All posts by Anne Younger

Anne is a 30-something full-time SAHM mom of 5 ranging from 3 to 17 and grandma of 1 who resides in Ashwaubenon (Green Bay) Wisconsin. She started blogging in 2008 as a way to regain her sanity. She enjoys coffee, chocolate, cheeseburgers and vodka along with spending time with her husband and kids.
Finances

Tips for Teaching Kids About Investing

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Investing may have always seemed like something for staid old men, but chances are, these stuffy old gents started out surprisingly young. If you have small, or even not-so-small-anymore, children, then it’s never too soon to teach them about investing. You just have to go about it in the right way.

Realistically, you need to wait until your child starts to show an interest in money. Once they realise that 50c buys them their favorite candy and so $1 buys them twice as much – that’s the time to strike. You can begin with the humble old piggy bank so they can watch their money accumulate, then maybe move onto a compartmentalised piggy bank that has slots for spending, saving, donating to charity and investing.

Teach the difference between saving and investing

You may have looked at the piggy bank idea and wondered why there were bellies for saving and investing. There is a difference – saving is putting money aside without risking it in any way. You may earn interest, but other than that, there’s no real opportunities for growth. Investing – in a company or a stock – means more risk, but there’s some big growth opportunities.

Kids can start off by saving and watching compound interest do its thing – they’ll love it – and once they have a decent amount, they can take some money out and invest it. It may be in a company they’re a fan of, or in some Star Wars figures, or some rare silver dollars from Golden Eagle Coins; whatever they choose, they need to see the value of their investment change over time and learn how to work those changes.

You’re raising an adult, not a child

One day your little girl or boy is going to be a woman or a man and so by teaching them about investing, you’re helping to make sure they’re comfortable. As hard as it is to consider, you won’t be here forever, so helping them to become financially savvy and independent is a good move for everyone. OK, your 18-year-old hasn’t made her first million yet, but she’s got a decent wedge and she knows how to keep it growing. It’s about forming habits as much as anything.

Let them play

There are lots of dummy trading and investment platforms out there and older children can have some fun creating their virtual portfolio and tracking their investments. They’ll fall over a few times, but that’s an important part of the learning experience. If you can find a mobile app that your children like, then this will help them to see it as a game – until they decide to get serious, of course.

Buy them a variety pack

Ask your kids to pick out their top five or ten favorite companies or brands – you can already imagine what some of the names on the list will be… Buy some shares in them and let your kids watch the fortunes as they go. This is another valuable lesson, because if their all-time favorite sneaker-maker loses money, then they’ll learn not to be swayed by emotion and loyalty.

Lastly, remember to give back

That one belly in the piggy bank – donating – is possibly the most important of all. There’s little point in earning and making money if you just horde it all. Giving money to charity is a highly rewarding thing to do, even if it’s just a few dollars a year, so set this habit down early, because we all benefit in the long run.

Automotive

Shop the Presidents Day Sale at DCH Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram FIAT of Temecula

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Why pay full price for a new car when you can take advantages of the deep discounts being offered at DCH Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram FIAT of Temecula during their Presidents Day Sale now through February 28th, 2018!

Check out all of the great deals below and click on any image to check current inventory.

 

 

In addition to the amazing sales prices, be sure to apply for the new FCA DrivePlus Mastercard for even more great savings on your purchases at the dealership, gas and travel purchases and everywhere else. As an added bonus, you can earn a $100 statement credit with your first FCA US in-dealer purchase. Be sure to talk to an associate at the dealership and apply today!

Find even more savings in the service department when you schedule your vehicle for service today!

Travel

The Best Websites to Find Discounted Airfare

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Flying can be so expensive! When you need to get from “Point A” to “Point B” without worrying about maxing out your credit card, it helps to know where to look for discounted airfare.

You probably already know how to get deals on other types of transportation, like automotive with title loans Miami and discounted rental rates, but airfare is a whole different animal. You’re bound to pay over 100 dollars per flight, right? Not necessarily. There are few corners of the internet where you can find discounted airfare that will fit every budget.

Skyscanner

Skyscanner is a great place to find discounted airfare. You can search for destinations all over the globe and search in several different currencies if you need to. Whether you’re looking for round-trip or one-way travel, Skyscanner allows you to sort your list by rates to find the lowest priced options. You can even look for hotels and rental cars while you’re at it. 

Skyscanner also allows you to explore their world map, so you can find neighboring cities that might be less expensive than your original destination.

Google Flights

Google Flights is a lot like Skyscanner in that it scours the airlines for deals that pertain to your needs, but it also has a little something extra. Google Flights allows you to access a map and shows you color-coded dates that correspond to cheap and expensive flights. This way, you can determine which time is best for you and your budget! Get a one-way or round-trip flight and even choose multiple cities to travel to. 

Google Flights is popular amongst travelers as the preferred search engine for cheap trips. You can also visit their list of popular trips, or suggested weekend get-aways. It’s a good choice for people who are spontaneous or flexible with their dates.

Fly

Fly has an easy to use interface that allows you to search for flights anywhere in the world, plus a designated “Deals” tab where you can see what kind of offers are currently going on. This section is full of dirt-cheap flights that you won’t find anywhere else, so it’s perfect for people who travel on a whim or who are very flexible with their destinations. You can find some breathtaking deals on this site if you’re able to be spontaneous! “Today’s Best Fares” looks at the most cost-effective deals that are going on in the next few days, so if you’re able to drop everything and travel at the drop of a dime, you’ll want to check the part out also! 

On Fly, you can create a fare calendar that shows you the cheapest times to fly for your dream trip and make sure you bookmark it for future reference. It’s a good website for people who like to plan ahead.

Fly has options for hotels and car rentals so you can book your whole package through this website.

Flying doesn’t have to break the bank. There are plenty of websites out there where you can find flights but Skyscanner, Google Flights, and Fly are the three best options for getting what you need quickly and at a great price. So next time you’re flying, don’t stress, just log on to one of the sites to find a great deal!

Educational

Helping Our Kids Study to Avoid School Overstress

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School has become overly stressful. If you take the time to look at the amount of homework they are expected to finish in one night, the projects with small windows of prep time in between, and countless standardized tests they need to study for. Not to mention, they are expected to participate in extracurricular activities so they can get a more holistic school experience.

For instance, there are international schools which conduct the Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education annually. This is when secondary students are required to take a series of tests, and the results will determine whether they can qualify for pre-university studies or not. As guardians, we can already see how much pressure kids are in during normal school days. Now we have to dump this information on them.

So the question is: how do we make sure that while they are working hard to get good grades, they are also not at risk of overstress? Well, one of the simplest ways we can get involved is to help them create a study habit they can stick with.

Get updated with school events and plot them on a large calendar

Let’s use the Global Indian International School in Singapore as an example – they have a mobile app called MyGIIS that parents can use to communicate with teachers and keep themselves informed of important school schedules. If your school does not offer an app or a weekly newsletter, maybe you can suggest this idea at a parent-teacher council.

Collate important schedules, and using colorful markers, mark them on a communal calendar. Preferably, this calendar should be accessible to everyone so they can make changes when they need to. But don’t just limit this to the school schedule; if they are going out with friends, you can ask them to put it there.

Have a consistent study schedule

The best way to learn how to consistently study is to actually do it on a daily basis. What this can essentially do is retain discussion information during the day more effectively by going over it again. By doing this, the students don’t actually have to study extra hard before an exam. They can just sift through notes and do practice exercises.

Set a specific time when they should focus on schoolwork and studying and make it a routine. An example would be as soon as they arrive from school, allow them to relax for about an hour. Then before dinner, they have to start doing their schoolwork. This cuts their schoolwork time after dinner so they still have time to do what they want and get a good night’s sleep.

Always have breaks

Allowing breaks in between studying does well to our children. One would be giving our kids’ minds and eyes a much needed a break. Another would be for the benefit of kids who may dislike studying for long periods of time. Ask them if they work better with white noise, in which case you can turn on the TV on a channel they like, but you have to make clear that their homework needs to be done. Or ask if they prefer studying with music.

The most important thing to remember is to look for signs of frustration. No matter how comfortable the environment is, our kids may still feel annoyed that they are not understanding a lesson. When this happens, that is when you step in to study with them. Note that if you are not in the mood yourself, do not offer your help. Two frustrated people is not going to make it any easier.

For Our Furry Friends

How to Make Sure Your Kids Aren’t Scared of Your Dog

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A lot of little kids love having a pet dog. But, for some, it doesn’t feel natural, and they may feel afraid of a large furry animal in their living space. If your child is afraid of a new puppy you’ve brought home or a dog you’ve adopted, you don’t have to worry about sending the dog back. Instead, you can take some helpful steps to get your child acquainted with your pet, and hopefully forge a bond that will last for years to come. Here are some of the easiest steps to take ensure your kids aren’t scared of your pup.

Pet portraits make great gifts for dog lovers!

Only Communicate Positive Things About Dogs

Watch what you say about dogs, too. Kids pick up cues from adults, and if you mention being afraid of, intimidated by or feeling negatively about dogs, that will stick with them. Try to speak only positively about your dog to encourage your child to want to bond with him.

Read Happy Books and Watch Happy Movies About Dogs

Kids learn a lot from books and movies. Gather a collection of books and movies about pets that are happy and positive, then spend time looking and watching those. Kids can see other kids interacting happily with their animals, and they’ll be more encouraged to do the same.

Don’t Force Interactions

If your child isn’t ready to interact with a dog, don’t force him or her. This can feel traumatic and only make the fear worse. Instead of forcing interactions, ask your child if he or she is ready, and wait until they say they are before introducing them to the dog.

Consult Your Vet

Your vet is the expert when it comes to dog health and behavior. When you go for your next appointment (for preventative treatments for ticks and fleas or regular medicine like Vetmedin, which treats heart failure) talk to your vet about the best ways to introduce kids to dogs, and how you can ensure your dog is sweet, calm and friendly around your kids. Your vet can give you insight into the best way to get them acquainted with one another.

Buy a Stuffed Dog

Find a stuffed dog that looks like your pet dog. Have your child cuddle with and spend time with the stuffed animal. This can help foster more ease when spending time with the animal in real life.

Create Safe Spaces in the House

Create spaces within your house where the dog can go and where the dog can’t go. Then, make sure your child knows the safe spots and the spots where the dog is. This will give them some time and freedom to interact with the dog at their own pace, and they won’t be surprised by any interactions or discovering their dog in a spot that they weren’t expecting him to be.

Having kids and a dog at the same time is a great way to create amazing bonds and to teach kids responsibility. However, it’s important to make sure your kid is comfortable around the dog in order to make sure everyone is safe, healthy and happy. By taking some key steps to introduce the two and get them used to each other, you can foster a great relationship and make sure everyone at home is getting the most from the experience of having a pet.

Listed below are some helpful resources referenced in the article that can provide some guidance for those looking for helpful information on pet supplies & medication: http://www.allivet.com/p-2500-vetmedin.aspx