Smart Second Moves for Beginning Couponers

Here's a helpful article from WeUseCoupons.com.

I've been thinking not just about things I wish I had known about couponing sooner - but things that would have made months 1 - 6 of my couponing SO much easier. Moving beyond the "Buy the Sunday paper" and "start organizing your coupons" type of tips.

1. Know the big no-nos for couponing and abide by honest couponing: This was the biggest thing I wish I had known that first month.

a. Those first few weeks, I didn't know it is illegal to photocopy Internet coupons, but now there is no way in the world you'd catch me giving a photocopy. It's dishonest, and hurts couponers everywhere. Don't photocopy coupons you get on the Internet. Ever.

b. Don't manipulate coupons (pdfs and otherwise) to even do something as innocuous as save paper. Again - it's illegal to do anything to coupons except print them out.

c. Don't use coupons for anything other than the product(s) that are clearly spelled out on the coupon. The store that you redeem that coupon at has to show they sold the product that is on the coupon, or they do not get reimbursed. If that coupon says "Product X, grape flavor only" and you find out it can be used on any flavor of Product X - no matter how tempting - don't do it. You are essentially stealing that coupon dollar amount from your store. They will not get reimbursed for that product and it is considered a loss for the company. If your store suddenly had to stop accepting coupons due to unacceptable levels of loss, you would see the direct effect using coupons improperly can have.

d. Practice Good Coupon Karma: Don't take more coupons from the tearpad than you can possible use. Don't clear the shelves when taking part in a deal. Give coupons freely to friends and family - and offer to "RAOK" (Random Act of Kindness; sending another member or couponer coupons without asking for anything in return) other members at WUC.

2. Get a subscription to All You magazine: All You magazine is a women's magazine produced by Walmart, and has more coupons per month than any other national magazine available. You can also get it in Walmart each month, but I like getting it delivered; I don't forget it that way.

Subscribe here: https://subs.timeinc.net/AY/ay_5off1...equestid=44906 - it's a GREAT resource for coupons each and every month.

3. Begin collecting Coca-Cola codes and Box Tops for Education ( BTFE ) if you don't already. : Among some couponers, the codes from Coca-Cola products and the small "Box Tops for Education" logos on most General Mills products are a kind of currency. For many couponers, you can offer Coke Codes or BTFE in exchange for coupons in the Trading Forums.
If you don't drink a lot of soda, start looking for Coke bottle caps on the ground, or ask friends to start saving them for you. These are real currency in the couponing community.

4. Start understanding couponing acronyms and forum speak: Pretty quickly, you'll start to see that couponers sometimes have their own language! Start by getting to understand the list of common abbreviations here : Acronyms & Abbreviations for WUC. You'll be more able to negotiate some of the deals posted here (and elsewhere online) if you have a firm grasp of these abbreviations!

5. Tell your friends and family to be on the lookout for you! : For some reason, a common first step for new couponers is not to say anything to anyone about their new experiences couponing. Perhaps we feel we'll be ridiculed or are embarrassed. On the contrary, if you are embracing couponing as both a way to reduce your monthly expenses AND as a hobby of sorts, be proud! Let people know you are starting out in couponing. You'll be surprised at the number of people who don't coupon who will start bringing you inserts, tearpads, and blinkies they find. Thank them genuinely even if it isn't a product you want or use - you are encouraging them to continue to bring you coupons!

As always, read the forums and get involved in those forums where you shop. The Forum Leaders and Moderators are experienced and above all, approachable and friendly. Questions are always welcome; we're here to learn right along side you! If you don't feel comfortable posting your question in the forum, feel free to send the Forum Leader a private message through WUC. We are happy to help you succeed!

Seven Ways to Ruin Christmas

I saw this on CNN.com and I wanted to post it here for you!

By Dawn Williams

(MyHomeIdeas.com) -- If you're thinking of pulling the plug on Christmas cheer, we can help change your mind. These simple solutions to holiday woes will take you from Scrooge to Santa in a snap.

1. Budget blues bah humbug: There's just not any money in the budget to decorate our house this year. We'll just have to do without this Christmas.

Happy holidays: You're not alone, but don't let dwindling funds get you down. After all, Christmas is a special time to spend with those you love, and you'll regret having a home that looks like the Grinch swept through and stole your cheer.

There are easy, affordable ways to decorate the tree (and around the house) for next to nothing. Start by using what you already have to decorate (think silver collections, leftover ribbon, and even small children's toys). Or, hit the backyard. You can jazz up a mantel with berry sprigs, pinecones, sweet gum balls, or any other gift from Mother Nature that catches your eye. MyHomeIdeas: 15 festive wreaths

2. Merry meltdown bah humbug: I'm just going to have to call my guests and cancel dinner at our house. There's too much to do and not enough time -- I haven't bought the groceries, the house is a wreck, and the silver isn't polished. They'll understand.

Happy holidays: At any other time of year, they might give you a pass. But this is Christmas! So before you put Dr. Phil on speed dial, take a deep breath, plan ahead, and ask your guests to chip in.

For starters, think of three tasks that they could help with the day of the dinner, such as setting the table, bringing a side dish, and picking up last-minute items that would take you away from the house. MyHomeIdeas: Holidays and entertaining

And for goodness sake, scale back a little. If the silver isn't polished, leave it in its case this year. Christmas is a time to celebrate with your friends and family, not for a panic attack over forks and knives.

3. Curious guests bah humbug: I'm having a house full of guests this year, but they are family. They've been to my home before and know where everything is. If they need something, they'll find it.

Happy holidays: Unless you want your mother-in-law peeking through every closet and drawer in the house, a little preparation will go a long way toward a sane season of guests coming and going. MyHomeIdeas: Spoil your house guests

Before friends and family arrive in town, take cues from luxury hotels and stock the guest room (or wherever they may stay) with extra bedding accessories (pillows, blankets). Fill a basket with towels and toiletries.

4. Empty-handed bah humbug: I'm not sure if my friends and I are exchanging gifts this year. But if someone shows up with a present, I'll just tell them, "Yours is on the way," and drop off something when I have the time.

Happy holidays: This is one of the easiest ways to create an awkward situation during the holidays. Because you never know who's going to ring your doorbell bearing gifts, be prepared! Keep a few small presents, such as scented candles, hand towels, and stationary, at the ready so that no one is left empty-handed. MyHomeIdeas: Gift ideas

5. Don't believe the hype bah humbug: My wife (or girlfriend, mother, friend) said she didn't want anything for Christmas, so I didn't get her anything (not even a card). That's OK, right?

Happy holidays: Um, wrong! Year after year, men (and women, in some cases) are deceived by this humble -- and untrue -- statement. Everyone wants to feel special during the holidays. So whether it's a sentimental card, a framed picture of a fond memory, or a small token she's had her eye on, you don't have to spend January's mortgage payment on an expensive gift. Just give something from the heart that you know she'll appreciate.

6. No room at the inn bah humbug: My apartment is so small. There's no room for a sofa, much less a Christmas tree. It makes my head hurt just thinking about decorating this place.

Happy holidays: Oh, ye of little faith! There may not be room for a tree, but that doesn't mean you can't bring on the Christmas decorations. Start with a charming wreath on the door, and then work your way in. Greenery -- either in the form of swags or small potted herbs -- also instantly brings a hint of the holidays to your pad.

7. Family matters bah humbug: You might as well set up the mats and ring the bell, because my kids are home for the holidays and they're at each other's throats. Not to mention, what am I going to do with the grandparents when they get here? MyHomeIdeas: 10 cures for cabin fever

Happy holidays: Before you buy a first-class ticket to Anywhere But Here, there are easy, inexpensive ways to cure cabin fever and keep the folks busy.

While you're occupied with your holiday to-do list, let in-town relatives help the kids with fun activities that will keep them all busy, such as creating art, putting on a talent show, or going on a treasure hunt.

What's New with Me?

I took the book 2 assessment test from Jackson Hewitt last night and PASSED! woo hoo! I'm so happy! However, had my friend Nicki not been there, I might've had a nervous breakdown. After 3 hours of testing my brain was fried and I couldn't think anymore, she came over helped me get organized again! It's sad but sometimes I just get so flustered that I need some direction. I know the material .... I just have issues sometimes.

I wonder though if I'm going to be able to be a sufficient tax preparer if I can't concentrate under pressure. I don't want to doubt myself but I really need to get my act together. Nicki is a sweetheart though because she told me last night after the test that I need to quit being so negative and hard on myself. I agree. It's hard though because when you've been told your whole life that you can't do something, after a long time it starts to set in.

I love my mom with all of my heart but she's not the most uplifting person I've ever met. She has a negative streak in her but I'm praying for her about that. Anywho, when I told her that I was going to be taking classes at Jackson Hewitt to learn how to prepare taxes she basically told me that she doesn't know why I'm wasting my time with it because I'm probably not going to like it. You're considered passing if you make an 80% or more. Well, on one of the test I made a 78% (failing) and I told her about it and she was like, see ... I told you this isn't for you! :o( I ended up making up the test and passed with a 100%! And since then I've only "failed" about 4 other ones but I've made them all up. And as of today, my average in the class is an 89%! That's really good!!

Well, I saw this video yesterday and it really opened my eyes. I want you to watch it ... Just be sure to TURN UP your volume so you can hear the conversation in the background.

I want to say right now that my mom was not the only person who put me down in my life. I don't at all want to make her seem like she was a mean mom or anything. She is/was very loving my whole life, she just didn't want to see my fail I guess. Teachers, friends, family members .... those are the other people who I remember telling me that I was dumb or stupid and would never be able to do this or that. And I would not be good at this hobby or that sport. ... Those things followed me into my adult life.

But the more I learn about the power we have in our words, I realize where I get my thought process from and see how words can effect people. Now, when someone says something, I usually say, "Don't speak that over me." or "Don't put those words over me in the atmosphere".

I'm breaking the chains in my life though and I refuse to tell JD that he can't do anything. :o) I do not want him growing up thinking that he can't accomplish something HE WANTS TO DO out of fear of what others may think of him if he fails .... or succeeds!

What did you think about the video?

Have You Seen Fireproof?

This is THE BEST MOVIE I've ever seen! It has changed my marriage and how I view my husband. I will be purchasing the Love Dare book from FireproofMyMarriage.com! I really encourage everyone to see this movie, especially couples. Whether your marriage is on the rocks or in great condition, it will be great for the both of you.

Be Careful Little Eyes What You See

Watch the video:



Be careful little eyes what you see,
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the string.

Does Your Child Have Life Insurance?

Daniel and I were writing out bills this past weekend and of course we received our monthly bill for JD's life insurance. It got me thinking about my mommy friends online and if y'all had life insurance for your kids.

I know that quite a few of my friends don't have life insurance for their children because either they can't afford it right now or they think they don't need it for such a young child.

Well, we have Child Life Insurance from GerberLife.com. We got it for JD right after he was born because of an offer we received from the hospital I delivered at. We pay about $10 a month for JD's insurance. Check it out! :o) It's not a bad deal at all.

It's Not Much

It's not much but it's something. I signed up with UPromise.com about two months ago as an easy way to start saving money for JD's college fund. As of today, I've managed to earn $5.34! YAY! I know, I know ... it's not a whole lot but geez, it'll be 16 years before he goes to college! I think we're on the right track.

I shop at least once a month on Ebay and I earn 1%. I just renewed my McAfee Security Suite with Dell and earned 3%. And since CVS is the only store in our small town that has anything, I save with them when I use my CVS Extra Care Card and purchase certain products. It's so easy! See, I didn't join a while back because I thought you had to have a credit card as a way for them to track your purchases ... that's not it at all. You can register your grocery cards and debit cards and they keep track that way! It's pretty awesome!

So here's the thing .... my question for you is this: Have you signed up with UPromise.com?

Make Room for Daddy

I came across this article and wanted to share it with you! My parents divorced when I was only 5 years old and my mom later remarried when I was 10. My step-father is 'my dad' and I wouldn't have it any other way. Lucky me!

The importance of fathers should not be discounted

A mother recently wrote to a newspaper advice columnist, asking who should walk her daughter down the aisle on her wedding day: the bride’s biological father or stepfather.

“It’s challenging these days, when families are so complex,” the columnist responded, suggesting the bride could skip the worrisome part of the ceremony or have her mother walk her down the aisle instead.

In a culture riddled with broken homes and strained parent-child relationships, such dilemmas are common. Whether they’re contemplating a big day or just another day, many people aren’t sure what to do with dads.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 34 percent of the nation’s children live apart from their biological fathers. Of those, 40 percent haven’t seen their dads at all in the past year, and half have never been to their father’s residence.

Men who are engaged in their children’s lives often find themselves at odds with the negative perceptions born of a fatherless generation. From the beer-guzzling caricatures on greeting cards to clueless sitcom bumblers who contribute little to the family beyond a paycheck and a few laughs, fatherhood seems to beget more ridicule than respect.

Meg Meeker, a Christian pediatrician and family counselor, says kids are the ones who suffer most when a father’s influence is diminished. Strong paternal bonds are among the most crucial components to a child’s long-term success, she says.

“A father really is a child’s first male love,” says Meeker, author of Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters and Boys Should Be Boys: 7 Secrets to Raising Healthy Sons. “Any significant accomplishment in a kid’s life is really at risk unless he or she has a good relationship with Dad.”

Research supports Meeker’s claims. Multiple studies show a healthy relationship with a father lowers a child’s risk of academic problems; physical, sexual and emotional abuse; neglect; obesity; low self-esteem; depression; promiscuity; drug, alcohol and tobacco use; criminal activity; and incarceration.

“If a child has a positive experience with a dad during those early years, he learns a lot about trust and love,” Meeker says. “He figures out who he is by watching his father’s responses to him. This interaction can shape the entire course of his life.”

Boys are especially dependent on a father’s guidance to help them make the transition from adolescence to adulthood, Meeker says.

“Boys have a need to be able to size up their masculinity,” she says. “If they don’t have that dad influence, they never feel they’re good enough or strong enough.”

Experts agree that girls need their fathers, too, though for seemingly different reasons. Studies show females who grow up without a father in the home are seven times more likely to become pregnant during their teen years.

“A daughter is born with a desire to want to please her dad and get positive attention from him,” Meeker says. “The number one way to increase a girl’s self-esteem is for her dad to give her attention. Many girls who don’t get that from their dads seek it out in relationships with boys.”

Mary DeMuth says that’s exactly what happened in her life. Her parents divorced when she was an infant, and her biological father died when she was 10. Her mother remarried twice, which only added to DeMuth’s sense of instability.

“It left a pretty big hole in my heart and made me want to find a father,” DeMuth says. “When I became a teenager I had this insatiable need to be recognized by boys. I constantly needed attention that way. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was looking for a dad.”

DeMuth’s desperate search ended when she became a Christian at age 15. She found comfort in knowing God as her eternal Heavenly Father.

“I was healed at that moment in terms of needing that daddy, but it took years of trying to get whole,” says DeMuth, a mother of three and author of Building the Christian Family You Never Had: A Practical Guide for Pioneer Parents. “I’m 41 years old and still being healed of some of the wounds of the past.”

Unlike DeMuth, many who grow up without a father’s love are hesitant to commit to a relationship with God.

“The father puts a template over a child’s heart for how he or she is going to relate to men and male figures for life,” Meeker says. “It’s the open or the closed door to God the Father, so it’s an extremely important relationship.”

Yet many men fail to grasp the significance of fatherhood. In a 2006 survey of dads by the National Fatherhood Initiative, 91 percent agreed there is a father-absence crisis in this country, and 81 percent said that men generally perform better as fathers if they are married to the mothers of their children. However, more than half said fathers are replaceable by mothers and by other men.

W. Bradford Wilcox, a professor of sociology at the University of Virginia, says this statistic highlights a tragic devaluation of fatherhood.

“Fathers are not fungible,” says Wilcox, author of Soft Patriarchs, New Men: How Christianity Shapes Fathers and Husbands. “They are not second-class moms, or good helpers. Fathers play a distinctive and important role as providers, protectors, disciplinarians and playmates in the average American home. Children identify with and look up to their real father in a way that they won’t with other men, and they typically do not view their mothers in the same way that they view their fathers.”

Though there’s no substitute for a dad in the home, Meeker says there is still hope for single moms.

“We can’t pretend that kids don’t need a masculine influence,” Meeker says. “But single moms can find comfort in knowing God is the perfect Father and surrendering that dad portion of the equation to the Lord. They also need to ask God to show them other men in the child’s life who could be a solid role model for them.”

---

CHRISTINA QUICK is staff writer for Today’s Pentecostal Evangel and blogs at Refrigerator Art (cquick.agblogger.org).

So, what did you think?

What to know before buying your kid a cell phone

(CNN) -- He was gone. Kristi and Claudio Lai turned around for just one minute and their son had disappeared at Sea World.

Cell phones in schools can lead to classroom distractions, text-message cheating and inappropriate photographs.

After frantically searching the park, they found him 15 minutes later on a jungle gym. That was when the Simi Valley, California, couple knew they wanted to get Giancarlo a GPS-equipped cell phone very soon.

Their son is 3 years old.

Cell phones are rare in preschool, but as parents fill their child's backpack this month with pens, pencils and other supplies, some may be wondering whether a wireless phone is a necessary back-to-school accessory.

More and more children are showing up at school each August with cell phones, and the Center on Media and Child Health Web site states that 54 percent of 8- to 12-year-olds will have a cell phone in the next three years.

For many parents, a cell phone's convenience and the peace of mind it offers -- being able to reach your child at any time, anywhere -- is hard to argue against. But should every kid have a cell phone? And how young is too young?

Here are some issues parents should consider before buying their child a cell phone for the upcoming year.

Cost

When Kathy Carter's 10-year-old son Jordan first got his cell phone, he downloaded 3 million songs and games. At least that's what it looked like to the Teaneck, New Jersey, mother when she got the phone bill.

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"I had told him not to, and when I asked why he did it he said he just couldn't resist," Carter said.

Rebecca Banghart, of St. Thomas, Ontario, understands -- she used to sell cell phones.

"I've seen plenty of disgusted and disgruntled parents come in with phone bills in the hundreds [of dollars] for their kids," Banghart said. "And then there's the fact that kids will be kids. They play rough with and lose their toys. A phone will be no different."

Certainly the initial cost of a phone is something to consider. Do you want to buy a young child a $100 phone they could drop in a puddle? But perhaps more important is the type of plan you choose. Parents often can save money by choosing unlimited text-messaging options or a plan that restricts Internet access. See some child-friendly cell phone features »

School safety

Since the 1999 Columbine High School shootings and the 9/11 terrorist attacks, many parents feel better having a way to contact their children. But hundreds of students on cell phones during an emergency can cause problems for responders.

"There's a huge difference between feeling safer and being safer," says Kenneth Trump, president of National School Safety and Security Services.

According to Trump, students' cell phone use during emergencies can do three things: increase the spread of rumors about the situation, expedite parental traffic at a scene that needs to be controlled and accelerate the overload of cell-phone systems in the area.

Tom Hautton, an attorney for the National School Board Association, said that cell phones in schools also can lead to classroom distractions, text-message cheating and inappropriate photographs and videos being spread around campus.

On the other hand, Hautton said he understands how cell phones can ease safety concerns by allowing parents to contact their children when late to pick them up after school.

Sexual predators

The thought of sexual predators reaching her 12-year-old daughter through a cell phone never occurred to Kristi Lai. If your child were talking to someone like that, then you'd have to really not be aware of your kids, she said.

But flying under parents' radar is exactly what predators rely on, said Ted Thompson, president of the National Association to Prevent Sexual Abuse of Children. He believes children's cell phones enable what he calls a sexual predator's "grooming" process.

"A cell phone is with the person who controls it, and most parents don't check cell phones," Thompson said. "It's so much more of a private device."

Sexual predators use technology to gain trust over time, Thompson said. A cell phone allows a predator to maintain an inappropriate relationship with a child while acting appropriately face-to-face when other adults might notice.

Thompson recommends parents use new cell-phone technology that allows them to monitor their children's text messages and locations.

Health risks

In July, the University of Pittsburgh made headlines with a warning to faculty and staff: Limit your cell-phone use because of possible cancer risks. The message from the Cancer Institute director recommended that children use cell phones only for emergencies because their brains are still developing. See how electromagnetic waves affect a child's brain »

The university center's director for environmental oncology, Dr. Devra Davis, repeated the warning on CNN the next night.

Since cell phones have only been in widespread use for 10 years or so, the long-term effects of their radiation waves on the brain has yet to be determined, she said.

"Young children particularly need to be careful," she said. "We do not have enough information nor do we have enough time to be sure that cell phones are safe, and there's reason for concern that they may be harmful."

Davis's statement sums up the "jury's still out" aspect of this issue. Since cell phones have only been in widespread use for 10 years or so, the long-term effects of their radiation waves on the brain has yet to be determined.

Age, or responsibility?

Nani Sheats, of New Bern, North Carolina, said her parents gave her a cell phone for driving emergencies when she was 16. "I was so busy with school and sports that I rarely used the phone," she said.

Now a mother herself, Sheats plans to follow the same rule for her young children. Sheats and her husband will buy their kids phones only when they are old enough to spend time away from their parents without adult supervision.

Perhaps the biggest factor in children's cell-phone use -- bigger even than age -- is a child's responsibility level, Kathy Carter said. She and her son have conversations about the dangers a cell phone can bring, but they also embrace the wireless technology because of the convenience and comfort it offers.

Kristi Lai agrees that in the end, cell phones cannot serve as babysitters. Although she wants to buy Giancarlo a cell phone at a young age, she would never leave him or her 12-year-old daughter unattended, she said.

"It's just like anything else, and you have to monitor it," Lai said.

This article is from CNN.com!

Dollar Stretcher

Y'all know I'm about to start learning to crochet ... All I need is yarn. lol I'm still waiting on that that Ebay shipment to arrive. Well after doing a search for inexpensive yarn, I found DollarStretcher.com. WHAT A GREAT SITE!

You totally have to check it out. It gives you great ways to save money in ALL AREAS of your life. I could always save money on my grocery bill and I was reading new ways to try and save on that. One way, which I knew about, was Angel Food Ministries. I've used this service before but don't regularly. However, I may need to start using it regularly.

Another helpful section I read was One Income Families. Even though I work as a waitress part-time this whole section was helpful because my $200 I make a week doesn't go far. It's basically gas and grocery money ... But, I'm also digging us out of debt with our envelope method.

Did y'all read my post on that? Ex: I have a credit card bill that's about $280 or so. For four weeks I'm putting $67 in my envelope and very soon I'll have that credit card paid off. By the end of this year we'll have close to $2,000 in unnecessary bills paid off by doing this little envelope method. I'm only doing one bill at a time and over a 4-6 week span. The only one that is going to be long is the Gap bill. That one is stretching out over a 12 week period. Yep, its a big one. Then, once this year is over, starting in January, we'll be starting a new bill to get paid off. Slowly but surely.

So, back on topic, lol. The site is great, check it out! :o)

Saving Money for JD's College Fund

A friend a church told me about how I can begin saving money for JD's college fund! I must be honest, I'm a bit mad at myself for not doing this earlier, like 2 years ago! :o)

Upromise – The easy way to start saving for college! See, I didn't join at first because I thought you had to have a credit card, see we don't have those! But you can use your debit card. I have that. And you can also register your grocery cards from like Ingles, Kroger, Publix and CVS. I was like, WOW! So, I signed up last night and spent about an hour checking out all of the stores that are affiliated with UPromise!

Ebay, CVS, Wal-Mart, Gap, Old Navy ... and soooooooo much more. I got all excited once I realized how many stores I shop at will give me back up to 25% of the total bill. Then I got even more excited because Christmas is just 5 1/2 months away. All of the money I spend on Christmas ... shoot, I can save all kinds of money for JD's college fund.

Join Upromise for free and let hundreds of America’s leading companies help you save for college!

What is Your Bills IQ?

I came across this really cool website where you can get your Bills IQ! I thought I'd check it out and boy ... lol ... I need some help!

After a short 5 minute quiz I found out that I scored a 77% which is a C. Isn't that terrible? But ... I know I'm not alone and there are others who are worse off than me so that makes me feel a little better.

After you get your score they provide you some debt help with tips and advice. This was really helpful for me to read because although I already knew some of the tips, it was a refreshing course for me.

For example, we've already submitted our credit card debt to a debt consulting company and they've managed to eliminate late fees and all that, now we're paying one monthly fee and that's helping a lot.

As many of you know, I work 4 nights a week waitressing. It's easy for me to put money away because I make it everyday. Currently we have 3 unnecessary bills that need to be eliminated: Gap, Penn Foster and Ultra Diamond. My goal is to have them all paid off within 6 months using only my money I make at the restaurant. That's $1,500 in 6 months. This may seem easy to you but it's rough for us because Christmas is coming soon and we still have other bills that are due too. I have 3 envelopes that I'm going to put money in each day I work. With my plan, these will all be paid by December 31 of this year. Then, once those are paid off, I can focus on a couple of other unnecessary bills. By the end of next year, Daniel and I plan on having many of our unnecessary bills paid off then we can focus better on eliminating the debt with the debt consulting company. Slowly but surely we're getting there.

This website gives you tips on how you can improve your BillsIQ by doing little things that in return will help improve your credit score. They also go over each question with you giving you advice.

Did you know that you should be saving 10% of your paycheck? Yep! Daniel and I took this financial course at a church this year. The preacher was talking about tithing and all. 10% of your paycheck should be tithes, 10% should be savings and the rest should be what you live off of. The website advises you to be saving 10% of your income, too.

I highly recommend checking this website out! You'll really learn a lot and plus, it's fun!

Baby's smile 'like an addictive drug'

My lovebug --->

A BABY'S smile gives a new mother a high like a drug hit and is equally addictive, a study of the female brain shows.

Neural scans on women help explain the extremely strong bond between mother and baby by showing how images of the infant affect the brain.

A study involving 28 first-time mothers shows that when a woman looks at a photo of her baby smiling the reward centres of her brain light up.

These regions, called the substantia nigra, the striatum and the frontal lobe, are involved in emotion processing, cognition and behavioural outputs.

Lead researcher Lane Strathearn, a Queenslander now based in the US, said these areas had also been activated in experiments associated with drug addiction.

"It may be that seeing your own baby's face is like a natural high," said Dr Strathearn, who is based at the Baylor College of Medicine in Texas.

The study, published in the journal Paediatrics, showed this maternal activation was strongest with smiling faces.

Photos of babies crying did not evoke the same brain response.

In fact, there was little difference in mothers' brains when they saw their own babies' crying face compared to that of an unknown child, Dr Strathearn said.

The findings could help scientists explain the inner workings of that critical mother-infant bond.

"Understanding how a mother responds uniquely to her own infant, when smiling or crying, may be the first step in understanding the neural basis of mother-infant attachment," he said.

It could also help shed light on how the bond fails to form in some cases.

"The relationship between mothers and infants is critical for child development," Dr Strathearn said.

"For whatever reason, in some cases, that relationship doesn't develop normally and neglect and abuse can result, with devastating effects on a child's development."

By Tamara McLean
July 08, 2008 01:29pm

Study: Some sunscreens overpromise on protection

Read this article I found on CNN.com!

Any thoughts on what you find best that works for your family?

When Daddy does the Mom Thing

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Census: 5.6 million stay-at-home moms in 2006 vs. 159,000 stay-at-home dads

Praying for Your Children from Scripture

Quin Sherrer, Contributor. The Grandmother's Bible

Grandmas are noted for giving gifts to their grandchildren, but the greatest and most lasting gift you can give is faithful prayer. But if you don’t know where to begin, you might like to try praying Bible verses.

I learned to pray aloud when my friend Lib and I started praying together on the phone for just five minutes each morning at 8:00. We had a total of seven children, and they were our prayer focus. As young moms, we didn’t know much about prayer. So I suggested we paraphrase Scripture by inserting the names of our children and praying verses for them that covered every aspect of their lives.

We prayed together faithfully each weekday for 17 years. We knew the Word was written by the Holy Spirit’s inspiration and is full of power and hope. We also knew God said his Word would not return empty (see Isaiah 55:11). So our prayers were based on a solid foundation.

Today I pray for my six grandchildren, again paraphrasing Scriptures or inserting their names in certain verses, just as Lib and I prayed for our children.

For instance, in praying Isaiah 11:2, I ask that my grandchildren will have

the Spirit of the Lord rest on them—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of [reverential] fear of the Lord

Here are some other topics to pray for:

Salvation

Thank you, heavenly Father, that you are not willing that any of my grandchildren should be lost. I trust that each one will become a believer in you. I thank you in advance that they will become believers in you. I pray that they will be taught by you and that great will be their peace (see Matthew 18:14; 2 Peter 3:9; Isaiah 54:13).

Learning

May my grandchildren show aptitude for every kind of learning, be well informed and quick to understand. May they have wisdom, very great insight and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore (see Daniel 1:4; 1 Kings 4:29).

Maturity

May my grandchildren, like Jesus, grow in wisdom (mental) and stature (physical), and in favor with God (spiritual) and men (social). May they live lives worthy of you, Lord, and may they please you in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of you (see Luke 2:52; Colossians 1:10).

Protection

Thank you, Lord, that you will command your angels concerning my grandchildren and guard them in all their ways (see Psalm 91:11).

Against evil influences

I pray, Lord, that you will deliver my grandchildren from wicked and evil people. May you strengthen and protect them from the evil one (see 2 Thessalonians 3:2–3).

Favor

May your favor, O Lord God, rest upon my grandchildren; establish the work of their hands for them (see Psalm 90:17).

Future

Lord, I thank you that you know the plans you have for my grandchildren—to prosper them and not to harm them, to give them hope and a future. I pray that my grandchildren will not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But may their delight be in your law, and may they meditate on it day and night (see Jeremiah 29:11; Psalm 1:1–2).

Since the Word of God is “living and active” (Hebrews 4:12), when we form our prayers from it, we are speaking God’s own words, aligned with his will. Our grandchildren need our persistent Bible-based prayers. Will we make a commitment to pray for them all their lives? It is the best gift we can give them.

Excerpted with permission from The Grandmother’s Bible (Zondervan, 2008). With a year’s worth of devotions by women such as Ruth Graham, Elisa Morgan, and Elizabeth George, special Saturday and Sunday devotions, and a wealth of articles, prayers, and other features, The Grandmother’s Bible gives guidance and encouragement for today’s active grandmother to instill a legacy of love, acceptance, faith, and character in her grandchildren. To order, click here.

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Quin Sherrer, an award-winning author, has written or coauthored 27 books, including Grandma, I Need Your Prayers and Lord, I Need to Pray With Power. In addition to speaking at conferences, she has appeared on more than 300 radio and television programs. Quin earned her journalism degree from Florida State University. She is the happy grandmother of six.

Understanding Childhood Stress

As adults, many of us deal with stress on a daily basis. Due to our maturity, we also have behavior and other patterns that are in place to help us deal with the changing level of stress in our lives. Children also are affected by stress without having the advantage of having these established patterns. As a parent, you can teach your child how to deal with stress effectively and eliminate the possibility of long-term damage to the child's emotional state.

Childhood stress is divided into three categories. The first category is defined as normative or developmental stress which is classified as being low risk. This stress is caused by normal everyday situations and is part of the experience of growing up. Some examples of sources of this kind of stress in infants and toddlers include unfamiliar faces and surroundings, loud noises, and separation from their parents. As you see, these sources of stress are unavoidable and most children will become accustomed to them after a period of time.

For school age children, some sources of low risk stress could involve things like the arrival of a new sibling or starting school. As a parent, you can help your child deal with the stress in these situations by talking to them and being supportive. Encourage them to express their worries and concerns. If the child knows that he can talk to you, much of this stress will disappear.

The second category of childhood stress is critical or moderate risk stress. Examples of sources of this kind of stress in toddlers include overhearing their parents fighting, a lack of stimulation, and overstimulation. In school age children, this type of stress could be caused by moving to a new home. This level of childhood stress is a little more serious and you may need to call in outside help to aid your child in dealing with it. Your family doctor can give you suggestions about how to deal with stimulation issues. As for making a big move, you should talk openly with your child about his fears and concerns. Point out the advantages of your new home and try to emphasize how much fun it will be to make new friends.

The third category of childhood stress is catastrophic or high risk stress. This stress is the most serious and can leave permanent emotional scars on a child. Examples of sources of this type of stress include the death of a close one, the destruction of the child's home by a disaster, a divorce, and child abuse. You should seek professional help for your child in these situations, as you are probably dealing with the stress also. In the case of a death or a divorce, you should fully explain to your child the situation and the outcome. Your child will realize that something is wrong and the truth will be far less dramatic than the possible conclusions that he may draw on his own.

When dealing with your child's stress, you should try to remember what it was like at their age. Keep the lines of communication open and positively address any fears that he may have. By helping him deal with stress as a child you can help him to begin to put in place those protective behaviors that he will need as an adult.

10 Effective Ways to Parenting Toddlers While Dining Out

Toddlers always scream in public. It can be embarrassing situation for every parent while parenting toddlers. Parents face difficulty when they take their toddlers for dining out. Here are effective ways in parenting toddler while dining out.

Effective ways in parenting toddler while dining out:

1. Preparation and practice! If you have preparation and practice while parenting toddler, dining out can be an enjoyabe experinece for the entire family. Dealing with infant needs only preparation, but parenting toddler requires both aspects.

2. Disruptive behavior! Toddlers behave in disruptive way when they are hungry, need a diaper change or tired. Toddlers get bored during the waiting periods that are a part of restaurant dining which leads to disruptive behavior. Parenting toddler is easy if you prepare for these situations before only.

3. Selecting the restaurant! Restaurant selection is the first step in preparation. Find out whether the tables are set far apart that other diners will not be disturbed by your toddler noise. Find whether there is a place for breastfeeding so that a mother can feel comfortable nursing her toddler.

Find if there is room for diaper changing. Find out whether the restaurant is busy and the peak dining hours. If the restaurant is busy, quick service will not be there.

4. Practice in parenting toddler! When you enter the restaurant, practice comes into picture. You have to teach the toddler how to dine out. Start small and work your way. When you are starting to teach your toddler, select a family friendly place so that they will accept the behavior and noise of toddlers. Fast food places are the better option to teach toddlers in the beginning.

5. Don’t choose! Do not chose the restaurant which have play ground types of acivities and equipment for children. Such type of restaurants encourages loud behavior which is not what you are trying to accomplish. Once your toddler is habituated with fast paced settings, you can slowly work on your way to more formal settings.

6. Be prepared while parenting toddler! Bring a blanket for breastfeeding at the table. Make sure to have plenty of formula for a bottle fed baby. For a toddler, bring finger foods or light snacks to nibble while waiting for the main dish. Arrange the dining time to coincide with the normal mealtime of the toddler. Don’t offer unnecessarily to save his appetite for the meal.

7. Time is important! Select the time as it is important factor. You can choose nap time for young infant because baby can sleep happily in car seat or in your lap with breast or bottle while you can have peaceful meal.

While parenting toddler, select the time for best performance level for meal out. If your toddler is tired and meal timings are changed, it can lead to difficult situation.

8. No boredom! While parenting toddler, come prepared with the things so that they cannot get bored. Encourage them to do their own activities so that you can spend some time with your dining companions. You can get crayons and coloring books so that your toddler can enjoy.

9. Get the toddler things! While parenting toddler, bring your own supplies. Toddler cup with spill proof lid, paper towels or napkins, and package of baby wipes are good preventive measures.

10. Quick getaway! Be prepared to make a quick getaway if necessary. If your toddler behavior makes that necessary, you can simply getaway. Don’t bribe or bargain a toddler for good behavior. You feel inconveneint getting up and leaving at that moment but it can lead to long term behavioral gains.

With preparation and practice, parenting toddlers will become easy at the restaurant. While parenting toddlers, you have to remember these things so that the toddlers follow and carry into other social situations and make meals at home more pleasant.

*Parenting Tips*

Mom Sign

Here is a little sign mom might want to print out and hang up on the bathroom door.

Attention Children: The Bathroom Door is Closed.

Please do not stand here and talk, whine, or ask questions. Wait until I get out.

Yes, it is locked. I want it that way. It is not broken, I am not trapped. I know I have left it unlocked, and even open at times, since you were born, because I was afraid some horrible tragedy might occur while I was in here, but it's been 10 years and I want some PRIVACY.

Do not ask me how long I will be. I will come out when I am done.

Do not bring the phone to the bathroom door.

Do not go running back to the phone yelling, "She's in the BATHROOM!"

Do not begin to fight as soon as I go in.

Do not stick your little fingers under the door and wiggle them. This was funny when you were two, but not now.

Do not slide pennies, Legos, or notes under the door. Even when you were two this got a little tiresome.

If you have followed me down the hall talking, and are still talking as you face this closed door, please turn around, walk away, and wait for me in another room. I will be glad to listen to you when I am done.

And yes, I still love you.

(signed)
Mom

How To Save Money On Groceries

Q. The price of milk, rice and other food basics is soaring. How can I reduce my grocery bill while still providing my family with nutritious food?

A. With staples like milk now selling for almost $4 a gallon and the price of eggs at more than $2 per dozen, Americans' household budgets are being squeezed. And some analysts predict food inflation could double this year, lifted by the rising costs of fuel, corn and soybeans.

But families can take steps to limit the impact of higher prices.

"Overall, you can control what you spend even in an environment where food prices are escalating fast," said Goutam Challagalla, associate dean and associate professor of marketing at Georgia Institute of Technology. "You can save without sacrificing quality."

First, Challagalla and other experts recommend that consumers make a list of food items the family needs before they go shopping and stick to it. Walking aimlessly up and down the aisles will encourage shoppers to pick up extra items like cookies and other munchies.

It's also a bad idea to go shopping when you're hungry. Consumers tend to be more impulsive, and pick up unnecessary items when they're shopping on an empty stomach.

Here are more tips to keep your food budget in check:

• Buy store brands. The quality of store branded food items has improved dramatically in recent years, and many now compete with major national labels, according to Tom Marks, senior editor at Consumer Reports magazine. Some consumers may want to stick with name brand detergents or soaps, for example, but buying store brands for a broad array of products from fruit cups to cereals and pastas can save anywhere from 20 percent to 50 percent, Marks said.

• Evaluate unit prices. Buying in bulk is traditionally more economically, but that's not always the case, Marks says. So he and other experts recommend shoppers look at the item's cost per unit, which is found on the shelf sticker next to the item. Marks added that when items go on sale, shoppers should always compare the cost per unit on both the big and small packages to see which is a better deal.

But experts also say shoppers should keep in mind how much their families are going to consume. It's not economical to buy a big bag of fruit if it's going to end up rotting in the refrigerator.

• Compare prices of the same product in different areas of the store. "Where things are placed in a store can make a big difference," says Challagalla. For example, cheese is often cheaper in the dairy aisle than the deli because shoppers have to pay extra for it to be sliced.

• Clip coupons. Shoppers should look through circulars for special deals, but Marks warns them not to assume that all items in a supermarket's weekly flyer are on sale. He noted that manufacturers could have paid to have the item featured.

• Obtain a store card. These loyalty cards allow shoppers to get extra discounts on items without having to clip coupons.

• Consider frozen foods. Frozen peas, fish and other items are cheaper than fresh because they have a longer shelf life.

"Anything that is perishable, shoppers are going to have to pay higher prices because stores have to build it into their (profit) margins," said Challagalla.

• Ignore precut fruit or vegetables or other prepped items. While it's nice to have that pineapple cut up in chunks, that extra convenience costs money.

• Avoid items displayed at the checkout counter. Stores feature single serving pies, cans of soda and other items at the checkout that are often more expensive, but can be tempting to shoppers, particularly hungry ones, Marks said.

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