About 60,000 bikes are stolen in New York City each year, and only 2 percent of them are recovered by their owners, according to a recent blog entry on the NYTimes website. But one lucky owner used Craigslist to recover her stolen bike (read the story here).

• Prevent Bike Theft: Top Tips
• Drive a Car? Stop Car Theft

Productivity and frugality blog, WiseBread, has a great post about the top 6 professionals that you should have in your phone’s contact list…just in case. I’ve narrowed their list down to three and added in one extra professional I think you really should have in case of emergencies:

Attorney: Whether it’s a car accident, medical lawsuit or helping you draw up a will or other important document, everyone will probably need or meet with a lawyer at least once in their lifetime. Before something major happens, do the scouting now:

• Nolo.com (this is a commercial site but they have good, basic information on how to find a lawyer and understanding fees)

Doctor: Even if it’s just a cold, having a doctor that you can trust can make the world of difference. Build that relationship now before you feel under the weather:

• Choosing a Primary Care Doctor
• Choosing a Pharmacy and Pharmacist
• Finding the Right Hospital

Insurance Agent: Auto, car, life, medical, home owner’s and rental insurance…doesn’t matter what coverage you’ve got, you’ll need a great agent to get the coverage you need and help you get the most out of your claims.

• Auto Insurance Coverage: What to Ask Your Agent
• Home Owner’s Insurance: What to Ask About Your Coverage
• Purchasing Flood Insurance
• Working With a Claims Adjuster

Mechanic: Let’s face it. Someday (could be tomorrow, could be next year), something in your car will break. You’ll need a great mechanic you can trust to get your car back on the road - and fast. Otherwise, you’ll be back in the shop before you know it.

• Choosing a Mechanic

What professional couldn’t you live without? Share your thoughts in the Comments section below! (Thanks, WiseBread!)

Moving to college is full of exciting new things. New classes, new city, new freedom, and new people! As a college freshman I know how it is to embrace these new aspects of life full force, but I also know there is a desire to not let go of those from home.

All of us think our friends at home are better than anyone else’s friends from home, and the first few weeks can be painful without the personalities that complete ours so perfectly. The senses of humors are not the same, interests are different, and it is uncomfortable to let our true selves show. These differences start to become comfortable and schedules pick up, leaving those great friends from home out of the new college experience.

Technology for our generation of college students makes it much more easier to keep in touch with those friends from home than it did for earlier generations. It is a great thing to meet new people and immerse ourselves in the college experience, but I also find it important to not leave those who you could not live without in the dust.

Tips to Keep In Touch

Schedule a Time:

• College schedules are hectic, no doubt about that! Talk to your friends or family on the phone and schedule one time a week or every two weeks that will work for you to catch up with each other.
• Be flexible with these catch up dates and do not stress out too much if schedules get in the way.

WHN TIP: Long-distance calls can be expensive. Buy a calling card for landlines or choose a cell phone program that works for you (free long-distance, night time minutes) and make a note of when it’s the cheapest to call home or friends.

Social Networking:

• Almost every college student has experienced the online worlds of MySpace, Facebook, or some other online social networking website. These websites allow you to keep in touch very easily. You can see how they are feeling, leave them comments, see what they are up through pictures, among other things.
• Be careful – don’t put pictures or comments about doing illegal activities because many school employees and potential employers look at these sites when considering a student or employee.

WHN TIP: Additionally, don’t forget to keep personal information private. Change your privacy options to protect your email address, birth date, mailing address listed on your profile (choose the “only share with my friends” option or better yet, don’t list these at all!) – you don’t want to share ALL your details with potential identity thieves!!

Snail Mail:

• Go the old fashioned route and write letters! They may take slower but receiving letters and packages always brighten up someone’s day. Especially if they are unexpected! Make sure to get everyone’s new addresses and if you have down time whip out a notebook and write!

You might have heard about emergency funds before, but why do you need one and just how much is really enough? Here are a couple of tips to help you find those answers for your own situation:

What is an emergency fund?

An emergency fund is a extra pool of money - either in the form of cash, a savings account, savings bonds, etc. - that can help you through some of life’s unexpected situations such as natural disasters, unemployment, loss of family member, health problems and home repairs.

Why do I need a fund?

You don’t have to have an emergency fund. However, if an emergency causes you to lose your job or home, having extra money on hand may be helpful while you try to recover. It can also prevent racking up large amounts on your credit cards, which could cause debt problems down the road.

How much do I need?

A general rule of thumb is to have at least 3-6 months of living expenses set aside in case of emergencies. It’s up to you to decide on an amount that you feel comfortable with.

How do I begin my emergency fund?

There are many different ways to set aside money for this - extra cash, savings bonds, savings accounts, CDs, etc. Use search engines to help you decide which option is best for you (search “starting an emergency fund”). Whichever method you choose, make sure that your money is accessible in case of an immediate emergency.

• You don’t have to set aside a large amount of money right now - you can take time to build your fund to the desired amount. Deposit as much and/or as often as you’d like.
• If you use money from your emergency fund, don’t forget to save up and replace the amount you used.
• If you need financial assistance due to an emergency, there are federal agencies that may be able to help you with your finances. Head to FEMA, the Red Cross, Salvation Army, and other local and faith-based organizations for more information.

Karen and Mark Cline were teenagers when they got married and did not have $150 to pay a photographer for their wedding photos.
But now they have the pictures, just in time for their 27th anniversary on last week, after their photographer surprised them with a photo album (Read the full story at Happy News).

Photos are irreplaceable, especially after major disasters like the California Wildfires or Hurricane Katrina. Take inventory of your most precious photos and make extra copies. Keep your photos in a safe place and add them to your “to-go” kit - the one box to grab in an emergency situation.

Had your photos damaged? There are photo restoration companies out there, such as a nonprofit organization that offers free restoration services to the Hurricane Katrina victims - read about it here.

A Michigan couple escaped uninjured after a cow fell off a cliff and landed on the hood of their car as they were driving. The cow, “Michelle”, had escaped from her pen a few weeks prior and may have been disoriented and lost when she fell (CNN Video).

You just never know when, where or why a car accident might happen but still it’s better to be safe than sorry. Here are the most popular articles and resources to help you prepare for the unexpected:

• Be Prepared - Car Accident
• Child Car Seat Safety
• Car Emergency Kit (printable checklist)
• How to Report an Emergency

Missed the first part of Jenny’s article? Read it here!

Flying with your children has the potential to be a positive life-long memory for you and your kids, or it can be a memory of another sort – the time when you needed a vacation just to recover from the stress of your vacation.

To make your next flight easier, here’s a list of suggested items to pack in your child’s carry-on:

• Make sure you use a small backpack they can carry and be responsible for.
• Books – regular in addition to word search, mazes, puzzles
• Coloring book and crayons
• Favorite toy – comfort/security
• Headphones to listen to music or in-flight movies



• Journal for them to record the trip
• Movies/DVD player (with headphones!)
• Paper and pencils/crayons for drawing
• Snacks
• Medications (pack these in your own carry-on). You may bring all prescription and over-the-counter medications (liquids, gels, and aerosols; eye drops, saline solution for medical purposes). Read TSA’s complete list of what’s allowed.

For Infants

• Changing mat (you may have to do it on the floor, though many bathrooms have fold down diaper decks, even on the airplane)
• Comfort items – pacifier, blanket, stuffed animal
• Diapers/wipes
• Extra change of clothing
• Medications (see above section)
• Milk/formula (TIP: Remember the 3oz. liquid rule for carry-ons. Greater than 3 oz.’s is allowed if you complete the following:
• Separate these items from the liquids, gels, and aerosols in your quart-size and zip-top bag.
• Declare you have the items to one of our Security Officers at the security checkpoint.
• Present these items for additional inspection once reaching the X-ray. These items are subject to additional screening. Read TSA’s complete list of what’s allowed.)

Fun Activities for Entertainment

• Bring along maps and guidebooks to prepare them for where they’re headed
• Make up stories
• Make a fort with the blanket – better for them taking a nap or sleeping

Our brilliant travel blogger, Jenny, is a (very!) seasoned business traveler. She also enjoys traveling with her seven-year-old daughter. You can find her advice in our travel section. Have a travel question or tip? Email Jenny!!

Here’s the first article from our travel blogger, Jenny E.!

Flying with your children has the potential to be a positive life-long memory for you and your kids, or it can be a memory of another sort – the time when you needed a vacation just to recover from the stress of your vacation.

I fly anywhere from two to five times per month – sometimes with my daughter and sometimes without - but I’m always aware of other adults flying with children. I am always impressed by the kids who are excited about their destination, taking the trip seriously and having a great time.

My heart goes out to the parents and children who are in tears or are over-tired. And then there’s the mixed feelings for the child seated behind me, kicking my seat, being loud and not listening to their parent. Or the parent oblivious to how their child’s behavior is affecting other passengers.

SMALL CHILDREN

I’ve found the best strategy to take in traveling with small children is to involve them in the process as much as possible. Make them an active participant! Get them excited about the trip and explain to them their role and responsibilities.

Tell them ahead of time about what to expect during the trip:

• Where are we going? It’s a great opportunity to pull out a map and have a quick geography lesson.
• How long is the flight?
• How long will they need to sit still for?
• Will they be sleeping on the plane?
• Will meals be served?
• What will things be like where they are going? Will there be different food? A different language spoken?
• Will there be a change in time zone? And just what is a time zone?

It’s also important to set and manage everyone’s expectations of the trip. Here are some questions you or your child might have:

• What will happen the morning of the trip? Will we be getting up earlier than usual?
• How do you go through security?
• How do you get on the plane? (Many airlines ask that those traveling with small children board first, called by zones or seat)
• What will we do if there’s a delay?
• What is take-off like? Landing? (You might want to think of how to explain the noises, bumps)
• What about the possibility of turbulence?
• How will the air pressure affect my ears? What can I do about it?
• What is appropriate behavior on the airplane?
• Will there be food or snacks during the flight?
• How do we get our luggage back again?

Check back tomorrow for Jenny’s list of what to pack for the flight!! You can also read more travel tips in our Travel category.

Remember, it’s time to “fall back”, meaning we’ll need to set our clocks back one hour on Sunday morning (except those of you in Hawaii and Arizona!).

This is also the time we recommend that you check and replace your batteries. Why? Because it’s easy to remember (do it again in March!!).

Items you’ll need to check include:

• Smoke alarms (test them while you’re at it!)
• Carbon monoxide detectors (test these, too)
• Flashlights (check the flashlights in your home emergency kit, too)
• Battery-powered emergency/weather radios
• Any other battery-powered emergency items (flashing lights, noisemakers, fans, cell phones, etc.)
• Also, test all of your extra batteries in your emergency kits, too.

Make a list of what you’ll need (AA, AAA, C) then go to the store to buy replacements.

According to the NYTimes, one of the California wildfires was started by a 10-year-old who was playing with matches.

Getting kids involved in fire safety is important…and often not the first thing kids want to do when they could be playing with friends. Here are some tips to get your kids interested in family fire safety:

1. Start by reviewing the facts yourself (read these fire facts from the USFA).

2. Read additional preparedness information and follow these tips to implement fire safety measures in your home.

3. Talk to your kids about the dangers of fire and the steps your family is taking to be safe.

4. As a family, create an emergency plan using this step-by-step guide with plenty of helpful hints on how to make it a family fun activity!