Pre-Teen to Parenting Financial Summit, 2013

I have partnered with SheWill.org and YoungFinances.com to host the Preschool to Parenting Financial Summit for girls (ages 12-18), young adult women and mothers on Saturday, April 27th at Ivy Preparatory Academy in Norcross, GA. We will be working with the girls on managing their money, career empowerment and even investing at their age. Each participant will leave the summit with a new attitude about money and the fundamental skills necessary to become successful.  Register by April 15th to be entered to win an iPad mini!

 

www.shewillsummit.com

The Preschool to Parenting Financial Summit will include:  

For girls ages 12 – 18

• Managing your money 
• Envisioning your future and making career choices 
• Investing at a young age. How to invest in yourself 

 For young adult women

• Money management 
• Balancing work, career and family 
• Beginning investments 

For mothers 

• How to raise financially smart kids 
• Money management 
• Investing for your retirement and for your child’s college expenses 

The Preschool to Parenting Financial Summit is due to the collaborative efforts of three dedicated women in the financial literacy community, Sheena Williams from SheWill.org, Latisha Styles from YoungFinances.com and me, Pam Whitlock from MoneyTrail.net. Sheena is the founder and president of SheWill, Inc., 501(c) (3) tax-exempt organization created to educate young girls, between the ages of 8 and 17, on the importance of financial literacy and career empowerment. LaTisha is the founder of Young Finances, a website that specializes in investing with young adults. I am the co-owner (along with my husband) of MoneyTrail.net, an allowance and money management system for kids, teens and families. We are all in the Atlanta area and are passionate about preparing young girls for successful, career oriented futures free from debt and irresponsible financial decisions.

The event will be held from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm and will include a light breakfast and lunch for each participant.  For more information or to register for the event, please visit www.shewillsummit.com. 

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A Nine Year Old's Thoughts on College Savings

My 9 year old niece is visiting me today.  She has been telling me about a book that she is writing and how she may want to be a writer when she grows up.  That led to a discussion about our blog.  So...I decided to hire her to be our guest blogger for the day.  Introducing Leigh's thoughts on how parents should save money for college!

For all those new parents out there, even if your child isn't born yet, you may already be worried about saving for his or her college.  But with careful savings and an occasional visit to MoneyTrail, you can easily find a way to save for your child's college.  The next thing you know there are tears of joy in your eyes and your child is in a blue cap and gown.

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Books-a-Million Fundraiser for SheWill.org

For those of you in the Atlanta area, the Books-a-Million at 5900 Sugarloaf Parkway in Lawrenceville will be hosting a fund raiser for SheWill.org.  From 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm, 10% of all purchases will go to SheWill!

SheWill, Inc. is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization created to educate young girls, between the ages of 8 and 17, on the importance of financial literacy and career empowerment.  SheWill, YoungFinances and I have also partnered together to host the Preschool to Parenting Financial Summit in April.  Come on out this Saturday and support my event partner in her quest to bring financial literacy to our young ladies!

Update:  I stopped by to visit Sheena at Books-a-Million.  Many thanks to Books-a-Million and to the customers who made this a success for SheWill.org.

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Year of Little Lesson Plans

Okay parents....how much time do you spend each day waiting in carpool lines or waiting for baseball practice to end?  There are so many days where it seems like all I do is hurry, hurry, hurry to get somewhere and then end up waiting once I am there.  Crazy, huh?  And then...if you have younger kids in the car with you...well...you know how much fun that can be.  :)

If you are nodding your head and understand the plight of the "hurry up & wait" parent, I have the perfect book for you.  Year of Little Lesson Plans by Courtney Loquasto is an entire year of 10 minute, smart, fun things to teach your child each weekday.  The activities are quick and easy.  You can do many of them in the carpool line or while you are waiting for supper to finish cooking.  Basically, it's your best friend when you have a few extra minutes and  want to do something meaningful with your child.

The activities in Year of Little Lesson Plans are geared toward  kids ages 3 - 8.  (Although, many of the plans can be discussed with older kids too!).  Each calendar week has a theme and the daily activities or discussions center around that theme.  Some of the themes include:  Family Tree, Planting a Garden, Bugs, Musical Instruments, Manners, Apples and Money.

Courtney also has a website, Carpool Ninja, where you can get additional tips for family life and making the most out of the time you spend at home.

Courtney and I met on Twitter last year and soon discovered that not only did we share parenting interests, but that we live in the same area.  Small world, right?  We are big fans of each other's work so she graciously sent me a copy of Year of Little Lesson Plans.  If you are a busy parent, trying to squeeze quality activities into your daily life, you will love this book.  And, guess what.....you can enter to win a copy!  The Whole Lotta Family Love Giveaway includes a copy of Year of Little Lesson Plans.  The giveaway ends on Friday, February 22, 2013 so what are you waiting for?  Click on over here and enter the giveaway!

Whole Lotta Family Love Giveaway

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Whole Lotta Family Love Giveaway

February is a great month to share some love!  What kind of love, you ask?  The Whole Lotta Family Love Giveaway!!  I recently met up with some new blogging and writing friends.  We decided to celebrate our new friendship by hosting a huge giveaway!

Please say "hello" to my new mom friends....

• Courtney from Carpool Ninja
• Erica from Spoonful of Imagination
• Erin from DIY on the Cheap

We are giving away a whole bucket full prizes!  Take a look at what you could win....

• $40 Amazon Giftcard - emailed straight to you!
• A MoneyTrail App from the iTunes Appstore - Use this to keep up with your child's allowances and IOUs.
• A copy of "Year of Little Lesson Plans" by Courtney Loquasto - Learn how to enrich your child's education in just a few minutes a day.
• A Handmade, Personalized Wreath from DIY on the Cheap - Erin will make you a beautiful wreath, personalized with the initial of your choice.
• A "Love" Sign and handmade teal earrings from Spoonful of Imagination - Dress up your home with the sign and dress up yourself with the beautiful earrings!

Follow the directions below to enter the Whole Lotta Family Love Giveaway!  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Family Valentines on a Budget

My youngest son gave me this Valentine last year.  I'm still not quite sure how he came up with "Best supervisor ever" but it is just cute enough and just sweet enough to tug at my heart strings.  And, it didn't cost a thing.

Valentine's Day costs can really add up.  A gift for your spouse, a nice dinner and cards & candy for your child to exchange with his classmates can put your budget over the top.   Want to celebrate Valentine's Day this year without busting your budget?

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More Free Books for Kids and Teens

From Simon's photos on Flickr

I love books and I love a bargain!  It's a marvelous day when I find great kids' ebooks that are free.  Here are the latest free ebooks for your Kindle or your Nook.

Important:  The books were free when I published this blog post.  The prices may have changed.  Please double check the cost before you download!

Barnes and Noble Nook:

Young Children:

Fun Facts about Pets by Seymour Simon
Little Miss Liberty by Chris Robertson
See Me Grow Fun! (Scholastic Discover More Series) by Scholastic
The Elephant's Child: How the Elephant Got His Trunk by Rudyard Kipling

Teens:

A Matter of Profit by Hilari Bell

Earth Forbidden by Amelia Grace

Amazon's Kindle:

Young Children:

Tongue Twisters for Kids by Riley Weber

When Cows Fly by Tom Watson

Henry Burp -  Mind Your Manners by Michael Winn

Teens:

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Loud, Disorderly and Boisterous by Adam M. Johnson

Guardians Inc.:  The Cipher by Julian Rosado-Machain

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Book Review: "Someday Is Not a Plan" By Dave Straube

Someday Is Not a Plan, by Dave Straube, is a basic personal finance book for young adults.  However, it reads like a novel and introduces financial concepts in an easy to read, personal manner.  There are no charts, spreadsheets or complicated financial terms.  Someday Is Not a Plan is a wonderful first finance book for any young adult who is just starting out their career.

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