April 11: Simplifying Your Finances

It'a a beautiful sunny day today with highs forecast in the mid 60's and the temperatures are going up this week.  

So yesterday, Palm Sunday, began the week for Christians about the story of Jesus that ends with the celebration of Easter.  I listened to a reflection by a Unitarian Universalist pastor this weekend that really resonated.  

People who attend Ash Wednesday services, the beginning of Lent, are marked with ashes which is made with the accompanying words 'remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return..  In other words, death...and very specifically, each and every one of us will die.  It's a sobering thought but an inescapable reality of life.  In his reflection, the U.U. pastor observed that the important thing is that while we are alive we should endeavor to live fully including seeking justice, gifting compassion and loving one another.  Good words to live by...

So, remember the Inktense fabric painting I experimented with last week.  Well, here's a small painting and how I treated it first by quilting (I used two layers of high loft batting), then by adding beads and other decorative items, finally binding it.  The beads don't show up well in the photograph but they really shine in real life...

Today begins a new focus...simplifying your finances.   One of the leading reasons for stress is a person's financial situation.  Basically, for many folks, stretching their money to pay for their needs is difficult under any circumstances but when something upsets the nation's economy like the pandemic compounded by Russian's invasion, money gets tight and folks get anxious.

So how do you feel about your financial situation?  If you're like most, it could be better, right?  And you are probably recognizing that prices for almost everything have gone up from gas to groceries to services.

The first thing to do is not to imitate an ostrich...in other words, you need to take a complete look at your finances.  And that includes the money you have available and the bills you need to pay.   

Today, take whatever time is necessary to find out those numbers including your income and all your bills.  This may be a sobering activity for many but it really is better to know your financial situation rather than ignore it.   Once you know where you stand financially, it will be easier to make a plan to improve it.   

Talk to you tomorrow...