Budget Wisely

1. Learn the basics of budgeting. Explain budgeting in simple terms as a plan for income and expenses. Discuss examples of trade-offs and the concept of needing to earn more or spend less in order to remain financially secure.

2. Get familiar with ordinary household expenses. Give your teen an early start on knowing the cost of typical goods and services. Let them see the cable TV bill and your monthly car payment.

3. Monitor your spending. Ask your teen to keep track of their spending for a month or more. Your kids may be surprised by how much they really spend on eating out or clothing.

4. Manage your income. As long as school remains the top priority, encourage your teen to have some income of their own to manage. You can provide an allowance or support their efforts to find a summer job.

Shop Carefully

1. Shop together. Go shopping together to demonstrate how to get the best value. Compare prices for generic and brand name products at the grocery store. Look for special sales at the local mall.

2. Research major purchases. Assign your teen some research when they want to make a major purchase such as a cell phone. Let them compare plans and help decide what features they really need.

3. Analyze materialism. Advertising bombards people with messages to consume more. Discuss the importance of moderation and basing your happiness on sources other than your possessions.

Save More

1. Establish goals. Help your teen to set short and long term goals that will motivate them to build up some savings. They may want to buy a car or put away money for college.

2. Understand interest. Provide an introduction to the power of interest. Your child may want to save more if they realize how much money they can earn by starting a savings account when they’re young.

3. Develop a savings strategy. Help your teen find a plan that works for them. They may want to set aside a small percentage of their allowance or half the money they get for their birthday. If possible, you can provide an extra incentive by offering to match whatever amount they save.

Use Credit Wisely

1. Select the right instrument for you. There are many kinds of cards to choose from now so you can find the level of parental control that’s comfortable for you. Debit cards give you the peace of mind of enforcing a pre-established spending limit, and many cards give you the option to review all statements.

2. Pay your balance off monthly. Let your teen know that interest works against them when borrowing. Show them how paying off a credit card balance each month protects you from paying much more than the original price for the goods and services you charged.

3. Know the significance of good credit. Talk with your teens about the importance of good credit. Explain how being responsible about paying off bills helps people to qualify for financing when they need student loans or want to buy a house.

With a little information and guidance, your teen can master the basics of money management. By encouraging them to be responsible, you’ll protect your family’s financial security while you help your child pursue their dreams for college and beyond.

Originating post: How To Teach Your Teen Financial Management Skills

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It may be tempting to let them carry on with their carefree spending habits. But doing so would be a disservice, as these habits tend to stick with them into adulthood. It’s much better to help them set up a financial plan during the teen years so that they may learn responsibility before they are out on their own.

Saving and Investing

One of the most important things a teenager can learn about money is the importance of saving a portion of her earnings. This will allow them to build up an emergency fund. It can provide a way to buy big ticket items without having to go into debt. And it gives them money to invest.

Investing isn’t usually a top priority for teenagers, and it’s even a foreign concept for many adults. But getting started early is the best way to ensure a comfortable retirement. It can also provide some passive income in the years to come, reducing worries about unemployment or failing health.

Teens need to be encouraged to save and invest a certain percentage of everything they earn. Doing so before putting money toward anything else, even bills, will make it easier and more consistent.

Paying Bills and Buying Necessities

Once your teen has put some money into savings and investments, the next order of business is to pay monthly bills. Teens do not generally have as many of these as adults, but they may have a cell phone plan, car insurance or other recurring bills. These should be paid before any other spending takes place.

Next, teens can buy the things they need. Parents often cover some of their teens’ needs, but they may leave expenses such as school lunch, clothing and gas for them to pay. This provides good practice for the day when they start buying everything for themselves.

Discretionary Spending

Once the savings, bills and necessities are taken care of, it’s time for the fun part: discretionary spending. This tends to be the favorite part for most teenagers (and adults, too). But it’s important not to let your child get too carried away with it.

There’s nothing wrong with kids having some fun with their money while they’re young, but try to discourage them from spending every penny just because it’s there. Making a list of the things they want to buy can help. If there’s not enough money to buy them all and have some left over in one month, they can always be carried over to the next.

A realistic financial plan for a teenager contains all of these elements. This will give them some freedom with their money while also providing structure. And it will build the framework for responsible money management as an adult.

Originating post: How To Set Up A Realistic Financial Plan For Your Teen

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Parents often make the mistake of thinking that preschoolers are too young to understand financial matters. It’s true that kids that young won’t understand compound interest or mutual funds, but there are some things they can learn about money that will benefit them later in life. Here are some things that we as parents can teach our kids at a young age.

1. Preschoolers can learn about the different denominations of money.
They may not remember that there are 100 cents in a dollar, but they can usually recall which coins are worth the most and least. Learning a little about this before they start school will give them a head start in math.

2. You can teach the basics of bank accounts.
When kids see us writing a check or swiping a card and taking something home, they may think we got it for free. Teaching them that you have to have money in the bank in order to write a check or use your debit card will help them understand that the things we need in life come at a price.

3. Preschoolers are not too young to learn about earning money.
You can assign chores and pay them a certain amount for each one completed to illustrate the concept of working for money.

4. Saving money is an important lesson for kids to learn young.
You can help instill the importance of this by encouraging them to save a portion of their allowance. After they have saved for a few weeks, help them count up how much they have and decide what to do with it. Or better yet, have them set a goal for savings and see how long it takes to reach it.

5. Shopping provides a wealth of opportunities to teach kids about money.
You can discuss how to save money by using coupons and buying things while they’re on sale. You can set a budget and see how much you can buy with it. And you can let them help you count the money when it’s time to check out.

Small children catch on to the importance of money quickly. We can help them develop a healthy attitude toward it by teaching them basic concepts and modeling good spending and saving habits. This will build the foundation for a lifetime of good money practices.

Originating post: Teaching Your Preschooler About Money

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Starting an Allowance
Try to recognize when your child is ready for an allowance. If you begin too soon, your child won’t comprehend the value of the money he receives. Typically, a good starting time is when the child is old enough to understand how the allowance system will work.

Allowance Systems
There are three types of allowance systems from which to choose:

1. Gift System. The gift system is simply a weekly payment to the child. The money isn’t given based upon any work/chores the child does or fails to do. The child gets the money just for being part of your family. The advantages of this method are that it is consistent and unchanging. There are no decisions that need to be made. However, there are many disadvantages: The child is less likely to truly appreciate it – He doesn’t gain a sense of achievement – and the child is also unlikely to develop financial responsibility when the money is just given to him and he’s done nothing to earn it.

2. Reward System. The reward system is the most widespread system parents utilize. Parents establish a list of chores for the kids to perform on a weekly basis and then pay an established amount for the successful completion of the chores. The advantages of this system are that there are penalties for not doing the assigned chores and rewards for doing them. So this system has both reward and punishment built into it. The disadvantages are somewhat difficult to see when the kids are younger, but the reward system sometimes results in a child that only wants to do something if it’s part of the established list.

3. Income System. The last system, the income system, is similar to real life. When there is a task to do that is not typically expected of your child, he gets paid to do it. Basically, you want to create an allowance that is paid to your child for work beyond the normal responsibilities. This allowance will vary, but it seems to have more positive impact than the other two systems. So you could have a simple chore list that the child must complete without financial compensation, then any other work beyond that list would result in receiving the allowance.

If you’re serious about providing your children some financial knowledge, an allowance can be a meaningful part of that education. If you also have regular discussions about money with your children in conjunction with an allowance, you’re really giving them a great head start. Don’t just hope for the best; give them the best chance possible for a bright financial future.

Originating post: The Allowance: How To Teach Your Kids About Money

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So how do you encourage kids to be savers? The best way to teach kids how to save is to teach them that buying brand name items is not necessary when store brand names or cheap name brands are just as nice and “in” as they would say. In most cases, a parent will have to point out the same item that carries a brand name with something alike with a store name item. The kids have to be taught that just because Jenny down the street is buying Martha Stewart sheets does not mean the same sheet set with the Kmart name on them are any different.

Kids learn by example. If you take them grocery shopping with you and let them help with sale shopping and coupon shopping, they will eventually see the savings. It will also give them a new insight into where the food and necessities come from when they need them. Most kids take things for granted until you actually show them where everything comes from and how much it costs.

Can kids be taught to live frugal? Yes, if the parent teaches them and does the same thing. Kids will be able to understand frugal living and saving money more if they see what everything costs and how they can save money. Kids make say no to Food Club canned vegetables because they like Del Monte canned vegetables. If you make the Food Club vegetables and do not tell them, they will never know the difference. You have to explain this to them in a wait that they understand, by doing it.

Other ways to encourage kids to save is with school supplies and transportation to and from school. Walking a mile to school is something that all kids did many years ago and they never got injured or tired. Kids need more exercise and walking to school is just one way they can save. School supplies should be bought on sale and plain notebooks and pens, pencils and erasers do not have to be fancy.

Originating post: Start Early – How To Encourage Kids To Be Savers

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Garage sales are a parent’s best friend when it comes to finding clothes for your kids. If you are diligent about checking the clothes for stains or tears before selecting them, you can buy a pile of clothes for next to nothing. And, if you do miss a defect or two, you haven’t invested a great deal of money.

Don’t be shy about exchanging “hand-me-downs” among friends and family. Part of growing up is learning to share; what better example can there be than for siblings, cousins, or friends to learn to share the things they can’t use anymore with someone who can.

Resell shops for children’s clothing are becoming increasingly popular for a very good reason. In these shops you can sell your child’s “gently used” clothing. Many shops offer to pay you for these clothes with cash or store credit. In addition, you can sometimes receive a discount on purchases in the store, giving you an even larger value for your clothing money.

eBay is another source of low-priced children’s clothing. Look for bulk lots of clothing for children in the same age group as your children. Although you may get a few duds in the lot, you may also find some real gems for a relatively small price. And, you and your kids will love going through all of the clothes when they arrive at your home.

Check out outlet stores for a good value in new clothing. Many department stores have outlets where you can find extremely discounted clothing that didn’t sell in the stores. These are great for special occasion clothes and big-ticket items like coats or suits.

Originating post: Save Money While Dressing Your Kids

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Summer can also be a very expensive time of year. There’s so much to do, and we want to cram it all in before cold weather strikes again. But by the time we visit the beach, go to an amusement park, make weekend trips to the pool and do all of the other stuff we want to do, it can put a major strain on the budget.

But summer fun doesn’t have to break the bank. There are lots of things families can do for cheap, and some are even free. In this report, you’ll find lots of summer activity ideas that will fit into virtually any budget.

Swimming for Less

On a hot summer day, one of the most popular destinations is the local pool. Admission isn’t terribly expensive, but if you go as a family several times over the course of the season, it can really add up. By the time fall arrives, you might wonder why you just didn’t save up a little more money and go to the beach!

If you love to swim, there are alternatives to the community pool. Here are some to think about:

* The lake – If there’s a state park with a lake nearby, you may be able to swim for cheap or free there. Some have beach-type areas with sand, so the kids can have a blast building castles and burying one another. It’s kind of like taking a trip to the coast, only without so many expenses.

* A friend’s pool – If you have a friend with a pool, perhaps you could take the kids over to swim from time to time. In return, you could take refreshments for both families or invite the friend’s family over to your house for other activities.

* The gym – If you have a gym membership, you may be able to bring guests to the pool for free or at a reduced rate. Check with your gym for details.

* Quick-set pools – Those inexpensive quick-set pools have become quite popular among families with kids. All you do is blow up the inflatable ring, fill the inside with water, and you have an instant pool! They come in many sizes, and some are priced under $50. Larger ones are only a few hundred dollars, and by the time you figure in gas and pool admission, they can pay for themselves in just a couple of years.

If you’re fortunate enough to live near a river, there are all sorts of summer activities you can participate in. Canoeing is lots of fun for adults, teens and older children. Innertubing is especially popular among the younger set. Or you can just jump in and play in low water areas.

Of course, you don’t have to get in the water to have fun with water. Here are some other wet and wild activity ideas that are fun for all ages:

* Water guns – Having a water gun fight is a classic summer activity for kids. But there’s no reason that the grown-ups can’t get involved too! You can find inexpensive water guns at the dollar store for next to nothing, and if properly cared for, they will last for many summers to come.

* Water slides – You don’t have to visit a water park to go down a water slide! You can buy slides that hook up to your water hose for $20 or less and use them right in your own back yard.

* Sprinklers – It’s not necessary to buy any toys at all when the kids want to cool off on a hot day. You can simply hook up the sprinkler and let them run through it. If you don’t have one, just get out the water hose and start spraying. It’s guaranteed fun, and you won’t have to pay a dime for it.

Enjoying Nature

Summer is a wonderful time of year for getting out and enjoying all that nature has to offer. It doesn’t have to cost anything, either. Many nature areas have hiking trails that you can access for free, and some don’t even charge for parking.

Some state parks offer nature programs that the whole family can enjoy. These programs have various themes, including plant identification, bird watching and more. Check your local paper for dates, times and locations. You may have to register to participate, but there is rarely any cost.

No matter where you live, there is some sort of natural wonder that’s not too far off. There are large rock formations, caverns, waterfalls and more throughout the country. Visiting these places is often free, and if there is any cost it’s usually quite affordable. If you’re not familiar with the attractions in your area, pick up a travel guide from a nearby visitors’ center or search for information online.

Camping is the ultimate nature activity for families. RVs and pop-up campers offer all the amenities of home, but they aren’t necessary. All you need is a tent, some sleeping bags, food and drinks and a grill or camp stove. Most campgrounds offer tent space for a small fee, or you can simply set up camp in your back yard.

Fishing is another favorite activity for adults and children alike. You can find poles in all sizes at your favorite sporting goods or discount store. Fishing licenses are generally required for adults and teenagers, but not for kids under certain ages (which vary from state to state). If you only fish on occasion, you can save money by buying a short-term license in most states.

Gardening

Many adults enjoy gardening in the late spring and early summer. But did you know that it’s a great activity for kids, too? Even toddlers can get in on the act!

Planting a flower garden is a great starter project. You can buy trays of flowers at a discount store for next to nothing. Let the kids help pick out flowers in a variety of colors, and plant them together. They’ll be able to see the results right away, and they can be responsible for caring for them throughout the season.

Vegetable gardening is another great family activity. It provides an opportunity to teach children about good nutrition while having fun as a family. The results generally take longer to see than flower gardening, but the end result is well worth the wait. Even the pickiest eaters are usually eager to try foods that they have grown!

Festivals and Carnivals

Even the smallest of towns usually has some sort of festival during the summer months. These celebrations feature a wide variety of activities that adults and children of all ages can enjoy. It’s easy to spend a small fortune at such events, but if you watch your spending you can have a good time without breaking the bank.

Many festivals offer free concerts as a means of drawing larger crowds. Street performers such as magicians, clowns and mimes are great free entertainment for the kids. Kiddie rides, face painting and other activities may be free or paid. If they’re not free, set a budget and have your kids choose things to do that fit within that budget.

One of the most expensive aspects of festivals and carnivals is the food. To avoid overspending, pack a lunch or eat before you go to the event. Bring some snacks and drinks along if they are allowed on the premises, and if you must buy something during the festival, consider going to a nearby store instead of buying from overpriced food vendors.

The Zoo

One destination that kids of all ages tend to enjoy is the zoo. Wild animals aren’t something that most of us see every day, so watching them up close and personal can be a real treat. There are zoos to fit every budget. If traveling to a large zoo is out of your price range, there’s sure to be an alternative that’s within your budget.

A popular and inexpensive option among younger children is a petting zoo. These zoos may not feature large animals such as elephants and giraffes, but they make up for that by allowing physical contact with the animals. Kids enjoy petting and feeding the goats, pigs, ponies and ducks. Bring a camera along and capture some memories that are sure to be cherished for years to come!

Museums and Galleries

If you’re looking for a fun and educational activity for the entire family, you can’t beat a trip to a museum or art gallery. You don’t have to live in a large city to visit one. Most smaller cities, and many small towns, have at least one museum or gallery of some sort.

Museums come in a wide variety of flavors. Art and historical museums are among the most common. But you can also find museums based on all sorts of interesting themes. Museums featuring oddities (such as Ripley’s Believe It or Not) are popular among children and adults alike. There are also museums geared toward children that make learning fun. If you’re not sure what types of museums can be found in your area, check with your local Chamber of Commerce.

Many museums offer free admission, so all you have to do is resist the urge to splurge in the gift shop. Some charge admission, but prices are usually reasonable. If you want the best possible deal, consider organizing a group trip. Call ahead to find out how large of a group you will need to qualify for a discount. You could invite members of your church or an organization to which you belong to meet the requirement.

Visiting Friends and Family

If you’re looking for a change of scenery on a budget, visiting friends and family who live out of town could be the answer. If you can stay with them instead of renting a hotel room, you could even make a vacation out of it with very little expense.

If you have family living in the Bahamas, that would make for a great summer vacation. But no matter where your friends or relatives live, there’s bound to be something fun to do together. A simple dinner out at a popular local restaurant and trip to the movies can be an adventure when you’re away from home. Or you could visit inexpensive local attractions such as nature areas, museums or petting zoos.

The Library

When it comes to summer activities, going to the library may not be on your kids’ list of favorites. But did you know that most libraries offer a variety of programs that appeal to children, teens and adults?

Most libraries sponsor a summer reading program for kids and teenagers. These programs usually feature prize drawings for children who read certain numbers of books while they’re out of school. This is a great way to keep your child’s reading skills up to par!

For young children, storytelling is a popular library activity. Some libraries also feature activities such as movie showings, craft classes and even concerts. Most of these activities are free, but they may require registration. Call your local library to find out the details.

Movies

Going to the movies is a wonderful family activity year-round. In the summer, it’s the perfect cure for boredom. And if you play your cards right, you can take the entire family without paying an arm and a leg.

Instead of going to the big chain theater, see if there is a dollar theater in your area. These theaters may not show the newest releases, but seats are cheap for every showing. Sometimes you can even go for as little as 50 cents per person!

If there’s no dollar theater in your hometown, check matinee prices at the regular theater. These daytime showings on the weekends are usually significantly cheaper than nightly shows. Some theaters also have cartoon showings for cheap on weekend mornings. And some offer special discount programs that could save you money if you go to the movies frequently.

Watching movies at home is even less expensive than going to the theater. There’s no temptation to buy giant tubs of expensive popcorn, and everyone can watch a rented movie for one low price. If there’s a Redbox location near you, you can rent new releases there for $1 per night. Or you could join Netflix and borrow as many movies as you like each month with no late fees for one low price.

Better yet, you can borrow movies for free. If you have a friend with a large DVD collection, inquire about borrowing a movie to watch every now and then. Or go to your local library and borrow some movies. Pop some microwave popcorn and dim the lights for an authentic theater experience.

Picnics in the Park

The park is a wonderful destination for family fun in the summer. There’s something for everyone in the family to do. Youngsters can play on slides, swings and such. Older children, teens and adults can shoot hoops, play softball or go walking on trails. Or you could bring along a Frisbee, find an open space and toss it around.

With all of these fun things to do, why not pack a lunch and make a day out of it? For the price of some sandwiches, drinks and dessert, the whole family can have a blast and get some exercise. If you prefer a hot lunch, many parks have shelters with grills that you can use for free when they are not reserved.

Block Parties

If you want to have a good time and have the room, try having a block party! Kids love them because they get a chance to play with the other kids in the neighborhood, and adults love them because it gives them an opportunity to socialize.

If you bear all of the expense yourself, having a block party is very expensive. But if you make it a potluck, you won’t have to pay much at all. Just provide the main course, and ask each guest to bring a dish. You could even ask some to bring supplies such as paper plates, cups and napkins.

For cheap live entertainment, ask any neighbors that play an instrument to bring it along and have an impromptu jam session. Or have the kids that will attend prepare an act and have a talent show. You don’t have to shell out big bucks to hire a band.

Amusement Parks

Amusement parks aren’t known for being inexpensive. One ticket for one day can cost as much as a couple of weeks’ worth of other activities. But there are ways you can save on admission to your favorite park.

If you live fairly close to an amusement park, a season pass could be well worth the money spent. They usually cost about as much as 3 or 4 days’ admission. So if you think you’ll visit several times during the summer, a pass will pay for itself in no time.

Some employers offer discounts on admission to nearby amusement parks. They usually make announcements early in the summer. If you haven’t heard anything from your employer, ask if they offer any special deals. If they don’t, suggest that they check with the park in which you’re interested to see if they could.

You can often get discounts on amusement park admission from a variety of sources. Check packages of canned soda and other items from the grocery store. Some fast food restaurants also distribute coupons for a certain percentage or dollar amount off of admission to amusement parks, so be sure to look in the bag when you get takeout. The best discounts are usually found late in the season.

Other Frugal Summer Fun Ideas

The possibilities for frugal summer activities are endless. Here are some more ideas:

Inquire about touring a local factory. Some offer interesting and educational programs, and you may even get some free samples afterward.
Organize a family reunion. Rent a shelter at the park, and have a potluck dinner. You’ll get to see family members that you haven’t seen in ages, and the kids will have lots of fun playing together.
Go on a family bike ride. Whether you load up and hit a bike trail or just ride around the neighborhood, everyone will get some exercise and an opportunity to bond.
Volunteer. There are volunteer opportunities suitable for children as well as adults. Some organizations need lots of help, so the whole family may be able to get involved with the same project.
Visit state, local or national government offices. Many offer tours that are very educational.
Gaze at the stars. You can do this for free on a clear summer night, or you can visit the planetarium.
Pick wild berries. They taste great right off the vine or bush, and you can also take them home to use in cobblers and other dishes that you can make with your kids.
Get a jar and let the kids catch fireflies. You might even find yourself getting involved!
Set up a scavenger hunt for the kids. Make a list of items found in nature, and let them loose in your back yard or at a nature park. Provide a special prize for the winner and consolation prizes for the runners up.
Go to a minor league baseball game. Tickets are much cheaper than those for major league games, and the atmosphere is much more relaxed and family-friendly.
Make a bird feeder by spreading peanut butter on a large pine cone and rolling it in birdseed. Hang it up in the front yard and watch as the birds flock to it.
Create a family scrapbook. Have each child contribute a page or two, or assign each one a task such as creating page layouts, choosing photos and cropping.
Check your local newspaper for event listings. You could find free concerts in the park, play groups and more.

Having fun in the summer isn’t only for the well-to-do. There are plenty of activities you can do in your own back yard that are free or very inexpensive. And with some research, you can find affordable activities in your hometown and neighboring areas. There’s no need to let summer boredom get the best of you and your family. Fun can be had on budgets of any size!

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Originating post: Cool Frugal Summer Activities the Whole Family Will Love

Cool Frugal Summer Activities the Whole Family Will Love is a post from: The Family Wallet.

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Consignment shops offer individuals the opportunity to buy brand-name clothing for less. You can be assured the clothes are good quality because these shops only take new or used (worn one time) clothing. The label on the clothing is also required.

In fact, you can sell your own clothing with these shops and earn a commission. This is another way of saving on clothing costs.

But one of the most intelligent ways of saving money on clothing is an idea that has been around for ages: Buy one or two outfits and add an assortment of accessories to change the look of the outfit. Stick to colors that can be worn year round.

Remember to always have that one basic black outfit! You can accessorize it in a variety of ways and no one would know it’s the same outfit.

For those who have a closet full of clothes, it may not be necessary to buy any new clothes at all if you have maintained the ones you have well. This, in and of itself, can save you quite a bit of money.

Take care of your clothes by changing into sweats when you come home from work, hanging them up as soon as you take them off, taking care of any stains that may occur, and storing winter and summer clothes appropriately. If at all possible, purchase clothing that doesn’t require dry cleaning. That’s a huge chunk of change in savings right there.

You may also wish to swap clothing with your friends. This is becoming quite popular online as well. There is a website where you can swap children’s clothing as they grow out of them. Imagine the savings there!

When you initially buy clothes, look for quality; that is, clothes that will last a long time. Resist impulse buying. Just supplement your clothing with those things you need, not desire.

Looking good doesn’t require that you spend a fortune on clothes. If you are creative and have that confident air about you, people will not be looking at your clothes, but at you.

Originating post: How to Save Money on Clothes

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Protecting your children from becoming victims of identity theft basically involves the same steps you would follow to protect yourself. These tips should get your started:

Keep social security cards and birth certificates in a secure place. Truthfully, you don’t really need these forms of identification very often. Tuck them away in a safety deposit box until they are needed. Controlling the number of ways thieves can encounter your kids’ personal information is the first step in defeating identity theft.

Review your child’s credit report annually. When you order your credit report each year, you should go ahead and order your child’s, too. Since your children shouldn’t have much information on their reports anyway, you won’t have to invest a lot of time in reviewing them. These credit reports will confirm that no one has opened any accounts in your child’s name.

Keep an eye on your child’s internet usage. As Facebook and MySpace become more and more popular, the number of children on these websites grows. Take care to teach your children the difference between information that is fit for public eyes and information that is private. Birthdates and addresses, for instance, should never be disclosed on the internet.

Be on the lookout for “red flags.” Although this tip doesn’t stop identity theft, it can clue you in quickly if your child has become a victim. Children do not normally receive credit card offers and catalogs in the mail. If they start showing up at your house in your child’s name, you should order his credit report immediately. There may be activity on it that you should be worried about.

Originating post: Protecting Your Kids from Identity Theft

Protecting Your Kids from Identity Theft is a post from: The Family Wallet.

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Clothes (especially children’s sizes) are wonderful garage sale items. Okay, you’re certainly not going to make a fortune on any one pair of pajamas or shorts your little one has outgrown. You may be able to make a tidy sum, in total, when you sell all of the pajamas and shorts your little one can no longer wear. Price clothing items cheaply, and they’ll virtually fly away at your garage sale.

Don’t forget the toys and accessories that are hiding in your closet. Although your little guy probably loved his activity center when he was an infant, unless you’re planning on having another little one, you’ll probably value the storage space more than his old toy. Bulky baby items like highchairs and play gyms are perfect for garage sales. These items are large enough to be seen from the street and have even been known to attract drive-by shoppers.

Specialty clothing items require a little more attention. While you probably don’t mind selling an out-grown pair of jeans for fifty cents, you won’t want to part with your little girl’s special dresses quite so easily. Check out local consignment shops or use eBay to sell higher quality items. You’ll gain more from the sale when you treat these items like as something more than your average cast-offs.

Donate what you can’t sell for a tax write-off. After you’ve sold everything you can, you may still find yourself holding some leftover items. Be sure to donate these valuables to your local charity or thrift store. Your unused items will find new life in the hands of a new owner and you can take a tax deduction for your donation. Take care, however, to check out the donation guidelines for your charity to make sure you’re not donating something the charity can’t accept.

Originating post: Need A Few Extra Bucks? Maybe Your Cluttered Closet Can Help

Need A Few Extra Bucks? Maybe Your Cluttered Closet Can Help is a post from: The Family Wallet.

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