Search Results for: blog involve children in family finances

Cutting The Family’s Entertainment Budget May Not Hurt Much

With the rising cost of gasoline and other items, family budgets are becoming tighter than ever. When families feel the pinch of a tough economy, they often have to reevaluate where their money goes. Often, the family entertainment budget is the first thing targeted for trimming. If you are in a position where you are considering making cuts to your family’s entertainment budget, do not despair. You can still have plenty of fun while spending less money on entertainment. One way to approach making changes to the family’s entertainment budget is to enlist the help of everyone in the family. … Continue reading →

Involve Children in Family Finances

When I was a little girl I got an allowance. I had to do chores to get this allowance. When I was really little, I would gather up all the bedroom trash cans and empty them in the big can on the service porch. When I was bigger, I had to load and unload the dishwasher. I don’t think I often got an allowance without something tied to it. In junior high school my parents tried to monetarily break me of my underachieving ways. I underachieved with amassing cash stores too. I was reading a piece by Suze Orman and … Continue reading →

Balancing Finances and Family Time

While I think all parents strive to achieve a sense of balance between work and financial obligations and family life—I think the challenge can be even more acute for single parents. Our kids need us, but we also need to pay attention to our work and “fundraising” efforts too. We already feel the pressure to be providers and we also feel the pressure to be a great parent—how can we achieve balance and make sure we pay plenty of attention to both? Whoever said “Money isn’t everything” was probably not a single parent. The financial pressures of being a one … Continue reading →

Children, Finances and Your Choices

One of the most difficult aspects when it comes to being a parent and your finances are the trade-offs that you will have to make. It can be difficult because you want to provide the best opportunities for your children, and in some instances that can involve a lot of money. Additionally you may feel torn because you are not giving your children the quality of time that you feel they deserve. Your career choice may also be affected by your decision to have a family. You may choose to take a less competitive job so that you can spend … Continue reading →

The Frugal Blog Week in Review: Jan. 27 to Feb. 2

Hello there! It is a quiet Saturday evening on the day before the Superbowl. my husband is getting the last kid to bed, I’m listening to my new Nora Jones music, and I am seriously thinking of taking a nice hot bath. Before that, though, I wanted to bring you the week in review for the Frugal Living Blog. I know you read every blog faithfully, so I’ll just assume you want to reread them all again. Saturday, January 27 Save on Paper: Take Advantage of Junk Mail In an earlier blog, Save on Paper: The Three Best Ways, I … Continue reading →

When the Holiday’s Aren’t So Happy

There are plenty of things for children to be excited about during the holidays. After all, what’s not to like about days off of school, and presents from Santa? For some children, though, the holidays bring out symptoms of depression. This is something that parents need to be aware of. You probably are aware that Christmas, and the holiday season that surrounds it, can make many people depressed. For adults, this can stem from worries about finances, and from the stress that is involved in organizing family get-togethers. Adults may also be grieving the loss of loved ones who have … Continue reading →

Agreeing to Disagree

Sometimes in a marriage all you can do is agree to disagree. There are some topics that both the husband and wife may feel very strongly about and there may be no possibility of changing the other’s mind. That’s okay. That is what makes us unique. While it’s not a novel concept I do think it is one that is overlooked far too often, agreeing to disagree. It’s almost in the nature to want to “convince” someone that we are right or that they should see our side. I’m afraid that I spent way too many married years doing this. … Continue reading →

Getting Remarried Can Cause Problems With Insurance

Insurance, no matter what kind, is designed to provide you and your family with some financial protection in case tragedy strikes. Getting insurance involves a whole process, taking up both time and money. After paying years of premiums, the expectation is that the insurance company will take care of you in your time of need. In some cases, getting remarried can cause serious problems with insurance. You might not be as protected as you think you are. Is your spouse in the military? There is an insurance plan called the Survivor Benefit Plan that is a program of the Department … Continue reading →

How Much Is Too Much?

According to recent reports, Australian men are not good at sharing the housework and childcare duties. Yet compared to some other countries like Italy and France, they stack up okay. Although Aussie men do less than women, Dr. Lyn Craig, from the Social Research Centre of University of NSW, says part of the problem is the long hours worked by Australian men. The time is on average 10-11 hours a day. This is one of the reasons a man I know chose to give up his well paid job and re-train for work where he would see more of his … Continue reading →

Why Make Decisions Together?

Over the last couple of blogs we’ve looked at predetermining choices for spouses and family. I’m adamant making decisions together is a far better way to go in marriage. Why? Let me give you some reasons. It’s better for your marriage. Each person feels more involved in the choices made. It strengthens your marriage and you learn to take responsibility and learn from your mistakes together. Another reason is the responsibility doesn’t rest on one person. This can be come very stressful for the person responsible for always making the decisions. Of course it also means that if the decision … Continue reading →