Although money may not always be in abundance for activities for the entire family, this doesn’t mean your family needs to miss out on some well-needed time together. Enjoying each other’s company is an important aspect of everyone’s life. There are many different educational, economical and fun ways your family can have fun together.

We’ve come up with some ideas as to how you can still engage in some family-oriented activities for fun family activities, making memories together during these times where money isn’t always readily available for spending.

1. Rent a movie. Instead of taking the whole family to the movie theatre, rent a movie instead. You will not only save money on admission tickets to the movie, but you are free to choose different, healthier snacks to make as a family instead of buying concession stand junk food to munch on during the movie.

2. Make pizza. Instead of ordering in pizza for your family, make an afternoon of teaching your children how to make their own. Not only are you able to choose healthier products such as whole wheat flour for your crust, your children can have some fun experimenting with different toppings on their own personal sized pizzas. Keep in mind that you can make dessert pizzas as well. Instead of regular toppings, cover the dough with apple rings and cinnamon sugar made with low-calorie sweetener. Once it’s cooked, simply drizzle a bit of your favorite icing for a yummy homemade treat.

3. Donate unnecessary items. Generosity is a virtue you may want to instill in your children at a young age. Plan a weekend to have everyone in the family go through their toys, books and clothing to see if there may be some items which can be donated to a community outreach program. Different charities are always looking for new or gently used items. This project will not only help get your house organized, but will be a fantastic lesson in giving for your children.

4. Learn a handicraft together. One particular idea that comes to mind is knitting. Hospitals and seniors residences are always in search of knitted or crocheted blankets or hats for newborn babies. Once you learn how to make these items, make a permanent date on your calendar to drop off a new batch of these high-demand articles on a regular basis.

5. Check your community calendar. Many cities and towns publish a seasonal calendar with different upcoming events or activities. Browse through what is being offered, and choose one or two (or more) which your family would enjoy participating in. Many of these events will turn into holiday rituals or seasonal traditions your children will grow up looking forward too.

6. If you are looking for an activity for the winter months, why not spend the day on a good old-fashioned toboggan hill? While you can still purchase toboggans made of wood in the style of yesteryear, there are many less expensive options. You can get each member of your family a “magic carpet” which is a simple piece of thicker plastic with holes to hold on to. Find a local hill and enjoy the outdoors. Following this activity with a nice cup of hot chocolate is sure to be a great day.

7. Skating. There are many local skating arenas or outdoor areas you can enjoy as a family. Grab those dusty skates from the attic, and go to sporting goods swap stores for skates for your children. These can normally be purchased used for around $5 a pair. Get them sharpened, strap them on and learn to skate again as you teach your children the basics of…falling with grace perhaps?

Spending quality time with your family certainly doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. With these few hints added to a list of your own, you are sure to find enough activities to keep everyone happy during those family moments where some of the best memories are made.

Having your possessions stolen is a harrowing experience. Theft obviously deprives you of property, but perhaps even worse, it shakes your confidence in your fellow human being. You may experience such emotions as fear, anger and anxiety.

When someone steals a material possession, at least we usually know fairly quickly that it’s gone. But when someone steals one’s identity, it may go undetected for weeks, months or even years. By the time you realize what has happened, your life may be turned upside down. Picking up the pieces is a long and frustrating process, and it’s possible that you may never undo everything that the identity thief has done.

Identity theft can have numerous effects on its victims. Some of these include:

* The thief could steal money from your bank account or run up the balance on your credit card. With a checkbook, credit card or debit card, an identity thief can easily access your funds or an existing credit line. There are liability limits when a credit card is used fraudulently, but no such limits apply to checking or savings accounts.

* The identity thief could open new accounts in your name. With the right information, anyone can apply for a loan or credit card using your identity. If approved, that person can then use the credit card or loan proceeds as he pleases and not bother making payments. The bills will be in your name, and if you do not pay them, it will be your credit rating that suffers.

* The damage to your credit report from identity theft can make it difficult or impossible to obtain new credit. Any credit you do receive will carry a higher interest rate than you would normally be entitled to.

* The negative entries on your credit report can make it much harder to get a job or rent a place to live. Employers and landlords often check applicants’ credit reports, and when they see delinquent accounts, they will usually move on to the next applicant.

* Having your identity stolen could land you in jail. Some identity thieves do what they do to avoid jail time or keep their criminal records clean. They may commit fraud using a stolen identity, or they might give authorities someone else’s name when they’re taken in for a crime. If someone uses your identity for such a purpose, the police could come after you.

If you want to protect your identity, one of the most important things you can do is keep an eye on your credit report. No matter how well you protect your information and important documents, an identity thief could target your employer or a company with which you do business and get everything he needs. Checking your credit report periodically will alert you to any strange activity so that you can take steps to avoid further damage.

The current economic climate has resulted in many people trying to find ways to save money or increase their income. One way of doing this which many people don’t seem to have thought of yet is the possibility of renting out a spare room in their home. Making ends meet isn’t the only advantage to this either. Opting for a roommate could potentially help you to pay off your mortgage sooner.

If you have someone equally sharing expenses with you, your savings increase significantly on a monthly basis. You may not feel comfortable with the possibility of sharing your home with a stranger, but by talking to family members or friends you may find someone who is also considering how to save money on their housing costs. Sharing of other expenses as well, such as utilities, food and even driving back and forth to errands can help you save even more, enabling you to possibly make larger payments on your mortgage.

Although having a roommate may not be what you had in mind when you started out, it’s really not all that bad. It can actually be advantageous both financially and socially. Of course there’s the privacy issue, but with some ground rules set from the beginning everyone should adjust easily without too much trouble. The key is to make a list of what you will and won’t accept in a roommate before you start looking. Because you are getting a roommate for a bit of financial ease, you want to be sure you really are getting what you bargain for.

The person you choose must of course be able to live up to their financial responsibilities. It is your absolute right to ask for references, as well as to perform credit verifications if you are willing to spend the money for that extra peace of mind. Only after you are sure this potential roommate is a financial fit should you concern yourself with the social aspect of having someone sharing your space.

What this all breaks down to in the end, is money. Let’s work with some actual figures to give you an example of what having a roommate can help you achieve financially.

Your mortgage payment is $1000 per month. Add to that your utilities (telephone, cable, heating and lighting) at $350 per month and homeowner’s insurance at $200 per month. That gives you a total of $1550 out of pocket each and every month. And that is before you have eaten or started you car – let alone bought any new clothes, seen a movie or gone on a date.

In comes your new roommate. Yes, you have finally found the perfect roommate after searching and being very picky about the entire process. After all, this is your house to begin with. You and your new roommate have agreed they will pay you $700 per month to rent your spare room and share all common living spaces. Not only is that half of your mortgage payment, but it completely covers your homeowner’s insurance as well.

This doesn’t have to be a “forever” solution. Eventually you and your roommate will part ways as life moves on, and the economy changes. But it’s a fantastic temporary solution which can not only have you paying down your mortgage sooner, but you may just make a friend out of it at the same time.

Having a family budget is important if you want to get the most out of your money. And during tough economic times, it becomes even more important. But budgeting is not a favorite activity of most families, because it often seems synonymous with giving up things we enjoy.

It’s true that a good budget doesn’t include a laundry list of non-necessities. But it doesn’t have to be completely devoid of fun and pleasurable things. Here are some creative ways to stay within the budget without sacrificing too much.

* Plan outings that are free or low cost. Have picnics in the park, visit free museums, or go to free concerts. There are plenty of things to do as a family (or as a couple) that aren’t expensive. Check your local newspaper, radio station or website for listings of events that won’t break the bank.

* Set aside some money each month for crafts that the family can do together. Crafting is a wonderful way for families to spend some quality time together, and it’s budget-friendly. But there’s also another way it can help you save money. Put some of your family’s creations in storage, and when a birthday or holiday comes up, you’ll have all kinds of handmade gifts to choose from instead of going out and buying something!

* Many families today have a lot of expenses, and when it comes education, some would rather go to work, than put in the time and cost to finish school. There are helpful resources, like the Pell grant, that take nearly all of the cost out of attending classes, and make an education possible for you or your kids. This is also true of those who would like to pursue higher education above their current positions to make more money. Scholarships and grants are out there, for nearly everything. Foundations have allocated funds for specific groups, like mothers returning to school, bilingual/bicultural students, religious affiliation, and you could even get a grant based on your heritage! A little research into community resources could save you money, and open up ways for you make a better future for your family.

* If your family watches a lot of movies or plays a lot of video games, consider a rental service such as Netflix or Gamefly. These services allow you to rent unlimited movies and games for one monthly fee. If you only watch DVDs on occasion, look for a local Redbox location. These kiosks offer new releases for only $1 per night, and you can often find codes for free rentals online.

* Do some trading. Whether you need clothes for the kids or they’re getting bored with the toys they have, there’s a good chance that you can find someone to trade with to get what you need. Try organizing a clothing or toy swap with other families that you know.

* Change your eating habits. Cook dinners at home instead of eating out. Cook meals ahead of time and freeze them in single-serve portions to be reheated later if you don’t have time to cook in the evenings. Pack lunch instead of going out for lunch when you’re at work. All of these things can save you a considerable amount of money each month.

Sticking to a family budget doesn’t have to be a drag. With a little creativity, you can cut costs. And that means you’ll be able to have more of the things you want and participate in more of the activities you enjoy.

Now more than ever, in these tough economic times people are looking at their finances carefully to try and save money.  Making our dollars stretch as far as possible is a big help for some and an absolute necessity for others.  But sometimes things seem out of control and we look to options that may seem practical, but may not actually be beneficial to us. Debt consolidation is one of those choices that sounds like a life vest, but may turn out to be an anchor.

This service is offered by many different sources from banks to finance companies to private companies.  The purpose is to take your overall debt and roll it into one convenient bill.  The theory is an excellent one and if it is utilized properly then it can prove to be a worthy tool in getting back on track financially.

What many people do not realize is that when you consolidate miscellaneous bills you are taking unsecured debt and tacking it onto your home.  Since your home is your biggest investment you need to build equity in it as much as possible.  Adding more debt to it puts you in a vulnerable position if the home values plunge as experienced in recent years.  You can quickly wipe out value that has taken you decades to build.

When this system is implemented, it is primarily used for eliminating credit card debt, which typically carries the highest interest rates- sometimes over 30 percent.  By bringing the rates down to a lower affordable limit it allows you to pay substantially more towards the principal.  Plus, the debt is spread over a longer time frame which also lowers the monthly payment.  The lower payment frees up much needed income.

But the problem comes when an individual or a family use it as a last ditch effort to try to keep their head above water.  This is not meant to be a financial buoy, but a way to reorganize and regroup.  The key is to understand how you got into the situation that you are in so the it does not repeat itself.  If you do not change your spending habits and how you save money, or don’t save, then you are destined to start the cycle all over again without gaining any useful lesson from it.

Your best course of action instead of using debt consolidation is to sit down with a financial planner and get to the root of the problem.  If credit cards are the issue then you can get some relief simply by contacting them.  By sharing your situation many will automatically lower the interest rate out of fear that you will cease making payments.  The extra amount that you save could be redirected towards principal balances.  Just make sure that you have a plan for the extra money before you start or you will find yourself spending it without a trail of where it went.

There is no question that the need for a high credit score has become more important in the last couple of years as the economy has shifted dramatically. Not only that but the housing market and mortgage industry has changed right along with it. This means that keeping your credit score high is a vitally important if you have any plans to purchase a new home in the future or even buy a car. Many people are starting to wonder how to fix their credit score if it has been damaged by financial problems in the past.
In the recent past, it was easy enough to get a mortgage with a credit score in the upper 500s or low 600s. However, that is no longer the case as a higher credit score is typically required to get a mortgage loan. It pays to spend some time trying to repair your credit if there are any blemishes that might cause you problems getting your credit score higher.

The first step to fixing your credit score is paying down your credit cards. Although paying off your credit can help your scores, paying them down actually works better for the purposes of increasing your score. If you pay off all of your credit and have zero balances, eventually you won’t have a credit score because your score is based upon your payment history with credit cards. Depending upon which expert you listen to, you may start with the credit card that has the highest interest rate first or you might decide to pay off the card that is closest to being paid down.

Another important factor in fixing your credit score is using your credit cards very little. Creating huge balances can hurt your scores and keep you from paying off the balance each month. It is important to keep those balances down in order to increase your credit score.

If you have problems with your score, many experts will recommend that you get a credit card with a very low limit and charge a little bit each month. Then, immediately pay off your balance after charging. This will give you some credit history that looks good and can increase your score.

Another important part of fixing your credit score is requesting a copy of your credit report from the credit bureaus. There may actually be errors on your credit report that are causing your score to be low. You’d probably be surprised to know how many errors show up on people’s credit scores every year. If you’re looking to fix your credit score, it’s important to know whether your credit report is even correct or not.

Whether you are saving for a particular goal or you just want to put more money in your rainy day fund, reigning in your spending can be much leasier than trying to make more money. Here are some simple and painless ways that you can reduce your spending.

Consolidate Your Debt
If you have major debt, including credit card debt, mortgages, and student loans, it may be a good idea to speak with a professional as to how to reduce these costs. You can call a debt consolidation company or speak to the lender directly in order to find out how you can get your debt consolidated into one payment. Typically, this can save you a lot of money and actually allow you to pay down your debt faster. This will also allow you to have more money to handle your monthly bills so that you can avoid having to take on additional debt to meet your current obligations.

Use the Library
With the advent of on demand entertainment, many people have forgotten that they can also check out items from the library. Drop the subscriptions and instead head to your library to borrow some books and magazines. Some libraries even keep up to date movie collections so you can check out a DVD that you want to watch from the library instead of paying upwards of $20 to purchase a movie that you will probably only watch once or twice. The library also provides free internet service. If you do not use the internet every day at home, drop your internet plan and go to the library.

Skip the Bad Habits
Bad habits like smoking and drinking can really add up. Reducing the use of these products cannot only help you to save money in your budget, but it will also improve your health. Try starting out by either reducing these items gradually or cutting them out of your life altogether. If you need to, consider getting some help from a doctor or other professional. Some states even offer free assistance to quit smoking. Drinking coffee is another bad habit that can quickly add up, especially with all of the gourmet coffee shops that are available. If you just can’t quit, brew your own at home and carry it to work.

Shop Online
These days, shopping online is your best bet for finding a good deal. Not only do online retailers typically offer cheaper prices than the brick and mortar stores, these companies are competing heavily for your business and are likely to offer coupons and other special incentives. The next time you are about to make a purchase consider pricing the item at an online retailer before heading to the store.

These are just a few tips on how you can painlessly reduce your spending and keep your budget in check. If you follow these easy tips, you will start to see a larger number in your bank account at the end of the month!

You know that old saying that’s on everyone’s lips at Christmastime: “It’s better to give than to receive.” Still, most of us rather enjoy getting gifts. But sometimes we get gifts that we won’t use, or can’t wear, or just aren’t particularly fond of.

Our first thought is usually to return the unwanted gift to the store, and that’s generally the best course of action. If you have the receipt, you can usually get the money paid for the gift back. And if not, most stores will allow you to exchange for something else.

But sometimes returning a gift is not a desirable option. Sometimes items go on sale, and if you don’t have the receipt, you will only get the reduced credit for it. Friends and relatives who live far away might send you a gift purchased from a store that doesn’t have a location in your area. The item might have been purchased through mail order, and you would have to pay return shipping in order to get an exchange or refund. And if the only option offered is an exchange, maybe you just want the cash instead.

In cases like these, you might feel that you’re stuck with a gift you don’t want. But that’s not necessarily true. You could always sell it to recover part or all of the cost. Here are some places to try selling your unwanted gifts.

* eBay – You can sell almost anything on eBay. You probably won’t get full retail price unless it’s a very rare item, but most things that are brand new bring a reasonable price. Listing fees are low, so you have very little to lose by trying.

Consignment shops –
If you’ve received a gift of clothing or furniture that you don’t want, a consignment shop might be your best bet. Items in these shops often sell for slightly less than they would in a retail store. The store owner will keep a percentage of the selling price, but in most cases the fee is quite reasonable. And if your item doesn’t sell, you don’t pay a dime.

Flea markets –
The flea market is a great place to sell new items, but unless you already rent a booth for other purposes, it’s rarely worth it to do so for just an item or two. If you have a friend who sells at a flea market, ask if she could try to sell the item for you. Offer her a percentage, and let her know whether the price is negotiable (and if so, how far).

Classified ads –
If you’re not in a big hurry to sell the item, you could place an ad in the classified section of your local paper or a trading post publication. Trading post papers are generally less expensive to place ads in, and they are geared more toward people who are looking to buy. Newspaper ads, on the other hand, may reach a larger audience.

Selling a gift you’ve received doesn’t mean you don’t appreciate the sentiment behind it. It just means that you can’t use it and are being practical. So don’t be afraid to turn unwanted gifts into extra cash. After all, cash is something we could all use a little more of.

Coming up with the money to pay for college is no easy task. Saving up over the years starting when your child is young makes things easier. But when you have retirement savings and everyday expenses to think about, it may be difficult to find room in the budget to save as much as you’d like to.

Having help from friends and family can reduce the burden of saving for college. In the past, it was difficult for others to make contributions specifically for college expenses. They usually had to send cash or a check and hope that it would go toward college. But with the Freshman Fund, making such a contribution has become much simpler.

The Freshman Fund is a company that facilitates contributions into 529 college savings plans. Parents can create an account for a child and notify friends and family members. When they want to make a contribution, they can easily do so online. Funds are then put into a designated 529 account. If the parents have not yet opened such an account, funds are held in an interest-free account until they do so.

Those who wish to send a gift of college savings can do so even if the recipient doesn’t have a Freshman Fund account. Gift certificates may be sent to anyone with an email address. The recipient can redeem the certificate into any 529 plan. This is a wonderful way to encourage those you care about to start saving for college, and it ensures that the money will not be spent on something else.

College Money for Birthdays and Holidays

More and more parents are opting to discourage traditional gift giving for holidays and birthdays. It seems that most of the gifts end up collecting dust, wasting space and eventually cluttering up landfills. Encouraging friends and family to give money for college is much more practical, especially considering that their gifts will draw interest until your child pursues higher education.

Freshman Fund users can send email notifications to others to let them know how they can make a contribution. They could also add links to the account to birthday party invitations. These are great ways to encourage contributions as an alternative to the usual kinds of gifts.

A 529 plan can help you save the money your kids will need for a college education. And now, it’s easier than it has ever been for people outside the immediate family to pitch in. When combined with family contributions, Freshman Fund contributions can really add up. By the time your child is old enough to go to college, he could feasibly have enough money to pay for tuition, fees and other allowable expenses with little or no outside help.

The office potluck doesn’t have to strain your food budget. There are many inexpensive options that your co-workers are sure to love so you can have fun while you save money. As an added bonus, many of these choices wind up being healthier than more expensive fare.

Inexpensive Office Birthday Parties:

1. Control the portion size of birthday cakes. When it’s your turn to bring the cake, focus on quality over quantity. Serving small slices of birthday cake or cupcakes could start a healthy and frugal tradition.

2. Offer to do the beverages. Cake tastes better with coffee, tea or hot chocolate. By spending a little time providing the beverage service, you can do your part without any great expense. To make it extra special, add some cinnamon or vanilla syrup to the coffee.

3. Donate a cake-saver. If your workplace doesn’t already have one, come to the rescue with a cake-saver storage piece. It will keep the leftovers fresher longer. With one gift, you can cover yourself for many birthdays to come and cut down on waste.

Low-Cost Office Breakfasts:

1. Eat your oatmeal. Steel cut oats are one of the cheapest and most nutritious ways to start your day. You can make them at home and heat them up in the microwave with a little added water. Leftovers can be refrigerated and enjoyed all week.

2. Serve juice by the pitcher. Individual bottles of juice are expensive and create a lot of garbage. It’s cheaper to make frozen juice by the pitcher, and people will probably consume smaller portions and calories. Even better, supplement it with seasonal fresh fruit for more savings plus dietary fiber.

3. Cut baked goods into bite-size pieces. If you’ve ever been stuck trying to figure out what to do with an over-sized muffin, you’ll appreciate the wisdom of cutting baked goods into bite-size pieces. You save money by serving more people with less food, and it’s easier to make an attractive display.

4. Dish out some yogurt. Store brand yogurt is another cheap approach to a pretty breakfast presentation. Put the yogurt in a large bowl. Surround it with smaller bowls of toppings such as nuts, granola, and fresh fruit.

Affordable Lunch and After-Work Gatherings:

1. Offer to bring the beverages. There are many easy punch recipes that cost very little to make and will serve a large group. Buy soft drinks in large containers rather than individual bottles to save more money.

2. Learn some easy vegetarian recipes. Many vegetarian dishes are cheaper to prepare than versions with meat. Experiment with different recipes for bean chili or whip up a spinach lasagna.

3. Assemble your own vegetable platters. You can wind up paying a high price for the convenience of store-bought platters. To save money, assemble your own assortments. If you’re short on time, you can minimize chopping by using ingredients like baby carrots, snow peas, and grape tomatoes.

4. Focus on the presentation. Low-budget dishes can still look festive. Think about the colors and use attractive serving pieces. Liven up your tacos with red or yellow peppers. Use tri-color pasta to make simple salads look inviting.

5. Cash in your coupons. Take advantage of all the free coupon offers online. Collect the coupons on take-out menus from restaurants near your office, and you may be able to get that second pizza for free.

6. Enjoy the leftovers. Keep bags and containers on hand to encourage people to take leftovers home or eat them for lunch the next day. Everyone will save money, and it’s better than letting food spoil in the refrigerator.

Office potlucks don’t have to be expensive. Master a few easy presentation ideas and recipes using inexpensive ingredients and you’ll soon be ready for any workplace celebration.