Sunday, August 17, 2008

FAMILY FINANCE RESOURCES:

Building Good Credit

Planning, Budgeting & Saving

Earning Extra Cash

  • Tag-Sale Tips and True Tales

    Thinking of holding a garage or yard sale? First, check out these words of wisdom - and warning - from folks who've...

  • Garage Sale Savvy

    You know all that stuff your family no longer uses or needs? Here's how to recycle it -- and make some money in the...

Avoiding Fraud & Theft

Source:
http://www.parents.com/family-life/work-money-politics/family-finances-101/?sssdmh=dm17.324162&esrc=nwpce02_09&email=201779094

Posted by AmberSal at 5:05 AM  

Labels:

Friday, July 11, 2008

Insurance

Aarp Long Term Care Ins. (615) 590-0308108 Rhoades Private Ln, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Acordia (615) 824-2191639 E Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Aflac (615) 338-4588181 E Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Allstate Insurance Co (615) 338-0018119 Stadium Dr, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Allstate Insurance Co (615) 826-7733102 Iris Dr, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Alternative Market Spec (615) 824-8440105 Hazel Path, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Arlington Roe Insurance (615) 824-9155699 W Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Atkinson Co Inc (615) 822-5191131 Indian Lake Blvd, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Bailey Special Risks (615) 264-3977177 E Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Clark Perry Insurance (615) 264-1300Hendersonville, TN 37075
Clinton Hobbs (615) 822-8932117 Knollwood Ct, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Cotton States Insurance (615) 822-7680699 W Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Cpw Insurance Svc Inc (615) 824-1353114 Canfield Pl, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Darnell & Assoc (615) 822-0955187 Meadow Lake Dr, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Direct General Ins Agency (615) 824-4637387 W Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Farm Bureau Insurance (615) 826-2833110 Sanders Ferry Rd, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Farmers Insurance Group (615) 824-3040635 E Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Frost Insurance Inc (615) 824-6541313 E Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Harover Insurance (615) 824-0049114 Canfield Pl, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Heritage Financial Group LLC (615) 255-2091100 Bluegrass Commons Blvd 300, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Kendall Welch State Farm Ins (615) 822-1880691 W Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Kevin Swinger Insurance (615) 824-6085257 Island Dr, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Larry Williams Agency (615) 264-8418635 E Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Liberty Mutual Insurance (615) 822-7196311 E Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Martin & Assoc (615) 826-1714315 W Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Martinek Family Agency (615) 826-0560313 E Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Mid-South Insurance Co (615) 824-9009260 W Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Nationwide Insurance (615) 822-1302260 W Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
New York Life Insurance (615) 822-1414233 Cherokee Rd, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Next Generation Underwriters (615) 822-5454111 Hazel Path, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Phil Roark Insurance (615) 824-3328313 E Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Physicians Mutual Insurance Co (615) 264-8977100 Bluegrass Commons Blvd, Hendersonville, TN 37075
RGP Insurance Svc (615) 822-1989108 Nokes Dr, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Rivergate Insurance (615) 338-4500919 W Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Safe Harbor Insurance Mrktng (615) 264-0100108 Sanders Ferry Rd, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Sesler Agncy For Ntionwide Ins (615) 824-7913114 Canfield Pl, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Shelter Insurance (615) 822-8990699 W Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Shelter Insurance (615) 822-5500247 W Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Southern Claims Svc (615) 822-51751520 Center Point Rd, Hendersonville, TN 37075
St Paul Travelers Co (615) 826-98921006 Crimson Way, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Standard Life & Accident Ins (615) 264-0100107 Shore Hill Cir, Hendersonville, TN 37075
State Farm Insurance (615) 822-0022102 Hazel Path, Hendersonville, TN 37075
State Farm Insurance (615) 824-3311613 W Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
State Farm Insurance (615) 822-32761191 W Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
State Farm Insurance (615) 822-1880131 Stadium Dr, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Union Federal Insurance (615) 824-6363114 Canfield Pl, Hendersonville, TN 37075
W E Shaw & Assoc (615) 264-2065133 Indian Lake Rd, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Watson Insurance (615) 824-8869713 W Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Weakley Insurance Svc Inc (615) 264-2917133 Indian Lake Rd, Hendersonville, TN 37075

Posted by SumnerMoms.com at 10:00 AM  

Labels:

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Banks

AM South Bank (615) 781-7000249 E Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
American Home Mortgage (615) 338-3260500 W Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
American Security Bank & Trust (615) 338-0565101 Springhouse Ct, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Bank Of America (615) 264-1100345 E Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Bank Of America (615) 822-4800451 W Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Bank Of Nashville (615) 271-2090100 Maple Dr N, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Capital Bank & Trust (615) 264-8536370 E Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Fifth Third Bank (615) 824-35801044 Glenbrook Way, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Fifth Third Bank (615) 338-3008380 E Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
First State Bank (615) 264-5000291 E Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
First State Bank Invstmnt Ctr (615) 264-62331040 Glenbrook Way, Hendersonville, TN 37075
First Tennessee Bank (615) 822-4900429 W Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Green Bank (615) 822-8600117 Indian Lake Blvd, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Green Bank (615) 265-2200 175 E. Main Street Hendersonville, TN 37075

Green Bank(615) 826-1123303 New Shackle Island Rd, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Pinnacle National Bank (615) 690-4047270 E Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Regions Bank (615) 822-5800223 E Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Regions Bank (615) 826-1082323 W Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Sun Trust Bank (615) 822-3024221 E Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Sun Trust Bank (615) 822-5305443 W Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
US Bank (615) 826-7800169 E Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075

Posted by SumnerMoms.com at 10:00 AM  

Labels:

Friday, July 4, 2008

Make a Manageable Spending Plan

Although the word "budget" is not politically correct in today's "I want it now" credit-overrun society, your financial health depends on having one. Larry Burkett, co-founder of Crown Financial Ministries, defined a budget as "telling your money where to go instead of asking where it went." Dave Ramsey, author of The Total Money Makeover, says to give every dollar a name.


Here's why you need a plan for your money, regardless of what you call it. First of all, an effective spending plan shows you how much to spend and how much to save. Secondly, it gives you peace of mind because it puts you in charge of your money. Finally, it helps prepare you for life's unexpected calamities. Ramsey teaches that sticking to a written money plan will also eliminate many money fights and add a deeper level of unity to your marriage.


Desperate housewives hemorrhage money--it just oozes out of their pockets and they're not quite sure where it went. If we choose a life of delight instead of one of desperation, we must get control of our finances. An effective budget should fit your life and must keep you accountable if it's going to work. What's the best way to make a plan that you can stick to?


1. Establish where you are right now. Keep a diary of expenses for a few weeks and compare actual monthly expenses with monthly income. You may be surprised to learn that you're spending $250 a month eating out in addition to $400 on groceries.


2. Determine your monthly net spendable income--what you take home after giving, taxes, and other deductions.


3. Divide your expenses into categories. List regular (rent, daycare, car note) and periodic (insurance, real estate taxes) expenditures, and savings. We've found that using more categories makes it easier to track expenses and target our progress.


4. Assign a monthly spending limit to each category. Crown recommends that expenses for housing (including utilities, insurance, and maintenance), auto (including insurance and repairs), and food (groceries and eating out) not exceed 70% of net spendable income. Subtract your regular bills from this income amount. Don't forget to include a monthly amount for periodic expenses. Then subtract reasonable limits for necessities like groceries, gas, and clothing. If there's any money left over, fill splurge categories like nails, cell phone, and entertainment. If the money ran out on paper before you got through all your categories, it will surely run out in real life too, so decide where to cut back.


Give yourself a few months to get comfortable with this process. If you are finding that you have more money left over in one category, or you are always running short in another area, shift your amounts around. You will also need to tweak the budget anytime your expenses or income change. In our homes, we've learned that managing our money this way doesn't feel like bondage because it does fit our lifestyle. Furthermore, the budget holds us accountable, so we are free to accomplish our financial goals according to our family's priorities.

Posted by SumnerMoms.com at 10:00 AM  

Labels:

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

10 Smart Moves for Stretching a Tight Budget

1. Stay out of stores! There are more important things for us to do than spend all of our extra time and money shopping. When is it okay to shop? When you have a need and the cash to pay for that need.


2. Split meals at restaurants and order kids' meals when possible.


3. Don't buy more than you need.


4. Return impulse buys if you don't use them soon after they are brought home. Make note of the "return-by" date and repackage the item so it stays in new condition. Put the sack back in your vehicle and file the receipt back in your wallet so you can make a hassle-free return the next time you're in that store.


5. Buy generic gifts in bulk. If you find a great deal on an item that would make a thoughtful gift, buy several and store them away for later.


6. Use coupons and carry them with you. Maximize a coupon's value at the grocery store by redeeming the coupon for an item on sale.


7. Price match as much as possible. Many stores are doing this now, so save yourself some time and gas by taking the advertised special to a convenient location to make your purchase.


8. Make sure you really owe it before you pay it. Verify any unexpected charges or unusually high fees before you send money. People on both sides of a bill can make math mistakes. Caution could also protect you from a potential scam.


9. Remember that convenience always costs more. Planning ahead will usually save you more money in the long run.


10. Be honest. When the cashier at the grocery store returns more change than she was supposed to, it is not God"s way of blessing you. It's a great opportunity to take the moral high road and protect the company you're doing business with. Besides, taking money that's not yours is stealing!

Posted by SumnerMoms.com at 10:00 AM  

Labels:

Thursday, June 26, 2008

SAVE ENERGY
Save energy in the kitchen
*Use your microwave whenever possible. A microwave uses about 70%-80% less electricity than your conventional oven does.
*When preparing meals, prepare foods that can be cooked at the same temperature so you can cook them together in the oven.
*Try not to keep opening the oven door to check on your meals. Each time you open the door the oven temperature can lower by 25 degrees.
*You don't have to preheat the oven for foods that will be cooking for more than an hour.
*Remember to turn off your oven as soon as you're done cooking (how many busy moms forget to do this!).
*Make sure your refrigerator door closes all the way when you close it (how many times have you gone back to the refrigerator only to see it remaining partly open?).
*Each time you open the refrigerator door energy is wasted. Make sure to keep your refrigerator visits brief.
*Try to keep your freezer as full as possible to increase it's capacity to cool.
*Vacuum your refrigerator's condenser coils occasionally so your refrigerator doesn't have to work harder to keep its items cooler.
*Make sure your refrigerator is not near other appliances that generate heat (like your oven or dishwasher).


Save energy in the summers & winters
*Make sure to clean or replace your air conditioning filter each month (or when dirty) to increase ability to cool.
*Use ceiling fans to help keep cool air circulating around the room.
*Close all windows while your air conditioner is on (ok, how many of you have kept windows open while running the air conditioner?).
*Make sure you get the correct size air conditioner for the space that it will need to keep cool...no need to use more energy unnecessarily!
*If you have a central air conditioner, set it at about 76 degrees during the day if no one will be home. If you have a window air conditioner, use a timer to turn it on just before you arrive home. This way you save energy and money!
*Keep blinds closed to keep out the hot sun, which can raise the room temperature.
*In the winter, make sure you keep the thermostat at the lowest temperature that is comfortable. Every degree over 70 uses 3% more heating fuel.
*Close up all cracks in walls and cover windows that don't properly close to keep hot air from escaping the room. Cover windows with plastic when necessary.
*If you have a central air system, make sure to clean or replace the filter at least once a month.


Save energy while you do laundry
*Use warm water to clean dirty clothes (save hot water for hard stains); cold water for slightly dirty. Rinse with cold water instead of hot.
*Make sure you fill up the washing machine with each load (saves water and energy!).
*Clean the washer and dryer's lint filters right after each load. Besides saving energy it's a fire hazard!
*If your dryer has a setting to stop when clothes are dry, make sure you use it. Overdrying wastes energy and damages clothes.
*Save energy with your hot water
*Make sure to lower your hot water heater to about 110 degrees (130 degrees if you have a dishwasher). This is a big reduction in savings and energy!


Instead of taking baths, take showers from energy-saving shower heads.
Use cool water to rinse dishes in the dishwasher, and open door to let dishes dry instead of using the drying cycle. When you're hand-washing dishes, make sure to turn water off while you're scrubbing a group of dishes. Then rinse them all at the same time.


Save energy with light bulbs
*Turn off all incandescent lights when you leave a room. Leave fluorescent bulbs on only if you'll be gone for more than 15 minutes (it takes more energy to turn them on again).
*Lower wattage wherever possible (in closets or hallways).
*Buy energy-saving light bulbs.

Posted by SumnerMoms.com at 10:00 AM  

Labels:

Saturday, June 14, 2008

32 Ways to Save Money When You Have a Baby

By Deborah Skolnik

Rated by 11 people
Rate This

Your little bundle can cost you big. Here's how to avoid blowing your budget.

Pages in this story


How-To's, Breastfeeding, and Clothes

Right after I gave birth to my first daughter, a funny thing happened: Virtually every dollar I owned seemed to sprout wings. Then one by one, they flew away—to the pediatrician, the drugstore, and any chain that sold cute kids' clothes. Sure, I'd known that a baby would bring new financial pressures. But when I saw my first postpartum credit-card bill, I totally freaked out.

If you have a newborn, you're probably panicked too. No wonder: Depending on your spending habits and child-care needs, you'll likely shell out $7,000 to $14,600 annually between now and your little one's second birthday. But there's hope. Through trial and error, I learned a lot about raising a daughter on a budget. Now that my second girl is here, I've gotten even savvier. Here are ways you, too, can cut your baby expenses by half—or even more.


Hospital How-Tos

  • Say no to add-ons. Pass up a private room if there's a charge. Fees can vary wildly, from about $30 a day in Alabama all the way up to a $500 daily charge where I gave birth, in Manhattan. By opting for a two-person room for my second hospital stay, when a C-section required me to remain five days, I saved $2,500. With nurses popping in every hour, I would have had no privacy anyway.

  • Don't turn on the TV. Some hospitals (like mine) also charge patients about $8 a day for television privileges. But you're there to rest, not watch a Three's Company marathon. Relish the time with your newborn and the fact that there's an army of nurses to watch her while you recuperate. It's a luxury you won't have at home.

  • Ask for coupons and samples. Manufacturers often lavish maternity wards with freebies, but the hospital staff is sometimes too busy to remember to dole them out. I got tubes of lotion and diaper ointment, coupons for stuff like baby wash and baby portraits, plus a surprisingly chic black diaper bag to hold it all—but only because I asked a nurse whether there were any samples around.

  • Take the toiletries. You can often keep some goodies from your hospital stay—namely the baby-care items stored in the cabinet beneath your little one's rolling bassinet (ask permission). Look inside, and you'll probably find diapers, swaddling cloths, alcohol swabs, a nasal aspirator, disposable nipples for bottles, a thermometer, and more. Leave them behind and you'll just have to shell out $30 to $40 later at the drugstore.


Budget Breastfeeding

  • Nurse if you possibly can. Not only is it healthy, but you'll also save at least $1,400 in your child's first year.

  • Borrow a breast pump. An electric pump can be expensive (about $150 to $800), and it's just the plastic attachments that shouldn't be shared. You can buy a starter kit of those for less than $45.

  • Find out in advance where you can get free breastfeeding advice. When you need help, you need it fast, which can limit your options. With my first daughter, I paid a lactation consultant $200 before recalling that my hospital had a free nursing hotline. Local breastfeeding organizations may offer home visits or phone consultations at no charge.

  • Don't rush to buy a breastfeeding wardrobe. My mom bought me three $18 nursing tees shortly after I left the hospital. I spent another $36 on special bras. Total wasted when I had to give up breastfeeding ten days later: $90. Since you'll spend most of your baby's first two weeks indoors anyway, wait at least that long and make sure you're committed to breastfeeding before you buy clothes for nursing in public.


Cost-Conscious Clothes

  • Don't buy baby clothes far in advance. Newborns can have sudden growth spurts, as my friend Heather learned the hard way. Last year she bought her infant son a winter coat in September, only to find he'd outgrown it by the time the cold weather actually arrived.

  • Scrimp on all-in-ones. You'll mostly layer them under other clothes. I once spotted several packs of slightly irregular name-brand all-in-ones marked down 70 percent at a Value City near my in-laws' house. You'd never notice the defects, and after a baby spits up on something, it doesn't look regular anyway. By the way, when it comes to staples like undershirts, all-in-ones, and socks, buy them in plain white. If (ha! when) they get dirty, you can bleach them for pennies instead of spot-treating stains with a $3.50 bottle of laundry spray.

  • Choose unisex shades and styles. I snapped up one pink dress after another when my older daughter was born. It never even crossed my mind that my next child might be a boy and those hand-me-downs would all be useless. (Genie turned out to be a girl. Whew!)

  • Lose the shoes. You can spend about $30 on leather footwear for your infant. But babies will learn to walk faster if they're barefoot when they're indoors. Use soft booties (I got ours for $1.99 at a closeout store) to keep feet warm when you're outside.

  • Buy secondhand special-occasion clothes. Visit your local consignment shop, and pick up a princess dress or a tiny suit for a fraction of its retail cost. Chances are its previous owner wore it just once or twice.


  • More Ways to Save
Continue

Posted by AmberSal at 6:34 AM  

Labels: ,

Sunday, June 8, 2008

25 Ways to Save Money on Healthcare

By Teri Cettina

Rated by 11 people
Rate This

Get discounts on prescriptions, negotiate with your doctor, bargain-shop for a health plan. In this economy, you need to take more control over your family's medical bills.

Pages in this story




Find the Best Plan

1. Shop for the Best Plan

When selecting a health plan, don't just choose the one with the lowest monthly premium or the one you used before. Benefits can change significantly every year -- as can your family's health needs. The best way to bargain-shop: Jot down your family's average number of doctor visits per year, routine prescriptions, dental cleanings, and other services. Compare what you'd pay over an entire year for these items on each plan. Don't forget to include monthly premiums and deductibles.


2. Consider an HD Plan

It might feel like a big switch if you're used to paying $20 office co-pays. But a high-deductible (HD) health plan can save you hundreds of dollars per month in lower premiums. These plans (which have an annual deductible of at least $1,100 for individuals; $2,200 for families) are great if your family is healthy and doesn't usually visit the doctor too often. Another benefit: Most HD plans qualify you to open a health savings account (HSA), where you can sock away (on a pretax basis) money to pay your insurance premiums and out-of-pocket health expenses. Better yet, unused HSA money continues to grow tax-deferred, year after year. An HD plan might not be right for you, though, if family members have chronic (and costly) health conditions, you're not disciplined about saving money in your HSA, or if having such a high deductible makes you uneasy.


3. Join a Discount Club

If you don't have dental insurance, look into plans like AmeriPlan (ameriplanusa.com), Careington International (careington.com), or HealthInsurance.com's dental-discount cards. Participants in these plans agree to give members up to a 60 percent discount. You'll pay a monthly membership fee (ranging from about $12 to $30), and you'll probably need to pay cash at the time of service. Check each plan's coverage in your area -- some regions have fewer participating providers than others.

AmeriPlan

Careington International

HealthInsurance.com


4. Join the Farm Bureau

Believe it or not, you don't need to be a farmer to join your state's farm bureau. Simply by paying an annual membership fee (usually less than $50) you're eligible for all sorts of benefits -- including discounted group health insurance in some states. If you or your spouse are self-employed, this might work for you. For more information, type "farm bureau" and your state's name into your Internet search engine.


5. Always Have a Safety Net

If you or your spouse are switching jobs and have to wait for your new health insurance to kick in, ask whether you can extend your policy from your old employer. (The COBRA law requires some, but not all, companies to let you.) If it's not possible to keep your old plan, buy a short-term family insurance plan so you're never without coverage. These policies are relatively inexpensive and can usually be activated within a day or two. Compare plans online at ehealthinsurance.com.


  • Know Your Coverage
Continue

Posted by AmberSal at 7:32 AM  

Labels:

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Easy Ways to Save Energy -- and Money

By Katie Rockman

Rated by 7 people
Rate This

Helping the environment may give you more cash in the long run.

Pages in this story



On the Road
saving money
Enlarge Image

According to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Americans spend more than $160 billion a year on energy. This energy -- used to heat, cool, light, and otherwise keep our homes running smoothly -- represents about 21 percent of the nation's total energy use. But our impact could be smaller. Take the time to implement even a few of the following energy-efficient improvements, and the results could cut your total energy consumption by up to 30 percent.


On the Road

  • Drive safely -- and not just when baby's on board. Any aggressive driving (think speeding, rapid acceleration or hard braking) wastes gasoline, lowering your highway gas mileage by 33 percent and city mileage by 5 percent.

  • Keep up with car maintenance. A clean air filter -- important because it keeps dirt and other foreign particles from entering the engine -- can improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. Properly inflated and aligned tires will improve gas mileage by 3 percent.


  • In the Home
Continue

Source:

http://www.parents.com/family-life/home-garden/organization/easy-ways-to-save-energy----and-money/?sssdmh=dm17.314111&esrc=nwpce46&email=201779094

Posted by AmberSal at 8:30 AM  

Labels:

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Best Family Cars of 2008
Are you looking for a new family car? If so you will want to check out this article on Parents. com. Parents.com and Edmunds.com teamed up to determine which cars in 2008 are the safest, most kid friendly, comfortable, and affordable.


Check out the best family cars of 2008

Posted by AmberSal at 12:13 PM  

Labels: ,

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Government Benefits, Grants, and Financial Aid
Need government help? Get official information on grants, loans, financial aid, and other benefits from the U.S. government


Adoption Assistance
Adoption Tax CreditC
Child Care Locator and Information
Child Care Tax Credit
Child Support Enforcement in Your State
Children's Health Insurance
College Student Loans and Grants
Crop and Livestock InsuranceD
Disability Resources
Disaster Assistance for Victims
Dislocated and Laid-Off Worker AssistanceE
Earned Income Tax Credit
Employment and Training AssistanceF
Farm Ownership and Operating Loans
Federal Retiree Benefits
Food Assistance – Child Nutrition; Food Distribution; Women, Infants, and Children
Food Stamp ProgramG
Government Benefits – Check Your Eligibility
Government Jobs
Government May Owe You Money
Government Online Services
Government Sales and Auctions
GovLoans.gov
Grants.gov – Find and Apply for Government GrantsH
Head Start Program Locator
Heating and Cooling Bills with Low Income Home Energy Assistance
Home Mortgage and Housing Assistance
Home Rental Assistance
Human Trafficking – Assistance Available to Victims of Human TraffickingL
Legal Assistance
Loans for Agriculture, Business, Disaster Relief, Education, Housing, and Veterans through GovLoans.gov
Locators – Find In-Person Services Near YouM
Medicaid Consumer Information
Medicare
Medicare Card Replacement
Mortgage Assistance ProgramsN
Native American BenefitsO
Online Services – Save Time, Do It Online!P
Pension Insurance and Benefit GuarantiesR
Railroad Retirement, Disability, and Unemployment Benefits
Refugee Resettlement Programs
Renter's Assistance
Runaway Youth National Switchboard to Call for Help
Rural Assistance Center for Health and Human ServicesS
School Lunch and Breakfast
Senior Citizen Community Service Employment Program
Small Business Financial Assistance
Social Security
Student Financial Aid and Scholarships
Student Grants for Study Overseas
Student Loan Consolidation
Supplemental Security IncomeT
Tax Counseling for the Elderly
Telephone Assistance Programs for Low-Income Households
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Welfare)U
Unemployment Insurance
USASpending.gov – Where Americans Can See Where Their Money GoesV
Vaccines for Children
Veterans' BenefitsW
Weatherization Assistance
Welfare (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)Y
Youth Education and Training Assistance




Benefits and Grants: Online Services
Check Eligibility
Register Online for Disaster Assistance
Replace Medicare Card
Social Security Online
Student Loans
Veterans - Apply for Benefits

Posted by Gail at 3:46 PM  

Labels:

Monday, March 17, 2008

Budgeting for Baby

Written by: Olivia Wallace

Every aspect of your life will change once you bring a new baby home. Among all the adjustments new parents must make, financial changes may be one of the more difficult to plan and implement. Some experts have estimated that a new baby can set his parents back $9000 to $11,000 US Dollars (USD) in the first year alone! The US Department of Agriculture has estimated that it costs approximately $250,000 USD for a middle class family to rear a child to the age of 17. Add that to the staggering costs of college, and you have a definite motivation to get your financial house in order before you start a family.

Before Baby

While it is always smart to live below your means, if you plan to get pregnant in the near future, now is the time to implement a baby budget that accommodates a new baby. If possible, budget an amount that you determine will cover the cost of clothing, diapers, food, childcare, medical costs and miscellaneous items, and set it aside. Not only will you have a nice amount of money saved to feather your nest or to save for college but you will have become accustomed to living on less. Once you have lived with the baby budget, you won't suffer a shock at the extra expenses.

It is smart to have a rainy day fund saved up before you have a baby for unexpected expenses. If you wait until after the baby arrives, you may not have the extra income to put away.

A new baby will be a new expense, and may mean a lost income if Mom (or Dad) plans to stay at home. If both parents plan to continue working after the baby is born, then childcare costs must be worked into the budget. If you plan to have one parent stay at home, try living on one salary for several months to a year before the baby arrives. You'll save tons of money, and it will give you the opportunity to make tweaks, whether large or small, to your baby budget to accommodate this change. You may find that you have to trade in your car for a smaller payment, or move to a more affordable community to afford living on one income. Planning ahead will allow you to determine if can live on one income, or if you'll have to make other arrangements.

If both parents will be working, then the adjustment to your baby budget won't be as dramatic — but you will have to allow for childcare expenses. The National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) has estimated that parents will pay from $400 to $500 USD monthly per child for home daycare. Depending on where you live, and what type of care you choose for your child, you may be paying upwards of $5000 USD per year. If you choose to have a nanny or in-home babysitter, that figure may be closer to $20,000 USD per year.

Preparing for the Unexpected

No one likes to think about what may happen if a parent unexpectedly passes away. This is a possibility that must be planned for when making a baby budget. You may need to check with your insurance agent to see if your current life insurance policy is adequate to fit the needs of your growing family. If, for instance, the mom stays at home and the dad works, you'll need two different life insurance policies. A stay-at-home mom's will be a smaller policy because it will not be paying for living expenses, but rather for childcare and other services she was providing. A working father's policy should theoretically replace his income for the amount of years he has left until retirement. So, if for example, your salary is $60,000 USD, and you are 20 years from retirement, your insurance policy should be at least $1,000,000 USD. Some parents will calculate enough living expenses until their children are 18, or out of college. Of course, if you can only afford a policy for $500,000, it is better to have something rather than nothing at all.

Get your will up to date. You can have your lawyer draw one up or amend an existing one to include your children, or you can make one yourself online or with the help of computer software. Remember to plan for who will care for your child and how.

Although rising costs of health insurance are making it difficult for many families to have, not having medical insurance may be more expensive in the long run than having it. One broken arm or one major illness can be enough to damage a family's credit rating or necessitate bankruptcy if they are unable to afford medical bills. Just the regular cost of well baby checkups and shots add up quickly, so having good medical insurance can help keep your baby budget under control.

Disability insurance is also smart to have when adding a baby to the mix. When before, you only had yourself and your spouse to worry about, a baby is completely dependent upon you to support him. If you suddenly become sick or disabled, you should have a policy that will cover basic living expenses.

Saving for College

In your baby budget, make an allowance for college savings. If you start early, as little as $25 USD per month can add up to a nice chunk of change 18 years from now. Investigate your state's 529 savings account, or look at other states' plans to see what fits you best. You can have the monthly contribution automatically withdrawn from your paycheck or bank account. An online savings program such as Upromise™ helps you save a percentage of what you spend money online, eating out, or in the grocery store.

Raising Children on the Cheap

There are so many resources available to help parents raise their children without breaking the bank. The following are some examples of how you can save on the bare essentials:

  • Breastfeeding instead of bottlefeeding.
  • Cloth diapers instead of disposable (although some diaper services are equal to or more than disposable)
  • Homemade baby food versus store-bought canned baby food
  • Clip coupons, shop sales and compare prices online to get best deals
  • Buying your baby clothes and gear at garage sales, second hand stores or on sale instead of paying retail. Also consider exchanging clothing with friends and family.
  • Co-op preschool or daycare

Implementing a baby budget can take the financial burn out of a new addition, and give you the peace of mind to enjoy your baby for what he is — your most valuable "asset"!

Source: http://www.pregnancyetc.com/baby-budget.htm

Posted by AmberSal at 2:27 PM  

Labels: ,

Money Management 101


Money Management 101Budget Money & Buying a Home & College Finances

A renters guide to money management and how to handle finances.



Beginning Finances


Saving for the Future
Personal Finance 101 Getting Your First Credit Card - Tips
Spotlight on Finances - Saving and the futureTeaching Kids About Money - Allowance 101


Credit Card Management

Credit Reporting Agencies and Bureaus
Filing Taxes - Preparation Made Easy
Managing Finances - Better Credit Rating

Sample Credit Card Dispute Letter
Understanding Credit Scores for Buying a Home

Posted by SumnerMoms.com at 11:23 AM  

Labels:

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Holiday Debt

With January, the holiday season comes to an end and people start getting back into a normal schedule. And then the bills start to arrive in the mail. Now that all the various credit card statements are in, it is time to sit down and figure out how to tackle this holiday debt and get your head above water.


While some people’s first instinct is to hide from their debt, this way of behaving doesn’t help get anyone out of debt. It is actually very empowering to sit down and figure out exactly how much you owe.


This also happens to be the first step in creating an action plan to get out debt, as well. An easy way to do this is to sit down with all the different bills that have come in, and on a piece of paper or in a spreadsheet program such as Excel, write down each credit card and the balance owed on the card. Next to that, write down what the minimum payment is and when it is due.


When paying back debt some people prefer to start by paying off the card with the lowest balance first. Paying off these smaller debts and crossing them off the list gives people a real sense of accomplishment and acts a motivator to pay down the larger debts.


Once a person has finished paying down one debt, they can use the money they were paying on that debt and put that amount towards another card to get the next debt paid off even faster.
If you created your list in an Excel program, it will be very easy to sort the debts from low to high. If you wrote them down on paper, you can simply reorder them on another sheet.


Once this step is over, you can feel confident that you are on the way out of debt. You have faced your fear and are now armed with the information that will help you plan your next step in eliminating holiday debt.

Posted by AmberSal at 7:06 AM  

Labels:

Sunday, February 17, 2008





Many of you are making New Year resolutions, and what better way to start the year than with a sensible budget the 2008?



If you are serious about getting out of debt, it is important to create a budget. This will be a guide of how much that person can spend on all areas of their life, such as housing, food, health care, entertainment, etc.



The first step is to write down the monthly income. Next, write down the monthly expenses. This is where people tend to get overwhelmed and start panicking. Not only do the credit cards have to be paid, but the electricity, cable, phone, internet, school activities, car insurance, car payments, field trips and more, have to be paid as well.



If a person is paid twice a month, write down these dates and write underneath it which bill needs to be paid with that check. It is important to plan ahead. If a payment is due at the end of the month, be sure to pay it with the middle of the month check. Do not try to stretch it out and wait. The goal is to pay the bills and be on time.



If there’s a deficit, meaning there’s not enough money to cover all the bills, then think about ways certain items could be cut. In other words, what bills could be reduced to help pay for others that are due?



To help keep them on track, some people find it helpful to carry a small notebook with them to write down their purchases, whether they are made with cash, check or credit card. Tracking expenses, even cups of coffee, can help people see where their money is going and make it easier to identify which things can be done without in order to pay off debt and save for the future.



As you work with your budget, you might be surprised at how much extra money you are able to put towards your bills. Do not get discouraged if you run into a few kinks along the way. It is okay to sit down and reconfigure your budget to make it fit your needs. After all, the point of creating a budget is to find a way to pare down expenses in a way that you can live with.

Posted by AmberSal at 9:33 AM  

Labels:

Thursday, January 17, 2008


Accounting

Batson & Assoc (615) 824-0381102 Hazel Path, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Comprehensive Business Svc (615) 264-0757699 W Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Crisler CPA Pllc (615) 264-6126103 Shiloh Rdg, Hendersonville, TN 37075
D L Castellari & Co (615) 822-4004102 Hazel Path, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Dennis Burke CPA (615) 824-7264114 Canfield Pl, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Duane A Clark CPA (615) 264-920075 New Shackle Island Rd, Hendersonville, TN 37075
John P Young CPA (615) 822-8202114 Canfield Pl, Hendersonville, TN 37075
John R Janicek CPA PC (615) 822-8315115 Shivel Dr, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Judy Sinz CPA (615) 822-9211236 Old Shackle Island Rd, Hendersonville, TN 37075
King CPA'S (615) 264-1003114 Canfield Pl, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Mary Maynard CPA (615) 264-3211113 Trousdale Dr, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Mc Murray & Assoc (615) 824-2724641 E Main St, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Pamela Tidwell CPA (615) 824-8142147 Sanders Ferry Rd, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Sharon Clark Finance Svc (615) 822-650975 New Shackle Island Rd, Hendersonville, TN 37075
Vandana Faust CPA (615) 826-7316116 Herman Harrison Dr, Hendersonville, TN 37075

Posted by SumnerMoms.com at 4:05 PM  

Labels:

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Finances

A Brief Look at Federal Student Aid

A Family Education

A Kid's Savings: The Big Payoff

As soon as you find out t

Be Realistic About Saving

Both my husband's and my

Building a Future as a Family

Clean out your closets/at

College Tuition: Start Saving Now

College and Retirement Savings

College on $10 a Paycheck

College on a Shoestring

Cutting the Cost of College Supplies

DIY College Aid

Earn More Money For Your Child's Future

Ensuring Money for College

Everyday College Savings

Funding the Future

Helping Your Sports Star Make the Cut

Here's a great way to sav

I chose to breastfeed whe

I do my own manicure, ped

I know personally how har

I live in NY and we pay a

Instead of asking for mor

Instead of spending that

Keep the Change

Look to turn your unwante

Make a Little Go a Long Way

Money Management -- Ways to Reduce Debt

Paying for Your Bad Habits

PrePaid college programs

Save by Buying Groceries

Save for College without

Save up all of your chang

Saving For College

Saving Money for Your Kids

Saving Quarters for College

Saving for College

Saving for College

Saving for College With a 529 Plan

Saving for College/CarEve

Saving for College: Upromise

Saving for Your Child's Future

Saving for Your Child's Future

Saving for college

Savings Bonds Help Pay for College

Should You "Upromise" for College Savings?

Small Change for College

Smart Money

Start Now, Start Small

Start Your Child's College Fund Today

Start saving for your chi

Take Baby Steps to College

Tax Savings on Upromise Accounts

The Greatest Gift

We are low income, and ha

What to Do With That Spare Change

When it comes to saving

With the holidays approac

Posted by SumnerMoms.com at 11:01 AM  

Labels:

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)