How to Protect your Money

The modern world revolves around money, and if you don’t have any, you know all about it. If you struggle with your finances, this can be a great source of stress. Uncertainty within the economy can cause you to be paranoid too. However, the truth is, it doesn't really matter how much or how little money you have. What matters is what you do with it. A millionaire could be living in credit, and when a recession hits, they suffer more than the person on $15k a year who has no debts and a cheap place to live. 

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Whoever you are, these tips can help you manage your finances:

Live within your means and save

The people who deal with money the best are realists. They know what they have, what they can afford, and how to manage their lives to work within the funds they have to play with. The world may bombard you with advertisements offering solutions to a wide array of supposed problems. Yet, it is up to you whether or not you put yourself into debt to get the thing you don’t really need in the first place. Take stock of your position. Look at your money and get real. If you can live frugally and live within your financial limitation, you will begin to save money for a rainy day as a natural course of action. Having a savings account will give you that much needed psychological boost. It is security. You will stress less and feel so much more secure. Do not let external influences push you into debt. At the end of the day, it is really not worth it. 

Injuries and insurance

You never know when an accident might happen. You could have an injury at work and be off for months at a time. Before this happens, it’s definitely worth your while to think about insurance, as this will ensure you get paid. However, even if you have insurance, you may be entitled to some compensation. Think about hiring an injury attorney to help you get those funds. This money will go a long way to protect your current savings. 

Investments

There are many different ways to invest your money, long-term and short-term, high-risk and low-risk. Think about your situation and what you can afford to lose. No investment is completely risk-free. There are stocks and shares, and certain shares pay out large dividends so you will be having a return on your investment in the short term as well as the long-term depending on how long you keep the investment. You may want to think about starting your own business on the side. This can protect you if you ever did get made redundant, for example. You could buy bonds, or invest in real estate, even a crowdfunding investment scheme such as Fundrise. When you look to invest, ensure you understand the investment. Do not allow yourself to be sweet-talked into something you do not fully get. This could have devastating effects. 

Give A Little Back To Your Community

Giving back to the community is such a valuable thing to do which can feel incredibly important and it’s so vital to ensure your community is growing and becoming more successful. This can be implemented in many different ways but there are some simple ways to get back into the community. Especially if you have been previously in trouble or had some criminal record previously, it can feel good to help out. If you have a Record Suspension or you would like to prove your with within the community. 

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Tidying Up 

You can find work in your neighbourhood by seeing what local groups help clean up the streets, keeping the place tidy and clean. Picking up trash, keeping the streets safe and clean is a very important task and the results can be seen immediately. It’s a lovely way to get involved with neighbours, to find out what is going on locally and to feel part of something. Often these types of groups are desperate for people to help, whether it’s cleaning up the local parks, or making sure all the trees and streets are cultivated and looking pristine. Search Facebook for local groups and get involved, it’s a good way to give back. 

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Donate 

Donations are never going to go a miss. Whether you’re donating to your local shelters, or to charity and thrift stores, they will always be glad for a donation. Clothes especially in the winter months are very important for homeless people. Shelters also accept blankets, any kind of bedding, clothing, food, this time of year, it’s vital to help those around you and make sure they’re getting what they need when they need it the most. Donating is great if you have too much clutter or you’re wanting to sort through your old boxes of belongings that have been stored in the attic or basement for far too long! You can often donate to your local hospitals too for children such as old toys and games are usually welcomed and it is such a positive for everyone! 

Visit a Senior Center

There are probably a few local nursing homes locally where there may be elderly people who are lonely or perhaps no family to visit them. Some residents may just be wanting someone to chat to, even if they have dementia, they may just want to have a little babble on to someone with a friendly face and often staff do not have the time to commit to helping all of them individually. Stopping by with games, having a cup of tea for just an hour or so a week can make all the difference and the Christmas period is definitely a difficult time when people should come together to help. See what homes are local to you and ask about volunteering for an hour or so to put a smile on someone’s face. The power is in your hands and you have the chance to give a little back this Christmas time.

Hosting A Hog Roast

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Are you in charge of organising an event? Whether it’s a corporate occasion or a personal celebration, there is no denying that it can be somewhat stressful. Proper planning is key, which is why we have put together this guide on hosting a pig roast. So, keep on reading to find out more…

You have decided you want to serve a delicious hog roast at the event you are hosting. Great choice! Not only does roasted pig taste exquisite, but it will make your occasion one to remember and your guests will certainly appreciate the fact that you have gone that extra mile to ensure they have a great time. But, you do need to put in some careful planning if you want everything to go smoothly. The first thing you must do is create your guest list. This is imperative, as you need to know how many people you are going to be cooking for. The last thing you want is to run out of meat and/or side dishes for people to enjoy. So, make a list of everyone you are going to invite. Ask all guests to RSVP by a particular date. If you don’t hear back from them you can always follow up by giving them a call.

It is vital to get a good idea of how many people you need to cook for. Of course, it is always better to have too much food as opposed to not enough. However, you don’t want to spend more money than necessary, especially if you have a strict budget to stick to. Once you have completed this step, you can then determine what size hog you are going to require. The great thing about our hog roast catering service is the fact that you can purchase in relation to the number of guests. Generally speaking, it is advisable to multiply 1.5 pounds by the number of guests to get the right size. But this is something you don’t need to concern yourself with.

You will also need to decide whether you want to cook the hog roast yourself or whether you want this to be handled by the catering company. This is entirely up to you. A lot of people like the idea of cooking the hog roast themselves, as they can control exactly how it is cooked and they find it to be quite a lot of fun too. However, with so many other things to plan, it can often be a weight off your shoulders to have a professional taking care of the cooking for you. There is no risk involved – you know everything is going to go smoothly. Moreover, it gives you the opportunity to fully enjoy your event as well. The best companies offering hog roasts also ensure there is a member of staff to carve the meat and another to serve it.

You also must spend some time determining what side dishes you are going to serve with the hog roast. The great thing about this meat is the fact that it goes well with a lot of dishes, so you really can be experimental with the side dishes you serve if you so wish. One thing you will have to consider is whether there are going to be any vegetarians at the event. When sending out the invitations it is advisable to ask for guests to inform you of any dietary requirements and thus you will know whether vegetarian options are essential or not. Nevertheless, it is always a good idea to put on a few vegetarian options just to be sure. This is especially the case if you are hosting a large gathering or corporate event, where it is difficult to know exactly who you are catering to.

All quality hog roast catering companies have a selection of side dishes and accompaniments for you to choose from. You also need to think about the drinks you will serve. Why not create your own cocktail? Or, if you have guests who have been in an addiction treatment program, go for mocktails instead! When serving this dish it is always advisable to have the traditional options on offer. This includes the likes of apple sauce and fresh bread rolls. This plays to the simplicity of the dish, which really is the beauty behind it all. No pig roast is complete without delicious stuffing and crispy crackling either. Should you go for traditional sage and onion stuffing or do you like the sound of cranberry or walnut and mushroom instead? The choice is of course yours. If you are feeling unsure, play it safe with sage and onion. This is a real crowd pleaser. Nonetheless, the choice is yours, and something more adventurous may fit in with the theme of your event better. Make sure the flavour enhancing rub and stuffing complement each other well.

Aside from bread and apple sauce, what other side dishes should you consider serving alongside the pig roast? You do have many different options. Think about the season. If the temperature is warm when you are serving the roasted pig, you will definitely want to have a good selection of cold side dishes. Coleslaw, salad and sweetcorn are all examples of dishes that work really well with pork, playing towards the BBQ feel of it. If you are looking for something hot, you really cannot go wrong with potatoes. You may want to create some dishes yourself to accompany the meat? Or, if you are hosting a summer party or a family event you could even ask your guests to bring along a dish each. This will certainly add to the excitement, as there’s no telling what dishes you could end up with.

Now you pretty much have the hog roast catering side of things covered. You will of course need to ensure all of the arrangements are sorted with the company in question. What time will the caterers arrive? What is entailed in the service? You will need to set aside a space for serving the pig roast. Other finishing touches include acquiring all of the plates and cutlery you need for the number of people in attendance. It is always advisable to have slightly more than necessary. Decorate the venue to create the right ambience for the occasion you are hosting. Moreover, if the event is taking place outside, it is always a good idea to purchase diffusers. This will help to keep the bugs away from the food.

Hopefully you now have a better understanding of what it takes to host the perfect pig roast. If you follow the steps that have been provided you should find the occasion runs smoothly. You simply need to be aware of how many people are expected to attend and cater to this. Moreover, when it comes to the side dishes and accompaniments, it is vital to try and cater to everyone’s tastes by ensuring there is a diverse set of options for people to choose from. Finish off with all of the extras, such as cutlery, decorations and diffusers, and you cannot go wrong. 

Seven Signs You're Ready for a New House

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If you’ve decorated, and bought new home accessories, or even just returned from a vacation and look around your home and feel a bit, well, meh, then it could be that you’re ready for a change. Even if you hate the packing and organizing process which comes hand-in-hand with moving, where you live can really impact how you feel. Especially if you homeschool your kids, or have a new arrival on the way and are desperately seeking alternate storage solutions, it’s worth looking at the signs below to see if you need a change in your living environment.

Before we dive in, check out these 27 Ultimate Packing Tips for Moving Items into Storage.

Easy Ways to Improve Your Health

As the end of the year approaches, many of us are reflecting on the year that has passed. We're wondering what we'd like to change in the New Year, and congratulating ourselves on the things that have gone well, or that we are happy about. You might also be thinking about things that you'd like to change. For many of us, our health is something that we'd like to improve. 

Whether you've been struggling with your weight, aches and pains, your immune system or recurring illness, or you'd just like to feel less fatigued, stronger, and healthier, there are some easy changes that you could make to improve your health in the New Year. 

Give Up Some Bad Habits

Ok, giving up bad habits isn't necessarily easy. It's probably by far the hardest thing on this list and something that many of us spend a lifetime struggling with. But, while some bad habits are relatively harmless, others could quite literally be killing you. Frankly, even the harmless ones can have a negative effect on your well being, or they wouldn't be bad. 

Think about your own bad habits, the things that you know are bad for you, or that you spend too much time or money on, and think about ways that you could cut down or quit. There's always help available from places like a men's drug rehab center, and you never have to do it on your own. 

Invest in a Reusable Water Bottle

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Water is so good for you. Sipping water from a reusable bottle all day can rehydrate you, making up for any water that you naturally lose, keeping your organs functioning well, your skin bright and your digestive system in check. Drinking water like this also means that you are less likely to drink high calorie or sugary drinks, or reach for an unhealthy snack. It's such an easy thing to do which can have a tremendously positive effect on your health and wellbeing. 

Get Your Steps in

Doing more exercise isn't always easy. If you are short on time, or struggling with your fitness, exercise can be tough. But walking more usually isn't. Even parking further away from the office, or getting off the bus a stop earlier can improve your fitness and health. 

Add Yoga to Your Daily Routine

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There are so many benefits to yoga, not least that it improves your posture, coordination and core strength. Practice a simple yoga routine every morning to start your days more positively. 

Talk More

What about your mental health? It's something that many of us neglect. You might bottle things up and avoid talking about your worries. Improve your mental health by talking about your worries and concerns. Talk to loved ones or even a therapist. 

Stand Up Straight

Standing up straight isn't always easy. If you aren't used to it and have poor posture, standing tall can be a challenge. But it's worth it. Standing tall will improve your posture and core strength, as well as helping you to feel more confident.