Craig Ruvere

A Giving Tree is a popular charitable initiative during the holiday season. For those unaware of the concept, a Giving Tree is essentially a Christmas tree decorated with gift tags dangling from branches by festive colored ribbon. These tags are not blank however, for they have a very important job - carrying the holiday wishes of children and teenagers with limited resources. They’re typically found in shopping malls, religious institutions, schools, hospitals, and most recently, virtually online in order to reach as many charitable givers as possible. During this celebrated time of year, children of all ages are anxiously compiling their Christmas lists and sending them to the North Pole (or to Santa’s helpers, also known as “parents”). Like the Giving Tree, these lists are comprised of wishes, but that’s…

“A simple fact that is hard to learn is that the time to save money is when you have some.” - Joe Moore Of late, I’ve become a bit miserly with my finances, even a little obsessed with how to save money wherever and whenever possible. A little history. Before meeting my wife, saving money was rarely a priority. I was a member of the “I want everything now” generation - convincing myself that I worked hard and “deserved” to treat myself whenever possible. A recipe which often leads to financial irresponsibility. But age and maturity have changed the way I look at money. It’s no longer about instant gratification but what Moore states above - “the time to save money is when you have some”. Here are two recent…