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TODAY ON MOMS EVERYDAY --
WE TRIED PAYING THEM TO READ.
WE TRIED BEGGING THEM.
I TRIED FORCING THEM TO READ.
IF YOUR KIDS DON'T HAVE A NATURAL LOVE OF READING,
HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE IT?
OUR PANEL TALKS ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED.
AND WE'RE MAKING MOMS LIFE EASIER WITH A ONE PAN MEAL.
ALL OF MY FRIENDS ARE SUPER SURPRISED WHEN THEY HEAR THAT
MY KIDS LOVE BRUSSELS SPROUTS.
HELPING PUMP UP YOUR TAX RETURN.
CLAIMING A HOME OFFICE IS VERY STRICT BUT DON'T SKIP IT.
AND --
HOW TO GET TONS OF FREE BOOKS, MAGAZINES, EVEN MOVIES
FOR YOU AND THE KIDS ON YOUR IPAD OR KINDLE.
THAT'S COMING UP ON THE MOTHERBOARD.
IT'S ALL NEXT ON MOMS EVERYDAY.
>> WE'RE MAKING MOMS LIFE EASIER ONE SMALL VICTORY AT A TIME.
MOMS EVERYDAY, A SHOW MADE BY MOMS FOR MOMS.
Nicole: SO HOW MANY OF YOU GUYS ARE BOOK LOVERS?
JUST BIBLIOPHILES?
CAN'T GET ENOUGH?
Pam: LOVE TO READ, FAVORITE THING.
Nicole: OKAY, AND HOW MANY OF YOU GUYS HAVE KIDS
THAT ARE NOT?
Deb: I DON'T KNOW YET.
Pam: YOU'VE GOT A BABY.
WE'RE GONNA HELP YOU RIGHT NOW.
Deb: HE TRIES TO EAT THE BOOKS.
Pam: AND YOU READ TO THEM.
YOU READ TO THEM AS BABIES AND THINK THEY'LL NATURALLY
BECOME -- BECAUSE I READ TO MINE WHEN THEY WERE TINY BABIES
ON MY LAP EVERY SINGLE DAY.
>> YES.
Pam: THEY HATE READING.
Deb: REALLY?
Pam: YES!
I'M THE MOST DISAPPOINTED MOM IN THE WORLD.
Deb: THAT WOULD DEVASTATE ME.
Notesong: IT IS DEVASTATING.
Pam: I AM DEVASTATED.
Nicole: DO THEY HATE READING EVERYTHING
OR DO THEY HATE READING CERTAIN THINGS?
BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE MAKE THE DISTINCTION.
Pam: YOU KNOW, IT'S SO HARD.
IF FEELS LIKE A MOVING TARGET.
Nicole: OKAY.
Melanie: TO GET MY SON INTO READING,
I LET HIM READ THE GROSSEST ZOMBIE BOOKS EVER.
Pam: RIGHT.
Melanie: I WAS TRYING TO DO THE CLASSICS AND EVERYTHING.
IT WASN'T WORKING.
I FOUND HE WAS READING -- I READ A FEW PARAGRAPHS
AND THOUGHT I WOULD BARF.
I WAS LIKE, EW, YOU'RE READING ABOUT LIKE FINGERS FALLING OFF
AND HE LOVED IT AND NOW HE'S A HUGE READER.
Deb: WELL, THAT'S GOOD.
Notesong: I THINK YOU HIT ON SOMETHING.
I LEARNED QUICKLY MY SON DID NOT LIKE
LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE.
Melanie: SHOCKING.
Pam: THAT'S JUST SHOCKING!
Notesong: SO I LEARNED A LESSON VERY EARLY ON AND THANKS TO
MY GOOD FRIEND, WHO'S A READING SPECIALIST,
THAT YOU HAVE TO FIND BOOKS THAT THEY WILL BE INTERESTED,
WHETHER IT'S FINGERS FALLING OFF,
LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, ENCYCLOPEDIA BROWN.
BUT UNLESS THEY HAVE AN INTEREST IN IT,
IT'S NOT GONNA WORK.
Nicole: ABSOLUTELY.
ANOTHER THING I LEARNED, TOO, I LOOKED BACK, YOU KNOW,
HINDSIGHT YOU LEARN EVERYTHING.
Pam: RIGHT.
Nicole: YOU KNOW EVERYTHING AFTER YOU LOOK BACK
BUT BOTH MY KIDS HAD PATTERNS WHEN THEY WERE LITTLE.
MY SON BOOK AFTER BOOK AFTER BOOK AFTER BOOK.
HE WASN'T THE KID THAT WANT TODAY READ THE SAME BOOK
ALL THE TIME.
MY DAUGHTER SHE WOULD READ BROWN BEAR 16 TIMES IN A ROW, RIGHT?
SO MY SON NOW, HE'LL READ ALL DIFFERENT BOOKS
AND DIFFERENT INTERESTS.
MY DAUGHTER'S PROBABLY READ
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY 25 TIMES.
Pam: ISN'T THAT INTERESTING?
SO WE TRIED EVERYTHING.
WE TRIED PAYING THEM TO READ.
WE TRIED BEGGING THEM TO READ,
I TRIED FORCING THEM TO READ.
NOTHING WORKED.
WE TRIED, YOU KNOW, GRAPHIC NOVELS.
I THOUGHT, OH, CARTOONS.
WHO DOESN'T LIKE CARTOONS?
THEY LOOKED AT THE PICTURES BECAUSE AFTERWARDS
I'D SAYING WELL, WHAT WAS IT ABOUT?
DID YOU LIKE IT?
OH, IT WAS ABOUT THAT GUY THERE.
HE DIDN'T READ IT.
HE LOOKED AT THE PICTURES, SO WHAT I DISCOVERED WHAT WORKED
BEST FOR US IS WHEN I TOLD THEM HOW PROUD I WAS
THAT THEY FINISHED A BOOK AND COULD TELL ME ONE THING
ABOUT IT THAT THEY LIKED.
Deb: OKAY, AFFIRMATION.
Pam: BECAUSE REALLY IT WAS KIND OF LIKE THEY FELT
IT WAS PUNISHMENT TO READ.
IT'S WHAT I CAME TO REALIZE OVER THE YEARS OF BLOOD,
SWEAT, AND TEARS TRYING TO MAKE THEM READ.
Nicole: BUT IT IS SOMETIMES FOR KIDS.
Pam: IT'S SO HARD WHEN YOU'RE A BOOK LOVER.
Nicole: IT'S A LEARNING STYLE.
IF THEIR EYES DON'T TRANSLATE THESE WORDS INTO IMAGES,
THEY'RE NOT GONNA LIKE TO READ.
BUT MAYBE THEY DO AUDITORY, MAYBE AUDIO BOOKS WOULD BE
BETTER BECAUSE THEY CAN DO BETTER WITH THE INFORMATION.
Pam: SO IT'S TRIAL AND ERROR.
GOOD LUCK, MOMS.
Deb: TRIAL AND ERROR, THANKS A LOT.
♪
WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT PARENTS REALLY UNDERESTIMATE
WHEN CHILDREN CAN BENEFIT FROM THESE EXPERIENCES
THAT INCLUDED READING AND TALKING WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.
MANY PARENTS THOUGHT THAT IT DIDN'T BENEFIT YOUNG CHILDREN
UNTIL TWO OR OLDER, AND THAT OBVIOUSLY IS A GAP
WE REALLY WANT TO FILL BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IT'S ONE OF
THE MOST IMPORTANT ACTIVITIES YOU CAN ENGAGE IN FOR LANGUAGE,
FOR LITERACY, AND ALSO FOR BONDING.
YOU WATCH A BABY ENGAGING IN READING WITH A PARENT,
AND YOU CAN SEE THE ATTENTION AND THE LOOKING
AND THE LISTENING AND THE BONDING THAT'S GOING ON
AND THE BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT BOOKS ARE
AND HOW THEY WORK.
THERE'S, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF RESEARCH, YOU KNOW,
SHOWING THAT THE AMOUNT OF WORDS BABIES HEAR
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY THE QUALITY OF THE INTERACTIONS
AROUND SPEECH IS SO CRITICAL FOR CHILDREN'S LANGUAGE
AND LITERACY DEVELOPMENT STARTING AT BIRTH.
A LOT OF PARENTS THINK THAT UNTIL, YOU KNOW,
CHILDREN ARE SAYING REAL WORDS THAT THEY'RE NOT LEARNING
LANGUAGE WHEN WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE TAKING IN SO MUCH.
THEN ONCE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT, IT'S MUCH MORE LIKELY THAT
YOU'RE GONNA BE SO MUCH MORE MINDFUL OF, YOU KNOW,
TALKING THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH YOUR BABY,
WELL BEFORE THEY SAY THEIR FIRST WORD.
Rebecca: ALL RIGHT, IT'S ONE EXPENSE YOU HAVE FOR
YOUR IPAD OR YOUR KINDLE, WHATEVER DEVICE YOU HAVE
BUT IT'S ANOTHER EXPENSE, AN ADDITIONAL EXPENSE
THAT YOU DON'T REALLY FIGURE INTO YOUR LIFE
WHEN IT COMES TO BUYING DIGITAL CONTENT FOR THOSE DEVICES.
IT CAN REALLY KIND OF ADD UP.
$1.99, $2.99, $9.99.
BEFORE YOU KNOW IT YOU'RE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY ON THAT
DIGITAL CONTENT, BUT WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF A SOLUTION HERE.
KIND OF A MAJOR SOLUTION.
JOINING ME TODAY IS TRACI MONTRI.
SHE IS AN EXPERT IN GETTING THAT CONTENT FROM YOUR LIBRARY
INTO YOUR DEVICE.
SO THE LIBRARY IS REALLY A RESOURCE FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT
THINGS THAT WE CAN GET INTO OUR KINDLES AND OUR IPADS.
Traci: ABSOLUTELY.
Rebecca: AND THE EXPENSES ADD UP WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO FIND
GREAT QUALITY DIGITAL CONTENT.
AND THAT'S WHERE PUBLIC LIBRARIES COME IN.
Rebecca: I LOVE THIS, YOU SAID
THERE'S AN AVERAGE AMOUNT A PERSON CAN SAVE.
Traci: YES.
Traci: RESEARCH SHOWS AN AVERAGE PERSON CAN SAVE ABOUT $250
A YEAR BY ENJOYING DIGITAL CONTENT FROM THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, A FAMILY OF FOUR CAN SAVE
ABOUT A THOUSAND DOLLARS.
Rebecca: THAT'S A TREMENDOUS HELP.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT IT,
YOU START SEEING WHAT YOU'VE DOWNLOADED FOR YOUR KIDS
AND FOR YOURSELF,
YOU CAN SEE THAT YOU ARE ADDING THOSE CHARGES EVERY DAY
FOR NEW STUFF TO GET IN THERE.
SO I WANT TO KIND OF TALK ABOUT THOUGH, THERE ARE SEVERAL
DIFFERENT SERVICES, NOT EVERY LIBRARY HAS ALL OF THEM
BUT MOST LIBRARIES ARE NOW REALLY A GREAT PLACE
THAT YOU CAN GET THIS DIGITAL CONTENT.
SO THE FIRST ONE WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS --
THERE'S THREE OF THEM--
THERE'S HOOPLA, OVERDRIVE, AND ZINIA --
BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT HOOPLA FIRST.
WHAT IS HOOPLA?
Traci: HOOPLA IS A SERVICE AVAILABLE THROUGH MANY PUBLIC
LIBRARIES AS YOU'VE SAID.
THEY OFFER DOWNLOADABLE E-BOOKS, AUDIO BOOKS, AND VIDEO
AND IT'S A GREAT RESOURCE.
THERE IS AN APP ASSOCIATED WITH IT,
SO ONCE YOU FIND OUT IT'S AVAILABLE FROM YOUR PUBLIC
LIBRARY, YOU'RE GONNA PUT IN USUALLY YOUR LIBRARY CARD
AND THEN SET UP A USER NAME AND PASSWORD
LIKE ALMOST ANYTHING ELSE THESE DAYS.
Rebecca: SO IT'S REALLY EASY.
THERE'S LIKE THREE STEPS.
YOU MAKE SURE THAT, AGAIN, YOUR LIBRARY HAS IT,
YOU BASICALLY DOWNLOAD THE APP,
AND YOU'RE GONNA NEED YOUR LIBRARY CARD OR
YOUR LIBRARY INFORMATION AND THEN YOU START BORROWING --
ESSENTIALLY BORROWING JUST LIKE YOU WOULD CONTENT --
A PHYSICAL BOOK.
Traci: RIGHT, EXACTLY.
Rebecca: AND WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT ALSO THERE'S A TIME LIMIT.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GETTING SOMETHING, THE $1.99
THAT YOU SPENT ON IT VERSUS FREE FROM THE LIBRARY
IS JUST LIKE A LIBRARY.
YOU HAVE A TIME PERIOD WHERE YOU CAN HAVE IT.
SO WE WANT TO SHOW SOME OF THESE THINGS.
THIS IS A GENERAL IDEA.
SOME LIBRARIES HAVE DIFFERENT KIND OF PARAMETERS
BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, THE GREATEST THING IS
THE TITLES ARE RETURNED AUTOMATICALLY.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND TIME TAKING SOMETHING BACK
TO THE LIBRARY.
SO THERE'S A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME YOU HAVE IT
AND THEY'RE AUTOMATICALLY RETURNED.
MOVIES AND TVS GENERALLY THREE DAYS.
MUSIC YOU GET FOR SEVEN DAYS.
AUDIO BOOKS AND E-BOOKS FOR 21 DAYS.
AND THOSE ARE GUIDELINES.
YOUR LIBRARY MIGHT DO A DIFFERENT KIND OF PARAMETER
BUT THOSE ARE THE IDEAS FROM HOOPLA
IF YOU'RE KIND OF GOING WITH IT.
NOW THERE'S ANOTHER THING CALLED OVERDRIVE.
WHAT IS OVERDRIVE FOR?
Traci: WELL, OVERDRIVE IS ONE OF THE TOP PROVIDERS OF E-CONTENT
OR DIGITAL CONTENT FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES OUT THERE.
SO THEY HAVE EVERYTHING FROM NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER LIST,
TO REFERENCE BOOKS TO KIDS BOOKS THAT ONE CAN BORROW.
THERE'S E-BOOK, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, ON SCREEN READABLE TEXT
OR AUDIO BOOK AS WELL.
SIMILAR FASHION, ONE CAN DOWNLOAD AN APP,
SET IT UP WITH YOUR LIBRARY CARD AND CREATE A USER NAME
AND A PASSWORD, AND YOU'RE GOOD TO GO.
Rebecca: AND THAT'S THE SAME KIND OF THING.
YOU'RE DOWNLOADING AN APP VIA YOUR LIBRARY WITH YOUR LIBRARY
AND GETTING ACCESS TO REALLY BOOKS IS THE NUMBER ONE THING
THAT OVERDRIVE HAS.
Traci: I WOULD SAY, BUT WE'RE FINDING E-BOOKS ARE GETTING
HOTTER AND HOTTER AS MORE PEOPLE COMMUTE.
Rebecca: GOT YA.
Traci: SO THOSE ARE GREAT EXPERIENCES TOO.
Rebecca: AND THEN THERE'S ONE MORE,
IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MAGAZINES, IT'S ZINIO?
Traci: ZINIO.
Rebecca: WHAT'S ZINIO?
Traci: ZINIO'S A RESOURCE THROUGH MANY PUBLIC LIBRARIES
THAT HAS A LOT OF TOP MAGAZINES OR PERIODICALS,
SO THINGS LIKE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE,
GOOD HOUSEKEEPING.
Rebecca: OKAY.
Traci: ALL SORTS OF THINGS AND ONE CAN DOWNLOAD BEAUTIFUL
FULL COLOR GRAPHICS,
AND YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THOSE ONTO YOUR TABLET,
MOST PEOPLE ENJOY ON A TABLET.
AND TAKE THEM WITH YOU.
Rebecca: AND RIGHT INTO YOUR DEVICE.
SO WHAT'S THE FIRST THING THAT PEOPLE SHOULD DO?
THEY SHOULD CHECK WITH THEIR LOCAL LIBRARIES?
Traci: YEAH, I THINK MOST LIBRARIES ARE GETTING INTO
DIGITAL CONTENT MORE AND MORE.
SO JUST GIVE THEM A CALL OR CHECK THEIR WEBSITE
AND SEE WHAT THEY DO HAVE TO OFFER CURRENTLY,
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WONDER,
GOSH, HOW DO I GET -- YEAH, THEY OFFER THIS
BUT HOW DO I GET THE APP ON THIS THING ON MY DEVICE?
AND SO A LOT OF TIMES YOU CAN WALK RIGHT IN
TO YOUR LIBRARY.
Rebecca: WALK UP TO THE DESK AND SAY, "HELP ME."
Traci: AND SAY "HELP."
IT'S THE PERFECT PLACE TO GO.
Rebecca: IT'S REALLY -- WE WERE TALKING ABOUT LIBRARIANS,
THE SCOPE OF THE INFORMATION THAT THEY HAVE HAS EXPANDED
JUST LIKE HOW THE MEDIA HAS EXPANDED.
THEY ARE ABLE TO HELP YOU FIGURE THAT KINDLE OUT TO MAKE SURE
YOU GET THAT CONTENT IN THERE OR THE IPAD.
AGAIN, YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY IS A GREAT FIRST STEP
AND THINK ABOUT IT, SAVING $250 A YEAR TIMES
FOUR OR SIX OR HOWEVER MANY IN YOUR FAMILY.
THANKS SO MUCH, TRACI.
GREAT INFORMATION.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT MOMSEVERYDAY.COM.
THAT'S THE MOTHERBOARD.
I'M REBECCA REGNIER.
ALL OF MY FRIENDS ARE SUPER SURPRISED WHEN THEY HEAR THAT
MY KIDS LOVE BRUSSELS SPROUTS.
AFTER THE BREAK, WE'RE MAKING A ONE PAN MEAL
THAT WILL SIMPLIFY DINNER TIME.
MEET OUR PANELISTS:
PAM TAUSCHER--
MOMS EVERYDAY HOST IN MADISON, PRODUCER,
AND MOTHER OF TWO.
NOTESONG SRISOPARK THOMPSON--
PEDIATRIC NURSE, CHILD ADVOCATE,
AND MOTHER OF THREE.
DEB TUFF--
ATLANTA JOURNALIST AND MOTHER OF ONE.
MELANIE DALE--
AUTHOR AND BLOGGER AT UNEXPECTED.ORG
AND MOTHER OF THREE.
NICOLE KNEPPER--
LICENSED CLINICAL COUNSELOR, WRITER,
AND MOTHER OF TWO.
♪
♪
Pam: HI, WE'RE WITH ALICE CHOI,
FOOD BLOGGER AT HIP FOODIE MOM,
AND YOU'RE A BUSY MOM.
Alice: YES.
Pam: JUST LIKE ALL OF US, AND YOU HAVE SOME GREAT IDEAS
FOR GETTING US THROUGH THOSE NIGHTS WHEN WE NEED
TO GET A MEAL ON THE TABLE
AND WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF EXTRA TIME.
Alice: YES, I DO.
I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU MY SHEET PAN CHICKEN DINNER.
THIS IS ONE OF MY GO-TO MEALS.
IT HAS CHICKEN, IT HAS VEGETABLES.
Pam: AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.
YOU SAID YOU CAN CHOP THEM UP THE NIGHT BEFORE
AND THAT'S A TIME SAVER WHEN YOU'RE BUSY
AND YOU'RE RACING THE KIDS AROUND.
Alice: ABSOLUTELY.
YES, ABSOLUTELY.
Pam: THAT'S WHEN WE ALWAYS DO DRIVE-THRU
BECAUSE YOU'RE LIKE, ARGHH.
Alice: RIGHT, RIGHT.
SO YOU DO THIS THE NIGHT BEFORE.
WE'RE GOING TO MARINATE OUR VEGETABLES AND OUR CHICKEN
IN THESE LARGE ZIP TOP BAGGIES SEPARATELY.
Pam: OKAY.
Alice: FOR THE VEGETABLES, I'M USING BRUSSELS SPROUTS,
CARROTS, POTATOES, AND SHALLOTS.
NOW, THESE ARE GREAT VEGETABLES TO ROAST,
AND I JUST THINK THEY GO BEAUTIFULLY WITH THE CHICKEN.
Pam: ROASTING VEGETABLES IS A GREAT WAY TO GET KIDS
TO EAT THEM.
Alice: YES, YES.
I MEAN, ALL MY FRIENDS ARE SUPER SURPRISED WHEN THEY HEAR
THAT MY KIDS LOVE BRUSSELS SPROUTS BECAUSE I THINK
THIS IS A VEGETABLE THAT A LOT OF MOMS HAVE PROBLEMS WITH.
Pam: YES.
Alice: BUT I THINK ANYTHING WITH OLIVE OIL AND SOME SALT
AND ROASTED IN THE OVEN AND, YOU KNOW, KIND OF GETS THAT
NICE CRISPY --
Pam: IT CHANGES THE TEXTURE.
Alice: TOTALLY, TOTALLY AND THEN KIDS WILL EAT IT.
YOU JUST THROW EVERYTHING DIRECTLY INTO YOUR ZIP TOP BAG
AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO ADD SOME FRESH MINCED GARLIC.
THAT'S ABOUT THREE CLOVES OF GARLIC,
AND THEN THIS IS THE OTHER KEY TO THIS RECIPE,
USING FRESH HERBS,
SO WE'LL ADD FRESH ROSEMARY AND FRESH THYME.
Pam: AND YOU THINK IS MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE TO USE FRESH?
Alice: I DO.
THE AROMATICS FROM THE HERBS WILL KIND OF INFUSE INTO
THE CHICKEN AND THE VEGETABLES, AND IT REALLY HELPS TO DEVELOP
A LOT OF FLAVOR.
SO NOW WE'LL ADD IN KOSHER SALT, FRESHLY CRACKED PEPPER,
AND THEN WE'RE JUST GONNA DRIZZLE IN A LOT OF
EXTRA *** OLIVE OIL.
SO NOW I'M JUST GONNA TAKE MY BAG AND TOSS IT AROUND.
Pam: IF YOU DID THIS THE NIGHT BEFORE, THEN THE DAY OF,
YOU'RE GOOD TO GO.
Alice: RIGHT, SO EASY.
WITH THE CHICKEN, WE'RE GOING TO THROW THAT ALL IN
AND THEN SAME THING,
WE'RE GOING TO DRIZZLE IN THE OLIVE OIL.
SO ON THE DAY OF, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS
PULL IT OUT OF THE REFRIGERATOR,
PREHEAT YOUR OVEN,
AND THEN JUST LAY THIS ALL ON TOP JUST LIKE THAT
AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO ROAST THIS
IN A 475-DEGREE OVEN.
Pam: HOT OVEN.
Alice: YES, FOR ABOUT 40 MINUTES.
Pam: AWESOME!
Alice: DOESN'T THAT LOOK DELICIOUS?
Pam: IT SMELLS AMAZING, IT LOOKS AMAZING,
AND I KNOW THE KIDS WOULD LOVE IT.
Alice: YES.
Pam: WE WANT TO DIG IN.
SO FOR MORE GREAT IDEAS TO MAKE MOMS LIFE EASIER,
CHECK OUT MOMSEVERYDAY.COM.
HEY MOMS, JOSH ELLEDGE FROM SAVINGSANGEL.COM.
NOW PRETTY MUCH NO ONE LIKES TAX TIME,
EXCEPT FOR THE PART WHERE MONEY MIGHT COME BACK TO YOU,
BUT TRUTHFULLY IF YOU GET A LARGE REFUND,
ALL THAT MEANS IS THAT YOU LENT THE GOVERNMENT YOUR MONEY
AT ZERO INTEREST ALL YEAR LONG,
AND THEN THEY GAVE IT BACK TO YOU.
NOT NECESSARILY FINANCIALLY WISE.
I'M HERE TO SHARE FOUR THINGS EVERY TAXPAYER SHOULD KNOW
TO HELP YOU SAVE MORE MONEY.
NUMBER ONE--
FILING AN EXTENSION DOES NOT GIVE YOU MORE TIME
TO PAY YOUR TAXES.
SIMPLY FILING FOR AN EXTENSION ONLY GIVES YOU MORE TIME
TO FILE YOUR TAX RETURNS.
IT DOES NOT ALSO GIVE YOU MORE TIME TO SEND IN
ANY MONEY YOU OWE.
YOU'RE STILL REQUIRED TO SEND IN YOUR ESTIMATED TAX AMOUNT
BY THE APRIL 18th DEADLINE.
NUMBER TWO--
CLAIMING A HOME OFFICE IS VERY STRICT
BUT DON'T SKIP IT IF YOU TRULY QUALIFY.
THESE BREAKS CAN GO A LONG WAY IN KEEPING MORE OF YOUR MONEY.
FOR EXAMPLE, YOU CAN CLAIM 20% OF DEDUCTIBLE MORTGAGE INTEREST
AND REAL ESTATE TAXES AND 20% OF HOME MAINTENANCE,
INSURANCE AND UTILITIES ACCORDING TO IRS.GOV,
AND OF COURSE, CHECK WITH YOUR TAX PREPARER.
NUMBER THREE--
YOU COULD BE WASTING YOUR TIME PREPARING TO ITEMIZE.
UNLESS YOU HAVE A HOME OFFICE, ENORMOUS CHARITABLE DEDUCTIONS,
LARGE MEDICAL EXPENSES AND/OR HAVE HIGH MORTGAGE INTEREST AND
REAL ESTATE TAXES ITEMIZING COULD BE A WASTE OF YOUR TIME.
TO ITEMIZE, YOUR COMBINED DEDUCTIONS NEED TO EXCEED THE
STANDARD DEDUCTION AMOUNTS EVERY TAX PAYER IS ENTITLED TO.
NUMBER FOUR--
FILING EARLY CAN HELP PROTECT YOU FROM IDENTITY THEFT.
A HIGHER AND HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF TAXPAYERS ARE VICTIMS
OF TAX RETURN FRAUD EVERY YEAR.
THIEVES SIMPLY FILE REALLY EARLY USING STOLEN SOCIAL SECURITY
NUMBERS AND BIRTHDATES AND MAKE OFF WITH THE REFUND MONEY.
THEN THE REAL TAXPAYER FINDS OUT THAT WHEN THEY FILE
AND THEIR RETURN IS REJECTED.
NOW, THE WORST PART IS THAT THE FRAUDSTERS ARE RARELY CAUGHT
AND THE BURDEN OF PROOF OF IDENTITY, ALL THE PAPERWORK,
LOTS OF WAITING AND APPEARING AT AN IRS OFFICE
FALL SOLELY ON THE VICTIM.
SO THE EARLIER YOU CAN FILE THE BETTER.
FOR SAVINGSANGEL.COM, I'M JOSH ELLEDGE.
♪
Melanie: I AM IN THE THICK OF IT RIGHT NOW
OF BIRTHDAY PARTIES.
IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY WEEK ONE OF MY KIDS IS GOING TO
A BIRTHDAY PARTY,
AND THEY'RE AT THAT STAGE WHERE YOU DON'T KNOW,
DO YOU DROP THE KID OFF?
DO YOU STAY?
YOU KNOW, SO I'M CONSTANTLY HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS
WITH THE HOST PARENTS LIKE, HEY, IS THIS A DROP-OFF PARTY?
Pam: RIGHT.
Melanie: AND THEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
AM I COMFORTABLE WITH THAT OR NOT.
Pam: RIGHT, RIGHT.
HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THE PARENTS?
HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW WHAT'S GONNA BE HAPPENING
ESPECIALLY IF IT'S A SLEEPOVER PARTY
AND THEN WITH SUCH A LITIGIOUS SOCIETY NOW,
YOU HAVE CASES WHERE PEOPLE --
THERE'S AN ACCIDENT AT THE PARTY, A RECENT CASE
WHERE A CHILD CHOKED AT THE PARTY
AND ANOTHER FAMILY SUED THAT FAMILY.
SO THERE'S SO MANY LAYERS NOW OF AS A PARENT, YIKES!
WHAT DO YOU DO?
Notesong: AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
I MEAN, YOU CAN SUE FOR ANYTHING THESE DAYS
AND THAT STORY'S HORRIBLE,
BUT IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO A QUESTION OF NEGLIGENCE
AND WHETHER YOU FEEL SAFE LEAVING YOUR CHILD AT THE PARTY,
HOW WELL YOU KNOW THE PARENTS.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I MEAN, DO WE WANT TO BE SIGNING
LIABILITY WAIVERS WHEN WE SEND OUR KIDS TO A BIRTHDAY PARTY
OR HAVE THEM OVER FOR A PLAY DATE?
I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE KIND OF WORLD WE WANT TO LIVE IN.
SO IT COMES DOWN TO, DO WE KNOW THE FAMILY WELL ENOUGH?
AND IF YOU DON'T FEEL SAFE ENOUGH LEAVING THEM
AT THE PARTY, THEN MAYBE YOU SHOULD STAY,
BUT IT DEPENDS ON THE AGE.
>> YEAH.
Pam: AND WHAT THEY'RE GONNA BE DOING.
Nicole: WHAT ARE THE ACTIVITIES?
Pam: WHAT ARE THE ACTIVITIES AND IF THEY'RE IN THAT
10, 11, 12 AGE GROUP WHERE THEY'RE, YOU KNOW,
IF YOU LEAVE THEM ALONE,
THEY'RE GONNA END UP DARING EACH OTHER TO EAT CINNAMON
OR WHATEVER THE LATEST THING IS.
Deb: RIGHT.
SO MANY CHALLENGES, SO MANY CHALLENGES.
Pam: SO THEY REALLY DO HAVE TO BE SUPERVISED,
EVEN THOUGH IT FEELS LIKE THEY'RE ALMOST TEENAGERS,
YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE GOT A BUNCH OF TWEENS IN YOUR BASEMENT,
YOU NEED TO GO DOWN THERE AND SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
Notesong: THERE'S ALWAYS RISK INVOLVED.
THERE'S ALWAYS RISK INVOLVED.
BUT AGAIN, I KEEP GOING BACK TO WHAT KIND OF WORLD
DO I WANT MY KIDS TO GROW UP IN?
WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE DO I WANT TO SEND TO THEM ABOUT BEING
INDEPENDENT AND TRUSTING THEM AND KNOWING THE PARENTS?
YOU DO HAVE TO DO A LITTLE HOMEWORK, RIGHT?
Nicole: ABSOLUTELY.
Notesong: YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO KNOW WHERE YOUR KIDS ARE GOING.
SO YOU HAVE TO BE MINDFUL ABOUT THAT BUT -- I DON'T KNOW,
I THINK IT'S A BIT EXTREME TO ME SUING OTHER FAMILIES.
Nicole: WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE NEGLIGENCE, RIGHT?
KIDS ARE GONNA BE KIDS.
THEY'RE GONNA DO LOOPY THINGS.
IS IT A QUESTION OF NEGLIGENCE?
DID THE PARENTS SAY "LET'S DO THIS ACTIVITY WHERE WE EAT
AS MUCH HOT DOGS AS WE CAN AND SHOVE THEM DOWN OUR THROAT"
OR, YOU KNOW, MOST PARENTS AREN'T GOING TO BE INITIATING
THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
IT'S MORE PIN THE TAIL ON THE DONKEY, OR I DON'T KNOW IF
THEY PLAY THAT ANYMORE BECAUSE SOMEBODY COULD TAKE AN EYE OUT.
I DON'T KNOW, NOT SURE.
Deb: IT COULD BE JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS IF YOU WANT TO BE
A HELICOPTER PARENT, JUST DON'T LET YOUR KIDS GO BECAUSE I MEAN,
SOME FOLKS ARE LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT, IF I'M GONNA SEND
MY KID THERE, I'M GONNA MAKE MY KID SIGN THIS,
I'M GONNA MAKE SURE THAT IF MY KID IS IN YOUR HOUSE,
THEY DON'T DO THIS, THIS, AND THIS.
AND LIKE YOU SAID, KIDS ARE GONNA BE KIDS.
LET THEM BE KIDS BUT IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA LET THEM BE KIDS,
THEN DON'T LET THEM GO ANYWHERE.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS,
BUT YOU CAN'T SIT THERE AND LORD OVER THEM
AND TRY TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING.
Pam: ANOTHER EXCELLENT POINT.
Deb: THEY'RE KIDS!
THEY'RE KIDS!
Pam: RIGHT.
>> SO TRUE.
♪
IT'S REALLY A GIFT THAT KIDS CAN MAKE LOTS OF LITTLE MISTAKES
WHEN THEY'RE YOUNG SO THEY START TO SEE THEIR BAD DECISIONS
AS REALLY GOOD TEACHERS.
♪
WHETHER YOU HAVE A BOOKWORM OR A RELUCTANT READER,
YOUR FAMILY'S STORY IS THE BEST ONE OF ALL.
THANKS FOR WATCHING MOMS EVERYDAY.
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