admin, Author at 3 Kids and Us

How to Make Your Money Stretch Until Payday

August 25, 2020 by admin

We’ve all been there. Funds are low, payday seems years away, and in that moment, you feel like you might not make it. Waiting for payday can make your days feel grey and dull, or it can make it feel like time is at a standstill, especially if you’re struggling financially, or have debt that needs to be paid.

Thankfully, there are ways to make your money go further and to help make those last few days before salvation a little bit more bearable and less stressful. Here are some of the top ways to make your money stretch as you wait till payday.

Set a Spending Allowance

One of the first things that needs to be done when trying to last till payday is to take stock of your current finances and figure out how much you have left. Once you have that, you should be able to work out how much money you can spend each day. Now with this limit in place, you need to prioritise the essentials that you need to spend it on. Food will be your main concern, so make sure you budget that into your allowance, as well as bills and utilities.

When following an allowance, it’s vital that you stick to it and avoid unnecessary payments. It is always best to underspend one day and let the leftover funds rollover to the next than it is to overspend and find yourself trying to cut down on the next day.

To help keep you on track, it may be worthwhile keeping a record of everything you’re spending with a spending diary, so that you can be held accountable. By having these records, you can more clearly spot patterns and spending habits that you should try and break.

Use Discounts When You Shop

If you do have to go shopping during this time as you wait till payday, it’s important to try and get the best deals you can find. Shops usually drop sales between Wednesday and Fridays, so it’s always good to shop then and be sure to go towards the end of the day, as there’s more chance there’ll be produce in the reduced aisle that the store wants to get rid of.

When online shopping, you can also get great discounts through coupons. These can reduce the prices on your goods and some can also be used in conjunction with each other to stack deals and reduce the price even further. Also keep an eye out for free shipping, as this can drastically reduce the prices of online goods.

Try Free Activities

When some people are low on funds, they feel they’re unable to have fun and enjoy themselves, as socialising is usually a costly pastime. However, it’s important that we remain active to boost our mood and general wellbeing. That’s why it’s a good idea to do free activities.

There are plenty of free things people can do, too, depending on where you live. You can always go to the local park, hike in a forest or other nature reserve, check out some free museums or even just have people round for movies and snacks. You don’t have to break the bank to have fun and see friends and doing this can really help make the days till payday pass quicker and become more bearable.

Reasons Personal Information is Key When Choosing Hampers for Christmas

August 20, 2020 by admin

Studies show that giving a wrong gift can hurt your relationship. But how do you ensure that your intended recipient will love the present they get?

As Christmas approaches, many people tend to prepare a gift list for the festive season. You have to choose who will get a present, how much you are going to spend on it, and, more importantly, what you are going to get.

In Australia, people spend hundreds of dollars on gifts to show their love for family and friends. Although giving a gift makes you happy and shows the recipient that you care, presenting an undesirable item can hurt your relationship.

For instance, if you are in a romantic relationship, choosing the wrong gift is risky because it shows that you don’t have anything in common with your partner. Psychology experts also say that unwanted presents can affect the recipient’s perception of the relationship’s future.

It is worth noting that purchasing an expensive gift is not a guarantee that the receiver will like it. Since you don’t want to disappoint the recipient, here are some tips to help find a gift they will find desirable.

Ask Them What They Want

If you are unsure about what to gift a person, ask them what they want. Research shows that people are more appreciative of presents they ask than random ones. You might want to surprise the other party, but knowing what they wish to precisely get is better and less likely to end in disappointment. This is the primary reason why knowing personal preferences is essential when shopping for a Christmas gift hamper.

However, there is a notion that useful gifts are supposed to be a surprise. Asking an individual what they want is taboo and shameful in most societies.

Buy Based on Shared Interests

Another way through which personal information helps in gift-giving is that you go for something you both like. Instead of using your preferences when deciding, focus on what you have in common and pick a gift from there. For instance, if both of your love tea, you could gift them the Wedgewood Tea Hamper.

People prefer choosing items for themselves. If you have things in common with the receiver, it is likely that they also like what you like.

To get more appreciation from the recipient, go for a gift that they can experience, such as a movie ticket, a subscription to online classes, and so forth. Studies show that experiential presents strengthen the bond between the giver and the recipient, even if the former doesn’t share the experience.

Avoid Overthinking

When purchasing a gift, avoid overthinking since people rarely complain about gifts. Unless someone has their issues, they are likely to appreciate whatever you get them. Remember that people always get thoughtful of you whenever you present a gift to them. Moreover, they are inclined to think more of your intentions if they consider the gift undesirable.

If the receiver feels like you took your time to select a particular gift, they will appreciate the effort. During such thoughts, the recipients feel closer to you.

Conclusion

Gifting is a widespread practice in Australia and across the globe, especially during the festive season. Giving presents makes you feel good and shows the other person that you care. To avoid giving an unwanted gift, ask the other party what they want, go for something you have in common, and avoid overthinking.

Tips to Reduce Your Car Insurance Costs

August 12, 2020 by admin

There are different factors which can affect what kind of car insurance you can get. Age, gender, what type of car you have, what city you live in, driving history, how long you’ve been driving, and many other factors affects what kind of car insurance you will get. Each state varies, but most Americans are paying on average $129 per month on car insurance. In some states like California, drivers are paying $147 per month. There are ways to reduce your Root Insurance costs. These are just a few tips on how to lower your car insurance.

Choose Your Car Wisely

The more luxury and expensive cars are going to cost more to insure. Minivans and SUVs are going to be less expensive to insure than the flashy cars. Car insurance quotes will vary depending on what kind of car you have. Also, driving slowly and safely will help lower the cost of insurance because getting traffic tickets and getting into accidents will increase your car insurance. Another tip is to drop the parts of your insurance that isn’t necessary.

Improve Your Credit Score

Your credit score will affect how much your car insurance will cost. It might be best to improve your credit score before you get a car so that your insurance isn’t too expensive. Some tips for that is to make loan and credit card payments on time, keep the credit card balances low, and don’t apply for too many credit cards as this can affect your credit score.

Usage-Based Insurance

Some people may not be using their car too much, so usage-based insurance is another option. Usage-based driving is like a pay-per-mile type of program. The rate is based on how well you drive and also how many miles you drive. It can measure and keep track of it because of a small device that you install inside your car that will send the data and mileage use to your insurance company. Then, you get a discount for having a low mileage use. It can only be used in some states. Some insurance companies have them while others do not have the usage-based insurance.

Insurance Coverage

Another tip on reducing your car insurance costs is to only pay for coverage that you need. Everyone needs liability insurance so that if someone gets injured from a car accident, and if the cars involved in the accident get damaged, then it is covered. There are other coverages on insurance plans which include collision, comprehensive, medical costs, and more. Changing your insurance package to only coverage that you feel you need is one way to cut the costs of car insurance.

Other Tips on Reducing Car Insurance

There are other ways to cut your costs of insurance as well. One tip is to look around at other insurance companies and see if there is a better deal. If you are a young driver, you might want to consider keeping good grades as you might get a discount on your insurance. If you are an older driver, there might be a discount for that as well. Having a good credit score, looking around at different car insurance companies for the best quote, and using any discounts that may apply are the best ways to reduce the car insurance costs.

Boys’ pyjamas sizes explained

August 2, 2020 by admin

The how-to guide for picking the right size for boys’ pyjamas. What you should look out for when purchasing your boy’s nighttime clothing. Here are some pointers to help you will tick all the boxes, from the eczema-free item to a pyjama drawer full of various styles for your little one to try out.

Long before your little cub throws his first pyjama party, he’ll have set ideas on what to wear to bed. Your job is to offer a few sets of fitting nightwear. Sounds easy, right? It will be, with just a little bit of extra thought. Think comfy, safe and practical. What you don’t want is to put your son through a contortionist act each night to get his pj’s on. These few tips will help make bed time a snug wind-down moment he’ll cherish.

Growth chart

The contents of his wardrobe may not rotate as quickly as when he was a newborn, but still. You will have to keep his growth curve in mind for pyjamas too.

Read the care label for an age guide and an indication of the exact size in centimeters. Then match the garment to your child’s actual height.

From the UK-World Health Organisation chart you’ll see that boys typically grow between 5 and 10cm each year. If your bambino is a couple of centimeters under the size indicated, it’s best to choose the next size up. This is so the pyjamas still fit by the time you have them washed and ready! If however you realise the item is way too big when you get home, don’t hesitate to exchange it for a tighter fit.

If that sits nice without gaping at the ankles or squeezing the forearms in, you can safely grab a couple more for handiness.

Shrinkage

Say you are hesitating between a 110cm and a 116cm boys short-sleeved pyjama and fitted pyjama bottoms. The size indicated should take into account the shrinkage of the fabric after wash. Therefore even a cotton fabric in 110cm will fit your 107cm four-year-old. And that’s despite cotton shrinking more than polyester fibre.

The pitfall of too large a piece is that your child’s movements during his sleep will swish the fabric around and over his delicate skin. This can quickly lead to rashes. Any mum of an eczema-prone bambino will thank tight-fitting nightwear for cosy, itch-free nights.

Four seasons

If your little one is quite the sensitive type, it is always best to go with 100% cotton boys’ pyjamas. If you haven’t noticed any reaction to polyester clothes he wears during the day, you can of course opt for this fabric for his nightwear. This will lend extra warmth to the long cold winter nights, as polyester retains body heat. Better still, a mixed fabric garment in polycotton can give you the best of both worlds.

Other than that, you can of course stick with 100% cotton and play with the length of the sleeves and bottoms according to the season. Shorts, tube leggings or a jumpsuit will provide the right warmth at different times of year and will be fun alternatives for your child to change into.

However alluring some prints and offers can be, always keep a close eye on care labels, garment composition, size and finish. Then you can go for several designs and lengths. Your boy’s pyjamas will eventually go through some serious mixing and matching once your mini man decides to run the show. Who said bed time routine was boring?

Sports Are Good For Children—But Injuries Can Happen

August 1, 2020 by admin

A Clear Tradeoff

There are many positive benefits for children involved in sporting events. For one thing, they learn to work toward a goal. For another, they learn how it’s necessary to function as a team to achieve that goal. They learn discipline in the form of regular practice so certain aspects of the sports become ingrained at the subconscious level. This also involves exercise.

With sports like ice hockey, a new skill must be learned just to play the sport—you can’t play ice hockey if you can’t skate, and you can’t ice skate well enough to be a valuable team member unless you practice. Getting the balance right involves “growing” new muscles. You’ve got to have stronger ankles and leg muscles, and you get them through skating.

Image Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/child-soccer-playing-kick-613199/

It may take a whole season for a young child to learn skating well enough they’re able to be a valuable part of the team; that’s one of many reasons it’s good to start children on hockey early if there’s an interest, or you want to see them get good by the time they’re teenagers. But hockey isn’t the only sport which requires those who play it to learn new skills.

Swimming is similar, and many swimming sports exist. Singular sports like biking or hiking, more appropriately athletic activities, also require new skills to be learned. But regardless of the athletic activity your young ones are getting involved with, increased physicality naturally expands the risk of injury. So there’s a clear tradeoff. But as a parent, how do you manage it?

Safeguarding Children And Preserving Positive Sporting Benefits

The benefits of sports events outweigh the potential hazards; but those hazards certainly can’t be ignored. Especially with a sport like ice hockey, between “checking”, the hardness of the ice, general clumsiness, fast-flying pucks, high tempers, and general clumsiness, it’s a greater surprise if young ones sustain no injury whatever, than if they get scuffed up a bit over the regular course of the season.

What makes sense is securing the trustworthy services of a local sports medicine physician. The thing about injuries is, their recovery may require a lot of time or a little; but there are definitely best practices. Sometimes your child will pull a muscle, or dislocate something. While they’re in definite pain, with a slight adjustment they can return to practice.

Image Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/quarterback-american-football-sport-67701/

Other times, a given injury might be at a level where it’s going to take a few months for the young one to recover, and then there will be physical therapy to consider. For such situations, it makes sense to secure the services of a trusted orthopedic surgeon at Ocean County; or wherever you happen to be.

When you’ve got orthopedic or sports medicine options available prior to the start of the season, recovery happens quicker, you get the right medical attention sooner, and you can probably reduce associated costs in either surgery or therapy right off the bat. You’ll know what the doctors charge, and you’ve got time to shop around—if you prepare beforehand.

Your Child’s Sports Experience Benefits Through Preparation

Image Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/heart-health-family-tree-strong-3306996/

So there’s a mild dichotomy to consider here. On the one hand, you want to provide your young ones the best possible opportunities as regards development. Athleticism, new skills, team building, socialization, long-term planning and preparation—sports provide such outcomes in a natural, organic way that’s fun for everyone. But injury potential exists.

You can diminish associated injury impact through acquisition of proper medical professionals from the outset. Doing things this way allows you to shop around for the best medical options, preserving your bank account by helping you avoid the emergency room when possible, while simultaneously setting your children up for success in sports.