Remember the back-to-school ad with parents frolicking through a store followed by their unhappy children, while the song, "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" is playing? Cute commercial, but for parents on a tight budget, back-to-school shopping can be anything but wonderful. Read on for some ways to keep your spending under control.

What do they really need?

Consider your budget and decide what supplies are absolute necessities and what items are luxuries. Contact your child’s school for the list of required materials. It’s also a good idea to check the school’s dress code to make sure your child is allowed to wear the clothes you buy.

Once you have your list, check the sale ads. If possible, try to avoid purchasing your child a designer backpack, as backpacks are one of the most commonly lost items.

Get your children involved

Encourage your kids to be a part of the whole process, not just with the shopping. It’s a great opportunity for them to learn about budgeting, finding a great deal and how to tell between wants and needs. 

Shopping online

If you decide to do some or all of your shopping online, coordinate with a friend or neighbor.  Many online stores will offer free shipping with larger orders. 

Above all, try to have fun. Back-to-school shopping may be a hassle, but it’s also a chance to spend some quality time with the kids and pass on some valuable life lessons they can take with them as they grow older.

Summertime is here. It’s time to get out of the house and soak in some sun and fun. But remember it's important to take care of your skin. Sunburns can not only be painful, they can do lasting damage to your skin.

Here are 4 tips to help you enjoy the summer fun and avoid the summer burn:

• Avoid going out in the middle of the day. Depending on where you are, the sun is usually strongest between 10:00 am and 3pm.

• Choose your sunscreen carefully.Sunscreens have a rating system called SPF (sun protection factor) which refers to the amount of time you can theoretically stay out in the sun before you start to burn. It is usually better to use a sunscreen with a higher SPF. Reapply sunscreen more frequently if you are swimming or exercising.

• Don’t forget hard to reach places.Sunscreen only works if you apply it. Don’t forget about the backs of your knees, the back of your neck and your ears. Don’t leave your lips out of your plans either.  Strong sun can chap your lips just as quickly as a nasty winter wind. 

• Remember to dress appropriately. Hats aren’t just for farmers and baseball players. A beach cover-up or an umbrella can be your best friend during the summer months. Many stores that sell sports clothing offer fabrics that are comfortable and allow your skin to breathe. 

So enjoy the sun, but be smart and protect your skin.

The family road trip. We’ve all seen the movies and heard the stories. Some of us have even lived through them. How do you avoid the nightmare and make your next road trip a great memory you’ll want to save forever?

Here are 4 tips to help you get started:

• Plan ahead. Don’t put your packing off until the last minute. Make a list of everything you’re going to need before you start packing, and check it off as you go. Check it again before you leave.

• Double check your reservations before you leave. If the hotel you’re going to be staying at is overbooked or the pool is going to be closed, it’s better to find out from the comfort of your home than the hotel lobby. 

• Plan for contingencies. You’re going to spend an awesome week at the beach, relaxing and soaking up the summer rays. You've packed your swimsuit and towel. The only problem: it’s pouring down rain. Think through your plans and make sure you have some back-up ideas in case things don’t go the way you thought they would.

• Keep other people in mind. Different people have different interests. Just because you love going to art galleries or touring Civil War battlefields doesn’t mean your six-year-old will. Once you’ve picked your vacation spot, check the local tourism board for activities other people can enjoy as well.  

With the right planning, you and your family can enjoy your time on the road, and tell the stories for years to come.

It’s summer: sun and fun. When you’re out of doors enjoying the summer weather, it’s important to remember to take care of yourself. Whether you’re relaxing at the beach, mowing the grass or attending a summer concert, it’s very easy to become dehydrated.

Here are 3 tips to help you stay safe this summer:

• Drink plenty of water.It almost goes without saying, but it’s an easy thing to forget. The average adult loses about 1 to 1.5 liters of water during daily activities, more if they’re working in the heat or strenuously exercising. One easy way to figure out how much water your body needs in a day is to divide your body weight in half. That is the approximate number of ounces of water you’ll need for the day. So, if you weigh 150 pounds, you should drink 75 ounces water. People who are physically active or spend a lot of time out in the heat may need to drink more.

• Make sure to wear loose, light colored clothing.Dark clothing absorbs heat far more readily than lighter colors. There’s a reason white is considered such a popular color during summer. Black might be stylish, but during the summer it’s not ‘cool’ to wear it. Wearing tight clothing can cut off air circulation, preventing sweat from evaporating and short-circuiting one of the body’s primary ways of cooling you down.

• Avoid excessive alcohol and caffeine consumption. An ice cold brew or a cola might seem like the perfect remedy for a hot summer day, but alcohol and caffeine act as diuretics and can actually dehydrate you even more. 

Seniors, parents, and anyone with a medical condition should consult a physician with questions. Enjoy the sun this summer, but remember to play it safe. Keep your body hydrated and stay at your best during the summer heat.

Over the last decade, the Internet has exploded with financial blogs. These days, anyone with an opinion or a personal story about getting out of debt can start up a blog. While some of them may be inspirational, not all of them are helpful. With so much information out there, how do you tell which of them have anything you can use?

Here are four financial blogs that may be worth your time:

• Bargaineering This is a site specializing in general interest financial news that may affect you.  It’s designed in a simple format, with well written articles covering a wide range of financial topics.  If you’re looking for a general overview of the financial landscape, Bargaineering is a good place to start.

• Block Talk While many of us aren’t full time financial investors, we all have to file our tax returns each year. Block Talk, created by H&R Block, offers a variety of insights into personal finance and lifestyle with a focus on taxes and tax laws. It’s all arranged in a colorful easy to access site, full of useful infographics and other helpful hints for managing your money.

• The Digerati Life Founded by a group of professionals living and working in the tech mecca of Silicon Valley, Digerati Life is technology focused and geared towards entrepreneurs. The site contains a variety of articles about saving money and living better, along with investment strategy tips. 

• Credit.com blog If you have an interest in the credit industry or have been affected by it, this may be the blog for you. Credit.com blog also offers advice for better utilizing your money and getting to keep more of it.  

Collect your info. Save your pennies. Keep your eye on the prize!

A healthy body equals a healthy mind, so the old saying goes. Whether you want to finally ‘get fit’ or simply want some new ideas for workouts, there are great blogs out there with helpful advice to keep you happy, healthy and productive.

• Breaking Muscle: This blog focuses on athletes and hardcore weekend warriors, but even if you’re just starting out, there’s plenty of good stuff to be found. The site has everything from weight lifting to workouts for pregnant women. It also has plenty of instructional videos as well as science and dietary information. 

• Anytime Fitness: If you’re just starting out, Anytime Fitness may be a great place to begin. As its name suggests, the blog is all about working your workout into the rest of your life. There’s quality advice on basic nutrition, exercise and healthy living. The writers cover a wide range of topics, from creating healthy workout habits to what to look for when choosing a gym. 

• Mentality WOD: (Workout of the Day) Staying fit is more than just workout routines and how many miles you ran this morning. Blog creator Dawn Fletcher talks about leveling up mental toughness, rather than just strength technique or conditioning.The blog contains plenty of great information about cultivating a positive attitude, self-confidence and how to deal with both successes and failures. 

So what's your workout? Whatever it is - just do something. You'll be on your way to a better you.