【推荐1】Improved mental health is on the agenda for many people in 2024 and being organized is the preferred method of realizing it.

Disorganization is often considered to have a negative impact on the way we see ourselves and the lives we lead. The studied downsides of living in a disorganized environment include memory problems, poor eating habits, and decreased self-control. “There’s an obvious link between increased stress and anxiety disorders and living in a messy space,” says Daniel Levitin, a behavioral neuroscientist (行为神经科学家) at McGill University.

“Disorganization brings a loss of productivity that is difficult to quantify,” says Levitin. He points to the amount of time people lose looking for lost items, missing appointments, or falling behind at work or school because of disordered living. “The average person likely loses 5 percent of their time due to disorganization,” he says. “Take your annual salary, multiply that by 5 percent, and you can measure what disorganization may be costing you.”

Joseph Ferrari, one of the most recognized scholars on disorganization research, says that nearly every mental health downside that comes from disorganization can be improved by getting organized. “You’ll feel more energetic, enhance your productivity in the office, and greatly improve the quality of your life,” he says.

Tidy homes have been found to be a predictor of physical health. “Those whose houses are cleaner are more active and physically healthy,” says Libby Sander, an assistant professor of organizational behavior. Part of this is due to organized people being better at managing their time, but it's also because research demonstrates that less clutter (杂乱) can help improve one's diet. “Studies show an association between clutter and overweight,” says Libby.

Getting organized has also been shown to decrease one's stress levels, increase personal efficiency, and even improve sleep. Another studied advantage of getting organized may be improving the quality of one's relationships. Libby explains that relationships can be negatively impacted when too much clutter affects communication or distracts one's brain from noticing important message from their partner. Research shows this can cause others to feel ignored, misunderstood, or unimportant.

【推荐2】Across the country, October is National Financial Planning Month, a time when you might want to look back on your retirement statement or rethink investments (投资) for the new year. The month also serves as a good reminder to teach the ones you love a thing or two about money basics. Whether it’s explaining the value of a dollar or delayed enjoyment for a beloved toy, you can explain to children where money comes from, how best to keep it, and the ways that you can use well-earned cash to shape the world we live in.

Financial literacy, simply put, is the know-how to prepare, track expenses, save, plan for retirement, and manage debt. Money-saving expert Andrea Woroch says it’s never too early to start talking about finances, and it can be as simple as taking them shopping or doing everyday tasks around the house. “Your children learn from your habits and the way you spend or save and even talk about money will shape how your children manage money in the future, even if you don’t realize it,” says Woroch.

Most people think that the easiest way to teach their kids about money is to let them watch what they do — from the convenience store to online shopping. But the right way is to practice being a role model of what you hope they (and you) would do when faced with money problems or opportunities.

Woroch says including kids in setting up a budget (预算) for an upcoming event can be a great learning experience. When you have to make a budget cut, think before you complain. Watch how you talk about sacrificing (牺牲) short-term pleasure for long-term gain.

If your family is doing well despite economic downturn, you can teach your kids to appreciate what they have and encourage them to help others in need. Ramirez, a senior advisor at Tend, suggests that parents “increase children’s awareness about how money can benefit others, not just themselves, by encouraging them to raise money for a cause.” This is also a great way to develop their social awareness.

【推荐3】How to Raise Kids with Good Spending Habits

Now more than ever, it’s important to teach good spending habits to our kids early on, and teach them the value of money throughout childhood. By modeling good behavior and making the most of teachable moments, you are more likely to raise kids who will have good spending habits now and into adulthood.

Any lesson on good money habits begins with the example you set for your children. That means making sure you have a household budget in place and having a savings plan.    1    Modeling good spending habits is a natural springboard for other important financial lessons you may want to teach:

1. Where money comes from

Some parents have done away with using the word “allowance” in favour being more direct. Their children can earn a “commission” or a “salary” based on completing age-appropriate tasks around the house. Whatever you call it, establishing the fundamental relationship between work and money is key to establishing smart spending habits.

2. The value of saving

Once they’re earning money, it’s time to help them understand the importance of saving. One approach might be to encourage your child to allocate at least 10% of his or her allowance to savings.     2    

3. How to use money to make more money

Some parents reinforce their children’s saving habits by setting up a house fund and offering to match their children’s savings contributions.

From there, you can easily begin to incorporate other good spending habits lessons, such as how to compare shop when at the grocery store or the mall.     3    These reputable, safe and engaging websites can help you teach your children good financial habits.

    4    Explore the benefits of opening an Online Savings Account from Ally Bank. Your money will earn interest at a variable rate that is among the most competitive available in the country, and you won’t have to worry about monthly maintenance fees chipping away at your hard-earned money. Even better, you can open and fund your account with any amount. Visit our website or call live, 24/7 customer care at 877-247-2559.