I just found a Twitter page that lists Web sites that are offering free (yes, FREE) products. The Twitter writer is Stefani from Mommy Enterprises. She’s created the page just for the free stuff she finds.

I’ll be writing more about Twitter in the future, but for those who’ve never used it, it’s a micro-blogging tool that people use to convey short messages. You don’t have to register in order to read someone’s Twitter page. Just go to the URL and read away.

Stefani’s Freebie Alert contains what seem to be some interesting links … like the Barnes & Noble offer where kids earn a free book when he/she reads 8 books. Another … 20% off Gymboree.com - Coupon code 517545342820. And another … free sippy cup from Juicy Juice.

Related:

• Freebie Alert on Twitter
• Twitter home page
• Mommy Enterprises Blog
• Balancing Motherhood’s Twitter page

Read a great article this weekend in “The Orlando Sentinel” about allowances for children. Here’s some of the advice the author gives about how much to give your kids:

Beginning around the ages of 5 to 7, give 50 cents for each year old the child is.

At age 10, give $1 per years old.

Ouch, that second one could get costly for parents. A 14-year-old will get $56 a month. With the rising cost of gas and food, $56 would be a substantial chunk out of the family budget. I remember when I was in about the eighth grade, I got $5 a week. And, I was happy for it. A classmate of mine got $10! Her parents were rich. I remember dreaming of what I would do with $10 a week.

Since my son is only two, I don’t have to deal with this issue for a few more years. Gives me time to decide how much, and for what, I’ll give him.

The article goes on to talk about giving your kids money as a tool, to learn from and to teach proper work ethic. Read the full article here.

I’ve been concentrating on financial and estate planning lately — something that’s been long overdue. I think that women tend to put this kind of planning in the background or let our husbands take care of it. It’s hard to deal with, but must be done.

Lately, I’ve heard of some women who have had serious set backs, to say the least — relatively young spouses who’ve died and some single moms who have had medical issues that require them to be out of work. Who’se got you back in these situations? Do you have family you can rely on? Good friends who could be there for you in a pinch? Are you prepared legally for these type of situations?

Evey woman needs to have legal papers that state who her children would go to in the event she dies as well as who would care for her should she become incapacitated. Remember the now-famous case of Terry Schiavo? She was married, but had no living will and became a case for the courts — her husband and her parents battling out for what was “best for her.” Don’t leave these decisions up to your family members or your friends — make them now, while you are able.

Related:

• Balancing Motherhood’s financial posts.
• How to prepare a living will.

Can you believe it’s here already? You either love February 14 or hate it. I really don’t think there’s much of an in between.

However you feel about Valentine’s Day, I’m sure we’d agree that it comes with pressure. When you’re single, it’s the pressure to have a date on or around the 14th. When you’re a couple it’s the pressure of a gift, the card (funny or serious?), and what to do today (dinner out or dinner in?). It’s enough to drive you crazy.

If you want to guarantee a great Valentine’s Day, however, you have to do something for yourself. The one thing I don’t like about Valentine’s day (besides the pressure) is the fact that we are waiting for someone to do something for us. Don’t wait, do something you love today. Something for you. Get a pedicure on your lunch break. Buy yourself one long stem red rose and display it in a place of honor. Buy a new piece of art for your bedroom or sacred space, something that will remind you to always be who you are on the inside. Order that magazine subscription that you’ve been eyeing, and enjoy the benefits for an entire year.

Above all, remember Valentine’s Day is about love. Loving yourself. Loving your spouse or partner. Loving your children. Loving others. It’s a day to be reminded of who we care about, which should always start with ourselves.

FREE BOOK — TODAY ONLY

If you do only one thing today, do this: download Suze Orman’s newest book about women and finances, “Women & Money.” It’s a FREE, yes FREE, download from Oprah.com. The deal is only good until 5:00 p.m. today so do it now. Orman’s publisher agreed to give it away online for free as part of Orpah’s recent show about how a mother of 5 is left with zero money and a truckload of debt after her husband commits suicide. Suze develops a plan for the woman to get her life on track. Do yourself a favor today and get this book so you don’t fall into a situation like this woman is in.

Related:

• Read my post “10 Reasons Suze Orman Rocks”

The other night I was searching online for a toddler blanket for my son’s new “big boy” bed. He recently graduated from his crib to the new freedom of a toddler bed and I want to get him an appropriately sized blanket for this new venture. Because I like to pay the cheapest amount I can for an item I did a quick Google search and found the blanket for sale through Amazon.com, but one link was a price that was $10 less.

Turns out Amazon uses different vendors for some of the same products. When I conducted my search directly on Amazon, the only return I got was for the higher priced blanket. Interesting.
The lesson here is to always check multiple outlets before you purchase anything online. Here is a short list of some of the price comparison Web sites that do the work for you:

Pricegrabber.com
Pricewatch.com
MySimon.com
DealTime.com

Here’s a great article on the subject from “USA Today”