1. Life isn’t about stuff. The most important lesson a child needs to learn to lead a healthy money life is that stuff isn’t the most important thing. A great way to teach this to your children is to lead by example, and have conversations with your kids about what their perceptions of rich and poor are. It’s sometimes shocking what comes out. Another way to instill this important principle is by giving gifts for birthdays & other special events that aren’t things but memories to make. A family play day at a park, or hosting a sleep over for friends.
2. Money is earned! Kids have a completely abstract concept of money. They need or want something and money appears to acquire whatever that something might be. Instead of just purchasing something for your child make them earn it. Everyday they make their bed, take out the trash, or put their toys away they earn money toward their new toy.
3. You can’t always get what you want. Instant gratification is not just a problem for children. Many adults have to deal with it too. This is why so many people end up with mountains of credit card debt. Instead of buying them a new video game when they see it in the store make them wait a week and see if they still really want it. Most of the time they have already forgotten about it.
4. Save for big ticket items. Too many adults rely on credit to buy a new big screen TV. If they want a new bike have them save for it. Get your child a savings account. ING has a free one online. See if they will start saving on their own, and as an extra incentive match what they save. Every month sit down and look at how much they have saved, how close they are to their goal and how much interest they have earned.
5. Have a rainy day fund. My mother always said, “keep a quarter in your pocket so you can call home.” This is obsolete now, but the idea is still important. This is a hard lesson to teach children since we want to make sure our children are taken care of. But next time the unexpected happens, the air conditioner breaks or the car needs repaired sit your children down and talk to them about how you financially deal with the unexpected.
By: Gracie Mohr
Showing posts with label fun ways to save. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fun ways to save. Show all posts
Monday, May 3, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
THRIFTY THURSDAYS: 15 Ways to Save while Staying Fit
1.Are you a loner or do you need the impact of a friend/team? Some of us are great at setting goals and just doing it. Others need to get a buddy to be accountable to. What is your nature? Design you system around this first.
2. Swap Workout VHS/DVDs with friends. Almost everyone has a workout tape sitting at home. Get a group of friends together to swap tapes weekly to keep your workouts interesting and your body guessing.
3. Gather a group of friends. Go to the park and play flag football, soccer, basketball, tennis or even a high energy game of freeze tag.
4. Share a Wii Fit with friends. So many people have Wii Fits now, get a group together for a weekly Wii yoga session.
5. Have a Dog? Get in shape with your favorite furry friend! They need to stay strong and fit too. Throw around the frisbee, run around the dog park or take walks in the park. If you don't have a dog ask to borrow your neighbors. They will thank you for it!
6. Learn to use your body as your strength training weights, there is no need for expensive equipment. And there are lots of video resources on youtube.
7. Walk or run your way to health. All you need is a good pair of running shoes.
8. Walk at lunch. During the winter, it is often too cold or dark to walk in the morning or evening, so go into work early and then walk at lunch when the sun is out and more palatable.
9. Buy used equipment on Craig's list, eBay, or other online merchant. Often people think they will like a certain kind of workout, but really don't.
10. Shop around for a fitness club. What is most important to you? A pool? A basketball court? A sauna? Many clubs give you 30 days free or a certain amount of free visits. Try them out in the winter. Assess you budget, if your purse strings can hold out go for it. If not, once the winter breaks go back to your walking shoes.
11. Go to the mall in bad weather. Its warm and free, but be careful of the window displays!
12. Take the stairs at work and try to make it a challenge with your co-workers. Who can take the stairs the most times in a day/week/month?
13. Ask friends if they have old workout equipment lying around you could borrow, swap, or trade for. Get fun and creative with the payoff, like I get your treadmill and in return I will cook you dinner once a week for 6 weeks.
14. Some of us need that extra boost of a personal trainer to keep us motivated. To cut down on the cost see if your personal trainer will train you and a few friends. This way you could split the cost in half or even thirds!
15. Go dancing! Its a great way to meet people, stay in shape and have fun. Check craigslist or a local event site to check out the different venues and types of dances there are in your area.
by: Gracie Mohr
2. Swap Workout VHS/DVDs with friends. Almost everyone has a workout tape sitting at home. Get a group of friends together to swap tapes weekly to keep your workouts interesting and your body guessing.
3. Gather a group of friends. Go to the park and play flag football, soccer, basketball, tennis or even a high energy game of freeze tag.
4. Share a Wii Fit with friends. So many people have Wii Fits now, get a group together for a weekly Wii yoga session.
5. Have a Dog? Get in shape with your favorite furry friend! They need to stay strong and fit too. Throw around the frisbee, run around the dog park or take walks in the park. If you don't have a dog ask to borrow your neighbors. They will thank you for it!
6. Learn to use your body as your strength training weights, there is no need for expensive equipment. And there are lots of video resources on youtube.
7. Walk or run your way to health. All you need is a good pair of running shoes.
8. Walk at lunch. During the winter, it is often too cold or dark to walk in the morning or evening, so go into work early and then walk at lunch when the sun is out and more palatable.
9. Buy used equipment on Craig's list, eBay, or other online merchant. Often people think they will like a certain kind of workout, but really don't.
10. Shop around for a fitness club. What is most important to you? A pool? A basketball court? A sauna? Many clubs give you 30 days free or a certain amount of free visits. Try them out in the winter. Assess you budget, if your purse strings can hold out go for it. If not, once the winter breaks go back to your walking shoes.
11. Go to the mall in bad weather. Its warm and free, but be careful of the window displays!
12. Take the stairs at work and try to make it a challenge with your co-workers. Who can take the stairs the most times in a day/week/month?
13. Ask friends if they have old workout equipment lying around you could borrow, swap, or trade for. Get fun and creative with the payoff, like I get your treadmill and in return I will cook you dinner once a week for 6 weeks.
14. Some of us need that extra boost of a personal trainer to keep us motivated. To cut down on the cost see if your personal trainer will train you and a few friends. This way you could split the cost in half or even thirds!
15. Go dancing! Its a great way to meet people, stay in shape and have fun. Check craigslist or a local event site to check out the different venues and types of dances there are in your area.
by: Gracie Mohr
Friday, May 8, 2009
More savings tips
I was asked today to contribute to a press release by the AICPA on savings tips. Here was my laundry list:
- Barter time - for example, work with your neighbor to redo his kitchen and have him work with you to plant your garden or swap baby sitting for sewing. Discover a talent you have to share and find someone that has a talent you need.
- Participate in recycling by shopping at goodwill - especially on 1/2 price day. You can get a pair of jeans for $2, and you can dress your kids for a season for $20.
- Plant a garden, either by starting plants from seeds or buying starts.
- Buy local food, in season, and can, freeze or dry it for later. Make your own food dryer with screen and the sun or buy one off Craig's list or in a resale shop. This winter your soup will be amazing.
- Invite your kids to participate in things you normally would pay for like washing the car, going out for pizza (make your own at home), doing your nails, etc. Put 1/2 the savings in your savings account and 1/2 in a fun account for the family- let the family choose where to spend the money.
- Create a social network by inviting a group of friends to a game night once a month. Make it a potluck. You will have more fun than going out to dinner and save money too.
- Eliminate the lawn fertilizer/pesticide service. Not only will your kids and pets be safer, your lawn will come alive again, and you'll contribute to improving the ground water (and the drinking water) in your area.
May prosperity be yours,
Mackey McNeill, CPA/PFS
President and CEO
Mackey Advisors
www.CultivatingProsperity.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)