Karissa Tunis

6 Tips To Help You Save More As A Family

It is possible to save money for unexpected expenses by examining your family’s spending and prioritizing them properly. Whether the pandemic has had an impact on your household finances, or you’re simply looking for new ways to save, here are some expert tips to help you manage your family’s financial situation better. Continue reading below for 6 tips to help you save more money as a family.

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

Use What You Have And Buy Only What You Need

Don’t waste your money purchasing duplicates of items that you and your family already have. Declutter your home and get rid of anything that isn’t absolutely necessary.

Stop purchasing items that your household does not require. We frequently end up with duplicate stuff (food, hygiene products, and so on) because we don’t consume what we already have. Many families have been able to avoid debt by implementing cost-cutting tactics like these.

Only purchase products that your family genuinely requires in order to save money.

When writing a list, be realistic about your expectations. Consider enlisting the assistance of relatives and friends, as well as requesting hand-me-downs (you can even swap items if someone has kids your age).

[Read: Shop Smart, Shop Simply]

Prepare Meals And Use Coupons To Save Money

Food expenses typically account for the majority of a family’s expenditures. Preparing meals ahead of time can help you save money and time at the grocery store. In order to save money on groceries, Coleman says she checks her pantry before going to the store and plans the week’s menu around what they already have on hand. Preparing meals in advance for your children’s lunches or family dinners will save you both time and money.

Whenever possible, purchase groceries in large quantities. Especially if you can get coupons to help you save money on your purchase. No one is suggesting that you become a couponing zealot, but even a small stockpile of coupons could help you save money in the long run.

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

Reduce Daily Expenses

Small, everyday expenses may appear inconsequential. But they can quickly add up! Consider Starbucks, those small treats for the kids at the checkout line, streaming subscriptions, and fast-food restaurants – just to name a few examples. Many of us spend $100 or more per month on these so-called “insignificant” expenses.

If you pay with a debit or credit card, this can quickly add up to a significant hole in your budget. Paying with plastic has become our new normal. And while it can be convenient to just whip out a card at the cash register, it’s easy to loose track of your spending. This can result in debt, which can have a negative impact on your credit. Budgeting envelopes filled with actual cash may be a better option for you because they can help you keep track of your monthly spending.

If you can try to include ‘no spend days’ into your week, you can save more each month.

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

Set Aside Money For Birthdays, Vacations, And Holiday Shopping

Planning ahead of time for special occasions and events will save you money. Try planning ahead for birthdays, family trips, and holidays so you aren’t scrambling to save at the last minute. You may even want to consider an option to get out of Marriott timeshare to save money in the long term. Especially since so many results offer travel deals and special offers that sometimes even include transportation, dining, and more.

Budgeting, saving for the holidays, and shopping early or off-season is so important. It’s understandable to want to give your kids and family their holiday wish lists, but not at your expense. Prepare a budget and start saving early to avoid overspending.

If You Own A Home, Make Larger Payments To Save Money

Paying more toward the principal can result in significant savings in the long run. You’ll save literally tens of thousands of dollars in interest charges as a result of this. If you want to figure out how much money you could save, it’s recommended that you use a loan calculator on the internet. Find ways to save money that you and your family can use to pay down your mortgage more quickly.

Participate In Family Finances

Involve your kids in household finances. Depending on their age, chores like creating a grocery list based on your family’s budget or showing them how to pay bills.

This will help them understand how you spend and save as a family. Your kids will learn good money habits and you will all be on the same page when it comes to saving.

These suggestions should hopefully assist you with increasing your savings even while raising a family.

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

How to Have an Emotionally Happy Pregnancy

How to Have an Emotionally Happy Pregnancy

So, you just found out you’re pregnant. Congratulations! Your mind is likely whirling with a thousand thoughts. And pregnancy can be a highly emotional time. It’s okay if you don’t feel like you’re on top of the world every single moment. But you might feel pressure or have the expectation that you’ll have a happy pregnancy day in and day out. Real life can be very different from the idealized image of pregnancy that we are exposed to. Worry and nerves are a normal part of any pregnancy, but there are some things to help you raise your mood and calm those worries!

For more on this topic, check out the full Pregnancy Through Postpartum collection

Get a Pregnancy Massage

Your body is going to go through a lot of changes, and the last thing you want is to have more aches and paint than need be. So, be good to yourself and indulge in a massage if you feel you need one. This can be so relaxing and offer you and your body a whole range of benefits, from a reduction in cortisol, the stress hormone, to less pain. And all of that is good for your baby too. You feel good, your baby feels good. If you are beginning to suffer from some back pain, it may be worth your while seeing a pregnancy chiropractor who can ease your back pain.

STICK TO A WELL-BALANCED DIET

When you’re eating for two, you need to pay careful attention to what you put into your body. Hormones can play a key role in your dietary intake during pregnancy, but that shouldn’t stop you from eating healthy.

Keep your diet well balanced by incorporating protein-rich foods that are essential for sustaining the development of a growing baby. A healthy diet will also aid your digestion, boost your immune system, and keep your mood swings in check.

Consider pairing a good diet plan with supplements like myo-inositol. These supplements are formulated specifically for women’s reproductive health to aid hormone balance and provide mood support. Myo-inositol supplements are safe to take during pregnancy and are used to help women manage pregnancy-related stress.

Try Meditation

Meditation and some form of mindfulness technique have so many benefits, from a reduction in stress levels to helping you develop a more positive outlook on life in general. All it takes is a few minutes a day to sit completely undisturbed, close your eye and concentrate on your breathing. Try not to be judgmental of it. Just be aware of it, and allow any thoughts that materialize to float away.

Stay Active throughout Pregnancy

Getting a decent amount of exercise is a great way to maintain your levels of happiness. Exercise reduces the levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, in your body, and it floods the body with endorphins. When it comes to exercising, though, be sure you listen to your body. You may not be able to do running like you did before. Why not do some brisk walking instead. Some yoga or Pilates is also great. However, have a word with your midwife or doctor before starting any new exercise regime. Also, staying active will make the labor easier, as well as hello you slim down after the baby has been born.

Focus on the Positives

It can be very easy to dwell on things, especially when you can no longer fit into your favorite jeans anymore. But you need to look at the positives. Having a baby is one of the most important jobs a woman can do. You really are doing something truly amazing with your body. Besides, it doesn’t last forever, and you can always train once the baby is born. Also, if you worry about being a good Mom and always question yourself, you are probably already doing an amazing job.

For more on this topic, check out the full Pregnancy Through Postpartum collection

Steps to Take After a Home Disaster

December 17, 2021

Steps to Take After a Home Disaster

Your home is supposed to be your sanctuary from the outside world. It’s the place where you’re supposed to be able to feel safe and secure. Which makes it so much more difficult when the stresses and dangers of the world decide to come in and disrupt that security. As much as many of us would like to avoid it, there is always a chance that you’ll have to deal with some kind of home disaster. Luckily, there are always things that you can do. With that in mind, here are things to consider if disaster does strike in your home.

For more helpful resources, check out the full Family Home collection

House Fire

A house fire can be a terrible and traumatic thing. Many people consider it to the be the worst disaster their family could face. There is a very real risk to you and your family’s wellbeing during a fire. But beyond that, there is a chance that you could lose your home entirely.

Cleaning up after even a small fire can be a daunting task. Once you’ve established that there isn’t any serious structural damage to your home, there are plenty of products that you can use to deal with the aftermath of a small fire and get your home back to normal. Of course, if the damage to your home is in any way more serious than just minor cosmetic damage, the best thing that you can do is to hire a professional to deal with it for you.

Flooding and Home Water Damage

The idea of waking up one morning knee deep in water is a nightmare. But flooding is something that can happen for a number of different reasons. Whether it’s a natural disaster or simply a burst pipe, it’s easy for it to feel like the end of the world when your home floods. However, there are always things that you can do to deal with it.

The first, and most obvious, is to turn off the power. After that you want to make sure that you’re keeping as many of your possessions dry as possible. Afterwards, you’ll likely want to find a water damage cleanup service to help with the results of any flooding. Dealing with water damage is not easy and it’s something that is almost always best left to the professionals.

One of the most important things that you can do is to make sure that you feel safe and secure again after any kind of disaster. Dealing with the practical side of things is obviously important but make sure that you’re taking care of yourself and your family emotionally when something like this happens.

For more helpful resources, check out the full Family Home collection

A Family Photo Calendar – An Easy Way to Organize Your Family Routine

Proper time management is one of the best ways to ensure that you live a productive life. And every aspiring time manager needs the right tool. Granted, there are tons of mobile applications or physical planners, but they are way too impersonal. If you have trouble organizing your busy family life, or have a loved one who isn’t that good at keeping track of things, a custom family photo calendar is the perfect solution! You can make one for yourself to bring a little order into your chaotic home life, or create a custom calendar for your friend who could also use a bit of a productivity boost.

Don’t know what kind of personalized calendar you can create? The answer is simple – basically any kind. You can make a school planner for your kids. A fitness calendar for yourself. And a meal planner for the whole family. Just make sure that your design has your favorite photos, and has all the important events marked. Here’s a little list of calendar types you can create on your own. And perhaps, you’ll find a the perfect design that you’ll want to recreate.

For more on this topic, check out the full Get Organized and Work Life Balance collections

Poster Calendar

A poster calendar is not only a great time management tool, but also a sweet piece of home decor. Just imagine – a glossy calendar hanging on your wall, each of the 12 pages graced with a lovely picture of you and your family. Is there no way you can select only 12 photos? You don’t have to! That’s because a poster calendar is big enough to fit an entire vibrant collage of your favorite shots. And a huge month grid per page will leave enough space to mark all the important dates like your friends’ or family’s birthdays, anniversaries, or other events that you absolutely must keep a track of.

Spiral-Bound Calendar

Love flipping through pages when a month is over? Then make a spiral-bound calendar with your favorite images. Large cells of the month grid can fit in all the information about the upcoming birthdays, recurring events, or important days. Consider filling these cells with pictures and icons as this will allow you to read the calendar easier. Another great idea is to create a coloring spiral-bound calendar. This way when you feel way too stressed, you can just grab coloring pencils and color the stress away.

Desk Calendar

Spend way too much time at work? A bright desk calendar will cheer you up. Create a design with your family’s, friends’ or even pets’ pictures and glance at it wherever you feel down. And there is one more way to make your desk calendar even more functional – make sure to highlight all your colleagues’ birthdays in it. This way you’ll never miss someone’s big day. One more tip – make sure to leave a little Notes section in your desk calendar to write down all the great ideas that come to your mind during work hours.

Monthly Family Planner

Keep up with your family’s schedules in a fun and beautiful way. Design a monthly planner where your family members’ activities would be on one page, right under their smiling pictures. Dad’s game nights, mom’s yoga lessons, and child’s sports practices – your family will never miss another appointment or event again.

[Read: Picking Days – Time Management for Parents to Reduce the Overwhelm]

Pocket Calendar

Prefer planning on the go? A sleek pocket calendar is the tool for you. Granted, it’s way too small to hold all the information you need. But you can color code and highlight important events. You’ll then know exactly what’s in store for you in the upcoming days. And don’t forget to decorate your pocket calendar with a photo, an image, or a quote that always puts a smile on your face.

Family Photo Calendar

These designs look good, don’t they? And right now you might be wondering – how on Earth can I create something similar? I’m not a graphic designer. Well, you don’t need to be. You only need the right calendar making software to design something so cool and functional. We suggest using Photo Calendar Creator.

This award-winning program is equipped with 250+ templates and endless customization options. With it, you can create custom family photo calendar designs with your pictures, highlight all the national holidays and even create personalized holiday lists (with your loved one’s birthdays, other upcoming events and whatnot). Photo Calendar Creator will help you make a calendar that would rival any store-bought or even digital option – and in mere minutes.

So if you are a forgetful person who wants more order in their life, or you want to surprise someone with a thoughtful and truly useful gift, consider creating a custom calendar.

For more on this topic, check out the full Get Organized and Work Life Balance collections

How to Choose the Best Type of Dog for Your Family

December 12, 2021

There is a huge variety of dogs around the world today, with new breeds popping up all the time. So it’s no wonder that with such a huge selection available, choosing the best type of dog for your family requires a significant amount of research! But how do you choose the best type of dog? Continue reading below to find out!

For more on this topic, check out the full Family Pet collection

Each family is different, so there is no one-size-fits-all choice that will be right for every family. However, there are some breeds that are better for family life because of their temperament and maintenance levels.

Below are some breeds that families should consider when choosing their next dog.

Beagles

Beagles were originally hunting dogs. However, they are also perfect dogs for most families. They were bred to hunt in packs, so they are very laidback around other dogs and humans alike.

There are two sizes of Beagles: one that is under 13” tall, and another that is between 13” to 15”. Both types are very sturdy and similar. Various colors and patterns are available as well, so there is plenty of variety to choose from.

Overall, these canines are described as lovable, laidback, and happy. They don’t require much maintenance and are pretty low energy. They do shed, but not to the extreme extent of other dogs.

Bichon Frise

If you’re looking for a smaller dog, the Bichon Frise is a good choice. Unlike most smaller dog breeds, this canine is not prone to many health problems. It stands under a foot tall at the shoulder and is best recognized for its plushy coat.

These dogs are extremely friendly and live under the assumption that there is no such thing as a stranger. They are also easy to train and love pleasing their humans. Because of their temperament and small size, they are perfect for small spaces and city living.

As you might imagine, these dogs do not need much exercise. However, they do require quite a bit of grooming. They do not shed much, but will require professional trims.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

This breed combines the gentle companionship of a toy breed with the energy of a sporting spaniel. They are smaller dogs, standing at below 13-inches high, and have a richly-colored coat.

Typically, they get along well with other children and dogs. They aren’t particularly active, but enjoy romping around in a backyard and chasing squirrels. They do equally well with active families and those that prefer to lounge on the couch.

Despite their look, they don’t require much grooming. They shed occasionally and need to be brushed about once a week. To keep their coat shiny and clean, they will need regular baths as well.

This breed is very eager to please, which makes them easy to train. They also tend to be rather friendly with everyone.

Bernese Mountain Dog

For those looking for a larger dog, the Bernese Mountain Dog is a wonderful option. These sturdy dogs stand at over 26-inches tall. Their coats are thick, silky, and decently long. They have distinctive markings and come in a recognizable tricolored pattern.

These large dogs do particularly well with smaller children. Because they are so large, children cannot really hurt them, even if they are a little rough. This prevents the likelihood of accidental bites, which can be a problem with some smaller dogs.

In many cases, these dogs will attach themselves to one particular person, though they are not usually possessive. They are not unfriendly, but do remain aloof around strangers. They aren’t attention-seekers.

Labrador Retriever

The labrador retriever is the quintessential family dog. They are known for their friendly and loyal nature. They bond well with the entire family, including other pets. They usually weigh between 55 to 80 pounds and come in three distinct colors.

These dogs are best for active families. They are working dogs, first and foremost. Because of this, they have quite a bit of physical and mental energy to use up each day. A bored and unexercised lab will quickly try and make their own fun, which often gets them into trouble.

They do not require much grooming at all, and are very trainable. They are extremely outgoing and eager to please. However, they do need a family that is going to meet their socialization and exercise needs.

Irish Setter

These dogs are somewhat more rare than the others on our list, but they are a perfect choice for families. They are beautiful dogs that stand at around two feet at the shoulder. They are graceful and built to work.

Irish Setters are very outgoing and see everyone as a friend. They are great with children both young and old. Their larger size means that they can put up with quite a bit of pushing and prodding from the littlest kids.

These dogs do not shed particularly bad, but they will need to be brushed a few times a week. An occasional bath might be necessary when they get dirty, but no extra grooming is necessary beyond that.

These dogs were originally bred for hunting and have lots of energy. They are a true sporting breed and work best for an active family. They aren’t the easiest dog to train – mostly because they have a hard time paying attention. However, consistent training can curb their distractibility.

Which dog will you get?

There are many dog breeds out there for you to choose from. While not all are suitable for families, there are dozens of breeds that are.

No matter what dog you choose, you will have many other decisions to make. Feeding your pooch is particularly important since high-quality dog food will prevent health problems and keep your canine feeling their best. Of course, leashes, collars, and dog beds are also important for your dog’s care. Get ready for a fun journey!

For more on this topic, check out the full Family Pet collection

How to Be a Confident Mom – 7 Ways to Build Self Confidence

I would argue that there is nothing more difficult than the first few months of being a first time mom. It isn’t like anything you’ve ever experienced before, and your body is flushed with hormones that seem to be working against you. It can be extremely hard to feel like a confident mom, and you are always second guessing yourself. No matter what, those first few months will be beautifully difficult; however, there are a few things that I’ve learned throughout my mothering journey that could help you through……

6 Top Tips To Improve Your Child’s Health

Bringing up children is quite the journey! And one of the most important things you can do is keep your child healthy. To give your kiddie the support they need, these simple tips will come in handy. Keep reading below for 6 tips to improve your child’s health.

For more on this topic, check out the full Staying Healthy collection

A healthy sleep regime

To stay healthy and happy all children need a healthy sleep regime. Some children struggle with their bedtime regime, after a while this can negatively affect their mood. If you’re looking to improve your child’s bedtime routine here are a few pointers:

Create structure, (so that they go to bed and wake up at the same time each night).
Help them to relax before bedtime, try calming activities like a bedtime story or taking a bath.
Design the perfect sleeping environment, you might invest in black-out blinds, a memory foam mattress, night lights, or big cozy blankets.

Plenty of nutritious foods

Children need plenty of nutritious foods. So to ensure that your child gets lots of fruits and vegetables, focus on foods that are packed with healthy vitamins and minerals. If your child is a fussy eater, be patient with them. Keep introducing them to new veggies and fruits. If they refuse new foods, don’t be so quick to offer an alternative. Ask them to sit at the table until everyone has finished eating.

If you need some ideas for healthy meals for kids, check out apps like Recipes For Kids. Here you’ll find plenty of easy recipes to inspire your cooking.

Stress coping strategies

Just like adults, kids are prone to feeling stressed and anxious. Many kids have a hard time dealing with these feelings, and so you’ll need to provide support. The best thing to do is to talk to your child about their emotions. Help them to express what they are feeling. Here are a few effective stress coping strategies for kids:

Lay down and listen to relaxing music.
Practice some yoga stretches.
Play with cuddly toys.
Wrap up in a blanket and drink hot chocolate.
Have a cuddle with mom, dad, or a pet.
Try using mindfulness apps for children.

Get outdoors

Research from the Child Mind Institute suggests that kids who spend more time outside have less anxiety and better concentration compared to children who spend less time outdoors. Playing outside can help kids to boost their endorphin levels, get exercise, lift their mood and learn about nature. Spending time outside can also help kids to learn about sustainability, understanding the need to protect our planet.

Get active

To stay healthy children need to stay active. Help your child to exercise frequently, whether it’s sports clubs, playing in the garden, or family trips to the beach. Children who keep active now are more likely to prioritize fitness later in life.

[Read: 30 Activity Ideas for Kids (Free Printable)]

Be prepared

Bringing up children is plenty of fun, but it can also be stressful! To ease your mind and help you feel relaxed it’s best to be prepared. Many kids are pretty accident-prone, you might consider getting yourself a first aid certification, to give you peace of mind. To learn more about first aid and CPR training, take a look at cprcertificationnow.com.

With these six tips to hand, you’ll soon boost the health of your child. When it comes to looking after your little one, even small things can make a big difference.

For more on this topic, check out the full Staying Healthy collection

How To Make Sure That There Are No Health Hazards In Your Home

December 2, 2021

How to Make Sure There are No Health Hazards in Your Home

A home is a place where you can relax and be yourself. However, the environment around us isn’t always safe. The air we breathe may contain toxic pollutants or bio-organisms that can make us ill, or even lead to premature death. The water we drink likewise can contain harmful chemicals, pesticides, lead, and many other substances.

Even our food has chemical additives and various preservatives. So, to ensure the health and well-being of the residents in your household, you need to make sure that they are safe from any kind of harm or injury.

For more helpful resources, check out the full Home Safety collection

Invest In An Air filter

To remove pollutants and allergens from the air around your home, install a high-efficiency particulate arresting air filter at home. You can find several options at filterbuy.com that will fit your need. This device can even take care of the pollutants that are difficult to remove. This will improve the quality of the air, and your children will breathe healthier air.

In addition, the indoor air that we breathe contains numerous pollutants that are emitted by furniture, paints, and carpet. It is recommended that you use natural alternatives for all of these products. If you have pets, consider installing hardwood floors instead of carpet.

Get Rid Of Unnecessary Items

As you are aware, most household products contain chemicals, which are bad for the environment and may have adverse effects on human health too. So, get rid of them and use natural alternatives instead.

They not only do a good job but also leave your home smelling nice. Toxic substances such as rodenticides and pesticides should be kept away from kids in the home. It is important that you store them safely in a place where they can’t get them.

[Read: How Can You Take Care of Your Family’s Health?]

Filter Chlorine from Your Tap Water

There are many ways to do this, including installing an under-sink reverse osmosis system. It is important to remove the chlorine from your tap water, as it can cause skin irritation that is similar to eczema.

The water we drink contains chemicals, which can lead to various health problems. In order to keep your water source safe, install a multi-stage filtration system. It will remove all the contaminants from the tap water and provide you with clean, germ-free drinking water.

Read Labels Before using cleaning products

Many household cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that may harm your health. So, make sure that you read the labels of cleaning products before using them.

If you want to be sure that the food products around your home are healthy and free of any harmful chemicals or additives, you need to read the labels carefully. It is recommended that you eat only those foods where preservatives and artificial colors are not included.

Use Natural Cleaning Products

Keep your home free of toxic products. If you have lots of cleaning products or furniture polishes in your home, you need to get rid of them immediately. Use natural alternatives for these items and read their labels carefully. Avoid using cleaning solutions that are harmful to your health.

Most commercial cleaners are made up of hazardous chemicals that may cause health problems. When you use these products to take care of your home, you put yourself and your kids at risk. As an alternative, you can use warm water with vinegar or baking soda to clean different surfaces in your house. This is a safer alternative and it won’t leave any toxic residue on your floor or furniture either.

[Read: Decorating Your Home on a Budget + DIY All Purpose House Cleaner Recipe]

Remove Excess Furniture From Your Home

The more furniture you have in your room, the more chances there are of dust and pollutants accumulate. Hence, it is recommended that you use only those items that you need. Keep a vacuum cleaner handy to clean up after yourself regularly.

[Read:Get Organized]

Keep an eye on the mold growth

Do not ignore mold growth. If your bathroom’s walls are constantly damp, you need to take care of the issue immediately. A moist environment is good for mold growth, so if it gets out of hand, you could have serious health problems.

Make sure your kids are safe when they play outdoors

If your kids go outdoors to play, you need to make sure that the area in which they are playing is free of contaminants. It is better if you can plant trees in your garden or have a well-landscaped area so that it looks pretty.

So, keep these things in mind and make sure that your home is a safe and healthy environment for you and your family to live in. Things like natural cleaning products, air purifiers, and filtered drinking water can help you achieve this. Some level of sacrifice is required, which means spending some money that will help you avoid some health challenges.

For more helpful resources, check out the full Home Safety collection

How Can We Teach Our Children To Be More Environmentally Conscious?

While it’s true that none of our children should be expected to make decisions towards caring for the environment outside of what they do at home and at school, it’s good to help them develop a sense of care and concern for the environment around them. But as with all developmental lessons in childhood, instead of making them aware of the fear and the cost of responsibility behind every little thing they do, it’s good for them to first develop a love for nature and everything that entails. After all, as your child becomes an adult, the future of the world belongs to them and the peers they share the planet with.

A healthy view of the environment is important

A foundational love for all that brings is key. This isn’t to say we should train our children to be nature conservationists. or to work in that sector. But rather to enjoy a healthy regard for the world around them. And the correct sense of willingness to make those decisions that have the best impact.

Thankfully, teaching our children to be more environmentally conscious is a fun experience in itself. In this post, we’ll discuss that and more!

For more on this topic, check out the full Helping Others collection

A Love For Nature

So we’ve spoken about curating a love for nature. But what exactly does that entail? Well, we have to let our children discover that for themselves. We cannot force them to like what they like. But we can give them every reason to see the value in something. For instance, taking them on walks in the park. Heading out to local play spaces around your community. Visiting outdoor attractions such as large national parks or gardens. And even heading to a safari park. All of this can enable a sense of belonging in nature.

Depending on where you live, your child may or may not have had the chance to see farm animals on most days. Some inner-city children, for instance, will rarely see farm animals unless their families make time for that. A visit to a local farm that accepts family tours can be a great option! On your family outing you might get to feed some lambs, meet some cows, and even watch some alpacas. All of this connects them with nature in the best way.

Small Initiatives That Build Pride

It doesn’t take much for a child to feel validated by an active task that ends up succeeding. Or at least taking part in that task in order to try. For instance, it might be that your child’s school is asking the students to submit a project about sustainability and its importance. This is a great way to work with your child to creatively think, to summarize some of the environmental hazards of today, and more.

It might be that your child needs to put together a geographic model of what a volcano looks like. Or draw a map of your local area. These kinds of tasks can help bring you together and allow them to feel connected to that subject. Sometimes, seeking this out can be helpful. Such a heading to a sustainability drive that is ran by a local charity. Or engaging in an awareness campaign run by a local museum. When you look for these experiences, they tend to pop up everywhere. And much subsidy goes into helping children learn these values via active planning.

Gardening Efforts

Gardening is a wonderful way in which to help ourselves fall in love with nature, and we can also allow our children to help us in that way. Sure, they might not be old enough to help dig up a vegetable garden just yet. But they could plant some seeds in the soil, guided by your hand.

And sure, they may not be able to operate the lawn mower yet. But they can understand the value in seeing tomatoes grow in your greenhouse. Getting them involved in your own hobbies can help them learn a passion for it by themselves. And simply put, it’s healthy for children to be exposed to the natural effort involved with garden maintenance as well. It shows that caring for a green environment isn’t a chore, but a fun task that can bring nourishment to our lives. That’s not a bad lesson to teach our children by any measure.

Leading By Example

Of course, leading by example is ultimately how our children will learn from us. For instance, implementing solar installation onto our roofing system shows a real investment into thinking about our home’s energy efficiency, and making long-term decisions that will impact our environmental efforts in the future.

A child sees this, and can be proud of their family for taking such a step. As you can see, sometimes we have to walk it like we talk it, however you define that. Instead of just telling kids what they should do – or at least as a supplement to that.

With this advice, you’re sure to help your children become more environmentally conscious for the better.

For more on this topic, check out the full Helping Others collection

Save Money When You’re Traveling with Kids

Traveling as a family is naturally more expensive than if you were traveling alone or with a couple. You need to pay extra for the kids a lot of the time. Especially when booking accommodations, your transport, and activities. However, there are also ways to save money when you’re traveling with your kids. You can find some great deals offering discounted prices for kids. Or, in some cases, where kids don’t have to pay at all. Next time you’re planning a vacation with the kids, you can find lots of ways to save money and ensure your trip is more affordable.

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

Save on Travel

Getting to where you’re going can be one of the most expensive parts of traveling. If you’re driving, it might not cost a lot more with your family than it would if you were on your own. However, if you’re planning to fly or use another mode of transport, you might need to ensure your kids have their own tickets. For anyone planning to fly, here’s which airlines kids fly free on. You can also often find that there are discounted prices for kids, especially on trains or buses. This is good to know both for getting to your main destination and for getting around once you arrive at your new location.

Save on Food and Drink

Feeding the family can get pretty pricey too. If you’re mainly eating out at restaurants, it can get expensive quickly. Fortunately, you can often find places that have cheaper kids’ menu items. Not only will you save money, but it will also help you to avoid wasting food by giving your kids portions that they can manage. Some places will also let kids eat free. Sometimes this can be a permanent restaurant offer. And sometimes it is only offered on certain days or during special events.

[Read: Kid Friendly Restaurant Where Kids Eat Free + Tips for Eating Out With Children]

Look for Free Things to Do

You might be surprised by how many free things there are to do with kids when you’re traveling. Some activities are inherently free, such as going to the nearest park or enjoying the outdoors. But you can also find other various free activities, which could range from visiting museums to attending festivals. In some cases, adults might be required to pay, but kids will be able to participate for free. Just search for free things to do in the place you’re visiting, and you should be able to find some good ideas.

Split the Costs

Adding more people to your trip might not sound like the best way to save money. However, it could actually be a great way to cut your costs. By splitting some of your costs with others, you could reduce your total spend. For example, if you share accommodation with another family, you could both end up paying less for your vacation. It’s also a fun experience that ensures both kids and adults have company and people who can make their vacation even more enjoyable.

If you want to save money when traveling with your family, there are some great tricks that you can use to reduce your costs.

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