Money Mom
Most parents don’t realize it, but one in ten children today have their identities used or abused in some way. In fact, child identity theft is one of the fastest growing segments of the crime.
You’re probably thinking that your child doesn’t have much of an identity to steal, at least not financially speaking. And you may be wondering how thieves get their hands on children’s information in the first place – after all, young children don’t often shop online, at least not with their own credit cards, and they don’t use email the way adults do. But aside from the fact that children are increasingly joining social networking sites like Facebook, which can be a hot bed for scams, you have to remember that your child has a Social Security number and card, which can easily be stolen. Add that to the fact that about a third of identity theft is perpetrated by friends or family members, and your kids are at risk. More…
Did you know that almost 60% of Americans don’t have a will? It’s true, and, in my opinion, it’s not because we don’t understand the importance of that legal document. No, I think something else is standing in our way, particularly in the way of parents: Naming guardians for our children.
When you create a will, your lawyer will help you with the legal language – or you can find a template on a website like LegalZoom – but it’s up to you (and your partner, if you have one) to select someone to care for your kids if something should happen to you. Heavy stuff, I know, and not the kind of thing parents like to think about. Which is why we put it off. More…
We’re well into summer, and in just a few short months, your kids may be heading off to college – many for the first time. I know the to-do list is a mile long at this point, on it everything from purchasing a shower caddy to sorting out those student loans.
But at some point before you drop your freshman off, I encourage you to sit down, together, and make a budget. Whether she’s getting a job, you’re providing her with spending cash, or a combination of the two, you want to make sure that the well hasn’t run dry come October. Here’s a crash course in how to do it, as well as some sample budgets and a worksheet to get you started. More…
The New York Times recently reported on the “silent victims of the economy” – the 16-24 year olds that are currently competing for summer employment. Facing a record 19.6 unemployment rate, this country’s youth are certainly struggling — and if your child hasn’t yet started his or her summer job search, it’s definitely time to get going! “Consistent with last summer, I’m finding that teens have to submit 10 applications to get one job offer,” says Steve Kimball of SnagAJob.com. “The competition is high.”
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t jobs out there. I asked Kimball about where there are still opportunities if your teenager hasn’t found work yet. “There are lots of sectors still hiring,” he says. More…
DailyCandy is one of my favorite lifestyle newsletters and blogs, so I was thrilled when Kids Editor and fashion expert Lindsey Gladstone agreed to guest post here for us. I know I’ll be using some of her advice.
Before babies I never had a problem dressing myself – I actually enjoyed putting together an outfit. To be honest, shopping was sport. But after my first daughter it seemed like nothing in my closet worked anymore. This shirt pulled here, those pants wouldn’t button there. Forget about anything with a heel. Dangling earrings were a hazard.
So I had to start from scratch. I had to reinvent. Think comfortable, functional, and stylish, without becoming slave to my Lululemon yoga pants (but you should definitely have at least one pair, they do wonders for your rear). More…
This week, I invited Naomi Panzer, creator of mymommymanners.com, to help us deal with some of the awkward moments that pop up between moms every now and then. I hope you enjoy – and let us both know what you think in the comments.
Making friends with other moms can be downright daunting (and keeping them, just as exhausting). The constant, swirling mass of mom-on-mom judgment, criticism and competitiveness makes connecting with our parenting peers an endless cycle of frustration—from the mom at preschool who’s always one-upping you, to your old friend who thought it was fun to give your sugar-free daughter a frosted doughnut.
It’s no surprise that one of the touchiest topics among moms is money. Having too much, not having enough, where you spend it and how you handle it wiggles its way into motherhood and can sabotage even the closest of friendships. More…
This week, I invited Kimberly Danger, the founder of mommysavers.com, to guest post and share some ideas for entertaining your kids on the cheap this summer. Read on for her great tips.
With the school year coming to a close, moms everywhere are wondering how to keep the kids busy this summer without going broke. If you don’t have tons of money for camps and lessons, you can still keep your kids active and entertained thanks to some great in-store workshops and money-saving strategies.
Summer Reading Programs
Most community libraries host their own summer reading programs, but did you know that you can also sign up for them at a book store near you? You don’t even have to leave the house to get started. Download Barnes and Noble’s Passport to Reading form online and after your child reads eight books, bring it to a store to receive a free book. Check out the Double Dog Dare Reading Program at Borders, where kids get a free book after reading ten. More…
I know that by now, you’ve read more than a few articles about the health care reform bill. But I also know you still have questions – for one of my blog posts on WalletPop.com, I recently talked to the folks at ehealthinsurance.com, and they told me that they’ve been flooded with calls from people who are just plain confused (many are asking for “free Obama care,” in fact). So I thought I’d take a few minutes and bring you up to speed about a few changes that are going to impact families with children.
For starters, you should know that nothing about this bill is immediate. It takes awhile to get the ball rolling with a huge piece of legislation like this, and it is certainly going to take some time for the insurance companies to get acclimated. But two big changes are going to come in September, and I want you to be prepared for them. More…
As we look forward to Mother’s Day this coming weekend, I thought it was only fitting for my team to share some of the best advice given to them by their mothers. I hope you enjoy – and please, share your own mother’s advice in the comments! We’d love to read it.
Jean
When my son was one or two, I had trouble getting him to eat a balanced diet. Some days all he wanted was French toast. Somedays apple sauce. Cheese was a food group. And veggies — though he didn’t completely hate them (especially “trees” as we called broccoli) — were few and far between. More…
If you have teenagers, this is a busy time of year. Trust me, I know – as we approach summer break, the dances, parties, plays and sports events just seem to pile on. But you also likely have something else on the brain: Helping those kids find a summer job.
My kids have been working for extra spending money for quite a while. And I firmly believe that teenagers should spend at least part of their summers working, because as you know, no money is as valuable as the money you’ve earned yourself. More…
