Tuesday, March 6, 2018

“I’m A Working Mom – How Can I Get Extra Qualifications?”



Moms have to mix running a family with bringing in the dough. One thing mothers don’t want is to
get pigeonholed. Sure, the kids and your partner are everything, but so is being a working parent.
Without a job, things get pretty boring pretty quickly. Like the majority of people, as soon as
you take it seriously, there is an urge to be better. In your head, and there is no reason why not,
promotions and corporate takeovers are on the cards. To get to this position, though, moms need
qualifications to stand out from the crowd. Securing them isn’t easy because time is short; still, it’s
possible.


Night School


The obvious first step is to enroll on a course at a night school. That way, work shouldn’t be an issue
because the classes will start after the shift ends. One sticking point is child care. Not only are the
kids young, but they aren’t responsible enough to take care of one another. Hopefully, daddy dearest
will be able to pick up the slack and play mother. If he can’t, babysitters are cheap and trustworthy if
you choose correctly. Considering it’s only one or two nights a week, the cost is quite low.


Weekend School


Alternatively, consider going back to school on the weekends. Usually, Saturdays and Sundays are
more flexible because most people aren’t scheduled to work. So, father should be free to do his
fatherly duties. Even if he isn’t, kids have clubs and camps which they participate in all day. Therefore,
they are well looked after and have a guardian so there is no reason to worry. Nowadays, unis and
colleges offer weekend courses as they understand the demand from working parents. Just pick the
timetable which works best and sign on the dotted line.


Online School


Of course, there is no need to attend a class physically. Thanks to new technology, qualifications are
attainable digitally instead of in person. Yep, an online masters in marketing is just as easy to get
and it doesn’t bring the same problems. For example, there is no reason to panic about childcare or
a lack of time. By enrolling online, you can complete your studies from the comfort of any room in the
house. It’s your choice! So, after the kids hit the hay, log in and continue where you left off the night
before. It’s pretty straightforward.


At Work


Outside of the office seems like the best place to study, but the workplace can provide great
opportunities. Take training sessions as an example. Employers want employees to boost their skills,
which is why they offer courses free of charge. They can’t force people to take part, but they do
have welcome incentives. A popular one is an afternoon off work to attend class. By signing up,
you can receive a certificate in an area of the industry which is gaining momentum such as first aid.

Are you a working mom? Which one of the above is your favorite choice?

At What Age Can Your Child Get Contact Lenses?


Contact lenses were a breakthrough in vision correction for cosmetic and convenience. But unlike wearing glasses, they don't correct all vision problems. They also require extra care and diligence to avoid problems like eye infections or corneal damage. For these and other reasons, not everyone is a candidate for contacts, especially children under a certain age.

Age Isn't the Main Factor


Physically, contacts by can worn at any age. Even infants are sometimes fitted with lenses to correct congenital eye diseases. That means your child's age isn't as important as their level of responsibility. Although problems with contacts only affect about 5% of wearer, they usually stem from improper use or care.

Consider your child's level of responsibility on other matters, as well as their personal hygiene habits. Do they do their chores without constant nagging and do their homework on time? What is the state of their bedroom, and how well do they take care of their possessions? Children who are more conscientious and self-directed are usually responsible enough to handle contacts.

When Contacts Are Preferable


Contacts offer several benefits over traditional eyewear, and advances have made them viable for a range of vision problems; they even make bi-focal contact lenses now. Children who are active in sports should wear contacts to avoid losing or damaging their glasses, which can be expensive to replace. They're also safe to wear if your child is involved in contact sports, since broken glasses can cause serious injuries. Contacts also offer:

  • Wider field of vision
  • Increased confidence
  • Better vision when correctly prescribed
Children are also less susceptible to dry-eye, a common issue with some lens wearers that becomes worse as we age. It can cause irritation and make lenses difficult to tolerate. Recent studies have found that wearing contact lenses can also slow the progression of conditions like nearsightedness in children and inhibit myopic progression, leading to better eyesight as they grow up. The newer gas permeable (GP) contact lenses, when worn overnight, temporarily reshape the cornea, allowing near-sighted children to forego eyeglasses during the day.

When is it okay for your child to start wearing contacts, and what conditions prohibit them? Each child is an individual, and no option is right for everybody. An Edmonton eyewear professional can tell you more, but these basic guidelines can help parents make some decisions.

Monday, March 5, 2018

How is a Credit Score Evaluated?



There are a good number of reasons why you should focus on creating a good credit history. Maintaining a good credit history allows you many benefits. Namely, you can get loans at a much better rate, you can discuss a mortgage with better terms, etc.

Speaking of which, we are going to explain how a credit score is evaluated and what steps you can take to improve your credit score. Pay attention to these, and you will do fine.

Evaluating a Credit Score

Every credit score company has its own approach to determine a credit score, which they are not very open to discussing. These companies are very strict about discussing their methods in public. But they do inform you about the factors they use to evaluate a credit score.

These factors are the number of accounts someone has, whether they pay their bills on time or not, and how far back their credit history goes. Following, we are going to discuss these in more detail.

Pay Bills on Time

Your payment history plays an important role in calculating the credit score. Therefore, you need to avoid late payments and make them on time every month. If you are afraid you won’t remember the time, you should use credit issuer offers.

Small Business Credit Cards offer SMS and email reminders for payment dates. You can also set up an automatic payment from your bank account.

Debt to Credit Ratio

For the best results, you need to keep your debt to credit ratio low. The amount you owe is the second most important thing after your payment history. It pays to have low debt compared to available credit.

In order to maintain a low rate, you need to keep debt in control and enough credit available in your account.

Avoid Exaggerating

You should never apply for every line of credit you can instantly. Restrain yourself from applying for too many new credit lines at one time because it ruins your debt to credit ratio. If you have managed to keep a low ratio, you shouldn’t apply for new options instantaneously.

Every application will open a new inquiry and will have an adverse effect. It may seem to the vendors that you are applying for way too much credit.

Open and Close Accounts

As lenders want clients with a strong credit history, you may ruin your credit score if you open and close accounts on a regular basis. Instead, you should leave some accounts as they are with a good credit standing.

This will help you devise which credit cards you should carry, and which loan option you should apply for. Maintaining old accounts with a good history opens up new possibilities for you.

You Don’t Have to be Afraid of Anything

We understand we made some drastic points, but you don’t need to be afraid of credit. Maintaining a good credit history depends on creating a habit of managing your accounts the right way. Doing so, you won’t even need to borrow any money. However, developing a good credit history depends on dedication.

Sunday, March 4, 2018

Get $3 When You Sign Up for Swagbucks in March!


Want some extra boost for your budget this month?

If you haven't tried Swagbucks before, you can get a bonus $3 for signing up as my referral in March. Swagbucks is a rewards 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 and exchange them for gift cards to places like Amazon, Starbucks, Walmart, Target, or PayPal cash.

When you sign up through me, you can earn an additional $3 bonus! Here's how:

1. Sign up using this link.

2. Earn 300 SB total before 4/1/18. You'll get a $3 (300 SB) bonus for it!

3. If you want even more bonuses, you'll get a $10 (1000 SB rebate) bonus for making your first shop purchase! That's in addition to the SB you earn for every dollar you spend.

That's it. It's super easy, and Swagbucks is for real. I use it myself, and I've earned hundreds of dollars in Swagbucks and have talked before about how I usually cash out in PayPal so I can use that money to sign my kids up for activities, make purchases for the household, and more!

Friday, March 2, 2018

School's Out, But Safety's Always in Session



The alarm bell rings and kids cease to be the teacher’s problem. Once they are off the premises, it’s down to their legal guardians to pick up the slack. Moms sometimes wish they could be off the clock but they can’t because parenting is a full-time job. Even when they are in class, moms worry about their safety and how they can keep them secure. After the events of Parkland, Florida, children’s well-being is in the spotlight more than before. In fact, it’s mainly been highlighted after the 19 school shootings this year.


Out of sight, out of mind doesn’t apply which is why we can’t usher them onto the bus and switch off. As role models and guardians, it’s our job to ensure they are fit and healthy whether the school’s in or out of session. If you’re wondering how, check out the following, non-exhaustive advice.


Bus Or Car?


Because there are never enough hours in a day, moms and dads let their kids take the bus to school. As benign as it sounds, the experience can be daunting for little children. For one thing, coaches aren’t renowned for their reliability and safety certificates. Just getting on their may is a hazard for a small student. Mentally, it can be tough too because the journey to school is where bullies begin to develop. Remember that there are no invigilators and the kids are free to act how they please. The driver can get involved, but he or she isn’t going to step in because it isn’t their job. As a result, driving your son(s) or daughter(s) to class is often the best option as you’re in control physically and mentally. Be sure to drive safe and make everyone wear their seatbelts.


Internal Policies


Teachers and principals must care for their students, which is why school policies exist. In them, the authorities should detail how they and the children will react in an emergency situation. Thinking about Parkland, the advice should center on finding cover and trying to flee as quickly as possible. Shootings aren’t the only issues, however, as worsening weather has a role to play too. What happens when there is a flood or a wildfire? And, keep bullying in mind because it ranks #1 on the list of pupils’ problems. A mom has to read the policy at the start of every year and analyze what it says. Should the actions not be up to your standard, then a parent has the right to contact teachers and arrange a meeting.


External Policies


As well as the rules the school sets, there will be the ones which you have to teach your kids. Typically, they will run along the same lines, especially if you’re not an expert in a certain field. However, some may go against what you believe in, or they may not exist whatsoever. In these situations, parents have to sit their kids down and walk them through the gaps in their knowledge. Physical violence is probably the prime example for moms. The majority of parents condemns and doesn’t condone fighting, and that should be in keeping with the school’s policies. However, what the principal and the board of governors will neglect to mention is the right to self-defense. Nearly 99% of parents wouldn’t disagree with their child fighting back if another kid threw the first punch.


Job Opportunities


At some point, a mother has to trust a teacher to do their job. Kids need space while at school, which is why turning up as an assistant can be mortifying. Sometimes, your actions add fuel to the fire instead of water to the flames. The key is to be involved without suffocating your children and harming their independence. In the classroom, this is nearly impossible because your shadow will loom large. But, some jobs help to find a perfect balance. Nurses create great workplaces and study places in schools as they offer aid while keeping a watchful eye. A student with an illness or injury, no matter how serious, will look to you as the first port of call for help. By treating them, their discomfort won’t inhibit their learning. When it’s your “baby” that needs attention, the feeling is all the sweeter. Plus, being on the premises gives lets you spy while keeping your distance.




The World Wide Web


Moms that aren’t at school won’t know what is happening, when or why. For a person who has to solve the issue ASAP, this is a distinct disadvantage. In the past, women had to use their intuition and powers of persuasion to break down barriers. Now, the internet will do it for you and relieve the pressure. Kids will inevitably disagree, but monitoring their online time is a mother’s duty. To begin with, there are predators online that prey on young children. Just as importantly, Facebook and Twitter leave the vulnerable open to cyberbullying. Thanks to social media, the torment continues way after the bell rings. Looking at their “walls” and “tweets” is a sure-fire way to pick up on problems that are happening behind the scenes. When warning signs flare, a conversation with their teacher help both parties find ways to move forward. Sitting your child down and having “the talk” is imperative too.


Emergency Details


Schools have files with contact details and addresses for guardians and next of kin. This data, however, is only as good as the people who provide it in the first place. Think about how many times you have moved house in the past two years, and then do the same with a cell phone. The odds are high that either contact info is the same now as it was when you first filled in the sheet. Apart from being an admin mishap, it creates a potentially dangerous situation. Should your child be in trouble at school, there will be no way to inform you of an update. When details change, be sure to tell the school.


What are your rules to make sure kids are safe during term time?