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Helpful Tips

Home Budgeting Tips: How to Stick to Your Money Plan

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If you’re like most people, you probably have a difficult time sticking to your budget. It’s hard to keep track of where every penny goes, and it seems like there’s never enough money to go around. In this blog post, we will give you some tips on how to stick to your home budget and finally get your finances in order!

One of the best ways to stick to your budget is to create a spending plan. This means that you need to sit down and figure out where all of your money is going each month. Write down how much you spend on groceries, gas, utilities, rent or mortgage, entertainment, and any other expenses. Once you have a good idea of where your money is going, you can start to make adjustments and find ways to save.

Another great way to stick to your budget is to create a savings plan. This means that you need to set aside a certain amount of money each month for savings. You may want to save for a rainy day fund, or for a specific goal, like a new car or a trip to Europe. Whatever your goal may be, make sure you set aside money each month to achieve it.

Finally, make sure to stick to your budget! This means that you need to be diligent about not overspending and staying within your budget limits. If you can’t afford something, don’t buy it. And if you find that you’re constantly overspending, make some adjustments to your budget and try again.

Follow these tips and you’ll be able to stick to your home budget like a pro! Good luck!

Thank you for reading our blog post on home budgeting tips. We hope these tips help you get your finances in order! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help!

5 Ways to Teach Responsibility to Your Children

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When it comes to teaching responsibility, there are many different routes that parents can take. Some people believe in giving their children the opportunity to make their own mistakes so they learn how to handle themselves accordingly. Others believe in showing them what is right and wrong by making them do chores or other responsibilities around the house. The best approach will depend on your parenting style and your child’s personality, but no matter which route you choose, one thing remains true: kids need to be taught responsibility from a young age if they’re going to grow up happy and successful!

In this article I’m going talk about six ways of doing just that!

Chores

One of the most traditional ways to teach responsibility is by giving kids chores. This can be anything from making their bed in the morning to taking out the trash on Tuesdays. Not only do chores help children learn how to handle themselves independently, but they also give parents a way to monitor their progress and make sure that they’re staying on track.

Allowance

Another popular way to teach responsibility is through the use of an allowance. This is a fixed amount of money that children receive on a regular basis in exchange for doing chores or other tasks around the house. This can be a great way to not only teach kids how to handle their money, but also to give them an incentive to do their chores!

Responsibility Chart

Yet another way to teach responsibility is through the use of a responsibility chart. This is simply a list of tasks that need to be completed on a regular basis, and it can be customized to fit your family’s needs. Kids earn points for completing each task, and once they’ve earned enough points they can then cash them in for a prize or some other type of reward.

Community Service

One final way to teach responsibility is by having children participate in community service. This could involve anything from picking up trash at the park to helping out at a homeless shelter. Not only does community service help kids learn how to give back to their community, but it also teaches them the importance of responsibility and teamwork.

Pets

One of the best ways to teach responsibility is through the use of a pet. Pets require regular feeding, walking, and cleaning, so kids quickly learn how to handle themselves when it comes to taking care of something else. Plus, pets are a great way to teach children about empathy and compassion, which are two important traits that every responsible adult should have.

Even if you don’t want to go the pet route, children should still be given a chance to care for something every now and again! Whether it’s taking care of a plant or feeding their goldfish bowl, allowing your kids some responsibility is great way for them to learn how to take charge of themselves without too much help from you.

As you can see, there are many different ways to teach responsibility to your children. No matter which approach you choose, make sure that you remain patient and consistent; it may take a while for your child to learn how to fully handle themselves, but with time and patience they will get there! And in the meantime, be sure to enjoy the journey.

How to Find Less Expensive Needs for Your Home

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You may have heard that you need to spend money in order to make money. However, the opposite is true when it comes to your home. There are many ways that can help save you money on your needs for your home, which will also allow you to better afford these things in the future!

1) Shop at thrift stores or garage sales before looking anywhere else

You never know what kind of hidden treasures await when shopping at these places! Plus, it’s a great way for people who want quality items but don’t want to pay top dollar for them.

2) Use coupons

Let’s face it; we all love getting discounts and coupons! It makes us feel like we’re getting something extra for free even if we aren’t.

3) List the needs and wants you have for your home on a budget

This will help you stay mindful of what you’re spending and keep yourself accountable.

4) Take advantage of sales

Who doesn’t love a good sale? It’s the perfect opportunity to get what you need at a fraction of the price!

5) Choose quality over quantity

This doesn’t mean you have to break the bank on everything, but sometimes spending a little more upfront will save you money in the long run.

6) Search for deals online

The internet is a wealth of information, and you can find some amazing deals on home needs by doing a simple search.

7) Be minimalistic

Sometimes the less you have, the better. It’s a good idea to consider how much stuff is really necessary for you and your home before buying anything else.

With a little bit of creativity and effort, you can find great ways to save money on the needs for your home! Try out some of these ideas and see how much of a difference they make. You may be surprised at just how much money you can save by making a few small changes. Happy budgeting!

Your Pup Needs Exercise, An Electric Dog Fence Can Help

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Have you ever wanted your dog to be able to run around your yard freely, but you haven’t been able to do so because of the dangers of them running off into the woods, your neighbor’s yard, or worse – the street? It’s a common thought among dog owners because we know how much they love to run around when we take them to the park to chase frisbees, tennis balls, or otherwise. If you don’t have a fenced-in yard this amount of freedom for your dog may seem unachievable. That is unless you’ve heard about electric dog fences.

How Do They Work?

These electric dog fence systems may seem complicated at first glance, but in actuality, they are fairly simple. This topic is covered quite extensively on the internet, so I’ll try to keep it just to the basics. There are two essential components to an invisible dog fence system – the boundary and the collar. The idea is that you set the boundary and your dog wears the collar, and when your dog approaches and ultimately exceeds the boundary the collar will start with a warning signal and ultimately issue a correction when they cross over.

Are They Safe For Your Dog?

A primary concern among prospective owners of electric dog fences is whether or not they are safe for the pet wearing the collar. This probably has to do with the image associated with the term “electric fence”. I don’t know about you, but to me, it invokes an impression of a wired fence charged up and ready to shock any poor animal that happens to brush up against it. Rest assured, these electric dog fences are far from that extreme, and to calm that sensation they are often referred to as invisible dog fences. While shocking is the primary and most effective mechanism for teaching your dog where the boundaries are, there are a number of things to clarify.

First, the shock level is entirely humane and can be set to only be strong enough to get your dog’s attention. Many pet owners have even tested the shock on themselves prior to putting the collar on their dog. This is obviously not recommended, but it does illustrate the fact that they are humane. The other thing to consider is that if you have properly trained your dog, they won’t be going near or exceeding the boundary very often, if at all. You can make your dog aware of the boundaries using training flags, and once they get the idea then you can set the collar to beep or vibrate rather than shock to let your dog know they are too close to the edge.

Should You Get An In-Ground Fence or a Wireless System?

The appeal of a wireless system is fairly obvious at face value. It’s so much easier to install, and if you ever need to change the boundaries it’s a sinch. There are a few issues with them though, and for that reason, the in-ground systems are widely touted as the superior technology.

Most of it comes down to the technical aspects of the boundary. While in-ground systems take quite a bit more effort to set up, the level of customization that they offer you is simply unrivaled by wireless systems. If you want to avoid particular areas of your yard, such as a garden or a patio, it’s as simple as burying the electric wire appropriately. The biggest place where in-ground systems have the upper hand is in their reliability. They are far superior when it comes to ensuring the signal gets transmitter. Wireless systems are fairly robust, but they are susceptible to weak signals as well as interference from other strong signals nearby. At the end of the day, dog owners tend to be far happier when they choose in-ground electric dog fence systems.

Looking to Hire a Professional Organizer for Your Home? Here’s What You Need to Know

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Do you feel like all you do is clean and yet your house is always a mess? Are you faced with a mountain of paperwork (probably in bags) in order to find the one receipt you need? Have you bought items that were on sale to give as future presents but when the time comes to give them away you can’t find them? 

If you can associate with even one of the scenarios listed above, you may want to consider hiring a professional organizer. If you think hiring someone to get you and your home organized is an extravagance you cannot afford, think again. People have been known to spend more money by not being organized in the first place. 

  • How many times have you had to pay to get copies of paperwork that you just can’t get your hands on by the stated deadline? And then there is the extra cost of expediting the paperwork with an overnight delivery service. 
  • Did you feel like getting a head start on next year’s holiday season by purchasing tons of wrapping paper, gift bags, and tissue paper only to not be able to locate them and have to re-buy them at Christmas? 
  • Check out your refrigerator and see just how many jars of mustard you have hidden on the shelves. If you have more than one you are probably buying a jar every time you are at the store because you can’t remember or find the full jars you already have (this may or may not be from personal experience).

Okay, so you have looked at the big picture and as they say, the first thing is admitting you need help. How exactly do you go about hiring a professional organizer? You may be lucky enough to have a friend who can refer one to you. But if you are on your own, here are some things I learned from working with an excellent organizer from Washington DC:

  1. Consider how long have they been in business. The end result is what is important but you should know upfront if this person is just starting out or has been working as a professional for years. 
  2. Do they have before and after examples of their work? A good organizer will be able to show you specifically how their skills were able to make their client’s life much neater and easier. Pictures that show the improvements the organizer made can be impressive and get you excited about how great your place will soon look like. 
  3. Do they have a specific system that they use? Everyone has their own system, but a common one is separating things into piles to keep, give away, donate to charity, and throw out. Once you know how they will be working you can start thinking about what categories some of your things will fall into. 
  4. What is their exact mode of operation? What spaces are covered, how long will the entire experience take, and is there any follow-up? If you are going to have your entire home organized that is the most comprehensive plan. You may want to focus on closets, an eternally unorganized garage, or specifically your kid’s rooms. Make sure to get a timetable so you know how long it will take to complete. 
  5. What makes them an experienced professional in organizing? There is actually a National Association of Productivity and Organizing professionals that would be an impressive bonus if they were a member. Ask what other courses, clubs, or groups they participate in that would add to their success as an organizer. 
  6. What is the price? Are there different packages and prices? This is an important factor and should be spelled out exactly in a contract before hiring the organizer. Know exactly what services you are getting and at what cost. 

Remember, this is someone you will be working closely with as you deal with personal and sentimental items. Make sure your personalities work well together.

Alternatives to Aggressive Chemicals for Everyday Cleaning

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e all want a clean home, preferably that smells good. Companies that make and market cleaners know this fact. Their print, television and online advertisements are all made to catch your attention. Showing our everyday messes and even the occasional big mess grabs our attention and then they reel us in with how well their product cleans. Now I am not saying these products do not clean. But they do contain harsh chemicals and scents that irritate and can even make us sick. 

According to the American Lung Association these cleaners we have trusted for years can not only irritate or cause reactions, but they can even potentially cause cancer. We all know that chlorine and ammonia have strong scents and are harsh chemicals. But something we do not always realize is that not all of the ingredients are listed. Those considered safer cleaners may be safer, but if they are combined with other safe cleaners they can cause harsh chemical reactions. 

White vinegar has been around for a very long time and is known to be a very good cleaning agent. Mixing vinegar with water is a great cleaner for windows. Add newspaper for wiping and you get a streak free shine. Vinegar is great for cutting through grease, grime and even mildew. Want those faucets to sparkle? Use diluted vinegar. Need to de-gunk that shower head, again vinegar and water to the rescue. Vinegar can also pair well with baking soda. Baking soda poured down a clogged drain with vinegar poured in after will help unclog it at a fraction of the cost of the harsh chemicals you can buy. Another little tip for vinegar is to mix it with water and keep it in a spray bottle as a quick all purpose cleaner. 

Baking soda is also a good cleaner. Mix it with a bit of water to form a paste to scrub difficult areas, including mildew. A great oven cleaning tip is to mix baking soda, water and a little dish soap. How dirty your oven is would determine how long you leave it on, but even overnight this paste mixture will not create irritating fumes. Then you simply wipe it off with your diluted vinegar water spray. Also baking soda and cornstarch work well to clean carpets. Both are naturally absorbent so they soak up liquid stains. And instead of expensive carpet deodorizing powders, simply use baking soda to help eliminate odors. It vacuums right up for no mess, but fresher carpets. 

Do you have some old tea bags? Boil some water in a pot and toss some of those old bags in and let them steep to make a strong tea. You can use this tea to clean windows, wood floors, mirrors, and pretty much any dirt. It is also a good de-greaser like vinegar but smells better. 

If you really like things smelling fresh you can always create your own citrus based cleaner. There are many articles and videos to be found on how to create one. Do not expect to use it immediately though. Like tea, the citrus needs to steep. But it will create a pleasant smelling cleaner that is safe to use even on toys. 

Simple, safe alternatives to harsh cleansers are readily available. A walk down your favorite grocery stores baking isle tends to provide all the items you need to have a less toxic cleaner at your fingertips. And if you do not want to have to creating your own mixtures there are several safe, non-toxic cleaners available with just a little research.