Are "THEY" Ruining Your Finances? by Jill Cooper www.LivingOnADime.com They say that it is impossible for a family to live on one income. They say you need a bigger house for the tax deduction. They say schools need to budget for palm pilots for students, even though they can't afford to pay the teachers. They say that you need a compact car because we're going to run out of gas. They say you need a big SUV so you'll be safe on the road. They say you need to be a vegetarian or you'll die. They say you should eat a lot of meat so you'll lose weight or you'll die. Over the centuries human beings have been compared to sheep over and over again. I never cease to be amazed at how true that is. If one sheep decides to head down a road that goes right over a cliff, they all follow. Even in history when people march and demand the right to be individuals they still always seem to dress and act alike. Remember the "flower children" of the 60's? Even with their "free to be me" attitude, they were horrified if a man walked in with a suit and tie, since it was different from what they would wear. If children are doing drugs, drinking or just wearing strange outfits, they justify it because "everyone is doing it". So often, the parents' response is "If everyone jumps off a cliff that doesn't mean you should do it, too." Is that the story we tell them with our actions? Kids are very shrewd and have no tolerance for hypocrisy. We hurt our families and ourselves if we blindly follow the crowd. " They " (I still haven't figured out who " they " are but I don't think I like " them " or " their " ideas.) have set a standard of living that we must live by-- no matter what the cost. "They" say you can't live on one income, so many moms who strongly feel that it is best for their families if they stay home get jobs outside the house because " they " say "you can't make it." Never mind that the extra expense of child care, work clothes and (for many) "guilt offerings" purchased for their kids often exceed the extra income. " They " say that's the way it's supposed to be. How many dads have become only figures the kids wave good-bye to in the morning before heading off to two jobs because " they " say that is the world in which we live. Too many people who do this find that later in life their marriages are suffering, their kids are rebellious and resentful of their absence and the employer for whom they've invested all their time "providing" for the family lays them off. "They" say you have to pay to send your children to college so they can become a success and make a lot of money. When did " they " come up with the idea that going to college makes a person successful? How many parents have accrued $40,000 in debt for their son or daughter's degree, only to find the student working in a field that has nothing to do with his degree? Certainly, a college education can be a useful tool, but it is one that is wasted if the student doesn't need it or fails to use it. I find that the most successful human beings are those whose parents spent time with them and had the time to teach them values, self confidence, self reliance and love. You can always lose your stuff, but you can't lose your values or the knowledge that your parents love you. Stop basing your financial decisions on what " they " think you should be doing. Financial worries are the biggest cause of stress for Americans, leading to all sorts of physical and emotional problems. These worries are almost always avoidable, but many choose the worries over the common sense. The point of this story is not that you should never spend any money on anything. The point is that it is important that you decide whether or not spending your time or money some particular way is a good idea for your family. Keep in mind that when " they " tell you you should do something, " they " are often trying to sell you something you don't really need. Whenever you find yourself reflecting on your life and you realize you are doing something because " they " expect you to do it, tell " them " to butt out of your life, decide yourself what is really best for you and your family and do it! Jill Cooper is a frugal living experts and the co-editor of www.LivingOnADime.com . As a single mother of two, Jill Cooper started her own business without any capital and paid off $35,000 debt in 5 years on $1,000 a month income. Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com More >>

How to Invest When Your Money Supply is Short By A. B. Jacobs A recent request from a newsletter subscriber was short and to the point: "Would you please give us some suggestions on how to invest when you don't have much money?" This sounded like a challenge I'd enjoy tackling. But as I wrestled with it, I realized the question involved far too many variables. Among them: How old is the individual? How little money is available to invest? What assets are currently held? I sensed that nothing less than a massive treatise could do justice to the subject. So I've narrow it down to something manageable, with the question becoming: I am single, 35 years old, possess few assets, and set aside $250 in surplus funds each month. How can I sensibly invest? Before I suggest how these funds might best be utilized, I'll risk irritating 95 percent of investment advisors by suggesting how they should not be invested. These monies should not go into the customarily recommended mutual funds, whether they be managed, index, balanced, sector, exchange traded, hedge, or any combination thereof. To the further displeasure of insurance company representatives, none of the cash should find its way into annuities of any sort. And lastly, the prospect of dabbling in precious metals, such as gold or silver, dare not even be contemplated. The reason I avoid conventionally promoted investments is because they are subject to market vagaries. The appropriate goal for this individual will be a measure of assured financial security upon retirement age. With only modest funds available, all of which must perform productively, there is no room for uncertainty. With the parameters established, the logical question becomes: What can $250 monthly be invested in that will predictably generate a sufficient return to guarantee financial self-sufficiency for a person in thirty years? I'll offer what some persons may regard as an unconventional reply. The assets should be placed into sound interest-bearing vehicles such as certificates of deposit, treasury notes, or corporate bonds. Though such a strategy may seem unglamorous, value can grow remarkably over a long period, with thirty years being sufficient time for favorable maturity. The secret ingredient is compound interest, which is as close to magic as you'll ever experience. To give you an appreciation of the potential, consider how $250 monthly will grow if it can be invested at a reasonably obtainable 71/2 percent return, compounded semi-annually, over 30 years. At the end of that time, it will become $341,500. What occurs, simply, is that when paid, the interest earns interest, which in turn earns more interest, which in turn . . . I think you get the picture. This multiplying effect resembles a geometric progression-a sequence in which the ratio of a term to its predecessor is always the same. Perhaps it passed over your head when first exposed to the principle in high school math, but as a get-rich-steadily device it is a winner. Although the investment technique I've just described is valid, there nonetheless is a fly in the ointment, for we've ignored an important element. The numbers I've calculated do not take into consideration income taxes. As all interest generated will be taxed at the top of the taxpayer's marginal bracket, a portion will be unavailable to benefit from the compounding effect. We must contemplate what this will mean in dollars available at retirement. We'll presume this individual receives enough salary and other revenue to fall into a combined state-federal tax bracket of about 33 1/3%. In a state like mine-California-it doesn't take much income to get there pretty quickly. Losing that one-third translates to lowering the 7frac12;% annual rate of return to 5%. The effect on the size of the retirement stockpile after thirty years is disheartening. Instead of the $341,500 we previously anticipated, there will only be $214,700 in the pot. That $126,800 reduction can mean the difference between a comfortable retirement, as opposed to just scraping by. Before we throw in the towel, let's consider whether there's some way of fixing things , for much of success in life is analyzing our options and carefully selecting from among the choices available. Luckily, just such an opportunity presents itself, thanks to a tax provision that first became available in 1998. It is the Roth IRA, a type of retirement account, available to certain taxpayers, from which all income is forever tax-free. By opening a self-directed Roth IRA account with a brokerage firm-preferably a discount one with minimal fees-all investments are held as IRA assets with the interest income accruing to the account free of taxes. Withdrawals in any amount, with neither tax nor penalty, are allowed from the account when the taxpayer reaches the age of 591/2. By taking advantage of this type of account, we fully restore our 7frac12;% annual return, subject only to a modest administrative charge. There is a final factor we must consider in this analysis-that of increased cost of living. Just what buying power will $341,500 actually command in thirty years? It's my belief that there's a correlation between inflation and interest rates. Most likely the dollar's decline will reflect the bond interest obtainable. Other economies usually perform this way; a hefty interest rate compensated for the 68 percent per year average decline in the Russian ruble during the period 1992 through 1999. Thus if thirty years of inflation results in a dollar with greatly diminished purchasing power, the obtainable interest rates, together with the corresponding multiplier effect, should greatly increase the total number of dollars. In short, there will likely be a trade-off. AL JACOBS has been a professional investor for nearly four decades. His business experience ranges from real estate, mortgage, and securities investment to appraisal, civil engineering, and the operation of a private trust company. In addition to managing his investments on a day-to-day basis, he is a featured financial columnist for both online and print publications. He is the author of Nobody's Fool: A Skeptic's Guide to Prosperity . You may subscribe to his financial Newsletter, "On the Money Trail," at no cost or obligation, by visiting www.onthemoneytrail.com . More >>

Save Up To 50% On Your Grocery Bill! By Jill Cooper www.LivingOnADime.com I have discovered the secret of saving money feeding babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Well, I can't take the credit for it. My mom taught it to me many years ago but I didn't put it into practice until the first financial crisis we had when my husband was laid off. What I have been practicing now for many years has now become one of the new buzz phrases -- "portion control". Usually when we think of portion control it is in connection with dieters and not young children or saving money. Most American parents serve themselves and their children huge portions of food. Their families eat only part of it, and then they discard the rest. Next time you scrape those half eaten plates of food into the trash, think about this: 30% to 50% of the food and drinks we buy, whether we eat at home or out, get thrown away. If you don't believe it's true, observe your own family this week. How many half full bowls of soggy cereal do you throw away? What about half empty glasses of juice, milk or pop? It is easy to forget that children under the age of four have only about a quarter of an adult's body weight. Often, we feed them adult portions and when we do give them smaller portions, each portion is usually only reduced to about half an adult portion. Do you use that large serving spoon and dump a full spoon of food on your child's plate? Say you give yourself two spoons of green beans and your child one-- That means that you have given yourself about 24 green beans and your child 12 when in reality, that child needs only about six. When deciding how much food to give your kids, start small and work your way up. Remember, if they eat what is on their plates you can always give them more. Use the same method for drinks. Even a small sippy cup should only be filled half full. This not only reduces the amount that you throw away, but also reduces the losses from spills. Another great way to save a lot of money is to give children more water. In addition to serving children overly large portions, failing to give them enough water leads to obesity. At this point, many parents point out that young children need lots of milk and juice. That is true to a degree, but consider this: The USDA recommends 12 oz of milk per day for children under 4. That is equal to two sippy cups. Don't forget that kids get milk from other sources too, including milk with their cereal and cheese. We think the more juice and milk they get the better, but once kids have had as much as they need nutritionally, the rest just adds calories. If you are ready to cut the waste from your food budget, here are a few more tips to save money and make your life easier: Cut the crust off your child's sandwich before you give it to him. I have tried for years to get my children and grandchildren to eat the crust and have discovered that it is like trying to climb Mount Everest. It can be done, but I'm not sure if it is worth all the work and headache. So give in and cut off the crust. Throw it in a bag and use it for bread crumbs or croutons. Then the kids will eat their entire sandwiches instead of just that hole in the middle and you won't waste the sandwich filling that would have been tossed with the crust. . Cut kids' sandwiches into small squares or triangles. Their hands are smaller then ours. Imagine always manhandling sandwiches that are two to three times normal size and you can relate to kids with full adult-sized sandwiches. This goes for all their food. Cut anything they have to hold in their hands into manageable sized pieces. Spills always happen, but they can be minimized. Try placing a paper doily at the top of your child's plate or someplace where you know a cup won't be likely to spill. Then teach the child that the cup belongs on the doily. Start giving your little ones only half of items like candy bars, gum, and popsicles. When you go out to eat, split a hamburger or order of fries between two younger children. You can even ask for an extra cup and split milk shakes and drinks. Control snacks. Don't just let the kids graze all day on candy and chips. Give children healthier things to fill them up, like popcorn or a piece of fruit at specific time intervals. Feed toddlers and preschoolers your leftovers. They usually don't balk at them like older children do. All those two tablespoon leftovers that are hardly worth saving are usually just the right amount for younger children. Jill Cooper is the editor of www.LivingOnADime.com . As a single mother of two, Jill started her own business without any capital and paid off $35,000 debt in 5 years on $1,000 a month income. Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com More >>

Frugal Ethics When Frugal Becomes Just Plain Cheap By Tawra Kellam www.LivingOnaDime.com There are times when it's tempting to lie, steal or break one of the other 10 Commandments to get a good deal but, in living frugally, we all need to stick to being honest. This is not always easy to do, but I want to give some examples that may help you stay honest. Here are some common tactics that some people use that are unethical and sometimes illegal: You need some pens because you are running short so you take a handful from a store that is giving them out. This is stealing. If you take one, that's fine. Unless they tell you to take them all, it is tacky to take a large number of them. They're offering them simply as a courtesy. You buy an item and you use it a few times and then return it because you're done with it. Stealing and lying. You probably won't tell the sales clerk you just needed to use it for a few times and even if you do, that's only OK if it is a rental store. If an item breaks, doesn't work or is not the right color, it is fine to return it. If you just needed it "for a few times" (like a dress for a special occasion) and know you won't use it again, you're stealing if you return it. If you eat a food item with a guarantee on the box and it tastes nasty, return it. That's why they offer a guarantee. If you eat the entire contents of the box first and return the mostly-empty box, it probably wasn't actually nasty. If you try to pass off your 14 year old child as a 12 year old so that you only have to pay for a child's meal, you are lying and teaching your child that lying is good when it benefits you. If you find a "great deal" that you can't live without but you don't have the money in your checking account, don't write a check. Let it be the "one that got away" If you knowingly write a bad check, you are stealing and lying. If you find a "great deal", buy it and then hide it from your husband, you're lying (unless it's his birthday present ;-). If you have to hide it, you know you're doing something wrong. If you charge up your credit cards with frivolous things like shopping and eating out and then declare bankruptcy, you are stealing from the credit card company and from everyone who does business with that company. Bankruptcy is intended to help people who end up financially strapped because of reasons beyond their control, like catastrophic medical expenses or the death of a spouse. It is unethical to declare bankruptcy because you went on a shopping spree, because you bought something you couldn't afford when you bought it or because you decided to change careers and no longer want to pay the student loans for your old career. You signed that piece of paper when you purchased the item saying you would pay them back and you didn't. It's up to you to pay them back any (legal :-) way you can, even if it does mean feeling "deprived" for a time. One more thing about bankruptcy: It is unethical to incur lots of debt "keeping up with the Joneses" and then go bankrupt because the debt is so large. Many people look at others and say to themselves, "Those people are the same age as me. I work hard. I deserve that too." or "our house is too small" or "our car is a real clunker so we need to buy a brand need one to "save" on repair costs ( a huge myth, by the way!). If you can afford these things, by all means, buy them. If you can't afford those things, find a way to make more money or learn to be happy with what you have. Frugal living is about making good financial decisions. There are so many things you can do to spend your money more wisely, so when you think you can get a "good deal", but it requires doing something that hurts someone else, pass it up. Whenever you're in doubt about whether something is ethical, ask yourself if it would be OK with you if the situation were reversed and you were the person potentially coming up short. Be honest. We've all heard "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." If you would object to others doing it to you, you better look for a better way to save. Tawra Kellam is the editor of www.LivingOnADime.com . Tawra and her husband paid off $20,000 debt in 5 years on $22,000 a year income. Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com. More >>

Slow Down and Enjoy the Magic of Summertime By Patti Teel www.pattiteel.com "Summertime, and the living is easy..." Summertime is in full swing. And I don't know about you, but I'm finding it difficult to stick to a schedule and to buckle down and work. Perhaps childhood memories of long summer days spent at the neighborhood swimming pool have forever altered my cell memory-triggering an age-old urge to slow down the pace and enjoy life's simple pleasures. Rather than swimming upstream and fighting the urge to slow down, I've decided to go with the summertime flow. I hope that you and your children decide to do the same and enjoy a magical summer that includes carefree time to explore, dream and play. Soon enough, we'll once again be asking ourselves, "Where did the summer go?" Before fall arrives and back to school activities take precedence, be sure to enjoy the magical days of summer. Unexpected, delightful events are part of the fun and wonder of the summer. But if our children's days are overscheduled, they're likely to miss these unexpected delights-and so will we, as we frenetically drive from one activity to the next. Even though your intentions may be good, avoid being overzealous about providing structured activities for your children. Be sure not to fill all your children's time with lessons, summer camp, team sports, or other organized events By eliminating the summer activities that are not particularly enjoyable or important to your child, you are likely to find the time and space to enjoy the surprises of the day as they arise. Even the smallest events can be exciting to children, and it's a wonderful gift to be able to see the world through their eyes. If you unexpectedly see a beautiful butterfly, follow it with your child. If you make a wrong turn while driving, see where it takes you. If your son or daughter wants to have a last-minute lemonade stand, go for it. Enjoy the effortless flow of summertime. Each and everyday this summer, leave some time for your children to do whatever they want-even if it appears that they are choosing to do nothing at all. Don't think of it as wasted time. Children are naturally creative and you will be providing them with the necessary time and space to use this natural ability to be resourceful, self-sufficient and independent. At first, when you step back from your full time role as the summertime entertainment director, your children may not know what to do with themselves. This will change as children gradually become more accustomed to relying on their own devices to creatively entertain themselves. Many families find that they do best when they strike a balance between free time and planned activities. For example, you may wish to keep a calendar of scheduled activities such as trips to visit relatives, outings to the zoo, library, museum, or the family vacation. But don't be tempted to over schedule, and make time at the end of each day to relax, talk or read. Take a few quiet moments to reminisce on the simple summertime activities that brought you pleasure when you were a child. Perhaps they can become family traditions that you share with your own children and one day, with your children's children. About the author: Dubbed "The Dream Maker" by People magazine, Patti Teel is a former teacher and the author of The Floppy Sleep Game Book , which gives parents techniques to teach their children a nightly ritual to independently de-stress, relax and fall asleep. Children who know how to quiet themselves and turn inward will be able to relax and fall asleep-even when they are far from home, such as on a family vacation or at summer camp. Visit Patti online to subscribe to her free newsletter - www.pattiteel.com . Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com. More >>

Five Money Issues Couples Must Never Fight Over By A. B. Jacobs www.onthemoneytrail.com It's normal that spouses harbor different opinions on a variety of subjects. The two maroon shirts I occasionally wear-and love-are regarded by my wife as particularly ugly. As she's kind enough to humor me on this matter, it's only fitting that I don't openly criticize the TV melodrama she chooses to view at 9 o'clock every Thursday night. Although we seldom bicker over things, at times our respective differences, particularly on the matter of money, are clearly stated. And this is as it should be, for income and expenditures are at the heart of any partnership, family as well as business. With that said, it's my belief that there are five basic issues in which both spouses must be in firm accord. These represent the most prevalent omissions and commissions that lead to untold grief for many couples. 1. If I should die before I wake. As a very first consideration, every family provider must arrange financially for his or her survivors in the event of untimely death, meaning the spouse and all minor offspring. A common way to accomplish this is with a life insurance policy. This is where controversy arises, for there exists an industry devoted to selling products that minimize death benefits while maximizing profits for its marketers. Regardless of sales pitches to the contrary, you want an inexpensive and unadorned 20- or 30-year level benefit term policy, of sufficient face value (normally no less than ten times the insured's annual income), from an insurer with an A.M. Best rating of A+ or A++. Once the company is chosen and the face amount of the policy is determined, neither husband nor wife should question the wisdom of the periodic premium outlay. 2. The minimum payment is a road to disaster. No single implement has lead to greater misery for more families than the credit card. Over the past couple of generations it has been promoted in a way to financially destroy the unsophisticated user. It's my belief that a credit card should serve a single purpose: a convenience when neither cash nor check is readily available. Purchases should only be made in a manner that the account balance is paid in full each month before any interest can be charged. Both spouses must conduct their lives by this rule. If either cannot do so, all credit cards should be destroyed with members of the family adjusting their lives accordingly. 3. All hail the horseless carriage. With the exception of hearth and home, the motor vehicle constitutes the typical American's single most important fixation. No other product is more forcefully marketed, and far too many people succumb to its allure, forfeiting a substantial portion of disposable income. I'll put it bluntly: No one should drive a vehicle that is financed or leased. You should acquire your transportation 100% cash on the barrelhead, even if it means you drive a 1984 Toyota Corolla. Each spouse should enthusiastically embrace this concept. At a later date, when your fortune is deservedly secure, you may feel free to sport brand new matching Rolls Royces-but again, devoid of any financing. 4. Education doesn't make you smart-merely educated. Too many dollars that go toward tuition and ancillary expenses are wasted. The educational establishment has convinced the nation that post secondary schooling must appear prestigious and be costly. The result is that untold numbers of college graduates and their parents are in hock big time, some never to emerge from debt. What a waste! I advocate college-on-the-cheap, with the freshman and sophomore years spent at a community college, commuting from home, and the junior and senior years at a reasonably priced local state university. For a bright and diligent student, the education received is as good as four years at Harvard. Both spouses should be in accord on this principle. The finest gift a parent can give an offspring is the assurance that child will never need to support an indigent parent. 5. It's never too soon to plan for the future. A most repeated statement of persons in their late 50's and beyond is: "I never thought I'd get here this soon." It's for this reason that a wise couple will plan for their retirement at the earliest age. There must be no question that retirement accounts, whether they be IRAs, 401(k)s, or other private programs, be established, and funded, from the earliest working days. In addition, funding should continue year after year, as though future well being depends upon the assets accumulated-for indeed, it does. It is true, of course, that regular allocation of meaningful sums toward retirement reduces what is available for current luxuries. This is where mutual resolve, together with a healthy dose of discipline, is vital. Above all, neither spouse should undermine the efforts necessary to insure that retirement years will truly be a period of prosperity, free from the financial worries in which the majority of citizens are immersed. I've long contended that the benefits of wealth only intensify with the passing years. Let me sum things up: It's been said, and rightly so, that personal satisfaction and financial contentment is not dependent as much upon the amount of income earned, as the way in which that income is used. It should surprise no one that the marketing of services and products is now the most pervasive industry in the world, employing highly effective methods to create demands for goods of all sorts. The social and psychological pressures brought to bear on prospective customers are more than many persons can resist. If you hope to prosper, it's vital that you avoid the impulse to purchase unwisely. As pleasing as childish illusions may be, they invariably lead to disappointment. Keep this constantly in mind as you conduct your financial affairs. AL JACOBS has been a professional investor for nearly four decades. His business experience ranges from real estate, mortgage, and securities investment to appraisal, civil engineering, and the operation of a private trust company. In addition to managing his investments on a day-to-day basis, he is a featured financial columnist for both online and print publications. He is the author of Nobody's Fool: A Skeptic's Guide to Prosperity. You may subscribe to his financial Newsletter, "On the Money Trail," at no cost or obligation, by visiting www.onthemoneytrail.com . Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com. More >>

"No Money, No Time"- Sorry Mom, But I Ain't Buyin' It By: Carrie Lauth This week on Work at Home Moms Talk Radio, my friend Kelly McCausey talked about Moms who say they don't have enough money to start a home based business. She went on to explain that she wasn't born with a silver spoon in her mouth either and had to scrape together $15 from her grocery money to start her online venture. Her diatribe got me thinking. I don't buy the No Money excuse either. I've known women who did whatever it took to get the cash to start their business. Let me give you some examples. One Mom took her little girl's fancy Sunday dresses to a consignment shop and used the cash to buy her Direct Sales kit. You think her daughters are upset with her about that? Nah. Now she takes them with her when she travels around the world. One Mom had a yard sale, and used that $80 to invest in a business. She also gave a flyer that she had printed up on her computer to the people who visited her sale. (They can't run away! Added bonus.) One Mom went around pre-selling the product. She told everyone about how great the stuff was, took orders, and collected the money. She deposited the checks and used that money to buy the product at distributor price. She then turned around and sold the product to those customers at retail. You can quite literally start a business online for around $20. For instance, Dayana will host your website for an entire year for $15. You can buy a domain name for $2.99-$10. You can start with that, and as you begin to earn money, reinvest in your business. You'll need a mailing list manager and a couple of other tools to really succeed, but the point is to start somewhere. In this country, if a person cannot come up with that little cash, they're likely either extremely lazy or totally uncreative. That kind of person isn't a good candidate for a home based entrepreneur anyway so it's just as well. Other ideas:Get a loan from a friend or family member, complete with a written agreement to pay back the money. If you're really hard up and don't have a family member or friend who loves you enough to loan you a few bucks, then you have other problems! You could even approach your sponsor if you're considering joining a Direct Sales company. Tell her you will book 5 parties in your first week and give her all the profits until the money is repaid. If you got that down in writing, told her your plan of attack and are sincere, I can't imagine her saying no! She knows you're a temporarily broke but highly motivated, "out of the box" thinking person who she knows will likely be an awesome addition to her team. Sell some stuff on eBay. You can clean out your closets (or somebody else's!) or go to a thrift store and buy some Baby Gap clothes to sell on eBay for extra cash. CDs, DVDs, and hardcover books also sell well. Do a quick, temporary odd job. I know a Mom who put up a handmade sign at a local health food store: Non Toxic Cleaning Services. She pocketed $150 for a few hours work, and guess what- she used her own natural cleaning product and likely made a customer too. Cancel the cable. Contrary to popular belief, cable television is not a need. Use that $60 a month or more to build a business. That will give you a leg up on the other favorite excuse too... Another excuse I don't buy? The "No Time" Excuse We all have 24 hours in a day. Some people are able to do amazing things with their gift of time. Remember the Mom who sold the dresses at the consignment shop? She had 7 kids. 7 home schooled kids. She built her business one person at a time, just by inviting them over to her house for a cup of tea while her kids played around her. If anyone had "no time", it was her. But she took the time. Now she enjoys a residual income that allows her to go on cruises and spoil the grandkids. People have time to watch their favorite TV shows every day or every week, but they don't have time to exercise? To quote Homey the Clown, "I don't think so." If you have kids, why not work out a babysitting co-op with another working Mom? You could watch her kids for a few hours two or three days a week and she could do the same for you. During that time you could focus on building your business. If you're very careful with how your spend your time, a few hours 3 days a week could be enough to start and build a profitable business! As you begin to earn a profit, you should then commit to reinvesting in tools that will save you time and automate different tasks. You could also outsource some of the easier activities, or the things you don't enjoy so much, to someone else so you can focus on the things you're good at that really earn you money. When you have a home based business, you get good at making the most of your time around the house. You become more efficient with household tasks, and you ask for help and delegate more too. Those things save you time. I know what I've said here may step on some toes, but I speak truth. Stop making excuses. Get creative and figure out how to solve these problems so you can move forward with your goals. Now go get 'em! Carrie Lauth is a work at home Mom of 4 and is excited about helping other Moms succeed online. Sign up for her free newsletter and get a free report on how you can earn money from your own online magazine: www.Business-Moms-Expo.com Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com More >>

What's for Dinner? Quick Healthy One-Pot Meals By Elizabeth Yarnell www.GloriousOnePotMeals.com One-pot meals can be the solution to quick and easy cooking when no one really has the time to cook. While one-pot meals come in various forms, they all have the common concept of putting a variety of ingredients into a single vessel and cooking them all together. There's no fretting about getting the timing right so that your broccoli is perfectly steamed at the same time as the pot roast comes out of the oven medium-rare and the rice is ready to fluff, which is a boon for all those who aren't wizards at culinary planning. And, perhaps best of all, rather than a sink full of dirty pots and pans to scrub after dinner, there is only one pot to clean. One-pot meals include everything from light stir-fries to hearty skillet meals to heavy casseroles made with cans condensed cream-of soup. Typically each forkful contains a little of each ingredient in the meal, whether it's in a slab form or bite-sized pieces. Crock-pot cooking, where all the ingredients are placed in a crock-pot along with some liquid and then simmered at a very low heat for 6-8 hours until everything has disintegrated into a stew, is another popular method of creating of one-pot meals. The only downside to each of these methods is that they are usually not a complete and balanced meal in and of themselves. Since the definition of a complete, healthy meal includes protein, carbohydrates and vegetables, stir-fries are typically served with rice, skillet meals with pasta, casseroles with a salad, and crock-pot stews with bread. Infuse it To have a truly complete and balanced one-pot meal consider "infusion" cooking. Infused one-pot meals are made by layering whole foods into a closed container- either a foil or parchment pouch or a cast iron Dutch oven-and then baking the container in the oven at a very high heat for under an hour. These dinners can contain everything needed for a full and balanced one-pot meal without having to prepare rice or a salad separately. Low in fat and high in nutrition, almost any ingredients can be added to an infused one-pot meal to meet personal dietary preferences. Infused one-pot meals prepared in a Dutch oven can even accept frozen elements without any change in cooking time or flavor. For the answer to the age-old question of "What's for dinner?" consider an infused one-pot meal for a healthy, quick and easy way to feed your busy family. Here is a great recipe to get you started! California Chicken Servings: 2 Ingredientsfrac12; cup cous cous, dry 2-3 pieces chicken frac12; tsp. salt frac14; tsp. lemon pepper 1 avocado, firm-ripe 2 tomatoes, cored, wedges frac12; green bell pepper, seeded, cut in wedges frac12; cup olives, small, ripe, pitted, sliced frac12; onion, chopped 1 tsp. celery salt 1/3 tsp. basil, dried 1/3 tsp. marjoram, dried 1 Tbsp. dry sherry 1 Tbsp. lemon juice Instructions Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Spray the inside of a 2-quart cast iron Dutch oven and the lid with olive oil. Pour dry couscous into pot. Add 1/2 cup water and evenly distribute grains across bottom. Arrange the chicken atop the couscous. Season lightly with salt and lemon pepper. Add layers of green peppers, tomatoes and olives. Again, season lightly with salt and lemon pepper. Halve, pit and peel the avocado. Then, layer it in slices or cubes on top of everything. In a small bowl, combine the onion, celery salt, basil, marjoram, sherry, and lemon juice and pour into pot over everything. Cover and bake for 45 minutes. Tips Be certain that your oven temperature is accurate and your oven is fully pre-heated before putting the pot inside it. An oven thermometer can help ensure your oven is on target. For light and fluffy couscous, fluff it with a fork when serving and let sit for a few minutes before eating. About the author: Elizabeth Yarnell is the author of Glorious One-Pot Meals: A new quick healthy approach to Dutch oven cooking , a guide to preparing infused one-pot meals. Visit Elizabeth online at www.GloriousOnePotMeals.com . The Glorious One-Pot Meal cooking method is unique and holds US patent 6,846,504. Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com. More >>

White Beans For The Family Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers www.FreshBaby.com At the market: Beans are available dried or canned. We like canned beans because they are easy to use. Both organic and low-sodium varieties are available. Canned beans are already cooked. Storage: Use canned beans within a year of their purchase. Preparation: Drain and rinse canned beans for at least one full minute. Soups and Stews: Add a cup of nutrition to your favorite soups or stews by adding 1 can (15 oz.) of white beans, drained and rinsed, to your recipe. Sloppy Joes and chili: Next time you're making Sloppy Joes or chili, try a new twist, instead of using all meat, go half and half - 1/2 meat and 1/2 white beans. It will enhance the flavor and the nutrition too. Greek bean salad: Combine 1 can (15 oz) of white beans, drained and rinsed, with 1 cup of diced cucumber, 1 cup of chopped seeded tomatoes, 1/3 cup dice red onion, 1/4 cup diced black olives, and 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese. In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup olive oil and 2 Tbsp red wind vinegar, pour over salad and toss gently. Better than Hummus Dip Ingredients: 1 can (15 oz)white beans, drained and rinsed 2 Tbsp mayonnaise 1 Tbsp capers 1 Tbsp chopped fresh basil 1 Tbsp chopped green onions 1 garlic clove, minced 1 Tbsp lemon juice Salt and pepper, to taste Directions: Combine all ingredients in a food processor/blender and process until smooth. Serve in bowl with veggie cruditeacute;s (carrots, green beans, cherry tomatoes, asparagus, cauliflower). About the authors: Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers are sisters, the mothers of five children and founders of Fresh Baby, creators or products such as homemade baby food kits, baby food cookbooks, baby food and breast milk storage trays, breastfeeding reminders, and child development diaries.Visit them online at www.FreshBaby.com and subscribe to their Fresh Ideas newsletter to get monthly ideas, tips and activities for developing your family's healthy eating habits! Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com. More >>

Five Frivolous Items that Are Really Worth It By A. B. Jacobs www.onthemoneytrail.com For the past several years I've written articles extolling the virtues of thrift, outlining programs for sensible spending, and presenting guidelines for sound investment. Perhaps, then, you'll understand why I found myself taken aback recently by an e-mail that said: "You talk a lot in your content about the smart and practical things to do with money. However, when people do come into money, they are going to 'blow' some of it. So would you share some ideas on which items are smarter choices when it comes to frivolous spending or admittedly unnecessary luxury things that just make people feel good?" I'll confess that I drew a momentary blank. Quoting from William Jennings Bryan's testimony in the 1925 Scopes evolution trial, "I don't think about things I don't think about." Well, I've since thought about it; perhaps the five extravagances I've listed below are justifiable. But first a disclaimer: The thought of "blowing" money-any money-doesn't sit well with me. However, I suppose I can tolerate seeing up to ten percent of a windfall spent frivolously, though even that causes me to cringe a bit. You may now read on. 1. You've just received an unexpected tax refund of $6,500 and want to celebrate your good fortune , even though it was your own money before you overpaid the IRS. How one-tenth, or $650 might be enjoyably spent? Why not take a weekend vacation as my wife and I did recently? We chose Palm Desert, an easy drive from our home. Two night's accommodation at Residence Inn by Marriott at $215 per night, dining at our favorite restaurants, an afternoon spent at Palm Desert Tennis Club, and an evening stroll through the shops along El Paseo after dinner, left us still in possession of a portion of that pre-allocated $650. We returned home relaxed and refreshed. There are certainly worse ways to spend your dollars. 2. Aunt Hilda just passed on at the ripe age of ninety-three, leaving you-her favorite grandniece-$15,000. After carefully stashing $13,500 of it into your money market account, you might choose to indulge yourself with the rest. So where can you spend $1,500 to good advantage? Why not get rid of that old 27" television set you've stared at for the past fourteen years and begin viewing your favorite shows in somewhat grander style? A visit to Best Buy Stores reveals that you can purchase a 32-inch Panasonic LCD HDTV with HDMI Interface and Built-in Stereo Speakers for $1,330. Added tax, delivery, and installation charges still place the set in your home at less than the target figure. And with any luck, you'll continue to enjoy your acquisition for fourteen more years. 3. Though it seems like antiquity, common stock in Berkshire Hathaway 'A' once commanded three hundred dollars per share, and the five shares you had the good fortune to acquire just sold for a cool $400,000. After setting aside enough to pay state and federal capital gains taxes, you're still $300,000 ahead. Perhaps you deserve a treat, and why not the toy you've always wanted: a classic or vintage automobile that will reveal your devotion to the motoring world of yesteryear? One of the more popular vehicles fitting this bill is the Model A Ford, built between 1928 and 1932. Whether you select a nicely conditioned '28 Roadster convertible with rumble seat for $22,900 or a fully restored '31 Tudor sedan at $21,000, you'll garner attention as you cruise your neighborhood streets. Add to that a membership in one of the Model A clubs across the country and you'll meet fellow-enthusiasts with whom you can share your fervor. As an alternative for those of you who are understandably concerned over the maintenance demands of an aged auto, here's further thought. There are now firms that manufactures factory replicas using all modern mechanical parts, but which appear to be originals. They are easily repairable and attractively priced. A '30 Phaeton convertible sedan replica can be purchased for $15,500. 4. You expected it never to happen. Amidst somewhat mixed feelings, you are now a retiree. Included among the mixed blessings are two benefits: a final retirement bonus of $25,000 and the prospect of free time that you've never before experienced. What better way might you begin those leisure years than with an ocean voyage? A multitude of fine luxury cruises are available at surprisingly reasonable prices. During seven days in an ocean view cabin on Holland America Lines' MS Oosterdam , at only $659 per person double occupancy, you'll depart and return San Diego, visiting the Mexican ports of Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta. If the Caribbean Sea is more to your liking, Celebrity Cruises' Century out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with similar accommodations, offers a 7-day excursion to Montego Bay, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, and Costa Maya, at $650. A somewhat more exotic 7-day cruise aboard Peter Hughes two-masted sailing vessel, Komodo Dancer , out of Bali, visits several South Sea Islands. Its ocean-view cabin prices begin at $1,605. Depending on the time and prudently-disposal money available to you, there is virtually nowhere on earth that is not accessible. 5. My final suggestion for cash disposal may not qualify as frivolous , but it can prove personally satisfying. Your local high schools and community colleges regularly recognize exemplary students with commendations, often accompanied by monetary awards. The funds normally come from citizens in the community, where each donor designates the academic discipline to be recognized. Presentations are customarily made at formal school awards ceremonies, and offer incalculable encouragement to awardees. Amounts to recipients can be large or small. I've seen donor grants as modest as $50 as well as multiple scholarships exceeding $50,000. So, if you regard education as important, and desire to spur students to greater achievement, simply contact the school of your choice and let them know of your willingness to participate. AL JACOBS has been a professional investor for nearly four decades. His business experience ranges from real estate, mortgage, and securities investment to appraisal, civil engineering, and the operation of a private trust company. In addition to managing his investments on a day-to-day basis, he is a featured financial columnist for both online and print publications. He is the author of Nobody's Fool: A Skeptic's Guide to Prosperity . You may subscribe to his financial Newsletter, "On the Money Trail," at no cost or obligation, by visiting www.onthemoneytrail.com . Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com. More >>