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Study up on college savings vehicles
Another school year is drawing to a close — so if you have young children, they’re one year closer to the day when they head off to college. And both you and your children need to prepare for that day. Your kids can do so by developing good study habits. As for you, it’s never too soon to start preparing for the high costs of higher education. Just how costly is college? According to the College Board’s figures for the 2012-13 academic year...
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Frugal Family: Let the good times roll
Being the crazy planner that I am, I started thinking about my son’s birthday party. I always say that planning ahead can save you a lot of money. My son wants a train birthday party and so the search is on for ways to have a successful party without breaking the bank. One of the first ways I found was my recent purchase of paper products. During an after Easter sale, I found basic blue plates, cups and napkins for less than $1 per package....
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Be aware of the need for disability insurance
It probably doesn’t show up on your calendar, but May is Disability Insurance Awareness Month. And you might agree that such a month is useful, when you consider the following: • Three in 10 workers entering the workforce today will become disabled before retiring, according to the Social Security Administration. • At age 42, you are four times more likely to become seriously disabled than to die during your working years, according to Na...
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Celebrating the end of the Charlotte curse
What is one thing we can do for Charlotte now that that former Mayor Pat McCrory has been elected governor of North Carolina and his successor, Anthony Foxx, has been nominated for U.S Secretary of Transportation? We can stop referring to the Charlotte mayor’s job as a dead end or curse for politicians aspiring to statewide or national office. It might take some getting used to. The previous three Charlotte mayors who tried for statewid...
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Frugal Family: How to save money on eating healthy
Recently our family has decided to eat healthier. To help benefit our son, our family has decided to follow the Feingold Diet, eat organic items and also give up gluten. This can be an expensive endeavor. However, we have found ways to cut costs even living the healthy lifestyle. One of the best ways to living a healthy inexpensive lifestyle is to cook from scratch. Don’t buy processed foods and follow simple recipes on the internet. Proc...
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Keep our grandfather’s fire burning
“Everybody in North Carolina should have heard that speech.” Someone had just heard Tom Lambeth’s recent remarks to the North Caroliniana Society, which was presenting him with its annual award for service to our state. Lambeth, longtime former executive director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, used the occasion to talk about some of the people and some of the stories that help define North Carolina and its history for him. Lambeth...
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Investors can learn from swimmers’ diets
Summer isn’t here yet, but it’s getting close. And for many people, the arrival of summer means it’s time for swimming at the local pool or lake. If you’re just a casual swimmer, you probably don’t have to adjust your diet before jumping in. But that’s not the case with competitive swimmers, who must constantly watch what they eat and drink, particularly in the days and hours preceding their races. While you may not ever have to concern yours...
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Frugal Family: Saving money at yard sales
My family hosted a yard sale this weekend at our home. While I love selling my things at yard sales, I also love yard sale shopping. I am proud to say that my entire dining room set, my son’s bed frame, a family room chair and several dressers in my home are yard sale finds. Yard sales are a great place to find things for affordable prices. However, if you wish to save money at yard sales, you must plan ahead. Before you start your yard s...
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Eastern North Carolina eating, the literary way
There are hundreds of reasons to celebrate Georgann Eubanks’ third and last in her “Literary Trails of the North Carolina” series. Follow her travels in the just released “Literary Trails of Eastern North Carolina,” and you will have the most enjoyable and efficient survey of authors and literary connections in that region. But one of my favorite parts of her books are the descriptions of the places where literary-connected people eat. ...
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Nourish the “roots” of your investment strategy
On Arbor Day, which we celebrate this week, people across the country plant trees. Of course, trees provide us with many benefits, including beauty, fruit and oxygen, as well as protection against land erosion. But the act of planting and nurturing trees can also guide our behavior in other areas of life — such as investing. First of all, consider the vision and patience exhibited by tree growers when they plant their saplings. As an invest...
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Frugal Family: Saving money on books
Do you love to read, but don’t have the budget to spend much on new books? You don’t have to break the bank when looking for a great book. One of the best places to get a great book is the area library. You don’t have to spend a dime and you have a massive array of selection. The Wake County Library System does charge $25 annually to its members from outside of the county; however, this is a fraction of what you could pay retail if you read...
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Our view: A vote for transparency
Local residents don’t need to be schooled on what happens when elected officials do government business out of the sunlight. That is how the Wake County Board of Education dismissed Tony Tata as the superintendent without public input. Yet, there is a bill in the state Senate now that would make it easier for local governments to erect a wall between themselves and the public. Senate Bill 186 would allow governments to post public notices...
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Investors can learn from Earth Day’s lessons
Next week, we observe Earth Day. First celebrated in 1970, Earth Day has grown into an international movement whose goal is to raise awareness of the need to take action to sustain a healthy, sustainable environment. You can do your part through recycling and other measures, but you can also apply some of the lessons of Earth Day to your financial situation — and, in particular, to your approach to investing. Give these ideas some thought: ...
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