Jan 8
There's no doubt about it, weddings can be expensive. The average cost of a wedding today is $20,000 ' $25,000, and weddings are estimated to be a $25.3 billion industry. But don't worry if your budget cannot stretch for the most expensive custom-made gown, elegant invitation cards, or the top photographer, it doesn't mean that your wedding will be any less unique or special than anyone else's. You just need a bit of guidance and a few tips to help you achieve the dream of your big day. Here ...
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Jan 7
Author Interview: Mommy Come Home The New Trend to Tradition: Bringing Up Your Own Interview with Sandra Gillmore conducted by Lisa Hendey In her new book Mommy Come Home, author Sandra Gillmore strongly advocates the role of 'full-time motherhood'. Some may disagree with the book's premise that mother should eschew career and stay home with children (in lieu of day care or even dad or a relative providing in home care). I found the value of this book to be for readers who have chosen the 'stay ...
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Jan 6
When I had my first son I hadn't planned to go back to work. I suddenly had to return to the workforce when he was three months old. I was completely unprepared and my son went from an exclusively breastfeeding baby to a mostly formula baby within a short period of time. I learned a lot from my experience with him and was much more prepared when I had my daughter. I was able to exclusively breastfeed her and work full time. Because of what I went through, the emotions of trying to pump ...
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Jan 3
How to Plan Your Wedding and Honeymoon. 1. Weddings typically can cost you anywhere around $15,000 or more. The big question is: who foots the bill? The 21st century has heralded a shift in the way these costs are handled. We have moved away from the days when the family of the bride would pay all costs associated with the wedding ceremony . Today it may come down to who can afford it or, who can qualify for the personal loan from the lending institution. Weddings may, in most cases, be a one ...
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Jan 2
The f-word. Finances. Combining love and money may be the biggest stumbling block on the path of true love, creating more rifts in relationships than in-laws, drug and alcohol addiction, or infidelity. Financial power struggles challenge even the most solid partnership. Unfortunately, money too often equates to control in a relationship. The delicate balance of power between you is dependent on the successful combination of love and money. In the majority of relationships today, both members ...
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Dec 21
You are free to publish this article online, in an email newsletter or in print as long as you include the footer and hyperlink when possible. This article should not be used in any format that would be considered spam. A courtesy email to fisher_swanson@yahoo.com would be appreciated but not necessary. If you are looking for more frugal articles, send me an email. Thanks for your interest Fisher ThriftyFun.com fisher_swanson@yahoo.com - Start Article - Frugal Entertainment for the Whole Family ...
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Dec 16
Word Count: 285 Copyright 2004 Nine Twenty Press URL: We're teaching our kids to be consumers at an early age. Look at the number of superhero and product endorsement Valentines on the store shelves. We, as parents, are sucked in by the media to believe that we need the latest, greatest gadget or fad for our kids. Share your love by giving of your time, not your pocketbook. What can you give your kids instead? Here are 10 simple suggestions: 1. Slip a handmade valentine or a simple note ...
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Dec 13
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Dec 12
A woman once visited a counselor to ask a question about her marriage. I have a funny feeling that you might not be especially impressed with the answer she was given. All the same, I'll take my chances. I think my shoulders are broad enough. I stand by the counselor's response 100%. The questioner (let's call her Jane) was married to a divorcee. Her husband (John) had to pay a certain sum of money every month to his previous wife as alimony, or whatever. He had just started a new business and ...
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Dec 7
Dia dhuit, hello! 'The road from Chicago to Ireland is marked in green,' they say, and the annual dying of the Chicago River emerald green is described as 'right up there with the parting of the sea by Moses and the Pyramids of Egypt.' Well, what's a little blarney, it's St. Patrick's Day. And how is this different from the normal murky green of the River? 'The difference,' the official Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade website says, 'is both significant and breathtaking.' (Where is that stone ...
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