Category: Working Parents

The time and place of your birth tell you a lot about who you are and who you may become. It will not predict the future, but it will define how you move forward through life.

Carl Jung believed that this was due to coincidence, which he would call synchronicity.

Each of us is born with a certain predisposition toward a way of being. If you are unsure about which career you should choose, you could find the answer in your natal chart.

Your zodiac sign could help you figure out which career path is right for you. Read on to find out how astrology could help your job search.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

You’re strong-willed and determined. Your enthusiasm for life can come off a little assertive, but it’s only because you want to see things done the right way.

You want a career that will challenge you to outdo yourself. Consider a career in sales or marketing to make your enthusiasm work for you.

You would do well in a leadership position. Aries thrives on independence and competition.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

Taurus is a sensual sign, fixated on physical pleasures. You would do well working with anything involving the senses, such as cooking or pottery.

You also strive for financial stability, so you will find fulfillment in any career that allows you to live a comfortable life. Consider banking or investing.

Don’t ignore your love of decorating. Taurus loves to keep everything organized and clean. Consider a career in design or crafting.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

Mercury rules Gemini, making these solar natives fantastic communicators. You love to be around people and share information.

You would succeed in any career that involves communicating information, such as event planning.

You love words and would thrive in a career such as journalism or blogging.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

The moon rules Cancer, making it the mother of the Zodiac. This water sign is incredibly intuitive and caring.

You love to nurture any living being. You would find a career in nursing, teaching, or social work to be valuable.

Leo (July 23-August 22)

As a Leo, you are charismatic and love attention.

You would enjoy any career that allows you to share how great you are to a wide audience of people.

Many Leos find themselves drawn to careers in entertainment, such as acting or singing. You may also enjoy interior design or visual art.

Virgo (August 23-September 22)

Virgo lies on the axis of service, opposite Pisces. Unlike Pisces, you are meticulous and have a keen eye for detail.

You do well in careers that allow you to help others. You like to see that a project happens in an organized and efficient manner.

Think about a career as an office manager or detective. Your eye for detail will benefit you.

Libra (September 23-October 22)

Libra are social people. You need to surround yourself with people all the time.

You would do well in any job that requires you to work with a lot of people, such as customer service.

Libra is also a sign of justice. You cannot rest at ease if you sense something is unfair. You may enjoy a legal or political career.

Scorpio (October 23-November 21)

You’re a complex, emotional abyss. You love to stare into another person and analyze their being. This aptitude for psychoanalysis can be somewhat intimidating to others.

Scorpio is a water sign, so you are intuitive and pick up on others emotions.

As you tend to seek the truth, you may find yourself drawn to a career as a detective, therapist, or counselor.

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21)

You love to learn and explore. They thrive in environments that foster a thirst for knowledge and adventure.

You might find fulfillment in a career as a professor, coach, or travel writer.

You are a risk taker with a strong moral compass. You would love a career in law, such as a judge or attorney.

Capricorn (December 22-January 19)

Climb that mountain, mountain goat!

You are a goal-oriented individual. When you set your mind to something, you will climb the mountain to reach the summit.

You are ambitious and dependable. A Capricorn is content spending his entire life working his way up the ladder in his field.

You can do anything you set your mind to.

Aquarius (January 20-February 18)

You are forward-thinking and unusual. You seek to improve the world by first showing the world how different you are.

You love to stand out.

You would succeed in any career that allows you to impact social change. You would make a great activist.

You may find that dedicating yourself to one career is a boring waste of time. Are you wrong?

Pisces (February 19-March 20)

You are highly imaginative. Sometimes, you may find that you drift so far into the world of dreams that you forget how to function in the real world.

This is why many Pisces natives prefer the life of the struggling artist. You want to write and draw and paint all the time. Your imagination is unlike any other, and you may inspire others.

Be careful not to escape too far into the dreams, though. Don’t spend all of your time reading your daily love horoscope.

Pisces the most intuitive and selfless of the Zodiac signs. Any career that allows you to give to others will do.

Try nursing, counseling, or veterinary medicine.

Finding Your Career Path With Astrology

Maybe you remember your first-grade teacher asking you to draw a picture of what you wanted to be when you grew up. One kid drew a fire hydrant and another drew an astronaut.

You drew a rainbow because you’re a Pisces.

Things have probably changed since then. Now, you may be even more confused.

Luckily, astrology can help you determine which career path is right for you. Consider sitting down with an astrology to find out what you could be doing to better yourself.

Check out more Thrifty Momma Ramblings to find out more about how you can be live a better, more cost-effective life.

Do you feel like you’re always stressed out? Unable to perform at the level you’d like at work? Guilty about being away from your kids at home?

You’re not alone! It’s a difficult time for being a parent. The tricky art between balancing work and family can be challenging for mothers with the best intentions.

However, there are a few strategies that can make restoring the balance simpler. Let’s get into what all mothers need to know.

Stay Organized With A Schedule

Whether it’s digitalized or on paper, keeping a schedule is one of the easiest ways to stay sane in managing your work-life balance. Relying on memory alone is a surefire way to forget something important.

Today, there is no excuse not to stay organized. In fact, many tools and apps allow parents to seamlessly and quickly add, delete, and modify daily schedules.

Each week, take a moment to gloss over your to-do list. When you get up in the morning, take another moment to scan over the responsibilities for the day. Highlight the ones that are most important.

Remember this: your schedule is only beneficial if you actually follow it! Make sure it’s in a visible place for everyone who needs to see it.

Hone Down Your Priorities

Even if you’re the world’s most flexible mother, you’re not going to get everything done in one day. That’s okay! You’re only human, right?

It’s essential to master the art of identifying and implementing your priorities. Fortunately, this is an easy practice to learn.

Commit to starting each day by looking over your schedule. Identify the things that must get done (as in, there will be consequences if you don’t do them), the things you’d like to get done (these are secondary to the musts), and the things that can wait for another day.

Aim to tackle the hardest tasks first. That’s when you have the most energy and motivation. After charging through those, you’ll have a sense of accomplishment and the rest will feel like a breeze.

Delegate Tasks Whenever Possible

Even if you feel like you can do it all, there’s no reason you should. That’s not healthy for you or anyone in your family.

Sit down with your partner and delegate an appropriate division of tasks and chores. It doesn’t have to be completely split down the middle (as that may not be realistic), but having a clear understanding for what each of you is responsible for makes it easier on everyone.

And don’t forget to get your kids involved! Most children want to help around the house, and you’ll be teaching them responsibility later in life by giving them assignments and tasks now.

Streamline Your Chores and Errands

Most mothers are masters at multitasking, and for a good reason. As a mom, you need to be able to juggle several tasks at one time- without getting flustered.

Think of how you can take advantage of multitasking while doing your ordinary chores or errands. For example, can you cluster all your errands into one shopping trip? Can you do the dishes while running a load of laundry?

Stay consistent with your chores and errands. Assign them with a specific date and time. The more consistently you can follow this structure, the faster you’ll get at executing them.

Streamline Night-Before Tasks

Before you get into bed every night, get as much done as you possibly can to prepare for the next day.

That means making lunches and breakfasts, running that load of laundry, picking out a clean outfit for the next day, signing permission slips, etc. Starting your day on a frantic note is a recipe for anxiety.

If you can transition into starting your day more peacefully, you’ll feel more calm and collected.

Outsource if Possible

Some would argue that parenting takes a village, and those who outsource their tasks would agree with this sentiment.

Whether it’s hiring a babysitter for a date night out or using a maid once or twice a month, it can be worth every penny to outsource extra labor. Even a meal-ordering service can go a long way for your peace of mind.

Think of it this way: how much do you value your free time? How much are you willing to spend financially for your emotional health?

Set Boundaries With Technology

Did you know that the average person spends a staggering 10 hours in front of a screen each day? Even if you don’t feel like you have extra time, chances are, you can probably cut back on some of your technology use.

Next time you’re trying to squeeze in a Netflix show or scroll through Instagram for the third time, consider what you could be doing instead.

What about taking the kids to the park? Using that time to catch up on some late work? Squeezing in quality time with your spouse?

Many parents find that setting limits and boundaries around their technology use makes it easier to stay present and enjoy the people and things that really matter.

Practice Flexibility

At the end of the day, you don’t need to be a supermom. That’s unrealistic and unhelpful. Instead, it’s important to practice kindness and compassion towards yourself- no matter what you do or don’t accomplish in a given moment.

Practicing flexibility and learning how to roll with the punches is one of the best ways to manage work-life stress. Taking on this mentality is also a great way to model healthy coping with your young ones.

Final Thoughts on Balancing Work and Family

Balancing work and family will never be a perfect science, but it doesn’t need to be! With the right tips for balancing work and family, you can feel like you have it all- without needing to give it your all.

Are you interested in learning more helpful parenting and family tips? Be sure to check out our blog!

Most mothers would spend every dime they have to ensure that their child has a happy, successful life. That’s just what you do as a parent – you hope for the best for your children and you work as hard as you can to provide that.

But, what if you could be more confident about your child’s future and spend less to create a good life for them? What if something as simple as investing in a quality pre-school program could create many long-term benefits for your little one?

It can.

Top-notch pre-schools are pretty expensive at first. They end up paying for themselves, though. These learning environments offer so much for young children and their parents; they’re an investment you make at the onset of a child’s life that does wonders for them throughout their growth.

Here are 3 benefits of a good pre-school.

1. Sets Children Up for Success

Children who are in a welcoming, education-focused environment as toddlers do better when they enter kindergarten, 6th grade, and yes, even college. They’re given the tools they need to succeed as adults early on.

They learn basic book smarts in pre-school like the names of colors and the alphabet, but more importantly, they’re learning about how to interact with the world around them. Pre-school-age children thrive when they have a healthy amount of support and attention from adults.

It’s hard for parents to offer that when balancing work and family life. A pre-school full of teachers and caretakers who love children, though, is ready to give each child the love they need.

Such attention makes them better students and better people overall as they continue to grow. It’s worth finding out more about the specific activities that each pre-school offers to ensure these benefits.

2. Gives At-Risk Children a Better Chance to Excel

The benefits of a quality pre-school are even more clear to see in at-risk children who have learning disabilities. It’s much harder for these children to get ahead in the world when they become adults. But, being part of a progressive, caring pre-school classroom helps them learn how to succeed in their own way.

These children are given the support they need to do simple tasks and to understand concepts that are more complex to them. Their pre-school teachers use positive words of encouragement and healthy correction habits to include at-risk children with the classroom, but also to give them the individualized attention they need.

3. Reduces Crime and Increases Access to Medical Care

Another way that pre-school saves you money and boosts your child’s chances of success is that it keeps them on the right path. Children who attend a good pre-school are less likely to end up with a criminal record. They’re also more likely to receive the medical attention they need as a child, which is a big part of their overall development.

Not all families have the time or the money to take children to every single check-up. Enrolling children in a pre-school with medical attention available gives them the resources they need access to. It provides peace of mind to the parents and necessary medical attention to the children.

This leads to better development in the mind, body, and character of a child. Conversely, that means their risk of crime lowers and their chance of success – getting into a good college, being financially stable, etc – increases.

How to Find the Ideal Pre-School for Your Little One

It’s one thing to realize all the benefits that a pre-school can offer your family, but it’s another to find the right one for your child. Take your time making your decision.

Research all the top pre-schools in your local area. Consider how long they’re able to take care of your child each day and all the attention they give them throughout each day. Talk to other parents and visit a few schools, too.

For more motherly tips and tricks to help you set your child up for success, click here.

The total cost for a 4-year degree will be more than $205,000 by the year 2030. That will be the year that kids born in 2012 turn 18 years old. If your kids are born later, expect a higher price tag.

The best investment for a child is one that starts as early as possible. Investing for kids now is how to build a fortune for your child’s future education.

Read on to learn all about the best investments for children and how you can get started.

529 Plans to Invest for Kids

All US states offer a 529 savings account. You can even enroll in 529 plans from other states. Make sure you look into the lifetime contribution limits on your plan, so you know how much you can put away.

Every year you are able to deposit funds up to the set annual limit without being dinged with a gift tax. For 2018, that limit is $14,000 for each child. However, if you and your spouse file a joint tax return, you can double that number per child.

If you have the money, you might want to make a large lump deposit now that is equal to 5 years’ worth of contributions. In other words, you could add $70,000 to your child’s 529 plan today if you wanted.

This is a good option if you have the cash and want your money to start growing as soon as possible. But that means that you won’t be able to add any other money until 5 years from now.

One of the best features of this type of investing for kids is that withdrawn money is not taxable if it is used for education. You can use the balance of your fund for any type of tuition including private school from kindergarten to grade 12. Check out these 5 tax refund tips to get the most out of your money.

The majority of 529 savings plans allow you to invest your contributions through mutual funds. You’ll be able to choose what you want to invest in this way. Yet, if you want to invest in other things besides mutual funds, you can do that as well with a 529 plan.

How to Open A 529 Savings Plan

The first (and hardest) part of getting a 529 plan is choosing one. There are over 100 plans available. This is the simplest way to stop delaying and get your plan up and running.

Choose between a savings or prepaid plan or get both.

Savings plans are similar to 401K plans. There is investing in stocks, bonds, as well as other securities.

Prepaid 529 plans are like pension plans. they grow at a guaranteed rate and are often limited to people who reside in that state.

You might decide to get both kinds of plans and divide your contributions between the 2 accounts.

Next, pick either the in-state or out-of-state plan. Often, it’s wiser to get the in-state savings plan if you have a state tax benefit. Use this state tax calculator to see how much your tax benefit is worth.

Finally, compare costs and investment options for the plan you are considering.

Don’t be overly concerned with past performance of a plan. Look for a plan with low costs. Websites like collegesavings.org can help you compare plans.

Don’t get hung up on trying to find the absolute best investment plan for your 529 savings plan. The most important thing is to open a plan and start saving right away. You can always switch to a different plan later on if you want to.

Now, let’s check out other investment plans for kids.

Retirement Accounts

It may feel strange to think about your child’s retirement when you’ve got a baby or toddler at home. Yet, the sooner you start saving for retirement, the better.

Besides, retirement accounts can be used to pay for college as well as other big life expenses. And no, you won’t have to pay taxes on your withdrawals as long as you take out your contributions and not earnings.

Let’s pretend that you have invested $2000 every year for the past 3 years. You can go ahead and take out $6000 without any penalties and without having to pay taxes.

As soon as your child begins working, he or she should have an individual retirement account. Let’s look at custodial individual retirement accounts, next.

Custodial Individual Retirement Account

Custodial IRA can be created in your child’s name. The funds in the account belong to the child but as the parent, you control the assets until the child is an adult.

The age when a child gains access to the account is either 18 or 21 depending on which state you live in. These accounts are often managed at a bank or brokerage.

There are 2 main custodial accounts that prominently used for saving for post-secondary education. They are the Uniform Gift to Minors Act (UGMA) and the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA).

Both of these accounts are irrevocable. Don’t deposit any money into either of these that you might need in case of an emergency.

You won’t be able to get it back. Instead, check out stock loan rates to learn about how to get access to funds when you need them.

Both of these do not have contribution limits. They are subject to Kiddie tax as the child includes this account as income on his or her tax returns each year.

UGMAs include securities such as stocks and bonds. On the other hand, UTMAs may include physical property like real estate and fine art.

Grandparents and others can add money to these accounts as gifts. Keep in mind that the most one person can gift a child per year is $14,000.

Note that when the child is not a minor, he or she does not have to use the funds in these custodial accounts for education.

Certificate of Deposit Ladder (CD)

Now that we’ve looked at 2 types of investments that are subject to market fluctuations, let’s examine an investment plan that has less risk.

A CD ladder means buying several certificates of deposit, all with varying maturity dates and interest rates. When one CD matures, you divert that money into a new CD. You keep doing this until you want to use the money you’ve saved.

Since it’s easy to estimate your earnings, you are able to plan for the future with a good amount of certainty.

This option is great for people who want to play it safe or want to avoid having all their eggs in one basket. You won’t earn huge returns with this method, yet it is a long-term savings plan that works.

How to Open a Certificate of Deposit

Opening a CD is similar to opening a bank account. First, you need to choose an insured financial institution. That way, if the bank or credit union fails, their insurance protects you up to the maximum that is legally allowed.

Then, you choose a type of CD. There are many kinds to choose from.

After that, select your term length. The longer the term, the higher the interest rate you’ll earn. It’s in your best interest to select CDs that mature well in the future.

You will also need to choose how you want to collect your interest payments. You can get it monthly or once a year.

It’s best if you don’t rely on this payment as part of your income. Make sure you build a personal monthly budget that works for you.

The wise thing to do is to reinvest the interest into the CD to earn even more interest. Once the CD reaches the end of the term, you’ll get the amount you deposited plus the interest your CD accumulated.

You will need your SSN and other forms of identification to open up a CD (same as you would need when applying for a bank account or credit card).

Also, choose how you want to deposit money into the CD account. You can choose to mail a check or transfer the funds online or by phone.

Teach Children Financial Literacy

One of the best ways you can invest in your child’s future is to teach them how to manage their money wisely.

With the majority of Americans in debt, teaching kids about smart spending and being financially savvy is vital for the future of the country.

There are lots of great resources to help you teach your kids financial literacy including lots of resources about money on MyMoney.Gov

Instead of giving kids what they want, give them an allowance and help them learn how to save up for what they want. Or help them start earning money by doing chores, dog sitting, raking yards and babysitting.

Even though as a parent you want to give your kids every advantage, it is important for them to learn how to take responsibility for their financial freedom in their youth for a bright future.

Final thoughts on Investing for Kids

Thanks for reading! We hope you found this article on investing for kids’ future helpful. Remember, the sooner you get started, the better.

Now, take a look at these 3 expert money saver tips you need in your life.

The role of a mother in the family has changed a lot over the last few decades. The impressive amount of social change in the last ten years has left many of us wondering how a person a could even define a family, let alone describe the role of a mother.

If we’re going to keep up with the times, we have to at least give thought to the paradigms that are constantly shifting in our lives. We’re going to take a look at how the role of the mother has turned into something different from what it was only a few decades ago.

The New Role of a Mother in the Family

The old world seemed like it was set in stone. Gender roles dominated a lot of the decisions that people got to make, especially women. The structures of society had been molded into barricades that kept individuals in tiny lanes.

The mother used to stay at home and tend to the children while the father worked. Mothers were seen as emotional supporters, destined to cook and clean while dealing with all that comes with parenting children. Fathers had the option to be as involved as they wished to be.

Parenting styles were also predetermined, and stepping slightly out of line in the way you raised your children was strictly frowned upon. Something has changed, and there is a lot to celebrate. If you’re in the position of being a new mother, sites like Kiindred can help you navigate the waters.

What is the Role Now?

It wouldn’t be accurate to say the gender roles of parents have been turned on their head. It’s more like the rules were just lifted, not reversed, and we see a lot of mothers following their dreams, raising their children, being the breadwinners, and kicking a lot of butts.

Where mothers used to be required to do literally all housework, it’s now something that no one is required to do. If anything, husbands should do that because, well, why should mothers?

It seems the absurdity of strict gender roles has been eliminated for a couple of reasons. First, research is growing which shows that gender is a social construct and roles that go along with it needn’t be strictly followed or followed at all.

We are gaining an awareness that all people should have whatever freedom they wish so long as the children are being raised well. Parenting is hard, and the only healthy way to raise great kids is by doing it as a team. When one person slacks, the other has to work harder, and this creates resentment.

We’re seeing an increase in parents working together out of respect. This is really broken the shackles and brought parents to an even plane in many cases, and this is something to celebrate.

Looking for a Community?

When you’re feeling like nobody gets your struggle, take the time to find an online community to relate to. Whether you’re a new mom or your kids have gone off to college, there’s not a reason that you have to feel alone.

The role of a mother is complicated, ever-changing, and challenging. If you’re looking for any great ideas from a great community of women, we’ve got the information you need.