A Lesson On Spending
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I received this in an email and thought it provided a great, easy way to picture our national debt by comparing it to a household budget.
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5 Tips to Successful New Years Resolutions
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If you are like nearly half of the population, you have created at least one New Year's Resolution. But the majority of those resolutions are guaranteed to fail. The high failure rate is probably why the other half have stopped creating resolutions. But why is the failure rate so high? Here a five very simple tips to help increase the odds of you achieving your New Year's Resolution.
Read MoreTurning Gifts Into Financial Literacy
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Christmas and birthdays are often a time when kids get a windfall of cash and gift cards. Should you let them run right out and spend it all? Whoa. Not so fast. An incredible teaching opportunity for your kids has just presented itself. Check out Bob's interview with Murray Feldman on Fox 2 Detroit about teaching your kids how to handle the gift of money.
Read MoreTurn An Old Smart Phone into a Free Gaming Device for Kids
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I'm giving my 6 year old a cell phone for Christmas. Whoa! Hold on. Let me explain. My daughter is really 6, and it's a real cell phone, but it's not going to have any cell phone service. I'm "repurposing" a gently used Android cell phone to provide a FREE and pretty darn sweet handheld gaming device for her for Christmas.
Read More5 Tips to Avoid Holiday Debt and Overspending
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Ever hear the expression "post holiday hang over?" That's what it feels like when we open up our January credit card statement. With a little planning and creativeness, we all can avoid holiday debt and the post holiday blues and don't forget to include your kids in the process. Here are our 5 tips for a truly money-smart holiday season:
Read MorePay Cash, Eat Healthy
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Want your kids to make healthier food choices when they are out? Have them pay cash.This is a somewhat surprising finding in a study by the USDA. In the study, college students that paid with cash made healthier food choices than those paying with an unrestricted debit card. And not only did they make healthier choices...
Read MoreFamilyMint is Academics' Choice Smart Media Award Winner
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We are very excited to share our latest award and recognition from Academics' Choice™. FamilyMint was just awarded the Smart Media Award by Academics' Choice™.
Read MoreUse age-morphed photos to improve savings
/What if you could instantly increase the desire of your kids to save? Just by showing them a picture of what they might look like when they are older? Interested? Me too!
Read MoreKnowing How to Write a Check Is Still Important!
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Today’s kids will be tomorrow’s adults and we keep on hearing that so many young adults don’t have a clue how to write a check. We’re here to help! For the next goal your child achieves in FamilyMint, rather than whipping out the debit or credit card at the store, take your checkbook with you and make it a learning opportunity.
Read MoreCinnamon & Sugar Roasted Almonds - an inexpensive, fun, & kid-friendly snack
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We're always on the lookout for ways to save money and engage the kids in some fun learning. This recipe is one of our Fall favorites and is inexpensive (especially if you buy the almonds in bulk), easy enough for kids to do themselves (with a little bit of oversight from mom or dad), and the result is a healthy snack that kids love. Well, relatively healthy, but absolutely mouth-wateringly yummy.
Read MoreCollege planning for your Tween?
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You've got plenty of time to start thinking about college, right? Or do you? Considering the average in-state tuition at a four-year public college is around $30,000 (not including room & board!), it's actually not too early to take some steps now to save money down the road. Over at Fidelity Viewpoints, they explain there are a few little steps you can take even now to increase your chances of getting financial aid. Here are a few highlights...
Read MoreLetting Kids Participate in Family Money
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We had a mom write in with some ideas that she uses with her own kids at home. We thought they were great, so we wanted to share them with you.
Read MoreDeficit vs. Debt
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With the national debt currently at $14.9 trillion, we hear a lot of talk about reducing our national deficit. My teen posed a question while watching a recent debate as to what the difference was between debt and deficit. Here's a very simple explanation.
Read MoreRe-imagining the 3 Little Pigs
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The third little pig listened to his mother’s wise words and said “I don’t plan to live like the birds. No straw nor sticks will do for me; I plan to build my house solidly.” With his goal clearly defined and a budget in mind, the third little pig developed a plan and a timeline. “With a little hard work and some shopping around, I’ll have my brick house to keep me safe and sound,” said the third little pig.
Read MoreWhat Teens Really Know About Money
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When it comes to being savvy about money, the line between what teens think and reality is as wide as the Grand Canyon. Most teens surveyed believe they are financially savvy. But when asked about specifics such as establishing good credit, balancing a check book or what a credit score is, the majority of teens were in the dark.
Read MoreTo Negotiate Life Successfully is All about Negotiation
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Every day in life we are presented with opportunities for negotiation, and doing it successfully and where everyone walks away satisfied is an art worth learning at a very early age.
Read MoreBack to School Time is Really Time to Move Forward
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I know other moms who’ve experienced this mom-switch syndrome, but whether you can relate or not, there’s no denying that back-to-school time is about making transitions. Schedules, extracurricular activities, homework, new teachers, new friends, carpools, books, supplies, clothes…it’s time to pull up our socks and get moving again!
Read MoreStory of Goldilocks and the 3 Imitation Bear Skin Rugs
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Follow the story of Goldilocks in her search for an imitation bear skin rug and how she decides which one is just right for her and that buying something because it’s cheap will often make you weep, and to purchase to impress never works out for the best.
Read MoreThe 5 Secrets to Help Your Kids Achieve Their Goals
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The secret behind these 5 secrets is that they aren’t just for kids. Leaders of Fortune 500 companies go through the same thought process during annual strategic planning as well as their daily priority setting. Start forming these habits now in easy, small ways and you’ll be giving your kids quite a leg up in the world!
Read MoreAmazon Mom
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We learned of a new program Amazon recently launched called Amazon Mom. In the spirit of sharing great ways to save money we thought we'd share it with you. Here are the details...
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