Planning for Your Aging Parents’ Future

                    The thought of your parents getting older, declining in health, and needing help with basic tasks can be overwhelming. It’s a thought no one really likes to grapple with. Your parents’ health and safety, however, should be a priority. Decisions should be made as a family and preparing is the best way to avoid confusion and stress. Here are a few tips to help you plan for your aging parents’ future.

Meet as a Family

No matter what types of decisions are made, they should be made as a family. It’s important to involve everyone in the process. Don’t bring the topic up out of the blue, though. For such an important discussion, you should schedule a meeting in advance. If you have family members who can’t attend physically, use video-conferencing so everyone is present.

Determine the Needs of Your Parents

Chances are that if you’re having a meeting to discuss your parents’ future, you already have concerns about their health and well-being. Has one of your parents fallen recently? Are they having difficulty driving? Are they having trouble doing basic tasks around the house like cooking or cleaning? Taking a look at their specific needs will help you to determine if they might soon require assistance.

Ask Your Parents What Their Wishes Are

Your parents must be involved in any decisions that are made and you should ensure that their voices are heard. Ask them what their preferences are, whether they want to remain at home or move to upscale assisted living facilities. Maybe they would feel more comfortable moving in with your family or one of your siblings’ families.

Keep in mind that your parents may not want to have the discussion or might become defensive. Don’t pressure them. You may need to have several smaller meetings to make all the important decisions.

Getting older is a natural part of life. Together, however, you and your family can work together to create a plan that makes the process a little easier for everyone.

               

Get $10 off Your First Walmart Grocery Pickup Order

There was even more than this. It's what $350 in groceries looks like. And I didn't have to set foot in the store, deal with PEOPLE, deal with checking out, deal with loading up my own stuff, etc. I feel very spoiled indeed.

Let me set the scene for you ...

It was a Friday afternoon. I was already tired, and I had a proofreading job to get out, homeschool planning to do, kids to love on and swim with. I also needed to go to Aldi, my go-to grocery shopping place because of their low prices.

But oh, the heat, and battling the crowds then packing up my own groceries. I didn't have the energy (turns out I'm having some thyroid issues, but that's another blog post). I had a lovely grocery list all made up for a week of groceries so I logged on to Walmart Grocery to see what I could get and if it would be way too expensive. One of my favorite friends uses the service all the time and I trust her judgment. 

Oh, the thought of running out Saturday morning anytime between 9 and 10 a.m. and having the groceries put into my trunk for me was so heavenly. So I did it. Turns out it's:

• Perfect for those who are not able to get out and shop on their own.
• Perfect for those with little kids who can't brave the store.
• Perfect for those who are in a rush.
• Perfect for those who are tired from working or whatever and just need to get their stuff.
• Perfect when it's cold outside or hot outside or raining.
• Perfect for me during the homeschool year when my time is very precious.
• Perfect for EVERYONE!
• UPDATE: lately, it's perfect for those who prefer not to go into a grocery store and be around other people!

A few good things over hitting Aldi and worth a little extra money to me:

• I was able to get a smaller version of the half and half I wanted. The one at Aldi is a good deal but it's too big and it goes bad.
• I was able to get the frozen Reames egg noodles we prefer when we make chicken and noodles.
• I didn't feel rushed or stressed by looking at so many things and I could take a break shopping online.
• I was able to order Ranch dressing packets when Aldi had been out of them forever.
• I realized we didn't need 150 name brand flossers for $5.92 and a few hours later I was able to go online at Walmart, delete that item and replace it with 75 of the same flossers, only a different brand, for $1.88. It was so easy! I saved $4.04 on that specific order (yes, I realize I got half the flossers).
• I am able to get fun things like matcha powder, specific brands of contact solution and other things we use a lot.

The substitutions!
Sometimes you get there and they are out of what you wanted, so they come to your car window and let you know. They are always more than fair that I have experienced. Once they did not have ONE Clif bar flavor I wanted so they gave me an ENTIRE BOX of it instead. Once they didn't have a 24-pack of frozen waffles so they gave me 3 packs of 10. If they don't have the size of canned good you need, they always do a substitute upgrade. Just today they were out of the 3-pound bag of oranges so they gave me a 5-pound bag instead NO EXTRA CHARGE EVER.

So use this link and try out Walmart pick up service.

We both get $10 off if you use it. Here is the fine print:

*You must be a new customer and spend $50 or more before taxes to receive offer. You must have a registered Walmart account to redeem promo code.

I did it my first time and used my friend's code and we both got $10 off. It should email you a promo code or something. $30 minimum. 

YOU DO NOT GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE!

Walmart costs slightly more than aldi but, hey, I figure the time I save braving the store, standing in the checkout line, and loading my groceries into my van one bag at a time. 

UPDATE: I had fully planned to go to Aldi one day recently. But I did something to my ankle and knew I could not walk that entire store, stand in line, load my groceries into my trunk. So early this morning I went onto Walmart Grocery and placed my $255 order just like that. What was great was that I can't always get everything I want at Aldi — or I'm not sure if I can find it/get it — (cinnamon fire Jolly Ranchers, Clif bars, Brazil nuts, cranberries?, toothpicks?), but I can at Walmart.

If you have any questions, you can always find me on Facebook or you can email me at mommykerrie@yahoo.com.

Happy shopping!

Stay on the Right Side of the Law While on the Road

Driving can give most great freedom. Families can jump in the car, and start an amazing adventure. Whether it’s the beach, or Christmas shopping, or shopping in general. Wherever they are headed, a car is a staple of many peoples lives. However, have you always stayed on the right side of the law when it comes to owning and running a car? If you haven’t, or you want to know how to stay on the right side this handy little article should help you out!

Image Source, Pexels

Pick the Right Insurance for You

Once you buy a car, your job isn’t over, as you need to find the right insurance policy for your car. Policies vary depending on years of driving experience, previous driving misdemeanours and more. But how do you know that you chose the right one? Well, firstly every year do a rate check, as rates fluctuate too. This helps you pick the right insurance, and if you want to switch to a more money-saving policy, later on, this will help you find one. Another tip is the good old fashioned review. Find a top-rated insurer, as many people saying they are good cannot be wrong? Also, see how they perform when it comes to taking out claims and dealing with claims, as this is a huge part of choosing the right insurance policy. Lastly, always review your coverage. Once you decide and choose one, again that isn’t the end of the story. Continually review it, as life changes. You may take out the policy, then have a baby, or change cars, or move houses. 

All of these affect the policy and what policy you would need. So make sure you do your reading, and keep updating and reviewing your insurance policy once you get it. 

What to do In a Traffic Accident

Being involved in an accident can be quite scary, no matter how big it is. What do you do? How do you report it? How will this affect my insurance policy? All of these questions are valid. First of all, if you are involved in an accident, make sure you a calm, and give you details to whoever asks (if they are also involved). If another person hit you make sure you get their insurance. If anyone is injured make sure you call the emergency services immediately, even if they look ok at the time, as they may need to be looked over. It may also be best to think of hiring a lawyer if the incident is quite serious, for example like Michael Harbeson Law Office, as these firms are especially suited for road traffic incidents and lawsuits.

Something else you would need to show is an insurance certificate. This would be shown to anyone hurt who may ask for one, to show that you are fully insured. 

Keep your Car Mechanically Safe

Last but not least, make sure your car is mechanically safe. Driving without a visible number plate is a legal offense. Driving without a valid MOT is also an offense. All of these offenses, however, are avoidable, so make sure you keep all of these in check not just for other road users safety, but for yours. 

Need more Help?

Hopefully, this article helped, if you need any more information make sure you research exactly what you need and enjoy the freedom of driving!

Healthy Women Have These Traits - And You Should Too!

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There is a lot of general material that focuses on how you can stay fit and healthy. And, in this current Coronavirus pandemic, it’s crucial to absorb as much information as possible to maintain your body. Of course, general tips aren’t always applicable to women because a woman’s body is unique. If only men knew what it is like to be female! Therefore, it’s essential to get as specific as possible to deal with common symptoms and functions. And, there’s no better place to start than the shining lights that are women who regularly practice healthy habits.

Here is a selection of the ones that you can incorporate into your routine straight away.

Female-Only Friendships

Everybody has met girls who say they don’t connect with the same sex. Instead, they’re more comfortable around guys. Hopefully, you don’t fall into this category because scientific studies prove it’s crucial for women to form friendships with females. In extreme cases, cancer patients are more likely to survive due to an increase in key nutrients in the body. For the most part, strong relationships provide better cognitive health and enhanced longevity. So, you’ll live longer and avoid physical and mental diseases if you bond with women!

Body Experts

Yes, they can’t start handing out medical advice as if they have a doctorate and years of training. If they do, please ignore their tips! No, a fantastic trait of healthy women is that they are experts on their own bodies. They know the difference between a yeast infection vs UTI with a quick glance, or whether a lump was there before or is new. Although this sounds obvious, plenty of women fail to understand their bodies and their symptoms, and this stops you from actively participating in your health. To stop being a passenger, you must start reading and analyzing the signs.

Serious Sexual Health

Men have it easy with the lack of work they have to do regarding their sexual health. However, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take your sex life seriously. If anything, it’s up to you to put safeguards in place to ensure that you are secure and comfortable. There are 19 million people with STDs in the US, and not all of them are men like women would like to believe. As well as strong contraception, healthy females pick one that strikes a balance between accessibility and comfort. After all, playing with your hormones, while less hassle, is potentially mood-altering.

No Exercise Worries

Working out is a critical part of leading a healthy lifestyle, along with eating a balanced and nutritious diet. Sadly, more than one-quarter of women in the USA still don’t exercise at all, and even more don’t get the required daily amount. That’s because going to the gym can be intimidating. The good news is that healthy women can lend a hand - they find an approach they like and stick to it. If that means jogging instead of going to the gym, they do it for the sake of their wellbeing.

How do you attempt to maintain your health as a woman?

Come Into Some Money? Make Sure You Spend It Wisely...

For one reason or another, you’ve been lucky enough to come into some money. Perhaps a loved one has sadly passed away, maybe you were gifted a pretty sizeable tax refund, or maybe you were given a big bonus at work - whatever the reason, you’ve been lucky enough to come into some unexpected funds. 

You’re over the moon with your newfound financial situation, but now you’re starting to wonder ‘what should I spend it on?’. While you may like the idea of treating yourself to a little something, it’s important to think carefully about how you spend your funds - what you don’t want to do is blow the lot and live to regret it. 

Bearing that in mind, below are some simple tips to help make sure that you think carefully about the money you’ve come into and are mindful about how you spend it. 

Photo credit: Pixabay

Look to the future 

First things first, take a moment to think about what you would like your future to look like. Maybe you’ve always dreamed of owning your own home - or moving to a bigger property? Perhaps you have always wanted to launch a business of your own? Whatever your aspirations for the future, it’s important to consider whether the funds you have come into could help to make your goals a reality. Even if it seems like a small amount of money, if you are smart about how you spend it, you may be able to build a better future. 

Think about how you can grow it

If you are keen to make the money that you’ve come into go as far as possible, then the logical answer is to workout how to grow the funds. One option is to put the money into a high-interest ISA, and watch the funds grow over time. However, if you want to grow the money more quickly - rather than over a few years - then you might want to consider your other options. One of which is trading and investments; while this might seem like a daunting industry, if you are smart about how you invest and seek advice from specialists like a Forex Broker, then you should be able to invest your money and grow it fairly quickly. 

Be bold

When it comes to your funds, and how you spend them, it’s far too easy to ‘witter’ them away. However, doing something different and taking a bold step can be scary, but if you want to boost your funds and give yourself the best chance of meeting your future financial aspirations, then it’s important to be bold and not be afraid to try something a little different. For instance, you may never have invested in stocks before, but by choosing to do so, you could set yourself up financially for life. It’s just a case of making smart, well thought out decisions when it comes to your funds, that’s all. 

There you have it, some simple ideas for what you should do, should you be lucky enough to come into some money.