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How to Protect Your Child From Bullies & Build Their Self-Confidence

Michael Lewis

children performing martial artsOne of the worst feelings a parent can experience is learning that his or her child is a victim of bullying. Anger is quickly followed by feelings of frustration, helplessness, and worry. And unfortunately, the problem is rampant: 15% of students do not go to school every day for fear of being bullied, and 1 of 10 students drops out due to repeated bullying. According to DoSomething.org, 90% of fourth through eighth graders report being victims of bullying.

Bullying has existed since humans began to socialize, and is likely to continue despite efforts of schools and parents to intervene and break the cycle. The unfortunate fact is that many Americans don’t take bullying very seriously.

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8 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Deciding to Build Your Own House

Jacqueline Curtis

buildersBack in 2005, on a whim, my husband and I decided to look at home contractors – and thus began the 18-month process of building our own home. What began as a curious afternoon ended up dictating our lives until we finally moved into our house in the fall of 2006.

While we love our home and the experience was generally positive, the truth is I wouldn’t recommend doing it on a whim like we did. Unfortunately, we made some serious mistakes along the way and didn’t plan for a lot of contingencies, which made the process harder than it should have been.

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Join Us on Twitter for a Chat About Indoor & Outdoor Home Maintenance on April 12th at 4PM EST

Money Crashers

home maintenance drillThis Friday, we will be holding a TweetChat with the topic of Spring Checklist: Indoor & Outdoor Home Maintenance in mind from 4-5pm EST.

Simply follow @MoneyCrashers and participate in the chat with hashtag #MCchat on Twitter and you will be entered in the prize draw.

We hope to see you there!

Manilla Review – Get All Your Online Accounts & Bills in One Place

David Bakke

manilla logoLooking to save money and de-clutter your life? It may be time to organize and streamline your financial picture, and the services offered by Manilla can help.

Personal finance can be a dull and tedious subject, but if you get all the information for your various accounts in one place, you can easily manage your finances and keep up with due dates. Manilla offers bill payment reminders and  stores all of your documents and statements.

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Choosing the Best Streaming Media Services & Devices

Christy Rakoczy

streaming mediaWith thousands of television channels at your fingertips, it’s hard to imagine that there was a time when we had just a handful – and you had to stand up to change them. Unfortunately, along with the ever-increasing options have come ever-increasing prices. Arguably, the only aspect of television not to go up is the quality of the content.

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7 Updated Financial Money Mantras for Modern Times

Jacqueline Curtis

money lightbulbWe live in a modern world. I wake up in the morning to find my smartphone telling me that my daughter’s permission slip is due and it’s “pirate day” for my son’s preschool. I hop out of bed and whip up a smoothie while watching an episode of “Mad Men” on my iPad and then work remotely from my computer – all things that barely even existed when I was a kid. So why, if we live in such a modern world, has financial advice not kept up with the changing times?

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Best New Bank Account Promotions, Offers & Free Money

David Bakke

stack cashWith many financial institutions experiencing a decrease in profits, banks are vying for your business. This is good news for you, because instead of just offering standard perks like no fees, free checking, or a free pen when you sign up for an account, some banks are raising the stakes with cold hard cash, giveaways, and great interest-bearing products.

April is a good month for bank promotions from both big and small banks. Banks are giving away a lot of free cash to attract new customers and get them to open up accounts. The banks listed below have some pretty sweet deals that you should take advantage of if you are in the market for a new bank.

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Cheap Swaps & Alternatives to Expensive High-End Makeup Brands

Jacqueline Curtis

makeupHands up if you’re totally addicted to makeup – my hand is definitely raised high. I love trying new products, checking out the latest colors, and splurging on a purchase every now and then. After all, if you wear makeup every day, you want the best stuff out there.

Unfortunately, my budget doesn’t always agree. And while I do admit that there are a few things I splurge on (quality mascara and foundation are my must-haves), I’ve learned that you don’t need to spend big bucks on pricey designer makeup when other products out there are just as good – if not better.

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7 Reasons Why the Keystone XL Pipeline Should Be Approved

Michael Lewis

pipelineDuring the past presidential campaign, the Keystone XL Pipeline became a political football. Since that time, the pipeline’s planned route has been changed to avoid potential harm to the Ogallala Aquifer and is currently awaiting final approval from the State Department.

Many Americans, however, are surprised to learn that the Keystone Pipeline already exists, transporting since 2010 590,000 barrels of “heavy” crude oil a day, 2,148 miles from the oil sands surrounding Hardisty, Alberta, Canada to Steele City, Nebraska and subsequently to holding facilities in Patoka and a ConocoPhillips refinery at Wood River, Illinois. The Keystone, owned by TransCanada, is one of many crude oil pipelines currently crossing the border between the United States and Canada, including the Express and Enbridge lines.

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7 Best Ways to Keep Your Money Safe When Traveling

Valencia Higuera

vacation fundsAre you eagerly counting down the days to your next vacation? After working hard throughout the year, you deserve a few days of relaxation and fun. But regardless of how excited you are to take your next trip, it’s always crucial that you plan wisely and always remember to take plenty of precautions. After all, nothing can ruin your trip faster than losing your bankroll. Pickpockets often target tourists, and if you’re careless with your wallet or purse, someone could swipe your money from under your nose.

Don’t be an easy target. Here are some simple ways to keep your money safe when traveling.

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7 Reasons Why Your Personal Budget Is Failing and How to Fix It

Jacqueline Curtis

budgetingI am a serial budget-maker. The number-crunching, the spreadsheets, the organization – I’m absolutely addicted. However, over the years, I’ve nursed a love-hate relationship with my budget. I love how it organizes my funds, but I hate actually having to adjust my spending to meet what a spreadsheet tells me.

So, what’s someone with the best intentions to do when a budget isn’t working? It’s usually human error that makes a budget fail, and by investigating for possible gaffes, you might find out where you’ve gone wrong. Don’t fear your budget – just be vigilant and triple-check it for accuracy to ensure it works with you, not against you. And always keep an eye out for the major reasons that most budgets fail.

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How to Save on Shipping Costs When Shopping Online

Valencia Higuera

online shoppingThe Internet has completely changed the way we conduct business. A few clicks of your mouse, and you can schedule appointments, book a hotel reservation, reserve an airline ticket, and even start your journey to earn a college degree. Of course, one of the biggest perks of the Internet – and one of the most widely used – is online shopping.

Online shopping has taken the world by storm, with more and more people hopping online to purchase everything from clothes to books. Why deal with crowded shopping malls and long checkout lines? Using the Internet to compare prices and make purchases is easy, fast, and fun.

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Personal Finance Round-Up: It Pays to Keep All Business Receipts

Money Crashers

receiptsSaving receipts for business expenses is crucial for all business owners. In an article published by Entrepreneur Magazine, 7 Tips for Keeping Receipts Organized for Tax Time, author Mark J. Kohler explains how one real estate broker learned this lesson the hard way and found herself in tax court. In the case of Ong v. the Internal Revenue Service, Betty Ong was unable to produce receipts for thousands of dollars worth of deductions. Regardless of whether the transactions were legitimate, Ong had no leg to stand on without the receipts, and the IRS won easily.

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10 Good Places to Volunteer – Opportunities & Organizations

Angela Colley

volunteer girl groupThere are plenty of reasons to volunteer your time for a good cause. I do it because I believe in the work, and while that’s enough for me, I certainly get a lot more out of it than I initially expected. I have volunteered for most of my adult life rescuing dogs and assisting in animal shelters. In addition to this gratifying work, I’ve also learned web design, public relations, and copyediting – all career skills that have bolstered my resume, made me more hireable, and turned me into a more effective worker.

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Moving Out of Your Parents’ House – 6 Financial Tips to Live on Your Own

Valencia Higuera

moving into a new apartmentMoving out of your parents’ house just may be the most important step you take toward independence. You can finally live by your own rules, without curfews or restrictions, and take care of responsibilities on your own schedule and in your own way.

However, as appealing as this may sound, the freedom of living on your own comes with great responsibility, financial and otherwise. Before you take this bold step, make sure you’re fully prepared for what lies ahead.

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