Parents have a tremendous responsibility. It can seem like your daily chores take up all your time. However, there are some additional duties you must cover once a year. Protecting those you love is your priority. Here are eight annual tasks all parents need to do — make your to-do list today.
1. Review Your Coverage Options
It’s a sobering statistic, but just over two-thirds of all bankruptcies in the United States occur because of medical debt. It’s tough to live in modern society with poor credit. If your landlord forecloses or decides to sell, you could find it impossible to rent another home. Please ensure you maintain health insurance coverage — you can apply on the Marketplace if COVID-19 caused changes in your circumstances.
As a parent, you must plan for what will happen to your children if you’re gone. A term policy is often the best option for young people because it lets you lock in affordable rates. However, converting to whole coverage as your financial picture improves gives you an alternative way to pay for your child’s future college education. Such policies build a cash value that you can borrow to pay for school or other expenses.
Likewise, it’s smart to review your home or renters and auto policy once a year and call your insurer. Your good driving habits can save you cash in some cases, and you might decide to add extra home coverage for big-ticket items — like all that electronic equipment you needed to WFH during COVID-19.
2. Go Over Your Budget
Before deciding whether to purchase additional coverage for your family, you need to know how much money you have and what you spend. Fortunately, many of today’s banks make it easier than ever to break down your income and expenses.
Ideally, you should spend no more than 28% of your total income on housing and 36% on debt. If those figures make you say, “yeah, right,” please know that you are far from alone. Multiple factors influence expenses, so please don’t waste your valuable mental energy beating yourself up for failure. Use your annual budget “meeting” to identify ways you can slash expenses without feeling deprived and add to your income without losing your mind with overwork.
3. Get Your Annual Physicals
Your health is ultimately your greatest asset. Without it, you can’t earn an income, becoming dependent on the whims of fate. It’s an incredibly anxiety-provoking way to live — safeguard your abilities.
Minor aches and pains may signify nothing more than a passing infection or muscle soreness, but your body designed this alert system for a reason. They can also indicate the early signs of disease. The earlier you detect conditions like cancer, the better your chances for a complete recovery. Please see your doctor for your annual blood work and check-up, even if you feel fine. Adhere to your pediatrician’s guidelines for how frequently to take your kids.
4. Clean Out Your Gutters
For most people, your home is your biggest investment. Please don’t let a leaky roof destroy it.
Overflowing gutters can cause water to collect on your roof, damaging it. It may potentially leak inside your walls, where it can spark electrical fires. Left untreated, it can even begin rotting the studs supporting your home, leading to collapse.
5. Check Your Hot Water Heater
You know that you shouldn’t leave your child unattended in the bathroom. However, could your penchant for steamy showers harm them?
Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Children and the elderly have much thinner skin than adults, meaning that the same liquid that causes mild redness in you could cause deeper and more extensive burns in them. Please keep your water heater set at 120 degrees or below — some older models go as high as 130, dangerous to youngsters.
6. Inspect Your Garage Door
When you think of garage hazards, you might envision putting that antifreeze container on a high shelf. However, your automatic door also presents a threat. Since 1974, at least 85 children have died or suffered permanent brain injury resulting from these devices.
Ensure all the cables and bolts are tight and working as they should. Test your emergency sensor with a block of wood or another inanimate object.
7. Take Your Vehicle to the Shop
While it may shock you, seven states require no annual vehicle inspection before hitting the road. However, you should perform routine maintenance even if you don’t have a legal requirement.
Taking your car to the shop once a year might seem like a counterintuitive waste of money if you don’t hear any knocks or other funny noises. However, it could prevent an accident resulting from a blown tire or rod, potentially saving you and your loved ones from severe injury.
8. Attend Back-to-School Night
Playing a role in your child’s education helps them excel in school. Your involvement sets the tone for their future success.
Please make every effort to attend events like back-to-school night. If the timing is inconvenient, set up regular email communication with their teacher. Many educators now have websites with contact information, and your child’s instructor should indicate their preferred method on their syllabus or welcome-to-class letter.
All Parents Need to Do These 8 Annual Tasks
You have a lot of responsibility when it comes to caring for your loved ones. Please ensure you tackle these eight annual tasks as a parent.
