Topics for Families
Updated - Oct. 23, 2009

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.



Holiday Gatherings
Keeping family and friends entertained.

Bringing the World Home
Your family can travel the world in your own backyard!

For the Fun of It
Saving money with kids.

Motivation for Good Grades
Reap powerful results.

The Argument for Secondhand Toys
Even better the second time around!

Dollar Smarts for Pre-teens
Passing on money skills to the tween set.

Converting the Female Teen Diva
Bring your daughter back to the real world.

Teen Clothing Allowance
Teaching kids how to shop for clothes.

Becoming a Parent
9 months of waiting and a lifetime of responsibility!

Surviving Tough Times

Flour Power
You'll be surprised at how easy it is! And, how much you'll save!

Meal Planning
Save even more time and money by planning your meals ahead of time.

Grocery Savings
How to save on groceries and the huge impact that will have on your family budget.

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!



Dave's Take on Term Life
Dave has a reason for recommending term life insurance, and he details it here.

Something Better than the 525?
With 2 kids in college and $16,000 saved in a 525 college savings plan, Bruce doesn't know if he should keep the money there.

The Texting Queen's Learning Her Lesson
"Turns out my 12-year-old has been texting her friends (at the back of the bus) ad nauseum, with the emphasis on 'nausea,'" Jeanne said.

Take the Better Plan
With the deals that Amy's family might get on her husband's health insurance plans, Dave thinks she should jump at them.


13 ways to get gift cards for less
Use these techniques to pay less than face value or boost buying power of a gift card..

Toys R Us joins retailers offering layaway plans
More retailers dangle layaway plans to spur sales, but some new versions of this old financing plan have limits, twists.

Paying off child's debt strains family ties
Paying off a child's debt is a lot more than writing a check. It involves money and emotions, dollars and sense.

Piggybacking, meant to jump-start credit, can backfire
Becoming an authorized user on a parent, guardian or other adult's credit card account can have rewards as well as pitfalls. Bad payment habits of the accountholder can ruin the authorized user's credit score.

'Pay for grades' movement stirs passions among teachers, parents
The 'pay for grades' movement has spread from urban cores to affluent middle-class cities around the country, with supporters and opponents squaring off in equal measure over its effectiveness.

Authorized users don't have to pay for cardholder's missteps
If you're an authorized user on someone's credit card, including a family member's, and the account holder makes a few wrong moves, you don't have to suffer. Our expert shows how you can protect yourself if this happens to you.

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?




Saving on holiday shopping
The way to save money is to do what Santa does: make a list, check it twice.

College 529 prepaid tuition plans at risk
These plans let you buy tuition credits in advance. But they're not as risk-free as widely believed.

Health insurance not qualified 529 expense
The IRS says certain fees may be counted under a 529 plan, but health premiums aren't among them.

Homemade HD antenna saves hundreds
Boost savings by cutting the cable and building an HD antenna.

Do-it-yourself wills online
The service is available at a range of costs, but is it the right choice for you and your heirs?

How to use Twitter to save cash
Twitter isn't just for chatting. The social networking site can also be a tool to find deals and discounts.


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

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.