Helping kids appreciate money
According to the National Retail Federation holiday shoppers plan to spend an average $463 on family members, up from $458 last year and the highest in survey history. Your family doesn’t have to break the bank during this gift-giving season. Here are seven wonderful ideas for creative holiday giving on a tight budget.
Read MoreHigh school seniors across the country are preparing for their fast-approaching graduations, and many are gearing up for college. Meanwhile, parents are contemplating the costs of funding that education. Here are some quick tips for reducing college debt.
Read MoreSearching for free scholarships and grants for college can be fun when you apply for some of these wacky and weird scholarships. Don’t delay… application deadlines are fast approaching!
Read MoreSR Education Group is an organization that takes college affordability very serious. They are striving to be the most authoritative online resource to help students choose the best school for their career aspirations and budget.
Read MoreAs you prepare for the upcoming holidays and gift giving, keep in mind that some of the most special gifts are not those that are purchased with money but those crafted from your hands, your time, and your love. Here are a number of creative and fun ideas for the whole family.
Read MoreIt’s a scary thought, but it won’t be long before the holiday shopping season is in full swing. Christmas Creep is already setting in as trees and tinsel emerge in the aisles of your favorite stores. While few of us welcome this pre-Halloween intrusion, it serves as a good reminder that it’s never too early to start planning your holiday budget. Try these tips to get your finances in order now so you’re not facing a massive credit card bill come January.
It’s August and that means parents across the country are preparing for back to school with their kids. Shopping for back to school items can be a tedious and costly process. We’ve compiled the following 25 back-to-school shopping tips from several experts on the subject matter. This year, get everything you need on your back to school list for less by following these tips.
Read MoreAccording to a recent survey done by the Employee Benefit Research Institute, Americans’ expectations for retirement remain low. 28% of workers have no confidence they'll be able to afford a comfortable retirement. That's the highest level in the survey's 23-year history and only 57% of those surveyed reported having less than $25,000 in savings and investments (not counting the value of their homes and any defined benefit pension plans.) How do you stack up?
Read MoreGoal Accomplished = Joy
Take a look at the 30 second video below. At the end, I bet you'll be smiling and laughing along with him.
Take a deep breath in. Hold it! Breath out sloooooooowly. Ahhhhh, school is out, and the decompression has begun.
As you think through all the fun things you'll do with your kids this summer, consider one that will challenge them to develop great money habits.
Your children may be toddlers, preschoolers, or only in their elementary years, but it’s never too early to begin saving for their college. College is still a good investment in your child’s future. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, “people with four-year degrees earn nearly twice as much as those with high school diplomas.” Fortunately, there are many resources available to guide parents along the path of saving for college.
Read More20 percent of college students are facing financial hardships because of debt. To prevent your child from becoming part of this statistic, sit down and discuss money management before sending them off to college. By taking an active role early, you have the best chance of preventing your child from becoming the one in five who is struggling to control their financial situation.
Read MoreSpring has sprung and summer is just around the corner. Has your family been thinking about or begun planning a summer vacation? Are you seeking some fun, educational, and budget-friendly ideas? It’s not the cost of a vacation that makes it fun for parents and children; it’s the time spent together as a family. Take a look at some of these ideas for family vacations on a limited budget.
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Although times are better now than they were five years ago, colleges and universities continue raising tuition costs. According to Bloomberg, tuition and fees for public institutions rose 4.8 percent in 2012, to an average of $8,655 per academic year. Nonprofit private colleges didn't increase as much — 4.2 percent, but now average $29,056 per year; or around $116,244 for a four-year degree.
Read MoreHave you set-aside ample time to regularly sit down and have “money meetings” with your children to discuss their money habits? If not, why not start now? And in addition to a successful school year, your children will also learn life long positive money habits.
Read MoreMost experts suggest that kids need a more interactive experience to learn things, obviously leveraging their desire to play video games. Your child needs quality time with a parent, and what better way is there than to use FamilyMint to learn about managing money and go through good books together and highlight what is important and what is not.
Read MoreEver hear the expression "post holiday hang over?" That's what it feels like when we open up our January credit card statement. With a little planning and creativeness, we all can avoid holiday debt and the post holiday blues and don't forget to include your kids in the process. Here are our 5 tips for a truly money-smart holiday season:
Read MoreThe third little pig listened to his mother’s wise words and said “I don’t plan to live like the birds. No straw nor sticks will do for me; I plan to build my house solidly.” With his goal clearly defined and a budget in mind, the third little pig developed a plan and a timeline. “With a little hard work and some shopping around, I’ll have my brick house to keep me safe and sound,” said the third little pig.
Read MoreWhen it comes to being savvy about money, the line between what teens think and reality is as wide as the Grand Canyon. Most teens surveyed believe they are financially savvy. But when asked about specifics such as establishing good credit, balancing a check book or what a credit score is, the majority of teens were in the dark.
Read MoreI know other moms who’ve experienced this mom-switch syndrome, but whether you can relate or not, there’s no denying that back-to-school time is about making transitions. Schedules, extracurricular activities, homework, new teachers, new friends, carpools, books, supplies, clothes…it’s time to pull up our socks and get moving again!
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