I seem to be getting a bit of a cold. My throat is quite sore and my nose is running. It’s the same thing both my son and my wife have right now, too. Guess I’ll be hitting the ol’ Nyquil soon!

Simple Finances: How and Why To Build Up A Cushion In The Bank This is a very gentle way of making the case for an emergency fund. (@ zen habits)

The Hard Facts of Long Term Care Insurance I think long term care insurance is something everyone should know about. That being said, I feel that the laws in the United States regarding terminally ill patients or patients with conditions that will never improve are deplorable. You can take that for what you will. (@ queercents)

Are You Ready To Be A Parent? Know The Cost Of Having Kids The cost of kids in reality is different than most people think. I found myself naturally cutting down on other things when my child was born, so the impact wasn’t the huge bomb that I was expecting it to be (though other issues caused a meltdown shortly thereafter). (@ the digerati life)

An Interview With Me! I was interviewed at length by Money Diet. If you’re interested in such things, you might enjoy it. (@ money diet)

The Simple Dollar Retro: What The 1960s Taught Our Parents About Money – And Why We Should Filter Their Financial Advice This is an exercise in thinking about assumptions – and well worth reading if your parents offer you financial advice that doesn’t match your life.