by Tracie Handberg | Aug 19, 2026 | Financial Planning
Last year I planted a large mandevilla in a pot on the side of my house. Its cheery pink flowers and glossy green leaves were a welcome break on a long windowless stucco wall. It looked pretty glorious for several months. Then I noticed a couple orange caterpillars –...
by Tracie Handberg | Jul 8, 2026 | Uncategorized
Two years ago I wrote a blog post about my recent college graduate choosing a first apartment that met his needs (affordable, no roommates) but was, well … not quite what I as a mother would choose for my son: 20 Second Advisor: “I’m OK with cockroaches,...
by Tracie Handberg | May 27, 2026 | Purchases
Back when I was pregnant with my second child, I really wanted a minivan. More specifically, I wanted a Honda Odyssey that had auto-opening side doors (a new thing back then), and captain chair seats in the second row to minimize sibling fights (ha!). My husband and I...
by Tracie Handberg | Apr 16, 2026 | Budget, Saving
When I was growing up, we didn’t have chips or cookies in our home. My mom’s philosophy is that if she knows a treat is there, she’ll eat it. So removing the temptation works for her. I, on the other hand, was the kid that would walk a couple of blocks to the Li’l...
by Tracie Handberg | Mar 4, 2026 | Taxes
On Friday afternoons during tax season I am a certified volunteer tax preparer for AARP Tax-Aide. This is the organization that does free tax preparation for seniors and lower income taxpayers. Here are my observations on the 2025 tax season so far: The new Senior...
