Archives for 2019

My husband would laugh if he knew I was writing about budgeting money. Like most couples, there’s a spender and a saver. Guess which one I am?

But I’m writing this article as much for myself as I am for all of you. Since purchasing my first home last year, I’ve come to learn that my buy-now/worry-later technique for making purchases won’t fly if I plan to keep my bills paid.

It’s time for me to put my big-girl pants on, make a family budget, and hardest of all, stick to it. It’s a lot easier said than done, so I did some research and found some helpful tips for keeping myself in check. Plus, while you’re thinking about financial tips for yourself, it’s a good idea to also teach your kids about financial literacy.

4 Easy Finance Tips for Families

1. Make a spending plan.

Nicole Lapin, NYC-based expert, NYT best-seller and personal finance expert suggests coming up with a spending plan for the new year: “You can’t blow a budget you don’t have! Just like experts recommend an ‘eating plan’ as a more long-term approach to dieting, I recommend a ‘spending plan’ instead of a crash money diet. A sustainable spending plan is broken down into the three E’s: Essentials (70% of your overall monthly budget for basic expenses like rent or mortgage, utilities, food, transportation, insurances); Endgame (15% of your monthly budget for things for your future like savings accounts, investment accounts, retirement accounts); and Extras (15% of your monthly budget for, well, whatever does it for you). Set this budget before the New Year starts and use whatever tools work for you to track your spending, and then set regular check-ins to make sure you’re staying on track throughout the year.”

2. Prevent overspending by using cash.

Financial coach and blogger Jessi Fearon offers up the idea of leaving your debit card home and stepping out with cash only on shopping trips so there is no risk of spending outside of your budget. Make a list and stick to it, especially when grocery shopping or purchasing holiday or birthday gifts.

3. Make getting out of debt a priority.

You can neither plan for tomorrow, nor live comfortably today, if you are still swimming in the spending of yesterday. Dave Ramsey, author of the New York Times Bestseller “The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness,” has a reliable method for digging out of debt called The Debt Snowball Method. According to daveramsey.com, here’s how it works: “You’ll order your debts by balance, smallest to largest. Don’t worry about interest rates unless two debts have similar payoffs—then you’ll list the higher interest rate debt first. Attack the first balance on your list by paying as much as you can each month while making minimum payments on your other debts. When you’ve paid it off, add what you were paying on it to the payment on your next debt and start attacking it. Your results will keep you motivated to dump all your debt. Before you know it, you’re debt-free.”

4. Opt for free or low-cost fun.

While it’s ok to splurge on a vacation or trip occasionally, family outings don’t always need to be expensive. In fact, you’ll be able to afford that vacation more easily by cutting back, monetarily, on activities. The most important part of family fun is simply being together, right? Trips to the park, beach, library or neighborhood festivals won’t cost a dime. Even taking the ferry into Manhattan is totally free. Always keep your eyes peeled for free or discount days at local museums, movie theaters and other local establishments.

Let us help! Here are some links from siparent-com.go-vip.net that may help Staten Islanders save money:

• Family Calendar: Look for free and low-cost family-friendly events all over Staten Island, every single day.
• Birthday Club: Join the Staten Island Parent Birthday Club and get a ton of freebies on your child’s birthday.
• Newsletters & More: Join our mailing list. Seriously, it’s worth it. Our local partners offer major discounts to our readers on everything from birthday parties and weekend activities to after-school programs and so much more. Plus we host amazing giveaways all year ‘round, picking lucky new winners all the time.
• Museums & Botanical Gardens: Some museums and botanical gardens on Staten Island are free or low-cost all the time, while others offer specific days and times when families can visit without paying admission.
• Game night: Board games are an investment in quality family time. Keeping a few great family board games on hand can lead to many hours of family fun.
• Kids Eat Free: Why pay for kids’ meals if you don’t have to? Check out this list of nearby restaurants where kids eat for free on Staten Island on select days during the week.
• Family Fun: Find out where to go and what to do with kids on Staten Island.

How Staten Island Families Weigh Their Early Education Options

If your toddler has reached the age for admission to daycare or preschool, it may be an emotional milestone for you — and them — to overcome. But, the decision-making and adjustment process can be less stressful if you prioritize your goals, have realistic expectations, and do your homework.

Staten Island parents said their top criteria for selecting a daycare or preschool ranged from socialization needs to classroom atmosphere, teachers’ experience level, and the schools’ reputation, among other factors. None of the parents interviewed mentioned cost as a determining factor, though that consideration depends on individual families’ financial budgets.

With safety the prime concern for Rosalie Russell of Castleton Corners, she made the decision on daycare for her 18-month-old son, Brayden, after site visits comparing three day care programs.

That gave her and her husband, Ryan, a more in-depth look at the facilities, the staff, the curriculum, and the environment.

Many schools have open houses prior to the application and enrollment process. Parents should know that as part of admissions, many schools require that incoming students meet age requirements, have health forms, be up to date on all vaccinations, and have a physical by a family physician in compliance with the New York City Department of Health.

Mrs. Russell, now a retired police officer, was also concerned with the credentials of the teachers and day care directors, as well as the curriculum and social activities.

“The children were learning daily — whether it was coloring, numbers or just simple sharing,” she said. The school provided daily updates on his progress and send photos throughout the day, which increased her comfort level, she recalled.

Her son, now 3, has advanced to the school’s three-year preschool program. She also sent her son, Preston, now 5, to daycare at 18 months old, and her daughter, Madison, now 14, to preschool from age 2 to 4.

“Daycare was very important to me,” said Rose Garcia Brown, an educator and native of Huguenot who ultimately sent her children to a South Shore daycare provider — her son at eight weeks old and her daughter at eight months old.

“I wanted a loving caring environment — but also an opportunity for learning,” said the assistant principal for the Department of Education at a Staten Island school.

She researched daycares on the Island, spoke to other parents, and looked for a small setting that provided personal attention and a home-like feel. She also wanted a low ratio of student to teacher — and the daycare she chose has a 8-10 children for every three adults.

“He’s so loved there,” Mrs. Garcia said. “He has opportunities to learn, play, do arts and crafts, but it’s also like he’s home,” she added.

Her two-year-old son is still enrolled at the same daycare provider, while her eight-year-old daughter is now in third grade.

Nicole Sorrentino, a North Shore resident, said she began considering a two-year-old preschool program for her first daughter at just 18 months old in order to build her socialization and separation skills.

“It seemed odd to consider it at such an early age,” said the special education teacher who provides early intervention services on Staten Island.

“As a stay at home mom, I knew she was meeting all her milestones and was on par cognitively,” but was lacking social interaction, Ms. Sorrentino explained.

“That was my main goal of a two-year-old program,” she added. She also wanted an environment where imaginative play was encouraged.

She identified two schools with stellar reputations that both respected the developmental continuum of children.

“Professionally, I listened for positive reinforcement,” she said. “It was important for me to hear negative comments put into a positive form,” she continued. “I needed to see group interactions — not only among the kids, but teachers.”

Ms. Sorrentino, whose oldest daughter is now 15 and younger daughter, 13, said once she was content that the social and educational criteria were met, she also considered the teachers’ experience and nurturing qualities, as well as secondary factors.

“The aesthetics of the environment, along with the cleanliness came into consideration as well,” Ms. Sorrentino said.

Ultimately, the deciding factor was based on her and her daughter’s need to socialize. Ms. Sorrentino did so by utilizing the schools’ drop off and pick up option outside the classroom, while her daughter benefited from extra-curricular playdates.

“This process allowed me to talk and socialize with other moms,” she explained.

“In a climate of working mothers, this was important for me,” she added. “I wanted to connect with other people and meet new people to go to the playground, parks, and museums with.”

For Denise Durante of Tottenville, the decision was made a little easier by the fact that she taught at a North Shore Catholic elementary school that offered pre-K.
But, she still needed to establish a comfort level — for herself and her daughter, Demi, who was two years old when she began the process.

“I was very happy that my daughter loved the teacher and felt comfortable in a safe environment, and that she felt loved — to me that mattered the most,” she said.

Besides practicality, Ms. Durante liked the faith-based environment and socialization.

“Demi went to mass and learned her prayers,” she said. “They were also able to celebrate holidays, such as Christmas, and birthdays.”

Prepping the Preschoolers

With the selection process ironed out, Staten Island parents say they prepared their children — according to age — with positive reinforcement about spending time apart from them and practicing separation techniques for short to intermediate time spans ahead of admission.

“When kids are infants it’s important you let close family and friends help,” Mrs. Garcia advised, suggesting parents take the time to go food shopping, get themselves pampered, or other errands.

In addition, children enrolling in daycare or preschool for the first time should also become involved in extracurricular activities or sports — to spend time away from Mommy and Daddy.

This can help ease separation anxiety for both the toddlers and their parents — and build socializing skills.

She said she encouraged social interaction for her kids through organized activities, like sports or dance, as well as leave them with relatives, so they got accustomed to separation.

“Enroll [them] in something that allows your child to be without you,” Mrs. Garcia recommended. “Pre-k cannot be the first time a child is without a parent. ”

Others said leaving their children for the first time in a preschool school setting was tough, but necessary.
“It was important to me that my daughter separate from me with relative ease,” Ms. Sorrentino said. “Because she was so young, I never wanted her to feel abandoned.”

But, parents said promoting the experience in a positive way and pointing out its advantages outweighs the negatives — even at a young age.

“I highlighted the social aspect of making friends to my daughters, and they were sold right away,” she recalled.

For some, the transition can be smooth and the roles become reversed.

Mrs. Russell said her son Brayden was able to separate without difficulty each day because of his young age.

“I didn’t have to do so much preparation since he was only 18 months old,” she explained. “It was more on my part to mentally prepare myself daily. He’s my second child — my first didn’t go to daycare — so it was upsetting,” she explained.

“It took several weeks — if not months — until I didn’t get upset,” Mrs. Russell added.

Her advice?  “Most importantly, I never let him see me upset.”

By Christine Albano

Tasty foods for boosting your immune system this season!

While the word “superfood” might conjure images of vegetables donning capes and fighting crime, it isn’t as ridiculous a metaphor as it sounds. Foods that are nutrient-rich and packed with healthy vitamins and minerals can boost immune systems and help ward off illnesses that many families suffer through all winter long. And when these type of food are consumed along with supplements like d-mannose they can help keep the bladder healthy, thus preventing a ton of medical issues at one go. These foods are highly nutritious and they can be pretty tasty too, making them easy to offer kids (or at least sneak into some heavily-disguised kid-friendly meal).

Avocado

. Avocado has high levels of essential fatty acids and vitamin B6, which is important in the biosynthesis of important neurotransmitters. Foods high in B vitamins may be able to counteract some of the symptoms of winter-related depression.

Cranberries

. Cranberries are packed with nutrients and antioxidants. The nutrients in cranberries have been linked to a lower risk of urinary tract infections, prevention of certain types of cancer, improved immune function, and decreased blood pressure.

Pomegranate

. This quirky fruit has vitamins C and K, folate and potassium and is a good source of fiber. Pomegranate has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help in reducing joint pain and preventing strokes. Pomegranate may also help the body fight viruses.

Sweet Potatoes

. One cup of baked sweet potato provides nearly half of your daily vitamin C needs. The same portion also supplies 400%(!) of your recommended daily intake of vitamin A. Both nutrients are vital for supporting immune function, which is especially important during cold and flu season.

Read Next | Delicious Fall Recipes

Pears

. Pears are an excellent source of fiber, good source of vitamin C, and provides 190 mg of potassium. Studies have shown pears decreases the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and overall mortality while promoting a healthy complexion, increased energy, and a lower weight.

Salmon

. This popular fish is an excellent source of high-quality protein, vitamins and minerals (including potassium, selenium and vitamin B12). With a very high content of omega-3 fatty acids it is considered a valuable ‘brain food.”

Dark chocolate

. Dark chocolate is loaded with nutrients that can positively affect your health. Made from the seed of the cocoa tree, it is one of the best known sources of antioxidants known. It could improve blood flow, lower blood pressure, regulate cholesterol level, reduce heart disease risk, and improve brain function,

Cinnamon

. Cinnamon has high levels of antioxidants, and some studies point to cinnamon as a natural antibacterial agent. Cinnamon also can help regulate blood-glucose levels, which is beneficial for those with diabetes.

Prunes

. Sometimes referred to as “dried plums,” prunes are an important source of boron, which could prevent osteoporosis. High in antioxidants, prunes help the body fight a variety of illnesses.

Cabbage

. Cabbage may be a key element in the fight against cancer. Cabbage has phytochemicals that can protect the body against cancer-causing free radicals. It’s also a good source of dietary fiber, which can stimulate a sluggish digestive system.

Butternut squash

. This food is packed with carotenoids, which are stellar antioxidants. The starches in this squash also have been found to have anti-inflammatory properties.

Chestnuts

. Chestnuts are worthy of inclusion in anyone’s diet. Unlike many nuts, chestnuts are relatively low in fat but have high levels of protein. They’re also packed with vitamin C and B vitamins.

Read Next | Learn about Staten Island Home Improvement and Contractors

Parents know that children’s imaginations know no limits when it comes to playtime. However, the right prop can take make-believe to the next level. Once they put on these ultra-cool dinosaur feet, your kids won’t ever want to take them off. Here’s how to make them:

1. Gather your materials. You’ll need tissue paper cut into squares, a clean sponge, a glue stick, and two empty tissue boxes.
2. Glue the tissue paper squares onto the tissue boxes until everything but the bottom side is covered. We alternated colors for a pretty effect.
3. Cut the sponge into small triangles – you’ll need three for each “foot.” Glue them to what will become the front of each “foot.”
4. Once finished, your kids can place their feet into the openings of the tissue boxes. Make sure they play carefully as they stomp around.

If your little dino is thirsty after all that stomping, offer up a box of his favorite “dinosaur juice” from Juicy Juice! Images & craft printed with permission from Juicy Juice. See more crafts at juicyjuice.com.

Read Next | Find Great After School Programs in Staten Island