Do You Know Someone in The Military?

We will be giving free, autographed copies of Heroes at Home to anyone whose question is read on ABC News Now's GOOD MONEY show on Friday, December 11th

The deadline for your questions is: Thursday, noon PST, December 10

Topic: Military Money

• Do you know someone in the military or are you a military family?
• Do you have a question about how to manage your money in the military?
• Maybe you are having trouble budgeting?
• What are some of your specific money problems?
• What are some of your financial stresses in the military?
• Or you might want to help the military and don't know how?

Ask Ellie any military money related question and if your question is read on the air, you could win a copy of Heroes at Home: Help and Hope for Military Families. This is a book that has 100,000 copies in print and is helping servicemembers and their families all around the world!

Remember the ABCs of past prize winning questions:

• Accuracy- Questions that accurately fit the show's theme for the day are most relevant. This week's theme is "Military Money."
• Brevity - If it takes two minutes to ask the question, then it won't be selected. A question that can fit into a 10 to 15 second soundbite is ideal.
• Clarity - The world of TV news revolves around questions asked in a way that is easily understood by viewers. Please email your questions to: assistant@elliekay.com or posted on Ellie's blog right here!

We look forward to hearing from YOU as you join Ellie on ABC News!

Submit all questions right here on Ellie's blog http://www.elliekay.com/ and/or send a copy of the question to: assistant@elliekay.com

Thank you for supporting our military!

Kids and Money -- Listen to Ellie on Voice America!

Do you want to know how to teach your kid's about money? Listen to Ellie on VoiceAmerica!


Wed 10 AM PT/11 AM MT/12 PM CT/1 PM ET on VoiceAmerica Variety Channel
Real Parents. Real Solutions.
Money Matters: Teach Your Child How to Be Money-Savvy

Teaching your child how to manage money is a big responsibility. In today’s show, Ellie Kay, financial expert, author and mother of seven, will break it down to make the job manageable. Should you give your child an allowance? How much should it be? Should Learn More >> Missed the Live Shows? Past Episodes are available On Demand and Podcast Ready.

The Greatest Generation - Proud of our Military

It's past midnight in Germany where I just spoke to the military spouses in Katterbach. They are facing multiple deployments into downrange, sometimes high risk areas and many are so young.

This is YOUR current Army and military, an all volunteer force--they know the risks and take them anyway. You would be proud of what I saw in the spouses...--courage, strength and hope.

Truly, the sacrifices we call upon them to make has got to mean I just spoke to "The Greatest Generation."

I so admire these heroes.

The message I brought them was from YOU, America. I told them that we loved them, we are proud of them, and together we are going to be all right.

Please remember the families of the Katterbach area as well as all military members and their families in your prayers.

Ellie Kay
America's Family Financial Expert (R)
http://www.elliekay.com/

Ellie In Germany -- I LOVE the Army!

I'm in Germany to speak to the military and their families stationed around Katterbach. They put me up at Colmberg Castle in a sweet suite that overlooks the village....oh, my, goodness--what a view out of my window.

We toured the village and I snapped this photo of the Kathy Wohlfahrt Christmas Village and I caught the reflection of the beautiful building across the street. Believe it or not, I actually found the small 1/2 price clearance section in that story (even though it was written in German, I can sniff out a bargain anywhere). I bought many small gifts there and will get a tax back break when I take my receipts to the airport. This was true when I traveled in Israel, too. So be sure to see if the country you visit has tax back offers and get the information from the merchants so you'll be equipped at the airport to get your refund.

The last photo is me in the wrong kind of stocks! I prefer the financial ones. We toured the criminal justice museum and saw forms of "justice" throughout the ages including iron maidens and chastity belts. I would have been a criminal during the 1700s when drinking coffee was outlawed in this part of Germany and they had official "coffee sniiffers" to find you out! I also would have been forced to wear the "flute shamer" for musicians who sang or played musical instruments badly.

I talk to the military audience tomorrow night and I'm so honored to be able to give them a good work in due season--they need all the encouragement they can get in the midst of the sacrifices they make for all of us.

Wilkkomen!

Ellie Kay

America's Family Financial Expert (R)

http://www.elliekay.com/

Answers for Debt Free Holidays- Ellie on ABC NEWS NOW

Yes, you can have the answers to debt free holidays by clicking onto my recent appearance on ABC NEWS NOW - GOOD MONEY SHOW

Plus, three of you won including Bev, from Steinbech, Manitoba, Canada; Linda from Mt. Pleasant, IL and Joe, from Panama City, FL. You will receive a complimentary copy of The Little Book of Big Savings!

Here's the essential steps to save this holiday season!

Be Specific - Set aside a specific “cash” budget--don’t use credit cards unless you know you can pay them at the month’s end.

Simplify – Gifts don’t need to be elaborate, especially during a recession. Think “practical” for friends and family who have been hit by the recession and consider giving gift cards that they can use to purchase essentials like food and clothing. At www.AmericanExpress.com/gift you will find the only 100% gift, 0% fee universal gift card on the market. Write down the card number after you buy it and if you lose it or it's stolen, just call American Express for a replacement.

Strategize – Decide which gifts you’ll purchase and match them with sale ads for Black Friday. or Cyber Monday. Check off the items on your list and make note of any special limitations (i.e. ‘price only effective for three hours, limit two ipods per person, etc.). Prioritize the stores you’ll shop according to limitations and values.

Split it! Follow the old “divide and conquer” rule when shopping on Black Friday by going with a friend or your spouse. If there are multiple purchase discounts, you can split it and take advantage. You might also have a “two for one” special and share the savings.

Stick to Your Guns- Be aware that you may be tempted to keep buying even when you’ve already conquered your list. Marketers are good at placing irresistible bargains eye catching places.

Steal it! - Be sure to save some money in your budget for the after-Holiday sales. You can oftentimes get non-perishable gifts for next year’s list at anywhere from 50% to 75% off retail.

Happy Shopping!

Ellie Kay

America's Family Financial Expert (R)

http://www.elliekay.com/

Debt Free Holidays -- Can You Do It?

Do you want to have a Debt Free Holiday?

Here is another chance for you to win a copy of Ellie's newest book, The Little Book of Big Savings (Waterbrook, 2009) by having Ellie answer your question on ABC News Now's Good Money Show on November 17.

Despite the recession and rising unemployment, the holidays still insist on arriving! Once again, we are approaching the time of the year when retailers will make or break their profit margins based on Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.

Do you have financial concerns about the upcoming holiday expenses? Do you believe that this year its going to be a buyers market? Are you looking for a strategic holiday spending plan? Do you think it is possible to get through the season debt free?

If you have questions you'd like to have Ellie answer on the air, we would like to hear from you! What question(s) would you like to ask Ellie about the upcoming holiday season? The producers of ABC News Now will select the questions for Ellie to answer on Good Money.

Please e-mail your questions to assistant@elliekay.com by 11/16 or post them here on Ellie's blog.

Family Time in Israel

Israel is a great place to raise families? The American mom of the two children on the left made this statement to me. It may sound surprising, but I can see why she says it. As I blogged earlier, statistically, it's safer here than living in California. But here's the proof: children as young as five years old walk themselves home from school. They are from good families and have responsible parents--but there's no need to fear for their safety the way I would as a mom in the US. That was one of the strangest sights in downtown Jerusalem and other parts of the country. I love America and have no plans to move to Jerusalem, but I do have to acknowledge the startling contrast in other cultures.

The photo on the right is me at Mt. Carmel, where Elijah battled the prophets of Ba'al and God allowed him to win the victory. The guide reminded us that according to the story, Queen Jezebel got so angry that she swore she'd take his life. Then he ran and got so discouraged that he sat by a Juniper tree and wanted to die. This is a good lesson to remember that when we battle our own "Jezebels" we don't have to live a defeated life.

We've also seen the western wall, garden of Gethsemane, Via Delarosa, the Temple Mount, the Dome of the Rock, Golgotha, the (empty) tomb, and dozens of other sites. The tour was put on for us by the Ministry of Tourism and they kept us (a group of journalists) busy 10 to 14 hours a day--we got the most out of our time away from home.

This whirlwind trip is about at an end and our small group was able to do twice as much in 1/2 the time. But after vising 50 sites, the photo on the left was the highlight of my trip, getting to see a precocious pilot and a pretty princess having fun in a restaurant. Their dad runs a great tour group site that will work with larger groups as well as families to help make this dream trip affordable.

So instead of planning a trip to Disneyland, consider visiting the center of three major world religions. It's a trip that will forever impact your life!

Ellie Kay

America's Family Financial Expert

http://www.elliekay.com/