Prepare for the curve balls of life

I remember where I was five years ago, as the planes were getting ready to strike in New York. I was at the assignment desk in my TV newsroom. I had just been on-air, talking about how to get your home ready to sell.

September 11th, 2001 was a terrible day of destruction. A lot of people lost a lot of things that day – loved ones, jobs, favorite haunts, trust.

Natural disasters, personal disasters. They're all pretty tough to take.

The truth is you can only prepare so much for the curve balls life throws. Start with a will, then a living trust. Be sure you and your spouse or partner sign living wills and powers of attorney for health care and financial matters. Be sure your important papers are well organized, and easily found. Tell someone where the lockbox key is and what your travel plans are. Prepare a list of important contacts and keep it by the kitchen phone.

This way, when the curve ball comes, you'll be ready.

Are women insecure about money?

Most professional women I know worry about winding up as a poor old bag lady. They know the odds are they'll outlive their husbands, and they're worried about not having the resources they need for the basics – food, clothing, rent and medicine.

A lot of this panic over money comes through in a recent study from Allianz Life. Just 10 percent of those responding to the survey said they felt extremely secure financially. Fifty-seven percent said they felt somewhat secure and 33 percent said they didn't feel secure at all.

Nearly half of the women polled said a lack of knowledge was the biggest obstacle they faced. Others said they found finance and investing to be confusing or were too busy with their careers or family to pursue the knowledge they need.

But when asked what they'd tell their daughters, older women said to start planning early and never become dependent on someone else for financial security.

That's solid advice for everyone.

High-chairs – they look great, but do you have to spend $1,000?

"Nothing's too good for my child."

I hear that a lot from parents these days. And when it comes to education, I have to agree.

But a lot of folks are talking about the stuff they buy for their kids, like Playstations, IPods, Game Cubes, designer clothes and cars, and even the furniture they put in their rooms.

Lately, though, I'm wondering if the designers who cater to these parents have collectively lost their minds.

High-chairs are now selling for $1,000.

If you're into cool and hip, chic and modern, an ordinary high-chair just won't do. Even the almighty Peg Perego, which retails for several hundred dollars, can't come close.

The Mozzee Nest, an Australian black round thing will cost around $600. The Fleurville Calla, for $950, will be available in 2007. It looks a little like the Bomba stool.

They are beautifully-designed chairs. But like the $99 special at Toys-R-Us, they'll soon be covered in sweet potato and cauliflower puree. Pass the wipes.

Start the Christmas Fund Now

It's mid-September and a Halloween store just opened up in my neighborhood. The typical American spends $19 on a costume. I've got two sons to dress, so that's $38 right there, plus tax, plus all the other stuff I spend money on at Halloween.

If I get away with spending just $100 for the holiday, it's a relatively cheap year.

Which brings me to Christmas and Hannukah. While the winter holidays are several months away, it's not too soon to decide who you're giving gifts to this year and how much you're going to spend.

Imagine a Christmas that doesn't include going into debt. Paying off a huge credit card bill in January or February isn't much fun, and if you're still carrying debt from last year, it's time for a big change of pace.

Setting the budget now, and then setting aside the cash to pay for these gifts will allow you to go into the holiday season feeling somewhat under control.

Xanga.com Pays a $1 million fine to the FTC

Log onto Xanga.com, a large social networking site, and you can view videos, photos and information about all sorts of wacky things. I watched a guy having his brows waxed.

Say what you want about the entertainment value of such a video, folks seem to be tuning in. The only problem is, Xanga.com was allowing kids under age 13 to set up pages on the site, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Last week, the FTC announced that the guys who run Xanga.com had agreed to pay a $1 million fine for allegedly violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act for collecting, using and disclosing information about children under 13 years old.

How can you protect your kids? Keep the computer out in the open so you can see what your kids are looking at. Use the Internet with your kids and limit their time online. Talk to them about what information should be made public, and what should stay within your own family circle.

Make sure you know where they're going online.