You need money for virtually everything, and people see this clearly when they have children. At this point, lack of money can put your children’s lives in jeopardy, and no parent wants that. The good thing is there are a few financial resources out there that parents should know about to make their lives easier.

Financial Calculators

One thing you should do is use a financial calculator. There are many online, and most of them are free though there are a few apps you can download that’ll do the same thing for you. When it comes to choosing one, look for good reviews. You also want to pay attention to the way the information is presented. You don’t want something that’s hard to use. What a good financial calculator does for you helps you figure out how much you need to set aside for your kids’ college fund and other similar savings. It’s hard to figure this out on your own, but this tool should help.

Community Lenders

The next thing parents need to be aware of is community money lenders. The reality is raising children can get expensive. This is something all parents know. Ideally, you will always have a steady stream of income and never need anything, but that is not always the case. You can’t predict what’s going to happen in the future. If for some reason you hit money issues, you don’t want to jeopardize your family’s wellbeing. You do have a choice. You can start applying for a personal loan in Chicago and other major metropolitan areas to solve whatever financial hurdler you’re going through.

Debt Consolidation

Debt in various forms, be it credit cards, mortgages, and student loans, are everyday things for most people because they have no other choice in modern times. It is best to use debt during an emergency, as mentioned above. When you’re in debt, you’re accountable to someone. You want to decrease your debt obligation as much you can because you have to think about your kids. The good thing is you can use debt consolidation to try to reduce your debt and gain your freedom back. These professionals will help pull you out of financial stress.

Credit Reports

You can gain access to your free credit report each year, and you should take advantage of that. You need to do this not only because your credit score is essential but also to spot identity theft. Yes, identity theft can put you and your family’s finances in jeopardy, and you don’t want that. If you see something suspicious on the report, you’ll be able to do something about it. All you have to do is report the problem, and the issue should be resolved. Having an excellent report helps your family because you get lower interest rates and other benefits.

Financial Advisor

Financial advisors are a vital resource, yet sometimes, people don’t take advantage of their services. These folks will get to know you and your family’s finances intimately. After doing so, they’ll be able to analyze your finances and cash flow. They’ll factor in some of your goals, like having enough to buy your kids’ first cars and other things. They’ll create a plan so that you can do all of this, and they’ll also suggest a few steps you can take that’ll help put your family in a better financial position than you are in. These folks will teach you how to budget better and may even teach you about creating new income streams if you need them.

There you have it. You’ve got plenty of tools and resources to help you as a parent. All you have to do is take advantage of each one because you’ll be happy you did. Talk to an advisor for more tips.

People may feel a little sad after losing a job. It feels like there’s nothing you can do, but there are some steps you need to take. The following are a few things to do if you lost your job.

Address Healthcare

Unlike most countries, America doesn’t guarantee healthcare to its citizens. Because of that, most people depend on their employer for health insurance. If you lose your job, you lose access to this coverage. Your first step should be to get healthcare quotes online. Even if you feel okay right now, healthcare emergencies come out of nowhere, so you need to prepare.

Unemployment Benefits

If you qualify for unemployment benefits, be sure to read every question on the application. Go over it as many times as you need to to ensure you don’t make a mistake. A mistake can cause delays, and you can’t afford that right now. Try to apply for this as soon as possible because it can take some time to get approved, even if you do everything right. Be sure to answer questions promptly if you’re asked to avoid delays.

Reduce Bills

Those bills are going to keep coming, and you need to do something about them. Some bills you can eliminate, like entertainment bills or subscription services. It’s easy to separate which expenses you need versus what you want. If an item doesn’t keep you alive, then you can eliminate it. The bills you can’t get rid of could be reduced. Call credit card companies and anyone else you need to call to see if you can get your bills reduced. You’ll have to be honest and tell them you lost your job.

Rework the Budget

The reality is you won’t have the same amount of money coming in, so you need to make some changes. After you reduce your bills, create a new budget. You need to include the new healthcare expense in this budget. If you can, leave enough to go into your savings since you may need it. Get stingy with your spending. One way to this would be to avoid eating out for a while and opt for home-cooked meals instead.

Start to Apply

You must start applying for jobs. If it’s been a while since you updated your resume, work on reflecting on your most recent accomplishments. Be sure to clean up your social media accounts because some jobs pay attention to that kind of stuff. Type in your name in a search engine to see what shows up. If there’s anything that doesn’t make you look good, then work on cleaning up your online presence as you begin to apply for a new job.

Gig Economy

The gig economy is here. Since you lost your job, you can join this new world. You don’t know how long it’ll take to find a job, but at least this way, you’ll be earning some cash here and there. There’s a lot you can do, from renting a room to visitors to picking up and delivering food to people in your community. The good thing about these gigs is you can stop the moment a company hires you.

Hopefully, you take these steps as soon as you can. Try to be patient as you look for a job because it can take a while sometimes, but don’t give up.