Guest Post Archive

1

Fuel Saving Tips from @Chevrolet

By
dadofdivas
– February 20, 2012Posted in: Guest Post

Fuel Saving Tips from Chevrolet

Tune Up: A properly tuned engine can improve fuel economy about 4 percent, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Fixing a serious issue – such as faulty oxygen sensor – can boost mileage up to 40 percent.  And don’t ignore a service-engine-soon light.

Pump Up: Properly inflated tires improve gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer. Under-inflated tires can lower fuel economy by 0.3 percent for every one pound-per-square-inch drop in the pressure of all four tires. Do not rely solely on the tire pressure monitoring system to detect an under-inflated tire – it’s best to check tires with a good gauge once a month and check your owner’s manual for more information.

Unpack: Carrying unneeded cargo makes your vehicle work harder and use more gas. The EPA says an extra 100 pounds reduces fuel economy up to 2 percent – even more in smaller vehicles. A loaded roof rack cuts fuel economy by up to 5 percent. About a quarter of each gallon of gas goes toward overcoming wind resistance, so when cargo rides on top of the vehicle, fuel economy is reduced. Even empty ski/snowboard and bike racks can affect aerodynamics, so remove them when the seasons are over.

Slow Down:   While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph, according to the EPA. Every 5 mph over 60 mph is like adding an additional 24 cents per gallon for gas.

Avoid Idling: A car gets 0 mpg when the engine is idling: While it does take a small amount of fuel to restart a vehicle, 15 minutes in the drive-through can burn through a quarter of a gallon of fuel. So that dollar menu is more like a $2 menu.

Chill Out: Speeding, rapid acceleration and braking can lower gas mileage by 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent in city driving.

Put it in Overdrive: Using an overdrive gear on the highway reduces engine speed, saving both fuel and engine wear.

Roll ‘Em Down Around Town: Air conditioning reduces fuel efficiency by up to 10 percent. Avoid using the air conditioner by rolling down the windows at speeds below 40 mph. At speeds above 45 mph, wind drag uses more fuel than running the A/C.

Unclog: It’s hard to run if you can’t breathe. Older cars without fuel injection and computer-controlled technology can lose 14 percent of their fuel economy because of a dirt-clogged air filter, which also can damage the engine. A clean air filter improves acceleration. An air filter full of dirt makes the engine work harder and can let in impurities that damage the engine. Replacing a severely plugged filter improves fuel economy by up to 14 percent, according to the EPA. In modern cars, replacing a dirty or clogged air filter improves acceleration performance

Use the Right Oil: Because oil reduces engine friction and friction makes an engine work harder, using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of oil improves fuel economy by 1 percent to 2 percent.

Plan your Trips: Taking your kids to soccer or swim classes? Grocery shopping?  Plan routes and timing to avoid heavy periods of traffic congestion.

Cap Check: Loose or poorly fitting gas gaps not only can trigger a “check engine light” warning, they send 147 million gallons of gasoline into the air as vapor every year, according to a report by the Discovery Channel. A missing or poorly fitting cap can reduce fuel economy by 1 to 2 percent.

0

The Ten Hottest Toys to Inspire, Educate and Wow Kids (and Parents) Over the Next Year.

By
dadofdivas
– February 19, 2012Posted in: Guest Post

Toy Fair 2012
By Tecca Tech Lifestyle Editor Jennifer Jolly

 

The ten hottest toys to inspire, educate and wow kids (and parents) over the next year.

 

I could get in some serious trouble at the Toy Fair. While they don’t allow children on the miles-long show room floor, big kids like me touched, tapped, poked, prodded, played with and yes, even broke, plenty of toys all on our own.

 

The biggest take-away this year, toymakers are betting that you and/or your kids already own (or will soon buy) an iGadget (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad). The price of admission to many of this year’s must-have toys is a touch of tech.

 

Here are my top ten “editor’s choice” picks:

 

1. Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn AppTivity Monkey

Ages: 6 months+

In Stores: July 2012

Price: $30

 

This is a plush toy with an iPhone or iPod touch case embedded in its belly. Download the free app and then place the smart device in the monkey’s case, where it is well protected, so your child can interact with an app by squeezing the monkey’s paws to learn about numbers, letters, colors, and more. Even without an iGadget, kids can listen to songs and phrases.
2. Master Moves Mickey

Ages: 2+

In Stores: August 2012

Price: $70

 

Move over Elmo, Master Moves Mickey is taking it to a whole new level with his music and moves! In the latest feature plush from Fisher-Price and Disney, Mickey Mouse is dialed up in his freshest dance gear and ready to get down with a whole new set of 15 break dancing moves. With a signature handstand, Mickey’s moves are hotter and hipper than ever! He even teaches you how to bust a move on your own.

 

3. VTech- Switch & Go Dinos

Ages: 3-8
In Stores: Fall 2012
Cost: $16

 

Here’s an interesting twist on the ole’ Transformers idea. It’s a toy car that turns into a dinosaur, with a built-in LCD screen for customized animation, dinosaur and vehicle sound effects and educational dinosaur facts. In dinosaur mode, action buttons trigger interesting facts about each dinosaur as they come to life to exclaim up to 30 expressions, such as, “I’m a herbivore. I chow down on plants.” and “They call me spine-lizard because of the long spines on my back.”

 

4. The Nat Geo WILD ANTEATER BUG VAC by Uncle Milton

Ages: 5+
In Stores: Fall 2012
Cost: $30


I’m all about getting kids outside to explore, play and learn about the world at large. This toy is perfect for that. At the touch of a button concealed under this Baby Anteater’s “Tail”, you can quickly and safely collect and observe live ants and other small critters. Then, you can remove the Baby Anteater’s “belly” and a look at the bugs inside via built-in microscope. When you’re finished with the close-up observation, kids can safely release the critters back into their environment. No harm, no fowl, no “ew” factor for squeamish moms who aren’t so crazy about those creepy-crawlers.


5. Activision Skylander’s Giants

Ages: 6+
In Stores: October 2012
Cost: $TBD

Skylanders broke ground bringing perennial child favorite’s  - action figures  - into the videogaming world. So, it’s a toy and it comes to life when you put it on the “Portal of Power” and it appears in a video game. New features unveiled at the Toy Fair include bigger, better and monster-sized Skylanders’s Giants and action figures that light up when they get near the Portal.

 

Skylanders Giants is slated for an October 2012 release date on the PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360 consoles. No price has been set as of yet, though the original Skylanders game retails for $69.99.


6. Mattel’s Digital Camera Barbie

Ages: 6+
In Stores:
Cost: $50

 

Barbie dolls have come a long way since the days when they were pitched mainly as wife material for a matching Ken doll (sold separately). You can buy Computer Engineer Barbie, Chef Barbie, and even Doctor Barbie. And soon … Digital Camera Barbie?

 

The new offering from toy giant Mattel is exactly what it sounds like — a Barbie doll that doubles as a digital camera.  By pressing Barbie’s belt buckle, your child can turn on a lens hidden in Barbie’s back to take up to 100 photos. Photos can be viewed using a screen built in to Barbie’s shirt or uploaded to a computer via an included USB cord. With a retail price of $50, she may very well be the weirdest possible way to introduce your girl, aged 6 and up, to the world of digital photography.


7. Mattel’s AppTivity Line:

Ages: Varies
In Stores: May/July 2012
Cost: $20 (for different sets)

 

Matchbox cars are a childhood staple of boys and girls alike. But forget about playing with them on rugs and on plastic roadways. Matchbox cars are about to leap into the 21st century thanks to Mattel‘s new AppTivity line.

 

Once you download the required app from the app store, your child can use the AppTivity toy — in this case, a special $20 AppTivity Matchbox car — to interact with your Apple product, driving the car on a virtual roadway.

 

The AppTivity line hopes to appeal to kids of all ages with versions of the most popular iOS games such as Fruit Ninja, Cut the Rope, and Angry Birds.

8. Hasbro Nerf Lazer Tag

Ages: 8+
In Stores: August 2012
Cost: $40 (single blaster) $70 (sets of two guns)

 

Nerf blasters are a favorite around my house, and many a weekend you’ll find my husband, daughter and I battling it out with shrieks of laughter. Now, Hasbro is taking it to the next level, a gun with slots for your iPhone or iPod touch. The gadget becomes the player’s sight and a heads-up display. Let the full-on lazer tag begin. The on-screen display shows crosshairs, targets, and a radar of opponents’ locations within 250 feet. But what’s even better than a videogame: up to 24 people can play at once.

 

9. Smart Lab’s Recon 6.0 Programmable Robot

Ages: 8+
In Stores: Now!
Cost: $70


Here’s a great toy for the budding rocket scientist. The Rover is a toy, a robot, and a tool for learning. A child programs ReCon 6.0 to navigate specified courses that can deliver a treat to a pet, surprise a family member with a personalized message, carry a soda, guard a bedroom or just dance. The Rover teaches early programming, basic math and problem solving. No computer required. It also comes with a microphone, speaker, LCD screen, cargo hold, headlights and triangular track system, similar to all-terrain vehicles.

10. Regal Elite Force Flyers RC helicopters

Ages: 10+ (indoor) 14+ (outdoor)
In Stores: May 2012
Cost: $50 for indoor flyers, $100 for outside

 

Put in the hands of a child, this new RC helicopter than you control via power pack on the back of your hand will dazzle, wow and awe. I couldn’t stop crashing the darn thing. Still, it’s one of the coolest toys I saw all week.

 

The new Force Flyer is controlled, literally, by a wave of the hand. To pilot the Force Flyer, you need to first strap a wearable control pad onto the back of your hand. You use your thumb to control the speed of the helicopter’s rotors and thus the helicopter’s height (it soars up to 100 feet). Turning your hand in either direction tells the helicopter to turn in that same direction using the glove’s built-in accelerometer similar to that in a Wii remote.

 

The crash-resilient (I should know) helicopter comes with a battery that you can recharge via USB. Unfortunately, you only get about 10 minutes of play time out of a full 20 minute charge — enough for a child with a short attention span.

 

Supposedly, these little Force Flyer helicopters have been built to last. Tech journalists have been doing nothing but crashing the things all week long, and they’re still buzzing.

Note: Tecca writers Fox Van Allen, Randy Nelson and Marielle Moon also contributed to this report

 

3

Tips for Living Fearlessly

By
dadofdivas
– February 3, 2012Posted in: Guest Post

Living Fearlessly,
One Week at a Time
by Amber Karlins
Everyone is afraid of something. For my mom, it’s tight spaces. For my friend, Eric, it’s sharks. Studies have shown that the fear of public speaking is ranked higher by most Americans than their fear of death. Rational or not, we’re all afraid of something. Me? Well, I was afraid of almost everything: bees, spiders, rollercoasters…
It hadn’t always been that way. As a child, I was downright fearless.  By the time I was ten years old, I had been draped in vipers at a snake temple in Penang, taken a midnight hike through the Daintree rainforest, and ridden an elephant in Thailand. I was so determined to use the backs of our living room sofas as makeshift balance beams that my mom ultimately had to make a mattress moat around our couches. Somewhere along the way though, I lost my sense of adventure. It didn’t happen over night; in fact, it was so subtle that I didn’t even realize it had happened until my mom pointed it out. After watching my world get progressively smaller, she sat me down, looked me square in the eye, and said, “I think you’re living a small life, and I want more than that for you.”

Prior to that moment, I had never thought of my life that way. But, as soon as she said it, I knew she was right. I was allowing far too much of my life to be dictated by fear, and I was bound and determined to do something about it.
I decided to start by making a list of all of everything I could think of that scared or intimidated me. I was astounded to find that, in less than an hour, I had compiled a list of nearly forty things. It occurred to me that, if I could come up with forty things, it probably wouldn’t be that hard to come up with fifty-two things. It also occurred to me that if I could come up with fifty-two things that scared or intimidated me, I need this project significantly more than I had initially thought.  So, I came up with the idea for My Year of Living Fearlessly.

For the next year, I did one thing every week that scared or intimidated me. Suddenly, I found myself swimming with sharks, taking fire eating lessons, and learning how to escape from a straitjacket. I spent the night alone in a haunted hotel, won a standup comedy competition, and held a Madagascar hissing cockroach. I made crepes from scratch, went bareback horseback riding on the beach, and learned to pull hot glass. Whether I was scaring myself senseless or just pushing myself slightly outside of my comfort zone, every challenge made me a stronger, braver person.
Since completing My Year of Living Fearlessly and writing the corresponding book, many people have asked me for suggestions on how to start a similar journey of their own. Whether you have dozens of fears to face or you just want to live a slightly bigger life, the tips below will make facing your fears much easier and much more pleasant.
Here is how you get started.

1. Start small. This allows you to get used to experiencing and overcoming your body’s fear response.

2. Tell someone. If you don’t, it will be far too easy to chicken out.

3. Be creative. When facing my fear of knives, I decided to forgo the traditional knife skills class and take a knife-throwing class instead. After chopping celery from six feet away, chopping some on my cutting board is a breeze. More importantly, it makes for a much more interesting story.

4. Bring a friend. Everything seems more frightening when you have to do it alone, and you’ll want someone around to help you celebrate your victory when it’s over.

5. Take pictures. If you’re facing a number of fears, you can even compile a fear-facing scrapbook. It’s a great way to remind yourself that you’re braver and stronger than you think. Plus, as I can tell you from personal experience, no one is going to believe you wrestled an alligator unless you have photographic evidence.

Here’s to making 2012 your year of living fearlessly!
4

Five myths about poverty

By
dadofdivas
– January 27, 2012Posted in: Guest Post
Five myths about poverty

By B. Morrison
With almost half of all Americans now falling below the poverty line or considered low income based on the  2010 Census Bureau figures, formerly middle-class families are beginning to experience the reality behind the old stereotype of the “welfare queen”. According to Barbara Morrison, the truth is quite different. In her memoir, Innocent: Confessions of a Welfare Mother, she describes her experience when a failed marriage caused her to plummet from a prosperous middle-class life onto welfare. Part coming-of-age story and part immersion in a foreign culture, this book puts a human face on poverty.
“Poor people make an easy target for politicians who play on thenatural fears of middle-class workers,” Morrison says. She understands and sympathizes, but maintains that in spite of the rare case of welfare fraud repeated ad nauseum in the news, most welfare mothers work tirelessly to get off of public assistance. Morrison seeks to correct misconceptions about poverty and offers insight into these five myths:
* People choose to be poor. This insight was recently offered to Morrison by a woman who is supported by her wealthy husband. In contrast, Morrison herself and everyone she knew during her time on welfare worked desperately to get off of assistance. As her friend, Jill, sometimes cried in frustration, “How bad do your choices have to be before welfare seems like your best choice?”

* They should just get a job. As everyone knows, the job market today is tight, but even in boom times Morrison found it hard to find a job that actually paid enough to live on, much less pay for child care. She cites Barbara Ehrenreich’s seminal work Nickel and Dimed on the subject.
* People stay on welfare their whole lives. Morrison quotes the most recent report to Congress, which says that the average length of TANF assistance received by families in fiscal year 2006 was 35.4 months, slightly less than three years. Furthermore, those receiving assistance were 33.4 % White, 35.7% African American, and 26.1% Hispanic.

* Most people on welfare are drug addicts. This myth is prompting states to demand drug testing of anyone applying for or receiving public assistance, some even making them pay for the tests themselves. Yet a recent Florida study shows that only 2% of welfare mothers are on drugs, comparable to the general population. Even then, Morrison points out, condemning the children to starvation and homelessness is unworthy of us.

* They just sit around drinking coffee all day. Morrison’s memoir evokes the despair and hopelessness that can keep people sitting on the front stoop instead of working to improve their lives. She also aptly describes the endless work that being on welfare entails: spending whole days at the welfare office fighting over checks that had gone astray, patching clothes and darning socks to make them last longer, creating a vegetable garden to feed her children.
Morrison adds that people like to say that she pulled herself up by her bootstraps, but it wasn’t true. Many people reached out their hands to help her, and their help enabled her to become the successful engineer she is today. She treasures her experience of poverty, though, saying that welfare taught her to look beyond the stereotypes, to accept help when it’s offered, and to give with both hands.
B. Morrison is the author of Innocent: Confessions of a Welfare Mother (© 2011) and a poetry collection entitled Here at Least. She is currently working on a novel. Morrison leads writing workshops and is active in several writing organizations. Her work has won multiple awards and has been published in magazines such as The Sun, Sin Fronteras, Scribble, and Tiny Lights. Learn more atwww.bmorrison.com
5

Story-Telling: The Perfect Cure for the Winter Blues

By
dadofdivas
– January 17, 2012Posted in: Guest Post, parenting
Story-Telling:
The Perfect Cure for the Winter Blues

By Thomas Weck
This winter try something different with your children to cure the winter blues. Instead of simply reading to them from the books on their shelf, why not come up with your own story? Storytelling is a time-honored tradition, handed down from generation to generation. In some cases, handed-down stories turn into beautifully written-down tales, decades later as in case of myLima Bear Stories*.

You, too, can create stories either on your own or with the help of your family. The result will not only be entertaining but a source of family memories as palpable as any family vacation photo album.
To get started in creating your family story-telling memories keep these tips in mind:

1. Do not be intimidated. Anything you have to share is going to be interesting to your children.
2. Use what is important to you. If you are super clean, for example, create a character who learns the hard way why cleaning up is important.
3. Use humor. Goofy=happy children
4. Create catchy character names. Catchy names make the story come alive and easily remembered.
Another way to create terrific tales is to let the story unravel by having your family add the content along with you. For example, why not turn the television off on a cold winter’s night and simply start a story much like the old children’s game “whisper down the lane?” Start with a funny scene using material that is obvious to you. Let each family member add to the story and take the story over for a while. Enjoy as you witness the creative juices flowing. Each family member gets a chance to add and embellish until finally a completed story is created. After you get to the end of the story see if family members can repeat the story back. Did the story change? Try the story again using the new embellishments to see if the changes may become permanent changes.
One of the hardest tasks in creating any story is coming up with a beginning to the story. Below are some ideas of story-starters to get you on your story-telling way:

1. Is a holiday near or around a corner? Make your story a holiday tale.
2. Put a twist on a famous fairy tale. If the writers of

Shrek and Enchanted can do it, you can too!

3. Use a topic from the news. A young hero story, for example.
4. A famous writer instructor once said “write what you know,” in this case, “tell what you know.” Use what interests you: a football story, a story about your favorite animal, etc.
5. Tell a story based, loosely or closely on a relative who your children may have never met — what a wonderful way to teach them about someone special who is actually a part of them.
No matter what you decided to base your story on or how you choose to create it, remember that by storytelling you are sharing not only time with your child but a part of yourself. Enjoy making your very own story-telling memories.
Thomas Weck is the author/creator of the *Lima Bear Stories. Originally made-up bedtime stories he told his four children, the Lima Bear tales resurfaced when Weck’s son Peter had children. Peter remembered the stories and wanted to have his father write them down so that he could share them with his children. Father and son took it one step further and created Lima Bear Press to produce the stories as books that children everywhere can enjoy. The first three titles in this award-winning series were released in 2011: The Megasaurus,How Back-Back Got His Name, and The Cave Monster. The books are not only fun and funny with great illustrations, they also have an underlying message such as such as tolerance, honesty, courage, etc. Additionally, each book has an Extend the Learning and an Activity section at the end where children can become active participants in the story experience. More books in the series will be released in 2012. Learn more at  LimaBearPress.com.
3

When Your Kid’s Friends are a Bad Influence

By
dadofdivas
– January 15, 2012Posted in: Guest Post

When Your Kid’s Friends are a Bad Influence

It is only natural that as a dad you may find some of your kid’s friends to be a bad influence. Because you don’t wish to alienate your child or hurt anyone’s feelings, you want to approach the issue with sensitivity and an open mind. Yet, you also want to forestall the building of possibly toxic friendships.

What follow are three types of bad influences along with suggestions for handling each offered by Matthew Goldfine, PhD, clinical psychologist with the Columbia University Clinic of Anxiety Disorders

The Delinquent Kid

As per Goldfine, delinquency can be contagious and your role as parent is to identify specific behaviors of the troublesome child that worry you. These behaviors can include disrespect of adults, vandalism, stealing, bullying, or physical abuse. These kids have little impulse control and will thinking nothing engaging in risky behavior or even running up the family credit card balance without permission.  If you discover that this kid is pressuring your child to join him/her in their activities, it is time to end the friendship immediately.

If you are uncertain regarding the degree of this child’s bad influence, consult with his or her parents and teachers to see if this behavior is repeated at home or school. Alert both the child’s parents and teachers with regard to the type of behavior you have observed. In most cases, they will relate similar stories which will validate your concerns. Be considerate and assume that the parent’s have good intentions. Make every attempt to build a relationship with them so you may each successfully address the situation. According to Dr. Goldfine, barring illegal or overly toxic behavior, allowing your child to hang with a harmlessly mischievous kid (the prankster) is probably okay.

The Annnoying Kid

This is the kid that will leak the news about Santa Claus and explain the birds and bees to your child. This child, more than any other, will strip of your child of his or her innocence. This type of kid may entice your child to take on their mannerism, bully those who are perceived as weaker, and act cruelly toward other children and even animals. As with the delinquent child, look for behaviors that you and your spouse have decided are off-limits. If the kid’s annoying behavior doesn’t progress beyond myth shattering, you can probably address the situation relatively easily by sitting down with our child and explaining things more clearly. You may need to move the calendar up on the birds and bees talk but look on it as a opportunity to correct any misperceptions that s/ he has been told.  Should the behavior be more severe, Goldfine advises that it will again be important to speak with the child’s parents and teachers so you may all arrive at a solution together.

The “Follower” Kid

Feel proud since your child is popular! Elementary age children tend to be highly demonstrative with their social interactions so that their clingy behavior is a sign that your child is someone they desire to be around. This is not really very problematic so it is fine to let your child decide how to handle it. If s/he is comfortable with all the attention, just let it be even through you the behavior is a bit weird. However, if your child is annoyed by this follower and wants to spend more time with other friends, Goldfine advises that you sit down with your child and think about how she can extricate herself from the situation.  One possible solution is for your child to spend time with this needy friend on certain days but visit other friends the remaining days.

One further suggestion to limiting the amount of time your child spends with children you deem a bad influence is to get your child involved in extracurricular activities and sports, so that s/he has the opportunity to meet peers that will exert a more positive influence.

Daniela Baker is a social media advocate at CreditDonkey, where she helps families compare credit card deals to save money.  She’s also a mother of two.  What do you do when some of your kid’s friends are a bad influence?  Leave a comment below.

0

A Preview of The Avengers

By
dadofdivas
– January 10, 2012Posted in: Guest Post

A few months ago, a trailer for The Avengers came out. Many Avengers fans had been waiting months for a trailer to come out, as rumors circulated about the cast of the upcoming movie and what direction Joss Whedon (the movie’s director) was going to taking things in. The trailer was a visually stimulating taste of a great movie to come. Unfortunately, Avengers fans will have to wait until May of this year to enjoy the new movie in its full glory. Until then, we can get excited about what we know about the movie so far. Here are some of the things fans are buzzing about when it comes to The Avengers:

 

  • The movie will include essential Marvel good guys such as Thor, the Incredible Hulk, Hawkeye, Captain America, Black Widow, and Iron Man. Marvel villains such as Red Skull, Hydra, and Loki are also expected to play central roles in the movie.

 

  • The cast includes some of the most talented actors in Hollywood: Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, and Robert Downey, Jr., to name a few. Rumors are circulating that Gwyneth Paltrow may also make a brief appearance in the film.

 

  • Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and other cult classic movies and TV shows, is directing The Avengers. Whedon is a comic book creator and enthusiast. Many fans are hopeful that his passion for comics will make this movie one of the best Marvel adaptations yet.

 

  • The premise of the movie will seem familiar to fans of The Avengers comics. An evil entity threatens to destroy the world, and Nick Fury (director of S.H.E.I.L.D) enlists Marvel comic super heroes as his team of avengers to save the world.

 

  • Based on the trailer, the special effects in The Avengers probably won’t disappoint viewers. In fact, 3D fans will be excited to find out that Marvel Studios recently announced the movie will hit screens in 3D.

 

Marvel Studios is keeping most details about the upcoming Avengers film top secret. Die-hard comic fans can only hope that the movie will do The Avengers comic justice. If you’re interested in The Avengers, be sure to look for new trailers. Marvel just released a new one for German audiences that includes brand new scenes. You can find this trailer and other trailers on sites like YouTube.

 

Author’s Bio: Ryan is a writer from the Blog Content Guild who slings content about movies, comics, technology, and ways to get a deal with an HP Coupon.

2

5 Financial Planning Tips for Expectant Fathers

By
dadofdivas
– December 15, 2011Posted in: Guest Post

5 Financial Planning Tips for Expectant Fathers

–Philip J Reed, on behalf of Westwood College

 

The excitement of fatherhood is overwhelming enough without worrying about the many expenses associated with having a new baby. Yet, careful financial planning can mean the difference between transitioning smoothly into parenthood or scraping for extra funds to cover unexpected necessities. For practical dads who have yet to land that fancy finance degree, here are five smart money-saving tips to get your assets in order before the big day arrives.

1. Reorganize your budget.

Discuss post-pregnancy life with your spouse long before the due date, especially anticipated decreases in family income. Beyond obvious costs like food and diapers, you may need funding for health insurance, professional childcare and all of life’s little emergencies. Middle income families typically spend about $12,000 in the first year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. You can counter a large portion of this cost by establishing a solid safety net of at least three months’ pay. You should also review employers’ policies for paternity benefits, as many companies now offer paid leave for fathers.

2. Avoid impulse purchases.

Trendy new gadgets and designer baby clothes make great nursery ornaments, but will your blissful newborn even notice? Identify the necessities first, and then make a wish list of potential buys. Before making any purchase, ask yourself whether the item will improve the quality of care. If not, leave it at the store. The same rules apply for personal expenses, too. Don’t splurge on a big screen TV if you’re saving for a top-notch crib. Besides, you may luck out and get a few wish list items from family and friends.

3. Confront old debt.

Struggling to pay off long overdue credit cards and loans takes the focus away from your main priority: the baby. Saving is important, but reducing debt burdens leaves you free to distribute your post-pregnancy income more efficiently. While long-term agreements like mortgages and student loans are difficult to discharge in a short period of time, try to eliminate high credit card balances, medical bills and other unsecured debt.

4. Manage your savings.

Don’t shortchange your retirement fund to save more for future college expenses. Funnel enough money into your 401k to claim any match contributions offered by your employer, says certified financial planner Greg Schick. Schick also recommends putting the remaining funds towards a tax-free Roth IRA. At the same time, you can plan for your child’s education with a savings account, trust, tax-free 529 plan or other educational financing options.

5. Stabilize the future.

In the event of a death or serious disability, thorough preparations can ensure that your child is well cared for. While it may be unpleasant to consider, buying life insurance while you’re young and healthy is far less expensive. Create or update your will with details on how to distribute your estate and who will assume guardianship of your child. Although both tasks can be do-it-yourself projects, contacting an attorney or certified planner with a finance degree can make the process less complicated for busy parents.

Being a good father isn’t about buying the most expensive toys. It’s about giving your new baby a safe, happy introduction into this big world. The more you prepare now, the fewer headaches you’ll have once the baby arrives. And if you make wise spending choices, you might even be able to afford that big screen TV down the road.

0

Holiday survey – Big Spending is out Saving and Meaninful Gifts are in

By
dadofdivas
– November 22, 2011Posted in: Guest Post

American parents report they anticipate holiday budgets similar to last year and most will stretch their spending by shopping early and looking for deals, according to a survey of parents conducted by Upromise by Sallie Mae. When asked to identify their shopping persona, 33 percent of parents indicated they are Slow and Steady with Savvy Savers a close second at 30 percent. Black Friday Bargain Shoppers represent 22 percent, Under the Wires 11 percent, and Big Spenders are a rarity this year at 4 percent.

Many parents prefer practical presents for their children such as clothing (54 percent) and gift certificates (43 percent) or meaningful gifts of money for college (34 percent). In fact, 60 percent said they sometimes worry their kids get too much stuff and would prefer they received gifts that are more meaningful.

“We’re helping to make the season more meaningful for parents of five year olds and freshmen alike by making it easier to save more for college while gift-giving,” said David Coppins, president of Upromise, a service of Sallie Mae, the nation’s No. 1 financial services company specializing in education. “Holiday giving can be a stressful time—as can saving for college—and Upromise.com offers simple solutions to both.”

Last year, Upromise members saved $12 million for college during the holidays by making purchases through Upromise.com. This year, Upromise has made it even easier with extra cash back and discounts at hundreds of major retailers. For the 41 percent of parents who plan to shop with a credit card with rewards, the Upromise World MasterCard, through Dec. 31, 2011, offers card holders the ability to earn 11 percent cash back for college on eligible online purchases through Upromise.com. Information about rates, fees, other costs and benefits associated with the Upromise credit card is available at upromise.com/cardcenter.

Nearly half of parents surveyed plan to spend the same amount as last year (49 percent), followed by 34 percent who plan to reduce spending. Of those cutting back, nearly two-thirds (65 percent) are doing so to reduce debt and cover bills, while 34 percent are building up a rainy day fund, closely followed by saving for college (33 percent) and retirement (25 percent).

Eight out of 10 younger parents, under age 34, plan to save with online deals, coupons and free shipping compared to only six out of 10 parents age 45 or older. Crafty gift givers plan to spread holiday cheer by making their own gifts (21 percent) and nearly 10 percent will re-gift past presents.

The study surveyed 500 Americans with children ages 18 or under in October 2011.

***

Sallie Mae (NYSE: SLM) is the nation’s No. 1 financial services company specializing in education. Serving 25 million customers, Sallie Mae offers innovative savings tools, tuition payment plans and education loans that promote responsible financial habits and reward success. Through its subsidiaries, the company manages or services $238 billion in education loans and administers $35 billion in 529 college savings plans. Members of its Upromise college savings rewards program have earned $625 million to help pay for college. Sallie Mae is also one of the leading financial service providers for universities and governments at all levels, including supporting $8 billion in ecommerce transactions annually at nearly 1,000 campuses. More information is available at www.SallieMae.com. SLM Corporation and its subsidiaries, commonly known as Sallie Mae, are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.

21

THE MUPPETS – Statler & Waldorf’s Guide to Going to the Movies!

By
dadofdivas
– October 14, 2011Posted in: Guest Post

STATLER & WALDORF’S

GUIDE TO GOING TO THE MOVIES

 

With Disney’s “The Muppets” coming out in theaters soon, Statler and Waldorf offer unsolicited advice and a whole lot of laughs about what to watch for at the theater.

 

STATLER:    When going to see a movie starring the Muppets, always get a good seat…

WALDORF:   …one that doesn’t face the screen!

 

 

WALDORF:   If you arrive late for your movie, stick around…

STATLER:    …they’ll be releasing a sequel soon!

 

 

STATLER:    Never get a bucket of popcorn that’s larger than your car.

 

 

WALDORF:   Don’t talk on your cell phone during the movie….

STATLER:    …it might wake us up!

 

 

WALDORF:   If you have to explain everything in the movie to the person you’re sitting next

to…

STATLER:    …welcome to my world.

 

 

WALDORF:   Sometimes the movie is not out of focus—you are.

 

 

STATLER:    Don’t talk back to the movie…

WALDORF:   …that’s our job!

 

 

WALDORF:   If you don’t have anything nice to say about a movie…

STATLER:    …sit next to us!

 

 

STATLER:    Spoiler Alert—The Muppets are in Disney’s “The Muppets.”

WALDORF:   Don’t say you haven’t been warned.

 

To see Statler and Waldorf in the balcony (where they belong), check out http://disney.go.com/muppets/portfolio/homepage.html.

Older Entries
  • Photobucket