PHOTOS: VEER
W orldM ags?)
Swap shop
Kids grow out of their clothes faster than you can say, “ T ry these on.” Thredup.com
makes it easy to trade old duds for new by letting
members exchange boxes of gently
used clothing online.
Search for the size you want, specify girls' or boys', browse
through the choices and pick your favorite box. Just remember that
in order to get
clothes, you need to offer your kids’ outgrown, still wearable clothes.
Post your
swap on the site, and when it gets selected, slap on a free shipping label and schedule a
pick-up. Basic membership is free, but there's a $13 shipping fee for each box you order.
Family, inc.
Give
allowance
a twist by treating your kids like
employees. Just
as companies
match workers’ retirement contributions,
pledge to
match whatever sum children save,
suggests
Deana Crawford
Arnett, a financial planner in Manassas, Virginia.
Be clear about
the rules— whether you’re
contributing 50 cents for each
dollar,
what the weekly maximum match is, and what counts
as
savings.
For young kids, Arnett suggests getting creative
and working up
a
“statement” in a spreadsheet program
so they can track balances.
“Older kids respond to cold, hard cash.”
Share less, save more
More than 50 percent of couples make every financial decision together— but that might
not be the road to riches or happiness, says new research from the MIT Age Lab and
financial services group The Hartford. “Things slip through the cracks when everyone’s
fingers are in the pie,” says Yahoo! personal finance expert Laura Rowley.
Couples who
divide and conquer financial chores end up with more money and less day-to-
day stress
than their sharing peers. T ry making each person the driver for a distinct set
of responsibilities, whether it’s paying bills, budgeting, or long-term planning.
Get a deal on new wheels
O ctober can be a good time to shop for a brand-new car, says LeeAnn Shattuck, co-owner
of car-buying service Women's Automotive Solutions. M ost new models start arriving
in August and September, so by October, dealers are getting anxious to unload old
inventory.
Do some homework online before visiting the dealer.
Research prices on
ed m u n d s.co m ,
check m anufacturer and car review sites for rebates, and think about what
extras you want so you don't forget to negotiate in the financing room. “ The majority of
dealer profit is made in that room— not on the car,” Shattuck says. (And
don’t sweat it if
the only ride left on the lot is a bananamobile.
Dutch researchers recently found that
the more brightly colored your car, the less chance it'll get stolen.) ■
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