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Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com #2642 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 415 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017 Take A Fresh Look At Frozen Food Budget Checkup: 5 Tips To Fine-Tune Your Finances (NAPSA)—With a new year in full swing, self-evaluation is likely a common theme in many U.S. households. In this frame of mind, many families are likely to assess spending and saving habits, crafting a plan for better budgeting. When was the last time you took a serious look at your budget? If you’re due for a checkup, a number of tools and tips exist to help guide you through the budgeting process. You can find resources online, like budget worksheets that allow you to plug in your income and expenses and determine where there is room for adjustment. These are available for free to those who take the Ally WalletWise.com budget course. The following five tips can help you create a budget that works for you: •Envision the finish line: It’s hard to start a race without knowing where and when you will end. Decide on a financial goal—a big purchase you want to make, a debt you’d like to pay off or a savings fund goal—and use this as a motivational tool to commit to a budget. •Put pen to paper: To best understand your current financial landscape, begin with a big-picture view. List household income, expenses and savings goals in an organized document (whether written or online). Don’t try to budget in your head. •Balance your budget: Are you keeping expenses proportionate? Typically, housing costs should not account for more than one-third of your monthly take- Baby’s Healthy Future When planning your budget, separate the “wants” from the “needs.” home pay, while transportation costs should account for less than 20 percent, and savings between 5 percent and 10 percent. •Dig up deals: You can easily “find” more money in your budget by cutting down on current expenses. First, identify which parts of your budget are considered wants—versus needs—and whether you’re willing to cut them out. Then look online for discounts and to review various service providers, like cell phone and cable, to see if any better deals are available. •Aim for weekly check-ins: Decide who should be involved in the budgeting process and meet on a weekly basis to review finances, which will help you stay on track and remain accountable. Don’t wait until the end of the month, when making fixes will be harder. And remember, a sound budget requires regular review, since financial situations can change and unexpected events can occur. Learn More: For information on basic budgeting guidelines or to take a free online budgeting course, visit Ally Bank’s financial education website, Wallet Wise, at www.AllyWalletWise.com. (NAPSA)—Expectant parents are learning of a special way to protect the health of their new baby and his or her relatives. It’s done by saving the cord blood, a rich source of unique stem cells that can be collected without invasive procedures or ethical concerns and used in medical treatments for the child, siblings and others if the need arises, explains Rallie McAllister, M.D., co-author of “The Mommy MD Guide to Pregnancy and Birth.” Cord blood stem cells are being studied in clinical trials for cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury and hearing loss. Cord Blood Registry, the world’s largest and most experienced family cord blood bank, h a s created a new website, www.cordbankingbasics.com, that offers an interactive experience to help families make informed choices about preserving their newborns’ cord and tissue cells, either through private banking, where cells are collected and stored for a fee for use by your family, or public banking, where the cord blood is stored at no cost to the family and can be used by any patient. Learn More For more information, visit www.cordblood.com or call (888) 932-6568. Shrimp and vegetable stir-fry made easy with frozen foods could become a big favorite with your family. (NAPSA)—The frozen aisles of the grocery store offer more nutritious, delicious, convenient options than ever. From fully prepared entres to heat-and-eat frozen ingredients, side dishes, appetizers and desserts, they can easily be incorporated into your meal preparation routine. The Benefits of Frozen Food •The picking, cleaning, slicing and dicing are already done. •Your favorite foods are always in season. •Easy, quick preparation and cooking. Easy, quick cleanup. •No spoilage or waste. Always ready to cook. •No chemical preservatives— flash-freezing technology maintains optimal freshness, quality, taste and vitamin content. •Many stores feature special prices and promotions on tasty frozen favorites. In celebration of March National Frozen Food Month, the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) has created a $10,000 Sweepstakes that runs through the end of April. To e n t e r a n d f o r t h e rules, visit www.EasyHomeMeals.com. To take a fresh look at frozen food, try this easy, tasty meal— and enjoy more time with your family and less time in the kitchen. Shrimp and Vegetable Stir-Fry 24 large frozen shrimp (thawed, shelled and deveined) 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil 2 tsp. chopped garlic 2 16-oz. bags frozen stir-fry vegetables 1 cup stir-fry sauce Tomato wedges Salt and pepper to taste Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large skillet over medium heat; add shrimp and stir-fry 3 minutes or until done. Remove shrimp from pan and set aside. Add remaining 1 Tbsp. oil to pan and heat; add garlic and cook for 30 seconds, then add frozen vegetables and cook for 4 minutes. Add stir-fry sauce and cook until vegetables are tender (about 6 minutes). Add cooked shrimp to pan; stir and heat together. Plate and garnish with tomato wedges. Serves 4.