One of the most essential pieces of clothing you'll buy this season is your child's winter coat.  I don't know why children's winter wear is so expensive, but in the few years that I've been buying kids jackets for Riley, I've discovered that her coats cost almost what mine do!  I don't mind splurging a little when it comes to either my husband's or my own jacket, because we will be able to wear ours for many, many years to come.  But with the way my little weed is growing, I'll be lucky if her winter coat lasts the entire winter!

So what's a family to do when your budget is tight, yet all of your children need warm jackets for winter?  Here's a few tips that I've found will give you the most bang for your buck and keep your kids toasty all season long:

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Since former President George W. Bush amped up standardized testing throughout the nation in 2002 with the No Child Left Behind Act, critics say results have been negative.

"The bottom line is that there is no clear correlation between standardized testing and the knowledge and skills kids will need to prosper in the 21st century world of work," says Peter Weddle, former CEO of Job Bank USA, Inc., and author of A Multitude of Hope: A Novel About Rediscovering the American Dream (www.AMultitudeofHope.com).

"It seems we're more interested in creating a homogenized workforce than a nation of individuals who have learned what their talent is and how to bring it to work with them," he says.

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If you're planning to pop the question on Valentine's Day, then you're not alone.  According to the Diamond Information Center, some 220,000 men (and women) get down on one knee during this romantic holiday each year, marking February 14th as the most popular day for couples to get engaged in the United States.

With each proposal usually shines a diamond ring, and depending on the cut, carat, color and clarity, this particular Valentine surprise could be the most expensive you've orchestrated yet.  If you don't know what to look for or how to price out a rock, review these six basic diamond buying tips so you don't blow your entire bank account.

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Birthdays are a lot of fun when you're a kid. In addition to fun gifts and lots of attention, you actually look forward to growing older.

Flash forward to adult birthdays and the magic evaporates. It becomes just another day at the office, with the possible addition of store-bought cake and a forced serenade. Luckily, Mr. Free Stuff is eager to put the enchantment back into your annual celebration with a comprehensive list of birthday freebies from your favorite eateries.

Read on for the top 15 offers, and be sure to check out the rest at MrFreeStuff.com.

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Are You Missing Clues About Your Child's Self-Esteem?

Kids often drop clues about how they feel about themselves, but many parents miss them.  Adventures in Wisdom announces a free assessment tool that parents can use to better understand how their kids feel about themselves.

Kids can either complete the assessment themselves or parents can go through it with them.  With the assessment, kids rate themselves using a 1-10 scale on statements such as, "This world needs me."  Or, "I often get down on myself."  How kids rate themselves will help parents understand where their kids need additional support.

According to Renaye Thornborrow, founder and CEO of Adventures in Wisdom, "How kids feel about themselves is critical for their happiness and success in life.  Kids with strong self-esteem tend to go for their goals and stand up to peer pressure whereas kids with lower self-esteem often drift through life and may be easily influenced by others.  Parents can download the free tool, "Assessing Self-esteem," at the company's website at http://bit.ly/u6hLmb.

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This year's crop of freshmen is already gearing up for their first taste of college life. A main component of all that mad preparation is buying the basic necessities to outfit a dorm room. Some are happy to just throw twin-bed sheets, desk lamp and laptop into a box and call it a day. Others, however, know there's a lot more to getting things in shape than this.

Just buying the basic necessities, however, can run into a pile of cash, so whoever is footing the bill may want to take a gander at these cost-saving tips.

Shop Sales-Tax Holidays

Just in time for back-to-school, 12 of the 17 states hosting sales-tax holidays this year occur in early August. Taking advantage of these holidays will ensure savings on everything from clothes to computers. Check out this guide from Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine to see if your state is participating, and when.

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