I may squeeze in a few more days by the pool before it closes, but my inbox is already filling with field trip sign-ups and ads for planners. There’s no denying it: Back-to-school season is here.
Learning doesn’t stop once you graduate, either. Let your kids’ new school year inspire you to tackle a few projects of your own — namely, making sure your family’s finances are as on-point as a freshly sharpened pencil. This financial “homework” guide can set you up for success.
Students learn best when they have a strong educational foundation. Whether they’re reviewing the ABCs or memorizing the periodic table of elements, kids rely on certain building blocks to get their facts straight and prepare for the next lesson.
You may already have your financial foundation in place. If not, now is a great time to take action to feel more secure.
Your will is one of the most important documents you can have as a parent. If something should happen to you, you need to make sure there’s a plan to protect your children. Your will is the best legal document to set plans for how to handle your estate and name desired guardians for your kids.
If you don’t have a will: Write one! Working with an estate attorney is a great idea, especially if you have complex plans for how to handle your affairs. If time and money commitments feel daunting, don’t worry. You can make a legally binding will with Fabric in a few minutes, completely for free.
If you do have a will: It’s a good idea to review your will every so often. You might have new assets to mention, or you may want to adjust your plans, especially when it comes to your kids. Do you and your partner agree on a preferred guardian? If the guardian moves across the country or had surprise triplets, could that affect your preferences or their ability to step up if needed?
Most families would benefit from the financial security a life insurance policy can offer. Make sure your life insurance policy is keeping up with your life. You want to have enough coverage to cover major debts (e.g., mortgage), future goals (e.g., college tuition) and match some current contributions (e.g., several years’ worth of your salary to go toward household needs).
If you don’t have life insurance: A good way to get started is estimate how much coverage you’re likely to need. From there, get a quote to start comparing policy options.
If your life insurance needs have changed: If you need extra coverage because you’ve had another baby and recalculated your overall plans, you might want to look into a supplemental policy. If you’ll need life insurance longer than you initially expected, this could be a good time to consider what term length you need, or if a whole life policy makes sense for your family.
Following a budget is an important strategy to avoid (most) financial surprises and stick to your goals. Or at least that’s the advice we all know we should be following. In the hubbub of work, kids, school forms and permission slips, chores and maybe sneaking in a workout or social life, filling out a detailed budget can end up crumpled in the bottom of your figurative backpack.
This year, no more “the dog ate my budget” excuses. Use these ideas to feel more on top of family finances.
Budgeting apps can suit different styles, whether you prefer to give every dollar a job or customize your own categories. Sync up your accounts with your partner through Fabric so you’re both looped in on where money is going. Some other popular budget apps include:
Mint
YNAB
Simplifi
EveryDollar
Payments for your home or insurance may stay more or less the same. As your kids grow, though, your spending on their activities may change more widely. Add up what you spend on each kid’s sports or other activities, plus equipment. (This can also be a good time to gut-check that spending feels fair across kids.) Take note of any other one-off events (e.g., county fair, tickets to see Santa) to add to the budget.
If you’ve ever signed up for an online trial to get free shipping or binge a show, and then forgotten to cancel before the service charged you, we see you (and we’ve been there!). Just like you should occasionally shake the snack crumbs and old handouts out of your kid’s backpack, you should go through your credit statement to clear out recurring charges for services you don’t want.
You may have barely finished the last of the summer camp laundry, but this can be a good time to take stock. Did your kids try multiple camps? Which did they like best, and how much did it cost? Will a younger sibling be old enough for camp next year (or graduate from half-day to full-day)? Budgeting to save a little at a time for camp starting now can mean less stress at sign-up time.
While students are juggling a full courseload, adults are balancing various savings priorities that all demand dollars and attention. Here’s your cheat sheet to organize your savings.
You need a budget in part because it helps inform what your emergency fund should be. Some sources recommend six to 12 months’ worth of income, but an alternative way of thinking about it is saving in terms of household expenses. If you’re spending $5,000 per month, you should aim for $30,000 to $60,000 in savings. Especially if inflation has changed your typical spending on staples like groceries, you might need to adjust your emergency fund target accordingly.
Automatic savings transfers help you meet goals without having to remember to make time to save every month. Set automated college contributions as a budget “bill.” You can see how far your current savings may take you with a college savings calculator and aim to update your target monthly contribution if you’re not on track.
Set regular contributions to other savings or custodial accounts you use, too, like an UGMA for your kids.
In addition to building your emergency fund, you might prefer to earmark a separate savings item on your budget for an expense coming up in a few years or less. Maybe you suspect it’s time to replace Old Mostly Faithful, your beloved college clunker, or you’re planning a home renovation project. Saving a little starting now can help you feel ready when the time comes.
Using credit is a way of life for most of us. Credit cards can be a great way to build your credit score and even make use of rewards, but debt can also get out of hand quickly.
You’re legally entitled to a free credit check once a year from all three of the major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. But in these uncertain economic times, you may need more than an annual check-in. All three credit bureaus made a temporary change in 2020 to allow weekly free credit reports, and this program is currently extended until December 31, 2023. If your score takes a sudden drop or you see activity that doesn’t look right, you can dispute errors or fraud on your credit report and keep it from damaging your credit rating.
Some credit cards come with perks like cash back rewards or points to use toward airfare. This could be a good time to redeem rewards for cash or gift cards for holiday shopping, or see if there are travel deals that could come in handy.
Are you and your partner authorized users on each other’s credit cards? Do you have transparency into each other’s spending? Every couple and family has their own arrangement that works for them, but it’s good to get on the same page, especially if you’re getting back into a budgeting habit. If your kids are getting started using a debit or credit card, make a plan for how they’ll stay accountable with their spending, too.
You are your children’s first and most important teacher. Whatever you model becomes part of how they view money and the world. When you choose to donate some of your money, you’re not only supporting a meaningful cause, you’re shaping your children’s values.
While bills work great on a “set it and forget it” model, you might get more satisfaction out of your donations by giving them extra attention. Read about your favorite organization’s latest accomplishments to see what your gifts helped achieve. Or, take time to learn about an organization working toward another cause that speaks to you, and add it to your giving list.
If your kids earn an allowance, you might encourage them to donate a portion. If you plan on doing any special volunteer or giving projects around the holidays, make sure you’ve allotted a place in your budget so your finances are ready to match your generosity.
Learning is a lifelong process. As you send kids back to school, the energy of a new school year can be the spark you need to make sure all your finances make the grade.
You can save for college in various accounts, including 529 plans and UGMA or UTMA accounts. Saving in a combination of plans can give you more flexibility.
An UTMA or UGMA account can help you save for your kids’ future. For me and my husband, here’s how our kids’ accounts reflect some of our financial values.
UGMAs and 529 accounts can both help parents save for their kids’ future. Learn the plans’ advantages and differences to choose your best option.
Pre-existing conditions can make getting life insurance more challenging, but you may still have coverage options. This is how insurers look at common health conditions.
Life insurance without a medical exam is frequently misunderstood. Separate myths from facts about no-exam policy options.
Do affluent families still need life insurance? How and why to use life insurance for high-earning households.
Term Life Insurance Policy Series ICC22 2205-4004 WSA and Accelerated Death Benefit Rider policy series ICC22 2205-2623 WSA (and state variations where applicable) issued by Western-Southern Life Assurance Company, Cincinnati, OH which operates in DC and all states except NY, and distributed by Gerber Life Agency, LLC using Fabric Technologies. Gerber Life Agency, LLC is an affiliate of Gerber Life Insurance Company (est. 1967). All are members of Western & Southern Financial Group (Western & Southern). Issuance of coverage for Term Life Insurance is subject to underwriting review and approval. Please see a copy of the policy for the full terms, conditions and exclusions. Product provisions, availability, definitions and benefits may vary by state. Payment of benefits under the life insurance policy is the obligation of, and is guaranteed by, the issuing company. Guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability of the issuer. Products are backed by the full financial strength of the issuing company.
All sample pricing is based on a 30-year old F in Excellent health for the coverage amount shown and a 10-year term policy, unless otherwise stated. Gerber Life Agency, LLC (GLA) is an insurance agency licensed to sell life insurance products. GLA will receive compensation from Western-Southern Life Assurance Company for such sales. The NAIC Company Code for Western-Southern Life Assurance Company is 92622.
Western-Southern Life Assurance Company's A+ Superior A.M. Best Rating: Superior ability to meet ongoing insurance obligations (second highest of 13 ratings; rating held since June 2009). Ratings are subject to change from time to time. The ratings shown here are correct as of 09/03/2022. For more information about a particular rating or rating agency, please visit the website of the relevant agency.
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Gerber Life is a registered trademark. Used under license from Société des Produits Nestlé S.A. and Gerber Products Company.
In the State of California, Gerber Life Agency, LLC is known as and does business as Gerber Life Insurance Agency, LLC.
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