Teaching Financial Intelligence to Youngsters - Mission 1 - Celebrate Saving!

It's never too early for youngsters to begin developing their financial intelligence. The most important thing parents can do is to set a good example, but there are also plenty of other ways to plant the seeds of fiscal responsibility in children. One great way is to let kids hear Mission 1: Celebrate Saving!, a music CD by Sammy, a cartoon rabbit that serves as the spokesperson for The "It's A Habit!" Company, Inc.

The lyrics send strong messages about earning, saving, sharing, and investing. Simple rhymes are set to catchy melodies that children and adults will enjoy listening to and discussing. The clear, repetitive phrases are easy to understand and remember so as kids learn the words they also learn the lessons.

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"Get in the Game" teaches about saving, with lyrics such as "From every dollar, save a dime" and "Don't ignore this call and go to the mall and spend it all, you'll hit a wall."

"Anyone Can Be Rich" sends this empowering message: "It doesn't matter how much you have to start ... The sooner you start, the less it takes ... anyone can be rich."

A message of setting goals and putting together a plan to reach them is the focus of "Plan." In "Lemonade Stand," the fun of working and earning money is stressed. Then there's the wise "Don't Spend More Than You Make" and the lively "Debt Stinks." The words to all 15 songs on the CD are printed on the insert for parental review.

Music and songs have long been accepted as effective education tools, a fact that has spawned much controversy about the lyrical content of many popular songs. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics: "Awareness of, and sensitivity to, the potential impact of music lyrics by consumers, the media, and the music industry is crucial. It is in children's best interest to listen to lyrics that are not violent, sexist, drug-oriented, or antisocial."

If you want your kids to hear songs with positive messages that will provide a lifelong benefit, Mission 1: Celebrate Saving! will be a great addition to their music library. The CD can be purchased for at www.itsahabit.com. The site also includes books, lesson plans, and other resources for teaching kids financial literacy.

Teaching Financial Intelligence to Youngsters - Mission 1 - Celebrate Saving!

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Saving Your Trip With Basic Camping Supplies

Camping trips are great. Camping allows you to have fun, adventure, and learning while embracing the challenge of living outdoors. Many people consider camping as a relaxing recreational activity in addition to a more rigorous sport such as mountain climbing or whitewater rafting.

Camping is also necessary for more serious intentions. Researchers and scientists, for example, set up camps near a volcano to study its geology. Soldiers set up a field camp during a prolonged mission.

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Whatever the purpose is, before heading out to a campsite, it is best to have a checklist of camping supplies. It's important to ensure that what you need is within your grasp. Remember that you may be out in a remote place, far from any convenience store or supply center. Imagine how frustrating would it be when you want to build a nice, warm campfire only to find out that the campsite you chose is devoid of dry twigs that can be used for fuel!

Aside from your camping equipment, you would need to carry along the following camping supplies:

1. Matches - Doing it the prehistoric way, striking flint and stone, can definitely be done, but lighting a campfire with a match is so much easier. Make sure that you purchase waterproof matches. If, for some reason, you can't obtain waterproof matches, then bring standard matches but store them in a waterproof container. You can also carry a butane lighter as an alternative.

2. Firewood - You are never guaranteed that you can get good firewood when you arrive at a campsite. Woods, twigs, and other sources of fuel might be damp or, worse, unavailable. Many campers usually bring a few dry logs for this purpose. You can keep the wood dry by covering it with a piece of tarp.

3. Drinking water - Bring along safe, clean bottled water. This is actually one of the most important camping supplies you should have with you. Bodies of water found in the wild are relatively clean and can be used for washing or bathing. They are not safe for drinking, however. If it is somehow impractical to bring bottled water during your camping, acquire a portable water purifier or pack some water purifier tablets.

4. Food - Food should be part of your camping supply pack. Unless if you are deliberately hunting game as camp food, bring along ready-to-eat and easy to prepare meals such as instant noodles and preserved goods. A good alternative is to bring MREs or Meals, Ready-to-Eat. Used by soldiers in the field, MREs are self-contained, individual field rations. They are available in many flavors. Each packed meal, which contains around 1,200 calories include a main course; a starchy side dish; crackers; a spread such as cheese or peanut butter; a dessert; a powdered beverage mix; an accessory packet that contains a plastic spoon, a beverage bag, moist napkins, coffee, and sugar; and a flameless heater to warm up the meal.

5. Utensils and tools - Camping involves a lot of cutting, skinning, shaving, and crushing. For this purpose, utensils and tools should also be part of camping supplies. Utensils include forks, spoon, knives, and the like. Tools to bring include a survival knife, a multipurpose pocket knife, a flathead and phillips screwdriver, a bottle opener, a can opener, scissors, tweezers, an awl, sharp razor blades, a small hammer, and pliers.

These are your basic camping supplies. Other supplies will probably be needed, depending on the condition and the requirements of your camping trip.

Saving Your Trip With Basic Camping Supplies

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