Schools don’t teach money management. They teach algebra, calculus, and geometry and although each of those is useful for developing abstract thinking, these skills have little practical purpose when it comes to everyday money management. (When was the last time you used a quadratic equation?)

If you want your children to someday become independent adults you have to teach your children these lessons. What should you teach your children about money? Here are a few ideas.

Saving

Teach your children that money isn’t meant to be spent, it’s meant to be saved so the person later has options. Those who save have little exposure to economic events because saving gives a person options. The nation’s richest people are often vilified but most are rich because they’ve managed their money well and that first starts with savings instead of spending.

Pay your Credit Cards off Each Month

Ideally, cash would be the ideal way to live but in a digitized world, cash is becoming less practical although still very possible. Teach them that if they’re going to use a credit card it must be paid off in full each month and if they find that they can’t do that, get rid of the credit card and only use their bank card or cash.

Where Does Money Come From?

Money comes from work. It doesn’t come from government assistance programs, the lottery, gambling, or get rich quick schemes. Money is the direct result of working hard every day. This lesson is best taught practically. If your children want money, they should do something around the house to earn it. Since education often equals higher paying jobs, pay them to reach the highest educational goals.

Giving

Money should be saved but it should also be used for the good of society. Teach your children to find valuable, true needs in the world and donate. Set up an account in their name on sites like Kiva to allow them to understand the power of giving. Although Kiva isn’t a true donation, it allows them to lend it back out to somebody else in need making the giving perpetual allowing your children to continue learning this lesson over time.

Live By Example

What’s the best way to teach your children how to be good money managers? Live the life and show them real world examples of how you save today for prosperity tomorrow.

Kids who don’t learn how to manage money become adults without the skills needed to live prosperously. Prosperously doesn’t have to mean rich. It only needs to mean comfortable and with the ability to purchase what you need without resorting to credit cards and for those who hope to be among the nations wealthy, spend less and invest more.

Related Posts:

• Why It’s Important To Teach Children About Savings
• What Do Garage Sales Teach Us About Money?
• 3 Ways for Kids to Start Saving for Their College Fund

Want Your Kids to Manage Money Well? Teach Them originally appeared on Canadian Finance Blog on October 24, 2011.

But at what age should you introduce your children to the concept of putting money aside for a rainy day and what are the best ways to go about it?

There are a number of savings accounts out there, such as a TFSA (or cash ISA in the UK), but children are not eligible for it.

The general consensus is that it is never too early to start introducing your children to the concept of money and saving, as long as it is done in an appropriate manner. Toddlers are unlikely to grasp the finer points of pension arrangements after all!

However, even very small children can begin to learn about money with a simple cent jar at home and a basic explanation that Mommy and Daddy have to work hard to pay for things such as toys, food and the house.

Once children are old enough to have an allowance, a well-used tip is for them to have three piggy banks – one for charitable donations, one for saving and one for spending. As long as some money is put in each piggy bank from their allowance each week, it doesn’t matter what the ratio is.

The idea is that children establish saving habits from a young age and a pattern develops of putting money aside, even if it is only a small amount.

Once the savings start to mount up, an account should be opened at the bank, any kind of savings vehicle is suitable, but a high interest account from banks like ING Direct or Ally might be best.

When the statements arrive from the bank, the child can be shown how they are earning ‘free money’ just by putting their savings into their account.

Children will often view their savings as getting bigger all on their own as quite an exciting event and will look forward to receiving their bank statements to see how much their money has grown by.

By setting the basics of savings in place, children should become accustomed to putting money aside and continue this habit as they grow older, albeit with larger amounts.

As children mature, it is important to continue to build on their financial know-how by involving them in household budgeting and explaining how to spend money wisely.

One way to help teach teenagers about how to run a household is by allotting them a fictitious amount of cash and asking them to go online and put together the grocery shopping for the week. Whilst this will be bewildering at first, it is a fun activity for the youngster and will quickly teach them how to budget and look for bargains.

As they grow through their later teenage years, explaining more complex financial terms such as APR and what to check for on credit cards, loans and savings accounts such as a TFSA or RRSP is very important to equip them for becoming financially independent.

If you are unsure of how these products work yourself, many banks will be willing to help out if you book an appointment to see a personal advisor, especially if the teenager has held a savings account there for a number of years.

The most important thing is that children get used to learning about the value of money from a young age and by the time they are ready to move out of home, they are used to managing a range of financial transactions themselves.

Related Posts:

• Want Your Kids to Manage Money Well? Teach Them
• Choosing The Right Executor Is Important
• How to Keep Children Entertained On a Budget

Why It’s Important To Teach Children About Savings originally appeared on Canadian Finance Blog on September 10, 2011.

Network for gently-used items

Many parents follow a common line of thought that since the baby is new that everything the baby will use must be new as well. In reality, you can get your fill of “new” things at a baby shower and rely on used items for the rest. Products for newborns and babies are notoriously overpriced because retail stores know proud parents will pay a premium for them. But the following facts remain unchanged: babies outgrow clothing incredibly quickly, lose and break countless toys, and use age-specific furniture for only a few short years. So that pricy solid oak crib, bassinet and dresser drawer set you’re drooling over at that department store? It’s a poor investment. Most of it will be collecting dust in your garage three years down the road. Petition your friends for their used baby clothing, furniture and toys and search online for deals on used items. If you are paying full price for baby clothing, furniture or toys, you’re paying too much.

Prepare for the possible loss of one income

In two-parent households, mothers often opt to stay home and raise their baby full-time while their partner resumes work. If the mother had been contributing to the family income, this can mean quite a bit of financial adjusting, particularly since many women today are the primary bread-winners in their household. Couples will not only need to adjust their budget to account for the loss in income, but they will also need to account for the addition of a new little mouth to feed. The lifestyle changes involved in this financial adjustment could be dramatic.

Consider cloth diapering

Using cloth diapers instead of disposable diapers may take a little extra effort, but can add up to hundreds of dollars in savings on diapers every year. In the past five years alone, cloth diapers have seen a resurgence in popularity, particularly among the “natural parenting” set. Now the frugal community has started embracing cloth diapers as a cost-cutting opportunity for parents. The initial up-front investment in cloth diapers is always higher, but in the long-term, most parents report using cloth diapers saves them a great deal of money in the long-term.

Begin saving for college

The arrival of a new baby marks the time to begin planning for that child’s future. It’s a good time to open a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) to help your child pay for his or her college education down the road. The government encourages kicking off an RESP by offering financial incentives.

Don’t give in to “baby guilt”

Finally, when your friends are pulling out all the stops to paint and deck out a baby room for their new baby, buying $500 strollers and other expensive items, it can be tempting to believe you’re a bad parent for not doing the same. But would you really be going all out for the baby? Does the baby care that he sleeps in a freshly painted room with an $80 mobile twirling above him or is it you who cares about these luxuries? Ask yourself these questions before needlessly spending based on “baby guilt.”

Author Bio: This guest contribution was submitted by Pamelia Brown, who specializes in writing about associates degree. Questions and comments can be sent to: pamelia.brown @ gmail.com.

Related Posts:

• Making Smart Hobby Decisions
• Six Guidelines for Making Grounded Money Decisions
• Making a Financial Calendar

Making Smart Financial Decisions with a New Baby originally appeared on Canadian Finance Blog on June 9, 2011.

1.    Start early. If you start saving for college when your child is already in his last year of school, chances are you won’t get very far. Considering the cost of college these days, it is better to start a college fund early. Starting early doesn’t only affect financial matters drastically, but it is also good training for your child to learn the art of saving for something important. Kids should consciously be taught to put away some of the money they earn from odd jobs into something that can benefit them when they become a college student on a budget and in the future after college.

2.    Practice creativity in looking for financial resources, all the money doesn’t have to come from the child or his parents. Kids can use their creativity to get other financial sources. A great way would be to request for Christmas and birthday presents in the form of contributions to a college fund. I’m pretty sure most relatives would love knowing that they are contributing to a higher and of course, noble cause.

Another option that kids can go to would be to do something that your parents or a neighbour would usually pay someone else to do. Chores include cleaning the pool, mowing the lawn, painting the house. If you can do this, they can pay you instead, and have that amount go towards your college savings.

Another way would be to try your luck in contests, especially if you have a talent, such as writing, singing or dancing. Many kids these days, who have a passion, get paid small amounts through adsense on their blogs or partnerships in youtube. Kids can explore this option too.

3. Work closely with your parents in planning out your college finances. More often than not, your parents will contribute to a significant part of your college expenses. You have to show that you are a responsible child who has serious ambitions to go to college. You may also ask them to explain their plan on how to pay for your college tuition, so you can bring up suggestions and of course, your own contributions.

Author Bio: Sam Briones is a freelance writer who covers an array of topics from finding cheap auto insurance to safety tips.

Related Posts:

• Money Saving Tips for College Students on a Budget
• Want Your Kids to Manage Money Well? Teach Them
• 10 Ways To Save Money On Back To School Shopping

3 Ways for Kids to Start Saving for Their College Fund originally appeared on Canadian Finance Blog on April 28, 2011.

Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG)

The Canada Education Savings Grant helps parents save money for their child’s future post-secondary studies. Once the beneficiary turns 17 he or she can use the money in a number of ways, including full-time or part-time studies in an apprenticeship program, CEGEP, trade school, college, or university. As participants continue to put money into their child’s Registered Education Savings Plan, the government also adds to the fund incrementally. The amount the government adds varies based on the income of the child’s primary caregiver. Interested parties should contact the Canada Revenue Industry.

Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBF)

The Canada Small Business Financing Act was enacted in April 1999 to help small businesses professionals get the necessary financing needed for maintaining a successful operation. Qualified business owners can get loans up to $500,000 for things like renovations, expansions, and other improvements. Likewise, the program assists new business owners in securing financing for new business start-ups. To qualify for the program, businesses must have an annual gross revenue that’s less than $5 million per year. Interested professionals apply for the program at local banks and other financial institutions who then use their discretion to issue the loan.

Job Bank

Canada offers this online service to help individuals find careers that suit their job skills in the public sector. The service allows individuals to search for jobs as well as market themselves to potential employers. Thousands of jobs from across the country are listed on the server. The service also offers separate searches for student jobs and paid internships. The service also offers a job alert option that notifies the user when a new job opening that matches their search criteria becomes available.

Small Business Internship Program (SBIP)

The Small Business Internship Program was established to assist businesses interested in giving recent college graduates real-world work experience in online development. The program’s goal is for the intern to work with the enterprise to implement an e-business strategy that will increase productivity and competitiveness. The program centers around online development, so while the company must have fewer than 500 employees, it must also have a pre-existing online presence. The program offers financial reimbursement to medium-sized businesses interested in partnering with a post-secondary student intern. The program offers to reimburse 75% of the intern’s wages up to $10,000 over a 12-week period. Interested business’s can apply for the program at participating organizations.

Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB)

The Universal Child Care Benefit program offers additional financial assistance to parents to help pay for childcare costs. Parents registered for the program can receive up to $100 per month for each child under six that attends a child care facility. Currently, the parents of more than 2 million children receive assistance through the program. Interested applicants should contact the Canada Revenue Agency to apply for the program.

Author Bio: This article was written by Chris Foley of SuretyBonds.com. The agency aims to educate consumers on how to save money in both their personal and professional lives.

Related Posts:

• Build Your Professional Network With LinkedIn
• 10 Free Sites for Personal and Family Budgeting
• Don’t Just Track The Past, Forecast With PocketSmith

Resources to help keep your personal and professional financing on track originally appeared on Canadian Finance Blog on February 21, 2011.

Stock up on notebooks and crayons. Most kids love to do art. Keep a good supply of things for projects. The best time to build your stock?  Back to school season! It doesn’t get any cheaper than 25 cent crayon boxes and 10 cent notebooks. Keep a tote box full of excess school supplies.  Being able to pull out fresh boxes of crayons or markers keeps this common childhood activity interesting and fresh. Throw in a pair of scissors or hole-puncher and you can double the time they will spend on this activity.

Organize a family game night. Kids are competitive, give them an outlet. Younger kids, in particular, love playing games not particularly meant for them.  They feel important and will be more focused on the game, keeping them entertained as long as you have time for them. Board games are relatively cheap, but don’t underestimate the even cheaper card games!

Kids eat free. Take the kids out to dinner. This is typically an activity that’s not so budget friendly.  However, many restaurants offer free kids meals with the purchase of an adult meal during certain times of the week.  Do your research on local restaurants to find out when these promotions are offered and plan your dining adventures accordingly.

Mark your calendars. There are constantly community events that are being put on by local organizations. Locate a community calendar and keep your ear to the ground. From parades to kiddie carnivals to story time at the library; there is something for everyone. Take advantage when you can!

Give them access to the computer. Kids love computers. Assign them a time when they can use your computer. Even very young kids like to play the paint application that is located in the accessory folder of most computers. But there are plenty of sites online that offer hours of fun and entertaining activities for kids. Check out websites from their favourite TV shows as those usually offer great kid-friendly content. Also visit your children’s school website. Most schools post links to educational games that kids love to play.

Take advantage of community education programs. If your kid wants to try out an activity there is no need to pay a small fortune for organized league participation. Have your kids try it out with a community education class. The fees for these programs are a fraction of the price as local leagues. After a few sessions, if your child shows a continued desire to participate, then you can switch over to a higher level of participation. There is no reason to jump into the big leagues (and big payments) if you have no guarantee that your child will actually stick with it.

Take care of the family pet. Have your child choose their favourite thing to do for their pet and make it their responsibility.  Letting them choose helps keep them empowered to do it.  Even if it’s just playing fetch or petting them, its time spent by your child on something that’s not only cheap, but useful.

Be active! Kids like to do things. They like it even more when you do it with them. Take the kids out of the house.  Take a tour of local parks (visit a park-a-day). Kick around a soccer ball; even if you’ve no idea what you’re doing. Go on a walk through a local nature reserve or trail. Be open to new ideas and you will discover a wide world of fun and free outdoor activities.

Bio: Breana Orland is a writer for Student Grants. Breana also gives advice on the pursuit of higher education and career options for young adults.

Related Posts:

• Why It’s Important To Teach Children About Savings
• Crafting a Gas Budget
• Snowboarding on a Budget

How to Keep Children Entertained On a Budget originally appeared on Canadian Finance Blog on August 12, 2010.

Some countries offer parental benefits that we can only dream about.  In Sweden, for example, a mother is eligible for 16 months of parental leave split between herself and her partner, while still receiving 80% of her pay.

In Canada, we fall somewhere in the middle.  While some companies offer top up programs for income, or extended leaves with job security, most working mothers will only receive basic maternity benefits, which fall under Canada’s Employment Insurance program.  These benefits are paid to birth mothers and surrogate mothers for up to 15 weeks.  To receive maternity benefits you must have worked for 600 hours (about 15 weeks full time) in the last 52 weeks or since your last claim.

Mom can begin collecting maternity benefits a few weeks before the birth of the baby, but benefits end 17 weeks after the baby is born or the expected due date, whichever is later.  If your baby is hospitalized, this 17-week window may be extended – the payments are not extended, just the deadline by which they can be collected.

As with maternity benefits, to receive parental benefits you have to have worked for 600 hours in the last 52 weeks or since your last claim.  Parental benefits can be collected by either the biological or adoptive parents for up to a maximum of 35 weeks.  These benefits can be claimed by one parent or shared between the two partners, but cannot exceed a combined maximum of 35 weeks.  Parental benefits must be claimed within the 52 weeks following the child’s birth, or for adoptive parents, within the 52 weeks from the date the child is placed with you.  If your baby is hospitalized, this 35 week window may be extended.

In 2009, both maternity and parental leave payments were capped at 55% of your average insured earnings up to a yearly maximum insurable amount of $42,300.  This places the current maximum payment at $447 per week.  You could receive a higher benefit rate if you are in a low-income family.  Your payment is a taxable income, meaning federal and provincial or territorial taxes will be deducted.

What if Something Goes Wrong?

If the mother experiences complications related to the birth of a child, she may be eligible for sick leave in addition to maternity leave.  Sickness benefits may be paid up to 15 weeks to a person who is unable to work because of sickness, injury or quarantine.  Mom must meet the 600 hours worked in the last 52 weeks or since her last claim requirement, and a doctor’s note will be required.  She could receive up to a maximum of 65 weeks of combined sickness, maternity and parental benefits instead of the normal combined maximum of 50 weeks.  Often, sick leave is used in cases where the mother is confined to bed rest for pregnancy related complications, or she has other pregnancy related issues that prevent her from working.

But I’m my Own Boss!

In 2010, the government introduced the Fairness for the Self-Employed Act.  Previously, self-employed Canadians were not eligible for maternity or parental leave benefits.  With an estimated 900,000 self-employed women in Canada, this was clearly an important issue.  Under the new legislation, self-employed Canadians can now receive similar benefits to other employed Canadians if they opt into the program at least one year prior to claiming benefits and are responsible for making premium payments starting with the tax year in which they opt in to the program.  The self-employed pay the same premium rate that salaried employees currently pay. They are not required to pay the employer’s portion of the premium rate, as they do not have access to EI regular benefits.  Self-employed workers can opt out of the program at the end of any tax year, as long as they have never received benefits – if they received benefits, they are not permitted to opt out.

A Little Something on the Side

Working while on leave can be a good way to earn extra money, whether it’ll be used for making ends meet, paying for those extra baby sign language classes, starting or topping up an RESP.  It doesn’t make financial sense to work while on the maternity portion of the benefit, as your earnings will be deducted dollar for dollar from your benefits.  However, there might be circumstances where you benefit professionally from working a bit while receiving maternity benefits.

If you work while you’re receiving parental benefits, you’re allowed to earn $50 per week or 25% of your weekly benefits, whichever is higher.  If you’re receiving the maximum $447 per week, then you can earn just over $110 a week in additional income.  Any income earned above that amount will be deducted dollar for dollar from your benefits.

Until December 4, 2010 the government is running a pilot project that increases the amount you can earn while working part-time and receiving maternity and parental benefits by allowing you to earn the greater of $75 or 40% of weekly benefits.

You must report any earnings you make while collecting maternity, sickness or parental benefits, which can be done either by phone or through written reports.  It’s relatively easy, and if you can work this small amount without paying childcare costs, you’re ahead of the game.

Bio: Sarah Deveau is the author of Money Smart Mom: Financially Fit Parenting. Check out her website at www.moneysmartmom.ca and join her on Facebook and Twitter!

Related Posts:

• Maternity Leave And Parental Benefits
• All About Employment Insurance (EI)
• Consumer Debt Paid Off… Now What?

Maternity and Parental Leave 101 – Just the Facts, Baby originally appeared on Canadian Finance Blog on May 25, 2010.

As with most of the posts in the Insurance You Can Do Without series, the biggest issue is that you have to look at what financial loss it is that you’re insuring against. In this case, you’re insurance against the death of a child. While this is an emotional decision, from a financial perspective what monetary loss will you suffer if something were to happen? There is the cost of the funeral, but otherwise your financial responsibilities would be reduced from not having to provide for that dependent. If the cost of the funeral is a concern, you would likely be better off by saving yourself the cost of premiums and adding that same amount into your emergency savings.

For the savings aspect of some of these universal life insurance products, you would be better off with term life insurance and saving the difference in premiums in a low-fee investment of your choice. That applies to anyone, not just children. However in this case, if you do decide that life insurance is unnecessary, you could save the entire equivalent amount of the premium within an RESP and accomplish much more in saving for your child’s future.

When it comes to protecting your child’s rates from future health issues, this would be a bit like gambling. To insure for this reason you would probably have some concern that your child will have problems in the future. The problem is, if you know of any family history then you have to tell the insurer and this will lead to higher premiums right from the start, and if you don’t tell them they could deny your claim.

As for the insurance being “cheap”, this is simply due to the unlikely event of a child dying compared to that of an older adult. The lower odds mean that the insurer is not taking on much risk, and therefor not increasing the premium.

Life insurance should be purchased to cover financial responsibilities such as remaining debts and providing for dependents. Since this doesn’t apply to children, this is insurance you can do without.

Related Posts:

• Insurance You Can Do Without – Mortgage Life Insurance
• Insurance You Can Do Without – Credit Life Insurance
• Is Your Life Insurance Up To Date?

Insurance You Can Do Without – Life Insurance For Your Child originally appeared on Canadian Finance Blog on October 29, 2009.

1. Plan for the future

Starting early is one of the best ways to prepare for the costs of having a baby. Sit down and outline what you believe your costs will be for food, clothing, medical costs, toys, furniture, etc. well in advance of your baby’s due date. While it will be impossible to predict exactly all the costs involved, having a general idea can point you in the right direction when it comes to saving.

2. Prepare liquidity

Hospitals don’t take IOUs from your retirement account and you can’t buy food and diapers with savings bonds. Similarly, you don’t want to have to take out a home equity loan or rack up huge sums on your credit cards just to pay for your baby because all your money is tied up in investments. It is therefore important to set cash aside in a savings or checking account to be prepared for the bills that are to come.

3. Dealing with debt

Part of preparing liquidity might involve paying off debt. You can’t be sure of what expenses you’ll incur when a baby arrives so it can be beneficial to be as free of debt as possible. While this doesn’t necessarily mean paying off your home or car, if you can free up credit cards and take care of other minor debts, you can leave yourself more breathing room in the event of unforeseen costs.

4. The role of friends and family

Talking to friends and family can be a great way to prepare financially for a new baby. Those with children can give you tips that are related to your local living situation such as stores and products with which you can save. Friends and family with kids are also great sources of hand-me-downs when it comes to clothes, toys, and furniture.

5. Don’t go overboard

It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of your baby’s arrival. During this time, it is important that you keep a level head and not overindulge in pricey baby items. Remember, your baby will only use the things you are buying for about 3-6 months, so the return on most of your investments will be poor. Try to shop in thrift stores, resale shops, and garage sales to find lightly used products that will save you money.

6. Cutting back

Once the initial wave of excitement of your new baby has swept over you, it’s time to get back to reality. Realizing your life has changed won’t be easy. You won’t be going out as much, you’ll be cooking more at home, renting movies, and generally becoming more of a homebird. It isn’t always an exciting lifestyle, but it’s great when it comes to managing and reducing your expenses.

7. Using and saving with generic products

It is common for new parents to snub generics who often associate a generic product with lesser quality and therefore miss the opportunity to save thinking the product detrimental to their baby. However, in many cases of food, formula, diapers, wipes, and similar products, a generic product is the same as a name brand, just cheaper.

8. Living arrangements

Just because you’re expecting, it doesn’t mean you need to upgrade your living space – at least not yet. A newborn will require so much time and care that it won’t be spending much time in its own room anyway for the first 6-12 months. Even after the first year, there are other options to moving. Convert a den into an extra bedroom or continuously downsize toys and clothing as your child outgrows them to save space and eliminate the cost of a large home.

9. Family insurance

Look at your respective employer sponsored health insurance plans to determine who has the best family rates available. You certainly don’t want to sacrifice quality for cost savings, but finding a plan which is both cost effective and suitable for your family situation can save you hundreds of dollars a month but still be prepared for the cost of delivering a baby.

10. Preparing for college early on

Although college for your little one is years away, it’s never too early to start saving. And counting on a full-ride sports or academic scholarship is not a financial plan. While things might be a bit tight for you right now, it’s never too early for grandparents and family members to help prepare. A great way to get a jumpstart on saving for college is to ask for government savings bonds or deposits to a savings account in your baby’s name for birthday and holiday gifts from family.

Author Bio: This guest post was written by Tom Becker who blogs for The Credit Letter for a credit card comparison website based in Australia who offer money-saving 0% balance transfer credit cards. When he’s not writing, Tom enjoys good food and the beach, preferably at the same time!

Related Posts:

• Baby Week Giveaway – Plus More Freebies For New Or Expecting Parents
• Book Review – Master Your Money Management
• 20 Tips for Saving Money on Groceries

10 Money Management Tips For Expectant Parents originally appeared on Canadian Finance Blog on October 15, 2009.

The maternity and parental benefits are paid through the Employment Insurance (EI) program. To apply for these benefits you will need:

• Your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• Record of Employment (ROE)
• Government issued identification
• Bank information for direct deposit
• Child’s date of birth, or expected date of birth
• Employment details such as salary and last day worked

You will receive 55% of your average earnings, up to a maximum weekly payment of $447. This means that if you currently make more than $42,300 a year, you will not receive a full 55% of your income, but will get the maximum $447 a week. This is taxable income and the federal and provincial taxes will be deducted automatically so you will get a lesser amount on your cheque or direct deposit.

Working during your maternity leave will reduce your benefits dollar for dollar so there’s no financial benefit to that. However, when you are on parental benefits you can earn whichever is higher, 25% of your benefit amount or $50. So depending on benefit amount you receive, you can make an additional $50-$111 a week without having your benefit payments reduced.

While still less than you would make while working, maternity and parental benefits are a great way to enable families to take the time off to properly care for their newborn.

Baby Week Giveaway – Set Of 5 Books!

To enter, leave a comment (use valid email address, it will not be published) in any article this week. Each day will give you one more chance to win!

After leaving at least one comment so that I know you’re interested in these books, you can get bonus entries by doing either (or both) of the following:

• Subscribe to The Canadian Finance Blog email, where you’ll get each article, 5 days a week with no spam emails. If you’re already subscribed and leave a comment, you will automatically get this bonus entry!
• Follow The Canadian Finance Blog on Twitter and re-tweet any of our tweets during the week!

This contest for a set of five No-Cry Solution books is open to anyone in Canada or the United States. The deadline for entries is Friday, October 16th at 11:59PM MST and the winners will be contacted by email on Saturday. There will be two winners, chosen with a random number generator from Random.org.

Related Posts:

• Maternity and Parental Leave 101 – Just the Facts, Baby
• What You Need To Know About Canadian Tax Benefits
• The Benefit of Employee Benefits

Maternity Leave And Parental Benefits originally appeared on Canadian Finance Blog on October 14, 2009.