What You Should Know Before You Stock Up

 It is tough to pass up the urge to buy bulk items sometimes. The big-box stores make the deals look so attractive that you never stop to think about the fact that it would take approximately 10 years to eat all that rice and that you would have to look into warehousing King of Prussia PA in order to store it. Recently, it has become commonplace to feel that you need to stockpile staples, but you want to spend your money wisely and not leave things to waste. To make it easy, consult this list of things to take a hard pass on before you take your next trip to the store.

Could You Be a Landlord?

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There are many benefits to being a landlord. The main one is the income source. Letting out a property that you own, whether outright or with a mortgage, is a great way to make a passive income. But, it’s not often as easy as you may think. 

Many people choose to rent out a property that they may have inherited. Or a couple might think about letting out one of their homes when they decide to live together. It can seem like the ideal way to make easy money. Unfortunately, many new landlords quickly run into trouble. There are more tax and other financial responsibilities for landlords today, and more rules and regulations to protect tenants. Landlords can also have more responsibilities than they’d expect when it comes to looking after their property and tenants. Many people now wonder if the extra income is worth their time at all. 

Well, it can be. Being a landlord can be a great way to earn extra money and secure your own financial future as long as you do it well. Here are some things to ask yourself if you are considering leasing out a property. 

Are You Ready to Learn Laws and Regulations?

There are many different laws and regulations for landlords today. Most of these are designed to protect your tenants, giving them rights and protecting their interests. Unfortunately, many landlords find that they inadvertently break the law, with no ill will intended. Learning as much as you can often is the best way to prevent this. 

Do You Care About More Than Earning a Passive Income?

The best landlords, the ones that are most financially successful, and have long-term tenants who treat their properties well, are the ones who don’t just collect rent. The best landlords take the time to build relationships with their tenants.

Have You Got the Time to Look After Tenants?

Being a landlord does create a passive income. But, it might not be quite as passive as you think. You may have to spend time answering calls, arranging repairs, checking up on tenants and even arranging contracts, collecting rents, dealing with legal issues and finding new tenants if someone moves out. There can actually be a lot of work involved. 

If you don’t have time, that certainly doesn’t mean that you can’t make money letting property. Hiring GRG Property Management to take care of your property and tenants can take all the stress away while ensuring your tenants are well cared for. 

Do You Have a Long-Term Plan?

What’s your long-term plan? Will you sell the house so that you can retire, or leave it to your kids? Will you rent long-term? Is it a one-off, or the start of an empire? Would you like to live in this house one day? 

Do You Have Property?

Of course, becoming a landlord is much easier if you already own a property that you don’t want to, or can’t live in yourself. If not, are you willing to buy one, and pay the mortgage on it? What would you do if it was left unoccupied for a long time?

Should You Think About Writing A Will?

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There’s a lot of uncertainty in the air, and life has really been flipped on its head as of late. The coronavirus outbreak has got us all living indoors with plenty of time to ponder everything about life. As the title of this blog suggests, it might be time to think about writing your will. I’m not trying to be ominous or suggest that something bad will happen to you! However, times like these put everything into perspective. Life is precious, so you really need to consider what will happen when you do pass away - which will hopefully be in many, many years. 

With plenty of free time on your hands, there’s no better time to start writing your will. If you’re still not convinced, then have a look at these reasons to at least think about writing it: 

Protect your kids when you’re no longer around

The sad reality is that we never know when we’ll die. It could be today, tomorrow, or 70 years from now. Regardless of when it happens, you need to know that your kids are safe and looked after. This is particularly important if you have very young children. Yes, they might grow to be 40 or 50 before you die, but they could also still be underage - you just don’t know. Writing a will means you decide what happens to them in this unfortunate scenario, so you know they’re looked after and kept safe. It also means you can give them money and other assets, which will help them in their life. 

Protect your assets

When someone dies, all of their assets need to get divided up and sent to different places. This involves something called probate estate, which is the legal term for all the shenanigans that go on behind the scenes. If you don’t have a will, then your assets don’t necessarily go to your next of kin. Sometimes, they’re just seized by the bank or given to the government. Needless to say, you don’t want this to happen. You spent a lifetime earning all your assets, so make sure they’re protected and end up in the right hands. Your will is the best way to dictate this. 

Remove stress from the grieving process

Some of you may have already had the terrible experience of dealing with the death of a parent. As you know, there are so many things to do with regard to funeral planning, sorting out all of their old stuff, and so on. It’s a very stressful time, and things are made even worse if there’s no will. Writing a will will make things easier for your children when you pass away. You’ve left clear instructions for what to do with everything you own, so there’s no guesswork or legal battles to worry about. 

I know you don’t like thinking about this, but it’s a part of life we all need to come to terms with. Writing a will isn’t a death sentence! You can write it whenever you like, no matter how healthy you are. It’s simply there to provide assurance to your family when the time is right. 

Why Your Kids Should Go on Adventures

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Almost all kids books centre around an adventure. The main character almost always goes on a journey of discovery that leads them through difficult times but ultimately shows them how strong and capable they really are. Moana ventures past the reef to save her island, PAW Patrol is all about solving problems and Dora the Explorer goes on all kinds of missions. 

But modern children hardly ever go outside and go on adventures of their own. Parents seem to be so afraid of children hurting themselves or getting into trouble, they don’t see all the benefits of allowing children to fend for themselves. 

The truth is that your kids are unlikely to get themselves into the kind of trouble that requires you to have personal injury lawyers on speed dial!

Go Camping

Camping is a great way to instil a sense of adventure in your kids. Showing them how to put up a tent and build a fire to cook outside is lots of fun and will give your kids life skills too. Cooking over a campfire takes some practice so just make sure that any meat you cook is definitely done before you start eating. 

Exploring the surroundings together will help to familiarise your kids with the area but you might also like to encourage them to explore on their own. Try going for walks together in the morning and then allowing them to play alone in the afternoon while you relax. Just make sure that they don’t venture too far away and they know how to get back! 

Take a Road Trip

A road trip is a great opportunity for trying new things together and having fun. From water parks to beach trips, trying new foods and plotting your route on a map, there are plenty of chances for your kids to get involved. 

Involving your kids in decision making along the way doesn’t mean that you have to say yes to everything but listening to their suggestions will give them a sense of responsibility and empowerment.

Let Them Explore at Home

Adventures don’t always have to be wild and far away. Letting your kids go out and about on their own - for example, going to a nearby park or calling for a friend - will also give them a sense of greater responsibility. To give you and your kids peace of mind, there are a few things you should think about first. 

To start with, you need to be comfortable with where your kids want to go. Try going out together and letting them take the lead. Along the way show them where it is and isn’t safe for them to play. To start with, you might limit their range to within view of your house. Putting a time limit on playing out is also a good idea. Always be clear at what time you expect them to be back. If your child is mature enough, you might also like to give them a cheap cell phone so they are always contactable and they can call you any time. 

How Engaged Should You Be In Your Child's Early Education?

It might seem like a silly question, and you may immediately respond with “as much as physically possible.” However, the truth is that a lot of parents rightfully worry about hovering over their kids and getting in the way of their development. As such, we’re going to look at ways that you should definitely be involved, so if you’re doing the below, you don’t need to feel guilty about it.

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Building a strong routine

The school day is a big part of your child’s day, but a lot of kids have trouble getting used to the routine of going to school in the morning, meaning they can restless, antsy, and not paying attention. The single best way to make sure that they are ready for school is with healthy morning and nighttime routines.

Helping with homework

If your child comes back with homework, it’s important to fit that in the schedule by dedicating specific time for homework. It’s even better if you have a homework station, such as a desk, where they can do it without too much distraction. There’s nothing wrong with helping them do their homework, either, but it’s important you try to not simply give them the answers. Instead, try to teach them the methods of answer certain questions.

Supporting their learning

If you want to raise your child in a way that supports what they’re going to learn in school, thus helping them get to grips with what they’re going to be learning, then you need to learn what they’re going to be learning. You can look at their preschool curricula, see what’s being covered, and give them a little headstart at home. For instance, learning basic skills like letters, numbers, and how to hold a pencil are all going to benefit them in their education later.

Supplementing their education

Once your child is in education, you might not want to focus on what is covered in school as much. In fact, you might want to cover what’s not being covered in academia. Look for skills and ways to expand their curiosity and creativity that aren’t being covered by the school as well as they need to be. It’s okay that a parent supplements their child’s education outside of school. Education isn’t supposed to be kept solely in the classroom.

Conferencing with teachers

Of course, it’s important to know how your child is doing. Talk with their teachers regularly about what milestones they are covering, how they seem to be coping emotionally, and see if they have any more specific tips on how you can guide their learning from home. A good education is the product of an engaged teacher, an engaged child, and an engaged parent. If one of those is missing, it can become a problem.

It’s important to make sure you don’t stand on your kid’s toes during their education. If you’re doing their homework for them then, yes, you have officially gone too far. Otherwise, if you’re doing the above, you’re on the right track.