How To Help Your Teen Cope With Moving

WHAT IF YOU’RE TEENAGER DOESN’T WANT TO MOVE TO A NEW CITY?

You've got a new job offer across the country and you are planning to pack your things, buy or rent a new home and make the big move. However, when you tell your 17 year old daughter your plans, she lets out a mournful wail and cries that it is not fair. How can you possibly take her away from all of her friends, her favorite hangout spots and the cute boy she just started seeing?

Moving house is a difficult transition and it is even more traumatic for teenagers. The teenage years are an important stage where young adults establish their individuality and independence and during this time their social circle is extremely important to them. Being removed from that against their will can make any teen feel sad, confused, angry and resentful. Also, fitting into a new social scene in a different location can be a challenge for a teen that might be singled out as the “new kid".

How can you help your teen during this transition so that the experience will be easier on them?

Here are some tips that will make the experience of moving cities a little bit easier on your teenager:

Give them as much notice as possible so that they have time to adjust to the idea of moving. They will feel like they have enough time to say goodbye to their friends and close a chapter of their lives.

Try to schedule the move around the school calendar, as moving in the summer is much less disruptive to your teen's life than relocating in the middle of the school year.

Make sure that they have ample time to spend with their close friends before they leave and once you arrive, understand that they might go through a grieving process of missing their old pals.

When you get to your new home, make sure that your teen has plenty of ways to keep in touch with their old friends, such as an internet connection and a cell phone plan.

Encourage your teen to get involved in the community of your new hometown, such as joining sports clubs or attending events. This can help them to make new friends

Can they stay behind? Only recommended for kids 18 and over

In some situations, the better option might be to let your teenager stay behind. If they are in their older teens, they will have finished high school, maybe have a job and be independent people of their own. Perhaps they could stay with a family member or parents of a friend for a while until they are old enough to move out on their own. This might make them a lot happier in the long run, rather than taking them along with you if they really don't want to move.

Below are some links to help you with the transition:

How to talk to an angry teen: http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/talk-angry-teen-5913.html

Make new friends: http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/how-to-make-a-bunch-of-new-friends-in-any-new-city.html

Have a job: http://www.youngupstarts.com/2012/09/13/12-compelling-reasons-your-teen-should-work/ 

 

Ways To Pay Off Your Car Loan Faster

Want To Pay Off Your Car Debt Early?

 

We’d all like to live without the monthly stress of car payments. Here are a few pro-tips on how you can make this dream into a reality.

 

• Pay Half your Monthly Payment Every 2 Weeks. As small a step as it may seem, taking this initiative will eventually lead to you making 13 monthly payments per year. Just as importantly, it will help preclude the possibility of making late payments -- mistake that can damage your credit score and lead to pile-on debt.

 

• Round Up. Another small adjustment you can make that will pay dividends in the long run is to round up every monthly payment. According to Experian Automotive, the average monthly payment on a car loan is $493. Paying $500 is just a small sacrifice, (it may require giving up on frappuccino every two weeks), but given enough time this will save you substantial money in terms of accumulating interest.

 

• Never Skip Payments. Some car loans give buyers the option to skip one payment per year, supposedly free of consequences. However, even though you are granted clemency in terms of penalties, you will still be paying extra interest by not paying off your car loan as quickly as possible. Moreover, you will be setting a bad precedent for yourself. Bottom line: if you have a financial emergency, then it’s certainly nice to have the option to skip a payment. But if it’s not a bonafide emergency, just bite the bullet and pay up. Your future self will thank you!

 

• Refinance Your Loan. Getting a lower interest rate on an existing loan may be possible: research loan refinancing to see if this could be the right choice for you!

 

Struggling to make monthly car loan payments? If you’re in over your head in debt, Madison Monroe and Associates may be able to help. Visit us online today to learn how!