Archives for January 2019

Raising a family is expensive. There are so many things that children need and they grow fast, which can put a dent in anyone’s wallet. However, if you establish a budget and are willing to shop around and become resourceful, you can keep the focus on the enjoyment of having a family and avoid the money pitfalls that can follow.

Borrowing Money

When first starting out with young children, many people initially have a tight budget, wherein if anything out of the ordinary comes along like a hospital bill or a car repair; it can upset its delicate balance. Luckily, you can contact your local bank and apply for a personal loan to help you climb over the hurdle. Unfortunately, if you’ve made even a couple of your monthly payments late, a traditional bank may not be a viable option. The good news is that there are many other places you can go with less stringent guidelines for borrowing money such as online personal installment loans, Or better yet, try borrowing money for the short term from a family member and avoid the interest entirely.

Saving Money on Children’s Essentials

Children grow at a very fast rate during the first few years and because of this they go through a lot of clothing, outerwear and shoes. Finding the best deals on children’s clothing and finding high-quality items is important. Lucky for you, the internet provides you with an easy way to shop around for new and gently used items at the best prices. Take the same approach with their furniture. If you have a tight budget, check out a consignment shop or go online to sites like Craigslist where often people just want to unload things they no longer need and are willing to sell them very cheap.

Ways to Save on Your Monthly Bills

With the deregulation of utilities, you now have the option of shopping around for your gas and electric suppliers. Take your bills out and review each one. Then, look up other companies in the area and check their rates.

Cable and cell phone service are two of the most expensive supplements to a household budget. A cable bill on its own can run over a few hundred a month. If you need to trim your bottom line, this is a great place to start. Thankfully, there are other ways to enjoy many programs using other services like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon, for a fraction of the cost of cable. Your cell phone is important and necessary especially in the event of an emergency away from home. The good news is that many companies are now vying for your business, and this is a good thing for you.

Saving for Big Ticket Items

There’s nothing wrong with wanting nice things. However, taking on additional debt to buy them is not something that’s in your best interest. If you want a new television or a new bed, save up for them the old-fashioned way and pay cash. This way you won’t have another obligation each month and you won’t pay any more than the actual cost of the item. It’s a win across the board.

Paying Down Debt

It’s easy to rack up debt when you raise a family. So, it’s also important to keep your debt in check. Avoid putting anything on a credit card or taking out an unnecessary loan for things you don’t need. For example, if you have accumulated debt on credit cards focus on paying off the one with the highest interest rate first. If you have a car loan, consider refinancing to reduce your monthly payment.

Raising a family is a wonderful time for parents with many joyful moments. By living within your means and shopping around for the best deals, you can keep the focus on enjoying the time with your family and not stressing about your finances.

James Hendrickson

James Hendrickson is an internet entrepreneur, blogging junky, hunter and personal finance geek.  When he’s not lurking in coffee shops in Portland, Oregon, you’ll find him in the Pacific Northwest’s great outdoors.   James has a masters degree in Sociology from the University of Maryland at College Park and a Bachelors degree on Sociology from Earlham College.  He loves individual stocks, bonds and precious metals.

Are you and your family thinking about welcoming a new pet into your home?

Studies have shown that more than 60 percent of U.S. households have dogs. This makes dogs the most popular pet in the country.

There are many benefits that come along with adding a dog to your home, especially if you have kids. A dog can teach your kids how to be more responsible. A dog can also encourage kids to get outside and play more.

But before families decide to mix dogs and children, they should always take the proper precautions to teach them both how to be gentle with one another. This will help families avoid traumatizing dogs and children and prevent accidents from occurring.

Here are six tips that will help you introduce a dog into your home without encountering any major issues.

1. Talk to Kids About How to Interact With a Dog

Prior to bringing a dog into your home for the first time, sit down with your kids and talk to them about the do’s and don’ts of interacting with a dog. Create a list of safety rules for dogs and children.

The list should include rules like:

• Do: Allow a dog to look at your hand and sniff it before you start petting it
• Don’t: Pull on a dog’s ears, paws, legs, tail, or other body parts
• Do: Respect a dog’s toys and leave them alone
• Don’t: Get near a dog when it’s sleeping or eating

You don’t necessarily want to scare your kids before they even get a chance to meet your new dog. But you do want to make sure they understand that they need to be careful when interacting with a dog, especially a dog that hasn’t warmed up to them just yet.

2. Make Sure a Dog Learns (and Listens to!) Basic Commands

In addition to talking to your kids about how they’re going to interact with your new dog, you should take the time to work with the dog and teach it some basic commands. You can do this yourself when you first get it or hire an obedience teacher to help.

“Sit” and “stay” are two of the simplest commands to teach a dog. But you should also strive to teach it commands like “down,” “off,” and even “don’t touch that.”

In the event that a dog gets to be too rough with kids, you’ll be able to use these commands to let the dog know it needs to stop.

3. Allow Kids to Give Treats to a Dog For Being Obedient

As your dog inches closer to the end of its obedience training, it’s not a bad idea to introduce your kids into the equation. You can have your kids use some of the commands that you’ve taught your dog to show your dog that they need to listen to your kids, too.

You can also attempt to get your dog to warm up to your kids by allowing the kids to give the dog treats when they listen. This will serve as a great introduction for dogs and children and show dogs that kids mean no harm.

For best results, consider using CBD treats during this part of the process. CBD for pets has been shown to reduce the anxiety that dogs feel while making them more calm and relaxed. It’ll create a better environment for your dog and your kids.

4. Prepare a Dog For What Might Be to Come With Kids

No matter how many times you tell kids not to do it, there will still be times when they try to pull on a dog’s tail or play with its ears. It’s almost unavoidable, especially if you have kids that are on the younger side.

Try to prepare your dog for this by playing with its ears and tail yourself, and watch how it reacts to you doing it. If it doesn’t seem to take issue with you, it shouldn’t be too much of a cause for concern. But if your dog becomes aggressive in these moments, you’re going to have to be vigilant about watching how your kids treat your dog.

5. Tell Kids to Keep Their Toys Away From a Dog

Dogs have a tough time differentiating between their toys and toys belonging to kids. Many times, these two types of toys look similar to dogs, which can cause them to go after kids’ toys.

Tell your kids about this and stress the importance of keeping their toys out of the reach of your dog. You should also talk to them about how they shouldn’t ever try to take one of their toys out of the dog’s mouth if it happens to get to it.

6. Praise a Dog When It Plays Nicely With Kids

When you first welcome a dog into your home, you’re going to find yourself directing the word “don’t” at the dog a lot.

As in:

• “Don’t go to the bathroom in the house!”
• “Don’t chew on that piece of furniture!”
• “Don’t tear up that sock!”

This comes with the territory. But you should also get into the habit of praising your dog early and often.

When your dog goes outside to use the bathroom, tell it how good it is. When your dog chews on a bone instead of a shoe, let it know how proud you are of it. And when it plays nicely with your kids, pet it, give it treats, and shower it with praise.

Your dog will slowly but surely come around to your kids when you take this approach. And your kids will see how being nice to the dog pays off.

Make Sure to Supervise Dogs and Children at All Times

Once you’ve spent time introducing dogs and children, you might be tempted to leave them alone to play. Don’t do this!

While most dogs will be just fine playing with kids on their own, there’s always a chance something could go wrong. You want to be there in case your kids or your dog needs help.

Want some more tips on caring for a new dog? Take a look at our blog for advice on taking care of your new four-legged friend.

House hunting can be tricky when you have kids. Children are usually very excited when they enter a new home knowing they may soon live in it. It’s not unusual for kids to run and play during a home viewing, making it difficult for parents to watch their kids and view a home.

On the other hands, some kids are upset at the prospect of moving. They love their current living situation and parents must be sensitive to their thoughts and feelings.

All of which can make the home buying process a bit overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be complicated.

Continue reading, as we’ve created this home buying checklist, with your kids in mind, to help you get through the process a little easier.

Be Strategic About Taking Your Kids to Home Viewings

Realtors suggest leaving kids age nine and under at home with a babysitter or with family.

Younger children are often more difficult to manage and distract parents from a home viewing. Afterward, many parents have trouble remembering important details about the homes they see. Remember, you want to have productive meetings when you see a house so you can make an informed decision about purchasing it.

Older kids are more mature and are fine to bring to home viewings. They can even be very helpful and point out features and concerns you may miss.

If you must bring your younger children, it’s advised to pick and choose which homes you bring them too. For example, you may not want to bring them to view a home still being lived in.

They may open a door and be surprised to see a large dog on the other side. Conversely, they will generally be safe at an open house, especially if it is empty and the owner has already moved out.

Acknowledge Your Children’s Concerns

Moving is an anxious time for everyone, and your kids are no exception. They often do not want to leave their school, friends and extra-curricular activities among other things.

Give your kids a positive picture of their new community. Make sure your real estate agent is willing to stop at schools, parks, churches, sports facilities — even the mall if needed. Another option is to plan family trips to your new community to let your kids see themselves in their new surroundings.

Involve Your Children in the Process

A great way to make your kids feel like a valued part of the decision-making process is to let them search the internet home listings with you. Reduce their frustration by asking them for their feedback on homes. Get their input about what is important to them in a new home and community.

If you’re taking your kids with you to viewings, give them tasks to keep them focused on what lies ahead. For example, your kids may enjoy taking pictures of the homes you view or keeping a detailed checklist of the best features each home offers.

Older kids may enjoy doing internet research about the town, landmarks, population and their best schools. Strong|Edge Realty is a great resource for real estate information.

The objective here is to give your children opportunities to focus on the future and feel connected to the process as well.

Recognize Your Child’s Limits

Most kids get excited when they view a new home. But even the most enthusiastic child can have a hard time with a full day of home viewings.

To that end, it’s usually a good idea to limit yourself to a few viewings per day. If you need to see more homes, consider taking a break at some point to let your child eat or play. We don’t recommend giving your children your smartphone or tablet during a viewing unless they are using educational apps to learn new skills.

Children do not have the same attention span as adults. The more mindful you are of their needs, the more likely they will be easy to accommodate while you are viewing homes.

Home Buying Checklist for Viewing Homes with Children: Wrap Up

Your children are unique and you may think of more items for your family’s home buying checklist.

Buying a home and dealing with children may be challenging, but it’s not impossible. Consider their feelings, keep them involved in the process and give them opportunities to see themselves in their new home and community.

If you found this article helpful, please check out more content with helpful housekeeping information.

Colorful red plastic kids lunch box filled with healthy food including fresh vegetables, a wholewheat ham sandwich and Rolex Roll on chappati with a fresh apple alongside

Is your kid too cool for a lunch box, making it difficult to find a container to carry his midday meal? Maybe you’re concerned about the items being kept cold enough for consumption.

Whatever your issues in finding the best lunch box for your child is, you can bet that there is a solution available! We are going to take a look at several tips for finding a lunch box that will keep your little one happy, safe, and healthy.

Additionally, we will attempt to put to rest any worries you may have about this helpful nutritional tool. Keep reading for more information!

1. Aesthetics Matter

School children can be quite judgemental over trivial things like lunch boxes. Allowing your child to choose a design that appeals to them may limit any bullying that may take place.

Also, if your child is proud of their lunch box, you will be met with far less resistance when it comes time to go to school.

If you aren’t against using ice packs to keep the lunch cold, consider a vintage lunch box. You may even find one or two that you want for yourself!

2. Structurally Sound

Many children stuff their lunch boxes into their book sacks or other random nooks and crannies. If the box is well-made, it will be able to stand up to this abuse.

If a solid lunch box seems more expensive than the others, remember that they will hold up to a full school year, and maybe even some summer trips. You don’t necessarily have to purchase a hard-sided lunch box to see these benefits either. You may just have to opt for sturdy materials.

Other considerations that should be made as far as the structure is concerned is the number of pockets or dividers you’d like, and whether you’d like to place items side by side or stack them.

3. Contain Spills

Unfortunately, because of the amount of abuse a lunch box will take, it is likely that a drink, sauce, or some other liquid will spill. Luckily, because these containers are small, they are relatively easy to clean.

Do you know what’s not easy to clean?

An entire backpack filled with important papers, report cards, text and workbooks, and school supplies. Triple check your child’s lunch box to ensure that it will self-contain any spills that may occur.

Aside from keeping spills contained within the lunch box, read the labels before you purchase to find out the best way to clean the box. Some might have the ability to be tossed in with your laundry, while others may simply need to be wiped down with a cleaning solution or soap and water.

4. Insulation Is Important

Keeping food cold can be difficult. If you choose to use ice packs, you may end up with a few damp napkins, but the food will likely be safe. Choosing an insulated lunch box will do that much more to ensure your child’s food safety.

Depending on the style of lunch box that is chosen, you may be able to freeze the lunch pack the night before and opt out of ice packs altogether.

Another idea for keeping your child’s lunch cold can include using stainless steel containers, frozen prior to packing and freezing a water bottle the night before. The water will act as an ice pack and provide your child with a lunchtime beverage.

5. How to Carry

Some lunch boxes may only have a handle, while others may include a strap or carabiner to attach it to other various items. If your child has a lot of things to carry to and from school, attaching the lunch box to a bookbag could be important.

Look at the stitching of any handles to ensure that the box will be able to carry a full meal without the potential of breaking. Also, know that it isn’t unheard of for children to swing their lunch boxes or horse around–potentially breaking or tearing the material used to hold things in place.

6. Size Matters

You don’t want your child to go hungry while at school–which means you will want to pack a hearty lunch. However, if you choose a lunch box that is too small, you may end up with a packing nightmare each day.

Instead of choosing a lunch box that you believe is ‘just right’ in size, go for bigger than what you think you’ll need. After all, it is better to have a bit too much room than not enough.

While we’re talking about sizing and packing, take a look at how the lunch box will close. Does it zip, snap, or fold? This question will help you determine whether the container is age-appropriate, how well it can contain spills, and possibly how well it will keep food cold.

7. Environmentally Friendly Options

There are plenty of lunch boxes available that include small containers for packing. These small containers are both environmentally friendly and less costly than using disposable packing.

Generally, reusing your child’s lunch packing materials may take a bit more time but will end up saving you a fair amount of money. You will end up buying far fewer plastic baggies, which will also mean less plastic in landfills.

The Best Lunch Box? One You Love

Although there are plenty of tips on how to choose the best lunch box, it comes down to what works for you and your child. Ideally, the lunch box should keep food safe and contain spills.

However, if the lunch box itself isn’t designed to stay cold, ice packs can be used, and if spills happen, they can be cleaned. The most important part of a lunch box is that your child actually eats the meal you pack. If it’s in a 50’s cartoon lunchpail, so be it!

If you’d like some ideas of what to pack in your child’s lunch (or your lunch, for that matter,) take a minute to check out our budget-friendly meal planning resources!