Creativity is a child’s bread and butter, so why not use that to your advantage to teach them about saving money?   To prepare for Financial Literacy Month, TD Bank has come up with 7 Fun Ways to Teach Children to Save.  These clever tips are ideal for teaching your child how to make smart money decisions.

1.  It’s All in the Visuals

Children tend to be visual learners. Hang up a savings goal chart, like an empty thermometer or table, that they can fill in as they reach their goal. For older children, have them create a ‘Wish List’ of items they want with the cost included. These visual reminders will help encourage them to save their money instead of spending it immediately.

2.  Field Trip

Every child loves a good field trip. Tell them you are going to take them on a field trip to the bank and watch their eyes light up. Many banks, including TD Bank, offer a joint savings account option that the parent and child can open together. Let them come with you when you open this so they can be involved in every aspect of their money management. Have them deposit money with you on a regular basis, particularly when they receive money for birthdays or holidays.

As a treat for filling up their coin jars visit the Penny Arcade at your local TD Bank and let them cash in their coins for deposit into their savings account.  The interactive coin counting machine even offers the chance to win a prize!

-          Visit the Store Locator to find the nearest Penny Arcade.

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If you've read my previous product review about Nerium AD Age-Defying Treatment, you'll know that I was blown away by the results I was seeing from one product in such a short period of time. I can honestly say that I have NEVER used anything like this product before and can't stop raving about it.  In fact, I even became an independent brand representative for Nerium International because that's how much I believe in this skin care solution.

The one thing I wish that I had done differently though, was take some very detailed pictures of myself before starting my NeriumAD treatment.  My husband has noticed a difference in my overall skin texture and tone as well as the state of my wrinkles and sun damage since using NeriumAD and now he's decided to take the plunge as well.

I wasn't going to make the same mistake twice and thankfully, my husband agreed to being my personal guinea pig so that I can show the world just how great Nerium works!  To date, he's now been using the product for a little over 3 weeks, and we are noticing VERY VISIBLE results.  That's what I want to share with you today.  Keep reading to learn more!

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Holiday e-shopping has begun, and with it the potential for gift returns. Because online merchants have different policies, it pays to read the fine print before you buy.

Some stores only give 30-days leeway, which means recipients can't return purchases after Christmas. Happily, some merchants are changing these deadlines for the holidays but, because there are websites who truly believe "fineprint" means "itsy bitsy print in a very pale pastel," FreeShipping.org compiled a list of major e-retailers and their return policies for 2011.

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With spring fever striking and another five months until football season starts, TV shopping has dropped to the bottom of the priority list for many Americans. If you count yourself among those willing to wait for another round of holiday deals, you may want to reconsider your strategy.

Consumer Reports recently reported that many television manufacturers are changing their pricing policies as of April 1. The new policies will prevent stores from selling TVs at a price lower than the one suggested by manufacturers. Though these policies are designed to protect stores from losing ground to Internet retailers, they also mean higher prices for consumers. Luckily, you still have a chance to avoid this impending price hike by following these tips.

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It pains me to write this post, since I pride myself on keeping this blog upbeat, positive and drama-free, but I have a responsibility to report to you a recent disappointment that happened concerning a sponsor I've worked with in the past, Fill In the Blankie.

Back in December, I hosted a review/giveaway for this company whereby I received an Ultra Personalized Baby Blanket to review and one lucky reader of mine was going to be awarded the same thing.  The winner was drawn and promptly responded to confirm her win, but Fill In the Blankie CHOSE TO NEVER COMMUNICATE WITH EITHER HER OR I AGAIN, so the winner has not received her blanket.

When the winner informed me that she hadn't received any reply from the sponsor regarding her prize, I immediately sent several emails which also didn't get a reply.  I then sent over 10 emails to every address I could find for Fill In the Blankie, as well as posted on their Facebook page, sent Todd Lilly (President of Fill In the Blankie) a message on his own personal Facebook page, sent them direct messages via Twitter and called their company's phone number 5 times and left numerous phone messages.  Not one person bothered to respond which makes me extremely angry that they would choose to treat people this way.

I recently discovered that unfortunately, this is how they treat most of their customers and not just me and my readers.  I received a message from an angry customer of theirs on Facebook stating that she actually PURCHASED a blanket of theirs back in early February and has yet to receive it.  She's sent numerous emails, phone calls and faxes and hasn't received a response and has since been banned from posting on their Facebook page.  This is abhorrent and these people should be ashamed of themselves for the crooked operation they are running.

There's also proof that these recent events aren't isolated ones, but rather a consistent history of how Fill In the Blankie operates, as shown by their "F" rating from the Better Business Bureau:

http://www.bbb.org/dallas/business-reviews/services-general/sonya-bebeblankee-in-dallas-tx-90022957

It is my job to inform you of all the wonderful family-friendly products I find, but I feel it is also my job to inform you when a company has this level of blatant disregard for their customers.  I have NEVER, in my two-and-a-half years of blogging, had a sponsor not fulfill their obligation to award a giveaway prize, before this occurance with Fill In the Blankie.  I am genuinely sorry that a reader of mine will not be receiving the prize that they rightfully won and I wish there was more that I could do to rectify this situation for her.

Fill In the Blankie, I've got a few choice words I'd like you to "Fill In the Blankie" with!

If this situation bothers you too, then by all means, take the time to make your voice heard and warn others about their horrible practices.  Share this post on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, StumbleUpon, etc.  We can make sure that this never happens to another customer or blog giveaway winner again!

Nearly 10 years ago, the FDA approved the anti-depressant prescription drug Zoloft for the treatment of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and one expert believes that’s 10 years too long, especially when natural alternatives have been proven to reduce PMS symptoms without drugs.

“It seems almost alien to me why someone would take a drug to relieve PMS when the drug’s list of potential side effects – drowsiness, nausea, headache, loss of appetite, anxiety, panic attacks, hostility, aggressiveness, restlessness and depression – are almost an identical match for the symptoms of the ailment they’re trying to relieve,” said Michael Mooney, Director of Research and Education at natural health company SuperNutrition Life Extension Research (www.supernutritionusa.com).

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