Articles written by Kris Olds

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About me - Kris Olds

Writing is a gift. It's the kind of gift you open on Christmas morning and realize that assembly is required and that the instructions are in a language that you only have cursory knowledge of. Did I mention that batteries aren't included? But when that gift

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Home & Garden > Gardening (Other) True gardening stories: My most amazing gardening experience: 4 of 62
I was a sad soul. I had graduated college and had moved back in with my parents. I hadn't found "the" job that would make the best use of my (expensive) degree and my passions. I was working part time at a design firm and I wasn't very happy about it. My dating relationship was floundering. It was a rough time all around.On a... More..
Personal Finance > Financial Planning The basics of financial planning: 2 of 25
Financial planning is a broad term used to cover the concepts of earning, saving and investing money. At it's most basic, financial planning calls for making a goal and creating steps to meet it.FIRST STEP OF FINANCIAL PLANNING-MAKE A GOALYou can't plan for something if you don't know what you're planning for. Some example go... More..
Personal Finance > Credit Cards How to eliminate credit card debt: 5 of 61
Eliminating credit card debt is at the top of the financial to-do list for most Americans. But if it were as easy as just paying it off, there wouldn't be an entire industry established to help consumers with their debt. Here are a couple of suggestions to get a hold of your credit card debt and pay it off.STEP ONE: ASSESS TH... More..
Relationships & Family > Gay & Lesbian Issues The harm caused when homosexuals stay "in the closet": 1 of 11
The closet is a pretty lonely place to be. It's dark, it's cramped and worst of all, when you're in there, people forget you exist.It's the forgetting about existence part that is the most damaging component of "staying in the closet". There is no question that it is an incredibly personal choice to come out and to live life ... More..
Relationships & Family > Marriage & Divorce (Other) Was the California Supreme Court right in legalizing gay marriage?: 5 of 44
The role of the Supreme Court is to ensure that the laws of a state are in accordance with the constitution of said state. If the Supreme Court finds that there are is an inequity or an injustice, it has the obligation to hand down a ruling that changes the discrepancy. California's recent ruling regarding gay marriage did ex... More..
Health & Fitness > Healthy Living & Wellness How to take responsibility for your health care: 3 of 24
Personal responsibility is a hallmark of adulthood. Never has this been more true than in the arena of health care. Health care is a billion dollar industry that depends on providers, clinics and hospitals for it's success. When the bottom line becomes part of the picture, it becomes imperative to take responsibility for your... More..
Personal Finance > Budgets & Saving The basics of personal budgeting: 10 of 51
At its most basic meaning, personal budgeting comes down to not spending more than you earn. But with personal finance being a multimillion dollar industry, there must be more to it, right? Not necessarily. Personal budgeting consists of several steps that are designed to provide anyone with a sense of where they are and wher... More..
Celebrations & Holidays > Wedding Budget Tips on cutting wedding costs: 13 of 43
Wedding costs can add up fast. With a little creativity and some advance planning, you can create the wedding of your dreams on the budget of your reality.A helpful step is to consider what part of your day will mean the most to you. Is it important that you have your day chronicled from beginning to end? If so, invest your r... More..
Celebrations & Holidays > Wedding Party & Guests Best person: When your best man is a woman: 4 of 13
Don't wear black to a wedding. The brides family sits on the left. The Best Man has to be a man. Many wedding traditions are becoming non-traditional. Why should gender dictate the person who will stand beside you when you make your promises to love, honor and obey? Even the most conservative of families will smile when seein... More..
Personal Finance > Financial Planning Fear of finances: How to take control of your money: 6 of 15
As a person who once had the financial approach of sticking my head in the sand and waiting for the crisis to pass, I can speak pretty honestly about the fear associated with taking control of your money. Finances are an area full of emotion. We equate money with power and finances. As a society, we think that the more money ... More..