words of motivation and love!

~Michelle