Karissa Tunis

How to Handle Your Relationship with Your Kids When They Become College Students

How to Handle Your Relationship with Your Kids When They Become College Students

One of the biggest push/pulls of parenting is wanting your kids to grow up and into the adults that they are meant to be. But also never wanting them to grow up and leave the nest. And one of the biggest adjustments with this dynamic, is how to transition your relationship with them as they start to lead their own lives. There is no instruction manual to show you the steps to take that are ultimately right or wrong, no matter what. But that can actually be an advantage. You have spent eighteen years preparing your kids, and yourself, for this time, and you probably know more than you think. But just in case, here are few pointers to consider along the way.

For more on this topic, check out the full All About Teen and collection

Help But Don’t Hover

True you child is more capable of being independent now than in years before. But that does not mean that they do not still need your guidance in certain areas. While they might not want you calling them every day to make sure they are eating healthy foods, they might appreciate your wisdom in more tactical areas of college, like finances. Paying for an education is not cheap. And if loans are involved, it is not as easy as writing a check and that’s that. Loans involve applications, qualifications, interest rates, terms, lenders, and much more.

Your child is going to need you to help them navigate the world of borrowing money so that they make sound choices now that set them up to be able to manage them successfully in the future. You can take out a student loan from a private lender to pay for college and get help with tuition costs not covered by traditional student loans. Be sure you are acting as a guide, and a reference though, doing everything for your kids throughout this process does not teach them anything. Instead let them drive the bus and simply be available in the passenger seat when they need some extra support.

Find a Communication Rhythm

Some parents speak to their children every day. While others at a lower frequency, and that is what is the norm for their family. When your kids leave the house, you might be saddened by the fact that you do not see and speak to them every day by default of them living in your home. However, that sadness is not their burden to bear. And you must make the effort not to make it so. Find a communication rhythm that makes sense for your family in this new stage. Maybe that means a pre-determined weekly Zoom, or daily texts to check in. However, this looks for you, resist the urge to track your child’s phone and check in incessantly when loneliness strikes. Give them the space to build their new life as a young adult in college.

[Read: 7 Life Strategies Your Child Needs Before They Go to College]

Be Their Safe Space

The last thing you want is for physical distance to create emotional distance as well. You have been a safe place to land for your kids up until this point, and it is important that they know you will continue to be in spite of this new stage of life. It can be difficult for kids to open up to parents when the subject matter is sensitive. So reassure them that there is nothing they can’t share with you. It’s fact that ignoring your emotions is unhealthy. And when kids internalize emotional struggles it can manifest in behaviors and choices with long-term, and sometime dangerous consequences.

For more on this topic, check out the full All About Teen and collection

Tips For Traveling With Children Post Pandemic

Tips For Traveling With Children Post Pandemic

We have been longing for a sense of normal. But traveling and meeting people for the holidays could become really complicated with the pandemic still doing rounds. There are new variants emerging and several nations are still struggling with the rising number of cases. Even with more people getting vaccines and booster shots, there are children under the age of 5 who have not been vaccinated yet.

Even if the children are wearing masks but are unvaccinated, they are at the risk of getting infected in transit or during travel. However, if you decide to travel, there are some things you can do to lower the risk.

For more on this topic, check out the full Travel Tips collection

Should you take the car or plane?

It is important to limit contact with the public. This is why traveling by car if you have a young child is a good idea. When taking breaks at the rest stop or the gas station, it’s recommended to keep the mask on and use hand sanitizer. Maintain distance from others and consider carrying your own snacks. You can make the car journey smoother for your little one with a comfortable car seat and head supports for car seats for them to take a nap.

However, if you are headed to a destination where driving is not possible, you should consider taking a direct flight so that you do not walk through different airports to change planes. Do not eat or drink on the flight if it is less than two hours. Since babies and infants cannot be masked in the flight, it is best to avoid taking one unless absolutely necessary.

Protect yourself while traveling in the car

When you consider all the options, you will realize that it is the safest to take a car. But in order to avoid riding with the germs, there are several precautions you will have to take. You need to start by cleaning and disinfecting the vehicle well and keep the hand sanitizer in your car so that you can use it whenever you make a stop.

Limit the number of people in your vehicle since it is not possible to sit six feet apart. But you must ensure that everyone is wearing a mask in the car. Before you stop for food or gas, designate a runner for the task and have a couple of people who are not at high risk go in and grab snacks. Ensure that they mask up and clean their hands before they get back in the car.

Protect yourself at the hotel

When you are headed out of town, you will need a place to rest. Whether you opt for a hotel or a rental home, you need to stay safe. The privacy of a vacation rental home might be appealing at this time. You must speak to the property managers about the social distancing, hygiene, and safety rules. If you are choosing to stay in a hotel, look into the cleaning protocol. Choose a hotel that has high safety and maintenance standards.

Protect yourself on a cruise

Ship travel is not a zero-risk activity. And if you are traveling with kids, it is best avoided. But if you have to take the cruise, you should remain up to date with the vaccination doses, and get a viral test done three days after the cruise.

How to plan your travels with children

Several countries have opened up and they do not have a vaccination requirement to enter. So, if you are excited about taking the much-awaited trip with your little ones, there are some things to keep in mind. It is best to travel within your country so that you are well aware of the current status of the virus and vaccination.

When traveling as a family, take a car and choose a vacation rental. This will help avoid meeting other people in common spaces like the gym or pool. You can easily find luxurious rentals that fulfill all your needs. If possible, head to destinations like jungle retreats. Or consider glamping since you do not have to meet a lot of people here.

Remember to carry all the essentials including masks, sanitizers, snacks for your journey, water, and medications. If you have recently recovered from Covid-19 and are taking any medications, remember to carry them with you.

Traveling with Kids Conclusion

Traveling with kids can be exciting and equally overwhelming. Your entire trip could turn into a horrible experience if something goes wrong. And now that you are headed on a trip after two long years, there is nothing you want to risk. Consider the age of your child and speak to their doctor before you plan the trip. Do not forget that children below five are unvaccinated and they are at constant risk of catching the virus.

For more on this topic, check out the full Travel Tips collection

Healthy Habits for the Elderly – 5 Ways to Enjoy Life as a Senior

August 16, 2022

Healthy Habits for the Elderly – 5 Ways to Enjoy Life as a Senior

A healthy body makes a healthy spirit. As we age, our bodies change. But we can still look after ourselves to stay fit. The key is to make healthy choices each day so that the payoff can be a long and comfortable life. But how can you ensure this?

Obviously, it’s only logical to start by exercising and following the right diet. However, you should also remember about staying hydrated and avoiding the excessive sun. The secret to aging well and remaining active is to take care of your body and mind.

You’re never too old to make changes and live a better life. The good news is that you don’t have to stop enjoying yourself as a senior! Even if, for some health-related reason, you need live-in care or another form of assistance. In fact, you can do more than you ever imagined! Continue reading if you’re interested in more details about healthy habits for seniors.

For more on this topic, check out the full Senior Care collection

Stay Active

As we age, it’s natural to slow down a bit, but that doesn’t mean you should give up on staying fit and active. Now, it’s more important than ever to keep moving and avoid a sedentary lifestyle.

There are some simple things you can do to maintain a certain activity level. It’s all about making small changes in your daily routine and looking for opportunities to move around.

For instance, you can take the stairs instead of the elevator. Go for a walk in the evening instead of watching TV, or go for a bike ride every Sunday. All these little things will add up and make a significant difference over time. You may also consider joining a community fitness class or a sports club. These days, it’s easier than ever to find something you like and stick with it.

If your mobility is limited, all is not lost yet. Physical therapists can recommend exercises tailored to your condition and help you improve your mobility and strength. There are also senior fitness centers offering classes specifically designed for the elderly.

Eat a Healthy Diet

There are some simple rules of thumb that apply to seniors as much as they do to younger people. The first one is to avoid processed foods. These are high in sodium, sugar, and fat and don’t provide the body with any real value. Moreover, these foods lack fiber, which helps keep your digestive system healthy and your weight in check.

The second rule is to limit meat and dairy products. Sure, you can still eat them in moderation, but make sure you’re getting enough nutrients from plant-based foods. These include fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds.

Finally, the third rule is to eat small meals throughout the day. This will keep your blood sugar stable and prevent you from overeating. It’s also convenient for seniors who have trouble chewing and swallowing.

Drink Plenty of Water

Water helps with digestion, maintains your metabolism, and keeps your skin looking young and healthy. It also flushes toxins from your body, which can otherwise build up and cause serious health problems. The recommended daily water intake depends on your age, activity level, and the weather. For example, if it’s hot outside, your body requires more water than when it’s cold. In general, though, seniors should drink about 8 glasses of water a day.

Also, avoid sodas and other sugary drinks that won’t be good for your health in the long run. If you prefer to sweeten your water, you can use a few drops of natural honey or lemon juice.

Avoid the Sun

The sun is an excellent source of energy and vitamin D, but it is also the leading cause of skin cancer and premature aging. While we should all enjoy the outdoors, it’s vital to limit your exposure to direct sunlight as much as possible. Wear hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen whenever you’re out to enjoy the world without damaging your skin and body.

Prolonged exposure to the sun can also cause heat exhaustion or heat stroke, which can be quite dangerous. As a senior, you are especially at risk, so be careful even when it’s not extremely hot outside.

[Read:The Science of Sunscreen – Helpful Facts for the Whole Family]

Stay Mentally Alert

As you age, it’s normal to feel less sharp and have slower reactions, but this doesn’t mean that your brain has stopped working. In fact, as long as you stay mentally active and challenge your brain, it can remain healthy and strong.

It’s never too late to learn a new skill. If you’re an avid reader, why not pick up a new language? Or, if you like to cook, why not enroll in a cooking class or start cooking more challenging meals? Other ways to keep your mind sharp include playing board games, doing crossword puzzles, or watching educational shows and movies.

You can also do challenging puzzles such as complicated locks. Yes, lockpicking is actually a puzzle game that can keep your mind active. You can start by solving simple lockpicking challenges with a complete beginner lock picking set. This can make the exercise more exciting and convenient since you have all the tools that a beginner lock picker can need.

Moreover, you shouldn’t neglect your mental health and emotional well-being. Keep in touch with your loved ones, participate in social activities, and find ways to have fun. And if you feel particularly down, don’t hesitate to contact a mental health counselor.

Final Thoughts

There’s no need to give up on a healthy lifestyle just because you are getting older. You can enjoy life as a senior by making small changes that will make a big difference in the long run. Your health is essential and should be taken care of so that you can enjoy your golden years.

Stay mentally alert, take care of your body, eat healthy foods, drink plenty of water, and keep moving. If you can stick to these habits for the rest of your life, you will be able to enjoy it – your loved ones will be grateful and happy to have you.

For more on this topic, check out the full Senior Care collection

Self Care Tips for Parents

Parenting can really take it out of you. Kids need lots of attention, and it can sometimes feel like your needs take a back seat. To help you design a great self-care regime, consider these tricks and tips. Keep reading below for self care tips for parents.

For more on this topic, check out the full Self Care collection

Self Care Tips for Parents

Use a journal

According to Positive Psychology, journaling is helpful to ‘enhance your sense of well-being and reduce symptoms of depression.’ Journaling has plenty of benefits, such as:

Journaling can boost your mood.
Can help you to express gratitude.
Can help you to express an emotional or traumatic event.
Journaling can help you to relax and improve your sleep.

If you’re not sure how to get started with a journal, you may want to try a journaling app. Applications like Reflectly and Grateful include lots of journaling exercises.

Practice meditation

Studies indicate that meditation is useful to improve our mental health. Mediation can help you to relax and become more mindful. Mediation can be used to challenge negative thought patterns, and focus on the positives. To learn about mediation, try meditation podcasts like One Mind with Morgan Dix, or The Mindful minute podcast. Both of these tools are perfect for beginners. Once you learn the ropes, you can reflect on which style of meditation you like best.

Allow yourself alone time

Life as a parent can be incredibly busy and sometimes stressful. You might feel like you don’t get any time to yourself. Challenge yourself to reclaim that alone time. Hire a babysitter every once in a while, and treat yourself to a kid-free day! Think about the activities that you enjoy doing by yourself. You might like to visit museums, go hiking, read books, or enjoy the theatre. Spending time alone can help you to unwind, reflect, and even learn new things. After a day by yourself, you’ll feel calm and refreshed.

[Read: 101 Self Care Ideas for Busy Moms]

Brief acts of self care

When you’re rushed off our feet it can feel hard to make time for self-care. The good news is, you don’t need lots of time to spare. There are so many brief acts of self-care which are so worthwhile. For a few ideas, consider these:

Spend ten minutes doing a yoga video on YouTube.
Take fifteen minutes to write a poem or a short story.
Make a delicious smoothie out of your favorite fruits.
Dance to a song you love.
Spend ten minutes practicing aromatherapy.

Keep on top of health checks

Parents spend lots of time concerned about the health of their kids, but it’s important to focus on your own health too. Remember to book in regular health checks, from Lively hearing tests to eye tests and the dentist. . If you’re facing oral health issues, restorative dentistry services can help.

From your physical health to your mental health it’s important to create a good self-care routine. Set yourself small self-care goals, whether it’s about your diet, or an exercise target. To avoid burnout, it’s so important to take good care of yourself.

For more on this topic, check out the full Self Care collection

Separating Your Work and Home Lives for Healthier Approach

Keeping your work and home lives separate can be tough. Especially when you work from home. If you live and work in the same place, it’s often difficult to stop your home life from leaking into your work and vice versa. But, by keeping them separate, you can find that you feel less stress. That you can be more productive at work. And that you’re able to focus on what matters most when you’re not working. It may not always feel easy to separate the two, but making an effort to do so can deliver plenty of benefits to your life as a whole. Continue reading below to learn how to separate your work and home lives.

For more on this topic, check out the full Work Life Balance collection

Seek Support for Any Issues

When you have personal issues, it can be hard to concentrate on your work. Similarly, when something stressful is happening at work, it can affect your home life. When you’re having any kind of issue, seeking the right support can help to make it easier to deal with. More and more companies are offering the services of workplace chaplains to provide support for their employees’ health and well-being. In your personal life, you might reach out to friends, family, or a professional, such as a therapist or pastor. You can get support from many different places to help you deal with all kinds of issues.

Physically Separate Work and Home

Creating a physical separation between your work and home life can also help you to be healthier when you’re working from home. It makes it easier to put work away at the end of the day and come back to it when you’re ready. Having a separate workspace is useful but it’s not the only thing that you can do. You can also make sure you limit your work to certain devices. Don’t set up your work email on your personal devices if you want to make sure they don’t interrupt you at inconvenient times.

Take a Step Back from Coworkers

Spending all day in communication with your coworkers can wear you down. It can even feel different from being in an office because you’re constantly receiving emails and messages or getting on a call for a meeting. If it’s too much, taking a step back from communicating with them all the time can benefit you. The first thing to do is ensure they’re not contacting you outside of your work hours. You can also try to reduce the number of meetings you have and even let your coworkers know when the best time to get in touch is.

Get Away from Home

If you can, getting out of the house can really help you. For anyone who doesn’t need to be at home, finding somewhere else to work is a good way to separate your work from home. But if you need to stay home, you might be able to find opportunities to take breaks and get outside or to do things outside of your home when you’ve finished working.

Separating your work and home life helps you to manage both parts of your life in a healthier way.

For more on this topic, check out the full Work Life Balance collection

It’s Time To Clean Up Your Computer: Tips To Get It Done Efficiently

Owning a computer is a necessity in this day and age. Your computer is where you live in the digital world. You likely conduct a large portion of your socialization, household management, and work via your personal computer. As you are so reliant on this ubiquitous piece of technology, you need to ensure that it will continue working well for you. Here are some tips on how to clean up your computer with ease.

For more on this topic, check out the full Work Life Balance collection

Make More Space on the Computer

Is your computer running out of space? If you rely on your computer to store personal documents, work files, and creations or photographs then you need more space. When you have additional space on a computer, you obviously have more room to store essential items. In addition, a computer that is not filled to capacity with excessive files will run quicker and more efficiently.

Get the job done right the first time by utilizing the storage tab to clear out space and clean things up on your computer. When you prioritize the efficiency of your workhorse of a computer, you ensure it will run well when you need it to.

[Read: 9 Ways to Be More Productive While Working From Home]

Physically Clean the Computer

Simply by using your computer, it will get dirty. Between fingerprints, daily dust that floats through the air, food crumbs, and animal hair, your computer’s components will need a physical cleaning from time to time.

Use caution when caring for and cleaning any technological device. Use water sparingly, if at all. If you need to use liquid, apply it directly to a lint-free microfiber cloth and not on the computer itself. Make sure you only use lint-free fabrics as ones prone to leaving particles behind will add more dust and debris to your computer instead of removing it.

Watch this video for guidance on how to easily clean your laptop.

Backup Your Files

You have multiple important files floating around on your computer. If you lost them, it would be a problem to try and recover them. Instead of worrying about what could happen, back them up.

Backing up files is a seamless task when you use an external hard drive. Select one that has a sufficient amount of space for your current and anticipated future storage needs. Another option is to use a cloud service to house your valuable files. With a cloud backup, your essential information is secure in an online environment.

While you are working on your myriad files, remember to secure your pictures, too. Pictures are notorious for taking up too much space on your computer and increasing lag time. They are precious memories that can never be replaced. In addition to removing them from your computer to increase performance, you should back them up for posterity.

Conclusion for Cleaning Up Your Computer

You rely on your computer for so many essential (and entertaining) activities. It must function properly whenever you need to use it. Make it a priority to learn some new skills and clean your computer today. You will be so glad you took the time to take care of everything the next time you log on.

For more on this topic, check out the full Work Life Balance collection

How To Save Money When You’re A Parent

How To Save Money When You’re A Parent

Being a parent comes with a great many rewards. It’s wonderful to see our children grow and thrive, becoming their own person with their own personalities and ideas. Yet there is one thing that parenting doesn’t do; it doesn’t make you rich. In fact, being a parent can be very expensive. Even if you’re not constantly showering your little one with gifts and finery, the basics will soon add up.

Is it possible to save money when you’re a parent? We all know it’s important to put money aside for the future. But can it be done when you have a child or children to take care of too? The answer is yes, it can. It might be hard. And it might take a good deal of discipline. But it is certainly possible to save money when you’re a parent. Here are the ways you can get started.

For more on this topic, check out the full Saving Money collection

Fix Your Finances

We can all get into debt; it’s an easy thing to do. And something that most of us don’t even think about at the time. We think we need money for this thing or that, so we borrow it. The problem is when it comes time to pay it back, it can suddenly feel like it’s too much. We might borrow more to pay off the first debt, and the problem then spirals out of control.

Ideally, before you have children, but certainly once you do, it’s a good idea to put your finances in order. If you have borrowed too much and you’re having problems, getting a consolidation loan could be exactly the help you need. They will be able to help you get back on track when it comes to payments and debt. If the problems are worse, it’s wise to speak to an expert who can offer more advice.

If you can manage your debt, then try to work out a payment plan so that you can pay things off more quickly. That way, you will have more money to spend on your children’s basic needs (and some more fun things!) when you need it.

[Read: Painless Ways to Save Money and Maximize Your Budget]

Plan Meals In Advance

One of the simplest ‘tricks’ when it comes to saving money when you’re a parent is to plan your meals in advance. When you do this, you will know exactly what is being cooked and when, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You will also know what snacks to have in the house. If there is a special event coming up, you can ensure you have what you need for that too.

The most useful part about planning your meals in advance is that you can budget accordingly. If you have less money one week and more the next, you can buy items that fit with that budget. This way, you won’t be tempted to borrow money or get into additional debt.

Planning in advance isn’t just about knowing what you are going to cook on a certain night. It means you can take an accurate shopping list with you when you go grocery shopping, ensuring that you only buy what is necessary. This saves you money buying things that may even just get put in the trash because you couldn’t use them before the expiration date. Plus, if you have clubs and hobbies to fit around (for you and the children), or you’re working late some nights, or whatever other situations you need to work around in life, you can design a meal plan that works. It’s good for the budget, and it means less stress for you as a parent.

[Read: 7 Ways to Avoid Food Waste and Save Money]

Buy Reusable Items

It may initially be cheaper to buy disposable items such as paper towels and one-use diapers. But over time, having to buy more and more of these items again and again, the price can really add up. It’s much better for your budget in the long term to buy reusable items instead.

There is more work involved, we can’t pretend otherwise. Using cloth diapers and towels, for example, means more laundry, and they’re not quite so convenient when you are out and about. However, in terms of your budget, they are perfect. The longer you are able to use these reusable items, the less money you’ll need to spend, and even when you do have to replace them, they won’t cost anywhere near as much as the money you were able to save by not purchasing disposable versions.

As an added benefit, these reusable items are so much better for the environment. Rather than sending baby wipes and diapers to landfill, you will be washing and reusing your own. If everyone took a similar step, the difference would be incredible.

Sell What You No Longer Need

As mentioned above, children grow out of clothes, toys, and other items after a time. Sometimes they do so before you’ve even had a chance to really use them – this is especially true of baby clothing which might be left sitting in a closet with the tags still on because babies grow so quickly.

If you have items you no longer need, you could consider giving them away; it’s a technique we’ve already listed about how to save money. However, if you would rather make some money, then there is no reason why you shouldn’t sell those unwanted and sometimes unused items. Depending on what you are selling and the condition it is in, you could make a fair amount of money. Remember, you won’t ever get back what you paid for it (assuming you bought it new – if you bought it used or were given it then that is a different situation) so it’s not about trying to make a profit, but any cash you can get that will then go towards something else that you and your children need will be useful.

[Read: How to Start Consigning – Tips & Advice for the Beginner Consignor]

Could Work Help Out?

If you are working and you haven’t checked out the schemes in place to help parents, then it’s important you do. Although some companies don’t advertise the fact very much, many will actually offer childcare vouchers to help with the cost of childcare. This will benefit the company in the long term because it means they can get their employees back to work sooner. So it’s certainly something to look into since childcare is likely to be the most expensive part of raising children, at least until they are old enough for school.

Even if your place of work doesn’t offer this voucher system, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other options. You might try a nanny share, which will halve your childcare costs, or perhaps there will be some days when family and friends can help out. Look into all your options, and you might be surprised at how much money you can save compared to full-time childcare.

Make Sure You Treat Yourself

Although you’ll want to save money where you can when you’re a parent, it’s also important to treat yourself from time to time. Saving in all the ways mentioned above and only spending money on your child is fine – but it’s not sustainable. Why is this? The reason is that you’ll burn out quickly if you don’t take care of yourself.

Self-care is a crucial component of parenthood. As the old saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty jug. This is true. If you’re not at one hundred percent, you won’t be able to give one hundred percent either. So treat yourself once in a while. Get that new hair color you want because you’ll feel great when you do (just remember to get shampoo designed for color treated hair as well). Buy some tickets to see your favorite singer perform. Book a babysitter and go out for some fun. Do what you need to do to keep yourself happy, even if it means spending a little of what you saved.

For more on this topic, check out the full Saving Money collection

Importance of Decluttering Your Home and How to Get Started

How to Get Started Decluttering Your Home

Looking after yourself is often associated with healthy eating, exercising, and spending more time in nature. But did you know the state of your home is just as important? The environment you spend a lot of time in is going to impact your mental and physical health. If it is clean and clear, you are more likely to live life with more clarity and create a welcoming home for your family. However, if your home is messy and full of clutter, it can negatively impact how you feel. It can also mean you spend more time trying to clean around the clutter, your home gets messy more easily, and it is hard to keep track of what you own. When you have too much stuff, it can make your home hard to relax in, and keep you feeling more stressed than usual.

While decluttering is important, it can often seem overwhelming to start with. Follow these top three tips to help you declutter your home with ease.

For more on this topic, check out the full Get Organized collection

Start with 5 minutes a week

You don’t have to go crazy when you choose to declutter your home. Instead, you can get started with a simple 5 minutes per week. Choose a day, perhaps the weekend, when you don’t have any other obligations. Spend a few minutes in a room and start to think about what you can get rid of. Starting with 5 minutes per week can help you ease into it and get used to the task, without overwhelming yourself. If you can stick to 5 minutes per week, you will build a new habit and you can increase the time when you feel more comfortable.

Give away items

When you give away items or sell your old items, you are attaching more purpose to the decluttering process. Not only can you reduce stress, but you can also help the community by giving to charity. And you can earn some money from your old items as well. Make sure you research where you can sell your items, for example, there are specific sites you can use to sell vintage toys. Go through all your items and think about what items and clothes you no longer use or want anymore. You don’t have to get rid of anything that you want to keep. Decluttering is all about removing unnecessary items from your home.

Create a checklist

It can be helpful in the decluttering process to create a checklist for you to follow. Take some time before you get rid of anything, to take an inventory of your home and the category of items you would like to get rid of, for example, vintage toys, clothes, Tupperware, etc. You can then slowly work your way through this list, getting rid of one thing at a time. Alternatively, you can write a list of rooms to help your process, for example, you may choose to tackle your bedroom and the garage first.

The great thing about decluttering is that there is no right way or deadline. Just the process of decluttering itself can be therapeutic.

For more on this topic, check out the full Get Organized collection

Useful Advice For Every Family Moving To A Bigger House

August 9, 2022

Families with large numbers of members understand the necessity for more space. It’s hard to unwind after a hard day’s work when you’ve got children’s toys strewn all over the place and no place to relax. Moving to a more prominent place is always a task that involves many ideas and a lot of planning. You should ensure there is enough space for all your belongings, but you also need to make sure you fill the room without breaking the bank. Continue reading below to learn useful advice for every family moving to a bigger house.

For more on this topic, check out the full Moving Tips collection

Why Move To A Larger Home?

Moving to a bigger house will almost certainly have positive effects on your life. Larger homes are often more spacious, and there are other benefits. A bigger house would allow for more living space for your family and will probably have more storage space for your belongings. A larger home is likely to put your family’s needs first, allowing you to customize it around all of your wants. The step is to ensure that you get a reasonable price for your existing property. You might be thinking about selling your house fast, which can be a great way to go. The quicker you sell your old home, the quicker you can move into your brand-new house. Time is often the essence in this regard because there’s so much to do, and any delays can be costly and stressful. Things become even more complicated with a family to support and new schools to enroll in.

What You Need To Think About

Moving to a new house is a stressful event. And, if not properly planned, can cause all kinds of unforeseen issues. This compounds when you are going from a smaller home to a larger one. You will have many things to consider when moving, so you must come up with a proper plan.

Moving

Before deciding on a company, you should try to get several quotes and speak with them directly. A moving company can make or break your move, and choosing the wrong one can cause serious issues. There is nothing worse than finding that your belongings are smashed into pieces upon moving into your new house. You should also consider if hiring a moving company is worth the cost. If you are coming from a smaller home, you might save money by hiring a trailer and moving things yourself.

Packing

It can be hard to pack everything up and get ready for a move, especially if you’re not used to moving. This part of the move is arguably the most challenging, as it involves extreme organization and discipline.

Get Rid Of Stuff You Don’t Need

The first step is to dispose of or donate anything you cannot or don’t want to bring with you. This could be old furniture if you are buying new, or clothing that has been hidden away in your closet that no longer fits. The critical point is that it is best to get rid of anything you don’t use before packing. Additionally, it will also save you money on transportation.

[Read: How to Start Consigning – Tips & Advice for the Beginner Consignor]

Disassemble The Larger Items First

Furniture, cupboards, and beds should all be taken down and placed neatly together. These oversized items will often go first to your new home, and you can save time by getting it done as soon as possible. You should use sticky tape to attach all of the screws and bolts to the relevant items for bonus points. This way, when you go to reassemble everything, you won’t have to search around for loose screws.

Eat All Your Food

Although it sounds a bit peculiar, you should ensure that you eat as much food as possible before the date of the move. By doing this, you will save space packing up food, and the stuff that spoils quickly can often cause the biggest headache. In other words, you don’t want to pack a gallon of milk only to find that it has spilled over your belongings when you open the trailer.

Don’t Pack Your Clothes

Well, you should pack them, but a great tip is to keep your clothing inside the drawers. You can remove the drawers from the cabinets, but keeping everything inside makes moving in a breeze.

Will You Need More Furniture?

As a result of moving from a small house to a bigger one, you should carefully consider whether or not you will need to purchase new items. This could be new cabinets, beds, kitchen utilities, or anything else. If you plan carefully, you can even have the new objects sent directly to your new home. This is a massive time-saver and allows you to think about moving what you already own rather than how you fit more stuff into the removal van.

Decided On Key Rooms

Most homes revolve around a few key spaces, often the kitchen, bedrooms, and living rooms. When moving to a house more extensive than your previous one, you will need to determine which rooms are the most important and that you want to set up first.

Check How You Can Increase Energy Efficiency

It’s easy to forget that a smaller space uses less energy, so you have smaller bills. However, when moving to a large home with more area to heat or cool down, your bills will inevitably increase. Therefore, it is a good idea to think about ways that you could increase the efficiency. Some things you can take into account include:

Solar panels
Insulation
Energy-efficient windows
Changing energy suppliers
Installing a wood fuel fireplace
Installing ceiling fans in each bedroom

Invest In More Cleaning Equipment

Just as a more extensive area increases your energy bills, it will also require more cleaning. This means that you will need to consider purchasing larger capacity vacuum cleaners and more cleaning items. This might even extend to the garden. If that is also larger, you might find yourself needing a more industrial lawnmower and gardening tools.

Moving doesn’t have to be overly stressful as long as you have planned it out and remain disciplined. When moving up to a larger property, there are specific extra steps you need to take, such as ensuring you have enough items to fill out and that you can handle the extra space.

For more on this topic, check out the full Moving Tips collection

The Details You Need For Your Wedding Day

The Details You Need For Your Wedding Day

Do you have a special someone in your life? Are you considering spending your future with your best friend by your side? If you answer yes to these questions, it is time to start planning for all of the wonderful things that come along with engagements and weddings. Continue reading for helpful ideas to make your special moments even more so.

For more on this topic, check out the full Navigating Marriage collection

The Ring

As they say, “Once you know, you know.” And, when you know you have found The One, your next step will be to pick out a ring. There is an abundance of options available to you, and it can be overwhelming to make a decision. A creative and sparklingly exquisite selection to consider is the halo ring. If you have never heard of this style and are wondering What is a halo ring? Here are some details to highlight its unique beauty.

The larger gemstone at the center of the ring is surrounded by smaller stones of similar or contrasting stone and color.
This layout gives the illusion of a larger center gemstone while adding shine and a unique design.
While following the general halo ring design construct, you get to fashion your ring to suit your personality and budget.

Record for Posterity

You will want all of the details of your wedding available in the future. With that in mind, make a plan to record everything, including the proposal, the planning, the actual wedding day, all of the dinners, and the honeymoon. Enlist a friend to capture memories at every stage. The candid and impromptu photos and videos may be some of your favorites.

Find professional photographers and videographers and then review their work online. When you find someone whose work you appreciate, talk to them about expectations and ask questions beforehand. Once you are on the same page, get everything in writing.

Create a selfie station during your reception for guests. A fun idea is to place disposable cameras on every table in the reception area. Your friends and family can fill the cameras with memories you might not have as you will be sitting at the front of the venue. Developing and looking at the pictures later will be delightful.

Help Planning A Wedding

Throughout the wedding planning process, remember to enjoy yourself. It will be important to remind yourself from time to time that it is ok and even fun to ask for help. Your helpers should be people you enjoy spending time with and who will make the planning fun. They can also be someone you hire who is a professional in this arena.

Here is a video with tips on things to make your wedding day easier.

Whether you have one month or one year until your impending nuptials, do your best to make planning for your wedding an enjoyable time. Do not let the stress of making one day perfect overwhelm you to the point that you miss out on the fun of planning, deciding, and creating for your special day. Let the joy of choosing the ring, dress, venue, and the other logistics that will add to your wedding day become just as remarkable.

For more on this topic, check out the full Navigating Marriage collection