You are here: Home / Archives for Home

Budgeting for Name Brands

May 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

When you’re a hardworking parent and attempting to provide for your family, sometimes you have to “go without,” meaning that you have to sacrifice the things that you want, in favor of the things that you need, or that your family needs. It isn’t fun to go without all of the things that make you happy, like buying your favorite brands of clothing for example, and so often the best course of action is to budget for these items, and to buy them when your budget can reasonably support it.

Budgeting for Name Brands

Create a goal, such as deciding to buy a piece of Coogi clothing once per month. Set a financial goal, such as being allowed to spend a specific amount of money on that piece. Then work on saving enough money throughout the month to make this goal a reality. Unless you are living paycheck to paycheck and hand to mouth, and cannot reasonably afford to put a few dollars away per week toward this goal, it should not take much time or effort to save up enough money to buy the piece of clothing that you are lusting after this month.

Create a new goal every month, and add a nice piece to your wardrobe each month. This will allow you to have the wardrobe you dream of without having to break the bank in the process. A little scrimping and saving can really go a long way in helping you to achieve your fashion wardrobe dreams once and for all.

Filed Under: Family Activities, Home Improvement, Resources Tagged With: , , ,

Tips for Moms to Balance Work and Family Life

December 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Happy Family
Image via Wikipedia

If balancing work and family life is a struggle for you or if you just want to learn some good strategies on how moms who work and take care of families can create more balance, them these tips can help.

Communicate Expectations
In your home life letting your partner and children know what things you expect from them can ensure that everyone does their part. At work if you are in a management position setting clear expectations for your staff can help reduce confusion and goals not being met. If you are in a support position keep the lines of communication open with your superior concerning times you are unable to work and use wisdom when accepting extra assignments.

Don’t Forget About You
Many working moms have no problem giving out but often feel guilty when it’s time to give back to themselves. A better you means a better mom and a better employee or boss. Ministering to your own needs whether it’s going to get your hair done or getting a good workout at the gym, will give you a much needed break, rejuvenation and perhaps even empowerment.

• Ask for Help
Have you ever heard the term no man is an island? In case you haven’t, it means that no man or woman can get through life alone. Asking for help is not a sign of failure or weakness but is actually a sign of courage and humility. Don’t let pride, the media, friends or family put unrealistic expectations on you to be supermom. Just because another mom may seem like they can do it all and still maintain balance and composure doesn’t mean you have to do what they do and appear to be perfect.

For moms who have to both work and take care of their families at home, balancing your own internal emotions and needs can be the secret ingredient to balancing work and family life.

Filed Under: Family Activities, Working Parents Tagged With: , ,

Teaching Your Children Money Management

December 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

It is always a good idea to teach children from a very early age to manage and handle money correctly. It is most disturbing to see young adults getting dozens of offers in the mail for that magic credit card which is not going to help them get ahead when it comes to money management.

It is far wiser to give a child a debit credit card and teach them the multitude of ways that they can save money.  Money saved is money that can be spent on better things of your own choosing.  Explain to your child how credit cards work, that they are very expensive forms of borrowing money. Money which needs to be paid back with interest.  Try to show your child the many ways that they can save in other ways.

It can become a game and a challenge to try to find as many ways to save money as possible. Forget that magic credit card, look at clipping coupons instead.  The trick here is to search for coupon codes or specials only on items that you actually need or want.  A sage once told me that “everything is expensive if you don’t really need it.”

So how do you find coupon codes for the items that you actually need?  One way is to scan the newspapers and store fliers. Another way is scout the shopping isles for coupons.  Do not purchase the items now, many have an expiry date on them.  Collect them and swop them with friends so that you get coupons you need and want.  The best way is  to subscribe to an internet site and get coupon codes emailed to you. Then you can scour the email suggestions and take the codes you need.

How much can you save this week?

Filed Under: Budgeting, Family Activities Tagged With: , , , , , , ,