Ideas for College Student Care Packages

Photo credit

My oldest niece is starting her first year of college this fall (boy, does that make me feel old!), and she's going to be moving away from home - pretty far away - for the first time. Although I was only 100  miles from home when I attended college, I remember getting a care package a time or two after I moved.  It was the most amazing thing to see that little slip of paper indicating I had something that was too big to fit in my tiny dorm mailbox.  Opening it was like Christmas morning each and every time - even when the things included were not big and luxurious.  It was amazing to know that someone was thinking of me and helped bring a little bit of home to my dorm room in those first uncertain, exciting months away from home.

So I have vowed to myself that at least once a month, I will be sending our niece something just to lift her spirits and (hopefully) make her smile.

Of course you can always do a themed gift box that includes toiletries, first aid stuff, candy, foodstuff, holiday items, or any other "theme" you can think of.  But you can also just throw in a number of things that are in no way related one another, but you just wanted to send.

And being on this website, I cannot go without saying that some of these things you can get for cheap or free because of seasonal purchases, sales, and playing drugstore shopping games. =)  Go with what you can find.  But if you are looking for some ideas, these are perfect.

click here for printable version

Any other good ideas to add to this list? I'll add them to the list! What did you receive at college that was a must have?

A Discounted Way to Say Thank You

Right now LivingSocial has one of their national daily deals as a 50% savings for purchasing a USO care package for our troops.

Pay just $25 and the USO will put $50 toward a deployment care package or other morale-lifting services for our men and women of the armed forces -- and send you a T-shirt to show their appreciation. Filled with items like snacks, toiletries, and phone cards, each care package not only provides troops with a reminder of home, but helps those serving a world away reconnect with their loved ones.

Anyone who has ever been deployed will tell you how wonderful a simple gift from home can be a huge morale lift.  And this deal is a great way to send a care package full of useful goodies without having to worry about what to put in the box.

What a great way to celebrate our nation's birthday - by honoring and blessing those who maintain our freedoms and help others gain the same liberties we enjoy.

Grab one (or three) today!

Summer Boredom Busters

Since I am not personally very creative and am fantastic for taking someone else's creative genius and replicating it, today I share with you some summer boredom busters for your kids - all via Pinterest.

Grow your own rock candy

For too hot or rainy days, create a road for matchbox cars

Create this amazing piece of art with your youngsters

"Paint" bread and then toast and eat.

Melting ice game teaches them too

Host a "drive in" theater for the kids

Spray chalk fun

DIY ecosystem - this amazes me

DIY Sidewalk Paint

Indoor fun - this fizzy fun will amaze even the little ones!

Nature Scavenger Hunt - I wanna' go!

Toddler fun for the younger crowd

Names from Nature - do the whole family!

Do you have any fun things planned for your kids yet?  Let us all know your great ideas too! 

And for even more ideas, join Works for Me Wednesday over at We Are THAT Family. 

Feel a Cold Coming On? This Stuff WORKS!

Back in February, I was approached about reviewing a product called Cold-EEZE, an over-the-counter zinc-based cold remedy, that boasted that it would reduce the symptoms of a cold and shorten the length of the illness.

Well, I waited and waited and waited. And frankly, with small children in my house, I somehow made it over 3 months through the spring without the slightest symptoms to combat.

About three weeks ago though, my boss came to work sick. He wasn't feeling well but didn't think it was a big deal. Over the next few days his cold got worse and worse and worse. He was out a few days but ended up having to come in because some bigwigs from corporate were coming in to meet with him and he couldn't reschedule their international travel.

He felt HORRIBLE.

And about a week and a half of meeting with him almost daily, several times a day, I too started feeling poorly.

In fact, a couple of Mondays ago I called him and said, "Did that crud you've been carrying around start out with a sore throat?" When he responded to the affirmative, I knew I was in trouble.

And I knew it would be the perfect time to try out Cold-EEZE.

Cold-EEZE is a homeopathic OTC medicine that you spray inside your mouth every 2-4 hours up to six times a day, as needed. That Monday evening I started my regime. I felt AWFUL that month with aches and chills and a terribly sore throat.

The next morning I woke up, I felt great. I had no voice really (laryngitis), but it didn't hurt to speak. Over the next few days I kept spraying the Cold-EEZE in the morning and then every 3-4 hours, as symptoms started to rear their ugly heads. And throughout that week, although I battled not having a voice, I really felt just fine most of the time. By the end of the week there would be the occasional coughing and sneezing, but a couple of sprays of Cold-EEZE and it would stop pretty quickly.

I was thrilled! Usually when I get a cough, I hang onto it for weeks without end - having real trouble shaking it off. This time, it truly wasn't the case.

I cannot prove that I would have gotten what my boss had without Cold-EEZE, but he was the only sick person I knew and watching him, I knew I didn't want what he had.

So does Cold-EEZE work? I'm convinced that it does! I will be keeping a bottle of this stuff in our medicine cabinet and as soon as our children reach age 12, they will be taking it too! If you want to check it out for yourself, find out where you can buy it locally.

For the little ones, you can also check out Maty's all natural products, which I reviewed here.

I was sent Cold-EEZE and Breathe Better for review. No positive reviews were promised. This stuff really worked and I really be buying some more in the future!

How to Be Productive When You Are Sick

I have been sick for the last four days. Between a slightly heavy workload at work and just not feeling well, I haven't been able to post here very much.

There are certainly varying degrees of being sick and if you are sick with something like the flu or strep throat or some horribly contagious flesh-eating disease, please stay home and get better before dragging into the office, not doing anyting production (including getting better), and risking getting others sick.

However, if you have a cold that you don't feel justifies staying home or are just stuck in the middle of allergy season, you probably feel obligated to go into work (or get regular tasks done around the house if you stay at home) without letting your compromised immune system defeat you.

But usually - you just aren't at the top of your game.

Here is a list of things you can do to be productive even when you aren't feeling top-notch:

• Clean off your desk.  Do you have a corner that keeps collecting things and you just never seem to reach the bottom of that pile?  Are you always looking for things and need a better system of organization?  Have you been wanting to go through that junk drawer at home (or work) but always seem to busy to do it?   These small tasks can be tackled, accomplished in a relatively short time, and if you don't "do your best work" you don't have the same consequences as really messing up an important report you might have otherwise worked on.
• Clean out your email. Is your inbox (at work or home) excessively full?  Unless you regularly visit and purge your messages, you probably have a lot of messages that you don't need. How to get started?  Find a chain of replies back and forth and delete all but the newest one (as long as no one broke the chain).  Find those about projects or events that are past and hold no information that will need to be revisited.  Delete those personal emails out of your work inbox. Your server, IT people, or just your home computer, will love it if you will go through and delete some of them.
• Learning. Read up on something pertaining to your job. Whether it is a newsletter pertaining to your profession, a financial report for your business that you haven't had a chance to look at, a motivational book to help you be a better leader/mother/wife/friend, or some information on an area where you need to expand your knowledge, reading is a great task that you never feel you have time for but would be great while you aren't feeling super productive.
• Complete those administrative tasks.  You know, the simple paperwork you have neglected to do because bigger things always come up.  Right now while you don't feel like doing those bigger things, work on the small ones. File some paperwork, update the charts/graphs on the bulletin board, send out those emails you've been meaning to. Scan documents, make file copies, shred those confidential papers you have piled up. If you're at home, organize your photo files - I know you've been meaning to do that forever.
• Make new plans.  If you need time to sit and brainstorm, that time is sitting in front of you right now.  Now if you are heavily medicated, you may not have the clearest train of thought at the moment, so this wouldn't be for you. But if you are just tired and need to slow down to feel better, start planning. Think of how to improve your tasks, your department, your home.  Think about your child's next birthday party plans. Pull out your checkbook, a pen, and some paper and re-evaluate the family budget. Make a shopping list of things you always forget when faced with making a shopping list. Once you are feeling better, get moving on these new schemes!
• Do get some rest. The best way to feel productive tomorrow is get some rest today.  So although you might feel you can really knock everything out, take it easy until you are back to full strength. 

What about you?  What do you do to feel productive when you are not feeling at the top of your game? 

Inexpensive and Practical Gifts for Graduates

Photo Source: hhsara

It's that time of year again. Time for high school seniors to walk to "Pomp and Circumstance," cross a stage and receive that long-awaited diploma.  Some will go on to college and some will go straight into the work force. All will be making major life-changing moves into the "real world" though.

And so the graduation invitations start pouring in. But you're on a budget. What can you do?

Here are a few inexpensive gift ideas that will suit a new graduate perfectly:

Any Graduate:

• A copy of The Tightwad Gazette, The Debt-Free Graduate: How to Survive College Without Going Broke by Murray Baker, or another similar favorite would not necessarily be the sexiest gift they received, but it would keep on giving if they dared to open the cover and learned to live within their means. 
• A mop bucket filled with cleaning supplies that you score from pharmacies for cheap or free.  Include anything from sponges, glass cleaner, a dustpan, cleaning clothes (think bag o' rags), a toilet brush, all purpose cleaner, some Bar Keeper's Friend, some Magic Erasers (make your own), vinegar and baking soda, scrubbing brushes, cleaning wipes, and whatever else you'd like to include. These will all need to be purchased by the grad but aren't a lot of fun for them to spend their own money on, so this will be a huge help. 
• A bin, basket, container (whatever you can find for cheap or free) - something that can be used as a shower caddy/tote - and fill with toiletries - also gotten at pharmacies and the like for cheap or free.  Think shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, disposable razors, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, handheld/makeup mirror, shower poof, lotion, sunscreen, nail clippers/file, tweezers, flip flops (for a community or shared shower) and any other item you might can think of. Again, they will need to buy anyway, so this will help offset their living expenses. 
• First Aid Supplies - whether you buy a prepackaged kit or make it yourself, this is yet another in the category of the last two of things they need anyway.  Include alcohol, peroxide, bandages, gauze, ibuprofen, Tylenol, Pepto, cotton balls, antibacterial cream, sunblock, tweezers, aloe, and anything else that you have in your medicine cabinet. 
• Tool Kit - This one you can opt for an actual tool box as a package or, for a less expensive route, just a bucket or box.  Include hammer, small panel nails, screw drivers (Phillips and flathead), pliers, screws, hangers like Command hooks, batteries, adjustable wrench, tape measure, utility knife, a small level.  These will be invaluable!
• Office Supplies - Always a help to college students, but this gift is still perfect for those who will be setting up their new apartment/home away from the nest. Everyone needs pens, highlighters, tape, paperclips, stapler, staples, staple remover, correction fluid, post it notes, scissors, stamps, envelopes, notebook, day planner, rolodex/address book, and maybe something like a flash drive. 
• Laundry supplies - Grab a laundry basket and fill it with laundry detergent, bleach, fabric softener, a roll of quarters, a mesh laundry bag, AND (most importantly) instruction on how to launder basic items and treat stains.Throw in a word find, Sudoku, or crossword puzzle book too.
• A case of Raman noodles. Trust me on this one. 
• A water pitcher with filter, filter refills, and a few reusable water bottles. Throw is some flavor packets if you so choose. 
• Sewing Kit - this was one of the seemingly most strange gifts I got when I graduated high school and I still use it today, 15 years later.  Get a sewing organizer or just any plastic container with a lid. Include scissors, needles, safety pins, straight pins, a sampler of thread, and anything else you think would be helpful. I love mine still and have fixed so many holes/buttons/seams, etc in a pinch. 
• A recipe book.  It can be How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman or it can be a binder full of the student's favorites (and some new ones to try). We've all got to start somewhere, right?  And there is nothing like home cooking. 
• If it is a family member, like a child or sister, give them a day planer or calendar with birthdays, anniversaries or other important dates filled in. Include surprises like, "Dinner with brother"  or "the day sister comes to do my laundry." 

Photo source: aprilbell

Those Going to College: 

• A basket full of food they can cook in a dorm room.  Think microwave pasta (include a can opener) Mac and Cheese, popcorn, Ramen noodles, PB&J, Nutella, nuts, crackers, oatmeal, soup, pudding, hot chocolate mix, tuna, and the like. Throw in a sponge and dish soap as well as some ziploc bags too. Their choices are limited in what they can cook in their room, but give them a basket of ideas to help!
• Umbrella. Seriously. They'll be walking all around creation in wind, rain or shine. And unfortunately, many people don't think of one until they need it (too late!).
• Some small select dishes like small tupperware, cereal bowls, a handful of utensils, a couple of microwavable plates, and a few cups should do. It's not like they'll have a lot of room to store dishes. 
• Bed raisers (you can find them many places, but I like these adjustable ones) Sounds odd I know, but real estate is at a premium in a dorm room.  These gems will allow you extra storage underneath the bed with little effect on the space available in the room.
• Baked goodies - wait until they arrive and send them cookies or brownies or whatever else they would love. You can do this anyway even if you've already given a gift for graduation.
• Test Survival Kit (credit comments section here) - I had to include this because I thought it was adorable and genius at the same time! " How about a “Test Survival Kit” with all of the things that make for a great cram session. You could include notecards (LOTs of them), highlighters, colored pens, page flags, maybe even a few self-laminating sheets for those formulas or principles you will use over and over again. Also, a cram session would not be complete without some form of caffeine – think Starbucks Via packets or Mountain Dew. AND if you really want to make it great, top it off with a baseball cap and body spray – because they will more than likely roll out of bed with just enough time to make it to class the next day."

So what do you have to add?  Do you give any great, inexpensive gift ideas or any that are particularly practical?  Did you receive anything that really blew your socks off?  Leave us comments so we can all have more ideas!

Free Prescriptions at Publix

Publix has been offering a certain selection of free prescriptions for a few years now, but in case you never got the news, didn't live in a Publix area until recently, or just simply forgot, I wanted to remind you.

In efforts to help families manage healthcare costs, Publix offers a selection of some of the most often prescribed medications at NO COST to you.  There is no limit how many times you use this service, who your insurance provider is (or if you have one), or how many you need filled that day.

Here is a current (5/7/12) list of prescriptions you can currently get for free at the pharmacy inside your local Publix grocery store:

• Lisinopril - An ACE inhibitor, lisinopril is used to prevent, treat, or improve symptoms of high blood pressure, certain heart conditions, diabetes, and certain chronic kidney conditions. Get a 30-day supply of this vital prescription FREE* only at your Publix Pharmacy.  * Maximum of 30 days supply (up to 60 tablets). Lisinopril-HCTZ combination products excluded.
• Metformin - As part of the Publix Pharmacy Diabetes Management System, you can get up to a 30-day supply (90 tablets) of generic immediate-release metformin (500mg, 850 mg, and 1000 mg) FREE.
• Antibiotics - Get up to a 14-day supply of the following generic oral antibiotics free:
• Amoxicillin
• Ampicillin
• Cephalexin (capsules and suspension only)
• Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim (SMZ-TMP)
• Ciprofloxacin (excluding Ciprofloxacin XR)
• Penicillin VK
• Doxycycline Hyclate (capsules only)

So if you are prescribed one of these, make sure to go to Publix to get it. Even if you have a low cost insurance plan, this will keep you from paying that low cost AND from filing it on your insurance. =)  Win-win!

Make Good Use of Travel Time

Do you love to read as much as I do? I absolutely adore books and the worlds they allow me to visit. I can read 2-3 books at a time (provided they aren't too similar in plot) and often do. But as life got busier and busier, I found that I was spending less and less time with one my favorite old companions - books.

But I found a solution, and since this blog is what it is, I will tell you that this solution is FREE.  Hooray for free, right?

I read on my daily commute.

Before you call the state patrol on me, let me clarify.  I "read" audiobooks every day on my drive to and from work. And thanks to our local library, I have thousands of titles available to borrow and pour through on my otherwise mind-numbing 35-minute commute (each way).

Photo source: ESwift

I have found a lot of great books this way. In fact, there is one particular series that I really enjoyed but didn't like the first 1/3 of the (LONG) first book in the series. Had I been reading it in a book, I don't know that I would have finished the book, as I really wasn't enjoying it. But since it was all I had to listen to in the car (other than a radio station sated with commercials and music I was tired of), I stuck with it and ended up LOVING the series. 

It doesn't matter what genre you enjoy: biographies, science, self-help, history, crime thrillers, trashy romances, or even a series about sparkly vampires - you can get a hold of any of these courtesy of most local libraries and get your reading done while you are in the car.

Here are a few ways to use audiobooks:

• Enduring a daily commute (like I do)
• Enduring a long road trip (we listen to family-friendly fiction like Chronicles of Narnia while we travel 6-1/2 hours to my mom's house to visit)
• Studying - some textbooks can be found on audio and you can soak in some extra study time while traveling
• Using a self-help/motivational book to pep yourself up for a day

And I'm sure there are others.

So don't just walk past those chunky cd boxes in your library (you can also get some on MP3 in some libraries). Stop and glance through them. You might catch up on your favorite author or find a new one you really like.  I know I have done plenty of both!

I would be remiss if I didn't include this warning though:  you might find when you arrive at your destination that you don't want to get out of the car because you're engrossed in what is going on in the book. It's like that book you can't put down at night and end up reading all night. I have been known to sit in my garage listening or drive around the block a few times to finish a particular intense scene. =)

Have you ever used audiobooks?  Does your library have a good selection?  What are your favorites to read/listen to?

Age Appropriate Chores

Yesterday I spoke about the chore system we are starting to use for our son.  I am a firm believer in children learning work and responsibility from a young age.  Whether or not you want to pay them for their work is a personal decision.

Please note that the handling of chores might vary with your child's maturity level and any physical limitations your child might have, so the ones I'm laying out are from experience and just to be used as a general guideline or a place to start. Regardless, these are tasks that may be age appropriate for your little ones.

1-2 Years (I told you - we start early)

• Picking up Toys
• Putting clothes in hamper/laundry basket
• Putting dry food in pet bowl using a plastic cup
• Brushing/flossing their teeth (with assistance)
• Putting items in trashcan
• Picking out their clothes for the next day (with guidance for weather considerations of course)
• Help make their beds
• Clean up spills they make
• Put things back where they found them

3-4 Years (including any listed above)

• Making their beds
• Brushing teeth/flossing (supervised but unassisted)
• Putting food and water in pet bowl using a plastic cup
• Dusting (use a sock on their hand)
• Dress themselves with minimal assistance.
• Bringing in lightweight items from the car
• Start learning how to sweep or holding dust pan for parent (no, the sweeping won't be pretty at this point, but they have to learn somehow), use dry mop on floors
• "Help" wash the car
• Help water plants
• Clean own setting at table

5-6 Years (including any listed above)

• Put away laundry
• Sort laundry (colors/whites/etc)
• Fold towels, socks, etc (some might even be able to clothing)
• Sweep
• Clip coupons
• Clean windows (inside)/glass doors with supervision
• Clean walls/baseboards, doors, doorknobs
• Help wash the car
• Water plants
• Weeding (with supervision)
• Hang up towels in bathroom
• Pet's food and water
• Load dishwasher (with supervision)
• Dictate thank you notes for parents
• Set table
• Fix bowl of cereal
• Prepare school items (backpack, homework, etc) for next day
• Getting the mail

7-9 Years (including any listed above)

• Pet's food, water, and exercise
• Vacuum rooms
• Wet mop rooms
• Wash windows (inside) and doors without supervision
• Put away dishes from dishwasher
• Help prepare food (with supervision)
• Pour drinks
• Make PB&J sandwiches
• Get own snacks
• Help use coupons at store
• Help put away groceries
• Take out trash
• Rake leaves
• Weeding
• Answer phone
• Write thank you notes
• Dry dishes by hand
• Learn how washer and dryer work
• Clean own room entirely
• Clean mirrors
• Help pack lunch for following day
• Basic organization
• Prepare own bath

10-14 Years (including any listed above)

• Solely responsible for homework (parents can check over, but should not have to remind)
• Get self up and ready in morning
• Wash dishes by hand
• Launder own clothes
• Iron clothes (with supervision at first)
• Learn to fold fitted sheet (yes...this is a skill)
• Wash windows inside (and out if your windows fold inward)
• Change sheets on bed
• Deep clean own room
• Put away all groceries
• Change light bulbs
• Clean kitchen (with supervision at first)
• Clean bathroom (with supervision at first)
• Mow the lawn
• Help make grocery list
• Cook a basic meal (reheating, grilled cheese & soup, etc)
• Bake cookies and cakes
• Older of group can baby sit in some states
• Prepare lunches for following day
• Change a litter box (for cat owners)
• Give dog a bath
• Basic home repair (painting, hanging picture, etc)
• Learn basic car repair/maintenance

15-18 Years (including any listed above)

• Cook a meal
• Landscaping (edging, trimming, etc)
• Run errands to grocery store
• Make shopping list
• Run carpool errands for young siblings
• Baby sit
• Purchase own clothes
• Maintain their vehicle (gas, oil, possibly insurance)
• Deep cleaning appliances (oven, fridge, defrost freezers, etc)
• Check and replace vacuum cleaner bags
• Clean gutters
• Chop wood
• Clean fireplace

What do you think?  Any I should add?  Any I should shift around? 

Photo credit: hortongrou

Handmade Christmas Gifts to Save You Money

If you are anything like us, you are finding yourself this year on a more limited budget than you might have found yourself in the past.  Or maybe you're just attacking debt.  Or maybe you're doing fine financially but decided there is no reason to spend a lot of money on Christmas presents when you can make some that mean more to the recipients.

Regardless of why you're reading this post, obviously you are looking for some low cost alternatives for Chritsmas presents.  Here are some ideas that I've run across (mostly on Pinterest) for some great gift ideas that won't break the bank.

Click through below (sorry - I didn't want all of the photos clogging up my front page).

5 Steps to Becoming a Better Listener

Whether you are trying to run a business, manage a group of employees, or just be a good friend, really knowing what another person is telling you is key to being someone who is liked, respected, and trusted. Take these five steps to really get to know other people.

Step 1: Listen Aggressively
Make sure you are listening and really grasping what people are telling you. And I don’t just mean the words. Listen to their tone of voice and listen to what they are actually NOT saying.

For instance, if a cashier at the grocery store looks at you and snarls when she spits out the words, “Have a nice day,” you don’t honestly believe she wishes you well, do you? Obviously she is having a bad day or going through a difficult period in life. Or maybe you just irritated her. The sarcasm dripping from her lips is a clear indication that the words you heard were not truly what she was trying to say.

Also keep this in mind when responding to others (although that is a topic for another day).

Also…pay attention to what the person is NOT saying. For instance, is there some important point that is missing? Are there words that would normally fit into the conversation that you are having but are absent from this one? Is there anything they are avoiding telling you?

Listening is very different from hearing. Make sure you know (and practice) the difference.

Step 2: Observe Aggressively
Have you ever what one of the many police dramas on TV (can you miss them?!) or courtroom shows where it is obvious that something just doesn’t look right. Take a step back and look at the other person while they are talking to you. Do they look withdrawn? Do they look uncomfortable or nervous? Are they avoiding eye contact or fidgeting? Is their body facing toward the door like they are ready for a quick escape?

These are all signs that somewhere there is some missing truth in what they are telling you. They are avoiding the truth or covering up with a lie. Even a lie of omission is a lie and something is really going on here.

Did you know that I was told that FBI agents are told that during their first interrogation, they are to completely ignore what the person is saying and strictly observe. Pure observation is what tells them who to bring back for a second interview most of the time. That's serious business, people!

Step 3: Talk Less
Listen 75% of the time and talk 25% of the time. People are coming and talking to you because they have something they want to tell you. Don’t assume that they want your opinions or for you to relate to them unless they ask for it or the conversation leans in that direction. Don’t immediately turn the conversation into something you’d rather talk about or into something about you. They didn’t come to learn about you, most likely, but to relay something important to you. Make sure you are listening and get your ego out of the way.

If you do learn that they seem to want confirmation or acceptance, you can relate a similar story about yourself, but keep it brief. They have come to talk. Rarely do people come to you just to sit and listen to whatever you feel the urge to say at the moment.

Step 4: Take a Second Look at First Impressions
As the conversation continues, sort out for yourself how this needs to be perceived. Don’t go off of your first gut-reaction. You need to observe the person and think about the situation entirely before jumping to any rash decisions or assumptions.

Why is this person coming to you with this information? What do they expect to get from your conversation? What would you like to hear in a similar circumstance but with the tables turned?

Give people the benefit of the doubt. Even if you are wrong, you’ll feel better about being wrong than if you had not trusted a person of integrity in the beginning.

Step 5: Step Back
Take your emotions out of the equation. Force yourself to step back and use your observation skills to make a decision rather than your emotions. Although our emotions are a gift from God, we do not always use them correctly and often cause hurt, distrust, and degradation. When you check your emotions out of the game, you immediately become more observant, a better listener, and are able to think more clearly. Carry on the conversation in this manner, not with the emotions that may have arisen during your talk. Make sure you act and do not react.


Are you a good listener? If so, what do you feel contributes to this? If not, what can you work on?




I swiped this info from a presentation that I attended for work purposes. The five steps and some examples are not my own although some of the elaborations are mine. I shared them in hopes that you can use them as I plan to be able to.

Photo credit: Ambro

Are Your Kids Safe?

I shudder to think of the danger that we once put Patrick in. Yes...us. His parents. The people who should be the most protective of him and look out for his well-being more than anyone else on earth.

And the reasons we did it were pretty stupid.

We turned Patrick from a rear facing seat to a forward facing seat just about 1 month after his first birthday. He barely weighed the required "20 pounds" and we would have turned in on his 1st birthday if he had already weighed enough. At least we were listening to that part.

What we did ignore was that he was still tiny and petite. He was still safer facing backwards.

All for the sake of us having an easier time checking on him, looking at him, talking to him. All for the sake of him getting to see the world as we drove down the road rather than the back of the seat and a glimpse of whatever we had passed by already.  Because you know...he needs to see where we are going at 1 year of age.

Although we, like most parents, are more relaxed with our second child than with our first in most ways, this area is an exception. Abigail is currently 2 years and almost 3 months old. And she is still facing rear. She has outgrown her infant seat and is in a convertible seat, but she still stares at the back of the car and anything that we can see after we have driven by it already.

No, it's not convenient for us to see her. No, it isn't comfortable to not be able to push the front passenger seat back further because of the cumbersome car seat in the back (although the passenger seat is a safe distance from the airbag).

But she's safer. And because she's never faced forwards, she doesn't know the difference.

Our little barely 25 pound two-year old is happy as she is and we are pleased that she is safe.

This week (September 18 - 24) is Child Passenger Safety Week. Although you can still find sources that tell you that turning children forward in their seats is okay at 1 year, the American Academy of Pediatrics changed their recommendation back in April to extend that milestone until the 2-year mark. All agree, even those who think earlier is "okay", that rear facing is safer and therefore should be done as long as possible.

A study by C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health asked parents of children 7 to 48 months old about their use of rear-facing car seats. The study found that 73 percent of parents switched their child from a rear-facing car seat to a forward-facing car seat before the age of two. Thirty percent of parents turned their child's seat to face forward before their child reached one year of age. (cited) Now, I can't blame all of the parents who turned them around before 2 because all of the people polled did not have the new guidelines at the time their children were between 1 and 2. However, the 30% that turned them around earlier...that just makes me shudder.

So...now we all know. Leave them backwards until they are at least 2 and longer if you will, as they will be safest this way. It's okay if their legs are longer than their seat...that will not hurt them.

Also - did you know that car seats expire? Yep...the plastic they are made up can start to weaken with age. Some manufacturers put an expiration date on the back of the seat, but if you can't find one, use 5 years from the date of manufacture as a rule. And if you can't find that date on the seat, consider about 4 years from the time you bought it new. I really would not recommend buying one used for this and other reasons (in case they were compromised in an accident at any time).

Another fuzzy area for most parents is booster seats. 47 states (plus DC) require them and all have their own age/weight requirement. In the end, know your older kids are safer until a seat beat fits snugly across their thighs (not stomach) and across their should and chest (not their face or neck). And always, always, always in the back seat. Until they are 13. And after 13, still keep them there until they physically take on the shape and size of an adult.

Did you know that the NHTSA found that 3 out of 4 kids are not as secure in the car as they should be because their car seats are not being used correctly. I know...I thought I was smart too and could figure it out, but all of those darn things are different! Don't guess. Don't hope. Check it out. This Saturday (September 24) is National Seat Check Saturday where a number of local resources in YOUR community will be available to check out your car seat for free. You can use this locator to find nearby car seat inspection stations on National Seat Check Saturday and throughout the year.

And lastly, the Child Passenger Safety Twitter account (@childseatsafety) will be hosting a live Twitter Q&A today, September 21 at 2 p.m. ET. Safety experts from the US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will be available to offer essential information on car seats and how to safely travel with children of all ages in cars. Just use the hashtag #CPSweek to follow along and ask your questions.

I'm not trying to preach at you. I'm not perfect, as I plainly admitted to you in the beginning of this post. I don't want you to have to learn the hard way. I don't want you to have any regrets. I don't want you to be ignorant as we were so long ago.

Carnival of Personal Finance #327 - The Pirate Edition!

Ahoy, landlovers! Today ye might hearrr pirrrate rattlin' on all arrroun' ye and wonderrr what in th' name o' Davy Jones be chartin' a course. Did ye be knowin' it be International Talk Like a Pirate Day?!

Okay...so I can't keep that up. It's exhausting and it would be impossible to read. But have some fun with it today in your regular life.

Welcome to the Carnival of Personal Finance #327 - The Pirate Edition!

There were SO MANY entries in this carnival it was almost overwhelming! I couldn't possibly include every last one of them, but that should show you the scope of this week's editing task by the number that DID make it in! Please don't let the number of posts scare you, as there are a LOT of great articles included.

And to add to the theme of the day, I've included a bit of pirate trivia as well.

So without further ado....

Editor's Picks
I could load you down with all of the posts that I could have labeled as "great!" this week, but instead my Editor's Picks are those that introduced me to a new perspective. Honestly, I don't agree with them all, but I love posts that make me think and these did.

• Don't Quit Your Day Job... presents Athletes are Underpaid.... I don’t think I agree with him even after reading this post, but kudos for the perspective he is introducing! A great read.
• Gen Y Capitalist presents The Cost of Frugality – When Savings Attempts Cost You Money, sharing with us that sometimes we can get caught up in saving that we save TOO much.
• Div Guy from The Dividend Guy Blog presents Why You Should Not Care About The US Government’s Debt Problems with is a very interesting perspective on the topic.
• Dan Meyers from Your Life, Their Life presents You are now a Consultant. How work is changing. In this piece he looks at how the current environment of the workplace is forcing all employees to alter the way they approach their jobs on a daily basis. And extra props on the photo from Office Space.
• Darwin from Darwin's Money tells us that Older Americans Are Going to Wreck Your Life - Here's Why. With the demographic of our nation shifting so that our seniors are having a larger impact on the economy than ever before, we should examine how this might alter the plans we have for ourselves.

Budget:
Edward Teach, more commonly known as Blackbeard, was an English pirate in the Caribbean Sea and western Atlantic during the early 18th century, a period referred to as "The Golden Age of Piracy." Blackbeard often fought wearing a large feathered tricorn hat and sporting multiple swords, knives, and pistols. He had hemp and lighted matches woven into his enormous black beard during battle. Accounts of people who saw him fighting reported that he looked like the devil.

• Bret from Hope to Prosper presents Money Fail: Broke on Thursday. This is the beginning of a new series and a great perspective to effect a change of how you handle your financial life.

Career:
Born in County Cork, Ireland, Anne Bonney disguised herself as a man in order to join John Rackham's (aka - Calico Jack) crew aboard the "Revenge." The couple stole the sloop at anchor in the harbor and set off to sea, put together a crew and took several prizes. Anne took part in combat alongside the male pirates and accounts describe her as competent, effective in combat and someone who gained the respect of her fellow pirates. According to legend, she once stabbed a fellow pirate through the heart when he discovered her gender.

• J.B. from My University Money encourages Getting Involved On Campus - Student Government by telling us that his experiences in college, rather than his GPA, were much more impressive to prospective employers.
• Alex Manson-Smith from TotallyMoney wants us all to Make money sitting on the beach and actually tells us how we can do it. Go check it out for the details.
• Jill from My Dollar Plan questions Should I Go to Grad School? and gives us several things to consider when making such a big decision.
• Flexo from Consumerism Commentary thinks you should Start a Salary Negotiation With a Ridiculous Request. Maybe you’ll have the upper hand in the end!
• SB from One Cent At A Time tells us how Spending Money on Self Improvement should be considered as an investment towards better financial future.
• ElizabethG from Modern Gal presents Juggling the Work-Stress Balance. If you don’t take care of yourself, all of that work will definitely not be worth it!
• John from Wallet Blog presents College and Future Earnings: What’s the Connection?  It used to be obvious...these days, the waters are a bit more muddy. Check out this interesting post!

Credit:
Red Legs Greaves' was known for merely stealing loot and leaving. His greatest success was his capture of the Island of Margarita. After capturing the Spanish Fleet, he turned the guns of their warships against the forts which he then stormed and was rewarded with a huge booty of pearls and gold. He didn't sack the town or rape and torture the Spaniards. Greaves then retired to the life of a planter in the island of Nevis. One of his former victims turned him in for the bounty on his head. He was quickly tried and sentenced to be hanged. When the great earthquake came that destroyed the town in 1680 he was one of the few survivors. Greaves then turned pirate hunter, retired to a plantation and died of old age. He got the nickname "Red Legs" because his legs continually burned from the tropic sun.

• Jake Gibson from NerdWallet Credit Card Blog gives us The Best Citicards of 2011. Citi sends out so many offers that it would be hard to choose which one to take them up on. If you decide to go with a Citicard, this post can shed some light on the topic for you!
• Meghan from Credit Donkey tells us How Retirement Can Increase Your Credit Score. Interesting – I’ve never given these points any thought, but they certainly make sense.
• Mike from Rewards Cards Canada presents MBNA Smart Cash MasterCard Review and tells us how he’s receiving cold-hard cash back just for using a credit card for every day spending.
• Chris Holdheide from Stumble Forward instructs us How To Fix A Bad Credit Score In 5 Actionable Steps, giving us practical steps to take which he has garnered from his personal experience.
• Michal from Credit Card Offers IQ presents Be Smart, Be Picky, & Be Responsible – Helpful Tools For Choosing A Student Credit Card.
• Jeff Weber from Smart Balance Transfers presents Student Credit Card Mistakes to Avoid. I wish I had taken heed to tips like this earlier in my life!

Debt:
Port Royal is situated in Jamaica opposite Kingston in the same harbor. Gallows Point, where a number of pirates were hanged was one of the first points of land visible when entering the port. The gallows were placed there conspicuously to discourage piracy. The bodies were left there after they were hanged. Calico Jack and Captain Charles Vane were among the many pirates hanged there during a 100-year span.

• Kyle Berks from Safe Online Payday Loan presents Make sure your Payday Loan Lender is Licensed. If you have a take out a payday loan, you need to do it as safely as possible.

Economy:
Piracy was quite a problem in ancient Rome. At their height, pirates had about 1,000 ships and raided over 400 cities, including Ostia, the port of Rome. Julius Caesar was captured while on a sea voyage and held for ransom until his wealthy family paid up. This was a fairly widespread practice. In the end the effects on Mediterranean trade became so serious that Pompey got the commission to get rid of the pirates, which he did in about three months in 67 BCE.

• FIRE Finance educates us in What is the Current Unemployment Rate? by taking a hard look at how unemployment is measured and what it means for our economy.
• Khaleef Crumbley from Faithful with a Few presents No More Checks for Social Security Benefits (and he’s talking about paper checks). There is more to this post than just a fact-of-the-matter point stated in the title. Go read and weigh your options.

Source
Finance:
The cutlass, the most well-known of pirate weapons, was a slightly shorter, curved, single edged sword. Its size and shape made it a better weapon for fighting in the limited spaces aboard ship. The sharp outer edge made it ideal for hacking and slashing at an opponent rather than stabbing. It could also double as a tool for cutting through rope and so on. Other pirate weapons were also useful as tools, like the marlinspike and the gully.

• Juhli Newkirk from A Boomer Girl's Guide looks inside her own situation at Why I'm not collecting Social Security benefits - yet! The tool she uses sounds incredible and certainly worth a look for those nearing retirement age.
• Big Cajun Man from THE Canadian Personal Finance Blog presents Always Put off Today and tells us that “the things I don’t want to do always come back and bite me.”
• Boomer from Boomer & Echo educates us in Estate Planning: Creating Your Estate Plan by telling us how we need to be prepared BEFORE taking our plan to a lawyer.

Frugality:
Klaus Stoertebeker was a famous German freebooter of the 14th century who plundered Danish merchant ships during war time and brought the goods to besieged cities along the Baltic and North seas. But soon he and his men were plundering ships of other nations and the German Hanse itself. Do you know what his name refers to? "Stoertebeker" means roughly translated "bottoms up". He and his men were finally captured and faced execution. Legend has it that Klaus Stoertebeker made a deal that all his companions should be lined up. After he was beheaded he would try to walk by as many of them as he could, and they would be spared. He managed to walk past eleven of them and could have gone farther if the executioner had not tripped him.

• Bryan from Pinch that Penny! enlightens us by telling us 5 Ways to Save on Theatre Tickets. I know I’m always looking for inexpensive ways to enjoy life!
• Corey from 20's Finances writes Getting Through College Without Student Loans. Is it possible? Absolutely…I did it. You just have to have a plan and stick to it. Corey gives us practical steps to accomplish this feat that start with learning to manage your finances.
• Pam from Frugal Living presents How to Cut the Cost of Your Car by looking at various ways to prolong the life of your car and get more for your money by extending your ownership.
• Miranda from Financial Highway presents her favorite 45 Ways to Save Money. Look over this list. I’m sure there are at least a few you have not thought of or are not using.
• FMF from Free Money Finance shows us how Paying Cash for Gas May be a Worse Deal than Paying on a Credit Card. This is not a thought I had considered, but I’m sold!
• Lindy from Minting Nickels presents The Time I Made My Own Detergent and Didn't Save Any Money. She notes that this is the point where people go from normal frugal, to crazy frugal. Read up to see how this story has a happy ending.
• Bob from ChristianPF gives us 5 Tips To Save On Your Electric Bill. Are you doing all of these?
• Jeff from Deliver Away Debt compares Netflix vs Cable TV and HBO Movies to answer the question if you're going to spend money on TV and Movies, where should you spend it?

Investing:
So this is a bit of a departure from the rest of the post, but did you know that pirates have their own stock market? I mean, an actual stock market for today’s pirate funding. Please check out the advice below instead of investing in those funds:

• Dividend Growth Investor gives us My Bullish Case: Stocks are cheap, explaining that now is the perfect time to start accumulating stocks
• Dan from ETF Base presents Shorting Treasuries For the Ultimate Risk-Takers. With US Treasury Bonds at lows not seen since WWII, here's a primer on how Dan shorted T-Bonds and has had success!
• D4L from Dividend Growth Stocks presents 6 Higher-Yielding Consumer Stocks With A History of Rising Dividends
• Neo from NetWorthProtect.com asks Should You Leverage The S&P 500 Index In Your Retirement Investment Portfolio? Most people invest in an S&P 500 Index Funds for the long haul, but is this the right choice for you?
• Kevin Mulligan from RothIRA.com's Retirement Planning Blog presents Using Mobile Apps to Check Your Retirement Accounts. What a great overview of some tools available thanks to current technology!
• Clint from Accumulating Money answers the question What Is An Annuity? This is a great overview for those who are investigating how to invest their money.

Money Management:
Bartholemew Roberts was captured by pirates in 1719 and ended up joining them. He became known as one of the most successful pirates in history for having taken 400 ships in the space of only three years. Due to his competency he was elected captain upon the death of the previous captain, Howell Davis. Roberts was killed in 1722, in battle. His crew threw his body overboard rather than let it be taken by the British Navy.

• Justin from Money Is The Root writes The Importance of Cash Management to tell us how our personal finance management does not differ greatly from a business model.
• Sustainable Personal Finance encourages us to Go Paperless, a simple way to improve your sustainably, with these tips.
• Shaun from Money Cactus presents Your Personal Finances: The Hardest Team Sport In The World? I will agree that this is one of the touchiest subjects in most relationships. But once you get on board together, you can move mountains (of money!).
• Mike from Experiglot questions Is the Past Ruining Your Financial Future? and tells us not to let our past hold us back.
• Andy from Saving to Invest presents Middle Class Doomed as Millionaires Boom but tells us not to dismay. Read up to find out why!
• Eric J. Nisall from DollarVersity proclaims that Financial Advice Is Not A One Size Fits All Proposition. There are some solid basic principles, but you should really work to figure out what works best for your situation.
• Jim from Canadian Finance Blog asks Is Retirement Planning Just a Form of Lifestyle Planning? Good retirement planning looks beyond money and assets, and focuses on lifestyle planning.

Real Estate:
Captain Woodes Rogers was a former privateer became governor of The Bahamas and is credited with driving the pirates from the islands. Rogers was appointed Governor-in-Chief over the Bahama Islands by King George I on February 6, 1718. After he became governor he offered the "King's Pardon", which gave amnesty to most of the pirates in the isles. The most notorious and powerful pirates were not granted the amnesty and were hunted down and killed. It was Woodes Rogers who found Alexander Selkirk, inspiration for the novel "Robinson Crusoe."

• Miss T. from Prairie Eco Thrifter presents No Cost Refinancing--Pros and Cons. She explains that a no cost refinancing loan can be a great idea, but only if the circumstances are right.
• Melissa from Everything Finance Blog tells us to Pay Biweekly to Shave Years off Your Mortgage and save some money in interest!
• Ben from Money Smart Life instructs us in FHA Loans 101. You’ll learn about about benefits and drawbacks of an FHA loan and how it can help if you don't have much money to put down.
• Crystal from Stupid Cents presents Why You Need House Insurance and stresses why it is so important regardless of the cost.

Saving:
Captain William Kidd was commissioned as a pirate hunter in 1696, before turning pirate in the Indian Ocean. Kidd was neither particularly successful nor ruthless. While hunting pirates and not being able to find any he decided to turn pirate, he took prize of an English ship which had been flying a French flag as a lure to pirates - Kidd wanted to return the ship to its owners but the rest of the crew wouldn't allow this. Upon his return to New York he was arrested and sent to trial in England, found guilty and hanged.

• Tim from Canadian Dream: Free at 45 insists that people should Stop Bitching & Save Already, a rant about people who won't save and ways they can actually do something about it. To #3, I want to yell out a hardy “Amen!”

Other:
Piracy continues today. An average of 500 deaths occur every year due to contemporary pirates. Pirates of today usually board large luxury motoryachts with a swift and quiet dinghy and try to steal things, kill, or do both and take over the yacht all together. For instance, the Seabourn Spirit was attacked by pirates on November 5th, 2005 about 70 miles off the coast of Somalia. Pirates boarded the ship from two small boats. The pirates used machine-guns and rocket-propelled grenades when attacking. Luckily only one person, a crew member, was slightly injured - due to shrapnel.

• Dough Roller from The Dough Roller presents I’m Stuck Between a Rock and Comcast. So many people have had so many complaints about this company. It’s amazing how they are still in business.
• Philip from PT Money gives us 4 Reasons to Love the Part Time Job or Business. This just might be the encouragement you need to start (or continue!).

Join the Carnival again next week when it will be hosted by Wealth Informatics. Make sure to get your submissions in!

Info source: http://www.funtrivia.com/

Healthy School Lunch Ideas for the Picky Eater

Our son is a picky eater. It would be totally frustrating except I remember that I used to be just like him. Scratch that – I used to be much worse. Back to him – he doesn’t eat any veggies. He doesn’t eat deli meats. He doesn’t eat potato products (except chips). Everything else is a hit or miss depending on his mood for the day.

He just started kindergarten this week and the school he is attending is very, very big on health and wellness and there are certain foods that we cannot send. There is no juice allowed. No chocolate. No processed meats or cheeses. No potato/cheese/corn chips. No cookies, no fast food, no pudding. No squeezable yogurt, applesauce only if “no sugar added” type. Okay – I agree that these aren’t healthy and we’ve got to work within these guidelines.

To find a happy medium that will please both our son and the criteria that our school is laying out, we have had to do some searching in order to find some good lunch options for him. So far, this is what we’ve sent so far this week:

Monday:
PB&J Sandwich
Goldfish (only original color are ok with the school)
Peach yogurt
Strawberries
Mandarin Oranges

Tuesday:
Tomato Soup
Grilled Cheese
Grapes
Blueberry infused craisins

Wednesday:
Blueberry bagel
Whole wheat crackers
Key Lime Yogurt
Peaches

Thursday:
Chicken Nuggets (white meat)
Ketchup
Cubed Cheddar and Colby Jack Cheese
Peaches
Strawberries

Other ideas:
Soft taco wraps
Nachos (meat, cheese and tortilla chips for scooping)
PB&J wrap
Peanut Butter Crackers
Meatballs
Spaghetti
English Muffin/Bagel Pizzas
Pizza Wraps
Lasagna
Beefaroni
Macaroni and Cheese
Other fruit (pineapple, whole banana, raisins, etc)
Air popped pop corn
Tortilla chips
Pita chips
Garden vegetable chips
String cheese
Granola Bars (without chocolate)
Apple sauce
Rice Cakes

Some other ideas for your (not as picky) child:
Tuna
Peanut Butter and honey
Pretzels
Deli meats as sandwich or wrap
Raw veggies
Other fruit (apples, oranges, kiwi, melons, etc)
Pasta salad (sans mayonnaise)
Salad

In less than a week I have found that he is eating better (more) at school than he did at home. I think it is because all of the other kids around him are eating. The result? He comes home happier and in a much better mood than when he was in PreK and refusing to eat what they served.

Also, I have found that he is eating what we put in his lunch because he is choosing it the night before. We give him a few choices and he picks – and so far, an empty lunch box each afternoon! Hooray!

Any other ideas that you can think of or that has worked for your child? I’m all ears and I’m sure we are not the only parents looking for help on this one!

Keeping Your Child Safe with My Precious Kid

Safety is a huge part of your life once you embark on the journey of parenthood. Things you never thought about before now wake you up in the night in a cold sweat (I haven't heard the baby make a noise, is he/she breathing?! Did I remember to close that bedroom window?!).

My Precious Kid is out to help you make your home and general parenting life a bit easier with a variety of products that they offer on their website. Here are just a few of the ones that we already have and use:

A camouflage id bracelet for Patrick. It gives us peace of mind knowing that he is wearing it and he can look cool and "masculine" at the same time.

These have been an absolute lifesaver for daycare and church needs. We don't have to worry with ink rubbing off of a piece of tape or the sticky residue that tape leaves behind. He bottles and cups have always been labeled and they are dishwasher safe!

This is a lifesaver if you have one interested in playing in the toilet. This model is a one-handed quick use item so when you really have to go you aren't wasting time trying to open your own toilet!

Okay, so this isn't a safety item, but it has brought much comfort and joy to our house, as each of our kids has their own.

So there you have it. My Precious Kid offers a variety of products to protect you from your own house and the outside world in ways that never occurred to you before having a child. Go check them out.

And stick around here, as you will be seeing them again soon!

Donating on Behalf of Others and Truly Change the World

What’s the best part of the holiday season? Is it sharing gifts with friends and families? Is it helping out others in need?

If those two are at (or close to) the top of your list, why not consider giving a gift to help others in need on behalf of your loved ones. There are so many ways to give to charitable organizations, the possibilities are almost limitless. However, here are a few of the ways you can tangibly help others on behalf of others and enjoy both of joys of the season.


Money:
Almost every organization that accepts donation will accept them on behalf of others and usually send cards to the person whose name it was donated on behalf. This one is common, so not a big surprise for any of us, but an easy way to help a charity of choice and allow them to use the money as they need to.

Related to this concept is the TisBest Philanthropy gift card. You basically go to their website and set an amount to be donated. A card is then sent that can be given to a friend or family member. That person can then visit the TisBest website and choose from over 250 national non-profit groups, and many other local groups, that the cardholder can choose to donate that gift to. It’s a great way to allow your loved ones to donate to a cause that really means something to them.


Packages of Needed Items/Emergency Supplies:
Many organizations offer donation packages to meet an immediate need, like for lifesaving medicines and supplies which are not specific in its contents, but needed so greatly.

You can also give soap, blankets, mosquito nets, water, clothes, or safety for an exploited child.

And what is more needed than water? Providing water can provide health, nutrition, livelihood, and prevent death. You can help by visiting UNICEF, Water.org, or Project Concern.


Educational Needs:
You can easily provide school supplies, uniforms, and art supplies for children as well as a desk or computer training. For slightly more, you can train a midwife, help establish a savings group, or even build an entire primary school (that one’s just $1500) through Oxfam American Unwrapped.

I know, $1500 is a lot of money for many of us, but considering what you are providing, this would be a great gift to really make a huge impact. Think of either one big gift or perhaps getting 15 people to give $100 each…or 100 people to give $15 each. The impact it would have would be permanent.

Through UNICEF, you can provide books, pencils and notebooks, or a School in a Box kit for temporarily displaced schools.


Benefitting an Entire Village:
You can build a school, start a savings group, dig a well, or protect the fishing rights of an entire area, which will benefit entire groups of people at one time. All of these can be done through Oxfam American Unwrapped.

UNICEF provides the opportunity to buy packs of immunizations for diseases that we in the US take for granted that our children will not have to suffer. For just $20.60 you can provide 412 tetanus shots.

A number of different health and nutrition gifts can also be found at Project Concern.


Means of Providing Nourishment and Income:
Worldvision (look in the gift catalog) offers packages where you can purchase a goat for $75, two chickens for $25 or five ducks for $30. All of these provide a source of nourishment for the family who receives it but also gives them products to sell and earn money to provide for other needs for themselves. You can also choose alpacas, cows, donkeys, bulls, rabbits, oxen, fishing supplies or just collection of farm animals.

Other animal gifts can be found through Oxfam American Unwrapped


Help Getting a Livelihood Established:
You can provide seeds, livestock, irrigation, a boat, tools, or many other implements of daily life to give people the supplies and training they need to provide for themselves for a lifetime. A gift like this could change the entire direction of the life of a family.

Through Worldvision you can also Microfinance a loan for a entrepreneur trying to get a business off of the ground to change the path of their family’s existence. You can read through bios and donate some or all of their loan request. When they repay their loan, that money is used to fund other endeavors approved by Worldvision. This gives the business owner a since of pride and accomplishment to do it for themselves and teaches them the skills necessary for their business to be a success.

Fun:
Children in desperate circumstances often don’t get to be kids, and that is truly sad. You can provide two soccer balls for $16 via Worldvision that will provide days of entertainment and much needed physical exercise, as well as an escape for children who need to have fun in their lives. You can also provide music lessons, basketballs, plush animals or Christmas present in general.

You can also find kites, toys, and books through Oxfam American Unwrapped.

There are loads of other organizations. Don’t let my post here limit you to only those I have listed. There are many who can all help people. Many needs that are near and dear to your heart may not be listed here, but you can help with those as well.

Just check out Guidestar, Charity Navigator, and/or the BBB Wise Giving Alliance to find a legitimate charitable organization that will help causes that you believe in.

Just give. Bless the one you donate on behalf of as well as hundreds of others.