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Unique Baby Gift Ideas – Diaper Cakes

If you are looking for ideas when it comes to unique baby gifts then you should consider buying diaper cakes. A diaper cake not only makes a cute and adorable present at baby showers but you can also be sure that your gift will be put to use. If you want your gift to stand out among all the other baby gifts at the shower, be sure to put a lot of thought into the diaper cake that you will choose. Diaper cakes come in various colors depending on the baby that the mother-to-be will be welcoming. The contents of these gifts are also more than just diapers—there are also cotton swabs, baby lotions, baby powder and more.

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Are You Saving For Your Child’s College Educ...

By Silicon Valley …

Are you worried about savings account rates and whether your investments are keeping up with your financial expectations?  That perhaps your money isn’t stretching far enough to fund some of your future financial goals?   Well you’re not alone.  There is one financial goal in particular, that looms heavily upon those of us with children: increasing costs tied to the call of higher education and college. 

Lately, the issue of higher tuition rates has occupied the news; we heard of the disruption that took place at U.C. Berkeley when regents announced rising fees in the horizon.  It can’t be helped really — it’s one of those things that will hold true just like death and taxes do: rising college costs have always been a rite of passage for all of us — parents and kids alike!  (Check out our College Financial Aid How-to Guide for ideas on how to deal with the rising cost of higher education.)

But I’d like to bring up the notion that perhaps not all parents are intending to save for their children’s education.  No, they’ve decided not to set up that Coverdell ESA with an online stock broker or mutual fund company. There may be various reasons why this is the case and it’s something I’d like to explore a little; I’d also like to determine how some well-meaning families are coping with the pressures of paying for college.

7 Reasons Why Parents May Decide Not To Save For College

I am making these points mainly to elicit discussion.  But do you know anyone who has decided not to save for college?  And if so, why don’t they?  I thought about it a bit and came up with a few possible reasons (or "excuses"):

1. You feel that you don’t have enough resources.

A common reason for not saving for college is that you just don’t have enough money to fund competing financial goals.  The rule of thumb here is that you should first fund your retirement accounts before you contribute to your child’s 529 college savings plan. The reason?  It’s more important to ensure that you take care of your own future to avoid having others worry about you in your old age.  Your kids can qualify for financial aid, but it will be tough for you to handle any shortfalls in your retirement years if you don’t have the means or the savings to live on.  Now if financial resources are the issue for you, you may be assured by the knowledge that there are easier ways to get others involved with your savings goals: perhaps an avenue like a 529 account or a free savings account like SmartyPig that allows others to help contribute to your goals may be helpful.  It’s something worth checking out.

2. Some kids are independent and make their own decisions.

I believe that not everyone is necessarily cut out to go to college.  It’s also often the case that people in the cusp of adulthood will feel that they aren’t ready to enter college at a certain point in their lives.  Of course, they may always change their minds later, and that’s something that they can decide for themselves.  Now there are kids that only need a little motivation to be able to make it through school.  If you’re a parent, you’ll know whether your child is the type whom you should trust with this important decision; and based on how you gauge your child, some of you may realize that your child may not require you to cover 100% of their educational needs.

3. Some parents expect their kids to pay their way.

Maybe it’s a lesson in life that they’d like to impart to their kids, but many parents make the conscious decision to have their kids pay their way through school.  In the past, by cobbling together various financing resources such as college scholarships, financial aid, work and student loans, a student can make their way through college on their own.  But in recent years, with college costs much more expensive, leaving the financial burden for college solely on your child may no longer be a reasonable option.  Perhaps your children’s efforts would probably be better spent attaining a full-time college education and then paying you back once they get a secure full-time job in their chosen career.

4. Kids of veterans may receive reimbursements of educational costs.

Children of veterans are entitled to have 70 percent of their college education reimbursed.  However, parents must still pay for the first semester of college in full. Once the child attains a grade of C or better in all subjects, a designated percentage of the tuition is reimbursed.  Parents can roll these reimbursements into paying for the next semester but still need to come up with the remaining money for their kids’ education.  Again, 529 programs such as the one offered by the College Advantage Ohio 529 Savings Plan may help you build up some of the savings needed to support your child.  Veteran parents can save more on their children’s schooling by remaining apprised of the latest programs available to them. 

5. Certain families don’t see the value of higher education.

Unfortunately, not all people find value in going to college. Those folks who are particularly entrepreneurial by nature may think that their kids may be better off getting the experience from the school of hard knocks, say by working in the family business.  They may value life experiences above those that can be obtained from a structured, academic environment.  In this case, it’s all about the family’s values. 

6. Some parents have lowered expectations.

If a child is not doing that well in primary school, his or her parents may end up having lower expectations of the child. Without noticing the potential, some parents may become discouraged about helping their kids pursue a higher education.  It’s sad, but could they be unwilling to take the risk of investing in their child’s education?  I believe that no matter what, we shouldn’t give up on our kids as surprising transformations can happen in people.

7. There’s the belief that what’s good for the parent is also good for the chld.

There are some parents who didn’t finish college or never attended college, and because of their own experiences, they may not feel compelled to have their kids acquire an education on their dime.  But fortunately, there are many parents who don’t think this way, despite the fact that they’ve never made it into the hallowed halls of academia.  There are many parents who value college highly and look upon it as the holy grail for the next generation; therefore, they do what they can to encourage their children to get a degree.  These are the stories that should inspire us to think about how we can push forward to better ourselves and the plight of the youths in our lives.

Having the opportunity to attend college is priceless and even when resources are low, there may be ways to save up for this important phase in your child’s life.  If there’s a will, there’s a way.

Permalink | 17 comments | Silicon Valley Blogger's blog | Channel: Investment

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Best Deals for Monday 01/04/2010

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The 2010 Gift Wrapping Challenge

By Nora Dunn

Myshca’s recent conglomerate of green gift wrapping ideas prompted me to share with you my own gift wrapping strategy – or rather, gift wrapping challenge.

You see, I abhor two things:

1) Spending money when I don’t need to

2) Consuming – and wasting – products and resources that I don’t need

Half of the paper consumed in the U.S. every year is used to wrap and decorate consumer products. This seems absolutely ludicrous to me. That is to say, we could save 50% of paper consumed in the U.S. each year simply by finding an alternative to wrapping and decorating gifts. By this rationale, why on earth wouldn’t we?

Last Christmas a friend of mine noticed that I had used some creative techniques to avoid wrapping any presents with wrapping paper or gift bags. She so appreciated the idea that we mutually challenged each other to wrap all presents throughout 2009 with not one piece of new wrapping paper, plastic wrap, or gift bags.

One year later, we both emerged victorious. Not only did we spend less money on gift wrapping materials, but in many cases the gift wrap actually formed part of the present itself.

Here are a few of the techniques that we used, as well as a few extras that complement Myshca’s list:

Second Hand Store Blitz

Besides ransacking our own homes for goods, we visited some local second hand stores for gift wrapping inspiration. Here are a few of the things we bought/recycled/wrapped with:

Purses & Bags

At less than $1 per purse, we got some pre-loved beach bags, toiletry bags, day packs, clutch purses, and other bags that could hold the present itself and become a part of the gift. We made no qualms about the bags being used…and gave our recipients permission to recycle it/give it away/wrap another gift with it if they didn’t like the idea of using it as a purse or bag themselves.

Baskets

I remember looking for decent baskets one year and being appalled at the cost to buy them new. Go to the second hand store though, and you can get them for 20 cents to a dollar per basket. Great to fill with presents.

Basket Accessories

The only problem with filling a basket with presents is that it leaves little to the imagination unless you wrap the basket in plastic wrap – which contradicts the point. So how did we finish wrapping our basket-clad presents? A few ways:

Silk Scarves – Line the basket with a scarf and tie it up at the top with a few ornaments for flare. Scarves are dirt cheap at the second hand store, if you don’t already have one. Alternately you can use fabric scraps of any kind.

Extra Tinsel – A friend who moved house gave me a box of old Christmas decorations that were bound for the garbage. I used some of this extra tinsel to stuff the tops of baskets and bags so the recipient had something to unwrap, an element of surprise, and some fun with the tinsel.

Used Gift Bags

At 20 cents a piece for some used gift bags that didn’t look used, I saved a pile of money. Each gift bag was a minimum of $3 brand new.

Stockings

I love to wrap presents in Christmas stockings. You can regularly find them at the second hand store for a pittance, and they add a festive flare to the gift without having to do anything more than stuff the stocking.

Aside from looking at the local second hand store for inspiration, here are a few other cheap and environmentally friendly tactics to help meet the gift wrap challenge:

Children’s Art

The best Christmas cracker I received this year was one hand-made by a friend and her three year old daughter. They took some of her artwork, wrapped it around a toilet paper tube, threw in a few knick-knacks, and tied off the ends.

You can also use your kiddie’s creations to wrap gifts of all manner and size.

Recycled Paper

And I’m not talking about the recycled gift wrap – or any type of recycled paper for that matter – that you buy in the store. Although it’s better, it still breaks the challenge rules. The recycled paper I am referring to are comic strips, butcher paper, old calendars, and old maps. Take a look around your home for anything that you don’t need or might throw away (or recycle) which could wrap a present. If the paper itself is a little blasé, then pretty it up with some color contrast, drawings, or writing.

Fabric Bags

If you are quick with a sewing machine or needle and thread, you can take a scrap of material (preferably old clothing that’s still in decent nik), fold it in half, sew up the sides, and whamo – you have a fabric bag. If you are industrious enough to add a ribbon drawstring, it is surely a form of gift wrap that will be proudly re-used by the person you give it to.

Wallpaper Samples

As long as you’re not too picky about patterns for your gift wrap, your local paint and wallpaper supplier might be able to give you samples that have been discontinued. These are great for small to medium sized gifts, and you can combine complementing samples to wrap larger gifts.

Glass Jars and Plastic Containers

Instead of recycling those glass jars and bottles and plastic containers from the grocery store, wash them out and re-use them! The most elegant gift I made this year was an old clear champagne bottle filled with olive oil, hot peppers, and kaffir lime leaves. This flavored olive oil could have sold in stores for a small fortune given the beautiful bottle and unique ingredients – and it took me five minutes to make.

I also decorated old yogurt containers and filled them with baked goods for gifts. Fill an old glass jar with beads and watch the little crafty girl in your life go bananas.

Origami Paper Box

Although I didn’t try it, I found this technique for making small boxes out of paper, and I love it.

E-Cards

Although this has little to do with gift wrapping, it is another way to save a crazy amount of paper that gets consumed each year. Although some people are die-hard card collectors, most people throw them away within days of receiving the card, and the sentiment is all that remains.

The sentiment can be equally weighty with an e-card. It’s free, it doesn’t waste paper, and e-cards are interactive, creative, and fun.

By virtue of the gift wrapping challenge I shared with my friend for 2009, the word was spread, and two friends were so pleased with their creatively wrapped gifts that they have decided to take on the challenge too….and wrap all gifts in 2010 with wrapping paper alternatives. Down with buying new gift paper and gift bags!

Are you in for the challenge?

Permalink | Comments | Nora Dunn's blog | Channel: Art and Leisure, Green Living, Shopping

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Goal Setting, Defined and Deconstructed

By Julie Rains

Many people are setting goals for the new year. I have been thinking about my goals: ones that I am contemplating now; those achieved in the last year; some abandoned; and a few unattained but possible. I realized that the type of goal, rather than its real or perceived difficulty, is a good predictor of fulfillment or frustration. Here are ways to define goals, deconstruct them, and plan for success. 

Process vs. Results-oriented Goals

Process goals are like resolutions. I might resolve to do strength training two times each week, and run or go to a cycle class three times per week. Or, I might decide to eliminate chocolate and ice cream from my diet, all but one time per week. A job seeker might decide to begin networking a few hours each week and set up at least four informational interviews each month.

Results-oriented goals are usually dependent on processes or a series of actions but are considered achieved based solely on the outcome. Examples are a certain weight lifted, race finished, or pounds lost. A job seeker may be successful if he or she lands a position with a certain organization or a specific salary (or gets any job at all).

Unless standards are set very low, the process goal is more readily achieved than the results-oriented goal because processes are more controllable than outcomes. However, if you are knowledgable about what it takes to achieve a certain result, then you can easily design your activities to assure that you’ll reach your goal.

Independent, Cooperative, and Competitive Goals

Some goals can be attained alone while others may require (or benefit greatly from) cooperation among teammates, family members, or colleagues. Still other goals involve achieving a certain competitive position.

For example, one year, I set an independent goal of reading Pulitzer Prize winning books in the fiction category, inspired by the online catalog at my library. All I needed to do is set aside time to read the books, or so I thought. Sadly, not all of these books were available from the library; however, I redefined my goal to read all the titles that I could borrow, buy, or trade.

Cooperative goals might be debt elimination or money savings of a certain amount for a couple or family. Decisions on spending, buying a new house, setting aside money in an emergency fund, and earning more through freelance jobs, part-time work or a new job probably need to be made on a joint basis. Extra money needs to be designated for debt reduction or a savings account so that one person doesn’t spend what the other earned or saved through savvy shopping or sacrifice.

Competitive goals are trickier to achieve. Examples are producing the most sales for your company, winning a college scholarship, finishing first in a road race, or even landing a new job. Though I would never discourage anyone from setting aggressive goals, newbies may want to set intermediate goals: establishing a list of prospective customers, writing and submitting an essay for a scholarship, or running a race for the first time.  

Multi-step or Project Goals 

Some goals require multiple steps. A goal that I have is to make a brick sidewalk to replace various pieces of slate placed in a path from my driveway to the front entranceway. I have no experience in this area but have attended a brick-laying demonstration and watched a video on building a sidewalk. My goal has multiple phases:

• acquire the knowledge and skill to design and construct a brick sidewalk
• obtain the money needed to purchase brick and tools and/or rent tools
• design and plan the layout of the sidewalk
• set aside an entire weekend (or more) to create the sidewalk
• convince my family that I can actually make the sidewalk without causing irreparable damage to my home, yard, and self.

Deconstructing this goal by breaking down specific actions is helpful in defining individual steps and achieving the finished result. And, even if I don’t accomplish the entire project this year, I could save the money and plan the project, and then complete the sidewalk next year.

Life-list Goals

Start by making a list of life goals. Some may involve setting aside time and money; others may be more complicated and require developing an expertise and getting some experience. 

For example, Jeff Rose may want to take another backpacking trip, and just has to carve out vacation time and find travel money.  My son, a Boy Scout who will likely be going on an extended backpacking trip in a couple of years, needs more preparation. I think it is good to start planning now by going on hikes, getting in shape, figuring out which gear works best in what circumstances, learning to set a fire without matches, and honing wilderness skills. Similarly, you may or may not be ready to tackle your life-list goal this year but can take steps now to get there in the future. 

Summary: Tips for Achieving Goals

1) Define what you want to accomplish.

2) Deconstruct your goals by figuring out what is needed to achieve them: time, resources (time is also a resource but tools, materials, and gear could be listed here), specialized skills and knowledge. Understand that goals may have various elements that complicates deconstruction: for example, my sidewalk dream is a results-oriented goal but still involves processes, multiple steps, and cooperation. 

3) Plan ways of achieving goals, which may involve setting aside time, taking a class, finding an expert, or just getting support from your family.

4) Redefine goals if necessary.  You may need to figure out if you are in the position to achieve a competitive goal. If you are reasonably accomplished in a certain area and now just need finesse or a creative boost to get to a certain level, then you are ready to set a competitive goal. If you are just getting started in a new field, then it might be best to set basic competency goals.

5) Go for your goals.

Permalink | Comments | Julie Rains's blog | Channel: Life Hacks

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