Let them see you having a good time with them. There should be rewards for following the rules! I want my boys to be able to honestly say they live in a fun house, while at the same time I can look at their character arid see that it is being molded into the image of Christ.

My wife and I are constantly searching for bargains on canned sodas, because all our boys’ friends know we have a stocked refrigerator if they ever want a cold drink. Sleepovers happen frequently at our house, and Saturday mornings often find a large group of boys, who have camped at our house overnight, eating chocolate-chip pancakes for breakfast. We strive to make our home a place where teenagers want to hang out, because we know if that is the case, our boys will want to be here too.

The last verse of the Bible is a reminder to me of the importance of living by grace and raising my children by grace: “The grace of the lord Jesus be with God’s people.” Should there be any question about the importance of grace?
My sons have quickly learned the concept of grace as I have introduced grace parenting in my home. They understand that I am holding them to high standards, but that I am extending lots of grace. There is still so much for us all to learn, but they are responding well so far. I am relying on the grace of God to continue the good work of grace in my children’s lives.

I know that credit cards are not our best friend. but somehow, we find ourselves relying on them more than we should. A card can be a beneficial financial partner when it’s simply a substitute for cash, meaning you’ll pay in full come due date because it’s hassle- free and virtually interest-free. Other than that, it’s your second worst enemy (the first one is yourself for not having the discipline). Here, in descending order, are the reasons why your card can suddenly turn on you:

I. Debt settlement—This is a really bad transaction, almost as severe as filing for bankruptcy. It may sound like a sweet deal as you can slash a big percentage of your debt as long as you pay the required ‘discounted” amount on time. But your credit score will take a major hit, which means applying for loans in the future won’t be that easy. if that does&t immediately put you in the black list.

2. Skipping a payment—Even Wit’s only one single payment a series of domino effect events will reflect ‘in your bill. Some automatic processing systems may label that as delinquency and you’ll see an immediate rise in your interest fees over and above the other penalties that the missed payment will incur. It can also interrupt the zero-percent deals you made on your card and you’ll be discontentedly confronted by a myriad of complicated computations and a shocking balance.

3. Cash advances—-Everything is jacked up the minute you withdraw that “free” money from the ATM. This should be reserved for real life- threatening emergencies. Otherwise, you’re just digging a deeper grave with every withdrawal. Imagine the higher interest rate and lack of grace period.

4. Maxing out on its own, it’s not a severe problem as long as you pay the balance in full every month. But once you go beyond the limit (card companies give you about 5-percent extra to accommodate big purchases), the charges are astounding and that’s a negative indicator of your credit utilization.

5. Having too many cards —A symptom of bad financial habits, having more than three cards is a downward spiral. It’s difficult to keep track of the fees and charges, making it easier to miss a payment If you’ve maxed out all of them the same time, it’s most likely you cannot afford to pay them off.

6. Late payments—Not as tragic as missing it entirely, paying late will still give you a pile of problems—in the form of multiplied interest charges and penalties ft also goes on your permanent record as a delinquency a cause for your chances of limit increases and other perks to be slimmer.

7. Balance transfers—When done once to simply consolidate your debts into a sin2je account it’s forgivable. But if you hop from one card to another (and still, another) to take advantage of the low interest rates it becomes a red flag in your credit history because each transfer is viewed as a different debt not the same one.

8. Minimum payments —If you do the math, you’ll discover that you’re paying way more than you’ve spent as interest is being charged on both the principal amount and the interest itself, Two years later, you’re still paying ft off and only have shaved off a fraction of the interest. That’s not a bargain, is it?

9. Using a card in emergencies—You may think, that’s what cards are for And you’re right. In times that cash isn’t an option, it’s a blessing to have a card ready What matters is how you manage that transaction. It’s not a mistake to stagger payments over the course of a few months as long as you don’t fall into the trap of defending ft or stretching it for more than really necessary

10. Getting a card for rewards—This is the least damaging “mistake” for cardholders. Rewards are good perks when you’re an on-time full-balance payer because the9re really extras—something you didn’t pay for However, their value cancels out with interest when you don’t pay in full.

A program of daily fish oil and red yeast rice supplements—along with lifestyle changes like a healthy diet, exercise, and relaxation— can lower harmful LDL just as well as cholesterol-busting drugs. That’s the report from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania Health System, who found that the all-natural approach provided two additional benefits for the study’s high-cholesterol patients: lower triglycerides and weight loss. The program requires a serious commitment (you can’t just pop the pills without making the lifestyle changes), but if you’re tempted to try it, do sounder a doctor’s care, cautions lead researcher David S. Becker, M.D. Dietary supplements don’t go through FDA approval, and studies have found that the ingredients in red yeast rice may vary and even be risky. Two products that have undergone reliable testing and earned a thumbs- up: Naturals Red Yeast Rice and Cholestene Red Yeast Rice.

Rolling down the windows, turning up the radio and hitting the open road is a
classic way to celebrate summer! No wonder three out of four vacationers plan
to do just that this summer. And even with sky-high gas prices, it’s a bargain: Driving anywhere within 200 miles of home costs half as much as taking the shortest flight!

3 keys to having a great ride for less!

• Enjoy the view to cut fuel consumption by 31%! According to auto experts, that’s how much gas you save by not zipping in and out of lanes! Tip: Skip drive-thru eateries, too. Not idling can save up to 19% of your precious fuel.

• Use cruise control to avo4d gas stops.  Set at 55 mph, the optimal highway speed for fuel efficiency, cruise control will reduce gas consumption by up to 14%— and you won’t inadvertently go over the speed limit!

• Visit this site before you go! Find the day’s cheapest gas prices in all 50 states at www. gasbuddy.com. Also helpful: www.freetrip. com tells you how to steer clear of expensive toll booths.