The spring is the time of year when kids are thinking about the end of the school year, while parents are thinking about how to keep their kids busy – or even planning ahead for the future. The end of spring is the time for graduation, and many kids have been accepted to a college or two and are making some huge decisions that will affect the rest of their lives. Parents with college-bound teenagers are most likely considering their money situations, which these days can make going to college stressful to say the least. But if you’ve saved enough for your college-bound kid, a little extra saving here and there (and setting a good example) before they leave the nest can help save you a little stress.

Have A Yard Sale

One of the biggest pains for kids going to college is the packing – after all, you’re usually moving to a completely new space, so it’s important to figure out what you’re taking with you – so going through their stuff with them and figuring out what they can get rid of will help ease the transition a little. If you’ve done your spring cleaning around the house and have figured out what you can sell, set up a summer yard sale so that you and your college-bound kids can learn how to let go of stuff while making a few bucks that will help during those self-sufficient early days at school (like buying groceries or supplies). It also helps your kids not over-pack (though with all the excitement of leaving home, that might end up happening anyway!)

Don’t Take That Huge Summer Vacation

The summer before college feels like it’s the last time they’ll have true freedom. Like many families, if you can afford to go on a nice summer vacation as a reward before going off to college, it might end up biting you in the budget. You can also consider a staycation, like a trip to a nearby National Park or a board game weekend. Even encouraging gatherings of friends at the house so they can enjoy the summer before they all go to different places will give them great memories to take with them. You’ll be spending less money that can go to helping your kids offset costs.

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With the summer coming up, there are going to be a lot of teenagers who will be looking forward to some time off from school, and – depending on their age – maybe are looking right now for a summer job like lifeguarding or even starting their first experience in retail or the service industry. Perhaps you have a child in their early teens who is too young for a job but has chores around the house or perhaps mows lawns to save up money during the summer. But you also want to make sure your teens develop good budgeting habits. So what can you do to help your teen stay on a budget this summer?

Think Small About Purchases, Big About Life

Most teens are working to save for purchases like a new mp3 player, but if they’re a little older, they may be saving to help build up for a big trip, or even for college or other kinds of education after they graduate high school. If they’re making a purchase, emphasizing researching what they want to buy — so they get the most value out of their money while at the same time showing them that they don’t have to spend money as they get it — is a great way to get them into smart buying habits. And when they graduate high school and want to continue their education, you can help them realize their goals by matching funds or having them deposit a percentage of their allowance or paycheck that’s for their own college fund.

Make It Traditional Or Modern

Like hitting any kind of goals, it’s important to keep track of it! It can be as easy as a spreadsheet on their computer, a print-out you hang on the fridge with a magnet, or even setting up a savings account at your local bank so they can keep track of their account online. Having a place where they can physically see the numbers – as well as make sure they’re being accountable and responsible for their funds – will help keep them on target and remind them (and you!) to stay on track.

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Our love for thrift stores knows no bounds. It’s a wonderful place to find some cool, funky clothes and accessories, participate in recycling and upcycling stuff, as well as contribute to charity and save money. With the summer coming up, that means it’s time to do some cool outdoorsy activities like barbeques, swimming, or even hiking or picnics. Instead of picking up some new threads for you or your kids at a big store, consider a trip to the thrift store instead! Here are 5 pieces of summer clothing you can buy at the thrift store to save money:

1. Shorts: You can find all different styles and colors of shorts for the summer at the thrift store. If you don’t find a pair you like, even just buying an old pair of jeans and cutting them to your specific length works, too (and you can use the leftover material for rags or a crafty project).
2. Skirts and dresses: Every time I walk into a thrift store, the dress selection is always huge. A light skirt or dress is perfect for the summertime.
3. T-shirts: Another great selection at the thrift store is t-shirts. With a little digging around, you can find some funny and funky shirts for you or your kids.
4. Light tops: To go with your skirts and shorts, a little digging can also net you some great, breathable tops in all kinds of colors and styles that you can wear for any occasion and use for mixing and matching.
5. Bathing suit tops: Of course, bathing suit bottoms aren’t necessarily recommended buys (though you can repurpose t-shirts for the lining), but you can also find some bathing suit tops that will go great with some black bottoms.

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If you’ve already done your spring cleaning this year, you’re really on the ball! But your house isn’t the only thing that needs tending this season – how’s your budgeting going? If you’ve made some New Year’s resolutions about getting your budget on track, the spring is a great time to reevaluate where your money is going and what you can fix. Maybe you’re looking for ways to save money for a summer trip! Here are 5 cool ways to save money this spring.

1. Grocery shopping: Of course, you should always take a list with you when you go to the store, but also consider buying generic brands instead of the more expensive brands. Planning out meals ahead of time will help you focus on only getting what you need. Also, making your own cleaners out of basic grocery items will be better for your health and budget.
2. Utilities: The weather during the spring is usually a great time to leave your heating/cooling unit off. On warm days, open the window and let the sun in, and on the cooler days, leave your curtains or blinds closed to help your bills stay low. If you’re seeing nicer weather, consider using your grill instead of your oven for cooking. It’s also a super time to go through your living space and unplug appliances that you don’t use.
3. Go to free local events: Spring usually means the start of a ton of free events happening in your area. Concerts, classes, plays – they’re all out there for you to see for no money!
4. Stay home for Spring Break: If you have a spring vacation, your best bet might just be to stay home and have fun – you’ll not only save money, you’ll save on gas or other waste that vacations might contribute to.
5. Have a yard sale: What better way to celebrate the accomplishment of spring cleaning than to have a yard sale! You’ll meet some new people, get rid of old stuff, and maybe even make a couple of bucks – every little bit helps.

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We’re all familiar with debt from credit cards, and the current economic status of the country – while still in a slow recovery – has made it very tempting to apply for credit cards to try and cover our bills or even help to get our credit score on the right track. Of course, then the problems arise if the credit card bills start to add up to a serious problem, and as soon as we get the new plastic in the mail, we’re in a mountain of debt. It’s been shown that the average American has 3.5 credit cards in their wallet, but we don’t need that many.

How Many Is Too Many?

It’s a tough question to answer: how many credit cards become too many credit cards? That answer depends on the person and their financial standing. Of course, someone who is young and trying to build up their credit score could benefit from having one credit card that has a balance being paid on time every month. However, someone who has already established credit and can apply for more credit cards probably shouldn’t press their budgets by having another balance to pay off every month. In fact, getting another credit card to help transfer balances could end up backfiring on you in the long run. If you have one or two balances that you’re paying off on time every month, keeping your balance positive will be better for your budget – and your mental health.

Do Multiple Credit Cards Help?

While it may seem like a good idea to have multiple credit cards in order to build a good credit score, in fact it might not be a positive for you if you plan to apply for a loan or are looking to qualify for a mortgage. According to FICO, when you apply for a new credit account, your credit score will temporarily drop, so it’s a good idea not to run up balances or apply for new cards right before applying for that loan or mortgage. On the other hand, keeping low balances on a couple cards can be a safety net for the banks. If one of your other cards were to be suddenly closed by the bank, you’d have one card to keep your credit score in line.

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Need more assistance in learning to let go of the consumer media’s impact on your life, take control of your finances and find the satisfaction of enough for today? The Get Satisfied Interactive Handbook is a 30-minute web course that walks you through a series of specific questions and then presents a personalized how-to plan for becoming a postconsumer. Launch your evaluation for free right now.