Is Free Personal Finance Software Really All It’s Cracked Up to Be?

In the world of home based financial planning, there are hundreds of different programs to choose from. Most will set you back around fifty bucks, but there are a few that claim to be totally free personal finance software titles. When all of their contemporaries are charging for their wealth of financial tools though, free personal finance software seems to have placed itself in a situation to be completely outgunned by the pay-for programs in terms of financial planning possibilities.

The most popular free personal finance software is currently AceMoney Lite. This program is the less robust counterpart to the financial planner, AceMoney. While the programmers did remove some of the features from the free version, it still manages your money better than you would be able to do with a pen and paper. AceMoney Lite allows you to track your income and spending on a simple spreadsheet, allows you to budget your money accordingly, lets you track your investments and bank statements and pay your bills online. All of these tools come backed with recommendations from a variety of web based review sites, which all rate the free program very highly.

Perhaps you have already tried AceMoney Lite and found it to not be the free personal finance software you were looking for. Lucky for you, many of the big guns in the financial software world allow you to try their product for free for a certain time period. Quicken, for example, lets you tinker around with the full version of Quicken Online (Editorial Comment: This article has been edited for clarity to indicate the 60-day trial is for Quicken Online) for sixty days.

Much the same principal applies to shareware programs like Easy Money. You simply download the program, use it for awhile to see if you like it, then either delete it or keep it. Of course, it you keep it you have to pay for it, but at least you had the option to give it a spin for awhile. During the time you are testing it out, shareware programs are just like free personal finance software – you do not pay a dime.

Sources indicate that the first record of midwifery goes as far back as the 2nd century, and it is also most likely true that your mom or grandmother had a midwife deliver their children. What are midwives and do you need one?

A midwife is someone who provides support during the labor and delivery process. If there are complications, the midwife calls the hospital or doctor. Unlike midwifery in the earlier centuries, today it has become a field of practice among women who seek accreditation and formalized education. Midwives today lend support to the mom before during and after delivery. They do not administer drugs, but follow the normal birthing procedures, such as water births.

Interestingly, as midwifery is becoming more popular for home birthing, there are now three types of midwives: direct entry and nurse-midwives. What is the difference? Direct entry midwives receive certification after training, whereas nurse-midwives complete a set of requirements; graduate from a university which has a midwifery education program; and complete a national certification exam. In addition, they must also have a BA degree. The certified nurse=midwife must complete an accredited nursing program; become licensed as a registered nurse; and complete a program in nurse-midwifery from an accredited institution.

Do you need a midwife? That depends on how you want your child delivered. If you prefer a home birth, or a water birth, certainly a qualified midwife can assist you. However, when choosing a midwife, ensure she has the proper credentials; has been a midwife for a number of years; and ask many questions regarding her role and how she views midwifery. You can tell a lot about a person when you ask them about the field they are in and their experiences. In addition, you need to check with your insurance company to ascertain if they cover you for home births as well as a midwife.

Midwives today are more educated and more in tune with what a mom needs during the labor and delivery process. It is up to you to decide if this avenue is one you wish to explore further.

Let’s go! Let’s go! Come on … you’re going to miss the bus! I don’t know where your favorite jeans are; it’s not my responsibility. What do you mean you still have homework? Did you brush your teeth yet? Let’s go! I’m leaving… NOW!

Oh I hope your mornings don’t sound like that above. If it does, it’s not too late to turn that ship around. The key to having a stress free morning routine is to have a smooth bedtime routine. Remember, a routine is something that is followed regularly, standard procedures. Without the consistency you will have an uphill battle.

Here are some tips to a stress free morning routine:

• No yelling. Raising your voice, albeit frustrated, is only going to escalate matters.

• Early to bed, early to rise. That one is simple.

• Showers and baths should be taken at night. You think you’ll have time in the morning, but you rarely do.

• Look over all homework for completeness before bed; don’t assume it’s finished.

• Before bed ensure lunches are made, backpack is packed and there are no surprise “Oh I need xxx today!”

• Give singular instructions. Don’t say, “I want you to finish your homework, eat breakfast, get dressed, comb your hair, brush your teeth and be in the car by 8:15.” To a child, that sounds like “blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah.” One instruction at a time works wonders.

• Provide instructions once. If you’re doing this, stop: “Johnny, it’s time to get dressed.” Two minutes later, “Johnny, we’re going to be late if you don’t get dressed now.” Two more minutes later, “Johnny, honey, I told you to get dressed.” “Johnny, Mommy is going to be late, now go get dressed.” To a child that sounds like “Oh mom is good for asking about five more times before she really goes ballistic!” Repeated requests only send the message that junior doesn’t really have to do it now.

• Set consequences and stick to your guns. If you tell your child the car is leaving at 8:15 sharp, make it happen. Clearly you can’t leave your child behind, so leaving without her isn’t an option. Tell her you will be leaving whether she is ready or not. Sending a 10 year old to school with uncombed hair, pajamas and an empty belly might be just the catalyst for change.

You are the parent; you set the tone for the morning routine. You need to be actively involved in the morning routine. Follow the steps above and I guarantee ‘joy will come in the morning!’

Children can be anywhere from four years to six, before the concept of earning and saving takes root. For them, money is just an object that you trade for another object. The real value of money may take time to be absorbed, but you can start when they are toddlers, by playing shopping games with a toy register and play money.

Once they are able to count simply, even up to five, you can use play dollar bills and explain that the groceries cost two of these, and let them count it themselves. From this game, you can move on to giving them an allowance for helping around the house. That may be as simple as picking up their toys and making their beds. Explain the value of what they are doing, by saying that is means Mommy or Daddy does not have to do that work, but you are willing to pay
them for their work.

Allow them some gratification for their efforts by taking them to the store for something they like. But this is also the best time to teach them saving, since putting aside one quarter out of four, will not have the same impact at five, that it will in a couple of years.

Recently, I purchased a tube of pear-scented cold wax that came with muslin strips. It was for the purpose of waxing my eyebrows. In general, I prefer to have my eyebrows waxed by a professional in a salon, but in between waxes, I like to maintain at home.

Normally, I would use my microwaveable wax which I apply with little wooden sticks to the eyebrow area, wait for the wax to cool, and then gently rip the wax off of my skin It hurts for a split second but the results are good. While perusing the waxing section of my local store, I noticed they offered cold wax in a tube that is super sticky. You simply squeeze the tube and apply this cold wax around the eyebrow area, place the cloth muslin strip over the wax, rub in the direction of the hair, then pull the skin tight and rip the muslin strip off in the opposite direction of the hair growth.

Sounds straightforward…the result for me was quite different than what was promised, any course eyebrow hair that I had was left intact. Only the finer lighter hairs that I don’t really care about were removed. I was left with a very sticky forehead, bits of wax, and a muslin strip that I couldn’t reuse so

I was forced to use more muslin strips and when it was all said and done, I had 3/4 a tube of cold wax left and only a few muslin strips and guess what? Eyebrows that weren’t groomed the way I’d hoped they would be. I am going back to my microwave wax posthaste and I can’t wait for my next real professional eyebrow waxing.

If anyone followed the latest season of “So You Think You Can Dance?” then you have seen these two wonderful choreographers before…enter – Tabitha and Napoleon. They are responsible for many artful, wonderfully rockin’ hip-hop routines for many artists including the contestants on So You Think You Can Dance.

So imagine my surprise as I was channel surfing and stumbled across “Rock the Reception”…a reality T.V. series on TLC that takes prospective brides and grooms’ first dance and turns it into a one of a kind surprise (to wedding guests) choreographed dance.

One episode that I will never forget is a story about a groom who had been deployed to Iraq and his girlfriend supported him and was there for him emotionally the entire time he was gone. He returned from Iraq to continue dating her and then she was diagnosed with breast cancer…he proposed to her the very next day despite her diagnosis.

Their wedding was, understandably, very emotional (for them and all of the guests) and they wanted to do a choreographed dance to lighten the mood and have everyone focus on living for today and not dreading tomorrow. It worked! They danced to “Can’t Touch This” and definitely rocked their reception. This is a half hour show that leaves you highly entertained and yearning for the next episode!

No home can ever be completely germ-free and worrying about every little germ isn’t going to help your mental health any. But there are things you can do to reduce the germs in your home.

Family members come and go in your house, all day long. The kids are in school, both parents may work then go shopping, and everyone comes home, carrying the germs they have encountered during the day. Add to that, coughing into your hand, wiping a dripping nose with a tissue, and you now have even more germs that are going to spread around with almost everything you touch.

Clean common surfaces that are accessed by everyone, with a disinfectant spray, such as the doorknobs, kitchen counters, cupboard handles, and the telephone. Teach your children early by example, to wash their hands properly after using the bathroom, or playing outside.

Public areas like schools or crowded malls, and even the doctor’s office, are the greatest places in the world to pick up germs. But you can stop the spread of them at home with a few simple precautions.

As World Breastfeeding Week winds to a close, I thought I would list ten tips a mom can use if she wants to breastfeed to that one year mark.

1. Find support early – this means during pregnancy if possible. Attend a breastfeeding support group like La Leche League, or meet with a lactation consultant. Don’t wait too long to get the help you need if you start experiencing problems.
2. Nurse early and often – try to nurse the baby in the first two hours after birth if at all possible. Babies are in a “quiet, alert” state during this time and then fall asleep for several hours, typically. If a first relaxed nursing session can happen early on, mom and baby will have an easier time later.
3. Be strict about positioning – don’t be afraid to unlatch baby and latch him back on if you’re uncomfortable. Get cozy and use lots of pillows if you need to so that baby is lifted up so you don’t have to lean over and don’t have to hunch your shoulders. Remember to keep baby facing you, tummy to tummy.
4. Listen to the baby – don’t limit the baby’s time at the breast in the early days. Frequent nursing in the early weeks does a lot to ensure a healthy milk supply.
5. Avoid “triple nipples” - don’t introduce a pacifier or bottle early on. While some babies can switch back and forth easily, some can’t and will start to refuse the breast.
6. Learn how to nurse in public - A baby sling carrier and a nursing bra can make this easier. Practice latching baby on in front of a mirror so you can be comfortable getting baby arranged discreetly.
7. Remember Dad – get Dad on your side and get him involved in baby’s care. Sometimes Dads or other people who will be caring for the baby can be a little jealous that you’re the only one who feeds him. Make sure he knows how important he is to you and the baby, and help him appreciate the many things he can do to comfort and care for your little one.
8. Relax and enjoy your baby – enjoy nursing sessions with your baby and take the time to really savor your baby. These moments pass so fast, even though feeding him sometimes seems to take forever! The secret to breastfeeding is to trust yourself and your baby and commit to the experience.

Ingredients:

4 large tomatoes, chopped
4 avocados, peeled, pitted and diced
1 red onion, thinly sliced
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 (8 ounce) bottle balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing

Instructions:

Place tomatoes, avocados and onion in a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle with pepper. Add salad dressing and toss to cover vegetables completely.

Cover and chill in refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours. This will help all the flavors to blend together for better taste. Serve cold.

P.S. Don’t shy away from avocados due to their fat content. Avocados are a great source of serotonin, a helpful agent for stress relief, as well as a heart healthy fat.

Find more salad recipes at: 365 Salad Cookbook