Money

Each Christmas, we wink at each other and say,

Raising kids for free: why I won't be spending money on my son in 2013

Hattie Garlick has resolved to strike a blow against 'kiddy consumerism' - and she's not alone.

Pregnancy power shift: money does the talking

Adele Horin WHEN a couple disagrees on whether to have a child or more children, the woman's wishes usually prevail.

Uplifting story

More than meets the eye

Sarah Berry It is a haunting image but there is more to this picture than meets the eye.

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Predator stare

Hiding in plain sight

Respected academic M.E. Thomas is neither a murderer nor a criminal, but she is a sociopath – and as many as 1 in 25 of us may be one, too.

Wombiverse

Meet the 'mummy messiah'

Amy Molloy For an "ecstatic birth" mums-to-be should eat raw food, sit naked in front of a mirror and take sex toys into the delivery room, says America's new birthing guru.

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Education first

Here comes the bride ... well, eventually

Luke Cooper For modern young Australians, the pursuit of a higher education is far more important than early marriage.

Confronting the shadows

Neil McMahon Planning for the end of life is not an easy topic to broach with your family, but for one woman, doing so brought her peace.

Guest expense

Hear the wedding bells and registers ring

Katherine Feeney Sure weddings are expensive but it also costs a pretty penny just to be the guest.

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Micro Volunteering

Can you spare 15 minutes?

Amy Molloy It could improve your health, your career - and save the planet, too.

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The modern-day quest for the elusive fairy good mother

Cosima Marriner Mothers and worrying go hand in hand, but today's mums take agonising about motherhood to new heights.

Purrfect match

Lissa Christopher Searching for a new mate? Know the truth about cats and dogs.

Dropping sex

Hold the sauce, Cleo's gone prudish

Rachel Browne More than 40 years after shaking up women's magazines with its racy mix of centrefolds and sealed sections, Cleo magazine is starting another revolution by dropping sex from the cover.

What a difference a month makes

Amy Molloy Condensing a challenge into a bite-size time-frame can be liberating.

Broody blokes

Men missing out on fatherhood

Robin Handley I know all about broody men who long desperately for the chance to be dads. I am one.

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Small challenges

30 days to change your life

Amy Molloy In 2009, Matt Cutts, an American engineer who works for Google, felt he was ''stuck in a rut'', so he set himself a 30-day challenge.

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I married a murderess

On the surface, it's a straightforward enough scenario: an Aussie dad locked in an international custody battle with his homicidal American ex-wife.

Secret lives

I am a male escort

Annabel Ross Ever wonder what drives someone to become a male escort? What they do and don't offer? Well meet Jamie Close.

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Home help

Home help goes digital

Sandy Smith Working mother of three Sarah Spiteri is happy she no longer has to spend every weekend nagging her husband to do chores.

Skin deep

So much more than a surface issue

Amanda Brotchie If you've met me or have seen a photo of me, you might have noticed white patches on my hands and arms. I have vitiligo, an autoimmune disease that disables the pigment cells in the skin.

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