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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.
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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...
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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.
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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.
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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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by DK Simoneau
Author of "We're Having a Tuesday"
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Let’s face it. Getting divorced is a financial blow to any family. It is quite a touchy subject. Even in the best of circumstances there are double the housing expenses because suddenly there are two homes to support. Ah you know, two phone bills, to cable bills, two water bills and so on. When there are kids involved and split-family living becomes the lifestyle of choice for the foreseeable future, finances can get even stickier. If you are on reasonable terms with your ex-spouse there are some ways to avoid common pitfalls of supporting your kids financially. If you are not, there are still limited actions you can take without having to involve the family lawyer, they just may not be as equitable.
1. Don’t use money as a manipulator.
The children will be the only ones to suffer. If you have an agreeable divorce it might be best to visit a financial planner together so that you can set up the best situation possible for your kids. It’s not about any more than simply your kids. If it is very messy, talk to someone about setting up a trust where a neutral party has control from the very beginning.
2. Agree on how you are going to handle day to day expenses.
How are you going to pay for swim team, who is going to write the check? How will shopping for birthdays and other holidays be done? Will you each contribute a certain amount? Who will take them shopping? Will there be a primary financial responsible party or will you divide it based on activity? One handles medical, one handles childcare.
3. Establish a savings account for each child.
Agree to a set amount that you will each contribute on a regular (monthly is ideal) basis. That money will be there for those “unexpected” expenses like cheerleading camp or the band trip abroad. When those events come up, you’ll be able to consult and then just deduct the amount from the savings account. There will be no arguing. There will be no financial distress on either party. It will be there. It can be used. Depending on how you set it up this same account can pay for braces, football practice, swim team and other day-to-day expenses. See below to take this a step further.
4. If possible, establish a credit card that allows both parents to sign on it.
That way if there ever does come a time when you need to pay for something, you can do so immediately without having to track down the other parent to physically give you half the funds. You could also do something similar with a joint checking account for your kids that you both are signers on. Keep in mind this will only work if both parties are fiscally responsible.
5. Sign up for Mealpay Plus (www.mealpayplus.com) if your school has it.
It’s a great way for any parent to pay for school lunches. They give notice if your child’s account is running low and then you don’t have to have your child home that night to notify you he/she is out of lunch money.
6. Start a college fund.
This should be separate from the regular savings account. It should be money that is not allowed to be touched. Agree ahead of time of what the funds may be used for and how the money will be shared if the purpose is not fulfilled. (i.e. student doesn’t go to college) Contributing monthly will really cause this fund to grow. To take this further you could start a mutual fund account or some other methodology for investing.
7. Buy savings bonds.
There are many types and methods to choose from. There are even automated methods that you can purchase them with so that you don’t have to remember each month/year to do it. They are relatively secure and they are not easily spent so they tend to last even through the penny pinching times.
8. Buy life insurance.
Both parents should buy life insurance that will financially cover the remaining parent should one die. You can designate the money be put in a trust for your kids to be managed by whomever you choose, or have the money go directly to your ex-spouse. Work it through the same agent so the policy is similar on both sides.
9. Meet with a tax advisor.
Often times you may claim Single/Head of Household if you have a dependent. It may be worth you splitting your dependents equally or sharing them by odd and even years.
10. Write a will.
There is so much more than just who will take custody of the kids. You both will really want to think about how you want your assets to be handled if you are not there to do it for the kids.
About Author:
DK Simoneau is a real-life divorced mother of two. She is now a devoted authority on living ‘split-family’ more effectively. The noticeable changes in her own children on transition days motivated her to create a tool to help facilitate conversation between children and on-looking adults. Originally an accountant by profession, her children's love for books has inspired her to write stories that teach and validate as well as stimulate an everlasting curiosity in reading. She lives in Lakewood, Colorado “sometimes” with her two children.
For more information visit www.werehavingatuesday.com.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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