Kids Ain't Cheap

But They Sure Are Worth It

Archives for September 2012

Decorating Your Child’s Room

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Decorating a CribA child’s room needs to feel like it’s theirs.  When you bring home the baby, you never quite know what their personality will be.  You probably make the room either pink or blue, depending on the sex of the baby, and you also probably put your own spin on the décor.  However, as they grow up, their tastes will change, and you will need to keep up.

The Baby

The baby and young child is the easiest, because what you say goes.  You just need to keep it basic with a child’s bed, a dresser, a nightstand, and a place to store their clothes.  You may even want to store their toys in their room as well (less mess in the rest of the house).  Depending on the size, you could even have a place for them to do homework, unless you want them to do it out in the kitchen or other central place in the house.

The Tween

As your child grows into a tween, you will really start to see their taste in things shine through.  Now is a great time to give them a little freedom to start decorating their own room.  You probably should keep a little say, but there is nothing wrong with a little paint and some new wall decorations.

In fact, they’re probably growing out of their baby bed and will need something a little bigger and they could choose from the number of childrens beds that are available.  If you get new furniture now, make sure that it is designed to grow with them into adulthood.

The Teen

Finally, you’re eventually going to have a teenager, and they will probably not want you going into their room very often.  They will also want the leeway to do whatever they want to their room.  If you trust them, let them do it.  Just make sure that they’re not going to cause permanent damage to the house.  Also, for your teen, consider investing in furniture that they can take with them when the leave the house.  It can be a good investment for both you and them.

How have you handled your children’s changing needs and desires for their room?

Should You Buy a New Home Right Now?

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I just recently purchased my first home, so I’m intimately familiar with the stresses of making a mortgage payment. And it appears to be for good reason. Check out this chart I just found….

More than 40% of homeowners asked for help with their debt last year! That’s pretty scary!

And it definitely leaves me wondering…. Is this really a good time for people to be buying new homes? It’s obviously too late for me to rethink this decision, but I’m curious what the rest of you think. Is this a good time to be buying a home? Or is it simply too much risk right now?

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Fund Your Kids with Forex

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Forex

A little extra income is always a good thing, so when you find a new way of making money, it can be very exciting. Forex for instance, can be a great way of earning money. The financial markets may seem like they are out of reach for the average person, but in fact, nearly anyone can invest. In fact, all you really need is to start a forex funded account with FTUK.

Here is some more information about forex, including how it works and who should use it.

How Forex Works

Trading on the forex market is all about speculating whether you think a currency will increase or decrease in value against another one, for instance GBP/USD. The ability to speculate on prices falling as well as rising is one of the reasons forex is so popular. Factors that influence your decision can include news reports on a country’s economic activity, fundamental analysis and complex technical analysis. If a currency looks like it’s going to strengthen, then it would be reasonable to invest money in it doing so.

There are a number of products associated with forex, and two of the most popular; spread bets and contracts for difference (CFDs) do not actually involve buying or selling currency. They are both relatively similar in that profits and losses are made by the amount to which a prediction is correct. A CFD is an agreement between buyer and seller to exchange the difference in price between the current value of a currency and its value at the end of the contract. A spread bet is simply when money is wagered on the fluctuation of a currency; with more being won the further the price moves in a favourable direction. Of course you can always follow the traditional route of actually buying currency and profiting from its increased value, or vice versa if you sell.

Forex is For Anyone

Now you’re probably thinking that this is all very well, but the financial markets are only for those with large investments to hand. This is no longer true, and you can in fact trade with hardly any money at all. This is done through leverage, whereby you only have to deposit a small amount of money in order to place orders of a much higher value. For instance, you may only need to deposit 100 units of a currency to buy or sell 10,000 units of it. This is great if you don’t have a large amount of capital to work with, but be aware that there are risks involved in forex, and you can potentially lose more than your initial deposit.

All you need to get started is some knowledge of how the system works, which is easily done by reading guides on forex trading for beginners. The ony other thing you’ll need to start is an online account with a good broker. It really is very easy to get involved. If you’re looking for some extra money and have thought about investment, then forex trading could be for you.

For More Great Kids Ain’t Cheap Articles, Read These:

Yes, Stay At Home Moms Can Get Loans

Yes, You Can Open Kids Magnetic Locks Without A Key

These Are The Best Travel Cribs For Twins

If you need Pac-Man Coloring Pages, Here Are Some Good Ideas

What Fate for Annuities?

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Use a calculator to determine your annuties rates

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

As the Eurozone crisis rages, many people approaching retirement age will be worried about how they fit in to the wider picture of financial security – especially in relation to annuities, which have been falling more or less constantly in recent years.

An annuity is a regular income paid out in exchange for a lump sum, usually after years of paying into a tax-free pension fund. They’re intended to be guaranteed for life, irrespective of lifespan (although the amount in each regular payout is age-dependent).

What is the Fate of Annuities?

For the lucky few who retired when the market peaked, it’s all cruises and second homes. But for those currently awaiting an annuity, the outlook doesn’t look as rosy.

Pensioners have in fact been getting squeezed for longer than most, with many reports citing a year on year drop off in rates since the early nineties. So what is happening to annuity rates? And how can people prepare for them to continue falling?

In short, the ongoing financial meltdown in Greece has severely dented the confidence of many investors, who have moved their money to British and German bonds, resulting in rising prices and falling yields.

What About Other Investments?

Of course it goes much deeper than that. Increased life expectancy has lowered the returns for everyone approaching retirement, as has a move towards more gender equality between annuity prices. In the face of an aging population, many governments and banks are in denial about the prospects for pensioners, arguing that the rising value of bonds will compensate for lower rates.

But many people simply don’t invest in bonds or corporate funds, and are wholly reliant on stable annuity rates. Those feeling the pinch are advised to seek some alternatives for their future financial security, and to shift their focus away from traditional annuities.

Remember, once you buy an annuity the rate is fixed, so even if rates go up in the future, your payments remain the same. Cast around on the web by searching for best annuity rates UK, and look at alternative investment funds (this article offers some solid advice on investment) so you can stop worrying and start enjoying your retirement.

 How have lower rates on annuities affected your retirement accounts?

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