Archives for Brokedad category
Posted on 06 02, 2008 under Brokedad, Newsflashes, The Manual by
reviewdad |
Being a dad means an increasingly complex web of finances - multiple bank accounts, life insurance, IRAs, 529 accounts, credit cards in the hands of kids, and with all of that comes all of the financial paperwork and transactions to support it. Cause and effect being at play here, that means you’re also increasingly vulnerable to account abuse and identity theft. Being Noodads, you of course are smart enough to know you don’t write down internet passwords and you shred your sensitive mail…but does that go far enough? Security experts would say no.
I know that so I was doing some research online about credit checks and credit monitoring services…specifically interested in Life Lock. Life Lock is the company founded by that guy who plasters his Social Security Number on TV and buses. Turns out that his life wasn’t “locked” - some dude in TX was able to open a bank account using his SSN. Little piece of advice…don’t dare cheats - they have the time and the wherewithal to %^$# you. Life Lock is also being sued by several states. You can read all about it in this New York Times article.
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Posted on 01 06, 2008 under Brokedad by
Noodad |
There is a decent post titled, Some ways to help young people correct financial bad habits from KansasCity.com. In it it gives “five ways to help inexperienced young consumers avoid money troubles and become financially savvier.”
The article suggests monitoring spending, using gift cards, scrutinizing credit card statements, and dodging internet ripoffs as ways to keep your kids financially out of trouble.
For those with teenagers out there, what have your techniques been?
Posted on 01 03, 2008 under Brokedad by
cgillis |
Our friend arrived at home tonight to find his wife’s car door open. It was no accident. A quick inspection revealed a missing item: their child’s car seat. Some SOB broke into their car and stole their friggen car seat. I cannot imagine that the black market resale value of a used car seat was worth the time and effort invested to steal the damn thing. It’s not like I ever saw car seats hung up in rows next to the guitars at the local pawn shop. I have to assume that the lousy bastard who fled in the night with a booster seat tucked under his arm actually needed the thing for his own child. I have been an advocate for poor families for years and at the risk of sounding heartless, I have some advice that is too late for this particular thief. My advice? If you can’t afford a car seat or if you lack the mental resources to obtain a free or loaner seat, you might want to think twice about having any more kids. If your plan to support your children involves anything that might land your butt in jail, you had better start working on Plan B and pronto.
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Posted on 05 21, 2007 under Brokedad by
foodad |
Last weekend we took a quick trip to Omaha to see my folks and grandparents. My wife did all of the planning including the the car rental. She rocks. You should be so lucky to have someone plan entire trips for you. She asked the car rental company, Hertz, if they would provided a booster seat. They said, no problem. In my mind, booster seats and child seats in rental cars are as important as safety belts. I feel like they should be provided as a courtesy to a customer. I appreciate the fact that they need to pay for, maintain and clean them though and so this time we figured I would save ourselves some hassle and trying renting a booster seat.
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Posted on 02 21, 2007 under Brokedad by
Noodad |
I got robbed in broad daylight last week. The assailant came out of nowhere and in the end, I was out $200. I should have seen it coming. I should have taken more precautions. After all, I am not a kid. I have been around the block a few times. I have been mugged before. My apartment has been robbed. But I let my guard down and I got nailed. The worst part is they went after my daughter first. I say "they" because there were many people involved but I really should be saying "he" because they all answer to one person. That man is Walt Disney. And even with his head frozen in a chamber in California, he was able to pick my pocket for 2 C notes.
The event was Disney's Princesses on Ice. The location of the crime was the TD Banknorth Garden, formerly the Fleet Center, formerly the Boston Garden or "the Gahhdin". Again, I should have seen it coming. Everything associated with Disney Princesses carries a huge premium. But nothing could prepare me for the onslaught of pressure, guilt, and competition that came over me. More on the guilt later. Here is a breakdown of what we purchased during the event:
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Posted on 11 06, 2006 under Brokedad by
cgillis |
My grandfather tried to teach us the importance of saving money by giving us "Dime Kitties". Those of you unfamiliar with this feline-inspired investment vehicle will be amazed at its simplicity. The cat shaped cardboard folder has empty slots inside if it. Each slot is conveniently sized to hold a dime.
In theory a child saves coins by filling the slots. Once the folder is full, you take the Kitty to the bank and deposit the coins into a savings account. On birthdays Grandpa sent full Dime Kittys. Upon receipt, I promptly unloaded the coins and bought three dollars worth of candy at the nearby Stop-N-Go.
In these modern days you can take a more sophisticated approach to teach your kids how to save and invest for the future. Instead of pumping a few coins into a savings account at your local bank you can actually buy your kid stock in that bank. In the future Timmy can have more than a jar full of old coins. He can be a shareholder.
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Posted on 10 04, 2006 under Brokedad by
foodad |
Disney World is the ultimate vacation for your family. I saw
people of every age in the park the last time I was there. Every person
seemed to be really enjoying themselves. Sure you see kids having fits,
but that's expected when there is so much excitement. I would venture
that about 80% of the under 10 crowded did not get a good night's sleep
the night before, so right around 10 AM you can see a lot of mini
meltdowns. Just another source of entertainment.
Here are some things to watch out for when you are at the park.
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Posted on 09 18, 2006 under Brokedad by
wahoodad |
The
hospital bag is packed by the door. Inside your wife’s fantastically
round belly, your baby is in position for entry into the world. The
nursery smells of freshly applied latex paint and all the Onesies are
washed, dried, and stacked on the shelves beneath the changing table.
You’re all set, right? Wrong. You need to get your financial house in
order.
The responsibilities of having a child don’t end at feeding, diaper
changes, and providing a nurturing environment for your new addition.
Because infants are so cute and cuddly and having a child is such a
happy event, no one wants to address the cold, hard fact that you need
to prepare for the possibility of something very bad happening—namely,
the untimely demise of you and your spouse. Here are some things you
need in order to provide for your child from Beyond the Grave.
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Posted on 08 24, 2006 under Brokedad by
foodad |
Caveats to this idea: YOU are responsible for the safety of
your children and probably would be held responsible if some other random kid
used this and got hurt. Make sure that
if you leave your area or leave for the day, you do not leave this full of water.
You need to take the shower curtain home with you.
The beach is a great place to take the kids. They love to play in the sand and splash in
the water. The only problem is that the
sand sticks to the globs of sunscreen you have caked on your pre-walker. By the
end of the day, they look like a sugar donut and even at bath time you are
still finding sand in their nooks and crannies.
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Posted on 08 22, 2006 under Brokedad by
foodad |
If you just read yesterday’s installment , you probably think
that your were reading an excerpt from Beaver Cleaver’s family vacation. Not so
my little friend. Our THE SHORE vacation
was not all pixie sticks and gumdrops, just like foodad senior, I had my share
of stupid things and general mishaps happen during the trip. Here’s a list of stuff I did wrong:
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