Does Mickey Mouse Hurt Rain Forests?

Photo courtesy of Rainforest Action Network

Disney's irresponsible printing practices

What's our beef with Mickey?  To the majority of Americans, Mickey is a symbol of fun & happiness.  I totally understand this - my family & I have had the fortune of going to Disney a couple of times.

Here is the scoop on the above link as well as what on earth is Mickey doing chained to a gate?
In the shortest form:

• Disney publishes tons of books
• Books are made from paper
• Disney gets its paper from two companies in Asia
• Both of these paper companies cut down rainforests to get their paper
• Disney has continued to buy its paper from these companies despite knowing how much damage is caused by this
• Disney can get their paper from a different, more responsible company

Make sense?  That's the basic deal.  Why do we care?  Because, as B.A.B.Es, we have an obligation to stand up for what's right - not necessarily chaining ourselves to a fence - that's not our thing.  But, we can make a stand with our dollars.  Remember the tuna boycott in the 90's (or maybe 80's!?)?  Dolphins were being slaughtered in the catching of tuna & regular people took notice - and stopped buying tuna.  Ah, the power of the people.  We can do the same thing now.  Consider buying from a different company & check out the website below the picture to sign a petition letting Disney know you do not support their "blind eye" practices.  Hey, we're B.A.B.Es - we lead, not follow.

Federal Budget vs. Household Budget: How Do They Compare? - Budgeting - daveramsey.com

Federal Budget vs. Household Budget: How Do They Compare? - Budgeting - daveramsey.com

7 Herbs That Deter Flies Naturally! - Planet Green

7 Herbs That Deter Flies Naturally! - Planet Green

7 Eco-Friendly Ways To Prepare Your Home For Travel - Planet Green

7 Eco-Friendly Ways To Prepare Your Home For Travel - Planet Green

Does Your Vacation Match Your Money?

Planning your vacation?  Vacations are tricky; we need them - the time off- but can we afford them?  Over the past few years, as I've been on my own financial journey, I've been stunned about friends' attitudes about vacation.  Specifically, about their outlook about their vacation dollars - or lack thereof.  I will never forget, for some reason, my friend saying, "We absolutely cannot afford to go on vacation, but we're going anyway".  I was stunned.  This wasn't a situation where they were going to have the money shortly, they weren't going to have it in the foreseeable future and they were going to charge the trip.  As women of the world - as B.A.B.Es - we have an obligation to lead our family on the right path to financial success.  Financial success = freedom = going wherever you want 'cause you have the money!

Look, we all work hard.  We all need a break.  But "I deserve this vacation" may not be the best attitude to have, as it fools your brain.  Deserve & need are two different things.  Sure, we may have worked hard enough to earn the time off, to definitely need that break.  Does that break need to be a $1,000 vacation?  How much will you have actually paid for that vacation once you've charged it and paid interest?

Consider this:  While you save for your next vacation, maybe take a day or two at a time & do something that makes you (or/and your family) happy.  Go to a local zoo or state park.  Take a day off, in the middle of the week, and go to the local cheap-seat theater & catch a flick you've been wanting to see.  Check out an area of your town that you've not been able to get to and go window-shopping.  The point is to not work, de-stress and not spend a lot of money.  Then, start your plan of where you would like to go next year and begin a plan to ensure you'll have the money to go.  You will then be on your way to having a guilt-free vacation!

Money is a “way of keeping score in life,” says T. Boone Pickens. But that is just for those who like playing the game. The real goal is to live with grace and dignity. You can do that with a small amount of money...or not do it with a fortune.  
-- Bill Bonner, financial journalist

"They make enough money, they should give".  Do you?  I've listened to many people complain about people who are "rich" should pay more, give more, do more.  While there is some truth to that, re-read the quote at the beginning.  We all have the ability to do, or give, something.  Serve one meal every month or two at a homeless shelter, give $5 to an organization you care about, donate clothes & other goods to shelters in need.  You don't have to make a ton of money to make a difference in your community or the world around you.

Ever heard of the bystander effect?  The basic gist is that everyone waits around for someone else to do something, so everyone does nothing.  Are you a bystander?  Think hard this week what one thing you can do or give, then just do it!

There is more in us than we know. If we can be made to see it, perhaps, for the rest of our lives, we will be unwilling to settle for less.
-- Kurt Hahn