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7 Unexpected Expenses as Your Kids Get Older

October 6, 2022 | Leave a Comment

My friend recently had a baby, and she has so much fun dressing him in cute clothing that she buys from Etsy. He has a better wardrobe than most adults! I understand her excitement in decking her baby out in adorable clothing (I did the same thing when I had my first child). However, I know her budget is tight, so I want to tell her, “Save some of that money for unexpected expenses as your kids get older,” but, of course, I don’t say that. Yet, parenthood has taught me that life will always throw you and your kids curve balls, which are often expensive!

Here are some unexpected expenses to plan for as your kids get older:

Larger Vehicle

You may think your current vehicle will suffice, especially if you only have one or two children. However, you may be surprised how quickly your family outgrows the car. We had a Toyota Echo when our first child was born, which I thought would be fine. However, we traveled frequently, and all the gear we had to bring for the baby didn’t fit in an Echo. So, in less than four months, we moved up to a minivan, which we still have 18 years later!

Don’t forget that your kids will likely want to bring friends to different activities, which is another reason you might need a bigger car.

Increased Grocery Bill

Everyone knows the grocery bill will increase when you have kids, but no one is prepared for the tween and teen years. Kids that age are growing rapidly, and they need a lot of food! When my son turned 11, I was shocked at how much he started to eat!

Private School or Homeschool

Public school is a good option for most kids, but some need a different environment, so their parents send them to private school. Or, parents like us might decide that homeschooling is a better option. Unfortunately, you may have planned for your kids to graduate from public school, so you’re unprepared to pay for private school or homeschooling when public school doesn’t work out.

Therapy for a Disability

No parent thinks their child will have a disability. I didn’t, yet, I have three kids, and each one has two diagnoses—two with autism, two with dyslexia, two with ADHD. These disabilities have cost us thousands of dollars in therapy that insurance would not cover. Thankfully, the therapy helped and the kids are doing great, but we did not anticipate having to pay for therapy, let alone having to spend so much.

Psychologist

Likewise, many kids, especially during COVID, needed a psychologist’s assistance. While most insurance plans cover psychologist appointments, you will likely have to pay a co-pay. Even if your co-pay is only $20 a session, you’re paying $1,080 over a year if your child goes once a week.

Electronics

Thirty years ago, parents didn’t have to pay a lot for electronics unless it was for a Nintendo or Atari game. Now, kids need laptops for their schoolwork, especially since some of the work (or all of it) may be online. In addition, most teens and tweens have cell phones that you’ll need to pay for.

I bought my youngest two simple Gabb phones, but they still run $50 monthly for two lines. Electronics expenses add up quickly!

High School Fund

A wise parent will start a high school fund when their children are young. Many activities in high school are pricey. Consider saving for

Class trips,
Homecoming,
Prom,
Senior pictures,
College application fees,
ACT or SAT prep and test fees

Final Thoughts

If you have a baby or a toddler, pour yourself into them, but remember, there are many unexpected expenses as your kids get older that you’ll want to save for now. Even though it’s cute to dress babies in adorable clothes, make sure you’re also saving for the future.

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Melissa Batai

Melissa is a writer and virtual assistant. She earned her Master’s from Southern Illinois University, and her Bachelor’s in English from the University of Michigan. When she’s not working, you can find her homeschooling her kids, reading a good book, or cooking. She resides in Arizona where she dislikes the summer heat but loves the natural beauty of the area.

How to Save Money Selling Your Old Home & Building a New One

September 12, 2022 | Leave a Comment

Selling your home and building a new one is a significant decision and investment. The best thing about this move is you get money from your old house to finance your new house. When selling your old home, various improvements and repairs increase your home’s value, allowing you to attain the top dollar. Similarly, there’re many opportunities for reducing costs when building a new home to get you what you want without breaking the bank. Below are helpful tips for saving money when selling your old home and buying a new one.

Conduct Repairs

Before listing your home, it is best practice to perform necessary repairs. You are likely to sell your home for more money and faster when it is in good condition. Also, you won’t have to reduce your home’s price to cater for repairs or credit money back to the buyer.

Prioritize repairs such as fixing broken appliances, patching holes in walls and ceilings, repairing leaky faucets, replacing broken window glasses, and painting walls. You can reduce labor costs by performing some repairs yourself.

Finish Your Basement

If your home has a basement, transforming it into a livable space can add extra value to your home and fetch you good money during the sale. Finishing your basement increases buyer appeal, thus attracting more potential buyers and decreasing time in the market. Research shows that a finished basement has an ROI of 77.6%.

Consider using your finished basement as a selling point for your home – it can be used as a recreational space, home office, storage room, or even rented out to create rental income. Furnishing the basement can be as simple as deep cleaning it, painting walls, ceiling, and flooring, adding light fixtures, and introducing natural light.

Boost Curb Appeal

How a home looks from the street significantly impacts the number of potential buyers it attracts. A new front door, a fresh coat of paint on the exterior, washing the driveway and front walk, and cleaning gutters can greatly enhance the curbside appeal.

Landscaping plays a vital role in boosting a home’s value. A well-landscaped home increases value by between 5.5% and 12.7%. Therefore, be deliberate with your landscaping and mow the lawn, clean the patio, plant colorful flowers, and trim trees and bushes.

Shop Widely for Contractors

Building your dream home is exciting, and you can be tempted to settle for the first contractor you get. Do not make this mistake; vet different contractors based on their qualifications, services, and cost. Also, avoid choosing a contractor because of their fees. An expensive contractor does not guarantee quality work, while a cheap one may have mediocre services or hidden costs.

A good contractor should have the required training and experience to handle residential projects. Also, they should be accessible, available, and have a good reputation. Do not forget to ask questions about their specialty, subcontractors, and past clients. All this will save you money and avoid headaches and disappointments.

Prioritize Energy Efficiency

A good thing about building your family a new home is the ability to maximize energy efficiency. New homes have greater energy efficiency than older ones due to sustainable building materials, current energy code regulations, and better insulation. In fact, recent building codes increase the energy efficiency of newly built homes by 17%.

You can improve your home’s energy efficiency by investing in energy-efficient appliances like refrigerators, washers, ovens, and LED bulbs. Since heating and cooling account for a significant part of a home’s energy bill, it pays to invest in efficient HVAC systems. Home cooling, for instance, accounts for 27% of a household’s energy use in Alabama due to its hot and humid climate.

Selling your old home to build a new one can be exciting, overwhelming, and costly. Take time to find ways to increase your old home’s value, which fetches you a high price. Also, there’re countless ways to save money when building a dream home, including prioritizing energy efficiency and choosing the right contractor.

Vacation Before Your Kids No Longer Want to Hang with You

September 8, 2022 | Leave a Comment

When I was a teenager, my mom and I traveled together, just the two of us, for one week every year. We both enjoyed these trips. However, teenagers don’t always enjoy traveling with their parents, even when their parents take them on a once-in-a-lifetime trip somewhere like Europe. Often, kids as young as 11 or 12 would rather be with their friends than their parents. Therefore, you may want to have an epic vacation before your kids no longer want to hang with you.

Many Families Struggle Financially in the Early Years

Unfortunately, many families struggle financially in the years when kids are young. Parents have to pay for diapers, formula, and daycare, none of which are cheap. In addition, parents may be younger and starting their careers, so their pay is low.

Once the kids are older, say ten and up, parents are on firmer financial footing and have more money to spend on vacations. Unfortunately, this may coincide with the time kids don’t want to do as much as their parents.

Prioritize Fun in the Younger Years

In his book, Die with Zero, Bill Perkins suggests that you spend most of your money upfront when you’re young enough to do the activities you want to do physically. This allows you to create a rich memory bank to sustain you in your older years when you’re not physically able to do as much.

Likewise, your children have a sweet spot between eight and 13 where they enjoy vacations and traveling with you before they get too involved in their own lives and friendships. That is when you want to prioritize travel with your children, even if it means scrimping in other areas of your life to find the money for travel.

My Experience Traveling with Kids

When our kids were young, we lived in the Midwest. We didn’t have money for travel, but my husband frequently had to attend work-related conferences. For the conferences a day’s drive away, the kids and I could tag along because my husband’s work paid for the hotel room. We’d pack food and try to visit as many free attractions as possible. The kids loved it. We went to Philadelphia, Ohio, North Carolina, Minneapolis, Quebec, and our favorite, Boston.

When the kids were 10, 5, and 4, we moved to Arizona. We couldn’t travel with my husband anymore because conferences were no longer within driving distance.

Now, we recently moved to New York. My husband has a conference in Philadelphia, so we were excited to resume our tradition with the younger two kids, now 13 and 12, and take them with us. To our surprise, the 13-year-old is indifferent to the trip and the 12-year-old is complaining about having to go. So now, our travel window seems to have closed. Of course, we’ll still travel with them, but we miss the excitement they used to have about traveling.

Final Thoughts

If you have younger kids, I recommend you prioritize taking a vacation before your kids no longer want to hang with you. Hopefully, they will always enjoy traveling with you, but if not, your memory bank and theirs will be filled with earlier, fun vacations.

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Why Our Child Decided to Take a Gap Year

July 28, 2022 | Leave a Comment

Our 18-year-old son graduated from high school this year. As most seniors do, he applied to several colleges in our area last fall. He got into all of them and received substantial scholarships to two of the colleges. He planned to start college this upcoming fall. And then his life was upended, which is why our child decided to take a gap year.

What Is a Gap Year?

For those who don’t know, a gap year is when graduating high school students take a year off before they begin college. They use that time in various ways, such as working to raise money for college, volunteering in the field they want to pursue, or traveling.

Why Our Child Decided to Take a Gap Year

In May, my husband got a new job 2,200 miles from our current location. Our son had always wanted to go to college nearby to live with us and save money. However, because we were moving in July, he no longer wanted to go to the colleges where he had received scholarships. He had to start his college search over again.

Unfortunately, the college scholarships that were plentiful in October had all but dried up by July.

He found colleges to apply to in our new location that accepted applicants on a rolling basis. He did get a few scholarships, but not nearly as many as he would have gotten had he applied to those schools in the fall.

To make matters worse, he would have had to pay out-of-state tuition because we hadn’t lived in the new state for 12 months before he wanted to start college. So, after careful consideration, he decided to take a gap year.

How He Plans to Use His Gap Year

Even though he never considered taking a gap year, he’s warmed up to the idea. He’s made a long list of activities he plans to do for his gap year.

Volunteering

Our son has always been interested in volunteering. During high school, he volunteered more than 100 hours. He hopes to volunteer at a local cat shelter and the public library during his gap year.

Working

In addition, he plans to work part-time and save money for college.

Applying to College

In the fall, he will reapply to the colleges he applied to in July. Since he’s applying at the typical time students do, he’s hoping he’ll be eligible for more significant scholarships.

Final Thoughts

My husband and I understand why a gap year is the better choice given that we’ve recently moved to our new location and colleges in the area would be pricey. We are slightly concerned that he may decide not to go to college after this. However, our son was always the youngest in his class because he has a summer birthday, so taking a gap year may be the perfect way to give him more time to mature and qualify for larger scholarships.

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3 Mistakes We Made in the College Process

July 14, 2022 | Leave a Comment

First children are always the guinea pigs of the family. Parents experiment with them and learn how parenthood works. They understand that once you have children, life doesn’t always go as planned. Our oldest, who recently turned 18, is also our guinea pig when it comes to college. We’ve learned that there are significant mistakes we made in the college process with him. Luckily, we’re learning from these experiences, so hopefully, we’ll be smarter with the college process with our younger two children.

Not Having a Backup Plan

My husband and I have always worked in education. I worked at a community college until I quit after our third child was born, and my husband has worked at two different universities.

We didn’t have money to save for college when our kids were young, but we weren’t concerned because we knew that our children could receive a tuition discount if they went to college where my husband worked. Between that discount and the scholarship our son received, he could have lived at home and gone to college for free.

However, life doesn’t always work out as we plan.

Moving After His Senior Year

My husband had been looking for a job for the past 18 months. He had interviewed and made it to the final rounds for four different jobs. However, none worked out. He applied for one more this past February, and we decided if he didn’t get that one, we’d quit looking until after our oldest finished college.

Luckily, for my husband’s career, he got the job. However, the job required a move across the country. While the job pays much more than his current position, it’s not at a university, so we no longer have a college tuition discount.

In addition, our son hadn’t applied to any of the nearby colleges in the new location because we didn’t know we’d be here. He missed out on the prime time for college admissions and scholarships. Now, he’s stuck applying only 6 to 8 weeks before college begins.

Not Specifying How Much We Would Contribute

Some parents tell their children what amount they have to contribute to their college education. Then, the children can use that amount as a basis to help them determine which colleges they will attend based on affordability. We never had that discussion because we didn’t think we had to; our child knew he could get a substantial tuition discount.

Now, we don’t know how much we can afford to pay because we’re moving to a new geographic area of the country and still aren’t sure how much typical monthly expenses will be. That makes determining affordability difficult.

Final Thoughts

The three mistakes we made during the college process have made the experience more difficult for our son than it needed to be. We had a unique set of circumstances that, hopefully, won’t happen to our younger children.

However, we’ve learned from our mistakes and will now be saving for their college tuition and setting a limit for them that we can pay.

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Tips for Entering the Workforce After Having Kids

June 20, 2022 | Leave a Comment

Starting a family is something that many adults do at some point in their lives. Due to the demanding nature of bringing up children, it’s sometimes necessary to take a break from work. If you did this and feel that you’re now ready to get back into the workforce, here are some tips that can help you out.

Network Widely

Networking is the number one thing that you need to do when you’re ready to rejoin the workforce. Talk to your friends and family and get the word out there that you’re looking for a job. Share the details of what you want as well as the skills you have with them as well. This way, it may be easier for you to find an opportunity that fits you well. On average, job seekers spend about 11 hours every week looking for the ideal job. This should motivate you to keep at it even if you feel like it’s taking a long time to find something. With persistence, something will turn up.

Write Down the Most Important Qualities of the Job You Want

Everyone has different needs as far as their ideal job goes, so list down the things that are important to you specifically. One thing may be a job that offers enough flexibility for you to have time to play an active role in your family. Another thing may be getting a job that’s close enough to your home so that you can multitask effectively and not need to delegate errands to someone else. When you know what you need in a job, it will be easier for you to look for something that you want and you will be likely to enjoy the position that you get. You will also be able to sift through different job offerings and make applications only for those that meet your needs.

Don’t Be Afraid to Start from Scratch

After spending some time out of the job market, there’s a good chance that things have changed a bit from the way you left them. This may make you a bit less likely to start working at a top position. This should not demotivate you, however, because you can simply take the time you spend at an entry-level position to remind yourself of what your tasks and duties are and practice. As time goes by, you may be able to get promoted to higher levels and you will get more experience to boot. Simply think of it as a kind of paid refresher program where you will be paid a bit less to fine-tune your skills.

Refresh Your Knowledge

Finally, depending on the length of time that you’ve been out of the workforce, you may need to refresh your skills so you know how to work once you get the position you seek. You could take it a step further and add to your knowledge by taking a course or furthering your education. This will make you more sought-after, especially because, as mentioned, you already have experience working.

You could also switch careers to a faster-growing field if it’s associated closely enough with your current experience. In the healthcare industry, for example, employment is expected to grow by 14% between 2018 and 2028. This is a lot faster than the average for other occupations, and it adds around 1.9 million new jobs to the market. This is a career that you could step into to enjoy a higher likelihood of getting hired, especially if you’re passionate about it.

These tips should help make it easier for you to rejoin the workforce after having kids. It will be an amazing way for you to ensure you can support them through everything and provide a great life for them.

How to Finance your Children’s Braces

May 19, 2022 | Leave a Comment

Before most people can have kids, they think long and hard about all aspects of childcare, including expenses. This includes tuition fees, clothes, shelter, food, etc. However, brace treatment is another expense that most parents have to account for. More than 3.5 million teens and children get braces every year. That means there is a good chance your child will wear them too. Unfortunately, dental care is not cheap. Kids’ braces can cost from $3,000 to $7,000. This can be very costly, especially for a low-income family. If your child needs braces, but you are having trouble raising the amount, you can explore several financing options, as highlighted below.

Medicaid Dental Benefits and EPSDT

By law, any children from low-income households qualify for full medical coverage. If your family is eligible, you will not have to pay for any orthodontic treatment costs. Keep in mind that dental and brace treatments for cosmetic purposes are not covered. But if the treatment is to correct a medical issue, then the case will be approved. In most states, orthodontic treatments are covered by Medicaid through a program called Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT). Check with the local department of Children and Family Services and confirm whether the program can cover brace treatment for your child.

Check Whether Your Orthodontist Has a Payment Plan in Place

Because these treatments can be costly, most orthodontists have payment plans in place to help patients. Talk to your orthodontist and find out what is offered. You may also want to research other orthodontists in your area. Payment options tend to differ, and you might find a payment plan that meets your needs. The earlier you start your child on treatment, the better the outcome. Between the ages of 6 and 12 is when you might start noticing your child has an abnormal bite. However, orthodontic treatment usually starts between the age of 8 and 14. At this age, the child has lost most baby teeth, and permanent teeth have started developing. This gives you plenty of time to research which orthodontists have good rates.

Personal Loan

You can finance your child’s treatment by applying for a personal loan from a bank, online lender, or credit union. Look for lenders that provide medical loans. You will get the best rates if you have a good credit score. And the good thing about loans is that you do not have to repay all the money at once. You can spread the payments over a specific period to lessen the burden.

Low-Income Programs and Financing

If you do not qualify for the Medicaid orthodontic programs, check the ‘Smiles Change Lives’ program. If your household income is less than 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL), you may qualify for treatment. The child needs to be between ages 7 and 21. If you qualify, your child will get full orthodontic treatment for only a small fee of $650. This can be a huge relief for parents as they can start their kid’s treatment as early as possible. Ideally, the best time to start orthodontic treatment is from age 7. This ensures that any chewing problems and overcrowded teeth are fixed early.

Orthodontic Insurance

Another way to cover your child’s orthodontic treatment is through insurance. Invest in a dental plan that includes brace treatment. This may increase your premiums, but you will be reducing the financial strain of covering the whole treatment cost on your own. When crooked teeth are not addressed in time, they can lead to other dental issues such as bad breath. According to the American Dental Association, people ought to brush twice a day to remove oral bacteria and prevent bad breath. But when you have crooked teeth, even if you brush twice a day, it can still be challenging to reach all corners of your mouth. Rectifying the issue early on prevents other oral issues and saves you money in the long run.

Financing your children’s braces ensures that you raise confident and happy kids. Do not let the situation escalate due to money issues. Explore which financing option works best for your family and use it to cover your child’s brace treatment.

How to Save Money During the Moving Process

May 11, 2022 | Leave a Comment

Moving comes with a lot of expenses and unforeseen costs, so it’s a welcome thought that you can save money during this process. Here’s how you can save money and enjoy moving to a home that you know your family will love.

Prepare Well in Advance

Proper preparation is important because it enables you to know what you need to do and how you will do it. From packing and keeping things in storage when necessary to negotiating with moving companies so they can give you a fairer price, there are many benefits to planning. Researching and comparing moving companies in Philadelphia ahead of time can also help you secure reliable service at a competitive rate. Collect all the necessary things such as bubble wrap for sensitive items and markers or labels to ensure you know what is packed where. Don’t forget about the details of the house you’re planning to move into, because, with 40 million housing units belonging to HOA communities, you may need to make certain adjustments to fit well into your new place if it’s part of one.

Pack Essentials Nearby

Moving can leave you exhausted and wanting to simply settle down first before you start the process of unpacking and organizing your new home. For this reason, you need to ensure that you have some essentials nearby, from a few kitchen and living room items to beddings. This will allow you to get a short break and re-energize yourself before you need to start digging through boxes. If you can use your own items and avoid having to buy others for a quick fix, this will be money you’ve saved.

Take Advantage of Free Moving Boxes

Check in local stores and other places if there are any offers for free or cheap moving boxes. Some moving companies may even offer free boxes and cheap packaging solutions, and you can make use of these to save some money during your move. Whether you’re among the 85% of Americans that move to the same state or the 15% who move to a different state, you will be happy to make some savings by getting free or affordable packing, so take time to look for some.

Move in the Low Season

If you can help it, move during the low season, which is between October and April. Doing this will see you spending less money as moving companies usually charge a lower price as demand for their services is lower. Most people move during early fall, summer, and late spring, so these will be high moving seasons and truck rentals will cost a bit more. There’s money to be saved when you move in early spring, late fall, or winter if the weather is friendly enough to move in.

Leave Items You Don’t Need

There’s no point in paying to move or store items that you haven’t used in a while and that you’re not likely to use in the future. While packing, take time to sort through your items and either sell or donate those that you haven’t used in months and aren’t likely to use in a while. A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 18,000 pounds, and this is a substantial weight that shouldn’t comprise items that won’t have any use in your new home. You will find it easier as well to organize your new home when you don’t have to make allowances for things that you have no use for.

Follow these tips to make savings while you move and enjoy settling into your new home with your family. You can use the money you saved in other ways, such as having a night out to celebrate your new place!

Tips for Ensuring a Cost-Effective Home Build for Your Family

May 5, 2022 | Leave a Comment

A home is the most important investment you can make for your family, and also the biggest one. However, it’s a good idea to try and save costs if possible so you have some funds left over when all is said and done. Here’s how you can enjoy a cost-effective home build for your family and get amazing results at the same time.

Work With Professionals

While this may sound strange, you can make savings by working with an expert rather than cutting corners and working with cheaper but inexperienced people. This is because when you have your work done by an expert, they will often get it right the first time and in the easiest way possible. When you don’t have to redo work that’s been done already, it’s obvious that you will spend less money. For the best results, work with a team that has a project manager, whose work is to oversee all the phases of a construction project and make sure that the job gets done on-budget and on-time for the very best results.

Go With a Simple Design

A complex floor plan and an overall design that’s complicated can see you spending more money than you would have had to spend on a simpler one. This may be a result of the need for additional materials, more expensive pieces, or unique labor demands that call for specially-trained people. You will find that a simpler design will be faster, easier, and more affordable to complete. If you want to spice it up and give it an edge, you can always add some fun features with a future upgrade or look for topical additions you can make to improve both the function and aesthetics of your new home.

Shop For Deals

Another way in which you can make savings while building your home is by shopping for deals and asking for discounts whenever you buy. For this, you will need a lot of time because, while you can predict seasonal sales, you cannot always predict flash sales and similar ones. Leave ample time to buy the materials you need, therefore, and you will enjoy saving an impressive amount of money on purchasing parts and pieces.

A recent report by the Bank of America Homebuilders said that while the pandemic is expected to have a little impact on buying patterns, just around 18% of the respondents surveyed said that Covid-19 potentially acted as a catalyst for moving. All the same, there was little difference between those living in urban areas when compared to those in the suburbs. So, no matter where you live, look out for deals that help people moving and building their own new homes like yourself!

Set a Budget and Stick to It

This tip may have been repeated so often that it has almost become a cliche, but there’s a lot of help you can get from it. When planning your project, take the time to write a budget and work hard to stick to it. You can do so by avoiding changing things while working, as this is a major reason why construction gets expensive. Also, reuse and recycle, as you can get good use out of something that’s not brand new. As a plus, you will also leave a smaller effect on the environment.

Buy Modern and Energy-Saving Appliances

Finally, when looking for appliances, shop for energy-efficient ones that will give you better service over time. Consider this an investment for the long term, as you will spend less on energy than you would have spent if you used less energy-efficient appliances. Shop for appliances with the Energy Star label, which denotes high energy efficiency. They will use 10-15% less water and energy than standard models will.

Use these tips and you will enjoy saving money while building a home that you and your family will love for a long time to come.

Simple Tricks to Save Money on Orthodontics

May 4, 2022 | Leave a Comment

Orthodontic treatment, while necessary for many people for a number of reasons, can also be extremely expensive. Have a look at these simple tricks that can help you save money on orthodontics and get a healthy, beautiful smile for you and your family.

Come up With a Payment Plan

Many people who need orthodontic treatment don’t pay for it out of pocket or in a lumpsum. Instead, they first put down a downpayment and then spread the rest of the payment over a certain period as agreed upon between the patient and the orthodontist. This eases the pressure of having to find a large sum of money and can enable you to get the right treatment from a professional of your choice if they will agree with your payment plans. You will be glad to have undergone professional treatment given the fact that 47% of teens who use Invisalign said in a survey that they experienced a self-esteem boost during the treatment process when compared to 22% of teens who used metal braces.

Ask For a Discount From Your Orthodontist

Never miss the opportunity to find out from your orthodontist if they can give you a discount for the treatment you need. They’re also human, and so they understand that people can face different situations that leave them unable to pay for basic needs such as health care. You may be surprised when they agree to offer you the treatment with a discount, making it a bit more affordable for you.

Start Your Treatment Early

Rather than be one of the 44% of Americans who admitted that they wish they took better care of their teeth, take action right away. When you find out that you need to undergo orthodontic treatment, it’s best to start your treatment early. This will not only help you get the treatment you need faster and improve your life, but can also make it more affordable. That’s because you may need less work done if you start early enough, which, needless to say, will be more affordable and less involving.

Visit a Dental School

If you live near a dental school, you could pay them a visit or give them a call and find out if they offer orthodontic treatment. Since their services are usually discounted, they may be in high demand, so you also need to find out if they have a free spot to see you. The reason why they can afford to discount their treatments is because they’re done by dentists practicing to become orthodontics. This makes them affordable while at the same time being professional. You don’t need to have any apprehension as the treatment will take place under the watchful eye of a professional orthodontic trainer.

Shop Around and Compare

Finally, get quotes from different orthodontists so that you can get the best price that you will be able to work with. This is because there are many professional orthodontists in the market, and each of them charges a different price based on a number of variables. While shopping for an affordable one, however, don’t compromise on quality as you may end up having to pay twice to correct something that’s done wrong by an inexperienced or even unqualified orthodontist. Check their certifications and licences to make sure you’re in good, capable hands. Stay safe, as the Journal of the American Medical Association or JAMA shares a report that says around 225,000 people die every single year from medical complications.

Use these tips to be able to get the best and most affordable orthodontic treatment both for yourself and your family.

How to Plan a Kid-Friendly Wedding on a Budget

April 21, 2022 | Leave a Comment

Kids can make any event fun, especially one that’s as focused on family as a wedding. It’s important to make sure that yours is kid-friendly if you plan on involving kids. Read on to see how you can plan a kid-friendly wedding on a budget.

Set Up a Kid’s Table

With the average wedding hosting 131 guests, according to The Knot, there will possibly be fewer kids than adults at your wedding. Once you have a good idea of how many kids will attend, set a table where they can sit by themselves, without the adults. Doing this will help them enjoy the wedding a bit more as they will be amongst their peers, with whom they can freely interact. While they may get up to mischief, you can minimize the chance of disruptions by giving them some activities to do at their table, based on some tips below.

Get Child-Friendly Entertainment

Find out the average age of the children who will be at your wedding and plan for age-appropriate entertainment for them. This could be something as inexpensive as hiring a magician or caricaturist to keep the kids busy while the more serious parts of the wedding are in progress. You will have the room you need while the kids enjoy their entertainment in a way that keeps both adults and children happy while separate from each other.

Have a Few Lawn Games Ready

With an 11% increase in the number of outdoor weddings in 2020, you could be even more kid-friendly if your wedding is also an outdoor one. Including lawn games is a sure way to make things fun for kids at a wedding, given the high energy levels that most kids have. From giant Jenga and corn hole to lawn golf and even hanging up a piñata, there are endless fun options available for you. Rather than run around between guests, they will stay happily engaged in the games and have an amazing day full of fun.

Organize a Scavenger Hunt

You could come up with a creative scavenger hunt to keep all the kids occupied from the start of the wedding to the end. Having something to focus on will make time go much faster for kids at your wedding, and rather than get bored, they will have an amazing day working on the clues on the sheet. The adults at the wedding will also enjoy the freedom they will get to be fully immersed in the event, so it will be an all-around wholesome and fulfilling day.

Give Personalized Favors

Finally, end the day with personalized favors, some for adults and some specifically for kids. With the average budget for only the reception and wedding ceremony being $28,385, you don’t have to get anything that’s over-the-top. Crayons in a cute package or charms and toys will work well, depending on the age of the children in attendance. If there are vastly different age groups, you could even get different favors for each age group. Doing this will help make your wedding an amazing and memorable event for absolutely everyone who attends.

Follow these tips and you will be able to plan for and execute an amazing kid-friendly wedding on a budget. Everyone will enjoy the thoughtfulness that goes into planning such a wedding and they will likely talk about it for a long time to come. Plan well in advance so you can get the best outcome and have something for everyone!

4 Steps to Make a Move Smoother for You and Your Kids

April 21, 2022 | Leave a Comment

Gone are the days when people lived all their lives in the same small community in which they grew up. Now, people move frequently and across vast distances. On average, Americans move 11 times in their lifetimes. I’ve moved many times, the most recent a 2000-mile move occurring nearly eight years ago. My husband and I are preparing to move our family again, but this time we’ll utilize four steps to make the move smoother for us and our kids.

Find a Realtor Before You Move

If you plan to buy a house in your new locale, find a realtor before you move. When we moved cross-country, we found a realtor and worked with her long-distance. She was essential in helping us understand the lay of the land and what suburbs would be the best fit for our family.

Visit Before You Move

I highly recommend visiting the new area before you move. My husband and I did this about two months before we moved. He was able to meet and talk with his new co-workers. We also were able to meet with the realtor and see potential houses. Though we didn’t buy a house at that time, the realtor had a much better idea of what house layout we were looking for, and we were able to narrow down the specific neighborhood we wanted to live in.

Once we moved, we bought a house and were able to move in within a month.

Research, Research, Research Before You Go

When we moved previously, I put a lot of time and energy into finding a house but nothing else. However, as we prepare to move again eight years later, I am still researching homes, but I’m also researching more.

Now, I’m researching potential dentists, orthodontists, doctors, and extracurricular activities for my kids. When we move, we want to be able to get started immediately with our new life in a new location. Last time we moved, finding these services took a few months. This time, because I’ve done the research ahead of time, I’m hoping that we’ll be able to jump right into our new life. I would like to have the kids enrolled in their extracurriculars within the first few weeks of relocating.

Join Local Facebook Groups

Finally, before you move, join local Facebook groups in the new area to ask questions and get a feel for the community.

We homeschool, so I’ve joined several homeschool groups. I ask about homeschool co-ops and available activities, what suburbs people prefer to live in, etc. When we move, the kids will already have groups they can join.

I’ve also joined some mom groups specific to the area.

Another fun group to join is a bucket list or scenic group for the area. You’ll learn about the best places to visit, hike, and explore in your new state.

Final Thoughts

Moving to a new location can be exciting and nerve-wracking. Reduce your nervousness by taking these steps to make a move smoother for you and your kids. In no time, you’ll fit into your new location, and it will feel like home.

Read More

4 Tips for Saving When Moving Abroad

Things to Consider Before Moving

Can You Homeschool and Work from Home?

Melissa Batai

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