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Why Bloggers Should Discuss Politics

Please note, this post is sponsored by Diamond Bloggers. All opinions expressed are my own. Thank you.

 

 

“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” -Plato

 

Politics can be boring. Politics can seem irrelevant. Politics can seem like a bunch of people endlessly yelling at one another. Politics can cause tensions, even among the oldest of friends. Yet, politics are extremely important and affects nearly every aspect of our day-to-day lives.

I believe that we have a civic duty to be informed, individuals.  Especially as bloggers and influencers. As we are in a unique position, by way of our reach and platform,  to proactively impact and promote our followers and readers to utilize their rights as citizens to vote whenever an opportunity presents itself. To not just promote reviews and products but that of the many benefits that come our way through the political process. Including political activism through voter reach. And it is this reason that bloggers, influencers, podcasters, and freelance writers should discuss politics on their respective platforms.

As political activism is paramount to necessary domestic political change. From abolishing slavery to the enfranchisement of women, political activism, by way of the written word, has helped to desegregate our society. Political activism aids the rights of the terminally ill, the elderly, veterans, children, labor laws, victims’ rights, the religious and the centrist alike.

The entire history of our country, from Revolution to modern-day, has been woven through with political activism. In our current society, political activism advocates for de-escalation training for every police department in America, the reexamination of the Brady Bill, as well as a proposed increase to the Federal Minimum Wage Law. All necessary actions needed to ensure the proper advancement of American society as a whole. So you see, the entire history of our country, from Revolution to our modern-day, has been changed for the good when ordinary citizens vote. 

While it may feel like our vote won’t be able to cause waves in the grand scheme of things, that it is pointless to vote. But imagine if everyone had that mindset. Hardly anyone would vote. This is little more than apathy disguised as political activism.

Why discuss voting and politics on your platforms

The bottom line for me is this: When you don’t vote, you’re letting other people decide your future. You’re saying that you don’t care what happens to your nation, to your community, on your street, and in your home.

If you’re worried about your vote not counting in today’s election, then let’s look at local elections. Accordingly to PEW Research, fewer than a quarter of all Americans participate in local elections. Whereas nearly half of all Americans vote in national elections. Statistically, when it comes to the presidential ballot, your vote matters more. 

Just as within each town in America where city managers, city council members, and ombudsman, elected officials whose terms of office affect the day-to-day actions of your community by way of the allocation of grant and tax funding, local option levies, and laws concerning drug use and incarceration, as does the office of president when it comes to the world stage. The office of the president affects your life. 

Even with presidential elections, voter turnout is not what it should be. There are many citizens who don’t bother until the general election comes about in November to decide on their own political prerogative. Ignoring their own voting voice during the primary and caucus season. Seasons that affect primary politics in a major and important way. 

While we know that today’s presidential election vote is very controversial and contentious, it’s still no less important. Educate yourself. Be open to new ideas. Pay attention to the news. Don’t let other people decide elections for you. Show that you care.

Every citizen has the right to vote, but no citizen is obligated to do so. But they should be. While it might sound cliche, someone did die for you to have the right to vote. Others gave their life’s blood. And still, more continue to give all that they have to make this nation a better place to live, by way of their term in office. I believe they are called community organizers.

How to write about politics on your platform

The same can be said for the need for bloggers, podcasters, and influencers discussing politics on their sites. While it’s an exciting time to write about politics, bloggers who ordinarily don’t write about politics can easily be intimidated by just the thought of doing so. Questions like, “Can I write authoritatively about the subject? Do I know all sides of the issue? What if my readers know more about the subject than I do?” can flood their content calendars more than prose or product reviews.  

While there certainly are some risks involved but if you get it right, the potential rewards can range are beyond important. As writers and influencers, we have our ear to the pulse of current events, including politics. We also care about our followers, readers, and subscribers. They, realistically speaking, that of their families, careers, finances, and health, too. This is why we owe it to our readers to be more than just lifestyle, foodie, or mommy bloggers. We cannot hide behind the guide of being non-political. As no aspect of our modern lives, or reader’s lives, is unaffected by the current politics in the United States.

For those looking to include politics on their platforms, consider these 7 tips to help build your confidence when it comes to writing posts and pieces of a political nature:

Keep it simple and stay focused

It’s easy to get caught up in every detail about a particular issue, especially if this is one of your only political posts and you feel like you need to get it all out. Do your best to simplify the post as much as possible. Keeping nuances to the comments section or follow-up posts. When it comes to writing about politics, it’s all about organizing principles. Focusing on the exact reason the issue is important to your readers, who the key players are, and what the potential political outcome is. Once you’re done, edit away anything that isn’t necessary—and always provide readers additional resources to make informed, cohesive decisions for themselves. 

Maintain your writers’ voice

When you’re out of your comfort zone, it’s really easy to take on the voice of the subject matter in lieu of your own. Fight this—as your readers will notice! On more than one occasion when I’ve written about subjects that I knew would be important to my readers but weren’t exactly comfortable, I received reader emails asking if somebody else wrote the post or why I was dispassionate style-wise. Again, editing comes in very handy here when the time to put yourself back into your post in political postings.

Make each post relevant to your audience right away

This is good advice for any post, but more than ever your first line on a politically-focused piece. If readers aren’t used to seeing politics posts on your blog, you should help them understand why it’s there immediately! Try tying it into a previous post you’ve written. Or express outrage that your readers would likely share. Otherwise, readers might think you’re shifting focus and that it’s not “their” blog anymore.

Create an official statement

When writing political posts, always tie-in official governmental agency posts. This solidifies authority to your post. These resources can be found on each specific agency’s website.  For example, if you write about technology, look at the FCC website. If you’re writing a post about your city’s school system, look at your state’s Department of Education website. You don’t have to agree with the statement, but using it lends credibility to your post and your readers will know exactly what you’re standing for, or against, officially.

Use video

News agencies like Reuters, provide fairly well-balanced reporting pieces in a video format that you can embed in your post. This reporting style can help build a foundation to carry out your viewpoint throughout your post.

Use pictures

Using pictures to spruce up your writing on political issues not only dresses up your post, but it also connects a name with a face for important social issues. There are lots of times your readers will know who somebody is from television or the newspaper, but can’t remember their name. A picture elevates this burden and adds another level of why the post is relevant to them.

Transparency

When writing political pieces, an extra ounce of social transparency is key. Sharing why you believe in an issue, started your platform, or how you raise your family or make a living can bridge the political decide more than you’ll ever know. When you replace “us and them” statements with “me and my,” your posts will not only be more credibly sound, but will likely make you more endearing to your readers, and taken more seriously, too! 

Which is something I try to bring to various posts on this site? Not just in terms of finance, plant-based eating, lifestyle pieces, or product reviews. I’m generally not speaking about truisms or generalities. I’m speaking about realities. My reality. You see, I’m a woman. I come from a long line of immigrants, unionists, rabble-rousers, several teenage mothers, and my poor white trash distant relations from centuries past who lived on the wrong side of the tracks. I’m also the wife of a public educator and a veteran of foreign war. I work from home in a volatile financial climate. I am a citizen of the world and my world faces an uncertain future due to climate change. Which by the way, is a real and very true reality. I’m also among the ten percent of women in this world who possess a professional degree, who worries over the legacy she will leave her family. 

An example of great political lifestyle writing

So what does this mean? It is my belief, that as influencers, we cannot afford to stand idly by. We must be educational and statistical emissaries for our audiences. Particularly in election years. Journalists offering factual information that impacts the lives of the working masses in this country. As our readers are not just random statistics or stats to be checked off on demographic boxes. Writers like David Urban, lobbyist, political operative, and political commentator for CNN, who often stares cutting-edge economic and political advice, as well as lending his efforts to both the 2016 Donald Trump presidential campaign and helping to orchestrate the 2016 Republican National Convention, where he served as a senior advisor in the successful effort to win Pennsylvania. Utilizing both his on-screen and behind the screen efforts to proactively advance the ideals of the modern American voting system to his reader-base online. 

Urban serves as a perfect example as to why influencers cannot simply refusing to vote is not an affirmative political choice. For when candidates are odious, when their campaign traffic in character-assassination when election ads are no more than shameless pandering funded by unknown, unresearched super PACs, you might think that as a rational voter you should disengage from politics and not vote. But this idea is little more than entitlement disguised as a conscientious objector. 

Voted printed papers on white surface

A great example as to why influencer needs to simply do more politically. To do more than turn mudslinging candidates, while we share reviews and recipes online. To share more of our lives. To discuss how politics influence what and how we share media online. And why we work or will not work with specific companies and why. Without this disclosure and transparency, we are no different than unscrupulous lobbyists. Folks who silently sympathize with everyday Americans but derive their livelihoods by the promotion of big pharma, GMO-laden foods, police brutality, and the underfunding of urban schools for posting profit. As influencers, we are called to do more.

To this end, I am reminded of the words of Dr. King, “In the end, we remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Apathy is passive aggression in action. And apathy has no place in influencing online. 

Which is why discuss politics, voting, and social advocacy on my platforms as well as collaborate with like-minded influencers who feel the same. Keep in mind-I’m a lifelong voter. No one has to persuade me to show up on Election Day to cast a ballot. since the first time my grandmother allowed me to enter the voting booth with her as a child, I’ve been fascinated by the election process. The communal spirit of voting. Having served as the first female president of one of my college’s political clubs on campus and helped to run several college voter registration drives. This is why years after casting my first official ballot, I’m still moved by the civic ritual of coming together as equals, peacefully engaged in self-government. Being an influencer, bloggers, podcasters, and freelance writer encourage me to do so more. 

For me, voting, and standing by my political beliefs, is akin to an act of faith- faith that government of, by, and for the people still has real meaning, notwithstanding the inescapable hold of apathy in America. And this political activism cannot stop after this coming November. As political awareness begins the minute you cast your vote and begin to live with election day results. Continuing each time you purchase an item, spend your wages, and plan for your future. For you and your readers.

Friends, particularly bloggers, podcasters, and influencers, I urge you to pay attention to issues affecting our political climate at home, educate yourself on candidate platforms, attend political rallies, and rally behind political candidates and parties that will work towards bettering the issues you’re passionate about. As politics are not topics to be avoided, but rather embraced. It’s a way to show your community your willingness to give back to your readership and your greater community at large. So, get involved. Share unbiased political findings. Encourage reader voter registration. And when you can, vote. Because political apathy is not OK.

 You matter. Your readers matter. Your sponsors’ matter. Therefore you should vote. And never be afraid to discuss politics with those you influencer online. 

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Have You Seen the All-New Bosch Counter-Depth Fridges?

Please note, this post is sponsored by Best Buy. All opinions expressed are my own. Thank you.

A smart connected refrigerator can tell you when its door has been left open or if you’re running out of milk, but are these conveniences worth the premium?

In my opinion, yes. Imagine if your refrigerator could tell you if its door has been left open, or it’s running out of ice? What if you could ask it, while you’re at the grocery store if you need to get more eggs or milk? Those are some of the features available with “smart” refrigerators that are connected to your smartphone via the internet. 

What Is a Smart Refrigerator

A smart refrigerator is a major appliance, a refrigerator, that’s connected to the cloud. Depending on the features built into each fridge, you’ll be enabled to do things such as using your smartphone to see what’s inside, send and recipe notes, add dinner entries to online digital organizers all on your fridge’s front panel door screen.

Who Makes Smart Refrigerators

Currently, several manufacturers make smart refrigerators. My suggested model? The All-New Bosch Counter-Depth refrigerators. Their state-of-the-line features, including the revolutionary FarmFresh System™ that combines four innovative technologies to keep your food fresh up to 3x longer, for less food wasted,* make this unit a must-have for any new seasonal kitchen upgrades.

Other features include:

  • VitaFreshPro™ offers preset settings that automatically balance BOTH temperature and humidity
  • FreshProtect™absorbs naturally occurring ethylene to slow ripening, so produce stays fresher, longer.
  • MultiAirFlow™ evenly circulates cool, fresh air to maintain consistent temperatures throughout the entire fridge cavity, from the door bins to back corners.
  • AirFresh® Filter absorbs even the toughest food odors, keeping your refrigerator and freezer air fresh.

*As compared to a Bosch refrigerator without FarmFresh System™. Results may vary among different foods.

Busy families will quickly appreciate the FreshProtect™ features. As they can reduce the number of groceries runs you need to make each week in order to stock up on fruit and necessary produce. Especially organics. As we all know how quickly they expire if left unprocessed or attended when ripening. For larger families, you’ll have the added benefit of 21 cubic foot capacity and a three-tier layered freezer drawer system and three wide gallon door bins. Perfect for fall freezer prep sessions at home!

Other necessary upgrades include the FlexBar™, removable shelves, and door bins, and sleek, internal stainless steel back wall, that provide the All-New Bosch Counter-Depth refrigerators eye-catching, lasting durability. These units, built-to-last with three wide gallon door bins easily accommodate two large side-by-side gallon containers, ingenious three-tier layered freezer drawer system creates extra storage for frozen items, from pizza boxes to frozen waffles, and full-width chiller drawers. Perfect for storing oversized platters with ease until you’re ready to serve them, or store snacks for quick access and easy visibility game day all season long. 

In terms of aesthetics, this Bosch Counter-Depth refrigerator is simple, classy, with a minimalist design. Perfect for slower living homes and modern eclectic homes, too. Its as pleasing to the eye as it is tech-savvy. With it’s with the touch-sensitive controls and the Home Connect™ featuring The Home Connect™ app, that allows you to remotely monitor and control your Bosch refrigerator from your smartphone or tablet. To control the temperature, adjust lighting, run diagnostics—wherever you are,** for ultimate convenience. Connected refrigerators from Bosch are designed to provide modern homeowners and home chefs alike with the peace of mind, customization, and simplification you’ve come to expect from Bosch.

Connectivity and speed varies based on network and Wi-Fi levels.

Another not-to-be-missed feature of the Bosch Counter-Depth refrigerators is the Bosch UltraClarityPro™ water filter that reduces >99.9% of sediments that may be found in your water. (Including harsh elements like chlorine and chloramine.) 

Should I Get a Smart Refrigerator

Refrigerators have been around for 100 years, units like the Bosch Counter-Depth refrigerators, are in my mind, a necessary kitchen splurge for your next kitchen update. So, for more details and pricing visit your local Best Buy store or BestBuy.com. Friends, have you invested or upgraded to a smart fridge recently? Share your opinions on your purchase below. 

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The Reviews Are In: BISSELL Cordless Max Is A Must-Buy For Pet Owners

If you are online looking for BISSELL CrossWave reviews, you’ve come to the right site. As a pet owner of three, I’m always on the hunt for the right tools to keep my home cleaner and safer for my pets too! This is why I’ve been doing my research and found that the BISSELL CrossWave Cordless Max is not just the right multi-surface vacuum but the better option for multi-pet homes as well. 

I do my due diligence to give my pets all the love and attention they rightly deserve for all that they freely reciprocate to me with all their hearts, giving me their all each day. With a little, or lot of pet hair. As in Great Pyrenees level tufts of hair. Or as I like to call it, little tumbleweeds of love. So it goes without saying that sometimes our homes may not always look their best when you fill it with tons of fuzzy love.  As a dog, cat, and small mammal mom for over two decades, I understand what tools and cleaners it takes to keep a sprawling home clean. And let me tell you, not every cleaner work the same for multi-pet homes. This is why I’ve been seeking out the best multi-surface vacuum cleaner, with our pet needs in mind.

That’s why I’ve been reading BISSELL CrossWave reviews. To make sure that this product can stand up to my home’s four-legged cleaning stress test. And I’m proud to say, it makes the cut.  As the BISSELL CrossWave Cordless Max can go from the carpet to the kitchen tiles to your hardwood floors and not skip a beat. Or leave residue behind on flooring strips and dividers alike.

Other great features include:

  • Multi-surface cleaning.
  • Safe and effective for use on tile, sealed wood floors, laminate, linoleum, rubber floor mats, and more.
  • With improved edge cleaning, you can easily pick-up pet hair that gathers along baseboards and in corners.
  • A self-cleaning cycle that maintains the machine’s cleaning performance by cleaning the brush roll and inside of the CrossWave.
  • A two-tank design system that keeps clean and dirty water separate, so you never clean with dirty water.
  • Filling and disposing of water can be done easily. 
  • Bagless technology saves users time and energy.
  • There aren’t any bags to buy or replace.
  • A cord-free design that produces up to 30 minutes of cordless cleaning power with a 36V lithium-ion battery.
  • BISSELL Connect app provides helpful alerts, maintenance tracking and usage tips using a Wi-Fi connection.

The BISSELL CrossWave Cordless Max, now at Best Buy, vacuums and washes your floors at the SAME time! Talk about multi-tasking. And with its cord-free design, you can freely move from room-to-room or surface-to-surface. Saving you time, energy, and hassle along the way. And thanks to a 36V lithium-ion battery, you will enjoy up to 30 minutes of cordless cleaning. Which may vary based on model and usage. Making the BISSELL CrossWave the most effective way to clean tile, sealed wood floors, laminate, linoleum, rubber floor mats, pressed wood floors, and refresh area rugs.

The Self Cleaning Cycle

This unit self-cleaning cycle provides the user with extra cleaning performance thanks to a Two-Tank Technology that keeps clean water and formula separate from dirty water and dry debris. If your home is anything like mine, you are digitally connected to the max, and as the BISSELL CrossWave Cordless Max, with Wi-Fi connectivity, will provide users the ability to receive notifications from the BISSELL Connect app. Including helpful alerts, maintenance tracking, and usage tips to keep your machine always working at full capacity. Which I love. 

And don’t just take my word for it. Other users on Best Buy love the BISSELL CrossWave Cordless Max too:

I love the CrossWave Cordless Max Multi Surface Wet Dry Vacuum! I am able to vacuum and wash everything I need without having to worry about plugging in a cord or running out of battery! It works on carpet, tile, wood floors, laminate, linoleum, and area rugs! It displays the battery level so I know how much is remaining! My favorite feature is the Two Tank Technology! This keeps clean water and formula separate from dirty water! The Bissell app alerts me when the filter needs to be cleaned! It has a self-cleaning cycle that cleans the brush and tank! It also keeps track of the cleaning history and the formula! I am incredibly impressed!

Social Good Campaign

What’s better than this machine’s performance power? Currently, if you purchase this product, BISSELL will donate $10 to BISSELL Pet Foundation®. That is for each CrossWave® Cordless Max purchase upon activation. Just visit BISSELL.com/pets to register your device. For more information, visit Best Buy.

Friends, will you be checking out the new BISSELL CrossWave Cordless Max for yourself at home? Which features are your favorites? Leave your thoughts in the comments below. 

Please note: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Best Buy. All opinions expressed are my own. Thank you.
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Holiday Gift Ideas: The JLab #1 True Wireless Air Family From Best Buy

Please note, I have been compensated for this post by Best Buy Bloggers. All opinions expressed are my own. Thank you.

 

If you’re anything like me then you are someone who loves working out while listening to their playlist du jour.  Someone who loves an awesome sound experience or travels often and requires a high-quality sound experience for your on-the-go tech lineup. If so, then you owe it to yourself to try out the JLab #1 True Wireless Air Family of products this season at home. A lineup featuring three new models giving you true wireless earbuds that deliver on sound, quality, and comfort. Meet your tech new squad, perfect fit for on-the-go, active lifestyles.

Moreover, with the holidays right around the corner, I am also on the hunt now for the perfect gifts for all of my family and friends so to help me quickly wrap up my shopping early and actually enjoy the holidays for a change. So for my fellow techies on my list, #1 True Wireless Earbuds from JLab Audio. They are the #1 True Wireless Headphones, affordably priced under $100.00. Making them a  great option for them this season. So, of course, I will be purchasing a pair this set for those who lobe to workout, or while working and listen to music in the new year. 

A few great points about the JLab #1 True Wireless Air Family of products:

  • They offer several affordable models.
  • Great playtime – battery life starting at 24 hours.
  • Great for every lifestyle.
  • Features sport fit, dual microphones for talking, etc.
  • Truly-wireless headphones that let you listen to your favorite tracks without being held back by wires.
  • Rechargeable battery that offers up to 6 hours of use on a single charge.
  • Sweat-resistant protection from sweat that can easily be worn while working out.
  • Bluetooth interface and simplified wireless pairing with your Bluetooth-enabled device.
  • In-ear design that fits securely and directs music into your ears for full, uninterrupted audio.
  • The stereo design delivers crisp tones.
  • Dual connect (Air Icon Only) ~ Use either earbud independently or use both and experience a seamless connection.

JLab Audio also now features three fabulous new models of truly wireless earbuds that deliver on sound, quality, and comfort. Including the JBuds Air Sport, business-inspired JBuds Air Executive, and the JBuds Air Icon which is an upgraded everyday option.

The new squad from JLab Audio is amazingly priced for the high-quality sound that you receive and I am definitely picking up the JBuds Air Icon Wireless Earbuds at Best Buy as they will make the perfect gift for my husband this holiday season. Allen is music obsessed and these will for sure be one of his favorite gifts as they will allow him to enjoy his music collection all day long, no matter what he is doing.

The JLab JBuds Air Family is not only convenient and affordable, but all models provide amazing playtime, a battery life starting at 24 hours, features for every lifestyle, in addition to an integrated cable for charging. These new sport-inspired JBuds Air Sport, business-inspired JBuds Air Executive, and the JBuds Air Icon, an upgraded everyday option. Making them perfect for everyone to #FINDYOURGO this holiday season. Find out more about this line online at Best Buy. 

Friends, I’ve mentioned a lot of perfectly priced features about these wireless earbuds from JLab Audio. How they would make the perfect gift this holiday season for all your active tech-savvy friends and family, so now I want to ask, what are your favorite features about the new squad from JLab Audio? Leave your thoughts in the comments below. 

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The 30 Best Places To Find Free Audiobooks Online

Since childhood, I’ve loved being read to. From my earliest memories of my Uncle Danny reading to me each night to me learning to read to him to help him fall asleep, to quicken my unsupervised nightly prowling sessions around his home office and computer builds, to listen to comedy cassette tapes, I have fond memories of them all. But ass it turns out, listening to the written word provided my life with numerous benefits far into adulthood. 

This is why, despite being a bit of a book snob, I love audiobooks. As they help me bring some of the favorite books of my childhood to life by way of amazing actors, voice-over artists, and often the authors themselves. Listening enjoyment that can be enjoyed on long commutes or doing household chores like nightly dish duty. There’s also the added benefits of listening to audiobooks while multi-tasking at home, listening to audiobooks helps make performing chores more fun, they also turn hours of my day into fun that would otherwise be rather unenjoyable. As scrubbing the bathroom, putting laundry away or dusting is always easier when my audiobooks are on the play. 

Did I also mention how perfect audiobooks help me get to sleep, calm anxiety? There’s that too. This is why I have come to think of audiobooks as vital parts of my self-care routine at home. Especially during the cold weather months each year.  The only drawback? It can sometimes be difficult to enjoy the benefits of audiobooks if they don’t fit into your book budget. Which is why I’m sharing today some of my favorite ways to enjoy free audiobook titles.

Please note: The following resources are all free, legally-obtained audiobook sources. TheLadyPrefers2Save.com does not advise the illegal download of audiobook files. The theft of intellectual property is not only criminal, but it is also immoral. As it takes advantage of the authors, publishers, marketing teams, influencer reviewers, booksellers, distributors, shippers, and agents that work untold hours to bring your favorite stories to life. So when it comes to downloading free audiobooks, download legally. Authors deserve to be compensated for all the good they give to this world. And, of course, enjoy the following sources. Then, when you find a gem, share it online via GoodReads or your favorite review site. Pass your finds forward. And as always, enjoy the freedom and privileges of literacy and education. By way of the history of the spoken word.

Websites To Find Free, Reduced, or Inexpensive Audiobooks Online

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Librivox

Librivox is a non-profit, online initiative that records and provides public domain books, released as free audiobooks. The site boasts over 10,000 projects, with a diverse set of titles ranging from War and Peace to Leaves of Grass to The Dream of the Red Chamber to Anne of Green Gables. You can find a free audiobook by searching by title, author, genre/subject, or language. You can also browse all the titles in the catalog, view only the most recent audiobooks, and subscribe to new releases as podcasts. Once you reach a book’s description page, you can read more about it and even listen to the chapters individually without having to download each of them. You can even volunteer to read sections for books-in-progress! Find out more about them, here.

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Lit2Go

Lit2Go offers audiobooks, plays, short stories, and poems that have been tailored for use in classrooms. Along with each free audiobook, you’ll get citation information, playtime, and word count.  accompanying PDF that can be used to read-along with text. Available as well on Android and ios. Find out more about this service, here.

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Loyal Books

Loyal Books shares free audiobooks from titles in the public domain. You’ll find options like John Milton’s Paradise Lost and Sir Author Conan Doyle’s The Return of Sherlock Holmes, among others. Users can also submit reviews and read what others have had to say about each of the titles. Find out more about this service, here. 

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Mind Webs

Mind Webs is a hauntingly-good old-time radio dramatization of over 150 of the most classic science fiction short stories. You’ll find free science fiction stories from Ursula K. Le Guin, Kurt Vonnegut, and H.G. Wells, among others. Find out more about his service, here. 

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Open Culture

Open Culture’s site brings together high-quality cultural along with educational media to provide kids of all ages with a comprehensive lifelong learning community. With hosts of intelligent audio and video content to choose from, this site’s free choices make it fun to use as it is enriching for listeners of all walks of life. You can gain access to this high-quality content by clicking here. 

OverDrive

OverDrive provides access to the most ebook and audiobook content you’ll find on this list, by pairing with local libraries. With over two million books and videos, and partner with more than 30,000 libraries nationally,  you’ll find the newest audiobook releases through OverDrive. All free of charge through your local library’s Overdrive access for 7, 14, 0r 21-day loans. Books can also be downloaded by specific chapters alone, too. The app can also be linked to Android, desktop, and iOS services. To find out about this service, click here. 

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Scribl

Scribl provides users with a great option for newer releases, with many of the books read by the authors themselves. These free audiobooks are provided in a serialized form, so you can listen to small chunks that fit into your commute. My favorite site feature? Podiobooks encourages listeners to donate money directly to the authors of the books, with authors receiving 75% of donations. Including indie authors and artists. To find out about this site, click here.

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Project Gutenberg

Project Gutenberg is the Cadillac of sites for free books that are in the public domain. Since they use books no longer under copyright, most of the books on the sites were written before 1923. So keep that in mind when searching for something to listen to. Including their section on human-read free audiobooks offers an even wider collection of books. Stand-outs include Marion Zimmer Bradley’s The Colors of Space and Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre. Project Gutenberg also offers computer-read audiobooks too. To find out more about this site, click here.

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Spotify

No one loves Spotify more than me. So if you too are a playlist junkie, be sure to check out Spotify’s audiobooks playlist for a list of audiobooks that are always being added to by the service. Spotify is free to listen, or you can go premium if you don’t want the ads. Spotify’s list currently features The Great Gatsby audiobook, as well as 1984 and Pride and Prejudice. To find out more about the service, and its apps, click here.

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Storynory

Storynory offers free audiobooks for kids, with a mix of classics, fairy tales, and original stories for kids. But for the kid at heart, you’ll also love classic titles like Brothers Grimm folk tales, Aesop’s fables, or stories from 1,001 Nights again. To find out more about this site, click here. 

Sync

Every summer, readers looking for YA audiobooks can head over to SYNC, a free summer audiobook program for teens, sponsored by AudioFile Magazine and delivered by OverDrive. Also worth noting, each summer the site gives away two free audiobooks every week in the summer. Users can also sign up for alerts to know when new audiobooks are available.  To find out more about his site, click here. 

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Bound

The Bound app, which downloads your audiobooks directly from a DropBox account, or other cloud-based services, onto your Bound app, for both iOS and Android, allows users to use bookmarks and can remember where you paused your book. And it’s simply prettier and easier to use. To find out more about this app, click here. 

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Google Play Books

Google Play Books allows you to listen to your purchased audiobooks across platforms and devices. That enables listeners to pick up where they left off on their Android device, iPhone, or desktop PCs. Audiobook controls allow you to skip ahead or scroll along the timeline, jump to chapters, and configure playback speed and a snooze timer. Unlike other audiobook services, Google Play Books doesn’t run on a monthly subscription, instead of allowing users to preview audiobooks and then buy what they want over the Google Play Books marketplace. However, you just pay monthly after the trial to keep downloading each of your enjoyed audiobooks. To find out about this app, and service, click here.

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Digitalbook.io

Digitalbook.io is a free audiobook directory that makes it easy to find public domain audiobook downloads. Browse titles by the most popular or recently added audiobooks to find one you might like to listen to or look through the list of genres or authors. and even by specific quotes or chapters, too. You can also see trending audiobooks at Digitalbook.io’s homepage. There are currently over 100,000 items at Digitalbook.io, and while some are audiobooks, others are regular eBooks. To find out more about this site, click here.

Audio Stories for Kids | Free Coloring Pages | Colouring Printables

Light Up Your Brain

Light Up Your Brain’s audiobook site is geared towards tech-savvy kids aged 5-15 and a free text version is available with each audiobook. Most audiobooks are under 10 minutes and most titles will provide PDF transcripts of the audiobooks as well. Including classic audiobooks, ready-to-be-steamed directly from the website. Keep in mind, all titles must be downloaded individually, as there is currently no group downloader available and all audiobooks must be downloaded by right-clicking on each title to be saved as Mp3 files. As the site does not host stylized download or hover buttons. To find out more about this site, click here. 

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ThoughtAudio

Thought Audio is another classic-minded audiobook site featuring classic works of literature and philosophy books available for download as free audiobooks. You can browse the whole list or search for books, as well as see them in order of those that were most recently added to the collection. To get these audiobooks you have to either listen to them on the ThoughtAudio website or download them in installments by right-clicking each part that you want to save. PDF transcripts for these audiobooks are also available for download. Some audiobooks are available in multiple audio formats. The perfect place for classic audiobooks for writers, college students, and seminary students alike. To find out more about this site, click here. 

Welcome to LearnOutLoud.com, Your Audio Learning Resource on the Internet.

Learn Out Loud

LearnOutLoud’s self-development focused free audiobooks allow users to find practical information by way of thousands of free audiobooks, categorized by genre,  including documentaries, courses, speeches, and more. Keeping in mind, a free user account is needed for some audiobooks and other titles may be subject to trial offers. Most titles can be sorted by recently added, random, most popular, or alphabetically. There are also specific categories that you can choose to find only those types of free audiobook downloads, such as Science, Technology, Self Development, Languages, Business, and Travel. To find out more about this site, click here. 

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Hoopla

Hoopla, much like OverDrive, provides users with various digital media services offered by local public libraries. Allowing users to borrow movies, music, audiobooks, ebooks, comics, and TV shows to enjoy on your device of choice. Including various computers, tablets, e-readers, or smartphones. Even on your TV or smart tv and other iOS and Android devices as well as Roku, Chromecast, Fire TVs. With Hoopla, there’s no waiting for titles. As selections can be streamed immediately or downloaded to phones or tablets for offline enjoyment later. Featuring hundreds of thousands of titles to choose from, with more being added daily, this site brings the best of your local library into your home. With tons of titles at your fingertips, anytime and anywhere. As with the OverDrive app, users need a valid library card, and your local library must be signed up to use the service in order for users to get started renting titles from home.  To find out more about the site, click here. 

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NewFixtion

NewFixtion is in a category all to itself. It doesn’t have many titles, but what it does have are original stories delivered in daily episodes, much like daily radio shows of the 1940s. With each episode is voiced by trained actors, which gives it a more rounded feeling. It’s really more like listening to an old-time radio drama than simply having a book read to you. You can’t download titles from NewFixtion, though. Titles are listed through your desktop or mobile browser. To find out more about the site, click here. 

ejunto

Fans of American history will love ejunto’s library of historic media. Users can access, download, and listen on iTunes or download as an MP3 through a podcast library of resourcing links. While titles cannot be downloaded in bulk, rather on a chapter-by-chapter downloading basis, the site is still a great resource for history lovers of all ages. at a time. To find out more about the site, click here. 

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YouTube

Similar to Spotify, YouTube is not primarily a good source for audiobooks because most of the content is music and videos. However, you might have luck finding some really great free audiobooks on YouTube if you know how to search for them. Such as searching for a title name followed by “audiobook.” Users can also try Reddit. Which hosts genre-specific directories for finding YouTube-centric audiobook files. Specifically for sharing which videos on YouTube are actually audiobooks. Once you find an audiobook you like, and so long as you know it’s public domain or is legal to download, you can download just the audio from the video with a YouTube to MP3 converter.  Browse YouTube audiobooks, here. 

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DigitalBook, formerly Librophile, lets you search through a database of public domain books from places like Librivox, Gutenberg, Open Library, and also includes books from Amazon and Audible. Although not all books are free, a large number of them are, and they boast a catalog of over 100,000 free audiobooks and eBooks. If you sign up for a free membership, you can save books on a personal bookshelf to read later without having to download. Click here to find out more about this site. 

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Audio Archive

Internet Archive is a non-profit archive of internet sites and other cultural artifacts, made available to users in digital form. It’s one of the larger and more well-known sites out there for access pretty much anything in the public domain. Providing free access to an archive of over 4 million audio recordings, 11 million books and texts, and 3 million videos. To find out more about this site, click here.

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RBDigital

RBDigital offers an extensive collection of audiobooks, magazines, and eBooks, with the largest independent collection of unabridged audiobooks. To find out more about this site, click here. 

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Your Cloud Library

YourCloudLibrary is an application for Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android that offers access to millions of ebooks and audio to download.  cloudLibrary by bibliotheca works with a huge range of eReading devices, and we’re adding support all the time. Right now, you are able to view and download content on iOS and Android recognized devices. To find out more about this service, click here.

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Amazon Audiobooks

If You’re an Amazon Prime Subscriber, you can get free audiobooks there, too! If you’re an Amazon Prime member you can get unlimited access to a selection of free audiobooks each month in addition to Prime eligible Kindle ebooks. Keep in mind, Amazon doesn’t make it particularly clear where to find the list of audiobooks currently free to borrow for Prime members. This means you’ll need to download the ebook before you can get the audiobook from separate lists of available audiobooks, downloading each individually. 

To get started, here’s the list of Books with Audible Narration free for Prime members in 2019.  Prime eligible ebooks show a Prime logo in the buy box that says, Included with your membership. Books that also have a matching Prime-eligible audiobook will show a box that says, Read and Listen for Free. If the audiobook isn’t part of Prime it will just say, Read for Free.

When searching for free Amazon audiobook titles, be sure to search and select Prime-eligible books. Including titles with matching audiobooks available with Prime, as it will automatically be available once you borrow the ebook. Fire tablet users you can easily find Prime audiobook content from the menu of the Audible section where it lists Prime Benefits.

Audible Channels are another way to get free audio content with Prime. Audible Channels include original short-form audio content (podcasts), along with playlists, and a selection of audiobooks to stream anytime. All options to help you find free audiobooks from Amazon.

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Kobo

Kobo, known for its e-reader services and devices, is also home to 5 million ebooks and audiobooks with an ever-growing catalog. Kobo might be one of the biggest competitors battling Amazon’s Kindle line. Free 30-day trial, cancel anytime. $12.99/month for an audiobook subscription after that point. Kobo’s audiobook player covers your basics, with a timeline scrubber bar, time skip buttons, chapter navigation, playback speed configuration, and a snooze timer. The app provides cross-platform syncing,  a customizable ebook reader, and a dedicated audiobook player. New users can sign up for a $5.00 additional discount on their first ebook purchase. The site also offers many new, free selections, too. To find out this site, click here. 

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Bookmobile

Bookmobile is a service, for both Android and iOS that specializes in DRM-free audiobooks and DRM-locked content from iTunes and Audible, as well as DRM-free content,  ripped from CDs or downloaded, including M4B and MP3 audiobooks. This app features a control panel designed to keep you from easily losing your place and includes drive and sleep modes, as well as supporting background playback. Extra features include a custom bookmarking feature that can automatically remember where you last stopped, playback speed controls, and AirPlay support. The free trial lasts for 60 days and allows you to import three audiobooks; iOS users will be charged $3.99 after free trial if not canceled. Users can even weekly free audiobooks for users who utilize their sign-up newsletter service. To find out about this app, click here. 

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Public Libraries

No longer do you need to leave the house in order to borrow a book from the library, as you can now even borrow public library books from your kindle, but you may still want to. As going to your local library can still gain you access to varied titles as well as the opportunity to request new releases by way of interlibrary loans from other branches. Local libraries also host a litany of other free services open to the general public, too! To find a library near you, click here.

Audiobooks, no matter if you’re listening to them on your commutes, while we’re cleaning the house, running, or, even while cooking, it’s always worth your listening time. Thankfully, these 30 websites, apps, directories, and sources can help offer thousands and thousands of free audiobooks for you online this season. That’s a lot of books. Get to listening!

Finally, be sure to share your favorite places to get audiobooks in the comments below. Or just say hi. That’s fun, too! 

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5 Tips on How to Stay Healthy During Fall Allergy, Cold & Flu Season

Please note, this post is sponsored by MomsMeet.com. All opinions expressed are my own. Thank you.

When it comes to fall allergy season as well as cold and flu season, the old adage is true, that an ounce of prevention is always worth a pound of cure. So are we are currently in the midst of one of the worst flu season’s on record, it’s more important than ever to find ways to prevent flu and cold symptoms in our lives, especially in our homes this season. With this in mind, here are seven tips to help you prevent at all season long:

Wash your hands often

Let’s face it, the effort is key when it comes to protecting your family this germ season. You have to do better than a quick rinse under the faucet. Do this by rubbing your hands together with soap and warm water vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Paying attention not to forget the areas between your fingers and under your nails, and then pat your hands dry. And remember, keep your hands away from your nose, mouth, and face to help to prevent illness.

For times when you cannot use soap and water to wash your hands, then I recommend Desert Essence Probiotic Hand Sanitizer. It is a pure, potent hand sanitizer that kills 99.99% of germs while delivering good bacteria courtesy of probiotic-packed Kefir, which nourishes and conditions the skin. It uses a combination of botanical extracts including Tea Tree Oil, Thyme, Elderberry, and Echinacea to help reduce bacteria.

Using patented “membrane”  technology that creates a “membrane,” or protective screen, a Desert Essence Probiotic Hand Sanitizer formula’s probiotic-rich formula, providing users with sanitization and the added benefits of gut-building flora. This one-of-a-kind sanitizer neither kills the probiotic, nor neutralizes flora, but rather helps facilitate the removal of harmful bacteria from hands while ensuring that gut-friendly flora thrives. 

You can find Desert Essence Probiotic Hand Sanitizer available here for purchase and you can use promo code DEprobioticpower to get 30% off Desert Essence Probiotic Hand Sanitizers. You can also check this store list to see if a retailer carries Desert Essence Probiotic Hand Sanitizers near you. Or use promo code DEprobioticpower for 30% off Desert Essence Probiotic Hand Sanitizers when visiting desertessence.com. 

Sanitize surfaces

Stopping the spread of germs doesn’t stop with our hands. Making sure you clean and disinfect hard surfaces such as countertops, tables, refrigerator handles, doorknobs, and faucets in your home is a must this season, too. Including the surfaces of our most-used items, including TV remotes, computers, laptops, tablets, toys, and phones, too. Some germs can live in these spots, in small creases for up to 24 hours, so make sure you clean with a disinfectant or disinfecting wipes, or 1/4 cup of vinegar mixed with 1 gallon of water and 10 drops of lavender essential oil.

Steer clear of the sick

It can be tough to completely avoid a sick person in your house, especially if you’re a caretaker. But sometimes the best thing you can do to stay well is to keep your distance. If you can, give the sick person their own room for sleeping and relaxing. Stock it with the items they’ll need, like tissues, a trash can, medicine, and bottles of water. And limit their guests, so that the only person who should go in and out of the sick-room is the person taking care of them.

Pamper your immune system

Your body does a remarkable job protecting you from illnesses most of the time, eating lots of fruits and veggies, and making sure you get plenty of rest, can help you out as well. Also making sure to add daily exercise, keeping stress in check, and limiting alcohol as well.

Close your toilet lid before flushing

You really should put the toilet seat down. No really! While it may put some household arguments to rest, the real reason to close the toilet lid is a phenomenon known as a toilet plume. When you flush a toilet, the swirling water that removes your waste from the bowl also mixes with small particles of that waste, shooting aerosolized feces and urine into the air. Low-flow toilets have decreased this risk but have not eliminated this and as aerosol plumes can reach as high as 15 feet, closing the lid is a must!

Get a flu shot

While this may be controversial to some, it’s also worth noting that getting a flu shot is still one of the surest ways to stay well each cold and flu season. Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination, antibodies provide protection against infection with the viruses that are in the vaccine. The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common illness this season. As the vaccine is different every year, so it’s vital to make sure yours is up-to-date each season.

Don’t overshare

One of the best ways to prevent cold and flu at home is by not sharing food or drinks, cups, utensils, or towels with people who are sick in your home. Also, don’t forget to throw out toothbrushes after everyone gets well and to keep a sick person’s toothbrush separate from the rest of your family’s. They can be a breeding ground for germs. A great tip? Trade out plastic toothbrushes for naturally antimicrobial, compostable toothbrushes. As well, don’t let anyone share pillows and blankets with anyone who is sick, and they should have their own bedding, in their own space in the house. Then, once he’s better, wash everything he used. The same goes for toys and playtimes, too!

Friends, those are 7 tips to help prevent germs at home this fall allergy, flu, and cold season. While you may not be able to prevent every illness under the sun from coming into your home this season, these tips may be able to help you and your family stay healthier at home just the same! Also, make sure to follow Desert Essence on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more product information, sales, and giveaways. So, now I want to ask, do you have any tips for preventing germs at home this fall? I’d love to hear about them below.

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Quicken Your Debt-Free Journey with Derby Advisors

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

 

When you start a family, you’ll be given different pieces of advice and indeed warnings. You’ll be told that kids keep you up all night which they do. That your personal time is seriously cut down which it is. How incredible it is to have children and to love someone more than you ever thought possible. What people won’t talk to you about is the cost of having a family. That information they’ll let you figure that one out all by yourself.

Have you seen people driving around in expensive sports cars and planning luxury vacations? You can feel fairly certain those people don’t have kids. Or, if they do they have discovered the best ways to make your finances work for you when you have a family. That’s what we’re going to explore today, and we’ll start by looking at the right way to manage your budget.

Setting Up Your Big Monthly Budget

Everyone should have some sort of budget that they stick to each month or year. It will help ensure that you don’t spend more than you should and that you are able to keep those costs under complete control.

With a budget, it’s also possible to make sure that you have money in savings and that’s important. Most young couples don’t even have a thousand in savings, and that means they have no money at all for unexpected costs such as the potential bills they might have to pay. So, how do you set up your family budget the right way?

Well, you need to think about all the money you make. Include everything in this sum such as side hustles and investments. We’re going to look at both these options a little further down. Now that you have your total you need to look at your outgoings.

If you’re not sure of this, take a peek at your monthly statements. Look for patterns to give you an idea of what typically leaves your account each month. This will include food bills, energy bills, gas for the car and the list goes on.

Once you have a substantial list subtract them all. Now, take a third of the total and mark that as savings. What you have left is roughly the amount you have to spend on luxuries, unexpected costs and little things for your kids. It should be a fairly substantial amount, and that probably makes you wonder where your money goes. You definitely don’t have that much left at the end of the month do you?

Stop Overspending

It’s so easy to overspend and let’s look at the food shop as an example. By looking at your statements, you should be able to see how much on average you spend on your food each month. You want to work to cut this down as much as possible, and it’s easy to do.

One of the best ways to reduce your monthly food shop is to not be a slave for brands. We all have our favorites brands, but when you take a good hard look, you’ll see they aren’t really special at all. Offering more or less the same and when you realize that you’ll be able to look for the cheapest one every time you shop. Then, you can think about looking at vouchers and coupons online.

There are plenty of sites online like Coupons.com that provide great deals for parents looking for cheap deals on products that they buy regularly or even every time they head to the superstore.

Of course, food shopping is just one of the areas that you might be overspending where costs can be easily adjustable. Another example would be your energy bills. If you have a home full of kids then you might find it’s difficult to keep the energy bills under control.

That’s particularly true when you think about the amount of technology that you are probably using on a regular basis in your home. If you have teenagers, it’s possible that there’s a TV in each room along with a games console or computer. How do you keep the electric costs down when we’re all this tech orientated?

Well, you should be checking out the tech you purchase carefully. All tech on the market today has energy ratings. If you want to keep your energy bills low, you just need to make sure you’re buying tech with the best ratings on the market. In no time at all, you’ll find your bills are reduced down to size.

You might also want to think about getting a smart meter. With a smart meter, you’ll be able to find out exactly what is costing you the most money. That way you can replace it or take more control over how much that device is being used. But be careful of false economy saves.

For instance, if the dryer is costing you more money, don’t stuff it with clothes for fewer cycles. Ultimately, this will just lead to you needing to put it on, again and again, to get clothes dry anyway.

Kill Fixed Costs

What about the costs in your budget that are fixed? Are there ways to reduce these such as car insurance or even medical plans? Both will be essential for a family to guarantee that you have the resources needed to protect and take care of your children. The answer is that you can reduce these costs.

All you need to do is use price comparison sites. This will help you find the best deal each time you get the chance to renew these plans. For instance, you can use Gomedigap for more info on the best Medicare insurance companies to guarantee that you do get the greatest deal for your money every time. It’s important that you look at this coverage carefully to get the best savings and everything you need for your family.

Boost Your Budget

If when you look at your total that you have to spend at the end of the month, it’s less than you’d like there are ways to boost your earnings. Investments are a smart choice here, and the basic option would be a savers account that provides a high level of interest. That way a little money will be added without you even needing to try. You can look at the best savings accounts on NerdWallet.com.

Or, how about a side hustle. There are lots of choices here including working at home. When you look into these, you’ll find that the market is wide open and there are lots of available opportunities to help you make more money.

Debt Consolidation services with Derby Advisors

Sometimes the best way to better your family finances at home can be with debt consolidation services. Financial services strategies to help families with their finances by paying off one or more lines of credit in exchange for a loan that’s better suited to complement your financial goals.

Reasons to consolidate debt include allowing families to be able to more easily pay off your credit card balances with a personal loan that could help you save on interest, increase your credit score and change your debt from revolving to installment debt, among other benefits. As revolving debt in the form of debt that many credit card use. Most consumer credit cards are categorized as revolving credit, and the amount you use has a considerable effect on your utilization ratio and credit score. Using consolidation services, families can more quickly pay off these sums in order to better their financial situations at home.

Debt consolidation services, such as with Second City Advisors, can also help borrowers to more quickly be moving towards paying down installment debt, such as a mortgage, auto loan or student loan. By paying off your debt with a personal loan and moving your balance to a consolidated payment, families could see an increase in your score and the payment plan could help you get out of debt for good. Consolidation services can also help consumers to lower monthly payments and shorten payment terms as well. By moving all of your unsecured debt onto a personal loan, you’ll only have a single payment to make each month.

Although consolidating debt isn’t the right option for everyone and all situations, it could significantly improve your finances when it does make sense. Get started by doing your research. find out with consolidation services you may qualify for.

In order to see if your family qualifies for consolidation services, be sure to have information on-hand including the balances and rates on your credit cards so you can compare your current rates to your new options. You should also check your current debt interest rates and decide how much you want to consolidate. You don’t have to consolidate all of your cards for the convenience of a single payment. However, if all of your cards have a higher rate than your new offers, you may be able to save by combining them all. When choosing your amount, remember to check the origination fee on your loan.

With this information in mind, you can apply for Derby Advisors consolidation services and options you like, finishing the last steps of your process is simple: after you’ve applied for the loan you desire, just verify your info and sign your loan! Once your loan is signed, you can receive your money sometimes as soon as the same day.

If you think you meet the minimum qualifications and want to pay off your credit cards or other high-interest debt, you can get started and see your options, such as Interstate Associates consolidation services.

Friends, while family finances generally no picnic, utilizing the tips listed above can help make your finances easier to manage this season at home. And if you have any tips for bettering family finances yourself, feel free to leave those suggestions in the comments below.

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