Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Stockings seem simple enough, right? Buy a few trinkets, stash them in the big sock, and surprise the kiddos on Christmas morning. (Note: You will only stuff your own stockings, of course, if Santa falls down on his job.) But it’s not so easy, really, especially if you aim to keep a happy budget, because [...]

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Image: David Reber’s Hammer Photography, Flickr I know many moms who swear by saving with coupons. I can’t say I’ve ever been really successful at this game, but I have witnessed a happy moment or two at the grocery store register. Just has never happened to me, which I tend to think is because I [...]

School is back, and so are the birthday party invitations. My sister told me her little Pre-K girl has gotten several invites since class has been back in session, which means great big fun for kids — and great big spending for parents. It’s happened to me before — envelopes sent home in back packs, [...]

If parents of 12 can survive in tough economic times, surely we can too. Here, budget tips from a mom and dad deep in the trenches of raising kids — a lot of kids. Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy