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Survive the Economy with Shared Housing Published on 17/08/2009

Multi-generational households are making a comeback for Boomers in the Sandwich Generation - especially with the lack of jobs available for new college graduates and the financial pinch felt by aging parents as their retirement incomes dwindle. Don't be disappointed if you were dreaming about the empty nest. This new living arrangement can reduce stress, with more family members sharing...

How to Enjoy Family Staycations in a Recession Published on 07/07/2009

Now that the summer solstice has given us more time between sunrise and sunset, Americans are officially in summer mode - using the extra daylight hours to spend with the family. But unemployment rates are above 10% in many states and the recession isn\'t showing signs of an early end. A lot of us are cutting way back on expenses. The Auto Club estimates that the traditional vacation costs an...

How to Achieve Family Flexibility in Times of Financial Flux Published on 29/06/2009

As Leo Tolstoy put it in Anna Karenina, \"Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.\" What about other family traits? Are families who are flexible all flexible in the same way? And are rigid families each set in their own ways? Today, families are being shaken up in record numbers as financial turmoil hits home. With all the job-related uncertainties...

Cheer Captain Phillips and Train for Your Own Success Published on 23/04/2009

Americans were thankful and joyous to learn of the successful rescue of Richard Phillips, captain of the Maersk Alabama, a commercial ship bringing much-needed food and supplies to Africa. Capt. Phillips acted heroically when his ship was attacked by Somali pirates five days earlier, surrendering himself as a hostage while protecting the crew from a similar fate. President Obama noted that...

10 Life Lessons from The Academy Awards Published on 09/03/2009

Amidst the yards of fabric and the glitter of jewels, the 81st Academy Awards might seem an unlikely place for 40-somethings or sandwiched boomers to look for role models. After all, the red carpet doesn\'t exactly represent the clothes in our closets or the figures reflected back to us in the mirror. So what life lessons can we take from the Oscars? Instead of focusing on the fashions, let\'s...

What You Can Learn from President Obama\'s Mother-in-Law Published on 01/03/2009

Now that Michelle Obama\'s mother is living in the White House, will the cruel jokes and snide remarks about mothers-in-law finally stop? Will Marian Robinson, as first mother-in-law, be able to pave the way for acceptance, even respect, for this much-maligned branch of the family tree? Only time, and the nightly comedians, will tell. If you have a new son-in-law yourself, you can use Mrs....

8 Strategies to Turn Your New Year\'s Resolutions into Reality Published on 27/01/2009

Over two thousand years ago, the ancient Romans began the practice of making New Year\'s resolutions when they named the first month after Janus, the god of beginnings. Janus had two faces, one looking back at the old year, the other looking forward to the new one. In order to secure good fortune in the future, January became the time when you ask forgiveness for past deeds and look inward for...

5 Steps to Gratitude Despite a Tough Economy Published on 10/12/2008

Even with the harsh economic news - jobless rates up and the stock market down - we can still find a lot to be grateful about, especially during the holidays. Families and friends traditionally draw together for support in times of crisis and this year is no different. The gift of appreciation - a heartfelt thank you - can be a daily present this holiday season for those you love. And the cost...

The Stock Market Meltdown and Domestic Violence Awareness Month Published on 28/10/2008

Lost in the headlines about the presidential election and the stock market meltdown is the fact that October is the month dedicated to controlling domestic violence. The irony is that the financial shock waves are likely to increase the prevalence of abuse. The economic turmoil will undoubtedly lead to greater fears, pressure and anxiety within families facing financial collapse - and, in many...

The Economy and Domestic Violence: What if You Are the One with a Short Fuse? Published on 17/10/2008

Across the United States and around the world, the effects of the financial crisis continue to spread - foreclosures are widespread, banks are being taken over, stock markets are erratic, credit is frozen and bankruptcies are increasing. No one can predict with certainty the long-term effects on the economy, but most pundits agree that this collapse will not right itself in the near future....