Help Kids Feel Thankful All Year via Good Housekeeping

Reward Gratitude

Put out an empty jar, suggests WE co-founder Craig Kielburger. Whenever your child shows that he's thankful to you or someone else, drop a marble in the jar. When it's full, take him out for a treat.

Put a Pause on Buying

Ask your family to commit to an entire week without excess spending. For example, eat in and play board games instead of your usual Friday night dinner-and-a-movie ritual. You'll have just as much fun, and your children will appreciate the luxury of a night out even more.

Create a Capsule

Each year on the same day (say, a birthday or special anniversary) have your child write what he is thankful for on a slip of paper. Date it, slip it in a plastic bag and bury it in the backyard, says Kielburger. A year later, dig it up. Repeat year after year and watch the gratitude grow!

Written by Alexis Reliford

Excerpts from The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

Take, for instance, studies from the past decade examining the impacts of exercise on daily routines. When people start habitually exercising, even as infrequently as once a week, they start changing other, unrelated patterns in their lives, often unknowingly. Typically, people who exercise start eating better and becoming more productive at work. They smoke less and show more patience with colleagues and family. They use their credit cards less frequently and say they feel less stressed. It's not completely clear why. But for may people, exercise is a keystone habit that triggers widespread change. "Exercise spills over," said James Prochaska, a University of Rhode Island researcher. "There's something about it that makes other good habits easier."

Studies have documented that families who habitually eat dinner together seem to raise children with better homework skills, higher grades, greater emotional control, and more confidence. Making your bed every morning is correlated with better productivity, a greater sense of well-being, and stronger skills at sticking with a budget. It's not that a family meal or a tidy bed causes better grades or less frivolous spending. But somehow those initial shifts start chain reactions that help other good habits take hold.

If you focus on changing or cultivating keystone habits, you can cause widespread shifts. However, identifying keystone habits is tricky. To find them, you have to know where to look. Detecting keystone habits means searching out certain characteristics. Keystone habits offer what is known within academic literature as "small wins." They help other habits flourish by creating new structures, and they establish new cultures where change becomes contagious.

Small wins are exactly what they sound like, and are part of how keystone habits create widespread changes. A huge body of research has shown that small wins have enormous power, an influence disproportionate to the accomplishments of the victories themselves. "Small wins are steady application of small advantage," one Cornell professor wrote in 1984. "Once a small win has been accomplished, forces are set in motion that favor another small win." Small wins fuel transformative changes by leveraging tiny advantages into patterns that convince people that bigger achievements are within reach.

"Small wins do not combine in a neat, linear, serial form, with each step being a demonstrable step closer to some predetermined goal," wrote Karl Weick, a prominent organizational psychologist. "More common is the circumstance where small wins are scattered. . . .like miniature experiments that test implicit theories about resistance and opportunity and uncover both resources and barriers that were invisible before the situation was stirred up."

Future-Proof Your Finances via Women's Day

Future You: The Devoted Caregiver

People in their 40s, 50s, and 60s have a trio of obligations to worry about--college for their kids, retirement savings for themselves, and caring for an older parent," says Jean Chatzky, financial expert and author of Age Proof. "You can borrow for college if you have to. You can kick retirement down the road a few years if you must. But when it comes to aging parents, you often can't put it off, and you can't exactly say no." And we don't. Nearly 30% of Americans with a parent age 65 or older help Mom or Dad out financially, according to the Pew Research Center--and that's actually more common in lower-income households.

Mind Your Money

You may not need to know every bank password and outstanding bill at this point, but you do need to know what your parents want life to look like as they age and whether you'll be on the hook to help, says Chatzky. "People tend to avoid these conversations, so I suggest the 70/40 rule. When a parent hits 70 or a child hits 40, it's time to talk," she says. Lean on a pro to make these chats less awkward. Start by calling the investment firm that houses your parent's IRA or 401K--many offer simple and free retirement online tools. Or search the Garrett Planning Network (garrettplanningnetwork.com), which has a database of fee-only financial planners who charge by the hour without long-term commitments. A financial planner can also help create a checklist of paperwork to pull together, such as power of attorney forms, and designate beneficiaries on bank accounts, investments, and insurance policies.

Long-Term Tip

Resist the urge to quit your job to care for an aging parent--even if it feels like most of your paycheck is covering the cost of a home health aide. "There are so many added benefits to working--your health insurance, your employer's 401K contribution--that it can be very expensive to step away," says Kathy Murphy, president of personal investing at Fidelity Investments. She recommends that new caretakers consider other options, such as a short-term sabbatical or going part-time, instead of quitting.

Whether or not you're working, you shouldn't shoulder the cost of caregiving alone. Though daughters are more likely to provide hands-on support than their brothers, all siblings should sit down and discuss who will pay for what. Chatsky suggests dividing recurring bills so someone is in charge of each on rather than trying to split total monthly expenses. The AARP Foundation can connect you with government programs to help aging adults with everything from medical expenses to energy bills.

Future You: Suddenly Single

Women outlive men by nearly five years on average in the U.S., and late-life splits have spiked in recent decades.

Mind Your Money

The time to become actively involved in your finances is now. "If you don't know what's going on financially, having to step in when you're under the stress of divorce or the death of a spouse is really, really tough," says Chatsky.

Sit down together for a financial checkup: How much does your partner make (10% of people get this number wrong by $25,000 or more!), how much do you have in savings and retirement, where is the money invested, and what are the log-in credentials for all the financial accounts? Then, if you don't already have them, think about opening up your own bank account, credit card, and retirement savings. "This forces you to keep an active hand in managing your money--and it means you can save more for retirement," says Chatsky.

Long-Term Tip

Whatever circumstances leave you single, financial experts agree that the smartest money move you can make in the immediate aftermath is this: Do nothing. Don't sell the house. Don't invest the inheritance. Don't quit your job. "Try not to make any major decisions for at least a couple of months--ideally a year," says Michelle Singletary, personal finance columnist and author of The 21-Day Financial Fast. Reorienting to a new reality takes time, and rushing may mean you make decisions you (or your wallet) will regret. Singletary suggests reaching out to a budget counselor from debtadvice.org and whomever you turn to for emotional support: "When everything's a mess, coming up with the  new budget is pretty straightforward. It's dealing with the sadness, the loss, and the resentment that makes it hard to adjust and stick to the new plan."

Future You: Time to Downsize

Just 25% of pre-retirees in their 50s feel financially prepared to fund a retirement that lasts even 10 years.

"Many people think retirement is something that's going to happen far off in the future," says Singletary. "But health problems, reorgs, or layoffs could all result in job loss--and you're not guaranteed to get a new job or one that pays as well." While more than half of workers say they expect to still be working after they turn 65, less than 15% of today's retirees actually managed to keep working that long.

Mind Your Money

"Too many women are good savers but have no confidence investing," says Murphy. "But if you're just putting money in a savings account, you're actually losing money," she says, because of inflation. Instead, take a closer look at your 401K or IRA. How is your money invested? Does that level of risk tolerance still make sense? Could you bump up your contributions in case you have to leave the workforce five or 10 years earlier than expected? Running those numbers can be hugely motivating, she says.

Long-Term Tip

If you do leave work early, "keep looking for that new job, but reduce your spending right away," says Singletary. Also, Chatsky points out that more people in their 50s and 60s are padding their wallets by driving for Lyft or renting out a spare room through Airbnb.

Extra money aside, you may still need to consider moving to a smaller house to save on mortgage and maintenance, tapping into the equity of your current home, or even taking Social Security earlier than expected. "When our plans change, it can be very stressful to try something unfamiliar," says Chatsky. "But you want to make sure you have the right information and tools to make a rational decision." Your 97-year-old self will thank you.

What to Do With an Inheritance
Financial expert Jean Chatsky's steps for managing a windfall

1. Spend a little

Go ahead and let yourself splurge with 10% of the money. "You could take a trip to honor your loved one or buy a special piece of jewelry in remembrance," says Chatsky.

2. Pay off debt

The bulk of the money should go toward paying off high-interest debt (like credit card), then into a bank account until you've saved six months of living expenses.

3. Invest the rest

With any extra cash, max out your retirement savings before you pay off your mortgage. "Homes tend to be cheap debt," say Chatsky. "But if you invest the money--especially if you get a company match--you could end up with a healthy nest egg."

The Bargain Hunter via Better Homes and Gardens

Kate Jackson knows how to stretch her decorating dollars. Here are some of her favorite shopping spots and money-saving tips:

1. Hardware stores brim with good stuff--seriously! What to look for: cutting boards, simple glassware, door knockers, and cabinet hardware.

2. Shop consignment stores for dressers and beds that are well-made, well-designed, and dirt cheap. If it's ugly, paint it. But use good paint.

3. You don't need a whole set of expensive bedding to make a statement. Shop retail outlet stores for decorative Euro shams, then dress the rest of the bed in white. (It's classic and inexpensive).

4. Always carry your key measurements with you, so you don't waste time or money on something that won't fit.

5. Be an equal-opportunity consumer. Shop everywhere--outlet stores, estate and yard sales, eBay, online--and always negotiate.

6. What's totally splurge-worthy? Custom window treatments. "They have a huge impact on any room," Kate says.

How to Afford Collge for Your Children via Real Simple

Newborn to age 7:

    Once your emergency fund and long-term finances are on track, the best place to start saving for college is a state-sponsored 529 plan, a type of investment fund that allows your earnings to grow, tax-free, as long as you ultimately apply the money toward higher-education costs. What's more, your state may offer additional tax breaks, like a full or partial state-income-tax deduction on contributions. You can invest in any state's plan; fees and plan specifics (such as investment options and additional benefits) vary greatly. To compare, go to savingforcollege.com. Worth mentioning: Be sure to open a 529 account naming you (not your child) as the owner to minimize the impact on her financial aid eligibility and to make sure the funds are used according to your intentions.
    Of course, every parent wonders how much to save. And with years to go before college starts, there is really no way to know the amount that you will need. However, you can get a rough idea of how much you should stash away annually by using the college-savings calculator at finra.org. When making your allocations, put around 80% of your portfolio in riskier investments, like stocks, since you have more than 10 year before you will need the money. Then invest the remaining 20% in more conservative bonds.

Ages 8 to 14:

    No need to panic; there's still time to put aside cash. Try to set a minimum amount to save each month and stick to it, even if it's just $50. (If college is a decade away, you will have saved at least $6,000 by the first day of school.) And remember: any savings is better than none at all. Keep your portfolio only moderately risky, with about 25% invested in stocks and the rest in bonds.
    Now is also the time to start thinking about the major money decisions that you might be facing in the upcoming years. When awarding financial aid, universities calculate the family's annual finances starting on January 1 of the student's junior year in high school. So if you plan to withdraw money from a retirement account, sell a rental property, or sell a lot of stocks that would net capital gains, consider doing it soon so your profits will not factor into your child's aid eligibility.

Ages 15 and up:

    It's not too late to put money into a 529 plan if you can: invest 70% in bonds and 30% in cash. No extra cash? Don't divert money form your retirement account to your child's college fund. Your child can apply for aid, but there is no similar relief for retirees.
    Instead, devote your energy to seeking out financial aid opportunities. You won't be alone: two-thirds of students receive some assistance, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Be sure to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (fafsa.ed.gov), which makes your child eligible for hundreds of federal and state need-based grants and loans. This is also used by most schools to determine aid packages. Be prepared to fill out additional applications for some schools. It's also worth calling the financial aid office at each college and asking about specific merit-based scholarships (for athletics, academics, and the arts). Look for additional scholarships that are not specific to one school at bigfuture.org or scholarships.com.
    If your child has already been accepted to a university and you have applied for assistance but received less than expected or were denied, call the school's financial aid office and ask for a reassessment. The amount of aid could increase if your situation has changed (say, you lost your job) or if you have a costly burden that is not easy to explain in a form, such as caring for an elderly parent. Say, "Recently, my financial situation changed. Here's what's happened," and present your case. Also mention if you've been offered a better aid package from a rival school. If your child is viewed as "highly desirable," the school may pony up more assistance.

Spring Clean for Cash via Good Housekeeping

Fashion:

Poshmark (app) - free listings, Poshmark takes 20% of your price, but the buyer pays for shipping
Tradesy - designer and high end labels go for 65% off retail, site takes 9%
Plato's closet - resale shop with 400 locations nationwide buys teens' and 20-somethings' clothing
ThredUp - online consignment, they send you a prepaid postage bag and you fill it up, they let you know what they will buy

Home Goods:

Craigslist and eBay - big appliances, brand names, and vintage pieces go for big money
Classic Replacements - buys china, crystal, and flatware anywhere in the U.S., they give you a quote and you ship it to them
Facebook "yard sale" groups

Electronics:

Apple and Radioshack - offer gift cards for trade-ins
Gazelle - buys used computers, smartphones, and more
Glyde - calculates the sale value for you, sells through their website on consignment
ExchangeMyPhone - matches or even tops buyback values from reputable websites

Sports Gear:

Play It Again Sports - national retailer buys your stuff or offers store credit
SwapMeSports - community site that lets you sell or trade gear, no listing fee and no commission

Gift Cards:

Cardpool.com - sell unused gift cards for up to 92% of the value

Teaching Children About Money

• Children need to understand delayed gratification and the concept of fleeting joy vs. lasting joy
• Teach them about needs vs. wants and the importance of priorities
• Children need to learn the importance of work, which will help them better understand the value of money
• Help them understand debt the the toll it can take on them and their futures
• Make sure you model charitable giving for your children and let them participate 
• Three savings systems - saving, spending, and giving
• Make allowances consistent, monitor what they're doing and what you're paying 
• Use media messages and ads as teaching opportunities
• Be good money-managing parents and let them see parts of your budgeting
• Let them see you being frugal by involving them with saving, comparison shopping, and bargain shopping. You can't teach your child to save if you don't save or give if you don't give.
• Children also need to be familiarized with the concept of contentment. Keeping your child's desires and expectations in check is key. The culture of America is "bigger and better," but that is not how living frugally looks. Children will want to compare their lives and possessions to their friends'. Advertising also creates discontentment. Most importantly, your own impulse buying and complaining will be what they see and model the most. 

Spend Less, Give More via Good Housekeeping

We all would like to give lavish presents to the people we love. However, gift-giving is a touchy and pricey prospect for many of us living on a budget.

1. Everyone gets a price tag

Make a simple budget char before you start shopping. Determine how much you have to spend in total and write that number at the top of the page, so it's always in view. Then decide whom you will be buying for, and list their names down the left side of the page. Put dollar limits in the next column and the gift you'd like to purchase in a third column. Finally, leave a fourth column to record what you actually spent. This method gives you targets to stick to, increasing your likelihood of success. You can also shop knowing that if you overspend on someone, it will have to come out of someone else's budgeted amount.

Carry your budget with you when you shop in stores, and keep it in view when you shop online. You can also use an app like Envelopes to keep track of your budget for you.

2. Secret Santa is a frugal woman's best friend

All the budgeting in the world won't help if there are simply too many people on your list. Secret Santa and similar traditions allow family members (or co-workers, or friends) to buy just one gift while infusing the gift-giving with an element of surprise and fun.

3. Sweat the small stuff

Over a third of our holiday shopping is spent on non-gift items, such as food, decorations, and greeting cards. Shipping also takes a huge bite out of the gift-giving budget. Consider all these factors, as well as wrapping, into your budget.

4. Stop giving (to some people)

Don't give just because you feel guilty or think you owe someone. Tipping mail carriers, child-care providers, etc. can be a huge undertaking, and sometimes you can't afford everyone. Consider giving those tips at another time in the year, when money is less tight. Other gifts can include services you can offer.

5. Get creative

Don't underestimate the power of a homemade gift, such as a neat arrangement of your own recipes. Redeeming points from rewards cards or credit cards can also make good gifts in a bind.

6. Let a "thank you" be enough

What do you do if you receive an unexpected gift? Trying to keep up with others is fiscally irresponsible and unnecessary. Your ego can be your biggest enemy. You can reciprocate with handmade cards or a homecooked meal, not necessarily in kind to what your gift was.

7. Start next year's planning now

The best way to get a handle on next year is to realize that time is on your side. Stock up on seasonal items after the holidays. Shop for affordable gifts throughout the year. Assemble your purchases in December and determine what you have left to buy. Earmark special savings throughout the year to go toward holiday spending when the time comes.

If you bust your budget, figure out where you went wrong. Was it overspending across the board? On one particular person? Give yourself a vision of what you want your holiday season to be like and remind yourself throughout the year to prepare for it.

Five Ways to Save on Heating

1. For each degree you turn down your thermostat, you will save about $16 a year. Adjusting it consistently and efficiently with a properly set programmable thermostat can earn you $180 a year.
2. Installing weather-stripping or caulking leaky doors and windows can mean $55 a year. To save more: Insulate hot-water pipes and duct work.
3. Open the curtains on south-facing windows during the day to let in sunlight
4. In winter, reverse a ceiling fan's direction so it disperses hot air.
5. Shopping for a new furnace? Energy Star models can be 16% more efficient (saving you $94). Keeping the filters clean can net you $72.

Me, Only Better via Ladies' Home Journal

Sandy M. Fernandez chose a few of her most disagreeable habits and devoted a week to improving each. The goal was to achieve a nicer, more livable Sandy.

1. Be more grateful

Humans tend to keep the negative things with us more than the positives. The best antidote is to keep a gratitude journal or writing gratitude letters.

Sandy used a nightly list, and soon she started to feel more lucky, humble, and happy. It also jolted her appreciation for her husband. Setting up habits for yourself in the area also help your children become more grateful.

2. Curbing spending

"Everyone thinks that having more money will make them happier," says Tom Rath, coauthor of Wellbeing: The Five Essential Elements. "If fact, it's feeling in control of your finances that does it." Modest indulgences add up over time. Try checking your balance before you make an electronic purchase.

3. Get organized

Sandy started a family calendar, created a landing pad for mail near her front door, tackled a mounting pile of old clothes, and made lunches for the week: all in a weekend. The key is carving out time in your schedule to let yourself catch up (or get ahead) on your own organization. She also entered a day-long organization binge every six weeks on her calendar.

4. Gossip less

Gossiping is a social staple; trading dirt is as reciprocal as gang initiation. People who don't gossip are often seen as distrustful. Sandy tried extending people the benefit of the doubt in gossip circles, opting to spend less time bringing others down.

5. Make time for me

While every mom does it, the droughts of "me time" can often result in angry lashing out or needless shopping sprees. The most beneficial "me time" activities are those that help you learn, connect with others, or contribute to the community.

Shop Smarter This Season via Good Housekeeping

Money saving strategies for getting all the perfect gifts on your list.

1. Buy when the price is right

Multi-tasking sites, like shoppingnotes.com and shopittome.com, send alerts when the price of items you're interested in are reduced. How it works: you sign up with your e-mail address and note the brands and/or items you want to track. Then you will get the e-mail messages when the goods go on sale. Shoppingnotes.com also offers benefits for referrals.

Use Amazon's Price Check app. Scan a barcode, snap a picture, or say or type in a product name. The app will find the lowest available price from Amazon and its online merchants.

2. Cash in on old electronics

Trade in anything used at Best Buy (whether or not you bought it there). Go to bestbuy.com/tradin to see what your item is worth, then ship your merchandise to the company with a prepaid label or bring it to a participating store. Choose either a rebate gift card or a check (which will be a smaller value).

3. Stay local

Stop by places you pass everyday to see what the local market has to offer, saving time, gas, and stress. Go to shoplocal.com.

4. Pick a secondhand Apple

Refurbished iPads and other elecronics go for much less than buying the products brand-new. Apple tests and certifies pre-owned items and offers warranties and free shipping. Go to apple.com and search for Special Deals.

5. Scope out free shipping

Freeshipping.com is a website that cagalogs sites and coupons that will get you  free shipping. Sticking to gift cards will also reduce the cost of getting an item to you.

6. Get two gifts for the price of one

Bookperk.com is a website that ties in promotions to book published by Harper Collins. Bundled gifts usually ship at no charge.

How to Protect Your Identity via Ladies' Home Journal

1. Safeguard your date

Don't carry your social security card around with you; keep them in a safe deposit box. If it appears on other cards, keep them separate from your wallet. Never email your SSN and don't give it out just because you're asked. You do need to include it on paperwork, but it is often requested unnecessarily. When in doubt, leave the line blank.

Shred personal documents and anything containing personal information, from preapproved credit offers to junk mail. Product registration cards or customer surveys can be used by marketers to get information about you, which can be stolen.

2. Take extra care with plastic

Anytime you use a card, there's a risk someone could steal your information. You must report fraudulent charges on your credit and debit cards. Regularly check your back account and activity. Don't use your cards with shady-looking vendors or on suspicious websites.

3. Monitor your credit

You have the right to check your credit score for free once a year. Use annualcreditreport.com. Check all the info, including birth dates and street addresses. Incorrect information can indicate identity theft.

4. Jump on any problems

If you spot fraudulent charges or accounts, act immediately. First, go to each of the three credit bureaus' websites and place fraud alerts on your credit reports. This advises credit card companies and banks not to grant new credit in your names without your express consent. Second, file a local police report. Third, call the fraud department of any accounts that you didn't open or that have been tampered with. Close the accounts and explain the situation. You'll be asked to fill out a fraud affidavit and submit a copy of your police report. This helps build your case that the charges aren't yours--since card companies won't just take your word for it. Finally, file an online complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. Experts there will refer you to various resources that can assist you in fully freezing your credit, proving that fraud has occurred and cleaning up the aftereffects, such as a ruined credit rating or a bad driving record.