Leading by example really is key, to all of these tips. Great point. If we want our kids to have good money habits, WE need to have good money habits.
I just recently packed up about 80% of our kids' toys, in anticipation of a move in the near future. The move got delayed, and the kids have had about a month without most of their toys. And they haven't asked for them a single time.
As a family, we love being outside, creating art, and going on adventures, whether that's in our backyard or on a bike ride or somewhere new. I hope those experiences will teach our kids, like you are with your son, that the true value isn't in stuff but in what you do with life.
Yeah...The hardest discipline for me is documenting my expenses. I do not spend unnecessarily but still I need to make it either a daily discipline or a weekly discipline to sit down and enter in all the expenses...
At least half of my "Tupperware" is comprised of yogurt and cottage cheese containers. I like cleaning out and saving jam and other glass jars too. If you soak them to take the labels off, they can make nice containers for food gifts, like fridge pickles or oven-dried tomatoes packed in olive oil.
Save yourself some money and forget the dryer sheets. Most dryer sheets are full of toxic chemicals that you shouldn't be putting near your body. The big plastic yogurt containers with lids make great paint containers, light and easy to carry around the room while you're painting trim. I always save the net bags from onions and oranges and cut them up to use as scrubbies for my pots and pans.
Thanks for the comment, Ash. Those tips are great also. I always have dipping sauces on hand, however. I save them for things like this. It helps that we have pizza night at least once a week. We're two carb-loving men. :)
plastic table clothes - I bought a couple for my daughter's birthday 5 years ago - they go to every girl scout meeting - get thrown in the wash & hung to dry - the color has faded - but they are going strong.
All of the links to recipes are embedded within this post. Just click on the blue text to get the recipes with ingredients and measurements. Happy cooking!
I filed mine last saturday and I did use a professional since mine gets a little bit complicated having a property out of the state under rental. I will get a refund and I am planning using it to upgrade the windows of my house since they are very old and making my electric bill a nightmare.
A part time job is a good idea, but if you're at home while the kids are at school, you can also do other things to save money instead of going out to earn it. Radical home-making takes DIY to a whole new level.
Home cooked meals can save a lot of money, and don't have to be particularly time consuming. And there are always things to be done around the house, so I'm never sure why people think it's filled with leisure time. In the summer you can grow container gardens and grow your own vegetables/herbs, dry laundry on a line or a rack, etc. In the winter there's always baking to be done, meals to be prepared. Sure, you may not be making money, but the money that's saved being a radical home-maker more than makes up for it.
No, I have not yet done my taxes. I will do them myself as I use the 1040 EZ form. My refund will be added to my savings, and once my savings reaches $5,000, I buy a CD.
#5 and #6 are by far my favorites. We teach our 6-year old son about the environment and helping others in need first and foremost. He learns this by donating his old toys and re-gifting his old toys at birthday parties. We also focus on the thought of the gift, instead of the actual gift itself. If our son wants a toy, he can save up for it (we don't usually buy him toys).
Another great tip is to lead by example. We don't buy ourselves much stuff and we focus on using the great outdoors as our playground. As a result, our child hardly ever plays with toys because we are usually outside playing in nature, or inventing games, or using things we already have around the house.
We also don't go out to eat at restaurants. I think a lot of people spend a lot of money that way. And, we bike everywhere. Kids really pick up on what their parents are doing, as long as you don't make your finances and the reasons you're doing things a secret.
Thanks for the reminder that teaching kids about money can start at a really young age!
No, I'm usually very quick to do my taxes but have been bogged down with work and school and haven't gotten around to it. I appreciate this reminder, actually, since I'm on "spring break" right now and have been trying to take care of some things that have been sitting on the back burner.
I kind of shuddered at the thought of putting garlic dipping sauce in to mashed potatoes. A splash of milk or cream, pepper, and some garlic salt are a less preservative-laden way of adding some garlic flavour to your mash. [Also, a big container of garlic salt lasts ages and can be used for many, many things, but who *always* has dipping sauce containers on hand?]
Yes! And have the refund already. I did them using the free version of Turbo Tax because mine are pretty simple and I generally know what I'm doing. Refund is going partially to vacation and partially to pay off student loan debt!
Eggs don't cause high cholesterol. It's an urban legend. Eggs naturally contain a certain chemical that prevents their cholesterol from being absorbed by a body (I forgot it's exact name . All is on the web). They are perfectly safe to eat.
For example, people with high cholesterol who start a low-carb diet eat eggs every day all day long. Their cholesterol gets to normal levels pretty quick...Eggs are not bad. They are the best food for humans because they contain a good balance of protein, and fat.
I eat eggs practically every day and my cholesterol levels are excellent...
Leading by example really is key, to all of these tips. Great point. If we want our kids to have good money habits, WE need to have good money habits.
I just recently packed up about 80% of our kids' toys, in anticipation of a move in the near future. The move got delayed, and the kids have had about a month without most of their toys. And they haven't asked for them a single time.
As a family, we love being outside, creating art, and going on adventures, whether that's in our backyard or on a bike ride or somewhere new. I hope those experiences will teach our kids, like you are with your son, that the true value isn't in stuff but in what you do with life.
Yeah...The hardest discipline for me is documenting my expenses. I do not spend unnecessarily but still I need to make it either a daily discipline or a weekly discipline to sit down and enter in all the expenses...
At least half of my "Tupperware" is comprised of yogurt and cottage cheese containers. I like cleaning out and saving jam and other glass jars too. If you soak them to take the labels off, they can make nice containers for food gifts, like fridge pickles or oven-dried tomatoes packed in olive oil.
Save yourself some money and forget the dryer sheets. Most dryer sheets are full of toxic chemicals that you shouldn't be putting near your body. The big plastic yogurt containers with lids make great paint containers, light and easy to carry around the room while you're painting trim. I always save the net bags from onions and oranges and cut them up to use as scrubbies for my pots and pans.
Also I liked you on FBK.
Yes! I filed and I got my refund back, too. And the refund is in a savings account. :)
Thanks for the comment, Ash. Those tips are great also. I always have dipping sauces on hand, however. I save them for things like this. It helps that we have pizza night at least once a week. We're two carb-loving men. :)
plastic table clothes - I bought a couple for my daughter's birthday 5 years ago - they go to every girl scout meeting - get thrown in the wash & hung to dry - the color has faded - but they are going strong.
Hi, Burma! Thanks for the nice comment.
All of the links to recipes are embedded within this post. Just click on the blue text to get the recipes with ingredients and measurements. Happy cooking!
M
I found newspaper bags useful when I had a leaky right rain boot. I wore the bag over my sock, before putting on the boot, and my foot would stay dry.
Thanks for sharing the resume resource!
I filed mine last saturday and I did use a professional since mine gets a little bit complicated having a property out of the state under rental. I will get a refund and I am planning using it to upgrade the windows of my house since they are very old and making my electric bill a nightmare.
A part time job is a good idea, but if you're at home while the kids are at school, you can also do other things to save money instead of going out to earn it. Radical home-making takes DIY to a whole new level.
Home cooked meals can save a lot of money, and don't have to be particularly time consuming. And there are always things to be done around the house, so I'm never sure why people think it's filled with leisure time. In the summer you can grow container gardens and grow your own vegetables/herbs, dry laundry on a line or a rack, etc. In the winter there's always baking to be done, meals to be prepared. Sure, you may not be making money, but the money that's saved being a radical home-maker more than makes up for it.
No, I have not yet done my taxes. I will do them myself as I use the 1040 EZ form. My refund will be added to my savings, and once my savings reaches $5,000, I buy a CD.
#5 and #6 are by far my favorites. We teach our 6-year old son about the environment and helping others in need first and foremost. He learns this by donating his old toys and re-gifting his old toys at birthday parties. We also focus on the thought of the gift, instead of the actual gift itself. If our son wants a toy, he can save up for it (we don't usually buy him toys).
Another great tip is to lead by example. We don't buy ourselves much stuff and we focus on using the great outdoors as our playground. As a result, our child hardly ever plays with toys because we are usually outside playing in nature, or inventing games, or using things we already have around the house.
We also don't go out to eat at restaurants. I think a lot of people spend a lot of money that way. And, we bike everywhere. Kids really pick up on what their parents are doing, as long as you don't make your finances and the reasons you're doing things a secret.
Thanks for the reminder that teaching kids about money can start at a really young age!
I like WiseBread on Facebook.
No, I'm usually very quick to do my taxes but have been bogged down with work and school and haven't gotten around to it. I appreciate this reminder, actually, since I'm on "spring break" right now and have been trying to take care of some things that have been sitting on the back burner.
I kind of shuddered at the thought of putting garlic dipping sauce in to mashed potatoes. A splash of milk or cream, pepper, and some garlic salt are a less preservative-laden way of adding some garlic flavour to your mash. [Also, a big container of garlic salt lasts ages and can be used for many, many things, but who *always* has dipping sauce containers on hand?]
Yes! And have the refund already. I did them using the free version of Turbo Tax because mine are pretty simple and I generally know what I'm doing. Refund is going partially to vacation and partially to pay off student loan debt!
Filed my taxes, got my refund...paid of all the credit cards!
Filed, received return, applied to school loan debt!
Yes, e-filed and have our return! Married filed jointly.
Eggs don't cause high cholesterol. It's an urban legend. Eggs naturally contain a certain chemical that prevents their cholesterol from being absorbed by a body (I forgot it's exact name . All is on the web). They are perfectly safe to eat.
For example, people with high cholesterol who start a low-carb diet eat eggs every day all day long. Their cholesterol gets to normal levels pretty quick...Eggs are not bad. They are the best food for humans because they contain a good balance of protein, and fat.
I eat eggs practically every day and my cholesterol levels are excellent...
I like this on Facebook!
No. We don't pay until the last day/