UNDERSTAND YOUR INVESTMENTS & Understand That These Turkey Wraps Are Pretty Darn Tasty!

Invest Only In What You Understand

It's tax time again and many of you will be hustling out to top up your retirement plans before the end of the month. Though many of us understand the short-term benefits of contributing to a retirement plan and applying that deduction to our 2010 income, many do not fully understand the long-term benefits of understanding the investment options they deposit those funds into.

Remember, the more you know about an investment before you invest, the better prepared you'll be to make a wise decision. Consider carefully whether prospective investments meet your personal needs and are consistent with your personal risk tolerance.

Mutual funds, for example, differ as widely as automobiles.When purchasing an automobile you may select a family sedan, flashy sports car or a rugged four-wheel drive SUV. Though they are all automobiles, they are quite different in design and performance.

Similarly, mutual funds may have varied investment objectives and varied degrees of risk. The name given to a mutual fund does not always accurately reflect its actual investment objective so don't be misled by terms such as "income" fund or "government bond" fund. All investments carry some risk, including the possible loss of your principal. Keep in mind, with any potential investment,  past success does not guarantee future performance. And remember, this year's 'top-rated' mutual fund may become next year's 'dog'.

Once an investment is made, it's too late to change your mind so don't hesitate to ask questions or seek different opinions if you're unsure about anything. Remember, it's your money that is at risk! You can also compare what various experts say by sifting through the wealth of valuable information available at libraries, bookstores and the Internet. But, if you subscribe to the services of a full-service financial advisor, he/she should have all of that independent data available. That's just one of the reasons why they get paid to take care of you.

http://www.idealadvisor.blogspot.com/

As a 'Rule of Thumb', if you don't get it ... don't get it.

That's a Wrap! (nice segue to Beverley's recipe, eh?)
Jeff
                                                     

Thanks Jeff. Now, I know that you find all of this financial stuff really interesting and helpful (though I find it a little boring like many of us do) but that's where I come in to add yet another of our quick n' easy dishes to that weekly menu. And the truth be known, I used to find meal preparation more tedious and challenging than the financial stuff.

Today I'm going to toss together our Turkey Wraps which are great for lunches and can be whipped together for a quick dinner. I prefer using turkey because it is a Super Food (and my personal preference) but you can use chicken instead.

Tasty TURKEY Wraps
This will feed 5 (trust me, 3 teenagers will eat 2 each) so you can halve the ingredients for 2-3.

8 - whole wheat 9" tortillas
2 cups - finely shredded iceberg lettuce (add bit of chopped cilantro/kale/arugula if you like)
2/3 cup of finely sliced/chopped celery
2/3 cup of finely sliced/chopped red onion
2 1/2 cups of chopped roasted turkey
2/3 cup of raisins (kids may not want these so you can eat theirs too)
1/3 cup of toasted almonds 

The sauce consists of;
1/2 cup of cranberry sauce (cranberry jelly is optional)
1/2 cup of light sour cream
1/2 cup of light mayo 

The finale:
Mix the cranberry, sour cream and mayo in a large bowl.
Spread 2 tbsp on each tortilla (leave about 3/4-1" around the edge)
Mix all of the remaining ingredients with the remaining cranberry/mayo mixture
and mix it up well, then spoon the mixture evenly across the tortillas, folding
the sides over the filling.
Roll up from the bottom.
(I let the kids add their own raisins and almonds)

These wraps are not only quick 'n easy but the family finds them kinda fun!
You can add a simple salad (tomatoes,cucumbers,red onion, olive oil, basil) in no time.

As Jeff has pointed out in the past you should educate your kids/teenagers on the basics of money management. However, you will serve 'em well by educating them on the benefits of a healthy diet, too. The long term benefits are 'priceless' and it teaches them the basics of  future independence.

Thanks for stopping by.
Until next time.
DIG IN !

Jeff & Beverley