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7 Smart Moves for Parents in 2022

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Are you a parent who worries about things like the economy, inflation, pandemics, political instability, and your children's online safety? Then, you're like most other moms and dads who view the current world situation as a challenging one. What can you do to keep your family from falling victim to crime and economic woes? Fortunately, there are numerous tactics that can minimize your risks and maximize financial security and safety at the same time. 

Consider using one of the latest high-tech ID tags to keep track of your children, refinancing education debt to reduce monthly expenses, and opting to homeschool to give kids a better education. There's also much wisdom in limiting and monitoring the online activities of your children, adding additional layers of security to your home, using a VPN (a virtual private network) to protect online data, and building an emergency fund equal to three months of total family income. Here are details about seven of the most potent weapons at your disposal.

Use ID Tagging for Children

There are several electronic tracking devices you can put in kids' bags, shoes and even sew them into their clothing. A few parents even opt to use under-skin computer chips so they can find lost children. Prices range from very low (under $20) for items like bag tags and shoe inserts to several hundred dollars for computer chips that must be embedded by a medical professional.

Refinance Student Loans

When you opt to refinance education debt obligations into a single loan, it's possible to reduce monthly expenses significantly. Parents who choose a NaviRefi student loan refinance arrangement can apply in minutes, get flexible terms, refinance balances up to hundreds of thousands of dollars, and roll all their education loans into one simple payment. Terms vary in range, and the online application is simple as can be. After inputting relevant financial and personal data, you have the ability to choose your payment amount, decide on the rate type that works best, and customize the terms in multiple other ways. There's no smarter way to lock in long-term savings on student debt. You can even sign online to seal the deal and start saving right away.

Opt For Homeschooling

Homeschooling is a safer, less costly, higher-quality way of educating children. Controversies aside, the results speak for themselves. Homeschooled kids do better on every metric, including standardized test scores and socialization skills. Kids who are taught at home can join community sports leagues and activity clubs, so they don't miss out on one of the essential ingredients of childhood and early adulthood. This is a great way to work on your child’s confidence from a young age, as well. 

Limit Kids' Online Time and Activity

Use apps, monitor activity, monitor conversations to protect kids, until 18 there is no privacy, monitor socials, so kids don't reveal sensitive info of family,

Make Your Home and Car Secure

It's one thing to protect kids while they roam, play, and travel to and from events. However, you need to make your home a secure place too. That means installing things like all-around surveillance cameras, door and window alarms, motion-detecting lights, smart locks, doorbell cams that are not connected to local police departments, and more.

Speak with a reputable security consultant to determine which kinds of devices and systems will work best for your house and neighborhood. These days, comprehensive security systems don't cost a fortune. Besides, they're an excellent investment when you consider that they can prevent a break-in or major theft. Add an embedded GPS device to your car so you can find it if it's stolen. Ask your favorite mechanic what's available and where to get the best price on a hidden GPS for your vehicle. Then, have the mechanic install the device so it can't be removed or tampered with by thieves.

Use a VPN

Use a VPN (a virtual private network) whenever you go online. VPNs are cheap and work well. If you want to keep your identity safe from hackers and other bad actors, never go online without a VPN. Avoid revealing any sensitive information when you're online, and never store passwords on your computer. Write them down in coded form on paper. Secure the document in a location that you can access relatively quickly.

Build an Emergency Fund

Make your financial situation save by creating an emergency fund. Put about three months of income in it, and choose an account that pays interest. The point is to have ready access to the money in an emergency, so don't invest it in the stock market. Keep the funds safe, liquid, and interest-bearing. If you currently have credit card debt, pay it off before starting on the emergency fund. There's no sense in socking cash away while you pay on cards. But, once you get the cards down to zero balances, add to the fund in increments large enough to fully fund it within two years.