MMD is very mad right now. There are two things you don’t mess with when it comes to MMD: 1) My family, 2) My money. Right now, the state of Michigan is messing with both! According to a new law that was passed in our state called Senate Bill 1040 or SB1040, all public school employees are going to have their pension plans altered (aka reduced). The best part is that they let you decide how – by choosing from one of four somewhat convoluted choices. Isn’t that nice – would you like to cut off your thumb, ear, or toe? … [Read more...] about Weekend Wind Down 9/29/2012 – Angry with SB1040!
Lifestyle
Weekend Wind Down 9/22/2012 – Terrible Scary Movies
I absolutely love scary movies! Especially around Halloween time. And I wish I had some good recommendations of recent movies for you to rent, but I don’t. Redbox has really been letting me down lately. Here’s a few terrible scary movies for you to avoid: • I remembered Silent House from the previews when it first came out, and I was looking forward to this one. At first when the movie started, it had a lot of potential. But then it just got kind of weird, a little boring, and worst of all – not very scary. • Next I tried to sort the Redbox movies by reviews and go with the highest rated one. A B-movie by some independent company called the The Haunting of Whaley House was up there, so I decided to give it that one a shot. I should have … [Read more...] about Weekend Wind Down 9/22/2012 – Terrible Scary Movies
To Be Young Entrepreneurs or Employees? My Kids Try Entrepreneurism
No, that’s not my retirement savings in the photo on the left. You’re looking at the proud earnings of my children after a day’s worth of being young entrepreneurs. That’s right – my kids got the bright idea that they would accelerate their earnings by trying to make their own money. It doesn’t matter if you’re if you’re a child or an adult. There will be times you want to say goodbye to your job because it seems like it would so much easier to make money on your own. But like my kids found out, the grass is not always greener on the other side. Nonetheless, I was really happy that they gave it a shot and got a little bit of a laugh out of the experience. Here’s how things went … … [Read more...] about To Be Young Entrepreneurs or Employees? My Kids Try Entrepreneurism
Weekend Wind Down 9/15/2012 – MMD vs Phone Service
It was only a month ago that Mrs MMD finally decided after all this time to get a smart phone with a data plan and the whole nine yards. So we signed up for a new plan from Sprint and things were going good. Then out of nowhere this week, she’s no longer able to make or receive calls anymore. So twice I had to call, do the whole pull the battery out and put it back in, and waste a few hours talking with tech support. The end result: The phone still doesn’t work! As if one phone problem wasn’t enough, then our Vonage router started giving us problems. So I devoted yet another hour on the phone with the Vonage tech support going through their motions as well - pushing the reset button, unhooking cables, etc. Why does it always seem like … [Read more...] about Weekend Wind Down 9/15/2012 – MMD vs Phone Service
Practicing Entrepreneurship the Fraidy-Cat Way – Using Your Job
I’ll admit it. I’m a giant fraidy-cat when it comes to the subject of entrepreneurship. It’s not that I don’t believe in taking risks – I just question if the risk is worth taking. Even after starting this blog one year ago and feeling the sweet success of having it make more money than any of my other side hustles, I still struggle to believe that it could make me any richer or provide me with more security than my real job. No question about it. Does that mean I don’t have the burning passion to grow a new business, create something from nothing, build a name for myself, and make a ton of money in the process? Absolutely not! I want to do all those things! But I have and plan to continue to do them at my current job. And here’s why … [Read more...] about Practicing Entrepreneurship the Fraidy-Cat Way – Using Your Job
Weekend Wind Down 9/08/2012 – Starting the Soccer Season
As if going back to school wasn't bad enough, why don’t we cram one more activity in this week – let’s also start up soccer practice! That’s right. Not only did the kids (and wife) head back to school on Tuesday, they also headed right back outside for the start of the Fall soccer season in our community. We’ve already had our first game yesterday and another one this morning. When it rains, it pours! (Please whether – don’t really rain!) But it’s all good. The kids are getting so much better and having a lot of fun with it! … [Read more...] about Weekend Wind Down 9/08/2012 – Starting the Soccer Season
Goal Setting When You Realize That All You Have Is Now
That’s right PF bloggers! We’re starting off this post with a quote from a Flaming Lips song. Even if that’s not what you picture when you think about goal setting, perhaps this perspective will help. Retiring At 48: Last June when the school year ended for my wife, one of her colleagues retired – at age 48. Yes, she reached the minimum age required to receive her full pension and she was out. Depending on your perspective on retirement, some people would consider this far too young to retire. But to my wife and I, this was an inspiration. In fact for my wife, this is really only 13 more years away. … [Read more...] about Goal Setting When You Realize That All You Have Is Now
Weekend Wind Down 9/02/2012 – Labor Day Weekend
Sorry if I blew your mind posting on Sunday rather than Saturday, but that’s how I roll this weekend. We're taking this easy! Its Labor Day break, and that means one extra day off work! Yea! Did anyone else catch the Clint Eastwood Republican Convention speech? What was up with that? First of all, the poor guy looks to be +100 years old. Couldn't someone have combed his hair before he got up there? And he seemed to lose track of his own jokes at times. I’m not sure what they were trying to accomplish with this. … [Read more...] about Weekend Wind Down 9/02/2012 – Labor Day Weekend
