You Won’t Believe How Much Kids Made in Allowance Last Year

by Karly WoodFebruary 3, 2021

A new study of 90,000 U.S. kids has revealed plenty of interesting info on the topic of allowance. RoosterMoney, an allowance and chore tracking app recently shared its Kids Allowance Report and its all about how much allowance kids ages four to 14 received in 2020, how they spent it during the pandemic and encouraging data on saving habits.

To start, the report showed that kids received a whopping $455 in allowance last year––that’s an average of $8.75 per week! Even better, data shows that they saved 45%, a trend that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic.

photo: Jordan Rowland via Unsplash

The Kids Allowance Report also showed that a strong allowance routine is key to establishing positive money habits early in life. Overall, 66 percent of parents stated they have a regular allowance in 2020 and embraced chore routines.

With that in mind, kids found themselves saving a ton, including an average of $72 in cash Christmas gifts and taking about 36 days to reach their savings goals. Fave items to save for included LEGO sets, phones, Roblox and Fortnite and a Nintendo Switch.

When it comes to spending money, the report found that dropping cash on Roblox, Fortnite, presents, candy and LEGO products topped the charts. Will Carmichael, RoosterMoney CEO, says “The pandemic has shifted most of our spending online and that’s seen clearly here with kids’ spending habits too. It’s also really encouraging to see the saving rates remain so high. Now more than ever, building financial capability into our kids is so incredibly important. Having confidence with money, building positive habits around saving and learning to make considered spending choices will be something that sticks with kids for life.”

––Karly Wood

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An Easy Way To Have Fun & Benefit Oregon Education

by Whitney C. HarrisFebruary 2, 2020

Feeling lucky? Pick up an Oregon Lottery ticket and see what happens! Whether or not you win big, you’ll be supporting local public education. Because for the past 24 years, a portion of profits have been granted to public education purposes across Oregon. (In fact, it’s a state constitutional amendment!)

How does the Oregon Lottery help public education in Oregon?
Playing Keno, Scratch-its, Video Lottery or any other Oregon Lottery games means taking a chance at an amazing and potentially life-changing jackpot. It also means supporting local schools in a really big way. A whopping 53% of Oregon Lottery profits go towards paying teachers’ salaries, building and repairing schools, and much-needed resources like textbooks, computers, equipment of all kinds and education-related services.

Just in the past two years, the Oregon Lottery has awarded $537.7 million to K-12 public education. That’s about $460 per student each year! One of the very special recipients is the Outdoor School program for Oregon’s 5th and 6th graders, which is so much more than campfires and s’mores! And funds go towards higher education too, including grants and scholarships for under-represented communities.

Have a teacher you adore? Nominate him or her!
What’s more, the Oregon Lottery has partnered with The Oregon Department of Education to celebrate great dedication and leadership in the schools and offer a Teacher of the Year program. The winning teacher receives $5,000 and a special fund to cover all travel costs for the year, plus $5,000 for his or her school. Other beneficiaries of the Oregon Lottery include state parks, veteran services, job creation and watershed enhancement. So there’s always a good reason to play and support a good cause.

Oregon is uniquely committed to public education and the well-being of all of its students — to the tune of nearly $7 billion! You can show your commitment too by playing the Lottery and knowing that some of that money is going back to Oregon, the education of its youth and its chance for a promising future.

Learn more about how your lottery dollars help support education in Oregon by visiting OregonLottery.org.

—Whitney C. Harris

Feeling Down? Try Cleaning. This Research Says It Makes You Happy

by Shahrzad WarkentinJanuary 25, 2020

You might dread cleaning your house, but the truth is once you start you actually feel pretty great. A study reveals why cleaning feels so satisfying and it’s not just because you can finally see the floor again.

The Mr. Clean Cleaning Rush Study conducted in partnership with Ipsos Public Affairs tracked the biometric response to cleaning using wearable devices and found that cleaning stimulates an adrenaline rush. The tracking devices measured the Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) and Heart Rate (HR) of participants and found that while cleaning, changes were observed. This shift was driven by feelings of emotional enthusiasm and excitement, much like watching a sporting event.

photo: Chanikarn Thongsupa via Rawpixel

Participants were also surveyed on their feelings about cleaning and a whopping 100 percent agreed that cleaning provides peace of mind and a sense of control over one’s environment. Among those surveyed, 82 percent also strongly agreed they like to admire their work after a good clean and 81 percent felt a sense of accomplishment when they finished.

“Cleaning anything, whether it’s wiping smudges off your fridge or removing greasy build up from your car’s wheels, can boost your mood and give you a sense of pride for a job well done,” said Dr. Jennifer Hartstein, clinical psychologist. “This positive mental boost can lead to an increased desire to continue cleaning and ultimately results in a truly satisfying experience that leaves the cleaner feeling accomplished.”

The study also found that those enthusiastic feelings that cleaning elicits can often push you to clean more than you had planned for. Two-thirds of the study’s participants strongly agreed that they often cleaned more than they originally set out to and 82 percent of the participants agreed to clean an optional sticky kitchen mess that hadn’t been on their original task list.

After cleaning, participants reported feeling more determined, inspired and proud, and less jittery, nervous and hostile. So the next time your kids are driving you crazy, you might consider swapping that glass of rosé for a sponge.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

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These Gorgeous Disney Princess Flower Bouquets Are the Dreamiest Valentine’s Day Gift

by Shahrzad WarkentinJanuary 11, 2020

Whether you’re a Frozen fan or you covet that perfect rose in Beauty and the Beast, there’s a gorgeous Disney bouquet made just for you in this incredible collection.

The Roseshire x Disney collab features stunning rose bouquets themed to some of the best and most romantic Disney films and characters of all time. Each bouquet is packaged in a decorative box featuring a personalized message. Unfortunately, only a handful of this gorgeous collection are available for delivery during Valentine’s week, but there’s no rule against sending flowers just because, and these are so worth it.

Beauty and the Beast

$199

Nightmare Before Christmas

$205

Now and Forever Nightmare Black Roses

This unique bouquets features 10 black roses that will keep for a whopping one to two years without water.

$139

Eyes For You Minnie

This four rose bouquet features special forever roses that last one to two years without water.

$79

If you’re a fan of The Little Mermaid, Aladdin or Alice In Wonderland, you’ll definitely want to check out the rest of the Disney collab collection, which is available year round, with the exception of Valentine’s week.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Roseshire

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The Highest Paid YouTuber of 2019 Is 8 Years Old

by Erica LoopDecember 24, 2019

Forget about grown-ups, kids dominated YouTube in 2019—and we don’t mean by watching!

Forbes recently released it’s highest-paid YouTube stars of 2019 list and eight-year-old Ryan Kaji was at the top. Kaji, who is more than well-known for his unboxing videos on Ryan’s World, has 23 million subscribers and earned a whopping $26 million.

Along with the eight-year-old, five-year-old Anastasia Radzinskaya was also a top earner. The Russian-born YouTuber, who has cerebral palsy, has gained a worldwide following with more than 107 million subscribers across seven channels, including her super-popular Like Nastya channel. Most of the little girl’s videos are literally child’s play. The five-year-old has playdates with her dad Yuri, jumps on an inflatable castle, visits a petting zoo and pretty much does what your kiddo enjoys on a daily basis.

As number three on Forbes’ highest-earner list, Radzinskaya brought in an impressive $18 million in 2019!

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: StockSnap via Pixabay

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Care.com’s Holiday Survey Reveals How Much to Tip This Season

by Shahrzad WarkentinDecember 11, 2019

Wondering how much you should tip your nanny, what it will cost you to hire a sitter for New Year’s Eve or how much you should really spend on gifts? Care.com just released the results of its annual holiday survey and families revealed exactly how much they’re spending this year.

Care.com’s 2019 Cost of Holidays Survey compiled responses from over 4,500 families nationwide on their holiday spending habits. Keep reading to see just how much you should be tipping this year.

photo: Jonathan Borba via Unsplash

Of the families surveyed, 47 percent said they plan to spend the same amount on holiday expenses this year as they did in 2018. Twenty-eight percent of those surveyed said they planned to spend between $250 and $499 on holiday gifts, while 18 percent said they planned to spend more than $1,000.

Giving a little extra in the form of tipping is also a big holiday expense for many families. A whopping 80 percent revealed that they would be giving holiday tips and fifty-six percent of respondents said they would be tipping their child care providers. The majority of respondents (29 percent) said they would tip $50 or less, while 21 percent said they would spend $50 to $99 and 22 percent said they would spend $100 to $249.

Since more than half of respondents said that not having enough time is one of the biggest challenges of the holiday season, it should come as no surprise that many families plan to hire extra help, like baby sitters, during the holidays. In order to finish holiday shopping, 80 percent of respondents said they hired babysitters to watch the kids.

In addition to increased demand for help, the cost of childcare also goes up during the holidays. According to Care.com’s data, the cost of child care increases by 36 cents per hour on average during the season. The actual cost varies by city, but you can check your local area with Care.com’s babysitting calculator here.

New Year’s Eve doesn’t seem to be a popular date night, with just 18 percent of parents responding that they plan to hire a sitter for the big night. Of those who planned to hire a sitter, 61 percent said they would be booking one at least two weeks in advance. The national average rate for a New Year’s Eve sitter in 2018 was $17.30 per hour.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

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This Daddy Daughter Zombie Photo Shoot Is Peak Halloween Love

by Shahrzad WarkentinOctober 31, 2019

Quality family time doesn’t have to be all rainbows and lollipops. One family took their love of all things creepy and gory and turned it into a bonding moment with an incredibly unique daddy-daughter zombie photoshoot.

Mom of three and photographer Tiffany Renfroe set up an unusual photo shoot for her youngest daughter, 11-month-old Oakley, and her husband, Daniel, inspired by his passion for horror films. As Renfroe explained to CafeMom, “My daughter Kaiden and him started watching The Walking Dead,” she says. “It was their thing, waiting day by day for the next season.”

Renfroe decided to turn that special bonding time in another way to bond with a zombie twist on the traditional daddy-daughter photoshoot. It took several days for Renfroe to scout locations and put together everything she needed, but she did it with the assistance of her kids. It also took a whopping two hours to get Daniel and baby Oakely in make-up (no contacts were used on her eyes for the record, all editing magic), but again it was the perfect opportunity for more creative family fun.

“There was no getting her to stay still. I worked in her world and made it fun — the tricks moms know how to pull when they need or want things done,” she told CafeMom.

In the end, all the effort paid off with a unique experience the family will never forget. Though Oakley will be too young to remember, she’ll have the photos to remind her. The internet won’t soon forget it either. Renfroe shared the zombie daddy-daughter photoshoot in a Facebook post where it swiftly went viral, garnering thousands of likes and shares.

Renfroe is grateful for the response and hopes it will inspire other families to get creative with their time together. “Whatever you choose to do with your children, do something with them!” she told CafeMom.

“Children need our time, they need us, they need laughs, giggles, hugs, and adventure! That is what they will remember! They aren’t going to remember eating cake and berries off of some fake intestines until the photos are shared at her wedding.”

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Courtesy of Tifflynn Photography

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These Sam’s Club Exclusive Holiday Toys Are Sure to Be at the Top of Every Wishlist

by Shahrzad WarkentinOctober 29, 2019

It’s barely November, but the holiday shopping season has already begun. There are plenty of deals and exciting items to be found, especially Sam’s Club’s selection of exclusive holiday toys.

Here are a few of the must-have items kids will be clamoring for this holiday season that you can only score at the warehouse club. Grab them while you can.

My Lovely Unicorn

This powered ride-on is a unicorn dream come true. It features a light-up musical horn and brushable hair.

Available in clubs and online, $179.98.

Ryan's World Mystery Adventure Play Set

This exclusive set based on YouTube sensation Ryan's World comes in one of three mystery themes Red Titan, Combo Panda and Astro Ryan.

Available in clubs and online, $34.98.

LOL Surprise Fashion Pack

This LOL Surprise pack features a whopping 25 surprises including 6 fashion crushes and a tot.

Available in clubs only, $26.98.

Fortnite 4-Pack

The Fortnite Victory Series features four 12-inch figures based on some of the most popular outfits from the game.

Available in clubs, $29.98.

Blume Friendship Playset Bundle

This Blume playset includes an ultra-rare collectible Blume doll along with a two-story house.

Available in clubs only, $29.98.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Sam’s Club/Feature image: Walmart via Flickr

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Here’s What Parents Really Think about Playdates

by Erica LoopOctober 28, 2019

How do parents really feel about playdates? Researchers from the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital used data from the National Poll on Children’s Health to find answers.

According to the poll (which included a national sample of parents of kiddos ages four through nine), supervision is the number one concern about playdates. A whopping 75 percent of parents surveyed said they would definitely ask the host who will supervise the children.

Latest #MottPoll report – Parent preparation for playdateshttps://t.co/f3P1bQJgLL pic.twitter.com/rZBL14YT7o

— Mott Poll (@csmottpoll) October 21, 2019

Of course, supervision wasn’t the only concern. Fifty-five percent of parents said they’d ask about activities, 46 percent would want to know if the playdate would include older sibs or other adults, 41 percent would inquire about potential injury risks (such as trampolines or pools), 38 percent wanted to know about pets, 34 percent would ask about guns in the home and 24 percent would ask the host about medication storage spots.

The poll also revealed that 22 percent of parents would allow their child to go to a playdate at a home of a family they didn’t know without their own presence. Forty-three percent said that they’d allow their child to go, but would stay with them. Twenty-two percent of parents surveyed said they’d outright decline the playdate.

When it comes to pre-playdate meet-ups, an overwhelming 84 percent of parents were all for it. Along with an in-person meet and greet, parents also admitted they’d do some of their own sleuthing. Forty-five percent would ask friends or neighbors about the playdate hosts, 44 percent would look at social media, 36 percent would check out the neighborhood, 30 percent would search a sex offender registry, 21 percent would look t the web and another 21 percent would talk to school staff.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Sharon McCutcheon via Pexels

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Here’s How Much Walt Disney World Ticket Prices Have Changed Since 1971

by Erica LoopOctober 9, 2019

On Oct. 1, 1971 Walt Disney World Resort officially opened. With the Magic Kingdom Park, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Resort and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground ready for guests, visitors paid a whopping $3.50, according to Allears.net.

In comparison to the opening day price, today’s Walt Disney World Tickets range from $109 to $159. So how much has the price per ticket risen each decade?

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A post shared by Walt Disney World (@waltdisneyworld)

The website Go Banking Rates took Allears.com’s data, adjusted the dollar amounts for inflation using the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ calculator and came up with figures (in today’s dollars) for the decades since Walt Disney World officially opened.

Walt Disney World’s 1971 price equates to just under $22 in today’s terms. The rates rose to $3.75 (or $23.26 today) by the following year. Ticket prices jumped to $9.50 (or $26.05 today) a decade after the opening year, in 1981.

By 1991 the ticket price skyrocketed to $33, or just under $63 in today’s prices. With the ever-increasing cost of admission, the 2001 price was $48 (or $70.22 today) and the 2011 price was $85 (or $96.46 today)! How times have changed.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Thomas Kelley via Unsplash

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