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Family

The Importance Of Teaching Your Kids About Money

Many of our habits develop in childhood and therefore it makes sound sense to try and instill some good financial habits into our children at an early age, so that they are more financially prepared to cope when they become adults.

It often starts out with pocket money and if you have a few kids you will often notice that their different personalities include a varied attitude towards money, from spending without any concept of value to saving every bit of money they get, and everything between those two extremes.

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Family

Keeping Your Family United Is Priceless

cheap family activitiesWhile we’re always looking for ways to cut costs and make the most of our finances, you should never have to cut down on family time, and without spending a lot of money you can ensure a healthy, happy and united family – which is something that has no price tag. The New Kids Center highlights the importance of family as the single most influencing factor in our children’s lives and our kids should always know that in times of trouble they can count on us for all their needs. Below are six simple and cost-effective ways to keep your family united:

Communication is key and – most importantly – FREE – So be sure to really talk to your kids when they come home from school or you get back from work. Put your day on pause for a moment to listen to what your loved ones have been up to. If your kids have gone to college, or live far away, then make sure that everyone in your family has a Skype account. There are also many free applications for your cellular phone that you can use to speak with camera as well, which makes people feel closer. Not only will you save on the cost of a phone call, but you’ll be able to connect at all times and actually see each other face-to-face. Make sure that everyone is on the same mobile phone carrier as well, to benefit from free or reduced price phone calls.

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Family

A Final Needs Plan Keeps Your Family Debt And Burden Free

Since the day your children were born, you worried about them. Just because they’re now adults, doesn’t mean you worry any less. Instead of scraped knees and their performance at school, now you concern yourself with their own family life and financial future. You want them to be as happy and successful as possible. The last thing you want to do in your old age is to become a financial burden to your children. Raising a family is hard enough without the added burden of paying for a funeral. Before you pass away, invest in a final needs plan to protect your children from this financial liability.

As hard as it is to face the concept of your own death, acknowledging it and making plans for it brings comfort to yourself and your loved ones. When you take the time to plan and finance your own funeral, you’re ensuring your family doesn’t have to make painful decisions during a difficult time. They also won’t have to come up with an unexpected amount of cash to pay for your service. A final needs plan spares them this fate. When you create a plan, you’ll be working with a professional account executive. Consultations are free, and they’ll meet with you to find out exactly what you want for your funeral service and how you can achieve it.

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Family

Tips On Buying A Home For Your Family

helpful tips for buying a home for your familyWhen you think about buying a home for your family, you probably start to think about the cost involved. Can you afford it? Have you saved enough money? These are the questions that start buzzing through your mind. But, the fact is that buying a house can be a lot cheaper than you think. But first, you need to find the right home for your family.

Don’t Buy Above Your Means

When you look for a new house for your family to live in, you should not be trying to buy above your means. Do not buy a house that you will not be able to afford as this is a sure way to end up in debt. As you think about houses, take into account bills, council tax and of course, mortgage repayments. You should also look for hidden bills. For instance, if you are buying a house on a gated street you will need to pay a maintenance bill for the upkeep of the street. You should make things easy on yourself by making sure you can pay for the home without it cutting a deep hole into your income.

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Family

5 Tips For Financial Planning In Your 40s

financial planning tipsBy the time we reach our 40s, life can often be rather complicated. Many people are stuck between a rock and a hard place, with kids still at home and elderly parents needing increasing amounts of care. You may have left starting a family until very late, in which case your children are very small, or you could have teenagers about to fly the next. Either way it is an expensive business and if you are not careful, you won’t be in a good financial position by the time retirement looms large. So if this is you, here are a few tips to help you better plan your finances.

1. Pay Off Debts

Most people have at least some debt. Mortgages, car loans and credit cards are common, but by the time you hit your forties you need to make debt reduction a priority. Get to grips with what you owe and create a sensible plan to reduce your debts. If you have a lot on credit cards, look for cheaper deals, or use some savings to clear the debt. The aim of the game is to reach retirement debt free, so start working towards this goal.

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