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Family

How Much Does It Cost To Have A Baby?

A beautiful baby is something that many of us dream of having someday. And while it goes without saying that a bouncing baby boy or girl can bring so much to our lives, it would be totally irresponsible (plus, a bit delusional) of us to ignore the fact that while children are a worthwhile investment, they are also a pretty expensive one.

According to an article that was published in Forbes magazine in the summer of 2012, it would appear that a child, on average, costs $235,000 to raise and guess what? That’s before factoring in their college education. So, in preparing for a bundle of joy, what are some of the things that you need to have in place to make things less financially burdensome? We’re so glad that you asked:

A job. You would think that this one would be a no-brainer but the reality is that with the kind of economy that we (currently) have, a lot of individuals are struggling to make ends meet. It’s one thing for an adult to live off of Ramen noodles for a week. A baby needs a lot more than that. Therefore, steady income is an absolute must.

Health insurance. OK, who doesn’t groan at the thought of this particular topic? Even if you do have a full-time gig, your employer may not offer the best of benefits and if you are an at-home or contracted worker, it’s usually up to you to come up with your own insurance plan. A child needs a pediatrician. This means you need to have the means to pay for it. This means that you need some good health insurance.

February 3, 2013

Family

5 Fun And Inexpensive Family Activities

One thing about having children is that they are constantly looking for ways to be entertained. So, while parents find the idea of sitting on the couch and reading a book on the weekends to be absolute heaven, they know that their kids are not going to settle for more than a couple of hours of peace and quiet. This means that there have to be activities “on tap” for parents to be able to provide.

The wonderful thing about this article is that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to apply any of these recommendations. Indeed, there are many things that you can do that are fun for both children and adults with the added bonus being that they are also relatively inexpensive. Here are just five of them:

Do some arts and crafts. A part of the joy of having a child is that they love to learn to do something new. Whether it’s finger painting or jewelry making or learning how to knit or crochet (or even build models), consider setting some time aside to do some arts and crafts. It’s nice quality time that you can spend with your child and certain learned activities can stay with them for years to come.

January 29, 2013

Family

Paying For College – Students Or Parents?

When you’re a parent holding your newborn for the very first time, there are probably a lot of thoughts that run through your mind. One of them just may be that you hope that you’ll be in a position to provide your son or daughter with all that they need in order to be a thriving adult. And, without a doubt, that would have to include sending them off to college.

Of course, when it comes to deciding who should pay for it, it may not be as black-and-white as it might initially appear. On one hand, if you’re in a financial state where you can pay all of their way, it could be a real blessing. On the other, as the price of tuition only continues to increase, that may not be the most realistic route to go. Plus, there’s something to be said for a college student contributing to their own educational future (they tend to appreciate it more when they do).

January 21, 2013

Family

Protect Your Loved Ones From Elder Financial Abuse

Far too many elderly people have become victims of elder abuse. Some experience physical or verbal abuse, but the vast majority experience financial abuse. In fact, 70% of all elder abuse is financial abuse.

Either family members or others closely associated to elderly people often take advantage of them financially. This is most prominent for elderly folks who are confused easily and find it hard to keep track of their finances on their own. Many vulnerable elderly people are victims of theft and fraud as a result of a greedy, ill intentioned family member or caregiver.

September 26, 2012

Family

3 Reasons Not To Give Your Kids Everything They Want

If you are a parent, you know that you want to provide for your kids and make sure they have everything that they need. Need is the key word here. Although you want your kids to be happy, it is important that you teach them some key things about their wants.

The first thing you must do is teach them that they can’t have everything they want, and below are three reasons why:

1. If you let them have everything they want, you are teaching them that in life you always get everything you want as soon as you want it. Obviously this cannot last forever. Once these kids grow up they are going to see that their every whim will not be satisfied, yet they will still expect this. The result will be unsatisfactory relationships and unrealistic expectations leading to a life full of disappointments and heartaches.

February 15, 2012

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