Parenthood is as sacred a thing as exists for human beings. What's fair is what the child needs, not that you keep up with Martha Jones' in number of vacation days. (Photo: flickr.com)

I think that America has the wrong idea when it comes to work-life balance. The wheels of business have to turn for our economy to function, but do we honestly have to spend the vast majority of our waking lives (and sleeping lives, if you dream about work) at work to keep the engine running? There a host of other countries – many of them European – that aren’t mired in poverty. Salaried employees there tend to have more time outside of the office than Americans. I’d wager that they’re happier for it.

Take Paid Maternity Leave, For Instance

Compared with other nations like the Czech Republic, America’s paid maternity leave is pathetic. Certainly it’s an expensive venture to cover a woman’s salary while she’s away from work for an extended period of time. No short term loans can cover that kind of gap, which means tax dollars must be used. And I understand that some object to using their tax dollars to subsidize another woman’s pregnancy. But I simply cannot agree with people like those who would claim that they’re entitled to the same amount of paid maternity leave as a new mother.

2,000 U.K. Women Were Surveyed

Bethany Sanders writes in Forbes that 74 percent of childless women surveyed want paid maternity leave, too. The survey, which originally ran in the Telegraph, shows that most women want the same year of maternity leave (39 weeks paid) that new U.K. mothers receive.

Is it envy? Is it an overwhelming desire for justice and fair play? Or is it all of the above? Whatever the case, it seems to me that the entire point of childbirth, parent-child bonding and the handing over the keys to the kingdom from the old to the young is undervalued. Do they think it’s all a blissful vacation? Being a parent is joyous. It is also a great responsibility – and a time where parents get little or no rest. Such is the way of parenthood. And remember: we all started out as children. Bonding time with parents is invaluable.

Businesses Do the Spit Take

Businesses certainly aren’t warming to the idea of paid maternity for everyone (men included, as paternity). Of course, if the work-life balance was handled properly to begin with, they’d be conditioned to granting more time. The Industrial Revolution took us down the wrong path in this regard, and much of the world still hasn’t recovered. Yet if everyone had a sufficient-sized pool to draw from, perhaps there would be less squabbling and more relaxation.

Childless Men and Women, Listen Up

Your desire for time off is justifiable. And your time is as personal and valuable as another person’s. Yet you’re missing the point. Children are a class of society that deserves privileged status and special treatment more than any other. Having this early time to bond with parents should not be optional. It should be considered a requirement like eating, breathing, sleeping and pooping. Give children that and the odds are even greater that societies to come will be more well-adjusted and happy. Give the children time and we will be rewarded as a whole.

Pregnant women also need extra time to recuperate (or at least to take a stab at recuperation). If you’ve ever been there, you know. I helped keep one alive – twice – so I’ve at least seen it.

Do the Childless Deserve Paid “Maternity?”

They absolutely do not. But we all deserve more time away from the working world. We neglect personal development and family time at our peril. Knock Humpty from the wall and see just how inadequate short term loans are to put him back together again. But if things were different and we needed to buy diapers we couldn’t afford (child or adult diapers) between paychecks, short term loans would be a reasonable option.

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Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mangpages/ / CC BY 2.0

Most parents are willing to go through extremes to protect and closely monitor their children. It’s perfectly understandable. As a parent myself, I want to ensure my child’s safety, no matter how deep or how far I have to go to do it, even if it means getting a payday loan. But how far will some parents go in terms of ‘closely monitoring’ their children? Will some invest in the new Little Buddy Child Tracker for a more intense scrutiny?

What is a Little Buddy Child Tracker?

The Little Buddy Child Tracker from the Best Buy house brand, Insignia,  is a GPS tracking device that allows parents to know where their children are and notifies them if their children takes off from where they’re suppose to be. In other words, it’s the perfect way to pose as an undercover detective and stalk your children. It’s almost like getting a payday loan with your payday loan lender closely monitoring your every spending. It sounds a bit creepy if you ask me.

Little Buddy Child Tracker – Is it a good investment?

Don’t get me wrong, the Little Buddy GPS seems like a pretty cool tracking device. I like the fact that you can easily find out where your child is using a smartphone or computer. However, there’s a huge problem I see with this.

First off, I just want to make sure you understand that children are not stupid. They’re a lot smarter than some people give them credit. They can figure out some of the craziest things you could ever imagine. So here’s the deal: how do you think your child will react upon discovering this tracking device hidden somewhere in their backpack? Will you lie to them or profess the truth that you’ve been secretly tracking their every move for the past several months?

Engadget, an award-winning multilingual technology weblog, brings out a very good point:

With a name like “Little Buddy Child Tracker,” you know this thing has to be awful, right? Insignia, Best Buy’s house brand, has just listed an incredibly invasive and humiliating new GPS tracker on its site, and rather than promoting it as just that, the marketing brains have decided it best to aim this at paranoid mums and dads who’ve done such a poor job raising their offspring that they can’t even trust ‘em to trek out on their own… Just make sure they don’t ever know that you were responsible for planting this thing on their person, else you can forget about junior footing those nursing home bills when the time comes.

I believe children should be raised in good faith and trust. Mutual trust in a family becomes evident when its members, particularly parents, make every effort to pave a clean path of respect and good communication within the household. When you constantly practice and teach your children good morals and the value of responsibility, you’re not only preparing them for their future; you’re building trust. Trust them like you want them to trust you. Be open and share your thoughts and feelings with your child. In return, they will do the same. In my opinion, using the Little Buddy Child Tracker will only prove the opposite in the long run. But hey, that’s just my opinion.

Let’s Talk Budget

Just to give you a heads up, you can get a Little Buddy Child Tracker device for $100. Keep in mind, however, that there likely may be a monthly subscription fee. So if you want to avoid the probable need of a payday loan, you might want to direct some of that ‘tracking’ attention towards your budget and, if necessary, make changes to your finances and analyze your priorities.

In a single-parent household where the mother is the parent, finding debt relief can be difficult. Certain states in this nation are more favorable than others. (Photo: flickr.com)

Single mothers are another part of society looking for debt relief. In today’s difficult economy, everyone is suffering but single mothers can have their own set of issues. Juggling employment, homes and children can be a daunting task even for two-parent households. For single mothers, it can be even harder. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost 73 almost of single mothers are employed or actively pursuing employment.

A recent survey done by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that some states are better at aiding single mothers. To gather their data, the agency looked at child care rankings, unemployment numbers, the wage gap, workplace flexibility and tax information guides. Here is a list of the top states on the list.

California

California is a highly esteemed state for single mothers. Workers get up to six weeks’ paid leave after a child is born. New Jersey is the only other state that offers that length of leave time. The federal government does not provide for time after birth and only eight percent of workers qualify through their employer. California also has one of the narrowest wage gaps between men and women. Nationwide, the wage gap averages at 77.5 percent, whereas in California it is 83.8 percent. Also, tax credits help single mothers afford daycare for children and reward companies for providing in-house daycare services to employees.

District of Columbia

The District of Columbia has the highest percentage of women in managerial and professional jobs. It also has a negligible wage gap as almost 94 percent of women earn as much as men. Mothers get paid maternity leave through their temporary disability insurance. An added bonus is that child care regulations are among the strictest in the U.S.

Florida

Florida is another state that caters to single mothers. Child care is top-rated and highly affordable. Florida is also one of the only states that requires in-house monitoring of all child care centers at least four times every year. The state is transparent in that they post all findings and inspections online. Debt relief is easily found in a state where the wage gap is about 80 percent, which is still above the national average. Florida’s cost for child care is average, making it affordable too.

Hawaii

Single mothers in Hawaii get paid maternity leave via the stated mandatory temporary disability insurance. The state is also petitioning to increase its paid family leave provisions, which would allow people paid time off for spousal and family illnesses. The state’s unemployment rate reached 3.6 percent, well below the national average which is expected to climb to 10 percent.

Massachusetts

Child care is very strictly monitored in Massachusetts. Centers boast more spaces in daycares and schools than that are children in need. Women’s earning in the state tends to be higher than in the rest of the country. Almost 40 percent of women are in managerial or professional jobs. Despite the plusses, it’s noteworthy to understand that child care costs are highest in Massachusetts compared with other states.

Finding Debt Relief can be Easier

Finding debt relief can be difficult for single mothers, but the above states have special provisions that make it easier for them to manage. If single mothers are looking for employment, it may benefit them to look at California, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Massachusetts and Florida. These states’ benefits may make raising their children – while maintaining full-time employment – a lot easier.

The medical industry in the United States of America is amongst the most hotly contested issues of the day, and it takes most average parents to payday loans applications than it ever used to.  Saving on medical costs is a hard thing to do, especially since children require more trips to the doctor than most adults.  You can’t fault the little darlings for it – they don’t have the immune system strength that an adult has, and things that most of us would shrug off with impunity, like a mild case of flu or a slightly more aggressive cold, will put the average five year old on the floor with ease.

Want to save money on doctor’s bills?  There’s an easy way

There are a million home remedies and anecdotes on how to keep healthy – “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” – and some of them are absolutely right, such as making sure the kids get proper nutrition and a healthy intake of vitamins.  There’s another way to keep them healthy, and this one won’t cost that much at all to do and actually could save their life, and your budget, since if they follow this rule you won’t have to get payday loans to take them to hospital as often.

Make sure the kids wash their hands – it may save their life and you money

Making sure that kids wash their hands and any cuts they may pick up is now becoming amongst the most paramount things for a parent to do.  The levels of one of the nastiest infections you can get are becoming almost epidemic, and that is the disease known as MRSA, or “mersa” – a community acquired infection.  Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus is a resistant strain of the common staph infection, and it is nasty.  MRSA is now responsible for more deaths per year in the US than AIDS.

One of the easiest ways to prevent it is to wash hands and any wounds thoroughly, and using a non drying hand sanitizer is about the best move to make.  Also, any wounds should not be exposed – cover them with a clean bandage.  MRSA is spread in community areas, such as gyms, schools, and hospitals – hospitals are the number one culprit site of infection – so kids with a boo-boo need to be extra cautious, and keep themselves clean and away from other sick kids.

The most common transmission of the disease is skin to skin contact.  MRSA can be treated by a healthcare provider, but the treatments for it, especially if already hospitalized, get expensive very fast.  A MRSA infection in an already hospitalized patient will tack on an extra few thousand bucks, so shelling out for hand sanitizer and band aids doesn’t sound quite as bad anymore, does it?

Be aware, but don’t be alarmed

The rate of infection is rising, but don’t get too alarmed.  Only 1% of the population carries it, and most victims are hospitalized with serious conditions already – one of the most common sites of hospital acquired MRSA is through feeding and catheter tubes.  So remember, the best way to keep your kids away from dangerous infections is to keep them clean, and one of the best ways to keep your budget uninfected is by using payday loans to fight off a money bug.

Emphasize the importance of money management

Educating your children about money will help them in their financial futures and can help them avoid credit repair services. There is no better time to teach your kids about the smart usage of payday loans and money management than right now. Your budget is probably stretched to the max, and it’s important for your children to understand how money works, especially in difficult financial times.

Common Mistakes

Parents make a few common mistakes when they teach their children about money management. First and foremost, you should not cave into your child’s every request. It’s easy to feel guilty for not buying everything your kids want, but by giving them everything they ask for, you are setting a poor example and failing to teach them the value of money. A child that is accustomed to getting all her heart’s desires will have a very difficult time understanding the concept of budgeting.

It’s important for parents to understand that it’s okay to say no. You aren’t saying no to be mean to your children; you’re saying no to teach your kids a lesson. Kids need to learn that you can’t have everything you want. Life doesn’t work that way. Kids also need to learn that money isn’t an unlimited resource and irresponsibly using financial resources such as payday loans and cash advance can be extremely damaging. Money doesn’t grow on trees, and it is limited.

Some parents also neglect to give their kids money management guidance. Be honest with your children. It’s completely appropriate to talk about the family budget with your children. This does not mean you should burden your children with the stress of bills or make them feel guilty about how much children cost. However, you should explain to your kids that there is a certain amount of money that comes into your home, and there are certain expenses that have to be paid every month, like utilities and grocery bills.

The easiest way to help your children understand the value of money is to teach them to earn money. You can give them an allowance for completing certain chores, and when they’re old enough they can even go out and get a job. If your kid wants a $35 toy and only makes $10 per week in allowance, you will teach him that saving is necessary to get the things he wants. Visual aids are also very helpful when teaching kids how to manage their money. Try using jars to help your kids allocate their money. They can use one jar for everyday spending, one jar for bigger items like that $35 toy, and one jar for long-term savings (which should later be put in a savings account).

Set a Good Example

Smart money management brings a significant amount of financial success.

Your children are watching your every move, whether you like it or not. This includes your money spending and saving practices. If your children see you shopping compulsively or pulling out your credit card when ever you get a chance, or even obtaining more payday loans than needed, they will be getting the wrong message about money. So practice what you preach. If you spend and save wisely you will be doing your own budget a favor, and you will be teaching your kids life-long money lessons. Using money responsibly will help your credit, and your kids will be more likely to avoid credit problems in the future. Credit repair services are there if you need them, but it’s best for you and your kids to avoid bad credit altogether.