Nutritious Child Friendly Recipes
By Janice on August 2nd, 2008
| By : Christine Steendahl |
| One of the things that parents exhaust much time fretting about is creating and preparing nutritious recipes for their little ones. While it can sometimes be difficult to always prepare nutritious recipes, especially when you have little time or are in a rush after work, there are several nutritious recipes that you can make simply, here are just a few.Applesauce Almost all kids enjoy applesauce and applesauce is deceptively simple to make and very delicious. All that is required are 2 red apples, two teaspoons of sugar (brown sugar is fine), a few tablespoons of lemon and a dash cinnamon. Creating applesauce is simple, just put your two red apples in a food processor, throwing out the core first. Process the apples and once they become chopped up into small pieces put them in a bowl; add your sugar, lemon juice and finally a few pinches of cinnamon. Voila, you have fresh and all natural apple sauce. Fruit and Yogurt Parfaits Mashed Potatoes Cinnamon French Toast |
| Author Resource - Christine Steendahl Is The Founder Of Dine Without Whine - The Number One Online Source For Affordable And Family Friendly Weekly Meal Planning. Eliminate Your Dinner Hour Stress And Re-Discover The Pleasure Of The Dinner Hour! For A Free Sample Menu And Grocery List Visit Dine Without Whine - A Family Friendly Weekly Menu Planner |
30 Seconds to Creating an Awesome Checkbook Balance
By Janice on August 2nd, 2008
| By : Darlene Arechederra |
| Have you ever watched a squirrel balancing up on the highwires? He actually makes the balancing act look easy, doesn’t he?I always wonder what will happen to the squirrel should he lose his balance. You see, the highwires are not part of his natural habitat. They are manmade, and he has no safety cushion built in to protect him.
But, we as humans build our own cushions. We love our cushions, because they make our lives easier. We have cushioned shoes to absorb the impact on our bodies from walking, jumping, jogging. We build in cushions of time by leaving early for work. And believe me, if you’re following a pickup on a dry-as-a-bone dirt road in 100 degree heat, you’ll leave lots of cushion in front of you. Otherwise, you’ll be eating dust, mile after mile (smile). But, there’s another type of cushion we need. It’s the cushion in our checkbooks. Without it, our own balancing act can become difficult at times. Why You, Too, Need A Cushion to Protect You 1) A mistake in your checkbook is less likely to create a crisis. 2) If the bank deducts an amount larger than the correct amount, your cushion can save you from bounced check fees. Not to mention the hassle — and your reputation. It’s amazing how many checks can bounce as a result of one simple error on the bank’s part. 3) Creating your own cushion will reduce the stress in your life. (And don’t we all want our lives to be easier?) How to Create Your Own Cushion If you’re like many, you probably pay your bills as soon as you get paid. So, why not build in an extra five dollars each time you get paid? This means you’ll want to leave five dollars *more* in your checkbook, after paying your bills and adding in other spending you’ll be doing. If you’re paid once a month, you’ll want to increase the amount you build in per paycheck. Feed Your Cushion and It Will Grow Quickly For example, if you normally keep a balance of $23 to fall back on, pay period number one would end with a cushion of $28 ($23+$5). The following pay period would now find you with a $33 cushion ($28+$5) remaining in your checkbook. Pencil in your new cushion amounts to the right on your check register. It’ll remind you of your new strategy and keep you motivated. You’ll be amazed how quickly your cushion will grow for you. There’s No Such Thing as Extra Money… Now, think of this as your new safety net — not *extra* money. You could even call it your Mini Emergency Account. It’s there for you if something goes awry in your checkbook. Over the years, many of us may have walked the tightrope by leaving only two dollars or so in there until the next payday. (We probably all know someone who does this, yes?) Today, create a new, 30-second habit — and say goodbye to walking that tightrope ever again. © 2005 Darlene Arechederra |
| Author Resource - Darlene Arechederra leads the delightful series, “Coming Home: A Woman’s Journey to One-Income Living.” Women of two-income households who want to find their way back home from the workplace will enjoy this gentle, energizing jumpstart. Visit with Darlene at https://paydotcom.com/r/2048/jc26105/19859174/ |
So You’re Traveling with Children. I’m Sorry.
By Janice on July 8th, 2008
By: Sherry Frewerd
If you have kids, car trips can cause you to inwardly moan and groan in agony, especially when making a long trip. It’s hard for children to quietly sit and do nothing for long stretches of time. That’s why it’s important to plan ahead to keep your kiddos entertained during the family car trip.
“Are we there yet?” is the travel battle cry of the modern child. Although it seems like they’re plotting against you, they aren’t trying to drive you mad, they’re just trying to find out how much longer the ride will be. Save your sanity and just tell them the truth. Tell them how long the trip is going to take and break it up into bits so that they can see that you are actually getting somewhere. They’ll be able to better grasp the time factor and will help your nerves too.
Do some planning and pack up a fun bag of games and entertainment for your kids. A nice idea is to reward them for good behavior by giving them a small gift, like a travel game or book, every hour of the trip. Keep it simple and inexpensive, and these budget-friendly little presents can make your child happier and the car ride peaceful.
Taking regular breaks is very important when you are traveling with your children. Even if all seems be going well, you should stop about every two hours to give your children a chance to stretch their legs, use the bathroom, and enjoy being out of the car. Even though it lengthens your trip, it will also make your children easier to travel with.
It is important to vary your child’s activities to keep them from becoming bored. Every half hour you can change the activity such as talking for half an hour, playing music for the next half hour, and then taking a break. Eat a little snack and then back to the car. Then they can watch a DVD or listen to music or a book on tape.
Games are a great way to pass the time. There are many different travel games available or you can play the license plate game to see how many states you can find. Electronic games are another fun way to pass the time.
Kids love to sing. Choose a CD that your entire family will enjoy. There are many different CD’s available that are fun to sing and will allow you to have fun and be silly.
A DVD player in your car or a portable DVD player will give your entire family a few hours of fun. You can even throw in a new DVD to help keep your family entertained while you drive in the peace and quiet.
A long car trip with children doesn’t have to be a burdensome event. Plan ahead and provide stuff for your kids to do and you and your sanity will get there in no time.
Sherry Frewerd publishes various websites and blogs for affiliate promotion and network marketing. You can publish your own professional quality website without pulling your hair out or spending a fortune. Get your free website tips ebook ‘Success Tips for Building an Effective Website’ today at ‘Website Building Mom.’ websitebuildingmom.com
Camping: Quality Family Time
By Janice on July 8th, 2008
By: Tammy Paquin
It’s been about 6 years now since my husband and I discussed the idea of camping. We were expecting our third child and I was going to become a stay home mom. There were several obstacles to overcome with the impending drop in our income but there was also a concern about how we would be able to have quality family time with 3 children that was also affordable. The discussion of camping kept coming up over and over again.
Camping is a great way to lodge near or within some of the most economical and quality activities this country offers. A tent site within Acadia National Park in Maine can be had for about $15/night! Within the park is free hiking, biking, swimming and ranger led tours for adults and children. (well, free to the extent that you pay federal taxes that pay for these parks). There are many private campgrounds on Mt. Desert Island (where Acadia is located) which can provide more amenities, if you so desire. Even these campgrounds provide awesome deals when you can get an ocean view or ocean side site for under $65.00 ($65 is considered an “expensive” site, in general we spend between $32 to $45/night for our sites). An ocean side hotel room (with kitchen) would probably run you about $150-$200 /night in season.
There are more and more ways for anyone to get out there and camp. There are tents (which diehards consider the “only” way to camp). There are “tear drop” and “A” frame style campers that can be towed by a standard vehicle. Bigger campers include pop-ups or smaller “hard side” campers which can be towed by a minivan or smaller SUV. The biggest hard sided campers need to be towed by large SUVs or pick up trucks. There are also pop-outs that are packed into trailers that are towed by motorcycles! In addition, more and more campgrounds now offer camping cabins that allow you to enjoy the amenities of the campgrounds without breaking out a single tent stake.
If you’re interested in camping I’d recommend trying to borrow equipment from friends or family before committing to purchase your own. You should be aware that even family might not let you borrow their camper, though. If you’re interested in trying out a camper for a weekend, a lot of campgrounds now rent campers and let you place them on one of their sites. Quite a few camper retailers will have rental units for you to try out as well. This is a good way to enjoy a periodic camping trip without buying your own camper.
No matter if you’re looking to get into a tent or a camper, you might want to begin with gently loved equipment. Many people begin with tent camping and move up rapidly to a travel trailer. There is an abundance of very gently used equipment out there. The three-bedroom tent that was only used twice and is now in our garage is testament to that. Our pop- up was only used four times in two years by the couple we bought it from and they also absorbed the initial depreciation (it’s just like buying a new car versus a used one). Whereas, when we sold the same pop-up, we were able to sell it for only $500 less than what we paid for it.
Camping has allowed us to take family vacations that we probably couldn’t have afforded otherwise. For example, we stayed on Cape Cod during the summer. We always pack the majority of our own food and shop just for fresh fruit and bread. We brought our bikes to the Cape and spent several days biking and swimming at this gem of a pond located right on the rail trail. There are miles of free hiking along the National Seashore and great picnic areas. The kids loved the playscapes that are in public parks and at the local schools (which are okay to use when school isn’t in session). We biked to a local free public beach several times at low tide so the kids could collect sea shells and learn about tidal pool ecology. Bottom line was a family vacation loaded with fantastic moments that we still talk about. Our campground site cost $350 (full hook up site, tent sites are even less) for the week. A week for a suite with a kitchen on the Cape in prime season would normally run you about $1500. to $2000. That is the difference between us being able to go and not go!
No matter what you use to camp in, there is a wonderful and simple enjoyment as you sit with your family by a campfire and chat about your day. There are no phones, no distractions, no TV and Nintendos. There is nothing to distract them from you and you from them and in this day and age when there is so much to draw our focus away from each other, this is truly a way to bring about quality family time.
Tammy Paquin is a work from home mom of 3 boys. She is the publisher of Frugal-Families, a site devoted to frugality, budgeting, families and helping everyone stretch their hard-earned dollars. For other another great article on low cost family fun, check out http://www.frugal-families.com/
Inspiration for Control Freak Parents
By Janice on July 8th, 2008
By: karen alonge
You know how sometimes the most profound conversations with your kids occur in the midst of totally mundane activities? Well, last night I was parking the car at the grocery store, and my 8 year old daughter says to me in a voice full of awe, “Mom, did you know that some kids assume their parents are going to say yes?”
Sensing a bigger context here, I asked a few questions. She had spent some time over the weekend at a new friend’s house. Turns out that she was really and truly amazed that her mom said yes with such regularity that her friend no longer bothered to ask her for permission to do things like eat cookies before dinner or watch cartoons.
Quicker than you could say ‘there’s no place like home’, I felt like the Wicked Witch of the West. Because unlike her new friend’s mom, I say no. A lot.
There was no manipulative intent on my daughter’s part. (By now I can spot that a mile away.) She was just truly astounded by the notion of such a cooperative parent.
Well, let me tell you, THAT sure got me a-thinkin’.
I must confess, my first thought was a feeble hope that it takes a while for her make the next logical mental leap into realizing that if she doesn’t ask first, I CAN’T say no.
My next thought was a memory of something I’d read in a business article a few months ago. (I’m sorry, but as so often happens I have no clue where it was, so I can’t give you the reference.) The basic concept is this: when your supervisor makes a request of you, don’t say no. Even if granting the request is totally impossible or outrageous. Instead, take a minute to consider what it would take for you to be able to say yes.
So for example, let’s say your supervisor asks if you can complete a major project one month earlier than the agreed upon deadline.
Instead of saying “No way, forget about it, it can’t be done,” you take a minute to think about it.
“Well, in order for that to be accomplished I’d need a team of ten additional staff members and $100,000 over the allotted budget.”
You have shown a good faith attempt to be a team player, you are not killing the project, and the responsibility for saying yes or no to your suggestion bounces back to the boss.
Hmmm . . . I dream of the blissful applications of this novel concept in my home. . .
“Mom, I want this new two hundred dollar Lego set!”
Usual response: “No way.”
New, intriguing response: “It’s a neat one, huh? Well, I wonder how you could save up enough money to buy it?”
We go on to have a mother-son bonding experience as we discuss money-making ventures like mowing lawns, selling old toys at a yard sale, or asking grandma. He feels heard and supported, and eventually gets his Legos. I don’t have to be the Witch or come up with two hundred bucks. How’s that for a win-win?
Nice daydream, eh? Well, not to worry. Since I like to present only tried and true information in my articles, I put it to the real test today.
SON: Mom, can I have this huge sugar laden piece of artificially colored bubble gum I got from the bus driver? (ok, actually it was just ‘Mom, can I chew this gum?’ It says something about my control freakiness that he evens asks me things like this, doesn’t it? Poor kid.)
THE NEW ME: (very cheerfully) Sure honey!! As long as you brush your teeth for 3 full minutes when you are finished.
SON: Aw, Mom, come on! Three whole minutes!! If I have Trident do I have to brush my teeth?
ME: (sweetly) Nope, because Trident doesn’t have sugar in it.
Being both smart and toothbrush phobic, he quickly added up the score.
He threw the gum from the bus driver away and grabbed 3 pieces of Trident.
And I never had to say the word NO.
Hmm, those business folks appear to be onto something BIG! Granted, it does take more time. But I think it’s worth it, for two reasons:
First, I don’t want to be remembered as the Mom Who Always Said No, and without a lobotomy to remove the control freak part of my brain there’s no chance of me being immortalized as the Mom Who Always Said Yes.
Second, I believe this process becomes internalized in our children. It encourages problem-solving and creative thinking, and I bet it wears a nice groove in the bridge-building pathways of a developing brain. Kids could grow up seeing opportunities rather than obstacles . . . challenges rather than limitations . . . partners rather than enemies.
In the words of John Lennon . . . Imagine.
Copyright 2005 Karen Alonge
Karen Alonge is a parenting consultant and relationship coach with over 20 years of experience helping families thrive while overcoming challenges. She offers consultations by phone and email. Please visit http://www.karenalonge.com/ for more information.
Article Source: http://greatarticlesformoms.com
The Little Perks of Motherhood
By Janice on July 8th, 2008
By: Joyce Costanza aka writemom
In taking a much-needed but hardly guilt-free respite at a ridiculously over-priced coffee shop for Artistes… (I was buying a Grande Mocha-Lisa not the Mona Lisa for goodness sakes…), I overheard two young mothers one-upping each other over whose kid could throw the best tantrums in public. Little Charlie’s red-faced, back-arching, slap-the-mat imitation of Hulk Hogan on steroids because his shoelace came untied? or Little Ruby’s decibel-breaking screech that would put a starving raptor to shame because the shopping cart smooshed her last gummy fruit pineapple that she had thrown on the floor..? Ruby’s mom won hands-down but she would do well to lay off the Pablo-Espressos.
My kids are older now so the tantrum stage is mostly behind us, making room for the ever so popular “I’m a teenager-now-rolling-of-the-eyes-making-you-feel-like-a-FREAK-parent-because-you-accidentally-hummed-‘Daydream Believer’-near-a-cashier-at-Target-who’s-so-and-so’s-older-sister” stage. (Good Lord, how could I be so insensitive?)
However, when our kids did throw those lovely tantrums, in public or not, my husband and I would grade them on a scale of 1-10…out loud. And egg them on, convinced they could do better, “Come on, give me more indignation… where’s the flying spittle?” Most of the time, it sort of sucked the steam right out of them. After a while, they got bored and the tantrums soon stopped. Now we do it for fun around the dinner table…see who can whine or complain the loudest. (My husband is surprisingly good at this…). Hmmm…
Not that we don’t lead exciting lives, have gratifying jobs or interesting hobbies - but for sport, we take every opportunity to embarrass our kids in public. (I dare thee who is not the parent of a teenager to cast the first stone…). There is something truly satisfying in possessing that simple, yet spot-on and lethal talent. For it matters not what you say…simply that you do say. And it doesn’t matter to whom you say it as long as they fit the ‘capable of down-loading iTunes, have a MySpace blog, or the right to have pimples’ profile. I merely have to allude to the fact that I feel like skipping through the mall and my teenage daughter’s promising me a clean room for a month and a forfeiture of two-weeks’ allowance if I can squelch the urge to skip. The idea of raising my hand with a question during a packed middle school assembly can turn my son into pool of protoplasm as he sinks lower in his chair, trying to become one with his hoodie.
I know this too shall pass…as do all stages and rages of adolescence. (And those are just mine!) Soon they’ll be out on their own, going to college, making leaps and bounds in personality and personal growth - all without my constant help and guidance. But that’s okay… it’s the way life is supposed to happen. Worry not; I’ll still have my glorious memories to cherish. And cherish them I will.
Wait. There’s frenzied activity behind me…what’s this? I’m being offered the chance to drive said daughter to the coffee shop where there’s free Internet access and several friends loading up on decaf Dolce-Dalis. “Hurry up, mom…” translates into ‘Can’t you just stop (the unimportant and trivial) thing you’re doing to cater to my every whim..?’ I lovingly finish this sentence, make a big deal of looking for a disc on which to save…and ponder the new memories I’m about to make as I follow my daughter out to the car, wearing my fluffy pink slippers. Brou-ha-ha…I think I’ll have a relaxing, yet impudent cup of Earl Grey Mat-teas to go with those memories.
Article Source: http://greatarticlesformoms.com
Bargain Shopping to Lower Your Family Expenses
By Janice on July 8th, 2008
By: Jennifer Houck
Moms love to find great deals right? The frugal side of me is always pondering on how I can save the family money each month. If you sit down and see how much you spend on your phone bill, clothes, grocery bill and entertainment, the number may actually leave you with your mouth open. Make it your goal each month to find ways on how you can save in each of these categories.
If you have family long distance, your phone bill is probably reaching high numbers each month. The best way that I save our family each month is going with VOIP (Voice Over Internet Phone). You get unlimited long distance each month and all the bells and whistles that come with your regular landline phone. Most average prices for VOIP are around 25.00 each month. We cut our phone bill in half by just using VOIP each month.
Daily bargain lurking through sites is always high on my priorities when I am shopping for the kid’s clothes. I not only lurk on bargain shopping online stores, but I also love to window shop at the Tanger Outlets http://www.tangeroutlets.com which are located throughout the United States. First and foremost, remember to buy the clothes off-season. For example, buy your winter clothes just as the spring and summer seasons are coming in. The clothes are always clearance at the end of the season. Most prices you will get at a steal such as 70% off regular prices. If the children are in dire need of specific clothing or are growing faster than anticipated, then use the online shopping sites to your advantage. Before you click the submit button on your purchase, do the two following things:
1) Go to Current Codes at http://www.currentcodes.com to find the latest discount code for that specific store.
2) Visit http://www.fatwallet.com to make sure there are no big specials going on at another store for that same item.
Make sure you sign up for newsletters or the company’s mailing advertisement, so you can be up to date each month on the big sales.
Grocery Bills can literally eat at our heart when the cashier gives us the total. What can you do to get the price down? Use Coupons, Coupons and more Coupons. Make a habit of getting the Sunday paper every week and cut out the coupons. Get a coupon organizer so you can separate the coupons into categories. This will make it easier when you are shopping and can just pull the coupon right out for the cashier. Also each week the grocery store ads will come in the mail, sit down and figure out with your coupons which store is having the better sale.
So we know how to save on necessities now, but what about family time? You do not have to make family time expensive each week. Set aside money for one weekend out of a month to do something special as a family. The rest of the weeks plan family time frugally. Some ideas that our family does is having special family nights such as game night, having a picnic night, movie night with pizza or just a good time spending the night acting like a child with my children. My husband and I get out in the yard and slide down the slide with the children, play a game of basketball or bring back the old fashion games such as the sack tater race. There are always laughs and smiles with all these different nights. Your child will also enjoy any of these nights just as much as if you spent 100.00 on a family outing.
If you really sit down and put your mind to thinking about each of your expenses, you can think of ways to save the family more money each month. Put the above tips to work in your household and watch your expense budget actually start shrinking. Happy Bargain Hunting!!
Jennifer Houck is http://www.ilovebeingamom.com/, the Free Parenting Resource for busy moms. Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on the latest mommy buzz!
Article Source: http://greatarticlesformoms.com
Tips for Cutting Your Monthly Grocery Bill
By Janice on July 8th, 2008
By: Sherry Frewerd
Most families have felt the pain of the dramatic rise in the cost of food. If you are on a tight grocery budget, how are you handling it? What do you do to make sure you stay on your budget each month? How do you decide what to buy and what to leave on the shelf at the store? Do you have a plan before entering the store?
Ask many folks and they’ll tell you that they never make a grocery shopping list before hitting the aisles. They just wander around the store plopping stuff into the cart with no plan whatsoever. If you’re on a budget, the absolute easiest way to break it is to roam around a supermarket without a list. After you get home and put your items away you’ll still have no idea what to make for dinner.
If you’re on a budget buy having trouble staying there what can you do to save money on groceries? What if you found out today that you had to drastically cut your grocery bill immediately, could you manage to save $50 or more? Here are a few tips on how you can slash your grocery bill.
1. Divide your current budget into three categories: weekly, bi-weekly and monthly so you’ll know exactly how much you have to spend.
2. Write down what your family needs weekly; such as bread, milk, fruit etc. Having healthy choices available will cut down on the need to fill your family’s snack attacks with expensive junk food.
3. Next, jot down your family’s bi-weekly food items like cheese, vegetables, eggs, sandwich meat etc. Remember that you’ll only be buying these items every two weeks and watch how much your family actually eats.
4. Buy your groceries at one store and pay with cash so you’ll not be tempted to go over your budget. Write down your shopping list ahead of time so you’ll know where to go in the store rather than strolling around.
5. Plan your meals on a rotation. When you write out your menus, keep in mind to mix them up so that you have simple meals throughout the month. This will help prevent your family from eating all of the ‘good stuff’ up in the first week and then have to eat canned chili every night for the last week of the month.
Regardless of your family’s budget, by taking time to write down a plan of action before your go shopping and really thinking about your options and shopping choices will help you stay within your budget and keep more money in your pocket.
Find quick and easy family recipes to plan your meals at ‘Quick and Easy Family Recipes’ quickandeasyfamilyrecipes.com . Get out of the kitchen and feed your family well with slow cooker recipes from ‘Family Crock Pot Recipes’ familycrockpotrecipes.com .
Article Source: http://greatarticlesformoms.com
20 Tips to Live a More Frugal Lifestyle in Today’s Difficult Economy
By Janice on July 8th, 2008
By: Candy Osborne
Living in the United States today is not without its challenges, financially speaking. In an article dated March 9, 2008 Reuters reported that the average price for gas is $3.20 per gallon and it is intended to rise over the next month.
Equally disturbing, the U.S. Department of Labor reported 63,000 jobs were cut in February 2008 alone.
Words like “recession”, “deficit”, “stimulus package” and even “economic crisis” have people wondering what the economical condition of this country will be like weeks, months and years down the road.
What can we do as consumers during these troubled economic times?
Essentially, we have to do more with less. On other words, we have to be frugal and smarter with our spending. Living a frugal life is somewhat subjective because people are very set in their lifestyles. So, frugal to one person making $70,000 could be quite different than someone making minimum wage. However, the overall mindset is the same. We need to examine our lifestyles and make meaningful changes which start with determining monthly expenses and setting a budget to adhere to.
After determining your budget, check out these suggestions to help get you started living a more frugal lifestyle:
1.) Buy used items instead of new ones. Use a site like www.UZAP.com which offers free listings to do just this.
2.) Borrow a book from the library instead of buying a new one.
3.) Swap videos with friends for movie nights.
4.) Accept hand-me-downs and likewise, pass them on.
5.) Consider do-it-yourself projects instead of hiring out, such as washing your own car.
6.) Make the next birthday card you give instead of buying one.
7.) Coupons, coupons, coupons! Collect them and use them.
8.) Plan your weekly meals around what is on sale at the grocery store and stick to your plan.
9.) Go to yard sales for cheap finds and to buy items cheaply and re-sell them on sites like UZAP.com.
10.) Purge old things you don’t use/wear anymore and either sell them or donate them. Others will benefit from this and you will too, either financially or by feeling good that you helped someone in need.
11.) Ask yourself if you really need to purchase brand names or if you can accept buying generic labels.
12.) Buy in bulk and save. Freeze bulk foods like meats and veggies that you won’t eat that week.
13.) Eat at home as much as possible. Taking a family of four out for dinner even once a week could cost the same as eating at home for four or more nights. Get the kids involved in planning and preparing the meal to make it more exciting for everyone. Apply this strategy to your job and brown bag it there too.
14.) Schedule a leftover meal night each week.
15.) No one says you have to stop exercising, but do you really need a membership at a fitness center? For what you probably pay in monthly fees, you can buy bands, balance disks or stability balls and work out in your own home.
16.) Plan ahead and do all of your errands in the same area all at once. Especially with the rising gas prices, don’t take two trips to the same place two days in a row if you can avoid it.
17.) Re-consider your modes of transportation. Can you walk the distance to perform an errand? Maybe you can make it part of your exercise routine and knock out an errand and a workout at the same time. What about public transportation? It might be cheaper to commute this way than to drive your own vehicle.
18.) Replace your expensive forms of entertainment with forms that don’t cost a lot of money. How about a game board night with friends, a potluck supper or a play date at the park?
19.) Get involved with your community to network and learn other ways to live on a dime.
20.) Cut back on spending! Watch your monthly budget and stick to it.
I already know what you’re thinking…being frugal takes time! Who has the time for all these things? As mentioned before, it is subjective. The more things you can take on yourself and borrow, trade or buy used, the more money you will keep in your pocket for the rising gas prices and beyond. Consider spending time performing these tasks (making a birthday card, performing a do-it-yourself project, etc.) in the presence of others. Maybe you can kill two birds with one stone and spend quality time with your children/loved ones while performing these things. And you will be teaching them a valuable lesson too.
Candy Osborne is a marketing consultant for Internet-based companies and a former journalist. One of her clients, http://www.uzap.com/ is perfect for people trying to be more frugal since users can buy, sell, trade, lease or donate goods and services for free.
Article Source: http://greatarticlesformoms.com
10 Questions To Ask When Considering a New Home Business
By Janice on May 11th, 2008
By: Christina Lunceford
Always ask questions before joining any work at home opportunity. Here is a quick check list for you below that will help you remember some important questions to ask.
What are the start up costs?
What will I receive for this joining fee?
What is the commission?
How is the commission paid?
What are the expenses of running this business? (catalogs, materials needed, etc.)
Does it include a web site, or is that an extra cost?
Can the product be sold online?
Is the a minimum order or sale requirements?
How long has this company been around?
Is there training/support available?
You may have a few more of your own questions to ask, but the above questions will help you with getting started in a new business with the information you need to know. Being prepared when you are searching for a new home business is very important and can make the difference between success and failure. Many moms start a home business without realizing all the ‘behind the scenes’ costs of running their new business. They did not realize that the website cost $10 a month to have, the brochures were pretty expensive, etc.. and that can lead to failure just from not being able to afford to run the business. You must prepare yourself for these hidden costs, a home business will cost money to run. Asking the right questions before joining a work at home opportunity will increase your chances of finding a more suitable opportunity for yourself.
Article by: Christina Lunceford, work at home mom of three and owner of http://www.homebasedbusinesswoman.com/ where moms go to learn all about working from home.