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I wrote a new article this week. I talk about it in the money tip.
Take a few MOMENTS to relax.
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MONEY TIP
Retirement is probably the last thing on your kid’s mind. But imagine this: your 18-year-old is already ahead of the game with an IRA! An IRA for your kids could be the ultimate power move in setting them up for financial success. Check out my latest article to see what it means and how to start one.
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OPPORTUNITY
I’ve talked about—maybe too much—how EveryDollar is my favorite budgeting app. However, if you want a good budgeting app based on the envelope system with a solid free option, check out Goodbudget. There is a premium version, but you get up to 10 categories with the free version. This is a great tool for your kids to use to start their budgeting journey without the cost of an app.
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MINIMALISM TIP
Any time you’re at a restaurant, and your kids start being loud, you may feel the need to apologize to those around you. That’s your call, but the fact is, kids are loud. Not all the time, but often they are. Everyone knows kids can be loud, messy, hyper, and many other things. You don’t have to apologize when your kids act like kids. Of course, they also shouldn’t be running around acting like they own the place. There’s natural kid tendencies and then there’s discipline. Both are natural, but no apology is necessary if you do your part and your kids act like kids. All of the parents in the room understand, and those without kids will get it soon enough.
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ESSENTIAL READING
Since the money tip was about starting a retirement account for your kids, we’ll go to the opposite end of the spectrum and talk about your parents. The book Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk is an excellent resource for having difficult conversations with your parents. Nobody likes to think about death, but it’s always best to think about it before it happens. This book guides you through each one of the things you need to discuss.
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NOTION
Resiliency is a popular word in the military. We devote entire days to resiliency training. That’s because the military understands the importance of being able to bounce back from life—“to recover quickly from difficulties,” as the definition states. The most resilient people I know are military children. Kids who grow up moving from place to place, school to school, because their parents get reassigned every few years. These kids can adapt and overcome things that most kids never have to worry about. I think this would be a great skill to teach in all of our schools. Few life skills provide more benefits than resilience. Teach your kids about it.
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TRAVEL TIP
If you’re visiting a new country, research what kind of voltage they use (e.g., 110v or 220v) and figure out which type of outlets they use (Australia, England, and Italy all use 220v, but with 3 different types of outlets). If it’s different from home, you can plan in advance to bring a converter and verify in advance that everything you’re bringing is dual-voltage.
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SCRIPTURE
“And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.”
Psalm 9:10
Closing Question
What story are you telling yourself about something going on in your life that may need a perspective shift?
