Beating Broke

Why Buying a Toyota Sienna Was One of Our Best Decisions

August 24, 2020 By MelissaB 3 Comments

Almost 16 years ago, my husband and I had one child—a four-month old—and we decided our Toyota Echo was too small for our growing family. We found a Toyota Sienna and made the leap. That car was by far our greatest financial commitment at the time as it cost $25K. (We didn’t own a home then.) While paying so much back then made us nervous, there are several reasons why buying a Toyota Sienna was one of our best decisions.

The Benefits of a Toyota Sienna

There are so many benefits to this vehicle for our family!

Reliability

When I was young, I owned a Ford Escort. I only owned it for two years, yet it left me stranded three times because it randomly broke down. One time it broke down after a high school dance. I was stranded at midnight when I was just 16!

In all the years we’ve had the Sienna, it has not broken down once. I’ve never been stranded. Considering I often drive alone with young children, this is a definite plus!

Sure, it’s needed regular maintenance and repairs, but that is to be expected. Its reliability can’t be beat, especially when we’re on long family trips like from Chicago to Boston or Chicago to Tucson.

Durability

Why Buying a Toyota Sienna Was One of Our Best Decisions — Photo by Jessica Furtney on Unsplash

Honestly, when we bought our Sienna when our child was four months old, I never, ever thought I would still own that vehicle when the baby we had then was old enough to drive.

However, this vehicle has been so durable! It’s still going strong even though it has 225,000 miles on it. Our mechanic says he’s seen some Toyota Siennas that are well maintained last until 300,000 miles.

I have no plans to get rid of this minivan until it costs too much to repair or it dies. This is much to my children’s chagrin because they find the vehicle embarrassing now. But my wallet loves it!

Versatility

The Sienna is so versatile. It’s a comfortable vehicle for our family of five. However, it can also take the place of a truck or a full-size van when it comes to hauling things. We’ve been able to buy large pieces of furniture and fit them in this vehicle. It’s also great when we buy a month’s worth of groceries.

When we used to travel 2,000 miles to visit family, we could easily pack all of our suitcases, two coolers worth of food, and our pets comfortably in the vehicle with us.

Final Thoughts

Sure, our vehicle is old and is starting to wear out. For instance, our car came with one manual sliding side door and one electronic sliding side door. The electronic door wore out more than five years ago, and we never fixed it because it would cost too much money. Thankfully, we still had the manual side door.

Also, the engine isn’t quite as powerful as it used to be.

Despite these minor issues, there are many reasons why buying a Toyota Sienna was one of our best decisions, especially because many vehicles with 225,000 miles aren’t even on the road anymore!

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When Should Your Child Get a Checking Account?

August 10, 2020 By MelissaB Leave a Comment

My oldest child has always had an interest in spending money and being independent, so I shouldn’t have been surprised when he wanted to open a checking account, but I was. After all, I rarely use my own checking account. I didn’t think a 13-year old would want one, but he was adamant he did. It turns out, he was smart to want a checking account from such a young age, and I’m glad we let him open one.

When Should Your Child Get a Checking Account?

There’s no hard and fast rule when your you child should get a checking account, but if the child is asking for one, it’s probably time. That may happen when the child is 13 like my son was, or it may not happen until the child is 16 and working her first job. (That’s when I got my checking account as a teen; I had no desire to have one before that.) Your child will let you know when she is ready for one. However, definitely by 16 or 17 she should open an account so she can practice managing her money before she moves away from home.

Have Safeguards in Place

Most banks require teens to have a parent co-sign on the account. As a parent, you can also receive copies of the monthly statements so you can make sure your child is managing his money properly.

However, some banks have more parental controls than others, so you’ll want to pick the bank in part based on how responsible your teen is. The bank our son chose had limited parental controls, but he didn’t really need them. However, some banks allow parents to set limits on daily withdrawals and to receive text alerts when the child withdraws money.

Debit Card Experience Is Invaluable

Having a debit card attached to the checking account is invaluable. Our child used actual checks sporadically, but he used his debit card all the time. He knew down to the penny how much money he had in his account, and he would frequently ride his bike down to the bank to deposit more money before planning on shopping.

What Having a Checking Account Taught Our Child

Our son was diligent about writing down his expenses and managing his balance. Still, one time early on he had an overdrawn account. Sure, I was co-owner on the account, but when he had overdraft fees, I didn’t pay them; he did.

He was so annoyed with himself, and he has never made that mistake again in years of having a checking account. I feel confident that when he’s on his own, he’ll be able to responsibly manage his checking account.

Final Thoughts

If you’re wondering when should your child get a checking account, the short answer is when she asks for one and is at least 13 years old. However, she definitely should open one by the time she’s 16 or 17 so she can prepare to be financially responsible when she leaves home.

Prepare for These Expenses When Getting a Dog

August 3, 2020 By MelissaB 1 Comment

Have the kids been begging you to buy a dog? Or, are you a couple looking into getting a dog before you’re ready to tackle having kids? A dog can be a great companion and faithful member of the family, but if you’re not prepared for the expenses, you may be shocked. Before you commit yourself, make sure you prepare for these expenses (expected and unexpected) when getting a dog.

Initial Expenses

When you first get your puppy or dog, you’ll have a number of start-up costs.

Basic Living Supplies

Your dog will need some supplies immediately, from the time you pick him up, which include a dog crate, food, leash, a bed, and some toys. This immediate outlay will likely cost you several hundred dollars.

Heartworm & Flea and Tick Prevention

These medications typically cost anywhere from $25 to $50 for a three to six-month dose, so between the two, you’ll be spending a couple of hundred dollars a year.

Regular Expenses

Once you’ve paid for the initial outlay of preparing your home for a pet, you’ll then be facing regularly, recurring expenses.

Food

The price of food varies greatly depending on how large your dog is and what type of food you buy the dog. If you buy specialty food, you’ll likely be paying much more.

Nail Trimming

While you can attempt to trim your dog’s nails on your own, most people don’t, especially if your dog has black nails. In general, plan on $15 every 6 weeks for this service.

Grooming

Prepare for These Expenses When Getting a Dog — Photo by Edson Torres on Unsplash

Some dogs don’t need regular grooming, but certain breeds such as poodles, Portugese Water Dogs and Pulis, to name a few, need grooming regularly. Depending on the size of your dog and the breed, you could be looking at roughly $30 to $90 every time you take your dog in for grooming.

Extra Expenses

Many dogs require extra care beyond the basics, especially if you work out of the home or have a particularly energetic or anxious dog.

Dog Walker

A dog walker can come to your house and walk your dog during the day, allowing the animal to relieve himself and to burn off some energy, not to mention getting some human companionship while you’re gone. Depending on who provides the services and what area of the country you live in, hiring a dog walker could run $15 to $45 a day.

Doggie Daycare

Dogs are social animals and like to be around others. In addition, some dogs have special needs that are best addressed by doggie daycare. For example, our family friend had a golden retriever that was so energetic, she took him to doggie daycare just to tire him out. Doggie daycare is also a good option if you have a particularly anxious dog who doesn’t do well home alone. Expect to pay $12 to $38 for a full day of doggie day care or $240 to $550 a month.

In addition to these expenses, you may also want to pay for pet insurance, kenneling when you travel, and obedience class, if necessary.

Having a dog can be a good experience for your family and the dog; indeed, a dog can feel like a member of the family. However, before you buy one, make sure you’re aware of the full range of expenses when getting a dog and how much you’ll likely be paying every year for the privilege of dog ownership.

Do you have a dog? If so, how much do you pay per year for all that your dog needs?

The Benefits of a Toyota Sienna

Reliability

Durability

Versatility

Final Thoughts

Read More

When Should Your Child Get a Checking Account?

Have Safeguards in Place

Debit Card Experience Is Invaluable

What Having a Checking Account Taught Our Child

Final Thoughts

Initial Expenses

Basic Living Supplies

Heartworm & Flea and Tick Prevention

Regular Expenses

Food

Nail Trimming

Grooming

Extra Expenses

Dog Walker

Doggie Daycare