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In 2002, I began my banking career in earnest. I had worked as a bookkeeper for years during college and as a head cashier during high school, but I was honestly unprepared for the finance world. I didn’t know what a 401(k) was. I didn’t know what a mortgage entailed. I didn’t know a lick about the stock market. I was a blank slate, ready to learn everything about the finance world.

As we continue our series on relationships and finance, we come to a pretty serious question: What do you do if you and your spouse are fighting about finances? I’m not talking about arguing; I’m talking about all-out yelling, crying and talks of divorce. How can you and your spouse come to a peaceful resolution, marriage intact?

See a Marriage Counselor

When you make the commitment to work at home, you are not only making a commitment to yourself, but also anyone who decides to do business with you. And, occasionally, you will come across a difficult client.

If that happens, take a deep breath and put everything into perspective. While it is important to always stay true to who you are, it's important to realize that you are a business and need to act in a professional manner.

Define Difficult

Oh, the days of getting an allowance when Mom or Dad gave you money pretty regularly.  Maybe it was tied to chores, and maybe it wasn't, but an allowance - your allowance - was money that took the trip to the candy store from dream to reality.  Pretty sweet, wasn't it?  Now as parents, we might find ourselves in the proverbial boat as our 'rents were.  When is a good time for Junior to start receiving his own money?  If you have children and are pondering when to start giving them a regular allowance, here are some very general guidelines that might help you gather if your child is re

There's nothing like snuggling up to the fire for a good read.  Not too long ago, that would have brought visions to my mind of an overly used paperback book, a large turtleneck, and a steaming cup of hot cocoa.  Thanks to my new toy, however, I now see a notebook, a pen, my iPad (the toy), and all of your blogs.

Now, if only the idea of reading brought visions of sitting outside in a luxurious garden.  I'd trade my iPad in for a sunburn right about now.  Surely Spring is in sight by now...  Let me go look out my window.  Nope.  Still just a bunch of ice and snow.

To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable; and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly…to listen to stars and buds, to babes and sages, with open heart; await occasions, hurry never…this is my symphony.” –William Henry Channing

This is one of my favorite quotes of all time. It sums up my life philosophy so brilliantly, so simply, and whenever I lose sight of one of the ideas, it grounds me back to a more sane way of viewing my world.

Future Homemakers of America.  Future Business Leaders of America.  Future Farmers of America.  You've probably heard of these groups, and maybe even participated in them in high school (for me, it was the FHA and FBLA).  How about Future Moneymakers?  I'm pretty sure they didn't have this when I was in school, but your local middle and high school could have its own variation of a kids' investment club. 

”Jack Sprat could eat no fat, His wife could eat no lean,
But just between the two of them, They licked the platter clean.”

“There once was a girl from Nantucket…” Just kidding–we won’t go any further into that limerick. But I do have a point to the Jack Sprat poem: Sometime opposites attract. One man could have fat-related indigestion while his wife is an Atkins fanatic. Another man could be a Packers fan while his wife is a die-hard Bears fan. A third man could save every penny while his wife is a spendthrift. Whatever the case, sometimes the most unlikely pair can be the strongest.

“If I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won't look any further than my own backyard.”  Those immortal words were spoken by none other than my hero: Dorothy Gale.  We Kansas girls have to stick together and all that. 

What about you?  When you make the decision to work from home, how will you get the word out?  Even with the snazziest of websites, if no one ever sees it, how can it help you?  Sure, you can pay money to get the word out, or you can network.

Creating Your Network

There was never a doubt in my mind that I would go to college. My mom drilled it into my head so much that I was a little flabbergasted by friends who decided to forego the undergraduate experience. Why would anyone decide to skip college? I thought a university education was the only way to get ahead.

Now, older (and wiser? — that’s still up for debate), I see that many of the friends who decided not to attend college don't seem to have paid much of a price for their decision. Their life looks awfully similar to mine, and they don’t earn a lick less than I do.