Recently in Money Category

I spoke to a bunch of parents last week about the $460 million (or more) budget cuts the LAUSD is looking at for next year. But I was only able to speak to a fraction of the people who wrote in, so if you want to vent, this is a good place to do that. Be sure to leave your comment for other parents to see.

If you missed the story, here's a link:
http://www.dailynews.com/search/ci_8579454

My MOMSPACE column, based on this blog, runs every Thursday in the Los Angeles Daily News. I spend my week perusing the Web for weird, useful, fun trends in parenting, so check here every week for tidbits you won't find anywhere else. And let me know what you like or didn't like, at barbara.correa@dailynews.com.

DROP-IN DAYCARE: It's a working parents' greatest dilemma: the preschool is closed; your babysitter is sick; your neighbor is at work, where you are due in less than an hour. What to do? A company called Bright Horizons (www.brighthorizons.com) runs child care centers that will take drop-in kids if they have space. There are just three locations in greater L.A., and the hours, availability and price vary. See details at www.insidesocal.com/momspace/

ONLY IN L.A.: Being bilingual is all the rage in multicultural Los Angeles. You see it in elementary school immersion programs and parks & recreation classes, and now bilingualism is becoming part of everyday life, from Kindermusik classes to playgroups. My local Moms club just sent around an Evite for a bilingual playgroup for toddlers speaking English and Spanish, and the California Association for Bilingual Education has started parent workshops. Habla Espanol? It’s time to learn! www.bilingualeducation.org.

BABYSITTER RATE POLL: I don’t know about you, but I ended up paying a jacked up $22 an hour for a New Year’s Eve babysitter because my husband announced at 4 pm that evening that a colleague was throwing a party that we just had to attend. The rate was through an agency I use only when I’m desperate. The sitters are always professional and wonderful, but it burns me to pay such crazy prices to someone to sit in my living room watching television. What’s the most/least you’ve ever paid for a babysitter? What do you consider a reasonable rate? Participate in our poll at www.insidesocal.com/momspace/

FED UP: Two Angry Moms is a documentary by two Connecticut mothers “fed up’’ with the low quality of school cafeteria food. They take a video camera to school to record students consuming neon green slushies, greasy fries and supersize cookies, and calling it lunch. The film has been making the rounds at community theaters since last spring in an effort to start a movement toward healthier school food. See clips of the film and more info at: www.angrymoms.org

SURVIVING TWEENS: Oh pre-teen and teenaged girls. The tortured soul, the raw emotion, the unbelievable sensitivity of young girls. I figure we have a good ten years until we'll be confronted with all this as parents, and I joke that my husband will be so old by then that a lot of the drama won't register. Still, it's never too early to prepare.
The current January/February issue of Daughters magazine focuses on nurturing the parent-daughter relationship during the angst-ridden tween years. Highlights include “girl-led’’ conflict resolution, getting an inactive girl moving, and eating disorder 911. (www.daughters.com)

For more on work, family and parenting in L.A., go to www.insidesocal.com/momspace/

File this one in the brilliant ideas I wish I'd had category. It's called Zwaggle.com (not crazy about the name) and it's basically Ebay without any purchase prices. Targeted to parents with too much kid stuff they've outgrown, Zwaggle users earn points for shipping their stuff to someone who wants it, then they can use those points to redeem stuff they do need/want. The only money that changes hands is shipping costs. I just logged on, and some users are offering to pay for shipping as well, just to find a home for their child's outcasts.

It's something that a nonparent can't understand -- and it sounds crazy. But the high chairs, baby swings and toys that your child drooled on, pooped on, played with, bit, laughed at, is saturated in sentimental value, and it's hard to just leave it on the sidewalk outside a Salvation Army store somewhere. I love this idea of getting things to people who will use them and love them!

Do you rely on Trader Joe's frozen entrees as much as I do? They've become a dominant part of my dinner repertoire. Well, there may be a new competitor coming to town meaning good news for us.
Check out my story in yesterday's paper ( I know I should have posted it yesterday)

Here's the top: ...

And you thought David Beckham's arrival in Los Angeles was exciting.

Now, Southern California foodies are salivating over the next British invasion: U.K. grocery retailer Tesco plans to open its first U.S. stores right here, with at least 12 outlets slated to open in November.

Initially, the chain wants to draw shoppers in Lakewood, Compton, Hollywood, West Covina, Arcadia, San Dimas, Glendora, Norwalk, La Mirada and Eagle Rock. While it's known as the English Wal-Mart, Tesco's Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market stores will be smaller markets, similar to Trader Joe's.

Working Moms I talk to are always trying to squeeze in more time at home, while the stay at homers are always looking for new ways to make a little cash. One nice way to do that if you have the time is by participating in focus groups.

Here's an example from Jen Levinson's list today: Harriet at Trotta and Associates is looking for a few moms with kids between 2-4 to participate in a study on beverages (if you purchase juice boxes, this is perfect for you).

The groups usually take less than an afternoon, and typically pay $100-$200. Easy money, and it's a real activity for the kiddies (multitasking in action!).

Anyone can go to these marketing groups' Web sites, fill out a profile, and then get on their list of go-to Moms. And as any marketer will tell you, Moms are responsible for making the bulk of spending decisions in most households. Advertisers have finally discovered this, so as a Mom, you are highly sought after for your opinions about what you buy.

Here are a few more resources for those interested in focus groups:
Craigslist lists tons of focus groups (under event gigs)
Paid Surveys

What's in your wallet?
A whopping 47 percent of U.S. parents can't afford to put their kids through college, according to results of a poll released today by consumer finance site Bankrate. Of the more than 1,000 parents surveyed, eighty six percent of parents expect their children to go to college, and about 40 percent said they'd get a second job to help make it happen.

I must admit, we have blown off college savings for the moment because we're too busy scrambling to pay rent in 2007 Los Angeles (need I say more). I guess that can't be an excuse forever, but I suspect a lot of parents in this area are struggling enough with retirement savings, let alone squirreling money away for higher education.

Bankrate's advice? Work the scholarship system and try to get a free ride.