Family Tides

To Heck With The EZ Bake Oven!

The EZ Bake Oven has taken a little bit of heat this past holiday season--but not for the right reasons!

With Christmas nearly two months behind us, I have absolutely no qualms about bitc- I mean, complaining, about this year’s biggest holiday regrets —or should I say biggest waste of money spent on the worst gifts and gadgets ever! Though I’m the first one in our humble family to tout that Christmas is by no means about frivolous purchases and shiny red bows, I’m also the first one to walk through the heavenly gates of such prestigious shopping venues like Wal-Mart and Benny’s with a list a mile long of “must have” items from my eight precious children. Actually, now that we have six teens in the mix, there really isn’t much I can purchase for that crew at our local discount hot spots, unless of course stocking stuffers like Axe Cologne – …

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Holiday Tipping for the Budget Conscious Family

Teaching your kids that tipping is a form of thanks and giving for a job well done.

Not to berate the stressed economy thing here, but it is the season of giving, and some of us just don’t have as much to give as we used to. With your kids focused on Christmas, Chanukah or whatever holiday you celebrate that has a gift component to it, you may be trying to figure out how to satisfy them and other loved ones first. Then there are the teachers and caregivers who spend more waking hours with your children than you and are invaluable when it comes to your child’s success and happiness. You naturally want to show your gratitude with a little something special. But wait! There’s the mail carrier, waste hauler, hair dresser, butcher, the baker and the candle stick maker (sorry — couldn’t help it), that add value to your life by …

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