How to Save on School Lunches
By Annaliese Griffin | MainStreet.com

Remember when tuna or PB&J were your basic lunch options? Now kids have more choices, and with rising food costs as well as health concerns like childhood obesity, parents have more worries about what their children eat in the school cafeteria. But with a little planning and MainStreet’s help, you can keep your grocery bill in check while sending your students to school with tasty and healthy lunches.

Get a Cool Container

Sometimes you have to spend a little to save a lot. Talk to your kids about what kind of a container they’d like to carry to school each day. Laptop Lunches ($34.99) are easily transportable and come with a complete set of small containers to pack various items like fruit, nuts, dipping sauces, salads or yogurt. (They’re also great for adults trying to practice portion control.) Built NY’s insulated bags ($10 - $22) come in animal shapes, as well as an array of colors and patterns that appeal to the more sophisticated set.

Designate a drawer in your kitchen to store lunch boxes and bags, Ziploc baggies, packaged lunch snacks and small containers. Invest in several packages of inexpensive, but re-usable plastic containers and write your child’s name on the outside.

Shop Around and Stock Up

Stock the same drawer where you store the lunch boxes, bags and containers with quick snacks like granola bars or bags of crackers and pretzels. Buy cases at a discounter like Costco (COST), BJ’s (BJ), or from Amazon.com (AMZN), which offers free shipping on orders over $25 and great deals on bulk buys. Prepackaged snacks have a long shelf life, so look online as well as in the store, and stock up when you spot a great price.

Make sure and read the ingredients carefully on these products, especially granola bars. Many brands, even those that advertise themselves as natural, are packed with sugar (even if it’s organic cane syrup). LaraBars ($17.95 for a box of 12) are a little more expensive, but are made entirely from fruit and nuts with no added sugar.

Cut Down on Packaging

Buying pre-packaged items in bulk will save you cash, but an even more effective strategy is to forgo the packaging and make your own. Instead of granola bars, buy nuts, dried fruit and chocolate chips and create an original trail mix. You can even add a favorite breakfast cereal for added crunch and vitamin fortification. Make a large batch, seal into individual plastic baggies and stash them in the lunch drawer for easy packing.

You can also save by dividing larger packages into smaller plastic containers. Instead of purchasing individual yogurts, opt for the 32 oz. container. Place frozen berries at the bottom of a small plastic container and then spoon yogurt on top. The whole thing will stay cool until lunchtime and offer a cheaper, lower in sugar, calcium-rich lunch. You can do the same with large jars of applesauce, which is great with frozen raspberries or with walnuts, raisins and cinnamon sprinkled on top. Also, cut fruit yourself rather than buying pre-made fruit salads. Melons, apples and bananas are budget-friendly choices. Just remember to add the bananas in the morning; they have a tendency to get slimy in the fridge.

Pasta Power

Pasta is quick, cheap, and a great vehicle for veggies. Even kids who are tired of soggy tuna sandwiches can be persuaded to gobble up a pasta salad with tuna, peas and cilantro. Cook the pasta at the same time you make dinner and then assemble lunch for the following day as part of clean-up. Use whole wheat pasta and you’ll up the nutritional value of the whole package.

Befriend Beans

A bean and cheese burrito with rice and salsa is an inexpensive lunch that offers complete protein. Add carrots and celery on the side and you’ve covered all the major food groups for mere pennies. Spread the beans, rice, cheese and salsa onto a flour tortilla and then roll it up. You can also cut it into rounds for easy snacking for small fingers. Experiment with hummus, which is quick and easy to make from garbanzo beans in a food processor or blender. You can use hummus as a sandwich filling or pack it in a small container for dipping with carrots, celery or green peppers.

It might take some time to get the routine down, but these tips will help keep one eye on wallet, without having to take the other eye off your kids’ nutrition. And, like many frugal endeavors, you’ll reduce the amount of packaging you use and even your carbon footprint – everyone wins.

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Part of setting your budget is determining how much money you have and where it should go. And with this comes the important task of figuring out what you need verses what you want. Too many times people will set their bars really high to allow for those “extra” things that they think they need. The may put a little bit more in their food budget for those convenient snacks, or maybe a little more in the entertainment budget for those extra few drinks. But for those serious about getting out of debt, there is a lesson to be learned here. The more money you save on your wants, the more money you have to pay off your debts, and the sooner you will be debt-free.

Still trying to determine the difference? Check out what Sarah Winfrey had to say over at Wise Bread:

“But Mo-om, I want it!” How many times have you heard that in the grocery store, or the toy store, or anywhere else, for that matter? Probably more than you can count. And what do you think when you hear it? That poor parent? Or, thank God that’s not me anymore! Or, What is wrong with that child? Most of us go on our way, relieved for some reason. It’s not our kid, it’s not us, and we don’t have to deal with it.

I must admit that I am plagued with scenario every time I pass the toy section in the store with my kids. They wine and complain that they want a toy and will try to give me a valid reason for it. The answer remains the same - No. But then again, maybe I should sit back and think about my purchases, and wonder if I do the same thing. Do I try to give myself a valid reason for purchasing something just because I see it on the shelf? Keep reading:

The truth is that, as adults, there are times when we keep ourselves from throwing these sorts of tantrums by buying something we don’t need. We see an item, feel the same desperate need that child felt, and assuage our own feelings by buying the item. We have the power to do that for ourselves as adults. But these are the purchase we often feel guilty about, and one of the main ways to get rid of the guilt is to find a way to classify that purchase as something we do need. Actually, we can do this any time we regret a purchase.

So it’s time for all of us (and I include myself in this) to grow up, time to stop looking like adults on the outside but acting like children on the inside. To do this, we must learn to distinguish between what we need, what we need in certain conditions, and what we want.

Find out how to group your needs and your wants accordingly - read more of her blog here.

Also, you can share your ups and downs, ins and outs of budgeting with other users in the group It’s Time To Budget by joining in on our conversation here.

Have you seen the movie The Bucket List with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman? If not, you should! It’s a comedy about two guys who make a list of things they want to do before they “kick the bucket.” It is actually quite funny and takes a light hearted look at death.

In an article on MainStreet.com, The Bucket List is described in the following way:

In the film, the two seniors—the independently wealthy Nicholson and the not-so-wealthy mechanic Freeman—embark on Nicholson’s private jet and travel around the world, making pit stops in India, China, Tanzania, and other far-flung destinations. They stroll around the Taj Mahal, ride across the Great Wall on motorcycles, go on safari in the Serengeti and ultimately rack up a bill of $105,730 according to an estimate by the Los Angeles Times.

However, not all of us have that much money to spend, but we should all have our own personal bucket list for what we want to accomplish before we die.

Mine would include something like the following:
• Go skydiving in Hawaii
• Travel to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji
• Backpack through Europe
• Work on Habitat for Humanity
• The list goes on and on…

However, although these are more light-hearted topics and fun, there are some more serious issues that people also need to consider before they die.

As my parents get older, different topics arise in the house that had never been discussed before. It is scary to think of my parents getting older, but the truth is that it is still comforting to know that they want to be prepared.

There are obviously many things that need to be dealt with as you get older and further more before you die. Nobody wants to think about death, but when it happens, it is definitely better for everyone close to you that you were well prepared. It makes the decisions that they have to make much easier.

Some documents and things that you should do before it is too late…
Or in other words, a more serious bucket list:

• Last Will and Testament – This one is a MUST HAVE. You do not want to die without a will. In your will you state where you want all of your assets (money, home, etc.) to go. In the case that you have children, it also provides them with a legal guardian so that you do not have to worry about who they will be with when you are gone. Check out this other Geezeo article about the Importance of Your Will.

• Advanced Health Care Directive – This document states what you want to happen if you have a terminal illness. It is hard for your loved ones to make the decisions for you, so in this document you state what you want to happen if this is the case. Such as if you want to be on medication, life support, or a feeding tube to prolong your life.

• General Power of Attorney – This document gives someone power to handle all of your financial affairs if you are unable to. You want to make sure your debt is paid off and everything is handled in case you are unable to do so.

There are many other documents that could be added to this list, it is your choice which you think you need. Make sure that after these documents are signed and dealt with that you put them in a fireproof safe or safety deposit box in case anything unexpected happens.

Also, make sure to include some fun things in your own bucket list as well! Not all of it has to be documents and legal things to cover; try traveling the world, flying a plane, or bungee jumping out for size!!

Photo: Scott Liddell

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By Chelsea P. Gladden

Have you heard the ‘ol adage if you bring the kids it’s not a vacation but a trip? Recently returned from Hawaii in my 8th month of pregnancy with two little ones four and under, I can validate that statement.

Don’t get me wrong; we had a blast and got some much needed quality family bonding in that I wouldn’t trade the world for, but with lots of diapers to be changed, baths to be given and chasing around in general, it was still a lot of work.

Nonetheless, while you can’t put a price on the memories I will treasure with my family forever, you can put a price on how much more traveling with children costs. Before embarking on your journey jubilee, consider the following.

If you’re flying, children over 2 require an airline seat. While this adds a serious chunk of change, also factor in that once you land, if you’re renting a car, you can no longer get away with the economy size with two or more children and will need to fork over the cash for the next size up. Even if you think you could squeeze two car seats in or have kids who are ready for seatbelts, you’ll still need room for luggage of a family of four or more.

Naturally, you’ll be spending more money on food than when it was just the two adults. Speaking of which, if you want any adult time, trusted babysitting services while traveling tend to cost more as well.

For some elbowroom, a bigger room might be needed and some hotels will charge a per person fee adding to that final check out bill.

However, to keep costs down, there are a few short cuts that can keep family vacationing from family bankruptcy.

Even with gas prices exceedingly high, it still could work out cheaper to pick a destination that you can drive to versus fly. If you keep it in the 100-mile range, you especially will avoid gas costs, car rental and room costs to break up your drive. Working your route to include a visit to family and friends will also cut back on hotel costs and can even score you a free sitter.

If flying is still in your cards, packing light can save you a bundle. To get a family of four packed into carry-ons, consider purchasing items such as extra diapers once you land. Bring some traveling detergent so you can wash clothes and get away with packing less. Doing so will help avoid airline charges for extra luggage and the need for a bigger rental car.

So don’t be deterred from family travel because it can be done cost effectively. Just remember: it’s a trip.

For more ways to be travel savvy The Street.com recommends booking a vacation home. Check it out: here.

Don’t be greedy with your travel savings tips. Share them on It’s Time to Budget and Financially Frugal Families.

A will is probably one of the last things that someone wants to sit down and write. It really is not an easy task. How do you put your life onto paper? How do you decide who will take care of your children when you are gone? None of these are easy decisions, but it is better to take care of the specifics while you can and not leave any issues unanswered.

Why do you need a will?
A will makes sure that all of your property goes to the people that you want it to…this includes everything from your home, to your expensive jewelry, to everything as small as a book that was important to you or someone in your life. According to bankrate.com, 7 out of 10 Americans die without having composed a will. Although some people don’t feel they have enough to put into a will, writing one makes things run more smoothly for those you leave behind.

When does a will take effect?
A will only takes action upon your death. This means that you are able to change and revise your will as you please up until you are gone. Many people make sure to revise their will (or at least look at it) as often as they feel the need (maybe once a year) just to make sure nothing drastic needs to be changed.

According to an article on TheStreet.com about Writing Your Will, the person writing the will must be of “sound mind” and free of “undue influence.” This means that nobody can force you to put anything in your will that you don’t want to by threatening you. TheStreet article also states that your will must name all of the beneficiaries (those who will receive property or money) in your will and be signed by two witnesses who are not beneficiaries.

What will happen with the will?
When you are gone, in your will you will have appointed an executor of your will who will be responsible in making sure everything is carried out the correct way. The person you choose (lawyer, friend, etc.) should know that they are the executor and understand all of their responsibilities.

What about your children?
In the will, if your children are still minors you must make sure to find a legal guardian for them that you know and trust. This is one of the most important reason people write wills – to make sure their children will be okay.

A will is not something you want to put off until further into the future. If you have a house, money in savings and children, it is important that these all go to the people that are important to you in case anything does happen. Although a will is not something you will enjoy writing, it will give you peace of mind knowing that it is written.

Photo: Álvaro Daniel González Lamarque - Montevideo, Uruguay

Single mothers can have the biggest financial obstacles, but, they aren’t necessarily doomed. Here are some tips from our friends at MainStreet.com.
—
Where Single Mothers Can Go To Get Their Career Back In Gear
By Laura Moran

Single mothers, whether teens like Jamie Lynn Spears, a 17 year old, or established career women, such as Bridget Moynahan, 37, face a common challenge. At some point they need to get back to work so they can start making money.

And while recent box office hits such as Juno (NWS) and Knocked Up (GE) can make unwed motherhood entertaining: The reality is that single motherhood isn’t always fun or glamorous, and it can be especially difficult for girls who are still children themselves.

However, in this very connected world, there are some new options for new mothers.

Victoria Grace, a co-founder of Work It, Mom! says that some of the best resources for moms, at any age, are social networking sites. Both general sites like Facebook or MySpace are great but there are also sites specific to motherhood such as Work it, Mom!, The First 30 Days, a site dedicated to helping people through life changes, and Working Moms Refuge. All of these provide, guidance, advice and help for moms who may be making the decision to head back to work (or into a money-making side gig).

“You can post a question or join a group,” says Grace. “They are places that all moms can bounce ideas off of each other. Mom’s trust each other so there is a real value to it. They also work because they not only offer advice but emotional support as well.”

CHILD CARE IS KEY - Click here to continue reading if you have a little one looking over your shoulder.

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My 3 year old has an interesting obsession with quarters. Everytime we go to the store, he wants one - but not for the toy machines (hint: we never stop in that area at the front of the store, so I doubt he even knows it exists). He wants to put it in a donation receptacle for the Children’s Miracle Network. Does he realize the good deed? I’m not sure. But for him it’s fun to watch the coins go around in circles before it drops into the bottom.

I’ve been thinking here recently about how we can be more effective at teaching our kids the value of money and the importance of saving it. I know, they’re only 3 and 1. But I’ve read in various articles that 3 is a good age to start. Here are some of the things that I have learned:

1. Give your children an allowance of $0.50 for every year of age/week. So a 3 year old would get $1.50 or a 10 year old would receive a $5 allowance.

2. Give the allowance on a Sunday so that they don’t blow it on the weekend.

3. If they run out of money do not give them any more.

4. Teach them to save a portion for purchasing goals that they may have (like a new toy). One portion should go to long term savings (bank account), another portion to midterm savings (piggy bank), a small portion to charity, and the rest is spending money. (This works best with older children.)

Of course, you should never make your child feel guilty about not saving their money if they choose to buy a toy instead. After all, how well are you doing with that personally?

They say to practice what you preach. So if you are trying to show your kids how beneficial it is for them to save their money, then why not prove it to them by actively saving money yourself. You could have a small amount that they see you put into a piggy bank, just like them, so that they will want to be just like you. Afterwards, you can deposit the rest of the savings into a safer place like your bank.

What are you doing to help your children learn about the value of earning, spending and saving money? Share your stories in the group Financially Frugal Families.

By Chelsea P. Gladden

It’s time to hammer the last nail into my proverbial youth coffin: purchasing a minivan. Baby number three arrives in a month and my current Ford Escape won’t accommodate a trio of car seats. My non-minivan driving friends and brothers are appalled, but what am I to do?

Of course there’s larger car options, but even if I’m willing to ignore my responsibilities to the environment and breathable air, the current state of gas costs added to more diapers will leave me unable to afford a car at all. A friend who filled her Ford Expedition before gas hiked to $4 a gallon said it was $85! I’m up to $45, so that’s nearly double.

In addition, if I want to consider a car that could take out a small city with one wrong U-turn, I also have to think about how much more often I’d be hitting the pump. A Nissan Armada gets 12 street miles and 18 freeway, the Ford Expedition is 12/16 and the Tahoe is 14/20. Meanwhile, the Honda Odyssey minivan gets 16 street miles to the gallon and 23 freeway miles. It’s one thing to avoid the cost of filling up more frequently, but it’s a whole other when I think about 4 to 7 more sanity saving miles per gallon versus stopping to fuel up with three screaming kids in back.

Green friendly options such as the Toyota Highlander give me 18 street and 24 freeway miles, allow me three car seats, but while using the third row, not only would I have to climb to get a child in and out 4-6 times a day on average, but there’s little room left for strollers, beach chairs, suitcases and pack’n’plays when traveling, etc.

Cadillac has answered my desires with their ’09 Escalade Hybrid giving me 20 miles city/ 21 highway, but in addition to it not being available until the fall, the starting price of $60,000 could get me two decked out minivans. Sigh.

Clearly, killing any remaining faux youthful image I have of myself makes the most financial sense. Therefore, the hammer is out, the pounding has begun and I am dangerously close to throwing in the towel. Help!

Want to get family financial planning savvy? Check out Financially Frugal Families and Couples and Money.

By Chelsea P. Gladden

The positive pregnancy test brings on tremendous joy for couples ready to start a family and a little bit of stress. Will you be a good parent? Are you really ready for this? And, commonly, can you afford this?

At this point, you’ve likely (thanks to Geezeo) gotten your finances somewhat in order, but just as you may have found while planning your wedding, secret costs tend to sneak up.

Some must-haves before baby even arrives includes:

Crib/Mattress/Sheets: starts at $250; needed 2-3 years

Changing Table: starts $100; needed 2-3 years

Diapers/wipes: approx. $18 every week

Infant car seat: starts $100; needed 6 months to 1 year

Breast pump: $279; needed 1 year

Nursing bras: $30 each; needed 1 year

Onesies: starts at $10 for 5 pack; needed for 3 months

5 Outfits: starts at $15, so $75; needed for 3 months

Burp cloths: $8 for 4; needed for 6-12 months

Swaddling blankets: $30 each; needed for 3 months

High Chair: starts at $100 on average; needed 6 months to 2 years depending on child.

Baby swing: starts $65; needed 6 months

Bouncy chair: $49.99; needed 6 months

Stroller: $129; needed 4 years

Pack’n’play: starts $80; needed 1-2 years.

Without considering the recurring costs every 3 months, that initially brings the tab of basic baby gear to $1377.99.

Before you sell the house you bought in preparation for parenthood to begin with or scrap college savings plans in favor of diaper costs, here are some savvy ways to cover the basics.

First, you might be surprised to find just how many people share your joy and want to splurge on you and your impending arrival. The best way to cover getting what you actually need, is to register. The generosity of others will cut back on your costs (consider Babies R Us, Pottery Barn for Kids and Target).

For the items that you don’t receive at the baby shower that hopefully loving friends or excited first time grandparents throw for you, check out second hand stores. Most items that are essential to peace of mind in the beginning (for example the $75 swing that only holds up to 15lbs) are sometimes only useful for six months or less, so a used version therefore has very minor wear and tear and the stores are generally very particular about what they’ll accept.

Along the same lines, borrow from other parents you know. They’ll likely be happy to have the extra storage space with their no longer needed items in good hands. Or check craigslist.com or your work’s intranet if it has one. Again, items such as a baby carrier can only be used for six months but will cost $150, so it’s worth the effort to bring new meaning to reduce, reuse, recycle.

Ready to discuss saving up for baby? Visit It’s Time to Budget and Couples and Money.

As the pressures and responsibilities of parenthood pile on, often the marital relationship is put on the back burner. However, initial sparks can remain ablaze by setting aside a regular date night together. Neglecting the flames can not only lead to obvious repercussions, but financial ones as well.

Focusing on one another and becoming people again (vs. just parents) to one another opens the communication. Keeping mindful of each other’s feelings will help you avoid paying the $150 per hour or so on couples therapy once a week for the same result. Why not use the funds on a fancy dinner instead? Either way you need a sitter and need to find the time, so you may as well use it for a fun night out.

No matter how difficult it may be to get a regular date night routine in place, face the fact that letting the love between you and your spouse die out will lead you back to having to date again anyway but with strangers. Not to mention the legal fees of divorce will start at $10,000. Since you’ll be paying for a date either way, you could alternatively use the ten grand or more on many romantic getaways together!

Clearly, making time to date your spouse makes cents in the long run and it can be done affordably, too.

At the very least, strive for two nights a month where you leave the house (and the dishes, laundry, bills, cleaning, etc.) behind and venture out as a couple. If you want to cut back on costs, eat a quick meal at home and head out for just dessert or a drink (or both!). Grab burritos or other low cost picnic food and eat at the state park or, for coastal folks, at the beach as you watch the waves crash. In winter have a glass of wine or hot chocolate together at the local ski resort. If you’re up for spending money on dinner, collect coupons that come regularly in the mail; skip the alcohol to bring the cost of the check down or bring your own wine and just pay the cork fee. Look into becoming a “secret diner� and eat for free by doing a write up on the restaurant and the services. To help with the cost of childcare, swap nights with another couple (they watch your kids, you watch theirs the next time) or ask friends, neighbors, and relatives to pitch in. If you’re not having luck finding a sitter, at the very least schedule regular lunches together while the kids are in school.

Happy parents are much better equipped to provide happy lives for their children making dating your spouse all the more priceless.

Want in on the discussion of kids and family? Check out Financially Frugal Families and Couples and Money.