If You’re Thinking About Getting a Pet Dog, Read This First

October 20, 2021 By Anne

The holidays are around the corner and you can start to think about what you want to get as gifts for the family. One thing that is always a popular thought, especially for families with children, is getting a dog. It could be the ultimate gift for the holidays and make a lot of people very happy.

The thing is, falling in love with the idea of a dog, or dog itself if you have seen one you like, is the simple part; it is easy. Having a dog in the home can be something that brings a lot of joy, so there is no doubt that you can get a lot of loyalty, companionship, and unconditional love from your dog or puppy. In fact, having a pet in the home, especially dogs, has shown to relieve stress after a long day. When it comes to getting a dog, though, you need to think carefully about it. It isn’t something that you should do on a whim or something that you take lightly. It is a big commitment, not only because you will have the dog for the rest of their life, but it is a commitment to time and money. The average lifespan of a dog is fifteen years, so you need to be in it for at least that length of time.

Having a pet in the home can be very enjoyable and very satisfying. Whether you’re looking for a playmate for the kids or for a companion in the home, it is something that is very gratifying. It is a big commitment and responsibility, though. With all of that in mind, here are some of the things that you need to think about now, before you dive in headfirst to get a pet dog. When you plan it out and think carefully, you’ll know that you’re making the right decision for your family or not.

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What are your reasons for wanting a dog?

This is something that you need to think about deeply, as it will help to answer if you’re ready for a pet dog or not. If you don’t ask yourself this before getting a dog, then it could lead to problems or you wanting to rehome the dog after a little while. If you just think that it will be a fun thing to do or everyone seems to have a dog so you should get one too, then it is likely to be for the wrong reason. If the children beg for one then it could end up being a mistake. You will have a new member of the family to care for so you need to know what you’re in it for the right reasons and want to get a dog to really meet a specific need.

Do you have enough time for a dog?

Dogs will become part of the family. However, unlike little children, they can be left alone from time to time. That being said, leaving them for hours on end isn’t going to be a good idea. You can’t just forget about them or head out to work all day without putting plans in place. Dogs do require a lot of care, so if you’re not able to commit that to them, then it may not be the best decision that you make. If you can afford to have a dog walker come in through the day to help out, then that could work. But otherwise, you need to think wisely about how much time you can realistically afford to give.

Can you afford a dog?

As much as dogs can offer love and affection, you still need to think about the realistic costs of having a dog and if you can afford one yourself. Getting a dog is a life commitment, and over their lifetime, there are a number of different costs to think about. You need to consider food and insurance costs, as well as toys and accessories like bedding. Not only that, but you may need to take your dog to training classes, get them groomed, as well as thinking about dog walker costs of boarding costs for when you’re out of town.

When it comes to the costs, you can essentially spend as much or as little as you’d like to. You can choose to make your own food or buy in bulk, and how many extras you get is up to you. However, you need to understand that there are some costs upfront to think about, so dogs should never be seen as something that is cheap to have.

Is your living situation conducive to having a dog?

You might be in it for all of the right reasons, but you also need to consider your living situation to check that will work for you too. For example, a lot of rentals don’t allow dogs to be there, or if they do, have some specific rules around it. If you are renting, then this is something to consider so that you don’t end up being kicked out of your home. Even if you own your home, you might need to be realistic about if it is a good place for a dog to be. A small apartment can work if you choose a small dog, but a larger dog would be better suited to a home with a backyard, for example. Are there places to walk the dog nearby? If not, then each time you need to take them out, it can be a big drive to get to somewhere suitable.

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Is this the right time to get a pet dog?

If you have a baby, then getting a dog on top of having a new baby could feel like a little much. Some people do it, but it can be a lot of work. If you have young children, then as much as they might like a dog, it could be a good idea to wait for a couple more years until they’re able to help out a little more.

Many dog breeds will be full of energy, which can be too much for some children. You also need to make sure that if you have children, that they are mature enough to care for the dog in the right way. You should consider your lifestyle too. If you travel a lot as a family or go away for work a lot, will it be a good time to get a dog when you’ll have to keep putting it in boarding kennels? If you are in the military, then that is something else to consider as you could have long deployments overseas and military housing might not work with a pet.

A dog is for life

This might feel like a long list of things to ask yourself, but it will help you to be in the best place to decide whether getting a dog is what you should do or not. There are several responsibilities that come with having a pet dog and you shouldn’t forget about them or think that they aren’t as important as they are. Many dogs can end up being rehomed or put into a shelter because people just got a dog on a whim and didn’t take into account the full duties they would have as dog owners. Think about how life can change when you have a dog, because although very rewarding, it is a big change and a big responsibility that you need to be ready for. Additionally, considering options like open banking and revenue based loans can provide financial support for pet-related expenses, ensuring you can meet your obligations as a responsible pet owner.

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

4 Tips to Save Up And Treat Your Family

October 12, 2021 By Anne

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Everyone loves the family vacation, and although you will be happy no matter what you do or where you go, parents still want to treat their loved ones to something big and exciting. However, something big usually means it is expensive. You don’t want to be financially irresponsible and spend beyond your means, but you can save up for a surprise. What are the best ways to do this? Here are four useful tips to treat your family to an experience they will never forget.

Identify Things You Don’t Need

There are plenty of services people become accustomed to, but don’t necessarily need. This can include that pricey entertainment bill even though you only frequent one of two channels, as well as subscriptions to clubs or services that you haven’t used in months. While they might not cost much per month, the costs add up over the years. The sooner you remove these charges, the easier it will be to save up. You can transfer the cost into a savings account, as with this, you won’t miss the money, and you can set yourself up well for the future.

Shop Around for Useful Deals

There are many more deals and promotions than you think there are, but you need to look for them. One place to find such deals is when you compare credit services. Your current credit card company might not be beneficial to you, especially if they have high-interest rates. By shopping around, you can identify a better company that might even provide air tokens or other benefits that you can use to fund a trip, which will help you save even more money along the way.

Learn To Live On a Shoestring

Sometimes, you need to cut back entirely and live on a shoestring if you want to save up for a specific trip at a specific time of year. This is easier than you think it is, but it requires the whole family to get involved. You will need to cut back on frivolous expenses and treats, and instead live more sensibly. While it can be a shock to the system (especially when your kids miss their favorite fast food) it will be worth it once you get on that plane.

Overcome Impulse Purchases

Everyone has fallen prey to an impulse buy, but understanding the science behind them can help you change your habits. Just because you see something now doesn’t mean you need it now. Instead, wait 30 days and ask if you still feel the same. You could also try to justify any purchases by putting away as much as you spend. If you want a new pair of sneakers for $50, make sure you put another $50 into your savings. If you cannot afford to do this, you cannot afford to treat yourself right now.

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Some believe that it doesn’t matter how much you spend because it’s the memories that will fill you with riches. Whether you take your family to Disneyland or on an adventure that covers the world, they will remember it forever, which is enough of an incentive to start saving right now.

Anne

Tips for Keeping Elderly Relatives Healthy and Independent

September 2, 2021 By Anne

When you have elderly relatives, such as parents, who are getting older and need some extra support, it can be tough to find the right balance between helping them to stay fit and healthy, and also allowing them to be independent. We’re going to talk about some of the tips you can make the most of in order to keep them healthy and as independent as they can be as well. So read on and find out more.

Adapt Their Surroundings

First of all, you should think about how you might be able to adapt their surroundings in a way that will not only help them to take care of their health but also maintain a greater degree of independence. That could be as simple as adding some hand rails to the home or something like that. It will depend on what their particular needs are.

Encourage Social and Physical Activity

It’s important to encourage them to be both socially and physically active if possible. It’s good for people who are elderly to be able to engage with other people and have that social stimulation. It’s good for the brain and for mental health. And we all know how important it is to remain physically active. These are things that should not be overlooked.

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Ensure They’re Having Regular Sight and Hearing Tests

Keeping them on top of their regular checkups is something that’ll certainly be very important. If they’re skipping their sight or hearing tests, their senses will decline without intervention, and that can make staying healthy and independent even more challenging moving forward. We know that hearing health affects longevity, so it’s important not to ignore it.

Try to Put Yourself in Their Shoes

It’s important to consider their thoughts and feelings whenever you’re making any kind of intervention. You really need to try and put yourself in their shoes so you can understand what they’re thinking and experiencing. It’s rarely a good idea to make decisions on their behalf and to not think about their independence and integrity because you can be sure that those things will be very important to them. Put yourself in your place and imagine what you would want.

Listen to Them and Their Needs

Listening to them and the specific needs that they have is something that matters a lot. You want to be sure that they’re being listened to and that their wishes are being respected at every turn. Failing to do that will make it impossible for them to feel in any way independent. So be aware of what they want and try your best to balance it with what they need and what’s best for their health.

As you can see, there are lots of things you can do to keep your elderly relatives healthy and supported, while also giving them the level of independence that they crave. It’s a tough balance, but it’s possible to get it right. Just be sure to make the most of the ideas we’ve discussed here today.

Anne

How To Save Money On Your Monthly Home Entertainment Bill

August 6, 2021 By Anne

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Each month, you will have various bills that come in under the home entertainment heading. This includes things like your cable TV bill, streaming subscriptions, internet bill, and so on. Before you know it, these bills can add up to something astronomical, meaning you’re spending far too much money on home entertainment. Obviously, you should look to lower all of your bills, but some are more essential than others. For example, your energy bills are definitely more important than your home entertainment. So, if you’re looking to save money on your monthly expenses, slashing the cost of home entertainment is a great place to start.

Thankfully, it is very possible to make this more affordable – here are three tips to help you out:

Quit paying for cable TV

Your cable bill will always be pretty hard to stomach. In most cases, families will have a pretty basic cable TV plan that can be around $60 per month. If you want to go for some of the bigger plans, you’re looking at $100 per month or more. Imagine your current cable plan is that much; you’re spending $1200 per year on TV entertainment.

A simple way to save money is by canceling your cable TV contract and looking for alternatives like Sling TV. Some of you may have heard of this, and you’re probably asking yourself is Sling TV worth it? Well, it can cost as little as $35 per month, and the idea is that you get a smaller selection of channels, but mainly the ones you will watch. The problem with cable is you pay loads of money but only ever watch a fraction of the channels available. So, opting for a different service that lets you pick a smaller number of channels will help you save loads of money every month and year.

Switch broadband providers

To save money on your internet bill, look to switch broadband providers. Most of us stay with the same company year after year, but this means missing out on many potential deals. Lots of providers have new customer offers that can slash your bill for a year. If you keep switching, you can ensure you always have the cheapest contract at the time.

Also, your current provider might slash your contract if they hear you want to leave, in a desperate bid to make you stay. Either way, you save money on your monthly internet bill.

Choose one subscription service

Is it worth having Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and any other streaming service all in one household? Yes, you get a broad choice of options, but the prices add up. Instead, you need to be vigilant and decide on one streaming service to use, saving loads of money in the process.

The great thing about lowering your monthly entertainment bill is that it opens your eyes to how much money you’ve been wasting every single month. As such, you can now see massive savings by making a few savvy adjustments and lowering the monthly cost of home entertainment.

Anne

Pursuing a New and Exciting Career

August 3, 2021 By Anne

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Since the advent of the coronavirus and Covid-19 pandemic, many of our lives have changed significantly. Governments around the world have implemented all sorts of phases of different rules and regulations, at times telling us we can’t leave our houses other than for absolute essentials, at others simply implementing social distancing guidelines. This has impacted our personal lives, social lives and, for many of us, our professional lives. For now, let’s focus on the latter. In terms of work, many businesses have been unable to operate in current conditions and have collapsed, causing mass unemployment. Others have been able to continue operations, but have had to make many staff redundant to do so. Then there are the companies who have had to offer shorter working days or lower salaries (both options resulting in negatively impacted income for workers). If you’ve been struggling with work as a result of the pandemic, you may be considering a new role now that vaccines are being rolled out and life is slowly returning to normal. Here are some steps to take that could land you an exciting new role!!

Decide What You Want to Do

First and foremost, you need to consider what you want to do. There are countless roles out there and the world is now your oyster. Many of us are starting with a fresh slate and you don’t have to return to the industry you previously worked in unless you genuinely want to. Consider what kind of roles you’d find enjoyable. What roles incorporate your personal interests? Consider salary. How much would you like to earn? Consider working hours. What will work best around your family and other commitments? Eventually, you will whittle down the options and find something that ticks all, or most, of your boxes.

Training, Qualifications and Experience

Next, ask yourself, what will it take to get this job? Do some research. Find out if there are certain courses or qualifications you need to undertake to be considered for the role. If you’re considering becoming a doctor, you may have a long education ahead of you. If you want to become a pilot, you’re going to need to go to flight school. If you want to be a teacher, you may need a degree followed by teacher training. Then there are roles that require apprenticeships or placements to train you up on the job. A waiting job may require a food hygiene and safety certificate. The list goes on.

The Application Process

Once you have the qualifications or skills required to be seriously considered for the position you’re pursuing, it’s time to get involved in the application process. Start searching for jobs on job boards. Some of the best and most frequently updated options are online, such as Indeed or LinkedIn. Check in every day. You never know when a position will be posted and it’s best to get your application in early.

These are just the starter steps to getting a new job that you have in mind. Bear each step in mind and you’ll be well on your way to landing a new position that suits you and your lifestyle.