 TITLE: 4 Ways to Use Your New Child Tax Credit to Help Your Kids CONTENT: 4\\. Equip Yourself for Parenting and Work\n-----------------------------------------\nInvesting in your family is a benefit to everyone, including your kids.\n**Save money**. Money in the bank is a core component of financial resilience. Adding to your financial reserves will help you weather future challenges or pay for big purchases like a new home or college. Do this by:\n*   **Shoring up your** **emergency savings****.** If you need ideas for where to stash your money, consider a high-interest savings account.\n*   **C****ontributing to college savings.** A 529 savings plan offers tax advantages to help you put aside and invest money to pay for your child's college tuition. In some cases, you may be able to pay for K-12 education as well.\n**Get adequate child care**. If access to child care has been standing between you and steady employment, maybe now is the time to secure the help you need.\n**Improve your home environment**. Make needed home repairs, buy a kitchen table big enough for everyone to sit and do homework, set up a separate workstation for each child or apply the money toward moving to a more suitable space. If you make a large purchase, you may be able to take advantage of an interest-free payment plan that lets you pay your balance over six months—the number of months you'll be receiving child tax credit payments. END