Frugal

3 Ways To Spread Christmas Cheer This Year

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We’re now entering the busiest time of the year and it will go by very fast. It would be so wonderful if it would just slow down a litte. If life would slow down, we could speand more time with our family. Here are some great ways that we can spread Christmas cheer to your friends and family and even strangers this year.   Give Money To Help Those In Need Often, churches will take up an offering for children in another part of the world that need to hear the gospel. Money will be collected to support missionaries who live there and set up churches, Bible Studies, and childeren’s play equipement. Our church had a ministry set up so that we could sponsor an orphan child in a third-world country. I especially like to give to those in need in my local town.   Visiting Lonely People Christmas is a good time to start visiting lonely people. You can start by visiting people in your family that you haven’t seen in a long time. You can also visit people that you don’t know and spread Christimas cheer there, too. When you visit, make it a point to come back often to share the love year-round. To visit people in a rest home or hospital, it’s easier to go with a group. They usually have prior permission.     Volunteer Have you ever volunteered this time of year? There’s nothing more fun than volunteering with your children or a group at: a soup kitchen, the Salvation Army, a coat drive, a clothing drive, a toy drive, or shovel a snowy sidewalk. We’ve lived in a few different towns and they all had different ways to volunteer. In one town, the city allowed a family or organization to help an individual or family. Our children had the biggest eyes and smiles! In another town, we selected angels off a tree and then went shopping for a specific child. It’s great to let your children help select the gifts and wrap them! As my kids got older, they volunteered on their own by ringing the red bell, serving food, and more. I love that they continue what we started! Now We Want To Bless You!     Another year, another Christmas! The most wonderful time of the year is upon us. And some of the best things about this time of year is that it’s a time of gratitude, togetherness, and celebration. I have teamed up with some pretty generous bloggers for the 9th annual Christmas Blessings Giveaway to bless FIVE families this year. In the past we have had two winners for this giveaway, but this year we wanted to give to even more families – we are giving away $200 gift cards to 5 families! Each winner will get a $200 gift card to wherever they choose – a restaurant, clothing store, grocery store, online retailer – any place that offers gift cards! There are lots of entry options in the Rafflecopter form below – the more you enter, the better your chance of winning!  I know it can seem tedious and time consuming to go through all the entries, but isn’t a chance at $200 worth it? I think it is!  Plus, all of these amazing bloggers donated their own money towards the prizes, so this giveaway wouldn’t be possible without them.  I hope you’ll take the time to check out each one. Who knows, maybe you will find some new blogs to follow. The giveaway will run from Monday, November 14th through Wednesday, November 23rd (ends at 11:59pm EST). Winner will be notified by email shortly after the giveaway ends and will have 48 hours to respond to claim the prize or another winner will be drawn. By entering this giveaway, you agree to be added to the email lists of the participating bloggers.  Please be sure to read the Rafflecopter terms and conditions upon entering.

5 Essential Winter Home Maintenance Tips

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Keeping your home in check isn’t always easy – it can feel like there’s a never-ending list of chores to do and tasks to undertake! But if you keep on top of them and keep chipping away, and allocate specific jobs to the season, then the list won’t feel as daunting. In the winter month, you’ll likely spend much more time at home using more resources, so maintenance is essential. For 5 essential winter home maintenance tips, read on!  1. Check your heating  Heating your home is key at this time of year, so make sure that everything is in perfect working order. If your home is losing heat it could be for a variety of reasons, whether it’s your Roofing not being properly insulated or your heating system not working correctly. If you haven’t had a check for a while, now is the time to get your boiler serviced to ensure it’s running efficiently and not wasting money. If your heating system is old, it could even be time to replace it. While this is an expensive upfront cost, it will save you a lot of money in the long run as your home will be heated more efficiently.  2. Get draft proofing  With the global energy crisis still ongoing, it’s in everyone’s interest to reduce the energy used at home. So, to keep your home warmer and less drafty, work on draft-proofing your home. You can do this in small ways by adding draft excluding tape to the inside of windows and around door frames, as well as adding draft excluders.  3. Insulate pipes  A burst pipe in winter is an absolute nightmare and something to avoid at all costs. One way to do this is to insulate them before the temperature drops below zero and put the heating on to stop water from freezing in the pipes. You can insulate pipes by adding insulating tubes where possible.  4. Keep on top of garden maintenance  It can be easy to forget this, as you’ll be spending more time at home and less time outside, but this is still important in maintaining the health and quality of your outside areas in preparation for spring and summer. Make sure to keep an eye on lawn care, and prepare your garden by trimming back shrubs and trees, removing any dead branches and tidying up the borders. Make sure you also have the right tools prepared if it snows, such as a snow blower to ensure you’re not snowed in in a storm.  5. Check your carbon monoxide alarm  This should be done frequently, especially if the boiler is in a room that is used heavily, but especially during the winter when the heating is being used. This is essential for the safety of everyone residing in the home, so don’t miss this step. The consequences could be fatal.  Hopefully, this list has given you an idea of some jobs to get done during the winter months. They will all contribute to you having a comfortable, happy home to spend time in during winter. When you’ve ticked everything off the list, you can treat yourself to a bubbling mug of hot chocolate! 

Spending Money Wisely This Festive Season

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Pexel Photo The most wonderful time of the year is incoming, so now is the best time to start preparing for it. You don’t want to dive into debt right now, as many of us are already struggling, but at the same time, the months ahead do tend to be costly ones. So what can you do to spend wisely this festive season? Here are some suggestions that should help you along the way! Reevaluate Your Budget Start out by reevaluating your budget. Sure, we may all live to a budget, but with the cost of things changing so drastically lately, it’s important that you factor increased costs into your budget in order to know what your disposable income actually is. Note down your take home pay, then note down an accurate and up to date list of your monthly outgoings. The figure you have left is your disposable income – what you can afford to spend for the month without sinking into debt. Don’t Overspend It can be tempting to overspend at this time of year. Many of us have traditions that we want to stick to, but it really is important that you make changes to these traditions to make them lower cost. Overspending right now can land you in a lot of financial struggle that could result in months of ongoing, chronic stress and worry. As many of us struggle to afford the basics, there’s no room for additional credit card or loan payments going out of our bank accounts too. Stick to your budget, avoid exceeding your disposable income and find lower cost ways of doing things. Eat at home rather than eating out. Reduce your spend on presents. Enjoy low cost or free festive activities. This time of yesr should be about memories, rather than material things. Now, more than ever, people are going to understand reduced spending. Invest in the Essentials Of course, living to a budget doesn’t mean that you can’t spend at all. This is the time of year that many of us will find ourselves in need of a few essentials to stay warm and comfortable. Just make sure to shop wisely. Use quality brands that will last, like https://paisleygraceboutique.com/ for a cosy winter wardrobe or reliable glaziers for double glazing to keep your home warm. Use your disposable income wisely and on the things you actually need. Shop Savvy for Gifts A big area of expenditure for many of us right now is gifts. We want to give out nearest and dearest a token of our love, wrapped up under the tree. But try not to go overboard. All too many people feel pressure to spend more than they have at this time of year. Instead, take your disposable income and determine how much you have to spend, split between the people you want to buy for. Stick to this figure. You can shop savvy to make it go further. Be alert during the Black Friday sales to pick up some bargains. Use coupons and any discount codes you can find. Hopefully, the tips above will really help you to thrive this holiday season, rather than finding yourself shrouded in money worries!

4 Ways to Afford a College Education Naturally

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College is one of the most expensive things a student can purchase for themselves. Nowadays, it’s something that’s essentially required for nearly all careers. Whether you want to go to trade school for a career in construction or university for something such as law, you will need funding. The average family can’t afford to pay out of pocket for their child’s education. 1Families should weigh the costs of college and the worth of a degree. This doesn’t mean not working towards education at all. Fortunately, there are a few ways to pay for school without all the stress. Here’s what you need to know! Image credit Why is it So Hard to Pay for College? The cost of college has been a major source of concern for many people all across the world. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the United States, the average cost of tuition and fees at a four-year public university was $9,410 in 2016. So you know that this has already risen to new heights. It’s even more expensive for private universities. These numbers are staggering, and they are only increasing year by year. 1. First Things First: Save Money on College Tuition Before you start to Apply to Trade Schools here, you should first check the required tuition at some of these universities, colleges, and trade schools. This should be one determining factor for where you’d want to get your education. Plus, this can also make a massive impact. Afterward, it may be a smart idea to try and save money here and there for college. Even if you do have grants, loans, and scholarships, sometimes you’re still going to need to be able to pay for some expenses out of pocket. Usually, when it comes to student living, food, or books, these will need to be paid out of pocket. 2. Sign Up For Scholarships Scholarships are a great way to help pay for your education. If you are an aspiring college student, it’s important to have an account with as many scholarships as possible. Many different types of scholarships are available, including those for students with disabilities, minority students, single parents, first-generation college students, and more. The most common type of scholarship is need-based, awarded based on financial need. While yes, you’ll be competing with others, it’s still important to try to apply to some. 3. Apply for Financial Aid Financial aid is a major concern for many students who want to attend college. However, it can be difficult to find a way to afford college without going into debt. There are various ways that students can apply for financial aid and get help with the process. One of the most popular methods is through a private scholarship, but it goes far beyond just that. Here are some of the most popular financial aid options: ● Federal Pell Grant: The federal government provides grants for low-income students who are enrolled in undergraduate degree programs at eligible institutions. ● Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG): The FSEOG is provided by the U.S. Department of Education to any student who qualifies for Pell Grant funds and meets certain requirements for financial need and academic achievement. ● State Grants: Some states provide grants to low-income students studying at eligible institutions within their borders. Grants are typically awarded based on need, with some states having more generous programs than others. ● Private Loans: These usually come from private lenders like banks. It’s highly recommended that students try to avoid these if possible. 4. Sign Up for FAFSA This is crucial, and students should apply to FAFSA! The FAFSA is a form students fill out to apply for financial aid and scholarships. It is important to complete the form so you can get a scholarship or financial aid to help pay for college.

Decluttering During The Holidays

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Via Pexels The holidays are a time for family, friends, and good cheer. But, unfortunately, it’s also a time for excess food, drink, and gift-giving. So if your home is starting to feel cluttered and chaotic, don’t worry. You’re not alone! Here are some tips on how to declutter your home during the holidays. The Holidays Are A Great Time To Declutter Your Home Many of us find ourselves inundated with gifts, decorations, and food during the holiday season. Unfortunately, while this abundant bounty can be exciting and festive, it often leads to serious clutter in our homes. From piles of wrapping paper to stacks of dishes and leftover treats filling our refrigerators, the holidays can quickly transform our living spaces into disorganized messes. But while excess holiday clutter can be a source of stress during this busy time of year, it doesn’t have to be inevitable. If you take the time to declutter your home regularly – during the holidays or throughout the year – you can keep on top of your belongings and avoid letting them accumulate unnecessarily. Some simple tips for decluttering include sorting through your things frequently and only keeping what you actually need or use. You might also try setting aside one weekend each month as “decluttering time” or inquire about organizing services that specialize in helping people reclaim their living spaces from clutter. With these strategies in place, you can enjoy the holidays fully without feeling weighed down by all the excess stuff around you. So go ahead: embrace the spirit of giving by decluttering your home and sharing your bounty with those around you! Get Rid Of Any Old Or Unused Items It can be easy to let your home get overrun with all sorts of unwanted items and clutter during the holiday season. But, whether you are overwhelmed by all the last-minute preparations or simply have too many gifts to keep track of, decluttering your home during the holidays is essential. One way to tackle this task is to enlist the help of the same-day refuse removal service like www.evergreenjunkremoval.com. With professional crews available to handle large loads at a moment’s notice, you can quickly and easily get rid of anything that’s been cluttering up your home. Whether you need to sort through a full attic or clean out your garage, these services will allow you to clear out the old to make room for the new. So if you’re looking for an effective way to ease some holiday stress and organize your home this season, remember to tackle your garage and attic along with the rest of your space. With professional help from a trusted refuse removal service, you’ll be able to declutter and create more breathing room in no time! Donate What You Don’t Need Whether you’re looking to make room for all those new presents you’ve received or simply to get your home spick and span in time for guests, decluttering is a great way to take some of the hustle and bustle out of the holidays. Start by sorting your belongings and taking stock of what you don’t need or use anymore. Maybe there are clothes that no longer fit or decorations you never liked. Whatever it is, getting rid of these items will enable you to begin your decluttering journey with a clean slate. Next, think about where in your home these items should go. There are many options here, such as local charities or thrift stores, donation centers at places like Target and Walmart, and even online platforms like eBay or Craigslist. Whichever route you choose, donating your unwanted belongings will give them a new life while helping someone in need in the process. And best of all, it will leave your home feeling more spacious and serene during this joyous time of year. So why not give it a try? The holidays just might become your favorite time for getting organized! In Conclusion Now is the perfect time to get it organized before the holidays. By decluttering your home, you can enjoy quality family time and avoid stressful cleaning sessions later on. A decluttered home will also be more inviting to guests during the holiday season.

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