FORGOTTEN HISTORY: 3 | History Defined

The Cheapest Kid in the Friend Group May Actually Be Learning the Best Money Lessons

The kid who skips the $8 smoothie, waits for a sale, or says, “I don’t want to spend my money on that,” may get teased for being cheap. Yet that child could be practicing financial skills that many adults struggle to master: setting priorities, resisting social pressure, and accepting that…

Kids Ain't Cheap · Sep 20

9 Baby Names That Work Whether Your Child Becomes an Artist, Athlete, or Accountant

Choosing a baby name means making a decision for someone whose personality, interests, and career are still a mystery. That is one reason versatile baby names can be so appealing: they feel equally at home on a gallery wall, team roster, business card, or college diploma. The latest U.S. data…

Kids Ain't Cheap · Sep 20

Would You Charge Your Adult Child Rent If They Moved Back Home?

Your adult child calls with a familiar request: Can I move back home for a while? With housing costs still elevated, returning to the family home can be a practical way to rebuild savings, pay down debt, or recover from a job change. But once the boxes arrive, another question…

Kids Ain't Cheap · Sep 19

Are Family Photo Days Becoming Another Expensive Parenting Obligation?

Family photo day can start with a simple goal: get one good picture of everyone together before the kids grow another six inches. Then comes the photographer deposit. Someone needs a new shirt. Another child needs shoes. Maybe there’s a haircut, holiday cards, prints for grandparents, and the irresistible temptation…

Kids Ain't Cheap · Sep 17

9 Baby Names That Sound Like Nicknames but Work Surprisingly Well on Adults

Some names arrive sounding ready for a boardroom, while others seem destined for a playground. Yet nickname baby names have increasingly crossed that line, giving parents options that feel warm and approachable without necessarily sounding childish later. Current naming data supports the shift: Millie, for example, reached No. 73 among…

Kids Ain't Cheap · Sep 16

September Is a Good Month to Find Out What Your Kid Actually Uses From That Huge School Supply Haul

By September, the excitement of back-to-school shopping has usually been replaced by something much more useful: evidence.

Kids Ain't Cheap · Sep 16

Should Kids Know How Much Their Parents Make?

At some point, many kids ask a question that can make even financially open parents hesitate: “How much money do you make?”

Kids Ain't Cheap · Sep 15

8 After-School Activities That Can Cost Far More Than Parents Expect

After-school activities can help kids build confidence, friendships, discipline, and skills that extend well beyond the classroom. But an activity that looks affordable on a registration page can become surprisingly expensive once parents add equipment, uniforms, travel, private instruction, and event fees. Recent research from the Aspen Institute found that…

Kids Ain't Cheap · Sep 15

Some Parents Are Quietly Saying No to Expensive Birthday Parties

A child’s birthday can start with a seemingly simple plan—pizza, cake and a few friends—and somehow end with a venue deposit, balloon arch, custom cookies, party favors, matching decorations and a credit-card charge that looks more like a weekend getaway. Some parents are beginning to question whether all of that…

Kids Ain't Cheap · Sep 14

10 Baby Names Parents Love but Grandparents May Need Time to Get Used To

Baby naming has changed dramatically from the days when every classroom seemed to have several Jennifers, Michaels, or Jessicas. Today’s parents have a much wider naming pool, embracing nature, surnames, mythology, gender-neutral choices, and names once considered too unconventional. In fact, recent U.S. naming data shows plenty of distinctive choices…

Kids Ain't Cheap · Sep 14