Asks if Parents Should Snoop on Their Kids

Are there parents who insist their kids text them as soon as they get on the bus and as soon as they get to school? Do parents download and install GPS-related software so parents know where their kids are at all times? familykenkel ask these questions and a few more to gauge if parents snoop on their kids.

Today’s children have many more possibilities to end up in danger than in previous decades.  The Internet and smart phones with Internet access make it easy for anyone to contact them. Social media accounts are also huge draws for the wrong kind of people to reach out and touch kids. So, we ask: should parents snoop on their kids? Do they snoop on their kids and how?  In earlier times, it was common for mothers to read their daughter’s diaries. Now both parents can see what their brood is writing on the Internet and in texts and can monitor it.

There are some products parents can use to keep track of what kids are up to: NetNanny, SafeEyes, and MamaBear to name just a few. Familykenkel asks why parents need products like these and the answer is this: more than three quarters of American kids age12 to 17 have cell phones, half of those devices has Internet access, social media and email access. In addition, a survey found that 40% of fifth graders have their own cellphones, 75% of teens aged 13 to 17 have at least one social media account, and more than two-thirds say they text every day.  Parents always want to be sure their children are safe. Snooping on kids is one way to find out if they are okay, happy, not being bullied, where they say they are and safe.

Save Money on Back to School Needs

You know it’s almost time to go back to school when the sales start, discount codes arrive in email and school uniforms are on store racks. Familykenkel shares some tips on how to save money on back to school needs.

Shop early. Even if the school district has not sent out a list of needed supplies for the year, hit the discount stores early for the widest variety and the best prices.  Stock up.

If your state offers a tax-free weekend on school supplies, wait until then to stock up.

Do your kids need some cool new duds to start the school year? Go online and check out some of the fashion resale stores like thredup.com and moxiejean.com. Cool styles can be found for less than the department or boutique stores charge.

TheFamilykenkel also uses smart phone apps for favorite stores to find special sales, coupons and discount codes for back to school items.  

True fashionistas though will find creative ways to re-purpose clothing from previous seasons. Fashion is evolving and will come full circle with some modifications. Take advantage of scarves, hats, leggings and other ways to turn some cast-offs into something very cool. There are a myriad of ways to save money on back to school needs. Use all of them!

Easily Save Some Money

There is always time to find ways to save more money, especially during the summer when everything seems to slow down. Familykenkel shares a few examples of where to find some extra dough to sock away.

Review cell phone bills and policies to see if there are any savings to take advantage of such as less usage or getting rid of replacement insurance.

Automate bill payments and automate savings deposits. Too many people do not trust banks and merchants when it comes to automated bill payments. The theory is if there is a billing mistake or service issue, there is no recourse since the bill has been paid for the month already. But making a late payment costs money. As for savings, the expression “out of sigh out of mind” comes to the forefront. If it’s automatically deposited every month, it won’t be spent.

Forgo plastic. Use cash instead. Determine how much cash is needed for the week and withdraw that on Saturday or Sunday morning. Instead of regularly swiping a debit or credit card spending more than wanted, use the cash on hand instead.

Wait before spending hard-earned money on something major like a new TV. Wait 30 days and then ask if it’s a must have or want to have. Familykenkel also believes it may go on sale.

These are easy ways to save money every day, week and month.

Avoid Cell Cramming Charges

Cell phone users may find some line items on their monthly bills which do not look right or are small in cost.  Some of these charges are “cramming” charges that the provider adds to the bill seemingly without the customer’s permission. Familykenkel has some info on how to avoid cell phone cramming charges.

Cramming is the practice of placing misleading or unauthorized charges on a consumer's cell phone bill. These charges used to show up on landline phone bills. Now they are showing up on cell bills. So what can one do to avoid getting them and how does one get rid of them?

• Read the bill closely every time when it arrives and even if the bill is paid directly from another account.
• Read the fine print carefully before signing up for any cell service.
• Don’t enter cell phone numbers online unless it is with a known, respected company.
• If a charge is on the bill for something not recognizable, call the carrier right away. Don’t wait because some companies have a short window for refunds.
• Ask the carrier if it has a blocking service for cramming. It should be free.
• Pay attention to the smaller charges. Most crammers try to go for the $1.99 to $2.99 charges. Refute these and insist on a credit on the next bill if already paid.
• Still getting charged by crammers and not getting help from the cell provider? File a formal complaint with the FCC.
• Familykenkel suggests prepaid phone users keep an eye on their minutes. If there are cramming charges, they will deducted from the total minutes per month.

Go online and review the bill before the next billing cycle. This is the best time to do it.