It’s Not Complicated … It’s Just DOLLARS & SENSE

Money. It’s the first thing Red thought about when her husband came home and, totally unexpectedly, told her he was fired. And what was the first thing she did? She freaked out (Black likes to say that Red finally used her theater degree), assuming the worst about their financial situation. And if that wasn’t bad enough, she was certain she couldn’t “do” personal finance.

She then made a third foolish assumption … that her sister Black, who had an M.B.A. in International Finance, would tell her what to do. Instead, after giving Red a few days to deal with her emotions, Black started to ask her basic questions about their financial situation, and it became obvious Red’s default setting was to “freak out”.

And so Red’s journey (which Black turned into our bestselling book, What I Learned About Life When My Husband Got Fired!) began with learning the basics of personal finance and, ultimately, she’d realize that Black wasn’t being sarcastic when she said,

When it comes to money, you have two choices: you can let your money control you, or you can control your money.

But first, Red, a straight-A student, had to overcome the unfounded belief that she wasn’t capable of learning about money. She had to find a way to get around the mental roadblocks of being intimidated by financial terminology and concepts, which the very thought of gave her a headache. And then Black simply asked,

Can you add and subtract? If so, you’re qualified to “do” personal finance.

So, whether you’re more like Red (was), feel like you’ve got a good handle on your money but are always looking for tips and tools, or merely are curious about Black’s unusual ways of looking at money (or her sarcastic comments), we think you’ll enjoy the DOLLARS & SENSE section on our new site in the new year.

Until then, and especially since “tis the season for spending”, we want to share some of our favorite money posts:

TERMINOLOGY (AS EXPLAINED BY BLACK): RED & BLACK … Like Money More Than Math?
A POWERFUL TIP: Think Before You Spend?
MONEY & RELATIONSHIPS: My husband and I always argue about money. Any advice?
CREDIT CARDS: My credit card bills are out of control! What do I do?
BUDGETING (THIS IS A TRUE STORY): Black’s First Budget – A Fond Childhood Memory?
ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS: Talking To Myself … About Money?

P.S. – And whether you’re trying to survive the holiday season (this checklist is about more than just money) or looking forward to a fresh start in the New Year (although maybe not the “resolutions” part), stay tuned as later this month we’ll have a post dedicated to THE BIG PICTURE. (FYI, our subscribers get sneak peeks before we post online.)

money

Memory Lane

A Life Shaped By …. Bats? Yes!

Photo by Aneese on iStock

You may have to wait until the end of the month to celebrate Halloween, but the entire month of October is Bat Appreciation Month. So, Red can’t help but reminisce about when her oldest daughter, Natasha, first fell in love with bats. And Black? She can’t help but think of her first tattoo?!

Red's Head assets.rebelmouse.io

Thanks for sending me Natasha's Austin-inspired business plan. But while I know that's her future, I can't help but think about the first time I took her to Austin.

Black's Head Black assets.rebelmouse.io

All I remember is that it was love at first sight.

Red's Head assets.rebelmouse.io

It was on our way home from taking Sawyer to camp, and I told her we were making a slight "detour". She was so excited when I pulled up to the hotel as she's always loved hotels. But that night, as we walked onto Congress Avenue Bridge and saw the thousands and thousands of bats fly out into the sunset, she was mesmerized and "in love".

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Words & Banter

RED & BLACK ... Define Literacy

Design by Sawyer Pennington, Underlying photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

red head assets.rebelmouse.io	I have a confession to make, which I’m sure will make you roll your eyes.
Black assets.rebelmouse.io	Interesting caveat and probably true.
red head assets.rebelmouse.io	Every time we talk with Jackie (Aguilera) from the Mayor’s Office of Adult Literacy and hear what she’s doing in the world of adult education, I feel like I’m back in school and having to take copious notes.
Black assets.rebelmouse.io	I am more than happy to send you “homework assignments” as I come across relevant articles and research.

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Black assets.rebelmouse.io	Although I knew about the bats (the largest urban colony of bats in the world), if it were not for Natasha, I never would have planned a trip to Austin just to see them. But having watched her watching the bats, I was not surprised, years later, when her first tattoo was a bat.
assets.rebelmouse.io	That may not have been surprising, but I was shocked when a few weeks later you decided to get a tattoo, and it was identical to hers. I didn't know that you were such a fan of bats.
Black assets.rebelmouse.io	It was not the bats; it was the fact it was identical to her tat. Although, I think Natasha and I should add a few more bats. And this time, do it in Austin.
assets.rebelmouse.io	It's amazing how so many of my memories of the girls growing up are connected to Austin.
Black assets.rebelmouse.io	Funny thing is whenever I would be there with you and the girls, and they would "drag" me to that old-time candy store at the top of Congress, I would see things I had not seen since we were little, so would be reminded of us as children.
assets.rebelmouse.io	That's always one of the first places they'd want to go to in Austin. That and Green Mesquite BBQ. They both loved Austin, and it wasn't like going to a large city, where there are so many places to go and sites to see. They were always happy to go back to the same familiar places and enjoy simple things, like that snow cone truck or even just walking around downtown.
Black assets.rebelmouse.io	For as long as I can remember, Austin has always been a foodie town. And, it had food trucks before they became popular around the country. Austin has a unique culture, which may be why the girls, but especially Natasha, love it. And, its " Keep Austin Weird" vibe not only makes it the perfect place for her, but has provided some great ideas for her business concept.
assets.rebelmouse.io	I'll leave the business analysis to you. I know that she's doing that as part of her studies in the U.K., but I prefer to think about the great times we've had in Austin. And the mom in me thinks she'd be very happy to one day make Austin her home.
Black assets.rebelmouse.io	Especially as that's where millions of her beloved Austin bats live.

red head assets.rebelmouse.io	Thanks, but no thanks. I’ll stick to taking notes. But that does explain why you’re so knowledgeable about literacy.
Black assets.rebelmouse.io	But, reading information is very different from being at the forefront of literacy innovation. And, if we had never met Jackie, I never would have realized how literacy is about more than reading and writing.
red head assets.rebelmouse.io	But that alone is such a critical part of all of our lives and can make the difference between struggling and success. Although I never stopped to think about any of that before we met Jackie.
Black assets.rebelmouse.io	The funny thing is we first met her because of financial literacy.
red head assets.rebelmouse.io	Yes, I remember, even though it was over a decade ago. It was shortly after our book was approved as a financial literacy textbook by the (Texas) State Board of Education, and you decided we should go to a Houston Money Week meeting. I didn’t think we were qualified to talk about the topic.
Black assets.rebelmouse.io	I did not feel qualified to decide whether or not we could be of any help until I better understood what they did.
red head assets.rebelmouse.io	That’s why I let you do the talking when “newbies” had to introduce themselves. Plus, I’d have talked their ears off. But after the meeting, this confident but very approachable woman came striding across the room, extended her hand to me, and introduced herself. At the time, she was Literacy Coordinator at EastSide University.
Black assets.rebelmouse.io	All I remember was her energy, commitment, and passion for financial literacy. Not usually a topic discussed with such enthusiasm.
red head assets.rebelmouse.io	There’s an understatement. And not only did it take me by surprise, but I hate to admit it, it was contagious. Especially once we started working with her.
Black assets.rebelmouse.io	Another confession?
red head assets.rebelmouse.io	Maybe. I still shake my head in amazement at the incredibly creative ways she makes personal finance, typically such a “boring” topic, come alive. And how she uses outside-the-box approaches to making learning relevant.
Black assets.rebelmouse.io	But, it is not only financial literacy. It also includes digital literacy, health literacy, and even news literacy and environmental literacy. Which is why I am honored that she asked us to create various “Conversation Starters” she could use at presentations and workshops.
red head assets.rebelmouse.io	I never imagined they could be used to talk about serious concepts in a light-hearted and fun way. Even if she points out how I was a poster child for not being “literate” when it comes to an assortment of life topics.
Black assets.rebelmouse.io	I dislike the term “literacy” because it makes people feel like they are “illiterate” when they do not know something. In reality, they may never have been exposed to the information or given an opportunity to learn it.
red head assets.rebelmouse.io	I can tell you first-hand that, initially, I felt stupid until you pointed out I was merely sheltered. But that’s given me so much more empathy when I think of other people in the same position I was once in.
Black assets.rebelmouse.io	That is why she likes the “Conversation Starters” – they make the topics accessible in a non-threatening way.
red head assets.rebelmouse.io	And helps us realize that literacy impacts every aspect of our lives since it is so much more than reading and writing. Raising awareness of that and talking about it with others, especially our families, can have a huge ripple effect.
Black assets.rebelmouse.io	That is the purpose of September being designated National Literacy Month.
red head assets.rebelmouse.io	September seems the perfect time to learn something new. It’s like being back in school, except you can put the knowledge to work immediately.
Black assets.rebelmouse.io	And, this year, with elections just months away, it is the perfect time to learn about news literacy.
red head assets.rebelmouse.io	Oh, I know better …