Not only does little Rover get its share of love and attention but it is also likely that he uses up more than his fair share of the family income. I see all of you moms nodding your heads in agreement.

Anyway, whenever a good offer comes across my desk - I am compelled to share it with you. Parenting help covers pets too!

PetSmart coupons are always useful and here is one that Parenting Tips at NeenMachine.com readers can use to save money. Gotta love that! Just shop through the following link for a little summer bonus:

Save 15% off your order of $70 or more and Use code: JUNEBONUS (expires June 30, 2008)

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Ever consider working from home…by clicking one of “Those Ads” ???
By Joe Grushkin, Internet Entrepreneur

Did you ever see one of “those ads” on the internet… you know, the kind that looks “too good to be true”… I mean, if it’s offering big money, little effort and freedom, it’s gotta be a scam, right??? No one makes huge, incredible money like that… no one has freedom to do what they want, when they want to…and working from home a few hour a day and enjoying your family without any concerns about money is just unheard of… if that is what you think…think again…

About 8 months ago, I was “surfing” around the internet and actually clicked on one of “those ads” and it kind of pulled me in… I was intrigued with the sophistication and simplicity at the same time. As I moved through the process, I found myself getting more and more excited about what this “business” had to offer, and then I came to the end of the process and it gave me the option to enroll, so I did!

I was amazed…no one called me to sell me on joining, I didn’t have to attend any meetings, I was told I didn’t have to call friends and family and it was totally automated online… so far, everything as explained was happening to me…and what I experienced made sense, I figured if it made sense to me, it would to others as well.

I figured that I would “pay my money to peek behind the curtain”, so to speak. What I found was way more than I ever anticipated.

I found a community of real people; moms, dads, grandparents, single parents and people in their early 20’s from all over the world who were offering advise, guidance and insights into how to succeed in this new business I just “bought”… I learned how to work 2 hours a day and earn anywhere from $3000 to $10,000 every week. I learn how to market on the internet, which is a skill I can now apply to any business, product or concept. I also learned, that “Those Ads” are sometimes very real!

You see, a person can only really see those ads when they are looking for them, something in their life has drawn them to the ad. As you read this, is there something driving you to consider this right now…??? The desire for more money time, freedom or to be with your family more…??? The challenge is, most people continue to get in their own way and block anything new and different from happening. So many people continue to (or painstakingly watch their spouse tirelessly) commute to a job that is just barely paying the bills, working for a company that doesn’t appreciate their efforts and kidding themselves that they have security in the future. By having your own home based business, you have total control, you will never miss a kid’s activity, you can be present in your family’s lives and own your future… not to mention the incredible tax advantages that can save you thousands!

My story isn’t done yet. I earned over $100,000 in my first 6 months, never called anyone on the phone to sell them on this business, didn’t have to prospect friends and family to do it and found a freedom that allows me to be where I want, when I want. I don’t have to travel, unless it’s for pleasure and I am part of a community of like minded people, who are all doing the same things in their live. This community has generated over $11 million in commissions in the first 8 months, and that is expected to double in the next 8 months. The question is…will any of that next $11 million be in your pocket?

If you or someone you know is being financially challenged by the economy, feeling the pressure to choose between raising their kids and making money or they are just “sick and tired of being sick and tired”…now might me the time to click on one of “those ads”… here it is…go ahead… give it a click…follow the process and see what the rest of us already know… www.SoSimple4u2.com

Wishing you the best of success, unlimited wealth and freedom…

Onward & Upward,
Joe Grushkin
Internet Entrepreneur

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Sure, a few things were sold out and we settled for a few comparable products instead of what was actually on our shopping list. But overall, we found some good bargains and completed a good portion of our family’s holiday shopping.

This year our son accompanied us on our expedition. And somewhere along the line the word “sale” got lost in the translation. We forgot that he was uninitiated, “green” if you will.

Our first stop was Circuit City. My husband and I, flier in hand, scoured the shelves for the cheapest deals - we love the $5 items. My son, on the other hand, began to fill his basket with lots of stuff. I must have blinked, or maybe he is just quick, but before I knew it his basket was overflowing.

Movies, posters, and at least 30 video games (some at $35 a pop) were among his selections.

You all must be familiar with the conversation that followed.

Me - Nope, no way, not going to happen.

Him - But mom - it’s Black Friday!

With all the hype, frenzy, and media attention surrounding this day, my son figured Black Friday was a shopping free for all.

In the end, we left with a few sale items, a disappointed son, and the realization that we have to do a better job of teaching our kids how to spend money responsibly.

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• Parents deposit dollars into their child’s lunch account at school.
• Every time a kid buys lunch, the cost is subtracted from the balance.
• When the account is close to zero, parents get a notice from the school cafeteria to send in more lunch money.
• And the cycle continues.

This system worked well when my kids were younger. But as they grew, their appetites grew right along with them. Between buying double lunches and a la carte items at the middle school, my lunch money bills were getting a bit out of hand. (remember - 4 kids!)

To put a stop to this madness, I set a limit. On the first of every month I send in a check for x dollars per kid. (you can decide what amount is right for your family). And when this money is gone - well, it’s GONE. No more until the first of the following month.

I can’t believe how well this system has worked for us. My kids now plan out the days that they are going to buy lunch. They circle their choices on the menu and add up the total. And they make darn sure that they don’t go over their budget or come in under.

The bonus: any arguments between me and them over buying and taking lunch are gone.

The kids know their limit and budget their money accordingly. They feel in control. A win win situation all around!

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However, with a big family, it is easier for me to buy large quantities of something all at once. I even appreciate something as trivial as the bigger cart at the warehouse stores. If I buy warehouse quantities at the grocery store my cart is full before I even get halfway through!

But what bugs the heck out of me is the membership fee. In my mind that negates any savings earned. I grudgingly pay it for the convenience but believe me, I make the most of it.

How?

Well, typically a membership lasts for one year. As you near the end of your membership you get tons of reminders from the club to renew, renew, renew.

Of course I don’t do this.

The week before my membership is due to expire I go to the warehouse club and do a huge shop. I get enough detergent, paper goods, batteries, and other nonperishable, non-expiring stuff to last a few months. Then I let my membership expire. Two months later, when I need more stuff, I go to the store and renew my membership for another year.

So now my 12 month membership has lasted 14 months. If I can stretch a dollar - I will!

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One interesting article that I came across is called Fiscal Fitness: Eliminate Debt with 10 Successful Diet Principles at ZenHabits.net

Huh? Diet and debt? What do they have to do with each other? But as you think about it further, there really are similarities. The following points stuck with me:

• When you budget you track your spending, on a diet - your calories
• Check your spending/savings goals weekly, on a diet weigh in weekly
• Don’t expect overnight success from either your spending diet or your eating diet

And to tie the knot between the two diets a little tighter - if you diet more, your grocery bill is sure to go down. (ok, I know that is tacky! )

On a related note, Mehdi in a guest post at Get Rich Slowly offers 10 Ways to Build the Habit of Saving Money.

With all this good advice, my pockets should be jingling by December!

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Although she seemed friendly enough and she claimed to be a college student, I politely said I wasn’t interested and moved on.

I have a problem with door to door selling, as do many people that I know.

First off, if I didn’t need the product before the salesperson came to my door, I certainly don’t need it now.

Second, and most important, the salesperson is a stranger in my neighborhood. In this day and age I am weary of unfamiliar faces on my street. It is a shame that we must be so cautious, but it is necessary. In the case of a salesperson, not only does this stranger want to speak with me but they also want to sell me something, which would require some sort of money changing hands.

Not going to happen.

I wonder if companies actually make any sales via door to door selling. In the age of the internet, the door to door salesman has become a dinosaur.

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It is a question that many moms have asked me. Actually, they think I am a bit nutty to spend so much time online - and for what purpose?

Well, the short answer is No, I’m not making much money from blogging. But the potential is there. The potential is what keeps me blogging.

But, to get anywhere in the blogosphere, as it is called, I need a little guidance. One site that has given me some ideas is John Chow dot Com. John Chow’s site is all about making money online. Click over to his website and you will see that there is a lot of energy there. His is successful and enthusiastic about blogging (and he should be because it is working for him!)

If I can manage even a fraction of the success that John Chow has achieved, then I will be on the right path.

The first step is this post, because:

John Chow dot Com is a blog that helps you make money. If you review his blog, he’ll link to it and send you a lot of traffic.

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For most of us, that means that the cost of a stamp for a 1 ounce piece of first class mail will cost 2 cents more. The current rate is 39 cents and the new rate will be 41 cents.

To avoid lines at the post office you may want to buy your 41 cent stamps now. You can also get 2 cent stamps to add to any of your leftover .39’s.

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When I was a kid, we didn’t get an allowance. If we really needed something my parents got it for us, otherwise we did without. However, most experts say - and I agree - that an allowance is a good tool to teach kids about managing money.

But an allowance is a lot of work for both parents and kids. So many questions need to be addressed:

• Should the kids get an allowance once a week,
• Should they be required to save part of the allowance,
• Should it be a reward for good behavior or doing chores,
• Should we have a say in how they spend the money,
• And how much should they get?

Our family has been through many incarnations of the allowance, but no one method seems to stick. It is definitely time for an allowance redesign.

How Much?
First and foremost, determining the amount is important. Some recommendations have been $1 for each year of age or for each grade level (i.e. a fifth grader would get $5 each week). But I think it is important to consider what we are expecting the children to buy with their allowance. If the allowance is just for “extras” and fun stuff, the amount may be lower. If we expect them to cover lunch money and certain necessities (and put some in savings) maybe giving a little more is justified. About.com has a good allowance calculator to check out.

How Often?
Paying out once a week has worked for us. I have the kids keep an allowance checkbook of sorts. On Sundays, we sit down and add the new allowance so they always know how much money they have.

Should They Work for the Money?
The going advice is that allowance should not be tied to chores. But I have a hard time just handing over money for free. As adults, we don’t get paid without working - wouldn’t that be nice?
I have certain expectations from my children. They have to do their homework, practice their instruments, pick up after themselves, fit in a chore or two a day to help out around the house (maybe more over the summer), and do it with a good attitude. Charts and checklists help them stay on track - but we don’t keep these up every week. I don’t take away their allowance if they don’t accomplish everything, everyday but I reserve the right to exercise my judgment. If they start slacking, I use the allowance as a reminder and incentive.

How Should They Spend the Wealth?
Every time they hit the snack machine I cringe but if that’s how they want to spend their allowance… However, I do make them put half, each week, aside for savings. Parenthood.com has a great article called Raising Money-Smart Kids: Allowance and Savings with some good allowance guidelines. In fact they take the savings concept one step further, and I quote:

For young kids, Harman recommends three glass jars: one is for spending now, one is for short-term savings, and one is for long-term savings. “It’s the jar that becomes their bank account that then becomes an investment account and starts to build their future and their net worth.” Allowance, gifts and earnings should always be divided among the three jars.

Some other bloggers have also pondered the allowance system. Check out their ideas at the following links:
When Should Kids Get an Allowance by Justin McHenry at Zen Personal Finance
Money Problems by dahGurl at The Parenting Post
How Do You Teach Kids the Value of Money by J.D. at Get Rich Slowly

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