family

3 Tips for Starting a Family Emergency Fund

March 6, 2025 By Anne Leave a Comment

Starting an emergency fund for your family is definitely something that you need to do. Emergencies can happen at any time and you need to be prepared for them.

However, starting an emergency fund can be challenging. Here are some tips to help you get started with your fund very quickly.

Determine How Much You Need

A good emergency fund should cover at least three to six months worth of your expenses. You should start by calculating your monthly cost of living, including random mortgage, utilities, groceries, transportation as well as your insurance.

If your income is unpredictable or if you have dependents you should aim even higher than this range. This will give you greater stability.

Set a Realistic Savings Goal

Once you know how much you need it’s a good idea to break it up into smaller manageable goals. If saving six months worth of expenses seems impossible for you, start with one month’s worth.

You can then work your way into more. Even saving a few hundred dollars a month can help with your emergency fund. This way you will always make consistent progress instead of trying to focus on the total amount all at once. This can make it overwhelming and you may become discouraged.

Look for Ways to Cut Spending

You should always be looking for areas where you can cut back on spending. Simple changes, such as eating out less can make a big difference. Additionally, consider cancelling your subscriptions or shopping for better insurance.

All of this can give you extra cash that you can use towards your emergency fund.

You should place wind falls, your tax refunds or even bonuses towards your emergency funds as well. If your family or friends give you cash gifts you can also add it to there as well to accelerate your savings.

Earn Extra Income to Boost Your Fund

If saving from your current income seems to be challenging you should try other things to bring extra money. Try selling unused items or taking on freelance work.

You can use cash back apps because these can help you to reach your goals a lot easier. You may even want to consider exploring affiliate marketing opportunities, such as joining the top payday loan affiliate program to generate some passive income for your fund.

Open a Dedicated Savings Account

Keep your emergency fund separate from your regular checking account. It is going to reduce the temptation to spend when you don’t have urgent expenses.

Try a high yield savings account because it is a good option and allows your money to grow while remaining accessible in an emergency. Try to avoid accounts that have fees because they can eat into your savings.

Consider setting up automatic transfers to your emergency fund. This ensures that you always stay on track. If you receive an irregular income then you should consider saving a percentage of each payment instead of a fixed amount.

A solid emergency fund is possible but you definitely have to be strategic about saving for it.

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

Harlem Globetrotters – Family Fun!

February 17, 2025 By Anne Leave a Comment

We had the opportunity to go see the The Harlem Globetrotters a few weeks ago. We traveled down to the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, FL. The Stephen C. O’Connell Center was a perfect venue, small and cozy for lots of family fun.

The globetrotters did not disappoint. There was plenty of live action and comedy. Silliness and audience participation were also included.

I took my 17-year-old daughter. We had fun but this would have been more suited to younger children. However, we still had lots of laughs!

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Anne

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS 2025 WORLD TOUR – PRESENTED BY JERSEY MIKE’S SUBS

November 30, 2024 By Anne

I remember seeing the Harlem Globetrotters when I was a child. Then about 10 years ago I was able to take my children. It is a fun event!!

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Anne

Why Say YES to Moving Abroad with Kids

April 21, 2024 By Anne

Most people here are families moving abroad and immediately they’re either in awe of them for doing so, or they think they’re crazy for bringing kids abroad with them to live. The thing is, moving abroad with children doesn’t have to be some huge deal. We live in a very big wide world, so why not allow the kids to experience something different?

As they are going through their formative years, do you have any idea how many amazing choices for International School there are? Do you have any idea of the experience you’ll be giving your children by allowing them to live in countries that they wouldn’t have been born in? It can be very difficult for some families to choose to move abroad because they are attached to their roots. But roots are there for a reason and you can always go back home again. One of the biggest things that you can consider for your children is to move abroad, and taking the plunge to do that is a big decision to make. So we’ve put together a list of reasons why you should say yes to living abroad with kids.

Image source: Pexels

You are creating adventurous memories. If you’ve never gone to another country to live there, you’re going to have an experience of your own. But seeing it through the adventurous eyes of your children is something completely new. Let’s say you decide to move to New York. Imagine seeing the Empire State Building through the eyes of a 7 year old. Well, that’s what you’d be doing if you decided to do that with your children, because you’re going to witness the majesty on their faces when they see giant buildings and crowded streets and taxis that are bright yellow.
You get to try new things. How often is it you get to go skiing in France, or you get to catch a glimpse of waterfalls in Rupit? Or riding a frightening cable car to the top of Montserrat mountain? These are just some of the experiences that would scare an adult to death, but there would be a thrilling one for a child. You have to remember what you’re getting. Try new things with your children and you can experience these memories together as a family and they’ve become something of family lore.
You get to meet other expats. Wherever you go, there is going to be a range of people who have done the same thing you have. Perhaps some of those people have inspired you to move abroad in the first place. Getting out of your comfort zone and living in another country with another culture is going to be a big change, but you’re going to get to meet new people who have done the same thing you have and you can create links in that sense.
Your children can be your best teachers. If your children are the ones that prompt you into adventure, then why wouldn’t you want to move them abroad and have even more? Children could teach us that the world could be seen in a new light.

Anne

The Juggling Act of Multigenerational Living

February 16, 2024 By Anne

Buckle up, buttercup, and dive headfirst into the chuckle-fest that is multigenerational living! It’s like being stuck in an unaired TV show where the cast is your family, the script is made up on the fly, and every day’s antics are worthy of an Emmy. Forget the straight and narrow; life’s a wild ride concocted by your lovably eccentric clan, with more twists and turns than a whodunit written by a gang of jesters on a sugar high.

Via Pixabay

Mixing Masterclass: The Family Edition

Imagine, if you will, a bold soul attempting the unthinkable: marrying a dignified, aged whiskey with a zesty, neon-blue energy drink. Sounds like a recipe for a night to remember or a morning to forget, right? That’s just a regular Tuesday in the multi-gen household, where merging sage wisdom with youthful exuberance is the name of the game. Think of yourself as the world’s most ambitious mixologist, serving up generational cocktails at a time-traveling soiree!

Breakfast Buffet: The Ultimate Challenge

As the sun peeks over the horizon, the kitchen turns into a battlefield, reminiscent of a culinary game show where the grand prize is satisfying a motley crew of taste buds and dietary needs before the clock strikes breakfast o’clock. From sugary-cereal aficionados to fiber-worshiping elders, whipping up the morning feast is like competing in the breakfast Olympics with a ticking timer.

Emotion Commotion: The Family Funhouse

Strap in for the rollercoaster that is family feels, where the peaks of joy are sky-high, and the drops into drama are lightning-fast. One minute, granny and the teen might be giggling over their shared tech troubles, and the next, World War III, breaks out over the TV remote. It’s a whirlwind of chuckles, sniffles, and the odd “what’s it all about?” moment, all blended into one delightful chaos.

Work-Life Circus: The Juggling Act

Trying to balance professional duties with family shenanigans is like walking a tightrope in a tornado. Picture this: you’re trying to ooze professionalism in a Zoom call while, in the background, someone’s belting out a ballad about the baffling internet router. It’s a madcap dance of mute buttons and desperate signs, where every day is an audition for the “Keeping It Together Champion” award.

Guilt Trips Galore: The Emotional Rollercoaster

Sailing the seas of family duties and personal dreams is like navigating an ocean with a map sketched in lemon juice. The guilt trips are complimentary, adding an extra layer of emotional acrobatics as you strive to distribute your time and affection evenly. It’s an adventure where every stumble is a learning curve, and every triumph is a saga-worthy milestone.

Midnight Snack Skirmish

Just when you think the house has settled for the night, the kitchen turns into the arena for the ultimate secret snack showdown. Amidst the hush, a lone figure’s quest for a humble PB&J becomes an epic saga, entangled with a ceremonial tea brewing and a countdown to pizza. These nocturnal nibbles add that extra zest to the family sitcom, proving it’s the medley of characters that conjures up the real magic.

Casting Call: The Caregiver Chronicles

Thinking of introducing a professional caregiver into the mix? 24-hour in-home care can bring you, and the grandparents some good peace of mind, especially if you’re trying to juggle work, family, and, well, life. It’s like holding tryouts for a new character on your family’s sitcom. They’ve gotta have the skills, for sure, but they also need to vibe with the current cast. Brace yourself for a slew of quirky “audition tapes” as you search for the perfect addition.

Grand Finale: Hug the Mayhem

At the close of the day, transforming your abode into a multi-gen sanctuary is akin to directing and starring in your personal reality extravaganza. Sure, you’ll hit sitcom gold now and then, like when Grandpa mistakes the printer for a futuristic cooking gadget, but it’s these snippets that make the whole shebang priceless. Treasure this moment cause we don’t have many of them in life

Encore! Keeping the Laughter Alive

To all you daring adventurers already knee-deep in this wild journey, remember: a juggling mishap here and there only adds to the intrigue and the giggles. What’s a top-notch show without a dash of suspense and a heap of heart, after all? So take your well-deserved bow, keep those juggling balls airborne, and never forget, in the wacky circus of multigenerational living, it’s the love and laughter that are your true safety nets. Who knows, you might just snag a standing ovation from the toughest crowd around—your very own family!