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3 Ways To Get Your Kids To Help You Save Money On Utilities

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As a parent, you’re likely always looking for little ways that you and your family can save money. One thing you might want to try is cutting back on some of your monthly utility costs. However, you can’t do this on your own. To have this money-saving tactic be successful, you’ve got to have your entire family involved in this effort.

To show you how this can be done, here are three ways to get your kids to help you save money on utilities.

Use Fans Or Blankets First

One of the biggest utility costs that families have to pay each month is for heating and cooling. The more you use your heater or air conditioner, the higher your utility costs will be each month. Because of this, you’ve got to find ways to keep your thermostat set at conservative temperatures for each season you’re in.

While you likely have control over this in your home, you might have to endure your kids complaining about it either being too hot or too cold during certain times of the year. To combat this, Jessica Gray, a contributor to The Penny Hoarder, you should invest in some fans for each room in your home. When it’s too hot, have your family turn these fans on before dropping the temperature on your thermostat. And in the cooler months, make sure you have plenty of warm blankets available to keep everyone comfortably warm.

Cut Down On Running Water

Another way your kids can help you reduce your monthly utility bill is by taking shorter and cooler showers or baths.

According to Trent Hamm, a contributor to U.S. News and World Report, if you turn down the temperature on your hot water heater, you’ll have to use less energy to heat your water, which will significantly help to cut down your utility costs. And by taking shorter showers or using less water during baths, you’ll be paying less for water each month since you’ll be using less.

Be Smart When Doing Dishes

Washing dishes is another area of your home where you can likely cut back on your utility costs. And if your kids help you with these chores, it’s vital that you instill these money-saving principles in them in order to see any real change.

Heather Levin, a contributor to Money Crashers, shares that if you pack your dishwasher full of dished before running it, you’ll have to run fewer loads, which can save you a lot of water and energy it takes to run the dishwasher. As part of this, consider handwashing bigger items so they don’t have up so much space in your dishwasher.

If you’re wanting to save some money on your family’s monthly utility costs, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you accomplish this.

 

3 Tips For Buying A New Family Home

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While buying any home can be quite the quest, buying a home that you’ll share with your family for years to come can put added pressure on your search. Especially if your family isn’t quite done growing yet, it can be hard to know exactly what you need in a new home.

So to help make this process a little easier for you, here are three tips for buying a new family home.

Know What Floor Plan You Want

One of the most basic things that you’ll want to figure out before you even start looking at potential new homes for your family, according to Kate Ashford, a contributor to Parents.com, is what type of floor plan you want. Depending on your personal taste and your family members’ ages, the floor plan you’ll want will vary. But because this is one of the hardest things to change within a home without doing major renovations, it’s best to find a new home that already has the floor plan you want.

Aside from the basic floor plan, you’ll also want to determine how you feel about stairs, having bedrooms close together or on opposite sides of the home, an attached garage, square footage and more. With this information in hand, you should be able to weed through potential homes pretty quickly until you’re able to find a few that will fit your basic needs.

Make Sure There’s Enough Storage Space

As you add more people to your family and each of your family members grow, you’re going to need more and more storage space for everyone’s belongings. So when you’re trying to find the perfect house for your family to move into, it’s important that you make sure that the space has enough storage.

According to Coral Nafie, a contributor to The Spruce, older homes tend to have less storage space than newer homes. In general, homes that have been built more recently have more closet space and more storage areas built into the home. So before you fall in love with an older home with lots of charm, make sure it has the storage space you need or square footage that you can turn into storage space.

Look Beyond Just The House

When living in a family home, it’s more than the actual home that’s going to make your living experience a great one. In fact, you should look beyond even just the property that you the house is situated one.

Marian White, a contributor to Moving.com, shares that you’ll also need to look at the schools in the area, crime rates, nearby traffic, close amenities, and more. All of these things will have an impact on your family’s life in your new home.

If you’re in the market for a family home, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you find the right one.

 

Renovating Your Home – Which Rooms Should You Focus on First?

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Buying a fixer upper or deciding to renovate your entire home is a big commitment. It means having contractors around the home, noise and big costs, but the end result can definitely be worth it. Many people choose to renovate their home one bit at a time to save themselves money, and this can be a good way to lessen the disruption. So, which rooms should you focus on first when renovating a house?

The kitchen

The kitchen is perhaps one of the most complex rooms to renovate and can be one of the most disruptive as it means you’ll need to eat out or use the microwave a lot for the week. However, since it’s the heart of the home, many people choose to renovate the kitchen first, because you get this important job out of the way. Check out Nonpareil Solutions, who create bespoke kitchens, so you can get some ideas for your own home and decide whether to give your kitchen a facelift, or do a complete makeover.

The bathrooms

A large chunk of Americans spend over an hour on the toilet alone, and that’s not to mention hot showers, relaxing in the bath and pampering. This means the bathroom is an important room to consider in home renovation, and modern bathrooms can add value to your home, so they can be a good investment. If you have more than one bathroom, it’s worth doing one at a time, as this will ensure you still have a place to shower while work is carried out.

The master bedroom

The master bedroom is the centerpiece of the house, so it’s a project you’ll probably want to tackle early on. As it’s the largest bedroom, you usually have a lot of design options such as walk-in closets, dressing areas and more, so you can really be creative in this sort of room. In 2020, trends such as bright colors and retro patterns are in, which can work well for this sort of room, or you could stick with neutral tones and add different textures for an interesting finish.

Living spaces

Living spaces such as your living room, den or playroom are often high on people’s lists. This is because you spend so much of your waking time in these rooms. For example, adults over 18 watch an average of 4.5 hours of TV a day, and these rooms are often used when guests come over, so you want to create a space where you can both relax and impress as needed. The good thing about renovating a living area is that you can be creative, whether you make a kind of home cinema or hide your gadgets away, have big plush couches or formal seating, the choice is yours.

When you decide to remodel or renovate your home, it’s important to have a timeline in mind and to prioritize the rooms you want to do first. Unless you move out and get it all done in one go, you should think about how you’ll live in your home while the work is ongoing.

 

Which Diamonds Are Good for Wedding Rings?

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As much as engagement rings get a lot of attention, wedding rings should also share the limelight. This is a ring that symbolizes your love, faithfulness, loyalty, and commitment. A wedding ring is something that you’ll wear for the rest of your life so you need to choose it well.

Diamonds aren’t only perfect for engagement rings, but they make good wedding rings too. What goes on your mind when buying diamond wedding rings? How can you decide which ring to get? What factors do you have to consider?

Below is an essential and helpful guide that can aid you in choosing diamonds for your wedding ring. Picking the best symbol of your love shouldn’t be problematic and here is how.

Basics in Choosing the Ideal Diamonds for Wedding Rings

You can look into wedding rings Vancouver offers to see what options are available. There are many styles, shapes, and cuts that you can choose for your wedding rings. The enjoyable part is selecting a diamond wedding ring that represents your personality.

  • Consider the carat weight of the diamond you are willing to get.
  • Decide on how much you are willing to spend on the diamond. Setting your budget beforehand will help narrow down your choices.
  • Choose the shape and cut of the diamonds you want on the rings. This will depend on the style you’re going for and how simple or extra special the ring is.

The Wonders of Diamond-set Wedding Rings

These are one of the most popular choices for wedding rings. Diamonds are fashionable and common making them easier to look for. Another reason for its fame is the sparkle that diamonds bring.

Diamond wedding rings provide a wonderful backdrop for the engagement rings. Many associate diamonds with women, but they can work for men too. Many of these wedding ring sets have designs to fit men and women.

Usually, diamond wedding rings come in round or princess cuts. If you’re willing to extend your budget a bit you can go for emerald, pear or marquise cuts. The latter cuts are more uncommon making your wedding rings stand out. The more elegant your wedding ring is, the more expensive it looks.

Is it Necessary to Buy the Highest Quality Diamond?

Diamonds can come in different qualities. Even if you have a lower budget you can still find good quality cut diamonds. Diamonds on the higher scale are in color grade D and IF or F in clarity. Start with the highest options within your budget range.

You don’t have to worry since retailers have different terms from each other. Go through your favorite sellers and return to one that fits your finances the best. It’s normal to want the best wedding rings, but being a wise buyer also gives you a lot of advantages!

 

3 Tips For Keeping Your Kids Safe When Playing Outside

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Protecting your kids is your top priority as a parent. However, there needs to be some kind of balance between allowing your kids to learn on their own and be independent while also ensuring that they stay away from harm and danger.

This harm and danger can present itself to your children at any time and in any location, including when they’re playing outside or even in your own backyard. So to help ensure that you’re making fewer trips to the emergency room due to an injury, here are three tips for keeping your kids safe when playing outside.

Protect Them From Water Hazards

While water features make any outdoor area seem more natural and beautiful, they also can be hazardous if your children get into them without adult supervision. Because of this, it’s important that you always watch your children when they’re outside in any area where water is present. Keep in mind that this doesn’t just mean pools. Little children can drown in just a few inches of water, so even puddles or areas where water collects can be dangerous.

For your older children, Dr. Karen Gill, a contributor to Healthline.com, advises that you teach them how to swim as well as making rules about never swimming alone or without someone else there to supervise. While these rules might seem overprotective to your older children, they could just save their life in a potentially dangerous situation.

Prepare For The Environment

Another way that kids can get injured or hurt when outside is if they aren’t prepared for the environment in which they’ll be playing.

According to Lisa Freedman, a contributor to Parents.com, this means that your kids should always dress appropriately for being outdoors in whatever weather that day may bring. This includes wearing a coat and gloves in the winter and wearing light clothing and sunscreen in the summer. You should also be aware of any insects in the area that your kids need to protect themselves against.

Set Playground Rules

Whether your kids are at school or playing at the park, they will likely spend a decent amount of time on playground toys. And while manufacturers try to eliminate risks, if your kids don’t follow certain playground rules, they could wind up getting very hurt.

Dr. Kate M. Cronan, a contributor to KidsHealth.org, recommends that you set playground rules that your children are to follow if they will be allowed on these toys. Your rules should include things like not roughhousing, using slides correctly, avoiding toys when they are wet, and more.

If you want to ensure that your children are as safe as possible when playing outside, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you accomplish this.