When I first read the press on Ultrinsic I felt an immediate roll of my stomach.

Here’s a site where the most prized target of marketers - incoming college freshman — can sign up and place a “bet” on their grades. If they get the grades, they make money on the bet. If not, they lose the money they put down. “This (incentive) helps remove one of the large barriers students have to studying and staying motivated over the course of long semesters of college…” explains Ultrinsic Chief Operations Officer Judah Guber, in “Pay for an A?” by Andrew Gelman.

I suspected Guber (who graduated college himself in 2005 with B.A. from CUNY-Queens College) had it wrong. How could just paying for grades somehow provide a magic bullet for motivating students to study harder? But I continued to read, seeking first to understand.

To read the rest of this article, click here.

That’s the email I received this morning in my in box. I was stunned. $150??? For a Valentine’s Day gift??? In today’s world $150 can be what a family has to spend on a week’s worth of groceries. (more…)

I recently wrote an article for the Live Simply segment on cozi.com, a website created to help busy families manage all the things they do. In the article, I list a few tips to help families talk about money to help start off the new year — especially if the holidays took a toll on your bottom line. (more…)

Start spending. I know, this sounds strange coming from me — but I really mean it — start cashing in your gift cards and certificates now. (more…)

I was at lunch the other day with a few octogenarians. Seniors with savvy money advice. One gentleman, 87 years old, told me that his mother taught him how to live life frugally. (more…)

Just before we left for church this past Sunday, I came down to see both my charming, intelligent, good-hearted and level-headed teens “dressed” and ready to go. I was pleased. There they were, no complaints and already had breakfast with 10 minutes to spare before we had to walk out the door. (more…)

This weekend, after many discussions with both my girls about the cutbacks we need to make in our family expenses, we find ourselves at the mall. Frankly, it is a place we have all avoided as of late. What we do not see, we do not want. (more…)

I just finished reading a story that ran in the Chicago Tribune on September 17, 2009. “Luxury dorms: Purdue University, other schools build swanky housing to lure undergrads” by Sara Olkon.

I am still reeling from what I read. (more…)

The cost of raising children today has become almost overwhelming, especially with all the after-school activities and how fast they outgrow their clothes, toys, books, etc. Here are a few simple, creative ideas on how you can save money on children’s expenses. (more…)

The Baltimore Sun ran a great AP article about teens who earn money with Summer jobs and what a teachable moment it is. (more…)