In this book David Bach takes his “finish rich” wisdom and tailors it to all of us who forgot to save, procrastinated or got sidetracked by life’s unexpected challenges.

Whether you are in your 30’s, 40’s, 50’s or even older, Bach shows you that you really can start late and finish rich – and you can get your plan in place quickly.

This is a very motivating book, easy to read with very practical, doable ways to spend less and save more based on David’s principles for money.  This book comes in both a US edition and a Canadian edition, which makes it very relevant to YOU.  Just one more thing I love about this book.  Get it.  Read it.  Use it.  I am.

I’d rather be in the garden - and probably you would too!  The weather is perfect for spring planting, flower and veggie bed prepping, and lawn mowing.  Clutter and gardening? – Absolutely! 

Make yourself a gardening headquarters and keep it in good working order.  Wherever you keep your gardening tools, the shed, basement, garage etc., simplify this space and make it more efficient.  Think about flow and safety.  Any fertilizers and other potentially harmful garden-aids should be kept out of pets and children’s reach.  Transfer birdseed into a closed container to keep it from scattering all over the place.  Organize everything so it’s easily visible and accessible. 

Often de-cluttering is about rediscovering.  The garden shed is no different.  Any planters or pots that you didn’t use last year either donate, or fill with cheery annuals to brighten up your front step.  That said, for goodness sake either recycle or drop off at a local nursery any of the plastic flats and pots that the annuals and perennials came home in this year or last.  This is the most common garden clutter – those green and black pots and flats stacked haphazardly, full of spider webs and good intentions.  Make sure all your tools, mowers, and trimmers are in good working order and clean of rust and debris.  Take inventory and if there are any that you didn’t use last year because they were unnecessary or awkward give them to your local community garden or charity. 

Take a look at your garden furniture too.  Make sure everything is clean and comfortable.  Replace or repair anything that is worn-out or broken.  Seat cushions that make your shorts dirty and patio chairs that leave your back aching are clutter too.  If you don’t love it, use it, or need it then let it go.  This clutter tip isn’t just for those with a patch of grass to call their own.  If there’s room on your deck (apartment or sailboat) to plant a pot or two then make sure that you use your space to its fullest potential and in return you will have more time, energy and focus for fair weather pursuits.     

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Well, the best part of the month has been that I have become a grandma for the first time to a beautiful baby boy named Cohen Gregory Muir.  He was born on April 6 and weighed a whopping 9 lbs. 6 oz.  David and I spent a weekend with Brad, Tania and Cohen and it was truly a wonderful time.  He is so very beautiful and alert and curious.  I’ve enclosed photos for all of you to see. Cohen is 4 days old in these pics. He amazes me.

I believe I said in one of my newsletters that I was only going to buy Cohen books and not stuff, which might clutter up his life.  So far so good.  I am currently investigating and thinking about how I can start a financial on-going gift for Cohen that he nor I will have to pay taxes on; some kind of tax shelter.  I have discussed this with his parents and they are thrilled to have a savings of some kind started for Cohen.  I am still reading Start Late Finish Rich and may find some help there with a decision.  I am going to consult my financial planner for options.

I also discovered via the Start Late, Finish Rich book that if I save $5/day for 30 days per month for 10 years at an average rate of 10% I would have saved over $30,000.00.  I am going to talk with my planner about setting this up so that I have $150/month transferred to that fund.  Anyone out there want to join me?  Send me an email to Oprica@ascentcoaching.com  and we’ll start a group to motivate and inspire us on a path to increased wealth and I expect it will be fairly effortless adventure.

Did some more de-cluttering this month and am preparing to join in a block garage sale this Saturday.  Time to rid myself of more stuff.  I have spent some time with Kathryn looking at the plans for my new office and seeing how I want to create the most struggle-free environment in which to do my work.  We are also looking at what needs to go from my current office.  I am looking for a small desk to hold my laptop, my calendar and a glass of water. Big desk = more space to put stuff. Small desk = less stuff.  My current desk is very cluttered these days and feels very heavy and irritating to me.  Seems like I have more things to do with less time. I need to set some priorities and get re-focused on my physical work environment.  I find myself day-dreaming about our new house which is far more exciting than organizing my office gathering all my tax things together for my accountant.  Yes, that new house is certainly taking shape.

Cumberland Chronicles
 

Well that foundation that I talked about got poured and as you can see in this picture it is huge!  The bill hasn’t arrived as yet so we’ll see plus they had to shut the hydro down for 3 hrs while it was being poured at a cost of $1300. The great news is the weather is fabulous, the concrete slabs have been poured this week and the framing has started as you can see in the photo here (that’s our dog Misty in the basement). Weather permitting the framing will be completed by next newsletter.  This is the very exciting part as we begin to see the rooms take shape.  I can visualize sitting in my office and looking out the window to the forest.  I will take a picture of that for next month.  We’ve made a few changes to the kitchen cabinets and one bathroom cabinet, which translates to dollars saved (while nothing looks different) to be used towards the heat pump which we’ve added that was not in the plans. The kitchen is huge to me, certainly compared to the one we currently have. I think it will be very nice to cook where there is plenty of workspace.  There will even be a cupboard just for the dog & cats' food.  You are all invited for dinner in September.  What fun that would be!

-Linda