Here are some steps that can help you walk more and drive less:

Make a list of the places you'll walk rather than drive

You may need to keep track of where you drive for a while for this to work, but note not only those places where driving requires a trip of less than a mile or two, but also determine where you can walk shorter distances than you can drive. Many subdivisions now feature biking and walking paths where you can't legally drive, allowing you to shortcut a driving trip. For instance, the distance to drive to the grocery store from my home is about one mile, but using the walking path in my neighborhood cuts the trip almost in half.

Measure the distance you'd drive

to each of the places you decide to walk or ride.

Measure the distance you'd walk or bike

to get to each of these places.

Keep track of the miles you avoid driving

If walking and biking allow you to get rid of a car, you'll save more than 50 cents per mile by eliminating all its costs; if you keep the car, you're still likely to save about 25 cents per mile (unless you have a plugin electric vehicle).

Keep track of the miles you walk or ride

Note that a typical person burns more than 100 calories per mile walked and up to 50 calories per mile when biked.

Make walking and biking to complete your errands a key part of your exercise program

Instead of walking 30 minutes on a treadmill or riding an hour on your spin cycle, walk or ride an errand instead.

If nothing else, the money you save on gas by biking or walking can go to something much more fun, like a donut or ice cream while you're out and about. If you're disciplined, the money can be saved for something much more meaningful and the calories burned can translate into a skinnier, healthier you.

By systematically organizing your exercise plan to be productive you can save time and money and lose weight, too - all while you do something to help the environment!

The post Walking or biking can save more money than you think appeared first on FamilyToday.

This article is not intended for the folks who'd like to have less debt-or no debt-this article is for people who are in real trouble, those who may be thinking of bankruptcy, and for others who may not yet know they have too much debt but find that their credit card balances are consistently heading in the wrong direction.

If you can't make all of your payments each month without borrowing on your credit cards, you should be thinking seriously about how to get out of debt.

Your short-run goal is to get your debts sized to fit your income so that you can make all of your payments each month without borrowing more money. Most people find that they can do this if their total monthly debt obligation (including rent) is less than 40% of their gross income.

Follow these simple steps to get yourself back in control

1. Make a list of your debts.

2. Make a list of your assets. Be thorough.

3. Put an asterisk next to each of the assets with a debt attached (your house likely has a mortgage, your car likely has a loan attached).

4. If you have investments on your list of assets, consider using them to pay down the highest interest rate loans-probably credit cards. Talk to a tax advisor before using money from your IRA or 401k.

5. Sell your grown up toys. Think about boats, RVs, ATVs, motorcycles and other things you put gas in but don't drive to work each day. Often worth thousands of dollars, these sorts of assets can be sold to pay down consumer debts. These toys also cost money to insure and use, putting pressure on your budget. Sell the toys and rent some when you can afford it.

6. Have a yard sale or garage sale to get rid of all of the stuff you don't use that takes up space and that has value. Use the proceeds to reduce your debt.

7. If you have a car with a car loan, sell it (if you can) to pay off the loan and buy a clunker for cash. Better still, sell the car, pay off the loan and take public transportation. The monthly saving will be huge.

8. Finally, if you own a home with a mortgage smaller than the value of the home, you can consider selling your home and buying a smaller one with a smaller mortgage. Chances are, this will come with the benefit of new neighbors who drive less expensive cars and take less exotic vacations, relieving you of some of the pressure you may have been feeling to keep up with the Joneses.

If these steps don't get your debt under control, you may be a candidate for help from a consumer credit counseling service, or even bankruptcy. To avoid those steps, you may wish to approach your lenders on your own to ask for relief. Some may be willing to work with you to reduce payments, because if you declare bankruptcy they will probably get even less.

Once you have your debt down to a manageable size, set a goal to get completely out of debt by committing to paying off your smallest debts first and then your larger ones. It will take time, but one day you really will be debt-free.

The post Too much debt? 8 steps to get it under control appeared first on FamilyToday.

It is hard to remember when there has been a better time to buy a home. In most places in the United States, with Manhattan and a few other places as notable exceptions, home prices are still well below their peak values in 2007.

If you would like to buy a home, the following ideas will help you get the most for your money without using most of your money!

1. Ask your mortgage loan officer how much you can afford to borrow then commit to borrowing less for your home purchase. It is tempting to buy a home that will stretch your finances to the absolute limit for some very good reasons, but, as the last five years have shown, that approach comes with some huge risks.

2. Find a home in a neighborhood where the average income is similar to yours or lower. If you stretch your way into a neighborhood where everyone earns more than you, you'll feel painful pressure to keep up with the Joneses in ways that are hugely expensive. If your budget only allows for summer vacations to the nearest national park and your neighbors are all vacationing in Hawaii or Europe, you'll feel poor even if you're not!

3. Stay in your home a long time. If you can stay in your home for fifteen years or more, the mortgage payment will seem to get smaller. Even modest levels of inflation over long periods of time will tend to push the value of your home up, along with your income, making the mortgage look small. After fifteen years, the remaining balance on your home may be comparable to a typical new car loan, meaning you could pay it off in just four or five years if you really wanted to do so. The longer you stay, the cheaper it gets. Stay for 30 years and suddenly it will be free!

4. Maximize the down payment. When you buy your home, it is a good idea to put as much down as possible. It may require some sacrifice to get the down payment up to 20% of the purchase price, but that will not only reduce the monthly payment, because you'll borrow less, but because you'll avoid mortgage insurance, which adds no value to your home, apart from allowing you to make a small down payment. If you have retirement savings in a 401k or IRA that can be used for the down payment, that may make sense if you are not yet 40 (so you have plenty of time to save for retirement). Check with your tax advisor, but you may be wise to use that to get your 20 percent down payment. Don't take money from retirement savings to create a larger down payment than 20 percent - keep the money in your retirement account.

The post 4 tips to help you buy a home you can really afford appeared first on FamilyToday.

Credit cards are magical devices that allow us to buy things without having money with us. Protected in the U.S. with regulations that prevent the user from suffering losses associated with stolen cards-if reported promptly - credit cards make spending money so much easier. That's the problem.

Credit cards allow us to buy stuff we can't afford. We think we can afford them if the credit card works, but that's almost as naïve as believing that there is still money in the checking account as long as there are checks in the checkbook. (If you're under 25 you may need to ask your Mom about that.)

Credit cards can be powerful tools. Given the regulations that govern them, using credit cards is safer than using debit cards, which lack some of the protections of credit cards. So, how do you manage your credit card spending?

First, "know when to say when". This is when the balance on your credit cards exceeds the cash in your checking account. You need to think of your credit cards like debit cards. Once you've spent the cash, you need to stop.

This requires that you keep track of both your checking balance and your total credit card balances. If that is a challenge for you, try using Mint.com. Not only can you track your balances in real time, the system will send you emails when you spend too much!

If you already carry balances on your credit cards that you can't pay with cash in your checking account, you need to get those balances down. If you can afford to make all of the payments without borrowing money somewhere each month, focus on that and pay a little extra each month on the smallest balance to get rid of it first, freeing up more cash for the next one and so on.

Set a limit on spending with your spouse. Both of you should check the statement to be sure that no one cheated (that no one went over the limit without permission).

If you can't control your credit card spending, get creative; people use a variety of gimmicks to prevent themselves from abusing the cards. The best advice: Don't carry them with you. You can't use them if you don't have them.

As a last resort, you can call the credit card company and ask them to close the account to new charges while you pay the balance down.

If you find yourself borrowing each month to pay off the credit cards, (perhaps using the Visa to pay off the Mastercard), it's time to get serious. In that situation, you should be thinking of things to sell to get your balances under control and your debt to a manageable level.

You can do it. You can manage your money. Don't let it control you!

The post How to manage your credit cards and not be managed by them appeared first on FamilyToday.

A prayer could be little more than a hopeful thought directed vaguely in the direction of heaven or it can be a ritual performed by ordained priests using sacred oil or holy water while using formal language. God hears it all.

If you want to pray, you may wish to follow these simple steps.

1. Call upon God

Use the language of your particular faith to address deity. By addressing deity in some way, as with the common Christian nomenclature, Heavenly Father, you - perhaps more than God - recognize the beginning of the prayer.

2. Thank God

Now that you have invoked the name of God, it may be wise to express gratitude. Even if you approach God in a crisis and desperately wish to invoke a blessing upon your child, it may be good form to note your appreciation for having the child in the first place.

3. Ask God

You've decided to pray for your child for a reason. Don't be shy. Certainly God knows the secret desire of your heart. Humbling yourself enough to ask God for the blessing you seek on behalf of your child demonstrates your faith.

4. Close

Many Christians choose to end a prayer with a reference to Christ, who is viewed as an intermediary with the Father. A simple "amen"� may serve as a signal that your prayer has concluded.

As you pray, it may help to visualize the God whom you address. Think of this almighty being as someone who cares about you personally. Just imagining the appearance of God will make the experience more real for you.

If you are desperate - and desperation is often the seed of faith that leads to prayer - many religions believe that physically indicating humility by kneeling or prostrating yourself on the ground serves as an expression of faith.

Praying in private ensures that you are praying to God and not for the sake of a mortal audience. While we've all heard beautiful prayers recited and have been inspired by them, your prayer for your child is burning in your heart. Don't focus on finding the flowery words to express your prayer, instead give voice to your real, honest thoughts and feelings.

Praying aloud, despite the fact that any omnipotent God knows what you're thinking, can serve again as a way to humble yourself as an expression of faith in the omnipotence of God and the heavenly ability to bless your child.

Don't worry that you may do it or have done it wrong. If you have expressed your honest thoughts and desires on behalf of your child, your prayer was heard. Prayers are answered, too. Listen, watch and ponder. Be open to the impressions that come to your mind as you do so. Though God could appear to you and tell you exactly what he's thinking, it seems more likely that an answer might simply be felt as peace in your heart or a strikingly clear thought placed in your mind.

The post A prayer for your child appeared first on FamilyToday.

So you have just finished college and are working in your first job; retirement feels like it is more than 40 years away - because it is. Why? you ask, should I be saving for retirement? I know it seems like contributing to retirement savings at your age is dumb when there are so many other pressing needs: student loans to be repaid, a decent car (finally!) and a home purchase all seem so much more important in your twenties than retirement.

Here's why you should make some room for retirement savings

High impact

Never again in your life will your savings have the kind of future value that it have now. Even more important to your total retirement savings situation than your rate of return is the number of years you get that return. If you invest now, your savings will grow 15 to 20 times before you retire. In other words, $1,000 of savings in your twenties could become as much as $20,000 in retirement.

Employer Match

If your employer offers a 401k plan and is offering to match some of your contributions with additional money, you are literally walking away from free money if you don't contribute to your 401k. Never walk away from free money!

Cars

I know it feels like after years of driving crappy little cars - or no car at all - as a college student, that you feel entitled to drive a decent car now. You deserve it. Really, you do. Don't waste your money. Even though you deserve a decent car, your future self will thank you if you choose to contribute to retirement savings rather than investing in a car that immediately begins to depreciate, asks for gas money every week and needs maintenance and insurance on top of all that.

Homes

You can make penalty-free withdrawals from IRAs and borrow from some 401k plans to make home purchases. In other words, saving for retirement may serve your shorter-term goal of buying a home quite well. You're best served by saving for both separately so you don't take a step backward in your retirement savings when you buy a home, but if you can't do both, save for retirement and watch for an opportunity to use the money to buy a home.

Student loans

You have to pay off your student loans, no doubt about it. Don't skip a payment now or ever so long as you are employed. That said, if you face a choice between paying extra to get out from under student loans faster or saving for retirement, save for retirement. (If you defer buying the car you deserve and drive your college clunker instead, you can probably afford to save for retirement and pay extra on your student loans while saving for a down payment on a home.)

By making even modest contributions to retirement each year in your twenties, you can have a big impact on your retirement. Imagine that you contribute 5 percent of your income for eight years to your retirement account and that your employer matches that 5 percent making it 10 percent of your income. With a typical college graduate salary of $40,000 for those eight years, you'd have socked away $32,000 that would become about $500,000 by the time you retire.

This article was originally published on FamilyShare.com. Check out these other related articles: (To B-orrow or not to B-orrow: That is the q

uestion) (5 Steps to catching the 'savings' bug), and (Finding freedom by living within your means).

The post In my 20s: Why should I save for retirement? appeared first on FamilyToday.

If you are a novice to the stock market, investing may seem to be an overwhelming challenge. If you understand these five key principles, you're ready to dip your toe in the water.

1. Funds

Mutual funds and ETFs (exchange-traded funds) are generally safer ways to invest your money in the stock market. These investment vehicles are professionally managed pools of money that are invested on your behalf. You can choose from a variety of funds, most of which are safer investments - and may have the same prospect for growth - compared with individual stocks.

2. Returns

Investors will generally measure their profits as return on investment - returns for short. Returns on stock investments - including stock funds mentioned above - exceed the returns on most other investments.

3. Risk

The reason that stocks yield better returns than other investments is largely due to the risk of loss. A stock can go to zero. That is a scary thought, but it isn't just theoretical. Every year some companies with publicly traded stock file for bankruptcy and their stockholders lose everything.

These risks are the reason that you want to invest in a portfolio of stocks and not just one stock. Funds give you the best way to invest in a portfolio of stocks. The best news about stocks is that the company can never force you to pay more than your investment. So if you invest $5,000 in the stock of a company that files for bankruptcy, you don't have to worry about getting a bill to help repay the creditors.

4. Timing

Some people will try to convince you that you can time investments in the market to earn better returns than the market provides. Most people who try this fail, many fail miserably. Some buy when stocks are down in price only to watch them go lower and then sell in desperation. Others buy when stocks are high in hopes they go still higher only to watch them fall and then sell in disappointment.

Over the long haul, stock prices tend to go up. Buy your stocks for the long haul and then hold them for a long time. The best time to sell a stock is when that stock has gone up so much it represents more than 20 percent of your total portfolio - even then, you may wish only to sell some of your stock.

5. Diversification

A stock portfolio should be diversified. It takes about a dozen different companies to create a diverse portfolio. Even then, your portfolio won't be truly diversified unless the companies are in different industries that are not highly correlated (don't move in the same direction at the same time for the same reasons).

It is challenging to build such a portfolio. Think of it this way. If you own only stocks related to the automotive industry because you love cars, your portfolio will get crushed when the auto industry struggles. A more diverse portfolio would not suffer so much.

There is a lot more to learn about stock investing, but you're ready now to start investing. Continue reading to find out how to choose a good mutual fund.

This article was originally published on FamilyShare.com. Check out these other related articles: My company just gave me stock options, what now?,

Stock picking sounds fun: How do I start? and Stock options are alluring; avoid them anyway.

The post 5 stock market basics [COMIC] appeared first on FamilyToday.

The virus is passed through sex, shared hypodermic needles and infected tattoo needles. The blood supply is generally considered safe in the U.S. as it is carefully screened.

Consider the following advice to help you relate with a family member with HIV or AIDS.

Be optimistic

A person with HIV who has not yet developed AIDS can potentially remain healthy for decades and can expect to live a long life. Your interaction with an infected family member should never indicate you think otherwise. Imagine walking up to a friend with diabetes and suggesting she was likely to die soon. That would be absurd. It is no different when talking to a family member with HIV. Go ahead and plan for the future.

Be sensitive

A person with AIDS can be treated successfully and maintain a normal lifestyle for many years. Every case is different so be sensitive to what you see and hear from your family member.

Don't judge

You wouldn't judge a family member who had cancer, diabetes or heart disease. Don't judge a family member with HIV or AIDS.

Get educated

Learn all you can about HIV/AIDS. You can start with a variety of online resources, including the WebMD HIV & AIDS Health Center.

Be supportive

As best you can, put yourself in the place of your family member. Imagine how scared you might feel. Offer the love and support you would want if you had HIV. AIDS patients are sometimes subject to discrimination; your family member will treasure your support if she is subjected to discrimination at work, in housing or at school.

Express love

Many of those with HIV and AIDS report that people treat them differently when they learn about their diagnosis. Be sure that you express your love and affection for your family members just the same after you learn of their diagnosis as before.

Be vigilant

If you are responsible to help care for someone with HIV or AIDS, be vigilant in giving the treatments prescribed by the doctor.

Be helpful

The cost of treatment can reach $15,000 per year for the drugs alone. If you are in a position to help a family member with limited resources, please do so. Note, too, that there are programs available to help people who struggle to afford their drugs to be sure to stay on their drug programs.

By following these tips, you can build a stronger relationship with a family member who is HIV-positive or who has developed AIDS. Many feel they are stigmatized by people who know they have the disease. You may not be able to change how others treat them, but you can control how you treat family members with HIV or AIDS.

The post How to deal with a family member who has HIV/AIDS appeared first on FamilyToday.

There are lots of reasons to save, but none loom larger than retirement. Many people who retire after 2042 will have more than $1 million in their retirement savings when they retire. Those who don't will wish they did. These tips will help you invest in such a way that you can retire with the money you need.

Most people will want to have 10 to 15 times their last employed year's income in their retirement savings. That kind of balance will enable them to maintain their lifestyle through their entire retirement. In order to do that, you need to be saving for retirement and investing it wisely. In order to get the investment returns you will need, here are the investments that are most likely to help you achieve your retirement goals.

401k plan

your primary retirement savings should be in your company's 401k plan. Make sure that you are participating by contributing a portion of your compensation every pay period.

Stocks

stocks have traditionally earned returns well above the inflation rate, meaning that over the long term if you invest in stocks you can expect the value of your portfolio to grow faster than the cost of living increases. You should be getting head of the game. It is important to note that stocks go up and down in value every day. In the short run, stock prices appear random. You can only predict the direction of the market over the long term. Individual stocks are inherently hard to predict. As a result, you'll want to own lots of different stocks in different industries. As a good rule of thumb, owning at least a dozen different stocks will smooth out some of the biggest investment bumps. You generally cannot invest in stocks directly through your 401K plan.

Long-term bonds

corporate bonds have not traditionally returned yields as high as the stock market, but the returns are more stable and also typically exceed inflation. So, here again, you can invest in a way that will allow your money to grow faster than the value of your money that is being eroded by inflation. If you invest all of your money in bonds you would expect to earn less over the long term than if you include some stocks in your portfolio. As with stocks, you generally can't invest in bonds directly through your 401k plan.

Mutual funds and ETFs

the easiest way for small investors to own stocks and bonds is to use mutual funds and ETFs (exchange traded funds). These funds pool the money from many large and small investors. They also hire professional managers to make the investment decisions. You should buy only mutual funds that charge low fees, allowing you to get the benefit of a professional manger without paying much for it. Many brokers will allow you to buy (and sell with limitations) certain mutual funds and ETFs without paying any commission. Your 401k plan is likely to offer a variety of mutual fund options.

Asset allocation

you should choose what proportion of your portfolio to invest in stocks and what proportion to invest in bonds. Over time, as you near retirement, you may want to shift that balance more in favor of bonds than stocks (bonds are less likely to lose value and generate more cash). That said, most people recognize the need to keep some of their money invested in stocks even after retirement. Your retirement should last for a long time.

With these basic ideas, you're ready to start investing for your retirement. Be sure to talk to a financial advisor to determine how much you should be saving each month. If your employer offers a 401k plan, your employer should make a financial advisor available to you at no charge to help you make decisions about your investments and contributions to the 401k plan.

This article was originally published on FamilyShare.com. Check out these other related articles: $1 million won't make you rich in retirement, How do I save enough for my dream retirement? and How do I diversify my retirement savings appropriately?

The post It’s never too late to plan. How to invest for retirement appeared first on FamilyToday.

Experiencing sadness when tragedy occurs is not only normal but healthy. Everyone grieves in their own way and no one should give too much credence to friends and family members who insist you are suffering the wrong way or too much or too long. Most of all, you should not feel guilty about being sad following a tragedy.

On the other hand, if you can't seem to shake the blues and you are ready to stop grieving, here are some ideas to help you overcome sadness.

Remember that it isn't about you

Whether you are struggling with a death in the family or divorce, you need to recognize that this tragedy was not your fault and not a reflection on your character. Bad things happen to good people. They just do. You are OK.

Remember that it will get better

Rest assured that life can return to normal; some changes are permanent, but your life will go on. You will be happy again. You may have to argue with yourself to be convincing, but don't let your feelings of sadness persist, push them away.

Remember the breadth of the problem is limited

Even in the case of losing a spouse, which seems to pervade every aspect of your life, remember there is much that will remain unchanged. Your children and other family members are still here for you. Your career will be largely unchanged. In fact, most things will carry on as if nothing has happened. That may make you angry at some level, but it should also give you hope.

Find your faith

In the darkest times in life, many find genuine comfort in faith. If that feels foreign to you, but you genuinely want to find a way out from under a dark cloud, consider exercising faith. Try praying. Visit a church. Seek a spiritual connection to God.

Give service

During a time of sadness, you might not feel the least bit like doing something for someone else. You may not even feel that you have the physical strength required to give service. Identify a genuine need in someone else and address that need, no matter how small. That simple act will likely give you more strength, more energy and more optimism than it requires. Treat this like the directions on a shampoo bottle: lather, rinse, repeat. Serve, feel refreshed, repeat.

Stop stewing

Those who suffer the greatest degree of sadness have a tendency to ruminate on their problems. Focusing on the problems tends to amplify them. There are two tactics you can use to end the rumination: first, do something else and second, schedule a time a few days out to ruminate and ponder your problems. Chances are that by the time you get to the scheduled rumination time, your desire to sit and ruminate will have passed. You will have moved on.

Don't be too eager to move past your sadness following a genuine tragedy. Grieving is good. On the other hand, if you find yourself distraught over a broken lunch date or an inconsiderate comment from a coworker, take courage. Apply these principles to overcome your angst and find happiness again. Some of these ideas are well developed in the book Learned Optimism.

The post How to get over sadness appeared first on FamilyToday.