The Financial Nanny

PLEASE Vote for Regarding Nannies!

2011-08-24T21:15:00.000-04:00

We at Regarding Nannies are very honored to be nominated for the 2011 Parents Best All Around Mom Blog.

The most exciting thing about this nomination is that it shares with everyone that there are positive things happening in the nanny industry, just not the "negative" media that is shown on the news. I have been one of the development team members of Regarding Nannies since we launched in July 2010. We have worked hard to bring people in the industry fresh content five days a week. We have daily categories: Monday Moxie, Tuesday Tips, Creative Nanny Wednesday, Table Talk Thursday and Financial Friday.

Voting is pretty simple. Click on the badge above. You can "register" via email, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. You do NOT have to have children to vote. Just choose other on the sign in form. You can choose not to receive any emails etc. I did that and have not received anything.

We would love it if you shared it with others too. Thank you so much for voting and sharing our blog with others!

Where have I have gone? Lots of links too!

2011-08-06T23:18:00.000-04:00

Sorry to have just disappeared on you! I have been pretty busy over at Regarding Nannies as one of the 4 Development Team Members. I am doing the Financial Fridays over there. So you can always find fun stuff over there. I have also added a Fan page on Facebook as well. I try to post some great deals as well over there.

Here is the link to join me over at Facebook at The Financial Nanny

To read some of the past Financial Friday articles over at Regarding Nannies see below:

Compensation: Gross Wages vs. Net (“Take-Home”) Pay

Nannies giving back to Tornado Victims in Springfield and Raleigh-Durham

Triple Play Friday: Mileage Rates, IRS Wage Smartphone App & Nannypalooza

Nannies and Petty Cash

Wanted or Unwanted: Credit Card offers, Emails etc

Money Saving Tips for Nannies & Families

Tax Tips in July?

Organizing your Finances

An Introduction to Disney Cruises

I hope to begin blogging again here real soon! I am going to a great event called Buzz Your Biz tomorrow to learn how to get the "buzz" for your biz!

Help Ryan Get An iPad!

2011-06-01T23:50:00.000-04:00

introduction by Alice Shaffer
I have been involved in the nanny profession for over 16 years. There have been some wonderful nannies who have done awesome things for others. Today I want to share with you a story of how the nanny community and those outside the nanny community are coming together to help a child affected with Burkitt's Lymphoma for almost a year now. I hope that you are able to help in some way, if not just reading this and giving positive thoughts for Ryan's recovery is great!

Let's Get Ryan an iPad!
by Charlotte Hilliker
As nannies it is only natural that we become attached to "our" kids. We are with them for many hours a week, feed them, care for them, and share in their ups and downs. We can't help but fall in love with them. Tara Lindsay is a nanny who loves the kids that she cares for. If you are friends with her on Facebook, you have no doubt had a chuckle or two at the stories she tells of her current charges. Her love for them is obvious. Her love for a previous charge - Ryan - is obvious, too.

Ryan's story can be found at www.ryanrocks.net, but the short version is this: Ryan is now a very sick little boy. He has been battling Burkitt's Lymphoma for almost a year now. Tara has often taken to Facebook to ask for prayers for Ryan. She has shared updates of his condition, and even helped organize a fundraiser to raise money for his medical expenses.

In March, Ryan's family received news that he was in the clear, medically. In May, he was back in the hospital fighting for his life. This poor little 7 year old boy has spent the last year in and out of hospitals.

We (the nanny community) are trying to raise money to buy Ryan an iPad. He needs things that improve his hand strength and dexterity, not to mention things to distract him and keep him busy as he is stuck in bed quite often. The goal is $850, which would buy him the largest WiFi iPad available, a case, and a $50 iTunes gift card to get him started.
If you would like to contribute to this worthy cause, please email me at phillychar (at) gmail (dot) com for information. We are trying to get this surprise to him as soon as possible, so please hurry! Don't worry if you don't have much to give. This is a case where literally every bit helps. If every nanny reading this gives just $5, we will surpass our goal in no time.

Thank you in advance for your kindness, Charlotte Hilliker

Budget and Money Talk

2011-03-31T23:22:00.000-04:00

We are entering the second quarter of 2011 today. Have you been on top of your budget? Have you reached any of your financial goals for 2011? I can honestly say that my budget has slipped just like the spring weather has disappeared for the past week! It is rainy, sleety and snowy here in the Washington DC area. I know that my calendar said it was spring on March 20, 2011, but the weather does not.

courtesy of http://www.deborahowens.com

Back to budget and money talk. How are you on staying on budget? If the answer is yes-Congratulations! If the answer is no-don't worry there is time! The best part is that you can start your budget any day of the year. There is no rhyme or reason.

This past weekend I attended the Get Radical Conference in Washington DC that featured the wonderful Deborah Owens, Rhonda Britten, Ali Brown, Jillian Michaels, Niecy Nash as well as Doreen Rainey. The day was filled with so many a-ha moments, resonating thoughts, and words of wisdom. Deborah Owens, is a wealth coach and has "A Purse of Your Own" financial program. She is empowering women to be financial empowered on their journey to being financially wealthy. I am very excited to begin this program.

courtesy of http://frugalfabulousfinds.blogspot.com

While I am in the beginning stages of reading Deborah's books and getting set up, I wanted to share with you all a blog that I have found useful. Frugal Fabulous Finds is a blog that shares Couponing 101, and Budgeting 101. Make sure to follow her on Facebook and Twitter as well. She has some great deals for couponing. What I found today was her tips on budgeting and using the envelope system. Pretty much everyone knows that Dave Ramsey is known for his envelope system, and I even shared some about it before. Well Wendy shares her envelope system and how she used her rewards from Staples to help get her started. I am setting up my own envelope system this weekend based on her budgeting posts.

I am attaching three links to Wendy's posts on budgets-how to create one, her financial goals for 2011, and the envelope system update. (click on the line to be taken to the post)

TIPSTER TUESDAY - SIMPLEST WAY TO CREATE A BUDGET FOR BEGINNERS

F INANCIAL GOALS FOR 2011-MY PERSONAL LIST-HAVE YOU MADE YOURS?

ENVELOPE SYSTEM BUDGET UPDATE-MONTH 2 ACCOUNTABILITY

The internet is a wonderful place where tons of "free" resources are available. We all have our style of learning and doing. By utilizing the internet to read and research things we are able to formulate the best "program" that will help us achieve our goals -financially, personally and professionally.

I don't think I have found the "perfect for me" budgeting system but I can't wait to explore Deborah Owen's "Purse of Her Own" and start making financial goals for the 2nd quarter of 2011 based on the suggestions from Wendy.

Smartphones, Toddlers, Teens and Money

2011-03-17T16:51:00.000-04:00

I am one of the development team members of Regarding Nannies and each Friday I bring our readers "Financial Friday". I love sharing various things about "financial" aspects that occur in our lives.

Here are two of my past Financial Fridays

Do you need a Smartphone?

Money Skills from Toddlers to Teens

Want to see Matthew McConaughey for $6?

2011-03-16T21:39:00.000-04:00

Then you need to make sure you head over to Groupon and grab one of the movie tickets for "The Lincoln Lawyer" before tomorrow when they end the giveaway. I am going to pick up two of these tickets for my Grandma and my Aunt to go see this movie. My Grandma loves Matthew McConaughey!

The Fine Print

Limit 2 per person, may buy 2 additional as gifts. Valid for a single ticket to any showing of "The Lincoln Lawyer" available through Fandango. Not valid for IMAX or 3D showings.Not valid with other offers. No cash value. Use is subject to Fandango'sterms of use. See the rules that apply to all deals.

this post does contain affiliate links

What "financial" choices will you make?

2011-03-04T13:03:00.000-05:00

I posted over on Regarding Nannies today for the Financial Friday post, here is a little snippet of it...

There it was staring me in the face “Wasted Time & Wasted Money Or Is It? I really enjoyed doing that post. Remembering that “financial, wealth, and money” doesn’t necessarily mean “money” but can be something “non materialistic” or “emotionally” fulfilling. What is even better was that I was questioning my time earlier tonight as I was “tweeting” in a chat with some bloggers. I was “procrastinating” writing the article for today’s post, but what I ended up finding was an incredible blogging connection with a blogger that will be able to help guide me in a direction that I was searching for some answers to. Technically I was “wasting time” by not doing my blog post, but I didn’t “waste time” finding connections for things I needed assistance in.

To read the rest of the article visit: Time, Money, Scholarships and Choices

Charlie Sheen, Medical Deductions and Taxes?

2011-03-01T01:30:00.000-05:00

Did you know that rehab services are tax deductible medical expenses? I ran across this post from Don't Mess with Taxes titled: Tax note to Charlie Sheen: rehab costs are a deductible medical expense. It is really a good take on medical deductions along with a few laughs.

This brings up the fact that it is tax time and most people still haven't filed their taxes yet. I wrote an article last year on Medical Expenses and how I used them for my 2009 taxes. Do you itemize your medical expenses? Did you know that you can ask your pharmacist to run your "2010" expenses. This helps greatly when figuring out your prescriptions. I have "reports" from my dentist, chiropractor and pharmacy. I also have my receipts from my eye exam and my new glasses I had to buy.

The other evening a friend's husband had asked me about using Turbotax for my taxes. They had always used an accountant, but wanted to try online this year. I have been using TurboTax for the last 6 years probably. Twice I used an accountant because I was involved in the direct sales business, and wanted assistance. I reminded the husband that medical expenses are deductible like the hospital expenses for their child that was born and dental expenses that they had incurred in 2010. I gave him the link to the IRS publication 502. He was thankful for the advice and the links. The great thing I was sharing with him was that I have found that Turbotax asks the various questions and you answer them and input your numbers. Turbotax does all the work for you internally. You also don't have to pay until you file your taxes with the version I use from my credit union, which is fantastic.

Would you like your Nanny Conference Fee to be Awarded?

2011-02-28T18:50:00.000-05:00

I am so happy to announce that once again RegardingNannies is sponsoring a A Conference Scholarship to the 2011 INA Nanny Conference Pop over there and get to writing your essay about "Why you want to go to the INA conference and how you feel going will help you improve your skills as a professional nanny?"

A few years ago, I entered an essay scholarship for the INA conference from a group of nannies and I was so excited to be chosen! Honestly the only thing stopping you is you! Just take some time to write the essay of 400-500 words. Make sure to spell check it!

I hope to see you in Tampa and so does my Regarding Nannies Development team member Glenda! She shares why here: Meet Me In Tampa!

5 DVD rentals for $2! Awesome!

2011-02-19T10:49:00.000-05:00

How about some movies that will cost you 40 cents each to rent! Over on Groupon they have 5 Blockbuster Express rentals for just $2!

If you’re new to Groupon, sign up here
Or head directly to the Blockbuster Express deal (under Atlanta)

Not sure if there is a Blockbuster Express near you? Go here to find one! Blockbuster Express Kiosk .

Enjoy your movie watching!

Credit Cards and How They Can Be Useful At Times

2011-02-18T01:55:00.001-05:00

Once upon a time, I collected credit cards before I became a nanny. I know silly but hey I had some of the "prettiest" credit cards on the block. I have whittled that list of cards down to four now. I have been foolish with them at times, but I am in a healthy place with credit cards now. It took a while but as a banker once told me-you have debt but credit companies don't like you because you pay on time.

The ones I have now are an American Express Blue Cash and a Visa Fidelity Investments card. Plus another MasterCard and American Express. These credit cards are paid off monthly. The balances are not carried over monthly. I think that if you have to have a credit card you might as well get as "much bang for your buck."

For the Fidelity Investments I receive $75 on my Fidelity Investments IRA for every $5000 spent on the card. To me this is awesome payback for the times that the place I am using credit doesn't take American Express. I have my health insurance and some other reoccurring bills sent here so that I can reap the "rewards" for my IRA. This card is then paid off monthly.

The American Express Blue Cash is awesome for all of my purchases that I make throughout the year. I get "cash back" on my June statement. To me it is like a summer bonus. I get a Christmas Bonus from work in December, a tax refund in March or April and then in the summer the cash back. I get a "payout" of money three times a year. Which is nice.

This brings me to today's Financial Friday. I read STL Mommy post's titled: Credit Card Rewards: How Does Your Card Measure Up? If you are interested in getting a credit card that has some true financial benefits to you and your credit usage, then check out the post. Making sure that you use the credit cards responsibly and do not go into credit card debt. They should be paid off monthly. Kim shares five credit cards that have some great reward programs for using them.

Also STL Mommy is a great blog that shares some great money saving deals daily on various products and services.

Interested in 100 Ways to Save Money?

2011-02-16T12:21:00.000-05:00

courtesy of www.24savvy.com

I ran across this wonderful blog post from 24/Savvy about 100 ways to save money. Really? I had thought. But I began reading and was completely falling in love with some of the ways they suggest. They have put the list together in the following categories: Fashion, Beauty & Health, Travel, Dining Out & Entertainment, Food, Home, Money & Banking, and Family & Charity. Being a nanny I do try saving a lot of the times with my work purchases as well as my personal purchases. This list really is helping in more saving for work and home.

I hope that some of the ways help you be savvy in your money saving. These are 5 of my favorites from the list. Don't forget to share on their post what your "ways to save" are.

73. If you're drying a small laundry load, cut your dryer sheets in half for extra savings.
70. If you typically only use half of a sticky note, cut the pad in two and you’ll get more bang for your Post-It buck.
63. Set up a Skype account for all overseas calls and consider using it instead of keeping a landline.
49. Join free loyalty programs at all the stores near you and keep an eye out for the best deals in the weekly advertising circulars.
41. Skip the movies and get DVDs from the library or $1 kiosks like Redbox or Blockbuster. Use Netflix only if you’re using up your paid quota.

100 Savvy Ways to Save Money

So you may be wondering who 24/Savvy is:

24/SAVVY is about living the smartest, most creative life possible with whatever we’ve got on hand. It’s about doing fabulously more with what we have—even when it’s a little bit less than what we want. 24/Savvy is a new mindset; it's trading off, not down, it's turning the ordinary into something extraordinary, it's the art of living the good life for less, no matter what we’ve got in our bank account.

Missing W-2s This Tax Season?

2011-02-15T19:21:00.000-05:00

Being a professional nanny for the past 15 years has been a wonderful career choice. I am happy to say that my jobs have all been "on the books" and I have always gotten my W-2 forms each January for taxes. Unfortunately not all nannies are as lucky as I have been. Breedlove & Associates have shared an article over at Regarding Nannies on what to do if you don't get a W-2 form. I hope this is helpful for you if you find yourself in this place.

What to Do if You Didn’t Get a W-2 from Your Employer

INA Conference: How Can I Afford to Go?

2011-02-04T02:02:00.000-05:00

by Alice Shaffer

Many of you know that I love SmartyPig, and how I used them to save for the 2010 International Nanny Association Annual Conference. As a professional nanny saving money is important to me. SmartyPig is a free online savings tool that allows you to save for specific financial goals. I have used them primarily for the INA Conference. I wanted to reintroduce you to them again and how setting up “goals” on Smartypig can “work” for you for this year’s conference. I am even going to be giving away $25 to someone’s SmartyPig goal that sets one up. See end of the post for details.

The simple details for the Conference:

International Nanny Association

26th Annual Conference

May 12 - 15, 2011

Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay - Tampa, Florida

Complete details to be released early March on the INA website.

Become a fan of theirs on Facebook and view the Events Page and The Notes page for details on workshops, hotel reservations and conference costs.

New this year:

· Members who joined INA after June 1, 2010 and who have never attended an Annual Conference are eligible to take 50% off their conference registration.

· Newborn Care Specialist track of workshops.

Now how does SmartyPig help you save money for the Conference? Very simply put by setting up unique goals for attending the conference. I have two goals set up right now that were started in May 2010, yes that is correct before last year’s conference.

First thing up is figuring out how much money you need for the conference. There are many factors in figuring this “price tag”. This includes: conference fee, hotel costs and airfare. You will have incidentals such as cab/shuttle fees, spending money and the few meals that you will need to pay for. You get a Thursday night cocktail reception, Friday Breakfast, Friday Lunch, Saturday Breakfast, Saturday Lunch and a Saturday evening closing reception with your conference fee.

Two of these are fixed expenses: Membership Fee ($35 for nannies) and the Early Bird Conference Fee ($295 has been the past fee for early bird rates for members, you have been able to get a 10% discount for going with a group, or first time attendee). There has also been an optional outing normally that is about $30 in the past. I get the reduced conference fee of 10% off due to being a member of ADCAN and having 5 or more members present at the conference. I save $300 for the conference fee/optional outing.

No matter what the "price tag" of a conference is for you to attend, you are investing in your education and future. Sometimes it seems like the "price tag" is more expensive than others or out of reach, but you must remember to invest in yourself. Determine what your "opportunity cost" is for education in the nanny field for yourself. Hopefully SmartyPig will give you the opportunity to attend the INA conference.

The hotel is at the lovely Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay in Florida at $117 a night with 12% tax (max 4 people to a room) This brings one night to $131.04 ($117 + $14.04 tax) This rate is good for three days before the conference and three days after.

Here is the tally of the expenses I have for a returning Nanny Member:

$35 Nanny Membership Fee (from December renewals-December 31, 2010)

$ 265.50 for Early Bird Conference Fee (including 10% discount-$29.50) opens in March 2011

$40.00(estimated cost based on past) optional Friday evening outing if one -payments accepted with registration

$262.08 for the Hotel stay (Wed-Sunday- with ONE roommate-$524.16 total) due 5/11/11

$300 for the airfare due 3/1/10

Total needed is: $868.30 not including Membership fee.

If you are a NEW member and NEVER attended a conference before here is your breakdown:

$35 Membership Fee (if new member)

$ 147.50 for Early Bird Conference Fee (including 50% discount-$147.50)

$40.00(estimated cost based on past) optional Friday evening outing if one -payments accepted with registration

$262.08 for the Hotel stay (Wed-Sunday- with ONE roommate-$524.16 total) due 5/11/11

$300 for the airfare due 3/1/10

Total needed is: $784.58 including Membership fee.

Note that agencies and staff all pay the same conference fee as long as they are members of INA. There is a non member conference fee. They can also take advantage of the 50% off registration fee if they are new and never attended as well. So please encourage your agencies to come.

I am going to go into how to set up a SmartyPig account and get your goals set up. After that I will show you my goals and how they are being met and how I will “cash” them out in the coming weeks.

Steps to Reaching SmartyPig Goals!

I have been a customer since 2009 and have ZERO trouble moving or getting my money. Their customer service is awesome. They are FDIC insured for up to $250,000. You are allowed to set up as many goals as you need to

Let’s get started in setting up your SmartyPig goals.

In order to start at SmartyPig, you need the following:

· State issued ID (or driver’s license)

· Social Security Number

· Current address (plus previous address if you’ve moved in the last two years)

· Email address

· Birth date

· Phone number

· Checking or savings account information to fund SmartyPig

· Sign up for an account at SmartyPig

You need at least $25 to begin funding your account. Your maximum is $250,000. Once you have everything set up, you enter your goals. Then, you can fund your account with money from checking or savings. Linking your bank accounts to SmartyPig is simple. You can connect multiple financial banking accounts. To begin though, all you need is a regular checking or savings account already set up somewhere else, and you are on your way to meeting your financial goals.

Your Savings Goal – The next step you are required to create an actual savings goal for your money. This is one reason SmartyPig is different from other financial savings accounts. This will help you visual and achieve your financial goals. This is what the beginning of a goal setting page looks like:

You need to include your goal dollar amount, due date, funding source (checking or savings account), and how often you will be putting money in your goal. SmartyPig can suggest how much to have “drafted” to your goal based on the funding frequency you choose. See picture above for choices. You can adjust the amount taken out monthly by increasing your initial deposit or making your goal date much longer. To get an affordable withdrawal amount for the say the first two months, you can play around with the end goal date. You can change your goal end date/amount at anytime. You can stop your goal at anytime as well without penalty. You can also choose to just set up a goal and fund it with the initial $25 and do nothing more. This might be helpful if you have the money already to meet a goal and want to use your goal to get a “best in class retail card” as noted below.

Reaching your goal:

You have everything set up now with your goals. Now it is time for your automatic drafts to do their magic and make your goals grow. Are you interested in getting some “funding” from others? Then there is the option for you to share your goals on your favorite social networking site, like Facebook.

I want my money!

You can stop at anytime and withdraw your funds by stopping your goals. So how do you get your funds once your reach your goal? The chart below shows you the three basic ways to withdraw your funds once you’ve achieved your savings goals: ACH Transfer, Retail Gift cards or Debit Card. I have done all three of them with last year’s goals and it is awesome!

Here is why I love Smartypig:

1. Currently, SmartyPig offers 1.35 % APY, which is more than you will get at a lot of online and offline financial institutions,:

2. The ability for friends and family to contribute to your goals. This is great for when your bosses want to give you a bonus or a relative wants to give you money for a holiday or birthday gift.

3. The cash bonus you receive when you withdraw your savings to a retail card/best in class retailer.

The cash bonus allows you to get more from your goals when you take advantage of retail gift cards. If you withdraw $600 to a retail gift card, you receive a bonus of up to 14%; you could end up with $60 extra. That’s free money on your gift card! Retailers include Macy’s, Amazon, Best Buy, Travelocity, iTunes and more. Best yet HYATT pays a 5% bonus. So my hotel goal of $300 will be worth $315 on a Hyatt Gift Card when I close it out. That $15 could mean a free meal in the restaurant. Just for choosing to put my goal money on the gift card. Make sure to check out the lists of retail cards available because airlines are included etc.

4. The Smart Rewards Card: It is preloaded with money you fund to it. The key here is that it gives you back up to 10% on your purchases at certain retailers for basically using your own money. The bonus 10% goes towards your goals! How cool is that. My card actually came in the mail today. I will be using it this weekend. I have preloaded it with half of my “spending” money for the month. I will use this card to make reaching my goals faster by getting money back on my daily purchases. National Retailers will be coming in 2011.

Here are my current Goals for the 2011 Conference that I started in May 2010 and the amounts/dates that are taken out. This is so you can see how it will accumulate once you get deposits made etc.

2011 INA Conference Fee Goal

2011 INA Hotel Goals

Now for the details on how you can win $25 to your own personal SmartyPig Goal Account.

1. Email me at thefinancialnanny (at) gmail (dot)com with Smartypig in the subject and give me your name and email address for a SmartyPig invite to be sent to you.

2. Sign up for Smartypig through the invite that I send to you by February 25, 2011.

3. Send me a link to your SmartyPig Goal to the email above so that I can verify that you did indeed sign up for SmartyPig.

4. I will choose a random number via random.org for the winner.

5. I will announce by Monday February 27, 2011 the winner. Deposit to your account will be made that week once I get the information from you to make the deposit.

Credit Reports: Did You Know?

2011-01-14T00:27:00.000-05:00

Did you know? AnnualCreditReport is the OFFICIAL site to help consumers to obtain their FREE credit report from the big three, TransUnion, Experian and Equifax. Sorry, no catchy jingle here but this is THE website you should use. You are entitled to a free copy of your credit report every 12 months or if you are denied credit. Not your score but your report. In my opinion, you do not need to pay to get your score. I would not waste your money and here is why….in the big picture, all 3 credit reporting agencies use slightly different scoring models and if you apply for a mortgage loan the score is different than if you apply for a consumer type loan like for a car or credit card. Also believe it or not, scores given to you the consumers are different than the ones given to a lender…..strange but true. SO save that money, it doesn’t really matter that much.

Do you know why lenders use credit scores? I just told you that your score is not important but I guess it is to the lender. Have you ever heard Dr. Phil says “Past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior” Well, that holds true for a credit. How someone has paid their bills in the past is a good predictor of how they will in the future. Not always true but it takes time to rebuild your credit if you have had some financial setbacks. These days, scores are used for pricing the loan. This means that the better your score the lower your interest rate or the lower your score the higher your interest rate. Not always fair but it’s the standard system for most lenders.

Did you know? MyFico.com is a great resource for all things credit score. I highly recommend you go to the education section and understand what things impact your score. Knowledge is power!

About the Author:

Mary C is currently working in a credit union and has worked for various credit unions or companies dealing with credit unions, since “She was ready for a grown up job” in 1992 (thanks Dad). Except for 6 years, when I was home with my boys. I am not an expert on anything but I know some things from a lenders point of view that just may help you as a consumer! Look for some more insider tips from Mary C in the future on The Financial Nanny

2011 INA Annual Conference Announcements

2010-11-22T12:56:00.000-05:00

Call For Workshop Proposals

Are you interested in presenting a workshop at the 2011 INA Annual Conference?

Do you know someone that would be an excellent speaker for our event?

Do you have expertise in a topic you think our conference attendees would benefit from learning about?

Email admin@nanny.org for a 2011 INA Annual Conference workshop proposal form.

New Members after June 1, 2010

INA members who joined INA after June 1, 2010 and have never been to an INA Annual Conference receive 50% off of 2011 INA Annual Conference registration!

Join now

Networking, Suze Orman, Admitting You Have Debt and Credit Unions

2010-10-01T00:37:00.000-04:00

I began this financial blog to help professional nannies develop budgets, find ways to get to nanny conferences and find awesome deals while shopping and travel. I knew along the way I would be sharing my own personal experiences about my debt and how I am getting out of it. Through this blog I have discovered an incredible world out there in the inter-webs! I didn't realize how I would be involved with those in the blogging world as financial bloggers, mommy bloggers, those who are brand ambassadors and the many others I have met via Facebook, Twitter, BloggyBootCamp or their blogs.

The one basic thing I have come to learn is that we all learn something from each other through networking. Networking is such a "wealthy" asset to all of us no matter what career we are involved with. Networking often doesn't require tangible money to be exchanged between parties. This is what led me to today's post how my networking over the past year has lead me to financial decisions and getting out of debt.

Today I was listening to The View and my favorite person, Suze Orman was on there. Suze was talking about buying gold as a great thing to invest in right now because it is cheap. The next question was regarding if you are in debt right now. Her response was what has stuck with me throughout the day. "Admit you have debt. Yell it, tell your friends, admit you are a financial liar etc" This brought up to me how many of us are financial liars? I must confess listening to Suze today, I am a "Financial Liar". I go on trips, buy clothes, gifts and do fun things all while appearing to have no financial debt. This doesn't make me a bad person nor you. It just means that the definition of debt has not been clarified for us and our networks. I pay my debt down, I am what my banker called me years ago the person credit card companies hate. I pay my bills on time and don't go over the limit etc. Sure I have credit card debt. I have admitted that. What I need to do is step up and be more active in my War Against Debt!

Now where do I start or even you start in admitting to the debt we owe? Start with examining your budget and reviewing things. Way back I started a series on developing a budget. Today is October 1,2010 three months to the end of 2011. I want to be financially more healthy by the close of this year then I started. 2010 with so I am revisiting these posts:

Now if you have credit cards, stop using them and start paying them off. Suze mentions that the best place to have a credit card these days is a Credit Union. Why because they can't charge you more than 19% interest. So when you are paying your monthly amount it goes towards your balance and not to some crazy high interest rate of 26% or higher. She suggests looking at the site Credit Card Connection to find a credit union in your area.

Make sure to check out Suze's appearance on The View for a quick 3 and half minute segment.

So will you join me on this 3 month journey to end 2010 in a financially better position then what we started off on January 1, 2010?

Sigg Bottle: Pay Shipping Only! or $15 Credit!

2010-09-24T02:32:00.005-04:00

Interested in getting a 1liter Sigg Bottle for $7.95? Offer expires at 10am EST on Saturday September 25!

Not interested in a Sigg Bottle, then what about a Built Laptop case? Vera Wang China? Don't worry there are many more deals to be! Including getting $15 in credits just for signing up!

Visit the Regarding Nannies: Financial Friday for all the details!

Financial Friday: Lunchskins

2010-09-10T01:14:00.000-04:00

Financial Friday: Lunchskins
by Alice Shaffer
The Financial Nanny

Several months ago on Jasmere , the deal of the day was Lunchskins. Lunchskins are these awesome reusable sandwich and snack bags. Everyone has been talking about going green. So when the deal came up on Jasmere for 4 of these Lunchskins for $15 I jumped at the chance to try them out. I was also excited that the company had been started by 3 moms wanting to rid the landfills of plastic sandwich bags. They shared on the site how they got started:

While sitting around a kitchen table in 2008, we heard a staggering statistic – every day, more than 20 million sandwich bags from school lunches go into landfills in the US. We knew that many families were looking for easy, convenient ways to be green and avoid this kind of waste. So we put our passion and energy together and 3greenmoms was born. Our mission – to design a colorful, fresh alternative to the plastic baggie.

As professional nannies, many of us are packing lunches and snacks for our charges. By using reusable BPA free products you are reducing waste in the landfills. My kids get their lunches at school, so I found other ways to use these lunchskins in my life. Recently I was traveling to the west coast, I used the snack sized bag for my gum, mentos, and lifesavers. Another snack lunchskins was used for my 2 thumbdrives and wireless mouse. The sandwich sized one was used for my “cords” (ipod cord, cell charger, earphones etc). I also received a dozen See’s lollipops and they fit perfectly in the sandwich bag! My sister in law has one now for my nephews pacifiers for the diaper bag.

To read the rest of the article and to get a great coupon code for 20% off please visit

Regarding Nannies: Financial Friday: Lunchskins

Financial Friday: Fighting Debt Is Like Fighting A War So I Read

2010-09-03T00:27:00.000-04:00

Financial Friday: Fighting Debt Is Like Fighting A War So I Read
by Alice Shaffer

As I was preparing this Financial Friday I sat beside a stack of my bills and an unfinished budget for the month of September. The holidays are almost here! It is 113 days till Christmas. Insanity! It was just here it seems! This year I add a brand new nephew to the purchases :) I decided to look at some of the financial blogs I frequent for inspiration. I ran into The Financial Samurai, one I have never been to before, but the title of the guest blog was Sun Tzu's Art of War Applied to Your Battle Against Debt . I was hooked into reading the post. Now let me tell you history has never been a subject of interest for myself, but I wanted to know how my personal debt was like a battle in a war! Simon Zhen from The Realm of Prosperity was the guest writer of this awesome post.

You may be questioning my reasoning on sharing this with you all. Here is why I wanted to share this post with you debt isn't all about the dollars and cents, it is mental as well. This post really opened my eyes and my thinking up to how debt is a mental game. We don't want to lose battles we want to win no matter the battle or war. I am in the process of preparing my 4th quarter war of my debt for 2010. This has helped me get "mentally" in the game of my debt to finish out the year on a solid good note. I hope it speaks to you as well in some fashion.

Make sure to visit Simon's blog along with The Financial Samurai's blog for more information on finances. I am so happy to share this with you all!

Here is some of the blog post:

Sun Tzu’s Art of War Applied to Your Battle Against Debt

“Every battle is won before it is ever fought.”

This was the infamous line said by Gordon Gekko in the popular 1987 film Wall Street. Derived from Sun Tzu’sArt of War, a 2400-year-old Chinese text on military strategy, the teachings of this tactical mastermind have proven useful in various aspects of present-day life besides warfare.

Although Sun Tzu’s Art of War is studied most religiously by military commanders, political leaders, and corporate executives, the concepts are scalable to conflicts as minuscule as your struggle with debt. Like in war, where the objective is to overcome the enemy resistance, it is everyone’s goal to conquer their personal debt.

Debt is the bad guy. We are the good guys. The road to financial independence is a righteous path where we’ll have multiple encounters with debt – a merciless obstacle that seeks to consume us. Luckily, an old man from many many years ago jotted down some powerful advice that may serve the purpose of securing a victory against debt.

Universal Debt Teachings

Debt is, without a doubt, a dangerous adversary. A vast majority of the American population acknowledges the risks of carrying debt, yet we peacefully welcome it into our lives. The failure to understand the depth of the matter is a major reason that so many of us become victims of debt.

We must remain cognizant of the responsibilities of debt:

It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected. [Laying Plans: #2]

Thus it may be known that the leader of armies is the arbiter of the people’s fate, the man on whom it depends whether the nation shall be in peace or in peril. [Waging War: #20]

Personal debt is influential in more than just our financial lives – it can alter lifestyles, sway career decisions, destroy relationships, and disrupt any sense of stability and comfort. Take it seriously because it truly could be a matter of life or death to not only yourself but also everyone around you.

make sure you go to

The Financial Samurai

to read the rest of this great history lesson and post on debt and war!

Financial Friday: Get Some Cash For Your Overstock!

2010-08-27T00:39:00.000-04:00

Financial Friday: Get Some Cash For Your Overstock!
by Alice Shaffer

One of my Financial Nanny readers, Cheryl J of CA, sent me an article titled "Turn Trash Into Cash". First off i am so excited that my readers are sending me articles and things to pass along to others. That is what a Financial Savvy person is all about. Sharing your information with others.

As the kids are going back to school and you are switching out the summer clothes to fall clothes, check out other things they have outgrown this summer. Here are some great ways to "cash" in on those items that are no longer needed. The kids can also "sell" their outgrown clothes and video games as well to get more cash for new items they want.

"Turn Trash Into Cash" is from the September 2010 issue of Good Housekeeping.

-Play It Again Sports: buys your outgrown or never used sporting equipment for CASH. For details on how they buy things from you please visit this page for more details.

-GameStop: buys your video games that your kids and you no longer play.

-Plato's Closet: buys your teen's clothes and accessories.

-Music Go Round: purchases your unused musical instruments.

-Radio Shack Trade & Save Program: trade in your working electronics for a gift card to Radio Shack. Great way to upgrade those electronics laying around the house

-My Boneyard: recycles certain electronics. You can get a "reward" if there is one available. Shipping is free for you to recycle your product via My Boneyard.

You can also sell things online as well at Ebay and Craigslist.

Good luck with finding new homes for your items! Plan something fun with the money you get from "thinning" out the house of the items you sold.

Financial Hot Deal! $4 movie ticket Hurry!

2010-08-25T19:27:00.001-04:00

A Great Movie Deal for $4!

I found out today that Groupon, has a deal with Fandango for a $4 movie ticket (up to a $12 value).

Here is the tiny print details:

Expires Feb. 28, 2011.
Limit 1 per person.
Must register Fandango account.
Valid for 1 ticket worth up to $12.
Not valid for IMAX or 3D movies.
Not for resale.
No cash back.

So how do you get this awesome deal?

Sign up for Groupon or sign in if you already have one.
Get a Fandango account or sign in if you have one already.
Then go to this page for the Fandango Movie Deal
Send out your Groupon link to others along with the Fandango deal
Plan a movie night out with girlfriends, friends or family etc.
Go to your Groupon "my stuff" & "my groupons" tab after 24 hrs and you can grab your code for Fandango
Go to Fandango and purchase your ticket to your next movie!
Go to a Regal Cinema between August 27-29 get a Free Small Popcorn
Enjoy!

By signing up via Groupon I do receive a "referral" of $10. This is to be used in future purchases on Groupon.

Thank you to Coupons and Freebies Mom for the heads up!

Financial Friday: Freebies Can Be Found Everywhere

2010-08-22T02:15:00.001-04:00

Financial Friday: Freebies Can Be Found Everywhere

by Alice Shaffer

One of the things I like the most about being “The Financial Nanny” is sharing fun monetary information with my readers. Monetary information can come in many forms as it is just not about money. We often equate money with finances-credit cards, life insurance and IRAs/401ks. Monetary information also pertains to how you can utilize a service or product for its’ full monetary value. You do not need to buy everything at 100% to get a full monetary value. Often times there are discounts, buy one get one free and free products/services that are full of monetary value.

To read the rest of the article please visit Regarding Nannies: Financial Friday

Financial Friday: Freebies Can Be Found Everywhere

Financial Friday: Topics In A Car Agreement

2010-08-20T02:15:00.000-04:00

Financial Friday: Topics in a Car Agreement

Vehicles are expensive. Beyond the cost of the car, there are regular maintenance costs and let’s not forget gasoline. Today over on the CincyNanny blog, Greta discusses some “Topics in a Car Agreement” giving some of the basics things to discuss with an employer. Enjoy!

High5 Friday: Topics in a Car Agreement

Transportation is a key part of a nanny’s care for children. There are several options that a nanny and family may decide on as to how transportation is handled and is likely discussed during the interview/contract process. Some families may provide a car for the nanny to drive during work hours. Others may require a nanny to have their own reliable transportation that is suitable for the children.

Nannies should strive to provide a safe environment for children and take the necessary precautions for the possibility of an emergency.

When I first started my current job, it was decided that the family would provide a car for me to drive the triplets as they got older. The were 9 months when I started and it wasn’t practical and manageable for me to be taking big field trips, alone, as the winter was approaching….

Read the complete article here: CincyNanny’s High5 Firday: Topics in a Car Agreement

Financial Friday: Job Search Expenses

2010-08-06T03:00:00.001-04:00

Job Search Expenses

Compliments of Breedlove & Associates, written specially for Regarding Nannies

Can any of my job search expenses be taken off my income taxes?

There are several job search expenses that can be deducted if the expenses exceed 2% of your adjusted gross income. Some examples of job search expenses include:

To read the rest of the article please visit Regarding Nannies:

Financial Friday: Job Search Expenses

Financial Friday: Tax Free Shopping Is Here!

2010-07-30T02:00:00.000-04:00

Financial Friday: Tax Free Holidays Are Here!

by Alice Shaffer

Over the past several years I keep hearing about "tax free shopping weekend" around the first weekend of August. It pertains to saving money on back to school supplies like pencils and erasers. I have taken advantage of it in the past by mistake if I happen to be at a store that weekend and get some supplies. You probably are looking for some new outfits, socks, underwear and shoes for the kids too-don't worry they are included as well. The really cool thing is that I have noticed that it includes computers that are of a certain dollar amount. This could be great if you are looking for a cheap laptop or netbook that you want to pick up on the fly. I wish I had remembered this back in May when I purchased my netbook.

Of course not every state participates in the "tax free holiday" shopping but a nice handful does. Make sure to check for the details for your state. Start looking at your coupons now for items so that you can get the most bang for your buck. Look at combining your gift cards and reward credits to the stores to save even more money. I have like $18 in Staples Rewards checks that will be very helpful come next weekend when I go and get some office supplies.

to read the rest of the article please visit Regarding Nannies: Financial Friday

Tax Free Holidays Are Here!

Financial Friday: Where To Find Deals on Eating Out

2010-07-23T01:35:00.000-04:00

Financial Friday: Where To Find Deals On Eating Out

By: Alice Shaffer The Financial Nanny

As a nanny I enjoy finding ways to save money for myself and my nanny family. I have used Restaurant.com for my nanny work and personal outings. I let the kids look at the restaurants too and let them make a choice sometimes. I have also used Groupon to save 50% off at several locations while I was traveling to San Francisco and locally.

The question becomes how do you save money when you are home and go to local places? With social media being so large as it many places have taken to having fan pages on Facebook and Twitter. Often times you can "like" or "follow" the place of your choice online and they will have special coupons and discounts available to their "fans" and "followers"

To read the rest of this article please visit: Regarding Nannies: Financial Friday

Where to Find Deals on Eating Out

Financial Friday: Swagbucks

2010-07-19T09:15:00.000-04:00

Financial Friday: Swagbucks

by Alice Shaffer

As a professional nanny, I sometimes would like some extra "cash" but don't want a second job or babysitting gig on the weekends. I have discovered that there are so many different fun ways to earn money on the internet these days. On Financial Friday, we have featured posts on Mypoints & BZZAgent from Carli and today I bring you Swagbucks.

To read the rest of the article on Swagbucks please visit Regarding Nannies

Financial Friday: Swagbucks

Financial Friday: More On Eating Healthy Organics & Affording Them

2010-06-25T00:37:00.000-04:00

Financial Friday: More On Eating Healthy Organics & Affording Them
by Alice Shaffer

Regarding Nannies covered National Food Allergy week back in the beginning of May. I am embarking on a more natural and less processed eating lifestyle. There are so many "organics/gluten free" items on the market, but what really is true "organic/gluten free" items. While researching this I found an awesome blog post addressing buying organic foods and eating healthier for less. We all know that eating healthy can cost more than eating processed foods and fast food. It comes from the blog, The Digerati Life. The Digerati Life is a great blog about various finance issues. Make sure to go check it for the other helpful posts on the site.

How to Buy Organic Food and Eat Well for Less Money

by Guest Blogger on June 18, 2010 | edited by SVB

Great tips on buying organic food at a lower cost.
The organic food market has become huge in the past five years. However, some consumers are still very skeptical about the whole “organic” craze because at times it seems like many foods are getting slapped with the organic label only to be charged at a higher price.

“Organic food” can mean a variety of different things depending on what the item is. For instance, it can mean that there are no preservatives or artificial junk in packaged food. It can also mean that dairy products are processed differently. For vegetables and fruits, it can mean that no pesticides or genetic altering is used.

Image from BuyOrganic.com.au

to read the rest of the article please visit

Regarding Nannies Financial Friday:

More On Eating Healthy Organics & Affording Them

Financial Friday: Independent Contractor Law

2010-06-18T01:15:00.001-04:00

Independent Contractor Law
Compliments of Breedlove & Associates, written specially for Regarding Nannies

This time of year, we frequently receive questions from both families and nannies about payroll and tax reporting requirements for a summer position. Many families assume that because the position is temporary, they can classify the nanny as an independent contractor and issue her a Form 1099. This assumption is incorrect and can land the family in a lot of trouble. Here’s why:

The IRS has ruled that a household worker is an employee of the family for whom he/she works;
It is not based on hours or wages or what’s more convenient for the family;
It is based on an IRS 20-point test which deems workers to be employees unless they operate like a business.

Federal and state tax agencies are initiating huge efforts to crack down on employers who misclassify their workers as independent contractors. If caught, a family may face severe penalties and interest on the back taxes owed, as well as felony tax evasion.

In addition to exposing themselves to financial and legal risk, families who misclassify their nannies as independent contractors are also depriving their nannies of essential benefits. Here are a few:

Employer contributions to Social Security and Medicare;
Eligibility for unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation benefits;
Payroll documentation for establishing employment history.

Nannies deserve (and should want!) to be paid professionally because it’s an investment in their financial future. For more information on independent contractor law, or the payroll and tax obligations of household employers, please don’t hesitate to call us at 888-273-3356. We’re here to help.

Financial Friday: Smartphones & Iphones

2010-06-11T01:15:00.000-04:00

Financial Friday: Smartphones & Iphones

I confess I am a true Verizon Wireless customer. I have had my service since 1999 or earlier with them. I love their LG phones. I have the eNv3 now and love it. I have not gone to the touchscreen lifestyle yet. As many of you know AT&T announced they are getting rid of their unlimited data plans to new customers and adapting the plans for existing customers. I guess this is one of the reasons I love my phone and Verizon, I just have the premium package which I pay $20 more a month for the navigator, unlimited text and email. I get the chance to check email if need be and I love the navigator on the phone. I loved this blog post on To Smartphone or not. I agree with the poster that getting a smartphone can be expensive.

I know lots of people who are in love with Iphone and will be rushing out to get the new 4g Iphone on June 24. I wanted to share with you a deal I found while reading my various blogs. Radio Shack is offering a trade in value for your 3g Iphone when you purchase the 4g Iphone from them. They have never sold the Iphone before but will start with the 4g one. You will probably want to check it out because it might be worth $100 to $200.

What kind of cellphone/smartphone/iphone do you have and why?

Financial Friday: Mypoints & BZZAgent

2010-06-04T01:15:00.002-04:00

Financial Friday: Mypoints & BZZAgent

MYPOINTS

These days, everyone shops online. If you're going to be buying online, you may as well earn some rewards at the same time.

There are several ways to earn points on mypoints. The quickest is by shopping through their site. Whenever I am going to make online purchases, rather than going directly to the website, I always check mypoints first. In entering the website through mypoints, I can accumulate points for every dollar I spend.

Even if you're not much of an online shopper, mypoints is still worth checking out. Every day they send 2-3 emails with special offers, and you get 5 points just for clicking on the link. Those little 5 points can quickly add up. Mypoints also offers games that you can win points through. If you're a member of bzzagent, they pay their rewards in mypoints. So that helps them add up quickly!

Depending on your shopping habits, it can take a little while to build up enough points, but its well worth it. Just this month I turned in enough points for $50 at Amazon.com. $50 isn't bad for zero effort!

BZZAgent.com

Raise of hands, who likes free things? Silly question, we all like free things. From the samples at Costco, to the toothbrush at the dentist. When you're a member of bzzagent, you get freebies in two different ways.

Bzzagent is all about word of mouth advertising. After creating a profile and answering some survey questions, they are able to match you up with products that you might enjoy. In order for you to spread the good word about the products, they will mail you a Buzz Kit. Typically a Buzz Kit will contain information about the product, either the product itself or a voucher to get the product at the store, and samples or coupons to share with your friends.

Once you have been accepted into a campaign, and gotten your Buzz Kit in the mail, you then report your experiences on bzzagent. Over the course of the campaign, you can report back as often as you like. Every time you discuss the product with someone, bzzagent.com wants their feedback and reaction. In exchange for your word of mouth advertising, you receive points over on mypoints which you can redeem for gift cards! Its a win-win situation.

Over the past few years, I've gotten many free products through bzzagent. Perfume, turkeys, Aveeno lotion, a Sonicare toothbrush. Just this week I joined campaigns for make-up and dog food.

About the author:
Carli Lintemuth is located in the Metro-Detroit area and has been a professional nanny for 13 years . She co-moderates World Wide Nannies, an online support group exclusively for nannies. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WorldwideNannies/

Financial Friday: Car Rental Discounts & More

2010-05-28T01:31:00.000-04:00

As I am still on vacation in San Francisco from the INA Conference last weekend, I wanted to share with my readers some great summer car savings that Maximizing Money's blog posted the other day.

Thrifty Car Rental Savings and Dollar Vehicle Rental Discount Offers

Check out these latest Thrifty car rental savings and Dollar vehicle rental discount offers for savings on your next car rental.
These Dollar rental promotions and Thrifty rental deals offer great discounts on vehicle rentals.
Check out these additional Rental Car Specials for more savings from national car rental companies.

Make sure to check out Maximizing Money's blog post on great deals for Memorial Day weekend as well.

Financial Friday: The Story of Pigtopia & the Piggy Bank

2010-05-21T01:22:00.000-04:00

Financial Friday: The Story of Pigtopia & The Piggy Bank
by Alice Shaffer

I love reading other people's finance blogs. I have learned so many things from everyone's experience. Recently I saw a quote that said "Experience is what you get when don't get what you want". Oh how true is that. I stumbled across the Wellheeled blog again this week and just laughed hysterically about the story of Pigtopia! I wanted to share the story with you. What I love so much about this blog post is the creative writing and all the wonderful links to other financial blogs. As professional nannies we are often immersed in being creative with paint, markers, recycled art projects and the like, but I am sure we never realized how creative finance and money could be. Thanks to Petunia Piggy and her piglets we can now have a finance "fairy tale" for us the professional nannies and adults in the world.

Today, humans know of the piggy bank as a simple coin container. But did you know the true origin of the piggy bank is all about financial literacy [Suburban Dollar]? It all began in a magical land called Pigtopia, where pigs are just as (or, they would argue, even more intelligent than) humans, and walked upright and dressed in stylish garbs such as tophats and waistcoats. Pigtopia had interest rates [Canadian Finance Blog] and natural disasters [A Modern Gal], just like the human realm. But it’s the place where Piggy Bank was born to become the most famous banking dynasty in Pigtopia.
It all began when a lady pig named Petunia Piggy married [The Financial Uproar] Pigster Piggtington, and gave birth to five little piglets. One day, Petunia took her piglets to a famous fortune-teller, who told their fortunes in a rhyme:

For the rest of the story please read Wellheeled blog's

Carnival of Personal Finance:

The Origin of the Piggy Bank

Financial Friday: Tips For Living With Food Allergies

2010-05-14T01:18:00.000-04:00

Financial Friday: Tips For Living with Food Allergies

This is National Food Allergy Awareness week. Over at Regarding Nannies we have featured numerous views of living with food allergies, today I am going to share some financial tips from some of our readers on how to save money while being healthy and dealing with food allergies. I am providing numerous links to websites and tips on dealing with Food Allergies. They are indirectly helping you save money by giving you resources at your fingertips. There is no need to reinvent the wheel just because you have food allergies now, many people have established the wheel for you. Take their advice and their recipes and enjoy.

Many families have dealt with food allergies in many ways that are helpful for them. The one common thing I have heard from all of them is to do bulk buying and use a crockpot. Making as many of your foods from scratch will ensure that you are eating healthy and safely.

Through this gathering of tips and websites I have learned that being gluten free or having allergies does not mean you have to eat yucky foods. One person even adapted a Julia Child's Strawberry Tart to be gluten free. You will have to be in the kitchen more to make sure you are eating safely but many of these sites provide so many wonderful recipes that you shouldn't have a problem throwing a dinner party or bringing dessert to a friend's house one night.

Helpful Websites & Companies

Truly Natural
Bob's Red Mill numerous types of grains, flours, recipes & monthly specials
Gluten Free Mall coupons, reward program, articles
Celiac Disease Anything you want to know about Celiac Disease
Be Free For Me Win It Wednesdays, Friday Favorite and a wealth of other knowledge
Amazon has a buying program as well that might be helpful on some foods, remember Amazon Prime may be worth looking into for faster and cheaper shipping.
True Foods Market
Gluten Free Food Directory lists of beer, snacks, bread, chips, popcorn etc
Nature's Path Organic
Envirokidz fun food products for kids
GFCF has many products that are gluten free/casein free foods/products
Shop at your local farmers market
Look into joining a CSA
Rachel's Recipe Box recipes, families journey through living gluten free, dairy free, wheat free, gfcf free, berry free & other top allergen foods
Sure Foods Living great links to dining & cooking foods
Cherrybrook Kitchen gluten free, egg free, peanut free, dairy free, nut free cake mixes, frosting and other products
Food Allergy Buzz a great blog with tons of resources and links
The Food Allergy Queen has a great strawberry tart recipe from Julia Child adapted to be gluten free
Check my Tag: food allergy awareness clothes for toddlers

Helpful Tips:

Do you have an egg allergy in the house? I ran across this tip on a blog, which I can't find now unfortunately about a substitute for egg. You can substitute 1 Tbsp. of milled flax seed(you can find this near the flours) and 3 Tbsp. of water for each egg in your recipe.
Write to the companies that have products that your child and you can eat based on your food allergies. Tell them you like the products etc. Many times they will send you a sample and coupons. This is a great idea especially if you are not sure you are going to like a product. All packages should have an 800 phone number on them to reach customer service. Never hurts to try.
Bulk purchasing. Look at the websites and see if they off deals on bulk purchasing. If so stock up on the basics like flours, grains and so forth that don't go bad quickly.
Split costs of bulk buying with friends who need to purchase similar products
Learn how to decipher a food label
Learn what the major food allergens are (milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy, wheat & other)
Ask those who are over for meals and playdates if they have food allergies, do not be afraid to ask them to bring their own snacks and lunches. If it often safer for the child/person especially if they have severe food allergies
Educate yourself on food allergies in children
Consider purchasing the Allergy Label Pack from Stuck on You for your child's camp belongs and for school as well. Comes with bracelets, stickers, bag tag etc. ( listed under Stuck on You Value Packs)
Learn about the various non wheat flours and how to cook with them
Check your vitamins and medicines to make sure they are free of the food allergens, gluten free and casein free Make sure to confirm with the manufactures as well.

Through your journey of food allergies you will find frustrations and victories in the foods you try from the store and the ones you make. The costs at first may seem high but once you figure out what foods and products you like buying in bulk and from scratch will save you lots of money. Make this a fun time for your family in the kitchen, have everyone help out with cooking!

Please share with us some of your helpful money saving and time tips with living and cooking with food allergies!

Financial Friday: What Exactly Is Jasmere?

2010-05-07T00:59:00.000-04:00

Financial Friday: What Exactly is Jasmere?

Late last year I received an email from someone letting me know about a new website that was opening up in January 2010 called Jasmere. It is a website that would offer great discounts on little known products and companies to people who wanted to explore new products. The best part was that the more people who purchased the "deal" the cost of it would decrease. I was intrigued by this thought. I have always loved shopping for unique things from all avenues of the shopping world. I liked the concept of Groupon and Restaurant, so I knew I would fall in love with Jasmere when it launched. I have to say I have not been disappointed at all in them.

I started getting the daily email of the "deal" of the day. I have made three purchases since January.

Twenty Pounds of Fresh, Delicious Florida Citrus: Honeybells, Grapefruit, Navel Oranges or Mixed This was $42 originally. The final price was $17 plus $11.95 shipping for a total of $29.97. I had ordered the mix of Honeybells and Navel Oranges. I was anxiously awaiting for my order to be shipped when that horrible freeze hit Florida citrus growers. I finally received my yummy Honeybells & Navel Oranged in February. The Navel Oranges were the size of softballs. The honeybells were so heavy with juice. Despite having to wait a bit longer because Mother Nature "froze" some of Florida it was totally worth the wait. I would not have discovered The Orange Shoppe without this deal
NY's Legendary Fat Witch Brownie, as seen on Today Show, Food Network, CBS, many more. The price for 8 three bite dense brownies is $17. I ended up with these heavenly "Fat Witch Brownies" for $4.00 plus $4.95 shipping! These were so incredibly awesome! If you are ever in NYC they have a store in Chelsea Market.
Lunchskins: 3 Sandwich Skins & 2 Snack Skins. The value is $43. The final price I paid was $15 plus $7.95 shipping. I snagged two of these deals along with their bonus of the day which was a $40 voucher for $16. My total was $51.71.

Have I peaked your interest in the items up for grabs on Jasmere? If so make sure you sign up for an account.
If you sign up and then refer others through your referral link, such as the one I just gave you, you will receive $10 in Jasmere money. I have used a coupon code for $5 off and it was very simple. They are also great at answering emails if you need more advice or anything else.

Make sure you "LIKE" Jasmere on Facebook as they have a winner of the day for the item that day. They post the winner's name on facebook and I believe you have 24 hours to respond. Which I think is pretty darn cool!

Some helpful links to make your experience fun!

To see some of the past companies that have been shared on Jasmere.

To read a Haiku sneak peak at May

To read their blog (They do a more indepth review of the daily products and you can go back through and read about the previous ones too.)

To know what is coming up next on Jasmere go to the bottom of the website and click on SOON

To read more on how Jasmere works they have an awesome guide for you!

Let us know what you end up purchasing! Think birthday gifts, baby gifts, graduation and holiday gifts when you see the deal of the day!

Financial Friday: Saving Money While Eating Out

2010-04-30T02:00:00.003-04:00

Financial Friday: Saving Money While Eating Out

by Alice Shaffer

Several of my friends keep telling me about Restaurant.Com and how awesome it is. It is a website where you can buy discounted coupons for meals at various restaurants for as much as 80% off! They are delivered immediately to your email address. You must use a credit card to purchase them.

Right now they have a deal for 80% till April 30, today. Why not take your mom out to dinner or a special mom friend out for Mother's Day! By going to the website you can explore tons of various restaurants, close to you and where you might be going on vacation or visiting in the coming months.

The Code for the 80% off is MEAL it does expire today April 30, 2010. Make sure to become a fan on facebook for them as they post new codes there as well or via emails.

I purchased the following 5 coupons for $10. Without the code for 80% they were $10 for a $25 coupon. There are restrictions. It tells you on the website for each place what the rules are. Most of these had dine in Dinner only and a minimum purchase of $35 or $45 plus 18% gratuity. I will ask a friend or two to go out to dinner and say I have the first $25 and you all get the rest of the bill. Who wants to go out to dinner? :)

Financial Friday: $79.99 For $100 Check Certificates For Hyatt Hotels

2010-04-23T00:42:00.001-04:00

Financial Friday: $79.99 For $100 Check Certificates For Hyatt Hotels
by Alice Shaffer

About two weeks, I received an email from Kim P, a professional nanny and Regarding Nannies follower, telling me that she was in Costco and found they sell Hyatt Check Certificates in the value of $100 (two $50) for $79.99. She said she wanted to let the Financial Nanny asap! I was floored! The INA Conference is at the Hyatt Fisherman's Wharf and we got an awesome rate of $115 a night plus 15.5% tax. Could I honestly save another $20 a night with these Hyatt Check Certificates? I called the hotel numerous times and spoke with various people including Ivy the assistant manager and Sang a front desk staff member..they both confirmed that the check certificates that are purchased from Costco can be used for our conference rates. I even scoured the internet and message boards. I found one called Flyertalk that has 64 pages devoted to the Hyatt check certificates.

How can you be a part of this $20 savings?

You will need to find a local Costco near you and call and ask them if they have any Hyatt $100 Check Certificates for $79.99 (Costco item 485271) . These are paper certificates on an 8.5 x 11 piece of paper. Let me know if you can't find them. If you don't have a Costco Membership they are $50 a year. You can share with one other person. Maybe you can split the cost with another nanny or family member.

Some things to consider when you want to use these Check Certificates.

You will NOT receive change from them. Make sure you spend more than you have in certificates. Pay the remaining balance in cash or with a credit card.
They may not be accepted on prepaid rates...check with the hotel before your stay. Speak with the manager.
You should call the hotel or the hotels you want to use them at and double check with them that they accept them. Make sure to tell them you have a conference rate for your stay.
You need to turn them in at the beginning of your stay when you check in. This is what Sang told me on the phone.
You can apply these check certificates to things charged to your hotel room. Such as parking ($45 a night) or restaurant charges. Again double check.
Here is the back of the certificate with the Terms & Conditions .
As always get the name of the person you speak with and make note of it in case there is a problem.

I am a Hyatt lover. I normally go to the Hyatt Summerfield Suites two to three times a year to scrapbook and stamp with friends. I have a Gold Passport Card. Make sure you go and sign up for the card. Apparently you can also upgrade to the Platinum or Diamond level as well according to the Loyalty Travel blog. Here is something more on the Elite Card Program. This gets you several different things for joining and so forth.

The Hyatt Hotel and Resorts group includes the following branded hotels: Grand Hyatt™, Hyatt Regency™, Park Hyatt™, Hyatt Place™, and Hyatt Summerfield Suites. A list of participating properties in the Hyatt Check Certificate program can be found on the Hyatt Hotel and Resorts website.

This is such a great way to save/make money for myself and hopefully for yourself. I have the American Express Blue Card that gives you cash back. Costco takes American Express, Cash & Checks only. The purchase for the five sets of Gift Certificates was $399.95 and I will get back $6.00 from my AMEX Blue. I was not a member of Costco before this week. I did join along with a friend who is splitting it with me. I love that Costco takes AMEX as that is my credit card of choice. I did spend $50 to save money. I however will get my $50 back in the trip to the INA Conference as I am staying for 6 nights for a savings of $120. I will also get cash back on my AMEX.

This is the breakdown of using some check certificates for your upcoming INA Conference stay or your vacation stay.

Room rate is $115 a night plus 15.5% tax making it $132.83 a night.
In reality though with the $100 check certificates you will be paying $112.83 a night.
For a three night stay that would be $338.49 a savings of $60.00.
That is a dinner or two while you are in San Francisco, souvenirs or a Tour Pass.
But remember you will only need to buy THREE sets of $100 check certificates, then pay the remaining $38.49 in cash or credit card.

Remember again to please call the hotel and confirm for yourself this information. No one wants to be disappointed in their stay at a Hyatt that won't take their check certificate.

Financial Friday: Fresh Air & Nature are Free!

2010-04-16T02:00:00.000-04:00

Fresh Air & Nature are Free!

by Alice Shaffer

Makes one think.....Isn't fresh air & nature already free? Yes they are free. I am referring to the US National Park Services . April 17-April 25 is National Park Week with the US Park Services! This also happens to fall during the 40th anniversary of Earth Day on Tuesday April 20. The Blue Ridge Parkway is also celebrating its' 75th anniversary!

Saturday April 24th is also National Junior Ranger Day! Those that participate will receive a certificate patch or pin.

All entrance fees to the 392 US National Parks will be waived during this coming week. Take this time to go exploring your local National Parks. To find one near you please visit the National Park Services List.

The National Park Foundation has some great things written up for National Park Week. You can go there and punch in your zip code to see what National Parks are located near you. I was just at tow the other week: Ford's Theater and The Stone House in Washington DC.

The National Parks have so much to offer from day trips to overnight trips. There is probably one within a few hours drive or right next door to you. Take advantage of National Park Week!

Enjoy the fresh air and the nature that is around you this coming week in celebration of our National Parks!

Financial Friday: Kids & Money

2010-04-08T23:22:00.000-04:00

Financial Friday: Kids & Money

by Alice Shaffer

I have been wanting to do a post on teaching kids about money. Some of the things that I want included are how to incorporate savings, spending & charity into the lesson on money. As a professional nanny of teenagers they have a different outlook on money then younger kids do. I was reminded about my desire for doing this post because of meeting up with an old friend for dinner. She has a teenager who will be going overseas later this year for three weeks. The parents told the child that they were providing the plane ticket, hotel/lodging and food money, but the child would have to save and earn the spending the money. This teenager who is in 8th grade has less then $100 saved and will be leaving in about six weeks for Europe. The teenager has been given opportunities to earn money and save it as well. The teenager has chosen to buy this item and that item instead of saving for Europe. The parents have reminded the child with each purchase of the upcoming trip and that there is no additional spending money available to them. So what will this teenager do when they are in Europe and see a wonderful item that they want? Will they think about that awesome CD they bought back in April they just had to have? It is a thing of the past and probably not even thought of anymore. So how do you teach children about money and financial responsibility?

I ran across Brad Chaffee's blog Enemy of Debt on this very subject: Financial Responsibility & Kids. Brad has a great blog post, Children and Money: A Basic Plan to teach Financial Responsibility, that explains how he and his wife are teaching their 4 year old about the importance of money: saving, giving & spending. They go on to show him that when he works he gets money, when he doesn't work he doesn't get money. As Brad says: Just like in the real world. Enemy of Debt has a Kid Finance 101 excel spreadsheet for his money plan for kids. It is pretty cool! I love the simplicity of it for a 4 year old and how it can be expanded for older aged children. Oh better yet, he references Dave Ramsey's Kids programs and the Dave Ramsey's books available for kids!

Be sure to jump on over to Enemy of Debt

and read the full article on

Children & Money: A Basic Plan to teach Financial Responsibility.

Then come back and tell us how your kids are learning about financial responsibility!

Financial Friday: Do You Trick Yourself Into Saving Money?

2010-04-02T02:00:00.000-04:00

Do You Trick Yourself Into Saving Money?

This past week I was I looking for some papers and found a bank envelope with $100 in it. This was exciting as I was going to be meeting a friend for dinner later that night. I got to thinking, what other money do I have hiding from myself. This money was great as it was a "additional" amount of money for my allowance. This means that I have another $100 to pay towards my bills this month. Anything to pay ahead is great.

I ran across this post on The Frugal Duchess: 6 Ways I Scam Myself Into Saving. I was amazed by some of The Frugal Duchess's ways of scamming herself into saving. I do some of things she says. I have my main bank at a credit union in my homestate. I have a local bank for cashing checks and so forth. I pay myself first for my savings account and my allowance every other week when I get my paycheck.

What are some ways that you trick yourself into saving money to pay off debt and for future adventures.

Financial Friday: Wasted Time & Wasted Money Or Is It?

2010-03-26T01:11:00.000-04:00

Wasted Time & Wasted Money Or Is It?

by Alice Shaffer

I was looking for a topic for this week's Financial Friday and was talking to a fellow professional nanny about the upcoming INA Conference. We were discussing the costs involved in the INA conference. Yes they can be viewed as expensive to someone who doesn't have a large paycheck. I was sharing with this nanny, that everyone has to determine what their Opportunity Costs are. For me I place a lot of opportunity cost and value in going to nanny conferences. These are the places where nannies and agencies are in a face to face environment, not online or on the phone. Yes online and on the phone play important parts in everyone's life -both personal and professional. To me though, there is just something that is worth the pennies saved and the budget cuts and savings I make throughout the year to attend the conferences. I guess one could compare it to shopping online vs shopping in a store, especially if you are touchy feely with the products you want to buy. You may compare it to the newest E-book readers and reading a paperback book. To me the value of these things become validated when I am in a professional environment with my colleagues and friends learning more about my career and industry-whether it costs me nothing but gas money or almost $1000.

After my conversation ended with my friend, I was catching up on some blog reading and ran across a post this week on The Simple Dollar : What Exactly Is “Wasted Time” (or “Wasted Money”)?

It is an excellent post on how the author was told that he was wasting his time playing board games with friends on the weekends. Throughout the rest of the post was how to determine what YOUR values in time and money are. It also helps you determine what is not a waste of your time and money.

For me some things that are not a waste of time & money:

spending time with friends

playing board/card games with a group of friends monthly
going to Nanny Conferences, Nanny Support Group Meetings, Nanny Night Outs,
visiting my family out of town as much as I can
spending money on the upcoming arrival of my niece/nephew
membership fees to Nanny Support Groups & Associations
my health insurance
my weekly chiropractor visits
my IRA, my savings accounts, my Smartypig goal accounts
my personal trainer I see twice a week

What are some of things that are/are not a waste of time & money for you?

Financial Friday: 100 Ads/Circulars!

2010-03-19T01:05:00.000-04:00

100 Ads/Circulars!
by Alice Shaffer

I found myself researching and reading various personal finance blogs (there are 100s) and I ran across a blog called Ask Coupon Sherpa. This blog has lots of various things on it, but what drew me to it was the blog post title "100 Must Have Grocery Store Circulars".

Staring me in the eyes was a complete list of 100 Grocery Stores with links to their ads and what days they are published! I thought I hit the Grocery Store ad jackpot! This wasn't all I discovered as I scrolled down the list I saw other links and dates for non grocery retail stores! Don't forget to check out the other blog posts as well, there were some other interesting ones.

You can friend Coupon Sherpa on Facebook. I like adding financial blogs and others on facebook as alot of times they have special offers for Facebook fans/friends only.

What are some of your favorite coupon/finance blogs and facebook pages?

Financial Friday: Getting $125 for $100 Investment

2010-03-12T00:01:00.002-05:00

As I was reading my financial blogs this week, I noticed several of them were discussing Chase Bank has a new offer of $125 for opening a new checking account. You need to open the checking account with $100 , set up a direct deposit and keep it open for 6 months, of they will deduct the $125 when you close the account. This got me thinking to the upcoming INA Conference. Hotel rooms are $119 a night plus tax. Here is a chance for me to get a room for basically free for saving $100 in a new checking account. Perfect I said, I have that in my savings account over at ING. So as soon as I get my coupon code from one of the blogs, Hustler Money Blog and Maximizing Money I will be opening my new Chase checking account and be $125 closer to my financial goal for the INA conference.

So don't delay in asking for your code, as they don't last sometimes. It is worth the time to open the account for $125.

Ways to use this Checking Account and $125

INA Conference 2010 savings account. Make a direct deposit every other week for $30 or whatever amount to be transferred to Chase. Withdrawl the money before leaving for San Francisco in May. Make sure to leave money in there so you don't lose your $125
Start your summer vacation fund $125 heavier. Set up a direct deposit for each paycheck you get so that some money goes in there for your summer vacation.
Make this be your Holiday Spending funds. Decide how much you want to save and set up a direct deposit of portion of that so you have it for Black Friday Shopping Deals.
If you can't make it to INA 2010, then start a 2011 INA Conference fund. The conference fees, hotel fees are roughly the same. Airfare is the iffy one. But saving now has you prepared for a year from now for where ever it will be.
Save for the 4th Annual National Nanny Retreat™ hosted by Perfect Match Nannies September 24th-26th, 2010
Save for the Nannies Across America Nannypalooza 2010, if one isn't in your city.
Use this as your IRA contribution account to earn a little extra interest etc.

How are you going to use your $125 from Chase? Let us know!

Conference Scholarship Opportunity for the INA Conference!

2010-03-09T15:32:00.000-05:00

Nannies! A great opportunity has opened up today! If you are hoping to make it to the INA Conference, the Regarding Nannies Blog is offering a scholarship for the winner of their essay contest. For the complete details go to Regarding Nannies. Deadline is Weds., Mar. 24th.

Financial Friday: All the details for the 25th Annual INA Conference!

2010-03-05T00:41:00.003-05:00

INA Conference Details

I am very excited that all the planning has come together and the details are out on the 25th annual INA Conference. There is so much packed into this conference! I hope you have been saving with Smartypig, ING or some other way for the conference.

I am cashing in my SmartyPig savings goal today for the Conference registration so I can get my gift card of $300.

If you are a first time conference attendee you can take off 10% your early bird registration fee (valid till April 1).
Haven't attended a conference in more than 5 years take 10% off your early bird registration fee (valid till April 1)
If you are traveling with 2 or more friends you can take off 10% of your registration fee (valid till April 1).

This makes the registration fee for either option for a nanny who has an INA membership $265.50 from the orginal $325. That is a great deal!

Looking for some more ways to save money so that you can attend the conference?
Check out the Plan Ahead Details page

airfare discounts
car rental discounts (remember you do have to pay for parking)
share a room to get a lower hotel cost (up to 4 per room)
shuttle discounts from the airports of San Francisco and Oakland

Looking for some extra workshops along with the conference? On Thursday May 20 you can attend one of these

(please note these have an additional charge)

American Red Cross Water Safety Certification
INA Nanny Credential Exam Review and Exam
Newborn Care Specialist 201: A Day in the Life of a NCS
Ready, Set, Go! A Workshop for New Agencies

Don't forget that on Friday night May 21 there are two evening activity plans:

Alcatraz Island: An Inescapable Experience (cost is $33)
Cable Car Tour of San Francisco (free available to 30 people only)

You are ready to book your flight now aren't you? If you are interested in coming, don't hestiate asking your employeers to contribute to you attending the conference. They might have hotel points, airline miles or pay for your registration fee. You don't know till you ask.

On Sunday before you head back out of town or on your way to sight see why not drop into the INA Board Meeting to see how things work. All members are welcomed to sit in quietly to the board meetings. You may just find yourself running for the INA Board in 2011.

Grab a nanny friend and plan on coming to the 25th Annual Nanny Conference. I want to meet you as well as the rest of the Regarding Nannies Development Team-Glenda and Kellie!

Special Spoiler:

Come back to Regarding Nannies on Monday March 8, 2010 to see how you can possibly get an early bird registration fee for FREE!

Financial Friday: Groupon

2010-02-26T02:00:00.002-05:00

Groupon: A great deal for the DC area and other cities in the USA
by Janinne Gardner

I am writing today to tell you of this wonderful website I have discovered. Actually I found it on Facebook which is rather amazing since those who know me know that I am rarely on Facebook. This great money saving website is called Groupon. The premise is that a company will give a great discount on an item or service if a certain number of people buy it. Usually the number of people who are required to buy (50, 75 or 100) is accomplished even before I open the email but occasionally I have to wait. So once the “group” has purchased the minimum number of “coupons,” “The deal is on!” When you sign up you request a city. Of course I have requested the DC area however I feel as though if I were going out of town I would check the groupon for where I am going for a while before I leave. Who knows where I may find a great deal. I also check cities where I have family and friends because you can purchase the groupon as a gift!

Some of the deals I have either seen or bought are three hours of game time plus snacks ($5) at the Ultimate Gaming Zone in Gaithersburg, MD for $12 a person. I checked out the website and this seemed like a great deal. Another was for $15 you get $30 of food at a Korean restaurant in DC. This one included tip and tax! Unfortunately I missed out on this one because it was sold out by 11:30 am. One day the deal was $185 for Three Laser Hair Removal Sessions at Medical Cosmetic Enhancements ($600 Value). Another was a stay at a resort in Pennsylvania during January. Some I delete after seeing others I buy. One I bought was Top Golf in Alexandria, VA. $18 for six games (bucket of balls) this is an electronic golf driving range. You hit the ball and if it goes in the hole you get points. It’s a lot of fun!

Today’s deal is $25 for $50 Worth of Fondue and Drinks at The Melting Pot in DuPont Circle, yum! So how do you get this? Click here Groupon and register. Every morning you are sent an email with the Groupon of the day. The email mail tells you the deal, time left to buy, the fine print and the details and where the company is located and often a web page. The email gives you plenty of information as to what is included. If you still have questions the answer can usually be found on the upper right hand side of the screen, this is the “discuss the deal” icon. By entering here and reading the questions already asked I usually get an answer to my question. If no one has started a question, start one yourself. Pay attention to the fine print, some are not available to use for several days or are only good for certain days.

I have had people voice concerns that this is one of those “great deals” that are found on the web, you sign up and find yourself in a circle filling out surveys and being required to buy something. I have been a victim of those ads too. Groupon is legit! I haven’t noticed an increase in spam and I have never had a problem redeeming one. To redeem a restaurant Groupon just mention it to your waiter and give it to her when you ask for the check. Everything else works like any other coupon; just give it to the counter person. When you buy a Groupon that is redeemed on the internet you may be directed to the tab on the web page for the “Groupon” and asked to put the Groupon code in somewhere during check out.
I hope you enjoy the savings as much as I do. Remember to be careful to buy only what you will use; this can get rather addicting.

Additional note from The Financial Nanny:

Make sure to check out other cities you maybe visiting. I found a great deal the other day for San Francisco for a 3 area tour package for $25 vs the normal $50. This could come in handy if you are going to the INA conference in May and staying longer to visit.

2010 INA Nanny Salary & Benefits Survey

2010-02-20T14:57:00.002-05:00

http://guest.cvent.com/SURVEYS/Welcome.aspx?s=4d4d1f8f-dc63-44c8-ba1e-ec9a88d72a2d

Financial Friday: Credit Card Act

2010-02-19T02:00:00.004-05:00

Credit Card Act
by Alice Shaffer

I am going to share with you all how I made an unfortunate mistake back in October/early November with my credit card. I had somehow not paid it on time and was 3 days late. This is very important because this card has a 4.99% life of loan APR on it. I had did a balance transfer on it a while ago and have been paying my debt off with great success. I had spoken to the agent on the phone when I paid and they said my APR would not be affected because my payment was two days late. Well in fact it was drastically afffected.

I was to have gotten a letter within 45 days of that missed payment saying that my credit card company was giving me two options:

1. Keep the 4.99% APR and close the account and continue paying as normal
2. Go to the default APR of 27.9% for 12 months before they would reexamine it.

I never received the letter for some reason. I spoke last week the credit card company when my Mint alert came through saying there was an APR change. I immediately went online and could see I was dinged with an almost $300 interest payment. I was freaking out to say the least. I called the company and spoke with a supervisor. She and I worked together over a course of the week figuring out what happened. I got super super lucky. My interest rate was returned to 4.99% and I didn't have to close my account. To be honest, I would have closed it in a heartbeart to keep that interest rate.

They pulled the recordings from my phone call (Apparently they really do tape those) and discovered that Yes in fact when I asked about my credit APR I was told it wouldn't be affected. Nor did the representive mention I would get a letter in 45 days letting me know what my options would be.

In telling you this it leads to my post today: Card Act becoming official on Monday February 22, 2010.

I would like to share with you two links to articles that explain this Card Act to you in easy to understand terms. The bottom line is though, folks make sure you pay cards in plenty of time. They will not be giving you a grace period or your awesome credit APR back. I was very lucky in the fact I got mine back. It was from October when things were still in the process of getting training materials and representives up to speed.

The first article is from WalletPop Blog called What you still might not know about the card act

The second article is from CardRatings called: Credit CARD Act Guide Part 2: Understanding Rate, Fee, and Clarity Changes

Financial Friday: How Much Does Debt Cost You Daily?

2010-02-11T23:38:00.006-05:00

How Much Does Debt Cost You Daily?
by Alice Shaffer

As I have been reducing my debts and purchases for 2010 to become more financially healthy, I have subscribed to several other financial blogs. I found one while reading the Budgets are Sexy blog. J. Money posted something on Tuesday about debt motivation. This got me thinking -what kind of motivation do I need to further paying off my debt? Not only does debt cost us interest monthly and yearly...it does affect us daily even if we don't calculate it that way.

J. Money's good blogging friend Matt Jabs has a blog titled Debt Free Adventure, and he came up with an excellent spreadsheet that is simple and easy to show us how much our debt is costing us every day! Yes that is correct.....every day debt costs us money but do you know how much it is costing you? By going to Debt Free Adventure you can open and save Matt's How Much Debt Costs Spreadsheet. You can download it in Excel or an open document format and save it after you punch in your numbers.

Click on the photo and it will take you directly to the spreadsheet. What you need to do is gather your statements for January and February.

1. First thing to do is change the numbers in January's columns to zero so you can start fresh.

2. What you will do is fill in on the left the names of your "debts" I replaced the credit card 1-3 with the names of my credit cards. Some of these will not apply. I just left them blank and had zeros there.

3. Tab over to the Payment amount. Enter the amount you paid

4. Tab over to the Interest and put down how much interest was on that month's statement.

5. I then went back to the Principal column and subtracted the Interest from the Payment. This gives you the amount of your payment that actually goes to paying off your debt.

You will notice on the right side in the upper box that your numbers are calculated for you. This gives you a monthly total of your payments, principals and interest paid.

6. To find out how much you paid that much in interest divide your interest by the number of days (31, 30 or 28).

This number gives me pause to think when I am shopping and what to buy something from my "want" list and not from my "need" list. That purchase price could be going to paying my daily debt. You can print out a copy of your spreadsheet and have it in your wallet to remind you on your "daily debt" you are paying. Print it out and post it on the bathroom wall so you can see.

How does your daily interest debt look?

Financial Friday: Medical Deductions for 2009 Taxes

2010-02-04T23:19:00.005-05:00

Medical Deductions for 2009 Taxes by Alice Shaffer

In 2009, I had the privilege I suppose you could say of having to have several medical issues dealt with and paid for.

I had several cavities filled and an inlay done. These along with my regular appointments was close to $1800. I was also tested for Sleep Apnea. I was diagnosed with a mild Sleep Apnea. This required two sleep studies. I also had to purchase the machine and CPAP mask via my health insurance. This was close to $1000. Those two medical groups had $2800 worth of medical deductions for my 2009 taxes.

I have always heard you could deduct medical stuff on your taxes by it had to be 7.5% of your AGI (Adjusted Gross Income). I never had anything major that was close to the 7.5%. Somehow 2009 was the lucky year for me because along with those Dental and Medical Expenses above and some others I have somehow hit the 7.5% number.

To find out what qualifies as Medical and Dental Expenses you can visit the IRS website and find Publication 502: Medical and Dental Expenses. It was a very easy read. It goes through the many different items that are and are not covered. I am happy to read that my new glasses I had to get last January are covered as they are medically necessary.

Take a look this weekend while you are potentially snowed in (at least here in the DC area) and find your receipts for this year's Medical and Dental Expenses to see if you qualify.

Now you might wander what to do with the extra money you get from these deductions. Open up an ING account or even a SmartyPig account and put the money in there for a medical savings account for 2010.

Financial Friday: When Do I Buy Things?

2010-01-29T02:00:00.000-05:00

For the past several years, I have read various articles in magazines and websites about when is the best time throughout the year to buy certain things. Today I ran across this blog, Budgets are Sexy.
They had an entry Friday January 22 called The Best Time To Buy Things. Budgets are Sexy had received the information from one of their readers. The story is from LifeHacker's post called The Best Times to Buy Anything, All Year Round. It even includes a chart for how long you can keep foods frozen and so forth. Apparently in the month of March is a great time to buy frozen foods! Guess we should all be looking for a freezer to stock up on the great sales on frozen foods. I also learned that March is a great time to purchase luggage. I will be purchasing some new luggage for the INA conference in May then.

Be sure to check out Budgets are Sexy. J. Money has some great info on her blog.
Don't forget to read in depth the Lifehacker article The Best Times to Buy Anything, All Year Round. Both proved to valuable to me. I printed out the chart for buying things.

Financial Friday; Craigslist The Modern Day Yard Sale

2010-01-22T02:00:00.002-05:00

Craigslist: The Modern Day Yard Sale by Jennifer Goin

There are some great deals to be found on Craigslist (CL). I outfitted my living room with furniture for around $100 I got 3 huge black & white framed prints, an ottoman, loveseat, chair, 2 lamps, a side table, a potted decorative ficus tree and the cost of a moving van. Even still in my experience, if it sounds too good to be true it is! (i.e. a brand new Canon DSLR $10). If you’re lucky enough to find a potential purchase you need to contact the seller to complete the transaction. If the ad mentions an email or a phone number use that, if not in the heading it will have a reply email hyperlink. Most transactions of CL are done via email, and that’s a great way to start. If you choose to call a seller, use a cell phone or dial*69 for anonymity. Phone numbers always have bills attached, and those bills have someone’s name. If you’re not careful a predator may find you an easy target. Don’t just assume you’re safe because you have the sellers email address. Emails can be hacked, spoofed, or generated and dumped easily. Pick up etiquette is simple. If at all possible meet at a public crowded place in daylight with a friend in tow. Don’t show up late without calling. Don’t stand your buyer or seller up, that’s just awful. Don’t worry about walking away from a bad deal. Finally on accepting and or making a payment, cash is king. If you’re a seller don’t accept cashier’s checks, personal checks or money orders, these are easily and often faked. Your bank will hold you accountable for the funds if you deposit a false check. Stay away from wire services, scammers are known to use wire services to commit fraud. Always print out the CL ad then get a written receipt as this will protect your innocence in the event the item is stolen or the seller reports that you stole it. I recommend this how to buy on CL link http://www.ehow.com/how_4721117_safely-buy-craigslist.html

Jennifer Goin is a professional nanny for 8 years. She currently resides in the Washington DC Metro area as a live in nanny. She is a board member of ADCAN and a member of the INA. She also has a website called Notable Nanny.

Financial Friday: Let's Talk Credit Reports

2010-01-15T02:30:00.000-05:00

Let's Talk Credit Reports
by NannyMall LLC
A St. Louis Nanny Agency

NannyMall.com - Let's talk credit reports!

While this truly isn't just a "Nanny topic" it certainly can affect your life as an individual. And while being a Nanny is one of the BEST professions, unfortunately not all Nannies are paid above board and wages aren't reported to be readily seen by say a car dealer or mortgage co, so a really good credit report is a MUST for Nannies.

Credit reports are very important and should be checked at least once a year.
You can receive your free online credit report here: Free Credit Info and Report

to read the rest of the article please visit:
NannyMall LLC:Let's Talk Credit Reports
and also found on Regarding Nannies

Helping those in Haiti

2010-01-14T17:36:00.003-05:00

As many of you know there was a large earthquake in Haiti on Tuesday January 12. Over 3 million people have been affected which is 1/3rd of the population in the country.

If you would like to donate money or supplies to help with the relief and rescue efforts in Haiti please make sure that you follow up with Snopes to make sure it is a legit business and not a scam. This is a perfect time for scam artists to take advantage of people who truly want to help those in Haiti.

For a listing of legit places you can donate to please visit the Ellen Degeneres website where she has listed Help Haiti Recover. There are 11 organizations listed.

If you can give $5 or $10 that would be wonderful. If you can ask 10 friends/co-workers to give the same amount, that is great! Every dollar counts.

I challenge my readers to donate $10 to one of the 11 organizations listed at the Ellen page. If you can not donate money, then please look locally at the church and community groups collecting medical supplies, blankets, and clothes to send to Haiti.

Thank you. I have sent in my $10 to RedCross from my cell phone.

Financial Friday: A Blog Review of Couponing to Disney

2010-01-08T00:21:00.000-05:00

Blog Review: Couponing to Disney
by Alice Shaffer

I have been following Couponing to Disney for awhile now. I have been impressed how Kristin has saved $1900 since May 1 2009 for her family trip to Disney in June 2010 for 10 days!

Kristin combined her love of couponing and Disney World together. She shares with her readers how to make money by taking surveys, redeeming rebates, banking found money, using coupons and other ways.

On the left side of her blog you can find a drop down box that has her Previous Posts list. This is where you can find all kinds of helpful things from her 4 A Day (free samples) and a 5 A Day posts. The 5 A Day is a list of 5 companies you can write to and express your opinion-good or bad. Alot of the times they will send you coupons. Kristin has received many coupons for her letters.

There are several stores that she covers in their best shopping deals. (Amazon, CVS, Kmart, Publix, Rite Aid, Target, Walmart, Walgreens, Toys R Us/Babies R US.)

One of her secrets to saving money is to never pay full price for a meal. Here is a list of the current dining deals.

There are so many good things on this blog. You will just have to carve some time each day and read one of her sections. Then you can decide what you would like to use in your everyday life.

I have been inspired by Kristin and I will be tracking my coupons/rebates/found money for 2010 in preparing for my trip to the INA's 25th annual conference May 20-23, 2010.

What things will you be doing to save money in 2010?

The Financial Nanny

PLEASE Vote for Regarding Nannies!

Where have I have gone? Lots of links too!

Help Ryan Get An iPad!

Budget and Money Talk

Smartphones, Toddlers, Teens and Money

Want to see Matthew McConaughey for $6?

The Fine Print

What "financial" choices will you make?

Charlie Sheen, Medical Deductions and Taxes?

Would you like your Nanny Conference Fee to be Awarded?

5 DVD rentals for $2! Awesome!

Credit Cards and How They Can Be Useful At Times

Interested in 100 Ways to Save Money?

Missing W-2s This Tax Season?

INA Conference: How Can I Afford to Go?

Credit Reports: Did You Know?

2011 INA Annual Conference Announcements

INA members who joined INA after June 1, 2010 and have never been to an INA Annual Conference receive 50% off of 2011 INA Annual Conference registration!

Networking, Suze Orman, Admitting You Have Debt and Credit Unions

Sigg Bottle: Pay Shipping Only! or $15 Credit!

Financial Friday: Lunchskins

Financial Friday: Lunchskinsby Alice ShafferThe Financial Nanny

Financial Friday: Fighting Debt Is Like Fighting A War So I Read

Financial Friday: Get Some Cash For Your Overstock!

Financial Hot Deal! $4 movie ticket Hurry!

Financial Friday: Freebies Can Be Found Everywhere

Financial Friday: Freebies Can Be Found Everywhere

by Alice Shaffer

Financial Friday: Topics In A Car Agreement

High5 Friday: Topics in a Car Agreement

Financial Friday: Job Search Expenses

Job Search Expenses

Compliments of Breedlove & Associates, written specially for Regarding Nannies

Can any of my job search expenses be taken off my income taxes?

There are several job search expenses that can be deducted if the expenses exceed 2% of your adjusted gross income. Some examples of job search expenses include:

Financial Friday: Tax Free Shopping Is Here!

Financial Friday: Tax Free Holidays Are Here!

by Alice Shaffer

Financial Friday: Where To Find Deals on Eating Out

Financial Friday: Where To Find Deals On Eating Out

By: Alice Shaffer The Financial Nanny

Financial Friday: Swagbucks

Financial Friday: More On Eating Healthy Organics & Affording Them

Financial Friday: Independent Contractor Law

Financial Friday: Smartphones & Iphones

Financial Friday: Mypoints & BZZAgent

Financial Friday: Car Rental Discounts & More

Financial Friday: The Story of Pigtopia & the Piggy Bank

Financial Friday: Tips For Living With Food Allergies

Financial Friday: What Exactly Is Jasmere?

Financial Friday: Saving Money While Eating Out

Financial Friday: $79.99 For $100 Check Certificates For Hyatt Hotels

Financial Friday: Fresh Air & Nature are Free!

Financial Friday: Kids & Money

Financial Friday: Do You Trick Yourself Into Saving Money?

Financial Friday: Wasted Time & Wasted Money Or Is It?

Wasted Time & Wasted Money Or Is It?

by Alice Shaffer

After my conversation ended with my friend, I was catching up on some blog reading and ran across a post this week on The Simple Dollar : What Exactly Is “Wasted Time” (or “Wasted Money”)?

It is an excellent post on how the author was told that he was wasting his time playing board games with friends on the weekends. Throughout the rest of the post was how to determine what YOUR values in time and money are. It also helps you determine what is not a waste of your time and money.

For me some things that are not a waste of time & money:

spending time with friends

playing board/card games with a group of friends monthly

going to Nanny Conferences, Nanny Support Group Meetings, Nanny Night Outs,

visiting my family out of town as much as I can

spending money on the upcoming arrival of my niece/nephew

membership fees to Nanny Support Groups & Associations

my health insurance

my weekly chiropractor visits

my IRA, my savings accounts, my Smartypig goal accounts

my personal trainer I see twice a week

What are some of things that are/are not a waste of time & money for you?

Financial Friday: 100 Ads/Circulars!

Financial Friday: Getting $125 for $100 Investment

Conference Scholarship Opportunity for the INA Conference!

Financial Friday: All the details for the 25th Annual INA Conference!

Financial Friday: Groupon

2010 INA Nanny Salary & Benefits Survey

Financial Friday: Credit Card Act

Financial Friday: Lunchskins
by Alice Shaffer
The Financial Nanny