When it comes to saving money, a little know-how, some commitment, and practice all make the task easier as time goes on. Setting your child up with the opportunity to start saving money from a young age is an awesome way to ensure that they are prepared to make smart saving and investing decisions once they start working as an adult in the real world. Assigning paid tasks around the house and using jars as “bank accounts” for saving and spending is an effective foundation to start with. Here, you’ll learn tips, tricks, and techniques that can be implemented as your little one ages to accommodate their learning abilities and maximize their chance of saving success in the future.
Teaching Your Little one to Save Like a Pro
Should You Bail Your Friend Out Of Jail?
Claudia Bravo
It's the dreaded call that nobody wants to get in the middle of the night: "can you bail me out of jail?" If you hesitate before answering, that is a good thing. Although there are definitely times when bailing the caller out of jail is the right choice, it's not always so. You should ask yourself these questions before agreeing to post bail.
How well do you know the person?
If the person skips town after you post bail, you will not get your money back. So, it's not a good idea to post bail for someone you do not know well. A friend who you've known and trusted for years is different from someone you've only known for a few weeks. Even if someone has seemed trustworthy over the short time you've known them, you may not know everything about them yet -- so posting bail may not be the smartest choice.
Do you have the money to post bail?
If you do not have the money to post bail yourself, you will have to contract with a bail bond company. You'll pay the company a fraction of the bond amount, and they will come up with the rest. You'll pay a fee for the service, too. If you have the money outright and the bail is relatively low, then posting bail is easier. If you have to contact a bail bondsman, ask yourself if you're comfortable with this situation before proceeding.
What is the person being accused of?
Bailing out a friend who had a lapse of judgment and did something silly like steal a comic book is a lot different than bailing out someone who just committed vehicular manslaughter. Ask yourself how you'll feel if this person does the same thing again after you bail them out. If you would have trouble living with yourself if they commit another crime of the same nature, then you may not want to post bail.
Is there anyone else who can help?
If you are in a bad financial spot and can't quite afford bail, ask yourself if there is anyone else who could help the caller instead. Do they have a parent or sibling that could help instead? If not, then you may want to find a way to pay so they do not have to stay in jail any longer. If they do have someone else who could help, then think twice before over-extending yourself.
Posting bail for a caller is a nice thing to do, but it is not always the best thing to do. For more information, contact your local bail bond posting service.
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