Marriage & Family

Job loss is a family matter

By Heidi Stevens • McClatchy Newspapers • 12/9/2008

Chicago Tribune (MCT) - Problem: Should we tell our school-age kids that their dad got laid off? Or is that putting an undue burden on their young shoulders? Solution: We ran this one by Nathan Dungan, founder of sharesavespend.com, a Web site that promotes healthy money habits for youth and ...

Taking holiday gifts into their own hands � by making them

By Mary Lou Aguirre • McClatchy Newspapers • 12/9/2008

McClatchy Newspapers (MCT) - While Santa's elves keep the workshop humming to meet their Dec. 25 deadline, several local residents are hard at work, too, creating handmade items to bring smiles to those who will receive them. One person's idea of work is another's labor of love. Handmade items _ ...

Grandmother's caring comes with a melody

By James H. Burnett III • McClatchy Newspapers • 12/8/2008

McClatchy Newspapers (MCT) - You'd be hard-pressed to catch Margaret Dyke on a bad day. And that's because the 57-year-old grandmother of 12 insists that there are no bad days. That, in spite of the fact that Dyke is $1,000 and more than 30 days behind on her electric bill, which runs about $500 ...

How to check out a charity before you donate

By Erin White • McClatchy Newspapers • 12/5/2008

Fort Worth, TX (MCT) - Donating money to a charity in someone's name is an excellent way to spread the warm fuzzies at Christmas. And in these tough economic times, when everyone's feeling the squeeze, that gift could mean more than ever. Giving to a large charity like the Ronald McDonald House or ...

Lifetime, no see: They're brothers. They live six blocks apart.

By Don Terry • McClatchy Newspapers • 12/4/2008

Chicago Tribune (MCT) - Neither man had a clue what to expect that morning last March as they stood toe-to-toe, 42 stories above the city. The men were guarded yet friendly, as they sized each other up, trying to decide whether to shake hands or hug. After all, they were strangers. The younger ...

Children finding parents' putting restrictions on Christmas spending

By Lolly Bowean • McClatchy Newspapers • 12/4/2008

Chicago Tribune (MCT) - For years, Roshelle Doty heaped video games, clothes, electronics, dolls and toys upon her children at Christmas. But like so many other parents navigating the rough economy, Doty recently sat her 8- 10- and 11-year old children down and explained that this year will be ...

TV meteorologist promotes adoption

By Heidi Stevens • McClatchy Newspapers • 12/1/2008

hicago Tribune (MCT) - Amy Freeze has a keen appreciation for destiny. Her maiden name steered her toward a career in weather, wherein she rose to chief meteorologist for Fox News Chicago. Her desire for a big family led her in a less obvious direction, but it's a path she felt called to just the ...

Got a minute? She'll save you hours

By Louis R. Carlozo • McClatchy Newspapers • 11/24/2008

Chicago Tribune (MCT) - Noreen Heron Zautcke, owner of Noreen Heron and Associates public relations in Chicago, has multitasking down to a science. She oversees six employees and clients from the Allstate Arena to the Marriott Theater Lincolnshire. Outside the office, she's married to an emergency ...

Student debt grows; Financial aid application rates rise

By Allyson Dickman • McClatchy Newspapers • 11/24/2008

Capital News Service (MCT) - Already-high student loan rates are going to go up even more because of the bad economy, according to the Project on Student Debt, a group focused on cost-effective education. "Student debt was a big burden even before this economic downturn," said Edie Irons, ...

Sour economy puts college on hold for more students

By Harriet Johnson Brackey • McClatchy Newspapers • 11/24/2008

Sun Sentinel (MCT) - Joe Perri had big college dreams. He wanted to pursue a degree in photography from an arts school. He and his family saved, hunted for scholarships and applied for financial aid, but they eventually realized they simply couldn't find enough help to offset the $40,000-a-year ...