But They Sure Are Worth It
Many schools give the kids a fall break and it’s the perfect time for a quick getaway. You probably don’t want to dip into your Christmas money, and you don’t want to break that piggy bank. Here are 5 fun ideas for family vacations on a budget — and a few free things you can do too!
Looking to dip your toe into the world of trading? There’s plenty to learn no matter if you’ve never made a trade before. Take a look at these resources tailored to helping newbies get started in the world of trading.
As you know, Kids Ain’t Cheap normally talks about young children and finance. However, as children grow up, they sometimes find themselves in the parenting/guardian position. In somewhat of a role reversal, older parents often end up needing assistance from their children. So, we felt this was an important topic to talk about.
Once your parents reach Social Security retirement age, Medicare becomes a significant part of their lives. The program provides them with a certain level of medical insurance, ensuring more manageable expenses. This is especially important once parents are no longer working. You, as the adult child, may have to play a major role in this process. Here’s how to care for your elderly parents via Medicare coverage.
With the school season starting again, education is job number one for students and parents alike. A proper education includes an education in personal finance, and one of the best ways to start is to learn how to protect yourself against scams.
What’s in your savings account? If you’re a millennial, there’s a decent chance that there’s nothing in your account but IOUs and promises. [Read more…]
When it comes to raising kids, it’s safe to see you’ll have your hands full. Kids are the living embodiment of the saying “a blessing and curse.” After all, while they might be the best thing that’s ever happened to you and a beautiful dream, they’re also a list of worries for their parents. There are countless things that can, and often will, go wrong, and it’s your job to prevent as much of these tragedies as possible and do damage control in case something slips through the cracks. This can often cost you a lot of money, and that, in and of itself, could be another problem to add to the list. That’s why we need to find ways to take care of them and save money all at once. Here are some tips to help you out.
First and foremost, let’s talk fitness. There’s a health epidemic these days, and it’s a tricky one to avoid. Essentially, we have it too good. We spend too much time sitting and inactive, and it creates several problems. That’s why we need to be more active. And, that’s why, as a parent, you need to get your kid into an active lifestyle early. For starters, consider yoga. Despite its reputation, yoga is a surprisingly hardy workout, but it’s also much easier than some other comparable, but more traditional, workout regimens. In other words, it’s perfect for kids. Take this Manduka coupon and save on the gear you’ll need to share the benefits of yoga with your child.
Next up, there’s diet. The modern American diet is all too rich in processed foods, and for good reason. After all, these items are cheap and convenient, the perfect storm for many of us, especially kids and their parents. However, they’re also chock full of fillers and preservatives that rob them of much of their nutritional value, so you’ll want to indulge in them sparingly, as an afternoon snack or for a special treat. Otherwise, try to stick to home cooked meals made with fresh ingredients. Again, you’ll want to get your kid into the habit of wanting and choosing the healthier alternative whenever possible.
Start building credit before age 17 — that’s not to say you should get your kids their own charge cards if you don’t think they’re ready. But you need to monitor their credit reports early. [Read more…]
A new bundle of joy is headed your way and you’re over the moon except for one thing—you’re wondering where to put said bundle. If you’re in a home you love and don’t want to move, it might be time to get creative with the space you have. Have a new addition or additions to the family? Read on for ways to create more room for yourself and your new wee boy or girl. Planning for a baby can feel overwhelming, but we can help.
Bunk Up
If an addition or move is out, it might be time to sit down with your current children and break the news that it’s time for some bedroom cohabitation. We say “break the news,” but the truth is, you can make creating a “big girl” or “big boy” bedroom fun and exciting. Let them pick out bunk or other beds they love that will work together in the same room. Throw a move-in party for them. Push their bed time back by half an hour. Do anything you can to let them know this is a good thing.
Get Lofty
If you’ve ever spent any time watching shows on HGTV, you know that lofts can not only create a lot of space, but they also can look amazing. Lofting beds to create more room doesn’t just have to be what one does when they go off to college and hit their tiny dorm rooms. Adding a mezzanine is another technique that works. As this Houzz article notes, “Building a mezzanine (an in-between floor) or loft level for your bed is a fantastic way to increase the floor space of a compact flat.” The article goes on to note, “It effectively adds another room, as well as increasing resale value.” Having a baby is an amazing thing but, between the inevitable crying and the many baby items you’ll have strewn about, your house that once felt quite large can quickly feel claustrophobic. This is one way to help with that.
Consider an Addition
If you’ve got the financial means, the time, and the energy level, an addition can be just what you need to avoid moving while also making enough room for your new little bundle. But you can’t just tack on an extra room willy-nilly and call it a home addition. As this HGTV article notes, there are four steps to an addition. First and foremost, consider your options. You might find that you can avoid this hassle by getting creative in other ways (like what we’ve already mentioned here!). Next, you’ve got to plan the build, including your demolition strategy. You obviously need experts on hand for this. Thirdly, choose your materials. And, lastly, get your project done by hiring people who know how to see something like this through to fruition. When selling homes, the masterminds at Frontier Properties LLC will often consider who they are catering to, and will make the necessary additions to ensure the homes they sell work for families in Denver.
Because this is a huge undertaking, you likely want to do it as soon as you discover you are pregnant. Taking this on as the date approaches can add a lot of undue stress, especially because you’re likely keeping in mind the need to save money for the baby.
Get Creative With Your Storage
Babies come with a lot of stuff. From baby blankets and pacifiers to endless diapers and clothes that need constant changing, these tiny humans require a lot of room in comparison to their itty bitty bodies. Consider putting your beds up on stilts to enlist the room underneath for storage. Build storage units in places like empty areas under stairways. Use the storage underneath the changing table and baby’s crib, as anything under the latter will be hidden by the bed skirt you choose. Simply walk around your home and observe where there are areas that can serve more than one function. You’ll be so glad once your babe makes his or her big arrival.
Think Vertically
Many designers will advise you to do this when trying to create space. From baskets that shoot straight up to crates that can be stacked, going vertical is a great and efficient way to make more storage areas in any room.
Don’t let a lack of space detract from the exciting news that you’re bringing home a new member of your family. Use any or all of these creative ways to make more room and you’ll be able to enjoy every last baby giggle.
Keeping children occupied while you’re working can often be a challenge. For a lot of parents, the answer is screen time. That said most parents know instinctively that putting kids in front of a screen can have negative outcomes including obesity, decreased emotional regulation and learned violence.
But, are these fears really true? Not so, says Sara DeWitt.
Below is an interesting TED talk given by DeWitt in April of 2017. Essentially, DeWitt is saying that the content the child interacts with matters far more than screen time itself.
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