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  • 10 fun and frugal Father's Day gifts

    Posted Jun 04 2008, 05:30 AM by Karen Datko Rating:

    This post comes from partner blog The Dough Roller.

    With Father's Day fast approaching, finding a memorable gift that doesn't break the bank can be a chore. To make things easy for you, what follows is a list of Father's Day gifts that range in cost from zero to about $25. And for those fathers reading this article, you'll be happy to know that a Father's Day tie is not on the list.

    Homemade greeting card. Kids love crafts, and making a card for Dad on Father's Day is a memorable time. I've kept every card my children have ever made for me, and they are worth far more than anything they could have bought for me. Here's a site with some great card ideas.   Read More...

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  • Learning from mistakes: A real-life example

    Posted May 21 2008, 05:58 AM by Karen Datko Rating:

    This post comes from partner blog The Dough Roller.

    Mistakes are a part of life. We all make them. But like turning lemons into lemonade, we can benefit from our mistakes and make the most of them, or we can run from them and pretend they don't exist.

    This hit home for me recently in an e-mail exchange I had with a reader. In a recent post about peer-to-peer lending, I made a mistake.   Read More...

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  • 5 steps to conquering a debilitating fear of change

    Posted Apr 09 2008, 05:29 AM by Karen Datko Rating:

    This post comes from partner blog The Dough Roller.

    Fear of change can be a powerful, all-consuming force in our lives. It can keep us from pursuing our dreams. It can keep us in a destructive relationship. And fear of change can cause us to make some really bad investing choices.

    I had to confront my own fear of change six years ago. At that time I was partner at a very large firm. I had worked eight hard years to make partner and had enjoyed the fruits of my labor for two years as a partner. And then I quit. I quit because I was tired of choosing my career over my family. So I took a six-figure pay cut and accepted a job that wasn't nearly as prestigious.

    It was one of the most frightening things I've ever done. I kept asking myself -- am I nuts for doing this? I went from a corner office to a windowless office literally the size of a broom closet. I went from being the boss to being an absolute nobody. And it was the best career choice I ever made.

    The decision taught me a lot about confronting my fear of change. From that experience, I learned five steps that can help anybody overcome a debilitating fear of change.   Read More...

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  • How to fight with your spouse about money

    Posted Dec 26 2007, 05:35 AM by Karen Datko Rating:

    This post comes from partner blog The Dough Roller.

    It's been said that money is the No. 1 cause of divorce. Or to say it another way: Marriage is about love, divorce is about money.

    To that we may add that money is the No. 1 cause of turmoil in a marriage. Strife over money can last years in a marriage if not properly addressed and, short of divorce, can drive a wedge between a husband and wife . This doesn't have to be, and so here are eight tips on fighting with your spouse over money.

    Honestly examine your own attitudes about money. We all have different views and attitudes about money -- how it should be spent, saved, given and so on. Before raising a difficult money issue with your spouse, honestly re-examine your approach and feelings about the issue. You may just find that you need to change as much as or more than your spouse. And if not, it will better prepare you for an open-minded discussion when you do raise the issue.   Read More...

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