Get a $4 bonus when you join Swagbucks this month!

 

 You've probably seen me write about Swagbucks a lot on here. It's a site where you earn points (called SB) for things you're probably doing online already, like searching, watching videos, discovering deals, and taking surveys. Then you take those points (1 SB is worth a penny) and exchange them for gift cards to places like Amazon, Starbucks, Walmart, Target, or PayPal cash.

Unlike a lot of other rewards site, you can cash out at any time, and they have gift cards for as little as 300 SB (The $3 Amazon gift card - every little bit helps)!
This month, you can get a 400 SB bonus through my site. How? It's really easy:
1. Sign up through this link
2. Earn 300 SB before November 1st - that'll get you a 300 SB bonus applied at the beginning of November.
3. Complete just ONE survey before November 4th and you'll get an additional bonus of 100 SB.

So let's recap - if you do all of those things, you'll have at least 700 SB to spend. Plus, there are all sorts of great deals and other earning opportunities all October long, so why stop at 300 SB? You could earn a LOT more. [TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE EARNED AND USED IT FOR]. Sign up now!

Winter Is Coming: Prepare Your Home Sooner Rather Than Later

It might only be the start of October, but soon enough the cold - freezing cold - weather will be here. By preparing your home for winter sooner rather than later, you can ensure that when the snow starts to fall, your home is properly protected. If you fail to protect your home from the oncoming winter weather, it could end up being severely damaged to the point where it’s no longer livable. That’s a scary thought, isn’t it - not having a home to live in?

To prevent your home from being damaged by the winter weather, here are some things to consider doing:

Get your pipes freeze-proofed

Photo from Flickr

One of the most common home emergencies in the winter months is burst water pipes due to freezing. A burst water pipe can cause a small amount of water to leak out, or it can cause your entire home to become flooded. That’s why it’s so important that before winter, your have your water pipes freeze-proofed. You can opt to do this yourself, or you can hire a professional to do it for you, depending on how confident you feel about doing it yourself. There are various methods for doing this, the most successful, however, tend to be heat tracing and the use of insulation.

Check your home for damp and mold

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The sight of damp or mold is enough to send most homeowners into a frenzy. A lot of homeowners believe that once your home has damp and mold, it can never be got rid of. However, that’s far from true - it can be hard to alleviate, but it’s not impossible. However, the sooner you notice it, the better. The reason it’s important to check your home for damp and mold before winter sets in is because the presence of it indicates a problem in your home. Normally, the cause of damp and mold is one of two things: a lack of ventilation or a leak. If it’s the latter, it will only get worse throughout the winter. So it’s best to find the source and get it dealt with as soon as possible.

Have your roofing and gutters checked

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As soon as the trees are bare, it’s time to check your gutters for any blockages. This is important as come winter, rainfall increases. Should there be, a particularly heavy bout of rain and the water fails to drain properly it could damage your home’s walls and foundations. This could lead to all sorts of expensive problems. But by taking the time to clear out your gutters, this can be prevented. While you’re up on the roof checking your gutters, you may as well also take the time to check your roof itself. What you want to look out for are any tiles that are missing, cracked or damaged in any way, as these may allow water or pests to enter your home.

To ensure that come winter your home is properly protected from the elements, take note of the advice above. Your home is yours’ and your family’s sanctuary, and so, the last thing you want is a lack of preparation causing it to be damaged.

Happy Birthday Daddy! Thoughtful Gift Ideas From The Kids For Your Husband

It can be a challenge enough buying gifts for your other half from you. But when it comes to finding gifts from the kids, it can be even more difficult. You want to get him something memorable which shows him how much the kids love him. But it’s also good to go for something that he can use on a daily basis. Of course, you should firstly talk to your kids about ideas they may have for their father. If they are stuck for ideas, here are some thoughtful gift ideas from the kids for your husband.

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Bake him a cake

A lot of guys have a sweet tooth, but don’t often get to enjoy treats in the home. After all, if there are cakes or chocolate in the house, it’s typically consumed by one of the kids before they get a chance to take a bite! Therefore, for a birthday present, he will love, you and the kids should make him a cake! It will be a lot of fun for the kids, and it’s something they can get involved in making. You should think of the perfect flavor which will tickle his taste buds. For example, your partner might love triple chocolate or might prefer a simple jam cake. Once you have decided what you want to make, you can buy the ingredients to create the cake. Then you can give the kids individual jobs to help make the delicious cake. To save some time, you could buy a plain cake and then just let the kids decorate it. That way, they can make it personal without having to get stressed with the baking!. Remember to put ‘daddy’ on the top to make it special for your partner!

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Get him a bottle of alcohol

You should also look at getting him a bottle of his favorite tipple. After all, he probably doesn’t get to enjoy a drink very often when he’s busy with the kids. Your partner will enjoy a glass of the drink in the evening. Of course, it can make a boring gift for your kids to give their dad. Therefore, to make it more personal, you could consider getting a fun label to add to the bottle. You can look online to find something similar to these Crushtag customized wine labels. That way, your kids can write a special message, and it can go around the bottle to make it extra special.

Make him a photo book

It’s time to get old photos out and work with the kids to make him a photo book. It’s fun to reminisce with the kids as you look through old pics. Remember to select pictures of him since being a daddy to look back on. It will definitely bring a smile to his face on his birthday. Once you have stuck down all the photos, you can let the kids decorate around the cute photographs. Add some funny captions which will make him laugh. If you and the kids don’t feel like being creative, you could always order one online. You can still personalize the book, but it saves all the sticking and cutting for the experts.

Let the kids draw him picture

Dads secretly love receiving drawings from their kids. They often put it up at work, so when they are having a bad day, they lift their spirits by looking at the drawing. Therefore, as a thoughtful gift that your husband will love, get the kids to draw him a picture he can keep forever. You might want to suggest they draw a picture of them with their daddy or even him tucking into his birthday cake. It’s something original that he won’t get from anyone else.

Make a list of promises

If your hubby is always moaning at the kids, you might want to let them create a list of promises for their dad for his birthday. It might be things such as promising to clean their room or doing their homework before playing on the computer. After all, they might always have to be asked twice to do it! Or it might be things they can do for their dad such as promising to get him a drink at night time or making breakfast in bed. It will make a funny list that your husband will love.  

Buy him a new phone case

A phone case would be an ideal gift for your other half from the kids. For one thing, it’s practical as it will stop your other half from breaking their phone. After all, it’s so easy for it to slip out of their hands and end up smashed on the floor. But also, you can make it personal by making the cover a photo of the kids. That way, he will always have a picture close by of his loved ones!

Help them make a goodie basket

You could always make your other half a wonderful goodie basket full of his favorite things. Choose treats he doesn't get to enjoy very often such as crisps, chocolate, and biscuits. You could always add a bottle of something for him to enjoy when he’s tucking into these treats. The kids could help you make the basket so that they get involved in making the present too!

Have a day doing something he loves

Poor parents are dragged along to countless things they don’t want to do. So for a special birthday treat, you should do something that he loves for a change. It might be that your family goes to see a film of his choice. Or if he’s a fan of a particular sport, you could all go along and take part in the activity. As this feature says, by spending time with him doing what he loves, it will create a great memory for your family!

Image from flickr

Create a thank you note

You should also create a thank you note for your hubby from the kids. After all, those times he went the extra mile as a dad need to be rewarded. Get the kids to write down what they love about their dad and times they were thankful for his help. It’s a lovely thoughtful gift that will remind him he’s a great daddy!

Of course, these can also apply to Father’s Day and Christmas!

Women In IT: Why These 10 Myths Shouldn't Put You Off This Career Path

It's a well-known fact that Information Technology or IT is a growing industry. Thousands of people get employed in it, with much more by firms in non-tech industries. IT is without a doubt one of the best careers to have, even during times of economic uncertainty.

The only downside to IT, of course, is that the industry mostly comprises of men. According to an article by CNET last year, 30% of all tech workers are female. Yes, there's a clear gender bias towards men.

But, that is something we can change. In fact, many technology companies want there to be less of a gender divide. So, why are so few women working in IT?

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Well, it turns out that some ladies get put off starting IT careers because of industry myths. Here are ten of those myths, and why you should not let them stop you forging a career in IT:

Myth #1 - There aren't many jobs available in IT

It's probably one of the strangest reasons for not getting a job in the industry, right? When has there ever been a shortage of employment in IT?

To prove my point, go onto any "job board" website like monster.com and search for IT industry jobs. There are thousands of results just for jobs with "IT" in the title alone! Even if you happen to live in a remote part of the country, you can still find work in the industry.

Myth #2 - Women never make it to the top

While there are scores of IT roles, many people have a goal of working in a senior or management position. Some ladies get put off forging a career in IT because they feel they'll never make it to the top. But, that claim couldn't be any further from the truth.

Let me give you a few examples. There's Marissa Mayer, the CEO of Yahoo! And then there is Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook. I could spend all day noting down more examples, but you get the idea: women DO make it to the top jobs in IT!

Myth #3 - Only college graduates can get jobs in IT

One of the biggest myths that stop women considering IT careers is the myth they need a degree. The thing about IT is that there are few disciplines where you can get one. The vast majority of qualifications come from industry-recognized bodies. In short, you get qualified through private companies, not universities.

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For instance, you could get CISSP certification from Simplilearn.com/it-security-management/cissp-certification-training. Or you may wish to become a CCNA and get qualified through an authorized Cisco training center.

Myth #4 - IT will always be a male-dominated industry

I won't lie to you: there is STILL a gender divide in the Information Technology industry. The good news is that won't always be the case. Many of Silicon Valley's top technology firms are encouraging more women to join them.

And with more females getting senior roles in IT (see myth #2), this will only encourage a higher uptake. Things ARE getting done to address the gender divide in the industry. But, it can only get better if both men AND women work together to fix the problem.

Myth #5 - Becoming an IT professional is expensive

As you may know, there are a plethora of disciplines within the IT industry. That means people must work towards industry certification for those particular niches. The thing is, some women get put off IT careers because of the training costs.

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Yes, if you self-fund your training and certification, it can put a big dent in your bank balance. However, many employers offer to train and certify their staff for free. Why? The answer is simple: they want to invest in their employees.

Myth #6 - The IT industry is full of nerds

Another reason ladies don't consider an IT career is because they think the industry is full of nerds! By definition, a "nerd" is someone with excellent technical skills but weak social ones. Here's the plot twist: most people in IT are social animals!

If you enjoy mingling with people, you won't be working in silence in a technology role. You'll have no trouble finding like-minded workmates to befriend in an IT job!

Myth #7 - The IT industry comprises of dull and repetitive work

There's an assumption by some people that IT is full of people that do tedious tasks all day long. By its very nature, IT is quite an exciting industry to start a career! As you can imagine, IT evolves at quite a rapid pace.

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With new developments and innovations each year, one's role in IT will evolve as well. Aside from that, employers know that repetitive work can become boring and not motivational. That's why most roles have an array of different tasks to complete each day. Monotony is something you will seldom experience in IT.

Myth #8 - Your job might get taken over by a computer

Believe it or not, some women think getting a job in IT somewhat ironic. They feel that there's a danger their jobs could get replaced by machines! Here's the thing: there will ALWAYS be a need for human workers in IT!

Computers can't design or develop themselves. Despite what you might think, artificial intelligence won't take over the world just yet!

Myth #9 - IT jobs are stressful ones

I would be lying if I said this was 100% myth. There is an element of truth in it, I'm afraid. But, I should put out there are NO jobs in the world where stress isn't prevalent. You might not believe it, but stress is a motivational factor!

Some roles in IT can be stressful at times. The thing is, you can easily keep stress levels to a minimum. All you have to do is work out the best ways to do so that suit your role.

Myth #10 - Sideways career progress in IT is impossible

Last, but not least, there's another assumption that sideways IT careers are impossible. Some folks feel that you can only stick to the same discipline. Again, nothing could be further from the truth!

Let's say that you are a developer, for example. Nothing is stopping you from working in network management. And vice-versa!

Pack Travel: How Your Big Family Can Get Around on Vacation

When you travel with a large family, getting around can sometimes be a little tricky. It's fine if you have your own vehicle with you. It's large enough for everyone and has everything you need. But a lot of the time you don't drive to your destination. You might fly, take a train or even take a bus. And once you're in a new location, how do you get about without the use of your car? When there are more than five of you, keeping track of everyone can be a worry. So which method of getting around is best for your big family?

Credit: Picserver

Hire a Vehicle

Your first option when you're on vacation is to hire a vehicle. As long as you can secure one large enough for your family, it could be a good option. However, before you choose it, think about how much you'll be traveling and how far. Two reasons to hire a car or minivan are if you're going somewhere inaccessible by other transport or you will be traveling a lot. If you're rented a villa and can only get there by car, it's best to hire your own. Otherwise, you could end up either isolated or spending a lot on taxis to go and do things. Hiring a car may also be a good idea if you want to do lots of exploring of the wider area.

Walk or Cycle

The healthiest option is to get everyone walking or even cycling. Many cities and smaller towns are very walkable. In fact, it's often best to walk in larger cities, because the traffic will be terrible. If you're thinking about walking around, you should consider a couple of things. Firstly, the age of your children. You might have a stroller, or you may have kids with legs that quickly tire out. If you're a family that normally walks, you'll be more used to it, and it might be more suitable for you. You can also consider renting bicycles to get around.

Credit: Pixabay

Public Transport

In cities with heavy traffic, public transport is also a good idea. You don't have to make the kids sit in the car for ages, and you won't have to either. Some cities, such as New York, have great subway systems that will get you where you need to go much faster. You should also look into buses and trains, both for short and longer trips. You can buy tickets in advance for buses using apps like the Shofur bus app. It's also possible to do for trains. So you can make sure you secure your seats even last-minute.

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Taxis and Private Vehicles

If you're only planning on a couple of short journeys, a taxi or perhaps a private car could be the way to go. For example, you're planning to stay mostly within walking distance of your accommodation. But you want to go out for a meal a couple of times during your vacation, and that requires you to go further. If you choose one of these options, you need to be aware that it may be harder for larger groups. You might have to book in advance if you want one vehicle or use more than one car.

Don't let being a larger family stop you from getting around on vacation. Explore your options and find what suits your family.