Featured

Picture this, if you will.  It's any given day in Anytown, USA.  More specifically, it's early evening, also known affectionately as "the witching hour" to some.  You know what time I'm talking about:  your kiddos are fighting with each other if they're not whining and clinging to your legs.   You're trying to get dinner to the table after another hectic day, and your dear hubby is relaxing in front of the tube.  And he keeps turning up the volume as the kids' voices escalate.  Laundry is waiting, homework is waiting, bathtime is waiting, and don't even get started on housework.  Who among us

My husband and I were both originally raised in sheltered lifestyles, so when we moved to Seattle, WA, in 2002, we were in for some surprises.  From the annual nude bike ride in the Fremont district to four-star cuisine to snow-capped mountains in June, we experienced countless adventures that rivaled our laid-back former lifestyles.  In one adventure, we were buying a used car at a dealership, and our previous sheltered farm existences were challenged.     

If you're a mom - working, single or stay at home - you're busy.  Period.  Your to-do list is full and growing, you're on call 24/7, and all you'd really like is to sit down for five minutes without someone pulling you in ten different directions.  Needless to say, finance is probably not at the forefront of your mind.  However, finances can (and probably already do) have a place in your life.  Below, we've listed some reasons why today's busy mom can -- and should -- be fearlessly informed and savvy about finances.

Here's a look at some posts that caught our attention this week:

• Dividend Monk brings us 5 Dividend Stocks that have gone NOWHERE for a Decade (and why you should care). Of course if the yield is high enough, "going nowhere" is just fine for many dividend stocks.

Picture it. The suburbs of Buffalo. Summer of 2005. My hubby and I had been married for four years, and I had just got the car of my dreams. A new-to-me, shiny, black VW Beetle was mine (complete with the bud vase and everything!). We had two incomes, ate out a lot, and now I had new wheels. Life was sweet.

All of us would like to have a feeling of security and control over our finances. So, what’s keeping us from getting there? The idea that you have to make a lot to save a lot is a myth. Whether you make $15,000 or $1.5 million, you can save and invest for your future. Just as with any great journey, sometimes the only thing holding you back is getting started. And my guess is you're already investing more than you think!

These days, it's accepted -- and almost expected -- that men and women will share the financial decisions in relationships. Two heads are nearly always better than one, and if now is the time to discuss financial equality in your relationship, how do you help your spouse see you as an equal?

Melinda takes a look at the different kinds of retirement accounts and the differences between them. Whether it's a 401(k), a Roth IRA, or one of the many other retirement accounts, there's probably an option that applies to your situation. Generally speaking they all have significant tax advantages over regular investments, so let's dig in and see which ones make sense for you.

It’s amazing how perceptive children are: they can tell when money gets tight, and they know when you have a spare $20 in your purse. With their perception and spongy minds, children as young as four can begin to learn concepts of saving. Of course, children of different ages learn about money differently, so let’s break down savings concepts by age groups.

Well it's finally getting cold here -- I've even had to wear a hoodie this week to keep warm. But the news in the world of investments has been anything BUT cold, so let's take a look at some great links and analysis from this week: