Save Money on Your Living Costs with These Tips

Are you struggling to make it through the month? Here are some tips that you might not have considered when it comes to saving money.

Cutting your living expenses is something that’s become pretty urgent for many people. When you know you’re spending too much but you don’t know what to do about it, it’s easy to feel hopeless and panicked. But don’t worry because there’s always more that can be done. So if you feel that your living costs are currently too high, here are some tips and advice that’ll help you reduce them.

10 Creative Ways To Make Some Extra Cash

While getting a job or a better paying job might be one way to increase your income, sometimes that isn't enough or isn't an option. Here are some more interesting ways to make money beyond the standard ways.

Looking for a way to make some extra money? Why not consider some of these creative options? Below are just a few alternative ways to earn money.

A New Mom’s Guide To Choosing The Right Daycare Facility

Deciding to entrust your child into someone else's care can be intimidating, and this guide from a reader can hopefully make this process less scary for you.

Becoming a first-time mom brings a mix of positive and negative emotions. You’re probably thankful for a blessing, a gift of life, bestowed upon you, but you’re also probably afraid at the same time. Those mixed feelings are normal; that’s what a first-time mom should feel.

Taking care of your child is a journey of a lifetime. It may be hard, full of obstacles, and a roller coaster of emotions, but it’s also fun, exciting, and fulfilling.

One of the toughest challenges of being a mom is doing multiple mom duties simultaneously. It’s nearly impossible to care for your child while working. So, you have no choice but to leave childcare duties to someone else, but it’s a big decision to ponder.

Leaving your child with someone else may not sound pleasant, especially for a first-time mom like you. One of the best options you have is enrolling your child in a good daycare facility like Lolo’s Childcare.

Choosing the right daycare for your sweet little angel can be daunting and overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to give your kids the best care possible while away.

Loving My Chronically Painful Body

I've been dealing with a lot of pains in my body recently, something I jokingly refer to as "musical injuries" because the injuries switch places (mostly) but the pain remains. And when I ask my physical therapist what I can do about it, she says unfortunately not much, because these pains are purely a result of my Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), an inherited soft tissue disorder, and not anything I'm doing wrong.

Examples:

• I sit partially off my seat on the bus so that there is unequal pressure on my bum and my pelvis gets pushed out of place and then my bottom and back spasm so badly it hurts to move until my physical therapist pushes it back into place.
• I slap a mosquito to kill it... And sprain my wrist. I scrub a pot with my other hand and sprain that wrist as well.
• I drive a car and my ankle screams in pain from my pressing the brakes. My knee and hip hurt from that as well.
• My daughter pulls my hand and my hand starts throbbing in pain.
• Right now my ankle is hurting me a lot because I had a physical therapy appointment and she was showing me some exercises to do to hopefully help my ankle and knees not hurt so much, and even though she gave me really mild exercises they are enough to have me aching hours later.

With so many aches from living my everyday life, I've repeated to myself and others so often "I hate my body, I hate my body" and it can be really depressing. My son pointed out the incongruity in my words because I talk about body positivity and loving your body no matter what it looks like or what size it is, and then I say repeatedly that I hate my body.

Are You Making These Financial Mistakes?

So many times people think they are being money smart but they aren't. Here are some common financial mistakes people make- are you making any of them?

No one wants to make financial mistakes, especially when a lot of money is at stake. Unfortunately, too many hard-working people fall into traps like overusing credit cards, not earning a decent return on their investments, carrying too little insurance coverage, engaging in impulse buying, or ignoring the importance of credit scores. Here are pertinent details that help you avoid the most common and damaging money mistakes.

Living Off Credit Cards

The single biggest mistake young working people make is relying on credit cards to get through each month. In nearly every such case, people who dig the credit hole end up regretting it. The solution is budgeting. When you make a detailed monthly budget and pay off all card balances when they come due, the plastic curse will no longer be a problem.

Ignoring the Potential of Vacation Real Estate Rentals

Investing in real estate, particularly vacation rentals, can enhance long-term portfolios in several ways. The concept plays an even greater role in recessionary economies when stock markets are volatile and unpredictable. Working adults can sidestep risky securities markets and put their capital into tangible assets like real estate. Those considering a second home as an investment tend to focus on rental property.

However, vacation properties in resort cities or favorite holiday spots offer multiple advantages. Owners can rent out the homes for most months of the year and stay in them when they want an inexpensive way to travel. Others options include earning regular income on the holiday home and then moving into it full-time after you retire. Even homeowners with extra bedrooms in their current house can earn rental income and reap the financial rewards of owning their own home or a second one.

Being Under-Insured

It's theoretically possible to have too much insurance, but most working people err on the other side of the coin of having too little. Step one to resolve the insurance problem is to sit with a licensed agent and review your policies. It's common to have one or two types of coverage in good shape and a few others lower than they should be. The solution is getting expert advice from a trusted source, upping the limits on coverage areas where you need more protection, and then doing an annual review at about the same time every year.

Making Impulse Purchases

If you're an impulse buyer, consider making a detailed monthly budget and never shopping for anything without a written list. If uncontrolled spending is a serious problem, there are credit counselors who specialize in helping consumers who need extra help. Don't let impulsive spending wreck your financial stability.

Not Working to Improve Credit Scores

Check all three credit scores, one with each of the big three bureaus, at least once per year. Get help interpreting the reports so you'll know how to up your scores. If you find mistakes, contact the bureau directly and find out how to lodge a legal challenge to the error and have it removed from your record. Note that it can take about six months to correct mistakes on official reports.

How to Get a Personal Loan with Bad Credit?

Listen, we all know that loans are not ideal in most cases. But there are some circumstances in which loans are necessary, and if so, here's what you can do so you can get that loan, even if your credit is bad.

You may have to find a strategy to make up the shortfall if your funds are insufficient to pay for major bills. A personal loan might be useful in this situation. Personal loans are among the debt types with the quickest pace of growth since they offer freedom, including reduced interest rates and the option to have a cash lump sum sent immediately into your checking account.

And, of course, applying for a personal loan with a good credit score is advantageous for obtaining better loan terms and conditions. However, many companies also offer options for people asking for a personal loan with bad credit. You can read more about it in the Upstart personal loans review.

Continue reading this article to learn how you may obtain a personal loan with bad credit.

Easy Chocolate Crinkle Cookies Recipe -- Dairy Free, With Oil

I was looking for a recipe for chocolate crinkle cookies and my friend Rachel gave me this recipe.  My son made a few batches of it and declared it the best cookie he's ever had. "The absolute best?" I asked him. He said it was up there, maybe a few others tied, but it was really amazing. So I wanted to share it with you.

Just a note- I tried converting this to gluten free and egg free and I just got a sticky mess (but it's quite possible that it was because I accidentally poured powdered sugar into the recipe instead of potato starch-- they look alike!-- and even though I tried to fish out the powdered sugar I must have missed some and that is possibly why it failed) so I'm not recommending those changes just yet, but I hope to tweak it and share a gluten free egg free recipe soon.

Easy Chocolate Crinkle Cookies Recipe -- Dairy Free, With Oil

How to Ensure Your Loan Is Approved

If you've have financial trouble, you might be stuck in a bind because when you are short of money desperately and need a loan to tide you over, you might not be able to get a loan becausae of your bad financial history. So here are some tips on how to ensure that your loan, when you need to get one, is approved.

Loans can be a great way to finance big purchases or consolidate debt, but before you can use a loan to your advantage, you need to get approved for the loan itself. The good news is that there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of being approved for a loan. In the current economic climate, being approved for a small company loan might be difficult and time-consuming. Only a lender has the power to authorize a small company loan. However, you can make changes to raise your chances of being accepted by the lender of your choosing. Here are some tips on how to ensure your small business loan is approved:

The Benefits of an IVA

Debt can be so daunting when it piles up, adding so much extra stress into your life. If you live in the UK consider an IVA, and Individual Voluntary Arrangement, which can be a great solution for those struggling with debt. Haven't heard of an IVA, or don't know enough about them? Read on.

An Individual Voluntary Arrangement, or IVA, is a debt solution that can help you if you're struggling to repay your debts. You'll make an agreement with your creditors to pay back what you owe over a period of time, usually 5 years. Once the IVA is completed, you'll be debt-free.

An IVA is only available to people who live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. The Scottish equivalent is a Protected Trust Deed.

There are many advantages of an IVA that make it an attractive debt solution for those who are struggling to repay their debts. Let's take a look at some of the top advantages of an IVA.

About a Bra

I was talking to my therapist recently about certain resentments that I was having towards my children asking for things that I thought were frivolous expenses, and she said that from what I'm telling her, the resentment stems from the fact that I don't spend money on myself that isn't absolutely necessary. I told her that that is definitely true, and that sometimes even things that are necessary I still often don't buy for myself. 

For example, I need special sneakers because of my problematic feet and the shoes I had were broken for a few months and I still didn't order new ones and made do with my broken shoes. (I finally made an order from Amazon a month ago and they are running late, but hopefully should arrive today.) The other thing I have been making do without was bras. 

I had been wearing bras from a company that I ordered online, but they didn't have a good fit and were not supportive, and since I have larger girls support is necessary. There is this store I went to locally that has good fitting quality bras, but the bras there aren't so cheap. I bought some there anyhow because they were good. 

When I went there last, I asked for cheaper good ones that are my size, and I got a bra that was about $60, which was on the cheaper end for the store there, and one that I liked less that was a little more expensive.

But I needed more than 2 bras, and I wanted to see if I could get them cheaper than what I paid locally, while not skimping on quality. I found the company that made my bras was located in Europe, and at the time, they were shipping internationally. I located on their site the exact bra I had bought in person and instead of $60 per bra it was $30, with free international shipping if you spent more than 75 dollars, and purchased a few of them, and I was very happy with them.

Signs You Should Hire A Professional Cleaning Service

Have you ever hired cleaning help? I've done it sporadically, mainly for dishes when my dishwasher was broken and my body hurt far too much to wash my dishes. When the place is a mess and you can't handle the cleaning for any reason, you might want to hire someone to clean your place. This gives a few reasons why you might want to hire a cleaning service, but I'll add to the list that people that are disabled often need cleaning help as well.

Having a clean and tidy home is a must for many people, which is why the average American family spends around $600 a year on cleaning supplies. Most people spend approximately 6 hours per week cleaning and organizing their homes, but some individuals simply don't have the time nor the energy to devote as much time doing these tasks. Moreover, some are unable to keep up a regular cleaning schedule due to mobility or health issues.

Apart from having an unsanitary living space, not cleaning your home regularly can result in many problems that go beyond having to cope with dirty surfaces. Fortunately, you can delegate cleaning tasks to professionals to have a sparkling clean home. But how do you know when it's time to call for some help? Here are the signs that you should hire a professional cleaning service.

Six Ways Storage Units Help Parents

Storage units often store personal items when moving homes or during house hunting. Still, these facilities find several use cases as short or long-term storage solutions. Whether you want to create space in your home or safely store outdoor equipment during winter, self-storage units come in handy.

As a parent needing extra storage space, you can benefit from storage units in several ways. In the sections below, we've discussed the many benefits of a self-storage unit. You'll also learn some things to look for when choosing the best one for your unique storage needs.

Balsamic Green Beans and Tofu Recipe -- Gluten Free, Vegan, Allergy Friendly

When I'm hungry and short on time I sometimes throw together a quick stir fry. Minute steak and frozen veggies or quick cooking vegetables is super quick, and chicken breast cubes instead of minute steak is also quick cooking and can help me have a meal ready to eat relatively quickly.

One day I saw this herbed tofu we'd been gifted and had just been sitting in my fridge unused for a while and decided to use that as a change from my usual meat. I chopped it up and stir fried it until it was crispy without deciding what else to add to it, and then it hit me that it would probably taste good with green beans and fried onions, so I took the tofu out of the wok, sauted up onions, and added the tofu back in with frozen green beans. My go to for seasoning such a dish usually would be to go with Asian style seasoning, with soy sauce, ginger, and sesame oil, but I wanted to try something new this time, especially since I wasn't sure how well that would go with herbs in the tofu. I wanted a sauce, though, so it would taste good over rice and give flavor to it (I usually have rice ready and available to eat in my fridge) so decided to try using balsamic vinegar on a whim. It was so good, and my son, Ike, who had some too (the other kids were asleep) told me that it was so good that I had to share it here. I didn't want to since it was so simple and I didn't have an exact recipe anyhow.

The next time I was hungry late in the evening without any gluten free egg free food ready to eat I decided to make the same, and Ike, who also has some, asked me if I posted it on my blog yet. I told him why I hadn't, but also I'd been hesitant to post it since it used herbed tofu and I wasn't sure this was something you could get everywhere, especially similar types of herbs to what was in my tofu package. He told me I still should post it, it was that good.

Once I made it for the third time, I decided to actually measure things out so I could share the recipe, and when my son asked if I'd shared the recipe yet ("because your readers deserve to have it") I told him that I finally planned to share it.

While I am writing the recipe as I made it, I'm assuming you don't have the exact herbed tofu that I do, which contributes to the flavor of the dish. The tofu is called Provence style and in the ingredients there is listed fried onions, garlic, red bell peppers, and Italian herbs. Since this recipe already has tried onions and garlic, if making this with plain tofu I'd suggest adding sauted red peppers (once the onions and tofu are sauted then add peppers until soft before adding the green beans. I'd also add some basil, thyme, and oregano to the dish.

Balsamic Green Beans and Tofu Recipe -- Gluten Free, Vegan, Allergy Friendly