Savings

Why do moms feel ashamed of the age-old art of saving money?

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Wendy Thomas: At a recent soccer game, I was talking with one mom whose husband was out of work and who had recently gone back to work because "she had to." Money was tight in the household. The subject of her son's birthday came up, and she lowered her voice so the other soccer moms couldn't hear as she told me about her themed party held at a park with outdoor games and homemade cake. "It didn't cost much, and the kids had a blast," she told me.

She also confessed in a whisper that she should have looked at a thrift store before buying her son a new soccer goalie shirt for his birthday gift. "Do you know how expensive those things are?" she asked me.

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My first five years in New York, I led a good single life. Working as a technology and business consultant, I earned a nice salary which allowed me to enjoy nice dinners with friends, spend frivolously and not think twice about large purchases. 

I was spoiled by a solid job market within a bullish industry and did not max out my 401k let alone contribute to it nor did I set up a savings account despite the consistent pleading of my parents.

Then a move uptown came when the movers politely drove away with every last item I owned, never to be seen again. It may be hard to comprehend but a robbery was one of the most valuable life lessons I ever received.

Like the pre-bandit me, many singles save little because they have only themselves to worry about when in fact, planning is even more crucial for singles because they must face every financial challenge independently. During my disaster recovery, I learned some money management tips (and other safety tips) that I think every single should consider:

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On any given day, one-third of Americans will visit a restaurant, according to the National Restaurant Association. In 2009 alone, U.S. restaurants will serve up more than 70 billion meals and snacks. That's a lot of food! Unfortunately for restaurant patrons, it also adds up to a lot of money. In most cases, a restaurant meal will cost significantly more than cooking at home will. But what if you're just not willing to sacrifice the convenience and luxury of dining out? The good news is, you can still cut your expenses significantly. We provide eight ways to slash your restaurant expenses. (For more tips on cutting your food costs, see 22 Ways To Fight Rising Food Prices .)

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Michele Ashamalla: My son came back from a camp trip to Disneyland with one of those fun bubble blower guns. Well, it would have been fun if it had worked. He spent his own money for it, and was understandably disappointed. Believe it or not, he actually had the receipt, but there was no way I was going to go all the way to Disneyland to negotiate an exchange. One call to Disneyland customer service put me in touch with someone who promised to send me out a new one if I faxed the receipt.

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Renovating a room in your house is exciting-- not to mention expensive!  Most of us can’t afford to work with an interior designer to help us realize our vision, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t achieve the designer look that you’ve always wanted while getting the most bang for your buck! Read More »