Besides giving your college kids a place to do laundry this holiday break, give them something they really need: a meaningful talk about drinking. It's not too late, says psychologist Phillip McGraw, TV's Dr. Phil.
The statistics are sobering: Every year, almost 700,000 college students are assaulted by students who had been drinking; about 100,000 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Dr. Phil says remind your college-age kid about the dangers of drinking.
"Your job is to prepare [your kids] for all challenges," Dr. Phil says. "This is perhaps the biggest."
Try this, he says: Think of 10 risky scenarios. Anticipate the worst, since they can't (e.g., your son is out with friends and everyone's drinking, even the driver; your underage daughter's older date takes her to a bar). Take turns role-playing the parent.
Ignore eye rolling and "Oh, Moms." "They do hear you and will have your voice in their head," Dr. Phil says.
Dr. Phil says remind your college-age kid about the dangers of drinking.
Even before saying "I do," engaged couples have another important commitment to honor: sticking to a wedding budget. Several websites have interactive tools to determine how much money you'll need and to track what you've spent and still owe: -- Costofwedding.com. Type in your ZIP code to find out how much, on average, couples spend in various cities (e.g., $26,210 in Pittsburgh vs. $44,930 in San Francisco!). Prices may be somewhat inflated because these are average, not median, costs.
-- Weddingchannel.com. The Budget Calculator lets you track your costs, deposits and balances, based on your overall budget and total guests and attendants. Compare the site's "suggested amount" for each item with your "estimate." Then look at the "actual" amount spent to see how much over or under budget you are. Also, get tips for each item. -- Brides.com. Use the Budget Advisor tool for a breakdown of expenses and a recommended percentage of the total budget by category (e.g., 45% reception; 14% photo and video). Check out the "savvy shopper tips & tricks" to cut costs. -- TheKnot.com. Of the sites I've mentioned, the Knot's budget tool has the most comprehensive list of expenses and descriptions of what costs should be included. To wit: "Food & service" should cover hors d'oeuvres for cocktail hour, the main meal and special menu items. Also, check that tax and tip are included, or plan to add that to your total.
CNBC correspondent Sharon Epperson is the author of The Big Payoff (Collins, $22.95).
If you're one of the nearly 21 million Americans affected by diabetes, it's important to remember some key safety tips when you exercise.
Walk briskly, and be sure to eat during or after your workout.
Most important: Make sure you do exercise. "Exercise for 30 minutes at least five days weekly," says Stephen G. Rosen, M.D., chief of endocrinology and metabolism at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. "Brisk walking is preferred; more strenuous exercise will require a cardiac stress test." If you haven't been exercising regularly, start any new activity slowly.
Before exercising, be sure you have well-fitting shoes and socks. "Shoes and feet should be inspected regularly for foreign objects or signs of injury," Rosen notes.
Another key factor: food. "Exercise after eating. The blood glucose level should be less than 300 mg/dL prior to exercise," he says. He also recommends eating during or after exercise to prevent hypoglycemia.
When giving a gift to someone who'd hate to see you spend more money than you had to, why not go with an IOU so you can take advantage of post-holiday sales?
You'll probably still want to put something under the tree -- there has to be at least one present to open on Christmas morning! -- so get creative with your presentation of the IOU. Find a store with the perfect item for the recipient, get a box from the customer service counter (you may have to pay a few bucks for it), and wrap it up beautifully. Include a note explaining that you have the p-e-r-f-e-c-t gift but that you know he'd enjoy it even more if you purchased it after prices are slashed.
Save money, and earn brownie points. It's win-win.
