Archives for January 2015

Making Healthy Living a Priority for Your Family

January 28, 2015 | 1 Comment

It’s no secret that obesity is a massive epidemic with our children. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want my child to be obese. The hardship and scrutiny are totally unnecessary. Kids have enough going on with growing up and coming into themselves, life becomes infinitely harder when obesity is thrown into the mix. I have an opportunity as a parent to do my best to prevent this.

The best thing I can do for my child is lead by example. Making fitness and healthy eating a priority lays the foundation for a healthy lifestyle that will carry them into their adult lives, at least that is the goal. My daughter will experience a mix of everything in terms of physical activity. She will be exposed to both organized and individual sports. We have plans to enroll her in both dance (ballet) and soccer in the upcoming year. While I personally have never really participated in organized sport (minus two years of softball), fitness has always been a priority for me.

I grew up in a house where outdoor play was expected. Unless it was storming out, we were expected to be outside playing. Though it doesn’t seem as active as playing a game of soccer, there’s no doubt my childhood explorations are what kept me within a healthy BMI.

Now that my husband and I are adults (and parents), we lead by examples in areas we know. He plays weekly soccer and I’m a big walker. If I can get to something within reasonable walking distance, kid will get in stroller and we’ll walk there. We also own a treadmill that the family has access to use, the best $800 we as a family spent I think. I also have a Fitbit where I partake in a weekly challenge with a few other family members that keeps me motivated to move. It’s amazing the power this little device has over me. I could be so tired I can’t get out of my own way, but if I see someone is ahead of me by 3,000 steps I get off my butt and get on the treadmill. My innate competitiveness comes out fiercely, in a good way.

Exercise is only a small part of being healthy though. As my daughter gets older she will be more involved in meal planning and prep. She’s still young so we’re just starting this but growing up my sister and I were always encouraged to seek out new recipes to try as a family. The fact that we could take ownership over the recipe and helping our mom prepare it gave us a sense of pride and nurtured a love of cooking as we got older. Cooking is a skill far too many people lack and, in my opinion, a big reason obesity is as high as it is. When people lack the ability to prepare and cook healthy meals, far too often cheap, fast food wins the battle.

Life is about moderation. There will be days that we eat at McDonalds but if our overall life is balanced we’ll be ok.

How do you make healthy living a priority for your family?

The Growing Trend of Banning Sledding

January 21, 2015 | Leave a Comment

I’m way late to this party but apparently there is a growing trend in North America. Banning sledding, or tobogganing, in some public parks. The argument being that there are too many sledding related injuries in children and teens related to sledding. Also, lawsuits are a rising issue, so there’s that. Lawsuits for willingly putting yourself into an object that uncontrollably flies down an icy hill…

Picture this: Six year old girl excited to try out friend’s new super-fast sled he got for Christmas. Girl jumps on sled, flies down the hill, doesn’t know how to stop, bursts right through picket fence at end of hill, stopped only by house in path of sled. Broken fence. Broken sled. Broken collar bone, snapped clear in two pieces.

I Love Sledding

I was in grade one and aside from the whole broken collar bone thing have never had so much fun in my life. There was no threat of lawsuit, there may have been a stern talking to from my mom about doing something I was not prepared for, but guess what, huge life lessons were learned that day.

I loved sledding. I still do as an adult and can’t wait to take my daughter now that she’s a bit older. Growing up in any country that experiences winter, sledding one of the ways we make winter enjoyable. I enjoy living in a country that experiences four distinct seasons. Winter can be harsh but there is a lot to enjoy about it as well. If you’ve ever experienced a perfect winter day there is no shortage of fun outdoor activities, sledding being at the top of most people’s list.

Why should it be taken away?

People sled on their own free will. They want to have fun and the thrill, risk and adrenaline associated with it is why we have been seeking to do this for thousands of years. I can’t imagine growing up in a city with a massive hill screaming to be sled down after a perfect snowfall and be told I couldn’t because I might hurt myself? Of course I might! It sounds stupid but its part of the fun.

I feel like we live in such a weird era with how we bring up our children. There are SO many people trying to influence us. Gone are the days when you had only your mom and grandparents to turn to, now with the internet being what it is, it only takes one overreaction to turn into an all-out ban on sledding. Ridiculous.

This is a perfect example of how we’re way too protective of our children. Let kids be kids. Let adults who want to act like kids do so. Sledding is a rite of passage when we’re forced to live in an environment that experiences winter. Will there be injuries, yup! Will property get damaged, probably. But at the end of the day memories will be made and 25 years later you’ll be telling the story about the epic sledding crash you had in the first grade. As a Canadian who has endured many winters I wear the scar associated with my sledding accident with pride.

Do you think banning sledding in some major cities (public parks, school yards etc.) is a good idea?

How I Save: The Cost of Raising a Child

January 15, 2015 | Leave a Comment

This post is part of the TaxACT How I Save blog tour which teaches you ways to keep more money in your pocket. Last year, TaxACT saved America over $240 million on tax preparation. How much can you save? To learn more about tips and strategies on saving, click here.

I’m always blown away when the media reports that it costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to raise one child. The breakdown of this number usually contains an absurd amount of spending on things like clothing, entertainment, and food.

The truth is, unless you’re stuck with thousands of dollars in medical bills the cost of raising a child is not tens of thousands of dollars.

Here’s how I am able to raise two children for well below the “average” cost.

I Limit the Amount of Toys that Come in My Home

When my kids get new toys they’re usually interested in them for a maximum of two days before they get tossed aside. They have more fun playing outdoors than they’ve ever had playing with a toy. I think this rings true for most kids.

Kids do not need all the latest and greatest toys to be happy. It can be easy to go overboard but the truth is a handful is all they really need.

I Buy Clothes Secondhand

If you buy your kids brand new clothes and shoes every time they move up a size you’ll be spending a lot of money in clothes! That’s why we’ve opted to buy secondhand.

The truth is by shopping garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops I can get higher quality clothes for $1/piece than I would buying brand new from a retailer.

Shopping secondhand is not only a great way to save money but it’s also a great way to find quality.

I Take Advantage of Free Entertainment

While I do want my kids to have plenty of opportunities in life I’ve come to realize that the best opportunities don’t cost a dime.

The times where I feel our family is the closest is when we are enjoying each other’s company, usually outdoors. We take walks through the woods and creeks, fish, play in the snow, and make leaf piles. Other times we just snuggle up on the couch and watch a movie.

We don’t go on a huge family vacations or partake in other costly activities each year. We can have a good time together right where we are!

I Know a Want vs. a Need

Kids don’t need to go to Ivy League Preschools, wear brand new clothes, and be waited on hand in foot. All kids really need is love and stability and that’s something money just can’t buy.

While I completely understand a parent wanting to lavish their children with monetary gifts it’s just not necessary. In the long run you’ll be better off by having your kids work for what they want rather than handing them everything on a silver platter.

You can have a happy, healthy family without draining your bank account.

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Why I’m Glad with My Decision to Put my Child in Daycare

January 14, 2015 | Leave a Comment

Last week my daycare provider contacted me about being a reference or another potential family. One of her kids is getting ready to leave in the spring and interviews for the open spot have started. I couldn’t be happier to provide the reference since I am so happy with my experience in her caring for our daughter while we’re at work, pursuing our careers.

I’m of the opinion that a mother should never have to choose between a career and a family. I have never wanted anymore more than to be a mother but I also feel like I have a lot to offer my community in my career. Life is about balance and for me that’s balancing motherhood and my job. With both my husband and I working, me four days per week, him five, daycare was essential.

I already wrote about my process for choosing our provider but never talked about the positive experiences we’ve experienced since she started, 19 months ago.

She Gets to Play with Other Kids

Our daughter is our only child. When she is home with us, she gets undivided attention which, as an only child, has its pros and cons. Other than her dad and I, she has no playmates at home. While we love playing with her, interaction with other children is crucial. I love watching her interact with her peers. I see natural qualities in her (like leadership and silliness) come out that I believe get masked at home playing with her much older parents. The fact that she gets to go to someone’s home and play with two other kids her age, four days a week, makes me happy. She has so much fun.

She Gets Used to Outside Authority

No two parents, parent the same way. I enjoy having diversity in her upbringing. I like having an added variation in authority for her to get used to. Life will throw millions of different personality traits at her in meeting and dealing with new people, starting young can only help this.

She is Safe and Loved

My husband and I don’t know everything. We’re first-time parents. The woman who is caring for her not only has two children of her own but has cared for many children over the years. She is far more experienced in parenting than I will likely ever be. I genuinely appreciate what her babysitter brings to the table in terms of her parenting abilities. She is a loving, sweet woman who cares for our daughter as one of her own, I could never thank her enough for this.

Our daughter is in a safe, loving , environment where she is free to explore and learn, allowing my husband and I time to pursue interests of our own in our careers. For us this is a great balance. There was a time I was extremely reserved about sending her somewhere while I was far away from our home but I couldn’t be happier with our decision to send her to daycare.

Are/were your kids in daycare? What was your experience like?

5 Tips to Get Your Business Off the Ground This Year

January 11, 2015 | Leave a Comment

Today there are so many businesses you can start for very little money. This has made being a small business owner a very popular choice – especially for stay at home parents! However, just because it’s easy to get your business up does not mean it’s easy to actually make money.

As a small business owner I can tell you that your attitude will most likely determine your outcome. However, there are also some technical aspects that you should pay close attention to along the way.

Here are five tips to get your business off the ground.

Start Small

Once you have your business idea you need to make a plan. I don’t mean the normal kind of stuffy business plan but instead you need to map out your expectations for your business over the next several years.

After you have your goals set you need to decide how you’re going to reach those goals. Make a list of small daily steps that you can take to get you in the right direction.

It’s better to take small consistent steps than it is to try and do too much and set yourself up for failure.

Get the Right Help

Having the right help is pertinent for business growth. Many small business owners make the mistake of trying to do everything themselves, which we all know just isn’t possible.

There are tons of places you can find good help for your business. If you’re a UK reader you can find necessary personnel through this service by posting a job. If you’re a US reader you can find virtual help online or advertise a job opening through word of mouth. The possibilities are endless. It is important, however, to have a very good screening process for new hires.

Having the right employees can catapult your business to success.

Be Consistent

Consistency is important no matter what business you’re going into. If you’re not consistent with your efforts then you’re not going to get very far.

Like I said above, your attitude will determine your outcome. You’re going to face plenty of ups and downs in your first few years of business. Your ability to preserve and stay consistent will help determine your rate of success.

Keep a Tight Eye on Your Financials

For a new business money can be tight. Remember, your business is an investment in your life. You need to be analytical when it comes to incoming and outgoing money.

Constantly monitor your expenses and income and determine if there are changes you need to make at various stages in your business.

Don’t Give Up!

It can take a while for you to get your new business off the ground. If you take small steps toward your goal every day, find a team, constantly monitor your expenses, and keep your consistency, you’ll make it.

Expect minor setbacks but if you can get past those everything will work out.

How Do You Control Money Given To Your Kids?

January 7, 2015 | 2 Comments

In the past people have given money to our daughter. Sometimes there was explicit direction given with the money, like deposit it in her savings account, and other times there I have been told to spend it on whatever she wants or needs and so my husband and I have gone out and done just that. Usually putting the money towards a need more than a want, she’s only 2.5, she doesn’t have many wants.

Now that she’s getting older though I will be allowing her to make some decision about how her money is designated. While I fully expect the first few times to be about buying the latest toy, it won’t stop me from explain the importance of saving some money too. If she does, great, if she doesn’t- it is her money.

Money to Be Saved

As she gets older I will stress the importance of saving more, but with some exceptions. Any income earned, like if she gets a babysitting job or part-time work doing something fun, I will fully expect that she contributes to her savings account and help save for something larger she may want or need, however I have no problem with allowing gift money to be spent however she wants.

Money to Be Enjoyed

Most money given as a present is expected to be enjoyed. While I would like if she saved some or all of it I have no problem if she decided to blow it all on clothes, toys or whatever else she wanted as she gets older. AS long as it is an informed decision.

If she empties her cash in a mall food court and couldn’t tell me where the money went, I’d have a problem but it would be 100% her mistake to make. If she convinced me she really wants something, and was given the money to buy something, I will totally allow it. At the same time if I notice after some time it’s something she isn’t using or was wasted money, depending on what it was, I would encourage her to sell it and regain some of the lost money.

It’s easy for me as a personal finance blogger to get all too excited about saving and keeping all money tight to the vest but I can’t forget that money is meant to be enjoyed. For a three year old, long-term savings isn’t quite as fun as the newest Elsa doll or Olivia book and I get that, as long as she is really enjoys it isn’t money wasted in my eyes.

I fully expect my children to make mistakes with their money. Mistakes made are often the best learning opportunities. I just hope most of the mistakes are made in the comfort of our family home before she moves out and has a full plate of financial responsibilities. Financial peace is about balancing wants, needs and responsibility as long as I can instill this, she should be just fine.

How do you decide how gift money given to your kids is ”spent”?