Search Results for: blog taking time off

Coca-Cola Offers Paid Leave for All Parents

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The United States is one of only two countries in the world that does not guarantee paid maternity leave. Fortunately, some companies are stepping in and providing what the federal government has not. Coca-Cola will offer paid leave for all parents. The United States does not provide paid family leave to its workers. There is a U.S. Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) that applies to employers with 50 or more employees. FMLA offers up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave during a 12-month period to care for a newborn, adopted or foster child. Coca-Cola’s paid leave policy will take … Continue reading →

Invest Your Time Wisely

“Time is money” is an old saying that is meant to convey the urgency of rushing ahead because any time wasted could be time spent earning money. Many times in our frugal lifestyles, we trade off time in order to save money, such as cooking from scratch instead of going through the fast food line, taking out the time to create a grocery list and clip coupons before shopping, etc. Most of the time these are good choices and have a secondary benefit. The time I spend hanging laundry means saves some money, but it also means that my kids … Continue reading →

Tax Write Offs and Charitable Donations

Right around this time of year, I start adding up all of our charitable deductions. Donations to Goodwill and other non-profit thrift stores are a big part of that. One year, when we did a major clean out, we totaled almost $5,000 in charitable donations of clothing and household goods! If you haven’t been taking write-offs for your charitable donations, make sure that you get started this year. You really can save quite a bit on your taxes, as long as you remember a few tips. What Are Your Charitable Donations Worth? When you donate goods to a charity, you … Continue reading →

The Bath Time Circus

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Giving my kids baths has always been a fun experience when they are babies. They love to splash and kick, the warm water soothes them, and my babies have all loved bath time. But, recently my little guy has become Trouble with a capital “T” at bath time. It is driving me a little crazy. Gone are the days when he would just lay in the water, kick his legs and smile up at me happily. Now, he is a crazy man all over the place. He wants toys to entertain him (understandable since he sees his older siblings with them) … Continue reading →

Limited Time Disneyland Discounted Tickets

Disneyland has rolled out a special deal for the new year: savings of up to $30 per ticket.  From now through February 27, 3-Day park hopper tickets are on discount.  The offer applies for visits between now and March 11, and means that you can get the above tickets for $220 (per ticket), or $205 for kids aged 3-9. This offer is only available for tickets purchased in advance.  It’s not applicable on tickets bought at the box office.  The discounted tickets also include one Magic Morning early admission into select rides at the park.  Which rides depends on the … Continue reading →

A Whale of a Good Time

There’s no better time than now to get up close and personal with some of the most awe-inspiring creatures on planet earth.  Whale watching season is officially underway in California.  Fortunately, you don’t have to spend a ton of money to view the massive aquatic mammals as they complete their annual migration. From now through early April you can watch as tens of thousands of gray whales come within a few miles of the San Diego coast on their 5,000-mile southern voyage.  The following family-friendly options are available for kids of all ages to witness the peaceful giants of the … Continue reading →

Holiday Travel: Are You Taking Off?

Despite growing economic woes and threats of fiscal cliff diving, it appears that a good deal of Americans will be spending money to travel this holiday season. According to TripAdvisor, 45% of people living in the United States plan to travel away from home between now and the first of the year; that’s an increase of three percent from 2011. TripAdvisor’s survey results also found that 63% of travels will be on the road for Christmas and 31% for New Year’s, with 61% seeing family and 23% visiting friends.  In addition, 48% of survey respondents noted that they plan to … Continue reading →

Taking Debt Too Lightly

Why is it so easy to go into debt and so hard to get out of it? I think for modern generations, there has been a culture of taking debt too lightly. Fortunately, for some of us, that culture is changing toward one of getting rid of debt or not getting into it in the first place. Meanwhile, there is still a more corporate culture that encourages debt, and it is one, as individuals, that we have to fight against in order to be solvent and live a good life. Being offered a loan, whether it is a home mortgage, … Continue reading →

The Best Way to Pay Off Credit Cards

Credit card debt is at an all-time crisis. With compounded interested levels of up to 20 percent, it can quickly spiral out of control. Getting the credit cards paid off should be every family’s number one financial goal. It is the first step in living debt free. The are right ways and wrong ways to pay off your credit cards. Taking out a second mortgage or home equity loan is probably not the best idea, although some others may advise such actions. The same goes for borrowing from your life insurance policy or from friends and family. The key is … Continue reading →

Deals at Carl’s Jr., Starbucks, Caribou Coffee, and More!

Are you planning on having dinner at home, or will you be taking your family out to eat? Sometimes, dining out can be a more convenient choice, especially when you are busy. Before you go, read over this blog. It has lots of information about coupons and special deals at restaurants, fast food places, and cafes. These should help you save some money! Caribou Coffee has a deal that is good today, December 13, 2012, only! Buy a Keurig brewer and you will get a $25.00 Caribou Gift Card. This is a “one day only” deal. On the Border has … Continue reading →