Sorry for the cuss word, but this sums up how I'll be eating this Thanksgiving. How about you?
If you care, click here for a chart to show how many steps you need to take to walk off your Thanksgiving food. It's equal parts depressing and encouraging.
If 2020 has been the year that you’ve come to realize your family finances aren’t quite as solid as they could be, you are certainly not alone, and there is no indeed to panic because there are lots of pretty simple things you and do to better manage your money and save the family finances once and for all...
Create a budget
Whether you already have a family budget or you’ve never had one before, now is the perfect time to draft a fresh new spreadsheet that takes into account the actual state of your finance at this very moment. Work out how much you have coming in and going out, and then work out how much you have to play with. Save as much of the excess as you can, and in no time at all, you’ll be in a much healthier financial position.
Deal with debts
Dealing with debts can be difficult, but you may want to try using the debt ladder to make the whole process more manageable, or you could even look at this DTSS review to give you a few ideas if you’re more seriously in debt than you can manage. Whatever your situation, taking action, contacting your creditors, and working to pay as much as you can as fast as you can, is going to put you and your family in a much better financial situation in a year from now than ignoring the problem ever could.
Start meal planning
Food is often one of the biggest costs for any family, so it makes sense to see where you can cut corners in this regard. A good way to do so without significantly lowering your own food standards is to meal plan and batch cook. That way, you only buy the ingredients that you will actually use, and virtually eliminate waste.
Buying in bulk, if you can afford to do so is also a pretty good strategy because bulk food often comes with a decent discount, and it also means that you never run out of food to feed the family.
Teach your kids the value of money
If you teach your kids the value of money not only are they less likely to get into financial trouble themselves in the future, but right now, they will have a better understanding of what it takes to buy all the nice stuff they want, which means they are less likely to bug you for lots of expensive purchases that you can’t really afford and more likely to be happy with the simple stuff in life.
Buy used
Buying used is not as bad as you may think. There are lots of perfectly good items in excellent conditions to be found, and if it means you can spend a little less and have more money left over to pay towards bills, well so much the better.
Build an emergency fund
Putting as much money as you can aside for emergency situations such as car or appliance breaks down, vet’s bills, or even medical costs is sensible. It gives you breathing space and means you don’t have to rely on credit when times are tough, which will take the pressure off the whole family.
We’d all like to live in properties in the Hamptons, but the reality is that those kinds of properties are only for the privileged few. Mostly, we have to make do with what we can afford. And, often, that’s not a great deal.
When you’re in this situation, it’s hard to think positively about your home. You’d like it to be a shining jewel of a property on your street. But the reality is that it is a dilapidated mess. No matter what you do, you don’t seem to be able to control the chaos or bring it up to an acceptable standard.
So what’s the trick here? How do you rethink your attitude towards your home?
Figure Out What It Is That You Don’t Like
The first step is to think about what it is that you don’t like about your home.
Sometimes, it’s the decor. Other times, you’re not keen on the layout.
Family movie night is a tradition, but maybe you want to mix it up a little bit. When the weather is warm, you can have movie night under the stars. It doesn't take a lot of effort to make some memorable movie watching moments.
All you need is a place for a projector, a screen and some seating. You need to have enough distance between the projector and the screen. This will depend on the size of your screen. Be sure the paths inside and to the snack table don't cross in front of the projector. You should also think about cord control. You will likely to have run at least one cord to the equipment. You don't want anyone tripping, so plan ahead.
Bring out blankets and pillows. Set up an area with snacks and beverages. Don't forget the popcorn. You can sit on the grass or your outdoor chairs. If you want the ultimate experience, get outdoor daybeds. Complete the ambiance with some lanterns or hang lights in the trees.
You don't need state-of-the-art equipment to enjoy the experience. Most indoor home movie projectors can also be used outside. If you don't have one, there are several inexpensive options. You will need some type of screen. You can purchase one or use a bedsheet. You could project directly onto the side of the house or fence. If you do that, you need to be okay with seeing the siding or slats in the fence as part of the movie. You can hook a streaming device or DVD player to the projector. The projector will have a speaker, but you can certainly add a higher quality one if you prefer.
That's all there is to it. You'll be the envy of friends and neighbors. Be ready to host a lot of events.
Don’t let the winter weather destroy your garden. Below are just a few ways to protect your outdoor space from the rain, wind and snow.
Fix up your fencing
If your fencing is damaged, now might be the time to get it fixed. Flimsy old fencing isn’t likely to last the winter – replace this with new high quality fencing. If you opt for wooden fencing, make sure that it is sealed to protect it from the elements. Metal fencing and plastic fencing may be more durable.
Lock all tools and equipment away
Tools and equipment ranging from barbecues to shovels shouldn’t be left outdoors once the temperatures start getting cool. The wind, rain and frost could damage them – they are much better off locked away in a shed where the elements cannot get to them.
