Monday, April 23, 2018

Having trouble picking up an anniversary gift? Try these methods to help figure it out!


This guy and I will celebrate our 20th anniversary in October! As of July we will have been together for 23 years!
 

Anniversaries can be a great time, one where couples celebrate their love for one another and the passage of the time that they have spent together. Such days are commemorated, rightfully so, with romantic traditions. Some of these traditions never change, like a dinner at that restaurant where you had your first date. But you probably don’t want to give your special someone the same gift, year after year.

We get it. Picking out an anniversary present can be daunting. You want to get them something that they will love, something that reflects the genuine thought and care that went into its selection. That sounds like a lot of pressure, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s surprisingly easy to figure out that special gift if you slow down and think instead of stressing out.

Consider the Date

How many years have you been together? Try incorporating that into your anniversary gift or celebration! Been together for three years? Well then, how about the ever-appropriate movie, dinner, drinks trifecta? Two decades can be celebrated with two concert tickets to see your favorite performer live. The ideas are limitless!

Put a Spin on the Traditional

You’ve probably heard of the traditional anniversary gifts like those listed here. There’s a reason why these gifts have been so popular throughout the years: They work! But you don’t have to go with something bland or disinteresting that your love might not like. Instead, put a fresh spin on the traditional gifts by incorporating things that you know they’ll love.

The 1st year tradition is paper, for instance. Instead of writing them a poem or creating a photo collage like so many do, try your hand at illustrating something new and original for them to enjoy. Get them something that relates to their favorite book. Hand-write a list of reasons why you’re glad to have them in your life.

Show that You’ve Been Paying Attention

Did your special someone love the movie that you saw together earlier this year? Buy them their own copy, or a piece of art based off of it! Have they been expressing the need for some time off from work and the stresses of life? Arrange a weekend trip to celebrate your anniversary in peace. Did they yearn for a pair of earrings? Then surprise them with a pair of diamond earrings they would love. No matter how big or small the gesture is, your partner will appreciate knowing that you’ve taken the time to really listen to them.

Anniversaries only come around once a year. Many couples in this busy world only have a few rare occasions, like anniversaries and birthdays, to celebrate each other in a genuine and meaningful way. That’s nobody’s fault-it’s just life, but it’s no excuse to forget your anniversary.

That’s why our number one tip is to make sure that you remember! Set an alarm in your phone calendar, write it down somewhere that you look every day, stamp it on your forehead-just don’t forget it. Remembering dates can be tough, but it’s worthwhile when your partner feels appreciated that your anniversary means so much to you.

Better Your Child's Education With These Top Tips

August 2016 start of a new co-op school year


Education does not begin and end with school. There is so much more to life that one has to learn if they want to be successful. How to take care of themselves, how to be healthy, how to work in a team, how to lead, how to research, and so on. There are so many traits and skills that simply cannot be taught in a classroom. You need to combine a great education with real-life learning, and to help you better your child’s education in this way you need to use these top tips today:

 

Get Them to Help with Chores

Yes, chores were probably one of the things you hated growing up. So much so that you don’t want to force your children to go through the same ordeal. What you might not realize, however, is that by letting them get away with not doing chores you are inhibiting their ability to live independently. You need to teach them how to clean properly, how to do their laundry, and especially how to cook healthy meals. Without these key life skills, your child will very likely suffer once they move out to attend college, which in turn will hurt their academic performance and make it harder for them to find their footing. That’s why you should instead make chores a family activity. Cook together, for instance, and you can not only teach your children, but you can also bond.

 

Support Their After-School Activities

If your child has a talent that cannot be fully developed at school or home, then you have to find a program within your community. From community classes to local sports teams, there are so many options when it comes to after-school activities. If your child loves doing something and is talented, do all you can to support them – even if that means forcing them to continue after a rough patch. Just because your child’s team lost doesn’t mean that he or she shouldn’t continue to play, after all.

 

Enroll Them in a Great School

That being said, if you choose a school that is not only academically excellent but also has a wide range of extracurricular activities your child can have a well-rounded education without you needing to drive them to and from practice. Most extracurricular activities occur after school, meaning you will only need to pick them up once, saving you time and even money. They can make new friends, try out new things, and learn crucial life skills at the same time. It is for this reason why you should choose Southbank IB School in London or others like it. Their commitment to learning isn’t just about tests and book-knowledge, but about developing as a leader.

 

Learning is so much more than reading from a textbook. Your children need to become strong, well-rounded and most importantly independent adults if they are to have the tools they need to succeed. By helping them diversify their interests and teaching them how to take care of themselves properly, you can ensure they will have the best shot at life.

Are These Fears Holding Back Your Career?


Fear is a weird thing. As much as the right dose can propel us to greatness, too much of it will hold us back forever. Think about your career – does it match the goals you set out in the very beginning? People that answer no should be aware that there are various reasons why this may have happened. It can have nothing to do with fear whatsoever should you have a baby, for example. Still, fear plays a major role for millions of employees around the world. Before you can address them head on, it’s important to know which ones apply to you personally.




Fear Of Failure


We would love to achieve greatness and climb to the top of the corporate ladder, but failure stares us dead in the face. Let’s face facts and state outright that the best of the best have an incredible amount of skill, drive, and energy. Not only that but they use their time incredibly efficiently. Due to the equality of outcome, everyone has to follow the model to reach their levels and it’s a scary prospect. After all, the media is happy to say there is only one Steve Jobs. What they don’t mention is that failure is a stepping stone to success because we learn from our mistakes.


Fear Of Rejection


This can take many forms. For example, we fear that our job application will not get a response. Or, we are scared a higher education program won’t pick us because there are expert candidates. In these cases, our brain makes an easy yet effective case: what’s the point? It seems pointless applying in the first place when the application will get rejected anyway. Remember that some people and organizations are willing to help. Do you know that healthcare degree you always wanted? Well, third-party companies will put you in contact with colleges. Agencies and recruiters can do the same for employees looking for a change of scenery.




Fear Of Disappointment


We finally have the chance to land a job of a lifetime yet stop short. Picture the scene. The application goes well, as does the interview, and there is an offer. The thing is, the role can’t be as good as we imagine it in our heads. Even with the job specification and the perks, there is bound to be a let down at some point. Again, this backs lots of us into a corner where logic dictates we’re better off staying put. Although it may not be everything we ever wanted, even if it’s a couple of percentage points better a switch is a wise choice.


Fear Of The Unknown


Anything can happen when human beings take risks. We suddenly have the balls to change employers and industries and then they go under. How anyone can put food on the table at this point is hard to fathom. So, most of us decide it’s best to stagnate for the good of our families. Unpredictability is impossible to gauge, and the only way to find out the answer is to dive headfirst into the deep end.


Are there any other fears which hold you back from being successful?

Sunday, April 22, 2018

Your Guide to American Home Shield Warranty



A home warranty can provide you with coverage for certain things that home insurance cannot, such as your furnace or kitchen appliances. There are lots of different companies that offer these warranties, but not all of them will be able to provide you with exactly what you need. When you are looking for the right coverage, it is imperative that you make a point of looking into what American Home Shield has to offer. American Home Shield reviews are among the most positive of all home warranty companies.

Coverage Services



You will find that American Home Shield Warranty offers warranties for appliances, plumbing, and electrical systems. These things can be extremely expensive to have repaired, which is all the more reason to look into these coverage services. Homeowner’s insurance can be useful, but it doesn’t cover broken appliances, furnaces, HVAC, plumbing or electrical. American Home Shield has been helping homeowners save money since 1971, and they have served over 1.7 million customers all across the United States.

Benefits of American Home Shield

There are a huge number of benefits associated with getting a warranty from American Home Shield, including the numerous plan options that are available. You will also have multiple service fee levels to choose from, expanding your options quite a bit. There is no home inspection required before you can get coverage, which makes this process a lot easier as a whole. With all of the different items that are covered under these plans, you should be able to find an option that suits you perfectly.

Choosing the Right Plan for You



Because there are numerous coverage plans that American Home Shield offers, it is important that you take the time to select the right one to match your needs. There is a System plan and an Appliances plan that you can take advantage of. The Appliances plan covers just about any appliance you might have in your home, including refrigerator, stove, clothes washer/dryer, dishwasher, etc. Since it is certainly not uncommon for these appliances to break down, you might want to think about taking advantage of this plan.

There is also the System plan, which covers major home systems like heating with ductwork, water heaters, garbage disposals, plumbing, and electrical system. Even a simple problem with one of these systems can prove to be extremely expensive. If you don’t want to spend more money than necessary on these repairs, this plan could be hugely beneficial.

You will want to keep in mind that each plan has a term of 12 months. You will be able to cancel anytime you want after 30 days. If you decide to get a refund, it will prorated with an administrative fee charged. There is absolutely no limit on covered repairs, but there are coverage limits for certain items. Your coverage will officially go into effect 30 days after you purchase the plan.

Pricing

One of the reasons for all of the positive American Home Shield reviews is that this company offers plans that are affordable for the average person. There aren’t specific prices for each of this company’s plans, but you can easily get a quote online. You will be asked which plan you want as well as the total value of your appliances. If you choose to build your own plan, you’ll need to submit detailed information about the appliances you want coverage for. The quote that you receive online will be accurate, so you can get a good idea as to whether or not it’s within your budget.

There is a service call fee if you ever need any repairs done. The monthly premium you pay as well as your deductible will depend on the plan you select. You will find that service call fees can be as cheap as $75, though it depends on what you need repaired and your plan. Paying more each month will lower your service call fee, so that is something to consider. It is important to find out if you are subject to any coverage caps, as it depends on what you are having covered under your plan.

Exclusions

Anyone who is interested in the home warranty services that this company offers will need to know about their exclusion rules. You will not be able to get a claim filed if your home appliance or system breaks down due to lack of maintenance or acts of God. There are some circumstances in which you won’t be able to get the repairs you need covered, and you can call the company for detailed information on this matter.

Claims Process



The entire process for filing a claim with American Home Shield begins with logging into your online account and creating a service request. This is a fairly simple process that you shouldn’t have much of an issue with. Most people report that they didn’t have any problems with filing their claims.

Once you have filed your claim and paid your trade service fee, the company will assign a technician to the job, which usually takes around 24 hours. The contractor will contact you directly to set up an appointment. You will be able to choose whichever day and time works for you best, which is very convenient. The contractor will inspect the broken appliance or system to see what is wrong before getting started with the actual work.

How to Purchase American Home Shield Warranty



You will be able to purchase a home warranty from this company by calling their toll-free number or going to their official website. It is highly recommended that you get a quote and take a close look at the plans they offer before making any final decisions. This will provide you with the information you need to make the right choice based on your own requirements. There are many American Home Shield reviews, and most of their customers have nothing but positive things to say about them. This is certainly one of the better home warranty companies in this market today.

Friday, April 20, 2018

Learning to Save Money

I save money by getting my Starbucks already ground at Target for $6 a bag, and
I get a fancy creamer at Aldi. I treat myself and save money!

As an adult, you have to learn how to save money. While everyone wants to win the lottery, this should not be your go-to plan for life. Life will throw you responsibilities in the form of bills that will need to be paid. Bills will not wait for you to win the lottery. That being the case, it’s important to learn how to save money. Saving money comes instinctively for some people, but less so for others.

Distinguishing between a want and a need is the first step towards learning how to save money. If you’re on a tight budget and that item you want is incredibly expensive, it is not ideal to purchase it. There are even ways to save money on food. No, this does not mean eating less. Rather, you could limit the number of times you buy food while at work and eat out less.