Are you frustrated with your teenager or tween? Help is on the way!
Are you frustrated with your teenager or tween? Help is on the way! Are you having trouble connecting with your teen (or tween)? Are you looking for new strategies you…
Teaching Kids How to Budget and Save Money for a Family Vacation
Smart Savings this Summer: Budgeting for a Family Vacation
By Joe Laing, El Monte RV
No one disagrees with the notion that it’s hard to save money and stick to a budget, whether you’re an individual or a family unit. But sometimes, the reward in the long run can be worth a little bit of penny-pinching in the present, especially when it comes to your summer family vacation. Do you really want to let the kids down this June and tell them that the family can’t afford to take a few days and road trip together someplace interesting? You can avoid that unpleasant, disheartening scene with a little bit of planning–and not as many sacrifices as you might think.
Why Budget
If you’ve never educated the kids (or your spouse!) regarding the purpose of a budget, having a family meeting before getting started is essential. Let everyone know that a budget is a fun, responsible way to make sure enough money is available for a vacation that year. Keep in mind the following when discussing the family budget:
Children Can Mirror Our Behavior
Children can express behavior and feelings that reflect back on how we act with them.
By Amy Egan
Recently, I have been coaching a mother whose six-year-old daughter has a lot of control in their home. Due to the nature of their personalities, both parents were allowing this to go on because they saw it as being better than any conflict that ensued when Meg was not given her way. Naturally, life had gotten very uncomfortable for all three of them. To start with, we worked out a plan to help get Mom and Dad back in charge of the situation. Things like not arguing with Meg, setting a limit once and following through with a consequence, not minding when Meg got really upset with them, all helped tremendously. And while both parents were thrilled with the improvements and new-found harmony within the family, Mom was still puzzled by Meg’s almost constant attempts to control her mother.
Our work together then went on to the next layer of the onion, and here is what popped up.
An Educational Sweet Treat for Valentine’s Day
An Educational Sweet Treat for Valentine's Day I don't know about you, but I worry about how much sugar my kids eat every day. I worry even more around holidays…
National Wear Red Day this Friday, February 1st
This Friday, Feb 1st is National Wear Red Day
From the American Heart Association Website:
In 2003, the American Heart Association faced a challenge; Cardiovascular disease claimed the lives of nearly 500,000 American women each year, yet women were not paying attention. In fact, many even dismissed it as an “older man’s disease.” To dispel these myths of heart disease as the No. 1 killer of women, the American Heart Association, along with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute created National Wear Red Day® to raise awareness of this critical issue. Each year, on the first Friday in February, millions of women and men come together to wear red, take action and commit to fighting this deadly disease.
Travis Letter Facebook Photo Contest
Win a Trip to the Alamo to see the Travis Letter
When the brash, 26-year-old commander of the Alamo wrote his plea for help on February 24, 1836, he was clear about his chances for surviving the siege by Mexican troops under Santa Anna. But Col. William Barret Travis knew the power of his words. He chose them carefully and crafted a message that transformed the Texas Revolution into an American fight against tyranny.
Now, for the first time in 177 years, the Travis Letter is heading back to the Alamo.
And so will a lucky winner, thanks to the “See The Letter” Facebook Photo Contest sponsored by the Texas General Land Office Save Texas History program. One lucky winner will receive travel and accommodations to San Antonio, donated by Southwest Airlines and the Emily Morgan by Doubletree Hilton.
Celebrate the Holidays Without Breaking the Bank
Stay on a Budget during the Holidays
by Andrea Woroch
‘Tis the season to be jolly, and that means a busy schedule full of holiday parties with friends, families, coworkers and neighbors. Depending on your social scene and business obligations, your calendar may quickly fill up with back-to-back festivities, all during the time of year that is most hectic and expensive for many. So how to stay financially sane during the holiday-party season? Here are several tips on how to host, gift and dress up for less.