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It’s time to purchase a new home. And you have done all the right steps. You have spent some time going over your budget and feel like you have an attractive figure to pay in mind.

You may have even gone out and gotten pre-qualified for your mortgage, which is always the smart decision. One thing that you cannot budget for is when the unexpected happens when you move into your home. This is where home warranties can be a lifesaver – click here to learn more. It would be wise to look for companies that operate in your area as they’ll have contacts with local contractors who they’ll be able to send out to diagnose the problem. If you happen to live in Michigan, for example, then the First American warranty plans could be ideal for you. They have over three decades of experience in the region so you can have peace of mind when getting your home covered by them.

The cost is rising exponentially to have necessary home repairs, not to mention catastrophic events like your air conditioning or furnace going out. Home warranties can be a lifesaver to help assist you in keeping your home running smoothly and safely as your investment should. You can then call professionals like No Problem Heating and Cooling without the worry that you will be paying out too much each and every time through faulty appliances. Let explore some of the ways a home warranty can help and some reasons you should definitely write this into your home buying budget.

Unexpected Repairs

Moving expenses can quickly add up. Just the cost of putting a down payment on your home can be enough to strain your budget. Then factor in the price of moving, updating rooms, painting, decorating, and more and your nest egg can quickly get into the danger zone.

The inevitable will happen. Appliances will break. Air conditioning will go out. It will likely be in the middle of a summer heatwave. You may find yourself strapped for cash to pay for costly repairs or replacement parts. This is where a home warranty can step in and save the day.

Protect Your Investment

Because your home is most likely the biggest purchase you have ever made, it makes sense to want to protect it. Think about your vehicles, the first thing you do when you purchase your car is insure it. And not just because it’s the law because most of us don’t have the funds to pay for serious repairs or replacement in the event of totaling your vehicle.

It just makes smart financial sense to protect it. So, your home, your most significant investment to date, should have that same level of protection. This will more than pay for itself over the years and not to mention the peace of mind you feel knowing that you are covered if something goes seriously wrong. If you need more peace of mind, you can always talk to the best financial advisor in Columbia SC or a similar advisor closer to where you live – they’ll be able to give you the information you need to make a solid investment that will keep on giving back for years to come.

The Process

When you are shopping around for a home warranty, you will want to read over the contract you are signing carefully. While the basic process remains relatively similar with each company, there can be small differences that factor into the pricing. Most home warranty providers have contracts with different repair companies.

So, if your air conditioning were to stop working, you might end up calling your home warranty provider or a technician (like the ones who provide services to repair Rheem Heat Pumps and other HVAC units) first. The home warranty provider will give you a list of contractors that will come out and check the damage. This will typically cost you a small fee, nothing in comparison to what you would pay without the warranty.

After the damage is assessed, they will make the recommendation as to if it could be repaired or replaced. This is where reading through and understanding your contract is vital. You will most likely be responsible for a percentage of the cost of the new unit or repair, or responsible for a deductible that is similar to your car and home insurance.

Make sure you shop around to find the best combination of reputation, rates, and fees before you make your purchase. But remember, cheaper does not always equal better. You may be better off paying a little bit more over the life of your warranty than to take the less expensive option that gets you on fees down the road.

Conclusion

Purchasing a new home for your family is a considerable investment. Spend time choosing the right lender. Pick the right real estate agent and broker to guide you through the process.

It is a crucial component to set you up for a successful transaction. The attention to detail that you give this process is essential and after the deal shouldn’t be taken for granted. With the amount of money that you spend, you want to make sure that it is protected and able to be kept up and functioning.

Purchasing your home warranty will give you that peace of mind that if something does go wrong. You won’t be caught off guard with an unexpected expense.

Even if you skipped on the home warranty at the time of closing on your home, you still have time. Many warranties can be purchased well after closing on the home and renewed later for lasting coverage.

Everyone wants to live in an immaculately clean home. You know, the type you see in interior design magazine spreads. Of course, no one really wants to put in the work to keep their home looking like this, especially if they have busy work and family lives. Happily, there are some hacks that will allow you to get your cleaning done in the shortest time possible, and still ensure that your home is a comfortable and pleasant place to dwell. Just keep reading to find out what they are.

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Do the basics every day

If you are saving up all of your cleaning tasks until the weekend, when you have more time, stop! In fact, this is a terrible way of keeping your home clean, because it means your home will be dirty and messy all week! Likewise, if you are trying to do a deep clean every day, you will find yourself quickly overwhelmed and unmotivated.

Instead, you must get into a habit of doing the basics every day, such as doing the washing up, sweeping the floor, and putting a load of washing on. Quick tasks that should take you no longer than 10-15 mins in total.

Of course, by doing these tasks, you not only create a more pleasant living environment for yourself, but you also give yourself a head start on being able to keep your home as clean as possible too. You can also hire carpet cleaning jacksonville fl to keep up with your cleaning schedule.

Invest in the right equipment.

Next, if keeping your home clean is your aim, you must invest in the right equipment. That doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune on all the latest gadgets and robots, however. In fact, with just a few well-chosen items, you will have all you need to keep your home gleaming. Once again though, if you don’t fancy forking out for equipment and cleaning products to get your cleaning tasks completed efficiently, then you might instead wish to look at a service similar to this carpet cleaning for Lincoln Park, IL residents in order to find a reputable cleaning company in your area.

One such item that it is worthwhile to invest in is a vacuum for high pile carpet for keeping your floors and air clean. After all, many homes now have deep pile carpeting, and it is crucial to get as much dirt and dust from these as possible when you vacuum, as this helps to prevent it from spreading into other areas in the home. Professionals similar to a carpet cleaning Rochester service as well as others in your area will have this type of equipment with them if you do not, so it is best to weigh up your options and see how much you can do alone before calling someone in.

Another piece of equipment that is worth investing in is a steam mop to clean hardwood and tiled floors. In fact, with such a device removing dirt from a range of surfaces, including your bathroom, cleaning becomes a much quicker and more straightforward job.

Find the best cleaning products.

Now, you might think that the best cruelty free cleaning products you can get for your home will be located in the supermarket. However, this isn’t necessarily the case. In fact, there are plenty of options that will give you as good a finish if not better than you can source from elsewhere.

One option is to make your own cleaning products with household items such as lemon, essential oils, and baking soda. Alternatively, you may wish to try using glass cleaner designed for vehicles to achieve a streak-free shine on your windows and mirrors. The reason being it can save you a lot of hard work and elbow grease and ensure your home stays as clean as possible for as long as possible.

In our teens and 20’s, we tend to burn the candle at both ends. We eat whatever we like, we don’t sleep as much as we should (or do so at strange times), we can overindulge in alcohol, and exercise can often be the last thing on our minds. However, we continue to live this way because we don’t often suffer the repercussions of our actions.

However, once we turn 30, things start to change. It can get more difficult to lose weight, so eating whatever you like and failing to exercise isn’t really an option. We must learn to take better care of our bodies and minds, as even a lack of sleep can take a bigger toll on us than it once did. Below, we’ll take a look at 12 things those in their 30s and beyond should be doing to enhance their health and well*being. Take a look if you want to make a change and feel better:

1. Work Out Your Muscles

Working out your muscles is important for anybody in their 30’s and beyond, particularly those nearing 40. This is because as we age, we lose muscle mass, and this can mean we begin to lose any athletic appearance we may have had, and become weaker as a result. Muscles help us to live an easier life, whether we’re going up the stairs or bringing shopping in from the car. Resistance training can help to ensure that you are still able to do these things right into old age. You’ll be glad you started!

2. Work On Flexibility

Flexibility is also important – even those that work out tend to neglect their flexibility, often deeming it not as important as resistance training or cardio. Pilates and yoga are two of the best workouts there is for flexibility. You’ll be taking care of your joints and even your spine by stretching regularly, plus, you should feel more relaxed and less achy.

3. Walk More

Non exercise activity thermogenesis or ‘NEAT’ is an important part of staying fit and healthy. This is the exercise we do when we’re not in the gym, and we’re just going about our daily lives.

So it doesn’t just include walking, but anything that helps you to stay active and get your heart rate up. You should also find that you lower your cortisol levels if you keep this up.

4. Get Plenty Of High Quality Sleep

Getting lots of sleep isn’t the same as getting high quality sleep. Focusing on your sleeping pattern is something you’ll want to do sooner, rather than later if you want to feel great every day. Below you’ll find some advice for high quality sleep:

• Go to bed at the same time every night and get up at the same time every morning, even on weekends
• Sleep in total darkness
• Read up on ways to help you sleep through the night
• Wind down before bed by reading a book and staying away from screens
• Avoid caffeine too late in the day
• Journal so you don’t have any stressful thoughts running through your head
• Avoid exercise too close to bedtime as this can be too stimulating and instead do it earlier in the day for a deeper sleep
• Meditate to get into the right head space for sleep
• Consider listening to some music or beta waves if you struggle to relax in bed
• Don’t do anything else in bed, such as work or watch TV, as you’ll associate it with being awake

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5. Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated is one of the most important elements of staying healthy. Aim for 2 liters each day, or more if you’re exercising. Carry a big bottle of water with you so you remember to drink from it. Once you’re in the habit of this, it’s really not so difficult.

6. Visit The Docs As Soon As You Notice Something Is Up

If you notice a change in your body or the way you’re feeling, go to the doctors. You might think you’re wasting their time, but things can change quickly, especially as you’re older. It’s essential to develop a relationship with your doctor that lets them know that when you say you’re worried, they need to take your concerns seriously. That’s true whether you’ve noticed a symptom that’s been nagging you for days, or you’ve read about a defective drug product liability claim and need to know if you may have been affected. Perhaps most importantly, you need to be aware of the way your body can change as you get older. You can learn more about common ailments people experience when they age on sites like http://prostatitistreatment.net/. Don’t be one of those people who believes it’ll never happen to them.

7. Learn About Nutrition And Eat A Balanced Diet

If you’re going to eat a balanced diet, you’re probably going to need to ignore all of the diet advice you’ve ever been given, and instead learn about nutrition yourself. This isn’t about eating diet meals or starting a fad diet. You want to get micronutrients (fruit and veg) into your diet, as well as other balanced food items so you can stay healthy and have plenty of energy.

8. Limit Your Alcohol and Caffeine Intake

Everything in moderation, but you shouldn’t have too much alcohol and caffeine as you age. Your liver can struggle to clean your body as you get older, so if you’re indulging too much it can be a problem.

9. Meditate

Meditation isn’t just a fad – it’s a helpful way for you to clear your mind, lower stress levels, sleep better, and even become more creative. There are so many benefits to doing this, even if it’s just for 10 minutes a day.

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10. Stay Social

It can be too easy to lose touch with the people we love as we get older, so make sure you stay social. Arrange regular meet ups with friends and family and prioritise them.

11. Always Have A Goal

Having a goal can help us to get up in the morning and feel good about life. What would you like to do or improve upon? Perhaps you need a nudge in the right direction, and psychic readings could help you find your way. Or, maybe you want to do martial arts and get a black belt, or just improve on your painting. Perhaps you would like to know more about astrology, and want to know how to distinguish your Aries from your Pisces Constellation – there are a wealth of possibilities and all are worth exploring. If you’ve got a goal to work towards, then you can always be motivated to move forward Whatever it is, write it down and work towards it!

12. Spend More Time Outside

We’re all spending so much time indoors in front of screens, we forget how great nature can be for de-stressing. Walk and run outdoors, do a class outdoors, do whatever it takes to get you breathing in fresh air.

Some children enter early childhood education because their parents need to get back to work. However, if this is not the case then it can be very hard to know when to start their education and which school path is best for them, whether that be looking into charter schools in Bronx or closer to where they are based, parents need to be aware of what is out there and the right time for it. After all, learning is important, but you’ll also want to spend as much time with your child as possible.

Of course, it is also important to choose the right establishment, you need to verify the reputation and visit the establishment to ensure you’re comfortable with it and its methods. Check out childcare Liverpool to see what standards you should be looking for.

Fortunately, the decision can be made for you. In fact, there are several significant benefits to getting your child into early childhood education:

Quality Time

The first thing to consider is that the time you spend with your child will be quality time, where you can focus on bonding with them and having fun.

You won’t need to worry about whether they are learning the right things or at the right rate, your early childhood education center can handle this for you and liaise with you regarding their progress.

Self-discipline

Children that experience early childhood education are more likely to develop good levels of self-discipline. This is an important skill that will help them throughout their lives, ensuring that they finish what they start and get the most out of every experience.

An Acceptance Of learning

Continuing this theme, getting your child into early childhood education means that they will be accustomed to learning, which is beneficial as they progress through school.

In short, they’ll be better prepared to learn and will absorb more information.

Social Skills

In early childhood education, children have to learn to share and communicate with each other. These types of social skills are difficult to learn later in life but are very important.

You can help your child to be comfortable in any environment by getting them into early childhood education! Plus if intentional teaching methods are put in place like those at Raising Stars then they will develop higher listening and communication skills that they can apply onto their learning and social life.

In addition, they’ll be better at sharing things, which will help in life and may directly help you if they have siblings at home.

Confidence

Your child needs to learn that their opinion matters when they’re in early childhood education they’ll have the opportunity to discover their own voice and make decisions for themselves.

This will actually boost their confidence in themselves, helping them to have self-confidence and deal with any situation.

Brain Development

Research suggests that children in early childhood education will experience better rain growth and neurological development.

When children are very young they are literally able to absorb the information around them, their brains are like sponges. By exposing them to an early education you’re maximizing their ability to learn and helping them develop for the future.

As a parent, it’s hard to give them a greater gift than those listed above.

It’s surprising, but early childhood education can provide your child with a huge array of skills that are difficult to teach. If you haven’t already sorted your early childhood education, it’s time you did!

Home repairs can range from small tasks to large projects that you might need to hire a contractor to complete. Many small problems can wait to be fixed, such as chipped paint or scratches in woodwork. If you leave them, they probably won’t get much worse. However, there are more urgent problems that need to be repaired as soon as possible. If you don’t get them fixed when you can, they can grow and even start to cause more problems. There are several types of issue that can arise around your home, from the foundations to the roof, which you should take care of straight away.

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Roof Repairs

Your home’s roof protects the whole property and everyone in it. It can experience a number of issues caused by storms, debris from trees, animals, and other problems. It always pays to try and implement preventative measures prior to a major flaw in your roof developing. Often, an annual pressure washing of the tiles or slate will be enough to remove the grime and moss that can morph into penetrating damp if left for too long. When your roof needs to be repaired, it can quickly get worse if you don’t fix it as soon as you can. You can end up with water and air leaks, moisture problems, poor insulation, and other issues. A reliable Cincinnati roof repair company is a must if you need to repair your roof. Roofing work is one of the things you shouldn’t attempt to do yourself. It’s best to leave it to the professionals who can do it safely.

Plumbing Problems

Plumbing problems can range from leaks to blockages and can disrupt your life and cause damage to your home. Many issues need to be taken care of straight away purely because it’s difficult to carry on living around them. A blocked drain or a lack of hot water can be extremely inconvenient. There are some small problems that you can easily fix yourself. A leaking faucet could be corrected by tightening up a few things. However, you will need a plumber for some tasks. A qualified plumber, like those at absoluteplumbingandboilers.com, will be able to repair anything that needs it to prevent problems such as flooding.

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Electrical Issues

If there’s one thing that you shouldn’t attempt to DIY at home, it’s anything to do with electrics. You might be able to do a few very simple tasks but, for the most part, it’s not a great idea to play around with anything electrical. However, if you do have any electrical problems, you should have them fixed right away. It can be dangerous if you leave something broken, posing a risk of everything from fire to qualified domestic electrician can repair any issues for you.

Foundation Cracks

Your home’s foundations support it and help to protect it. If the foundation has problems, you need to get a pier and beam foundation repair service as soon as possible because it could cause flooding, cracks in the walls, and even sinking. There can sometimes be small cracks that are easily fixed and don’t pose a big problem — once fixed, you should keep an eye on the area they appeared to ensure there are no further issues. However, larger cracks need to be addressed before they become more serious issues. If you don’t take care of the problem as soon as possible, it could be extremely expensive to repair later, which is why as soon as you see any damage, it’s best to contact someone like CenTex Foundation Repair to come and sort out the problem as soon as possible.

Try not to leave these issues unchecked for too long. You should hire a reliable roofing company, electrcian, handyman, or whoever is needed for the issue. Otherewise, you could end up facing an expensive bill.

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It doesn’t seem too long ago that your daughter was coming to you for advice on her homework projects and what kind of pony would best fit in your back garden when working on her Christmas list. Easy conversations both, as you probably ended up doing your daughter’s homework project on her behalf, and navigated the pony conversation by letting her know that, despite there being grass in the garden, that no, buying a pony was probably not something to ask Santa for this year.

But as childhood passed and your daughter hit her teenage years, the conversation probably turned to a discussion about boys and relationships. And if it hasn’t yet, you do need to ready yourself for the inevitability.

Despite your best intentions, there are a few things you need to tell your daughter that she shouldn’t know, such as the fact that she shouldn’t bother with those annoying males and should live with you forever. However, these talks may be awkward, and there’s a good chance that your daughter will start a conversation with one of these boys without realizing it. Due to this, even if you get along well with your kids, it’s necessary to keep a check on their smartphones, perhaps using a spy app like iSpyPhoneApp, to monitor any potential relationships or drug use they may get involved in during the tender years.

Instead, focus on the following pieces of advice.

Date somebody because you want to and not because you feel you should

Many girls assume that because everybody else at school seems to be in a relationship, that they should follow suit. This doesn’t have to be the case, of course, as if your daughter doesn’t want a boyfriend and/or isn’t ready to be in a relationship, then they don’t have to. Focusing on their homework and enjoying their free time to do what they want without a boy attached to their arm is perfectly acceptable.

Your first boyfriend doesn’t have to be ‘the one’

It might be that your daughter falls head over heels in love with a boy at school, and being all swoony-eyed, she might pin all of her hopes on him being ‘the one.’ With dreams of engagement rings, wedding bells, and future domestic bliss, she might think that all of her dreams are coming true. And that might be the case. On the other hand, the boy might not have the seem feelings at all, or when her crush has worn off, she might think differently too. So, remind your daughter to have fun with her boyfriend, and not to plan her life around him. While true love might eventually blossom, let your daughter know that the boy in her life might just be the first in the run-up to finding Mr.Right.

It’s okay to say ‘no’

Many families avoid talking about sex with their children, which leaves their kids to find other sources of information that may or may not be reliable enough. Having the conversation about sex, consent, and relationships is very important in raising your teen right. It may be awkward for you and your daughter, but it’s essential that she knows what’s right and not right in relationships for her well-being and self-esteem. You can’t shelter your daughter forever, but you can arm her with knowledge, wisdom, confidence, and values to face the wider world. If you’re not too worldly yourself, remember you could always point her towards the advice of someone like Elena Johnson from LustGasm, who talks about the “need to relax, and get into the right mental state” before doing anything with boys.

No boy should make your daughter do something she is uncomfortable with, so no matter her feelings towards him, she still has the right to say ‘no’ if he makes demands of her, be they sexual or otherwise. Of course, as alluded, this might be the time to bite the bullet and talk to your daughter about sex, as it is important to remind her of the dangers and legalities of a sexual relationship. It is also important to discuss with her about STDs and what std testing entails as well as what is searched for so she knows the ramifications if she has unprotected sex. We aren’t going to go into details here, as how you talk to your daughter about this difficult subject is up to you, but you might want to check this advice on sex education and continue your research online if you need further guidance.

If you can’t trust your boyfriend, question your relationship

Relationships are built on trust, so if your daughter has a reason not to trust him, then she has the right to question the relationship. There might be rumors about him seeing other girls, for example, or your daughter might have evidence that he has cheated on her. While a conversation with her boyfriend might allay her fears if he can disprove any schoolyard rumors, she should definitely question her future with him if he has cheated, even if he tells her that he won’t do it again. Unlike your daughter, her boyfriend might not take the relationship seriously, and cheating is a definite sign of this. Therefore, rather than risk further hurt, you might want to tell your daughter to protect her feelings by bringing the relationship to an end.

Finally

Ultimately, how you talk to your daughter about relationships is up to you. While we hope our tips were useful to you, you might have other ideas about what to say and how to say it. You might even use your own experiences of dating and relationships when talking to your daughter. Let us know your thoughts then, and if there is anything you want to add to this article, perhaps with tips on what you have said or what you might say in regards to relationships, then please share your wisdom with us, for the sake of any moms wondering how to handle this tricky subject.

Throughout history, there have been some fierce, world-changing women. And every now again is the perfect time to be reminded of them and what they have done. The critical thing to remember is that even the smallest thing you do can change the life of someone, in ways that you might not even be able to imagine. 

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Maya Angelou

It is almost impossible to go through a whole day without seeing a quote from Maya somewhere on social media. Here is one of them:

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

There is a lot to be said for such potent words. Maya Angelou will forever be one of the most influential women in history. She was a poet, singer, civil rights activist, and her memoir was the first non-fiction best-seller by an African-American woman. She has a strength of character so strong, we now live by many of her words. 

Anna Jarvis

Who created Mother’s Day? Well, Anna Jarvis did. 

Growing up in the church life, she heard the words “I hope and pray that someone, sometime will found a memorial mother’s day commemorating her for the matchless service she renders to humanity in every field of life. She is entitled to it.” From her mother, and when her mother passed Anna made it her duty to bring this to life. 

She campaigns vigorously for Mother’s Day to be celebrated but not for it to be commercialized. Although many will argue that the commercialization is why we have the ability to choose from so many gifts in the run-up to the day and that it makes the celebration even more significant than was ever intended. 

Sojourner Truth

Truth had a turbulent childhood, being sold into slavery, along with a flock of sheep at the age of 9. For a mere $100. Shockingly this was only in 1829. She escaped to freedom with her baby girl years later. In 1840 she began to advocate and give empowering and passionate speeches about women’s rights, suffrage and prison reform. Sojourner Truth is one of the foremost leaders of the abolition movement and hold one of the earliest records of women’s rights. 

Ada Lovelace

Have you ever heard of the world’s first computer programmer? Well, she was an English mathematician and the daughter of Lord Byron and Lady Wentworth. So while she didn’t have the same struggles (or even close) to other women on this list – she still gave us the first description of computer and software – ever. She sadly died at the early age of 36 and left behind her notes on Babbage’s Analytical Engine – which weren’t fully appreciated for another 100 years. 

“That brain of mine is something more than merely mortal; as time will show.”

She had friends like Charles Dickens and moved in very affluent circles. Her genius was simply too far ahead of her time. 

So there you have it, women who changed the world as we know it now. 

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Children can soak up new information like a sponge, and this is the main reason why it is important for us to teach our children important life skills during their early years of life. When it comes to choosing a subject to teach your child, finance should be number one on your list- click to see.

Although children are taught about math and the many complex equations, it is also important for us to teach them practically how to manage money in later life to prevent them from making huge mistakes and getting themselves in debt. While you may be saving some amount for them in the form of a long-term trust or bonds so that they can enjoy their life without worrying about finances, it is equally important to teach them to spend that money sensibly. With that in mind, here are some methods you can use to teach your child about money and how to use it or spend it responsibly.

Teach them basic equations

Before you inundate your child with terms like interest, tax and equity, it is important that they understand the basics of math. You can use handy tools such as Cazoom Maths to help teach your child simple equations and times tables which they will need when calculating things like percentages and costs.

Give them a bank account

One of the best ways to teach your child about money is to open a bank account for them and let them manage it. The great thing about opening a new bank account is that you will often be given an introductory cash reward, as well as other financing options, like forbrukslån. This means that you don’t have to fork out money for your child yourself, you can simply give them the account with this cash, and allow them to spend the money and manage it how they like. Of course, it is important for a child to know how a bank account works, so make sure that they read bank statements and deposit their pocket money in here to use at their convenience. The responsibility of a bank account is large, but it will instill great habits in your child from a young age.

Get them to save for college

It is important that even at a young age, your child understands the importance of money and how it can have an impact on the future. Of course, you will be the one saving the majority of their college fund, but you can involve your child and get them to save their money in a jar or bottle for you to collect and add to the account now and again. Teach them that saving will bring rewards and that it is a savvy way to manage.

Teach them about credit cards

The difference between a credit and debit card will likely confuse your child, but you can put this into simple terms with a game of coins. Present 2 bags of coins to your child and give them one of these bags to keep. This will represent a debit card and is money which you own. Now, give your child the second bag, tell them they can spend this, but tell them that you want it back in a month in full. This represents a credit card. Using coins is a helpful representation of what a debit and credit card means.

They say we pick up the habits we have as children into our adulthood. If that’s the case, why not teach children to be good to the environment at an early age? This will not just do nature good but humanity as well. Imagine, if you could demonstrate to your child how to treat everything with kindness and respect, the world would be a much, much better place.

Let’s go ahead and take a look at the ways that you can teach your kids to protect the environment.

1. Take your kids on a trip

Take them on a vacation –but not just an ordinary vacation. You want to make it an educational one. It can be a nature walk, a visit to the zoo, or snorkeling at the beach. Point out the creatures you see along the way and emphasize the importance of protecting their habitats. 

2. Plant a garden

Invite over your friends and neighbors to create a community garden. Nothing complicated. Start with the easy basics of herbs, fruits, and vegetables. Assign a task to each child and make them responsible for at least one plant. They’ll want to learn more on how to care for it.

3. Bring your own water

Make it a family rule to bring your own water when going outside. This teaches your child that single use plastic is bad and that as much as possible, you should only own items that can be reused again.

4. Turn off the lights

Remind your kids to turn off or unplug any device or appliance that is not in use. Don’t let the TV play in the living room when no one is watching or leave the fridge door open for too long. Too much energy use not only impacts the environment but your wallet as well.

5. Don’t throw away old toys

When your kids have outgrown their toys, don’t just throw it away. Together, pack them in a box and bring them to a donation center. This teaches kids that if something is not broken, someone else can still benefit from it.

6. Segregate your trash

Your kids probably segregate their trash in school when they see those separate bins but can they practice it at home? Make sure that they do. Have separate bins for reusable and non-reusable trash.

7. Eat only what you need

Food is one of the top wastes we have today. So much so that we now have a movement called dumpster diving. This is an extreme way of environmentalism where people eat food from dumpsters, not because they’re disgusting but because some food thrown away are actually still good as new. Teach your child the value of food and explain the effort that goes into growing and preparing their food. This’ll teach them to waste food less.

8. Don’t hurt the insects

Teach your child to stop squishing all the little creatures they come across. Explain to them that these creatures need to survive as they play an important function in our natural environment.

9. Join a beach cleanup

Participate in a beach cleanup in your local area. This shows kids that it’s important to pick up after your own trash and that if you don’t, the beautiful creatures in the ocean get affected. Worse, the beach gets gross and no one wants to swim in it. Who wants that? 

10. Practice what you preach

There’s no use teaching kids how to protect the environment if you’re not doing it yourself. Be aware of your actions and see to it that you are being environmentally conscious as well. Lead by example and your kids will follow. 

These are simple things you can teach your child. The more you teach them, the more curious they’ll be of other ways they can protect the environment.

Which of these have you already implemented in your home? Let’s continue the discussion in the comments below.

When you’ve been pregnant for 9 whole months, had the baby and for probably about a year have been unable to find time to yourself. When your baby is over 3 year old, taking care of your  boy or girl is routine. You’ve learned from the mistakes and you have taken the time to realize how you can make life easier for yourself. This is something to be expected because as time goes on, you get better and better. However, now that you don’t have to do as much, you’ll finally have time to get back in shape. Pregnancy can add a lot of weight, weight which is difficult to shed off. It’s a thicker layer of fat which you have when you are pregnant and feeding the child. So you need to do certain things to help yourself lose that weight and return back to your pre-pregnancy size. Here are a few ways you can begin your journey back looking trim again.

Just get moving

The first thing you need to do is to just get moving. You have probably lived a sedentary life for a few years. So just getting up and sticking to a schedule of working out is going to be difficult. Start off with long and fast walks. This just gets the blood pumping and reconnects some nerves and tissues with your mind. Muscles that haven’t been used will finally get a wake up call. You might also want to begin a light jog if you feel you’re able. This will allow you to steadily ramp up the pace and increase exercise as you feel better. You’ll also get a good grasp of how you feel, whether or not you can push yourself or not.

Manage stress and workouts

Maybe you have gained so much weight that you really do need constant time at the gym. For that you should first consider child care, so you can leave your children with trained professionals in a playful and educational environment. This can last all day or just a few hours depending on your needs. It will also help you to manage stress, which had many other benefits. For example, you won’t eat so erratically and unhealthily. You can drop the kids off to daycare and then set about sculpting your figure at the gym. You might also want to take up various fitness classes such as aerobics. But you might also want an afternoon class of yoga to loosen up joints. 

Focus on fat areas

Men store their fat cells around their midsection, women store it around their buttocks and legs. You can begin to trim off the fat by doing exercise specifically in these areas. For example, you can do standing lunges, squats or leg raises. You might also want to work on your waist and abs by doing sit-ups and crunches. These body weight exercises are very easy to do and don’t put a lot of pressure on joints.

Manage your stress levels and take proper care and time at the gym to regain your physique. But also, do the basic workouts such as jogging and leg lunges.