Chores, Allowance and the 21st Century

When I was a kid, chores and allowance were "the norm" for pretty much every family in our neighborhood. In our family, chores were assigned and posted on the fridge. Over the years there may have been a switch here and there in the compensation system (flat rate weekly allowance vs. per chore) but the values and requirements remained the same: Money = Responsibility. I can still remember the craft projects we did in Brownies or Vacation Bible School that consisted of decorating baby food jars to hold one's allowance. Ours was a three-jar system: one for savings, one for church, and one to spend. I still think allowances and chore lists are a good idea and was pleased to find that so many others feel the same way. In fact, there's so many families using a chore/allowance system that website and mobile app designers are finding innovative ways for parents and kids to manage their own systems in the 21st century. Here are just a few of the sites or apps available:

Based on my post above, I gotta say, Three Jars is my favorite.

ThreeJars makes allowance fun and easy for 5 to 13 year old kids and their parents. Kids learn to manage their "money"through saving, spending, and charitable giving jars- with guidance from Mom and Dad. 

NOTE: ThreeJars.com has a 15-day free trial and an annual family membership of $30.

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FirstKidBank.com is a virtual bank that always knows your child's current balance and what chores they've completed.Make deposits & withdraws and track chore progress from your computer or mobile phone.Your child develops the financial smarts that come from managing their own money -- without the problems of cash. When your child’s ready, add:

• savings accounts with interest
• charity accounts
• borrowing and finance charges

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MoneyTrail.net offers free allowance and money management for teens and families. Web or mobile app. Keep track of cash, credit, gift cards and checks.

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4Chores focuses on the tasks, not the money management. However, there are added features:

4Chores does much more than track chores. It teaches kids about accountability, responsibility, and encourages them to donate time and money to their community. Kids can even use 4Chores to run their own neighborhood business where they can do chores for neighbors, and even donate their time to those neighbors in need.

Have another website or mobile app to share? Feel free to leave a link with your comment!

It's Almost Summer--What Do We Do with the Kids?

Summer is just around the corner and for many families that means family vacations, summer camp and helping the older kids find summer jobs. Here are a variety of articles centered around those topics that may help you in your family's search for creative (and economical) ways to keep the kids busy this summer!


10 Fun and Free Things to Do in San Diego
San Diego is an excellent place for a family vacation, with its' miles of beautiful beaches, warm climate and easily accessible outdoor recreation venues. Not only is it home to world-famous attractions, it's also a great area to enjoy even on a limited budget.


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Laundry 101: Tips & Tricks To Make Your Laundry Easier, Less Costly and More Eco-Friendly

Laundry...necessary evil or enjoyable task? I'd venture to say for most it falls somewhere in between. Having been doing laundry for more than two decades now, I'm feeling like somewhat of an expert when it comes to managing laundry chores. Here are a few tips that can help make the laundry tasks easier, less costly and more eco-friendly!


The Green Guide to Biodegradable and Non-Toxic Laundry Soaps
If you are looking for more natural, non-toxic ways to clean your laundry, this is a good place to start.


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Getting a Handle on Life in 2010

I am not one for New Year's resolutions, but I am definitely in favor of taking stock of where you're at vs. where you want to be, and then creating a plan or list of goals for the things you'd like to change.  Maybe you're like me and bypass the whole January 1st ritual of posting a new list of resolutions on the fridge or dresser mirror. Maybe, you too will consider February (or whatever month you decide) to be the start of a "new" you... a more focused, disciplined, goal-oriented, inspired YOU. And then, maybe you'll also consider using those same tools to help your family and friends create their own lists of goals and aspirations.

Obviously, how we deal with the economic challenges is a big part of our goals, discipline and inspiration.  Stress over the loss of job or decrease in income, rising mortgages or costs or living, and the stress on our relationships that are intertwined with money matters, are on the rise.  This is a good time to take stock of your budget, your spending habits, your lifestyle (not to mention taking an honest look at how your home, lifestyle and relationships may have suffered in the last year or so.)

Once you've taken stock, now it's time to get down to business and create some attainable goals.  Here's a few articles and resources to help you get started:

How to Downsize Your Lifestyle - Less is more, especially now.

How to Get Cash for Your Unwanted Stuff  - whether you are in need of quick cash, or you've realized you definitely have way too much, there's definitely a few ideas to help you clear some stuff out.

Be sure to get your free copy of financial expert Alan Haft's book The 10 Most Common Mistakes People Make with Their Money...and How to Avoid Them -- it's available on his blog "The Haft Report" along with a lot of other smart and savvy money tips!

Check out LiveStrong.com's  Dare to Change Your Life articles and resources.

And remember, even hitting 60-70% of your goals and aspirations looks a whole lot better than 100% of  nothing!

From Fussy Babies to Stressed Out Adults - Tips for Restoring Calm

The Holidays bring excitement, fun, parties...and for many, stress or depression. Here are a few articles that can help you restore the calm during the Holiday Season (and the rest of the year too!)

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photo credit: sxc.hu/claudmey

New Websites to Unveil

I've been working hard (and collaborating with several fellow writers from eHow and Associated Content) to get FOUR new websites up and running over the last month or so. Each has a distinct theme, and features lots of articles and resources. Check 'em out when you can.

Hearth-n-Home:
Hearth & Home contains a variety of resources and articles designed to help you make your home and family the best it can be. Topics include green living, remodeling projects, hobbies and crafts, health and nutrition, travel and pets.

Small Biz Digest:
Whether you are a current small business owner trying to stay afloat, considering a start-up business, freelancing after a layoff, or are a work-at-home entrepreneur, we've got plenty of info, tips, articles and more to help you succeed in the world of Small Business.



For Women By Women:
FWBW's articles are all written by women. Topics include work & career, motherhood, beauty, and health.

I hope you'll bookmark the sites, as we will be adding content to them every month!

Time, Family and Organization

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How Safe Are Your Kids Online?

We've all heard the news reports of kids that have been harmed by online predators. Most parents make the assumption of "not my kid"... they're too smart, too innocent, too informed to give out personal information or to join a chat room, send sexting messages or view inappropriate content. Unfortunately, parents are often times the last to know how truly Internet savvy kids can be. The good news is there are a variety of resources available for parents. One that I have recently come across is Livia Web Protection. The company provides Home Web filtering protection software that is effective and easy to use. They've also received several awards, including The National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval. They offer a free 14-day trial which makes it a no-risk investment that you may want to consider.

For additional information on Internet (and cell phone) safety:

Netsmartz - an interactive educational safety resource from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

StaySafeOnline.org Provides free and non-technical cyber security and safety resources to the public.

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Vacations Close To Home

Yes, there are layoffs, an economy that has tanked, and gas prices that are out of control. But that doesn't have to mean the end of the family summer vacation. Money may be tight, but that's no reason to cancel the summer fun. Many American families are opting for a stay-at-home vacation (or as it's now been dubbed, "staycation".)

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Are You A Stay At Home Mom with A Great Idea?

"The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world". Even more so it seems in today's economy. Moms are known to be clever and resourceful, and now they are leading the pack when it comes to creating income opportunities from home. So much so that they've been given their own title: "Mompreneur" or "Mommy Entrepreneurs".

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Step Family Success

From time to time I deal with families that are either going through the process of divorce, or are doing their best to coexist as a "blended" family. If you or someone you know is attempting to creating successful relationships within the family unit, you may find some support and resources at the STEP-Carefully blog. This blog is dedicated to helping stepparents who are already stressed and harried enough, to find and develop healthier ways of living.They've also got a free step-family newsletter that you can sign up to receive via email.

A Budget-Friendly Summer

School will be out before you know it, and many families will be searching for budget-friendly ideas to keep the kids inspired, entertained, active, and full of smiles throughout the summer. Here's a few resources that can help:

Because I live in CA and know how expensive vacationing here can be, here's a few articles/resources that can help the budget vacation along:

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Regardless of your budget, summertime can be a great time for families - so enjoy it!

Shades of Green

"Going Green" has become a common term these days (with good reason). There are literally hundreds of ways you can help to make a difference... even if , like me, you're not ready to live off the grid just yet. I guess you could say I'm a lighter shade of green. It thrills me to see the millions of people that are raising their own awareness, and sharing it with others. I've met hundreds of people on Twitter that are all trying to go green in varying shades, clicked on dozens of links to organizations that are springing up (profit and non-profit), and have learned so much regarding alternative energy, recycling, sustainability and more.There is much to be done... and the great part is: everyone can do something. For ideas and inspiration: check out my Free and Green Stuff blog, or join me on Twitter (@upon-request_oc).

Have you heard of PhotoCubbie.com??

Great way to share your photos and video with family and friends, AND get free prints!

10 Tips for Safer Camping

Now is the time to get together with family and friends and enjoy the Great Outdoors.  Camping is a great way to spend quality time, but are you practicing camping safety?  Here are 10 Tips for Safer Camping.

photo: © sxc.hu/riley321

National Mom's Nite Out

Thursday, May 7th is National Mom's Nite Out - designed to bring together moms across the U.S. virtually and in "real life" and give them a well deserved night out. [ADDITIONAL CONTENT / ARTICLE LINKS REMOVED]

How To Be A Good Houseguest

Staying with family, friends, or colleagues, can be a great bonding experience for all, if you are a good house guest. Sure, there are some hosts who throw open the doors and tell you to "do whatever you want", but if you aren't 100% sure that you can take that statement literally... proceed with caution.[ADDITIONAL CONTENT / ARTICLE LINKS REMOVED]

Is Your Child's Daycare Really Clean?

A daycare may look clean, but has the staff done all that they could do to keep your kids healthy and safe from unnecessary bacteria? READ MORE

photo credit: sxc.hu/annasat

Ever Wonder What Pill Is What??

There have been times when I was traveling that I put several over-the-counter medication in a single container to save space. While it seemed very convenient at the time, relying on my memory to identify each of the unknown pills was probably not the best idea.Here are a few ways to help you identify pills and other medications:   [ADDITIONAL CONTENT / ARTICLE LINKS REMOVED]

How To Choose A Water Filter

Bottled water is not only an expensive alternative to tap that creates unnecessary waste, but its' quality has also come in to question. Water filters help to remove the odors and tastes that are often associated with tap water as well as minerals, sediment, and chlorine, and are available in a large variety of types, sizes, and price ranges. [ADDITIONAL CONTENT / ARTICLE LINKS REMOVED]