Swagbucks Back to School Sale = Double Cash Back!

Through September 8th you'll get double cash back (in the form of SB points) or more when you shop for Back to School essentials at your favorite retailers through Swagbucks. They also have offers where you can earn SB points towards free gift cards for trying school-related products and services. Then you can take all the SB points you earn and use them to get gift cards and PayPal cash!

Click here to see all of the deals they're running, and if you sign up through me during this sale you'll get $10 for making your first purchase! That's in addition to the normal SB you get for your purchases.

How to Cancel a Timeshare You No Longer Want

Many families purchase a timeshare thinking they’re a good investment that will increase in value over time. Unfortunately, this is hardly ever the case. Almost all timeshares are not only worth less than what they were originally purchased for, but are actually not worth anything at all. Buying a timeshare directly through a resort developer such as Bluegreen, Westgate and Hilton is just like buying a new car. It decreases in value by as much as 90% the second it is purchased. Considering the average cost of a timeshare is about $10,000, you can easily lose $9,000 in the blink of an eye when purchasing a timeshare.

This may be hard to fathom at first, but just think about everything a resort developer must do to sell a timeshare. They must hire and train staff, pay utility costs of their facilities, provide coupons and discounts that convince customers to go on tours and much more. These overhead costs are carried on to you, the consumer.

On top of the instant 90% loss, timeshare owners are required to pay annual fees towards the timeshare’s upkeep. These fees average as much as $850 per year, but can be as high as several thousand dollars. After several years of these fees, it’s not uncommon for a family to look for timeshare exit solutions.

While it is true that some timeshare brands such as Disney, Hilton, Hyatt, Wyndham and Worldmark do hold some value, the majority of timeshares do not. Timeshare owners can try to give the timeshare back to the resort they purchased it from, but in many cases the resort won’t want to take it back. After all, the resort is enjoying its yearly guaranteed revenue stream from your maintenance fees.

If the resort won’t take the timeshare back, and no one wants to buy it on the resale market, the only thing a timeshare owner can do is look for a way to cancel the contract. This can be done with the help of one of the many timeshare exit teams on the Internet. These companies specialize in timeshare relief and work with resorts to get timeshare owners out of their contracts. Some of these “timeshare exit companies” have lawyers on-staff, and some simply have special relationships with resort developers. Simply do a search on Google for “timeshare exit companies” and you’re sure to come across several.

If you choose to hire a timeshare exit company to help you get out of your contact, make sure to ask a few preliminary questions before paying anything. These questions could be:

• Do you require an up-front fee? (not all of them do)
• What is your rating on the BBB?
• How long have you been in business?
• How long will the process take?Is there a money-back guarantee?

Make sure to shop around because each company can charge vastly different prices. You don’t necessarily need a law firm to get out of a contract. Sometimes one timeshare exit company may have a relationship with one particular resort developer that another does not. When it comes to exiting your timeshare, there are a lot of scams out there, so make sure to be careful and do your homework. 

Good luck!

Unlocking A Better You To Become An Even Better Mom

Every mom wants to provide their little angels with the best possible start in life. Consequently, any opportunity to improve your parenting skills should be grabbed with both hands. In truth, one of the best ways to do this is to start paying more attention to yourself. Ultimately, a better you will be in a far better position to offer the kids everything they could ever need.

 

While nobody is perfect, the reality is that you’re probably being too harsh on yourself. The likelihood is that you are already doing a wonderful job. Still, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to enhance all of your lives. Focus on these aspects of your world, and you should see noticeable impacts in no time.

 

#1. Think Nutrition

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It’s one of the oldest cliches in the book, but you are what you eat. Unfortunately, many people fail to fuel their bodies with the right stuff, and the repercussions are very real. Poor eating habits can lead to obesity, a lack of energy, and low immune systems. Frankly, this should be the first aspect of your life to be analyzed whether you’re a mother or not.

 

Many people wrongly assume that eating healthily is time-consuming and costs a lot of money. It doesn’t need to be that way. Cooking multiple meals and freezing them works wonders on both accounts. Meanwhile, soup makers and slow cookers can be used to create delicious meals without breaking your back or bank.

 

Above all else, regular hydration is essential. Drink two litres per day, increasing it accordingly if you exercise or live in particularly hot conditions. You’ll feel like a brand new person within a matter of weeks.

 

#2. Remove Negative Influences

 

In life, quitting bad habits is often a lot harder than incorporating new routines. After all, addiction is a very serious condition. However, the rewards of a better life and setting a great example for your kids should be the only incentive needed to give it a real try. There’s a long journey ahead, but you don’t need to fight those battles alone.   

Those addictions could involve drugs, alcohol, smoking, gambling or other problematic daily habits. Institutes like The Recovery Village are very understanding. They boast the experts and surroundings you need to get better. You wouldn’t ignore other health issues, so this shouldn’t be an option in this aspect either.

 

Ending that dependence will leave you in a far better frame of mind. In turn, this will allow to throw yourself into parenthood with far greater authority.

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#3. Build A Happy Relationship Status

 

When you have children, it changes everything. They instantly become the central focus, and that will not change for the rest of your days. Nonetheless, you cannot ignore that you have needs for adult relationships too. Therefore, all couples should make time for date nights and time together. Otherwise, love can soon evaporate.

 

Not all relationships work, however. Even having kids shouldn’t force you to remain in an abusive or unloving relationship. Surviving a breakup isn’t easy, but getting through those difficult moments can make things better in the long run. In addition to improving the situation for yourself, it can make things a lot better for the children too. It’s better for them to split their time across two happy homes rather than one unhappy one.

 

All relationships suffer tough moments, so it might just be a case of working through those issues. Alternatively, if you do move onto a new partner, it’s crucial that you introduce them to the kids slowly and in a healthy manner.

 

#4. Achieve More

 

As a parent, you have a responsibility to teach your children valuable lessons. Encouraging them to have confidence and ambition is certainly one of the most important. Those qualities will promote a better adult life as well as a happier childhood. Kids learn directly from their parents, so showing those qualities in your own life will benefit everyone.

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Working your way towards a better career is always a fantastic option. There are plenty of distance learning courses provided by University colleges. Alternatively, you can gain qualifications in business or learn a new language to unlock new opportunities. It may even allow you to start working from home, giving you more time to spend with the kids.

 

Essentially, if the children can see that hard work gets rewarded with nice things, they will have that incentive. Those transferrable talents can boost academic achievement, sporting progress, and many other things. When added to the benefits you’ll gain too, the fact you ignored it until now is crazy.

 

#5. Activity & Recovery

 

Physical activity is a responsibility that we should all appreciate as it can help us live longer and with greater enjoyment. As a parent, though, it can also enable you to play a more active role in your child’s development.   

 

Exercise can be a great way to relax and cut yourself off from the complexities of modern life too. Even if you don’t have time for the gym, a home workout can be very useful. Meanwhile, yoga and other meditational activities can work wonders for your stress levels. And a less stressful mom is a better mom always.

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The human body also needs a chance to recuperate. Ignoring this element brings serious damage over an extended period. Put the smartphone down and get to bed an hour earlier, using soothing music to help you drift off. A greater quality of sleep will enable you to enjoy time with your loved ones more than ever before. That has to be better than virtually connecting with former friends.

 

Verdict

 

As a parent, it’s very difficult to take a selfish approach in life. However, the sooner you realize that personal improvements will benefit the kids too, the better. You deserve to enjoy life to the fullest, and doing so in a way that aids your son or daughter’s development is the ideal solution.

 

An even happier chapter starts now.

3 Ways to Make Homeschooling More Fun

Homeschooling your kids is a unique opportunity to truly shape the minds of tomorrow, but even the most enthusiastic student can get bored at times. The hours spent reading lines of text, trying to solve math problems, and struggling to remember facts can really start to get your son or daughter down — unless you step in and make homeschooling fun and exciting. In this article, we'll share three homeschooling tips with you that will transform the way you teach your kids and give them new enthusiasm for learning.

1. Get Out of the House

There are times when your kids will need to knuckle down and cram - but that shouldn't be their daily experience of homeschooling. Take the time to plan interesting outings with your kids that give them an opportunity to apply what they've learned - or learn by doing. Studying biology is way more fun at the zoo, while history comes alive at museums and monuments. As long as the outing is related to the work they are studying, they'll remember it more easily and have fun learning.

The cold months are especially hard for homeschooled kids, because nobody feels like leaving home in winter. To break the monotony of this season, get your kids some clothes especially for school time and head out for some educational adventures. Moncler for kids has a wide selection of outerwear that is both stylish and functional. Snowy climates have their own unique physical features that your kids can study as part of their geography lessons, while the holiday season is full of cultural activities that make studying history, English and social studies more engaging.

Head to a football game and get a physical education lesson! Go, Chiefs!

2. Teach from Experience

A teacher who is able to make their subject seem fascinating, relevant — or at least useful - by telling interesting stories and sharing life experiences is more likely to succeed than a boring bookworm. Whatever you teach your kids from a book, tell or show them how it makes a difference in the real world. If you're not sure yourself, take some time to research it online and think of ways to explain the topic to your kids in practical terms  — you may learn something new yourself.

Daddy and Callie playing Ticket to Ride on a Sunday ... geography, math and more!

3. Don't Skip the Tough Subjects

Math, science, and history are three subjects that kids usually describe as difficult or boring — but they are essential to understanding the world and shaping your child's outlook later in life. By showing your kids how these subjects (and the people who study them) make a difference in our world, you'll inspire them to do their best. A visit to your local science or history museum is a great chance for your kids to interact with museum staff and volunteers who can explain difficult concepts in language that's easy to understand - and if you have questions of your own, they'll probably be happy to answer them.

Touch pool at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Illinois. A great place to learn about science!

Conclusion

By putting in a little extra effort, you can transform your child's experience of school and open their eyes to the fascinating world out there and the many ways there are to study and understand it. You'll have a unique bonding opportunity that most parents never have with their kids as you teach, learn and explore the world of knowledge together.

How To Be Over The Moon Happy In Your First Job

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We all have people in their lives that are stuck in jobs that they hate, and it breaks our hearts. We only get one life and we should do all we can to ensure we are as happy as possible, and a big part of being happy comes from enjoying our job. That is why it is so important you don’t just jump into the first thing that comes your way, but spend some time seeking out a job that you can enjoy. Get that right and the rest will follow.

Happiness, good health and prosperous career where you excel. All of these stem from getting a first job that you care about. Of course, this is easier said than done. After all, landing a job you can fall in love with is no walk in the park. But if it will make you even a smidgen happier then it is absolutely worth the hassle.

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Choose Your Passion

The more passionate we are about something the more enjoyment we are going to get out of it. It’s simple. So before you start trawling through the endless job postings on the infinite number of job sites, take as long as you need to think about what you are passionate about. That is a sure-fire way to land your dream job. Don’t worry, it doesn’t need to be something as specific as graphic design or copywriting. It can just be that you are a people person, which can then open up loads of other doors for you, such as customer service, sales associate, waitressing, personal trainer and much more. The more you can work out about what makes you happy the better chance you have of doing something you like.

Knowing What To Look For In A Job

Before you start looking at job postings, try making a list of things you want in a job first and then start looking. That way you will be able to measure your compatibility. If you come across some on your journey then just add them. It could be that you want somewhere that offers good health plans or helps veterans get back on their feet, or has opportunities to advance, or the chance to work with people. Then look at the job postings, say this one by Dollar General http://jobapplicationcenter.com/dollar-general-application/ and check off what they offer against what you are after. Then make a list of all those jobs that match your needs and list them in terms of most compatible. Voila, your road to a happy working life is underway.

Have Fun With Your Resume

One of the worst parts of trying to land a job that you will enjoy doing is pulling together a resume. It is just tedious and tiring and all sorts of other words beginning with T. So why not have fun with it instead. There is nothing that says you have to write your resume in that standard - and fragmented - format where everything you put down lacks cohesiveness. You can write it as a story instead, as explained at http://www.resumehacking.com/add-punch-resume-story. In fact, we urge you to. Not only will this make it a bit of fun, it will also give your life up to this point a narrative, while also encouraging your resume to stand out. But, best of all, the only companies that will reply will be the companies you know you will fit in with. You’ll know they are the kind of companies you will enjoy working for.