Give Your Kids the Gift of Investment

When you ask your children or grandchildren, they'll tell you that they want toys for their birthdays. No, they don't want another ugly sweater, of course. There's nothing worse for kids than opening a gift on Christmas day only to find a shirt wrapped inside. They want toys. And yes, they want cash, too, because they can purchase whatever they want.

But more than that, you should think about the kind of future these kids are going to have. Financial security is a big thing, as well as good health insurance plans in the Philippines. Teaching the children as early as now how to be financially secure and invest in their health is the best gift you can give.

So forget about those toys and clothes. Open a bank account for them. Teach them how to save. Invest in stocks and bonds and put them under their names. Financial independence is a powerful thing, and you need to give that chance to your kids in the future. Start as early as now.

Cash

If your kids have bank accounts, you can deposit a certain amount there instead of spending it on toys and clothes. You may give them a toy occasionally, but teach them how to save at the same time. Show them that they have money in their bank accounts. If a grandparent gives them cash as a gift, ask them if they want to save it for the future. Slowly, they will learn why it's important to save for the things they want.

Bonds

You can buy bonds for the kids. It will take some time to mature. They can't enjoy the bonds until a few years down the road. It teaches them patience. It gives them an opportunity to have a closer look at the financial investments available to them. You won't be the favorite parent or grandparent, but remember why you are doing this for them.

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Collectibles

How about teaching your kids the value of collecting rare items? For their birthdays, you can give them a commemorative coin. Tell them they have to keep it in a safe place because a few years from now, the value of the commemorative coin will increase. They can make a handsome profit if they choose to sell it to a bidder.

Stocks

Your kids will not wake up one day wanting to watch Bloomberg. But you can instill an interest in savings and buying stocks at an early age. Explain to them what stocks are. Then tell them that you are going to put some stocks under their name. Show them the certificate so that they know it's true. Try investing in a company that they recognize such as a toy company. Show your kids that they have a very small part of the company they love.

Vacation

The best gift you can give your children is undivided attention. Take a vacation at least once a year. Take them to a place they have never been to before. Creating memories with your kids should be your number one priority. You'll never have them this little again. They will grow up and will want to do things on their own. Consider making it an annual event. Instead of giving them gifts, go on vacation.

When you see your teenage and adult kids saving and investing, you realize that what you've gifted them is the best present ever. It will help them be financially prepared for unforeseen circumstances. They won't get stressed every time their car breaks down. They will have control over financial matters.

How To Take Care Of Your Aging Relatives

There comes a point when your parents start to move from active seniors into the group that needs extra care. And actually, as children, it is your opportunity to give back some of the care that you soaked up while you were little. Of course, the situation can be trickier from time to time. 

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It helps if you have conversations in advance about things like care homes, home care, and even more serious things like ‘end of life care’. It can be difficult to have these conversations, but it is easier than trying to make them on the spot at a later date. 

Needs

There will be times while you are caring for your parents you see that you are getting overwhelmed, or the rate at which they need extra care is increasing. It pays to take a step back and asses the situation. Here are some areas that you can consider:

• Medical needs
• Personal Hygiene
• Meal Preparations
• Social Interaction
• Home Safety 
• Cognitive health - for example, what is the difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s? It is time to find out. 

Your Ability

While we like to think we are all as strong we need for as long as we need, the truth is from time to time, we will need help. If you are going over to your parents to care for them a few times a day, how will you fit in your own life and your job? Consider your situation too.

• How is your health?
• Do you have the time?
• Do you live close enough?

Control

It is very important that until they can no longer make decisions that you allow them to make as many for themselves as they can. And, you must know that you might not like what they decide. Like stopping a medication, or trying alternative therapies. In this scenario - you are the person who supports their decisions and helps them maximize what that means. 

Finance

It shouldn’t be a factor, but the sad reality is that it is. The cost of care stacks steeply and quickly. Nurses, medications, fitting specialist items like stair-lifts or moving to an assisted living home. All costs money and that is without the standard bills like food, electricity and heating. 

You might be able to apply for a range of financial help, but you’ll need to explore these with your parents in advance too. So that you know their situation and know what applies and what doesn’t.

Home Safety

There will come a time, that the chair that has always been in the hallway is a trip hazard rather than an antique. The beautiful bedroom rug causes an accident. The safety of the home will change. It is better that you take care of these earlier on. Adding grab bars to the bath, and outside any doors with steps. Give the rooms extra light too. And keep everything within easy reach. 

Caring for your parents or an ageing relative can be emotionally and physically demanding, so you have to make sure that you take care of yourself too.

Surviving Your Next Family Road Trip

Family road trips can be so much fun and allow you to create memories that you can look back on forever. However, they can also be a lot of work, and knowing how to survive them is key to having a great time. Being as prepared as possible is usually the only way to make sure this road trip goes to plan. Read on for some great tips and advice on how you can not only survive, but actually enjoy your road trip together:

Plan As Far In Advance As Possible

Have everybody help plan the trip together so that everybody is excited. What are your must do/see attractions and experiences? Come up with ideas together. Make sure you plan far in advance as this will build anticipation and make the trip even better. It’ll also give you a chance to get everything you need in place. 

Plan Your Breaks Ahead Of Time

Spend some time before you leave planning out your route so you can plan your breaks. Kids will need more breaks than you, so make sure you consider this. It’s a good idea to stick to a regular eating schedule too, as this could help you to avoid tantrums. Know where the food places are on your map. If kids need a longer break to stretch their legs, consider finding a park. In general, the driving part will probably take you longer than you’d like, but the kids will stay happy and comfortable.  

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Gadgets Will Keep Kids Occupied

As much as you’d like to picture yourselves gazing out of the window and pointing out animals, kids will need more than that to stay entertained. Download a few apps and episodes of a favourite show in advance so that you can give them that if they start to get bored. 

Let Kids Pack A Bag

Give kids the choice to pack a small bag of their own with toys and books they want to bring. This is so important if the car journey is going to be long, as kids need lots of stimulation to stay occupied. You might even want to pack a favorite blanket to encourage them to fall asleep. 

You could pack a surprise item that you only plan on pulling out if you can tell they are heading towards a melt down. The novelty will help with the meltdown and distract them, usually! 

Snacks, Drinks, And First Aid 

Do not skimp on the snacks, drinks, and other food items to keep you going. First aid is also important. You don’t want to consider what you’d do if you got into an auto wreck, but you do need to be prepared for it. Make sure you have emergency numbers, phone chargers, and anything else that will help you to get in touch with the emergency services, whatever the time or place. 

Make Sure Your Driving Schedule Is Realistic 

Your driving schedule must be realistic. Don’t rush to where you’re going - just enjoy the journey! 

Top Tips To Help You Look After Your Family's Health

Looking after your family's health can seem tricky at the best of times. It’s near enough impossible to keep your eye on everybody at the same time, so its more beneficial to learn some handy tricks that you can then teach to others to ensure they can care for themselves sufficiently. The responsibilities that you carry as an adult within your household mean that you must put in some effort to make sure you know the difference between right and wrong when it comes to preserving ultimate health amongst your brood, so if you want to know more about what you can do to look after your family's health then read on to find out some of the best top tips you can implement today! 

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Following A Nutritious Diet 

One of the worst things that you can do that will have both short and long term impacts on your families health is to allow them to eat whatever foods they like. Children are drawn to fatty and sugary foods like cakes and crisps yet these provide them with little or no vitamins and minerals at all. Reducing these foods and ensuring instead that they have a positive relationship with fruits and vegetables from a very early stage can help them to avoid this kind of behaviour as much as possible, directing them towards consuming more beneficial meals and snacks as a result. Following a nutritious diet means that your plate is made of 3 main food groups - complex carbohydrates, such as brown rice, wholemeal bread or sweet potatoes, lean sources of protein like chicken, eggs or fish, as well as at least 2 portions of your 5-a-day. With fruit and veg offering so many nutrients, its vital that you include these in large amounts to ensure that your family are getting the energy and vitamins they need to perform to their optimum capabilities every single day. Incorporate them into every dish you serve, as research for some handy hacks to help you hide them in meals for picky little eaters. 

Get Health Insurance & Have Regular Check Ups

Having some form of health insurance that covers your family for a host of different ailments and illnesses is so important for both their physical and economic well being. Without this you may end up having to pay extortionate fees to receive the best level of care, and if a sudden accident were to happen then any chance of finding lawsuit funding to resolve the case would disappear in an instant. Many health insurance providers can offer you regular check ups with a general practitioner, which can help to identify and problems you may be experiencing before they get out of hand. Think of your body as a car - you do not wait for the car to sputter and break down on the road before you take it to the garage, you take it for a regular MOT to ensure there are no underlying issues.

Taking care of your family's health has never been so easy!

How Expensive Can A New Baby Be?

Babies are expensive, there’s no doubt about that. And the more children you have, the more expensive your childcare costs are going to be - and when a new baby comes along, that’s when the cost of raising a family skyrockets to the moon and beyond. You have less time on your hands, and you definitely have less disposable income; how do you cope? 

The newborn stage, on average, is usually the most expensive time of a child’s life. You have to take care of their every need, after all, and that’s going to cost you quite a bit per week, never mind on a yearly basis. And because of that, let’s examine how expensive a new baby really can be. It’s important to think about in the run-up to extending your family, no matter how exciting the process can otherwise be! 

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The Prep Costs Can Be Huge

There’s going to be a new baby in the house, and that’s something that’s going to cost a lot to even get ready for. You have the nursery to decorate, you’ve got the kitchen to stock, you’ve got the bathroom to make baby-friendly, as well as baby proofing the rest of the house, just in case! On top of that, you’ll have to buy quite a few soft furnishings, as well as self-care items for you and your body, and there’s a good chance you’re going to be off work for a while. How are you going to pay for such an expensive addition to the family? 

Mostly it’s done via saving and budgeting, as well as one partner remaining in their job, whilst the other stays at home. Of course, depending on which one in your relationship has the higher paying the position, either mama or papa could be the one holding the baby! 

The Recurring Costs Can Be Hard to Keep Up With

After the preparation you’re going to have to do, you’re going to need to keep up with the recurring costs as well. And that means things like formula, clothing, cleaning items, as well as diapers and washcloths, and baby-friendly soaps and sponges. Most of all, you’re going to want to buy as cheap as you can, but at the same time, buy durable products that take care of your baby. After all, there’s always a worry that a cheaper brand of something is going to harm your child in some way, shape, or form. 

Of course, budget companies like Depends diapers exist out there, and they have a lot to offer people worried about the cost of their new baby. Especially if you’re a first-time parent, this is definitely a lot more useful than someone who’s been through the experience before! 

A new baby can be very expensive. Indeed, even just delivering a baby in the hospital can cost you upwards of about $10,000 in some areas. You’ll need to budget and prepare, so know the costs ahead of time, and be ready! 

LeBlanc Hotel and Resort: Great Choice for a Family Staycation

My sister celebrated her 50th birthday by booking a staycation for the entire family at a hotel in the outskirts of the city.

We checked in at the LeBlanc Hotel and Resort, USA. Nope, not United States of America, but "Upper Side of Antipolo." It took us about an hour to drive from our home in Quezon City to get to the place.

The hotel is nestled in the hills of Antipolo, Rizal. We arrived there at around 3 pm and waited for 20 minutes in the car until we were ushered in. Upon entering, I noticed the hotel was clean and the staff was friendly. 

We stayed in twin deluxe rooms on the 3rd floor. It was rather small, but it was clean and the beds were really comfy. It had a mid-size TV, a small desk/dresser, a closet with a safe, and toilet and bath with a hot/cold shower enclosure.

The floor to ceiling window of the rooms offered a great view of the pool.  Once we were settled in our rooms, the kids started changing into their swim wear and could not wait to get into the pool. I can't blame them. Summers in the Philippines can be brutally hot and humid.

The hotel's pool is not big, but the size was ample enough for the kids to swim and play, and for adults to just soak the heat away. The poolside staff was readily available to provide towels, and take your orders for food or refreshments from the Bistro.

We had dinner at The Bistro, located on the ground floor of the hotel. The dining area was nice and clean. The food was okay. Our tummies were happy.

This hotel also has function rooms for events and corporate meetings, and a rooftop area for weddings or private parties.

To summarize, the LeBlanc Hotel is a perfect family getaway not too far from home. Great for weekend staycations to celebrate special occasions. It is also a nice hotel to book a stay if you simply want to unplug and unwind.

How To Pay For Emergencies

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Apply for a credit card

Credit cards are a convenient way of borrowing money for emergencies - rather than going through the whole loan application process, you can make purchases with borrowed money with the swipe of a card. It’s worth doing your research when choosing a credit card as there are many different cards out there. 

Many credit cards come with variable interest rates, which you should be wary of. Most also have a spending limit, which is also worth considering.

Having a good credit score will often help you to get better deals on credit cards although there are credit cards for bad credit. You should always aim to pay your credit card bills on time as many credit card providers will offer rewards for good spending.

Open a savings account

If you don’t want to get into debt, you could always set up a rainy day fund. This could include putting money regularly into a savings account. Ideally, you always want to have a couple thousand dollars saved up so that you’ve always got enough money in the event of an emergency.

It’s worth shopping around for savings accounts in order to find one with the best interest rate. This will allow you to naturally grow your savings. Some savings accounts with high interest rates may have restricted access of penalites for taking out money (for example, you may not get any interest for the month if you take money out). You should weigh up whether these restrictions are worthwhile. Online savers also have good interest rates, but withdrawing money from these accounts isn’t as fast as withdrawing from a brick and mortar savings account, making them potentially unsuitable for emergencies. 

Make sure that you only dip into these savings for expenses that are genuine emergencies. Having another savings account set aside for treats such as vacations or a new car is worthwhile.

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Get insured

Insurance is another way to pay for emergencies for those that don’t want to get into debt. There are insurance schemes out there for all kinds of disasters – by agreeing to pay a small amount each month, your insurer will then pay for any emergency costs when they arise.

Health insurance, pet insurance and property insurance are some of the most popular voluntary insurance schemes, although it’s possible to get insured against anything. Obviously, you don’t want to be paying extortionate insurance rates, so you should always shop around for cover.

There are lots of ways to lower your insurance. Investing preventative measures in order to lower the risk of emergencies can often lower your insurance rates (for example, if you live in a high flood risk zone and take out flood insurance, it could also be worth making some physical attempts to flood proof your home such as putting a wall up and damp-proofing the side of your home. Upping your deductible can also lower insurance rates, however this does mean that you have to pay more out of your own pocket in an emergency. 

Don’t Hit The Roof! Making Life Behind The Wheel Less Stressful When You’re A Glorified Taxi Service

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Whether we're taking the kids to school, or picking them up and taking them to their various extracurricular activities, you can feel that you spend half your life chained to the steering wheel. For some, it's as natural as breathing, because parents can enjoy that quiet time while waiting outside soccer practice, listening to the radio, and getting an opportunity to be alone with their thoughts, but as soon as the kids and their friends jump in, it's noisy, stinky, and stressy! And it's at this point, where your children are ignoring you so they can look cool, and the reality sets in... you are a glorified taxi service... But what can you do to ensure that everybody gets along just fine?

Setting The Boundaries

You've got to drive, and you've got to do it safely, so you shouldn't stand any distractions that can take your attention off the road. If you're giving rides to your kids’ friends, you can either sit there in silence and let them verbally bash you, or you can be an absolute disciplinarian behind the wheel. Ultimately, if you need to focus, and your kids are being incredibly distracting, you can either have a word with them before they get in the car, so you can spare their embarrassment in front of their friends, or you can give them a dressing down in front of their friends. It's your choice, but the priority is to ensure you are focused on the road. You don't want to be so distracted behind the wheel you end up causing an accident, and then a car accident attorney has to get involved, and this ends up causing a very fractious relationship between you and your children. It's each unto their own when it comes to their own kids, and you can't underestimate the potential for damage when behind the wheel.

Taking Time To Chill Out

Getting the message through to our kids can be like banging our head against a brick wall, and if it's got to the point where you are fed up of giving your children rides everywhere, without them acknowledging your presence, or being mouthy, and you're unable to cope with it, you've got to find some good practices to make sure you calm down. If being a parent is incredibly stressful, you're not alone! But the difference between you and the others who let the stress overwhelm them, and they end up continually shouting at their children, is all about being able to cope with the stresses effectively. And while it might be very difficult for you to meditate in a house full of noisy children, it's about finding the opportunity for you to calm down. We all have our own methods, but predominantly, are we just waiting for the kids to go to bed, and then we sit down in front of the television and unwind? This may be a perfect practice for you, but it's not going to help you tackle your stress triggers. Finding out how you get stressed, and noticing the signs and symptoms, but then finding the appropriate tools to deal with an isn't just an overnight fix, it's a long journey that we've all got to address. We can view stress and anxiety as being part of our parental duties, but this is where looking for some little things to keep you calm will be a lifesaver in the long run.

And if we feel that all we do is ferry our children back and forth to sports practice, choir practice, and everything else, day in and day out, maybe we just need to look to the future and take comfort in the fact that it won't be long until they leave school, or are able to drive for themselves! It can be a very difficult thing to keep a lid on when you're a stressed parent, and you don't want to shout at your children, but you still need some respect from them. And when you're sat there, in the car, waiting for them to get out of soccer practice, taking these moments to stop, breathe, and say to yourself “it's only a few more years” will take the edge off. We've all got teenagers that treat us like doormats, and the big solution is to let it wash over us. And while it's not as easy as that, we have to be careful that we don't get angry or lose our temper. Sit, take it easy and breathe; don't hit the roof!

Keeping The Costs Down When It Comes To Your Kids

Children can be expensive, and there is no hiding away from that fact. But we all know that children need things on a day to day basis. They are always growing, their interests are changing, and their needs really need to be met. But with an eye on the costs how do you ensure that those children don’t break you financially? I wanted to share with you some of the ways that you can start to keep the costs down when it comes to your kids. 

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Make invested choices with things like toys

Toys are one of those things you can think you have enough of, but as interests change from time to time, you may find that you are inundated with more things on a monthly basis. Not to mention the birthdays and Christmas additions to add to the mix. Sometimes the best advice is to make more invested choices with your purchases, looking into a more interesting toy that will stand the test of time, rather than something plastic that they may lose interest in after a few weeks. 

Keep things for future siblings to enjoy in the future

You may not want to hoard things, but often keeping certain things for future younger siblings is a great way to send less in the future. Tyds, clothes they have outgrown, it can all come in handy for when and if you have more children in the future. Once you are doine, you could then utilise platforms like eBay to sell any unwanted things and give your bank balance a healthy boost. 

Seekout bargains online and use codes and discounts

It is always a good idea to do plenty of research ahead of making any purchases, especially online. There are always discount codes and vouchers you could use, as well as people sharing knowledge on some of the best places to make certain purchases. The name of the game is to have more money in your back pocket, and so utilizing these tools could considerably reduce your overall spend. 

Buy in bulk

The next thing you may want to think about is how buying in bulk could save you on bigger costs. For example, when you favourite childrens clothing shop has a sale, you could buy the next size up at a discounted price. Helping you to feel organised in the future. Buying in bulk works for other things such as school uniforms or even drinks and snacks in your home. 

Encourage eating as a family to help with the food bill

Finally, children can be picky, especially at meal times. If you let them, they will have you making different meals for everyone, and in the long run this ends up costing you. Make a new rule that you will make one thing for the family to enjoy, it keeps the cost down and allows you to lead by example when it comes to eating to help avoid the fussy eating stage getting any worse. 

I hope that these tips help you to keep the costs down when it comes to your kids. 

The Only Tips You Need To Keep A Busy Mom On Track

Organizing your family can feel like a tough task. There is always something to do, places to be or kids sports clubs to attend. To keep all of that information in your head would be crazy. It’s easy to forget things or become unorganized over time. So I thought it would be a good idea to share with you some tips for getting your family life on track.

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A good calendar or journal

The first tip for getting more organized would be to consider getting yourself a big wall calendar or journal. This will be an essential tool to keep you on track. It allows you to place all appointments and events in the one place. At a glance, you will be able to see what you have on that day and week. This avoids you double booking yourself or overcommitting. You will also be able to communicate with anyone else involved and organize the week ahead of time. This will help for pick and drop offs.

Meal Plan

Planning your meals in advance can save you time and effort during the week. Especially on those busy nights where you may end making something unhealthy or ordering in. Meal planning can save you money on a weekly basis as you tend only to buy what you need. You may also want to think about batch cooking in advance, meaning you save even more time at night when preparing meals.

Keep all your family health check up to date

It can be difficult to remember when you need to do what. Especially when it comes to family health check ups. From health checks at the doctors through to eyes and hearing tests, they all need to be kept up to date. You also need to be able to manage expectation of appointments like hearing, so you can find out more online on how you can do that. Health checks are essential to keep underlying problems at bay or to hopefully stop and resolve issues in the future. Eye tests, hearing and general health check ups should all form part of the yearly schedule for the family.

Organize your home to make life easier

You don’t need to be one of those super organized people with labels on drawers or color coordinated wardrobes. But you can make life a little easier for yourself. School bags can be kept in the same place, as can coats and shoes that you need each morning. Try and pack things the night before to save yourself the morning rush. All it takes is to think outside the box a little at what could make things easier. Then put a plan in place to implement it.

Keep a schedule

Finally, try and keep yourself to a schedule each week. This is for things like grocery shopping and chores. If you know what needs to be done each day, you will have a much better chance of getting it done. Rather than being busy doing a lot of nothing. Again it can be as simple or complex as you want it to be, but see how much more organized your life gets by doing it.

I hope this helps you get your family more organized.

You And Your Family Need To Find Some Time To Unwind

Every member of your family has a hard week, whether they’re working in an office full-time or studying at school full-time. You might not relax together as a family as much as you’d like because you’re all busy during the week. Once the kids finally do finish their homework and you’ve all had your dinner, you probably just want to crash onto your bed and fall asleep. Rest is an important part of relaxing and recovering after a long day, but you and your family should also find some time to relax whilst you’re still awake. Eating dinner together is important, but that shouldn’t be the only time you gather as a family. The following suggestions should give you some ideas for family activities to help you unwind. If you have a free weekend then you should use it to try these things out.

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Do something creative.

The best way to unwind as a family is to do something creative together. You could try painting as a family. None of you need to be the next Van Gogh for this to be fun. You just need a blank canvas, some paint, and the desire to be creative. If you create a work of art then you could even hang it on your wall. That’ll be a testament to the importance of spending time together as a family. If the piece of art is an atrocity then you can hang it on the fridge and laugh at it as a family. Either way, it’ll bring you all together, and it’ll be a great way to unwind. Of course, there are other creative ways to unwind. If anyone in the family can play guitar then you could sing songs around the fire in your back garden.

Have a day of games and festivities.

If you really want to get the kids on board with the idea of spending the weekend together as a family then you should promise a day of games and festivities. You could play a classic game of Hangman with a pencil and a piece of paper. You could get Monopoly out if you think you’ll be able to play it without people getting too competitive. You might even want to try out an escape room in your local area. Solving riddles in a locked room with your family before the time runs out will teach you to work as a team. Of course, it’ll be an adventure too. The point is that your day should be full of fun things for everyone to enjoy; don’t just organize a day out that will make the parents happy. It’s important that you connect as a family.

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Relax outside.

The best way to unwind with your family is to get outdoors and enjoy some fresh air. You could simply relax in your garden by playing on the water slide, or you could even head out to your local park. Take a frisbee and pack a picnic. You could have a really fun day with the family if you just got outside and did something together. You don’t need to plan an extravagant day out; what matters is that you’re all together.