Productivity @ Home

The Price of Productivity

On Thursdays, I share my thoughts on Finances.

Yesterday's USA Today article entitled AirTran's in-flight Wi-Fi service takes off with test flight caught my eye.  Who among us hasn't bemoaned the hours stuck on an airplane without a wireless connection as a complete "waste" of three, four, or even a dozen hours? 

I don't know why I would have expected airlines to be giving wireless connnectivity away, but for some reason the $12.95 price ($9.95 for flights less than 3 hours in duration) shocked me.  Is it worth $13 to be able to get online during a flight, check email, and perhaps get caught up on a few blog posts? 

I suspect it depends upon whose paying the bill.  For those corporate employees with expense accounts, it seems like a no brainer - get online, remain connected, and don't lose half of your workday.  But for those of us who work @ home, we need to ask ourselves the cost benefit ratio of plunking down that money and how productive we plan to be with that time. 

I have used recent flights to review books submitted to me, to edit my own manuscript, or even to watch a movie onboard and write a review of it for one of my websites.  The time offline doesn't have to be a time dump if you plan ahead and bring work with you that can be done without an internet connection.  I also wonder if Air Tran's pricetag includes wifi while at the gate, where one could frequently spend multiple hours waiting for take off.  In certain instances, if that were included in the price, I might -- on occasion -- invest in the price of on-board wifi.

Will you pay the price airlines are asking for a few added hours of productivity?  I'm not sold...yet.

iPhone Apps for Family Finance Productivity

In a continuing effort not to "reinvent the wheel" but to address the continual interest in productivity related iPhone apps, I wanted to point you today to a great post over at The Simple Dollar that features Ten iPhone and iPod Touch Apps for Personal Finance Success. 

I'll second Trent's recommendation of mobile banking applications.  I've been very pleased with my recent installation of the Bank of America app for quick check ins on my accounts.  I also love "Check Please" for mindless tipping assistance when I don't feel like doing math and "My Budget" for planning purposes.

I love that Trent has included an overview of some of the great apps from Google, which continue to make my life more productive and happier on a daily basis!

What are some of your favorite tools for mobile finance?

Ten iPhone and iPod Touch Apps for Personal Finance Success

9 Simple Ways to Save Money on Your Groceries

Today's guest Family Finances article was submitted by Dine Without Whine - A Family Friendly Weekly Menu Planner.

It never fails, we budget for our groceries, but the bill always ends up being more. We underestimate, run out of things faster than expected and overall, everything is becoming just too darned expensive! To make things a little bit easier, here are 9 simple ways you can start saving money on your groceries.

1. Go with a List: Yes, I know…it’s a pretty obvious suggestion, but it’s amazing how effective it can be. You can purchase only what you need and avoid all the other yummy distractions of the grocery store.
2. Meal Planning: Planning your meals in advance makes it easier to get your list together and ensure you buy only exactly what you need. You can get help with your meal planning at Dine Without Whine AND they actually put your grocery list together for you too.
3. Eat Before You Go: Another classic tip. If you’re hungry, you’ll want to buy (and instantly eat) everything! Have a meal or good snack before you go to avoid impulse purchases.
4. Stock Up on Staple Items When They’re On Sale: If you see ketchup or your family’s favorite sauce on sale, stock up. Or if it’s a certain type of soup or frozen vegetable your family eats all the time, buy a bunch of it. As long as it doesn’t spoil and you have space to store it, you will save money in the long run. The nice thing about this is if you continue to stock up on a variety of items, you’ll have a nice pantry full of food at any given time.
5. Cook from Scratch More Often: Yeah, yeah…it sounds easier said than done, but it doesn’t have to be too complicated. It’s no secret that pre-packaged items and convenience foods come at a premium price. They save you time in preparation, but they eat up your budget and let’s face it, time IS money. Plus, if you’re using Tip #2 and planning your meals, cooking from scratch more often is a whole lot easier.
6. Comparison Shop Before You Leave Home: No, I’m definitely not suggesting you go from store-to-store looking for the best deal. That takes too much time. Check the flyers that come to your door and see who is offering the best deals on what you actually need. If you don’t have any flyers at your door, visit the store website as they generally post flyers online.
7. Use Coupons Sparingly: Sure, coupons offer a great deal, but most coupons you’ll find are for items you don’t really need or use. Resist the urge to think, “Wow, that’s a good deal” and search for coupons based on items you need to purchase instead.
8. Keep the Little Ones At Home: If you have young children that want everything that they see, it’s easy to get into the trap of buying items you don’t need, treats that aren’t healthy and become victim to other grocery store distractions. Keep the kids at home with Daddy (it’s a good bonding opportunity) or a relative. You can even swap grocery store shopping times with your neighbor. Not only will you save money, but you’ll save your sanity too!
9. Make Quick Stops for Fresh Ingredients: This may not be easy if you’re on a tight schedule, but if you can work it in, it can save you a bundle. One of the biggest culprits in grocery budgets gone bad is spoiled food. If your fruits, veggies and other perishable items are always going bad, consider shopping for them more frequently, but in smaller quantities and restrain yourself from buying items you don’t need. If you have any teenaged kids, this would be a great chore for them too.

There you go – 9 ways to save on groceries. But in order to make these tips work, you really need to have a plan in place. You need to know what your family needs and what you’ll be eating. To make your meal planning a whole lot easier, sign up for you 1¢ no-risk trial at Dine Without Whine. You and your grocery budget will be glad you did.

Budgeting Tips For Newbies - 4 Money Saving Tools That Work

Today's guest Family Finances Column was written by Abi Bundance.

Every financially savvy family budgets their monthly income. Understand that budgeting is a must in order to maximize your resources for the greatest return. It is not as difficult as it seems as long as you utilize the tools that are readily at your disposal.

1. Budgeting Programs are essential. Be mindful that there are various budgeting programs available to help you track and evaluate your spending patterns. These money management programs provide you with a framework to follow that helps you to track your cash flow from small to large expenditures. As long as you are disciplined in entering the necessary information in the system, you can generate reports that diagnose your spending behaviors and help you determine where you may be overdoing it with your credit and debit cards.

Through these programs you can also input your various bi- weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly payments. They can also help you to keep track of what you give to your church or favorite charity. Additionally, some programs also offer you a tracking measure so that you can easily import the information from your budget to your tax forms when it is time to give Uncle Sam his cut.

2. Coupons help cut food budgets. Another less glamorous and possibly time consuming budgeting resource is the handy dandy coupon. Almost every item that is sold in the grocery store carries some sort of coupon for it from time to time. You may find it easier to just buy some of these items at the local Aldi's or Save-a-Lot store instead of spending hours cutting out coupons though. I remember when I found out that these smaller and lesser attractive grocers provide a 40% savings to my family food budget overall. It was amazing.

If you buy a pack of Oreo cookies in the local Wal-Mart or Krogers, chances are you are going to pay at least $3.00 for the pack on sale. At Aldi's they sell an off brand version of Oreo's for $1.00. That's at 67% discount without ever having to take out a pair of scissors. If you are worried about the taste, then do a blind taste test with your children to see which ones they prefer and let that be the deciding factor.

3. A list is a friend not an enemy. A good list system will help you to be way more productive in budgeting. A lot of people use spiral bound notebooks to keep their lists, others use their mobile or cellular phone to stay op top of their budgets and some prefer the flexibility of their personal digital assistant (PDA). No matter what type of list tool you use, you must remember to refer back to it often in order to stay focused or you will not be very good at following your budget objectives.

Before you go to buy food next time, plan out what you will allow in your shopping cart based on your upcoming menu. You should take a look at what is in your cupboards also before you head for the store (Your older kids are great at doing this for you). My daughter saves me every time I forget to do this because for some reason I always believe we are out of mayonnaise and it ends up in my cart more frequently than it should. She reminds me that it is not on the list for a reason when she is with me and then laughs at me when I bring home another unneeded jar again.

Your list should also contain the items that your are very low on and will run out of before your next food trip. This will save you having to do a midweek trip that guarantees you purchasing items that you do not need and were never budgeted for. If you are the kind of person that cannot follow your list to save your life then you might need to enlist the help of your kids. Let your kids do the shopping.

Arm them with your list and have them shop for the items, then they can let you know when they are done (Read a book or something in the car while they shop). Then you can go into the store and pay for the food and if they make wrong selections you can tell them to go back for the right ones. This will help them to understand how expensive food is as well and make them more sensitive to waste.

4. Your filing cabinet will help you keep your records straight. Another invaluable tool for budgeting is a filing cabinet. You should start labeling your files in order to put your bills in good order for continual use and retrieval in case you need them later.

I recently changed my filing system because now I scan them and put them on a disk. If I need to print off a copy I can easily do so and if there is ever a fire in my home it is easier to believe that I can get my disk folder than take out my entire filing cabinet should the worst happens. By keeping your bills, statements and receipts together, you are more able to keep track of how much you owe and the due dates of your payments.

Effective budgeting tools can be invaluable in helping you address organizing your money budgeting program. You can create your own budgeting tool or find a program to do it for you.

Did you know that the average financial planner cannot help you if you are already struggling financially? Most of the products that financial planners offer are not good for YOUR financial future but how can you know this? Understand how to manage your monthly finances by signing up for my free Financial Basics 101 e-book, please visit http://www.financialbasics101.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abi_Bundance

Baby Money Saving Ideas For Parents

Today's guest post was written by Julie R. Holland.

Having a baby can really hurt your wallet. Before you start counting how much each smile will cost you, here are some money-saving ideas for parents of new babies.

* Babies outgrow things fast. Look for good-quality used items. Babies really don't care if their things are new. After they spit up on it, it won't be new anyway! Look for good used items at consignment stores, thrift shops, yard sales, and on local classified ads such as Craig's list. Be sure that anything you buy is in good, safe condition, and do watch for recalled items. If in doubt, you can do an internet search for recalls on that item. We found a $200 co-sleeper - still in the box- for $80 on a local classified ad and a nearly new $60 swing for $5 at a yard sale.

* Ask around to see if friends will let you borrow or have their used baby items. Many times you'll find that you can borrow a crib, highchair or other high ticket item.

* If at all possible, breastfeed your baby. Breastfeeding is healthier than bottle-feeding for many reasons. It helps reduce ear infections and colds, so you'll save money at the doctor too! Formula will cost about $125 a month, plus the cost of bottles. Breastfed babies have been shown to be healthier, learn faster, and have fewer ear infections than bottle-fed babies.

* Trade babysitting with another parent or group of parents. You'll get a chance to get out of the house and save money too. Even if money is tight, a short break from baby duty can do a world of good for your marriage - and divorce is expensive! Try something inexpensive like going out for ice cream cones or finding a dollar theater. You don't need to spend a lot of money to take a break. We often use buy-one-get-one-free restaurant coupons for a half-price date.

* Consider cloth diapers. Disposable diapers will cost you about $2,000 or more for 2 years. Cloth diapers, even the really good, easy-to-use kind, will cost about $300-500 over those same 2 years. Even with the minor added expense of electricity and water, you'll save a lot of money. Reuse those diapers on a second child, and you'll save a total of $3500! Modern cloth diapers are so much easier to use, and you'll benefit the planet too!

* Consider whether one parent can stay home or work from home. Although it may seem impossible to give up one income, when you look at the real cost, it can often save money to have one parent at home full or part time. Add up the cost of daycare, additional meals out, a second car, commuting costs, etc., and you may realize a savings very quickly.

Savings can really add up when you combine these money-saving tips. My daughter is four months old and we have already saved more than we have spent on baby things. We actually have more baby things than she can even use, enough to pass along to her younger cousin and still have plenty for our next baby.

A little creativity can make having a baby much more affordable. Just be sure that no matter what you choose to save money on, you never lose sight of how precious your baby is each day.

Julie R. Holland is an attachment parenting author and owner of Little for Now cloth diaper store. You'll find more money-saving tips for baby care in the Little for Now articles section. Subscribe to the free Little for Now newsletter for cloth diaper savings and more great articles like this one.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julie_R._Holland

Lose the Attitude and Boost the Gratitude

Today's guest article on the topic of Family Finances was written by Alyssa Johnson.

Many of us are experiencing fears about our struggling economy. This is causing a lot of people to re-evaluate the way they spend money. These "cut backs" may not be very popular with the other members of our household, however. A big reason for this is due to a sense of entitlement that our children have. For a long time now, the focus has been on each generation doing better than the previous. We're in a situation where that just may not be possible. So how do we move our children from this sense of entitlement to one of gratitude and thanksgiving?

First and foremost we need to teach them the difference between privileges and rights. Our children have a right to a roof over their head, clothes on their bodies, food in their bellies and to be safe. Beyond that, everything else is a privilege. Now I know a lot of you may be think, "Hold on now, that's a little extreme!" It truly isn't though. Materially, we've gotten so far away from the bare necessities that we don't even remember what they are. Am I saying you shouldn't do more than the bare necessities for your kids? Of course not, but they should realize you don't HAVE to. These "extras" should be looked on as just that - extras. Those extras need to be appreciated with the bare minimum of a "Thank you" to show their gratitude.

Secondly, try to expose them to people or situations where less is the norm. There's nothing like volunteering at a homeless shelter to help kids put things into perspective real quick. Even learning about other cultures can get this point across. Children in America just assume having 2-3 TVs, a cell phone and a car at 16 is the norm for everyone. What about countries that don't even have electricity in most of its areas? I'm not saying they need to go on a mission trip here, but give them opportunities to be exposed to other cultures.

Finally, give them the opportunity to practice budgeting. It's difficult for kids to really grasp gratitude until they understand how money works. A lot of little kids don't even understand that bank machines don't just "give" you money. If your teens "have to have" this season's latest clothes, give them an allotted amount of money and explain to them that is all they get. But then hold them accountable to it. If they choose to spend $150 on 1 shirt and pair of jeans rather than 2 shirts, 2 pants and a pair of shoes so be it. That's all they get.

As parents, you play an integral role in how your kids view the world. All of us want the best for our kids. No one disagrees with this. But we also need to temper the materialism with time, love and attention. Those things aren't privileges, but absolute necessities.

For more great parenting ideas, I encourage you to visit, http://www.HowToBecomeABetterParent.com to build the family of your dreams! Get power parenting tools to strengthen your family relationships now.

By Alyssa Johnson from http://www.RemarriageSuccess.com;  Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alyssa_Johnson

Common Cents (Sense)

On Thursdays, I share my thoughts on Family Finances.  Today's guest post was written by Jacqueline E. Ford, Financial Strategist for JE Financial Services.

The more we work the more money we earn. The more money we earn, the more things we buy. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? The real question is which came first, the desire for consumption or higher earnings? This is a real paradox. There is an argument to support each as being first. But when you examine closely, does it really matter which came first. More importantly what are you going to do about the situation? What I'm really talking about here is getting honest about our financial lifestyles. Individually, consumers struggle in their own rights to stay ahead of potential financial disasters. With the economy in the condition it is today, many are taking special attention to national and global financial states. Is it because now we believe that the world feels our personal struggle? Or, are we now anxious that our perceived "cushion of comfort" has deflated?

Consumerism has reached new heights, as we find reasons to validate the choices we make. From a psychological viewpoint, one could say that our spending habits are directly related to our desires to achieve certain social status. We surround ourselves with successful people, hoping that in some way the success will "rub off" on us. In the meantime, we spend our time and energy trying to emulate what we think is success! In the short and long run, this leads to more consumption; more meals at restaurants, buying gifts, attending special functions to network, etc. Yes, I know, it takes money to make money, but at what point do we do some serious soul searching about whom we are and what our life's purpose is? Does it really involve acquiring the best of the best through consumerism? How important is that Lexus, or the Fendi suit, or even the Dolce & Gabbana bag?

Keeping up with the Jones' has turned the American dream into an American nightmare. Our spending habits have become our alter-egos. We have convinced ourselves that more is better. Look at how major companies have warehoused everything from purchasing cars, to grocery shopping, to outsourcing skilled labor from other countries. At some point the bubble will burst, just like the "dot com" bubble burst in the late 1990's. Looking at our economy today, that bubble has burst again. Why is it that during times of prosperity we forget that what goes up eventually does not stay there? We ride the wave of artificial enthusiasm for as long as it will carry us. Not giving any forethought into being prepared for the cycles that the economy experiences and its impact on our lifestyle. We're like kids in a candy store, eating all the candy we can right now, not thinking of the tooth ache that comes later.

Our perception of needs versus wants is much skewed. We are in complete denial about our spending habits and how they are directly related to the social statements we make. Even on a national scale, we can compare the spending habits of major corporations to our own households. For example, the mortgage crisis. Mortgage brokers were mesmerized by their own wheeling and dealing in unique products and the profits to be realized from selling them. In turn, the consumer, who purchased these mortgages, thought they could increase their social status by buying more house at cheaper interest rates. The end result, everyone is suffering. The mortgage industry has gone practically bankrupt as consumers are facing an all time high in foreclosures. Each side was looking only at the here and now, and forgot to prepare for the inevitable cycle.

What can we do to stop the madness?

1. Do some serious soul searching about your true purpose in life. Does it really include all the things that you've acquired?

2. Always have a plan, or need I say a cushion of your own. Pay yourself first.

3. Be in control of your spending habits instead of them controlling you. Impulse purchases are not an option, ever!

4. Always live below your means! Remember the Jones' are an illusion

5. Find creative ways to save money that can include the family, such as starting your own garden, cooking more fresh meals at home together, or having game/movie night vs. going out.

6. Make sure your home, if you have one, is weather sealed to save energy.

7. Re-cycle. It's a must for our environment. Our future generations need an earth that will continue to sustain them.

8. Join forces with an associate and barter your talents and services.

9. Stop riding on the emotional momentum of the media. It's like having someone else living your life for you. Make sound financial decisions and stick with them no matter what is happening in the world.

10. Stay healthy mentally and physically. We perform best when our bodies and minds are in sync.

It's all a case of mind over matter. Take control of your life and your finances. Stop playing the victim role every time an economic downturn happens. Stand strong because we all have "Common Cents".

Jacqueline Ford is Chief Financial Strategist of JE Financial Services . JEFS provides Quick Books training & support, Bookkeeping training & services, Payroll and Tax services and Business consulting.  Visit her website at http://www.bookkeepingsuccess.com to download a free copy of "Selecting the right Bookkeeper for your Business". Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jacqueline_Ford

Teaching Kids About Money For Life-Long Healthy Financial Habits

On Thursdays, I share my thoughts on Family Finances.  Today's guest post is written by Laura Nelson-Smith.

Kids catch onto the importance of money in life pretty quickly as they watch us use it. The way to show your child the value of a dollar is by teaching them the different ways a dollar is used.

Begin When They're Young

Begin explaining to your child how money works from a young age. It's important for kids to know you get money by earning it. Items (or services) in life are given in return for money, and the value or worth of that item varies according to the seller. If you do not have enough money, you can not purchase the item.

A follow-up to this is talking about saving money. A child with a couple dollars could go buy a piece of candy (that'll be gone in 10 seconds) or an inexpensive toy (that will be broken in 10 minutes or completely forgot about the next day). However, if that child decides to save those dollars, a better item can be purchased that may have more meaning and last longer.

Have A Savings Plan

One way to teach children about savings is setting a percentage they should save every time they earn money. Ten percent is an easy sum to learn; simply move the decimal point one space to the left. For every $1.00 earned, $0.10 will be saved ($23.48 earned, $2.34 saved).

This savings isn't for a better short-term item, but for a "rainy day" or even a car or college fund. The remaining $0.90 can be used for the candy or "better item" as mentioned above. This principle can teach the child self discipline for very long-term savings (i.e. a house or retirement when they're an adult).

Sure, a six-year-old won't understand the "rainy day" concept, and driving in ten years may be discouraging. But after saving 10% over the years, it'll add up. This teaching is especially helpful when they get their first job and are already in the habit of saving that 10% for long-term use.

You might also set aside a certain percentage for charitable giving, so kids can also learn about this important aspect of managing money.

As Your Child Grows

When your child is more mature, take him or her to the bank with you and open a line of savings in their (and your) name. Once or twice a month, take your child to the bank so they can deposit their money into their account. Let them see the bank statement and watch how their money is growing with the help of interest.

Interest is a huge part of using money. Either it'll make you pay more than what your item was originally worth (credit) or it can help you make more money. Teenagers need to understand that unless you can pay off that debt within 30 days, you'll actually be paying more for your purchased item.

One way to show how detrimental or great interest can be is by doing some role-play. Pick an item your teenager currently wants to purchase on a credit card. Make a chart showing how making only the minimum payment affects the total debt (you'll also need to explain APR), how long it takes to pay off the debt with minimum payments, and how much interest is paid in total.

On that same note, take the number of months it took to pay off the credit card and show how much interest he/she'd be making in a savings account while putting money away to save for that item. The amount of interest isn't much, but the point to make is if you save money to purchase the item, you will only pay that sum without the additional cost of interest.

When children understand how money works they'll (hopefully) be more inclined to use responsibility when making money decisions.

Laura Nelson-Smith is the resident editor of Career & Finance at Schmoozins - an online magazine for women that gives all women a voice. Join us as a contributor, schmoozer or just hang out a while.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laura_Nelson-Smith

Equifax and BBB Identity Theft Alerts

From this month's Equifax member newsletter comes the frightening news of a recent trend in ID theft at airports via free Internet connections.  Be sure to click through the link at the bottom of this excerpt for advice on keeping yourself and your identity safe.

Travelers Beware: Free Wi-Fi Scam Strikes at Airports

In order to keep up in today’s world, travelers need to stay connected, even on the road. Many airports and other public spaces offer free wireless, or Wi-Fi, connections for the public to log onto the Internet from their laptop computers. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns that hackers are now taking advantage of this convenience by setting up fake Wi-Fi connections designed to steal your personal information and files without you even knowing. Find out how it works and what you can do to safeguard yourself.

How it works
Although hackers can and have set up fake Wi-Fi connections in a number of venues, usually they will target consumers at airports. When searching for connections, consumers may see a network connection available that could be simply named "Free Wi-Fi." Thinking it’s the free connection offered by the establishment, they’ll log on. Unfortunately, the network may actually be an "ad-hoc" network, or a peer-to-peer connection. The user will be able to surf the Internet, but they’re doing it through the hacker’s computer. And the whole time, the hacker is stealing information like passwords, credit card and bank account numbers, and social security numbers. Beyond simply stealing keystroke information as the user enters various types of data, if the PC is set to share files, the hacker could even steal whole documents from the computer.

Read this entire article

Shoe Shine

On Thursdays, I share my thoughts on Family Finances.

I'm a spoiled girl - I'll admit it.  Along with my many familial and spiritual blessings, I live in a nice home with a husband who has a relatively recession-proof job.  I read accounts of so many families who are facing troubling financial times and feel almost guilty for the fact that we too sometimes struggle near the end of the month, despite our fortunate situation.

So I've been trying to be cognizant of ways I'm wasteful in my life, especially financially and when it comes to stewarding our family resources.  I've been trying to be acutely aware in the past few weeks of my spending, and my urges to consume. 

I caught myself Sunday morning in a classic "materialistic" moment.  Reading to go out for the day, I pulled out my favorite pair of black loafers.  The are the perfect shoes - comfortable, able to be dressed up or dressed down, and well worn in.  I put them on, and then looked down at them and realized that they were badly scuffed and had seen better days. 

Making a mental note that I needed to ditch them and replace them with new shoes, I set them back in my closet.  But a few moments later, I saw a mental image of my husband and his "shoe shine" kit.  Many times, I've seen him take a pair of shoes, sit in our bathroom, and renew them with this little kit.  Greg is a frugal guy, and he also hates shopping - so shining a good pair of shoes back into spiffy-ness is second nature to him.

Pulling the shoes back out of the closet, I took a second look at them and realized that they are still in very good shape with the exception of the scuffed leather.  Their soles are still solid, the leather looks good, and most of all they are so comfortable.

So I asked Greg for his shoe shine kit and sat on the bathtub edge shining the loafers and adding "shine all of my shoes" to my to do list for this week.  We're about to enter boot season, and rather than buying a new pair I'm sure I can bring last year's boots back to life with a fresh shine.

Shining shoes is not a big deal, but changing a mind set of "new is better" is a major attitude shift for me.  I'm going to continue to seek out occasions to reduce waste in my life.  I'd love to hear your suggestions for little ways you control both spending and over-consumerism in your own life - remember, I'm spoiled, so I can really use your help!