But They Sure Are Worth It
There is an old adage that says it’s the little things in life that mean a lot. That pretty much can be said of how to save money, how to get out of debt, and getting onto the road of financial freedom.
In a world of escalating costs, many people are finding it more difficult to save funds, but there are some things you can do that will fatten your savings account and keep money in your pocket.
Did you know that one out of four adults in the US said they didn’t learn about finances growing up? Consider teaching your kids the importance of budgeting and saving. They will be better equipped, going off on their own after graduation.
If you’re a mom of kids under 12, you know that one of the best ways to teach kids so that they actually remember information is to play games. Games are fun, so kids are eager to play, not knowing (or caring) that they’re actually learning something. If you have science minded kids, there are many free online games to teach kids about the environment.
There are so many games and so many ways you can teach kids about the environment!
Even your little children can learn about the environment with these fun games.
Choose one of three games for ages 4 to 7 to teach them about air pollution and what the various colors mean—green day, red day, etc.
There are many, many games on the Kids Environment Kids Health page from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. These games are for kids in 1st to 4th grade. The free online games to teach kids about the environment include:
Kids match children in a variety of clothes with the climate and country that they live in.
In one of the matching games, kids can match bird songs with the birds that make them.
Do check this site out as there is so much here young kids would like include many different games, jokes, riddles, and songs.
Calling all Dr. Seuss fans! The Energy Star website has a fun game called Join the Lorax. Games include coloring the Lorax characters, completing a word search, and a picture search for energy efficient items.
The SciJinks site has many different games for kids from grades 3 to 7. This site has 23 games including a hurricane simulator and a tornado simulator (kids will probably enjoy seeing the flying cow spinning around when the tornado hits). Game topics include:
For those who prefer more scholarly free games to teach kids about the environment, the EPA has an ozone science crossword puzzle. This puzzle would be perfect for 5th to 7th graders. There are 17 clues and 17 answers to choose from.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration has all sorts of activities for kids on the part of their website called Energy Kids.
They have fun energy-related riddles such as, “How do energy-conscious people feel about wind power? Answer—they’re blown away.” When my son was in 3rd grade, he would have loved riddles like this.
They also have energy slang terms as well as puzzles (Sudoko, slider puzzles, crosswords and word searches).
For students who love participating in science fairs, the site has science fair experiment ideas for all ages, K-12.
Lastly, the site has suggestions for energy-based field trips as well as a brief description of each site.
For your kids in grades 6-9, Nasa Science has a game to teach your kids about energy flow called Go with the Flow. Kids get to experiment with how salt and heat affect the weather and the water currents.
If your child is interested in learning about space weather, there is also a game for that on the site called Shields Up!
If you want to teach your kids about the environment, the Smithsonian Science Education Center site has games for kids in grades 3 to 6.
In the game Habitats, children are given a picture of a habitat (habitats range from desert, coral reef, jungle and marsh.) They then can choose from images of three animals to decide what animal belongs in that particular habitat.
Similarly, they also have a game, Home on the Range, that corresponds with 2nd grade learning standards. Kids try to find animals and plants that exist in certain habitats around the United States. If they don’t know the answer, they can click on each animal or plant that is a possible answer and read more about that particular one.
Teach your kids about the dangers of wild fires with the Smokey for Kids site. Not only do kids learn how to prevent wildfires, but they also can play games to reinforce what they learn. Kids might find it especially fun to play the Storymaker Game. They first fill out quite a bit of information personalized to them, and then a story is created using that information.
In the Water Sense game, created by the EPA, lead the water drop through a maze, being careful to avoid water wasters. This game is great for late elementary and early middle school students.
In the Migration Game, students answer questions about migration. Each question that they answer correctly gets Wanda the Wood Thrush closer to her summer home in Maryland from her winter home in Costa Rica.
Sample multiple choice questions include, “When do Wood Thrushes fly when they are migrating?” and “How long does it take a Wood Thrush to migrate from Costa Rica to Maryland?”
Another site created by the EPA, Recycle City offers two activities for kids. First, there is the Recycle City Challenge, where kids can answer questions about actions people can take to reduce waste and energy use. They can earn points and jump on the leader board.
They can also play the Dumptown Game. The player is in charge of Dumptown and must start programs to reduce waste and encourage recycling. Players will be able to see the financial differences based on the programs they implement.
Most kids love playing games, all the better if they’re electronic games. Why not use these free online games to teach kids about the environment to both entertain and educate your children? I’m guessing your kids, if they’re like mine, would be happy to try out these games and learn new jokes and riddles to add to their repertoire.
When shopping around on the internet, we always look for the best deals because we want to save money.
Online shopping continues to dominate our lives but we want to make sure it does not bankrupt us!
So where do we go to find the best deals and coupons?
When we give our kids an allowance, we are giving them their first experience with money. An allowance allows them to make money mistakes (and hopefully learn from them). But it also gives them the chance to save for their goals and buy something for themselves only after having the discipline to save. However, kids don’t learn to be smart savers instantly, though a lucky few seem to right from the start! We, as parents, have to teach them. Another fun way to enhance this learning is by using free apps that help kids manage their pocket money.
This app allows parents and kids to track the children’s allowance virtually. Rather than hand your kids $10 for allowance, parents deposit the allowance virtually into PiggyBot.
The app lets parents deposit the money into three different accounts—spend, share, and save. Children can come into the app and set goals for what they want to buy with their money. When they reach their savings goal, the child can ask mom or dad for the money to buy the item. The parent simply deducts the money from the app to match the fact that money has been dispersed.
This is a simple app, which is available for free and works on an iPad, iPod Touch, or an iPhone.
bankaroo was created by a high schooler for kids to learn to manage their money. While many families use it at home, it’s also used in some school districts to teach kids money management skills.
bankaroo is free and can be used online. It can also be used as an app for iOS, Android, and Kindle phones and tablets. For $4.99 a month, you can upgrade to bankaroo GOLD, which will allow you to add interest to savings as well as transfer money electronically between family members.
I don’t have much cash on hand since we’re not going out right now due to the virus. Instead, I’ve been keeping track of what I owe my kids through bankaroo. It’s easy for me to manage, and my kids are enjoying the app. They can see their money grow there, even if they don’t have the cash on hand as they’re used to.
Photo by Patricia Prudente on Unsplash
This app is free if you just need to enter information for one child. If you have more than one child, you’ll need to buy the $2.99 version, which supports multiple children.
As a chore app, you can give your child daily or weekly chores to complete and mark in the app.
As an allowance app, you can choose two versions. Either you pay your child weekly with the money not linked to chores, or you pay based on the chores that are completed.
Children can easily look at the app and see how much money they have accrued, what they’ve spent and on what. They can also compute how much they’ll make in the future based on their current allowance.
This app is good for all ages and is available on Android and iOS.
Star Banks Adventure app is the product of T. Rowe Price and is available for free. This app is best for ages 9+ and is designed for the iPhone and iPad.
This app presents kids with a game where they have to draw lines through matching shapes and colors. When they do that, they’re rewarded with virtual money to buy the things that they need. Through the app, they learn about money management and the banking industry.
Do you have trouble getting your kids to do their chores without procrastinating and complaining? If so, the ChoreMonster app may change that. Designed for kids ages 4 to 12, the ChoreMonster app is available on the Web, Android, iOS, and Kindle.
Parents can use the app to assign their children chores, give a weight to the chore such as earning 10 points, and then specifying what children can “buy” with their points. Rewards can be 30 extra minutes watching a TV show or getting an ice cream cone.
While this app does not specifically teach children about money, it does teach them the correlation between working hard for things that they want.
While most free apps should do just fine with teaching your kids about money and helping them manage their allowance, if you have $6 to spend, there are some apps that are popular and educational.
This app is $5.99 and for iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad. Perfect for kids ages 7 and up, kids will likely enjoy this app so much they won’t realize they’re also learning.
Savings Spree is designed like a game show, and kids must answer questions. They learn about using money wisely and long-term savings goals.
Most of the apps mentioned above are for kids 12 and under. What if you want to teach your teen about real-life money management? Suddenly the stakes get much higher. Of course, if you just give him cash, he can’t spend more than he has, but what if you want to teach him how to manage in our high-tech financial world?
This is not one of our free apps that help kids manage their pocket money. In fact, this app is $5.99 a month unless you pay for 24 months in advance. In that case, the app is $2.50 a month.
Despite the price, this app is worth mentioning because it’s for kids 13+, and it’s not an app that teaches virtual lessons. Rather, the parents put money in the child’s account in FamZoo Family Finance, and the child is issued a card that links to the app. Parents can see their child’s spending and offer advice. The app also tracks chores and odd jobs and teaches teens about preventing credit card debt.
If you’d like to teach your child in a fun way, there are plenty of free apps that help kids manage their pocket money. There are also a few that aren’t free but you may find worth the price. No matter what apps you chose, teaching kids about finances with apps is fun and will hopefully set them up for a more financially savvy future.
Kids grow fast. The speed at which they grow often means they only get a handful of wear out of brand-new jeans before their ankles start making an appearance. Buying new clothes at a rapid case is a sure way to go broke. It’s also wasteful. The good news is that most moms are in the exact space you are. Trading your kids’ old clothes can save a ton of money. Here’s how to do it.
A clothing swap is a great way to not only save money by finding new-to-you clothes for your children; it’s a great way to socialize and meet new people with similar interests.
Invite your friends with kids roughly the same age (or size) as yours. If your kids attend school, you can send an invite through their classroom. Ask everyone to bring a few gently used items of clothing for a swap.
As everyone arrives, collect the donated items of clothes. Give everyone a ticket for the number of things they brought. As they browse the merchandise, they can turn in their tickets for new-to-them clothes.
By swapping clothes at a consignment shop, you can not only save money, but you may also even make a little.
Once a month, I take a bin of clothes to two consignment shops in my town. I’ve collected the clothes all month as I’ve done laundry and noticed things don’t quite fit anymore. I also strategically save holiday and seasonal items until a few months before, as the shops are more likely to purchase at that time.
The consignment shop will sort through my bin based on what meets their qualifications. They’ll offer cash for the items they want, or a 20 percent bump if I choose store credit instead. Depending on if I need new clothes for my kids, I may choose the store credit and grab some items they may be lacking. What they don’t take, I’ll hit up at the next consignment shop, or take directly to goodwill.
Occasionally, I’ll take the cash and apply it to whatever financial goal I’m currently working on.
Selling online has become much more sophisticated since the days eBay first came on the scene. It’s more convenient, especially if you tend to have higher-end clothes or clothes with tags.
Think about the clothes you receive for your kids from Grandma and Grandpa that never get worn because they’re already too small. Sell them online, then use that cash to subsidize the cost of new clothes. Better yet, make that cash go further buying gently used clothes either on the same site you sold to, or a consignment shop.
Some of my favorite online resources for selling kids’ clothes are Kidizen, ThredUp, and Josies’ Friends.
Do you have a favorite method to save money on kids’ clothes? Share with us in the comments below.
Here Are the Best Online Shopping Sites for Affordable Kids Clothes
Perhaps you were a career girl before you had babies. Or you were a young mom and never had a chance to build a working network. Either way, you decided there was nothing more valuable than staying at home to raise your family. Admittedly, however, you’re a little bored or strapped for cash. If you’re wondering how you can make extra money as a stay-at-home, I’ve got three possibilities that aren’t the usual options you’ll find in your Pinterest search. Don’t expect to find blogging on this list.
If you think a degree is required to be a bookkeeper, think again. Bookkeeping is a learnable skill if you have an eye for detail. The bookkeeping field has started to change as software (Quickbooks and Xero) has emerged to make it simpler for the small business owner.
However, while the software lends a helping hand, many business owners don’t a) have the desire, b) have the time, and c) want more understanding of what they’re looking at. As a result, you’ll send the bookkeeping field start to shift to a flat fee work from home field, rather than a low paid hourly rate brick and mortar store. This provides you with the flexibility to work from home and stay in control of your schedule. Both essential requirements for stay-at-home moms.
I recommend investing in a course to learn the basics of bookkeeping, as well as learn how to build an online business and find clients. It can be pricey, but certainly not to the level of a semester of college. Bookkeeper Business Launch is a course you should consider. They’ve got a great support community and it’s an overall amazing program. I’ve personally taken it, and as a former CPA, I can recognize it’s value. I highly recommend it if you’re interested in exploring this as an opportunity to build your own business.
Have you ever dreamed of selling your own product? You can! You can sell anything from wine to supplements to shower curtains with your very own label, all from the comforts of home. This is done via the private label industry.
Private label is the process of working with a manufacturer to produce a product to sell based on your specifications. You add a label on it and sell it directly to the public. You’ll want to stick to basic items that sell well on platforms such as Amazon and eBay. They should be light in weight and not fragile to ensure they ship well.
Once you decide on your product, find a manufacturer. Alibaba is a great place to start. You’ll also want to design a logo, label, and packaging. Finally, you’ll need a platform to sell. Amazon FBA is a popular and simple option. Or you can go all-in and sell through your own website.
As a stay-at-home mom, you likely have some baby gear at your disposal. You can sell it on Craigslist or Facebook marketplace, but there’s another option you may not have heard of. While not exactly an option that will allow you to stay at home, and requires a bit more flexibility – you can bring your children along.
BabyQuip is a baby rental company set up very much like Uber and Lyft. You provide the baby gear, and they provide the website and marketing. A tourist visiting your town that isn’t interested in hauling a crib, a car seat, and toys on their vacation can go to the website and rent the gear. You deliver the gear based on the hours you’ve set and receive 80% of the rental fee plus a delivery charge.
There’s minimal risk with this business model as the customer pays their order upfront which you can use to purchase any items you don’t have. If and when you decide to quit renting, you can sell your inventory, possibly at break-even. I was a BabyQuip quality partner for a little over a year. During my busiest month, I netted a $700 profit with minimal time investment.
P.s. if you are reading this because you want to find a way for your children to make money, consider reading 49 Easy Ways For Kids To Make Money over at CompoundingPennies.
Have you tried any of these side hustles to make extra money? How did you like it? Let us know in the comments below.
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Whether your child is off to college this year or next, you are thinking about the needs. There are a lot of things a new student needs aside from their supplies list for classes. There are tons of commercials and ads on bedding, laptops, and mini-fridges. When is the right time to buy? How do you know if you are saving money? Here are some of my recommendations.
Clothing swaps are becoming a big trend right now and it really is one great way to modify your closet and save money. If you are unclear of how one works, a group gathers together and brings clothes and accessories they are looking to get rid of. They literally swap clothes and anything that is not claimed can either go home with the original owners or be donated to a local thrift store (this is the most popular option). While some circles focus on clothing swaps for children, we are seeing more people do it for adult clothing as well. Here are some ways you can start a clothing swap and part ways with clothes you just aren’t wearing.
Sometimes you want more than your home cooking or a hamburger from a local fast food eatery. But if you have kids, dining out can be expensive. Thank goodness some restaurants offer free meals for kids so parents can enjoy being served instead of serving. You can check your local restaurants for deals, but here are five of the best restaurant deals (and some reward programs and apps) that will help you save money next time you’re out.