| |
| |
|
Parenting Information |
|
|
|
Honey I Can't Afford The Kids
Sex has a lot to answer for ? babies usually ? which then with time and much financial investment grow up to be beautiful mutations of their parents. Yet as the family absorbs more money as it grows, the need for financial planning and protection becomes more important. So, where do you start and how do you move your finances forward? First of all there are "The Considerations": * If surplus funds become available, could these be invested? If so, will you choose a medium or long term investment? * Will you need an emergency fund? * Will you need to save for short-term events such as Christmas, holidays and birthdays? * Are you ready to save for a pension? Do you need to include your partner in a pension plan? * How much financial planning do you want to do your children? For example, is private education an option or priority and do you want to start saving for university fees? * How much borrowing will you need to do for buying a home and is it worth considering a mortgage payment protection plan? * Is life insurance or life assurance worth considering as security for your partner and family? * Do you need income protection insurance? * Are all of your belongings and possessions adequately covered by household insurance? Then there are "The Resources": * Have you taken advantage of all the family finance government initiatives involved? These include Child Benefit, Child Tax Credits, Child Trust Funds (CTFs) and the Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) scheme. Directgov is an excellent resource for information on public services (http://www.direct.gov.uk/Homepage/fs/en ) * Do you have the best possible deal on your finances? This includes your credit card, any secured or unsecured loans, your mortgage, remortgage and insurance. If you're not sure, it's not difficult to do some investigative homework. Moneyfacts ( http://www.moneyfacts.co.uk ) and Moneynet ( http://www.moneynet.co.uk ) are two popular sites for consumer research on financial products. If you live in the US, the website Lowermybills may prove helpful (http://www.lowermybills.com/ ). And that's just when the kids are still young. Once they're well established at school, you may wish to still evaluate the emergency fund, medical insurance and protecting your income against illness. The risks may change as the family develops so don't think that financial planning is a one-off event. Keep these issues in mind as your funds change. As you get older you may wish to consider writing your will and inheritance planning, planning for long-term care, protecting your capital, continuing your income should anything happen to your partner and even indulging your grandchildren. There are a variety of publications from companies such as Which? that can help you tackle what may seem like impossibly complicated tasks. If you're aware that one of the above issues needs to be tackled, don't neglect the gut feeling. Ask around for financial advice, but be aware that you need to be the decision maker, so gather as much information as you can and then make an informed decision. If the advice is conflicting, accept that financial success may always be based a little on luck and risk, though nothing excuses thorough research and planning. Read the papers, surf the web and ask around: the information is accessible! Resources: http://www.direct.gov.uk/Homepage/fs/en (Direct Gov) About Rachel: Rachel writes for the personal finance blog Cashzilla: Cashzilla is a personalfinanosaurus. "Rachel" means sheep in Hebrew: "little lamb" or "one with purity". Cashzilla means financially savvy with great fiery ferocity. * * * * * * * * * * * * Contact details: Rachel Lane
MORE RESOURCES:
Parenting - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
The Thing with Quality Time It's funny how people seem to think that they have spent quality time with their kids after work by bringing them out to the mall for a lifeless and meaningless stroll only to come home with nothing more than a whole bunch of stuff that they (or the kids) don't need. In fact, time has been wasted because kids don't NEED you to bring them out to the shopping mall to waste time. Coping With Colic Quite simply, an absolute nightmare for parents and babies alike, colic is likely to be the first major test of your parenting skills. It is dreadful for all concerned but these tips should help you cope with this difficult time. Are You Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child? Although many parents are concerned with our children's intelligence quotient (IQ), research shows that a child's emotional quotient (EQ) is just as important for that child's personal success. So what is Emotional Intelligence? Emotional quotient is your child's ability to feel, while intelligence quotient is your child's ability to think. Weathering Colic for New Parents A common problem many times facing parents is Colic. Estimates say that between 15-25% of infants are born with Colic. Mommie Moments - Taking Time For Yourself Being a parent is a role that requires a large majority of our attention and time. Whether you have one child or fourteen children, you are more than likely aware that personal time is at a minimal. Think Like Your Kids - And Understand Them More! Seven-year old Michael was on a school trip to a WildlifeCentre in Central Scotland. It was near the end of the day and they were in the Gift Shop before boarding the bus for the journey home. Youth In A Changing World IntroductionChildren are the gifts of God to parents. That young child will in no time at all grow up to become a resposible future leader if he is well catered for. Americas Public School System --- Brutal and Spartan The public school system in America has become a dismal failure. But education in many other times and cultures has been quite successful. New Baby - Relax and Become a Yummy Mummy Lets face it becoming a mum is a bit of a shock at first, to say the least. Sleepless nights and eventful days make it a struggle to get a shower and wash your hair in the morning, never mind applying make up and fiddling with volume brushes and hairdryers. Help Your Children to Love Reading It is so important to create an environment that promotes the love of reading. Not only is reading necessary for survival in today's world, it is educational, it sparks imagination, it is a stress reliever, provides entertainment and enjoyment, the list goes on. The ADD Child: Challenging Parents, Teachers and Friends The ADD child exhibits a series of behaviors that are common in most children. Most children misbehave, act silly and day dream. Cyber Parenting 101 Many parental units are not "techies" and openly admit theyare not. They seem to use that as an excuse to not beinformed and "trust" their children to do what is right inan environment that is clearly risky. Parents - Create An Emotionally Healthy Connection With Your Child "I could have helped you if I would have known, I'm your mother. I protect you against everybody in this world. How Is Peaceful Parenting® Different? Peaceful Parenting® ideas are very different from other kinds of parenting practices that you have learned or read about. Certainly it is harder to practice Peaceful Parenting® than to simply threaten or bribe your child into following your directions or making what you consider to be the "right" choices. Develop Your Childs Genius: One Step Farther When is a person brilliant? When does a person show his genius? When he goes beyond the usual, beyond the obvious. When he goes one step farther in his thinking, understanding and creativity. SMUT Spelled Backwards is TUMS Why are more people, especially parents not outraged?I call it SMUT - Selling Made Under Titillation.It seems that more and more corporations are chasing the dollar to the demise of the family. Tips for the Classroom Teachers with ADHD Students Thank you for all that you do in the classroom! It is hard enough being a classroom teacher today, but when you add to the difficulties two or three children with either Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or minor head injuries from FAS, managing a classroom can be a real challenge! The ADHD Information Library has designed a web site just for you classroom teachers. We have taken 500 classroom interventions that we have gathered over the years from dozens of sources, and placed them on the site for you to visit, consider, and use if appropriate. The Best Gifts Ever: Life Experiences Every Child Should Have This past holiday season Canadians spent over $45 billion-with parents paying out almost $1.8 billion of that on their children's presents alone. Working Moms vs. Stay-at-Home Moms, Lets Stop Debating Each Other and Debate the System Instead! I could nearly fund my children's future education if I received money every time I've heard a woman say, "I wish I could afford to stay at home full time." Sometimes you can recognize a few working women making this statement to avoid judgment from the stay-at-home parenting world (and they shouldn't feel this way). Surprise - Public School Class Size Doesnt Matter Very Much School authorities often complain that classes are too large. They claim that teachers can't be expected to give their students the individual attention they need if there are too many students in the class.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
