Balancing the Summer Reading List
July 14, 2014My eight-year old daughter Caroline recently made an observation that in her opinion, I simply don’t read enough. This of course is coming from an up and coming 3rd grader who absolutely loves to read and is currently breezing through J.K. Rowling’s entire Harry Potter series along with countless other books. Although I will acknowledge that I never was a bookworm growing up, it must be noted that her definition of reading does not include financial journals, academic research studies, personal finance blogs, IRS tax code, or financial planning books. I am impressed that my daughter balances her reading preferences and also reads non-fiction books to learn about various topics ranging from history, Bible stories, and Golden doodles.
In reality, I spend a lot of my time reading but rarely do I get a chance (or create an opportunity) to pick up a good novel or non-fiction book to read for pure fun and enjoyment. So much for finding that greater sense of work/school/life balance that I encourage others to adopt! This summer, I am working on spicing up my reading list and adding some new topics and genres to the mix. And yes, there may be a J.K. Rowling book on this list so I have a clue what my daughter is talking about when we visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios this summer. As long as there is a beach chair waiting for me and a cool ocean breeze, I won’t complain about what ends up on my summer reading list.
Hopefully you have some good options for your summer reading list whether you are reading for work or pleasure. Most importantly, hopefully you will have some down time to settle down and enjoy a little rest and relaxation. Just don’t forget to put a few personal finance books, articles, or blogs to your list to add a little balance! Managing personal finances doesn’t usually get included in the same discussion as rest and relaxation but a little summertime attention to our financial lives can add a greater sense of freedom down the line. If you are looking for some quick and easy financial blogs with a summertime theme here are some ideas to get you started:
Is it time for your mid-year financial check up? Summertime presents a perfect opportunity to re-assess your financial goals. This blog was written by yours truly to highlight some important financial planning tasks you can knock off your checklist. These action items aren’t quite as exciting for me as watching World Cup soccer or fishing from my kayak, but they are good reminders of ways to keep financial plans on the right track.
Summer jobs for your kids Greg Ward reminds parents of the importance of instilling some good old fashioned work ethic into our kids by putting them to work. Even if these job ideas aren’t a good fit for your kids the importance of creating age appropriate money lessons for kids is essential if we don’t want them to make financial mistakes as they get older. Parents with teenagers can also use this guide to help young adults manage a summer salary.
5 Ideas for a Frugal Summer Vacation. Guest blogger David Bakke highlights some ways to stay frugal during the summer break. My family is using all of these ideas this summer as we are focusing on “staycations” and traveling to see friends and family instead of our preferred trip to Europe (not the Clark Griswold version) or a tropical trip to St. Somewhere.
6 Budget Friendly Recipes for Summer Road Trips This MintLife blog by Frugal Foodie made me hungry. It also made me want to take a road trip! One thing that can blow up a vacation budget is overspending on restaurants and fast food along the journey. A little meal planning and recipes that are easy on the wallet can help you spend your money on more important things.
Five tips before your road trip. Speaking of road trips, my colleague Linda Robertson highlights some important reminders to keep your fun wagon on the road.
I’ve got some non-financial planning books to knock off my summer reading list to avoid exposing myself as an uninformed parent in the eyes of my child. But that doesn’t mean I will completely avoid adding some personal finance books, blogs, and articles to my “not so cool in the eyes of a 3rd grader” reading list. The lesson that she reminded me of is that work/life balance is important when it comes to where we devote our time and attention.
What are some personal finance blogs that you’ve read recently that should be added to this list? Send us your thoughts and suggestions. Next week I’ll highlight some influential books related to personal financial planning that I’ve already knocked off my reading list that you may find helpful. Enjoy the rest of your summer!