New Attitude about Family Finances, the Holidays and the Rocky Economy

How do parents cope with financial stress, especially with the holiday season just around the corner?

Gather the family together to discuss expectations and priorities. Together, discuss what is most important to your family?

Work together to create an overall holiday budget; many families have never even tried this before.

Plan now for holiday meals and treats.

The holidays can be stressful in and of themselves. Coping with a rocky economy makes this even more challenging Make sure to allow time in your fall and holiday schedule for exercise, rest, and family fun time.

• Stay positive.
• Spend more time at home with your children.
• Relearn to play family games like scrabble, monopoly, or jigsaw puzzles.
• Start a new hobby with the entire family that will make Christmas simpler.
• Prepare fresh, healthy meals, especially at Thanksgiving.
• Learn to slow down and let go of non-essentials.

Have the whole family plan to send food to a less fortunate family for Thanksgiving.

We should not be surprised nor should we underestimate the confusion and likely consequences of the current financial crisis.

When parents control the stress they put on themselves, it trickles down to the entire family.

Many parents are never far from concern, responsibility and anxiety when it comes to their children, which leaves parents under financial stress and pressure.

Involve your kids in food preparation, for this is a good way to pass on basic cooking skills.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner. A simple idea of helping a less fortunate family can give your family a feeling Perhaps this year, your family could enjoy a few wonderful side dishes to the turkey. If you are like me, we fix way more food than all the family could actually eat in days.

The children could each pick a special dish that they would like and learn to cook this dish with the family for “Turkey Day”. There will always be leftover turkey to make sandwiches and other favorites.

Facing the challenges of the economy as a family will help everyone to have more optimism and strength through togetherness.