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Heather's Dish

Heather's Dish

Mom to Mom: What I Wish I’d Understood About Money When My Kids Were Younger

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The post Mom to Mom: What I Wish I’d Understood About Money When My Kids Were Younger is sponsored by the Arkansas 529 Education Savings Program. All words and opinions are my own.

Mom to Mom: What I Wish I'd Understood About Money When My Kids Were Younger #sponsored

Finances. 

The word alone used to feel so off-putting up until about 6 months ago, let alone actually taking action on the goals associated with them. I’m that girl who took accounting and finance classes in college (YAWN), but who just memorized the information enough to pass tests before quickly forgetting it. I always knew to save money and not spend beyond my means, and debt was a 4-letter word for us growing up. Beyond that, though? Financial literacy seemed like the Wild West. 

Over the past few years I’ve been slowly learning that financial literacy doesn’t have to be scary. With the depth and range of knowledge available online (and through my local library) I’ve begun to teach myself a little more about how to achieve the seemingly elusive financial freedom. In fact, rather than being scary, learning about this is FUN! Not at all like the accounting classes in college, because when you learn about personal finance and truly become involved what’s really happening is you’re saying YES to your dreams.

Mom to Mom: What I Wish I'd Understood About Money When My Kids Were Younger

Over the first few years of our marriage I had no problem letting Nate be the one to take charge of our finances. I mean, he knew more about it and seemed more comfortable doing it, so why not? As we’ve grown older though I started to wonder (somewhat morbidly) what would happen if something tragic happened to one of us? What if I found myself needing to know everything about our finances…but I didn’t? What if…? 

As a woman I’ve always known that lower wages and time off to care for children or aging parents already put me at a financial disadvantage. Statistics show that we typically outlive men by 7 years; 80% of women die widowed, whereas 80% of men die married. They also show that 50% of marriages end in divorce, another sad statistic that impacts our financial health. Both scenarios leave women in charge of finances, and if we have no experience or understanding then our standard of living (and all those dreams we’ve had) could very likely plummet. 

While that information is bleak and depressing, it is reasonable to live in a state of hope while still being prepared. After being faced with the economic disaster caused by COVID-19 I snapped to it and really started to educate myself about financial health. There’s still a lot to learn, but I feel significantly more confident in what to do in any number of scenarios. My only regret is that I didn’t start learning these things (and taking action) sooner! From one veteran mom to another, here are 5 simple things you can do TODAY to start taking control of your financial education!

Mom to Mom: What I Wish I'd Understood About Money When My Kids Were Younger
  1. Make a list of ALL accounts. Anything that you spend money on, invest money in, or pay toward needs to be on this list. Mortgages, car loans, student loans, investments, health insurance, car insurance, disability insurance, life insurance, credit and debit cards, checking accounts, savings accounts, etc. Include account numbers, login information, contact information for each company or broker. Some of this may take a little time and effort, but once you have all of the information in one place it will be significantly easier to track. 
  2. Put all essential documents in a safe space. Birth certificates, social security cards, marriage licenses, wills, documents for your assets (like your home or car), passports, and more should be stored in a protected box in a secure location that you can easily access. This simple organization (and I use that term loosely) can make all the difference as you open accounts, fill out forms, etc. 
  3. Have some serious conversations. While there will be some discomfort to these, they don’t have to be hard. First I recommend talking to your spouse or significant other about where you stand financially, then dream about where you want to be. What are your roadblocks right now? What could they be in a few years? What do you ultimately want to do down the road? Some of these dreams and goals may change, but the two steps in getting anywhere are knowing where you are and then knowing where you want to go. Second, talk to other women in your family or life about their experience. Having someone who has gone before you will be so helpful in helping you think through next steps. Additionally it may open your eyes to circumstances, tips and tricks you may not have considered before. Finally, have a frank and honest conversation with yourself. Why are you not where you need to be? What are some lies that you’ve bought into regarding money? Are you willing to do the work to change that?
  4. Create a list of goals. I realize that I am more prone to creating goals than a lot of people, but I’m also a firm believer that they provide incredible direction in every area of our lives. I also recommend setting multiple goals; I have retirement goals of course, as well as goals for college savings, bucket list vacations, dream home, etc. Maybe one that you have is taking a course that could help you reach another life goal…make sure you include those as well!
  5. Start somewhere. Take the time to research how to start investing in ways that will bring you to your goals, and then take action. I just want to give it to you straight: the longer you wait, the more likely you are to procrastinate and waste precious time that could be spent making a positive impact on your family’s future. You are completely capable of making a choice today that will help you down the road!
Mom to Mom: What I Wish I'd Understood About Money When My Kids Were Younger

In our marriage one of our biggest dreams has been to send our kids to college without accruing debt from student loans. I see now what a massive blessing it was that our parents had the foresight and ability to do this for us, and how much it could help our boys in the future. It feels so daunting, though, as the cost of tuition steadily increases at the same time that we have to start thinking about braces, sports and more.

One of the biggest ways we can reach this goal is by setting up an Arkansas 529 Education Savings Program. Mom to mom? Rather than saving for college through a simple savings account at our bank for the past 8 years, we could have been saving in an Arkansas 529 account with significant tax advantages, age-based options, and more. Besides the fact that I wish I had known earlier how non-scary finances are, I REALLY wish I’d started saving for college with an Arkansas 529 account when my children were newborns. 

The good news is setting up an Arkansas 529 education savings plan for my sons is something I can do TODAY for a minimal investment and minimal effort. Then the plan just goes, without me having to make a conscious effort every month, and will continue to provide peace of mind while setting us all up for a brighter future. (P.S. This is a great feature for grandparents too!) I can do it today…and so can you!

To read and learn more about the Arkansas 529 Education Savings Plan (and sign up!), I recommend spending some time on their website. 

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Just popping in from the place moms flock to on ra Just popping in from the place moms flock to on rainy days just to get out of the dang house: the aisles of Target. 😂 Not a lot to say, but I’m going to leave you  with 3 affirmations I want you to repeat to yourself today:

❤️ I AM STRONG
❤️ I AM CAPABLE
❤️ I AM ENOUGH

BECAUSE YOU ARE. Have a wonderful day friends!
Working on my #avoquados y’all! This protein smo Working on my #avoquados y’all! This protein smoothie has 40 grams of protein, lots of green goodness and tastes like a pineapple-vanilla dream!

- 1 cup water
- 1 cup frozen pineapple
- 1 cup frozen kale or spinach
- 1 scoop vanilla protein
- 1 serving collagen peptides (I use 2 scoops of @bulletproof brand; some brands just have one big scoop)
- 1 scoop greens powder (I used @amazinggrass)

Blend and enjoy!
🥗 FAST FOOD! Real real: I hate when people are 🥗 FAST FOOD!

Real real: I hate when people are all, “you can cook food in the same time it takes to grab takeout.” That is not always true, and sometimes it’s just about not wanting to try. Effort is hard, amen?!

Today I’m thankful to have had the energy and want-to to cook something a little healthier and save a little money. That’s not always the case, but today it was and I’ll count it as a win!

In the bowl: 3/4 cup black beans, 1/4 cup corn, 2 big handfuls of spinach, and two eggs. Seasoned it all with salt, pepper, garlic and smoked paprika!

Any wins y’all feel like sharing today? Let’s hear it and celebrate!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Oats! (AKA the thi Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Oats! (AKA the thing I’ve been eating on repeat all week):

- 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup milk of choice
- 2 tablespoons brewed coffee (optional)*
- 2 tablespoons powdered peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds
- 1 serving unflavored collagen peptides
- Sweetener of choice
- 1 tablespoon chocolate chips

Heat the oats, water, milk and coffee in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook until thickened to your liking (although keep in kind the flax seeds and cooling will thicken it even further). Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining ingredients except the chocolate chips; I like to use a whisk to make sure the collagen doesn’t clump. Pour in a bowl, sprinkle with the chocolate chips and enjoy!

*I love to add a little coffee to mine to help enhance the chocolate flavor, but you do you!
And sometimes this is what it means to “work fro And sometimes this is what it means to “work from home.” 😂
Mentioned this yesterday in the ol’ stories, but Mentioned this yesterday in the ol’ stories, but thought it was worth sharing here too. When it comes to how I plan out meals, I look for 3 things:

🥗Whole foods. Not like the store (that’s called Whole Paycheck, right?), but meaning foods that haven’t been minimally processed. Fresh veggies, lean protein sources, whole grains, etc. I do have a few processed things on hand (protein bars) just in case I’m in a place where I need something SUPER quick, but that’s it. 

🥗High fiber. There are so many reasons we should be getting in plenty of fiber (Google is your friend here guys), but if I’m being honest I just feel better when I’m getting plenty of it. Leaner, more regular, more satiated. The list goes on! Besides the obvious fresh produce, I also eat plenty of legumes, whole grains (rolled oats, farro, quinoa - even though it’s a seed), flax and chia seeds.

🥗Hit my protein goals. Again, an essential nutrient. I have composition goals, and for my muscles to recover from my hard workouts I have to make sure I’m getting in enough protein. For me this means chicken, fish, and the occasional beef or pork.

Wondering - would y’all be interested in how I do my meal planning and shopping trips?  If so just drop your favorite emoji below!
It’s Friday, which means a myriad of things:

1️⃣Weekend vibes! Think soccer games, yard work, church, family time. Love it!
2️⃣The end of my meal prep. Not gonna lie, I won’t make this stew again...although the couscous was a fun addition!
3️⃣Sleeping in. HALLELUJAH.
4️⃣A chance to set up next week to be a great one!

It’s going to be a fabulous weekend y’all. What are you up to?!
#brinner to the rescue tonight! I could just kick #brinner to the rescue tonight! I could just kick myself for not showing y’all how orange these yolks were. 🍳 Eggs are one of the foods I spend a little more on because the flavor and nutrient density are worth it!
.
Pictured: seared mushrooms, roasted baby broccoli, bacon and 2 eggs. Not pictured: another parfait like last night’s because 😋.
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What’s your brinner go-to?!
My allergies may be making me want to scratch my e My allergies may be making me want to scratch my eyes out of my head, but at least I’m having dessert! 😆😭 Fun fact: I never had allergies til we moved to Arkansas. Discovering this discomfort as an adult is...special?
.
This little parfait is a mini jar filled with plain Greek yogurt and homemade strawberry chia jam 🍓. No sugar added and tastes like a cheesecake - I’ll take it! Jam recipe is in my “food” highlight - just sub any frozen fruit in the same amounts and voila!
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