Kids Ain't Cheap

But They Sure Are Worth It

How to Raise a Family and Avoid Falling Prey to Excessive Debt

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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.

5 Best Resources for Learning How to Trade

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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.

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Taking Care of Your Children and Your Wallet

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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.

Fears About Screen Time – And Why They Aren’t True

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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.

For more of our great articles, consider reading:

What Are Non Farm Payrolls?

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There is loads of economic data coming out every day that can have a tremendous effect on the markets. Non farm payrolls is a big data point, but so is data coming from the rest of the US government, like consumer confidence indexes and explanations of defense spending. The US is a massive governmental entity that can have a huge effect on the global economy, in many ways you might not expect.

First, take a look at what economics actually is. The freshman college course that you might have slept through for much of second semester actually had a lot to teach you. Economics deals with choice. It purports to deal with rational human behavior in a world where there is scarce resources. How do we get what we want when our choices always have to have a trade-off.

Economics takes into account the way that corporations invest throughout the world, how business pay their employees and how consumers spend their money. In a world that is governed more and more by capitalism, it makes sense to pay attention to the way that all this activity affects people. And the markets.

One of the largest info bombs that hits the global economy each month is the United States report on non farms payrolls. Sometimes the most effective piece of inof is the number of jobs added to the US economy added each month. That small bit of data can have an effect on the S&P 500, the confidence of consumers spending throughout the country and how foreign investors see the world. All of that can have a major effect on global markets.

Also released with non farm payrolls is the U.S. unemployment rate. That metric is very important in determining the psychological health of the US economy. And the US economy has an outsized effect on the rest of the world. Economic indicators in Europe and Asia have a large effect on the global markets as well, but the US is the most powerful government in the world and the largest economy in the world. So the machinations and changes within the economic fortunes of its citizens are vastly important to traders and global market watchers.

Sometimes analysts are bullish about non-farm payrolls and they tend to think that more jobs will be created. Many times, they are wrong and the market corrects itself. Sometimes the non farms payrolls will outperform expectations and the market will respond accordingly. Either way, there are opportunities for traders to make money on these moves.

Following economic data points is important for any investor because you can really get yourself an education about how the world works when you spend time looking at where the money goes. It can help you make decisions about where to put your money and where to get good at trading. Trading can also flourish off the release of economic data like non farm payrolls because savvy traders know which stocks or commodities will spike or fall based on the data that comes out.

That knowledge comes along with watching the market closely. When you pay attention to economic data then you can grasp a global picture of the market and how it might affect your world. That will give indicators and trends that you can follow as you trade stocks, bonds, commodities or futures. Really any kind of trading or investing can benefit from watching and understanding global economic data.

For more information on how to get started in online trading,, look to this resource for picking the right platform that will match your risk appetite and strategy.

Easy Home Upgrade Tips That Will Ultimately Save You Money

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Remodeling your home has two primary benefits: one, you and your family get to enjoy the upgrades while you live there – which can include having more space, greater aesthetic appeal and fostering a sense of newness. Two, it raises the value of the home in case you decide to put it up for sale. In particular, the kitchen and bathroom areas, when upgraded, fetch a much better price.

Remodeling The Bathroom

This will be one of the highlights of your remodeling project. With a bathroom, there are little changes here and there that lead to big effects. For starters, replacing the wide sink with a free-floating pedestal creates more storage room, and placing a full-length mirror on a free wall opens up the space.

Before you make any big changes to the bathroom, it is imperative that you get the plumbing checked for any leaks. Plumbing Fix is just such a company, and they focus on residential and commercial plumbing problems. Get your drains cleared and pipes fixed before attempting any renovations in these areas.

Additionally, pay careful attention when doing any work that may require displacing some of the plumbing; this is very costly as it sometimes adheres to a city plan. If absolutely necessary, make sure to hire a contractor.

Garage Upgrades

Many homeowners use the driveway leading to their garage to store their cars; it’s a convenient solution to mornings when you’re running late for work – but it only works in regions of the country where the weather doesn’t get very bad. The West Coast is such a region, and if you live there, you might do well to convert your garage into an office.

Many garages have water heaters, and it’s wise to have the place checked for water-related damage. The experts at Restoration Elite in your city are well-versed in all the methods of mold remediation and rectifying the water spots that lead to further damage. If your home has any signs of these, have them taken care of professionally before stripping the walls and construction addendums in your remodeling project.

Kitchen Upgrades

The kitchen is all about functionality and visual appeal – it’s one of the first rooms that prospective homeowners look at when house hunting. Some of the upgrades that can make your kitchen more enticing involve lighting and cabinetry. You can play with lighting using a pendant light, casting an arresting glow about the place.

With cabinetry; you’ve got to be careful – as it’s easy to spend a bunch on the finest cherry-oak. If you’re doing the remodeling yourself, measure everything thrice before you order the replacement shelves, as it is costly having to send stuff back and re-order.

Other upgrades that make a substantial difference to the kitchen space include the addition of an island, granite countertops (or a different material to cut down on costs), and the addition of stainless steel appliances. Even if you don’t change the cabinetry entirely, the addition of new pulls and handles will make a marked difference.

As for the rest of the house, upgrading the living room and bedrooms is wholly dependent on your budget. Usually, new furniture is the most decisive remodeling change; but a fresh coat of paint on the walls and the rearrangement of the current furniture are cheaper alternatives. In fact, using slipcovers or fabric on sofas and chairs works wonders for renewed visual appeal. New blinds for the windows, as well as curtains where applicable, will change the play of light on surfaces in the room.

How To Host A Charity Event On A Budget

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It’s no secret that charity events are limited by their budget, making it crucial to maximize every cent if you want to pull off a spectacular occasion. You don’t have to throw a sub-par event just because funds are limited, however.

The key to a successful charity event is to maintain quality while ensuring every guest is well attended to, while at the same time cutting out any unnecessary costs so the majority of your funds go to those who need it the most. This is going to require some creativity, quick thinking, and a solid plan. Here’s how you can host the ultimate charity event even on the smallest of budgets.

Make A Detailed Plan

Micro-managing every aspect of your event is crucial. Take the time to write out a detailed list of all possible outgoings while including hidden costs. This will give you a good idea of your breakeven point, which will let you know how many tickets you need to sell to make a profit.

Afterwards, make notes of every expense to provide full detail as what your costs will be. Once everything is in order, you can begin to see what fits into your budget and what does not.

Pick The Right Venue

Give yourself the time to research and visit plenty of event venues so you can choose the cheapest option that is still in accordance to your plans. It is also wise to give them a few different dates for the event, so that you find the most affordable option.

You should also ask about what is included in the cost. Often times, venues include things like technicians, AV equipment, and PA systems. If there is anything in their package you absolutely do not need, see if they can lower the price by removing it.

Add Funding

If you’re already cutting things too close with just the venue, then you may want to seek out additional funding. Using a site like Plumfund is an excellent way to spread awareness about your cause and receive fundraising for your event from people who may not have otherwise heard of it. All you will need to do is create the event’s page, explain what this charity is for in detail, and allow individuals to contribute.

Buy In Bulk

Food and catering can be one of the most expensive aspects of any event. Maybe you plan on serving cheese and cracker hoderves, or using food trays from a catering company. On the other hand, you could keep things simple and cheap with tasty snacks or an assortment of finer delights.

Whatever it is you plan on serving at your event, buy it in bulk. For instance, you could choose to buy bulk candy for a colorful and exciting table. The fact is that you need a large quantity of food anyway, so why not save some money by purchasing it all at once from the same place?

Volunteers Make All The Difference

If you can enlist the help of volunteers, then you’ll be doing your budget one of the largest favors possible. There are plenty of enthusiastic people who are more than happy to share their time and skills to make your charity a success.

Whether they can offer helping hands in getting things set up, live entertainment, or even act as waiters, they’ll save you money as opposed to those requiring a paycheck for their services. Enlisting is as simple as running a campaign on social media to let the world know you need some extra help for a good cause.

How A Side Hustle Can Save Your Family’s Budget

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There’s no denying that providing for and taking care of a family is tough, not to mention expensive. Just this year, the Department of Agriculture reported that the cost of raising one child through the age of 17 is between $174,690 and $233,610. That, of course, does not include all of the expenses pertaining to yourself.

The costs of raising a family have led many to seek out a side hustle in order to make extra cash, but can these additional jobs actually make a difference? This article is here to show you how they can save you from financial woe and help pad your monthly budget.

Understanding The Side Hustle

Simply put, a side hustle is anything you do for extra money aside from your normal job. Most people might relate the term to driving for a rideshare, but side hustles come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Some people pick up night shifts at places like UPS, while others walk dogs or babysit.

The possibilities are nearly endless, leaving it up to you to figure out what you would be good at and what can fit around your schedule. Picking up more work can be exhausting when you mix it into your daily routine. Make sure to have a steady supply of coffee or a nootropic handy. You can read more here if you haven’t heard about nootropics yet.

The Debt Problem

A steady stream of extra income can help pay down your debts faster, but it also makes increasing those debts tempting. If credit card bills or other debts are piling up, it’s important to have a solid plan of action to make sure your side hustle is as effective as you would like it to be.

There are all sorts of helpful tools out there that can make eliminating your debt less of a burden. You can learn more here about what a debt relief agency can do for you, but it’s time to dive into what side hustles are out there.

Top Ideas For Side Hustles

These are just a few ideas that have proven themselves lucrative for families in need of relief from a tight budget. Hopefully they get your gears turning and help you find something that will work for you.

Sell Your Stuff

First up is Etsy, which is perfect for anyone who has a creative knack for making handmade items. For instance, some Etsy sellers knit beanies and sweaters that sell for anywhere from $20 to $50. If you have a hobby of creating something, sell it.

Alternatively, you could sell things you no longer need (like clothes your kids have outgrown) on sites like Ebay. A garage sale is great, but having your things available 24/7 online gives them a much better chance to sell.

Online Surveys

If you’re looking for something you can do while watching TV before bed, then sign up for a survey site. It’s free, and can help you make an extra $100 a month depending on how fast you can complete them. It might not be much, but every dollar counts.

Blogging

Let’s say you’re passionate about gardening, turn that passion into a blog by writing about how to grow the best fruits and vegetables. Then, all you have to do is sign up for affiliate programs and feature products on your site. Anytime someone clicks through the affiliate link and buys a product, you make a small percentage of the profit.

Of course, there is always driving for a company like Uber as well as hundreds of other ways to make extra money on the side. Best of luck!

Streetwise Travelers: Keeping Your Kids Safe on a City Break

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Kids are curious and excited by nature. They’re impulsive, and unlike most adults, they don’t consider surroundings or consequences before acting. Being so cavalier makes moms and dads nervous at best. Keep your kids safe on your next jaunt through the city.

Keep Distance from Tall Displays

Strolling through the city inevitably involves window shopping and perusing stores. Bringing young children into the store necessitates unwavering vigilance since little ones are curious about everything. Most displays are safe yet beware of high towers or leaving kids around stacked merchandise.

Tell Kids to Wait to Board Escalators

The notion of moving stairs may seem fun to kids but adults know the dangers of the rotating escalator. Ensure kids’ shoes are tied and they are holding your hand when you board and exit the stairs. Also, remind them the stairs is not a place for playing.

Stand in the Back of the Elevator

Like escalators, elevators pique the curiosity of the young. They also pose threat to little ones who enter the elevator when it’s uneven with the floor or if they put their fingers, hands, and feet between closing doors. Additionally, don’t accidentally put your child in harm’s way by using the stroller to stop the elevator from closing before you board. Lastly, stand in the back of the elevator so kids are not tempted to push buttons or stand between opening and closing doors.

Keep Tabs on Them

It’s instinct for moms and dads to keep an eye on the kiddies, but even the most vigilant parent can lose sight for a few seconds. Unfortunately, that’s all it takes for kids to wander off and get lost in a crowd. A range of products helps parents track the whereabouts of kids via tracking technology. For example, a child may wear a bracelet that sounds an alarm to help parents quickly locate.

Update Safety Zones

Agree upon a safety zone where you can reunite with your child when separated. It could be the checkout counter at a shopping store or the help desk within the mall. Kids get just as scared as parents when they wander off. Safety zones enable moms, dads, and kids to stay calm. Be sure to continuously update the safety zone depending on your proximity throughout the day. As to help kids feel safer in the hotel, introduce them to the front desk workers at your Marriott Baltimore.

Find Another Family

It’s difficult to relay how to act toward strangers to a kid. Even adults get confused as to who can help or is a possible threat. Some insights, such as looking for a person in uniform (such as a police officer) can be confusing. However, one mother suggests instructing kids to look for moms and dads with other kids if they are in need of the help of a stranger.

Hold Hands

Hold hands when walking in heavy pedestrian traffic, crossing the street, and whenever it’s practical. Kids can’t understand all of the potential dangers of a city but they can understand that it’s important to stay close and to hold your hand.

Best Black Friday Shopping Apps and Websites

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Black Friday is closer than you think, so make sure you’re prepared. The worst thing a Black Friday attendee can do is to show up without a game plan.

Everyone knows shopping centers and malls are pandemonium on Black Friday, so don’t get caught up in the commotion. Make the most out of your Black Friday experience. Find the right coupon shopping apps.

We came up with the list of the best Black Friday shopping sites and apps available. Find toys, clothes, kitchenware, electronics and so much more. The countdown to the big day has begun!

Black Friday Mobile (BF!)

There’s probably no app more devoted to black friday than simply BlackFriday.com. Available on the app store or Google Play, you can find Black Friday deals before heading to the store. Be the first to get coupon ad alerts and find the best black friday deals before retailers run out.

They make it all easy with their Wishlist. This is a section of the app where you can save your favorite deals all in one place. That’s not all. You can organize your deals by which store they come from or by certain category.

BF has over a million followers on Facebook, so make sure you’re included in getting first wind of great deals!

BFAds

BFAds has one mission and one mission only: to keep you updated on the hottest Black Friday deals.

The website updates regularly and features articles about big name stores and what they’re offering this year. BFAds also flaunts their “leaked” deals to try and keep users in the know of secretly planned Black Friday deals.

Unique to shopping sites that only let you know what deals are around, BFAds offers their own giveaways. They recently gave readers a chance to enter into a contest in which a winner could receive the much anticipated Nintendo SNES Classic.

 

Black Friday Ads

Find rare Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals with Black Friday Ads.

Ads for BlackFriday.fm will start popping up in November, so you’ll have to stay tuned. Shop the best Black Friday deals from Kohl’s, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, The Home Depot, Macy’s, Sears, Bed Bath & Beyond, and more.

You can search by brand or category. Categories include appliances, food & wine, sports & outdoors, cellphones, baby & kids, general electronics, among others.

Retail Me Not

Retail Me Not is great all year round, but Black Friday is their time to shine.

Retail Me Not is a popular discount shopping app dedicated to promotions and discounts. This app helps companies get the word out about their brand, and it help customers find what they’re looking for.

This convenient shopper app is popular among clothing shoppers. They can find sweaters, boots, purses, and other Fall favorites.

TGI Black Friday

Another Black Friday shopping website is TGI Black Friday. Receive push notifications and frequent updates on Black Friday news to stay in the loop during the entrance into the holiday season.

According to their website, TGI Black Friday has been featured in The New York Times, CNN, and the Wall Street Journal.

From Black Friday to Cyber Monday, you don’t have to worry about missing a thing. Sign up for the mailing list on their homepage to get notifications when they start emailing deals.

The Black Friday

Though Black Friday deals are not released yet, The Black Friday offers information on current sales. Check their shopper app or website and you’ll find pre black friday deals from places like Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and more.

The Black Friday also gives insightful information like each store’s top picks and recent news. For example, when clicking on Toys”R”Us, you’ll find updated information about the bankruptcy the major retailer is going through and how it will influence their performance this season.

DealNews

Deal news is similar to the other trusty Black Friday shopping websites on this list, but what Deal News also offers is Black Friday predictions. For example, Deal News predicts that K-Cup machines will be selling for as little as $50 this year.

They also have a shopping blog on their site that is fun to read. In the blog, you’ll find helpful shopping related articles. One of the blogs is titled “10 Ways to Save Up for a Black Friday Doorbuster. In this article, you find 10 interesting ways a shopper can save cash and prepare for the big spending day.

Find DealNews on an Android phone or iOS iPhone.

SlickDeals

SlickDeals is also another unique coupon shopping app. It’s like Yelp for deals.

Users can rate and review coupons, so you’ll know what you’re getting into and if a coupon is legit. Users can also share coupons they’ve found with others.

There are forums where people can get together and talk about anything related to online deal hunting. In these forums, consumers work together to sniff out fake or sketchy deals.

This online community of bargain shoppers is changing the way people save money. It’s a wonderful place for people to look out for each other and to avoid getting scammed.

Similar to other discount shopping websites, SlickDeals has a blog where you can find shopping advice and news. One of the most recent blogs features the best things to buy in the month of October.

Santa’s Bag

This shopping app is a little different than the other ones on the list. Santa’s Bag is a convenient way to help alleviate stress of Christmas. This Christmas shopping app is useful in that it helps you plan out Christmas gifts in a streamlined way.

Not only can you plan gifts for others through the app, you can send your preferences for the presents you want to receive this year.

You can also budget your gifts and keep track of how much you’ve spent on each person you’re purchasing items for.

Download it on iTunes and save yourself some time!

Get Ready to Save!

Black Friday seems intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be! With all the ways you can coupon search and gift plan, shopping this year should be a piece of cake. The key is preparation. Get ready and keep up with the latest doorbusters by downloading these helpful shopping apps. Good luck, bargain hunters!

 

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