Nicole

How to Stretch Your Dollars

Photo by Micheile Henderson on Unsplash

We will all go through periods in our lives when money is tight, and we need to learn to stretch the money we have until things even out again. A lot of people are going through that struggle right now. No need to worry, there are many different ways that you can make those dollars last.

Make a Budget

It is always important to make a budget. You need to have a clear understanding of what money is coming out and what your expenses are totaling. When you can see where your money is going, then you will be able to see ways you can cut down on spending or spend your money in a more efficient way.

Some things you may discover when you create a budget is that you are spending more money than you realized. Things like recurring payments, monthly subscriptions, or small impulse buying can all add up over time.

Evaluate Your Savings

Hopefully, you have been saving a little bit before and have some money to fall back on. If this is your situation, then that means you need to evaluate your savings account and determine how much you have to help support you and how long it will last. You will also want to make a plan to build your savings account back up once you are back on your feet.

Meal Plan

Planning meals is an important way you can save money. It will help you save money when you go grocery shopping, and it will make you less prone to eating out spontaneously, which is more expensive than cooking at home.

Making a meal plan will allow you to know the food you will need to create the meals for a week or a couple of weeks. Once you have that information gathered, you can make a focused grocery list that will cut down on impulse buying. It will also help ensure that the food you are buying actually gets eaten instead of going bad in the fridge.

Earn Extra Money

Even if you have scaled back and started using your money wisely, you may still be a little short. Luckily, there can be a few easy ways to make some extra money online. Some ways will require a lot of time and some specialized knowledge, but some can be done quickly and with little experience.

Using opinion sites to bring in a little extra cash is easy and can be done while you are watching television in the evenings. Taking surveys or reviewing products at home on your computer or phone is easy, and there are a lot of options. You will want to look around and find the best places for surveys that pay and then sign up. Once you are signed up, you can start right away.

Receipt trackers are another way that you can earn a little extra money with just a little bit of effort. Simply snapping a picture of your receipt can earn you points that then accumulate into cash. You can also use apps to earn money back on the regular food and household items that you normally buy the same way.

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Always Eat After 7 PM” by Joel Marion (Part 2) – Goal Setting & Updates

This post is sponsored by the book “Always Eat After 7 PM” and Joel Marion. The opinions expressed below are my own.

Another week following the Always Eat After 7 pm is in the books, friends. This 3-stage plan, including an introductory acceleration phase, along with revamped meal planning and meal prepping, and adhering to an after 7 pm meal consumption, has allowed myself and countless others to enter to new and better ways to live your best life while still eating your favorite foods.

From the author: “Always Eat After 7 pm is a three-phase program that teaches you how to lose big by strategically eating big when you are naturally hungriest—in the evening. This may sound too good to be true, but let me assure you it is no gimmick. It’s all about making strategic and smart food swaps, and you can still eat your favorite foods.”

What have I enjoyed the most this past week on this plan is my ability to better decipher proper meal planning techniques. That, if you’re eating the right things, become strategic about the times of day you consume your largest and last meal, the better you’re going to burn fat, have more energy, and perfect your digestive system at home.

Author Joel Marion helps readers figure out not only the best daily meal plan you need as well as single, scientifically-backed ways to better track your caloric intake at home. Tracking that makes it easier for people, like myself and others, to become more conscious of what I’m eating.

Better still? Always Eat After 7 pm shares many, many easy-to-cook meals. This not only saves you time meal prepping and meal planning but helps busy folks enjoy the best of dishes at home.

Mouth-watering dishes including marinara sauce and spaghetti squash, Pomegranate Glazed Pork Chops, and one sheet pan meals like Lemon Garlic Sheet Pan Fish and Veggies recipe. Sure to please even your pickiest eater at home.

My Goals with Always Eat After 7 PM has always been to help me fit back into my skinny jeans comfortably and to hear my love say I’m hot. Always a bonus, right? I wanted better results in there two above-mentioned dietary needs and self-care. Progress without having to be fanatic in seeing results. I also endeavored to best utilize this plan as a means to help me gain accountability over what I’m eating daily at home.

In past years, due to scheduling and busyness, I’d often rely on small, sugary snacks throughout the day or binge on junk food late at night. Using the Always Eat After 7 PM to reset my eating habits has helped me better my success rates in both these areas alike. Similar issues are addressed in the latest Q&A session by Always Eat After 7 PM author, Joel Marion, viewed below.

Always Eat After 7 PM falls in line with Marion’s six other works. He speaks of the book’s purpose below:

Always Eat After 7 PM Questions and Answers with Author Joel Marion

What inspired you to write the book?

After authoring 6 best selling books it was glaringly obvious there were 2 huge misconceptions about dieting that needed to be exposed. The first is that you can’t eat late at night or before bed, which science now shows is NOT true. And second, you can’t eat large portions that satisfy your natural instinct. This book solves both these problems by providing an evidence-based, enjoyable approach to dieting that can be used by any person to quickly achieve their weight loss goals.

What was the most surprising discovery when you were researching scientific data for the diet?

That almost everything my college education and certifications taught me was NOT grounded in published scientific research.

How difficult is the Always Eat After 7 PM plan to follow?

It’s not. And that’s exactly why I wrote the book. While any diet is never truly easy, it can be more enjoyable and much easier to adhere to when you understand how Always Eat After 7pm works because it caters to our bodies natural instincts.

So how is my overall progress been? With only two weeks in, and admittedly not always being able to follow the plan word-for-word due to limitations currently facing our nation and the world, I’m still pleased with my progress.

My biggest victory? Grocery ordering and meal planning with healthier, late-in-the-day-dinners in mind. Which for me, also translates into rollable, leftover lunches from the previous day’s dinner. Saving my time and money each week at home. Meals that keep me satisfied, nourished, and with sustained energy the following day, ingredients that are affordable to purchase, and easy-to-make during busy weeknights at home.

Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight by Joel Marion is now available to purchase. Get your copy, here! Friends, will you be trying this plan at home? Leave your thoughts below.

Post Series:

Week 1: Always Eat After 7 PM: An Introduction To Debunking Diet Myths

Week 2: Author Interview: “Always Eat After 7 PM” by Joel Marion, Part II

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What to Expect When You Adopt a Rescue Dog

Adopting a rescue dog is not only a fantastic way to give a dog a new start in life, but it adds a new member to your family. It is the beginning of a great adventure that you and your new best friend will experience together. You should be aware, though, that your new dog is going to feel things a bit differently from you, particularly in the beginning.

When you first bring your dog home, you will both be going through an adjustment period. You will be learning all about your new responsibility, and your dog will be learning about his or her new home. Depending on your dog’s history, you might also need to be prepared to help your dog in even more ways.

Here are a few things that you should expect when you adopt and rescue a dog and bring him or her home for the first time.

A Nervous Pup

Even if the dog you adopt hasn’t had a particularly traumatic past, spending time in a shelter can make any pup nervous. When your dog’s environment is changed yet again, you might notice that he or she is nervous and jumpy even at the slightest things. You should consider doing a few things to help make the transition a bit easier and promote a calm and comfortable setting.

Start by creating a space that is just for your dog. A comfortable bed away from loud noises and windows that is all their own will give them a place to retreat to when they feel overwhelmed. Do your best to reduce noise and sound as much as possible for the time being too so your dog can get used to the smells and sights of their new home.

If your dog is particularly restless, you can consider giving him some calming treats to help him relax, especially at night. CBD treats are incredibly safe and effective at aiding nervous dogs when they become overwhelmed. Plus, they will love the taste of hemp doggy bacon.

A Small Appetite

It is common for new dog owners to become nervous when they notice their dog not eating very much. While you want to keep an eye on the situation to make sure no major health issues are developing, you can fully expect your new dog to have a reduced appetite for the first few days that you have him at home.

Just like with humans, stress can cause a dog to not want to eat very much. Stomach pains and bowel issues aren’t uncommon, and they will pass as your dog becomes more relaxed in his new environment. It is essential that you remain calm and don’t force your dog to eat as dogs are susceptible to the feelings of their owners. If you become more stressed out, then your dog will also.

You should always bring up any significant concerns you have about your dog’s appetite with your vet but be patient with him for the first few days.

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Cancer Treatment Centers: The Right Choice?

If you’ve recently been diagnosed with cancer, no-doubt you’re full of confusion, questions, and more than your share of worry. The last thing you need is to be overcome with doubt and anxiety, however, when you’re doing all you can to fight off an illness. You need support, compassion, and the very best care you can get from experienced, knowledgeable professionals.

Photo Credit: Miguel Á. Padriñán

For this reason, many cancer patients choose to begin treatment at a cancer treatment center. Cancer centers differ from traditional hospitals in that focus solely on cancer treatments and only see cancer patients. Because of this, their care is dedicated and focused, concentrating on the patient and their treatment and recovery. Often the treatment plans at cancer centers are much more streamlined to the individual patient and often include new technologies and alternative treatments that you might not find at your local hospital.

There are things to consider when choosing the right cancer center for you. To begin, you need to make sure that any treatment center you choose is covered by your insurance and/or that you can afford it. You’ll also want to stay somewhat local, so you don’t have to travel long distances when you’re already sick and tired. It’s best to ask your primary care physician for a referral; they can steer you in the right direction by giving you information on a local cancer treatment center that might be a good fit. Make sure that any cancer center you choose is part of the NCI (National Cancer Institute) and that the doctors and staff all have appropriate credentials.

You’ll want to tour the facilities, meet with the oncologists and other healthcare staff, ask questions, and get a feel for the place. After all, they’ll be handling your treatment, so you want to feel comfortable with the staff and make sure you trust their care and guidance. Don’t be afraid to ask for their credentials or find out detailed info about their treatment plans. Many cancer centers have innovative and unique treatments, such as proton therapy and other forms of treatment; talk to them about these and what might be right for you.

Cancer treatment centers have become more and more popular in recent years, helping patients with all types of cancers including breast cancer, colon cancer, diseases like non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and more. There are even cancer centers specifically for children. While most are outpatient, some cancer treatment centers even offer in-patient care, working around the clock to take care of your treatment and overall medical care.

Cancer treatment centers have been helping patients for many years with innovative treatments, making them feel comfortable and cared for. Many people feel that these are a much better alternative to regular hospital visits, with concentrated, detailed care and support. If you feel that treatment at a cancer center is right for you, start calling around today to find the best treatment center for your unique case. You’ll be glad you did.

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Problems To Overcome After A Car Accident

Getting into a car accident is a physical and mental upheaval and can be a huge struggle for many. It comes as a shock, then after it comes with problems and issues that can control your life or make life more difficult for you.

Photo Source

A lot of people choose to claim compensation after a car accident, if they are able to and if they have suffered mental and physical damage. Most car settlements are between $14,000 and $28,000 and you can go online and take a look at what you may be entitled to before you claim. Claiming should not be seen as a taboo subject, as it is something that you are legally entitled to claim for. If you want to get a rough estimate on your own car accident settlement, then add up your expenses and multiply that sum by three. You must also look at adding up any expenses for medical bills, car repairs, and lost wages from taking time off work also.

My claim doesn’t suit me, I believe I should have received more

Your claim may be processed quickly or it may take a little more time and once you hear the feedback, you may feel that you have not been given enough money and you feel you are entitled to more. You may want to reduce or deny your claim but you must be aware that you may have to give further evidence and statements to back up any changes.

Initially, you will be asked to give a statement and so will any eyewitnesses or other drivers who saw what happened. It’s important, to be honest from start to finish as any uncertainty or dishonest behavior could affect your claim and you may have to settle for less or nothing at all. You may also want to back up your claim with any medical notes or doctor notes, which will show the severity of your issues following the accident. As much information as possible will be important for your claim but a good lawyer will be able to talk you through all this and advise when necessary.

If you are claiming compensation as a passenger and not a driver, it’s worth noting that a passenger can never be responsible or at fault for the accident. It is the driver’s responsibility, so do not feel that you can’t claim because you are a passenger. You have rights and will not be held responsible in any way for the accident.

Car accidents can affect the mind greatly, so if you or anyone you know has suffered, then it’s important to reach out to them and give them some support. Be sure to reach out when you should and to file your claim as soon as possible. It is best to get the ball rolling ASAP so that you can really have all the information and accounts fresh in your mind and be able to convey information well. This is going to really assist you.

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Author Interview: “Always Eat After 7 PM” by Joel Marion, Part II

Disclaimer: This post is brought to you by our sponsor, “Always Eat After 7 PM”. Opinions expressed are my own.

It will be little surprise to anyone that knows me that I love late-night snacks. This is one reason I have loved reading the “Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight” by Joel Marion. Reading that has given me a truer insight into moving away from diet plateaus and restarting healthy, sustaining meal prep and planning habits to provide the energy I need to sustain my busy life at home.

Last week I shared my thoughts on the overall elements of this plan and its creator. If you missed my last blog post about why I’m reading , check it out here.

What I like most about this book is that it’s based on common-sense science. Always Eat After 7 PM debunks popular diet myths and offers an easy-to-follow diet that accelerates fat-burning while allowing readers and users to continue to indulge in your most intense food cravings- Just while eating the majority of your calories at night.

Though much of the western world holds the common belief that in order to sustain weight loss, you should avoid carbs, have an early-as-possible dinner, and avoid eating before bed current scientific research shows us otherwise.

In a four-week study, dieters that added a snack to their daily regimen 90 minutes after dinner nightly after 7 pm, ate an average of 397 fewer calories per day. These new measures, combined with learning what foods help will help keep my weight in check, while also managing my energy levels, I have high hopes for this book changing my healthy lifestyle journey at home!

With this in mind, here are some interesting questions and answers from Always Eat After 7 PM author, Joel Marion:

What inspired you to write the book?

“After authoring 6 best selling books it was glaringly obvious there were 2 huge misconceptions about dieting that needed to be exposed. The first is that you can’t eat late at night or before bed, which science now shows is NOT true. And second, you can’t eat large portions that satisfy your natural instinct. This book solves both these problems by providing an evidence-based, enjoyable approach to dieting that can be used by any person to quickly achieve their weight loss goals.”

How long did it take for you to develop the diet?

“It actually took several years of researching for me to discover the real science of eating late at night. After a few years of tweaking and refining, I finally came up with a rapid fat loss solution that overcomes all the pitfalls of traditional diets.”

How difficult is the Always Eat After 7 PM plan to follow?

“It’s not. And that’s exactly why I wrote the book. While any diet is never truly easy, it can be more enjoyable and much easier to adhere to when you understand how Always Eat After 7 pm works because it caters to our body’s natural instincts.”

He goes on to state, “Glucose-based starches, like rice and potatoes, are great sources of anaerobic fuel for exercisers; they can help increase ATP (energy) production, enhance recovery, build muscle, increase metabolic rate, and optimize hormones.”

Joel Marion’s Top Tips for Weight Loss

Additional Thoughts

It’s fascinating to know that we are just learning the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what “Always Eat after 7 pm” offers its readers. The knowledge that offers individual support in getting you on a diet that will help your body process food in more efficient ways as well as ascertain a better understanding of the who, what, and why of what we’re putting in your bodies each day, Pure gold, to me!

Friends, do you have questions regarding this book? Click here for more information. Or leave questions in the comments below and let me know your thoughts on this book thus far. And learn more about the book, here. As well, Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight by Joel Marion is now available to purchase, here.

Post Series:

Week 1: Always Eat After 7 PM: An Introduction To Debunking Diet Myths

Disclaimer: This post is brought to you by our sponsor, “Always Eat After 7 PM”. Opinions expressed are my own.

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5 At-Home Financial Options To Remember with Neon Funding

This post is sponsored by Diamond Bloggers. All opinions expressed are my own.

Starting any new business can be daunting. Especially when its an at-home business. And nothing can derail the best of plans like the initial missteps taken when creating your business, particularly surrounding the realm of finances. This is why you will want to keep the following five financial options in mind when starting your next at-home business this season at home.

Decide Which Products or Services Your Small Business Will Offer

Before you can start a home business, you have to know what products or services you want to offer. And when deciding what business strategy will be most viable for you at home, consider these questions:

What do you have to offer?
What makes you an expert in this field?
Do you have all of the education and skills you’ll need to compete successfully in the marketplace or will you need to get training?
Does the product or service you’re thinking of marketing meet a need for your target demographic?
Is this a seasonal product or service, or can you market for business throughout the year?
How sensitive is marketing this product or service to general economic conditions?
Do you have a passion for this business idea?

While money is great to earn, it’s not enough to propel you to success. You need to be enthusiastic about your offering to the public as well. Making one of the first financial options to consider for your at-home business whether or not you will be able to maintain your personal drive and enthusiasm when it comes to the day-to-day operations of your business. After all, if you cannot stand behind your idea it doesn’t make sense to invest in a business, training, marketing, and product production.

Your business is going to be your livelihood, so it should be something you believe in, enjoy, and would gladly promote to others. Which is why so many find success in turning hobbies into business structures. Because when you choose an idea you’re not excited about, it will be difficult to get motivated at times. It’s all about the mindset of remembering to “Do what you love, and love what you do.”

Know Your Market and Your Competition

While having a great product or service is required to start a business, without buyers, you still don’t have an equitable business. Which makes knowing your market paramount. Including being versed in what your demographic wants, needs, and what inspires them to continue to buy from you. All points are necessary for at-home business success. This means investing money in identifying your target market and determining your unique selling angle. This will help you to be able to set your business apart from others that are similar in your field. Here are a few things to consider when investing money in marketing or acquiring the services of marketing firms:

Who Is Going to Buy Your Product or Service?
What characteristics or traits will your typical customer or client have?
Will you market to businesses, to consumers, or to both?
What Is Special About What You Offer?
How does your product or service meet the need of your target market?
What is your competitive advantage?

Use these questions to create a marketable point of reference when it comes time to invest funds into crafting a marketing plan. This will help you when it comes time to outline how you’re going to let your target market to advance your business and business finances in the season to come.

Do the Tasks That Need to Be Done

There is a lot that goes into starting a home business. Along with the legal tasks of starting a business, there’s also the day-to-day tasks that can make or break our business. Such as the ability to deal with hassles and frustration of repairs, personal and employee health care, and costs of technology and upgrades. All expenditures that will require future financial planning and cash reserves to make these daily, weekly, or monthly tasks possible. If you can’t accommodate these costs or tasks, then a home business may not be for you.

To make sure you have the financial reserves to succeed, answer this question honestly: Can you handle the day-to-day general tasks that starting a small business requires, like:

Supplying products/service
Distribution of product
Invoicing/billing
Ordering supplies
Bookkeeping expenses
Marketing Costs
Filing Costs
Formation of LLC Costs
Deal with temporary financial disappointment
Manage financial overwhelm

While some of these tasks can be delegated to virtual assistants, many others will fall to business owners themselves to resolve. This can be hard when home business owners are solopreneurs, starting on a shoestring budget and having to wear all business hats simultaneously. It will behoove you to plan to start planning your cash reserves now. As well as how much of your net income you will reinvest in your business moving forward. Steps that will help financially and emotionally give you the stamina to carry you through until you can hire help or have a better footing in your own business in the seasons to come.

Make a List of What Needs to Be Paid

It’s much easier to complete any task or project if you have all your supplies ready and at-hand to start working. Which will make dishing out funds for the following crucial in starting your at-home business this season, including:

A Home office. A dedicated, separate space with a door is recommended if you plan to take the home office deduction. This space will need to be used regularly and exclusively to run your business and will require funds to get this space up-to-code.
Converting space: If your home office will be in a room, garage, or attic that requires building or altering the space, funds will need to be diverted to this expenditure.
Space for inventory, supplies, records, and/or equipment. Remember to consider whether or not this space will need to be climate controlled.
Power usage. Such as the installation of extra outlets, power strips, and the like.
Secondary phone, fax, or internet lines. While many today use a cell phone, a second business phone line creates a separation from personal and business and allows you to have other business-only connectivity such as fax and Internet. Which may or may not require additional funding for installation as well.

As you determine what you’ll need, keep track of your estimated costs, and make sure these figures are properly accounted for in your initial cost projections as you start your at-home business.

Find Out the Legal Requirements are Necessary to Run Your Home Business with Neon Funding

While it’s tempting to set up shop and start selling right away, there is a protocol that must first be met before running an at-home business. Failure to comply with these rules can often result in fines and being forced to close up shop. Here are some legal issues to consider you will need to finance before starting your at-home business:

Check your zoning laws before starting a small business. If you won’t have a sign, you can usually get a waiver. Also be sure to check with your homeowner’s association’s covenants and restrictions, as well as your lease agreement if you rent your office space, for any restrictions on-at-home businesses.
Contact your city or county regarding a business license. Most areas have a business license requirement. Usually, it’s affordable and is generally under a few hundred dollars to obtain.
Check with your state’s occupational regulatory agency to see if your business requires additional permits or licenses. For example, most businesses involving grooming (people or pets), financial help, child care, or food services are regulated by the state and you may need an additional on-site examination before a permit is issued.
Get a sales tax license from your state’s taxation or comptroller’s office if you sell tangible goods. This allows you to collect and pay sales tax.
Open a business-specific bank account. The IRS frowns upon the co-mingling of personal and business funds in tax filings.
The costs associated with professional services such as Neon Funding, a lawyer, or an accountant.
Get an employer identification number. While not required in a sole proprietorship, it is necessary if you employ people. It’s free and the advantage is that you can use it, instead of your social security number on business-related paperwork, you’re provided extra indemnity assurance when filing paperwork online.
Protect your intellectual property by filing for a federal patent, trademark, or copyright. The costs of filing or minimal but will pay dividends in the years to come.

There are also costs that come from protecting your business. As when you go into business, you’ll potentially be exposing yourself, your home, and your family to a variety of risks. You need to think about how you’ll manage those risks and find out if you need small business insurance to help handle them before it’s too late. Which will require your business to require better personal insurance, property insurance, and liability insurance?

Remember, your homeowners’ and auto insurance policies weren’t designed to cover your home business. Small business insurance can be a major expense, but less expensive than a lawsuit or recovering from a loss due to a fire or other catastrophic event.

While you can start a home business on a budget, it’s not likely you’ll build a profitable one without incurring some expense. Which makes taking the previous five elements into consideration as you are calculating your startup costs. Everything from the amount of money you need to open up shop to daily petty cash funds. While it’s okay if you don’t know specific costs, but you want to get as close as possible, perhaps even over-estimate expenses.

Once you have your financial cost list in-hand, look for ways you might be able to cut costs and fund your business without going in debt. And always remember to factor in expenses such as how much will you need to pay your bills until the money starts coming in from your home business. Will you be keeping your full-time job or is there another breadwinner in the family that can help you until you develop an income stream? As you move closer to starting your business, keep a tally of expenses you didn’t anticipate and add them to your list.

Finally, since it takes money to make money, look for funding sources for your business that ideally won’t put you in debt. All important factors to financially consider when starting your own at-home business this season at home.

Friends, not only do you need money to start, but you’ll need money to stay open. The goal is to earn enough to cover your operating expenses and make a profit. With this in mind, how will you better financial plan for your own at-home business at home this season? Leave your plans and tips in the comments below!

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