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How to Teach Your Teen to Manage Their Money

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A lot is often said about adults needing to learn how to budget. However, it is not just adults that need to learn how to budget the money they earn. Kids need to do so as well.

Helping your teenager to learn how to budget your money is a skill that will be beneficial to them as they go into adulthood. 

If your teenager is currently working at a part-time job or even if they are only getting their allowance, showing them how to manage their money effectively is one of those life skills that have tremendous value. Here are some tips for showing your teenager how to manage their money.

Look at Income

One of the things you need to look at is your child’s income. Determining the income of your child is the first step to helping them to manage their budget. 

After all, you have to know what you are working with to know how to manage the money. If your teenager gets money from a part-time job, an allowance, or money from relatives and friends on their birthday or special holidays all of this can be added up to create their budget. 

You can create a budget for every month of the year if the amount fluctuates.

Note All Expenses

The next thing you need to do is to make a note of all the expenses that they have during the month. If your child is an older teen they will probably have a cell phone bill that they need to pay every month. 

If they have a car they will probably need to put gas in it regularly. They may also have expenses for certain foods they like to buy for themselves. 

Creating a monthly tally of the expenses is essential because it will help them to know their income and expenditure.

You should show your child exactly how to go about subtracting your income from your expenditure. This will allow them to know if they are going over budget and even if they have any money left over for savings. 

If they find that they are spending more than they are earning this is the time when you will look at ways for them to start cutting their expenses.

Discuss Savings

The next thing you need to discuss is how they are going to save money. If your teen is completely over budget they will need to sit down and figure out how they are going to curb their expenses to save more money. 

Maybe they will need to carpool on some days or maybe they need to stop eating so much of their favorite foods. Teaching them how to make sacrifices so that they can save for long-term goals is necessary.

After they’ve done all of this work you can then show them how to create a balanced budget. Show them how to work the numbers until they balance everything. This is a skill that will stay with them for a lifetime.

Budgeting for Recreation

While it is important to teach your teen how to balance money for their expenses. It is also important for you to teach them how to set aside money for those activities that they enjoy. 

Life is about having a balance and teaching them how to save, balance their expenses and also use the money for recreation is essential.

Make sure that you show your child how to prioritize needs and wants. This will help them decide how best to spend their money.

It is important that you also show your teen examples of young people who have managed to make a name for themselves in one way or another and also have a high net worth. 

For example, millennial Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was nicknamed AOC. AOC is currently worth $200,000. This is just one example but you can find others too.

Start Wealth Building Now

Building wealth is something that you need to start teaching children from a very early age. Showing them how to effectively manage their finances from when they are young is something that will be ingrained in them as they become adults. 

This will lead to less frustration when they have to deal with their expenses as adults. It will also help them to start building wealth from they are very young. 

The earlier your child starts building wealth the more likely it is that they will have financial freedom as they get older.

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Stay Merry With These COVID-19 Christmas Ideas

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As enjoyable as Christmas is for most people, it takes a lot of work to make sure that everything goes smoothly. With many restrictions still in place because of COVID-19, that’s become much more complicated.

That doesn’t mean that you can’t adjust and still have an enjoyable holiday. Instead, there are multiple COVID-19 Christmas ideas you can take advantage of. While you’ll need to make sure you stay safe, you can enjoy the festive season as much as you did before the pandemic.

A decent amount of planning will be needed, especially if you want to stay cozy, but that shouldn’t be too large of an issue. You should focus on several things when you’re planning things out.

Top COVID-19 Christmas Ideas

Stay Inspired

It can be easy to feel somewhat negative leading up to the holiday season. It isn’t the first during the COVID-19 era, after all. Staying inspired by all of the good things happening in the world can be the easiest way to stay motivated and inspired.

Even looking online can give you things to smile about. These can be relatively small things, such as some funny videos, or something larger. Regardless of what this is, it can be an effective way of getting into the holiday spirit.

Treat Yourself

With all that you might have to manage during the holiday season, it can be easy to forget about yourself. One of the top COVID-19 Christmas ideas you can take advantage of is to look after yourself. You can do this in more ways than you might expect.

It could be as simple as learning a new bread pudding recipe for the big day to take dinner to another level. Alternatively, you could plan on spending time with your feet up and relaxing. Whatever way you think you can treat yourself over the holidays will be more than worth it.

Celebrate Online

Many people would prefer not to celebrate in person with many of their friends and family. The reasoning behind this can be understandable. That doesn’t mean that you’ll have to enjoy Christmas without them, however.

You can take advantage of multiple tools and technology to stay connected with them. While you might be in different homes, or even different countries, you can feel as close as ever with each other.

Zoom and other video conferencing software can be more than recommended for this. Though it might take a bit of effort to plan this out properly, that’ll be more than worth it. It’ll feel like your loved ones are right next to you throughout the day.

Wrapping Up

It’s worth making sure that you adapt your COVID-19 Christmas ideas to you and your family. Everyone’s different and will have specific wants and desires during the festive period. Making sure that everyone will have an enjoyable time hasn’t changed from previous holidays.

While this year could be a little different, it doesn’t mean that you and your loved ones won’t have a great time. Trying the above can make sure that that happens. What’s stopping you from enjoying your Christmas?

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Tips To Save Money On Your Next Holiday

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Going on holiday is often the event that we all look forward to the most in our calendar. It is where we can spend time relaxing with friends, family or other half and switching off from work. It is our time to rejuvenate and do the things that we want to do when we want to do it. Whether you like to spend your holidays having a much-needed lie-in before flopping down on a sun lounger on the beach, or if you prefer to get up and see the sunrise, taking a hike across mountains, it is up to you. You can learn new cultures and recipes, indulging in things such as Italian meringue buttercream, fresh street food in Thailand, or tapas in Spain. The only issue with heading away on holiday is that it can end up being costly. You will need money to spend on everything from your accommodation to your transport, your food and drink while you are there and your activities. If you are looking to save some money on your next holiday, we have put together a few top tips below.

Check out any last-minute bargains

Some of the best hotels can slash their prices by a lot when it comes to last-minute offers. This is why it’s a good idea to keep an eye on flights and accommodation through price comparison sites and wait until the last minute to book. You can find some places that have discounts of almost 50% of what you might have paid originally.

Book cheaper accommodation

The accommodation choice you opt for can also really affect your budget. Opting for a five-star, all-inclusive hotel is going to undoubtedly be more expensive than a hostel or campsite. Think about what you want from your break and where you are going. If accommodation is something that matters a lot for you, then try to save money in other areas.

Arrange your own transportation

Taxis can be costly so try to arrange your own transportation when you can. You could hire out a car to get your between places, or why not opt for walking or public transport? The bus can often be a very cheap way of navigating around somewhere new.

Opt for self-catering 

Food can be one of the biggest costs when you are on holiday, so why not opt for somewhere self-catered instead? This way you can budget for a food shop and make your own meals – something that is much cheaper than eating out all the time. You can use fresh local ingredients and make some incredible dishes that you might not be able to at home.

These are just a few top tips that can save money on your next holiday. Going away on a budget doesn’t mean that you end up missing out and you can in fact have the time of your life. What are some top tips you like to follow when heading abroad? Let us know in the comments below!

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What types of pet franchises are available in 2021?

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It is no secret that everyone has a soft spot for pets. Whether you like the cuddly kind that will be by your side for life or if you enjoy collecting rare breeds of birds, reptiles, or fish. If this sounds like you, 2021 could be the year that you turn your love for animals into a profitable business that could replace your full-time job and provide you with the freedom that you’ve always dreamt of.

The pet industry has ample room for growth and huge opportunities for budding entrepreneurs. Each year, more and more people are investing in pet franchises due to their popularity and high demand. Pets are common in every neighborhood, so pet services and products will always be needed!

If you fancy trying your hand at running your business and want to invest in a pet franchise, this article will guide you through exactly what types of pet franchises are available in 2021.

Dog walking franchise

Some of the best franchises in the pet-related sector are dog walking franchises. Dog walking franchises are becoming incredibly popular with busy, career-oriented individuals who may not have time to walk their beloved pooch themselves. Dog walking services will charge to take dogs out for walks, provide them with daycare and deliver them safely back to their owners.

A dog walking business is a great venture to get into if you enjoy being outdoors and want a business that keeps you on your feet! Dog walking jobs are also highly sought after by students and young people, so it won’t be tricky to find staff to work for you!

The minimum investment required to buy a dog walking franchise is fairly low compared to other types of businesses, and full marketing materials, training, and branding will be provided to you when you join!

Pet grooming franchises

Everybody needs a nice pamper every now and then and pets are no different! Pet grooming services are in high demand by owners who want to treat their furry friends to a haircut, spa treatment, or even a nice bath.

Most franchisees will hire professionally trained groomers who will cut, wash and tidy up animals’ fur. Some pet grooming franchises will offer training for all staff members, which will save you time and money trying to train up staff yourself once the business is running.

Pet grooming services can be either mobile or based on a set location. This will affect the minimum investment that you have to pay. Mobile grooming services are always a popular option as some pets feel far safer in their own environment, however, many owners enjoy the experience of heading to a professional pet salon.

Pet sitting franchise

As much as we all love our pets, there are times when they must be left at home whilst their owners go away on holidays or business trips. In these circumstances, pet sitting services are required to provide care for pets when their owners are away.

Some pet sitting services will also be known as kennels, which are like pet hotels and will house different pets for long periods of time. Other services may involve going into a customer’s house to check in on the pet, walk them, feed them and wash them. These services do not look after pets overnight and will instead see the pets for only a short period of time daily.

By investing in a pet sitting franchise, a day’s work will never be the same! One day you might find yourself walking a greyhound and the next you may be cuddling up with a fluffy cat. Think about how great it would be to be paid for playing with animals!

Pet photography franchise

If you have a creative side and would prefer a pet franchise that is less hands-on, you could opt for a pet photography franchise. People around the world love having good photos of their pets to send to friends and family, put onto cards, and post across social media. A pet photography franchise will definitely bring you lots of keen customers and you will get to see a wide variety of very cute pets!

Pet photography franchises come with a pre-established photography brand that you can work under, which is guaranteed to bring you customers who have heard about the franchise via word of mouth. Working under a good brand name will help you to stay competitive in the marketplace and will ensure that your customers maintain brand loyalty.

Although this franchise may not involve caring for pets, the photographers will still be getting close to the animals, entertaining them on set, and ensuring that they are enjoying their photoshoot. If you have a creative side and love animals, this could be the perfect franchise investment for you!

Globally, there are nearly half a billion dogs left as pets and over a quarter of a million cats. Therefore, wherever in the world you wish to open a pet franchise, you should open a franchise with confidence that there is always going to be a demand for pet services.

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Going Grocery shopping? 4 Tips That Can Help

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For most families, budgeting for groceries comes first before buying healthy food. With the rising economic costs, it is more difficult to buy ingredients for a solid meal. Fortunately, there are better ways to nourish your family on a budget.

A great trick that works for many is following brands on social media accounts. By doing so, you will always be aware of discounts and deals available that you can take advantage of to stock up your pantry and freezer.

It is also good to plant some veggies in your garden to lift the burden of buying them from the store, which can liberate your finances. Things to grow include tomatoes, baby spinach, asparagus, lettuce, carrots, and many others.

To save money and eat healthier, you should start eating less at restaurants and cook meals at home. This way, you will have more discipline on what you eat by identifying cheap but better foods you can cook.

Grocery shopping can be a tiresome experience that involves planning and budgeting if you want to eat right. There is so much consideration, but no need to worry because this article highlights the best yet simple ways to plan and shop for your groceries. Here are a few.

Research Stores

If you want to follow a diet, you need to go the extra mile by researching different stores. Exploring in advance has a lot of benefits. For one, you can identify a store that has all the products you want to buy.

Most stores have online catalogs that display what is available.

 By using these catalogs, you can identify a store with all the items you need, which means you will make one trip to the store depending on how often you do grocery shopping. Additionally, you can save gas and time by not hopping  from one store to another.

Have a Running List and Budget

It is always good to have a running list that you can use to shop for groceries at any time. Having a running grocery list means updating the list whenever you run out of something. Such lists are kept on the fridge to make it easy to jot something down immediately after it empties.

Today, there are high-end grocery apps that people use to keep track of what to buy. Such apps allow you to create spreadsheets that serve as checklists you can use when shopping for groceries. They also allow you to budget by summing up the total and comparing products from different stores.

Plan for Your Menu

It would help if you always had a menu to make it easy to buy what you need. If you are watching your calorie intake in order to lose weight, you should highlight ingredients to buy to achieve healthy eating. If you have kids, it’s advisable to create a kid-friendly menu that can boost their health and growth. If eating healthier doesn’t help with weight loss, you should consider effective weight loss treatments.

By planning a week’s menu, it can save you time, especially if you will have a busy week at work. You can start by identifying easy meals to have for breakfast to avoid getting late for work. You will probably come home late and fatigued, so it would be best if you also laid down quick evening meals you can make.

Lastly, it would be best if you plan menus for special occasions and holidays. Jot down what to make for special events such as baby showers, birthday parties, and many others. This way, you can know what to get and where to get it from.

Shop During Off-peak Hours and Seasons

You can avoid waiting in long queues at the store or have difficulty finding a parking spot by shopping during off-peak hours and seasons. By off-peak hours, it means shopping during the day or late in the night. Many people will be busy working during the day, which means less crowded stores.

It would also be best not to shop in the afternoon as many people leave their jobs around that time. Additionally, you should shop during off-peak seasons. That is, if a holiday is coming up, ensure to shop for groceries early. By this, you can escape having to wait in long queues to pay for your items. Holidays to look out for are thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s since most people spend them with their families, which means cooking family dinner meals.

By using the above tips, you are guaranteed a comfortable and healthier shopping experience. Other than that, it can save you time when the above guidelines become your routine.

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5 Christmas Shopping Tips During Covid-19

Celebrating Christmas is an age-old tradition. Many families worldwide are always looking forward to sharing gifts and Christmas dinner while catching up with their loved ones. But this year’s festive season, like everything else, will be very different. With a highly infectious virus ravaging communities and families, the winter holidays will be the strangest in our lifetime. From restrictions on social gatherings to stretched finances and a contagious virus ominously hanging in the air, our hands will be full this Christmas.

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Christmas shopping this year will come with an added sense of oddity. The finances are stretched, with millions of people unemployed. The malls and stores have restrictive protocols, while traveling is discouraged. However, shopping will add a sense of merry to your festive season despite the doom and gloom. The following tips will help you steer these unprecedented times and get the best gifts and food for your loved ones:

Work with a Realistic Budget

With stretched finances, it would be unwise to go Christmas shopping without a budget. Draw a flexible budget that reflects your financial situation. Rank items on your shopping list based on priority. Whether you opt for online or in-store shopping, carry the list with you. It would be prudent to stick to the list and tick every item once you purchase it. A pragmatic budget will ensure that you don’t run the risk of struggling because you spent all your money during the festive winter season.

Get all the Help you Need

This Christmas is not ideal for putting on an invincibility cloak. Get everyone on board and let them help you out wherever possible. Let the little siblings, partner, or loved ones contribute, morally and financially, to add to the Christmas cheer. Always seek professional help whenever possible to ease your worries and enjoy the holidays. Call a top-rated personal injury lawyer in case of accidents or injuries.

Shop Around for the Best Deals

Christmas season is incomplete without those enticing deals, coupons, and discounts offered by grocery stores and shopping malls. Avoid the impulse of buying items from the first online or grocery store you visit. If you are online shopping, you have the added advantage of going through thousands of items from the comfort of your home before making the purchase. Compare the prices and quality and ask for discounts and special deals. Use those coupons and save some extra dollars.

Shop Whenever Possible

The risk of coronavirus cannot be entirely be eliminated. We have to find a way of going around our daily activities, including Christmas shopping, despite the threat of infection. Online shopping offers you the opportunity to get the best gifts and items for the festive season with little health risk. However, order early to avoid the last-minute rush and the danger of receiving your items in January.

Consider Cash Payments

Paying with cash reduces the risk of impulse buying. Credit cards give a sense of financial security even though your bank account does not back up such confidence.

Christmas shopping is an integral part of the winter holiday celebrations. Find ways to save money by buying discounted items and realistic budgeting. Use coupons to save more money as you enjoy the Christmas cheer.   

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How To Cope With The Hot Summer Ahead

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While it is not unheard of for long-range weather forecasts to be wrong, it is a fact that they don’t tend to make an inaccurate call when it comes to the basics. So, given that it’s expected for this summer to be hot – that is, very hot indeed – it’s probably fair to expect that we’ll have a lot of long sunny days and the mercury will be hitting the peaks for a few months. That’s great news, by and large, but it does mean you might have some preparations to make.

Summer plans usually don’t deviate much from a set pattern – holidays, cookouts and plenty of frugal fun – but this coming summer might be a little different. As we’ve already covered, it is expected that we’ll have a particularly balmy season. In addition, there is the question of the current crisis, which may make it hard to have the same kind of summer you’d usually have. Below, we’ll go into a few tips on how to prepare for the season so that it’s low on stress and offers plenty of fun.

Get your HVAC checked as soon as possible

Many of us rate how hot summer has been by how soon in the year we needed to start running the AC with regularity, and if this year’s forecasts are to be believed, we’re unlikely to have to wait. Given that you may be spending more time at home – and lockdown might mean there are more people around for more of the day – things could get sticky sooner than you were bargaining for. It’s important to ensure the HVAC is in perfect working order; as of right now, you might be best checking it yourself to ensure social distancing is maintained – but call your supplier for more information if you find it’s not running smoothly.

Make sure your garden is ready for a long summer

Summer for many people means long days gardening, regularly mowing the turf, and then enjoying the best of your work with a cool drink in a lawn chair. With that said, keeping your garden at its best during a hot summer can take a lot of work, so make sure you take all the help that nature is prepared to offer; make use of shade to stop the soil from drying out, and consider the likes of Zoysia grass sod for the lawn. The latter is highly suited to hot, dry summers – and it needs less watering, which could be good news if drought conditions strike.

Make sure you follow the rules on public gatherings

Of course, a hot evening is enhanced by being able to have a cookout, and it would be a shame to let a summer pass without having a gathering of family and friends to enjoy al fresco dining. However, bear in mind that there are likely to be municipal or regional guidelines on how many people you can have round, who can visit and which distancing recommendations you should follow. It may be a shame to miss out on this kind of gathering, but you could face a penalty for breaking conditions – and it could be worse if someone is carrying the virus.

We’re looking forward to a long, hot summer – and there can be plenty to enjoy as long as you’re well-prepared.

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