Managing & Saving Money With Our Children & @MassMutual

As a high school student, I was discussing my future plans with my parents only to find out that no money had been put away for further education. I was stunned and worried that I would not be able to afford college, even though I knew I wanted to go. Luckily, I was able to get a scholarship and only had to pay for living expenses and books, but they still added up quickly. For this reason, I had to get a job and worked my way through college. For these reasons, I am thinking ahead for my own children. I want them to have many college choices and not to feel like they need to worry about expenses when the time comes for them to graduate high school.

The day I graduated from UGA many years ago!

MassMutual found that 74% of parents believe it is a never too early to start saving for their children's college fund and that's exactly how I feel. Of course, it is overwhelming to think about saving, especially in this economy. I, like many other moms, worry about my husband's business and our ability to provide for our children. My husband started his law firm in January, so we put off saving during that time, thinking later would be better for us. However, I am learning that there may never be a "better" time and we could easily put off saving money with the many excuses we can make. Saving money each month is always last on the list of priorities, but this really needs to change for our family. It's hard to know where to start first, I know, which is why MassMutual is a great place to start, providing tips and helpful information about planning your financial future.

Josiah's first day of preschool! He'll be ready for college in the blink of an eye!

Each year brings about the opportunity for a fresh start and that is exactly what we are taking advantage of for 2013. With our new business and a move to a new place, this is our chance to really make a difference and start planning for our future. It's so important to also teach our children about money management. Our children learn from us, so it is very important to set a good example for them. In fact, with us homeschooling, Josiah's favorite subject has quickly become math. He loves learning numbers and, now that he is also learning about money, this is the perfect time to teach him about managing his money, saving it and setting priorities. So far, I think we've done a pretty good job. He's been doing chores to earn money and was so excited to add $45 to his savings account this month! I'm so proud of him for being so interested in saving up for things he really wants and for being so interested in math.

Do you often think about your financial security and saving for the future? Well, MassMutual's State of the American Mom, a new research study, revealed that many Moms want to provide financially for our families, but where do we begin? We aren't the only ones who feel this way, which is why MassMutual put together a very helpful quiz just for moms. It helps assess your financial attitude and helps moms make small steps to saving for the future:

Take the Quiz

I took the quiz and my results say I am an Eager DIY-er! This means that although I am not happy with my current financial situation, I am eager to make a change I need to make more attainable short-term goals that progresses to bigger long-term goals. That is definitely a correct assessment! What are your results?

You can also check out the MassMutual website to read more and to find a representative near you! You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with the latest news.

I wrote this post as participation in in a blog tour for Mom Central on behalf of MassMutual and received compensation in the form of an Amazon gift code to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Save Money By Finding Great Coupons & Promo Codes This Summer

The kids are officially out of school for the summer, which means many things for our family: vacations, traveling, keeping kids entertained and staying on the go! All of these activities mean I will be spending money, money, money. I am sure all of you can relate to this issue and, if you are on a budget like me, spending money is not something you take lightly. However, there are many ways to offset all of the money spent on traveling and activities. I try to save money whenever and where ever I can!

It's true, you can get great coupons & promo codes for cheap deals online to help you save money! CouponCodes offers a variety of great promos so you can make the most of your vacation time without going broke. Now that I use coupon codes, I can save so much money on the items we really need. There is one thing I have learned: never buy anything at retail value!

We are actually leaving for the beach this weekend, so I had to stock  up on several items, including sunscreen, beach towels and even a mini grill for us to cookout on the beach for the 4th of July holiday! I found great coupons for Sears, including a sale on sandals, something I really need, and up to 50% off warm weather gear. With temperatures over 100 degrees here, we definitely need some new clothes and items to help keep cool!

How are you saving money this summer? Leave a comment below with your helpful hints on how to save. Also, be sure to sign up for the CouponCodes newsletter when looking for great deals. You will receive all the latest deals from your favorite retailers straight to your inbox

You Can Save Even More Money With Coupon Codes!

As the Mama of three kiddos, I find myself spending more and more time at home, especially during these summer months. It's just easier and we can always find something fun to do here like swim or fish! I've come to rely more on internet shopping for many reasons, including the facts that it is definitely easier than shopping in-store with so many children and I can usually save more money this way. We are on a budget, which means I have to watch spending closely. This is why I find net voucher codes online when shopping.

Searching through deal blogs and websites, I can find the deals and sales going on each week. Those sales are usually pretty good, but stacked with coupons and codes, they are even better! Why save 15% when you can save 30%, right? When I make my purchase, I love seeing the discount applied to my checkout and I've made a fun challenge out of shopping for myself. Each time I purchase something, I, of course, attempt to save money, but I also try to save more each and every time. When I first started out, saving $20 was a huge deal to me. Now I can save even more!

How can you save money, too? Getting coupon codes in the US is easy! Just go online and search for your favorite stores. You will find a variety of codes to use, some offering free shipping and a percentage off and others will simply apply a dollar amount discount. I've learned never to buy anything at retail price because with a little research I know I can find codes to make the items cheaper.

Challenge yourself and see how much you can save the next time you shop online! Come back, leave a comment and let me know just how much you did save! I would love to hear all about it.

How To Save Money On Movies

The TV is known to be the most popular past time since its creation until the present. However, the TV only owes its prestige from movies that have made the motion picture popular in the first place. Movies are more than just entertainment that like television talk shows or prime time series, movies are often works of art. Because of this many spend extra cash just to watch movies. However, you need not spend tons of cash for this. Here are some tips for inexpensive movie viewing experience.

1. Go on Discount Days If you are into watching the latest movies and in the big screen, I suggest going on discount days in order to save some money, especially if you’re not alone. The problem is that during these days, there are more people than usual and getting tickets may be hard. However, this can easily be resolved by going to the ticket booth's website and reserving tickets in advance.

2. Get Premium TV Subscription Some cable and digital TV carriers offer premium subscriptions that gets you access to pay per views and the latest movies in HD. You get to watch these great movies in the comfort of your own home and you can watch tons of them for a minimal rate. The best thing is that you can watch it with as much people as you want.

3. Skip the Popcorn If you are with several people buying popcorn can easily inflate the budget. Cut on the extra calories and pass on the popcorn. If you really want something to chew on, buy large pack of popcorn and share it with your companions instead of buying one for each person.

4. Consider renting If you are into Blu-Ray or DVDs then consider renting them from authorized renting stations. You will probably only watch it once and a small renting fee is truly worth it especially if you will be watching it with the whole family or with your friends.

5. Buy DVDs or Blue Rays from local pawn shops Pawn shops often buy Blu-Ray Movies if they are really good. Thus, pawn shops are good places to look movies for if you are considering on owning the movie for the sake of collecting it or watching it again and again.

6. Get Coupon Codes “If you love it, then buy it” as the saying goes. Buying the movies from authorized stores will keep the movie industry going. Buying a movie in DVD or Blu-Ray format is still an affordable option compared to watching it on the cinema. But as opposed to options 4 and 5, this is a slightly more expensive option. However, owning a brand new DVD or Blu-Ray has a different pleasure to it if you really love movies. If you want to make savings out of this, it is best if you can get your hands on to some coupons for walmart or discount coupons from other stores that sell Blu-Ray. This makes it almost as affordable as second hand copies.

20 Ways to Save Money While Living Alone

Living alone can be a liberating experience. As a solo dweller, you can enjoy free reign over every couch, bed, and chair. And, if you have obnoxious household habits, the person in the mirror calls all the shots. But when you're young, the temptation to spend money abounds.  Whether you've just moved into your first apartment or have been on your own for years, the road to financial freedom can seem to move further away as the bills and expenses mount.

Consider these tips to save money on daily expenses and to better cope with mounting financial responsibilities.

1.      Make shopping lists and stick to them. Make lists for everything—not just groceries. This will ensure that you stick with a plan and resist the temptation to buy surplus items.

2.      Don't go with your gut. Shop for groceries on a full stomach. As you probably know, you're more likely to splurge when you're hungry and staring down aisles of food.

3.      Keep your thermostat down. Minimize your use of heating and air conditioning when you're out of the house. According to the Department of Energy, "You can save around 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills by simply turning your thermostat back 10°–15° for eight hours."^[1] 

4.      Buy used. You can save a lot of money by buying used clothing, furniture, electronics, and—of course—cars.

5.      Never pay for water. Buy a water filtration pitcher or faucet filter so you don't have to buy bottled water. For fill-ups, purchase a large plastic or metal water bottle to keep yourself hydrated on purified tap water.

6.      Brew your own coffee. Unless you're paying for the atmosphere and company, skip out on coffee shops and brew your own cups of Joe.

7.      Get a health savings account. Set up a health savings account with your company. These accounts enable individuals covered by high-deductible health plans to deposit a small, tax-free portion of their paychecks into a medical expense account. 

8.      Enroll in a retirement plan.  Retirement should always be a priority, no matter what your goals may be. Enroll in your company's 401k or Roth IRA plan to start building a foundation for your retirement.

9.      Use nature's gym. Ditch the gym membership and head outdoors. Many public parks and high schools have equipment available for area residents. If you do opt for a gym membership, stick to community recreation centers.

10.   Buy monthly transit passes. Ride the bus to save money on gas while cutting back on your carbon footprint. As an added bonus, you can catch up on your to-do lists as you ride.

11.   Get a roommate. Why not cut your bills in half? You could save a lot of money over the course of a year.

12.   Dog sit for friends and neighbors. Offer to take care of pets for a small fee. It's a nice way to make a few extra bucks, while letting loose with a furry friend.

13.   Attend free events. Peruse your local arts and media newspapers. You're bound to find a few free events every month.

14.   Pack your lunch. Pack your lunch to save $100 or more every month. If you want to avoid making lunch every day, make family-sized meals on the weekends and store them for the week ahead.

15.   Skip on the bar. Host a party and have each guest bring a food or drink item. It shouldn't cost you a thing as long as everyone follows through.

16.   Ignore your Impulses. Impulsive purchasing can be very counterproductive to budget spending. If you find something you like, hold off until you have time to think it through.

17.   Sell your clothes. Sell your clothes at your nearest consignment shop or used clothing retailer. Gently used seasonal items can bring in more than a few dollars each.

18.   Buy a pay-as-you-go phone. Unless you're spending countless hours talking, texting, and browsing the web, prepaid cards should suffice.

19.   Talk to your pharmacist. If you're not feeling well, but don't want to fork over co-pay, consult your pharmacist. They may be able to recommend over-the-counter drugs to get you back in the swing of things.

20.   Rent out your apartment. Heading out of town for the weekend? You could break even on your trip if you rent out your apartment. Just be sure to conduct some sort of background check on your visitors.

References

[1] "Energy Savers: Thermostats and Control Systems." EERE: Energy Savers Home Page. Web. 22 Dec. 2011. <http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/space_heating_cooling/index.cfm/mytopic=12720.

[2] Bachelor, Lisa. "How to Cut the Costs of Living Alone | Money | The Observer." Latest News, Sport and Comment from the Guardian | The Guardian. 24 July 2010. Web. 22 Dec. 2011. <http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/jul/25/single-people-save-money-bills>.