But They Sure Are Worth It
As your parents get older, you turn into the parent and start worrying about them day in and day out. Questions like, what are they doing, are they safe and sound, are they eating well, and more, run through your mind daily.
Senior safety is definitely no joke, and the numbers prove it. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that 1 out of every 3 seniors falls every year. Not only that but every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall.
Realizing the vast opportunity provided by the stock market, anyone can feel enthusiasm for joining the market. Nothing’s wrong with seeking an income from a field that yields millions of dollars from even a single trade. Before signing up for it, ask yourself the question, “Have you researched the source of income comprehensively and looked into it in depth?” If not, this article is for you. [Read more…]
Many second marriages now come with the bonus of additional children—step children. As a step parent, you’re expected to provide support and understanding for your “bonus children.” But what other responsibilities do you have? Namely, what are the financial responsibilities?
Your financial responsibility is largely determined by your step child’s situation. Did his other parent die? Are his parents divorced, but the other spouse is paying child support? Was he abandoned by his other parent and receives no visits or monetary help from that parent? Do you have your own kids that you bring to this marriage? If so, what is your financial situation with your ex?
All of these variables come into play when you decide what your financial responsibility is as a step parent.
One of the first questions before you tie the knot is to determine if you want to adopt your step children. Of course, this isn’t an option for everyone, especially if the step children’s other parent plays a role in their lives. However, if your step children have an absent parent or their parent has died, you may want to adopt them, especially if they are open to the idea.
There are many advantages to adopting step children. Most importantly, you will then be able to have a legal say in their lives. Likewise, if your new spouse becomes incapacitated, you are recognized by the law as your step children’s parent.
After you’ve made that crucial decision, the next is to consider talking to a financial planner. When merging a household, there are many financial decisions to make.
When it comes to taxes, will you file jointly with your new spouse? If so, will you be able to claim the children on your tax return, or will their other parent?
When it comes to money management, will you merge finances or keep them separate? If you decide to keep them separate, what will be your financial obligation to your step children?
Finally, analyze your life insurance beneficiaries. You, your spouse, and your step children are now a family, and as such, you want to make sure that they will be able to function financially should the unexpected happen.
Unfortunately, some people forget to change their beneficiaries, so as soon as you’re married, make sure to change the beneficiaries to your new family. Also evaluate whether you have enough life insurance after your new marriage. You may find you need to secure more.
Each relationship is unique. While there are no explicit rules about a step parent’s financial responsibility to her step children like there are with biological parents and children, you still want to make sure your new family is taken care of financially. You can do this by considering whether to adopt, consulting with a financial planner, and updating your life insurance.
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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.
Winter is right around the corner, and that means watching pretty snowfall and the holiday season. But winter also means cold weather and having to bundle up to protect against it. Bundling up in the winter is especially important for babies and infants.
Fresh air helps babies get used to the seasons and the night and day cycle. Unless it’s dangerously cold, allow your baby outside during the winter is essential for their development. But that means you should follow safety precautions.
Here are five ways for how to keep a baby warm in winter months.
You can’t control the weather outside, but you can control the temperature in your home. Heat inside your lowers humidity, and that can mean problems for a baby’s delicate skin. Try to avoid cranking up the heat during the day.
Temperatures between 68°F and 72°F are best during the day. At night, temperatures between 65°F and 68°F can help reduce the risk of SIDS. Just be sure to dress your baby warmly before bed.
A staple of winter fashion is layering, and that doesn’t change when it comes to baby clothes. The bottom layer should be a snug option like a bodysuit or leggings. On top of that, your baby can wear pants or long sleeves.
When going outside, be sure to add a jacket, mittens, a hat, and booties to keep them warm. It’s also important to remember to take the coat off in the car, so the straps of the car seat fit snugly.
Whether you’re indoors or outdoors, you want to keep excess air off of your baby. Place their crib away from the windows, air vents, fans, or outside walls. Be sure to keep windows and doors closed to prevent cold air from entering the room.
Use stroller covers to keep the wind off a baby when they’re outside. And do your best to walk against the wind.
Parents swear by footmuffs. Using footmuffs can keep your baby warm and properly insulated in the winter months. Many parents in Scandinavian countries use these when letting their babies nap outside.
While you may not opt for outdoor sleeping, a footmuff will keep your baby warm when venturing outside the home.
You can also keep your baby warm with your own body heat. Wearing your baby in a carrier has many benefits besides the heat, including the physical intimacy of closeness. Your body can provide an extra cozy and warm place in the winter.
Just be sure to always cover your baby’s head and feet. And make sure their face is not pressed up in your chest or clothing so their airway isn’t blocked.
Because infants lose body heat faster than adults, it’s essential to prepare your baby for the lower temperatures. Babies don’t have the body fat to regulate their own heat, so these tips on how to keep a baby warm in winter months will help protect them.
Using some of these methods, you’ll be able to take your baby outside and allow them to get the fresh air needed for their development. The winter months and the holiday season can be a magical time.
Just take the precautions to protect your baby so that they can enjoy these exciting firsts.
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As a parent, it’s important for you to do whatever you can to protect your kids at all times. But you should be especially mindful of providing them with the protection that they need during the uncertain times we’re living in right now.
Kids and COVID do not go hand-in-hand. You should go above and beyond to make sure your kids stay safe so that they don’t end up having to deal with the coronavirus.
One of the most wonderful gifts you can give your children is a healthy understanding of money. Not a craving for it or an assumption that it will lead to happiness. Instead, you have the privilege – the responsibility – to teach children about hard work, the power of saving, the dangers of debt, and the gift of giving. To help your children learn, we’ll also set you up with a free savings chart for kids.
Many people are in crisis mode, financially. It’s impossible to know what they learned or didn’t learn about money at home, but would America look different if more parents taught their children the principles I listed above? What if more parents led by example by communicating together about a budget, saying no more often to frivolous spending, and showing their children how to save up and pay cash instead of using credit cards?
It’s purely my speculation, but I’d go so far as to say we’d have less stress, less divorce, fewer addictions, more giving, and greater job satisfaction. Do you agree?
With the right steps, we can teach our children to live differently.
You’re probably thinking, “What about student loans? I was just trying to further my education and now I’m overwhelmed by debt as a result.” Totally valid point. I remember approaching high school graduation and hearing everyone discuss their reasons for choosing one school over another. NOT ONCE did my friends and I stew over the debt load we’d receive from student loans. None of us saw what was coming.
In fact, according to StudentLoanHero.com, outstanding student loan debt reached more than $1.64 trillion in 2020.
How can we teach our children to save money in the face of such a burden of debt?
A great way to educate your young tribe about the dos and don’ts of spending is to create an open line of communication. Encourage them to ask questions. Show them the process of paying for your groceries or a meal at a restaurant. Take them to the bank and show them how you make a savings deposit.
Also, a conversation is a great way to tackle topics like:
You don’t have to run down this list every night at the dinner table, but the more conversations you do have about these topics, the more seeds your planting in your child’s mind. You’re teaching her how to think about money, not what to think.
We’ve covered the important step of talking about money. Next, it’s time to apply what your child has learned. If he’s old enough to hold a broom or to straighten up his room, your child is old enough to get paid for chores.
It’s important that he knows the money isn’t just for spending. Saving is a difficult concept for young minds, at first, unless they have something for which they’re saving. For example, if your daughter sees a Belle doll in the toy aisle and begs for you to buy it, you have some choices. You can purchase the doll, you can discuss the cost and why it’s not in the budget, or you can write down the dollar amount on a paper, head home, and help her calculate how many chores it’d take to save for the doll.
To aid in that endeavor, here are some free tools you can use with your child.
Printable Savings Chart for Kids – via CouponsAreGreat.net
Downloadable “Share, Save, Spend” Chart for Kids – via iMom.com
Printable Savings Thermometer Chart – via Frugal-Mama.com
52-Week Money Challenge for Kids
Combine a free savings chart for kids with some great conversations and hard work around the house. You’ll be setting the stage for great financial decisions, which will hopefully follow your children into adulthood!
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Editors note: This article has been brought to you by Dollar Dig. Dollar Dig helps you save money at over 4,000 stores. Open a Dollar Dig account today to start saving!
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.
If you have kids that are in middle school and high school, you likely feel the need (as I do) to teach them financial common sense. The hope is that eventually they will be able to move out on their own and be financially responsible. However, this lesson isn’t quickly learned, and it requires a lot of parental oversight to do it right. One tool that can help you is the Greenlight Card for kids.
The Greenlight Card for kids is a debit card your children can use, but it comes with some amazing parental controls so you can help guide and influence your children in their money habits.
Please note that if your kids have smartphones, there is an app they can use which will show them their balance and chores and allow them to make requests. However, the Greenlight Card for Kids can be used if kids don’t have smartphones, also.
This card makes allowances high tech.
You can reward your children for chores well done by depositing money in their Greenlight Card. Within the card app, children can set up different categories such as spend, save, and give. They can also set up long-term goal categories such as saving for a car.
You can help your children manage their money with this helpful card. You’ll be given real time spending alerts.
Teach your children about interest by giving them interest payments on their savings. You decide how much you want to give them.
In addition, you can enable the feature that allows them to withdraw money from the ATM and set how much they’re allowed to withdraw. Or, you can make withdrawing money off limits.
If your teens have jobs, they can have their paycheck automatically deposited to the Greenlight Card for Kids. The card can also be added to Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Each Greenlight Card is FDIC insured. In addition, the card blocks your children from spending money for gambling or buying lottery tickets. They also won’t be able to spend money at places like massage parlors and horse or dog races, and they cannot get cashback from a purchase. You’ll get an alert if they try.
In addition, parents have the ability to turn the debit card on or off, should they need to.
The first month is free. After that, you pay $4.99 for debit cards for up to five kids. Should you need replacement cards, the first replacement cards are free.
The Greenlight Card for Kids offers a way to give your children financial independence while also providing parental oversight so you can help guide your children into financial growth. This tool is an excellent way to exchange money between parents and kids while having features that let your children grow in responsibility as they grow up.
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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.
The average person is expected to spend more than $1,000 on gifts, and that doesn’t include food, decorations, and other festivities.
If you’re worried about having enough money for a splendid holiday, then don’t worry. Not having a lot of money this holiday season doesn’t mean you can’t have fun.
Use these unique ways to celebrate the holidays and save money.
Getting ready to teach your children or students how to interact with money? That’s fantastic! Not only will this building block help them learn mathematics like counting by fives and tens, but it will also prepare them for the workplace. Let’s take a look at a variety of free printable kids money available on the Web and ways to teach kids about money.
One of the most recognizable currencies for children (or at least this 90s kid) is the brightly colored money from the Hasbro game, Monopoly. These bills differ from U.S. currency in appearance but offer your children a chance to practice their counting, sorting, and hand-eye coordination skills.
Download your free printable Monopoly money here.
Are your children ready to learn coin values? Making change? Let’s take a look at some printable coin sheets for you:
Customized printable sheets of play money – At StemSheets.com, you can customize the number and denomination of play coins you need on each sheet. For example, you can print off 20 coins of each value (up to a quarter) on a single piece of paper. That’s 80 coins – in color – on one sheet.
Printable coins and coloring pages – Head over to EnchantedLearning.com to view printable images of quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies. Also, view a myriad of coloring pages for your child to enjoy as they educate her about U.S. coins.
Printable coin math worksheets – Ready to test your child’s knowledge of counting and making change? These free worksheets are great tools for just that.
Bonus Read: “6 Fun Money Games for Kids“
Got a bank teller in the making? Help your children or students identify the correct face on each piece of currency and count them in quantities of fives, tens, twenties, or even hundreds with these options:
Fake Play Bills – Looking for fake $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 bills for your kids? Here is a complete list of free and printable play bills. These can engage your young child in a myriad of money lessons like counting, sorting, and even practicing good habits like using the envelope system.
Realistic Bills – Add a Face – A great way to quiz your child on whose face belongs to which bill is to show him this realistic play money with no face in the middle. After printing out these bills by denomination, he can color in his own face for some added fun. No worries. It’s only a federal crime to deface U.S. currency when it’s not play money. 😉
In the preschool years, kids are just beginning to learn that money has value and can be used to buy goods. In early elementary, they learn to distinguish between the various bills and coins and their value. You can help your child become money smart at an early age by playing money games with them. Consider some of the following:
Print, cut, and laminate these terrific flash cards to quiz your child on prices at the grocery store. For example, she can use her fake money to pay for a $2 bag of popcorn or $1 bottle of water or do the math to pay for them both.
As your child gets older and masters this play game, you can take her with you to the grocery store. Give her a certain amount of money and ask her to buy a few select things from your list. This is a great time to teach her the difference between name brand and unbranded goods and the price difference between them.
Take advantage of your child’s love of play to play a game of restaurant. Present children with a menu using one of these realistic free menu downloads. Then, let your child choose his food, pay for the meal, and leave a tip. This is an excellent time to talk about budgeting and staying within a budget when dining out. Don’t forget to let your child switch roles and practice being the waiter.
Is your child old enough to write? Then he’s old enough to learn how to write a check. Paper checks may seem archaic in today’s digital world, but it’s still a foundational skill from which your child will build his financial knowledge upon.
For example, give him a set list of chores to complete, then pay with a check using these free printable checks. Teach him how to understand the information on the check, endorse it properly on the back, and cash it. This will help him understand the role banks and employers will play in his life later, even if his paychecks are directly deposited.
Another fun activity is helping your children practice estimation. Fill a glass jar with coins, and let your kids guess how much money is in there. The person with the closest estimate wins a small prize.
Another idea is to save all your coins in a jar as a family. Decide together what you’ll use the money for. Maybe you’ll use it for a fun day out or for a donation to a charity you all agree on.
For older elementary kids, teach them how interest works. They can deposit money with you for their savings, and every month you can give them interest, at a rate you’ve determined, on their savings. Your kids will likely be excited by this “free” money they’ve earned and want to save even more.
We all want our kids to be savvy when it comes to saving and spending. Those skills should start being developed early, when kids are three to ten, through printable money and games with the kids. The earlier you can start them understanding the value of money, the longer you have to teach them how to use money responsibly.
Bonus Read: “How to Teach a Child to Count Money“
Parenting Win: Teaching Money Skills to Your Kids,
Games That Teach Kids About Money,
Free Apps that Help Kids Manage Their Pocket Money
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.
As a parent to a young child, nothing beats the convenience of disposable diapers. Even if you feel inclined to use cloth diapers, which most parents don’t, you’re not always able to do so because many daycares only accept disposable diapers. However, for eco conscious parents, disposable diapers may morally be tough to use. After all, they take decades to decompose (some estimate as many as five hundred years!). The decision to use disposable diapers is a bit easier if you consider an eco-friendly company like Dyper.
Dyper is an eco-friendly company that offers diapers and services unlike any other on the diaper market.
There are many ways that Dyper is different from other diaper companies.
Dyper’s diapers are made of bamboo. Unlike other disposable diapers, Dyper’s contain no print or decoration; the diapers are solid white. These diapers also are free of many chemicals found in other brands. Specifically, they do NOT contain any of the following:
When you buy from Dyper, you sign up for a monthly delivery of diapers. However, should you run short on diapers, Dyper has an SOS program. This program, available a maximum of two times per year to active subscribers, will give you diapers within four hours (if you live in the 12 large cities currently offering this feature.) Otherwise, diapers will be sent to you the next day. Even better, they’ll be sent to whatever location you’re currently at, even if it’s at the beach while you’re vacationing.
Dyper offers a ReDyper program (extra fee applies). The company will send you eco-friendly bags, a shipping box, and prepaid label. When you’re ready to empty your diaper pail, don’t put the contents in the garbage, which will go into the landfill. Instead, put the diapers in the bag in the shipping box, seal and label and put it out by your front door. Dyper will pick it up and recycle your diapers, keeping them out of the landfill.
This option is something that really sets Dyper apart from other diaper companies.
A monthly subscription to Dyper is $68 a month. The first month, you get 30% off, making your total $47.60.
The number of diapers you get per month depends on the size diaper that your child is wearing:
In addition to disposable diapers, Dyper also offers
Basically, Dyper has your diapering needs covered.
Hopefully, this review has helped you to see that if you’re looking for an eco-friendly diaper company, look no further than Dyper. Their convenient subscription service saves you the hassle of making trips to the store for diapers, and their recycling program keeps disposable diapers out of the landfill.
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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.
Approximately 23 million Americans are living with at least one addiction, yet only half of them are receiving treatment.
For parents, one of the hardest things you’ll ever do is helping your child through an addiction. You need to be there for your child, but you also need to take care of yourself to stay sane.
Are you seeking help for parents of drug addicts? Keep reading below to learn about what you can do to navigate your child’s addiction and treatment.
It’s the special moments that make parenthood so worth it. Birthdays and Christmases are times that you get a chance to buy your child things that can put a smile on their face.
You haven’t been a toddler in forever, so you might be scratching your head when thinking about what to buy a child in this age group. We can help you out.
Keep reading to learn more about the best gifts for toddlers that you can purchase.
