Mommy Has to Work

Budgeting for a baby

March 18, 2020 By Anne

Expecting a baby is a beautiful and exciting time. However, it can also be very expensive. It is never too early to start thinking about saving and creating a budget. There may be benefits available to you as a new mom, such as tax exemption. Additionally, if you have a child with an illness or disability, you may also be entitled to Social Security Income. If you haven’t been claiming for it, then you might be able to claim for SSI backpay.

Work out how much money you will have

Knowing precisely what money you have coming in will allow you to make clear plans. You may want to use a budget planner to help you.

Next, you will need to work out how much essentials are going to cost; nappies, formula, food, bills, etc.

Especially if this is your first child, it is good to get to grips with what everything should cost.

Cut back

Once you have made a budget, you might decide that you need to cut back on certain things. Asses your outgoings and make adjustments; consider how much is essential and what are luxuries.

It is essential to keep doing things for yourself, and you shouldn’t stop everything that you enjoy. Make allowances for luxury and stick to them. For example, perhaps you spend a lot of money on clothes. Fashion might be a passion of yours, and new clothes make you feel good. If you can, you should still spend money on clothes, but decide how much money you don’t mind spending on it each month and stick to it.

A great way to cut back is to think about small purchases. Small purchases add up to a large amount. For example, let’s say you buy a coffee every day. The average price of a coffee is $2.70, so if you bought one every day for a year it would cost $985.50, which could go a long way towards house renovations or a vacation. Instead, allow yourself a store-bought coffee once a week. Use this cash finder to work out how much you spend on small items.

Deal with debts

If you have any debts, its best not to let them build up. The sooner you deal with them, the more you will save.

Save

Open a savings account and start putting money aside. That way, you have a pot of money if you need it. Make it hard to spend your money by having no card attached to it.

You may need some money put aside for when you are off work on maternity leave.

Conclusion

Whatever your financial position, try and think ahead and make some preparations before having a baby. Or, if you already have a baby, then it is never too late to start being more mindful.

New moms often end up with lots of the same thing. If people want to buy you something, then be clear about what you need. It could save you a lot of money!

Getting into good financial habits will allow you to save and spend it on what matters.

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!

Tips for traveling with a baby on an airplane

March 18, 2020 By Anne

There are lots of things which may have once been easy to you but now feel daunting with a new baby. Especially if you have had complications during your birth or are searching for a birth injury diagnosis. Everything can feel very overwhelming. You may have family far away and need to make the trip to see them despite feeling anxious about it. Whatever your situation, here are our top tips for traveling on an airplane with a baby.

Direct flight or a long break

If possible, try and book a direct lift. Take-off and landing are typically what puts pressure on the ears of your baby and may cause them to cry.

If you have to book a connecting flight, then try and leave a good amount of time between the flight, two hours or more will allow you to stay calm, take your time and change your baby.

Gate check extra gear

At no extra charge, you can usually check in things like pushchairs and car seats. At your airline’s gate, speak to staff, and they should be able to take these things off you before you get on the plane. This will also allow you to have everything you need right up until you get on the plane.

You may be able to pick it up from the airline gate when you get off the plane, or you may have to pick it up from the baggage claim. Ask the staff what their procedure is.

Pre-board

When you travel with a baby, you can board before anyone else. You may consider avoiding this to spend less time on the plane. However, getting settled before crowds of people board can make a big difference. Anything to reduce stress to you and your baby is a good thing.

Buy a seat for your child

Although children under the age of two can usually fly free, you may want to consider buying them a seat. This will give you space to spread out. It may also be safer for your child to have their own seat.

Bring plenty of supplies

Bring plenty of diapers, formula, bottles, food, any medicines you need, and some spare clothes. Baby formula or breast milk is exempt from liquid limitations when flying. Often when flying, things can go wrong. Delays and cancellations happen all the time, and you don’t want to be stuck without something you need. The last thing you want is a hungry or frustrated baby.

Protect your baby’s ears

A pacifier or for toddlers chewing on a cracker can help to protect the ears. Speak to your pediatrician who might prescribe your ear drops or suggests earplugs.

Prepare distractions

You may have to spend your entire flight keeping your baby happy. Bring some toys or something to keep them distracted.

Stay calm!

The most important thing is to stay calm. You might do everything you can, and your baby might still end up screaming. And that’s ok, it happens. Soon enough, you will land, and you will get to see family or explore a new place.

Anne

Three Pests That Could Be Harming Your Pet

March 18, 2020 By Anne

When you bring a pet into the family, whether it is a dog or a cat, you take on not only lots of love but also some real responsibility. Your pet needs you to protect him or her from all sorts of dangers. There are certain bugs that can just be irritating to your furry friend, but others can carry diseases or illnesses that can pose serious risks to your pet.

Here are three of the more common pests that can cause harm to your pet.

1) Fleas

Fleas are some of the smaller insects that can harm your pets. They live in shady areas with tall grass just waiting for an animal to come by to serve as a host. While they don’t have wings, they can jump very high and fast onto a passing pet. Once they decide to live on your dog or cat, they will begin to bite and lay eggs at a rapid rate.

In order to protect your pet against fleas, it is critical that you start them on a flea prevention medication. These types of medicines are usually given to your pet once a month and come in either an ingestible treat or as a topical ointment that you need to apply to the skin. You should also make sure that your yard is free of fleas by having it treated by any number of trusted pest control companies.

2) Ticks

Another pest that feasts on the blood of a host is the tick. These can be particularly harmful as they can be carriers of some serious diseases like Lyme disease that can actually infect you and your family as well. Similarly to fleas, ticks live outdoors, particularly areas that your pets are like to wander to. They like to inhabit trees and tall grassy areas and will attach to your dog or cat as they wander by.

Once a tick bites into the skin of your pet, they can be tough to remove. If you find one on either yourself or your pet, take care to remove it carefully as its mouthparts can stay intact even if you remove the abdomen. Make sure to remove the entire tick so that you eliminate any further risk of infection.

3) Fire Ants

You might think that the only harm posed by fire ants would be some irritating and itchy bites. While this is generally true if your pet suffers from a couple of bites from these potent pests, some dogs and cats can have a severe allergic reaction to fire ant bites. If your pet is on the smaller side and encounters a large colony of fire ants, they can suffer greatly from multiple bites.

Inspect your yard thoroughly to see if you have a colony of fire ants anywhere. If you find that your pets has any fire ant bites, watch them carefully so that you can catch any allergic reaction that may start to occur.

Anne

How to support a disabled elderly relative

March 18, 2020 By Anne

If you have a relative who is elderly and disabled, they may struggle to perform the basic tasks that are needed in everyday life. It can be hard seeing a relative struggling, and you will want to support them in any way you can. Due to our increasingly aging population, many elderly people are struggling to receive the support they require. Increasing demand means that we need to be more present than ever before. So, how can you support a disabled elderly relative? Increasing demand means that we need to be more present than ever before. So, how can you support a disabled elderly relative? First of all, you may want to look into services that offer home healthcare in Tucson, or wherever your relative is based, so you can get the right type of help. After that, you’ll be able to plan the next steps for supporting your relative.

Legal assistance

If your relative gained their disability through unfortunate circumstances, they may wish to seek legal assistance. For example, if the disability has developed after serving in the military, they may be entitled to compensation (see these VA compensation rates). Your relative may also be entitled to compensation if they had a slip and fall injury, or gained their disability from the malpractice of a company. If this is the case, you may need to support your elderly relative through this process. This might mean finding them a lawyer, attending meetings on their behalf, or simply letting them know that you’re there if they need you. They may not ask for help, but your support will be appreciated.

Check in

Elderly people can often feel isolated and lonely, especially if they live on their own and don’t have someone to talk to regularly. So, it’s important for you to check in on them and provide any emotional support that they might need. This might mean popping round regularly if you can, or contacting them via phone or email. This is especially important when an elderly relative has a disability, because you need to make sure that they are coping and taking any necessary medication.

Adjusting their home

When people get older or gain a disability, it’s common for them to need adjustments to their home, so they can navigate around it more easily. For example, if your relative needs a wheelchair, they might need lowered light-switches, wider doorframes and a downstairs bedroom to avoid navigating the stairs at night. Or their home might need a stair-lift to be installed. Whilst there are professionals who will be doing the heavy lifting, it’s important for you to assist with any adaptations your relative might need and help them get the ball rolling. Your relative will probably feel a close connection to their home, and therefore it’s important for you to understand that this may be a difficult time for them.

Household tasks

Your elderly relative may also need additional help around the house. What once might have seemed like an easy task could be much harder with a disability. Tasks like cooking, cleaning and even getting dressed could be significantly more difficult. So, you can support your elderly relative by helping them around the house and offering any additional assistance. Even going around once a week to do some cleaning might be a big help. Alternatively, you might need to help organize carers, if this is something they require. All American Home Care is a great home care agency in philadelphia that can be beneficial for your relative at this time, or you can look closer to home.

Anne

4 Ways to Turn Your New House Into a Home

March 12, 2020 By Anne

When you first move into a new place, you don’t really get much apart from bare walls, a kitchen’s worth of cabinets and appliances, possibly a washer and dryer, and a slight echo in the empty rooms. It’s not very homey when it’s like that, and it might not seem like your home, even after you’ve moved in all the furniture and brought all your boxes to the right rooms. However, there are a few things you can do to give your new home those final touches after you put everything away.

Focus on Comfort

Maybe you have a picture in your head of just how the layout of your new place should look. Maybe you’ve picked out some new furniture that will look perfect with the light and the curtains. It could be that you plan on placing your old furniture just right to get the ambiance you want.

Either way, if you aren’t having any luck getting things to look just the way you want them, it might not be worth the effort. Instead, focus on creating a comfortable place where you can relax and unwind. That’s more important than looking good.

Add the Right Scents

Image via Flickr by emi moriya

Humans don’t think about smells as often as sights and sounds. But people can be very particular about the smells they like and dislike. Plus, smells have a strong connection to the memory section of the brain. Thanks to that, the smell of a new home can make you feel like you aren’t where you belong, even after you’ve started ignoring it.

To fix that, try bringing in some smells you like and spread them around. Scented candles, perfumes, potpourri air fresheners, incense, and even scented body wash can help a new place feel more familiar.

Clean the Place From Top to Bottom

Even if the last owner did you the favor of bringing in professional cleaners to make the whole building spotless, there’s something to be said about putting in some cleaning time yourself. You could think of it as a ritual to sweep out the previous owners and sweep in your own occupants. Plus, it gives you a chance to look for spots the previous owners might have missed or avoided.

You should also take some time to inspect the appliances and utilities and bring in HVAC experts and other home contractors for one last inspection before you finish the move.

Put Yourself on the Walls

There are many options when it comes to the bare walls above and next to your furniture. Photos, paintings, posters, and illustrations can all go up as quick and easy decorations, and chances are that you have plenty you’re bringing over from your old place.

Moving into a new house is about more than just moving your furniture and belongings. It’s about feeling comfortable and stress-free in a place that’s supposed to be your safe haven away from the world. To make your house one of those, you should be prepared to do a little more than just move your things around.