What to Do this Summer? Fun No-Cost Ideas...

Although you may not be able to afford a summer vacation this year, there are no-cost, fun summer activities for the whole family. Check these out and feel free to leave me some other fun ideas in the comments!

• Go to the library! What is more fun for a kid than to go on down to the public library and check out a couple of books and maybe a fun DVD to view? It's absolutely free and most libraries have summer reading activities that reward your child when they reach certain goals. This will help keep up their reading skills for school in the fall :)
• Have some outside quiet time. Pick a tree in your back yard and lay down a blanket. Have some lemonade and cookies, and read the books you’ve checked out from the library. Take turns reading. Invite friends and their kids to join you. Make it a weekly event.
• Make a treasure box with your kids (this follows the popular Pirates of the Caribbean theme this summer). Have them scout around the back yard or beach for rocks or sea shells or any item they think would be cool to include. Have the kids make a treasure map and include some information on pirates found on the internet. Add some coins, and make a pirate’s flag with black fabric. Have the kids add their own symbols to it. Then the kids can bury it in the back yard or keep it on hand and add to it each year.
• Garden with the kids. Have your kids plant their own flower garden. Talk about each flower; how it grows, how much room it needs, and then give the kids a title, such as Director of Water Resource (this would be for one kid to oversee the watering of the plants); or Director of Roots and Shoots (this would be for another kid to oversee the weeding), etc. Also, give your kids some watermelon seeds to plant. You never know what may crop up.
• Take a bike ride. This is such a great activity for the entire family. You can even pack a picnic lunch and stop midway for a great time together! It's wonderful exercise and will really bring the family together.

No-cost, fun summer activities for the whole family can be achieved with just a little imagination and a LOT of creativity.

Tips for Sticking to Your Family Budget

You have a family budget in place. Now the hard part begins—sticking to your family budget. With the demands of all the wants and needs of kids, it can be challenging to keep a close eye on your money matters. Here are some simple tips to save money and help you stick to your family budget:

• No satellite – On average, the least expensive satellite package can run anywhere from $35-$40 per month. Multiply that times twelve months and you end up with a whopping $420-$480 per year! Do away with this single bill and your family can save almost $500 every year. Now that’s an incentive!
• Limited video rentals – Many families choose to rent movies for a family night instead of going to the movies. While rentals are a huge money saver, it can still get expensive if you go overboard. Limit your rentals to two every two weeks, for example.
• Return videos early – Another cost that adds up quickly is overdue rental fees. For the cost of a few past due days on one movie, you could purchase that movie and watch it forever if you wanted to. Write yourself a note so you won’t forget to return your movie rentals on time. Even better, try using an online video rental service like Netflix. You’ll pay the same each month, pay no late fees, and get new movies every time you return one.
• Plan meals before shopping – Never go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. You will want to buy everything you see on the shelves. You may think it’s silly, but you will be amazed at the results if you try it.
• Buy off-brand products – Most off-brand products taste much the same as their counterparts. There are a few, like mayonnaise for example, that taste slightly different. For the most part, if you are trying to stick to a budget, buying off-brand products can save you a lot of money. And don’t forget to clip and use coupons, too!
• Bring your lunch to work – Once again, let’s do the figures. If you spend a minimum of $5.00 per day on lunch (that’s a cheap lunch!), at the end of the week, you’ve racked up $25.00. With gas prices on the rise every day, that extra $25.00 could come in handy if you drive to work, too. Instead of eating out, fix your lunch to bring with you.
• Drink water – Sodas are easy to grab and run with, but water is much healthier for you. Instead of spending money on canned drinks, buy a family-size pack of bottled water. You’ll save money and drink healthier.

Mom - Want to Earn Some Extra Money? Learn How!

I ran across this great article for SAHMs (Stay at Home Moms) with some tips on how to earn some extra money. Read on...

Stay at Home Mom Tips for Earning Extra Money from Home

Staying at home with your children is a rewarding job. Raising children is a hard task even under the best of circumstances. Still, moms who stay at home may be yearning for more in their own lives to feel fulfilled.

The invention of the Internet opened up many doors for entrepreneurial exploits. An entire world of information is at our fingertips twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. To take advantage, all we need is a computer and a little motivation. This is the perfect way for moms to make some money of their own.

The most popular choice would be internet auction houses. The most popular of which is eBay. Everyone has something around their home that they can sell that someone else may want. One day, while your kids are sleeping, check out the attic and the garage for hidden treasures that could fetch a good price on the internet. Use a digital camera to take pictures of all potential money-making items. You can find a useful guide to getting started with auctions here.

Use your hobbies to make some easy cash. Do you like to draw, paint, crochet, or create crafts? Create your own website to advertise your particular expertise. Local flee markets and craft shows are a perfect way to get your product out there to the public. These events take place on the weekend, so your spouse can watch the kids while you market your merchandise.

Another way to make some extra money is online surveys. Large companies spend millions of dollars each year in market research for new and existing products. They poll consumers like you and me to see if there is sufficient interest in their products. The surveys can take anywhere from five minutes to an hour per survey for follow-up surveys. Don’t expect to get rich, but just earn a little extra income. Different companies offer a variety of incentives. Some companies offer points for their surveys which can be converted into prizes. Other survey companies offer cash for trialing new services and products. These surveys usually require a credit card for a preliminary fee that is reimbursed by the company upon completion of the survey.

Any work you do for extra money on the Internet requires an online account for companies or individuals to deposit your earned cash. The premier online account is PayPal. Signing up is free, but you must have a valid bank account that can be verified in case there is any discrepancy with the funds in your PayPal account.

There are a number of ways to earn extra money as a stay at home mom. The Internet offers plenty of opportunities that do not require a lot of time. The extra funds that you will be making will feel good.

If you want to take it to the next level and start earning more serious cash from home, visit Moms Talk Biz for more ideas.

11 Tips for Keeping Safe While Shopping Online

Shopping online has become the wave of the future. No standing in lines, no posted hours to shop and you don't even have to take a shower and get dressed to do it! These are all great advances from the old method of shopping; however, you need to make sure you're safe when doing so. To this end, here are some tips for keeping your online shopping experience a safe one.

1. Never buy anything from an unknown company. If they don't have a phone number or address – stay away from them.
2. Ensure that whenever you buy a product, you are sent a receipt by email.
3. Some card companies are offering virtual credit cards – check into this type of service as it changes card numbers each time a purchase is made.
4. Always look for the Veri Sign logo, BBB logo, and the lock on the bottom right corner of the website. This ensures the company is well known, and is using a method to conceal your information.
5. Do not apply for credit cards on line. The company may be a bogus one.
6. If you have several department store cards, and buy from them online, change your password every month.
7. Research the stores you buy from beforehand. Ensure they are credible and have been around for a number of years.
8. Shopping online and using your credit card unfortunately leaves you open to hackers. Make sure you have virus protection software installed in your computer, as well as a firewall.
9. Change your passwords monthly. Although this can be a huge pain, it will be well worth it in the long run!
10. Clear out your cache every time you sign off.
11. If you are using a cable modem; unplug the PC cable from the modem every night. Using a cable modem means you are on a network; avoid any hackers from engaging in illegal activity.

If you are careful, you can shop almost anywhere and any time online as long as you keep these tips for keeping your online shopping experience a safe one in mind.

Consider Investing Your Tax Return

If you have already visited your CPA or filed your 2006 income taxes on your own; you may want to invest the money you'll be receiving from your tax return (provided you are receiving a fairly large sum).

Some may ask why investing your tax refund is a smart move, while others can’t wait to cash the check. Here are some investment ideas for those of you who are considering it.

• Reinvest the money back into your home - repairs, landscaping, addition, etc...
• Invest in a bank CD
• Increase your IRA account
• Your current 401K, SEP or other retirement fund
• Invest into a 529 or other educational savings vehicle
• Pay off insurance premiums
  Pay off your credit cards or other high interest debt
  

Think about why investing your tax refund is a smart move. Talk to your accountant to determine the best course of action which will yield you the highest interest for you and your family. This may be the smartest move you’ve ever made!

What is Your Filing Status?

In my tax-paying lifetime, I've been just about every category of filing status as you can be. It CAN be very confusing to determine what your status might be. To begin with, your income tax filing status is based upon whether or not you are single, married, or widowed. It is important as it pertains to the correct amount of tax being deducted from your paycheck. Let’s go over each filing status to give you a clear picture of your options.

According to the Internal Revenue Service:
* A single person can claim single status if unmarried, divorced or legally separated.
* If you are married, you and your spouse may file a joint return.
* If you are married, but wish to file a separate return, you can.
* To claim head of household, you must be unmarried and pay more than half the cost of maintaining the home for you and a qualified person.
* If you are a widow or widower, and if your spouse died in 2006, you can use married jointly as your filing status for 2006. Note: The year of death is the last year for which you can file jointly with your deceased spouse.

While there are new tax changes every year, the filing status seems to be the same. To determine what type of filing status is best for you, talk to your tax professional or visit the IRS site online here. However, it should be noted that the information supplied by the IRS may take quite a bit of time to read and digest.

It's true what they say, “there are only two things you can count on in life; death and taxes.”

Get a jump on filing your taxes by gathering all of your papers and make an appointment with your tax professional today!

Taxes - Should I Hire Someone?

It's that time of year again...

I'm sure you've seen the commercials touting tax preparation software. In fact, have you seen the commercial promoting the do-it-yourself tax software wherein the husband says, “Uh Oh…?” Apparently he runs into a problem, and his wife picks up the software box and says, “Hello, can you help us?” Funny; but true. All too often, we think we can save money by preparing our own taxes, but then the “Uh Oh” factor rears its ugly head.

So the question is: Do I need to hire a tax professional?

The answer is: it depends.

Check out some of the reasons why you would hire a tax professional:
* If you are not fully familiar with how to prepare taxes.
* If you do not understand the tax code in your state.
* If you have to itemize your deductions.
* If you do not want to deal with the IRS one on one.
* If you own a business.
* If you don’t understand the questions on the tax form.
* If you have stocks, bonds or other mutual funds.
* If you’re retired and are unsure of your tax status.
* If you’ve researched online, but are more confused by the answers than ever.

There are so many things you may not be aware of that can save you time, money and a headache that won’t quit by hiring a tax professional. Perhaps you’ve always had your taxes done by a professional who knows you, the state of your finances, and who is better equipped to handle your taxes. Quite frankly, if this is case, you are better off.

With tax laws constantly changing, isn’t it better to put yourself in the hands of someone who is knowledgeable in this area, than stressing over what and how to do it yourself?

While some people have the innate ability to use the tax software available successfully, there is an old adage that says, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

On a personal note: I hire a tax professional. Why?
1. I answered "yes" to almost every one of the factors listed above.
2. It saves me time and headache.
3. The money is WELL SPENT!

What are some of the reasons that you use (or don't use) a tax professional?

Thumbs Up Thursday - The Serious Shopper

This week's "thumbs up" goes to Robyn at The Serious Shopper. She is very enlightened in the shopping arena. She's got some great advice for shopping with a fun and easy-to-read style of writing!

One particular post that caught my eye was how to best Maximize Your Credit Card Points. I like my reward-air-miles-from-my-Visa-card as much as the next person, but after reading this post, I found there are other ways that I could be cashing in on the reward points. She suggests using one card to pay your monthly bills and another card for regular purchases during the month. This is GENIUS...why didn't I think of this before?

She made her point a couple of times and I would say you need to HEED THIS ADVICE. If you're going to start paying your regular bills with a credit card - PAY IT OFF EVERY MONTH so you don't accrue interest. Otherwise, you'll be negating the reason why you're doing it in the first place.

The Serious Shopper is informative and fun - it's worth a second look...and a third...and a fourth :)

Now, I'm off to earn money to pay off my credit cards so I can begin maximizing my reward points...

Save Some Money this Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Candy, flowers and cards can be so expensive these days - especially after many of us are still reeling from the holidays.

Wouldn’t you rather save some money this Valentine's Day? Make some homemade valentines! Here's how you can have a little fun and save a little money too.

Valentine Cards
Do you have a computer? That's the first step. You can make professional looking cards using Photoshop or other card-making software. Is not only fun, but easy to use. You can make scores of valentine cards in a short amount of time.

Valentine Wreath
Make a valentine wreath for your door! Find some red fabric of different textures and make heart shapes. Then stuff them with newspaper to give them fullness. You can make several hearts and sew them together to form a larger heart which you can then add to a round piece of wire.

Baked Valentines
How about a valentine basket? Fill the basket with homemade heart shaped cookies. Be sure to use red icing; or even red food coloring would suffice. Add some Hershey chocolate kisses in red foil and set it out on your table for your family to enjoy. Use your baking skills to prepare a homemade valentine cake. You can even shape it into a heart. Surprise your family after dinner!

Valentine Heart
Make a valentine heart for your loved one. All you need is some red or pink construction paper and glue. Write your heartfelt sentiment on it, then sprinkle colored sparkles on the glue and hang it so that your spouse can see it as soon as he walks in the door. You can even cut out tiny hearts with red construction paper and stream it across a wall in your home. Write notes of love on each one!

It doesn’t take much to make homemade valentines. Just a little imagination and a few items can really make a splash without having to spend a fortune. It’s the thought that counts!

Want some other great articles and ideas for Valentine's Day? Click here for more!

Living Within Your Means - Sometimes Tougher Than It Seems

In today's society, many families find themselves struggling to live within their means, either because they have too much debt, or because their spending habits/patterns are uncontrolled and they simply don't know how to change. Here are some quick tips on reigning in that spending, and keeping yourself debt-free:

1. Don't use credit cards. If you have credit card debt and are carrying large payments at high interest that are crippling your budget, talk to a community credit debt counselor. There are many groups that offer this service for free. They'll help you to understand how the debt can be cut down faster, and whether a consolidation loan is a good idea. Credit cards are a temptation to spend money you don't have. If you must have one card, leave it in the care of the person most responsible for your family's financial health, and never use it except for emergencies that can be paid off within a short time.

2. Budget your money and expenses. Even a simple budget in a notebook will work, or you can go to a spreadsheet on the computer. Gather all your bills, and calculate your monthly expenses, remembering to include a 1/12 portion of any annual expenses. Then take your gross income and figure out how much has to be set aside per week for absolute essentials. Whatever remains, is what you have for optional spending like savings, education or retirement funds, and entertainment.

3. Before you buy, ask yourself if you really need it. That could be anything from a new stereo system, to a new car. Ask yourself if it's worth going into debt for, or just how far it will stretch the family budget. Remember that you need room in your family finances for emergencies, and stretching your discretionary dollars to the limit, is never a good idea.