FOUND: 5 - You Need To See This

Should Parents Charge Adult Kids Rent When They Move Back Home?

Moving back home as an adult is no longer unusual. In 2023, 18% of Americans ages 25 to 34 lived in a parent’s home, according to Pew Research Center, and housing costs, job changes, student debt, divorce, and saving for a home can all make returning to the family home…

Kids Ain't Cheap · Aug 21

8 Things Grandparents Buy Kids That Parents Secretly Wish They Wouldn’t

Grandparents often love showing affection through gifts, and watching a grandchild tear into a new present can be irresistible. But even the most generous gift can create an unexpected headache when it clashes with household rules, available space, or a child’s age. That is why gifts grandparents buy kids can…

Kids Ain't Cheap · Aug 21

43% of Parents Would Go Into Debt to Help Their Kids Fit In — 7 Money Traps to Avoid

The expensive sneakers. The travel team all their friends joined. The class trip. The birthday outing everyone is talking about. For parents, saying “we can’t afford that” can feel like saying no to far more than a purchase—it can feel like risking your child’s place in the group. That pressure…

Kids Ain't Cheap · Aug 20

How Much Should a Teen Contribute Toward Their First Car?

Buying a first car is one of those milestones that can feel exciting for a teenager and financially complicated for a parent. Families have to balance independence, safety, affordability, and the valuable lesson that a vehicle costs more than the number on the windshield. There is no universal teen car…

Kids Ain't Cheap · Aug 18

Your Child Wants to Quit an Expensive Activity — Should You Make Them Finish the Season?

Your child begged to join the travel soccer team, dance company, gymnastics program, or music lessons, and you paid hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars to make it happen. Now, halfway through the commitment, your child wants to quit, leaving you frustrated about the money, the commitment, and the lesson quitting might…

Kids Ain't Cheap · Aug 17

Should Kids Get Paid for Good Grades? What Parents Should Consider Before Offering Cash

Paying a child $10 for every A can sound like a simple way to turn report-card day into motivation day. For some families, paying kids for good grades provides a concrete goal and even creates an opportunity to teach saving, spending, and budgeting. But research on academic incentives suggests the…

Kids Ain't Cheap · Aug 17

6 Things Parents Should Stop Automatically Paying For Once Their Teen Has a Job

Getting a first job is a major milestone for a teenager, but the paycheck can teach far more than how quickly money disappears at the mall. For parents, it is also an opportunity to introduce teen financial responsibility while the consequences of mistakes are still relatively small. That does not…

Kids Ain't Cheap · Aug 16

7 August Advocacy Tasks That Can Make the School Year Easier to Navigate

August can feel like one long checklist of school supplies, forms, schedules, and last-minute appointments, but it is also an ideal time for school advocacy. A few proactive steps before classes settle into full speed can prevent small communication gaps from becoming bigger problems later. This is especially important for…

Kids Ain't Cheap · Aug 16

What Does a Special-Education Placement Change Cost Families?

A change in a child’s special-education placement can sound like an academic decision, but families often discover that it has a financial side, too. A new campus or program may affect transportation, therapy schedules, child care, work hours, evaluations, and even tuition. Those special education placement costs can range from…

Kids Ain't Cheap · Aug 15

Understanding School Attendance Rules That Can Hit Families Managing Therapy Appointments

For families juggling school with speech therapy, occupational therapy, counseling, physical therapy, or other recurring care, the calendar can become surprisingly complicated. A weekly appointment may be medically important, yet repeated time away from class can still affect a student’s attendance record. The challenge is that school attendance rules vary…

Kids Ain't Cheap · Aug 15