The holidays are just around the corner, so it’s time to start thinking about how you can start saving now to get all those gifts on your family’s and friends’ wish lists.  My friend Andi guided me to a post by Lila Quintiliani on the Military America Saves site which offers some great tips to help you get started.  

 5 Tips for Saving Before the Holidays – by Lila Quintiliani MilitarySaves.org

Do you have other tips you’d like to add? Please add your comments below!

As parents, we try to protect our kids from getting hurt or scared.  But sometimes protecting them too much can hurt in the long run.  This week, journalist Daniel Bortz from US News & World Report, asked me to weigh in on this topic.  From my perspective, not telling our kids at least some of what’s going on could scare them even more.  As parents, we may do more damage if our children “stumble” onto what’s going on, possibly by overhearing a conversation.  And making sure both parents are on the same page is key. 

Here’s the article: “How Parents Should Talk to Their Kids About Family Finances: Do you know when to keep your lips sealed?”

Have you faced this situation in your own family?  How did you handle it? 

So, should kids work in high school? Does a job interfere with grade performance? Is balance of both the key to success later in life? Danielle Cheesman of Loop21 interviewed me on these very questions. Below is the link to the resulting article with my responses.  Take a look and let me know what you think: 

Should Students Focus on Education Instead of Employment? – Loop21