I have some financial blind spots. For one thing, Kris and I do not have children. It’s difficult for me to write about the concerns of parents. So when the publisher sent me a copy of Munny Journey, “a keepsake journal for baby’s first money”, I recruited a new mother to help me evaluate the book. Here are Chrystal’s thoughts about this unique publication. This article is part of National Save for Retirement Week.
At first I was put off by Munny Journey, a baby book dedicated to money. But I got to thinking: Why not? Given the global economic crisis, it isn’t a bad idea to give future generations a good healthy financial start. This journal is a cute and responsible way for parents to teach their children how to save from early on.
The spots designated for the photo of “my first piggy bank” and the slot for “my first state quarter” definitely [...]

This is a guest post from Lynn, a long-time reader of personal-finance blogs. Lynn is a potential Staff Writer for Get Rich Slowly. She is the CFO (Chief Financial Officer) of her family, and is working hard to increase her financial health after years of many poor financial choices.
Our family has been going through a transformation from a paycheck-to-paycheck family to a family that has money in the bank.  While I wouldn’t say we are extreme frugalists, we do try to save as much money as we can, yet still provide excellent entertainment and learning opportunities for our family.  Like J.D. (and many others!), we have struggled with finding that balance where we allow some fun while working to increase our financial health.  
When it comes to entertainment, I think we are close to finding that balance.  We do allow some money in our budget for that type of spending, but not much.  We supplement [...]

“If we’re going to have a free-market capitalist society, we’ve got to give people the tools to not be victims” — John Cammack, T. Rowe Price

I get a lot of e-mail from PR firms. I ignore most of it, but occasionally something stands out. One recent message invited me to make a trip to Orlando for the debut of The Great Piggy Bank Adventure, a new financial literacy exhibit at Walt Disney’s EPCOT Center.
At first, I was skeptical of the offer. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m wary of crossing the line to publishing advertorials. But after verifying that there were no expectations of coverage at GRS, I agreed to attend the launch. I’m a huge advocate of financial education, and this seemed promising.
“If I like the game, I’ll write about it,” I told Kris before we left. “But if I don’t, I won’t.”
I liked the game.
The Great Piggy Bank Adventure
The Great Piggy Bank Adventure is [...]

For Mother’s Day, I invited blogger Amanda Steinberg of DailyWorth to write a guest post for moms. DailyWorth offers daily personal-finance tips for women.
Recession talk is everywhere, even on Mother’s Day. At work, at home, at the supermarket, at the library, at soccer games, and on play dates. Everyone hates this recession, and most everyone is being affected by it. Especially mothers. Why? Because we are on the front line of the budget wars.
Let’s face it, as far as we have come in our efforts to shore up equality among the genders, moms are still largely in charge of household budgets for food, clothes, birthday presents, discretionary items, track-team uniforms, new tennis rackets, and so on. So when the economy heads south and prices go north, it’s mom who usually decides what the family can do without. 
But instead of being the financial heavy on this day of all days, look for the silver lining: [...]

This is a guest post from Sharon Lechter, co-author of Rich Dad Poor Dad and a member of the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy. She is the CEO of Pay Your Family First and founder of YOUTHpreneur.
Our current economic condition has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that we, as a nation and as individuals, need financial education. It’s an unfortunate truth that many students leave high school or college knowing the molecular weight of a carbon atom, but have no understanding of the difference between an asset and a liability. Which of these proves more useful in their day-to-day lives?
It’s a no-brainer.
An important message
As a member of the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy, it is my goal and the goal of the Council to see that every student receives some form of financial education. We came closer to that goal in March with the introduction of H.R. 1325 by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee. [...]

Financial Literacy Month begins today. What better way to kick things off than with a story from the trenches? This is a guest post from Chett Daniel, who writes about improving your life through personal fitness and personal finance at 5k5k.org.
Every day when I go to work, I have a chance to influence the lives of children. I left a well-paying corporate job nearly two years ago, taking a 50% cut in pay to return to teaching. It’s not always hugs and apples, but overall I am happy with my decision to return to the classroom.
Within the education system, most states have incorporated standards that are woven into curriculum, dictating what students are taught in public schools. These state standards and curriculum are then tied directly to standardized tests. There is some latitude within education, but increasingly education is revolving around high-stakes standardized testing.
I am concerned with the focus on raising scores for [...]