<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" media="screen" href="/~d/styles/rss2full.xsl"?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/css" media="screen" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~d/styles/itemcontent.css"?><rss xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" xmlns:feedburner="http://rssnamespace.org/feedburner/ext/1.0" version="2.0">

<channel>
	<title>Mainstream Mom</title>
	
	<link>http://mainstreammom.com</link>
	<description>Simple Strategies For Financial Success</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Thu, 13 Dec 2012 19:52:11 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en-US</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1</generator>
	<div id="fb-root" />
					<script type="text/javascript">
						window.fbAsyncInit = function()
						{
							FB.init({appId: null, status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true});
						};
						(function()
						{
							var e = document.createElement('script'); e.async = true;
							e.src = document.location.protocol + '//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js';
							document.getElementById('fb-root').appendChild(e);
						}());
					</script>	
						<atom10:link xmlns:atom10="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/MainstreamMom" /><feedburner:info uri="mainstreammom" /><atom10:link xmlns:atom10="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" rel="hub" href="http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/" /><feedburner:emailServiceId>MainstreamMom</feedburner:emailServiceId><feedburner:feedburnerHostname>http://feedburner.google.com</feedburner:feedburnerHostname><item>
		<title>How to Help Your Child Obtain More Financial Aid for College</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MainstreamMom/~3/hUGSXQ_JWeE/</link>
		<comments>http://mainstreammom.com/help-child-more-financial-aid-college/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jul 2012 03:50:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Mainstream Mom</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Everything Else]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mainstreammom.com/?p=5581</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Some fortunate parents have enough cash on hand to pay for their child&#8217;s college education in full. However, this is a rare occurrence. Most parents deal with many sleepless nights as they try to determine how to best pay for&#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p>Some fortunate parents have enough cash on hand to pay for their child&#8217;s college education in full. However, this is a rare occurrence. Most parents deal with many sleepless nights as they try to determine how to best pay for their child&#8217;s schooling.</p>
<p>Typically, college age kids don&#8217;t think too much about money. They know that college is expensive, but are not too concerned with how to pay for tuition, room and board, books, and other associated fees.</p>
<p>As a parent, it is your responsibility to educate your child on the financial impacts of attending college. Along with this, you should do your best to offer assistance to obtain as much financial aid as possible.</p>
<p>Here are three important steps to take:</p>
<p><strong>1. Speak With the College Financial Aid Offices</strong><br />
As your child compares schools and works toward making a decision, be sure to speak with a representative of the financial aid office of each college he or she is considering. By doing so, you can learn more about the overall cost of attending the school, as well as the financial aid options that are available.</p>
<p>You should ask the same questions of each school. By doing so, you and your child are &#8220;comparing apples to apples&#8221; when it comes time to make a final decision.</p>
<p><strong>2. Think Outside the Box</strong><br />
Believe it or not, some parents and students let the financial aid office do all the work for them. They receive their package in the mail and do whatever they are told. While it is essential to stay in close contact with the school and consider all options that are presented, there are additional steps you should take to increase the overall financial aid package.</p>
<p>Have you helped your child find and apply for third party scholarships and grants? There are many available. Organizations all over the country offer funds to students based on everything from racial status, to academic performance, to chosen degree paths.</p>
<p><strong>3. Focus on Student Loans Last</strong><br />
Upon receiving a financial aid package, you may notice that the school always includes student loans to make up any difference between grants and scholarships and the total cost. There is nothing wrong with utilizing a student loan, if it is necessary.</p>
<p>However, before you and your child begin to search for the best type of student loan, you should exhaust every other option. For example, you may be willing to give your child a personal loan to help him or her avoid large interest payments in the future. You may discover that other loans are available as well &#8211; and they may offer better interest rates. Don&#8217;t jump the gun and accept student loans before you absolutely have to.</p>
<p><strong>Final Thoughts</strong><br />
College kids often do not consider the financial impact of their education. As a parent, you need to educate them on everything from their financial aid options, to what their choices will mean in the future.</p>
<p>With this advice, you should be able to help your child obtain more financial aid. Anything you can do to assist is valuable, especially when considering the continually rising costs of college.</p>
<img src="http://mainstreammom.com/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=5581&type=feed" alt="" /><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?a=hUGSXQ_JWeE:AScJcFXP14M:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?a=hUGSXQ_JWeE:AScJcFXP14M:Miiyz6yFTis"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?d=Miiyz6yFTis" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MainstreamMom/~4/hUGSXQ_JWeE" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://mainstreammom.com/help-child-more-financial-aid-college/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<feedburner:origLink>http://mainstreammom.com/help-child-more-financial-aid-college/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=help-child-more-financial-aid-college</feedburner:origLink></item>
		<item>
		<title>Your Retirement Income Plan: Do-It-Yourself or Hire a Professional?</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MainstreamMom/~3/MxP1ysH8l6o/</link>
		<comments>http://mainstreammom.com/your-retirement-income-plan-do-it-yourself-or-hire-a-professional/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 01 May 2012 23:21:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Guest Post</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Change Your Financial Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retirement income plan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[retirement income planning questions]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mainstreammom.com/?p=5541</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[David Bakke is a financial contributor for Money Crashers Personal Finance. He writes about retirement planning, frugal living tips, paying off debt, and achieving financial success.
A retirement income plan is different from saving for retirement, which is a necessary&#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p class="alert"><em>David Bakke is a financial contributor for <a href="http://www.moneycrashers.com/">Money Crashers Personal Finance</a>. He writes about retirement planning, frugal living tips, paying off debt, and achieving financial success.</em></p>
<p>A retirement income plan is different from saving for retirement, which is a necessary precursor. <a title="retirement income plan" href="http://www.moneycrashers.com/how-much-save-retirement-planning-strategies-age/" target="_blank">Saving for retirement</a> is what you do during your earning years, while a retirement income plan is about where to invest your money when you retire, and how to withdraw that money in order to maximize its longevity.</p>
<p>I am very much a &#8220;do-it-yourself&#8221; kind of guy. I love DIY home improvement and <a href="http://www.moneycrashers.com/diy-car-maintenance-tips-checklist/" target="_blank">DIY car maintenance</a> projects. However, one thing I must stress is this: <strong>Know your limitations</strong>. Creating your retirement income plan is a broad and extensive undertaking, and it will play a significant role in how enjoyable your retirement is.</p>
<p>If you make an investment mistake while saving for retirement, you have time to make up for it. But if you misunderstand your accounts or their tax treatment and overestimate how much you have to spend during retirement, <strong>the effects could be devastating</strong>. To help decide what&#8217;s best for you, I&#8217;ll go into the advantages of planning your own retirement income versus the advantages of hiring a professional.</p>
<h3>Advantages to Planning Your Own Retirement Income</h3>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong><a href="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/iStock_000017366776XSmall.jpg"><img class="wp-image-5556 alignright" title="Retirement Income Plan" src="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/iStock_000017366776XSmall.jpg" alt="Retirement Income Planning Questions" width="243" height="242" /></a>1. Save Advisor Fees</strong></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">If you <a title="retirement income plan" href="http://www.moneycrashers.com/preparing-planning-retirement/" target="_blank">prepare and plan for retirement</a> without the benefit of a paid professional, you&#8217;ll save yourself money in financial advisor fees and commissions. Since planners charge an average of $175 per hour and your income plan won&#8217;t be completed in a mere 60 minutes, professional help can get very pricey.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>2. Information Is Easy to Access</strong></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">If you&#8217;re willing to invest the time, you can find a great deal of planning advice on the Internet and utilize online retirement income calculators. But you must be financially savvy to pull this off. The web contains many conflicting and outdated opinions, methods, and rules, and unless you possess a strong understanding of financial elements, planning your retirement income could result in disaster.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>3. No One Knows You Better Than You</strong></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Nobody knows the ins and outs of your personal financial situation better than you. I would be leery of allowing strangers to set up my retirement income plan if they didn&#8217;t first ask how I want to spend my retirement, what sources of income I expect to have, how comfortable I am with risk, what insurance plans I have in place, what my current expenses are, and how or if I see these factors changing.</p>
<p class="note"><em>If there is an error or something goes wrong, who will pay the price? Your planner certainly won&#8217;t.</em></p>
<h3>Advantages to Professional Retirement Income Planning</h3>
<h3><span style="color: #808080;">Professionals Possess Expertise</span></h3>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><a href="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/iStock_000012271980Small1.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5560" title="Retirement Savings Plan" src="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/iStock_000012271980Small1-300x199.jpg" alt="Retirement Savings Planning Questions" width="300" height="199" /></a>I question whether most people have the amount of knowledge it takes to create an effective and manageable retirement income plan. After decades of saving, most new retirees can benefit from professional advice on how to invest and withdraw their retirement funds wisely.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">You&#8217;ll need to estimate  your social security income, your pension, and other sources of income, such earnings from your 401k, annuity, or a life insurance policy. Plus, you must determine how much money you&#8217;ll need or want to live on, and how that will be affected by taxes and inflation.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">The process also involves a lot of prognosticating and a familiarity with a wide scope of financial instruments and accounts, taxation, risk, and various forms of <a href="http://www.moneycrashers.com/what-is-inflation-definition-causes-inflation-rate/" target="_blank">inflation</a>. Furthermore, many of these factors change according to law or the economy on a regular basis. It may be too much for &#8220;regular Joes&#8221; to handle.</p>
<h3 style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #808080;">You Can Avoid Flaws Associated With Conventional Knowledge</span></h3>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Conventional wisdom on topic of investing can leave you vulnerable. Take, for example, the &#8220;4% plan,&#8221; which states that if you withdraw 4% of your savings in the first year of retirement and boost that percentage annually for inflation, your nest egg should last you roughly 30 years.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">However, this method is considered to be outdated. By following this guideline without considering where and how you&#8217;re invested, you could set yourself up for disaster during the market&#8217;s down years when your allotted percentage just isn&#8217;t enough. If you don&#8217;t have an alternate plan, this could result in you running out of money.</p>
<h3 style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="color: #808080;">Free and Low-Cost Help Is Available</span></h3>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">While professional services can be pricey, there are a few free and low-cost options to get you started. For example, if you have more than $500,000 in assets, <a href="http://www.moneycrashers.com/vanguard-review-brokerage-investment-funds/" target="_blank">Vanguard</a> can provide you with a retirement income plan at no extra charge. If your assets are below this mark, however, you can get one for $250.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">That said, if you decide to bring in a professional, shop around. Make sure you find someone you&#8217;re comfortable with and that you have confidence in. Cost is always a factor, but you may want to shell out a few extra hundred dollars to get the job done right.</p>
<h3>Final Thoughts</h3>
<p>If you&#8217;re like me &#8211; well-versed in things financial and accustomed to doing them on your own &#8211; you may want to create your own <a href="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/iStock_000016021175XSmall.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-5565" title="Retirement Income Plan" src="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/iStock_000016021175XSmall-300x256.jpg" alt="Retirement Income Planning Questions" width="300" height="256" /></a>retirement income plan. However, you may still find it necessary to run it by a professional. You can spend far less money on a review of your income plan rather than the entire creation of it.</p>
<p>Whether you hire a professional to create your plan or simply review it, take the time to find one who is highly qualified. There are many factors and variables that go into creating an accurate and manageable retirement income plan, and once your plan goes into effect, you may be beyond the point of return if you experience a miscalculation.</p>
<p class="note">What are your thoughts on creating and managing your retirement income plan? Do you plan to hire a professional advisor, or go the DIY route?</p>
<img src="http://mainstreammom.com/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=5541&type=feed" alt="" /><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?a=MxP1ysH8l6o:WFVFTRbBjPw:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?a=MxP1ysH8l6o:WFVFTRbBjPw:Miiyz6yFTis"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?d=Miiyz6yFTis" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MainstreamMom/~4/MxP1ysH8l6o" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://mainstreammom.com/your-retirement-income-plan-do-it-yourself-or-hire-a-professional/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<feedburner:origLink>http://mainstreammom.com/your-retirement-income-plan-do-it-yourself-or-hire-a-professional/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=your-retirement-income-plan-do-it-yourself-or-hire-a-professional</feedburner:origLink></item>
		<item>
		<title>Texting Behind the Wheel Drives Motorists Up the Wall</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MainstreamMom/~3/UjX4EKtlCwM/</link>
		<comments>http://mainstreammom.com/texting-behind-the-wheel-drives-motorists-up-the-wall/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 27 Mar 2012 18:03:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Guest Post</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Everything Else]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[annoying behind the wheel behaviors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[driving and texting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[texting behind the wheel]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mainstreammom.com/?p=5500</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Chances are you&#8217;ve been there. You&#8217;re cruising down the highway when you glance at the car in the next lane over and find its driver clicking away on his cellphone. Yep, he&#8217;s sending a text, and apparently you aren&#8217;t the&#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p class="note">Chances are you&#8217;ve been there. You&#8217;re cruising down the highway when you glance at the car in the next lane over and find its driver clicking away on his cellphone. Yep, he&#8217;s sending a text, and apparently you aren&#8217;t the only one who&#8217;s seriously bothered by this behavior.</p>
<p>According to a January 2012 survey of 895 American drivers conducted by the Consumer Reports&#8217; National Research Center, texting behind the wheel is considered just slightly more annoying than able-bodied drivers parking in spaces reserved for disabled drivers.</p>
<p>The survey asked drivers to score 20 common automotive gripes on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being a behavior &#8220;that does not annoy you at all&#8221; and 10 representing a behavior that &#8220;annoys you tremendously.&#8221; About two-thirds of respondents gave texting and improper parking a 10.</p>
<h3>The 10 Most Annoying Behind-the-Wheel Behaviors</h3>
<ol>
<ol>
<li>Texting on a cellphone while driving &#8212; 8.9</li>
<li>Able-bodied drivers parking in spaces for disabled drivers &#8212; 8.7</li>
<li>Tailgaters &#8212; 8.4<a href="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/iStock_000016221325XSmall.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-5516" title="texting behind the wheel" src="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/iStock_000016221325XSmall.jpg" alt="texting behind the wheel" width="301" height="399" /></a></li>
<li>Drivers who cut you off &#8212; 8.3</li>
<li>Speeding and swerving in and out of traffic &#8212; 8.2</li>
<li>Taking up two parking spaces &#8212; 7.7</li>
<li>Talking on a cellphone while driving &#8212; 7.6</li>
<li>Not letting you merge into a lane &#8212; 7.6.</li>
<li>Not dimming high beams when approaching &#8212; 7.6</li>
<li>Failing to use turn signals &#8212; 7.5</li>
</ol>
</ol>
<p>There&#8217;s an interesting irony here. Even though texting behind the wheel was so universally despised, drivers &#8212; particularly younger ones &#8212; are still doing it. A lot.</p>
<p>According to a 2010 distracted driving survey conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,<strong> close to half of the surveyed motorists under age 25 said they text or email while behind the wheel. Furthermore, 70 percent of this group said they send messages while steering.</strong></p>
<p>One-fourth of those surveyed by the federal traffic safety agency said texting didn&#8217;t harm their driving performance &#8212; despite the fact that the U.S. Department of Transportation says 995 traffic deaths in 2009 involved cellphone use.</p>
<p class="note">Texting behind the wheel can affect your <a title="Descriptions of Insurance" href="http://mainstreammom.com/the-importance-and-descriptions-of-insurance/" target="_blank">auto insurance premiums</a> as well as your safety (and annoyance levels). According to Dan Weedin, an insurance and risk management consultant in Seattle, if you&#8217;re involved in an at-fault accident because you were using a cellphone, it&#8217;s just like running a stop light or stop sign and hitting someone.</p>
<p><em>&#8220;In the insurance company&#8217;s eyes, that&#8217;s a high degree of negligence and your policy is probably not going to be renewed,&#8221; Weedin says.</em></p>
<p><a href="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/iStock_000016141162XSmall.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-5519" title="texting behind the wheel" src="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/iStock_000016141162XSmall.jpg" alt="texting behind the wheel" width="283" height="424" /></a>The negligence that caused the accident will stay on your record for three years, and auto insurers either will refuse to provide coverage during that period or will slap you with a sky-high premium because you&#8217;re a high-risk driver.</p>
<p><strong>Here are some more interesting tidbits from the Consumer Reports survey:</strong></p>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Women were significantly more annoyed than men when it came to 14 of the 20 listed gripes.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>Age plays a significant role in some of the annoyance levels. Drivers under age 35, for instance, were less annoyed than older drivers when it came to loud car stereos. On the other hand, younger motorists were more annoyed by drivers who didn&#8217;t go when the stop light turned green.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<ul>
<li>The difference between rural and urban drivers was evident in several categories. City drivers, for instance, were more annoyed by slow traffic, swerving drivers and limited parking spaces, while rural drivers had a higher degree of irritation when it came to motorists not turning on their headlights when it was raining or getting dark.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<p>For a full list of all 20 roadway gripes, visit the <a title="texting while driving report " href="http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2012/02/2012-annual-auto-issue-survey-reveals-top-gripes-among-drivers.html" target="_blank">Consumer Reports website</a>.</p>
<p class="alert"><em>John Egan is managing editor of <a title="auto insurance quotes" href="http://www.autoinsurancequotes.com" target="_blank">Auto Insurance Quotes</a>, a popular auto insurance website that provides online services to consumers seeking to <a title="compare insurance rates" href="http://www.autoinsurancequotes.com/rates-by-state/" target="_blank">compare rates for car insurance policies</a>.</em></p>
<img src="http://mainstreammom.com/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=5500&type=feed" alt="" /><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?a=UjX4EKtlCwM:lBcqYXNlVkw:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?a=UjX4EKtlCwM:lBcqYXNlVkw:Miiyz6yFTis"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?d=Miiyz6yFTis" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MainstreamMom/~4/UjX4EKtlCwM" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://mainstreammom.com/texting-behind-the-wheel-drives-motorists-up-the-wall/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<feedburner:origLink>http://mainstreammom.com/texting-behind-the-wheel-drives-motorists-up-the-wall/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=texting-behind-the-wheel-drives-motorists-up-the-wall</feedburner:origLink></item>
		<item>
		<title>What Kind of Couponer Are You?</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MainstreamMom/~3/ADhZzqGV-FY/</link>
		<comments>http://mainstreammom.com/what-kind-of-couponer-are-you/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:12:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Andrea</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Keep It Organized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[coupon moms]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[coupons.org]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online coupon codes and discounts]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mainstreammom.com/?p=5483</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Not Every Couponer is The Same
Different lifestyles means different needs and therefore, different coupons. Luckily, when it comes to online savings and coupon codes, there&#8217;s room for everybody. In the graphic below, we&#8217;ve concocted a silly little mob of&#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><h3>Not Every Couponer is The Same</h3>
<p>Different lifestyles means different needs and therefore, different coupons. Luckily, when it comes to online savings and coupon codes, there&#8217;s room for everybody. In the graphic below, we&#8217;ve concocted a silly little mob of couponing personalities. Each one is our own take on a member of the couponing family, along with an example of their cut-out of choice. Where do you fit in to the couponing picture?</p>
<p><a title="Coupon Moms " href="http://coupons.org/" target="_blank">Coupons.org</a> is dedicated to providing a bounty of daily deals, coupon codes, consumer advice, and fun. Along with our useful coupon search bar, we do our best to update you on the latest and greatest in retail savings.</p>
<p class="alert" style="text-align: center;"><em>Count on our incredible compendium of coupons here at Coupons.org!</em></p>
<p><a href="http://coupons.org/pages/types-of-couponer"><img style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://coupons.org/TypeofCouponer.jpg" alt="Types of Couponer Infographic" width="675" height="4000" border="0" /></a></p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://coupons.org">coupons.org</a></p>
<p><a href="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/arrow_down1.png"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-5495" title="Share on Facebook" src="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/arrow_down1.png" alt="Coupon Moms Share Resources" width="128" height="128" /></a><em>Please share with your friends. Click on the share buttons below&#8230;</em> <strong>They&#8217;ll thank you!</strong></p>
<img src="http://mainstreammom.com/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=5483&type=feed" alt="" /><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?a=ADhZzqGV-FY:KwOhF-26V2o:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?a=ADhZzqGV-FY:KwOhF-26V2o:Miiyz6yFTis"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?d=Miiyz6yFTis" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MainstreamMom/~4/ADhZzqGV-FY" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://mainstreammom.com/what-kind-of-couponer-are-you/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<feedburner:origLink>http://mainstreammom.com/what-kind-of-couponer-are-you/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=what-kind-of-couponer-are-you</feedburner:origLink></item>
		<item>
		<title>Cut Your Cable Bundle By 40% Without Sacrificing Anything</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MainstreamMom/~3/QBJ3l--IyM8/</link>
		<comments>http://mainstreammom.com/cheaper-cable-bundle/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 15 Mar 2012 03:11:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Guest Post</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Everything Else]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cut your cable bill]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[reduce your cable bundle]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mainstreammom.com/?p=5448</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[News flash! Cable companies keep raising their rates every single year. In fact, since 1996 the average cable monthly cable bill has gone up by 93 percent.
Another news flash! Cable companies raise rates every year because for the most&#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p class="alert">News flash! Cable companies keep raising their rates every single year. In fact, since 1996 the average cable monthly cable bill has gone up by 93 percent.</p>
<p>Another news flash! Cable companies raise rates every year because for the most part we let them get away with it. They know that most people will complain, whine and moan but ultimately still pay what they ask every single month.</p>
<p>It is time for moms across the country to stand up and say &#8220;enough is enough.&#8221; Paying $180 for a typical cable, internet and phone bundle is unacceptable and people around the country need to send a clear message that they are done sending blank checks in the mail every single month.</p>
<p><strong>The good news is that moms everywhere can start fighting back now. The information that I am about to give you should equip you to call your current cable company today and cut your cable television, or bundle, by at least 40%.</strong></p>
<h3><a href="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/iStock_000011451335Small1.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5453" title="Reduce your cable bundle bill" src="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/iStock_000011451335Small1-268x300.jpg" alt="Cut your cable bill" width="268" height="300" /></a>Research Competition<strong><br />
</strong></h3>
<p>In order for you to effectively negotiate with your cable provider you need to research the competition. Find out if there is any other cable company in your area.</p>
<p>If there is then you will have just the right amount of leverage you need in the future.</p>
<p>If there is not another cable company in the area then you can use the two satellite companies, DISH and Direct TV, as leverage when attempting to negotiate a better rate. <strong>Its always better to reference apples to apples but in this case apples to oranges will have to suffice.</strong></p>
<p>You can take a look at other cable company&#8217;s websites and see the current deals they are offering. Write what you see down on paper including any extras like free home digital video recorders, free premium channels and any cash back rewards they are offering to new subscribers.</p>
<h3>Who To Call</h3>
<p>Do not make the mistake of talking with a regular customer service representative. In most cases these people will not be able to assist you.</p>
<p>You need to speak with someone from the retention department. These are the people who can reduce your rates or give you a better deal.</p>
<p>If a current customer is about to leave for the competition then its the retention department&#8217;s job to try to retain that customer. They can make &#8220;magic&#8221; happen if pushed far enough. In many cases with the manager&#8217;s approval they can make deals happen that people think are impossible.</p>
<h3>What To Say</h3>
<p>When you are on the phone with a retention department rep you need to establish with them that you have found a better deal elsewhere and that you are seriously considering leaving.</p>
<p>You need to already have in mind what you are going to say. Be specific and tell them the other deal you have in mind.</p>
<p>That is why you want to do a little bit of research and know what the other companies have.</p>
<p>The more details you give the customer retention specialist the better they will believe that you are serious about leaving. Being <a href="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/iStock_000001945420XSmall.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-5463" title="Cut your cable bill" src="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/iStock_000001945420XSmall-300x200.jpg" alt="Reduce your cable bundle" width="300" height="200" /></a>believable is everything.</p>
<p>In your conversation with your current cable company you need to explain to them that you would like to stay but that XYZ company is offering you a really good offer that is too good to pass up. Explain that if they can match the current offer you would receive by switching then you would be willing to stay.</p>
<p>It is important to be nice but firm at the same time. If you sound mean then the person on the phone will not like you and be unwilling to work with you. On the other hand if you sound like a pushover then the representative on the phone will attempt to give you a second rate offer that just saves you a couple bucks for six months.</p>
<h3>What Should I Expect</h3>
<p>They are going to play hardball with you at first. The representative on the phone will offer you free HBO or Showtime for a couple months. It is very important not to agree to this.</p>
<p>They need to at least give you a $40 discount on your cable, internet and phone bill every single month. You should shoot for an even larger discount but that is the minimum amount you should take.</p>
<p>It takes a lot of money for cable companies to get one new subscriber and them giving you a $40-$60 discount on your services is far more cost effective than trying to get you back later.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that they will most likely set a six month time limit on any discount they give you. That means that in six months your rates will go right back to what they currently are. Tell them that you want them to hold this current discount for twelve months. As long as you are polite yet firm the person on the other end of the phone will comply.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/iStock_000014405751Small1.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5465" title="Reduce your cable bill" src="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/iStock_000014405751Small1-300x193.jpg" alt="Lower your cable bundle" width="300" height="193" /></a>Most people in this country have no idea that the price of most goods and services being sold are negotiable.</strong></p>
<p>Cable is no exception. Unlike gasoline, cable television and high speed internet are considered luxury items. You do not need to have them in order to function.</p>
<p>Additionally, the cable industry is very competitive and all of them are continually battling for more customers to appease their shareholders.</p>
<p>This means that there is absolutely <a title="Reduce your cable bundle" href="http://cableinsidescoop.com/how-to-save-money-on-your-cable-bill/" target="_blank">no reason to EVER pay full price for cable</a> and the people who realize this can use this information to successfully renegotiate better pricing every single year.</p>
<p class="alert"><em>About the Author: This information was brought to you by Alex Smith, a writer for <a title="Lower Your Cable Bundle" href="http://cableinsidescoop.com/" target="_blank">The Cable Inside Scoop</a>. Here he shows people how the cable industry, as a whole, make their millions and how the average customer can use this information to save money. Cable and satellite companies get away with as much as they can and by knowing how they operate their subscribers can put themselves in a better position to not only save money but get free extras as well.</em></p>
<p><a href="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/arrow_down.png"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-5472" title="Share on Facebook" src="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/arrow_down.png" alt="Share on Facebook" width="128" height="128" /></a>Share with your friends on Facebook by clicking LIKE below! They&#8217;ll thank you. <img src='http://mainstreammom.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<img src="http://mainstreammom.com/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=5448&type=feed" alt="" /><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?a=QBJ3l--IyM8:Im6AS1Mw3Bs:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?a=QBJ3l--IyM8:Im6AS1Mw3Bs:Miiyz6yFTis"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?d=Miiyz6yFTis" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MainstreamMom/~4/QBJ3l--IyM8" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://mainstreammom.com/cheaper-cable-bundle/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<feedburner:origLink>http://mainstreammom.com/cheaper-cable-bundle/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=cheaper-cable-bundle</feedburner:origLink></item>
		<item>
		<title>Grocery Prices on The Rise: Past and Present</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MainstreamMom/~3/E4pJnYnJdts/</link>
		<comments>http://mainstreammom.com/grocery-prices-rising/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Mar 2012 19:28:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Andrea</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Everything Else]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[grocery prices on the rise]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[higher groceries]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mainstreammom.com/?p=5370</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A show of hands, please:  How many of you have left the grocery store lately, looking at the receipt and wondering how your total managed to be so high?
Prices continue to rise, and as a result, consumers are paying&#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p>A show of hands, please:  How many of you have left the grocery store lately, looking at the receipt and wondering how your total managed to be so high?</p>
<p>Prices continue to rise, and as a result, consumers are paying more and getting less at the checkout.</p>
<p>The infographic below outlines price increases from 1900 until 2012, so you can see where your dollars are going at checkout. <em><a href="http://www.savings.com/" title="Grocery Prices Rising" target="_blank">Courtesy of Savings.com</a></em></p>
<p><a href="http://savings.com" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft  wp-image-5373" title="Paying More For Groceries" src="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/UG9EHDxU1.jpg" alt="Paying More For Groceries" width="675" height="2500" /></a></p>
<img src="http://mainstreammom.com/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=5370&type=feed" alt="" /><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?a=E4pJnYnJdts:tW_pFiCG5Cc:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?a=E4pJnYnJdts:tW_pFiCG5Cc:Miiyz6yFTis"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?d=Miiyz6yFTis" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MainstreamMom/~4/E4pJnYnJdts" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://mainstreammom.com/grocery-prices-rising/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<feedburner:origLink>http://mainstreammom.com/grocery-prices-rising/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=grocery-prices-rising</feedburner:origLink></item>
		<item>
		<title>Saving Money In the Kitchen</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MainstreamMom/~3/BYxzKJzFXpU/</link>
		<comments>http://mainstreammom.com/saving-money-in-the-kitchen/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 06 Mar 2012 01:40:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Andrea</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Keep It Organized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[saving money in the kitchen]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mainstreammom.com/?p=5341</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you&#8217;ve tracked your spending for any length of time, you will quickly notice a very large portion of your money goes towards food. Therefore, saving money in the kitchen is vital if you want to get the most out&#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p class="alert">If you&#8217;ve tracked your spending for any length of time, you will quickly notice a very large portion of your money goes towards food. Therefore, saving money in the kitchen is vital if you want to get the most out of your hard earned dollars. <em>Good news&#8230; special tips and tricks are plentiful!</em></p>
<p><strong>I&#8217;ve compiled a list of these little specialties</strong>. From food preparation to storage and freezing to plain ol&#8217; money saving tactics. Thanks to the many awesome sites and helpful bloggers who bless us with their smarts and help us to spend our money more wisely!</p>
<h3>Preparing Food Tips</h3>
<ul>
<li>From the <strong><a title="Saving Money in the Kitchen" href="http://couponprincess.net/" target="_blank">Coupon Princess</a></strong> &#8212; When <strong>chopping up onions and other veggies</strong>, save in a ziplock baggie and place in freezer for future use in soups or other recipes. <strong>Boiling chicken</strong> don&#8217;t throw away the liquid, use the broth when preparing rice, soups, or other dishes you would like chicken broth in.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>A lot of people think that you can&#8217;t freeze food that was made from meat that has been previously frozen. According to the &#8220;Love Food, Hate Waste&#8221; campaign, this is simply not true. You CAN freeze a meal that was made from meat that has been frozen before. Just make sure you reheat it thoroughly when you next want to eat it. &#8211; <a title="Saving Money in the Kitchen" href="http://www.AffiliateHelp.Info" target="_blank">Jon Rhodes</a><a href="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/iStock_000017870939XSmall.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-5357" title="Saving Money in the Kitchen" src="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/iStock_000017870939XSmall.jpg" alt="Saving Money in the Kitchen" width="425" height="282" /></a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Tip from <a title="Saving Money in the Kitchen" href="http://www.wisebread.com/julie-rains" target="_blank">Julie at <strong>Wisebread</strong></a> &#8212; Substitute exotic ingredients for regular ones, especially those that call for unusual (and expensive!) ingredients that use just a portion of a can, bag, etc. as that item may never be used again.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><strong><a title="Saving Money in the Kitchen" href="http://www.ifyoucanread.com/" target="_blank">If You Can Read, You Can Cook</a></strong> suggests &#8212; When you buy bacon, cook the entire package and then freeze the cooked slices. It can be quickly re-heated in the microwave from frozen when you need it, eliminating having to remember to get it out of the freezer the night before or having it go bad in the refrigerator.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Kari, from <strong><a title="Saving Money in the Kitchen" href="http://smallbudgetbigdreams.com/" target="_blank">Small Budget Big Dreams</a></strong> &#8212; I found this frugal idea a few years ago in a magazine and have been using it ever since&#8230; <em>I keep a bowl with a cover in my freezer at all times. Whenever I have leftover cooked veggies from dinner that I would normally throw away, I toss them in the bowl. When the bowl is full I dump them in a big stock pot and add some vegetable stock (and chicken if I have any on hand). It makes a delicious soup and each time the flavor is a little different. Plus it keeps me from cluttering my fridge with little bowls of leftover veggies that I usually forget to eat and end up throwing away.</em></li>
</ul>
<h3><a href="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/iStock_000017236194Small.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5366" title="Saving Money in the Kitchen" src="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/iStock_000017236194Small-300x199.jpg" alt="Saving Money on Food" width="300" height="199" /></a>Meal Planning Ideas</h3>
<ul>
<li>Glen at <strong><a title="Saving Money in the Kitchen" href="http://parentingfamilymoney.com/" target="_blank">Parenting Family Money</a></strong> offers &#8212; Make a meal plan and use that plan for your shopping list when you go food shopping. When we plan out our meals I find that we are more likely to use what we buy. When we shop without a clear menu plan we tend to buy groceries on impulse leading to waste.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>From <strong><a title="Saving Money in the Kitchen" href="http://www.mustlovecoupons.com/" target="_blank">Must Love Coupons</a></strong> &#8212; When planning your meals for the week, combine recipes that contain like ingredients. Your shopping list is stretched farther and you can use items all week over many dishes while creating less waste or &#8220;leftover ingredients&#8221;.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>From <strong><a title="Saving Money in the Kitchen" href="http://mybrokencoin.com/how-do-not-need-lists-can-save-you-a-buck/" target="_blank">My Broken Coin</a></strong> &#8212; Make a &#8220;Do Not Need List&#8221;.<em> I discovered that we had two unopened honey jars, quite a few cans of black beans, more brown rice than we could possibly eat in a month, and a spare box of Wheat Thins that I was going to take to work as my snack and never did because I forgot we had it! <strong>Plenty to put on (by now my favorite) Do Not Need list.</strong></em> So, go over your pantry supplies and prepare a Do Not Need list of stuff that you already have and forgot about. It will help you to avoid buying the same stuff, and save you some money.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Jim from <a title="Saving Money in the Kitchen" href="http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/" target="_blank"><strong>Bargaineering</strong></a> &#8212; <em>We keep a leftover calendar that lists what we made (or purchased) and then cross things off as we eat them. It helps us remember when we made it (to know more easily if it might go bad) and helps us remember to eat it, especially sides that get pushed into the back. One thing I want to do is get a log for our pantry.</em></li>
<p>*Here&#8217;s a post on reducing food spoilage with a <a href="http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/leftover-calendar-reduce-food-spoilage.html" title="Saving Money in the Kitchen" target="_blank">leftover calender</a>.
</ul>
<h3>Direct Money Saving Tricks</h3>
<div>
<ul>
<li>From Zack at <strong><a title="Saving Money in the Kitchen" href="http://lookbeforespending.com" target="_blank">Look Before Spending</a></strong> &#8212; Keep your fridge cold! Some people want to save a few bucks a month on their energy bill by turning the temp up on their fridge. While this can save a few bucks, food will spoil quicker in warmer temperatures. We keep our fridge on the lowest setting possible without freezing and our food keeps well past the store&#8217;s expiration dates.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/iStock_000018614091XSmall.jpg"><img class="alignright  wp-image-5360" title="Plant an Herb Garden and Save Money" src="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/iStock_000018614091XSmall.jpg" alt="Indoor Herb Garden to Save Money" width="340" height="226" /></a></p>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Jeffrey at <strong><a title="Saving Money in the Kitchen" href="http://www.savingadvice.com/" target="_blank">Savings Advice</a></strong> suggests a good set of knives! Nothing makes you NOT want to cook more than having knives that don&#8217;t cut. A good set makes cooking much more fun (and easy). And, grow an herb garden. Even without a lot of space, it&#8217;s easy to grow a small herb garden on the kitchen windowsill and not have to buy them at the grocery store.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Lisa at <strong>Smart Spending Spot</strong> offers <em>10 Resolutions to Help You <a title="Saving Money in the Kitchen" href="http://smartspendingspot.com/2011/12/ten-resolutions-to-help-you-save-on-groceries/" target="_blank">Save Money on Groceries</a></em>. Check out her <a title="Saving Money in the Kitchen" href="http://smartspendingspot.com/category/garbage-day-2/" target="_blank">weekly tips</a> on saving in the kitchen.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>Here are <a title="Saving Money in the Kitchen" href="http://cashmoneylife.com/20-ways-to-save-time-and-money-in-the-kitchen/" target="_blank">20 More Ways to Save Time and Money in the Kitchen</a> from Ryan at<strong> CashMoneyLife</strong>. Like cooking larger meals and eating leftovers, making homemade cleaners and preparing meals in advance. Plus find out how to <a title="Saving Money in the Kitchen" href="http://cashmoneylife.com/how-to-make-homemade-baby-food/" target="_blank">make homemade baby food</a> and <a title="Saving Money in the Kitchen" href="http://cashmoneylife.com/how-to-make-chicken-stock/" target="_blank">how to make chicken stock</a>.</p>
<p>Kristie at <strong>Saving Dollars &amp; Sense</strong> will teach you <a title="Saving Money in the Kitchen" href="http://savingdollarsandsense.com/2011/10/04/batch-cooking-day-with-recipes.html" target="_blank"><em>batch cooking</em> </a>(with recipes) and <a title="Saving Money in the Kitchen" href="http://savingdollarsandsense.com/2010/09/21/easy-crockpot-recipes.html" target="_blank">crockpot cooking</a> to save even more time and money in the kitchen. Robb at <strong><a title="Saving Money in the Kitchen" href="http://www.boomerandecho.com/" target="_blank">Boomer and Echo</a></strong> adds&#8230;  <em>the one thing that we found is that if it takes 15 minutes to prepare 1 meal, it will only take a few more minutes to prepare 3-4 meals of the same recipe. That&#8217;s the power of preparing food in bulk. By having already prepared meals in your freezer, getting dinner ready is as simple as throwing something in the slow-cooker in the morning before work, or popping it in the oven or microwave when you get home.</em></p>
<p>More on <a title="Saving Money in the Kitchen" href="http://www.sarahsdeals.net/search/label/Bulk%20Prep" target="_blank">bulk food preparation</a> from Sarah at <strong>Sarah&#8217;s Deals</strong>. And Merissa has loads of <a title="Saving Money in the Kitchen" href="http://www.littlehouseliving.com/making-the-most" target="_blank">Kitchen Tips and Tricks</a> she offers over at <strong>Little House on the Prairie Living.</strong></p>
<h3><a href="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/iStock_000014405751Small.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5413" title="Save Money in the Kitchen" src="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/iStock_000014405751Small-300x193.jpg" alt="Save Money In the Kitchen" width="300" height="193" /></a>Two more hot tips from Jeremy at <a title="Saving Money in the Kitchen" href="http://genxfinance.com/" target="_blank">Generation X Finance</a>&#8230;</h3>
<div><strong>Buy a rice cooker</strong>. Rice is so incredibly versatile that you can literally use it almost every night of the week. Whether it&#8217;s just steamed rice to serve as a side, or cooking an entire rice meal in the cooker, it will pay for itself many times over. And the best part is it&#8217;s a set and forget item. Start the rice whenever you have free time during the day and come to the dinner table to perfectly cooked rice.</div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div><strong>Buy a food processor.</strong> I can&#8217;t even explain the number of uses for this thing, but once you have one, you&#8217;ll find yourself making so much more food at home you&#8217;ll be saving big time. Two of my favorite food processor items: salsa and humus. The savings by making it at home is outrageous. Little tiny jars or containers of salsa and humus can easily run more than $4, yet you can spend half as much money on the raw ingredients and make an entire quart of each, and it will taste even better to boot. Not to toot my own horn, but I did write about my salsa recipe: <a href="http://genxfinance.com/homemade-salsa-recipe/" rel="nofollow">http://genxfinance.com/homemade-salsa-recipe/</a></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div><em>Yeah, these aren&#8217;t your super frugal tips like maximizing leftovers or anything since you do need to buy equipment, but those two kitchen appliances will ultimately result in a huge savings over time while providing you even better tasting food on top of that.</em></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p class = "alert">Don&#8217;t forget to kiss the cook!<strong> &#8212; MainstreamMom.  <img src='http://mainstreammom.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' /> </strong></p>
<img src="http://mainstreammom.com/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=5341&type=feed" alt="" /><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?a=BYxzKJzFXpU:UeJqo00Gg70:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?a=BYxzKJzFXpU:UeJqo00Gg70:Miiyz6yFTis"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?d=Miiyz6yFTis" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MainstreamMom/~4/BYxzKJzFXpU" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://mainstreammom.com/saving-money-in-the-kitchen/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<feedburner:origLink>http://mainstreammom.com/saving-money-in-the-kitchen/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=saving-money-in-the-kitchen</feedburner:origLink></item>
		<item>
		<title>Grocery Couponing Class with Savings Nation</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MainstreamMom/~3/kjiOKl64XhY/</link>
		<comments>http://mainstreammom.com/grocery-couponing-class-with-savings-nation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 01 Mar 2012 04:31:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Andrea</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Change Your Financial Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[coupon classes with savings nation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[savings nation workshops]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mainstreammom.com/?p=5308</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Savings Nation Workshops 
Grocery Coupon Classes
Gain a better understanding of how to shop with coupons using strategic couponing and *menu planning techniques and achieve savings of 50% or more. *Wholesome, healthy meals!
Coming to a town near you!
&#160;&#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><h1><a title="Savings Nation Classes" href="http://www.savings.com/savingsnation.html" target="_blank">Savings Nation Workshops </a></h1>
<h3><strong>Grocery Coupon Classes</strong></h3>
<p>Gain a better understanding of how to shop with coupons using strategic couponing and *menu planning techniques and achieve savings of 50% or more. <em>*Wholesome, healthy meals!</em></p>
<h3><em>Coming to a town near you!</em></h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CKEPD5FVf60" frameborder="0" width="560" height="315"></iframe></h3>
<p><a title="Savings Nation Classes" href="http://www.savings.com/savingsnation.html#class-request" target="_blank">Request a class in your area. </a></p>
<img src="http://mainstreammom.com/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=5308&type=feed" alt="" /><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?a=kjiOKl64XhY:jZkw4CiciMs:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?a=kjiOKl64XhY:jZkw4CiciMs:Miiyz6yFTis"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?d=Miiyz6yFTis" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MainstreamMom/~4/kjiOKl64XhY" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://mainstreammom.com/grocery-couponing-class-with-savings-nation/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<feedburner:origLink>http://mainstreammom.com/grocery-couponing-class-with-savings-nation/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=grocery-couponing-class-with-savings-nation</feedburner:origLink></item>
		<item>
		<title>Save On Kids Clothes</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MainstreamMom/~3/yxpFQlALR10/</link>
		<comments>http://mainstreammom.com/save-on-kids-clothes/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 28 Feb 2012 03:52:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Andrea</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Everything Else]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online sites to buy kids clothes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[save on kids clothes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mainstreammom.com/?p=5247</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There&#8217;s a special feeling attached to making a haul on clothes. I love shopping for clothes and laying out item after item when I get home and knowing I paid little to practically nothing for each article. And saving on&#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><p class="note">There&#8217;s a special feeling attached to<em> making a haul</em> on clothes. I love shopping for clothes and laying out item after item when I get home and knowing I paid little to practically nothing for each article. And <strong>saving on kids clothes</strong> is really a requirement knowing how quickly they grow and how often they need new clothes.</p>
<p>Of course <a title="Save on Kids Clothes" href="http://www.premiumoutlets.com/centers/index.asp" target="_blank">outlet malls</a> are a great way to save on name brand clothes. You normally pay less than half of what they go for in the regular stores. Plus shopping out of season is smart too. Consignment shops offer good deals &#8212; some of the time &#8212; and garage sales have the opportunity to yield great returns. <a title="Save money on kids clothes" href="http://www.thredup.com/" target="_blank">thredUp.com</a> is a used <em>Kids Clothing Exchange</em>, like an online consignment shop. You can buy, sell and share kids clothes, books and toys there!</p>
<p><em><strong>If you like to shop online, here a few sites I frequent and are worth checking out&#8230;</strong></em></p>
<h3><a href="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/kids_exclusive_logo2.png"><img class="size-full wp-image-5278 alignright" title="Save on kids clothes" src="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/kids_exclusive_logo2.png" alt="Save on kids clothes at KidsExclusive" width="361" height="115" /></a><a title="Save on Kids Clothes at KidsExclusive" href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=359302&amp;u=435975&amp;m=37772&amp;urllink=&amp;afftrack=" target="_blank">KidsExclusive.com</a></h3>
<p>KidsExclusive has a team of fashion-obsessed buyers out there every day in search of the newest fashion and accessories from 100s of designers. Everything is authentic, first-quality, brand-new and it&#8217;s at 30% to 90% off retail prices.</p>
<ul>
<li>Refer a friend and when they place an order, you receive a $20 credit.</li>
<li>Simple, easy returns if the kids don&#8217;t like it.</li>
<li>No membership required.</li>
</ul>
<h3><a href="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/WelcomeLogo.gif"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5282" title="Save money on kids clothes" src="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/WelcomeLogo-300x114.gif" alt="Save on kids clothes at Treehouse Tykes" width="300" height="114" /></a><a title="Save on Kids Clothes" href="http://treehousetykes.com" target="_blank">TreeHouse Tykes</a></h3>
<p>Find children&#8217;s furniture, bedding, gear, accessories and apparel at up to 70% off. 10% of their net proceeds go to the school or <strong>charity of your choice</strong>. Every time you invite a friend to join TreeHouse Tykes, they receive an instant $10 shopping credit and their first purchase of $50 or more earns you a $10 credit in your account. You can invite an unlimited number of friends, and receive unlimited shopping credits.</p>
<ul>
<li>A new sale is launched daily giving you access to high quality merchandise at the lowest prices.</li>
<li>Sales run for 72 hours and sell out quickly.</li>
<li>Membership is free and easy.</li>
</ul>
<h3><a title="Save on Kids Clothes" href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=CimlEli0z1k&amp;offerid=223740&amp;type=3&amp;subid=0" target="_blank">Totsy</a><img src="http://ad.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/show?id=CimlEli0z1k&amp;bids=223740&amp;type=3&amp;subid=0" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" /></h3>
<p><a href="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/logo_reg_new1.png"><img class="size-full wp-image-5276 alignright" title="Save on kids clothes" src="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/logo_reg_new1.png" alt="Save on kids clothes at Totsy" width="333" height="83" /></a>Totsy is a private shopping site where members can find up to 85% off on products and services for the family. They hold exclusive sales events online everyday featuring the best brands for moms, moms-to-be and kids. Sales events last between 48 and 72 hours. Enjoy savings on your favorite brands and discover new brands. Find items for your family including kids apparel, shoes, toys, baby gear, travel accessories, education materials, maternity and so much more.</p>
<ul>
<li>Free Shipping with your first purchase and membership is free.</li>
<li>Exclusive sales for the whole family.</li>
<li>Refer friends and get Totsy Credits.</li>
</ul>
<p>Enjoy the sales!</p>
<p><a href="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/arrow_down1.png"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-5263" title="Share with your friends" src="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/arrow_down1.png" alt="Share how to save on kids clothes" width="128" height="128" /></a></p>
<p class="alert">Share these excellent sites with your friends on Facebook. Click Like below to share!</p>
<img src="http://mainstreammom.com/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=5247&type=feed" alt="" /><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?a=yxpFQlALR10:pEWBmoAHwpE:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?a=yxpFQlALR10:pEWBmoAHwpE:Miiyz6yFTis"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?d=Miiyz6yFTis" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MainstreamMom/~4/yxpFQlALR10" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://mainstreammom.com/save-on-kids-clothes/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<feedburner:origLink>http://mainstreammom.com/save-on-kids-clothes/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=save-on-kids-clothes</feedburner:origLink></item>
		<item>
		<title>Learn Tax Strategy with Tax Insight</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MainstreamMom/~3/i-Kfg7pcPqk/</link>
		<comments>http://mainstreammom.com/learn-tax-strategy-with-tax-insight/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:39:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Guest Post</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Change Your Financial Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[learn tax strategy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tax insight]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mainstreammom.com/?p=5204</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Understanding Your Personal Tax Situation
In your lifetime you will likely spend more money on taxes than on anything else. However, if you are like most people, you really don&#8217;t know how to control and minimize that expense. It doesn&#8217;t&#8230;]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p></p><h3 class="note">Understanding Your Personal Tax Situation</h3>
<p class="note">In your lifetime you will likely spend more money on taxes than on anything else. However, if you are like most people, you really don&#8217;t know how to control and minimize that expense. It doesn&#8217;t have to be that way. Through self-education or hired-help you can pull back the curtain of the tax code and <a title="Tax Tips for Moms Article" href="http://mainstreammom.com/moms-understanding-taxes/" target="_blank">understand the key principals</a> that can have a significant effect on your personal pocket book.</p>
<h3>Should You Hire a Tax Preparer or Do It Yourself?</h3>
<p>Taxes (and their hired hand, the IRS) invoke fear and trembling into the bravest of souls. People deal with that fear in different ways. <strong>Some act like an ostrich, bury their head in the sand and pretend that taxes don&#8217;t exist (not recommended)</strong>. Others act like a frightened bull and face it head on, charging ahead on their own, determined to take on the problem. Many, if not most, are like sheep &#8211; timid, careful, and mostly following what they see everyone else doing. <em>However, with knowledge and guidance, I believe that the fear can be removed from the equation and that you can make an educated decision that will bring you piece of mind.</em></p>
<p><a href="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/iStock_000016021175XSmall.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-5224" title="Learn Tax Strategy" src="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/iStock_000016021175XSmall.jpg" alt="Learn Tax Strategy with Tax Insight" width="375" height="320" /></a>There is no exact science to determine whether or not you would benefit from the help of a tax professional. However, with a little education it can quickly become clear. In just the last week I spoke with three individuals who thought they needed my services. During our 30-minute conversations it was obvious to me that two of them did not need my help &#8211; they had been doing things on their own for years and only needed my reassurance that they were not missing anything. With that guidance they felt confident that they could continue to do it themselves without messing things up or giving up more money than they should. On the other hand, it was clear to me that the third individual could really benefit from using my services because his situation had many opportunities that could be taken advantage of, but which required a level of expertise.</p>
<p class="alert">While there is no clear formula that will give you the answer to whether or not you should prepare your taxes, here are some questions that you can ask yourself that will help you decide.</p>
<h3>How Complicated is Your Tax Picture?</h3>
<p>When tax time comes, do your documents only include a W-2 from work, a 1099 for some interest in your savings account and a 1098 for your mortgage? If your taxes are that simple, chances are that you will be better off by using a do-it-yourself software system than by using a professional. On the other hand, if you own a business or rental property, have employees, have itemized deductions, trade stocks or have a fairly high income, you may have a need for assistance.</p>
<h3>Is Your Income Fairly &#8220;High&#8221;?</h3>
<p>A high income brings out the &#8220;devil-in-the-details&#8221; of the tax code. And, by the way, the tax-code thinks your income is &#8220;high&#8221; long before most people think it is. <strong>Once your income exceeds certain thresholds you quickly begin to lose deductions and credits.</strong> <a href="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/iStock_000018848405Small.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-5226 alignleft" title="Learn tax strategy" src="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/iStock_000018848405Small-300x199.jpg" alt="Learn tax strategy with Tax Insight" width="300" height="199" /></a>That, in turn, makes your tax burden begin to increase rapidly. To top it off, the Alternative-Minimum Tax will kick in at similar income levels, compounding the effects of these negative changes. If your income puts you within range of phase-out thresholds, good planning could help you avoid a lot of taxes. That is where a professional earns his money and the do-it-yourself software often fails.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Do You Own a Business or Rental Property?</h3>
<p>Once you become a business owner (including rentals) your tax return can become a lot more interesting and complicated, and it can happen quickly. <strong>There are so many things that come into play in the tax code when you own a business.</strong> Unless your business is very simple I would recommend getting qualified help &#8211; whether that be through an on ongoing relationship or only for occasional guidance. The good news is that the greatest number of tax strategies (and often the greatest savings) can be found in businesses and rental properties.</p>
<h3>How Comfortable Are You Doing it Yourself?</h3>
<p>That may seem like a silly question. However, some people are petrified of doing their own taxes. On occasion I will prepare a tax return for someone whose taxes are very simple (maybe a W-2 and nothing else). I explain to them that they could easily do it themselves for free, but the idea of doing so is unthinkable to them. For that person, it could be worth paying someone to file for them just to not have to worry about it and to bring them peace of mind.</p>
<p>On the other hand, for many the uncertainty is only rooted in a lack of knowledge about taxes. For someone with a fairly simple tax situation and a willing mind, reading a couple good tax books or a one-time consultation with a tax professional might be all it takes to feel comfortable and confident in preparing their own taxes and not worrying that they are missing something important.</p>
<h3>What&#8217;s Next?</h3>
<p>Education is your key to knowing what you should do to improve your tax outlook. In my book, <em>Tax Insight</em>, I delve into more detail about the decision to work with a tax professional and how to get the most out of that relationship. <strong>More importantly, I help you understand the key concepts of tax strategy as well as some of the most common strategies.</strong> <em>Even if you hire a tax professional, understanding the tax strategies that fit your personal situation will make your relationship much more beneficial, ensuring that you get the greatest bang for your buck.</em></p>
<h3><a href="http://taxinsight.net/book/"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-5230" title="Learn tax strategy with tax insight" src="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/book-small.jpg" alt="learn tax strategy with tax insight" width="165" height="240" /></a>In Summary</h3>
<p>If you want to begin to take control of your taxes and be proactive about the greatest expense of your life, do something about it today. You could start by signing up for our free (and quick and easy)<a title="FREE Tax Insight Course" href="http://taxinsight.net/course/" target="_blank"> Tax Insight course here</a>.</p>
<p>Or, if you really want to dig in, you can invest in our <a title="Tax Insight Book" href="http://taxinsight.net/book/" target="_blank">Tax Insight book here</a>. Whatever you do&#8230; do something today to begin to understand your personal tax situation better. Don&#8217;t be an ostrich or a sheep. Use that human intellect and overcome your instinct to run from the tax code or pretend it&#8217;s not there.</p>
<p>It may not be as fun as finding your favorite item on sale at the store, but it could prove to bring you the financial windfall of thousands of sales in one sitting. The choice is yours.</p>
<p class="alert"><em>Casey Murdock is a professional tax advisor and the author of Tax Insight. Feel free to contact him at <a href="mailto:Casey@YouAndIPlan.com">Casey@YouAndIPlan.com</a>.</em></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/arrow_down.png"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-5191" title="Share on facebook" src="http://mainstreammom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/arrow_down.png" alt="Please Share on Facebook" width="128" height="128" /></a>Please Like this article below and share with your Facebook friends! (It&#8217;s important)</strong></p>
<img src="http://mainstreammom.com/?ak_action=api_record_view&id=5204&type=feed" alt="" /><div class="feedflare">
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?a=i-Kfg7pcPqk:nZF1vrGjTRA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?a=i-Kfg7pcPqk:nZF1vrGjTRA:Miiyz6yFTis"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/MainstreamMom?d=Miiyz6yFTis" border="0"></img></a>
</div><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MainstreamMom/~4/i-Kfg7pcPqk" height="1" width="1"/>]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://mainstreammom.com/learn-tax-strategy-with-tax-insight/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		<feedburner:origLink>http://mainstreammom.com/learn-tax-strategy-with-tax-insight/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=learn-tax-strategy-with-tax-insight</feedburner:origLink></item>
	</channel>
</rss><!-- Dynamic page generated in 0.398 seconds. --><!-- Cached page generated by WP-Super-Cache on 2012-12-13 19:59:18 --><!-- Compression = gzip -->
