http://www.moneymindedmoms.com/articles Fri, 18 May 2012 13:40:06 +0000 21600 Manage articles http://www.moneymindedmoms.com/articles/_/raising-money-minded-kids/free-scrapbooking-materials-r273
Often when you vacation you end up with guides and maps of some kind. These are usually free when you visit and end up crumpled up in your backpack at the end of the trip. Whether you are visiting Hershey’s Chocolate World, Disney, or Washington, D.C., you should save those maps and use them in two ways. First, open them up and cut them into whole sheets to make the background of your trip scrapbook pages. Second, have the kids cut out specific attractions and descriptions that they liked the most and use them as embellishments.

Another inexpensive way to decorate the scrapbooks is to use not only the kids’ artwork from school but also their tests and homework sheets. Select a few papers where they scored high and piece them together to form an interesting background. Cut out the stickers and kinds words that the teachers wrote on the papers to use as embellishments. This is particularly great for those “first day of school” and “last day of school” picture pages.

Lastly, use some of the kids’ thin cotton shirts to cut into squares and shapes to use in the scrapbook. It will be a good reminder of the clothes they wore in a particular year plus add texture and interest to the books.

How else do you keep scrapbooking costs down?

Tricia Meyer is an attorney, blogger, affiliate marketer, wife, and mother of two daughters. Her cash back site Sunshine Rewards helps moms save money with coupons and shopping rebates.]]> Wed, 29 Jun 2011 20:52:42 +0000 f91e24dfe80012e2a7984afa4480a6d6 http://www.moneymindedmoms.com/articles/_/protecting-your-family/the-true-cost-of-waiting-to-buy-long-term-care-r272 LATEST anyone should wait. That’s really great advice, and I was glad to have the opportunity to reiterate it with this mom. Here’s the story:

Rachel* is a 48-year-old single parent of two daughters in high school. She believes she should consider long-term care insurance before she gets any older, but money is tight with college just around the corner for her girls. Together we designed a plan that would meet her budget of $200 a month. She was in the middle of this shopping process when her older sister advised her to wait until she was almost 60. Here is what I explained to her:

“Right now you are considering a plan that has an initial monthly benefit of $4500 with an initial benefit account of $225,000 that is available after a one-time 90 calendar day waiting period with no charges required during that time. That means the plan will pay for 4.2 years if you use the entire monthly benefit every single month. Any month you are able to use the cash alternative benefit of 40%, the difference stays in your account and makes it last longer. The benefits will grow at 4% compounded annually. 5% is a little better but since it prices the policy out of your budget, you can wait and buy up to 5% at your attained age in a few years with no health questions. The premium for this plan is $199.64 and that is with a 10% preferred health discount.

The important thing to realize is if you wait 10 years to buy, you have to buy more coverage due to the cost of care increasing between now and then.

To buy the same amount of coverage at age 58, you would have to buy a $6500 monthly benefit with a $325,000 benefit account. That's what the $4500 will grow to in 10 years at 4% compound and to have 4.2 years of benefits, the $225,000 has to change to $325,000 ($325,000 ÷ $6500 = 4.2 years).

The premium for preferred health for that plan at age 58 is $338.95 and if you couldn't qualify for the preferred health discount, it would be $398.75. If you develop a serious health condition between now and then, there's a chance you wouldn't be able to qualify for coverage at all.”

Rachel decided to apply for coverage. It didn’t take her long to realize that paying 25 years of premium at almost $400 a month if she could no longer qualify for the preferred health discount would cost a lot more than paying 35 years at $200 a month.

{25 x $400 x 12 = $120,000 vs. 35 x $200 x 12 = $84,000}

*name changed to protect anonymity


Phyllis Shelton is the President of LTC Consultants, a Nashville-based consulting company specializing in long-term care insurance consumer education and training since 1991. She experienced first hand the implications of long-term caregiving with her grandfather, mother and brother. Because the need is so great, she is now focused on helping consumers who don't have a local agent acquire long-term care insurance. She can be reached at phyllis@ltcconsultants.com.]]> Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:24:12 +0000 7810ccd41bf26faaa2c4e1f20db70a71 http://www.moneymindedmoms.com/articles/_/house-heart-home/stress-management-r270
Sometimes it’s poor planning. Cramming in “one more quick thing” after another until you wind up leaving too late to make it to an appointment on time. That’s a guaranteed way to add stress for the entire drive.

Sometimes it’s from a tendency to splurge when you’ve “got the money” - but don't actually have a decent emergency fund set aside. Then when an emergency strikes, there’s a reason to stress.

Other times it’s plain old-fashioned worry over what “could” or “might” happen. Worry about your job, family, health, finances and more.

Experts say you stress when you have no workable plan to solve a problem. But it becomes “pressure” when you do. Stress is bad, but pressure is good.

Consequently, one of the greatest stress management techniques is to turn your stressful situations into situations where you’re simply under pressure. Plan your work and work your plan. Write down some of the things you routinely stress about and write down what you can do to begin solving them.

Stressing about your job? Write down some things you can do to either make the job better or the steps you can take to find a better one.

Stressing about money? Use Suze’s Expense Tracker to find out exactly what you’d need to cut back on to make ends meet and start saving.

Stressing about your health? Start doing what you can to be as healthy as you can be.

Realistically you can’t eliminate all the stresses from your life. But you can eliminate some of them. And that can make all the difference in the world in managing your stress level.

Sabrina O’Malone works full-time while raising and homeschooling her 6 children ages 13 and under. (That’s no typo - six kids + a full-time job + homeschooling!) Thanks to the Great Recession, she and her husband Daniel are rediscovering the lost art of frugality - and writing about the secrets to maintaining a great lifestyle while saving money. To keep up to date on Sabrina’s comings and goings and other hot-button topics, check out the following:

WorkingMom.com
Newsletter
Twitter
Facebook]]> Thu, 09 Jun 2011 20:58:45 +0000 c850371fda6892fbfd1c5a5b457e5777 http://www.moneymindedmoms.com/articles/_/erasing-and-managing-your-debt/living-on-less-r271
The best example that I know of is my Godmother, Rosa. She never made a ton of money, yet she was so careful that she did things some wealthy people could never “afford”.

Rosa worked for 30 years at the same place. She told me the only time she didn’t bring her lunch from home was if there was a big celebration at the office. She would bring her lunch in reusable containers. She was “green” way ahead of her time. Rosa believed that throwing away food was as bad as committing a sin, so she made sure she didn’t.

She was a seamstress before she got an office job and could make beautiful clothes and gifts. Her motto was “if it’s not on sale, don’t buy it.”

Rosa always drove a nice car, but nothing too flashy. Her key to that was buying a used car every time she needed a new one. She knew that a car's value drops significantly the moment you drive it off the lot.

You may think that it sounds tedious to do all those things, but being so careful in her everyday life afforded Rosa the ability to travel and retire comfortably.

She goes to Spain every two years and has traveled many European countries and throughout the United States.

When I asked Rosa if she had any tips on how she sacrificed to get by, she looked at me for a moment and said, “Sacrifice isn’t really sacrifice if what you’re doing brings you joy and what you really want in life.”

I took pause and realized how true that is for money… and for being a mom.


Vicky Collins is a Jersey Girl who relocated to Austin, TX. She has been married to Shawn since May 1996, and they have four children (Caity, Lexie, Kerri, and Jack) and a shelter dog (Mattingly). Through a recipe of discipline and various financial strategies, she has not carried credit card debt since the mid-90's. Vicky preaches to her friends and occasional strangers that it’s imperative for women to understand and be involved in family money matters, and blogs about it at AskTheMama.com. Follow Ask the Mama on Twitter and Facebook.]]> Tue, 07 Jun 2011 17:20:37 +0000 c1e39d912d21c91dce811d6da9929ae8 http://www.moneymindedmoms.com/articles/_/protecting-your-family/natural-victims-r269
But he said something very odd, and disturbing. He told her that he can arrange for my mother to receive a steady pension for the rest of her life - providing she pays back what she has received in the past. He’ll be happy to come out to her home and help her make the arrangements.

Clanging Alarm bells!!!

This sounds like the old Pigeon Drop scam, where the ‘mark’ is encouraged to risk some of her own money to get a share of more money.

It’s an ugly truth. Seniors are natural targets for scams. Even smart, savvy seniors. Imagine being alone most of the time, and someone comes along, pays attention, listens to you, pays you compliments. Wouldn’t you succumb?

Once the senior has parted with their name, Social Security number, date of birth, bank account number(s), credit card numbers, or other targeted information – the trickster disappears. The senior later finds his or her bank account wiped out, someone else filing medical claims under their Social Security number, or title to their home transferred.

The problem is so prevalent that the FBI website has an entire list of scams perpetrated against seniors, with information on how to avoid being victimized. Fundamentally, the best way to avoid being a victim is:

• Never give your information to a stranger. PERIOD.
  
• If someone claims to be associated with an organization with which you are familiar, call the organization directly verify the affiliation and position with the organization. (Use documents you have, call information, or look for the phone number online.)
  
• Better yet, don’t provide information or sign anything without going to the organization’s offices and speaking to someone you know, or a manager.
  
• Best of all, don’t speak to anyone who make an uninvited visit or call. Simply hang up.

Even if you are a not a senior, you have parents, grandparents and friends who are. Speak with them and make sure they follow these simple guidelines. Regardless of how savvy and independent they are, encourage them never to sign anything without someone they trust looking over the documents first.

One 85 year-old woman we knew was visited by two kind men, who knocked on her door, offering to help her fill out the new Medicare paperwork a couple of years ago. Before they left, they had convinced her to use all the funds in her bank account to buy some annuities. The annuities were locked in for 12 years, with substantial early withdrawal penalties. They scored commissions of 20% or more. She would lose access to her funds, for probably the rest of her life.

My mother won’t be talking to this fellow alone. Will yours?


Eva Rosenberg, EA is the publisher of TaxMama.com , where your tax questions are answered. Eva is the author of several books and ebooks, including Small Business Taxes Made Easy. Eva teaches a tax pro course at IRSExams.com and other tax courses at http://www.cpelink.com/teamtaxmama.]]> Mon, 06 Jun 2011 18:46:03 +0000 e00406144c1e7e35240afed70f34166a http://www.moneymindedmoms.com/articles/_/raising-money-minded-kids/quality-time-versus-quantity-time-r268
For example, because my father passed away recently I've had the opportunity to reflect, analyze and consider him as an individual. What turns out to be the things I miss and remember most?

His laugh.
His habit of reading the newspaper every day.
His voice.
The sight of his face...things I spent nearly 43 years just being around.

Things that required a significant quantity of time to get to know. Sure, I remember family vacations with fondness. But just sitting around and talking/arguing/debating are what I miss most. Having a significant quantity of time eventually led to a quality that was invaluable in getting to know my parent.

But keep in mind, life is more like a marathon than a sprint. We didn't have much “quantity time” when I was a child. Both of my parents were busy working, trying to make ends meet. It just wasn’t the season of life which lent itself towards great quantities of time together. Yet even as a child I knew they worked so hard for the benefit of our family. Our braces, our college educations, our weddings.

Years later, after a long day babysitting his grandchildren I recall my Dad smiling and saying, “This is what my life would’ve been like if I didn’t have to work when you all were kids.”

If you’re longing for more time with your family - try and keep a long term view. Make time when you’ve got it but let go of the guilt when you don’t. All too often, enough quantity of time will create it’s own quality time.

Sabrina O’Malone works full-time while raising and homeschooling her 6 children ages 13 and under. (That’s no typo - six kids + a full-time job + homeschooling!) Thanks to the Great Recession, she and her husband Daniel are rediscovering the lost art of frugality - and writing about the secrets to maintaining a great lifestyle while saving money. To keep up to date on Sabrina’s comings and goings and other hot-button topics, check out the following:

WorkingMom.com
Newsletter
Twitter
Facebook]]> Tue, 31 May 2011 14:51:42 +0000 193002e668758ea9762904da1a22337c http://www.moneymindedmoms.com/articles/_/protecting-your-family/helplessness-can-be-overcome-r266
After a bad marriage, undoubtedly full of bullying and anger, the couple gets divorced. The court orders the pension plan to split or awarded to the wife. He steals it or spends it. He files a tax return early, forges her name or PIN (on an electronic return) and steals the refund. Or leaves her stuck for HIS big tax bill without her knowledge or consent. He doesn’t bother to pay child support or alimony, except where it’s convenient. Or he hides his assets in someone else’s name.

In one case, I heard of a guy who owned a car dealership and advertised regularly on television, with himself right there on camera. He had put the dealership in his girlfriend’s name – and told IRS he didn’t have any assets or income to pay his tax bill. So they took the tax debt he had caused, from her meager paycheck.

So, I would like to address two things today.

1. The utter helplessness that happens in any nasty divorce – especially when there was an abusive relationship.

2. The need for speed when it comes to tax and legal issues.

Helplessness – Even in friendly divorces (like mine, in my early 20s), you just want to get it over with. You’ll do anything you can, give up anything you must, just to end it. Or you turn into an angry monster trying to get everything you can, to punish him or her, whether you’re entitled to it or not.

Both those paths are wrong. The most important thing you need during a divorce is a good, positive, well-adjusted friend who can help you maintain perspective – and fairness. You need a friend who will help you insist on looking after your (and your children’s) long-term welfare, by being assertive, not aggressive.

If you don’t have positive friends or family members to help you…well, that may just be why you ended up in a bad relationship in the first place. You can’t choose your family. But, perhaps it’s time to assess how you choose your friends? People who make you feel badly about yourself are people to avoid. Friends are people who cheer for you, make you feel good, and see the positive side of your experiences and stories – not always what you’ve done wrong. Being surrounded by good friends, you’ll never get into a bad marriage, again, either.

Speed – When it comes to tax and financial crimes, the issues are serious and require immediate action. Things like tax refund theft and 401(k) theft – could have been avoided or corrected by acting swiftly.

During divorce proceedings, as soon as you get a court order entitling you to the right to assets (especially pension plans), notify the asset holder immediately about the court order. In an abusive divorce situation, ask your attorney to have the court issue an order to freeze key assets until their dispensation is determined. This is rarely done. I don’t know why; since it is very common for spouses to steal or hide assets.

When something like tax returns are forged – you can correct the problem by notifying IRS immediately. And by filing your own, correct tax return – even if it must be a married, filing separately tax return. That way, you may still be able to get your share of the refund – or avoid being held responsible for your ex’s balances due.

There is always a statute of limitations (a time limit) to correct or undo tax and legal issues. By acting quickly, you can fix the problem. Waiting until you get over your grief, fears, or stresses – it becomes too late to recover your losses and fix the problems.

Eva Rosenberg, EA is the publisher of TaxMama.com , where your tax questions are answered. Eva is the author of several books and ebooks, including Small Business Taxes Made Easy. Eva teaches a tax pro course at IRSExams.com and other tax courses at http://www.cpelink.com/teamtaxmama.]]> Tue, 31 May 2011 14:31:35 +0000 8e2cfdc275761edc592f73a076197c33 http://www.moneymindedmoms.com/articles/_/feeding-your-family/make-your-%e2%80%9cjoe%e2%80%9d-%e2%80%93-save-a-%e2%80%9cbenjamin%e2%80%9d-r267 save $100 a month by changing just one daily habit…

Your coffee… yes, your daily “Joe”.

If your day typically starts by dropping in at your favorite coffee spot, you’re likely spending a few dollars on your “Joe” or even more on the fancy concoctions. Add an afternoon pick-me-up, a spouse or partner, and you’re spending some serious cash, each and every day.

Making coffee at home can save you a bundle. A cup of your favorite java from home will cost you only 15-25 cents a cup (based on your brand of choice).

Not only will you save a bundle of money, but you’ll also keeps dozens and dozens of disposable cups out of the trash each month.

Sure, it’s fun to tote a fresh brew from a coffee house but, with just a few days’ worth of savings, you can buy a sassy little reusable mug to sport around town. Choose one that shows your personality, wash, reuse and fill it at home!

A close friend of mine (who’s pregnant with her first child) decided to cut coffee completely from her diet. Her typical routine included both a morning and afternoon coffee stop. I had to chuckle at her recent comment: “Wow… I spent a lot of money on coffee! I should have cut that habit long ago.”

While it’s undeniably true that most of us love our coffee, you don’t need to break the habit. Enjoy your coffee, but brew your “Joe” at home, and find a better use for your “Benjamin”!

Doreen Kukral is creator of MomGoesGreen.com, a popular weblog that offers a glimpse into her family’s journey to "going green". With her contributions to Money Minded Moms she hopes to inspire others by sharing realistic ideas and information necessary to make wise choices where family health, wellness and environmental conservation are concerned and dispel the myth that going green is a costly commitment.
www.MomGoesGreen.com
Mom Goes Green on Facebook
Mom Goes Green on Twitter ]]> Wed, 25 May 2011 18:06:09 +0000 b51a15f382ac914391a58850ab343b00 http://www.moneymindedmoms.com/articles/_/house-heart-home/being-disorganized-is-expensive-r265
One great example is Dramamine. Every time that I go on a trip, I have to take Dramamine, whether it is a car, a boat, or a plane. Most of the time I buy one of those little bottles that has 10 in it but I only end up taking 4-6 of them throughout the trip. When I come home, the Dramamine gets tossed into a drawer in my bathroom or an overnight bag in the closet. When the next trip comes, I search frantically for it but decide that I might as well just buy another bottle. Even worse, I end up having to pay airport prices to buy a “single serving” pouch. By the time the other bottle appears, they are expired.

Why didn’t I just put the Dramamine bottle in an organized location where I would know where to find it the next time?

The same thing happens to me with umbrellas, ponchos, safety pins, bobby pins, and a whole host of other items that get misplaced in my house from the last time that I used them. I end up buying replacements because it is faster and I am in a hurry. How much would I be saving if I didn’t have to replace those misplaced items?

Think about the things that you do not use often and end up replacing when you cannot find them. Can you find a better place to store them so that you can find them quickly? Let’s get organized together and save some money.

Tricia Meyer is an attorney, blogger, affiliate marketer, wife, and mother of two daughters. Her cash back site Sunshine Rewards helps moms save money with coupons and shopping rebates.]]> Thu, 19 May 2011 15:32:14 +0000 0ce2ffd21fc958d9ef0ee9ba5336e357 http://www.moneymindedmoms.com/articles/_/house-heart-home/getting-into-alignment-r264
When Suze launched MoneyMindedMoms, the first article I wrote for her was about Vision. It’s an important principle when you’re seeking to improve your life. After envisioning what you want for your future, the next step is to set goals. However there’s another important component towards making your vision, hopes and dreams a reality.

Are your daily actions in alignment with your vision and goals?

If you’ve ever had the wheels of your car out of alignment, you know it’s harder to steer the car, it wears down the tread on your tires and the car burns more gas - because the engine needs more fuel to overcome the additional friction between the road and tires. It’s obvious that keeping your wheels aligned will save you aggravation, save your tires and save you gas.

But when it comes to your daily life, how well do your actions align with the overarching vision for what you want your life to be?

For example, if you want to buy a new house, you can probably envision what it would be like. You might even have goals to pay off credit cards, increase your credit score and to put money aside for a down payment. But when payday comes or when you find yourself with a some extra money, what do you do with it? Do you pay extra on a bill, do you put it in savings or just splurge on something? If you tend to choose the latter, then your actions are not in alignment with your vision and goals, and it’s getting in the way of achieving the lifestyle you truly want.

2011 is halfway over. Go back and revisit your vision and goals. Now’s the perfect time to make your daily actions and habits contribute towards reaching it.

Sabrina O’Malone works full-time while raising and homeschooling her 6 children ages 13 and under. (That’s no typo - six kids + a full-time job + homeschooling!) Thanks to the Great Recession, she and her husband Daniel are rediscovering the lost art of frugality - and writing about the secrets to maintaining a great lifestyle while saving money. To keep up to date on Sabrina’s comings and goings and other hot-button topics, check out the following:

WorkingMom.com
Newsletter
Twitter
Facebook]]> Wed, 18 May 2011 19:05:30 +0000 6c8dba7d0df1c4a79dd07646be9a26c8 http://www.moneymindedmoms.com/articles/_/protecting-your-family/ask-your-employer-to-offer-ltc-insurance-r263 Prudential's 2010 LTC cost survey

The other really disturbing response in the Prudential survey was that only 8% thought LTC insurance should be purchased before age 50 (p. 19). The advice you often hear from media personalities to wait until you are 60 is based on how policies worked 15-20 years ago. Today LTC insurance is much more costly at age 60 and much harder to qualify for medically. It is available to ages 18-79; however, it's best to get this valuable coverage as early as you can.Your employer can offer it to all employees age 18+ and usually there is a one-time opportunity to get it with limited or no health questions, a true gift from your employer.

Ask your employer to offer long-term care insurance that is qualified for the Long-Term Care Partnership which means if the insurance benefit isn’t enough, you can turn to Medicaid for help and protect assets equal to the benefits your policy has paid out. (Please refer to my earlier blog Does Medicaid Pay for Long-Term Care? if you need more information about how that works.) Also make sure you buy the 5% compound inflation as that will make your benefits triple every 15 years. Insurance companies are charging more for that, and now is the time to get it while it is still affordable.

My next blog will list the five major decisions you make to determine how much a long-term care insurance plan will cost.


Phyllis Shelton is the President of LTC Consultants, a Nashville-based consulting company specializing in long-term care insurance consumer education and training since 1991. She experienced first hand the implications of long-term caregiving with her grandfather, mother and brother. Because the need is so great, she is now focused on helping consumers who don't have a local agent acquire long-term care insurance. She can be reached at phyllis@ltcconsultants.com.]]> Tue, 17 May 2011 15:22:47 +0000 7eb3c8be3d411e8ebfab08eba5f49632 http://www.moneymindedmoms.com/articles/_/protecting-your-family/will-medicaid-pay-for-long-term-care-r237
To get the Medicaid program to pay, single individuals can keep about $2,000 in assets. Couples can keep up to an additional $109,560 in assets, not counting the home and car. You should also know that federal legislation has made it extremely difficult to transfer assets to family members or others to try to qualify for Medicaid. This happened because it is a welfare program intended just for poor people and funded by taxpayer dollars. The state also expects to get paid back for Medicaid benefits at the death of the second spouse. Home equity is protected up to $506,000 ($758,000 in a few states), but the estate recovery process can include the home. Choices for type and location of care under Medicaid can be limited since state budgets are tight. If choice and independence are important to you, you may want to be a private-pay patient as long as possible and depend on Medicaid as the payer of last resort, not first resort.

The best way to do this today is to purchase a Partnership Long-Term Care Insurance (LTCI) plan. A Partnership LTCI plan allows you to retain assets equal to the benefits paid if you ever have to apply for Medicaid’s long-term care benefit. Example: A single person buys a long-term care insurance plan that pays $200,000 in benefits but the person still needs care. He or she can apply for the Medicaid long-term care benefit and keep $202,000 in assets instead of $2,000. A couple could keep as much as $311,560. This amount is protected from estate recovery as well.

Forty-two states either have a Partnership or are in some phase of implementing one. All of these practice reciprocity except New York and California. This means you can buy a Partnership policy in one state and use it in another state with the asset protection feature. You just have to go by the Medicaid eligibility rules in the state in which you apply for Medicaid. You can see what your state is doing as well as http://www.dehpg.net...rship/map.aspx.

Phyllis Shelton is the President of LTC Consultants, a Nashville-based consulting company specializing in long-term care insurance consumer education and training since 1991. She experienced first hand the implications of long-term caregiving with her grandfather, mother and brother. Because the need is so great, she is now focused on helping consumers who don't have a local agent acquire long-term care insurance.]]> Sun, 15 May 2011 20:21:28 +0000 a9eb812238f753132652ae09963a05e9 http://www.moneymindedmoms.com/articles/_/house-heart-home/keeping-up-with-the-joneses-r262
It’s amazing to me how many people can't tell the difference between wants and needs.

Please stop trying to keep up with the Joneses!

One of my good friends was feeling overwhelmed recently. She works full-time, has kids, and a generally busy schedule.

She was complaining about how she has so little time with the kids, and almost no time to herself. She can’t remember the last time she hung out with a friend or read a book.

Ok, I don’t know about you, but for me having money means nothing if I am not enjoying my life.

Here’s the thing about “Mary”. She and her husband have two nice cars, a great house, fabulous clothes and a few expensive vacations a year.

If they just moderately reduced their indulgences, she could afford to work less. I know not everyone wants to stay home with their kids, but she has actually said she wishes she could.

Actions speak louder than words. We have to be careful what subtle messages we are passing onto our kids. Our every day actions are clear indicators of what is important to us.

Find a way to make more time for them, even if it means putting away your cell phone or laptop for the night.

There will come a time when your kids won’t want to hang out with you. Don’t help that time come any sooner than it has to.

Kids may want more stuff, but what they really need is you.

Vicky Collins is a Jersey Girl who relocated to Austin, TX. She has been married to Shawn since May 1996, and they have four children (Caity, Lexie, Kerri, and Jack) and a shelter dog (Mattingly). Through a recipe of discipline and various financial strategies, she has not carried credit card debt since the mid-90's. Vicky preaches to her friends and occasional strangers that it’s imperative for women to understand and be involved in family money matters, and blogs about it at AskTheMama.com. Follow Ask the Mama on Twitter and Facebook.]]> Fri, 13 May 2011 15:13:17 +0000 dc4c44f624d600aa568390f1f1104aa0 http://www.moneymindedmoms.com/articles/_/protecting-your-family/when-your-child-just-wont-listen-r258
So what do you do with the child who simply will not listen? I realize that every child has moments of defiance - those are not the children I’m talking about. I’m referring to the child that 9 times out of 10 simply will not do what they are told.

As a mother of six, the odds were that I’d have a child or two like this. And I do. At first, I tried reasoning, explaining.

That didn’t work.

Then I tried rewarding good behavior - but that did little to curb bad behavior. In fact, it created a sense of entitlement whenever they followed any rules at all.

So I tried implementing consequences for misbehavior or disobedience. But it only induced a sense of trepidation as they consciously chose to disobey anyway – a result of knowing full-well the consequences if caught.

Finally, I implemented immediate rewards for obedience coupled with immediate consequences for misbehavior. Voila! Compliance began to soar.

In management circles, the WIIFM (What’s In It For Me) concept is currently the rage. Clearly spelling out what will be gained and what will be lost based upon actions will increase worker productivity. Surprisingly, it will increase obedience in children. So if you’ve got a child (or two) who just won’t listen, why not try letting them know upfront what’s in it for them if they’ll obey and what’s in store if they don’t?

Sabrina O’Malone works full-time while raising and homeschooling her 6 children ages 13 and under. (That’s no typo - six kids + a full-time job + homeschooling!) Thanks to the Great Recession, she and her husband Daniel are rediscovering the lost art of frugality - and writing about the secrets to maintaining a great lifestyle while saving money. To keep up to date on Sabrina’s comings and goings and other hot-button topics, check out the following:

WorkingMom.com
Newsletter
Twitter
Facebook]]> Thu, 12 May 2011 19:19:36 +0000 26588e932c7ccfa1df309280702fe1b5 http://www.moneymindedmoms.com/articles/_/coupons-and-discounts/win-a-signed-copy-of-suze-ormans-the-money-class-r261
There are three ways you can enter to win Suze's new book:

1. Go to our Facebook page and click on Sweepstakes on the left-hand side under our logo.
2. Enter using your Twitter account here.
3. Enter directly here.

Enter today and good luck!

Sweepstakes Starts: May 10, 2011 @ 12:00 pm (EDT)
Sweepstakes Ends: June 10, 2011 @ 11:59 am (EDT)]]> Wed, 11 May 2011 16:46:51 +0000 17326d10d511828f6b34fa6d751739e2 http://www.moneymindedmoms.com/articles/_/house-heart-home/natural-remedies-for-what-ails-you-r259
Over-the-counter remedies can also be quite costly. Often times, you use only a portion of what you buy, and then it hangs around until it expires and gets tossed into the trash.

Have you ever considered your spice cabinet? Chances are, you already have an “ingredient” in your pantry that’s a great remedy for what ails you... and it doesn’t even require an expensive trip to your drugstore.

• Ginger – add some to your tea to reduce congestion; add a few drops to a teaspoon of honey for an irritated throat; ginger (and even ginger candy) can also help ease nausea

• Garlic - its antibiotic properties are great for eardrops when crushed and added to olive oil; it makes an antibiotic cough syrup when crushed and added to honey; simply eating it (raw, preferably) is a great overall antibacterial for the body

• Honey – consuming just a teaspoon full can help soothe an irritating cough

• Turmeric – combined with olive oil, its antiseptic properties make it a great remedy for skin irritations

• Pepper – use it regularly to help improve digestion issues; it also aids in overall oral health

• Cloves – thanks to its analgesic properties chewing a clove will help remedy a toothache

Before you make a trip to the drugstore, survey your spice cabinet. You may already have plenty of solutions already at your fingertips.

(Disclosure: For me, all of these remedies are tried and true, but I must also say that I’m not a doctor. You should always research these recommendations and consult your physician if you have concerns about your own personal health.)

Doreen Kukral is creator of MomGoesGreen.com, a popular weblog that offers a glimpse into her family’s journey to "going green". With her contributions to Money Minded Moms she hopes to inspire others by sharing realistic ideas and information necessary to make wise choices where family health, wellness and environmental conservation are concerned and dispel the myth that going green is a costly commitment.
www.MomGoesGreen.com
Mom Goes Green on Facebook
Mom Goes Green on Twitter ]]> Tue, 10 May 2011 17:18:16 +0000 68a83eeb494a308fe5295da69428a507 http://www.moneymindedmoms.com/articles/_/house-heart-home/happy-mothers-day-a-gift-from-suze-r260
Just for you mom, Suze has a special gift she'd like you all to have for Mother's Day.

Get a FREE 1-YEAR subscription (no credit card required) for Suze Orman's Money Navigator Newsletter.

Just click on the image below and enter Discount Code: MOMSMONEY Expires at midnight May 8, 2011

]]> Tue, 10 May 2011 16:41:05 +0000 f4573fc71c731d5c362f0d7860945b88 http://www.moneymindedmoms.com/articles/_/erasing-and-managing-your-debt/three-things-rich-people-do-that-poor-people-do-r255
1. Rich people know exactly how much money they’ve got & know what they’re willing to spend. Why not create a spending plan or write out your budget and stick to it - like they do?

2. Re-think impulse purchases. Consider the ones strategically placed in checkout aisles. Their purpose is to sway easily suggestible people or people with weak self-control. Be honest, how often do you really go to the store for a candy bar? Or a magazine? But how often do you actually buy them anyway on your way out of the checkout aisle? If the answer is more often than you’d like, then be like rich people. Be of a strong mind and refuse to buy anything you hadn’t planned on when you set foot in the store - unless it’s marked down so low it’s practically free and it’s something you need. This habit can save you a small fortune.

3. Wise up to slick marketing ploys and start laughing at status-symbol items. Showy, expensive cars, designer purses, expensive sneakers, etcetera that practically scream “I spent a LOT OF MONEY ON THIS, SO EVERYBODY PLEASE ASSUME I AM RICH!” If you’re trying to “look and act rich” it’s a sure-fire way to stay broke and poor. Real rich people would rather have money in the bank than showy, depreciating assets.


So if you’d like to stop having more “month left at the end of your money” these three easy “rich people” habits can certainly help you reach your goals!

Sabrina O’Malone works full-time while raising and homeschooling her 6 children ages 13 and under. (That’s no typo - six kids + a full-time job + homeschooling!) Thanks to the Great Recession, she and her husband Daniel are rediscovering the lost art of frugality - and writing about the secrets to maintaining a great lifestyle while saving money. To keep up to date on Sabrina’s comings and goings and other hot-button topics, check out the following:

WorkingMom.com
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If this is you, then you are not alone. In fact, the number of people receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (SNAP, EBT cards or what used to be called “food stamps”) reached 44.2 million this year. Now one in seven Americans receives food stamps. (The highest percentage ever.) More startling is the fact that one out of every three American households is actually eligible - but not availing themselves to the benefits.

So if you’re struggling, it may be worthwhile to take a look at whether or not your family actually qualifies for government help. Many “first-generation-cash-strapped” individuals don’t realize that reductions in income or increases in dependents may have made them eligible for: government-sponsored medical benefits, food benefits, utility or housing benefits or even childcare (while they’re at work) benefits and more.

When a previously financially stable family officially meets the criteria as “poor” or “needy” it’s a tough pill to swallow. It’s a sad state of affairs. But when their legitimate needs go unmet due to ignorance, a bad situation becomes worse. So if you’re struggling to keep a roof over your head, can barely keep your utilities on while putting food on the table - see if you might be eligible to receive some governmental benefits. They were designed to help you get out of the hole and back on your feet while you weather tough times.

The Official U.S. Government Website has a free online benefits checker that shows which programs you might be eligible for:

Benefits.gov

Sabrina O’Malone works full-time while raising and homeschooling her 6 children ages 13 and under. (That’s no typo - six kids + a full-time job + homeschooling!) Thanks to the Great Recession, she and her husband Daniel are rediscovering the lost art of frugality - and writing about the secrets to maintaining a great lifestyle while saving money. To keep up to date on Sabrina’s comings and goings and other hot-button topics, check out the following:

WorkingMom.com
Newsletter
Twitter
Facebook]]> Tue, 03 May 2011 03:40:19 +0000 884ce4bb65d328ecb03c598409e2b168 http://www.moneymindedmoms.com/articles/_/house-heart-home/flying-stress-free-with-kids-r251
There is a way to keep kids entertained, even on a budget. I really wish the family behind me with the screaming two year old read this prior to our flight.

So, here are my top 5 flying tips:

1) Bring books to read (this pertains to all ages, from babies-adults).

2) Bring your own headset, otherwise you will get charged. Most planes have some sort of in-flight entertainment. Nothing distracts little ones like TV. Just in case your flight doesn’t offer entertainment, put some shows or movies on your iPod. I assure you it is well worth spending a few bucks to have a peaceful flight.

3) Toys, coloring books, puppets. Bring something they need to manipulate to keep busy. There are some great activity books that include searches, matching games, etc. Ideally you can give your kids something new on the plane to get them extra excited.

4) Bring a sippy cup, a bottle or your boobs. Swallowing helps alleviate the pressure in their ears. If your child is old enough chewing gum and lollipops help too.

5) Snacks. Many airlines have stopped giving meals and free snacks. Bring your own from home. The prices in the airport are ridiculous. Food that takes a long time to eat is a good bet (Goldfish crackers, small pretzels, grapes, etc).

Flying with kids can be challenging, but with a little advance preparation you might actually have a peaceful flight and have a chance to read or relax. Now imagine that…


Vicky Collins is a Jersey Girl who relocated to Austin, TX. She has been married to Shawn since May 1996, and they have four children (Caity, Lexie, Kerri, and Jack) and a shelter dog (Mattingly). Through a recipe of discipline and various financial strategies, she has not carried credit card debt since the mid-90's. Vicky preaches to her friends and occasional strangers that it’s imperative for women to understand and be involved in family money matters, and blogs about it at AskTheMama.com. Follow Ask the Mama on Twitter and Facebook.]]> Fri, 29 Apr 2011 01:03:51 +0000 838e8afb1ca34354ac209f53d90c3a43