7 Things You Should Know about Kittens

My grandson has his first pet, which is a kitten. As the kitten is now about six months old, here are some things that he should know or will soon learn about kittens.

1. They are not unlike fast-growing babies.  They start off lying in your arms looking at peace with the world but before you know it they’re at the “toddler” stage and running up drapes and under rugs!

2. They are fussy eaters.  Even the smallest kitten will spit out everything it doesn’t believe to be the very best available – oh and “the best” is very subjective, it depends less on the price/brand and more on the cat’s likes and dislikes!

3. Which brings us to number 3, a kitten will grow into an opinionated cat with strong likes and dislikes.  It won’t care if that’s your chair, your child’s bed, an antique sofa or fragile houseplant.  If your cat likes it, it’s his!  

4. If you have friends and family who don’t like – or even better, are allergic to – your kitten from a very young age will see these as their new best friend and insist on sitting on their lap!

5. Don’t believe what your cat tries to make you think – it is possible to train a cat to do certain things.  Just take potty training as an example, you can train a cat to use a litter box, so it follows a cat is capable of learning.  Unfortunately, an ability to learn does not automatically mean a willingness to learn, especially in a cat!

6. A kitten will grow and grow fast.  Remember this as you think it’s cute to have that tiny ball of fluff curled up next to you on your pillow at night!  Pretty soon that little kitten is going to take up all the pillow, and not be happy when it suddenly finds itself on the cold floor in a property fight over whose pillow it is!

7. A kitten will quickly worm itself into your heart and stay there – so make sure you only take enough money to buy one or you could end up bringing two or three home because you couldn’t choose between two of them, and then the third one looked so lonely!

Resources for Retirement

From time to time, I am tempted to create a resource list of retirement resources, and I never get around to it. I really don't have to, one of the best resources around is from "A Satisfying Retirement". The following is from this page.

Think about your retirement and all sorts of possibilities, problems, and thoughts might pop into your mind. Luckily, the Internet has enough resources to answer most everything, sometimes correctly!

To save you some time, and with just a little bit of exaggeration in the title, I have put together this Really Big Retirement Resources  Link  Guide. Here you will find direct links to some websites and resources, grouped by category. These listings don't serve as a personal endorsement, but appear on several lists of the "best" in each category.

Low or No-Cost Gift Ideas

My last post of being frugal for a while, as it is time to move on to a different focus. It doesn't have to cost anything in the way of money to give a loving gift.  Try one of these frugal gifts and see how thrilled your recipient is.

• Print them off a handmade coupon for a back massage.
• Cook a special dinner for a friend or loved one.
• Give someone a special a day of pampering.
• Write a poem or a quote in honor of someone's birthday.
• Create a drawing or painting that has special meaning.
• Make them a piece of jewelry out of seashells or pinecones.
• Print off information on a topic of interest to someone.
• Pass along a family heirloom or something that has sentimental value.
• Surprise someone with a picnic using food that you already have on hand.
• Make cookies or fudge and wrap them in tissue paper.
• Send an e-mail that lists out the reasons why they are special or why you love them.
• Give them an old photograph that has been tucked away for some time.
• Create a hobby scrapbook with images, articles, and tidbits about their favorite activity.
• Give them a seedling to grow using one of your own plants.
• Find a funky shaped rock and write a story about what it reminds you of.
• Sew together pieces of old clothing for a truly unique table runner.
• Create a gift voucher for one hour of doing whatever they want.
• Weed their garden for them or rake their lawn.
• Decorate a household utensil with craft items you have on hand.
• Give them a hug.
• Give them a kiss.

Don't be embarrassed if you are a little short on cash or if you want to try one of these free gift ideas. The best gifts really do come from the heart.

Frugality Can Equal Happiness

Frugality and happiness aren't something society usually put together. Frugality often brings up images of great sacrifice. We think of the miser who lived in poverty only for others to find millions saved after the miser passes away. What was the use?

Frugal living isn't necessarily what you may possibly consider it to be. Frugal people live very happy lives. They find happiness in meeting goals, reducing their financial burdens and living stress-free.

How happy can you when you are struggling to make ends meet or be when you are drowning in debt? You aren't living frugally, but you aren't happy either.

The frugal person often sees each step towards being debt-free or early retirement as a great success. They don't focus on that outfit they didn't buy or that new car they aren't driving. They focus on having spending money left over at the end of the month. They focus on the things that really matter.

Frugality is also a huge challenge. You get to be very creative with your money and the way you live. Many people love moving from one thing to another, looking at the way to cut costs for each category. For example, you've cut your utilities, now what about your groceries or gasoline consumption?

The goal is what keeps the frugal person going. The daily victories and challenges keep them interested. The penny saved keeps them adding it all up. And the debt-free life keeps them stress-free.

Imagine a life where you have no debts to pay. All you have are your living expenses. Think about having two thousand extra dollars a month. Dollars that aren't already spent before you make them. Think about retiring early to do something you enjoy instead of something you have to do. Think about following your dreams. Think about having money left over each month.

Frugality will get you there. Now wouldn't that make you happy?