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> <channel><title>How To Do Just About Everything &#187; Family &amp; Parenting</title> <atom:link href="http://www.howto.com.my/category/family-parenting/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /><link>http://www.howto.com.my</link> <description>Your How To Solution For Just About Everything</description> <lastBuildDate>Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:15:18 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en</language> <sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency> <generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1</generator> <xhtml:meta xmlns:xhtml="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" name="robots" content="noindex" /> <item><title>Idiot&#8217;s Guide to First Aid</title><link>http://www.howto.com.my/2009/family-parenting/idiots-guide-to-first-aid/</link> <comments>http://www.howto.com.my/2009/family-parenting/idiots-guide-to-first-aid/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 2009 23:47:04 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Professor Tim</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Family & Parenting]]></category> <category><![CDATA[emergencies]]></category> <category><![CDATA[family member]]></category> <category><![CDATA[first aid]]></category> <category><![CDATA[medicine]]></category> <category><![CDATA[medicine cabinet]]></category> <category><![CDATA[solving problems]]></category> <guid
isPermaLink="false">http://www.howto.com.my/?p=2265</guid> <description><![CDATA[What does a single do if a family part of is discovered from scarcely drowning? How does a single hoop what looks similar to a critical cut or burn? What equipment have been necessary for each disinfectant cabinet? This consequential book is only a answer when emergencies do arise, elucidate problems fast as well as [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a
href="http://www.howto.com.my/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/idiot-guide-to-first-aid.jpg"><img
src="http://www.howto.com.my/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/idiot-guide-to-first-aid.jpg" alt="Idiots Guide to First Aid" title="idiot-guide-to-first-aid" width="305" height="500" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2266" /></a></p><p>What does a single do if a family part of is discovered from scarcely drowning? How does a single hoop what looks similar to a critical cut or burn? What equipment have been necessary for each disinfectant cabinet? This consequential book is only a answer when emergencies do arise, elucidate problems fast as well as easily.</p><p><code>http://rapidshare.com/files/208116720/Guide_to_First_Aid.rar</code></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.howto.com.my/2009/family-parenting/idiots-guide-to-first-aid/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>How To Save $18,000 per Year Without Pinching Pennies</title><link>http://www.howto.com.my/2009/family-parenting/how-to-save-18000-per-year-without-pinching-pennies/</link> <comments>http://www.howto.com.my/2009/family-parenting/how-to-save-18000-per-year-without-pinching-pennies/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Sat, 14 Feb 2009 02:09:54 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Professor Tim</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Family & Parenting]]></category> <category><![CDATA[How To Save Money]]></category> <category><![CDATA[save money]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tips On How To Save Money]]></category> <guid
isPermaLink="false">http://www.howto.com.my/?p=1584</guid> <description><![CDATA[See how much money you can put back in your pocket We searched for big gains &#8212; with little pain. The result? We sliced food bills by $2,794, found $1,214 in savings on utility costs, discovered leisure for $2,241 less, cut $3,715 in fees from banking and loans, plus shaved transportation costs by $2,827. All [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em> See how much money you can put back in your pocket</em></p><p>We searched for big gains &#8212; with little pain. The result? We sliced food bills by $2,794, found $1,214 in savings on utility costs, discovered leisure for $2,241 less, cut $3,715 in fees from banking and loans, plus shaved transportation costs by $2,827.</p><p>All the ideas listed in the section below reduce your cost-of-living by $18,250 per year. Break it down and <strong>you&#8217;re saving $50 a day</strong>. See which ones work for you. Plus, find out how three super savers do it. (Don&#8217;t forget to add your tips in the Comment Box below.</p><p
class="style1">Pay Less for Banking &amp; Loans</p><p><em> Seven ideas to keep more in your bank account.</em></p><p><strong>1. Bye-Bye, Late Fees:</strong> Millions pay credit-card late fees of as much as $39 each month. Use an automatic debit to make payments and you&#8217;ll never be late again.</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $234</strong><br
/> <em>(eliminating six late fees a year )</em></p><p><strong>2. Wipe Out Interest:</strong> The average household has $7,430 in credit-card debt. But let&#8217;s assume you have just half that. Take advantage of a 12-month 0% balance-transfer offer from Bank of America or Discover.</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $422</strong><br
/> <em>(on a rate of 13.6%)</em></p><p><strong>3. Stay in-Network, Nix ATM Charges:</strong> Each time you use an out-of-network ATM, you pay an average of $3.43. Avoid charges by selecting a bank like Citibank, with more than 23,000 fee-free ATMs.</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $178</strong><br
/> <em>(based on one fewer out-of-network ATM withdrawal per week)</em></p><p><strong>4. Get Free Checking No Minimum? No Matter: </strong>Brick-and-mortar banks charge an average fee of $12 per month for checking accounts and require an average minimum balance of almost $3,500 to avoid it. If you use direct deposit or make five or more debit-card purchases each month, Chase offers a free account with no minimum balance required. Or bank online at Salem Five Bank, pay no monthly fees, and earn 2.75%.</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $144 </strong></p><p><strong>5. Use Cash-Back Cards Savings Really Add Up: </strong>Tired of accruing airline miles that you can never redeem? Switch to a cash-back credit card and earn enough in a year to pay for a coast-to-coast ticket. If you spend $850 a month for 12 months using Blue Cash from American Express, you could see a $250 credit on your bill at the end of the period. Even charging $550 a month on basics such as groceries, gas and drugstore purchases can put money in your pocket.</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $250 </strong></p><p><strong>6. Bounce No More Sign Up for Free Alerts: </strong>The average bounced-check fee has increased 34% over the past ten years and is now $29, according to Bankrate.com. If you never balance your checkbook, sign up for your bank&#8217;s free alerts to warn you if your balance drops to the preset amount of your choice. Need a safety net? You can get overdraft protection. Just be sure you know how much you&#8217;re paying for it.</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $174</strong><br
/> <em>(six fewer overdrafts per year)</em></p><p><strong>7. Refinance a Mortgage: </strong>Monthly mortgage payments take up the lion&#8217;s share of most household budgets, so refinancing can produce substantial savings. With the interest rate on a 30-year fixed-rate loan at less than 5.5%, now is a good time to refinance.</p><p>Slashing your rate from 6.75% to 5.25% on a 30-year loan will save you 17% on your monthly payment. On a $200,000 mortgage, that translates into a savings of almost $193 per month. For your own situation, use the How much will my payment be? calculator at Kiplinger.com. Of course, for a refi to pay off, you must stay in the house long enough to recoup any closing costs, which typically amount to 2% to 4% of the loan.</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $2,313</strong><br
/> <em>(refinancing a $200,000 mortgage)</em></p><p><strong>TOTAL ANNUAL BANKING SAVINGS: $3,715</strong></p><p
class="style1">Pay Less for Health and Insurance Costs</p><p><strong>1. Reshop Life Insurance  Rates Are Lower, Even Though You&#8217;re Older: </strong>Premiums have plummeted over the past decade, and you may be able to save hundreds of dollars by reshopping your policy, even though you&#8217;re older now. Term-insurance prices varied widely in 1998, and many major insurers were charging a 40-year-old man at least $750 per year for a $500,000, 20-year term policy. Today, a healthy 50-year-old man can buy a $500,000 ten-year term policy (which expires in the same year) for just $445 &#8212; a savings of more than $300 per year. Compare prices among dozens of insurers at Accuquote.com.</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $300</strong><br
/> <em>(on a ten-year term policy for a 50-year-old)</em></p><p><strong>2. Save on Meds Generics Pummel Pill Prices: </strong>Try switching from brand-name prescription drugs to generics or other low-cost alternatives. A 50-year-old couple taking five common drugs and cholesterol-lowering medication for each, plus high-blood-pressure and enlarged-prostate drugs for the husband and an osteoporosis drug for the wife could lower their monthly costs from about $575 to $37 by switching to generics and shopping at a lower-cost pharmacy. Find alternatives for your medications at Destination Rx.</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $797</strong><br
/> <em> (by switching blood-pressure medication   Norvasc to the generic brand at a big-box store) </em></p><p><strong>3. Insure for Less Lower Your Home Premiums: </strong>Raising the deductible on your homeowners insurance policy from $250 to $1,000 or $2,500 can lower your premiums by 15% to 25% per year. For example, boosting the deductible from $250 to $1,000 on a house insured for $250,000 in northern California reduces the average annual premium at the 22 companies in InsWeb&#8217;s database by $188; raising the deductible from $250 to $2,500 lowers the average premium by $319.</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $319</strong><br
/> <em>(on a house insured for $250,000)</em></p><p><strong>4. Raise Your Limits Boost the Deductibles: </strong>Increasing the deductibles on your comprehensive and collision coverage from $500 to $1,000, or even $2,500, can reduce your premiums by 12% to 18%. For example, boosting the deductibles from $500 to $1,000 would mean a savings of $648 per year, on average, for a northern California family with two teenage drivers, according to the database at InsWeb, an insurance Web site. Raising the deductibles from $250 to $2,500 lowers the average premium by $1,503.</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $648</strong><br
/> <em>(with a $1,000 deductible and two teenagers)</em></p><p
class="style1">Pay Less for Utilities</p><p><em>Reducing energy and water usage are just a few of our ideas on how to Save $50 a Day. </em></p><p><strong>1. Install a Smart Thermostat:</strong> Why heat or cool your home when you don&#8217;t need to? With a programmable thermostat, you can put your temperature preferences on autopilot. Cost: $70.</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $180</strong></p><p><strong>2. Buy Better Bulbs:</strong> At $7 a pop, compact fluorescent light bulbs aren&#8217;t cheap. But those that are Energy Star-rated use 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last up to ten times longer.</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $166</strong><br
/> <em> (if 20 bulbs are replaced)</em></p><p><strong>3. Go Low-Flow: </strong>Replacing even one pre-1994 shower head and one faucet with conserving counter-parts can make a big difference in water usage. For a thrifty shower head with oomph, try Delta&#8217;s Water-Amplifying Shower Head (shown above; $13 at Home Depot). It uses a low 1.6 gallons per minute. For an even cheaper fix, outfit your faucets with screw-on aerators (50 cents to $3 apiece).</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $47</strong></p><p><strong>4. Plug a Leaky Toilet:</strong> A leaky toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water daily, or 73,000 gallons per year. Put a drop of food coloring into the toilet tank; if it shows up in the bowl, you&#8217;ve got a leak.</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $146</strong></p><p><strong>5. Ditch the Old Fridge: </strong>The biggest energy eater in your kitchen is the refrigerator. A new Energy Star-rated model will consume 40% less electricity than a model made eight years ago. Consider Frigidaire&#8217;s 18.2-cubic-foot model (FRT18HP7JW; $750 at Sears).</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $100</strong></p><p><strong>6. Seal the Gaps: </strong>No need to heat and cool the great outdoors: Caulk and weatherstrip your doors and windows, and don&#8217;t forget to close the flue damper when your fireplace is not in use.</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $96</strong></p><p><strong>7. Launder for Less: </strong>Cut your water and energy use by more than 40% with an Energy Star-qualified clothes washer, either a top or front loader. Our pick: the Kenmore HE5t series of front-loading washers ($1,600) and the Bosch Nexxt 800 series ($1,450).</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $50</strong></p><p><strong>8. Kill a Watt-Waster:</strong> Your home electronics are sucking electricity even when they&#8217;re turned off. Unplug them or use a power strip to turn off multiple devices simultaneously (such as the Smart Strip Power Strip, $40, at <a
class="linkification-ext" title="Linkification: http://www.smarthomeusa.com" href="http://www.smarthomeusa.com/">www.smarthomeusa.com</a>). Use a power meter to  figure out which devices are most wasteful.</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $56</strong></p><p><strong>9. Flush Frugally</strong> Replace a toilet made between 1980 and 1994 with one certified by the Environmental Protection Agency&#8217;s WaterSense program that uses less than 1.3 gallons of water per flush. For economy, check out the Glacier Bay Elongated HET ($128 at Home Depot). For contemporary style, the dual-flush Toto Aquia (shown at left; $435) lets you choose a lower or higher water flow as needed.</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $90</strong></p><p><strong>10. Dial Down Your Water Heater: </strong>If you have an electric water heater, turn the temperature gauge down to 120 degrees. (Make sure your dishwasher has a heater that boosts the temperature back to 140 degrees to ensure proper cleaning.) If the water heater is warm to the touch, wrap it in an insulating jacket (such as a Thermwell blanket; $20 at Amazon.com).</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $43</strong></p><p><strong>11. Bundle Up for Savings: </strong>Competition is a wonderful thing. And phone, wireless, cable and satellite-TV companies are competing like mad to get your business by bundling services at discount prices. Right now, the standard-issue package is $99 for TV, telephone and broadband Internet service. All those services can easily total more than $150 a month if billed separately, so a monthly savings of $20 is a minimum if you go the bundling route.</p><p>One caveat: That $99 deal usually lasts for only one year. Solution: If your contract price rises, you can either switch providers for a lower rate or threaten to switch providers to bargain your rate back down.</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $240</strong></p><p><strong>TOTAL ANNUAL SAVINGS:  $1,214</strong></p><p
class="style1">Pay Less for Food</p><p><strong>1. Switch Supermarkets Stock Up on Grocery Staples at a Discount: </strong>Six-word strategy for saving on food: Get in car. Drive to Costco (Sam&#8217;s or BJ&#8217;s). We compared prices on 37 staples at Costco, Safeway and Whole Foods, calculated the prices for equivalent sizes, multiplied the total for each list by 12 (representing monthly shopping expeditions) and added Costco&#8217;s $50 annual membership to the cost. Result: Costco can supply a family of four with many of the basics for an annual tab of $1,708, followed by Safeway, at $2,417, and Whole Foods, at a pricey $3,498.</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $1,790</strong><br
/> <em>(Costco versus Whole Foods) </em></p><p><strong>2. Caffeinate Cleverly Lattes Don&#8217;t Have to Break the Bank: </strong>We wouldn&#8217;t dream of asking you to quit cold turkey, but weaning off Starbucks could save you money. A 20-ounce latte from Dunkin&#8217; Donuts runs $3.29; at Starbucks, the same-size drink sets you back $3.65. Plus, at Dunkin&#8217; Donuts you don&#8217;t have to say &#8220;venti&#8221; when you want a large.</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $131</strong><br
/> <em>(if you lay off the doughnuts and have one cup daily) </em></p><p><strong>3. Choose Cheap Eats: </strong>Can&#8217;t give up eating out once a week? At hip, fast-casual sit-down restaurants, you stand in line to order the food and save on prices and tip. We tried the food at four chains and pronounced them comparable to full-service restaurants.</p><p>FRENCH<br
/> Mon Ami Gabi: Roast chicken with mushrooms and frites, wine and tip ($57.50).<br
/> La Madeleine: Rosemary rotisserie chicken dinner (half chicken) with rice and broccoli, and wine ($32). Savings for two: $25.50</p><p>ITALIAN<br
/> Maggiano&#8217;s: Shrimp and angel hair al arrabbiata, wine and tip ($54).<br
/> Vapiano: Scampi (pasta, shrimp, sauce, vegetables) and wine ($32).<br
/> Savings for two: $22</p><p>TEX-MEX<br
/> Chevys: Steak burrito with veggies, rice, beans and guacamole, and beer and tip ($44.50).<br
/> Chipotle: Fajita burrito with steak, rice, beans, guacamole and salsa, and beer ($23.48).<br
/> Savings for two: $21.02</p><p>BARBECUE<br
/> Famous Dave&#8217;s: Chopped pork, muffin, corn bread, two sides, soda and tip ($29.38).<br
/> Shane&#8217;s Rib Shack: Chopped pork, Texas toast, two sides and soda ($20.76).<br
/> Savings for two: $8.62</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $463</strong><br
/> <em>(for a couple dining out twice a month) </em></p><p><strong>4. Belly Up to the Bar:</strong> You can eat well at a fraction of the price if you stick to the bar menu &#8212; and we&#8217;re not just talking wings. These restaurants are among many that offer fancy food on the cheap. We computed the difference in price between ordering two entrees from the regular menu and three items (one for each diner, plus one to share) from the bar menu.</p><p>Cheesecake Factory<br
/> Entree: Salmon salad ($32)<br
/> Bar: Chicken pot stickers ($9)<br
/> Savings for two: $23</p><p>McCormick &amp; Schmick&#8217;s<br
/> Entree: Rainbow trout ($35.60)<br
/> Bar: Fish and scallop ceviche ($12).<br
/> Savings for two: $23.60</p><p>Morton&#8217;s the Steakhouse<br
/> Entree: New York strip steak ($86)<br
/> Bar: Petite filet mignon sandwiches ($30)<br
/> Savings for two: $56</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $410</strong><br
/> <em>(for a couple who dine out once a month) </em></p><p><strong>TOTAL ANNUAL FOOD SAVINGS: $2,794</strong></p><p
class="style1">Pay Less on Transportation Costs</p><p><strong>1. Save on Gas: </strong> The exhilarating drop in gas prices was welcome relief after last summer&#8217;s run-up. But even at current prices, you can save big by altering your driving behavior.</p><p>Keep your cool. Easing up on aggressive driving can cut your fuel consumption by 35%. Speeding is the biggest culprit, but drag-race-inspired peal-outs and jerky lane changes also shave miles per gallon. SAVINGS: $400</p><p>Get rid of the junk in your trunk. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle costs you. SAVINGS: $30</p><p>Maintain your vehicle by keeping your engine properly tuned and tires inflated, replacing air filters regularly and using the right grade of motor oil. SAVINGS: $348</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $778 </strong><br
/> <em>(based on studies using the best-selling Toyota Camry V6)</em></p><p><strong>2. Buy a Fuel-Efficient Car:</strong> If you&#8217;re in the market for a new car this year, you&#8217;re in the driver&#8217;s seat when it comes to haggling over price. But you can save even more by choosing a fuel-sipping model &#8212; and it doesn&#8217;t have to be a hybrid.</p><p>Set your sights on 30 miles per gallon. The Toyota Corolla or Honda Fit will deliver that, compared with 20 mpg for the Ford Taurus V6 or Chevrolet Impala V6. SAVINGS: $550</p><p>Downsizing from a gas guzzler also does the trick. Not all trade-downs are equal, though. For example, beware of swapping a relatively new large crossover for a smaller one with better gas mileage. The money you lose by trading in a newer vehicle (cars typically lose 40% to 50% of their value in the first three years of ownership) may be more than the money you save on gas. One example of a smart new-car downsize: Swap a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe AWD for a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen. You&#8217;ll save on both gas and monthly payments without losing all your cargo space. SAVINGS: $1,031</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $1,581</strong><br
/> <em>(if both changes are made by a two-car family)</em></p><p><strong>3. Rent Cars Cheaply:</strong> Rent off-site instead of at the airport or hotel to cut a concession fee. Savings: $77 Pay for your own gas. Prepaid rates are often close to pump prices, but unless you return the car on empty, you&#8217;re paying for fuel you didn&#8217;t use. SAVINGS: $40</p><p>Turn down the collision-damage waiver. Your own auto policy generally covers rental-car damage.   SAVINGS: $81</p><p>Use a discount site, such as <a
href="http://www.hotwire.com/" target="_blank">Hotwire.com</a>. SAVINGS: $70</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $268</strong><br
/> <em>(based on one one-week rental at $50 per day) </em></p><p><strong>4. Cut Your Commute: </strong>The average commute is 30 miles round-trip per day. If you reduce your driving time by one day per week by telecommuting or carpooling, you&#8217;ll drive 3,120 fewer miles per year. Reducing the miles you drive in a year can also cut your car-insurance premium.</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $200</strong><br
/> <em>(not counting the big reduction in stress) </em></p><p><strong>TOTAL ANNUAL TRANSPORTATION SAVINGS: $2,827</strong></p><p
class="style1">Pay Less for Investing Costs</p><p><strong>1. Slash Investing Costs They Drag Down Performance:</strong> The average diversified U.S. stock mutual fund charges 1.3% a year in expenses. If your fund isn&#8217;t beating its benchmark (or you don&#8217;t have the time to monitor actively managed funds), you&#8217;re better off buying a low-cost index fund or ETF that hews to the benchmark. For instance, Fidelity Spartan 500 Index fund (symbol FSMKX), which tracks Standard &amp; Poor&#8217;s 500-stock index, has an annual expense ratio of just 0.10%. And indexing isn&#8217;t a compromise strategy. Managers of many top pension funds and endowments swear by it.</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $1,200</strong><br
/> <em>(based on cutting expenses from 1.3% to 0.10% on a $100,000 portfolio)</em></p><p><strong>2. Keep Tabs on Your Trades: </strong>If you aren&#8217;t an active trader, make sure you&#8217;re not penalized by a broker who charges an &#8220;inactivity fee.&#8221; For example, E*Trade charges investors who don&#8217;t conduct any trades in a given three-month period $40 for the quarter.</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $160</strong></p><p><strong>3. Clone Your Favorite Manager: </strong>Sticking with no-load mutual funds is a strategy that can save thousands over time, and there is almost always a great no-load alternative to a load fund. For example, instead of shelling out a 4.75% load for Davis NY Venture A fund (NYVTX), go for the nearly identical Selected American Shares S fund (SLASX), which doesn&#8217;t have a sales charge.</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $235</strong><br
/> <em>(avoiding a 4.75% load on a $5,000 investment)</em></p><p><strong>4. Go With a Discount Broker: </strong>Full-service firms charge $30 or more for an online stock trade. But online brokers&#8217; fees average just $10, reports Aite Group, a financial research firm. We like E*Trade and TD Ameritrade for $10 trades. And be honest: Is your broker&#8217;s research worth the extra 20 bucks?</p><p>Or, trade for free. ZeccoTrading gives you ten free stock trades per month if you maintain a minimum balance of $2,500. WellsÂ­Trade allows 100 free trades a year if you keep a total of $25,000 or more in Wells Fargo in almost all types of accounts.</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $240</strong> <em>(using a discount broker for one trade per month)</em></p><p><strong>TOTAL ANNUAL INVESTING SAVINGS: $1,835</strong></p><p
class="style1">Pay Less for Leisure</p><p><strong>1. Save on Ticketed Events:</strong> Online reseller StubHub.com often (but not always) beats prices on Ticketmaster.com and TicketsNow.com &#8212; especially for games that season-ticket holders want to unload. But be sure to check several ticket sellers (the following prices are for two tickets and include all fees and shipping).</p><p>EVENT: New York Knicks at New Jersey Nets.<br
/> BEST PRICE: StubHub, $91<br
/> COMPARABLE SAVINGS: Ticketmaster, $196<br
/> <strong>Annual Savings: $315</strong><br
/> <em>(three games) </em></p><p>EVENT: Britney Spears at American Airlines Center, in Dallas.<br
/> BEST PRICE: StubHub, $177<br
/> COMPARABLE SEATS: TicketsNow, $374<br
/> <strong>Annual Savings: $394 </strong><br
/> <em>(two concerts) </em></p><p>EVENT: Premium seats at smash musical Wicked on Broadway.<br
/> BEST PRICE: Ticketmaster, $541<br
/> COMPARABLE SEATS: StubHub, $925<br
/> <strong>Annual Savings: $384</strong><br
/> <em>(one show)</em></p><p><strong>2. Swap Sitting Services: </strong>Round up another family or two with cabin fever and take turns baby-sitting the kids. If you go out for four hours every month and would have paid a baby sitter $10 per hour, you can save $40 per month. All you need to do is watch the other family&#8217;s brood occasionally &#8212; which gives your kids a few extra playmates.</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $480</strong><br
/> <em>(one night out a month)</em></p><p><strong>3. Check Out a Film: </strong>Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince &#8212; the sixth installment of the popular wizardry series &#8212; hits theaters on July 17. To see it on opening day, a family of four would pay $28 (the average ticket price is $7, according to the Motion Picture Association of America).</p><p>But you can see it free if you wait a few months and borrow the DVD from your local library. If it&#8217;s checked out, request a hold so that the previous borrower can&#8217;t renew. The library will notify you when it&#8217;s available.</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $168</strong><br
/> <em>(bimonthly night at the movies for a family of four) </em></p><p><strong>4. Travel Last-Minute: </strong>Whet your wanderlust and save big by booking an impromptu, package-deal vacation at <a
href="http://www.lastminute.com/" target="_blank">LastMinute.com</a>. Reserved a week before departure, a trip for two from New York City to Amsterdam in early January cost about $2,000, including a round-trip flight and five-night stay in a four-star hotel. If you had planned the same trip several months in advance and booked it all separately, you&#8217;d have spent $2,500.</p><p><strong>Annual Savings: $500</strong><br
/> <em>(one package trip to a vacation destination)</em></p><p><strong>TOTAL ANNUAL LEISURE SAVINGS: $2,241</strong></p><p><span
class="style1">Pay Less for Must-Have Trends </span></p><p><em>Scoop up bargains on high tech and high fashion.</em></p><p>With recession-battered retailers slashing prices to attract customers, it should be easy to trim the cost of just about everything in your family budget. And big-box retailers are offering some of the best deals around.</p><p><strong>1. Save on Electronics</strong></p><p>DIGITAL CAMERAS: Tennis pro Maria Sharapova&#8217;s favorite camera, the <strong>Canon PowerShot</strong>, is usually priced at about $200. At Wal-Mart in early January, you could buy one, with the travel case, for $174.<br
/> <strong>Savings: $26</strong></p><p>LAPTOPS: The average laptop costs $795, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. But at Best Buy in early January, the top-selling <strong>Acer 15.6-inch Aspire</strong> laptop was on sale for $400. It has all the memory and features most users will ever need.<br
/> <strong>Savings: $395</strong></p><p>TVS: The average price for a high-definition TV is $874, and you can easily spend more than $1,500. At Costco in early January, a <strong>42-inch Panasonic Plasma HDTV</strong> went for $730. <strong>Savings: $14</strong></p><p><strong>Annual Electronic Savings: $565</strong><br
/> <em>(assuming one of each item) </em></p><p><strong>2. Apparel</strong></p><p>HANDBAGS: Designers Toni Hacker and Ben Harnett offer a mini black  studded clutch for $220 at <a
class="linkification-ext" title="Linkification: http://www.haydenharnett.com" href="http://www.haydenharnett.com/">www.haydenharnett.com</a>. At Target, you can  bag a similar Hayden-Harnett original for just $20. <strong>Savings: $200</strong></p><p>Shoes: Go to BlueFly.com for designer labels at discount prices, such as Michael Kors leather flats marked down from $98 to $45 in early January. <strong>Savings: $53</strong></p><p>Jeans: At trendy Hollister stores, girls&#8217; jeans start at $50. Get your daughter a pair of L.e.i. jeans &#8212; featuring teen country-music star Taylor Swift as the spokesmodel &#8212; at Wal-Mart for as little as $10. SAVINGS:<br
/> <strong>Savings: $40</strong></p><p>Suits: A man&#8217;s suit costs up to $900 at Bloomingdale&#8217;s. But at Loehmann&#8217;s, you can score designer duds up to 65% off. <strong>Savings: $200</strong></p><p><strong>Annual Apparel Savings: $493</strong><br
/> <em>(assuming one of each item) </em></p><p><strong>3. Lose the Locks: </strong>Trim your tresses and not your wallet with less-pricey haircuts.</p><p>MEN&#8217;S HAIR: A high-end salon can charge $50 or more for a cut, but a trim at the local barber or Hair Cuttery costs about $15. The local barber school often charges even less.<br
/> <strong>Annual Savings: $210</strong><br
/> <em>(assuming six cuts)</em></p><p>WOMEN&#8217;S HAIR: Salons charge $90 or more to style long locks. Dropping in at a beauty school such as Paul Mitchell&#8217;s and taking a chance with a stylist-in-training chops that cost to $17.<br
/> <strong>Annual Savings: $292</strong><br
/> <em>(assuming four cuts)</em></p><p><strong>TOTAL ANNUAL SHOPPING SAVINGS: $1,560</strong></p><p><em>Jessica L. Anderson, Jane Bennett Clark, Laura Cohn, Patricia Mertz Esswein, Robert Frick, Joan Goldwasser, Kimberly Lankford and Stacy Rapacon contributed to this article. </em></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.howto.com.my/2009/family-parenting/how-to-save-18000-per-year-without-pinching-pennies/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>3</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>Expert Advice: Helping Mom and Dad With Retirement</title><link>http://www.howto.com.my/2009/family-parenting/expert-advice-helping-mom-and-dad-with-retirement/</link> <comments>http://www.howto.com.my/2009/family-parenting/expert-advice-helping-mom-and-dad-with-retirement/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2009 08:16:08 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Professor Tim</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Family & Parenting]]></category> <category><![CDATA[adult children]]></category> <category><![CDATA[baby boomers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[child rearing]]></category> <category><![CDATA[children and parents]]></category> <category><![CDATA[financial assistance]]></category> <category><![CDATA[global study]]></category> <category><![CDATA[hartford]]></category> <category><![CDATA[intergenerational issues]]></category> <category><![CDATA[ira]]></category> <category><![CDATA[lancaster pennsylvania]]></category> <category><![CDATA[market]]></category> <category><![CDATA[market meltdown]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Mom]]></category> <category><![CDATA[People]]></category> <category><![CDATA[personal savings]]></category> <category><![CDATA[relationship issues]]></category> <category><![CDATA[relatives]]></category> <category><![CDATA[retirement account]]></category> <category><![CDATA[retirement savings]]></category> <category><![CDATA[saving for retirement]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Saving Money]]></category> <category><![CDATA[viable plan]]></category> <guid
isPermaLink="false">http://www.howto.com.my/?p=1487</guid> <description><![CDATA[Question: My mother is 50 years aged as great as has no 401(k), IRA or any sort of early early early early early early early early retirement comment which she can rest upon when she is no longer equates to to work. What sort of devise can we set up for her so she can [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Question: </strong>My mother is 50 years aged as great as has no 401(k), IRA or any sort of early early early early early early early early retirement comment which she can rest upon when she is no longer equates to to work. What sort of devise can we set up for her so she can begin saving money? L.K., Lancaster, Pennsylvania</p><p><strong>Answer: </strong>The emanate of what adult young kids can as great as should do to benefit assure which their kin have been financially rebuilt for early early early early early early early early retirement is a single that&#8217;s removing some-more courtesy as lifespans enlarge as great as we turn increasingly reliant upon a personal assets to comment a post-career lives.</p><p>Typically, though, this is a sort of subject we get from baby boomers who, already squeezed by concurrently saving for early early early early early early early early retirement as great as profitable propagandize as great as alternative child-rearing costs, right divided face a awaiting of additionally carrying to yield monetary benefit to late parents.</p><p>Indeed, a tellurian investigate of intergenerational issues expelled early final year by The Hartford found which some-more than a entertain of Americans 45 as great as comparison contend they have been right away caring for both young kids as great as kin or comparison relatives. Given how really bad a early early early early early early early early retirement assets of many retirees have been strike by a marketplace meltdown, we wouldn&#8217;t be astounded if which series has already increasing or will over a subsequent couple of years.</p><p>The actuality which your mother is only 50 expected puts we somewhere in your 20s, which equates to you&#8217;re grappling with this emanate progressing than many people. Just as well, though, given it can give both we as great as your mother some-more time to try to work out a viable plan.</p><p>Basically, there have been dual separate, though related, counts we as great as your mother contingency address. The initial is essentially financial, whilst a second deals some-more with personal as great as attribute issues.</p><p><strong>Money Matters</strong></p><p>The monetary side is comparatively straightforward. You&#8217;ve got to find a little proceed for your mother to begin saving upon a unchanging basis. You contend she has no 401(k), though is she authorised for one? If so, we need to remonstrate her to pointer up for it ASAP as great as minister during slightest sufficient to get a employer&#8217;s match, if there is one. This is her most appropriate shot during jumping upon a assets bandwagon given contributions to her comment have been automatically deducted from her paycheck prior to can outlay a money.</p><p>If your mom&#8217;s employer doesn&#8217;t indicate a 401(k) or alternative assets plan, benefit her open an IRA. By starting to Morningstar&#8217;s IRA calculator, we as great as she can fast see which sort of IRA, if any, she&#8217;s authorised for (traditional deductible, Roth IRA or nondeductible) as great as how most she can contribute. The limit grant for 2009 is $5,000, as well as $1,000 for people 50 as great as older. By a way, presumption she&#8217;s eligible, your mother can additionally have an IRA grant for a 2008 taxation year if she acts by Apr 15th.</p><p>If your mother can sock divided some-more than a limit grant for an IRA account, she can regularly deposit in tax-efficient investments such as index supports similar to those upon a Money 70 list of endorsed supports or tax-managed supports inside of a taxable account.</p><p>To enlarge a contingency which a income will essentially have it in to an IRA or taxable account, have your mother pointer up for an involuntary investing devise which transfers a sure volume &#8212; $100, $200, $500, whatever &#8212; from her checking comment to her investment comment any month. Like payroll deduction, this choice creates saving some-more available &#8212; as great as some-more expected to happen.</p><p><strong>Personal Matters</strong></p><p>The personal aspects of credible someone to save &#8212; generally a primogenitor or alternative relations &#8212; competence be some-more formidable to understanding with, however. You contend your mother is 50 though has saved zip for retirement. So a viewable subject is why?</p><p>Maybe she&#8217;s only never put her thoughts to it, in which box display her columns which indicate tips upon how to begin saving or indicate probable ways to giveaway up a bucks to do so competence help.</p><p>It&#8217;s additionally probable which she&#8217;s never done sufficient income to be equates to to put something divided consistently. Or maybe she only doesn&#8217;t wish to. Maybe she&#8217;s ideally happy a proceed things are.</p><p>All of which is to contend that, distant from simply introducing your mother to 401(k)s, IRAs, involuntary investment skeleton as great as a like, a genuine plea competence be removing her upon house with a need to save for retirement. You competence additionally have to hope for yourself for a probability which she&#8217;s only not peaceful to change.</p><p>Finally, we additionally need to cruise that, even if your mother is peaceful to accept recommendation upon saving for retirement, we competence not be a most appropriate chairman to give it to her.</p><p>While we competence see yourself as a endangered son or daughter only seeking to benefit a primogenitor in need, your mother competence see a inquisitive or forward child. Or she competence feel broke about carrying to plead a sum of her personal finance management with you. She could see this as an transgression of her independence. So after broaching a emanate with her, we competence find which you&#8217;re improved off carrying her understanding with a monetary planner whom we or she hires.</p><p>Clearly, you&#8217;ll have to practice a little attraction when we proceed your mother upon this issue. But right divided is a great time to do it. If your mother is peaceful to save, afterwards starting right divided will give her some-more time to urge her early early early early early early early early retirement prospects.</p><p>And if she demurs, during slightest you&#8217;ll have copiousness of time to consider about how most monetary benefit we competence be peaceful as great as equates to to magnify her in a destiny should she need it &#8212; as great as concede we to regulate your own monetary formulation accordingly.</p><p><cite>by Walter Updegrave<br
/> Monday, Feb 9, 2009</cite></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.howto.com.my/2009/family-parenting/expert-advice-helping-mom-and-dad-with-retirement/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>How To Conceive Baby</title><link>http://www.howto.com.my/2008/family-parenting/how-to-conceive-baby/</link> <comments>http://www.howto.com.my/2008/family-parenting/how-to-conceive-baby/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Mon, 29 Dec 2008 05:40:13 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Professor Tim</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Family & Parenting]]></category> <category><![CDATA[experience]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Faster]]></category> <category><![CDATA[sex]]></category> <guid
isPermaLink="false">http://www.howto.com.my/?p=852</guid> <description><![CDATA[THE MOST EFECTIVE NATURAL METHOD FOR ACHIEVING OR POSTPONING PREGNANCY: UNDERSTAND YOUR FERTILE &#38; INFERTILE DAYS OF THE OVULATION METHOD FOR ACHIEVING PREGNANCY To ACHIEVE Pregnancy Use the Fertile Days The Ovulation Method is not the aged &#8220;rhythm method&#8221; or the heat method. It is the brand new scientifically proven method, researched by Dr. John [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img
class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-853" title="wising_conceive" src="http://www.howto.com.my/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/wising_conceive.jpg" alt="How To Conceive Baby" width="380" height="122" /></p><p
align="center"><strong>THE MOST EFECTIVE NATURAL METHOD FOR ACHIEVING OR POSTPONING PREGNANCY: </strong></p><p
align="center"><strong>UNDERSTAND YOUR FERTILE &amp; INFERTILE DAYS OF THE OVULATION METHOD FOR ACHIEVING PREGNANCY </strong></p><table
border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="200" align="center"><tbody><tr><td
align="center" bgcolor="#ffff00"><strong>To ACHIEVE Pregnancy<br
/> Use the Fertile Days</strong></td></tr></tbody></table><table
border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td
align="center"></td><td
align="center"></td></tr></tbody></table><p
align="center"><img
src="http://www.familyplanning.net/fotos/whising_conceive1.jpg?0.1908216399275744" border="0" alt="How To Conceive Baby" width="380" height="122" title="How To Conceive Baby" /><br
/> <img
src="http://www.familyplanning.net/fotos/whising_conceive2.jpg?0.19072697223309481" border="0" alt="How To Conceive Baby" width="149" height="59" title="How To Conceive Baby" /><br
/> <img
src="http://www.familyplanning.net/fotos/whising_conceive3.jpg?0.8378125985940337" border="0" alt="How To Conceive Baby" width="380" height="243" title="How To Conceive Baby" /></p><p
align="center">The Ovulation Method is not the aged &#8220;rhythm method&#8221; or the heat method. It is the brand new scientifically proven method, researched by Dr. John Billings with the systematic investigate reliable by the important endocrinologist James B. Brown. This process is formed upon the elementary approval of healthy signs of flood which crop up for the integrate of days during the woman&#8217;s menstrual cycle. Family of the Americas (FAF) was instrumental in simplifying the training as good as charting complement of the Ovulation Method which done it germane for concept use.</p><p
align="center">By gripping correct records, the lady can right away quietly brand the fruitful as good as desolate phases of her cycle. Women with prolonged or strange cycles, breast-feeding mothers, as good as even those starting by pre-menopause or discontinuing synthetic methods of family formulation might have make have use of of of the Ovulation Method safely as good as effectively.</p><p
align="center"><p
align="center"><strong>SUCCESS IN ACHIEVING PREGNANCY</strong></p><p>If we have had difficulty conceiving the child, or for couples who have already used Clomid or any alternative flood treatment, we still have goal for conception.</p><p>Often when women have been struggling with strong infertility it is since they have been customarily fruitful for the reduced duration in their cycle&#8211;possibly customarily the integrate of hours.</p><ol><li>The Ovulation Method can be used to assistance couples grasp conceiving physically by aiding them to brand their days of limit flood in any cycle.</li><li>Cervical Mucus is critical if source is to take place. This conspicuous piece nourishes as good as protects the spermatazoa as good as additionally becomes the pathway for them in to the uterus where they find their approach in to the Fallopian tubes to fertilize the egg.</li><li>Most couples have been unknowingly of the stress of the cervical phlegm secretion in achieving pregnancy. Once the lady has schooled to brand her fruitful days, the integrate of normal flood can customarily grasp conceiving physically inside of 3 cycles.</li><li>A integrate of women knowledge the fruitful characteristics of the phlegm for customarily the integrate of hours.</li></ol><p><strong>SOME FACTORS WHICH AFFECT FERTILITY ARE: </strong></p><ul><li>Proper weight for distance as good as body</li><li>Good nourishment for both the father as good as wife</li><li>Adequate practice provides the clarity of good being as good as promotes health. Excessive exercise, however, might start flood by stopping ovulation.</li><li>Stress is the poignant inhibitor of ovulation as good as phlegm prolongation in women as good as it might diminution both the peculiarity as good as apportion of spermatazoa in men.</li></ul><p><strong>FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS BY WOMEN WHO HAVE TROUBLE CONCEIVING </strong></p><p>(Q). Can the Ovulation Method assistance us grasp pregnancy?</p><p>(A). Since the Ovulation Method teaches couples to commend when the lady is fruitful in any cycle, it can assistance them to show off their chances of conceiving. In fact, couples of normal flood have been customarily means to detect inside of 3 cycles when regulating the Ovulation Method. A investigate by Dr. Allen Wilcox as good as his colleagues during the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences done headlines late in 1995 by final which the woman&#8217;s &#8220;window of fertility&#8221; is 6 days per cycle, the tangible day of ovulation as good as the 5 days preceding it. As early as 1972, Ovulation Method researchers published reports which women participating in their studies could commend coming ovulation 6.2 days prior to it occurred by regulating the Ovulation Method. Additional investigate found which women who had been taught the Ovulation Method were wakeful which they were potentially fruitful 5.2 as good as 5.9 days prior to ovulation. The World Health Organization reported which 93 percent of participants in the WHO investigate of the Ovulation Method were means to appreciate their settlement of flood in the initial training cycle. The naturally-occurring secretion upon which the Ovulation Method is formed not customarily nourishes the sperm, gripping them viable for 3 to 5 days, it additionally provides channels to support swimming spermatazoa in their efforts to strech the egg upon the day of ovulation.</p><p>(Q). Is there any approach we can enlarge the chances of carrying the child (or girl)?</p><p>(A). There have been multiform theories per the sex pre-selection, nothing of which have been scientifically proven. The the single we will promulgate here deals with timing retort to preference source of the single sex over the other. We would similar to to stress which this is the speculation as good as which Family of the Americas does not disciple sex pre-selection. In addition, the laxity with the phases of the woman&#8217;s cycle is required to try to have make have use of of of this system. Theoretically, if the integrate has passionate family during the early partial of the fruitful phase, as good as afterwards abstains for the residue of the fruitful phase, they will enlarge their chances of conceiving the girl. Conversely, if they refrain during the early fruitful proviso as good as carry over family until the many fruitful days of the cycle, rught away preceding or upon the tangible day of ovulation, they will enlarge their chances of conceiving the boy. The basement for this speculation is which girl-producing spermatazoa have been stronger though have been slower swimmers, permitting them to navigate by denser cervical secretions constructed early in the fruitful phase, nonetheless requiring additional time to finish their journey. The boy-producing spermatazoa have been weaker nonetheless faster swimmers, requiring the clearer channels found in secretions constructed tighten to ovulation. Fewer of them would be means to have their approach in the early fruitful phase, whilst fewer of the girl-producing spermatazoa would be quick sufficient to strech the egg prior to it disintegrates if they were expelled tighten to ovulation.</p><p
align="center"><strong>ACHIEVING WITH IRREGULARITY OF CYCLES DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH THE PRACTICE OF THE OVULATION METHOD</strong></p><p
align="center"><img
src="http://www.familyplanning.net/fotos/whising_conceive4.jpg?0.3772082119207076" border="0" alt="How To Conceive Baby" width="380" height="245" title="How To Conceive Baby" /></p><p
align="center">The time in in in between the Peak as good as the commencement of menstruation is routinely about dual weeks. For the cycle to be deliberate prolonged or short, it is the series of days in in in between the finish of menstruation as good as the Peak which will vary. There might be no dry days prior to the phlegm begins, or the dry days might go upon for longer than usual&#8230;even for weeks. The series of days of menstruation as good as of phlegm might additionally vary.</p><p
align="center"><strong>SCIENTIFIC VERIFICATION OF THE OVULATION METHOD</strong></p><p
align="center"><strong>HORMONAL LEVELS &amp; CORRESPONDING STAMP CHART DURING AN AVERAGE MENSTRUAL CYCLE</strong></p><p
align="center"><p
align="center"><img
src="http://www.familyplanning.net/fotos/method1_3.jpg?0.3917165144705186" border="0" alt="How To Conceive Baby" width="550" height="324" title="How To Conceive Baby" /></p><p>Research in 1962 by heading Australian as good as New Zealand scientists, Dr. John Billings as good as Dr. James Brown, initial accurate the Ovulation Method for the systematic community.</p><p>Dr. Brown (the begetter of hormonal measurements in women), conducted hormonal studies to relate the correctness of women&#8217;s observations of the cervical phlegm patterns with the ovarian hormonal patterns compared with ovulation.</p><p>After thousands of women&#8217;s cycles in all reproductive categories were tested, investigate showed which the growth of the phlegm sign concurrent with the estrogen levels in the follicular proviso of the cycle most improved than any alternative sign concomitant ovulation.</p><p>The attribute in in in between estrogen as good as progesterone, the cervical phlegm changes as good as ovulation was additionally established.</p><p>To improved assimilate your cycles of flood as good as infertility, greatfully download the book and/or the charting coach, as good as call us in sequence to give we the name of the clergyman nearby your area to support we in following up your cycles.</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.howto.com.my/2008/family-parenting/how-to-conceive-baby/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item><title>10 Secrets to Help Your Children Handle This Financial Crisis</title><link>http://www.howto.com.my/2008/family-parenting/10-secrets-to-help-your-children-handle-this-financial-crisis/</link> <comments>http://www.howto.com.my/2008/family-parenting/10-secrets-to-help-your-children-handle-this-financial-crisis/#comments</comments> <pubDate>Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:01:09 +0000</pubDate> <dc:creator>Professor Tim</dc:creator> <category><![CDATA[Family & Parenting]]></category> <category><![CDATA[adulthood]]></category> <category><![CDATA[behavior problems]]></category> <category><![CDATA[birthday party]]></category> <category><![CDATA[college education]]></category> <category><![CDATA[conger]]></category> <category><![CDATA[depression anxiety]]></category> <category><![CDATA[financial crisis]]></category> <category><![CDATA[financial woes]]></category> <category><![CDATA[irritability]]></category> <category><![CDATA[likelihood]]></category> <category><![CDATA[money matters]]></category> <category><![CDATA[nugget]]></category> <category><![CDATA[peer relationships]]></category> <category><![CDATA[psychology professor]]></category> <category><![CDATA[recession]]></category> <category><![CDATA[s college]]></category> <category><![CDATA[school age kids]]></category> <category><![CDATA[sports gear]]></category> <category><![CDATA[tough times]]></category> <category><![CDATA[university of california davis]]></category> <guid
isPermaLink="false">http://www.howto.com.my/?p=552</guid> <description><![CDATA[These have been difficult times for us all, though they can be generally difficult if we have kids.  After all, the large partial of parenting is about wanting the immature kids to be happy as good as helmet them from the some-more unpleasant tools of life. So when the child’s face crumbles since we can’t [...]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a
href="http://www.howto.com.my/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/children.jpg"><img
class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-553" title="children" src="http://www.howto.com.my/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/children.jpg" alt="10 Secrets to Help Your Children Handle This Financial Crisis" width="124" height="95" /></a></p><div
class="asset-body">These have been difficult times for us all, though they can be generally difficult if we have kids.  After all, the large partial of parenting is about wanting the immature kids to be happy as good as helmet them from the some-more unpleasant tools of life. So when the child’s face crumbles since we can’t means their birthday party, it’s hard. When the kids rip up since we have to contend &#8220;no&#8221; to the sports gear, instrument or boots they wanted, it’s tough. But when we remove your job, car, home, savings, or your child’s college education, it’s heart violation since we know which your kids’ lives will change, too.</p><p>This monetary predicament will start any family the bit differently, though the pass regard is: <strong>How will these difficult times start the kids? </strong>And for which we need to demeanour during research:</p><p>Rond Conger, the psychology highbrow during the University of California, Davis as good as others conducted the twenty year investigate of 450[i] family groups with school-age kids strike difficult by the serious Farm Belt Recession in 1980. They found which the romantic affects of monetary woes upon immature kids can be substantial triggering depression, anxiety, composition problems as good as poorer counterpart relations in the kids. But the researchers additionally found the single vicious nugget:</p><p><strong>The parents’ consistent conflicts, rancour as good as antagonistic exchanges over income counts was what severely increasing the odds of their children&#8217;s romantic as good as function problems.</strong>[ii] The parents’ consistent highlight over their income counts additionally marked down their parenting abilities so the kids’ problems remained with them by adulthood.</p><p>There is an critical parenting tip here: Recognize which how we action as good as what we contend these subsequent days, weeks or even months can start your children’s romantic contentment not usually right divided though long-term. While we might not be means to save your pursuit or house, there have been ways to assistance your family get by these difficult times.</p><p>Here have been my 10 Secrets to assistance your immature kids hoop this monetary crisis:</p></div><p><strong>1. Don’t censor the truth.</strong> Kids have been keen as good as know something is up, so perplexing to cover up the oppressive being to strengthen them usually fuels their worries more. While we don’t need to discuss it kids all the facts, we owe them an reason tailored to their spin of understanding. For the immature child: <em>“Daddy as good as Mommy have been the small disturbed about work right right divided though we’re we do what we can so everybody will be all right.”</em> For an comparison child:<em> “I know you’ve listened about how bad the manage to buy is right now. Things will be parsimonious during home for the whilst though we’re operative difficult to try to have it by this.” </em>If we have been about to remove your home, job, etc. have certain <span
style="text-decoration: underline;">you</span> have been the a single to discuss it your child.</p><p><strong>2. Acknowledge your worry.</strong> Your kid is picking up your worries so own up. Begin with the simple: <em>“I know you’ve beheld which Dad as good as we have been dissapoint lately, so we longed for to let we know what’s starting on.”</em> Your kid might not find we out, so go to your child.</p><p><strong>3. Keep an open dialogue.</strong> Over the subsequent days kids have been starting to attend to all kinds of rumors as good as misinformation from alternative kids. So keep an persisting discourse with your child. Be there to set them true about the contribution as good as tinge down those serious threat as good as dejection reports. You can additionally ask, <em>“What have we heard?”</em> or, <em>“What have been your friends saying?”</em> By the way, the large regard for tweens in sold is what their friends will contend about your family’s monetary situation. Let your kids know they have been not alone. Foreclosures have been everywhere. Unemployment has never been this high. There have been alternative kids who have been pang as well.</p><p><strong>4. Set the budget.</strong> Sit down with your kids as good as insist which we need to cut back. Don’t go in to sum about your finances. Instead, insist which we need to set the budget. Enlist your kids to assistance we prioritize your spending. It’s the good approach to sense monetary planning. Add up your expenditures as good as figure out ways to cut back, afterwards take the oath to hang to which bill for during slightest for the month. Dozens of American family groups have been receiving the “Frugal Family Challenge.”</p><p><strong>5. Reduce conflict. </strong>I know you’re stressed as good as irked as good as your rage might be upon edge, though greatfully don’t scream in front of the kids. Studies uncover which during difficult mercantile times the consistent parental conflicts means kids the many romantic damage. Call the truce. Go to the counselor. Sleep in apart bedrooms. Set the &#8220;no yelling&#8221; policy.</p><p><strong> 6. Stick to routines.</strong> Sticking to the slight helps revoke worries since it boosts predictability as good as security. During difficult times those routines have been consequential for kids. While all else around them might appear to be crumbling, those time to go to bed rituals, night stories, prohibited baths, hugs as good as behind rubs sojourn the same.</p><p><strong> 7. Monitor the news.</strong> Limit observation those stressful headlines stories or improved yet, spin the TV off during the headlines hour. Kids confess those stories have been scaring the pants of them!</p><p><strong>8. Reduce highlight as the family.</strong> Children counterpart the moods as good as if they see us dissapoint their worries usually escalate. Staying ease yourself is the many appropriate approach to revoke your children’s worries. Whenever you’re dissapoint take the couple of low breaths or travel divided until we can get behind in control. But additionally find no-cost ways to revoke highlight as the family. Meditate with your kids, do yoga with your daughter, float bikes with your preschooler, attend to decrease tapes with your kids. Not usually will we revoke your highlight though you’ll additionally assistance your kids sense full of health ways to minimize theirs.</p><p><strong>9. Tune in to your kid as good as ask for help.</strong> Tune in the small closer these subsequent weeks. Watch for highlight signs or behaviors which have been not standard for your child. Enlist the relations or crony who cares about your kid to outlay the bit some-more time with him. Call the superintendence advisor or propagandize psychologist, go to your apportion or speak to your alloy for advice. If during any time your child’s romantic or earthy good being is during stake, collect up the phone ASAP.</p><p><strong> 10. Offer hope. </strong>Your family might be spiteful as good as your extinction might be severe. But recollect kids have been volatile as good as what they need many is soundness which we will have it by this together. Stay honest, <em>“I don’t know how things will spin out, though I’ll do positively possible.”</em> Above all, give your kids the summary of hope, <em>“Whatever happens, we’re together.”</em> When all is pronounced as good as finished which unequivocally is what counts most.</p><p><em>Article by Dr. Michele Borba</em></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>http://www.howto.com.my/2008/family-parenting/10-secrets-to-help-your-children-handle-this-financial-crisis/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> </channel> </rss>
