Think of all the questions you've asked when it comes to your kids' well-being. You've interviewed babysitters, taken the time to get to know the parents of your kids' friends, and inquired about background checks for soccer coaches. The list of what you'll ask or do to protect your kids from harm is endless, isn't it? And those pesky concerns about whether you're being "rude" start to disappear when you focus on what's best for your kids.

But what about choosing a family law attorney to take on your child support or child custody case? What questions do you ask then? The impulse may be to politely accept his or her credentials, along with a recommendation or two from other parents who were successful using their services. However, since the person you're hiring is going to play a huge role in (hopefully) securing the outcome you're looking for, not to mention the fact that you'll likely spend a lot of money in the process, I would encourage you to ask many specific and thorough questions during your initial consultation.

In addition, make sure that consult is free, and pay attention to how the person receives your questions. Are they insulted, or do they already view you as a partner in the effort to resolve your case?

Remember, you have every right to ask questions and get to know the style and perspective of any family law attorney you're thinking of hiring. For a list of important questions to ask, broken down into seven key categories, read Interview Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Family Law Attorney.

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One fairly significant way to save money is to cut down on the number of times you go to the grocery store. Instead of stopping by every few days to pick up "just a few items" for your kids' lunches and dinners, force yourself to shop only once a week. And when you do, head in the door with a plan -- have a thorough grocery shopping list prepared in advance, with the ingredients for every meal you plan to make during the week.

Then, take note of how this subtle change impacts your checkbook balance at the end of the month.

What about "emergencies," though? You know, those nights when you thought you'd serve leftovers, but the kids plowed through them as an after school snack?

That's when you reach back in the dark corners of your kitchen cabinets and pull out your reserve bounty -- those staples you keep on hand for quick, easy dinners without having to run back out to the store. For example, you probably have the ingredients for a basic egg dish or tuna casserole in your kitchen right this very minute.

To put those ingredients to use tonight, or to create your own stash of must-have, last-minute dinner ingredients, read Easy Dinners With Ingredients From Your Pantry.

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