Prairie Eco-Thrifter

AUGUST 19, 2013

You get to enjoy all the cute moments and hand back the kid when they stink or act out! We spoiled our children and we apparently are even more intent on doing so with our grandchildren! My parents were somewhat more interactive with their grandchildren (my kids). Why are we spending more on our grandchildren?

Grandchildren 220

Grandchildren Grandkids Kids and Family Parenting 220

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

SEPTEMBER 28, 2015

Although I live 200+ miles away from my two grandkids, I try to get them for a week or so during the summer. There are many documented benefits to utilizing grandparents to watch grandkids. Although using relatives to kid sit can be fraught with stress, anxiety and cause for family arguments, many families do it successfully.

Parenting 100

Parenting Watches Grandkids Kids 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

JANUARY 21, 2016

Recently, an extended family trip to Hawaii got put on hold due to costs. I followed my own advice and tried to be very clear on what parts my spouse and I would be able to handle for the rest of the family – financially. I was raised in a family that went on a two week road trip every year, no matter what.

Building 100

Building Kids and Family Hawaii Son 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

DECEMBER 8, 2013

Many well to do families have been counting on this as a way to pass along significant wealth to their next generations. First, if I had managed to convert everything to a Roth, the grandkids would be swamped with hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Roth IRA contributions are made post tax.

Converse 176

Converse Taxes Grandkids Money 176

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

OCTOBER 11, 2016

The Grandkids are 9 and 12 now with lots of time before they have to start supporting themselves somehow. After 10 years raising kids, I decided to re-enter the workforce. Summer jobs become permanent ones; family or friends pressure young people toward options that avoid temporary unemployment. It didn’t.

Psychology 100

Psychology Computers Kids and Family Son 100

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

AUGUST 17, 2015

We Baby Boomers are fueling the travel industry and many of us are taking our extended families along on our vacations. Even the New York Times acknowledges that: As boomers join the ranks of grandparents, many are financing vacations for their children and grandchildren. We took my Mom with us to Florida in the 1980’s.

Vacation 100

Vacation Family Grandchildren Kids and Family 100