Melissa

Tips to Save Big When Traveling on a Tight Budget

Published or updated June 17, 2014 by Melissa

Just a month into our relationship, my husband and I took a trip to New Orleans.

Later, we went to Memphis. Then we flew to Japan.

We did all of this travel the first year we were together. Simply put, we love to travel.

However, we don’t have the money to travel now as we did when we were first dating. Since travel now usually includes bringing along our 3 kids, expenses can add up fast. But we didn’t want to give up travel all together.

Instead, we found frugal ways to travel.

Gone are the days of staying at a bed and breakfast and eating out every meal when we vacation. Instead, we travel in a much more practical manner, but we still get to explore places we’ve never been before, which makes scrimping all worthwhile. Because we want our kids to travel and see the world, we’re glad to cut corners to do so.

We’ve learned many strategies for saving on travel.

Here Are Some Tips to Save Big When You Travel On a Limited Budget

Is Dual Enrollment In High School A Key to Lowering College Costs?

Published or updated June 9, 2014 by Melissa

With the escalating cost of college as well as the heavy debt load many students graduate with, parents welcome any alternative that will help reduce the cost.

As more and more people come to this realization, there are more and more techniques to help students graduate college more quickly with a minimal amount of debt.

One of those new strategies is taking college level classes while one is still in high school.

For years, high school students have been able to take AP (advanced placement) courses, and if they pass a test, they can often opt out of that class in college. Some students could easily shave a year off their college education if they were very motivated and not daunted by the difficult level of AP classes.

However, now, some high schools are taking this a step farther.

High Schools That Encourage Dual High School and College Enrollment

These Big Financial Wins Will Put a Lot of Money in Your Pocket!

Published or updated June 8, 2014 by Melissa

A look around the personal finance blogosphere will show you a number of different approaches to living a financially rewarding life.

Some bloggers like Ramit Sethi from I Will Teach You to Be Rich scoff at little cost cutting measures like making your coffee at home instead of stopping by Starbucks, arguing that the way to truly become wealthy comes from making more money, not cutting little corners.

Others like Crystal Paine at Money Saving Mom advocate a frugal lifestyle.

She regularly advertises free deals and ways to be frugal such as using coupons when shopping, menu planning, and taking advantage of free summer activities with kids. While she does advocate having a side gig if you’re able, her main focus is saving money by spending less money.

Of course, these two strategies combined — earning more money and saving money in all the little ways you spend on a daily basis — are important to growing your net worth.

But there’s also another strategy that may be even more important than cutting corners on routine, small expenditures–cutting corners on large purchases that can save you thousands in one fell swoop.

Saving on large purchases isn’t discussed as much because there’s not an opportunity to save as frequently. After all, you may go to the coffee shop every day, and you may go out to eat a few times a week, but you’ll likely only buy a new car every five to ten years.

Still, the big purchases can save you as much in one fell swoop as a year’s worth of savings by making your coffee at home.

These Big Financial Wins Rock!

5 Free or Inexpensive Summer Activities to Keep the Kids from Being Bored

Published or updated December 11, 2014 by Melissa

Summer is here and children are out of school.

If your kids are like mine, they count down the days until school ends, and they revel in their newfound freedom — for a week or two. Then, the inevitable sibling bickering and the whines of “I’m booooored” begin.

By mid-July at the peak of summer when they’re most bored and the temperatures are soaring, things can seem pretty grim. Parents may begin counting down the days until school is BACK in session.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

There are plenty of things you and the kids can do to have a fun, educational summer. (All the better if they don’t realize they’re learning while they’re having fun!)

Best of all, many of these activities are cheap or free!

Here Are 5 Free or Inexpensive Summer Activities to Help Occupy Your Kids

The Best Four Companies and States for Family Leave

Published or updated May 22, 2014 by Melissa

In our current environment of wage freezes and increased health care costs, one of the features that can distinguish a good company from a great company is the fringe benefits you receive.

While your wages may remain stagnant, fringe benefits can provide substantial bonuses and savings for your bottom line.

Unfortunately, one benefit that few companies have is a comprehensive family leave plan.

Of course, back in 1993, President Clinton signed into law the Family Medical Leave Act. This act allows a new parent (either biologically or through adoption) as well as those with sick family members to take up to 12 weeks unpaid leave from their job within a 12 month period. The employee is able to retain health care benefits, and they cannot lose their job.

However, not all companies have to follow the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) such as those with less than 50 employees. Likewise, if the employee seeking to take FMLA has not worked for the company for at least 12 months and worked at least 1,250 hours in the past 12 months, the company does not have to grant the employee leave.

With these contingencies on FMLA, many, many employees fall through the cracks and find themselves back at work less than a week after they have a baby because they do not qualify for FMLA or they cannot afford to take an unpaid leave.

However, there are some companies as well as states that go above and beyond and offer their employees or residents better FMLA benefits than required by federal law.

As a working parent, these are the companies that you want to work for or states you want to live in.

Melissa

Here Are Some Tips to Save Big When You Travel On a Limited Budget

High Schools That Encourage Dual High School and College Enrollment

These Big Financial Wins Rock!

Here Are 5 Free or Inexpensive Summer Activities to Help Occupy Your Kids

Top 4 Companies to Work for With Great FMLA Benefits

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