Book Review: Smart Women Finish Rich

Once I got past the slightly worldly title of this book ;-), it was definitely a smart investment of my time to read it! Not just for career women or singles, this book is really useful for every woman from the stay-at-home mom whose monetary income is $0 all the way to the CEO of a company. It explains money management for the perspective of a woman. We all know that men and women look at things differently...that's Biblical! David Bach explains to women how to manage their money (or get on board with their husbands in managing their family's money) in a way that is consistent with what women value. My favorite chapters were the ones on putting your money where your values are, the latte factor and what to do about it, and using the three-basket approach to financial planning.

Every woman should read this book, even women who are happily married and taken care of financially. Understanding your own or your family's finances really will give you peace of mind. I feel a lot more qualified to make smart financial decisions now, and I have already started implementing some of the suggestions from the book. More are to come in the future.

The book is really a fast read, and definitely worth your time.

(I got my copy of Smart Women Finish Rich from Paperbackswap.com. This free service allows you to swap books with other people around the country. My sister and I have gotten lots of great books through the site...click on my referral link over in the right column --------> to go to the site and sign up. I'll get a credit for referring you, too, and I will love you forever! ;-D)

First roses of the summer

We've had several weeks of thunderstormy days, but today felt like summer! My "Peace" roses celebrated by opening in a panoply of buttery petals! Both bushes are obscured this year by several "Malva" plants I had in the bed last year. I didn't realize they were perennials, and this year they're taller than my second-year rosebushes. Oops...I keep telling my mom that eventually, the roses will be taller. Until then, I'll just cut all the roses and bring them inside so we can see and enjoy them! I am so pleased by how vigorous "Peace" and her sister are this year. I can't say the same for one of my third-year rosebushes. It has produced the loveliest blooms for the last two summers...six-inch blossoms with a damask fragrance that would fill the house, but all the canes died this winter. All I have left is the new growth. We'll see if it survives the summer.