Using Parental Controls

There will be a period when your child will begin to be exposed to certain things you may not approve of or that may have happened already. I am not talking about the world, itself. I am talking about the Internet or television.

Your child may be a preschooler who knows how to navigate on the computer which exposes him or her to programs that may or may not be appropriate. Your child may use the TV remote control which exposes him to inappropriate viewing.

Use parental controls on the computer and television. You, as a parent, decide what kinds of websites and shows to block when your child is utilizing the technologies. You will need to create a certain password that your child cannot know or guess it. Be sure to pick a password that you can easily remember, write it down, and hide it in a safe place.

If your child does see something inappropriate on television or the computer, be sure to briefly talk about what he or she saw. Explain why it is inappropriate. It is up to you to decide how detailed you should be. Take your child's age and interest into consideration.

Credible Sources on the Internet

The Internet is a valuable resource to many people around the world. There are tons of information out there for everyone. However, not all information may be accurate or correct. It can be frustrating or time consuming to figure out credible sites and resources. And busy moms do not need to waste time in trying to figure out that.

So, how do you know what information to believe out there?

Here are some guidelines to help you figure if the website is credible or not.

1. The organization of that source is well known. For example, the American Cancer Society or the Red Cross. Then the source is reliable.

2. An author is listed on the website. You can easily check his or her credentials. People tend to believe articles written that have the author's name listed.

3. Many news channels found on television have websites. Use what is most common in your area first. If you are interested in reading other perspectives, and you are not familiar with those media sources, always find at least three sources from the same area to compare and contrast.

Don't be afraid to come up with your own guidelines as you find out if these are credible sources.

Ways to Save Money Using the Internet

The Internet is a valuable tool for any household looking to save money. This could be helpful for those who are on a tight or small budget. Although there are many ways you can save money by using the Internet, I will give you five ways to help you to get started.

1. Pay bills online. Not only could you avoid late fees and penalties, but you also save on gas money and the rising costs of stamps. It also takes seconds to pay online. You save time!
2. Utilize auction and store sites such as Ebay or Etsy. Often times, bidding always you purchase an item at a cheaper rate, however it could become more expensive than its worth. Do you homework to decide what are the best deals.
3. Using websites to print coupons. Sites like Coupons.com or Smartsource.com allows a visitor to print coupons that can be redeemed at stores. This saves you from buying the Sunday paper that carries those coupons. Another advantage is you can pick and choose which coupons you want.
   
4. A good website to bookmark is Froogle.com because you can compare prices of products that you are searching. I am sure there is other websites that do this, but Froogle specifically comes to mind.

Feel free to share your ways of saving money.