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What You Should Tell Your Kids About Family Finances

family finance tipsEveryone has their opinion on what you should and shouldn’t share with your children about your family’s financial situation.  Some say you should be really honest and if your family is struggling financially, then the kids should be made aware of it.  Others say that you shouldn’t tell your kids anything at all as it’s not their problem.

I would venture to say that neither approach is healthy.  If a child is in a family that is currently experiencing financial difficulties, it’s a good idea for them to be kept in the loop to a certain degree, but certainly not to the extent that they feel burdened and pressured to find a job to help support the family.

I can say this from experience.  When I was growing up, my mother was a single parent for most of my formative years.  We lived on an extremely tight budget, and while I was aware that things were tight, I was never led to believe that we were going to go hungry or become homeless.  My mother never told me that we were in trouble, even if we might have been.

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Family

Where To Find Affordable Afterschool Programs For Kids

afterschool programs for kdisAfterschool programs are a wise choice for you child every afternoon. Afterschool programs not only provide parents with piece of mind and security after 3 pm, but they also provide kids will lots of learning and socializing opportunities that can help advance their development and take advantage of their free time in the afternoons. Here are some useful tips and resources to help you find affordable, quality afterschool programs for your child.

Using the Internet is a great way to find out about afterschool programs near your home or your child’s school. You can access databases online through a search engine so that you will be able to identify programs in your specific area. This can help you find day care options or facilities that offer educational programs or even trips! Some sites even allow parents to write reviews for your reference.

Another option is to contact your child’s school. Often schools provide free afterschool programs themselves. These can range from clubs and sports teams to tutoring opportunities or groups that go on educational trips after school hours. Reaching out to your child’s teachers or even the principal can help you to find out about great opportunities that they have the inside scoop about. Also, these individuals will have a good idea about which programs may best suit your child’s needs, personality or interests for an ideal fit.

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Family

Top 5 Frugal Family Travel Tips

inexpensive family travel tipsSummer is the time of year when people choose to travel the most often. But when you’re taking the entire family along, understandably, your expenses can really start to add up. Just what it costs for four people to go to dinner and a movie can easily run you a couple of hundred dollars.

That’s why we wanted to provide you with a few frugal family travel tips. That way, you can still go on vacation and have a great time, but you won’t have to go over budget in the process.

Plan ahead. There are a lot of people who end up spending more than they need to on things like plane tickets and hotel accommodations all because they didn’t take the time to do some thorough planning beforehand. If you book travel and lodging 4-5 weeks in advance, you are sure to find some pretty good discounts (sometimes as much as 25-40 percent off).

Go all-inclusive. If you’re planning on going to another state, overseas or take a cruise, look for all-inclusive packages. Although you may be able to find some on your own by going to your favorite search engine and putting “all-inclusive travel packages” in the search field, we recommend that you consider going with a travel agent; they are professionally trained to look for the best deals, plus they tend to have already established relationships with various companies and vendors.

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Family

5 Games That Help Teach Kids The Value Of A Dollar

games kids can play to learn about money                                                                                            Children don’t automatically become expert financiers as soon as they learn to read and count; in fact, many children don’t learn the true value of a dollar until they’re out on their own. Learning money management skills early in life is extremely beneficial, as it teaches children from an early age how to be responsible with cash in their pockets. Games can help make the process both educational and fun, and these are some of the best games for teaching kids the value of a dollar.

Payday
This fun classic board game plays out on a format that’s designed to imitate a calendar. As the players move from start to finish, they encounter both gains and losses in their own personal finances. Kids might win the lottery or receive a work bonus on one turn, only to run into unexpected expenses moments later. This teaches kids to make smart decisions with their money and to plan for the uncertainty of the future; these skills will go a long way in their lives.

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Family

5 Tips For Designing A Kid Friendly Backyard On A Budget

inexpense ways to make your backyard kid friendlyKids are sources of endless energy, and they need to be able to play and exercise in their formative years. Many parents have neither the time nor the energy to make all the outdoor trips that would benefit their children, but you can make a great play environment for your children by bringing the world home. You can make your back yard more kid friendly and give them a place to play without spending a fortune on expensive equipment.

Make the Most of Your Space
How much free space do you have in your back yard? If you enjoy gardening or grilling outdoors, you’ll have to figure out how to make the most of your space and accommodate a play area for the children. In general, play areas and sitting areas shouldn’t overlap too much. Think about what you want in your yard, as well as what your kids want. A swing set can be great fun, but will also take up a lot of room in your yard. Think about how much space you have, and decide how to best utilize it.

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