Having a family of 6 in today’s society means that being disciplined in managing family finances must be a priority. This realization, and ultimately a commitment to do something about it is what brought my family to FamilyMint. If you are reading this blog….your probably have a very similar story.
All Budgeting Articles
The Personal Story of a FamilyMint Family
Posted on June 15th, 2011 by JeffBuying Your Teen’s First Car
Posted on May 27th, 2011 by BobEveryone remembers their first car. Loving the freedom of the open road, getting your driver’s license, feeling in control, being behind the wheel by yourself for the first time. It’s an exciting feeling for the teen in your life, but how much should you spend on a car for your inexperienced driver?
5 Ways to Cut Teen Summer Travel Costs
Posted on May 26th, 2011 by BobAfter months of saving, many teens anticipate spending part of their summer traveling with friends. However, it’s important for teens to plan trips as wisely as they save for them. Whether it’s an overnight camping trip or a week on a coastal beach, smart planning is equally important to financial success.
Top 10 Money Tips for Parents
Posted on May 19th, 2011 by Jeff“But why do I have to wait two weeks?” said my 12 year old son. “O, come on, please! I really want it and I won’t want anything else for a long time!” This was almost a weekly ritual in my house as my son would look through the Sunday ads for good “deals.” We had tried many things, including a mandatory two week waiting period, but nothing seemed to really help.
Planning for College with a 529 Account
Posted on April 19th, 2011 by BobThe price of college continues to go up; around $9,000 for tuition and fees alone at four-year undergraduate schools, and $35,000 or more at private schools, according to the College Board. Be sure there are no surprises; discuss these costs with your children, decide what they will be responsible for and get them on board (a FamilyMint.com account with a college goal is an excellent place to start!)
A Budget is a Budget – Except When It’s a Spending Plan
Posted on March 16th, 2011 by BobOne of our earlier blog responders suggested that “budget” has negative connotations these days, so he prefers “spending plan.” He suggests that this indicates that the planner is in control of his or her own financial destiny.
A Scary Thought – And How I Fixed It
Posted on March 15th, 2011 by JeffThe biggest money lesson I am passing along to my kids is how I act on a daily basis.
This thought used to strike a bit of terror in me, especially when I saw how some of my kids’ money habits were turning out.
Can’t Afford to Pay an Allowance? Maybe It’s Just How You Define It.
Posted on February 28th, 2011 by BobA few weeks ago I wrote a post about paying allowances, noting that it is “one of the big conundrums of parenthood”. One of our FamilyMint parents commented that paying allowances was difficult in light of her family’s limited “spending” money, so I wanted to touch on the topic again with that in mind.
Self Control is the Real Lesson of Budgeting
Posted on February 23rd, 2011 by BobAs parents, we have a responsibility to build our children into adults who don’t just cope, but thrive. A lot of it boils down to teaching them self control in making good daily decisions, including how they manage themselves – and how they manage money.
Teaching Kids to be Money Smart
Posted on November 6th, 2010 by BobCreating money-smart kids doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a skill and a behavior that has to be nurtured over time. The skill lies in learning the value of saving, giving, and spending conscientiously and understanding the difference between wants and needs. The behavior comes from the habits formed in doing these things over time and learning from mistakes.