finances

Even though our children seem in constant need of entertainment, most budgets will not support weekly trips to Disneyland, Six Flags, or the latest Characters on Ice show. Below are some ideas on how to entertain those restless offspring when the wind seems to be whistling through the void in your wallet.

While it might not sound like fun, teaching your kids the value of a dollar doesn't have to be a drag. Children learn invaluable life lessons by analogy; that is, they learn how things work on a big scale by doing them on small scale. By giving them an allowance and making it their responsibility, they learn how to manage (or not manage) money on a larger scale.

The last thing you want to think about is your child's college education. Not only is it several years away, but it's likely going to cost several thousand dollars just to pay for a decent school. And that's not even considering the possibility of out-of-state tuition prices.

In today's society of day care horror stories, school shootings and overall uncertainty about child caregivers, more parents are trying to make the decision if they should stay home with their children. Options like homeschooling and private tutors offer this possibility, but parents also have to decide if they can do that and still pay all the bills on just one income.

With increasing gas prices and rising inflation, budgets are an essential part of a household because it shows where every dollar is spent so there aren't any surprises at the end of the month. But creating a family budget isn't easy. It takes time, discussion and sometimes even trial-and-error to find a budget that fits your family's specific needs.

For many of us guys, just thinking about writing a will is like admitting that you cannot lift a 50 lb. sack of potatoes or are shopping for Ben-Gay on a regular basis --- it reeks of getting old. However, men of any age, particularly those of us with children, should have a will.

Learning about money is one of the most important aspects of life. And with the flailing economy and other financial concerns in the world today, teaching your child about money has never been more important. This doesn't need to be a daunting task, though.