Have College-Age Kids? Do These 4 Things Before Summer Break Starts

The summer before college is usually a blur, but savvy parents and students can get ahead of the curve by ticking a few things off the list before summer starts. From spending time with family and friends, to learning essential skills, and taking up a part time job, there’s a lot students can do before summer break to set themselves up for success later on. Here are some things teens and parents may want to prioritize:

Work on cooking skills

For many teens, moving away for college will be their first brush with independence. It helps to teach them essential skills like cooking healthy meals for one.  Focus on quick meals they can cook easily with a few ingredients. This may also be a good time to talk to them about grocery shopping strategies and planning balanced meals. Getting started on cooking before summer will give teens a chance to practice recipes and techniques before leaving for college, and figure out what they like making.

Cover the basics of budgeting

Most young people can benefit from learning the basics of money management before leaving for college. Talk to them about credit cards, savings, and interest rates. If you haven’t already discussed paying for college in detail, now’s a good time to bring it up. Even if all the details are worked out, the conversation can serve as a lesson in personal finance. Discuss possibilities such as federal and private student loans, savings, and other options, such as using the cash value of your whole life insurance or other permanent life insurance policies. Draw up a repayment plan and show them what monthly repayments for their loans may look like – these payments may be a part of their life for years after graduation.

Look into college supplies

It’s best to wait for summer to start shopping for things students will need for college, as you’ll want to take advantage of any back-to-school sales and promotions. But it’s never too early to start listing out what teens need. The list will likely feature basics such as storage bins, clothing hangers, sheets, toiletries, notebooks, and much more. Making this list before summer gives parents and kids the opportunity to shop secondhand and look for deals. Students who are moving from a warm climate to a cooler state (and vice versa) will want to ensure that they’re researching what clothing they’ll need. Students who already know the textbooks they’ll need can set up price drop alerts to let them know when the books are at their best price.

Catch up with loved ones

Once summer begins, teens may be off with friends or at summer programs, and have less time to spend with friends and family. Once they’re off to college the opportunities to be together as a family are few and far between. Use the time before summer break starts to see family and encourage your child to spend time with close friends.

The primary purpose of permanent life insurance is to provide a death benefit. Using permanent life insurance accumulated value to supplement retirement income will reduce the death benefit and may affect other aspects of the policy.

Source: iQuanti