Pet Insurance, that is. See, we are getting a family pet. On Monday, our new puppy will join us. The kids are excited, of course, while dh and I are already thinking of expenses like the vet bills. I asked a friend who has a dog if she has pet insurance and she said she didn't get it. I guess, she's been lucky so far that she has not had any big vet bill for her dog. I am sure there are online sites out there that gives free quotes for pet insurance just like cheap term life insurance rates.

How I wish my mom kept every piece of memorabilia from my childhood, just the important things like class pictures, report cards (I've got good ones so it is worth keeping - ha ha), birthday cards and even birth announcements. It would've been nice to have those now that I have kids of my own. For my kids, I am proud to say that I have kept some memorabilia from the time I was pregnant. I bought plastic bins of different colors and this is where I have all their keepsakes. I know they will appreciate me doing it for them when they're all grown up.

It is exciting and at the same time, nerve-wracking! We have to 'puppy-proof' the whole house for the arrival of our family pet. Considering I have a 5 year old, then it goes without saying that he has a lot of small toys all over the place! I already talked to him about it and he asked if he can just put the toys on top of the tv stands. Well, at least those are high enough so the puppy will not be able to reach it. I plan to buy a book about raising our puppy - but one that is written for a Bichon Frise. I cannot wait to share his photo, he is just so adorable!.

Well, at least it feels like Spring today. It's my favorite season, except for the pollen! I also do not enjoy 'spring cleaning' - it is a lot of work. I'm tired just thinking of it! LOL We also get a lot of thunderstorms in this part of the country. When that happens, I run around the house, unplugging all the electronics from the electric outlets. It's better to be safe than have a fried computer motherboard!!

I can wish, right? There are a lot of things I'd like to do around the house, the problem is, dh is always tired from work. So during the weekend, all he wants to do is relax, i.e. vegetate in the tv room and watch whatever catches his fancy. I'm very knowledgeable in electronics and some electrical stuff since I am/was an engineer. What I want to learn is carpentry! I know, it's scary!! LOL Plus, we don't have carpentry tools like clamps and circular saws. All we have are a couple of hammers! It would be nice to be able to install some crown mouldings and chair rails. I guess I'll just have to dream about this.

Don't you think so? I definitely do! Nowadays, you can do almost anything on the internet. I most especially like the ease of paying bills online. Aside from saving $ on stamps, I don't have to worry about my payment being late. It is also easier to research any subject online using search engines like my favorite Google. I also search for term life insurance quotes and look for the cheapest price for anything I buy either online or in the stores.

Before you charge your new furniture or a pair of heated mattress pads on your credit card, you should know what the new rules are:

* More time to make your payment - You have at least 21 days from when your bill is posted online or mailed to pay before you are charged a late fee.

* More notice for rate increases - card companies must give you at least 45 days notice when raising interest rates. Consumers can cancel the card and have five years to pay off the balance at the original interest rate.

* No retroactive rate hikes - Interest rates on existing balances cannot be raised unless you are more than 60 days late with a payment. Rate increases are prohibited for the first year a card is open (unless a promotional rate expires).

* Fewer fees - Say good-bye to over-the-limit fees unless you give preapproval for purchases that exceed your limit. However, banks and card companies may bring back annual fees.

* Pay less interest - If your card carries multiple balances with different interest rates, card companies must apply any payment (above the minimum) to the balance with the highest rate first. But the law doesn't cap interest rates, so some creditors are raising them, even on cards in good standing.

I know that once in a while, businesses raise their rates and I don't have a problem with that. BUT I do have a problem when the increase is so ridiculously high just like what the health insurance company Anthem Blue Cross plans to do in California. I hope that the company does not do it across the board! My friend, who has Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina was just telling me about the increase in her health insurance premium. I know that these companies need to make a profit, but raising insurance premiums by a big margin is just ridiculous!.

My kids are at the age wherein they are asking to get a pet. It's not just a tiny pet like a gold fish or a turtle, but a big pet like a dog or a cat. I don't think it is going to be a cat, since dh and I are not exactly 'cat lovers' (no offense to those who love cats!). So, right now, it looks more likely that it is going to be a dog. Now, dh and I already agreed to get a dog BUT the kids (most especially our girl, who is 11 years old) have to prove that they are responsible enough to take care of a dog. Now, they've been promising us that they will do it but dh wanted a written contract from both of them. It is going to be expensive having a dog, we need pet insurance and of course, there's going to be vet bills. At least, it is not going to be as expensive as having a horse - one needs equestrian apparel especially if you want to join competitions.

Whether you are continuing your education or just starting your higher education, there are advantages on taking courses online. Aside from the fact that almost everything is done through the internet which means you save on daily expenses like transportation, you can choose an educational institution that is in another part of the country. It is also very convenient for people who has a full-time job to take courses to further their career. One such online university is Western Governors University (WGU). One of the courses this university offers is an online nursing degree, they offer both bachelors and masters degree in this field. WGU also offers online programs in education, business and information technology among others. This institution is a fully accredited online university and is affordable. It's time to be proactive in your career, visit the WGU website now and start your bright future.