Weekly Roundup

Blog Round-Up: Week of January 13, 2014

blog roundup

We’re halfway through January and 2014 is already speeding by. I’ve been busy putting the finishing touches on my second children’s book, and it should be at the printers by the end of the month. And just in case you’re curious (and I hope you are!), this book is yellow, not pink. šŸ™‚

I’ll be sharing more about the book in the upcoming months, but I’m really happy with how it turned out and the continuation of teaching kids about money. This time we focus more on earning money, which helps kids understand the value of money.

As I shared in my post, A Good Life Versus an Entitled One: The Unintended Consequences, one common mistake we make is giving kids money without a reason. Some call it an allowance; I call it a mistake. Just like money needs a purpose (goals), money should be given for a reason, such as completing additional chores or tied to a specific occasion like a birthday. “I love you” presents are fine but should be an unexpected treat, not an every day or regular occurrence. Do not create the expectation you will give your kids money every time they ask. They need to earn money, otherwise they will eventually treat you like an ATM.

A Few Good Reads

Another week with a ton of great posts. Here are a few of my favorites. Enjoy!

Matt from Mom and Dad Money is known for his thorough and detailed posts, and he has a doozy of one on How Much Life Insurance Do You Need? If life insurance is on your to-do list for 2014, this is the post for you.

Jacob over at Cash Cow Couple asked Are You a Mindless Accumulator? He shared findings from a study researching our instinct to accumulate more than we can consume. It certainly makes you stop and evaluate your own situation and goals.

Hayley at Disease Called Debt shared Why Ignorance is Definitely Not Bliss When It Comes to Debt. Debt is a seductive beast that lures us in with its false promises of freedom through spending money we don’t have. Until one day we realize we have been lied to and now scramble to undo our mistakes. Hayley is choosing a debt-free life with true freedom and choices.

Anthony from Thrifty Dad had some More Ways to Save Money on Groceries. Food is one the areas most families want to reduce costs. Anthony has some great ideas that can help you put some money back in your pocket while still eating well.

DC at Young Adult Money had an excellent series on 15 Ways to Improve Your Finances in the New Year. DC shared some easy tips to implement that can really make a difference. Okay, technically this series ran last week but my blog; my rules—right? And maybe I meant to mention it last week but forgot. šŸ™‚

And I’m going to end with my friend, Mackenzie, from The Random Path. She does an amazing job capturing the emotions behind debt in her post, A Smile I Don’t Recognize. I have never meet Mackenzie, but if I do get the chance to meet her, I know her smile will be beautiful and real.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Shannon

Image courtesy of www.freedigitalphotos.net.

The Heavy Purse Store is now open! My new downloadable Money Club Workbooks are now on sale. Each workbook provides five targeted lessons to help you raise Financially Confident Kids. Please check them out in The Heavy Purse Store.

January 17, 2014  •  17 Comments  •  Weekly Roundup

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Comments

  1. Friday, January 17th, 2014
    Congratulations on nearly finishing your second children's book. :) How exciting! Thanks so much for mentioning my post, I'm in great company!
    • Shannon
      Friday, January 17th, 2014
      Thanks, Hayley! I'm looking forward to completing it. :) You're very welcome. It was a great post! Have a great weekend!
  2. Friday, January 17th, 2014
    Thanks for the shout out Shannon! And congrats on finishing up the second book! I have to say the thought of writing even one is a little daunting, so that fact that you're almost done with your second is incredibly impressive. Definitely something I'll have to check out when my kids are a little older. Have a great weekend!
    • Shannon
      Friday, January 17th, 2014
      You're welcome, Matt! Well, children's books are probably a bit easier than writing a 300+ page book. :) But I'm still pretty thrilled with it! Yes, I certainly hope you will check them out when your kids get a little bit older. You have a great weekend too!
  3. Friday, January 17th, 2014
    Thanks so much for the mention! Don't worry, I include posts from a week ago as well in my roundup. Sometimes I prep it earlier in the week so that's my excuse haha. Very cool that you are making progress on your second children's book. Hope you have a great weekend!
    • Shannon
      Friday, January 17th, 2014
      Thanks, DC! Sometimes I have to prep my post early too, so I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who needs to do that. :) You have a great weekend too!
  4. Friday, January 17th, 2014
    Congratulations on finalizing your second book! Yay! That must be a great feeling getting to the end. Well done! Thank you so much for the mention! Much appreciated. Have yourself a wonderful weekend!
    • Shannon
      Friday, January 17th, 2014
      Thanks, Anthony! It does feel good! :) You're welcome. I enjoyed your tips. You have a great weekend too!
  5. Friday, January 17th, 2014
    Congrats on the second book Shannon! That is fantastic news!!! :)

    Thank you so much for the mention, you have made my day and I am so thankful for your support, Shannon! XO
    • Shannon
      Friday, January 17th, 2014
      You're welcome, Mackenzie! It was a beautiful post, as always. :) You have a great weekend too!
  6. Friday, January 17th, 2014
    Looking forward to your second book!! :-)

    Have a fun weekend!
    • Shannon
      Friday, January 17th, 2014
      Thanks, Sicorra! Appreciate your support so much, my friend! Have a great weekend!
  7. Friday, January 17th, 2014
    Congratulations on your progress on the second book! I can't wait to hear more about it, although I am disappointed that it won't be pink, it's my favorite color. :-)
    • Shannon
      Friday, January 17th, 2014
      Thank you, Shannon. We really must be twins. Same name. Same hair color. Love finance. Love pink. :) You have a great weekend!
  8. Saturday, January 18th, 2014
    Great articles here, Shannon. I especially loved Mackenzie's post too - so moving! Have a wonderful weekend, friend. :-)
  9. Sunday, January 19th, 2014
    Congrats on the second book! That takes a lot of work.

    Also, thanks for the Blog Round Up. They're great articles and this regular post makes it easy to stay on top of personal finance. We particularly found the Cash Cow Couples article on being a mindless accumulator insightful.
    • Shannon
      Sunday, January 19th, 2014
      Thanks, John! Appreciate your support and kind words. Jacob and Vanessa do a great job and I really enjoyed their article too. It makes you think. :) Hope you had a great weekend!
Shannon Ryan SHANNON RYAN, CFPĀ®
  • Meet Shannon

    "As a Certified Financial Planner, it is my passion to help individuals and families build a healthy relationship with money. I look forward to helping you raise financially confident kids.ā€ - Shannon Ryan