tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86289226521058806172024-03-13T16:44:40.081-07:00DrBoyceFamilyFinanceUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger250125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628922652105880617.post-33026895123745580812009-12-11T20:54:00.001-08:002009-12-11T20:55:29.210-08:00Richer Households<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://wsjv.images.worldnow.com/images/9655950_SS.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 314px; height: 402px;" src="http://wsjv.images.worldnow.com/images/9655950_SS.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Posted by Kenny Hernandez<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 20px; font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;"><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; ">NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Household net worth in the United States rose for the second quarter in a row, growing 5% to an estimated $53.4 trillion in the third quarter, the Federal Reserve said Thursday.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; ">The $2.7 trillion rebound in net worth, which is the difference between a household's assets and liabilities, comes as stock prices have rallied this year, boosting the value of Americans' investment portfolios.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; ">Stock holdings rose by nearly 17% to $7.4 trillion, according to the central bank's quarterly flow of funds report.</p><div><a href="http://money.cnn.com/2009/12/10/news/economy/flow_of_funds/index.htm">Click Here to Continue Reading</a></div></span></div>group2bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04383990063810644367noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628922652105880617.post-62252303996260904342009-12-11T20:36:00.000-08:002009-12-11T20:41:11.919-08:00Bonus Tax?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.soxfirst.com/soxfirst.com/imgname--us_corporations_dodging_tax---50226711--tax.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://static.soxfirst.com/soxfirst.com/imgname--us_corporations_dodging_tax---50226711--tax.jpeg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 20px; font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;"><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; ">Posted by Kenny Hernandez</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; ">NEW YORK (Fortune) -- The odds aren't on its side, but a bonus tax could happen in the United States too.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; ">The United Kingdom this week slapped a 50% tax on bankers' bonuses above about $40,000. The one-time tax will be paid by all banks with employees in the country. France pledged it would adopt the same policy, while Germany's chancellor called the idea "charming."</p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Arial;">Still, the bonus tax seems like a long shot on this side of the Atlantic, where bankers wield immense power. But when Wall Street starts handing out <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/28/news/companies/wall_street_bonuses/index.htm?postversion=2009092816" style="color: rgb(0, 66, 118); text-decoration: none; ">giant year-end paychecks</a> at a time of 10% unemployment, all the campaign donations in the world may not keep legislators facing tough re-election fights from turning on their banker chums.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://money.cnn.com/2009/12/10/news/bonus.tax.fortune/index.htm">Click Here to Continue Reading</a></div></span>group2bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04383990063810644367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628922652105880617.post-8902654108163513422009-12-11T20:22:00.001-08:002009-12-11T20:23:14.536-08:00Divorce may hurt Tiger's finances even more<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.intotherough.co.uk/assets/_files/images/feb_09/itr__1235647290_Tiger_Woods,_Elin_Nordegren_&_.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 425px; height: 601px;" src="http://www.intotherough.co.uk/assets/_files/images/feb_09/itr__1235647290_Tiger_Woods,_Elin_Nordegren_&_.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />By Jameel Murray<br /><br />Tiger Woods is in a soup bowl of controversy. The world’s greatest golfer’s scandal has affected his image as well as his finances. Recently, Gilette and Gatorade have considered dropping Tiger Woods from upcoming endorsement projects. It is reported that Woods’s deal with Gillette is worth around $20 million while a deal with Gatorade is valued at $100 million. Although it is extremely rare to see Tiger end up in a situation where he is considered “broke,” a divorce can further impact Tiger’s finances. <br /> Last week Woods’s wife Elin Nordegren decided to purchase a $2million house in Sweden, possibly indicating the couple’s divorce. Reports have also stated that Nordegren has considered bolstering her prenuptial agreement. Financial advisers have stated that the couple should educate themselves on the household’s finances before filing for a divorce. According to Greg Merlino, an Ameriway Financial Service adviser, if there is dishonestly in a marriage, there is usually dishonesty in the financial situation of the household. Advisers also state that spouses should have an idea of the finances readily available prior to divorce. Whether or not Tiger and his wife decides to file for divorce, Tiger’s financial position would take a significant hit. <br /><br />Sources: http://www.investmentnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091210/FREE/912109980<br /><br />http://247wallst.com/2009/12/11/from-scandal-to-finance-tiger-woods-top-financial-pieces/<br /><br />http://www.abcnews.go.com/Business/tiger-woods-sponsorships-risk/story?id=9302257&page=2group5ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15227557486694409046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628922652105880617.post-39022753218302478382009-12-11T15:14:00.001-08:002009-12-11T15:15:51.551-08:00Wedding Woes<a href="http://www.webvivah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/wedding-budget-6.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 275px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 411px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.webvivah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/wedding-budget-6.jpg" border="0" /></a> By: Kelsey Hoffman<br /><br /><div>It’s that big day and all you want to think about is how important this day is to the rest of your life. You want it to be special, spending the rest of your life with the person you love. Your friends and family are around to watch the beautiful ceremony with the extravagant reception to follow. It’s all well and good until you realize how much money really went into this one day.</div><br /><div><br />Many couples go into the wedding planning procedure with a set plan and budget. Couples can spend any amount of money they desire on their wedding, extravagant ones costing more than $100,000. With the recession now though, more couples are taking into account their budgets and opting for smaller and less luxurious ceremonies. Some places are offering “elopement” packages that cost anywhere between $1,000-$2,000 for a couple to get married with 20 of their closest friends and family. These packages provide a way for people to still celebrate but in a more budget sensitive way. </div><br /><div><br />Other ways of saving money on your wedding include of course cutting down on the amount of people you invite, wearing a dress maybe your mother passed down to you, making the food yourself, and making it a cash bar event.</div><br /><div><br />Sources:<br /><a href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2466082/four_winter_wedding_favors_for_100.html?cat">http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2466082/four_winter_wedding_favors_for_100.html?cat</a>=<br /><a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/bal-md.pa.weddings30nov30,0,3763295.story">http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/bal-md.pa.weddings30nov30,0,3763295.story</a><br /><a href="http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2461724/budgetfriendly_wedding_ideas_inexpensive.html?cat=23">http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2461724/budgetfriendly_wedding_ideas_inexpensive.html?cat=23</a> </div>group3ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06619283066111806246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628922652105880617.post-69420329887963794542009-12-11T14:08:00.000-08:002009-12-11T14:10:27.639-08:00Phones are getting out of Hand<a href="http://www.racing-confidential.co.uk/images/phone_money.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 322px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 316px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.racing-confidential.co.uk/images/phone_money.jpg" border="0" /></a> By: Kelsey Hoffman<br /><br /><div>With the increase in the use of cell phones, home landlines are being used much less frequently. Everyone can be contacted at the click of a button now, and it will go straight to that person’s personal cell phone. No need to ask “Is Sally there please?” anymore. Landline costs have decreased dramatically all over the world with the increased use of cell lines. Phone companies are trying to cut their costs in order to stay competitive. KT, Korea’s largest telephone company just pulled the plug on their business model claiming that with all the new technology and new phone uses that their structure and way of doing business was no longer useful. “The company will replace all of its landline office phones with mobile and voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) devices when it opens its new southern Seoul office in February.” </div><br /><div><br />Kids are also getting access to cell phones at a very young age now. Parents are worried their kids won’t be able to function without one, even at the age of 8. You can go into any elementary school now and I bet you kids have cell phones. Cell phone companies are even manufacturing smaller and simpler phones now for kids, ones that have four buttons including one with a house on it for their home number, and one with a picture of a cross on it for emergencies. These may be helpful, but kids are being exposed to these technologies too early.</div><br /><div><br />Sources:<br /><a href="http://www.homephonechoices.co.uk/home-phone-bills-are-down-by-46-a-year-101220092.html">http://www.homephonechoices.co.uk/home-phone-bills-are-down-by-46-a-year-101220092.html</a><br /><a href="http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2009/12/123_56555.html">http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2009/12/123_56555.html</a><br /><a href="http://www.homephonechoices.co.uk/kids-are-racking-up-colossal-phone-bills-10122009.html">http://www.homephonechoices.co.uk/kids-are-racking-up-colossal-phone-bills-10122009.html</a></div>group3ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06619283066111806246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628922652105880617.post-51430270140196195722009-12-11T12:49:00.000-08:002009-12-11T12:53:19.070-08:005 Steps to simplify the Financials in Divorce<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.hilaryshepherd.com/rantsnraves/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/938-010divorce-posters.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 450px;" src="http://www.hilaryshepherd.com/rantsnraves/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/938-010divorce-posters.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />By Shawn Chandok <br /><br /><br />They say you should always think carefully and evaluate every minor detail about who you marry. They also say that over 50% of all marriages end in a divorce. It comes to no surprise to hear that a large percentage of divorce cases are due to financial problems. Here are 5 simple steps to help make the financial breakup easier:<br />1. Get your credit report: Make sure you retrieve your credit report from all 3 companies (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax) prior to the trial so it defines your current loan balances.<br />2. Open an individual bank account prior to the trial because it is easier to get credit while you are still legally own joint assets. <br />3. Claim your personal assets: Make sure you walk out of the divorce with your personal assets that you came in with<br />4. Check your retirement: Make sure your future is safe. Contact social security and if possible opt in for COBRA temporarily.<br />5. Start Living Again: Assuming you survived the divorce with clothes on your back, start living life but learn from your mistakes. Don’t have a midlife crisis now that you’re single again and waste money on exuberant splurges, instead try to be sensible while enjoying simultaneously. Consider hiring a financial planner at least 3 months after the divorce in order to clean up any mess no your credit report. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.divorcemag.com/statistics/statsUS.shtml">Source#1 </a><br /><a href="http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/CollegeAndFamily/SuddenlySingle/10StepsToAMoneySmartDivorce.aspx?page=2">Source#2</a><br /><a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Finance-101-During-a-Divorce&id=1549198">Source#3 </a>group2ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02753539753465498087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628922652105880617.post-71254839673405532832009-12-10T23:18:00.001-08:002009-12-10T23:28:58.751-08:00The Cost of Owning a Dog<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.big-dog-clothing.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/chocolate-labrador-puppy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 576px; height: 496px;" src="http://www.big-dog-clothing.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/chocolate-labrador-puppy.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Posted by Chris O'Sullivan<br /><br />When buying a dog, most people do not think about the annual cost this purchase will generate. Fido may be cute, but in many cases he is also more expensive than the price tag may indicate. The reality is that most people grossly underestimate the cost of owning a dog. This can turn out to be a dangerous for both the animal's health and your wallet.<br /><br />One key mistake people make is foregoing the cost of pure breed dog for a cheap mutt. While you may save up front, the costs you will incur over the lifetime of the dog will most likely exceed this difference. A poorly bred dog can have many health problems including arthritis, poor eye sight, and allergies. Vet bills can cost you thousands of dollars over the lifetime of a dog, and many people simply cannot afford it, leaving their dogs in a state of suffering.<br /><br />Thousands of dogs are put to sleep every year because there owners can no longer take care of them. This is an extremely sad situation. The average cost of owning a dog exceeds $10,000 over the lifetime of the animal. If you are not ready to make this commitment, do not buy a dog.<br /><br />Sources:<br /><a href="http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2&aid=1543">1</a><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.raisingspot.com/adopting/cost_of_owning_dog.php">2</a><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.costhelper.com/cost/pets/owning-dog.html">3</a>group4ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13923036625606906035noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628922652105880617.post-62210992389099681522009-12-10T19:42:00.000-08:002009-12-10T20:51:48.224-08:00Recession putting Strains on Marriage<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.shawuniversitymosque.org/JTaqwa/images/divorce-money-fight.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 428px;" src="http://www.shawuniversitymosque.org/JTaqwa/images/divorce-money-fight.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Posted by Chris O'Sullivan<br /><br />The economy may be putting a strain on more than just family finances. Marriages are also being tested in what has become one of the worst economic recessions in history. Tensions are sure to rise during these times as spouses struggle to pay bills, adjust to job loss, or maybe even forced to leave their homes. 75% of those who have lost their jobs are men, which translate to a lot of distressed wives.<br /><br />According to one study, couples who report disagreeing about money matters once a week are about twice as likely to divorce compared with couples who disagree about money less than once a month. This is not a surprising statistic.<br /><br />The irony of this situation is that the divorce rate is actually falling. It declined to 16.9 divorces per 1,000 married women in 2008 from 17.5 divorces in 2007 (a 3% drop), after rising from 16.4 divorces per 1,000 married women in 2005 (a 7% increase). The major reason for this is that couples who have fallen on financial hardship simply cannot afford to pay for a costly divorce. Divorces involve many expenses including lawyer fees which can often exceed to implied cost of sticking it out.<br /><br />Sources:<br /><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703558004574584042851448128.html?mod=googlenews_wsj">1</a><br /><a href="http://www.divorcerate.org/">2</a><br /><a href="http://www.divorcerate.org/">3</a>group4ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13923036625606906035noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628922652105880617.post-52786151693341980422009-12-08T18:59:00.000-08:002009-12-08T19:39:12.692-08:00High Cost of Children<a href="http://cache.babyzone.com/images/calc/baby.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 220px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 221px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://cache.babyzone.com/images/calc/baby.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div>By: Nicole Nelson<br /><br /><br />It’s known to most people that having a child bears a big financial responsibility. But exactly how big is this financial responsibility? The United States Department of Agriculture projects that the range of raising a child to age eighteen is from $55,000 to $365,000. These figures depend on location and income with the highest costs coming from families in the northeastern part of the United States. A two-parent, middle-income family has an average cost of raising a child to 18 years old in 2008 of $221,190. Some things that these figures do not include are college education, the money lost by staying at home instead of working and the cost of childbirth. Parents do get a cost savings when having more than one child. That means parents that only have one child spend 25% more than families with two children. With three children, parents are spending 22% less on each child. Also, although food and clothing are cheaper now housing and health care cost more than it used to. Although children, from these statistics seem to be racking up the bill, they do have some personal positive effects (besides the fact that they are your children). When helping your children with their homework, you can brush up on your lost skills. By throwing around a baseball you can work on your own arm. So although the cost of raising a child has increased, families around the world still add to their families’ every day.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1916278,00.html">source one</a></div><br /><div><a href="http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/CollegeandFamily/Raisekids/P37245.asp">source two</a></div><br /><div><a href="http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/a-13-2009-08-05-voa3-68705267.html?moddate=2009-08-05">source three</a></div><br /><div></div>group3ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06619283066111806246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628922652105880617.post-87656059791405832192009-12-08T17:39:00.000-08:002009-12-08T17:50:23.571-08:00A unique debt plan for parents in the UK<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.professional-debt-solutions.co.uk/Portals/0/pics/ivas/do_you_qualify_IVA.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 280px; height: 335px;" src="http://www.professional-debt-solutions.co.uk/Portals/0/pics/ivas/do_you_qualify_IVA.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Posted by Ahmed Al-Salem<br /><br />A new survey has revealed that mothers, rather than fathers, are more stressed about the arrival of a new baby. The expense of expanding a family means that parents turn to unsecured debt and constantly rely on credit cards and personal loans. This will not help a family’s future financial security.<br /><br />A unique debt plan that targets parents who are in trouble is an IVA. An IVA or Individual Voluntary Arrangement, is a fixed term repayment plan, designed to allow someone with serious debt problems the opportunity to repay their creditors whilst avoiding bankruptcy. <br /><br />A new poll from Aviva shows that a fifth of first-time dads are sorting out family finances during their partner’s pregnancy, while over a quarter are worried about the dent in their household coffers in the first six months of their child’s life.<br /><br />Louise Colley, head of protection for Aviva, says: "As a parent myself, I found that some basic financial behaviours can help you to feel much more in control and prepared for supporting a baby."<br /><br />An IVA is a formal agreement, which first came into force on 29th December 1986 as part of the Insolvency Act 1986, bringing with it major changes to personal insolvency in the UK.<br /><br />IVAs are available to all people who live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. People in Scotland have their own version of the IVA, which is known as a Scottish Protected Trust Deed.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.my-iva-adviser.co.uk/what-is-an-iva">Source 1</a><br /><a href="http://www.my-iva-adviser.co.uk/news/iva-news/expectant-parents-are-you-worried-about-your-finances-19500915">Source 2</a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Individual_Voluntary_Arrangement">Source 3</a>group2ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02753539753465498087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628922652105880617.post-60947001850396205972009-12-08T13:58:00.000-08:002009-12-08T14:14:07.769-08:00Raising Children in Today's Economy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://psy2.ucsd.edu/%7Ekang/child%20pictures/children-jump.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 305px;" src="http://psy2.ucsd.edu/%7Ekang/child%20pictures/children-jump.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />By Eric Gursky<br />Having and affording children in this economy can be very tough on some families. With inflationary costs increasing the prices of almost all daily commodities and college becoming very expensive, budgeting is more relevant now that ever. Start saving early! If there is one thing I have learned in this course it's that the opportunity cost lost by not saving at least 10% of your money early in life can set you back later. It will help you plan out a budget to pay for all the incurred expenses children bring upon.<br />Probably the biggest expense you'll incur once the baby is born (excluding a college education) is for child care, which is especially expensive for infants. Even when your child is old enough to go to school, you'll have after-school care, summer camps, and other related expenses.<br />Any parent facing the prospect of keeping their kids clothed, healthy, well-educated, and maybe just a little bit spoiled is looking at some scary costs. That's even before we start talking about college, where tuition today tops out above $20,000 a year at many private schools - and who knows what it will be when your little Einstein is 18.<br />These are just some of the main costs associated with kids, spending money and unexpected injuries and costs will occur and you will need to plan for them to have enough money to support yourself as well.<br /><br /><a href="http://biz.yahoo.com/pfg/e05kids/">Source 1</a><br /><a href="http://financialplan.about.com/cs/familyfinances/a/CanYouAffordKid.htm">Source 2</a><br /><a href="http://www.usnews.com/money/blogs/alpha-consumer/2009/06/22/affording-kids-on-a-recession-budget">Source 3</a>group1ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04831934807813410586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628922652105880617.post-61354222947616459112009-12-08T10:38:00.000-08:002009-12-08T10:46:05.582-08:00Survey: 40% of Americans Curtailing Holiday Spending Due to Health Care Costs<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://kstp.com/kstpImages/holiday-shopping-cart.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 347px; height: 346px;" src="http://kstp.com/kstpImages/holiday-shopping-cart.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Posted by Jorden Meltz<br /><br /><br />It’s not just the Senate that is debating health care. An opinion survey out this week finds that two out of five Americans plan to spend less this holiday season because of rising health care costs, and three out of ten say health care costs have led to arguments and tension within the family.<br /><br />The survey, by Misericordia University in Dallas, PA and Braun Research, was undertaken, says the school, to determine how health care issues impact individual budgets and relationships. The researchers contacted more than more than 1,000 Americans by telephone between Nov. 6 and Nov. 16.<br /><br />Meanwhile, a new Thompson Reuters survey found that 60% of the public supports a publicly financed health insurer (i.e., the “public option”), and 35% strongly believe the quality of health care in the U.S. 12 months from now will be worse than it is today. Only 11.9% strongly believe it will be better.<br /><br />The Misericordia survey found that, in addition to decreased holiday spending and increased tensions, Americans report that their top concerns with health care reform include the cost to future generations and impact on the federal deficit, the cost of out-of-pocket expenses and the accessibility of insurance coverage. Parents and those who classify themselves as “conservative” are more likely to be sensitive to the possible negative impacts of health care reform while parents in general remain more concerned than others with quality and access to care.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.businessweek.com/blogs/money_politics/archives/2009/12/survey_40_of_am.html">Click here to read more.</a>group4bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10594021779258604422noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628922652105880617.post-65270407640382581222009-12-08T09:42:00.000-08:002009-12-08T09:57:25.843-08:00Isaac Asks: Should He Have Delayed College?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-FA480_sun120_G_20091204180443.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 553px; height: 369px;" src="http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-FA480_sun120_G_20091204180443.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><br /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 10px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;"><p face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 8px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; display: block; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">ISAAC: The first snow has fallen on my college campus, and the sky has become a consistent gray. As the end of my first semester nears, essays are piling up and final exams loom in the near future. The novelty of college has worn off.</span></p><p face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 8px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; display: block; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">As I sit in the library, I look over an email that one of my best friends from high school sent me a couple of weeks ago. Instead of college, he has been helping out in an elementary school in Ecuador. He tells me he's having the time of his life exploring the beaches, mountains and jungle of the country by bus.</span></p><p face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 8px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; display: block; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Posted by Nicholas Vanikiotis</span></p></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126005419742978635.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Rean More</span></a></div>group1bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04039380594148317007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628922652105880617.post-21160338640143955222009-12-08T05:58:00.000-08:002009-12-08T06:01:00.962-08:00Cut Your Grocery Bill: Ten Money Saving Grocery Shopping Tips<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://stroupeblog.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/grocery_bag.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 448px;" src="http://stroupeblog.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/grocery_bag.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Posted by Leah Gorham<br /><br />By Donna L Montaldo<br /><br />By following the 10 tips below, alert shoppers can save up to $300 a month off their grocery bills. Are you ready to start trimming the fat off your food bills?<br />A Little Homework<br />Planning before you head off to the supermarket will help you shop more economically. Take the time to do a quick inventory of your kitchen to determine the food that you need. Prepare your shopping list and make notations of applicable coupons that you may want to use. Read the newspapers and circulars to find the best deals.<br /><br />Choosing the Right Store<br />For basic grocery needs many grocery stores now offer excellent product and price selection, frequent shoppers programs and double coupon days. However, when buying in bulk you may want to tackle the warehouse clubs or superstores. Non-perishable items are often at unbeatable prices at such stores. For the best prices on health and beauty products check the national drugstore chains and superstores.<br /><br /><a href="http://couponing.about.com/cs/grocerysavings/a/groceryshoptips.htm">Click here to read more.</a>group4bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10594021779258604422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628922652105880617.post-87799478079096790802009-12-06T14:24:00.000-08:002009-12-06T14:27:18.499-08:00Meet the Newlyweds<a href="http://www.planawedding.ca/images/rings.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 264px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 222px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.planawedding.ca/images/rings.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-family:Calibri;">By Laura Reginelli</span> <div><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span>Generally people associate the term newlyweds with weddings, bliss, love and just an overall happy time in life. On the surface things may seem like smooth sailing and perfect; however, without the proper planning for joining finances, your marriage may be doomed to hit one or two financial speed bumps ahead. There are quite a few common mistakes the newlyweds make when it comes to their finances but there are ways to avoid them if you stay conscious. </span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span>Stop thinking about your money in a selfish manner. You are now married to another individual and your money should be thought of in the terms of “ours.” Hence your purchases should also be thought of in these terms. Make sure to consult with your spouse before making a large purchase. Discuss what you deem as luxury and necessity items in order to eliminate some future conflicts. </span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span>Although this can be somewhat frightening, talk about your financial histories, where you made mistakes, how your making improvements and where your weaknesses lie. It is important to be understanding in all aspects of a relationship, including when it comes to finances as well. </span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span>Like all other financial decisions in your life it is extremely important to set goals as well as a budget. These will act as benchmarks to determine how well you are doing financially as a couple. The couple that saves together, stays together. </span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><span style="font-family:Calibri;"></span></o:p></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Sources: </span><a href="http://www.debtguru.com/finances/newlywed-finances"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">http://www.debtguru.com/finances/newlywed-finances</span></a></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><a href="http://www.vcu.com/content/20090511/newlywed-finances-things-consider"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">http://www.vcu.com/content/20090511/newlywed-finances-things-consider</span></a><o:p></o:p></b></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><a href="http://www.fool.com/personal-finance/general/2007/06/29/newlywed-financial-boot-camp.aspx"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">http://www.fool.com/personal-finance/general/2007/06/29/newlywed-financial-boot-camp.aspx</span></a><o:p></o:p></b></p></div>group1bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04039380594148317007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628922652105880617.post-14519204827636601932009-12-06T11:56:00.000-08:002009-12-06T11:59:12.138-08:00Being Financially Prepared for a Family<a href="http://dss.sd.gov/images/photos/African%20Family.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 364px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 221px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://dss.sd.gov/images/photos/African%20Family.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-family:Calibri;">By Laura Reginelli</span> <div><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span>In many people’s lives the family represents their core, their strength, their everything. Having a family is a joyous thing but that still doesn’t mean that families lack financial problems. With the economic troubles of today it is important that families remain smart about their finances and make well-informed decisions. There are several hints that can help families stay out of the red and get by without major financial worries. </span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span>The first and most important step to planning your family finances is to set a budget. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes"></span>By having a budget you will be able to see where your money should be spent and then be more inclined to stick to it and save money. Also when budgeting your money you should allot for some to be saved and set some aside for emergencies that may require more many than you thought. </span></p><br /><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">When making everyday common purchases, it is imperative that you make wise decisions that reflect your budget. Many experts using a conscious spending tactic to help stick to that budget. According to iVillage, “Conscious Spending works by minimizing the money you spend on the things you enjoy less, in order to free up money for the things you enjoy more… The essence of Conscious Spending is ensuring that your money is spent in a way that supports you. What counts is congruency: whether your spending fits your wants and your values.”</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><span style="font-family:Calibri;"></span></o:p></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family:Calibri;"></span></o:p></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Sources: </span><a href="http://parenting.ivillage.com/mom/finances/0,,8z30,00.html"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">http://parenting.ivillage.com/mom/finances/0,,8z30,00.html</span></a></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_2120099_manage-familys-finances.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">http://www.ehow.com/how_2120099_manage-familys-finances.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art</span></a></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="http://www.ehow.com/topic_1106_family-finances.html"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">http://www.ehow.com/topic_1106_family-finances.html</span></a></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family:Calibri;"></span></o:p></p><span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri', 'sans-serif'; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-: minor-bidifont-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:11;" ><br style="PAGE-BREAK-BEFORE: always; mso-special-character: line-break" clear="all"></span><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p><span style="font-family:Calibri;"></span></o:p></p></div>group1bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04039380594148317007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628922652105880617.post-81290748896222292642009-12-05T14:17:00.000-08:002009-12-05T14:22:04.556-08:00The Unforeseen Costs of Raising a ChildPosted by: Janielle Viggiano<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/.a/6a00d83451c3cb69e20120a4cbbcd8970b-320wi"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 215px;" src="http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/.a/6a00d83451c3cb69e20120a4cbbcd8970b-320wi" border="0" alt="" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Raising a child is more expensive than most could imagine.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The older your child gets the more5 expensive they are.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Housing is the biggest single expense of raising children, while food accounts for 158%-20% of the overall expense.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Transportation accounts for 13%-14% of the total, clothing is about 6%, healthcare is only 5%-7%, childcare/education accounts for about 7%-11% not including college costs, and lastly miscellaneous takes in 10%-12% of the total cost.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="adjusted1" style="margin-left:0in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">According to CBN News, “A new government study reveals middle-income families with a child born last year will spend about $221,000 raising the child through age 17.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Adjust for inflation and that number climbs to nearly $300,000.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That's $13,000 each year and that doesn't include the cost of college (2009).”</span></p><p class="adjusted1" style="margin-left:0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:130%;"><p class="adjusted1" style="margin-left:0in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt">A new study shows that more American young adults are becoming “boomerang kids”- that is moving back in with your parents to save on expenses.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>According to Boston.com, “Luckily, if you have more than one child, you get a bit of a bulk discount: People with two children spend about 25 percent less on the second child, and those with three or more spend 22 percent less one each one, a Time Magazine article points out.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>That’s because some of the biggest expenses- housing, healthcare, and transportation—don’t have to be re-purchased when another child joins the family (2009).”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="adjusted1" style="margin-left:0in">Sources: <a href="http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/CollegeandFamily/Raisekids/P116306.asp">http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/CollegeandFamily/Raisekids/P116306.asp</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/finance/2009/August/How-Much-Money-Does-it-Cost-to-Raise-a-Child/">http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/finance/2009/August/How-Much-Money-Does-it-Cost-to-Raise-a-Child/</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.boston.com/community/moms/blogs/child_caring/2009/11/how_much_does_it_cost_to_raise_a_child_1_million.html">http://www.boston.com/community/moms/blogs/child_caring/2009/11/how_much_does_it_cost_to_raise_a_child_1_million.html</a></p></span><p></p>group1bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04039380594148317007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628922652105880617.post-54254972079144839682009-12-05T12:58:00.000-08:002009-12-05T13:00:45.161-08:00Financial Planning for Babies<a href="http://www.meriter.com/images/our_services/birthing_baby.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 297px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.meriter.com/images/our_services/birthing_baby.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div>By Laura Reginelli</div><div><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN" lang="EN"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1"></span>Having a child is a big step in life. There are many things that need to be considered when making this decision. Not only do you need to be mentally and physically prepared to have a child but you also must be financially ready as well. Having a child is one of the most expensive things that one could do in their lifetime. The costs are seemingly neverending. So how does one prepare to take on the financial responsibility that having a child carries? Well keep reading to find out.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst"><span style="mso-bidi-: minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" ><span style="mso-list: Ignore"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">1.</span><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Know what your money is going every month, what can be cut down on and where savings can be made. It is important to have a budget and stick as closely as possible to it.</span></p><br /><p style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="mso-bidi-: minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" ><span style="mso-list: Ignore"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">2.</span><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Don’t buy the whole store. Remember that you will receive plenty during the baby shower so there is no need to overspend. </span></p><br /><p style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="mso-bidi-: minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" ><span style="mso-list: Ignore"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">3.</span><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Determine how you will make up for the loss of one income when you or your spouse goes on maternity leave. How much will you need to make up for? Where can you get this money from? Does your employer pay for maternity leave?</span></p><br /><p style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="mso-bidi-: minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" ><span style="mso-list: Ignore"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">4.</span><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Try to pay off any debt that you may have before having the child. Babies are expensive and you want to eliminate any source of debt beforehand.</span></p><br /><p style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><span style="mso-bidi-: minor-latin;font-family:Calibri;" ><span style="mso-list: Ignore"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">5.</span><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Find a proper method to save for your child’s future.</span></p><br /><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.25in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 0.25in" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">Before having a baby it is important for you to know where you stand financially and if you can handle the financial affects of having a child. </span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family:Calibri;"></span></o:p></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">Sources</b>: </span><a href="http://www.ehow.com/how_4847090_prepare-financially-baby.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">http://www.ehow.com/how_4847090_prepare-financially-baby.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art</span></a></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://financialplan.about.com/cs/familyfinances/a/CanYouAffordKid.htm"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">http://financialplan.about.com/cs/familyfinances/a/CanYouAffordKid.htm</span></a></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/special/20030815a1.asp"><span style="font-family:Calibri;">http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/special/20030815a1.asp</span></a></p></div>group1bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04039380594148317007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628922652105880617.post-13254766598155560132009-12-05T12:18:00.000-08:002009-12-05T12:26:28.757-08:00How Cheating Affected Tiger's Finances<a href="http://babyrazzi.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/june16tiger3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 314px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 353px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://babyrazzi.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/june16tiger3.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Posted by: Laura Reginelli<br /><p><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN" lang="EN"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></span></p><br /><p><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN" lang="EN"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">In a lakeside Florida mansion, marriage counsellors, lawyers and public relations advisers are engaged in a bizarre and expensive round of shuttle diplomacy between the world's richest athlete and his furious wife. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><br /><p><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN" lang="EN"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">For Tiger Woods, a control freak accustomed to calling the shots both on the fairway and in his private life, the unravelling of an image as carefully manicured as a country club green is both agonising and self-inflicted.</span></span></p><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN" lang="EN"><span style="font-family:Calibri;"><o:p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN" lang="EN">The scandal of his philandering is so damaging to his "Mr Clean" brand that the publicity-averse superstar is even considering an invitation to appear on the sofa of talk show queen Oprah Winfrey, <i>The Sunday Telegraph</i> has learnt.</span></p><br /><p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN" lang="EN">Click <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/tigerwoods/6737617/Tiger-Woods-tries-to-repair-damage-to-his-marriage-and-his-golf-brand.html">here </a>to read more!</span></p></o:p></span></span></div>group1bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04039380594148317007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628922652105880617.post-71753107402525054512009-12-05T11:43:00.001-08:002009-12-05T12:10:52.244-08:00Holiday Budgeting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://frugalinfortworth.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/christmas-shopping.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 333px;" src="http://frugalinfortworth.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/christmas-shopping.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />By Leah Gorham<br /><br />In the midst of a recession it is especially important to budget for holiday spending. In order to ensure that finally finances aren't derailed as a result of overspending on gifts and other holiday festivities, a budget is a useful tool. First, determine what you can afford to spend and set this figure as your overall holiday spending limit. Moreover, set a limit for each area of holiday spending, such as food, gifts, and decorations. Write these figures down and track your spending throughout the season. Don't panic if you overspend in one of the categories; just scale your spending back in another category to make up for it. <br /><br />There are several things holiday you can do to get the most for their money this season and not blow your holiday budget. First, do not save all your holiday shopping and don't be afraid to ask a retailer to match a competitor's advertised price. Second, make a list, and stick to it. Do not be lured by discounts on big ticket items, such as electronics, into buying more than you need. Lastly, plan on shopping around more- tighter inventories this year may mean that you have to check several stores before you find what you want. <br /><br />Other tips for sticking to your holiday budget include making homemade holiday gifts. Homemade gifts can be thoughtful and unique. You can also get creative- instead of giving gifts to all of your family members, throw a party and invite everyone to bring a home-made dish. Then at the end, provide everyone with the recipes from the party. Sometimes being creative and thinking outside the box can creative lasting holiday memories and help you stick to your budget at the same time. <br /><br /><a href="http://frugalliving.about.com/od/moneymanagement/ht/Holiday_Spend.htm">Source 1</a>, <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125944932820168127.html">Source 2</a>, <a href="http://frugalliving.about.com/od/moneymanagement/ht/Holiday_Spend.htm">Source 3</a>group4bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10594021779258604422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628922652105880617.post-82245957727301215582009-12-04T17:15:00.000-08:002009-12-04T17:19:31.660-08:00Financial Effects of Divorce<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaThMitTTggSaGQz6O6vYCwzFikmGvuDIV_RBeIUJhmPlgGfYdT2YH5X-F4NwwYplYCmqNjCUryDIboyhpSs1M1TjH5wmV4sLOGqjGi6Wv45Wwyg1vC5dFUqHmWwwPNYI08v1ijVl5-rNj/s1600-h/74_BnHover.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411555527378441506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaThMitTTggSaGQz6O6vYCwzFikmGvuDIV_RBeIUJhmPlgGfYdT2YH5X-F4NwwYplYCmqNjCUryDIboyhpSs1M1TjH5wmV4sLOGqjGi6Wv45Wwyg1vC5dFUqHmWwwPNYI08v1ijVl5-rNj/s320/74_BnHover.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Posted by: Pete Hill</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Now days, divorce is much more popular than it used to be. Approximately half of every marriage will end in a divorce. As a result, there are preventative tips to follow prior to marriage, during divorce, and after divorce.<br /><br />The risk that any marriage will end in divorce is about 45 percent, according to <a title="David Popenoe bio." href="http://marriage.rutgers.edu/codirectors.html">David Popenoe</a>, a professor of sociology emeritus at <a title="More articles about Rutgers" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/r/rutgers_the_state_university/index.html?inline=nyt-org">Rutgers University</a>. The chances fall to about 40 percent for first marriages and decline further for college-educated couples, people from intact families and couples who share the same religion.<br /><br />Most couples don’t realize that divorce can also be among the most ruinous financial moves anyone can make. Four talks to have prior to marriage are ancestors spending behavior, credit scores, control of payments, and affluence.<br />During the divorce, experts who went through divorce have come up with a list of tips to consider. These tips are: picking fights, keeping records, hitting the details, living nearby (with children), and limit overspending.<br /><br />After divorce you get swept up in the rage, the disappointment and the worries, money will intrude. After a divorce, important aspects to consider are health insurance, mental health, credit, tax, hired help, keeping house, future legal costs, teenagers, and spousal education.<br /><br />Sources:<br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/24/your-money/24money.html?em">http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/24/your-money/24money.html?em</a><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/14/your-money/14money.html?em">http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/14/your-money/14money.html?em</a><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/21/your-money/21money.html?pagewanted=2&em">http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/21/your-money/21money.html?pagewanted=2&em</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>group2bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04383990063810644367noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628922652105880617.post-78859919238180896692009-12-04T12:42:00.000-08:002009-12-04T12:46:28.641-08:00Beware When Loaning Money to RelativesPosted by: Janielle Viggiano<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.walletpop.com/blog/media/2009/09/loans.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 349px;" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.walletpop.com/blog/media/2009/09/loans.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><p class="MsoNormal">When it comes to lending money to family members, most experts will tell you don’t do it!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Financial planners will warn you that interfamily loans can lead to trouble with the IRS, financial problems, and disastrous relationships with relatives.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>According to Bissonnette, “<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language:EN">You're mixing business with relationships -- which is rarely good -- and, according to a <em><span style="font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi">Money</span></em> magazine poll, "43% of readers who lent to family or friends weren't paid back in full; 27% hadn't received a dime (2009).”<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language:EN">If for some reason you really want to give a relative money, draw up a contract.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Make sure to include everything you want out of the family member you are lending the money to and whether or not you are going to charge them interest on the loan.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Be very specific and make sure your relative knows exactly what they are getting themselves into.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>If there was ever a problem, you could bring them to court and would have written proof that they agreed to uphold their end of the bargain.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language:EN">Here are some tips for lending to family and friends:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"></p><ol><li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"> .<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Don’t co-sign for a loan</li><li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>If you don’t have money to lose, then don’t loan them money!</li><li> Think about giving them a small financial gift</li><li> Consider giving something other than money to help</li><li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin"><span style="mso-list:Ignore"><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"> </span></span> </span></span></span>Offer to help them with budgeting</li></ol><div>Sources: <a href="http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/CollegeAndFamily/RaiseKids/TheRightWayToLoanMoneyToFamilyMembers.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/CollegeAndFamily/RaiseKids/TheRightWayToLoanMoneyToFamilyMembers.aspx</span></a></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2009/03/25/lending-money-to-family-and-friends-gpt/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2009/03/25/lending-money-to-family-and-friends-gpt/</span></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/12/the-smart-way-to-lend-money-to-family-and-friends-dont-do-it/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/09/12/the-smart-way-to-lend-money-to-family-and-friends-dont-do-it/</span></a></p><p></p>group1bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04039380594148317007noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628922652105880617.post-5639677261227553622009-12-04T11:06:00.000-08:002009-12-04T11:15:39.403-08:00Preparing your finances before having a baby<a href="http://www.jillstanek.com/baby%20money.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 264px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 499px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.jillstanek.com/baby%20money.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Posted by: Christina Dove<br /><br />Having a baby can be a very exciting time for a family. However it can also be a time to accumulate many expenses that you did not anticipate. The transition of having a baby can be much easier if you are able to "baby-proof" your finances. Since it will be very important to have a steady income to support the new children, families have to reduce the risk in their investing portfolio. That means dialing down risk in their company-stock-laden portfolio and in general "balancing our investments to meet short- and long-term goals," says Stephanie. The couple also need a savings plan. This is one of the most crucial steps in planning for having a baby.<br /><br />Another crucial step in preparing to have a baby is to make sure that you have a cash emergency fund that will be available for use if the expenses become more than expected for a short time period. Having some extra cash set aside will reduce the stress when your finances get tight and you aren't sure how you are going to support your current lifestyle, especially with a young child. Most importantly it is best to start a family once both parent's jobs are stable and there is a stable substantial income for the family to live off of. If a family decides to have a baby too soon it can hinder their financial goals for the future and they are always going to feel like they are strapped for cash.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Sources:<br /><br />http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/18/pf/family_finances.moneymag/<br /><br />http://www.filife.com/guides/guide-to-having-a-baby<br /><br />http://www.gracenglamour.com/work-up-your-finances-before-you-go-in-for-a-baby/group2bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04383990063810644367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628922652105880617.post-40088067592805728052009-12-04T10:14:00.000-08:002009-12-04T10:51:38.707-08:00How will Tiger Wood's Family Life be Impacted?<a href="http://rhapsodyinbooks.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/tiger-woods.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 301px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://rhapsodyinbooks.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/tiger-woods.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Posted by: Christina Dove<br /><br />Many people have heard about Tiger Wood's alleged affair with a few other women. Although this news is devastating for his reputation, it will be interesting to see his wife Elin's reaction. Tiger Woods is arguably the best golfer to ever live and had more money than many people could dream of making in a lifetime. If Tiger Wood's wife decides to divorce him, she could make a lot more money than Tiger Woods would be willing to dish out. According to one source, she is reportedly negotiating an immediate $5 million payout from Woods, while also revising their prenuptial agreement. At the time of their 2004 wedding, that prenup was believed to be worth $20 million. Now, she's allegedly seeking up to $55 million if she stays married to Woods for at least two more years.<br /><br />In addition to messing up his entire family life - especially with two young kids, Tiger Wood's suspicious actions could also have a devastating impact on his sponsorhips, which he makes a majority of his money from. Many of his sponsors have come out and made remarks of intending to stand by Tiger as he copes with his family issues. One sponsor was quoted saying, "Nike supports Tiger and his family," the company said in a statement. "Our relationship remains unchanged." It is still too early to tell how substantial these affairs and the accident in his front yard will be and how they will affect his image, family life and ability to make money in the future.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Sources:<br /><br />http://money.cnn.com/2009/12/02/news/companies/tiger_woods_sponsorships/index.htm<br /><br />http://www.americansuperstarmag.com/news/will-tiger-woods-and-elin-nordegren-divorce<br /><br />http://wcbstv.com/sports/tiger.woods.affair.2.1346199.htmlgroup2bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04383990063810644367noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8628922652105880617.post-11607685292690472692009-12-03T11:44:00.000-08:002009-12-03T11:47:20.931-08:00Credit Cards for the Holidays<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.popular-pics.com/PPImages/Side_Effects_Of_Credit_Card.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 373px;" src="http://www.popular-pics.com/PPImages/Side_Effects_Of_Credit_Card.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><h1><br /></h1><h1><br /></h1><h1>Fewer Shoppers Using Credit Cards for Gifts</h1><br /><p>Climbing interest rates, lower spending limits and canceled accounts are prompting more holiday shoppers to leave their credit cards at home this year.</p> <p>"There is definitely an overall shift from credit to debit," says Curtis Arnold of CardRatings.com. "This holiday season, it has been accentuated by the credit crunch and the economy." <br /></p> <div class="insetContent insetCol3wide embedType-image imageFormat-D"><div class="insetTree"><div id="articleThumbnail_1" class="insettipUnit insetZoomTarget"><cite></cite> <p class="targetCaption">An estimated 28.3% of people will be using credit to pay for gifts this year.</p> </div><div style="visibility: hidden;" id="articleImage_1" class="insetFullBracket"><div class="insetFullBox"><div class="insetButton"><a class="insetClose"><img src="http://s.wsj.net/img/BTN_insetClose.gif" alt="credit1201" border="0" height="19" hspace="0" vspace="0" width="19" /></a></div></div></div></div></div><p>An estimated 28.3% of people will be using credit to pay for gifts this year, according to a recent survey of 8,692 consumers conducted by the National Retail Federation and BIGresearch. That's down from the 31.5% of shoppers who paid with credit cards during the 2008 holidays, according to the survey.</p> <p>Mike Cleary's family has ditched credit cards this holiday season. He and his wife had three credit cards with a total balance of about $6,200, but paid those off because of high interest rates. "We were going to get rid of those, bite the bullet and use cash from that point," says Mr. Cleary, a 53-year-old from Duluth, Ga.</p> <p>Instead of the usual $3,000 to $4,000 he typically spent for the holidays, Mr. Cleary says he will be spending below $1,000 on his family this year. "We just told them, 'Hey, it's going to be a light Christmas.' "</p><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704107104574570110802685606.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_personalfinance">Read More</a><br /><br /><br />Posted by Chris Keelergroup1bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04039380594148317007noreply@blogger.com0