As the adult child of an aging parent, some days you may sit in your home and wonder how you’ll be able to make the time and resources available to care for your aging parents. There are many aspects that are challenging and require enormous responsibility, adding to the stress that many adult children with aging parents feel. Either way, when the time has come, there are a few suggestions you’ll want to keep in mind before, during, and after you begin caring for an aging parent. Before you continue reading, remember to always keep your love for your parents in your mind so you can roll out the most suitable plan to help them stay on top of their finances and security.

Prepare for Financial Emergencies in Advance

The sad thing about emergencies is they can strike you or your home at any time and any place. If you don’t have a plan or little savings aside, you can quickly find yourself in financial hardship. Chances are, you want to avoid that added stress, so you’ll do good by putting aside a set amount from your income sources and putting it towards emergencies. Even having low amounts of savings can be helpful for the worst of situations, like car accidents, falls, or reoccurring symptoms from preexisting conditions.

Still, part of winning an insurance claim is knowing how medical insurance works. In 2018, roughly 42% of 110,400 employed underwriters worked with direct insurance carriers. Knowing interesting details about how your insurance company works is also a way to stay on top of emergencies. For your aging parents, these fine details may become overwhelming due to existing health problems, so learn everything about medical insurance and be sure you have enough money to pay your premiums. Few situations are more unfortunate than having no money to pay for a medical emergency and no insurance due to a misunderstanding.

If something really tragic has happened, and you need to file a class-action lawsuit, you should also be prepared with working knowledge of that sector. Most class-action suits will be dealt with by FedArb Arbitrators in a similar fashion as to FRCP 23 rules. It’s important to have a working understanding of law should the time come where you will need to help your parents with it.

Prepare a Monthly Budget to Stay on Top of Expenses

At home, your monthly budget will create a sense of freedom and independence among your aging parents. That, in part, comes from them having to do the same things with diminishing cognitive abilities and significant medical concerns. You’ll need to implement a budget on behalf of your aging parents so they can see where their money is going, how much they’re bringing in, and where they can make improvements. Chances are, your parents want to have a budget in place anyway, and likely had one during the time they were still capable of managing their finances. In case they are not, don’t take any more control than you have to, and instead, be a listening ear as you record information and organize a budget. You won’t have to worry about filing a lawsuit if your parents were taken advantage of by a scammer.

Work Another Job or Work-from-Home

You might be tricked into believing now that your parents are aging, you need to be by their side every moment of the day. In reality, most parents will become quickly irritated and discouraged, as they’re very likely able to do a lot on their own without your assistance. However, when it comes to gathering money for a retirement home at a later date or paying for emergency repairs now, it pays to have another job in place, or at least your current job, while your parents are living with you. You might even benefit from taking up freelancing tasks or learning virtual assistant work so you can work from home while you’re parents live at your house. Most long-term disability policies will pay benefits until age 65 or Social Security Normal Retirement Age. That means your parents will have freedom and financial security up to a certain point, but your income can make a great difference. While your parents are living at home, be sure to think about the future and whether or not taking on another job might provide additional security. If so, it just might be the choice that could make life much more comfortable for your parents.

Taking care of your aging parents in-house is a huge responsibility. There will be many decisions you have to make, but as long as you have a budget in place and some emergency savings, there is a great chance you and your parents can enjoy your time together, while they also enjoy financial independence. Remember, part of taking care of your aging parents is remembering that they need to be independent, so that just might mean you need to take on extra work. But as long as you remember that you love your parents, you’ll always have a healthy financial plan developed for their benefit.

I have partnered with Dryel as an ambassador and am excited to share how Dryel works and how it can help you save money! I have received free products and compensation as part of this partnership.

Dresses Galore! (Yup, I’m the dress queen)

I have SO many dresses. Dresses for summer, for work, and for every other occasion. I just wore this one above to work, and then to a Hibachi restaurant for a lovely dinner date! 

So because I wear them so much, but am honestly so busy, I need a way to take care of all my delicate clothes and fabrics so they last but won’t take a lot of my time. So that means driving to the dry cleaners regularly is out!

Thankfully I have Dryel which is super easy to use and takes care of my clothes safely.

I’ve written before about Dryel, how it works and how it saves me time & money (yay!), but today I wanted to share how it also can clean most of your fabrics without shrinking, stretching or fading them!

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Keeping the home healthy and clean is a priority for every homeowner, as is adjusting their lifestyle in line with money saving tips that will grant more financial security for the family. If you’re looking for protective measures that you can take along these lines, have a look at the five tips below.

Make a Weekly Cleaning Schedule

Eliminate Pests and Rodents

Get Your Home Tested

Fix Structural Issues

To make sure that you’re sitting on solid ground, fix any structural issues within your home. Things like plumbing, electrical, and even fixtures like doors and windows will not only look good but will also help with efficient energy use. It’s also a lot easier to clean immaculately when there are no broken and leaking systems in the house, so do the necessary repairs or hire a professional to do them. After this, you will find it easy to clean and get visible results instantly, which is something that will keep you going!

Test Alarms Throughout the Home

At some point, your children outgrow their small playing areas and need a bigger space for their activities. You then need to find solutions while keeping in mind a few money saving tips. Read on to see five such tips that will help you create a gaming room that your kids will rave about for years to come.

Decide On the Main Games You Will Set the Space Up For

Different games call for different setups. Although most games will involve similar play positions, some interactive games may need more room than others. You could choose to set up the space for the most popular game at the moment if your child does not have a defined favorite in mind. A game like Minecraft, for instance, has had more than 200 million copies sold as of May 2020. You could choose this as the basis of your setup because most games in the same period will probably follow similar setups.

Include Board Games

If you have children with different tastes, they may not all enjoy gaming on screens. If there is one child who prefers board games like puzzles, Monopoly, and Scrabble, they will be happy to be included in the setup. You can organize and space out different playing sections within the designated game room.

Set Up Good Lighting and Cable Management

Good lighting is important in enabling your children to find their way around controllers that may be lying on the floor away from their rightful place and prevent eye strain from occurring. The right lighting can also potentially save you a high energy bill, such as using LED snake lights as opposed to regular overhead bulbs which consume more power. In 2019, commercial buildings consumed a total of 18% of all the energy used in the United States. With all the gadgets in a game room, you can expect a similar rate of energy consumption unless you are proactive in keeping it low.

Get Affordable Furniture

Note that affordable furniture does not have to come at the cost of comfort. Good ergonomics will go a long way in helping your children stay in the proper positions, avoiding aches and discomfort even if they sit for a long time. Try thrift shopping to see if you will find someone getting rid of good seats and tables that you can take advantage of. One of the best money saving tips, this will help you get what may be the most important thing out of the way affordably.

Find Gaming Room Decor Ideas

If you want to get a gaming room with an edge, consider searching online for inspiration. Look through different setups and find one that you feel will work for your space and budget. Then, refine it to make it fully yours. With more than 51% of people using smartphones discovering a new company or product through researching on their smartphone, you have the power to do deep research with your own two hands!

If you are looking for money saving tips that don’t involve compromising on the quality of what you get for your kids’ gaming space, spend time doing research. Join gaming forums if you can, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Most people will be willing to guide you in areas where you need guidance because everyone was a novice at some point. Taking the time to research will save you time and money in the long run, and it’ll allow you to set up a space your kids love!

Your home has been giving you a place to live and securing your family and belongings for a while. However, you must also be responsible for ensuring that the property is in good shape all the time. Home renovation projects are quite a lot, but not all of them can help increase the return on investment. There are some improvements you can make and not realize any boost to your home’s resale value. Below, you will learn about the best improvement projects that can enhance your return on investment.

The Projects

When you hear about return on investment, you should understand that it simply means realizing your money’s worth after the home improvement projects are complete. It also means doing renovations and remodeling that will attract the best buyers. You would be surprised to learn that of all the people who want to buy a new home, 32% of them are first-time buyers. Therefore, the following are some of the best improvements you can make to your property to increase its value and return on investment.

Roof Remodeling

The roof is one of the conspicuous parts of the property that potential buyers see first. Regular checkups are essential to help you identify any roofing issues before they get out of hand. Nonetheless, about one in four or 23% of homeowners say that they rarely have their roof inspected unless they realize an issue. This should not be the case because roof problems can cause more significant issues, which may cost more to repair or replace the broken parts. You should have all your roofs renovated, including the one covering wherever you park your car. The appearance of your garage’s or parking lot’s roof also plays an important role when selling your home.

Making your Home Smart

The advancement in technology has made life easier for many homeowners. Most buyers in today’s real estate market look for homes that have leveraged different technological systems. An increase in return on investment also entails being ahead of your competitors. Having a smart home increases your chances of selling your home quickly and at the best price. Think of installing thermostats, an HVAC system, sound-controlled lighting, and security cameras. All these will boost a potential buyer’s interest in the property and give you bargaining power.

Painting

Adding a coat of paint can transform your property in ways you have never imagined. However, if you are in a tight financial spot, you could consider just painting the exterior. Touching up the home’s exterior with a coat of paint can boost your return on investment by about 55%. You should note that if you are improving your home to sell, you should not paint it according to your tastes and preferences. You can talk to your local realtor who can advise you on the colors in high demand in the market.

Kitchen Renovation

Besides the home’s exterior, prospective buyers will also want to know the state of the interior parts, the kitchen being at the top of the list. Giving your kitchen touch-up can make your return on investment skyrocket. Potential clients will be turned away by a messy and not renovated kitchen because they will have to take on such projects when they move into the house. Experts advise that minor kitchen renovations can bring back about 78% of the investment costs, while upscale can help you realize 58% ROI.

Flooring

A home with a well-done floor is worth more. When it comes to floor improvements, you can think of installing wooden flooring or renovating the existing one, if your budget is tight. However, the money you recoup from either of the two projects depends on the property’s price range and the work that needs to be done.

There are so many benefits of conducting home improvement projects. Such benefits include boosting the home’s performance, making it safer for the occupants, and increasing the property’s value. However, the above-discussed renovations are the best that can help you significantly increase your return on investment.

Home remodeling can raise the value of your property, provide extra space, and give an older house a more modern look. However, sticking to a budget can be difficult, and if you don’t keep track of your expenses, you may end up draining your bank account. Adhering to a budget is one of the most difficult things to do, and most people fail at it. The following tips will help you stick to that budget you’ve set.

Plan, Plan, Plan

Making a plan and adhering to it is one of the things you’ll need to consider to cut costs during your home remodel. Changing the plan frequently results in delays, additional costs for materials, and additional labor time. Deviating from your plan will almost always have a substantial impact on your budget. In 2016, 46% of homeowners who had set a budget went over it.

So, once you’ve started the project, it’s important to stick to the original plan. Create a checklist of what you need and what you don’t, depending on your budget. Determine what you can eliminate or remove from the checklist and items that must remain on the checklist at any cost. Make an honest assessment of the amount you can spare for each level of the project.

Research

If you do your due diligence and research, this will help you estimate how much you should anticipate spending on the project as a whole. It will also offer you the flexibility to select where to economize and where to splurge; knowing this upfront will make it simpler to set a budget and keep to it. It’s critical to have a realistic home remodeling budget in place if you want to stay within the limits of whatever budget you will come up with.

You’ll need to look at the prices of supplies and products as well as the labor costs. This will enable you to estimate the cost of your renovation, allowing you to make an informed choice about whether or not this is something you can afford at this time. Also, if you do your research well, you might even consider home remodeling options like landscaping that can save you money in the long run. Spending as little as 5% of your home’s worth on landscaping might result in an ROI of up to 150%. So, you don’t only get to remodel your home within the limits of your budget, but you can also enjoy a return on your investment in the future.

Get Quotes From Different Contractors

To get a solid cost for your home remodeling, you’ll need a set of drawings and building quotes. Make an effort to obtain at least three different quotes from separate companies to compare. Because quotations can differ greatly, read them carefully, understand what is included, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Return to your builder if they give you a quote that is higher than you expected. Check to see if and where you can save money, such as by doing the work in stages or changing the design or specification. When you’re on a limited budget, it’s in your best interest to find dependable contractors who are affordable and good at what they do. Check each contractor’s references, ask to see their work, and do some online research on each company.

Go DIY On Some Remodeling Projects

Doing things yourself is unquestionably the most cost-effective strategy to save money on home renovations. Of course, you can do simple things yourself, such as painting, but depending on the service, it’s best to just admit you need help and hire a professional – especially for electrical and plumbing work.

Add a Buffer

If home remodeling can teach you anything, it’s that remodeling doesn’t always go as planned! Once you’ve calculated your budget, it’s a good idea to set aside 25% of the overall cost as a ‘buffer’ in case of any unforeseen events or additions. Even if things go awry, you’ll be able to keep inside your budget if you do this. You can even use this money to make your home not only trendy but more energy efficient. Over the past 20 years, energy use in the U.S. doubled, and going eco-friendly is the way to go. So, you may even consider affordable energy-efficiency appliances or fixtures that can save you money.

It’s an important aspect of your remodeling planning and management to make sure you keep on track and don’t end up with a negative balance at the end. A budget is a tool that can help you keep track of your project and meet your financial goals. So, remodel your home based on these solid money-saving tips.