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Cutting Grocery Costs without Cutting Nutrition
Simple, healthy, and affordable ways to weather the rising price of food
by Karen Collins, R.D., American Institute of Cancer Research
Grocery prices are projected to increase again in 2008 – that’s following 2007’s highest annual increase in 17 years. But surviving these tough economic times doesn’t have to mean sacrificing good nutrition. Some simple strategies can help you cut food costs and eat more healthfully, too.
read more...
Got a Cute Baby Pic? Free Entry! New $2500 Winner Every Month
Using Insurance to Reduce Risk
econ4u.org
All Choices Involve Risk: There are no risk-free choices. Usually, the best way to reduce risk is to take action yourself. For example, to reduce health problems, eat right, get plenty of exercise, get enough sleep, don’t smoke, avoid drugs and so forth. But, since there is no way to avoid risk completely, a common approach is to buy insurance to help reduce the financial losses that can result from bad things that happen.
How Insurance Works: ...In the real world, the fee (premium) would have to be large enough to cover not only the losses but the cost of operating the business and earning a profit. And because things don’t always go according to plan, an insurance company needs to be prepared for unexpected costs. If 10 residents have their apartments robbed, the insurance company needs to have enough cash in reserve to pay them back, for instance...
read more...
How to Save on Your Grocery Bill
A full cart doesn’t have to leave you with an empty wallet
by Kati Neville
Don’t buy non grocery items at the supermarket. Health and beauty goods are usually cheaper at mass-market retailers, like Target. And you’ll find the best deals on paper products at warehouse clubs.
Purchase oranges, onions, and potatoes in bags rather than individually. You’ll pay roughly half the price.
read more...
Fix, Freeze, Feast
by Kati Neville and Lindsay Tkacsik
In addition to recipes they also have tips for organizing your shopping list, packaging meals and preventing freezer burn...
Are women paid less than men?
by Diana Furchtgott-Roth
One of the concerns of working women is the “pay gap” – the alleged payment to women of 78 cents for every dollar earned by a man. But there are more behind these numbers than first meets the eye, because women work different hours, major in different subjects, and choose different careers.
read more...
Gut Decisions May Not Be Smart
by DEIRDRE VAN DYK
If you have ever struggled with a difficult decision — new job vs. new boyfriend, sports car vs. minivan, read the book vs. see the movie — you have likely also been offered a heap of decision-making wisdom. Make a list of pros and cons. Go with your gut. Sleep on it.
read more...
Make extra cash from Google!!!
Need low-cost health insurance? Protect your family with the right coverage at prices you can afford.
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The Finances section hosts articles and resources, the monthly advice column,
and book reviews of interest for single moms.
Top Online School Matching Service
You May Have Too Much Debt But You Also Have Options
How Life Works
If you feel like you're in over your head with personal debt, you're not alone. Millions of Americans have become overextended, many as a result of easy credit and the recessions. Credit cards, medical bills, personal loans and raising interest rates do not make a good financial mix.
Read more...
Year-end tax moves to make now. Right now
By Carolyn Bigda, Money Magazine
There's plenty to distract you from financial planning this time of year, from cheering on your favorite football team to daydreaming about Thanksgiving dinner. But you don't want to let some end-of-year deadlines slip by without taking steps to minimize taxes and maximize savings. Especially in this economic climate, a little extra cash can go a long way.
And there's more cash on the table than usual this year. The government's stimulus package is loaded with incentives to motivate people to make certain big-ticket purchases -- but the deals will run out soon.
So if you were thinking of buying a car or appliance, it might make sense to move those purchases up a few months. In terms of the savings, "it's now or never," says Bob Meighan, vice president of TurboTax.
DVR the game, and take a bit of time to make these moves now. You'll start 2010 with more to be thankful for.
Snag tax breaks: If you're in the market for -- or have already bought -- a car or a home, don't miss these tax incentives courtesy of the stimulus package...
Replace old appliances: Thinking about buying a more energy-efficient furnace this winter? Congress has earmarked nearly $300 million in rebates for new "green" appliances. The rebates will typically range from $50 to $250 and take effect as early as the end of this year (dates, amounts, and method of redemption will vary by state)...
read more...
Foreclosed Homes Are Selling For As Little As $10K OR LESS!
Tips on How to Take Care of Yourself During a Global Crisis
by complaintsboard.com
During these last few months, the stress levels have been on the rise, from people struggling with finances, to the banking stresses, to the swine flu projected pandemic. There is a lot of uncertainty, a lot of unnecessary panic, and a lot of overall fear. How do you cope with all of this? Some people think it's the end of the world! Nobody likes to be stressed out, frazzled, on the verge of a mental breakdown. So, what can you do to minimize some of the drama, and make your life just a little bit easier during these times?
read more...
9 Cash-Saving Tips That Pay Big Bucks
by complaintsboard.com
The expression "a penny saved is a penny earned" doesn't cut it these days. But saving a few dollars here and there can add up, particularly if you park the money in a high-interest-bearing savings account or, better yet, a tax-favored vehicle such as a 529 plan or an IRA containing a mix of investments that offer higher returns over the long run.
read more...
Save More Every Week
RealSimple.com
TRACK YOUR SPENDING FOR ONE WEEK and transfer the totals to this log created by Jill Gianola, a certified financial
planner and the author of
The Young Couple's Guide to Growing Rich Together . Make categories for
repeat purchases, such as coffee, lunch, movies, and manicures, then decide whether you can cut back on or eliminate the
expense or whether it’s a must-have.
read more...
Fight against credit card rate hikes
by Gerri Willis, CNN finance editor
As expected, credit card issuers are raising fees and rates just before legislative restrictions take place next February. But you don't have to be vulnerable. Here are some alternatives to bank credit cards.
read more...
Suze Orman's recession rescue plan
- helps you survive in times of financial crisis
from OPRAH.com
Do you know what your family would do if you lost your job - or worse, your
home? Financial expert Suze Orman is ready to help you devise a recession rescue
plan to survive - and possibly thrive - during this deepening financial crisis.
Families are also losing their homes at a staggering rate. Each day, another
10,000 homes are foreclosed, forcing families to turn to shelters filled to
capacity. Left with no place else to go, some people are putting makeshift roofs
over their heads in tent cities.
As the crisis continues, it's easy to let fear take over -- but it doesn't have
to. Orman's five-step plan can help you rise above and take control. "There's
only one person that's going to save you right now, and that's yourself," she
says. "You have got to get on what I'm calling the 'save yourself movement.'
Each and every one of you has to have your own personal financial stimulus
action plan."
• Live on half of what you earn, stash that cash some
place safe
• Take advantage of everything you can in the
stimulus package
• Make your home affordable
• Keep your attention on what you have now, not what
you used to have
read more...
Affordable Life Insurance - Get an Instant Quote
New Year. New You. New Nest Egg
by Natalie Pace
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Build a better nest egg with 6 easy, sound strategies for 2009.
The stock market lost 38% in 2008, but if you lost more than 20%, your problem wasn't really the stock market, it was the design of your nest egg. Storms occur in markets, as they do in the real world, but your home shouldn't be flooding every time it happens.
You know intuitively that your retirement plan doesn't work. Your nest egg has drowned twice now in the last eight years. You were elated with your returns in 1999 and then devastated when your assets imploded during the DOT COM bust of 2000-2002. Same thing when Dow Jones Industrial Average broke through 14,000 in October of 2007, only to drop below 8000 in 2008. If you had a healthy fiscal plan, your nest egg wouldn't be sinking all of the time.
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read more...
50 ways to trim your budget
You don't have to give up the things you love to save money. You just have to be
willing to look hard. Start with your fixed expenses, then review your
discretionary costs
by Liz Pulliam Weston
Lou knows his family is in a vicious cycle with credit cards. He's just not sure
how to get out...
... But really getting your budget in line may require rethinking just about
everything on which you spend money.
Look at the biggies first: The biggest savings often lie in the areas where you
spend the most money: housing, transportation, food, insurance, health care and
clothing.
Here are some ideas for places to look for savings: read more...
My Journey to Wealth: How I Rode The Bull Right into Wall Street
by Natalie Pace
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I Went from Copper Miner's daughter to Golden Girl, from divorced and desperate to dream come true. You can do it too!
Bucked off (the Bull) and overwhelmed!
When I got hit with the sledgehammer of divorce and the challenges of providing a home for my son, being the breadwinner and the nanny and the chauffeur, et al., I thought, "Teaching! I'll be home for my kid after school, and I'll make decent money." How naïve I was. When you consider teachers don't get paid to be at school early, or to stay late, or to grade papers into the middle of the night, my babysitter was earning more per hour than I was.
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read more...
Don't Blind Date. Get Smart and Have More Fun
by Natalie Pace
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When I first considered buying stocks, it was a lot like going out on a blind date. I had plenty of raw data, lots of information, but no idea what it all added up to. One peek at the person gives you a pretty good idea whether or not you want to go forward, but how do can you peek into corporations? And, as anyone who has ever been on a blind date knows, information can be very misleading. "He's got a great personality," usually means he's uglier than the Hunchback of Notre Dame. I had an abiding distrust of the stock market (and blind dates). Wasn't it just legalized gambling?
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read more...
10 Investing Habits of Rich People
by Natalie Pace
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Embody the habits of the rich to enrich your own wallet!
1. Tax-free: Contributing and trading within a tax-qualified brokerage account means that you could be earning up to 30% additional in returns (which you don't give to the IRS for capital gains taxes). Compound that year in and year out and it could be worth millions.
2. Play it Safe: Always keep a percent equal to your age safe, i.e. out of the stock market. Certificates of Deposits, savings accounts, money markets, and bonds are less risky than stocks. (Bond funds should be counted as stocks, not bonds.)
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read more...
Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is
by Natalie Pace
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Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is offers a sensible, easy-to-follow yet powerful set of investing strategies for the would-be investor—from the complete novice to those with experience. Natalie Pace urges the reader to begin with an area of investing that they care about or know about, learning how to get rich by putting their money where their passions lie. Her method is based on a three-part investment recipe and a six-step “Buy My Own Island Plan,” all presented in an informative and engaging style.
Natalie maneuvered her way out of poverty and up above the ranks of Harvard-educated MBAs to become the #1 ranked stock picker on Wall Street. She shows us, through anecdotes and carefully outlined investing strategies, that making the transformation to a life of financial freedom and happiness is easier than one might think. Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is isn’t just another personal finance book. Natalie’s personal story as well as her credibility and expertise in the area of wealth building will inspire and delight readers, revealing her secrets to lifetime success and prosperity.
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The Three-Ingredient Recipe for Cooking Up Profits - book excerpt
Make Love With Your Money - book excerpt
The Everything Guide To Personal Finance For Single Mothers Book
A Step-by-step Plan for Achieving Financial Independence (Everything: Business and Personal Finance)
by Susan Reynolds (Author), Robert Bexton (Author)
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Are you a single mother who worries about your family's financial future? The Everything Guide to Personal Finance for Single Mothers has the savvy financial advice you really need. Packed with helpful tips and sound financial practices, this practical yet inspirational guide leads you on a step-by-step journey to financial independence and security.
From how to get out of debt, establish good credit, and qualify for a mortgage to opening a college fund, planning for retirement, and even starting your own business, The Everything Guide to Personal Finance for Single Mothers is the financial advisor you need to secure your future--and that of your children.
About the Authors:
Susan Reynolds is a journalist, author, businesswoman, and single mother who handles her own financial affairs, including managing her retirement fund. She most recently wrote Change Your Shoes, Change Your Life: Strut Your Way to a Fabulous New You! She lives in Pembroke, MA.
Robert A. Bexton, CFA, has been an investment analyst since 1999. Currently, he manages $70 million of clients' assets for Moirai Capital Management. He holds the prestigious Chartered Financial Analyst designation and earned a B.A. in Economics from UC Berkeley. Mr. Bexton lives in San Francisco, CA.
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read more...
Money-Saving Tips
by Jacquelyn Lynn - Author of Online Shopper's Survival Guide
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A comprehensive guide to buying on the Internet, Online Shopper’s Survival Kit will teach you how to effectively and safely shop online for just about anything. With input from expert buyers and sellers, it discusses strategies for getting a great deal on online merchandise, including the top categories, like cars, real estate, and travel services. It reveals how to recognize and avoid scams and frauds and discusses consumer protection issues. Shopping online is the easiest way to find the lowest price for whatever it is you want. But there are plenty of ways to save money besides just getting a good buy.
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read more...
About Author:
Kelly Kennedy is the Communications Specialist for MindComet Corporation, a full service marketing agency for Fortune 500 companies and international conglomerates. Kelly specializes in public relations strategies focused on single mother's financial guidance. Kelly has been author to hundreds of articles focusing on single mother financial concerns. She also acts as a contributing author for a wide variety of websites and newsletters. Kelly holds a Bachelors degree in Marketing from the University of Central Florida.
The listing of or omission of an institution, organization or corporation on this Web site does not refer to programmatic capability nor does it confer any official status, approval, or endorsement of the institution, organization or corporation itself. This listing does not purport to be a listing of all organizations & corporations that are providing relief in the affected area. Additionally, there may be organizations providing relief in the affected area that are not accepting donations at this time. It is not the purpose of this Web site to make, or enable to be made, any representation to the public concerning the organizations listed. This listing is for informational purposes only. Any contributions or submissions you choose to make from links on this Web site are at your sole discretion.
• Join the SingleMom.com forums. Share your tips, resources and experience with other single moms
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9 Cash-Saving Tips That Pay Big Bucks
complaintsboard.com
The expression "a penny saved is a penny earned" doesn't cut it these days. But saving a few dollars here and there can add up...
read
more...
Try out these Thanksgiving recipes from tasteofhome
You May Have Too Much Debt But You Also Have Options
How Life Works
If you feel like you're in over your head with personal debt, you're not alone. Millions of Americans have become overextended, many as a result of easy credit and the recessions. Credit cards, medical bills, personal loans and raising interest rates do not make a good financial mix.
read more...
Suze Orman's Recession Rescue Plan - helps you survive in times of financial crisis
OPRAH.com
Do you know what your family would do if you lost your job - or worse, your home? Financial expert Suze Orman is ready to help you
devise a recession rescue plan to survive - and possibly thrive - during this deepening financial crisis...
read more...
Could fat babies mean fat toddlers?
A new study from Harvard Medical School found that babies who gained weight quickly had a sharply higher risk of obesity. The study
followed close to 600 babies and found those in the top quarter of weight for their length at 6 months had a 40 percent higher risk of
obesity by age 3 than smaller babies.
read
more...
The 10-Ingredient Shopping Trip
By Tara Parker-Pope and Mark Bittman
... In his latest “How to Cook Everything” segment on the Today Show, New York Times food writer Mark Bittman makes it
surprisingly easy to cook a week’s worth of dinners with just a 10-ingredient shopping trip.
read
more...
Finding last-minute tuition money
There's still time to find funds for this semester's college tuition. But you'll have to move quickly.
By Gerri Willis
It's only a couple of weeks or even days until school begins. And if you don't think you'll be able to get a handle on your college
tuition bill, here with your guide to last minute money.
read more...
Short-term Payday Loans
econ4u.org
...Which are more expensive, late fees or short-term loans?...
A short-term payday loan can be a better option than overdraft fees, reconnect fees, late payment fees or a damaged credit rating when
the loan is repaid promptly. However, these loans are not suited for longer repayment periods...
Being realistic about budgeting can help avoid the need for short-term borrowing.
read more...
Your Just-in-Case Emergency Plan
by RealSimple
Who do you call if you can't make it home in time to meet the kids' bus? Who do
you trust to take in your mail when you're on vacation? Who do you trust with
the extra set of keys to your house?
read
more...
How to save $10,000 in 2009
By Liz Pulliam Weston
If you were hoping for a list of small tweaks you could make in your spending to save $10,000 a year, sorry. The reality is that
$10,000 is a lot of money. And saving big money usually means making big changes in the areas where we spend the most, such as:
Housing, Transportation, Food.
read
more...
The Super, Sexy, Single Mom on a Budget
by Renee Rayles
A quick reference guide designed for the busy, single mom who has
little time to read while running the mom taxi, cooking dinner, helping with homework, and trying to fit in a date night every now and
then.
32 and Counting? Finding Your Happily Ever After Today
by Gi Gi
The author talks about the struggles a single mom goes through and the discovery that you can have HEAT (Happily Ever After Today) just
as you are, being single, taking care of your kids...
read more...
Single Mothers & Male Role-Models / Mentors
Single mothers carry an enormous load of responsibility, especially those having sole and/or primary custody of minor children. They
nourish, they nurture, they teach, they discipline, they shelter, they protect, and they provide… all without the assistance of another
equally-invested adult.
read more...
Your 5-minute guide to protecting your identity
20 steps to protect yourself from identity theft, and seven ways to clean up things if you become a victim.
read more...
TheOnlineMom.com offers parents and consumers a guide to the top-rated, age-appropriate, kid-tested and parent-approved tech toys and gifts.
read more...
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
by Jeff Kinney
For those wondering why tween boys don’t read very much, the answer is that more books aren’t like this...
read more...
Money makeover: Single mom
Jacqui Sentmanat is trying to give her child the best of everything, but who's looking out for her financial future?
by Joe Light, Money Magazine staff reporter
(Money Magazine) -- When you're the single parent of an only child, you want only the best possible life for your kid. That's how Jacqui Sentmanat feels. But it's an expensive proposition.
read more...
The best financial advice ever
Prince Charming isn't coming. Live like a college student. Never co-sign a loan. Money experts like David Bach and readers like you share the best nuggets of wisdom they have ever received.
by Liz Pulliam Weston
... If you're not doing well financially, maybe you're finally ready to hear some advice that could make all the difference.
read more...
Tips on How to Take Care of Yourself During a Global Crisis
by complaintsboard.com
During these last few months, the stress levels have been on the rise, from people struggling with finances, to the banking stresses, to the swine flu projected pandemic. There is a lot of uncertainty, a lot of unnecessary panic, and a lot of overall fear...
For one thing, with the information overload that is being thrown in every which direction except straight leaves you wondering what is the truth, and what is not? ...
read more...
Live well without going into debt by Donna Freedman
Living frugally (and debt-free) is a lot more fun than living with worry. I'll show you how you can enrich your life without breaking the bank.
read more...
No More Money Stress!
...You have to remain positive..., because anxiety muddies your ability to think through problems clearly. Panic fuels rash decisions that could cost you much more in the long run than those made after careful deliberation.
If you've plunged into a financial funk, just take a deep, serenity-bestowing breath and follow these guides to regain control.
read more...
Saving money - you can do it
Strategies for saving more and spending less
read more
5 lessons the rich can teach you
They don’t just have more money. They spend it, borrow it and save it in ways that might benefit you, too.
by Liz Pulliam Weston
... Studying the habits of this relatively large and growing group of affluent folks can teach us a lot. These people don't just have money; they treat it differently than people farther down the economic ladder.
read more...
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