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 Figuring out how to pay for everything you need for that new member of your family can be a daunting task at any time, but couple that with rising fuel costs, an uncertain economy, falling housing prices, and rising food costs, and it might seem impossible to figure out a family financial plan that works. To help you better plan for your future, GeoParent gathered up the top family finance experts to help you budget, save and spend like a pro.
By Tracy McGinnis
Ethan Ewing, President of Bills.com advises stay-at-home moms to not hand over all of the financial power. “Women who stay at home after having a baby should continue to know about (and share) their credit history with their spouses. Married women should also keep a credit card in their name to maintain good credit.”
Here are more tips from Ewing for getting your family finances in order:
- Make savings a priority. “Include in the budget a line item expense for savings.” Sites like Bills.com offer budget guides.
- Emergency Fund. “Conventional wisdom says you need 3-6 months worth of living expenses in an emergency fund, but a 2005 survey found 41% of Americans had no fund at all.”
- Self Billing. “Treat savings as self-billing and it’ll be done easily; in a short period of time, most people get used to it and don’t even realize they’re saving.” Ewing suggests setting up an automatic withdrawal into your savings account or recording it like a bill.
- Save Like a Pro. “Consider a money market or short-term CDs. The strategy will provide some interest earnings and force you to constantly reinvest.”
- Spend With Cash. “Start handing over old-fashioned bills for your routine expenditures. People who don’t use debit or credit cards are less likely to throw that extra item into the shopping cart.”
- Be a Smart Gift Shopper. “List the recipients for whom you plan to give a gift throughout the year. Most people are surprised to see how many gifts they buy in a year. Keep an eye out for sales to buy online to avoid impulse purchases at the mall.”
- Learn About Your Utilities. “Turn down the furnace at night and think about a programmable thermostat. Unplug appliances that aren’t being used, go fluorescent, and avoid running your dryer for long periods of time.”
“Yes, it’s important to start saving at some point,” but Brette Sember, author of several books including, Your Practical Pregnancy Planner, says don’t sacrifice everything for a college savings plan. “College loans are a beautiful thing, however there’s no such thing as a retirement loan.” Sember also suggests creating a new budget for your family and learning about what things cost. “Find out how much formula and diapers cost and factor in the cost of child care and the possible loss of income so you can take a hard look at your expenses.”
Dan McCarty, CRC, Financial Advisor with William Tell Financial Services in Latham, NY, gives these tips on saving for college, including why a 529 college savings plans is the way to go.
- Tax Deferral. “Any time you can postpone pay tax is helpful. Parents can shelter funds and when they are accessed to pay for higher education, they’re taxed at the child’s lower rate.”
- Flexibility. “529 plans can be used at any accredited college, junior college, vocational or trade school in the country and some foreign schools.”
- Control. “529’s must be used for higher education. If they’re not, the money can be transferred penalty-free to another child who wishes to further their education.” To learn more visit sites like www.collegeboard.com.
Upromise is another way people may choose to save for college. By logging on to www.upromise.com you can register your debit, credit, grocery and gift cards and earn a percentage back (up to 25%) for college. The company also helps registered members transfer their savings into a 529 plans. The company says they currently have 8.5 million members, with 23,000 grocery and drug stores, 14,000 gas stations, 8,000 restaurants, thousands or retail stores and close to 600 online shopping sites participating.
David Rochon, Upromise President says, “Upromise is a great way to save on purchases you’re already planning to make. Whether you’re filling up your gas tank at Exxon/Mobil (earn 1%), picking up groceries at the local supermarket (earn 1-5%), buying a gift for your nephew’s graduation at Brookstone (earn 4%) or ordering a parenting magazine at Magazines.com (earn 25%), it’s a great way to get started on saving for college.”
“Create monthly and long-term budgets,” Peter Miralles, President of Atlanta Wealth Management Consultants advises. “Budgets must include line items for retirement and children’s education.” The most important part of family financing is making a budget and sticking to it. “People must live within their budget or all other planning may fail,” Miralles says.
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Between changing diapers, taking the kids to soccer practice and making sure the kids are well fed – how will you find the time, not to mention the money, to plan a big birthday bash for your child? While we may not be able to tell you all about time management (we’ll save that for another day), we can certainly talk some sense into your budget when planning the perfect soirée. Check out our pick of budget-friendly birthday party favors all the kiddies are sure to love.
 By Amanda Fornecker
Old McDonald Had a Farm
For the animal loving kid or a farm animal-themed party, be sure to give out Barnyard Licorice Pals. These tubs look like a pint of ice cream, but are filled with licorice animals in all different shapes. From orange flavored ducks to red cherry piglets to chocolate flavored cows, your guests will go crazy playing with and eating their favors. And they can learn all about the animals too! At $6 for each seven-ounce tub, you can easily divide up the licorice and put into small baggies for each child.
Oh Goody!
Goodie bags are always a common favor at birthday parties, but the last thing you want to do is give an already-hyper child more sugar. That’s why passing out some healthy (yet yummy) treats are always in order. Yummy Earth is a concept that was created by two dads who were looking for a healthier kind of treat for their kids. These gluten-free, nut-free, organic lollipops are a perfect snack for guests of your party. There are different packages available, but a bag of 15 lollies will cost about $2.99.
 Display Your Favor
Who doesn’t love Play-Doh? With different types of Play-Doh Make ‘N Displays, kids can pick their favorite shapes to make into a colorful creation they can put up for all to see after the party’s over. Butterflies, Dalmatians and race cars are just some of the fun creations children can make. At $1.99 per kit, they won’t break the bank.
Colorful Favors
What kid doesn’t love crafts, crayons and crazy colors? With Crayola crayons, kids can make their own party bags and get their creative juices flowing at the same time. Crayola has party packs that will get you started on making up favors. You’ll get individually wrapped four-packs to give out to the kids. The Crayola website even has a ton of great ideas for birthday parties, kids’ crafts, and games to play that involve crayons.
 Outdoors and Bubbly
For the outdoors birthday party, bubbles make the perfect birthday favor. Your child will love giving out bottles of bubbles that corresponds with her party theme. Using them before the party is over will keep the kiddies entertained and then they can bring this fun item home! In fact, if you are having trouble coming up with a birthday theme, you can take the bubble theme all the way through with bubble invitations and a bubble cake. From ice cream cones (pictured) to trumpets to their favorite Disney character, your kids will have lots of fun playing with their party favor. Prices are dependent on your bubble choice, but check out partymerchant.com for bubble ideas.
 Thirsty Characters
Juice boxes are usually in order for longer car rides, but sometimes those sugary fruit juices are not the best for kids. That’s why Bot has flavored water without the artificial sweetener, which is both unhealthy and makes kids hyper. The cute characters on the bottle will be enough to sell any child on a refreshing drink on the way home from their play date or even from the party itself. They can be found at supermarkets, like Whole Foods, for just $1.49 a bottle.
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  By Brie Gatchalian
There are many factors that contribute to a lackluster sex life. Whether it is caring for your children, a hectic job or all of the above, it is easy to put your relationship with your spouse at the bottom of the to-do list. Medical conditions, such as snoring, can also put a dent in your “spicy” relationship with your partner. According to a recent study conducted by the Sleep Disorders Center at Rush University Medical Center, sleep apnea (snoring) impacts a non-snoring partner’s quality of sleep, which then leads to couple marital dissatisfaction. In fact, the snoring woe has been cited as the cause for some divorces in the country. What’s one couple to do? While there’s no easy solution for snoring—not to mention other marital dysfunctions—there are simple ways to keep the love alive. Read on for the ingredients to a spicy marriage.
Communicate Daily
Don’t forget to communicate your inner most thoughts and desires to your partner. Whether it’s having a simple discussion on chores, a quick “I love you,” or dirty talk (a glass of wine helps), sometimes spelling out your feelings can entice and excite your spouse.
Have Separate Girls/Boys Nights Once a Month
I asked a handful of happily married couples how they keep their marriage hot and most of them said they keep their social lives alive. It’s easy to get caught up in your marriage (especially if you have children and so many other obligations,) but it’s also important to have a night away from your spouse. Doing a separate girls/boys night can do the trick. You’ll be able to catch up with friends, as well as have an opportunity to miss each other.
Flirt Whenever Possible
Remember when you first met your husband? Remember what life was like before the kids? I bet you two would flirt a lot with each other. Oh, how exciting! It’s easy to forget what attracted you to your lover in the first place, but bring yourself back to the early days when flirting was a hobby. Give your husband a wink or a squeeze in the butt—it can be both flattering and nostalgic.
Use Lubricant as Necessary
Changes in sexual drive can be contributed to a number of factors including age, stress, hormonal changes due to breastfeeding and that not-so-fun postpartum period. Employing a lubricant can be both useful and enjoyable. While some couples are reluctant to add the enhancer to their bedroom activities—out of fear of offending their partner—it can help spice things up. For instance, the new K-Y Brand YOURS+MINE (available at drugstores now), the first intimacy-enhancing product designed specifically with couples in mind, is a great, new revolutionary way to thrill sensations for you and your husband. Each invokes a different sensation when applied, and when combined, both users are in for an even more exhilarating experience.
Play Games Occasionally
I’m not talking about the games people play when they’re dating. I’m talking about putting the fun back into a marriage with board-game playing. It may sound like child’s play, but a game like Embrace (available at copulus.com), a sensually stimulating board game for lovers, can be just the thing to remind you and your partner what makes you a hot couple. As players move about the board revealing sensuous thoughts and feelings, as well as performing erotic challenges, this game can also accomplish the previously mentioned flirting and communication ingredients.
Respect Always
Beyond simple acts in the bedroom, it’s also important to take advantage of day-to-day acts of respect. As with the notorious snoring situation, other issues couples face are the seat-up vs. seat-down argument, moodiness, and bickering. It’s important to refrain from engaging in a “nothing fight” (that’s the kind of fight that shouldn’t be a big deal but becomes one for no reason). Remember to always respect your partner. Random acts of kindness and understanding will keep the bitterness out of the bedroom.
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 We clean our homes to remove the dirt and germs that get in from our day to day living. But some green companies argue that by using conventional cleaning products, we might be bringing in more pollutants than we get rid of. Here’s a look at some of the products and services available today that offer a greener, cleaner alternative.
By Tracy McGinnis
Seventh Generation
The company offers a wide variety of cleaning products for kitchen, laundry, bathroom, baby, paper products, feminine care and a new scented line. In an interview with Martin Wolf, Director of Product & Environmental Technology at Seventh Generation, he said some of the major differences between their products and conventional ones is that they do not use ingredients that have a suspected toxic effect.
“Seventh Generation’s laundry products, dish liquids, and spray cleaners use only ingredients that are biodegradable and are designed for minimal impact on the environment, to be safer to use, and to work as well as premium conventional brands.”
Wolf says that when you’re shopping for an eco-friendly cleaner you need to decide if the product truly represents one that is eco-friendly.
“Be particularly careful of products that offer fragrances that sound natural, but are not specifically identified as such. Products that claim to be eco-friendly but do not list all their ingredients, or which use generic terms like “anionic surfactant,” cannot be adequately evaluated for their effect on human health or the environment.”
Dapple
These products were created for moms by moms, who felt there weren’t specific products available that cleaned everything their babies were getting into each day. The company’s products which include a dish liquid and dish detergent are free of chemicals including phthalates, which according to a company spokesperson, were recently banned from children’s products in California because of health concerns. Dapple’s products are made from 100% naturally-derived ingredients that are biodegradable and environmentally safe.
“The market is replete with products for babies’ hair, skin, and clothes, but nothing for the bottles, cups, and dishes they put into their mouths each day. And with recent warnings about chemicals like SLES and phthalates, we’re more aware than ever of the need to make sure the products we use for our children are safe,” said Tamar Rosenthal, Dapple co-founder and mother of three. “We’ve worked with a team of leading chemists and experienced pediatricians to create a line of cleansers that combine the best things found in nature to tackle even the toughest residues left by baby foods, both safely and effectively.”
Arm and Hammer Baking Soda
This affordable, non toxic cleaning product can be found in almost every home in America, but most may not realize how green that little box really is. A spokesperson for the company noted that Arm and Hammer was the first sole corporate sponsor of Earth Day in 1970 and began using recycled packing for their product as early as 1907. “They were also the first to introduce a non-phosphate detergent.” The product has a wide range of uses some of which include: deodorizing everything from drains to toys, cleaning fruits and vegetables, shining silver, to cleaning everything from microwaves to carpets.
How to clean green
If you’re ready to start using everyday household items at home, but not sure how to get started or what to use that will really work to get your home clean, books like “The Detox Strategy: Vibrant Health in 5 Easy Steps” by natural healthcare expert and best-selling author Brenda Watson, C.N.C. may be just the motivation you need.
A sample of recipes from Watson’s book shows that you only need a few main ingredients to get the job done. For example, a window wash cleaner uses only white distilled vinegar, liquid soap and water. Watson’s Lemon Floor Wash requires liquid soap, lemon juice, white distilled vinegar, lemon essential oil and water. To find more books like Watson’s visit your local bookstore or sites like Amazon.com
Green cleaning done for you
No time to clean, even if it’s green? Maid Brigade launched a green cleaning service last year with over 400 of their franchises nationwide and is the first national cleaning service to develop its own green cleaning system.
The company says their taking the “gray” out of green cleaning by using certified Green Seal products as well as micro-fiber cloths, HEPA-vacuum cleaners and allergy-free and anti-bacterial cloths and mops in their cleaning techniques. They have also launched Green TV where you can watch educational web casts about green living and hidden dangers in your home created by cleaning products and other pollutants.
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