Journeys Are My Diary

Whether you are one of the millions of grandparents serving as a primary caregiver for your grandchildren or just a concerned parent (as I am) watching from the sidelines, there are things you can do to make those you care about more smart-money.

As of this writing, the market is down roughly 30%, and it can be an emotional roller-coaster. However, as a parent or grandparent, there proven ways to be diligent about money growth.

Raising money-smart kids is no easy task, especially in this world of instant gratification and $1,000 smartphones. Everything, it seems, is stacked against financial responsibility, but you can help your grandkids for their future!

It does not matter whether your grandkids are still too young for nursery school or already heading off to college — as a grandparent, you can make a real difference in their lives.

Here are some smart tips to help concerned grandparents raise money-smart grandkids.

Avoid the Urge to Spoil Your Grandkids

It is easy for grandparents to be overindulgent with their grandkids, especially when they see them relatively rarely. But, if you are the kind of grandparent who always arrives with armloads of gifts, you might want to rethink your strategy. Every Target run doesn’t need to include a gift to your precious grandchild.

Spoiling the grandkids may be fun for you, but it could be bad for them in the long run.

Instead of spending your cash on gifts, they will forget tomorrow, make a real investment in your grandkids and their future.

Give Monetary Investments Instead of Cash

Cash from grandma is a staple of many a birthday party or Christmas celebration, and there is nothing wrong with an occasional monetary gift.

But, if you want your grandkids to grow up money smart, you need to look beyond those cash gifts.

Supplementing those monetary gifts with long-term investments will help your grandkids see beyond the now and give them the tools they need to fight the instant gratification culture in which they live.

Gifting a few shares of stock or funding an initial investment in a mutual fund is a gift that will be appreciated for many years to come — long after that tech gizmo has been forgotten.

Contributing to an education account, such as a 529, can be a great way to invest in their future success. Other options are setting up custodial accounts. However, this is not financial advice, and you will want to speak to your financial advisor for the best options that will work for your needs.

Talk With Your Own Kids

If you are the primary caregiver for your grandkids, you have direct responsibility for their physical well-being and their financial education. In that case, you can make all the decisions and use all the tools in your toolkit to make the grandkids smarter about money.

Things become considerably more complicated when your own kids are raising your precious grandchildren. In cases like this, your own kids’ attitudes about money and spending will have a profound impact on your grandkids and how they feel about finances and investing.

Even if you disagree with the approach your children are taking, you need to respect their rights as parents. You can express your opinion — and make a difference with gifted investments and money-smart presents.

Also, knowing when to step back is equally important, as not to overshadow the parents.

My late Father instilled values surrounding smart-investing in me from a young age. And my Mom, she always taught me other priceless life skills.

Leave a Lasting Legacy

You can also help your grandkids be money smart by leaving them a lasting legacy. Estate planning is an essential consideration for grandparents, and there are various ways to structure your inheritance.

Talk to your attorney or estate planning expert about how best to leave your grandchildren a lasting legacy. From passing your IRA on to the grandkids to the new laws of IRA trusts, there are many things to consider.

Raising money-smart kids is hard, and raising money-smart grandkids can be even harder. The instant gratification culture seems to be getting worse every day, and saving money often gets put on the back burner. If you want to protect your grandkids and their future, giving them the tools they need to resist this urge to spend may be the best legacy of all.

Making a real difference if your grandkids’ lives should be a top priority, and setting them up for financial success is an area they could definitely benefit from immensely.

For any homeowner looking to sell their property, there are several tried and tested methods to help you stand out from the competition and attract more buyers. Some quick and simple steps can help make your home appealing to future buyers. Remember: you are not just selling a building, but a lifestyle, so with that in mind, let’s look at some of the ways to help get your property sold quickly.

Hire a Quality Estate Agent

Getting the right estate agent is an essential first step towards selling your property. Letting agents Erdington will be able to give you a realistic valuation of your property and help you make your property more appealing to potential buyers. Remember that the estate agent is responsible for all the marketing of your property, so don’t be tempted to simply accept the one with the lowest rate. Instead, engage the services of an estate agent that has an excellent reputation.

Garden and Outdoor Space

The front and back gardens are an important aspect of any sale, as they are often the first thing that potential buyers will see when they come to your property. Therefore, it is crucial that your grass is cut, and your bins are hidden. Think of ways to make your outdoor space look appealing. Remember that you are selling a lifestyle. Comfortable chairs with cushions and throws can help bring an element of luxury to your outdoor space and have potential buyers imagining themselves enjoying a cool drink outside on balmy summer evenings. A lit firepit, ice bucket or even an outdoor table laid for alfresco dining will complete the image. Let your creativity run wild with your outdoor space.

How your house looks from the outside is equally important, so consider giving your front door a fresh lick of paint and having the windows all cleaned.

Inside Your Property

Some simple styling on the inside can also work wonders to create an inviting space that people can’t wait to live in. Firstly, it is important to ensure that your house is clean and tidy from top to bottom. Hide all the clutter, place shoes and coats in cupboards and make sure storage spaces are neat and orderly. Make sure all the beds are made to perfection (imagine a bed in a hotel room) and that fluffy, clean towels hang in all the bathrooms. Lay the table for dinner with your best plates, napkins and glassware and turn on lamps around the house to give a warm, inviting glow. 

Remember to appeal to all the senses and hide any unpleasant smells. Many sellers swear that baking bread or brewing coffee can help towards sealing the deal, but failing that, the use of scented candles and essential oils can certainly help to make your home smell welcoming. Bunches of seasonal flowers dotted around the house can also make the difference. If you have a fireplace, make sure it is lit in the winter months.

Deciding whether or not to spay your dog can be agonizing for owners. Many pet owners struggle with whether they should leave their animal as nature intended or help to control the ever-growing dog population by taking the necessary precautions. 

It is, after all, estimated that between 6 to 8 million pets are surrendered to animal shelters each year. 

Here we look at the scientific evidence that can help us make head or tail of this choice.

What Is the Difference Between Spaying and Neutering?

As a starting point, it is often helpful to have a firm grasp on the terminology. Neutering is the sterilization of male dogs and involves the removal of their testicles. Spaying on the other hand refers to the sterilization of female dogs and involves the removal of their ovaries and uterus. Both spaying and neutering are surgical procedures which should only be done by qualified vets such as those at heartandpaw.com.

Pros of Spaying Your Female Dog

• Your dog will no longer experience ‘seasons’ or ‘heat’. When female dogs come in heat, they release a scent that can be detected by male dogs over a mile away. This in turn can attract a lot of unwanted attention from dogs. There is also a greater chance of your female dog wandering off and getting lost while searching for a mate. The other consideration is the bloody discharge that is released during each season. This can make a mess of your home and furnishings.

• Spaying your female dog will prevent unwanted pregnancies from occurring. Any pregnancies can put a financial burden on owners and be a time-consuming exercise. Female dogs will require regular visits to the vet and there is a small risk of death during or after the birth of the puppies. Also, it is worth considering that with the already out of control population of dogs already in shelters, it may not be as easy to find homes for any puppies produced as you might think. Puppies will need to stay with their mother until they are at least eight weeks old, putting even more strain on your time and finances.

• Spaying your dog can help to reduce or eliminate certain diseases such as uterus, ovarian, or reproductive tract cancer. It is also estimated that one in four unspayed female dogs will develop a uterine infection at some point and spaying can in fact protect your dog from this sometimes-fatal disease. It is also worth considering the emotional and physical stress that phantom pregnancies can have on an unspayed female.

Cons of Spaying Your Female Dog

• Hyperthyroidism is when low thyroid levels lead to weight gain and obesity and this is a known side effect of spaying.

• There is an increased risk of deadly cancers such as lymphoma and hemangiosarcoma in spayed females. If spayed too early, dogs can also run the risk of developing uneven bone growth, bone cancer, and urinary incontinence.

• There can be complications relating to the use of anesthesia, or after surgery complications such as infection although these are seldom fatal and can often be treated.

You’ve made the decision to file bankruptcy, good for you. It wasn’t easy but you realized that it was the only way to resolve your untenable debt situation. You gathered all of the many, many documents you needed, compiled all of the information, filled out all of the forms, took your credit counselling course, paid your filing fee, and filed. 

Now what?

The good news is, the hard part is over. But in order to make your hard work pay off, you need to follow these five steps, according to David M. Offen, a busy bankruptcy attorney in Philadelphia.

Meet all of the post-filing requirements.

Once you file a bankruptcy petition, a trustee is assigned to your case and the 341(a) meeting of creditors is scheduled. 

What is the 314(a) meeting of creditors? It is a meeting the Trustee has with you and your attorney during which he or she confirms your identity and asks a series of questions about your financial situation. Your creditors also have the opportunity to appear and question you if needed, although this seldom happens and is something your attorney will know about in advance and prep you for.

If you filed Chapter 13, an additional meeting is held called the confirmation hearing. This is the hearing during which your proposed Chapter 13 plan is approved or denied, and again, your attorney will know in advance if there are any problems with your plan. This is a hearing you do not need to attend, but you do need to be prompt in supplying any information or documentation your attorney may request to support the confirmation of your plan.

Whether you file Chapter 7 or 13, you will need to take a second course, which is available online and over the phone. This is called the debtor’s education course, or the financial management course. As with the pre-filing credit counseling course, the course provider will supply you with a certification of completion which you will submit to your attorney for filing with the court.

Be sure to complete this course and give your certification to your attorney! If you do not, your case will be administratively dismissed and you will not receive a discharge of your unsecured debt.

Supply anything requested by the Trustee.

This is a must. The Trustee is charged with making sure there is no abuse of the bankruptcy process, and part of that responsibility entails checking every last financial detail. Whether it is the last 6 months of bank statements or pay stubs, a tax return from three years ago, a realtor’s appraisal of your home… get it to the Trustee. If you do not, the Trustee has the power to object to your discharge or to move to dismiss your case entirely.

Hold on to your discharge order.

Your discharge order will also have your docket number on it. In the months after your bankruptcy case closes, keep it handy in case any creditor calls you trying to collect a discharged debt. If one does, give them the case number and date of the discharge order and the phone number of your attorney.

Keep track of who calls you. If they call you again after you’ve provided this information, they are in violation of the discharge order and strict fines may be levied against them by the bankruptcy court. Call your attorney immediately.

Incorporate the lessons learned in your credit counselling course and financial management course.

While these two courses may seem like just another onerous requirement of filing bankruptcy, they will give you some excellent advice about how to manage your finances moving forward.

Tips on saving money by lowering expenses, budgeting, and how to create an emergency fund will help you avoid the types of things that forced you to file bankruptcy in the first place.

Enjoy your fresh start.

The hard part is over. But how do you move on?

Chances are you’ve had your unsecured debt, like credit card and medical bills, discharged – meaning, you are no longer personally responsible for paying them. That frees up some of your income to pay other things that you may have struggled to pay in full and on time in the past, for example, your mortgage or rent, your car payment, your child support or alimony payment, or your student loan payment.

Now is your chance to start fresh. You can rebuild credit and improve your credit score by paying your bills in full and on time and by perhaps getting a credit card that you pay in full each month. Car lenders will give you a loan, albeit at a higher interest rate than for someone who did not file bankruptcy, but paying that car loan off will help build credit as well.

Incorporating the lessons learned in your two financial courses, you can pay all of your monthly bills in full and on time and live comfortably within your means. 

About the Author

Veronica Baxter is a blogger and legal assistant living and working in the great city of Philadelphia. She spoke with David Offen, Esq. about this article.

If you’ve found yourself involved in a lawsuit, you’ll know that it can be extremely stressful. Whether your lawsuit is to do with illness (like this small cell lung cancer lawsuit), family matters or discrimination, being involved in a legal case can leave you feeling confused, emotional and burnt out.

It’s important to take time for yourself when you’re involved in a lawsuit and to not allow it to become all-encompassing. Check out the following tips for survival.

Exercise

It can be difficult to fit exercise into your routine at the best of times, and might feel near impossible when you’re involved in a lawsuit. However, if you’re spending much of your time sitting down in a courtroom, it’s important to make sure you move your body and get some fresh air. Exercise can also be a great way to channel stress and endorphins will make you feel more positive. So, whether it’s going for good long walks, hitting the gym or playing a game of tennis with a pal, make sure you find the time to get active. Your body will thank you for it, as will your mind.

Communicate

Humans can be, quite frankly, terrible at talking about their feelings. Many of us struggle to vocalize our concerns and this leads to worries escalating and becoming unmanageable. During a lawsuit, it’s important that we don’t bottle up our worries. We’ll be feeling tense, stressed and anxious and we need to be able to communicate that with another human being. So, make sure you take the time to speak to someone about what’s happening, whether that’s a partner, friend or relative. If you don’t want to speak to someone who knows you personally, you could consider speaking to a therapist or mental health professional. You also need to make sure that you’re communicating effectively with your lawyer.

Distractions

When you’re involved in a legal battle, it can feel like it’s taking over your life. You’re probably channeling most of your energy into it, and it won’t do you any good to churn over what might happen and fixate on the events of the day. So, alongside exercising and communicating, you also need to find engaging distractions. Things like watching a film or getting into a good book can be welcome distractions that take you away from the realities of your life, and into those of someone else. Likewise, finding a creative hobby like knitting, arts and crafts or writing will give you something else to focus on and find joy in.

Socialize

Whether you’re an introvert, extrovert or combination of both, all of us need human interaction from time to time. Whilst you might not love the idea of going out on the town after a day in court, it’s important to find time for loved ones when you’re involved in a lawsuit. Friends, family members and colleagues can provide us with excellent support when we’re feeling stressed and it’s good to know that we’re not alone.

Discovering you have a chronic illness, whether at the age of 18 or 80, is a serious and life-changing piece of news. Your immediate thoughts may drift towards desperation and disappointment — that your life is going to change, and you’re going to have to overcome obstacles to move on. Meanwhile, you’ll also have the physical symptoms to deal with and your health to maintain and upkeep. In this article, you’ll learn how to perfectly balance these new responsibilities so that you can continue living life with the same zest and gusto that you applied to it before you received your bad news.

Getting the Facts Straight

Your first key stage in understanding what your chronic illness means for you is to find out all you can about your own condition, as well as how the doctors would rate the severity of your illness, and what your prognosis is. This is a moment of cold hard facts, and learning how your life is going to be affected by the illness that you’ve discovered. Once you have all the information and you understand the nature of your illness, you’ll be better placed to make plans towards recovery and lead a continued fulfilling life.

Getting Medical Attention

You may need to seek medical attention and portion out time, energy and cash to help towards your treatment. As soon as you discover you have symptoms of a chronic illness, you should seek medical attention immediately. The more specific your malady, the more specific you should go with your medical care in order to get the best possible advice. If you have kidney issues, for example, you should find a kidney specialist doctor at Springvale Nephrology to help you work through your treatment. If you have a form of cancer, the same should be sought: specialist cancer doctors can help you treat the disease right away.

Dealing with Mental Health

Next up, you should turn back to yourself and consider how you’ve taken the news of your chronic illness. It can be a difficult period in one’s life as you come to term with news that is sure to change the way you live your life. But such news needn’t change your whole outlook on life — unless, of course, it’s for the positive. You should use this news to propel you into a new period of positivity, and if this feels too difficult to achieve alone, you should consider seeking therapy to help you through and beyond the darker thoughts you may be experiencing.

Making Positive Plans 

Now that you’ve taken responsibility for both your physical and mental health, it’s time to move away from seeing yourself as a victim, a patient and an ill individual, and begin to once again see yourself as someone with a world of opportunity at their fingertips. Your illness may limit you, but it doesn’t stop you in your tracks: as such, you should begin making fulfilling plans for the future now that you’re abreast of your illness, and the treatment that will keep it under control. 

When you discover you have a chronic illness, life can feel shattered irreparably. But through this advice, you’ll be able to channel your energies back into living your life to the fullest, treating your illness responsibly as you do so. 

A bedroom is not just a room. It’s where you open your eyes when you wake up. It’s where you both start and end your day. It’s where you sleep. It can be where you relax and watch a movie. A bedroom is, in other words, a big part of your day every day, so why not spend some time making it better?

Start the day right 

It’s already a habit for most people, but if you haven’t been making your bed all these years, it’s time to give it a try. 

It doesn’t take long, but once you started the day by doing this little thing for yourself, then you have already accomplished something before leaving your bedroom. 

Light, lights and more lights

If you invest in some candles, then it will add some new lighting to your room. It creates a special atmosphere and sets the mood, but make sure that you don’t fall asleep with them on.

The right bedding 

When you lay down after a long day on your pillow, it helps if it’s soft and welcoming. A good pillow with goose down like ones available at Hamvay-Lang will make you feel better the minute you get into bed. 

Curtains

While good lighting helps you wake up in the morning, it also ruins your sleep if it gets very bright too early. Especially during the summer months where the sun can go up at the crack of dawn. 

A way to work around this is by getting thicker curtains. If that’s not enough, there are some specific curtains made solely for blocking daylight that are called blackout curtains. 

A personal touch

The bedroom is a personal space if you think about it. Besides you, your partner and your friends, no one else sees it, but for some reason, a lot of people keep it utterly simple and minimalistic. 

A personal touch to the bedroom can help you feel even more at home when you wake up. It can be done by placing a picture that means something to you, or maybe a piece of furniture that was passed on or given to you. 

Make a statement 

A bedroom can change dramatically with bold wallpaper, a colour, or a piece of artwork. If you have something on your mind that you would love to remind yourself of every day, then get a wallpaper with a saying or a picture you like. 

If that’s not your thing, but you still prefer something on your walls, then find a painting that brings out a good feeling in you every time you look at it. 

Change the colour

If you have the time to go full in on a makeover, then maybe it’s time to change the colour in your bedroom. 

Go to the painter and bring home some samples and start playing around with it. Maybe you’ll find a new colour that you didn’t even know excited about and fall in love with it for your bedroom. 

But make sure you think about it before you start painting. If you prefer to keep the bedroom in a one colour theme, it would mean that you might need to change the furniture and decorations as well. 

Aesthetic laser systems have changed the beauty industry. Before they were introduced, most cosmetic procedures, if not all, involved surgery. Now, there are different brands of aesthetic laser systems that have replaced the conventional methods that have been traditionally used which have made cosmetic procedures painless and easier. 

Also, if you are looking for one, you are likely going to get what you want without a struggle. As the demand for aesthetic laser treatment increases, the technology behind it keeps on improving. This is why there are different types of aesthetic laser systems in the market today. The tricky part is finding affordable ones, especially if you want brand aesthetic systems. That said, here is where you can buy them.

From a second hand dealer

If you don’t know where to buy affordable cosmetic lasers then a good place would be from a second hand dealer. Some shops, both with a physical location and online ones sell second hand aesthetic lasers. The thing about these lasers is that they are usually in good condition, although they have been used before. These are like thrift shops, only that they sell cosmetic lasers. If you don’t know any available in your area, check online to see which ones are located near your place. 

From an online retailer

You will also find a lot of retailers online. If you are not for the idea of buying used lasers, then you can still get a new one from online retailers. Just like you would do when buying other items online, you need to check if your retailer is authentic. Some of the online retailers are there to con you of your hard-earned cash, so don’t just send money before you are sure that the products are real. 

There are many ways to find out if your retailer is authentic, you can first check what other customers are saying about the shop. Reviews will show you how other customers have been treated and it is also social proof of the existence of the retailer. So if the reviews are negative, do a little bit more research and have different options. 

From the manufacturer

Alternatively, you can get your aesthetic laser directly from the manufacturer. However, you need to understand that not every manufacturer will be ready to sell to you, so you have to do your research first. Most manufacturers have websites, and this is where you will get all the information you need regarding the aesthetic laser you intend to buy. Also, if you know of a manufacturer in your location, you can try approaching them to make inquiries in person. 

Bottom line

Brand aesthetic lasers don’t have to be expensive, you will always find different affordable options. The world of technology is moving very fast, and more companies in the beauty industry are realising the need for different types of aesthetic lasers for different problems. The cost might be on the pricier side, but if you shop around well, you will definitely find something within your budget.

Surprising your husband with a holiday trip can be quite fun and exciting. It can turn out to be a fun way of changing things from the regular routine. If you are responsible for doing all the planning, you need to know that it takes immense hard work, but with all the details planned out, it can work out successfully. To avoid getting caught in planning the surprise by your husband, you need to have a low profile and keep quiet. 

So, are you planning a surprise holiday for your husband? Well, read through some of the simple steps that you should follow.

1)            Pick a Location

This is the first step that you should start with while planning a surprise vacation. Always choose a place that your husband has wished to go to. You can pick the destination based on the areas that he talks about more often. It is always much easier and faster when you already know where he would love to go.

If you do not know the best places to visit, you can consult companies such as Polar Holidays to help you choose the best destination. You should make sure that you pick a place where the two of you will have fun and enjoy it.

2)            Identify the Right Time

This is the most crucial step while planning for your husband’s surprise trip. To come up with the best dates for your holiday, you need to consider the working days of your husband. For example, if your husband is on leave, choose those days for your vacation. If you are not aware of the exact leave days, you can pick a weekend for your holiday.

When picking the days, consider days that are ideal for him based on his work schedule. Timing can be hard, but always find out the best days to go for the surprise holiday for both of you.

3)            Plan on Your Budget

Depending on the location and the time that you want to visit a place, a holiday can be expensive. If your budget is not too high, having a weekend trip within your home country is a good idea. If you have more cash and wish to spend on a holiday, you can get out of the country. Regardless of where you go, the main aim of a holiday is to have quality time with your husband.

4)            Packing and Breaking the News

This is the last step when planning a surprise holiday for your husband. To avoid getting caught, you can do the packing when your husband has left for work. Then make sure that you put the luggage in a place where your husband cannot see them.

After you have packed, you need to come up with a romantic way to inform your husband about the trip. You can give him an envelope with a plane ticket or a travel guidebook for the place you will be visiting.

Relationships can be hectic, and every partner should make it enjoyable. A surprise holiday is one of the ways you can spice up your relationship. If you are planning to surprise your husband, follow these simple steps, and have quality time.

Time flies – it might be years since you last took a look at your living room and decided to redecorate. If you can see out-dated wallpaper, stained carpets or just have the urge to gut the whole room and start again, then it’s certainly time for a change. Here are some suggestions on how you can improve the best room in the house. 

Get new flooring 

Scratched floorboards and threadbare carpets will surely make your living room look dated, scruffy and unloved. Even if there are no signs of wear and tear on your flooring, it’s still a good place to look when you’re wanting to improve the room. Rich, soft carpeting adds warmth to the room and helps to create a cosier living space.

Waxed wooden flooring is another popular choice for homes around the world, this is probably because it has a rustic look that can be just as comforting as carpet, particularly when a beautiful decorative rug has been placed in the centre of the room. If you wanted something a little different, a tiled living room floor can be an option. This will probably work well in a modern building and – like a wooden floor – will look fabulous with a well-placed rug. Consider tiles and light walls for a Mediterranean feel.

Get a fireplace

A fireplace is a beautiful feature in any living room. If you don’t have one already then you should think about getting one installed – it can be easier than you’d imagine. No chimney? Don’t worry, with modern balanced flue gas fires you can still add a gorgeous contemporary fireplace to the room. Sitting by the fireside is a perfect way to settle down on a miserable night and unwind and enjoy a good book or movie with a glass of wine.

Add a skylight

Skylights might not be possible for everyone, but if your living room is part of a single floor extension then this is a brilliant addition. More natural night makes a space feel bigger and also has a positive effect on your mood. Those who live in a spot with low or no light pollution can look up at the stars through a skylight from the warmth and comfort of your couch! 

Alternatively, you can install larger windows or patio doors to encourage more light in your living space if you haven’t got room for a skylight. 

Buy new furniture

A simple but effective way to make improvements to any room in the house. Even quality furniture gets shabby and dull over time. Think back to when you bought the couch you currently own, how many years has it been? Perhaps it hasn’t been that long, but the style you choose no longer best reflects your tastes. Whatever the reason, buying some brand-new furniture for your living room can spruce it up nicely. 

Ready for the change? Use these suggestions as a starting point for your new and improved living room.