A family budget calculator is used to determine the money balance required for a specific individual family to overcome their expenses. The family budget calculator helps you analyse your expenses habits and requirements according to the area and region in which you are living. Different areas and regions may have different expenses requirements when it comes to family budget calculator because each region has different economy (with different tax patterns). A family budget calculator helps you to enable yourself that what are your expenses when it comes to housing, food, child care, bills and other household utilities and family expenses.

A very basic family budget calculator would only comprise the expenses that are needed to fulfil the basic needs of a family. The basic needs of a family can be explained as; food, shelter and clothing. It does not include any kind of savings, investments, insurance, restaurant meals, other expenses etc. A more sophisticated form of family budget calculator would also include the expenses made on items other than the basic needs. Usually a basic family budget calculator is used which covers the family expenses that are basic in nature and include; food, shelter and clothing.

A family budget calculator is helpful in comparing your family expenses to the expenditures of any ordinary average family’s expenses. The family budget calculator helps you to determine where you are spending more and where you are spending less as compared to an average family’s expenses. The family budget calculator allows you to calculate your monthly or annual family expenses by putting the data in the different categories and then the calculator calculates the percentage of expenses that you incurred in each category and compares it to the average expenses that are set to be compared with.

Therefore, the family budget calculator helps you analyze and compare your family’s expenses to the average norm. You can identify family expenses that are above the average spending habit. And once you are aware of your expenses, you would definitely try to reduce these expenses in one way or the other. You can also identify expenses that are below the average spending habit, this way you can analyze that what is the ratio of your savings as compared to others by using your family budget calculator.

Family budget calculator enables you to compare and then find opportunities within your budget to save. You can find ways to save your expenses according to your budget. Some people do not feel comfortable while using family budget calculator because it is often considered that every individual family has its own needs and requirements and every family would have a varied budget as well. But still a family budget calculator would ensure that you are aware of the fact that where your differ in your spending habits from others. Where you differ in making expenses, why your expenses are greater or less than others expenses. Therefore, whether you feel the need of family budget calculator or not it enables you to make comparisons and ensures you with an attitude towards normal habit with regards to expenses of the family.

These are stressful times for families. The new norm is to have activities every night on top of school and homework. Many parents constantly talk about how busy they are, that they never have time to slow down. It is no wonder that parents sometimes feel they are losing control over their lives and their kids. How can we stop this disturbing trend? How can we put the word family back into family life? Family personal development centers are available to help struggling families get back on track.

How do you know if your family needs help? The following are some symptoms of a family in crisis. Behavioral issues with your children (can include everything from being disruptive, temper tantrums right up to drug/alcohol use or promiscuous behavior)

• Children having trouble learning
• Parents fighting
• Parents not fighting but living separate lives
• Constant Exhaustion by one or more family members

Family personal development centers help families including parents and children to grow both emotionally and socially. You should contact a family development center when any of the symptoms listed above are happening, if you are questioning whether your family is headed in the right direction, or if it is glaringly obvious that your family is falling apart.

The counselors at family centers are trained in using various methods to achieve the goal of strengthening your family. They will work with you to change destructive patterns. Most of the time parents know full well there is a problem, however, they feel powerless to stop it, mostly due to lack of confidence. In situations like this, counselors will work with parents to empower them by clearly defining the roles of the parent in the family.

Family goals are made using input from the parents and children. Members of the family are given tools to achieve these goals and are held accountable to the counselor so they must give a report to the counselor about how they handled different situations. This is incredibly effective. Most of the time, family members only need to be reassured of their role within the family structure to be successful in following through on the desired actions.

For example, the Johnston family had four children ranging in age from second grade to seventh grade. The fourth grader, Kris, had always been a handful. It did not take long for him to be labeled as ADD/ADHD once he entered Kindergarten. Kris fully acted out his “label” on a daily basis. He thrived on:

• Being disruptive
• Having temper tantrums
• Incessantly taunting his younger sister

In short, Kris was living in the way that his parents and teachers expected him to live, as an ADD/ADHD child.

Obviously Kris needed to get a new impression of who he was as a person. In addition to this those around him had to stop treating him as an ADD/ADHD kid. Role-playing in this situation is effective for changing the mind Kris, his parents and siblings. Once the mindset within the family unit was changed, they could move on to the teachers.

Through role-playing, Kris had to act out what his reactions “should be” in different situations, not how he “wanted” to react or how he had reacted in the past. Role-playing helped Kris to reshape his thought patterns. Through consistent therapy of this type and ongoing accountability by all members of the family, the family personal development center was able to completely reverse the downward trend that Kris’s live had been taking. Once Kris’s teachers started to see a positive change in his behavior, they were very quick to come on board with the wishes of the family.

If you feel that your family is in need of help, look for a family personal development center in your area. Do not wait too long to ask for help and don’t be embarrassed at having to ask for help, after all, your family is worth it.

photo courtesy of twnklmoon, Flickr

photo courtesy of The Voice of Eye, Flickr

Christmas is such a wonderful time of the year and it is also a time when many people look for Christmas help for low income families. One of the great things about Christmas is how charitable people feel. It is very heart breaking to hear of a family who is having a tough time during the Christmas holidays. Thankfully there are many resources available to help families have a very nice Christmas. The following suggestions can steer you in the right direction to get Christmas help for low income families.

The Salvation Army. We are all familiar with their red kettles and there probably is not one of us who has not dropped money into the kettle. Did you ever wonder where that money goes and what it is used for? Well a portion of the funds that are brought in through the red kettle campaign are used for toy and clothing vouchers, food and other necessities for the needy. Contact your local Salvation Army for more information on how to get Christmas help for low income families.

Look for local churches. This is definitely a time when churches are looking for ways to help people. Many churches will do toy and clothing drives. Call around to churches and ask them if they are doing any thing to provide Christmas help for low income families. Also, keep your eyes open for posters or signs announcing activities to help needy families at Christmas.

One idea that I really like is contacting your local utility company. Low income families often have a hard time keeping up with basic heating and electric bills. Utility companies will often have programs to help low income families. What better time than Christmas to get utility help for those who are struggling! Perhaps you could even pay for the family’s utility bill for a month.

Food banks. Christmas certainly is a busy time for food banks. Consider donating to your local food bank via money or even volunteering some time to go and help. Christmas help for low income families is definitely something a food bank can provide. This is also the time of year when they keep extra food baskets available to help with extra needs that may arise.

No matter what method you choose to provide Christmas help to low income families, you will be a blessing to them and you will be blessed yourself. It is definitely uplifting and encouraging to help those in need, especially at this time of the year.