Work + Money

Even though I've been fortunate enough to pick up more writing work, it's kind of a tough situation.

But hey, it's not all Ramen noodles and crushing guilt! I'm focusing on the positives, like having my husband home a lot more.

And I've actually found, deep under the suckiness, 7 reasons I'm happy my husband's unemployed:

undefined

1. Never have to wonder if the hubby will be home in time for dinner
He will be! Because now every night is "Family Night." We're exactly like Leave it to Beaver, if Ward was unemployed and the Cleavers could only afford Spam.

Related: 5 reasons most women would work, even if they didn't have to

undefined

2. There's someone around to appreciate my sarcasm all day
Part of my work involves checking the news pretty frequently, which of course means I need to comment on it all day long. Frankly, the kids don't really appreciate my take on the Toddlers & Tiaras mom's lawsuit as much as my husband does.

undefined

3. Time alone
Our youngest is only in half-day kinde

...Read More »

If you own a car, it's likely that you've noticed something rather disturbing at the gas pump lately: high gas prices -- now averaging $3.56 a gallon across the country and up nearly 30 cents from the start of the year.

More from The Stir: Watch Out! Cars Without Drivers Could Be Heading Down a Road Near You

I don't have to tell you that there are few issues that anger drivers more than rising gas prices -- especially drivers who live in cities that have seen the highest increases. But before we look at ways to offset the price at the pump, let's look at the areas of the country with the highest gas prices:

According to Gas Buddy, the states with the highest gas prices are Hawaii, California, New York, Alaska, Connecticut, and Washington, DC with drivers paying anywhere from $3.80 to a little over $4 per gallon. The last time gas topped $4 was 2008, and experts predict that prices could reach a record $4.25 a gallon by late April.

Of course, it's tempting to blame

...Read More »

As grocery prices keep climbing, I've had to change the way I shop for food for my family. Now instead of buying all my groceries at our two neighborhood supermarkets, I'm shopping at nine different stores for the best grocery deals of the week. By taking advantage of the low prices, coupons, and advertised specials that each of these stores have to offer, it has been possible to lower our family's grocery budget by 40% or more without having to give up the foods we like.

Stocking up on the loss leaders at my favorite supermarkets is one way to save money. Buying groceries at off-beat stores is another. Here's just a few of the other places I shop at to save our family money.

Third-tier discount stores. Did you ever wonder what happens to food that's nearing the expiration date? Overstock and close-to-expiring foods are often sold to third-tier discount stores where they are priced to sell. Including stores like these on my shopping route lets me buy my favorite organic foods, dair

...Read More »

What does it take to become ranked as a top woman of finance?
The same thing it takes for a man: knowledge, competence, creativity, perseverance and maybe a little luck thrown in, to boot.
The women on our list are at the top of their field, setting the bar for the next generation of female financial superstars. But at the same time, they are still continuously expanding their sphere of influence.

A soft drink executive is leading the healthy eating movement; a former computer executive is raising $1 billion to pursue opportunities in China; a finance minister is being primed to take over one of the world's most influential banks.

All of these women have remarkable resumes and are at the top of their game. So, in no particular order, here are our top 10 most powerful women in finance:

1. Abby Joseph Cohen -- Partner/Sr. U.S. Investment Strategist, Goldman Sachs
As one of the most influential economic analysts in the world, Abby Joseph Cohen is known throughout the financial in

...Read More »

It often seems like there's never enough time to get everything done in a work day. We're under constant pressure to stick to deadlines while still trying to do all the work correctly. You don't have to struggle every day to get everything done that you need to. There are actually extra minutes and even hours you may not even realize you have. When you need to get more done in your work day, there are several ways to make it happen without sacrificing in other areas of your life.

Make a to-do list

This is one of the most important ways to get more done at work. It sounds simple enough, but a lot of people don't even bother with it. It's a really useful tool for making sure you don't forget to do anything and having to rush around last minute. Make the list the day before and put the most important tasks on top, but leave a space in between each one in case more need to be added on the following morning.

Do the most challenging things first

When you get the challengin

...Read More »