Spring2017

ALSOIN THISISSUE

For up-to-the-minute buzz-worthy topics, follow us a Twitter.com/BuckarooFamily

*fiftywords or less

Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)A special policy (provided by private insurers) for borrowers who make less than a 20% down payment on their home. Borrowers are required to pay it in addition to their monthly mortgage, until enough home equity is earned.

The cost of traditional daycare can give you money-induced nervous sweats. As an alternative, see if your neighbors are open to starting a share system. Here, each parent takes turns watching your group of kids on designated days of the week.

However, if you don’t have any flexibility in your work schedule, consider a nanny share. You can pool costs with your neighbors and hire one nanny to watch

every child, every day.

Raising a child costs How much?Three tips for lowering the cost of parenting

#BuckarooBuzz A look at pop culture, movies, music and more!

The cost of rearing a child is a mind-boggling $233,610, according to a recent study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

That’s right, from birth to age 17, a middle-income married couple will shell out big bucks to provide for their kids (and then, of course, there’s college).

Celeb kids who out earned their famous parents

Published for the parents atAlliance Benefit Group of Illinois

Get paid to send your kids to summer camp

The genius of generic brands

When free isn’t so free

#1 COST: HOUSING [Tip - find the sweet spot]Experts recommend keeping your mortgage payments to 30% of your gross income. However, this becomes much more difficult when you live in or near a city.

Bottom line? Look for a home somewhere between a crowded city and a rural area (unless you’re into country life). You’ll likely find a good deal, as long as it doesn’t dramatically increase your transportation costs.

You probably don’t need a government study to remind you of how much you spend feeding your family. But if you want to trim your food bill, make a list before you go to the market to purchase only what you need, and try to buy in bulk whenever possible.

Also, preparing meals ahead of time will keep you fromordering take-out on those nights when you’re short on time.

While you take a breath, check out our effective tips to drive down the top three child-raising costs.

#2 COST: FOOD [Tip - shop strategically]

#3 COST: DAYCARE[Tip - try the “share” system]

We all want our kids to be more successful than us.And for certain celebrities, their children not only surpassed them, they blew them out of the water.

It all makes us wonder, when they go out to eattogether, does it get awkward when the bill arrives?

Parent/Net worth Child/Net worth Awkwardness level

Robert Pine/$2.5m Chris Pine/$15m Low. Dad was on CHiPs. Chris is Captain Kirk.

Donald Sutherland/$40m Kiefer Sutherland/$65m High. Kiefer is a spunky upstart compared to Donald’s icon status.

Kris Jenner/$30m Kim Kardashian/$65m Draw. We’re not sure why either one is famous.

Jerry Stiller/$12.5m Ben Stiller/$120m Medium. Ben was a hilarious Focker, but Jerry coined “Serenity Now!!”

Billy Ray Cyrus/$50m Miley Cyrus/$100m ????? We’re still just trying to process that they’re related.

FIVE celebrity children who

out earned their famous parents

H

Art kitPreschoolers are creative little souls who love to make things. Using a plastic container with a lid, you can unleash their imagination and create a simple art kit that includes the following:

• Paper for drawing, gluing, and glittering. • Glue sticks. • Finger paint.• Water color paints.• Crayons.

BalloonsPreschoolers love this classic toy, which is agood thing since there are many fun gamesto play using balloons.

Tie a balloon to your ankle and to your child’s. Try to pop one another’s balloons by stomping on them. Try putting the name of a prize on a small piece of paper inside the balloon before blowing it up.

Award the prize to whoever pops the balloon first. (This can, of course, be done between siblings and friends. The prize can be something small, like a cookie or a sticker.)

FortsForts let your kids give shape to their imaginations. And fortunately, building them in your living room doesn’t require you to buy anything new. Sheets, towels, chairs, and cardboard boxes are a great way for your child to let out his inner architect.

Affordable and fun activities for your preschoolerPreschoolers are adorable—and a handful. Their little minds and hands need to be almost constantly occupied. Check out these fun activities you can do at home, and on the cheap:

Follow buckaroo family:facebook.com/BuckarooFamilytwitter.com/BuckarooFamily

The articles in this newsletter are designed for informational purposes only and arenot intended as financial advice. Neither the retirement plan administrator/recordkeeper, nor any of its independent providers is liable for any informational errors, incompleteness, or delays, or for any actions taken in reliance on information contained herein. Readers are always encouraged to check and confirm the information with other sources and through direct professional contact.

Copyright © 2017 by BALANCE

ABG Retirement Plan Services456 Fulton Street, Suite 345

Peoria, IL 61602

www.abgil.comParticipant Contact Center

(888) 412-2445

Free trial offers are so tempting. The allure of a greatdeal overpowers that skeptical voice in the back of your mind telling you it’s too good to be true …

But it turns out that voice is correct

Get PAID to send your kids to summer campIt may seem like you just thawed out from winter, but before you know it, summer will be here. And once again, you’ll have to find fun ways to keep your kids occupied while they’re on break from school.

If you’ve shied away from summer camp because of the price, behold the child and dependent care credit. You’ll actually recoup some of

the money you spend on camp, courtesy of Uncle Sam.

How do you qualify? Here are four things you need to know:

by Peter D. Mallett

SAVE MONEY byavoiding FREE offers

Here’s how a dubious company can scam you:

nAutomatic enrollment in a paid program After the free period ends, a company may charge you for a subscription (sometimes without notification). But even if the terms let you know up front that you’ll be charged at a later date unless you cancel, it’s all too easy to forget.

Avoid a surprise charge by setting a reminder for yourself about the renewal date.

nInfo share A shady company may take the liberty of sharing your information with other businesses that, in turn, enroll you in their free trials. While more free stuff isn’t necessarily bad, beware the automatic renewal. You may eventually be charged for other products that you never wanted in the first place.

nUnauthorized charges You may get asked for your credit card information to cover shipping charges associated with your trial. But in a truly sketchy move, the company then uses your card to charge you for an un-advertised fee.

Remember, if a free trial is legit, you won’t have to submit payment of any kind.

THE GENIUS OF GENERICS:

(yes, you read that right)

If you’re still avoiding off-brands atthe store, you’re losing money. Thequality of generic products (productsthat lack branding but have comparablequality to big-name items) has improvedin recent years. In fact, some generics are made bylarge companies in order to reduce overhead.

Over-the-counter medicineGeneric, over-the-counter meds are often cheaper. For example, if you’re looking for a more affordable alternative to a name-brand allergy medicine, check out the generic aisle at the drug store. Typically, the label will say “compare to ingredients used in [big-name allergy brand].” You’ll get the same relief for less.

Pantry itemsYou’ll likely find savings with generic pantry foods such as peanut butter and oatmeal, aswell as snacks like chips and fruit juices. Stocking your pantry is a must, and generics makedoing it more affordable.

Both parents have to workSorry, stay-at-home parent families. Both adults have to be employed to get the credit.

Junior must be under 13Your child has to be under 13 for the whole calendar year, and claimed by you as a dependent on your tax return.

Only day camps are eligibleUnfortunately, sleepaway camps don’t count towards your deductions. However, the tax credit doesinclude costs spent on daycare throughout the year, including babysitting fees and after-school care.

There’s a limit to what you’ll get backBefore you sign your kids up for the ultimate glamping experience, know that you can only claim up to 35

percent of qualifying expenses of $3,000 for one child ($6,000 for two). But every dollar counts, right?

Personal care productsPersonal care products have some of the highest mark-ups in any store. However, the quality varies more than with pantry food and medicine. But with a little trial and error, you may start saving money every time you buy toothpaste, cotton

swabs, razor blades, etc.

Get the best deals when you shop for these items:

Three types of off-brands to start buying

Want to learn more? Talk to your tax advisor about your specific situation.

Spring2017

ALSOIN THISISSUE

For up-to-the-minute buzz-worthy topics, follow us a Twitter.com/BuckarooFamily

*fiftywords or less

Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)A special policy (provided by private insurers) for borrowers who make less than a 20% down payment on their home. Borrowers are required to pay it in addition to their monthly mortgage, until enough home equity is earned.

The cost of traditional daycare can give you money-induced nervous sweats. As an alternative, see if your neighbors are open to starting a share system. Here, each parent takes turns watching your group of kids on designated days of the week.

However, if you don’t have any flexibility in your work schedule, consider a nanny share. You can pool costs with your neighbors and hire one nanny to watch every child, every day.

Raising a child costs How much?Three tips for lowering the cost of parenting

#BuckarooBuzz A look at pop culture, movies, music and more!

The cost of rearing a child is a mind-boggling $233,610, according to a recent study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

That’s right, from birth to age 17, a middle-income married couple will shell out big bucks to provide for their kids (and then, of course, there’s college).

Celeb kids who out earned their famous parents

Published for the parents atAlliance Benefit Group of Illinois

Get paid to send your kids to summer camp

The genius of generic brands

When free isn’t so free

#1 COST: HOUSING [Tip - find the sweet spot]Experts recommend keeping your mortgage payments to 30% of your gross income. However, this becomes much more difficult when you live in or near a city.

Bottom line? Look for a home somewhere between a crowded city and a rural area (unless you’re into country life). You’ll likely find a good deal, as long as it doesn’t dramatically increase your transportation costs.

You probably don’t need a government study to remind you of how much you spend feeding your family. But if you want to trim your food bill, make a list before you go to the market to purchase only what you need, and try to buy in bulk whenever possible.

Also, preparing meals ahead of time will keep you fromordering take-out on those nights when you’re short on time.

While you take a breath, check out our effective tips to drive down the top three child-raising costs.

#2 COST: FOOD [Tip - shop strategically]

#3 COST: DAYCARE[Tip - try the “share” system]

We all want our kids to be more successful than us.And for certain celebrities, their children not only surpassed them, they blew them out of the water.

It all makes us wonder, when they go out to eattogether, does it get awkward when the bill arrives?

Parent/Net worth Child/Net worth Awkwardness level

Robert Pine/$2.5m Chris Pine/$15m Low. Dad was on CHiPs. Chris is Captain Kirk.

Donald Sutherland/$40m Kiefer Sutherland/$65m High. Kiefer is a spunky upstart compared to Donald’s icon status.

Kris Jenner/$30m Kim Kardashian/$65m Draw. We’re not sure why either one is famous.

Jerry Stiller/$12.5m Ben Stiller/$120m Medium. Ben was a hilarious Focker, but Jerry coined “Serenity Now!!”

Billy Ray Cyrus/$50m Miley Cyrus/$100m ????? We’re still just trying to process that they’re related.

FIVE celebrity children who

out earned their famous parents

H

Art kitPreschoolers are creative little souls who love to make things. Using a plastic container with a lid, you can unleash their imagination and create a simple art kit that includes the following:

• Paper for drawing, gluing, and glittering. • Glue sticks. • Finger paint.• Water color paints.• Crayons.

BalloonsPreschoolers love this classic toy, which is agood thing since there are many fun gamesto play using balloons.

Tie a balloon to your ankle and to your child’s. Try to pop one another’s balloons by stomping on them. Try putting the name of a prize on a small piece of paper inside the balloon before blowing it up.

Award the prize to whoever pops the balloon first. (This can, of course, be done between siblings and friends. The prize can be something small, like a cookie or a sticker.)

FortsForts let your kids give shape to their imaginations. And fortunately, building them in your living room doesn’t require you to buy anything new. Sheets, towels, chairs, and cardboard boxes are a great way for your child to let out his inner architect.

Affordable and fun activities for your preschoolerPreschoolers are adorable—and a handful. Their little minds and hands need to be almost constantly occupied. Check out these fun activities you can do at home, and on the cheap:

Follow buckaroo family:facebook.com/BuckarooFamilytwitter.com/BuckarooFamily

The articles in this newsletter are designed for informational purposes only and arenot intended as financial advice. Neither the retirement plan administrator/recordkeeper, nor any of its independent providers is liable for any informational errors, incompleteness, or delays, or for any actions taken in reliance on information contained herein. Readers are always encouraged to check and confirm the information with other sources and through direct professional contact.

Copyright © 2017 by BALANCE

ABG Retirement Plan Services456 Fulton Street, Suite 345

Peoria, IL 61602

www.abgil.comParticipant Contact Center

(888) 412-2445