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This article is by editor Linda Vergon.

Holly Johnson’s post (“The high cost of keeping up with the Joneses”) got me thinking about a number of things this week, but mostly about how people manage their credit. Obviously, if you’re intent on keeping up with the Joneses and you’re living above your means, that house of cards is going to fall, right? And the reality is that time and good behavior are what it will take to repair your credit after such a train wreck. The first step (obviously, again) is to determine what your credit score is and to track your progress as you address your debt situation.

If, on the other hand, you’re someone who actively manages their finances and is always looking to improve their financial picture, do you also monitor your credit score to improve it? And if so, what do you do?

This article is by staff writer Holly Johnson.

In late 2004, Kim Parr and her family upgraded their lifestyle with a brand new home in a rural area. As an optometrist with a higher-than-average salary, it seemed like the natural thing to do. After all, Kim’s husband had a secure (albeit lower-paying) job in education and their combined household income was finally in the six-figure range. They had earned it.

Unfortunately, the Parrs soon found that their new home needed much more than a roof and four walls. In fact, it desperately needed landscaping — things like sod, trees, a sprinkler system, and fencing. Of course, their new yard required a certain amount of upkeep so they had to buy all kinds of lawn-care equipment, including a John Deere riding mower.

This article is by staff writer Lisa Aberle.

I am writing this article in silence, thanks to my kids’ 7 pm bedtime. And tonight is the last early bedtime night because – sob! – tomorrow is the final day of school.

While I love my children, I admit to some qualms about summer vacation. How do I keep them entertained (that means out of trouble)? How do I keep the lid on my grocery budget? (Last summer, I felt like the refrigerator door was open every time I walked into the kitchen.) Which inexpensive (free, preferably) activities can we find? And how am I going to work from home with these two little distractions?

So picture me planning every minute of my last free day and periodically wiping my sweaty palms and taking deep breaths.

Entertained, but still learning

This article is by staff writer Kristin Wong.

In an ideal world, you wouldn’t need to go negotiate. In an ideal world, the weather would be perfect, there would be no war, and your employer would simply say, “Hey, your value to our company has increased. Here’s ten thousand dollars.”

If only, right? When it comes to earning more, negotiating is usually a necessary part of the equation. The negotiating masters among us have a serious leg up.

I do not have a leg up. In most circumstances, I dread negotiating. I’d rather watch paint dry than negotiate. I’d rather eat a chard smoothie. I’d rather give someone a ride to the airport at 8am on a Monday.