“Do what I say and not what I do” is something too many kids can hear when growing up. And if not in those words, then in their parents’ actions.

Speeding, swearing, not exercising and poor money habits are bad examples that parents can set without realizing it.

Some parenting “fails” teach children about money — but in bad way. Here are some parenting “fails” that parents can turn around to teach their children about money:

Bad parenting impulse buys

Some impulse purchases can be fun. An ice cream treat after a tough week at school or a movie out as a way to break up the monotony of staying home too many nights can be  worthwhile motivators for kids to do better in school or at least be a fun break.

But if you can’t afford them, or spend too much on an expensive impulse buy — such as the latest technological gadget that you’ve coveted for months — then it can show a lack of restraint in how you shop.

Even small impulse buys, if made often, can show your child that it’s OK to buy something without giving it much thought and that you get what you want. But small purchases add up, and a better lesson would be to give up such purchases and put that money aside in a vacation fund for the whole family to enjoy the benefits of giving up short-term joys for long-term planning of a family vacation.

Every parent has probably had their child ask for a candy bar or something while waiting at the grocery checkout line. Telling them no can be difficult, but it beats raising a child who thinks they’re entitled to everything they see.

Not letting them work for their money

Giving a kid an allowance is a great idea — if they work for it. Like indulging impulse buys, handing a kid some cash each week without doing anything in return for it can lead them to equate you with being a bank.

Money doesn’t just appear in your pocket magically. You work for it. And so should they, up to a degree.

Parents provide clothing, shelter, food and other necessities through age 18, and even them some of them are funded less than others as children age. What teen wants their parents picking out their clothes for them at the store?

Be earning money with chores or at a part-time job, kids can learn the value of a dollar and can find out first-hand how many hours of work it takes to afford that pricey pair of pants they want.

Not setting up a bank account for them

If your kids don’t have a savings account or college savings account by age 5, you’re doing them a disservice. Heck, if you don’t have a savings account or retirement account, you’re doing yourself a disservice and teaching them the poor habit of not saving for the future.

Birthday money and part of an allowance can be put into a child’s savings account. Regular trips to the bank to make those deposits can show them how banks work and why they should save.

As children become teenagers, parents can help teach them about managing money by helping them get an ATM debit card, checking account and possibly a credit card with a low limit.

Not following a budget

Just like the first tip on curbing impulse spending, a parent’s money habits can filter down to their children.

If you and your spouse don’t have regular talks in front of your children, or at least within earshot of them, then you’re doing them a disservice by not talking about how you make money decisions together.

You don’t have to detail every expense in your budget, but they should have a general sense of what you’re budgeting for and why.

If you pay your bills late and constantly complain about how you can’t afford the gas bill each month, you’re setting a poor example of how to deal with basic bills. Show them how you budget for that bill each month and where cuts may have to be made to accommodate for it.

Of all of the parenting “fails” to be made with money, try not to get yourself too down about them. They’re learning opportunities at any age, and even learning them when you have children gives you a chance to correct them and let the next generation learn from your mistakes.

Parenting ‘Fails’ to Teach Kids About Money is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

If you have, or plan to have, children, you’ve got to change up your financial roadmap. The sooner the better for this one, but even if you already have kids, it’s not too late to make some important changes that will benefit them in the long run.

There are several ways to organize finances for the benefit of your children. We’ll cover three main areas of focus:

1. Preparing for the future.
2. Preparing for emergencies.
3. Creating a stable, nurturing life in the here and now.

Each of these need careful consideration and a fair amount of financial discipline. But if you make the right plan and stay the course, your kids will have a better financial life than you may even dream possible.

Preparing for the Future

Kids have a big future ahead of them. With many decades ahead of them in all likelihood, there are ample opportunities to build a good life…or a bad one…depending on the choices that are made.

In the early days of a child’s life, most of these decisions are up to you. One of the best ways to help your kids out in the long term is to model good financial behavior by saving, investing, and avoiding debt.

You may also wish to save or invest on behalf of your child, giving them the building blocks they need for a nest egg somewhere down the road. Finally, teach your kids basic money skills. This will help them make good choices when they are financially independent.

Preparing for Emergencies

Families without life insurance or emergency funds are open to financial vulnerability which could adversely affect kids’ lives in the event of an unfortunate event. Life insurance quotes often surprise people, because they prove that affordable term life insurance is within the budgets of some families who may have thought they couldn’t afford it.

Emergency saving is another method that provides practical future-proofing and powerful peace of mind for the families who do it.

Creating a Stable, Nurturing Life

Perhaps the single most important part of a child’s life is loving stability. Kids can healthily adapt to many different circumstances, as long as stability is a bedrock in their situation.

Financial uncertainty is a cause of big stress and unhappiness for many families. By living beneath your means, saving, investing, and building familial wealth, you’ll be putting your family on a course for security and happiness which will greatly benefit your children.

There are many ways to help give your kids a better financial life that you enjoyed yourself in your growing up years. Fortunately, most of these methods are not hard to understand, but they may take some planning and hard work you have not practiced before.

In the long run, this will be more than worth it. Your children will have the resources they need (monetarily, emotionally, and intellectually) to make their own sound financial choices. In the meantime, you can do a great deal to set them up for success, and earn some great benefits in the doing.

Family Finance Checklist: Kids Edition is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

Summer seems to have passed by quickly, and now it seems like parents and their children are already preparing for a new school year.

While the average parent will spend $673.57 per child for items needed, it doesn’t have to be so expensive. There are lots of ways to prepare for back to school on a budget.

Check Your Inventory

First things first, check your inventory. You may find supplies, clothes that your kids can fit into now, and more. As you are going through the supplies you have, keep a running checklist of things you may need or that come to mind. If you have a list of items needed from your child’s school, you can just add on to this list.

Checking your inventory helps you prepare for back to school on a budget by helping you avoid buying extra things you may not even need. Why buy an extra pack of crayons if you already have three?

Set Your Budget

Once you’ve gone through your inventory, the next step is to actually set a budget for your back to school shopping. Every family’s financial situation is different, but you should at least aim to only spend what you have in cash to spend.

If that means only $100 for each child, that’s OK. With these tips, you should be able to prepare for back to school on a budget, even if your budget is smaller.

Shop Sales and Clearance Racks

Now that you have your list and your budget set, you can get to shopping. The easiest way for preparing back to school on a budget is to buy what you can on sale or clearance. Many stores have back to school sales, so make sure you read their flyers or online options before shopping at one place.

If you find deals at multiple stores, don’t be afraid to make a few stops. You are trying to get the best price and stay within budget. If there are items on your list that you can’t find on sale or clearance, there are other options to consider as well, like thrift stores and shopping online.

Shop Thrift Stores

Thrift stores are typically known for their clothing and home items, but you can find school supplies too. From backpacks to pencils, you may be able to complete your shopping list at the thrift store. Plus, if your children do need clothes, you may be able to find gently used clothing for a lot cheaper than what you’d spend for brand new clothes.

I highly suggest buying clothes from a thrift store if your kids need them, especially if they are younger. Since children grow so fast, it doesn’t make sense to spend a lot of money on clothes that they will outgrow soon anyway.

Look Online

If you still haven’t completed your list, or if you don’t want to go through the hassle of shopping back to school sales, you can always prepare for back to school on a budget online. Many of the stores that hold sales in store will also have the sales available online. If not, there are online-only stores that may be running sales as well.

Another great way to save money while shopping online is to sign up for the store’s email list. You can typically get 10-25% off of your first order, or even get discounts for being a repeat customer. Couple that with an ongoing sale, and you can save a ton of money.

Buy School Items In Bulk

If you have multiple children going back to school, buying in bulk may be the best option for you. Places like Sam’s Club and Costco typically have back to school items for deep discounts around July and August.

I’d only recommend this option if you have more than two kids, and you have compared prices from the bulk stores to prices at non-bulk stores. However, if you can save money that way, buying in bulk is a smart move.

Work With Your Child

If your child is of working age (or even in college) you can always have them pay for some of their items. For example, if you have a set budget for your child, but they want a special item that isn’t in the budget, you can have them pay for a certain amount of the item, or buy it themselves.

As a parent, it may be hard for you to let your child pay for things, but not only will this teach them responsibility, but it will also teach them the value of a dollar and how far their money goes based on what they buy. It’s okay to want Nike shoes, but if you don’t have the money to pay for them, you either have to skip out on buying them or earn the money needed. As a teenager or college student, this is an important skill for your child to know.

These tips are great to help you prepare for back to school on a budget, but there are so many other ways to cut costs. As long as you have the essentials, like your list and a budget, you should be able to save money and get all that you need for a lot less than the average.

Preparing For Back To School On A Budget is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

These 20 gifts are guaranteed to delight, and they’re all $100 or less. Some are even less than $20.

Kamik Jennifer Rain Boots
$64.99 at Kamik.com
If she’s not one for jumping in puddles, that’ll change once she steps into these cute boots. She’ll love the comfort and the classic style, and they’re available in five colors.

Terrace Jewelry Organizer by Umbra
$29.99 at ContainerStore.com

Mom has collected lots of baubles and bangles over the years and they’re all in a tangle. This three-tier lined wooden box offers a smart storage solution for her earrings, rings, necklaces and even her reading glasses. Drawers can slide out for display or remain neatly stacked.

Grow Oya
$24.95 and up at growoya.com

This clever clay receptacle waters thirsty plants with minimal effort. The Oya is buried in the garden for spring and summer and periodically filled with water. The plants in the vicinity draw the water they need. Because there is less surface watering, weeds are less likely to germinate. Available in three sizes. Wondering what to plant? You can grow these five groceries in your garden.

Tea Forte Rejuvenation Gift Set
$55 at TeaForte.com

If she needs a little “me” time, this gorgeous set will provide just that. In a beautiful gift box, she’ll find 10 green tea infusers, an 8-ounce porcelain cup and a tea tray, perfect for a peaceful and delicious afternoon tea. Is coffee more mom’s taste? These four credit cards are great for coffee lovers.

The Stylestring Classic String Collection
Price: $68 at TheStylestring.com

If mom has (or needs) a little edge, a Stylestring is the ideal accessory. Available in four colors, this versatile, vegan leather strand can be worn seven ways, including as a belt, bracelet and headband. She’ll love mixing it up every day.

Planted in Beauty Starter Kit
$25 at WellWithinBeauty.com

Treat your mom to healthy skin with this set of six organic skin care products that are chemical- and toxin-free. These skincare products are packed with the highest quality plant-based ingredients, which encourage collagen production and protect her skin from environmental stressors.

Reversible Tote Purse
$9.36 at Walmart

The roomy tote will take her from the gym to brunch to the farmer’s market. It’s reversible so she can wear each color as the mood strikes, and best of all, it’s less than $10. Available in several color combinations.

OneLeg
$45 and up at OneLegUSA.com

This ergonomic stool will allow her to tend to her garden in comfort. She can sit and move easily while staying close to the ground and to her plants. Available in four different sizes and seven colors.

Meori Foldable ‘Mom Box’
$35 at US.meori.com

An essential for the mom who needs her own special storage space for the car, the home office or a closet. With “Mom Box” emblazoned on the side, no one is going to mess with her stuff. Collapsible when not in use.

Atlas Coffee Club
Starting at $14 a month at AtlasCoffeeClub.com

Treat your adventurous Mom to a new coffee each month. As a member of Atlas Coffee Club, she’ll receive a monthly shipment of a coffee from a different part of the world, from the Costa Rica to Ethiopia. Each bag has its own beautiful packaging and cultural information. She’ll think of you each day as she brews a cup.

artnaturals Bluetooth Oil Diffuser
$49 at artnaturals.com

A blend of tech and Zen, this Bluetooth diffuser will scent the air with a fragrance of her choosing, play her favorite playlist, bathe the room in soft, colorful light and function as an alarm clock. Add a set of 16 essential oils, including cinnamon leaf, sweet orange and frankincense for $29.

Fischer & Wieser Make Mom’s Life Easier Gift Basket
$74.95 at Jelly.com

Sometimes, the most thoughtful gift is to make mom’s life easier. This basket is filled with “Mom’s” tasty sauces and seasonings from Fischer & Wieser. They’ll come in handy when she needs to whip up a quick, delicious meal. They’re preservative- and gluten-free.

Lano Lips Hands All Over Tinted Balm Trio
$41 at Net-a-porter.com

One for the kitchen drawer, one for the car, one for her purse. If she’s prone to dry lips, these will be her new go-to balms, as they soothe and nourish even the driest lips, thanks to ultra medical grade lanolin. The three tints offer just a hint of color for a little lift on the go.

Glamma Stemless Wine Glass
$14.95 at Papyrusonline.com

Your glamorous grandma needs her own special wine glass. This stemless glass is decorated with “Glamma” in gold foil and comes in a pretty, floral box, ready for gifting.

V-MODA Forza In-Ear Headphones
$100 at V-Moda.com

If she’s using old earbuds for phone calls and music, maybe it’s time for an upgrade. These durable, high-res earbuds deliver great sound for calls and tunes and come with a variety of fittings, sport fins and ear hooks to ensure perfect fit and comfort. They are available in orange, white and black with their own pouch. And if you want to go one step further, 3D printed, color and finish customization is available for an additional fee.

Salt of the Earth Bakery ‘The Whole Shebang’
$37 at TheGrommet.com

With flavors like coffee-infused “The Kona” to the decadent “The Chocoholic,” this box of cookies and brownies will have her grinning ear to ear. The treats are made with sea salts from around the world, for just the right touch of sophistication. The Whole Shebang includes three cookie flavors and three brownie flavors, with plenty to share.

Wahl Hot & Cold Custom Body Therapeutic Massager
$43.23 at MaxWarehouse.com

From a sore back to tightness in the shoulders, everyone has their share of aches and pains. Help mom find sweet relief with this hand-held massager. With variable speeds and seven attachments, including hot, cold and facial, she’ll be feeling better in no time.

Lorena Canals Leaf Baskets
$46 at LorenaCanals.us

This beautiful, cotton rope basket offers stylish storage for anything from yarn to magazines to toys. Soft and machine-washable, these baskets are available in Terracota, Natural and Green to suit her decor.

Philosophy Cleanse, Peel, Treat Trial Kit
$55 at Philosophy.com

If she’s been bemoaning dull skin, three simple steps will have her skin looking glowing, fresh and healthy in minutes. Cleanser and moisturizer are used daily, the peel is used weekly.

Vosges-Haut Chocolate Les Fleurs du Chocolat Collection
$45 at EveryMotherCounts.org

For every sale of this tasty truffle collection, Vosges will donate 20% of proceeds to Christy Turlington Burns’ non-profit, Every Mother Counts, which supports efforts to make pregnancy and childbirth safer for women. Rich chocolate truffles are topped with garden-inspired delicacies, like orchids and bee pollen.

If you have money left over after shopping for mom, here are 11 other smart purchases for less than $400. And if you’re out of cash, take these four steps to stop buying stuff you can’t afford. And whenever you’re shopping, it’s important to keep in mind how your credit card spending affects your overall financial health. You can see how by getting two of your free credit scores every month on Credit.com.

More from Credit.com

• What Is a Good Credit Score?
• How Do I Improve My Credit Score Without Debt?
• 10 Things Everyone Should Know About Credit Scores

This article originally appeared on Credit.com.

Mother’s Day Gifts for Less Than $100 is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

Unlike traditional dentistry, cosmetic dentistry refers to procedures and treatment that improve the overall appearance of teeth. Branches of cosmetic dentistry, such as orthodontics, and procedures, such as teeth whitening, have improved the oral well-being of children in particular.

In 2015, more than a million North Americans had braces. This is good news for family dentistry, especially for children, and both parents & kids are more open to cosmetic dentistry now. A good cosmetic dentist in Sarasota is not hard to find, for instance, Simply Smile Sarasota, which provides dental care for kids from the first year itself.

Here’s looking at why cosmetic dentistry for children is on the rise.

Oral Hygiene Tends to Get Overlooked

Parents often tend to neglect oral hygiene and early tooth-brushing in kids. The general perception is that dental problems come up later in life, since children anyway have lost all their baby teeth by age 12-13. However, the truth is that problems like tooth decay and cavities occur early in life. Dental implants for kids are fast becoming a reality to replace decayed or broken teeth. Cavities can also be filled with tooth-colored fillings now.

Enamel erosion is another major pediatric problem that cosmetic dentistry can address. Veneers that boost whitening can help with tooth discoloration.

The Need for Improving Children’s Self-Esteem

Problems with self-esteem start early in life, and dental caries are a commonly experienced pediatric dental disease. Foods like candies, fizzy drinks, cookies, and even fruit juices can cause significant tooth decay. Porcelain crowns are a good option when seeking family dentistry for children & older kids.

Acidic foods and drinks can cause staining of the teeth. As children grow older, they grow more conscious of their appearance, and one’s teeth are one of the most visible parts of the body. Cosmetic dentistry can let them express themselves fully with smile makeover programs and dental laminates.

Tendency to Develop Protruding ‘Buck’ Teeth

Thumb-sucking is a common habit that is otherwise harmless, but if continued for a long time, can cause problems with teeth alignment and even biting. Children can also have naturally crooked or unevenly spaced teeth, which will eventually require cosmetic dentistry. With modern techniques like Invisalign, where aligners are customized for each wearer, these problems can be successfully corrected.

Protrusive or unevenly spaced teeth are not just a cosmetic problem, but one that can interfere with one’s ability to bite and chew properly. Orthodontics can prevent tooth extractions later in life, also because straight teeth are less vulnerable to tooth decay and periodontitis.

Injuries to Teeth are Common in Childhood

The rise of cosmetic dentistry for children is also due to its effectiveness at dealing with dental emergencies. The teeth are one of the most important organs in the body, and toothache from sensitivity or decay, or broken teeth from a freak injury, can make a child miserable.

The trauma can get to the jaw and cause facial swelling, which can worsen into an infection. If a child has a chipped or broken tooth, implants can solve the problem and treatment should be sought immediately from services for family dentistry for children & older kids.

Why Cosmetic Dentistry for Children is on the Rise is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

Having a new baby can get you to rethink your priorities. Putting your child’s needs first can include investing and can help you as much as your child to become a smart investor.

Getting your baby started as an investor can set them up for a lifetime of financial success.

Here are four ways to help your baby grow up to be a smart and wealthy investor:

Start a college savings fund

College can be an investment in a child’s future. Starting to save for child as soon as a child is born can be one of the best investments a parent will make to help their child.

Don’t wait a month or so after your child is born. Because if you delay it now, you know what will happen next — you’ll continue finding excuses not to do it and eventually your kid will be asking you how they’ll afford to go to college and you won’t have an answer.

A 529 plan is one way to save for college. Legally known as “qualified tuition plans,” they’re available in all 50 states as a pre-tax way to invest money. The other type of 529 plan allows tuition to be paid ahead of time at some colleges.

Whatever amount you invest regularly in a college savings account, it can only help your child possibly avoid borrowing money to pay for college. In 2015, 68 percent of graduates from public and nonprofit colleges had student loan debt, with an average of $30,100 per borrower, according to the Institute for College Access & Success.

Open a savings account for your child

The personal savings rate in the United States has dropped regularly since the 1970s, and is now at 5.7 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Americans averaged an 8.32 percent personal savings rate from 1959 until 2016.

If you want your child to be a saver, then open a savings account for them as soon as they’re born.

Why would a baby need a savings account? Because you’re likely to get some cash gifts either now or on their birthdays. That money is meant for the child, not for you to spend on a night out, so do the honest thing and put the money away in the child’s savings account when you get it.

Yes, savings accounts have pay lousy interest rates now. Even if they do go up soon, it may be more profitable to put the money in a long-term CD or an investment account in the child’s name.

The point is to have some sort of account to put gift money in. If you’re feeling especially kind, contribute to it every month with an automatic deposit from your checking account.

Invest in one stock

For the cost of one share of stock, you can make your child a long-term investor by joining a Dividend Reinvest Plan, also known as DRIPs.

The compounding interest from paid dividends of DRIPs is reinvested to buy additional shares of the stock at little or no cost. You can enroll in a specific stock’s DRIP after buying only one share, and can contribute to it regularly with automatic debits from a checking or savings account.

You don’t have to regularly buy additional shares of stock, but you child will thank you in 20 years if you do.

At the very least, that one share of stock will show your child the value of investing for the long run. Who knows, they may want to someday invest their allowance there and end up investing in other stocks.

Be an investor in an index fund

If picking one stock for a DRIP is too risky for you, show your child the benefit of cutting investment costs by being an investor in an index mutual fund that has low expenses.

Since you’re unlikely to beat the market, find a mutual fund that mirrors popular groups of stocks and bonds, such as the S&P 500 index.

Mutual funds charge management fees, ranging from 0.06 percent on a diversified index mutual fund to 1.5 percent or more on an actively managed fund.

Do your child a favor and invest in a fund that has the lowest possible fees — which are usually index funds. Find one that is 1 percent lower than an actively managed fund and you’ll save tends of thousands of dollars over an investing lifetime.

You may not be able to successfully make all of these investing resolutions in the new year for a new baby, but two of them should be no-brainers: opening a savings account for any money given to your child, and starting a college savings fund.

Start the stock market investments if you can afford them, even if it’s only with a few hundred dollars. It will someday show your child how much you care about their financial future, and can be a way for them to learn how to be an investor on their own.

4 Ways to Get Your Baby Started as an Investor is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

The same holds true with giving them access to savings accounts, direct deposit and goal setting, according to a new study by America Saves on such things on low-income youth workers.

It found that low-income urban youth will save consistently when giving access to savings tools.

The survey respondents were 16-20 years old, participated in a summer employment program, and had low or moderate family incomes, according to the group America Saves for Young Workers.

Here are some of the highlights of the report:

• Following their summer employment, 58% of youth, on average, owned savings accounts, a 66% increase in ownership.
• Following their summer employment in 2015, youth ownership rates for savings accounts exceeded that of national low-income teens by 34%.
• 76% of young workers were given a choice of how to deposit their pay, and an average of 66% self-elected to use direct deposit.
• Following their summer employment program, and corresponding involvement in the America Saves program, 80% of young workers had established a savings pattern, an increase of 54%.
• By August 2015, 61% of young workers had met the pledge goal they had set at the beginning of their summer employment.
• Savings amounts remained relatively steady over time with an average of about $400 saved.
• Youth continued to save after their summer work experience with 61% of young workers having made a deposit eight months after their summer employment ended, despite only 38% of those youth being formally employed.

“This is the first time that many of these youth will receive a paycheck and the America Saves for Young Worker program plays a pivotal part in motivating them to save part of their pay for items they want and need, and for those unexpected expenses,” said George Barany, director of strategic initiative for America Saves, in a statement.

“This special moment in time then becomes an opportunity for employment programs, financial institutions, and America Saves to show young workers how to save and, more importantly, help them set up the systems to save automatically,” Barany says.

Give Kids Savings Tools, and They’ll Save Their Money is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

When you go shopping this time of year, you’ll likely notice a change in the atmosphere. Instead of bathing suits and red, white, and blue picnic plates, there are lists, glue, and paper. The stores are stocking up on all of the new pencils, notebook paper, planners, and backpacks. The smell of new pens waiting to be opened, pencils ready to be sharpened, and the feeling of a perfect folder, all shimmery in the plastic – it’s intoxicating.

Childless adults might lament on the passing of time and remember childhood, but luckily, you don’t have to have children to take advantage of all of the back to school sales and specials. Even if you don’t have children, here are some ways you can take advantage of back to school sales.

Office Supplies

Now is the time to stock up on the basic must haves for your home office! Just because you don’t have children of your own, doesn’t mean you don’t need a fun folder or binder to spice up your office. Also, by taking advantage of these sales you can purchase school supplies and donate them to a local shelter or school program that gives away backpacks full of supplies to those children in need who can’t afford to get their back-to-school basics. This will make your donation dollars stretch further.

Plastic Storage Baggies

Plastic bags are a must-have for student lunches and are usually on sale during the lead-up to back to school. Take advantage of these prices and stock up for your kitchen. They are great for taking snacks on road trips and lots of other uses too.

Storage Containers and Boxes

August doesn’t just mean elementary or high school starting, it’s also college season! New freshmen moving into dorms, seniors moving into apartments – they both need plastic bins and storage containers to organize their new living spaces. As a childless adult, you can take advantage of this too and purchase what you need to get your home organized.

Lighting and Home Decor

Want to string some of those globe lights across your patio? Go look in the college section. They have pretty much the same product but for less money. Dorm rooms are no longer a plain white cell; they have become rooms to express yourself in. Comfy chairs, lighting, wall décor, rugs, are all sold for a lower price than usual during back to school sales. Some of these things can even work in a non-college decor theme.

Clothing

Big brands and retailers have back to school deals on clothing and shoes. This is a good time of year to give your wardrobe an update and save money.

Vacations

As summer winds down you can definitely take advantage of resorts and tourist attractions wanting to grab you one last time before you are booked up for the fall. There are lower prices and you can sometimes can nab a great package for a winter or fall vacation by booking during back to school sales.

Food

A lot of  convenience food and snacks are on sale during back to school time. Things like chip packs, fruit snacks, and cereal go on sale to appeal to children who take their lunches to school. Grab some for yourself and relive your childhood, or use them as grab and go food when you schedule is packed or you have a road trip to pack for.

Laptops and Electronics

If you were thinking of buy that computer, now is the time to do it. As students get ready to go back to school, whether in college or high school, the prices and deals on electronics are great. Sometimes there are great packaged deals of a tablet with the cover and detachable keyboard, or a computer with a printer or desktop publishing software. These accessories can be expensive, so look for these bundle deals during back to school to save money.

As you can see there are a lot of sales that you can cash in on, while getting some great gear, even if you don’t have kids. Don’t ignore the back to school sale ads, there is something that you can get out of them as well.

If you’re childless, do you shop back to school sales?

8 Ways Childless Adults Can Take Advantage of Back to School Sales is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

Some teams do this better than others, and a few are just horrible at it. From charging a small amount to get into a game to great giveaways, most teams make it a fun day for a dad and his kids.

Others, led by the Oakland A’s, gouge families at every chance they get on Father’s Day. Read my post from last year to see how the A’s rip families off. It continues this year in Oakland, where it costs $74 to play catch with your kid on the field after the game, and that doesn’t include the price of tickets if you want to watch the game. I’ll detail all of it later.

Best teams on Father’s Day

Here’s a roundup of what all MLB teams hosting games on Father’s Day on June 19 are doing to attract dads and kids, with an idea of how much tickets will cost: All game times are local at home ballpark. Not all ticket prices may be available, so buy tickets soon.

The teams are listed from best to worst for how they treat dads on Father’s Day, though much of this is open to argument:

LA Dodgers

1:10 p.m. vs. Milwaukee. Tickets: $35 to $1,050.

Unlike many teams that have promotions aimed at kid, the Dodgers have one for dads: Free Father’s Day boxers with the Dodgers logo all over them.

The Dodgers also have a free postgame catch on the field, allowing dads to play catch with their kids. There’s also a pre-game event called Viva Los Dodgers with live music and other activities.

Miami Marlins

1:10 p.m. vs. Colorado. Tickets: $16-$114.

The Marlins have a lot of promotions on this day, including a free Don Mattingly T-shirt to the first 5,000 dads, and a chance to play catch with dad after the game on the field for free. Yes, free.

The Marlins also have a deal for four tickets for $74, which includes four hotdogs and sodas.

San Diego Padres

1:40 p.m. vs. Washington. Tickets: $17.50-$100.

The Padres don’t have any specific events for Father’s Day, though dads can play catch for free on the field after the game. Like all Sunday games, San Diego hosts a bunch of events for kids.

Members of its Compadre Kids program can play catch on the field after the game with their dads, get player autographs, run the bases and attend a batting clinic.

There’s also Domingos Padres at Sunday games, a celebration of Hispanic culture with many family activities.

KC Royals

1:15 p.m. vs. Detroit. Tickets: $23-$103.

This is another great giveaway for dad: A BBQ spatula for the first 10,000 males. The Royals also have a Family FunDay Sunday event with many activities for kids, including the chance to run around the bases for free after the game. A pass for unlimited activities in the Outfield Experience is $10.

NY Mets

1:10 p.m. vs. Atlanta. Tickets: $25-$450.

The Mets are especially kind to dads on this Sunday, giving out a Father’s Day cap to all fathers and kids 12 and under. Yes, both child and dad get a free Mets cap, instead of one having to do without.

As they do on all Sundays, the Mets have a Mr. Met Dash for kids to run around the bases for free after the game.

Philadelphia Phillies

1:35 p.m. vs. Arizona. Tickets: $10-$100

The Phillies honor dad with a free Hawaiian shirt to men 15 and older. If there are any 15-year-old dads in Philadelphia, this is their chance to get a free Hawaiian shirt in the team’s colors. The team doesn’t say how many shirts it’s giving away.

Baltimore Orioles

1:35 p.m. vs. Toronto. Tickets: $15-$100.

The Orioles are giving a Father’s Day newsboy cap to the first 10,000 men 18 and older. Kids can run around the bases for free after the game.

Minnesota Twins

1:10 p.m. vs. NY Yankees. Tickets: $21-$102.

The Twins are giving away Twins Socks to the first 10,000 men 18 and older.  The team also has a promotional package for families.

An event called Knothole Kids Day gives up to two kids $5 off specific tickets with a paying adult. Kids get an autograph from a Twins player before the game, and after the game they can run the bases for free.

Houston Astros

1:10 p.m. vs. Cincinnati. Tickets: $8-$100.

Some nifty looking Astros Socks are being given to the first 10,000 fans. The Astros also have a post-game picnic in the park for fans to eat on the field. It’s unclear if it costs anything to attend the picnic.

St. Louis Cardinals

1:15 p.m. vs. Texas. Tickets: $16-$306.

More socks, though these Cardinals dress socks are going out to a lot more fans than the Houston ones are. The first 30,000 fans 16 and older will receive the free Cardinals socks.

The Cardinals also give out free ice cream before Sunday games.

Cleveland Indians

1:10 p.m. vs. Chicago White Sox. Tickets: $10-$100.

The Indians let kids run the bases after the game as part of Kids Fun Day activities on Sunday games.  But the best part is that all fans will get a Corey Kluber jumbo baseball card.

Tampa Bay Rays

1:10 p.m. vs. San Francisco. Tickets: $25-$300.

The Rays are giving a foam bat and ball set to kids 14 and under while supplies last. The team’s website doesn’t say how many kids that is.

The team also has Family Fun Days on every Sunday. Parking is free with four or more people in a car, and there’s a variety of activities and giveaways for kids. Kids can run the bases after the game for free.

Chicago Cubs

Time TBD vs. PIttsburgh. Tickets: $37-$149.

The Cubs really don’t do much on Father’s Day. Up to 5,000 children 13 and younger will get a hooded towel.

Worst teams on Father’s Day

When it comes to not doing much for dad on his special day, two teams stand out:

Boston Red Sox

1:10 p.m. vs. Seattle. Tickets: $30-$625

The Red Sox don’t care about dad at all on Father’s Day. No promotions, other than the normal Sunday promo where kids get to run around the bases after the game.

Oakland A’s

1:05 p.m. vs. Anaheim. Tickets: $15-$75.

The A’s must really hate fathers. Not only is the team not having any promotional giveaways on Father’s Day, but in its promotion for dads to play catch with their kids on the field after the game, the team is charging $74 to play catch — for only 15 minutes. That doesn’t include the cost of attending the game.

That’s $16 more than what the A’s charged in 2015 for the same dumb event — which sold out.

This season the cost is $30 per ticket, but you have to buy at least two tickets to this special event. There are also convenience and handling fees, bringing it up to $74. Add in another $60 or so for two tickets to the game, and you’re out $134 to go to a game and then play catch on the field for 15 minutes. Yes, 15 minutes for $74.

Having nothing would be better than this ripoff of a promotion. The A’s don’t even allow kids to run around the bases after this Sunday game, as most other teams are doing. A free run around the bases with your kids would be better than paying to play catch.

If you want to plat catch with your kid for free on Father’s Day, the only places to go is to a Dodgers, Padres or Marlins game. Don’t go to Oakland.

Best (and Worst) Father’s Day Deals at MLB Ballparks is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

Like most teenagers, I had summer jobs and worked after school so I could have some spending money and save for college. I didn’t really consider myself an entrepreneur, but I guess I was.

For the most part, they were jobs where I worked for a small business owner. Except for selling newspapers outside a subway station, I wasn’t an entrepreneur and didn’t work for myself. Even the newspaper gig required me to rely on a big company to provide the product I sold.

Being an entrepreneur and working for yourself — as I’ve done since being laid off as a newspaper editor in 2008 — is a job skill I’ve grown into and enjoy. I only wished I learned about it back when I was in school so that I could at least be a part-time entrepreneur during my working life. At the very least, it could serve as a backup or secondary income.

It’s a skill set that I think all children should at least have a taste of so they can decide if it’s something they’d like to do.

The first taste of entrepreneurship for most children is a lemonade stand. Even if their parents pay for the sugar, lemons, cups and other supplies, a lemonade stand can be an hourly lesson in how to set prices and make change, and show the importance of having a great location and product.

But after that, unless kids find the entrepreneurial bug on their own, they may lose the drive to work for themselves. Here are some ways to teach your kids to be entrepreneurs, or at least get started thinking about it:

Point out benefits of working for themselves

For children who don’t like being told what to do, this can be one of the first benefits worth pointing out to them about being an entrepreneur. By working on their own, they’ll be the boss and can determine what gets done when. No more taking orders from someone else.

Let them take things apart

If your child can build almost anything with Legos, or likes to take apart old phones, remotes or anything else you let them work on, it could be a sign that they could make a good entrepreneur.

It’s part of the process of learning new things — another skill important to being an entrepreneur.

Meet new people as an entrepreneur

A big part of working for yourself is talking to everyone you meet. Why? Because everyone is a potential customer, or you could help each other in some way with your businesses.

Help your child learn the skills to meet new people, and they could someday use them in the workplace.

Compare and set prices

One of the first thing a good entrepreneur has to do is set their prices for their service or product. This is usually done by seeing what the competition is doing.

One easy way to help kids learn how to compare prices is to take them to your local farmer’s market and buy a few things. Then go to the grocery store and buy the same things. Compare prices and do a taste test, seeing if the more expensive tomato tastes better than the other.

Give them chores

Household chores for an allowance should be a part of every child’s weekly duties, showing them the connection between work and pay. But that’s only part of the equation.

They need to learn what a dollar is worth and given the responsibility to spend their money on things their parents used to buy them. This can come in handy when they want something that costs a lot more than their allowance — such as a new computer tablet.

By doing extra chores and saving their money, they can learn how much work it takes to earn that tablet, and help determine if it’s really worth all of that work. Working for yourself really shows you the value of your time and if that new gadget you want is worth working extra for.

Open a bank account

Having your child contribute part of their allowance and any other money they get to a savings account will help them learn how to be a saver.

As any entrepreneur knows, there are good months and bad months, and saving for a rainy day is a smart move at any age.

Try out new ideas

One of the things I like the most about working for myself is that I can try new ideas without having to go through a boss. If they work, great. If not, then it usually wasn’t much work to try them out.

Let your children learn about entrepreneurship through trial and error, and let them try new ways to make money. If they want to start a website so they can subcontract out other kids to mow lawns, it’s fairly easy and inexpensive to set it up.

A parent, just like their kids, should be open to trying new things and seeing what works. Helping your children learn the value of working for themselves is a gift they’ll hopefully enjoy throughout their lives.

Teach Your Kid to be an Entrepreneur and Make Money is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.