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Here in the good old U.S. of A., we’re celebrating the Fourth of July weekend. My mind is on sunscreen and insect repellent. It’s also on sports and recreation.

My husband is starting up a new business out here, and I have to tell you that it’s a bit scary. With my own business, there was not a lot of overhead, so I was able to bootstrap it from the ground up. His, on the other hand, requires quite a bit of equipment, so we’ve really put a huge chunk of change onto the books already.

I must admit that I was intrigued. When I read all of Melinda’s posts in her super-couponing series, I jumped right on the wagon. Newspaper subscription: check. Good pair of scissors: check. Read store policies: check. I was ready to super-coupon my way to super-savings…

My daughter has recently started a love affair with a yellow plastic kazoo. At just about any time during her waking hours, one can find her little lips glued around the noisemaker as she happily hums out any tune that pops into her head.

My husband and I got married on a whim. We lived across the country from our families, and we had put off our wedding for three years. Planning a wedding from 2,000 miles away just wasn’t happening. So one day, on a beach in South Carolina, we eloped to the tune of seagulls, whispering waves…and $300.

As women, we tend to invest ourselves fully and completely in nearly all facets of our lives. We are often as equally invested in our commitment to money as we are in our relationships. Yet we tend to talk and read more about the latter, too often ignoring our financial educations. Well I say, "No more!" We shall conquer our financial educations here and now, beginning with an understanding of why we women are perfect investor candidates.

Men and Investments

Even the most seasoned investor will tell you that knowing when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em can be a bit stressful. If the stock seems to be cruising its way into stardom or if it seems to be dragging its feet into the red a little bit further each day, choosing when to bail out can be tricky.

A Little Planning Goes a Long Way

One of the best ways you can stave off this adrenaline rush is to plan the dreams (and the nightmares) you have for your stock as far in advance as possible. This will help you maintain a level of objectivity.

With the onslaught (negative connotation intended) of harvest upon us here in Kansas, my role as a rancher’s wife has seemed to trump all other roles right now. Balancing the investments of ranching can sometimes be tricky with emergency expenses popping up daily.

Between storms that blew our greenhouse 300 feet from its original resting place and lug nuts actually pulling through tire rims, everyday seems like a loss with no gain in sight. So, what keeps us farming?

Seven years ago, had you taken me to coffee and asked me what I thought about investing, I probably would have snorted my coffee right out my nose. My life was wrapped up in studies of literature and law. I was just looking for a way to make money, not really concerned about what I would do with it once I actually had some.

In some regards, this was a great way to be, because all of the money I made just sort of stock-piled in my checking account. I didn’t make much, but I didn’t spend much either. Then marriage happened.

More than Just Stocks

I love living in this age of the internet where, at the click of a button, there is a vast array of info on just about any topic. Everything is at your fingertips 24/7/365, and super-couponing is no exception. In my quest to combine coupons with sales for savings on household products, I've come across several websites that are virtual bevies of awesome couponing information. In short, utilizing these websites has greatly helped my efforts, so I'm giving a shout out to them today…and passing them on to you!

Couponing to Disney

A few months ago, I saw Suze Orman on The Dr. Oz Show, where she mentioned that a financial diet can help people lose weight. Citing a statistic that claimed overweight people are paid $3.41 per hour less than their normal-weight counterparts, Orman went on to say that acknowledging your debt can lead you to skinny jeans. A little far-fetched? Well let’s take a look at the financial diet and Orman’s claims.

The Financial Diet