Intel has released the Core 2 Duo microprocessor and prices on its other precessors have been reduced. According to the Associated Press “The new price of a Pentium 4 desktop chip is now $84, down from $218 just last month.”

“The price for the most expensive Pentium D was slashed to $316 from $530 in June.”

Processor price reduction will now reduce the cost of buying a computer on the consumer end.

This is great for parents because some back to school items include a new desktop or a new laptop.

To further reduce prices when buying a computer is good to use a coupon. You can google search for coupon codes. During the purchasing process there is generally an input box where the coupon code is entered. The price will be automatically reduced.

Coupon Source

1. http://www.4computercoupons.com/
2. http://www.xpbargains.com/

Popular Online Computer Retailers

• Gateway
• Dell
• CircuitCity
• BestBuy
• CompUSA

Not a lot of people know a lot about charter schools.  I have been doing some research recently on charter shools in Florida.   They are independently operated and are open to the public.   Charter schools get government funding for the students that attend their schools.  There is quite a lot of information available on the internet about charter schools.  There are several charter school avaialable in the Tampa Bay area. 

Most charter schools have an application process.  And you should contact each school to find out about its guidelines and curriculum.

Links to more Information About on Florida Charter Schools

• Florida Charter School Resource Center
• Florida Consortium of Charter Schools
• Florida Charter Schools:School Choice

Sometime I get lonely staying at home with my girls.  I had two pregnant women remark that they do not want to stay home with their kids and they just did not have the personality for that.   Not a lot of stay-at-home moms want to just stay home with their kids.  It gets lonely sometimes. Many stay-at-home mothers miss that regular adult interaction.  

That is why there are play groups and Mommy and Me classes.  These not just for the little people;  it is also for the big people that choose to stay home with the little people.   Getting around other people helps to form sentences with more than just five words.

For about a year my family has been living with just one car.   My husband works outside the home full-time and I work from home with the kids.   The last year has been a real budget crunch time.   We have just recently purchased a used Nissan Quest minivan and I am happy to be back on the road again.  It is amazing to be able to travel on the road when the sun is bright and sunny during the week.  Before, the only time I traveled was on the weekends or during the evenings.  The kids and I are able to do shopping, and go to the park during the week now.

I missed being able to take the those little trips with my girls.  I am happy that I am able to stay home with them.  It has been some sacrifice, but in life there is always some type of give and take. I do get lonely sometimes, but I would not change being able to stay home with them for anything.

Tax free week is here. It officially started today and it ends on July 30th. It is recommended that parents not hold-off until the end of tax free week to do their shopping. It usually happens that many of the items are gone by the end of the week.

Many stores throughtout the Tampa Bay area and the state of Florida are having sales on many back to shool items.

Students in Pinellas county public schools return back to school on August 8, 2006.   That is is in about 3 weeks.   Count down to school has begun.  Some parents like the fact that the kids are returning to schools soon.   It is hard to entertain kids during the whole summer months.    Some kids just vege-out on the sofa all summer long.

Well, it is not too late to do something before the summer is over.  Florida schools have summer reading lists that students can still use to expand their minds.   Some schools have their own individual reading lists.   The Library system also has a recommended reading list for the summer break.  Most of these lists are suggestions that are aimed at keeping the mind active and engaged during the long break from rigorous academic study.  Parents can just let the kids go free and enjoy whatever book  peaks their interest.

There are also opportunities for families to enjoy interesting time together this summer.  If being on a budget has caused you to stay home you can still take advantage of free and low cost activities.  One things is a trip to the beach.  The beach is fun.  Despite the saying to the contrary, their are still tons of beach space available.   Just don’t try going on national holidays when most of the working population is away from work and crowding to get that secluded peaceful spot along with a million other Floridians and tourists.

There are many trips to be taken that can be peaceful such as a trip to a national park.  These trips can be relaxing and are even less crowded than the beach.

Yes, school will be starting soon, but there are still are a few weeks before then to do something that kids can write on the that cliched “What I did on my summer vacation” paper.

Can you believe that the summer is almost over?  By summer, I mean summer vacation.  Hillsborough county schools start on August 3, 2006.    That is just three weeks away from today.

Well, the tax free holiday starts next weekend.  What most other parents have told me is that they have noticed that some store actually mark-up their prices during that week because they know shoppers are eager to take advantage of the tax break.  I have not noticed the hike in prices, but I will be more observant this year.

What I have seen is that some stores have already begun to advertise sales on a lot of back to school items.   This is great time for homeschoolers to purchase their back to school supplies and just stock-up for the rest of the year.

Summer is almost over and time to prepare for the upcoming school year has begun.

After going minivan shopping and searching I have realized that I just do not like automobile shopping.  The last time we purchased an automobile was in 2000.   Our family’s philosophy is to drive that car until that car can not drive anymore.

Some car sales people are can be deceptive.  I had one Toyota salesman tell me that the Toyota Sienna has the most horsepower of any other minivan.  Lie.  I have been doing research on several different web sites such as Edmunds.com.  The Nissan Quest and Honda Accord have more horsepower than the Toyota Sienna.

One thing is that I am happy that there are so many internet sites to help in research before purchasing a car.  One site is Edmunds.com.   Edmunds provides editorial and customer reviews for many different automobiles.  Another web site, fueleconomy.gov, provides info on the fuel economy many car, truck, vans, minivans, and SUVs.