Quick Hits Tuesday 11 March 2008

Meg at The World of Wealth, posts about a Money magazine story that lauds a "Bachelor Dad" for getting up early, rushing around preparing his four children for school, and commuting a long distance for a paycheck ($156,000!) that doesn't allow his family much breathing room. Bachelor Dad (I imagine a cape fluttering in the wind and blue underwear worn on the outside) took a pay cut to be able to spend time with his children after his divorce, and for that he deserves major kudos. Because he's a man, you see. When women are stressed-out, strapped single parents, it's seen as normal, if unfortunate. Unless they are low-income or brown, in which case they get depicted as lazy or worse. But when men are single parents, they shit bricks of gold and deserve sympathy and adulation. Bravo, Bachelor Dad. Bravo. Seriously, mad props to any single parent, gender notwithstanding, but the bulk of my sympathy and admiration has been spent elsewhere, on the moms who have been doing this for years in the face of actual struggle (read: low wages) and outright societal scorn. Predictably, the yahoos come out of the woodwork asking why Meg hates teh menz for not sharing in the hero worship. Natch.

Mrs. Micah likes her reusable Diva Cup instead of pads or tampons. I can't quite remember when I switched to my Keeper, but it was at least by January 2005, if not earlier. It cost $25, which means at this point I've saved at least $70, and counting. In addition to the pros and cons she lists, I would add that it's much easier to travel with than bulky pads or a wad of tampons, and the reusable products are especially good for wilderness camping, when you have to pack out your own trash.

Grad Girl hearts Make Love Not Debt, and interesting insights are bandied about in the comments. So yeah, why is it easier to casually hook up than to casually discuss money with a date? I mean, I've done it in that order too, but it doesn't really make sense when you break it down like that.

Blogging My Way Out Of Debt: "That's why it's called Personal Finance, not Everyone's Included in My Finances." Heh.

Melissa from Queercents on the gender of money. See also Dawn at Frugal For Life on the same topic.

Xin Lu at WiseBread has a really strong post on how her Chinese identity has shaped her approach to money. I don't have much of my own to add, but I highly recommend that you click through. I wonder how my mutt/white background has shaped my own views?

Is there really a sea change in men's comfort with female partners who are breadwinners? MSN says yes.