Money moves for growing families

Make saving a game

Accountability is one of the biggest challenges in maintaining good money habits. As you enter the new year, get your family together to outline a fun and engaging spending plan. First, state that you’re “all in this together” rather than imposing limits on individual habits. Make an end goal to keep each other motivated throughout the year. Ideally, it should be an outcome or reward that everyone can enjoy together, like a year-end vacation.

Help your little ones understand the value of money by using allowances as an educational tool. With each lump sum, create interactive ways for your kids to funnel their wealth into specific channels. These can be a savings account, spending cash, investments, and even charitable donations.

Teach teenagers the value of money by gifting prepaid credit cards instead of gift cards. Help them avoid impulse buys via weekly check-ins. By encouraging a healthy money mindset early on, young adults will be better prepared for their financial futures, whether they can “see” money coming and going or not. It’s easy for adults to get in on the fun too. As a couple, you can contribute towards a monthly “fun fund” where the person who has saved the most is given spending rights. This is a great way to boost spending transparency and accountability as a household.

Go digital

If you’re overwhelmed by the thought of spreadsheets and financial equations, you’re not alone. Skip the pen and paper with free budget spreadsheets from companies likeTiller. Budgeting software and apps such as Quicken, Mint and You Need a Budget(YNAB), can also get you on the right track.

Automate good habits to boost your personal accountability. Schedule withdrawals to funnel your paycheck to savings, investment, and retirement accounts each month. Set up automatic reminders when bills are due to help you pace your spend. By taking these alerts out of your hands, you will be less stressed and in a better place to adapt when the unexpected happens.

A good place to start for budgeting is the 50-20-30 rule. The first fifty percent should go to basic necessities, such as housing, food, healthcare, and transportation. Twenty percent of your funds should go to paying down debt, retirement savings, and other long-term financial goals. The remaining thirty percent should go to your wants—from impulse buys to vacations.

Go to the experts

You may find that making finances a game and using digital tools isn’t enough. If so, it may be time to go to an accredited financial advisor to get your ducks in a row. Since different advisors have different styles, make sure that you do your research to determine if an advisor is a good fit for your financial goals before setting up a consultation. Personal finance blogs are a resource to help you navigate this process—and to get you acquainted with some common finance terms and principles. Here are some questions to keep in mind: Are you prepared to weather the emotional ups and downs of the stock market, or will you need to tap into your nest egg sooner? Are you familiar with common financial terms, or do you need a primer on the basics? No matter where you stand, it’s worth it to shop around and even ask for the opinions of friends, family, and coworkers if you desire a more personalized approach.

Prepare for rainy days

While life insurance may not come to mind as a wealth management tool, a budget-friendly life insurance policy can serve as an income replacement vehicle or even supplement caregiving responsibilities you may have for parents or extended family. Rather than a luxury, many life insurance policies are actually less than what you’d typically spend to eat a meal out and can provide a much-needed layer of security for both expected and unexpected end-of-life expenses.

You may think that your employer-based plan is sufficient, but have you given thought to what will be left behind for your loved ones on top of your final expenses? From rent to education and childcare, necessities can quickly become unmanageable in the event your household loses a breadwinner.

Luckily, locking in a good rate while you’re young and healthy is easy. Premiums typically increase by 8 to 12% each year as you age, so it’s advantageous to lock in a policy early. For younger and healthier people, term life insurance is often your best option. With a term policy, you have the flexibility to get coverage when you need it most—perhaps until you retire, your mortgage is paid off, or your kids leave home. If you’re older, you may want to consider a guaranteed or simplified issue whole life policy. Life insurance policies offer the peace of mind of a death benefit, which can help your family members pay off debt and keep your company afloat while they learn to get along without you.

Savor the journey

It may sound cliche, but putting your finances in order ensures your family’s success and wellbeing, no matter where the road takes you. Financial stability is all about being able to weather life's unexpected events, and life insurance is an important piece of the puzzle. By committing to each of these money moves, you’ll have the peace of mind knowing that you and your family are better prepared financially for whatever life throws at you.

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