Topics for Families
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In the Dollar Stretcher Family section you'll find articles and tips to help you save money in all areas of family finances, including the family budget, health, grocery and other family expenses, college financing, saving money and much more. So whether you're a single parent, a one-income family, or a two-income family, the Dollar Stretcher can help you stay within your household budget and save.



Free Kids Games Online
Who says you have to buy games at $40 each?

Save In Your Sleep!
Get serious about your family’s sleep habits.

Save Over $2000 in Your Baby’s First Year
Save without depriving baby.

My Story: Working-at-Home With a Toddler
Blending work and family successfully.

$10 for Peace of Mind
How a few dollars and a little effort provides protection for her family.

My Story: Portion Control
Practical portion control for active families.

Choosing a Fantasy Theme for Your Child’s Room
Creating a fantasy room your child will love.

Frugal Winter Fun with Kids
Boredom busters to have as your 911 "plan" for the winter blahs.

Financial Advice for a Picky Eater
Could picky eating now lead to financial problems later?

Surviving Tough Times

Why the Waste?
Could a few changes reduce your grocery bill by 25%?

Frugal Fatigue
What to do when you're worn out on saving money and frugal fatigue sets in.

My Story: Reducing Food Costs
Buying in bulk makes the difference for this family.

Subscribe to our "Surviving Tough Times" Email Alerts!
Each week receive tips and articles directly in your inbox on ways to help you survive financially as the cost of everyday items rise and economic times become tougher. Each issue features six or seven articles and tips to help you stretch your dollar!


Readers' Tips
The smartest readers on the web share their frugal living ideas!


Consider these options before co-signing for a card
Considering co-signing for your son or daughter's credit card? Know that if you do, you'll bear as much legal responsibility for paying that debt off as he or she will.

Don't take the refund anticipation loan bait
Refund anticipation loans continue to lure consumers -- even though they come with a hefty fees and surcharges.

Choose a credit card that matches your life stage
Your finances change as you march through stages of life; shouldn't your credit card choice change, too?

How and when to use 'emergency' credit cards
It's the end of the month, you're down to your last dollar before payday and your car breaks down. What do you do? Do you pull out the plastic?

Think twice before lending your credit card -- or it cost you big
If you let someone -- such as your underage daughter -- borrow your credit card, watch their spending carefully. If they go overboard, you're likely responsible.

Daughter's card abuse hurts mom as authorized user
A mom wants to be removed as an authorized user from her daughter's delinquent credit card account. Luckily, it's not that hard.

Family Finances
Family Finances

To get a handle on your finances, it is going to take a team effort. The whole family has to be working in the same direction.

Family Finances without a Fight
Finances can be a major source of contention in a marriage. There is a simple solution to this problem that can help both sides be happy.

Money Is a Family Affair
Getting the family to work toward common financial goals.

Family Budget Counseling
If you think you can do better with your finances but don't know how, seek some help because it will pay off.

To Tell the Truth?
How much do kids need to know about the family budget?

Living With a Spend-Thrift Spouse
How do they handle family finances when he is a spender and she is a saver?




A 529 plan is great for grad school, too
You can save in a 529 plan for your child, and if he doesn't use it, transfer it to a grandkid.

What you need to know about FAFSA
It's time for students to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Follow these tips.

Video: Credit cards and teens
Prepaid cards could be a way to teach teens how to use credit wisely.

Fight fair about money with your honey
Tired of fighting about finances with your spouse? Here are solutions to three sticky situations.

3 ways to make a 529 plan withdrawal
How you withdraw money from a 529 plan depends on the beneficiary. Here's what to consider.

Best time to shop -- winter bargains
Instead of trawling stores all the time, shop at the right time to get the best deals.


Bankrate's College Financing Basics

A guide to understanding the fundamentals of college financing.

Sizing Up the Challenge
Get the most out of financial aid and get your student into the right school, as painlessly as possible.

Building a College Fund
Create, grow and harvest your very own college money tree – in a handy investment plan!

Last Minute Financing
Facing four long years of ramen noodles? There are other ways to cut expenses and college costs.

Where to Find Financial Aid
Stop looking under rocks for financial aid, Bankrate will just tell you where to find it.

Paying Off Student Loans
Learn everything you'll ever need to know about student loans after you already have one.


Single Parenting
Single Parenting

Being a single parent is full of challenges, but you can succeed with the right attitude and a plan.

Single Parents: A Survival Guide
If you are recently divorced or widowed, it can be tough to make ends meet while playing the role of both parents.

Success as a Single Mom
One mom's story of survival as a single parent.

My Story: Single Mom's Tips for a Frugal Life
It takes a bit of sacrifice but these tips can help a single parent successfully provide for the needs of his or her children.

Single Parenting
Is single parenting hard? Yes, sometimes it's very hard. But as a single parent you can raise healthy, well-adjusted kids.

A Single Parent's Guide to Financial Security
If you're winging parenthood on your own, you know it's difficult to carve out time to pay the bills let alone do financial planning. Here are some suggestions for streamlining your financial life and building up your net worth.

Single Parent Finances
Saving money as a single parent is no different than saving money in a two-income family. You must simply spend less than you bring in each month.


One Income Families
One-Income Families

More and more families are making a go of it on one income. Many more would like to try. Here are some ideas to help you achieve your one income goal.

Going from Two Incomes to One
A decision to transition from two incomes to one begins with a detailed examination of household finances.

A Decision to Stay Home
If you're a working mother that yearns to be home raising your children, here are some valuable lessons.

Confessions of a One Income Family
14 tools to make one income living possible.

One Income Beats Two
If one income isn't enough to pay the bills, many women will go to work when they would rather be home. However, a better solution is to help your husband make more money.

Maintaining the One-Income Lifestyle
It is not easy, but it is possible for a family to live on one income even in today's "everybody works" two-income world.