Money Tips

Back to School Money Management Tips: #SchoolCents Twitter Party!

This post is brought to you by Capital One and The Motherhood and I’ve been compensated for my time. All opinions are my own.

The #SchoolCents Twitter party with Capital One kicks off on Wednesday – August 21st at 12 pm ET (11 am CT/9 am PT). It’s all about back-to-school shopping tips and money management, to help you get your new year started off on the right foot. We’ll have amazing tips from The Money Coach – {personal finance expert Lynnette Khalfani-Cox} – how cool is that, right?! So RSVP today, mark your calendar, and come party it up with The Money Coach, The Motherhood, and some of my awesome bloggy friends….

[Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on August 19, 2013 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | No Comments

When Roles Reverse: Taking Care of Your Aging Parents

“Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.” – Chili Davis… As mothers, we’re used to taking care of people. For many of us, it even started as little girls – rocking your baby dolls to sleep at night, brushing their hair and dressing them, giving them pretend bottles to drink. Later on, we pretended to cook dinner for them in our play kitchens, pushed them in tiny toy strollers, and {if you were like me} learned how to discipline by bossing little brothers around. I mean, sure, I bucked the trends and also worked on trucks at the family business with my dad, and loved fishing and camping and playing in the mud. But I’m sure that most women can remember those days of care-taking for our dolls. Then we have babies, and realize quickly that, for awhile at least, their needs really do have to take a priority. And that is something that we’re prepared for. But what about as time passes, and it’s our parents who need to be taken care of? That’s something that can come as a shock. I know from experience that it can be a really stressful situation to deal with – but by discussing it with them now, and by doing some planning in your own family and budget, you can relieve some of the strain and uncertainty.

[Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on March 1, 2013 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | No Comments

Why Women Aren’t Good With Money…

Wooo boy! Did you click through to this post, just because you read that headline, and wanted to prove me wrong? Well – I hope you can. Because I consider myself to be very good with money – I’m a frugal mom, grew up in poverty, and learned a lot of creative ways to stretch a dollar from my own mom. But still – studies have been showing lately that while many women are great at making those dollars in the family budget go farther by doing things like clipping coupons, searching for deals, and doing DIY projects – women are seldom as skilled at handling their financial life when it comes to “big picture” stuff like retirement, investments, or college savings. Which means – I definitely don’t think that all women are bad with money, that women can’t be good with money, or that we’re somehow not smart enough to handle it all. But I do think it’s an area where most women can use some new info, some extra help, and some tips to make them more independent. So ladies – let’s chat.

[Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on February 19, 2013 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | 2 Comments

The Busy Moms Guide to Simplifying Auto Insurance

How to find the best auto insurance for busy moms… Whether you drive a Swagger Wagon, an SUV, or an old clunker that can take the abuse a toddler dishes out – you need to keep it, and your family, protected with good auto insurance. But – when you’re a super-busy super-mom, it can be challenging to find time to search out the best option, am I right? Well, it’s a challenge no longer – I have an awesome new tool that is going to be a HUGE help to you. Keep reading to find out what it is. {It rocks, trust me.}

How to find the best insurance for YOUR Swagger Wagon

With something as important as auto insurance, you definitely want to do some research, and shop around before settling on a plan. You don’t want to find out that something isn’t covered, or that the company you chose has horrible service – after something goes wrong. But who has the time or energy to figure it all out? Well, I found an awesome insurance site that is pretty much perfect for busy moms like us. It’s called Auto Insurance EZ, and these are a few of the tips I learned today, that you should keep in mind when comparing auto insurance providers:

Financial Strength: You want to make sure that the company you choose is stable enough financially that you can be sure you’ll be able to collect on a claim if needed.
Customer Service: You want to make sure that it’s easy to reach someone when you need help, that the claims process is easy, and that the company really values their customers.
Coverage and Payment Options: Is the company flexible with payment plans, so that you can be sure to get something that fits your needs? Do they offer the extra features that are important to you, like roadside assistance?
Personal References: Ask friends and family if they have any experience with the company. Check out their social media pages to get more real-life opinions on the site and services. This can give you a great idea of how responsive they are.
Other Reviews: There are tons of independent websites such as ConsumerReports.org, JDPower.com, and FreeAdvice.com that all let you read real-mom reviews about various car insurance companies. Make sure to check them out too.

So, now you know what’s important to look for, and how to find a great insurance company, right? But how do you FIND companies in the first place? I mean, there are loads of big name national companies, but there are also a lot of great local businesses too. Auto Insurance EZ helps you with this part too – Just click through to your state to find a huge resource filled with providers you can quickly and easily compare. When I clicked to check out the auto insurance providers in Washington State, I was really impressed by all of the info they have collected in one spot for me – a bunch of providers to choose from, Washington state insurance laws, driving laws that are specific to my state, speed limits, and the contact info for all of the places I might need for help. Awesomesauce, for reals. HUGE time saver.

Free 10-Minute Guide to Auto Insurance – Amazing resource!

Shopping around can save you up to 50% off on average on your auto insurance bill – but so many moms don’t do it because they don’t have time, or it feels intimidating. But this site is going to totally change that for you – they make it SO simple to compare your options.

What do YOU think? If you use this site, let me know what you think in the comments!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on August 9, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | No Comments

The Most Awkward Money Moments

“Why is there so much month left at the end of the money?” – Anonymous…. We all have those friends, right? The one who always “forgets” her debit card when you meet for girls night out, or who loves to split the bill during lunch dates – even though she had an entree twice as expensive as yours – with an extra glass of wine to boot? Read more about the most common awkward money moments other people face – then share YOUR most-dreaded money situation in the comments….

Infographics by CouponCabin.com

{Disclaimer: I’m a Coupon Cabin blogger, and get access to fun info like this to share with you guys. But – I was not compensated for this post. Love it this infographic, and wanted to share it, that’s all!}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on July 10, 2012 Filed Under: Shopping | No Comments

Infographic: Women, Children, and Debt

As women, we may not always be the main income earners in our household, {even though many of us are.} But usually, we are the ones doing most of the family spending in our homes. From picking out the newest school clothes, cool decor and accessories to make our houses a home, and the food and gear to keep our families lives running smoothly – even the women who don’t earn all the money are usually the ones doing the basic household spending. But, a big problem is that so many of us moms don’t really want to think about our “real” financial picture. We’re good with our basic budget – but don’t always focus on our debt level, or other “big picture” financial facts. But – since we’re all such savvy shoppers, and know what’s truly best for our own families – it’s time that those of us who are not focusing on debt and long-term finances get involved!

What do YOU Think?

Do you handle the household spending in your home… Or do you organize all of your families financial info? Do you have any great tips or resources to share? What are your biggest challenges? I love hearing from you guys – so leave some comments…

Posted by Meagan Paullin on June 14, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | 1 Comment

The Skinny on Dining Out

Who doesn’t want a perfect evening out, away from the kitchen and the mass of dishes? Most Americans love dining out, but even those who can afford the luxury are finally beginning to cut back from restaurant fare in an effort save cash and stay healthy. And while it’s always a temptation as a busy mom to stop in and grab dinner to go – let’s take a look at what you’re really getting when dining out….

Infographics by CouponCabin.com

Learning Smart Spending Habits

Many of us as busy moms have gotten so darn busy that we don’t have time to really notice where some of our spending habits have gotten off track. Things like dining out a few times a week, or that extra latte each afternoon, can really add up. Between getting the kids to soccer practice, getting dinner on the table, and getting the cheerios out of your hair…. it’s hard to keep track of everything you have going on. If you’re in need of a little extra help staying on track financial – check out my two favorite solutions:

Daily Worth

Daily Worth is a super smart daily email with a few easy to follow financial tips targeted at busy women like ourselves. From which fashions to buy this summer to take you into fall, to the best ways to save on salon hair care services – you’ll find great tips to look fab without overspending.

LearnVest

They make budgeting as easy as spending. {Ok, not quite – but very close!} My favorite part of having a free membership to LearnVest is that you then get access to all of their totally FREE financial bootcamps – from Baby on Board to Getting Hitched, there are tons of great go-at-your-own-pace bootcamps to help guide you to better budgeting.