3 Simple Ways To Earn Extra Money Online

When you are trying to budget for a family, you might find that your money just doesn’t go far enough. Sometimes, that’s because you are spending too much and you just need to make some cutbacks. But a lot of the time, it’s because you aren’t earning enough and you can’t even afford to cover your basic expenses. If you find yourself in that situation, things can quickly start to spiral out of control and you will have to rely on borrowing to make ends meet. Once you get into a lot of debt, it’s so hard to get out of it, which is why it’s best that you try to avoid it in the first place. The best way to do that is to bring in a little extra money if you can. Finding ways to earn a bit of extra money and plug the gaps in your budget can make life so much easier for you. Even if you are not struggling financially, it might be a good idea to earn a bit of extra money in the lead up to Christmas, so you can take the strain off a bit.

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If you could do with a little financial boost for whatever reason, these are some of the best ways to earn a bit of extra cash online from the comfort of your own home. 

Health On A Budget: Keeping Children At The Top Of Their Game

Keeping a child healthy can be a difficult task. Thanks to their constant growth, it can be very easy for health problems to form which mom and dad simply haven’t noticed, and visits to the doctor are considered essential during this time. Of course, though, going to see a doctor every few months can be an expensive ordeal. Some people simply can’t afford to go through this, but they will still want to get the right kind of help for their children. To help you out with this, this post will be exploring health on a budget, giving you the chance to give your kids all of the medical support they need.

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Insurance

Despite the negative press which medical insurance companies often get, a lot of them work tirelessly to make sure that children are looked after. Even if you can’t afford a policy for yourself, you may be able to get one for the little ones, and this can cover a lot more than you might expect. Not only will they be able to go for regular checkups, but they will also have cover in case they have a more serious injury, and this can be a massive benefit when you’re worried about money. It’s always well worth shopping around for products like this, as there are a lot of options on the market, and they aren’t all born equal.

The Right Doctor

There are a lot of doctors out there who don’t work for medical practices or large hospitals. Instead, they work for themselves, serving their patients from the comfort of a small office. Professionals like this will have far more room to be compassionate than their larger competitors, and will often be willing to do special deals for parents who are struggling to keep their little ones at the top of their game. You will have to hunt very hard for something like this, while also putting some time and effort into talking to each doctor you find. Of course, this will rarely be an official offering, and you will need to be honest about your situation if you’re going to get something out of it.

The Right Clinic

A lot of hospitals and other medical practices are operated as businesses which need to make a profit. They have shareholders, board rooms, and targets which they have to reach, and this means that they often have to charge a lot for the services they provide. The right kind of clinic can solve this issue for you. You can support The Doctor Spot, giving you the chance to access a mobile clinic whenever it comes to your town, and this will often be enough to cover the basic check ups which a child needs. As they are run as a charitable organisation, they won’t be looking to charge their patients as much as possible.

Mobile Apps

Children often tell small lies about the way they feel. Whether this is because they want to get out of school or are looking for other kinds of attention, it can be an expensive process to go to a doctor and figure out if they’re telling a lie. Instead, to make this a lot cheaper, there are a range of mobile apps on the market which can put you in touch with professional medical experts across the world. While they won’t be able to inspect your child, you will be able to relay their symptoms, while also sending photographs and videos to give the professional insight into the problem.

Apps like this are able to work by offering a range of possible conditions your child could be suffering with. Of course, there are a lot of illnesses which only special procedures can find, and this means that you can’t simply take their word for it. If it doesn’t seem like your child’s issues are serious, you can wait to see if the symptoms get worse. If they think it might be something serious, though, it will be worth taking your child to a real doctor as soon as possible. These apps are designed to provide guidelines, though you should never take their word as absolute until you have seen someone face to face.

Diet And Lifestyle

Along with making sure that they have affordable access to a doctor, it also makes sense to give your child the right kind of diet and lifestyle to keep themselves healthy. This can be difficult, with parents and kids alike not wanting to eat boring food. You can solve this issue by getting more adventurous with your cooking, looking for good flavours which don’t require large amounts of fat, sugar, or salt. Extreme diets are not good for children, as they will need a wider range of nutrients in their food than adults. If you’re able to get on top of this, it should be much easier to keep the little ones at the top of their game.

Lifestyle is about more than just the food a little one eats, and their physical activities also play a heavy role in this. More and more kids are spending large amounts of time using digital devices. While this isn’t necessarily bad for them, it will stop them from being able to see the outside world, and this can lead to a very sedentary lifestyle. It’s worth pushing them to get involved with sports, go on long walks, and spend as much time outside as possible. There are always evenings for them to sink into the digital world, but they should be outside when the sun is shining.

Health can be a difficult field for anyone, though parents often have the hardest time. Children don’t care about their health, with their future feeling very far away, and the things they enjoy being right in front of them. Of course, though, if you want them to have the very best future, it makes sense to put some time into making this side of their life more affordable. There are charities and other organisations which can help you, though you will have to do the bulk of the work for yourself.

Helping Your Parents Downsize: Easy Ways to Get Organized

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Managing a large home is hard enough for anyone and, even with help, it may quickly become impractical for older relatives. This is why it’s so important to have an open and honest conversation with your parents about what they hope for later life and what the most practical options might be. 

Making the family home work for as long as possible is usually the goal for older people but moving on to a smaller property or to an assisted living community will definitely make life easier. Deciding the best time to make the move is something only you - and your parents - can choose. But once you’ve made the decision, it’s time to start getting organized.

Downsizing is tough for two reasons: first, you can’t take everything with you and second, you need to know exactly how much space you can fill. The problems usually arise when trying to choose which loved items simply can’t make the move and where they go. But let’s come back to that in a moment. 

The good news is that there are plenty of tips for moving house that still apply here. We just need to tweak them a little bit. Older people tend to be a bit slower and are likely to have a lot more stuff - they’ve had more time to accumulate!

So, here’s where to start.

Create a Timeline

A crucial element of moving is the timeline. You need to work back from when your parents are planning to move and then get to work. The longer you have, the easier it will be to organize one room at a time. Of course, if you are selling the house, you may find that this timeline shrinks once an offer has been accepted.

However, you can’t always pick your time perfectly, so you may find that your predicted timeline and your actual timing don’t quite match. This is fine. If you aren’t selling the old house just yet, simply continue as you would, ferrying the things your parents still want and need to their new place as you go. If you are selling, this is where a storage facility really comes in handy!

For your timeline to work, you need to know when your parents plan to move and how much help they will need. Most families take a few weeks to pack up all their stuff so it is definitely wise to assume you will need several weekends dedicated to packing. With decades worth of things to go through, and a slightly slower pace of life, it’s worth carving out enough time for breaks and reminiscing, which will both benefit your parents enormously. 

Keep, Charity, Bin

You should start by simply decluttering each room, one by one. This usually means that you are just getting rid of things that don’t have any emotive qualities. Stationery is often a good place to start as you can quickly get into chucking out boring stuff like staplers and balls of elastic bands that have seen better days. Using bins labelled ‘keep’, ‘charity’ and ‘bin’ will help you categorize and deal with each item appropriately. 

Once you’ve got rid of the clutter, you will need to start making some more difficult choices. Sentimental items are always the most difficult to get rid of because they are reminders of people and good times past. However, going through theses items with your parents is much easier than going through them once they have passed because this is a good time to find out what they really value. 

Though your parents may not be able to take everything with them, you can take photos of their things and talk about the story behind them. Passing these items on to other people who can use and enjoy them is a good way of giving each thing a second life. Having the pictures may not be exactly the same but you can at least continue to talk about them and remember the stories attached to them later on. 

Early Inheritance

Another good compromise to reach on sentimental items is an early inheritance. Instead of having to choose a charity for things to go to, this is a good time to pick out a few meaningful items you would like to keep in the family. Again, doing this with your parents around is a nice way to reminisce about old times and show them what is important to you too. 

This method may also work with relatives who hate to get rid of things and don’t want to downsize at all. If your parents are struggling to understand what’s happening - and this is common with people who have dementia and can no longer look after themselves - it may be kinder to use ‘love lies’ and tell them you are looking after their things and property while they are away. 

Buying New Things

Of course, downsizing isn’t just about getting rid of things. You should also start looking for new things to make your parent’s place feel more comfortable. Replacing old and worn items with something new can feel like a new beginning, which is always exciting. Exploring different design ideas for a smaller place is also a fun way to help them downsize without too much heartache.

The idea of nesting is really important; this is what turns a space from an impersonal room into your own, private area. While old sentimental items really help with this process, shopping for wallpaper, paint and carpets to create the perfect color scheme will help too. Try to help your parents see this move as an opportunity to do something new and explore different ideas. 

Helping your parents downsize is always going to be a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. But if you are prepared and well organized, it can be an opportunity to reconnect and bond over long lost memories. If you can take your time, this is well advised but if you can’t, prioritize packing up the most important things your parents choose. 

The Ultimate List of Human Foods Dogs Can and Can't Eat

If you’re a dog owner, you will definitely want to show your dogs how much you love them and make them feel like a part of your family. 

We all know the old saying: “The way to your dog’s heart is through her stomach.” 

Some pet lovers like purchasing high-quality dog foods on the market to save their time and giving their furry friends the right balance of nutrients. Otherwise, some people like making their own dog food. And supplementing your dog with some human foods it a great idea.

Quality dog food can be very expensive. Adding healthy human food to your dog’s routine can save money and add some healthy nutrients into their lives. There are a lot of human foods that are perfectly safe and even healthy that our canine can eat as an occasional treat.

However, though all of us love making our furry friends happy by showering them with treats, you should always keep in mind that feeding your pooch anything not marketed with a dog on the box can be very tricky. The fact is, dogs and humans metabolize foods differently. Some foods are healthy for humans but can be toxic and potentially deadly for dogs. 

Even when you ask Google “what human foods dog can’t eat” you’re likely to get back some confusing and conflicting answers. Don't be panic! 

Just remember that, when it comes to treating your dog with human foods, it’s best to do so in moderation. Even with food is deemed “safe” for dogs to eat, a rule of thumb is to feed it to your dog in moderation. All foods should be introduced into your dog’s diet gradually, so you can monitor him for adverse effects like allergic reactions. 

Furthermore, there is a fact that all dogs are different. One dog may tolerate a food just fine, while another experiences adverse effects. Most healthy dogs are perfectly able to digest raw meat without issue. But if your dog has a sensitive stomach, even commonly fed people food might not be an option for them.

Before sharing your snacks with your furry friend, read on the following infographic from CyberPet to learn which human foods are safe and which can send your dog straight to the vet.

The Prospect Of Divorce May Not Be As Terrible As You Think

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When we think about divorce, we often think about terrible consequences. Families being torn apart, hostilities between two who may have really loved each other at one point, as well as an aggressive and toxic blowback that always seems to affect the children worst of all. You may have read the title of this post and considered it rather incendiary, especially if you have a family member or friend who is going through this rough situation now.

But is there a written rule that states divorce has to be a horrible procedure which brings out the worst in people? Or do many allow that to happen by using the emotional situation as a means to release a torrent of toxic behavior, aggression, and hurt, all in the name of defending themselves from pain? Sure, none of us are immune to this, and this post will not try to float above you and try and label why every divorcee is in the wrong.

We simply wish to state that the process of divorce can even be a positive experience. Here’s why:

It’s Awakening, Thoroughly

When you think of divorce, you know it is the last stop between a married couple. This can help two people forget the lies they might have been telling each other, forget the aggression, forget the small passive comments they make, and actually begin to see the other person. Like a splash of cold water over the face, the prospect of divorce can be intimately worrying and sometimes signify a great life change. This means that as a foundational last resort, a couple may research how to save a marriage with trust issues, or how to work on their arguments, or how to better work towards keeping the family unit together. Like someone in a self-destructive set of behaviors realizing the need to exercise after being given their medical report, the prospect of divorce can be the careful push to help you salvage positivity.

Moving On

Moving on can be a positive thing, if scary. Sometimes, people simply are not the person they were when they married, and this can be normal. People change over decades, and we shouldn’t pretend otherwise. Sometimes, people can grow apart. It could be that a clean break, affable, professional, spurned by healthy conversation instead of a feiry reveal of infidelity can be important. It’s this somewhat ‘professional’ approach to things that can help you spare most of the aggression, and that can lead to a good thing.

Remaining Friends

Under-reported to the degree that it should be is the fact that many divorcees have managed to construct their lives anew while keeping in touch with their old marriage partner. There’s no reason or rule that states you cannot be civil, grow as people and stay friends. After the marriage, you begin to find you again, and sometimes that can help you live more positively, and learn to forgive. It will not be possible in all cases - but in the cases that apply, this can be a great thing.

With the following advice, you’re certain to understand that divorce can be a positive experience, through many different perspectives.