Reader Nati asked me whether I knew of a downside to participating in the education ministry's new schoolbook borrowing plan. Parents have been complaining about the high cost of schoolbooks as long as I've had kids in school. The books get pricier every year, the schools change curricula regularly, and there are too many workbooks. So the education ministry has allotted a budget for a nationwide book-borrowing project, implemented by individual schools. It works like this: The schools have sent out letters to all parents. Sixty percent of the parents need to agree before the school can implement the program. Parents do not have to participate. To kick-start the project, they are … [Read more...]
Tu B’Shevat, Tiger Parenting, Chesed Meals, and Israeli Budgeting
January 19, 2011 by 7 Comments
I had too much to say about some of the articles I had planned to include, so I pulled them out for separate posts. Look for them in the next few days. Never miss a post: Sign up for email updates via Feedblitz. Tu BeShevat begins tonight. Read about some of the myths of the holiday at Green Prophet. I also wrote Name that Fruit: A Tu Beshevat Game. My mention of Amy Chua's book generated a lot of discussion, so I'll link to some online responses. First, Jessica Gottlieb reviewed the book at Tiger without a Plan. David Brooks at the New York Times writes a disingenuous response, claiming that Chua is a wimp because she doesn't let her kids get … [Read more...]
Roundup: My Twitter Moment, Cloth Diapers, Haredi Fashion, C-Sections and More
January 2, 2011 by 4 Comments
Here are some links to start off 2011. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency listed the 100 most influential Jewish Twitterers for 2010. I tied for #5 (@mominisrael). The article explains how the list was compiled. Beginner's guide to Twitter: Mom, This Is How Twitter Works. Haredi fashion is in the news again, this time with a story about Bnei Brak fashion designer and stylist Miri Beilin. Fashion blogger Simona Kogan responded to the story about haredi fashion photography. Jpix Chanukah Edition is over at Leora's. Also check out her review of 2010, and Ilana-Davita's review. On the Facebook page, we discussed the Risks of Elective Cesareans in California. I believe that elective … [Read more...]
Summer Reading, and Other Activities
June 23, 2010 by 1 Comment
My two oldest sons are training in the south and come home every week or two. My teens are finished with school, and one is about to start a ten-day course for counselors (mashatzim). My younger two still have another week left. After that I am taking them to New York, along with my older daughter, to visit my father and siblings. Here are some articles for your summer reading pleasure: Over at Israeli Kitchen, I wrote about keeping a supply of emergency water. On Cooking Manager, Stay Cool by Drinking Tap Water. If you ever wondered about whether babies need extra fluids in the summer, see Keep Your Baby Safe and Hydrated in the Summer Heat at Green Prophet. Haveil Havalim is … [Read more...]
Top Fifty Frugality Blogs
June 9, 2009 by 9 Comments
I'm honored to be included in Frugal Dad's list of the Top Fifty Frugality Blogs. For new visitors, I've picked out some of my favorite frugal posts: Making a Sourdough Starter Washing Machines and Making Laundry More Frugal Frugal Strategies for Young Children that Pay Off as Your Family Grows How to Spend Virtually Nothing when You Have a Baby Staying Home and Staying Sane: Tips for Balancing Your Needs with the Needs of Your Kids Is Homemade Food Worth the Effort? Tips for Starting a Cooperative Camp or Playgroup Creative Cooking Using Leftovers: Chicken Casserole Using Cloth Diapers in Israel If you're interested in more personal finance from an American … [Read more...]
More Frugal Strategies, Breastfeeding in the Summer, and Haveil Havalim, and Childcare Choices
May 18, 2009 by Leave a Comment
I wrote about keeping babies hydrated in hot weather at Green Prophet. Squawkfox compiled a list of the best frugal advice from 41 bloggers, dividing them into categories and adding eye-catching graphics. You can see them all here. And in the spirit of frugality, Batya at me-ander presents the "discount" edition of Haveil Havalim, the Jewish/Israel blog carnival. … [Read more...]
Frugal Strategies for Young Families that Pay Off as Your Children Grow
April 20, 2009 by 55 Comments
As my family grew from a small to a large one with six children, I developed efficient ways to save money. Items that are small expenses with two small children become big ones as the family grows. Below I present ten money-stretching strategies for young couples with a growing family. It takes discipline to stick to these guidelines, but the effort pays off over time. The benefits are not just financial. 1. Teach kids that it's okay to be different. This gift to your children pays off again and again. Empathize with them when you won't buy things their friends have, but stick to your principles. Train them to listen to their own instincts, and not the crowd's pronouncements. Most … [Read more...]
School Supply Survival Guide
August 28, 2007 by 17 Comments
How can six-year-olds can keep track of all this stuff? (Of course I know the answer.) For first-grade in Israel you need the discipline of a first-year recruit.School supply list:Ten 40-page notebooks "esser shurot" (10 lines), a math notebook, and ten plastic covers (not eleven?) If you can find the cheap ones with the brown covers, buy them. The plastic "atifot" help them last longer and the teachers provide decorative pages to slip under the transparent covers, making them easy to identify. Of course they don't need 40 pages. There are at least six different kinds of notebook paper, and I often come home with the wrong kind.An assignment book; for first grade you can buy a generic … [Read more...]
Back to School, Israel Style
August 19, 2006 by 2 Comments
This post is from 2006, and prices have gone up. The summer vacation is ending in about two weeks. School is supposed to start on September 1, but the students in the north asked to start on Sunday September 3, so in solidarity with them all the schools are going to start then (or so I heard). Call me cynical, but it's probably because of the teachers. "Zeh lo fair" if the teachers in the north get an extra day off, right? Although I personally don't see the point of starting school on Friday in any case. Anyway, summer is that time of year when the refrigerator and the wallet are never closed. And after this outlay for camp, vacation and other entertainment (although we got off … [Read more...]
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