Raising kids is expensive. By my estimate, it can cost close to $500K to raise a child, including college, in expensive parts of the country like the Bay Area. So, it’s helpful to know that there are certain tax advantages to having kids. A few of the more common ones are outlined below.
If you are like the 44% of Americans who made New Year’s resolutions in January, you might by now also be feeling like the 92% of people who fail to keep their resolutions. If so, you might be wondering what is the best way to stay on track? What can I do if I fall off the wagon? Or why bother setting them at all?
After a particularly divisive and negative election season, many might be craving a bit more positive energy and healing. The hectic pace and excessive consumption of the holidays can also cause stress. For these reasons, now is a particularly good time to focus on gratitude and generosity to others.
As the US presidential election cycle enters its final days leading up to the election on November 8th, it’s hard to avoid all the “experts” opining on the impact of the elections on the investment markets. Some may wonder if they should somehow change their portfolio in light of election results.
Given the ever-increasing cost of college and that 72% of undergraduates take out student loans to help pay for college, it’s worth understanding the student loan choices.
Every summer when I spend a week or two in Tahoe for vacation with my family, I fantasize about owning a cabin there. This summer, I decided to analyze what it would actually take to make this dream a reality.
I wrote earlier this summer about using the classic lemonade stand to teach your kids about money. Back-to-school shopping is another great opportunity to continue the financial education.
Now that most kids are out of school, parents might start hearing the dreaded “I’m bored” if their kids aren’t in camps all summer. The next time you hear that phrase, instead of just telling them to go outside and play, encourage them to start a lemonade stand and use the opportunity to teach them some useful personal finance and entrepreneurship skills.
Given the many competing demands on our money, many parents find themselves in a panic when their kids enter high school and they realize they have very little saved to pay for college. With the average annual cost of a private university now exceeding $45,000 and the average cost of a public university close to $25,000, most people can’t easily pay for college out of cash flow.
With the average cost of a private college now exceeding $45,000 and the average cost of a public university close to $25,000, you might wonder if sending your kids to college is still a good investment. Recent research indicates it still is.