The changing shape of family financesWritten by Rachel Lane and Cashzilla
Families are becoming an increasingly complex unit when it comes to money management. Parents are working longer hours, couples are spending less time with each other and children are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their material wants and information needs. Whilst centralising funds is important in family, so is an analysis of individual roles and associated financial requirements.Super-mums It seems that proof of maternal efforts is no longer found in pudding … it’s in spending. Women are increasingly outsourcing personal grooming tasks and pressure of looking good, feeling healthy, maintaining a tight ship and IQ level has meant that housecleaning and gardening are again fashionable methods to promote family brand; housewifery is now a career, with all attitude of 21st century post-feminism. It emerged in a recent BBC report, that a new type of parent was surfacing….the “manager mum”. Manager mums tend to use internet to save time on tasks and streamline activity, using Web to undertake jobs such as grocery shopping or banking. Once they’ve got their partner, it doesn’t seem women can relax about their appearances, with women in relationships spending more on their appearance than their single counterparts. UK housewives spend a massive £5 billion on ‘keeping up appearances’, in terms of gardening, home furnishings and personal grooming, according to a study by Virgin Money Credit Cards. UK women are splurging out an average of £3,488 each on personal appearance and their home and garden. Of £3,488, 47% is spent on home and garden, whilst remainder goes on clothes, haircuts, beauty products and treatments. The pressure to look good may be a factor in women being labelled as worst savers, as reported by Guardian Unlimited. In an annual study by IFA Promotion, 63% of women who stated that they were unable to put aside further savings, admitted to spending their spare cash on costly and unnecessary luxuries, whilst 28% of women get themselves into debt with expensive purchases. Women apparently seem to be content with spending up to 75% of disposable income and saving less than 20%, in contrast to men who save over 25% of their income and invest 8%.
| | Philadelphia Is Hot For a Vacation SpotWritten by Bryant E. Copeland
Do you and your family love vacations that are also great opportunities for educating yourself about history and pioneers that built this great country? What better way than a fun vacation that is filled with learning!And whether you are prone to city rhythm or if country atmostphere warms your heart, you will love Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Long known for being rich in history, this city is proud to present its museums and culture to its visitors. From delightful Philadelphia Museum of Art on Benjamin Franklin Parkway, whereby you will find yourself in 80 period rooms ranging from a collection from an Indian temple to medieval cloisters. Built in 1876 to showcase decorative arts, its large collection makes it third largest museum in United States. There are many other buildings to tour in general area including Independence Hall, Liberty Bell Center, and National Constitution Center. Don't forget a trip to Reading Terminal Market. It was established in 1893 and is country's oldest continuously operating farmers market. You will be able to indulge in practically every type of cuisine, from Asian to soul food, from traditional Pennsylvania Dutch fare to Middle Eastern dishes all available from primarily family-run stands. Afterwards you might be ready to walk off your dining experience with a stroll along quaint cobblestone streets. Breathing in architectural wonders that are plentiful from last couple hundred years is a real delight if you are least bit interested in style and history.
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