Day: September 29, 2021

When It’s Time To Prepare For The Last Great Journey

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date September 29, 2021

You can have all of the emotional intelligence in the world; your human intellectual self will very rarely let you experience the very human condition of death without going through all the stages of grief and loss. The old question of which is worse, knowing when your loved one is going to die or having it happen suddenly, is one that will perhaps never get answered sufficiently. However, knowing when it’s time to prepare for the last great journey comes with complications.

The great adventure of life surrenders to the mystery that only exists for the traveler about to make this final crossing. The people left behind must deal with the most vicious blow of all – the finality of this existence.

There is no manual, guide, and a one-size-fits-all approach to dealing with a loved one’s terminal illness, but we’re going to try to help you make a softer landing space for you and everyone else left behind.

“Death is the easy part; the hard part is living and knowing you could be so much more than you’re willing to be.” – Robert M. Drake, American author.

Prepare For The Last Great Journey

Getting Over the Initial Shock of Finding Out

There is no easy way to hear the news that someone you love dearly will die. However, with that finality comes an unexpected source of closure that is often not possible when family members are taken suddenly by accident or illness. Even so, you’re still going to share the full range of human emotions during this period. The best advice you can get is to make one decision at a time and make it the one decision you can make at that time.

If you’re a parent preparing to lose a parent, remember that your children will be taking clues from you about how they should behave and what is appropriate. The more honest you are – the more they will be.

There is no easy way to navigate this period with your loved one, and you’ll be needing some advice from an expert, like your local hospice, for example.

Staying Calm But Still In Tune With Your Emotions

No one is born with this knowledge. It comes with experience that only life can teach, but you must learn to deal with pressure. You and those around you are about to experience one of the most tragic human experiences. You’re into the spirituality of it all, and you’re still allowed to be intrinsically and beautifully human.

One thing is certain, you cannot do this on your own, and you don’t have to. Consider counseling for your terminally ill loved one and your family as a way to understand what’s happening around you. Feel what you’re feeling and offer no apologies for it, but steer conversations towards the good times. The good times offer reassurances that everyone is ultimately going to be ok because the truth is – you will.

The Last Great Journey

Accepting and dealing with the last great journey will come with a range of emotions. Prepare for the quick changes and the unexpected emotions. Most of all, stay positive and focus on the good times.

Tags adulting, Life

How To Make The Best Possible Use Of Maternity Leave

Post author By Sarah Barkley
Post date September 29, 2021

If you think that maternity leave is all about changing diapers and breastfeeding, then you’re mistaken. Yes, that’s part of it, and you’ll want to spend lots of time with your baby. But it turns out that going on maternity leave also provides you with opportunities to further your business.

Yes – you read that right. Spending months away from your job can actually help you make more money long-term!

So what do you need to do?

The Best Possible Use Of Maternity Leave

Create A Game Plan

Taking months off work can adversely affect your career – any experienced mother will tell you this. But it isn’t inevitable. If you have the right strategy in place, you may find that it doesn’t damage your prospects at all.

With that said, you must develop a game plan first before you do anything else. A plan sets out how you’re going to remain valuable to your firm, even if you’re not going to be around for a long time.

When you talk about the issue with senior people in the company, avoid being apologetic. Instead, present your plan with confidence and show how it benefits the people around you. https://www.mother.ly suggests talking about who will handle your workflow and what will happen going forward.

Talk About Life Post-Baby

The next thing to do is safeguard your position going forward. You need to convince the company that things will return to normal post-baby. Set out a schedule for the projects you intend to complete and by when.

Upskill

While you’re off work, you can use the time to upskill and become more productive. Doing a course on accounting, as suggested by https://www.copas.org/online-cpe-courses-for-accountants/, helps you get to grips with issues like tax and payroll that your company needs to address.

When upskilling, only invest in skills that your firm needs. If you don’t need to speak French, don’t go off and do a course in French. Instead, focus on areas that will add value to your business, such as product development, sales, marketing, and finance.

Automate Tasks During Maternity Leave

When you’re off work on maternity leave, you have a rare opportunity to explore task automation tools.

Task automation is easier than you think these days. Thanks to modern software, you can hand over many things to machines. For instance, there is software that can now update your social media posts, so you don’t have to. You can also use it for things like customer service filtering.

Stay Well Connected

Just because you’re at home, it doesn’t mean that you have to cut yourself off from your business entirely. You can still send emails and pick up the phone when you need to.

The trick here is to be efficient in your communications. Keep track of what’s happening in the business and add comments when you feel they offer people real value. You may find that small amounts of direction help your firm function better.

Make the Most of Your Maternity Leave

So, there you have it: the best possible ways to make use of your maternity leave when you own a business. Which of these strategies will you be using at your firm?

Tags How to, Parenting

Adulting Finances How To

How To Increase The Resale Value Of Your Car

Post author By Sam Combs
Post date September 29, 2021

Hardly anyone who purchases a car expects to keep it forever. Many car owners choose to replace their vehicles when their needs change. For example, new parents might sell their roadster for a minivan; empty-nesters relocating to a sunny state might sell their SUV for a convertible, and students leaving home for college might not need to bring their high school car to campus. If you’re ready to sell your car from high school, here’s what you need to know to increase the resale value of your car.

Questions to Ask Before Taking a Car to Campus

Most college campuses have all the amenities that students need — such as dining, entertainment, shopping, and laundry facilities — within a few blocks of their residence halls or apartments. Many students learn quickly that they can get almost anywhere without a car just by walking, biking, or taking public transit.

For some college students, owning a car might be more trouble than it’s worth. Aside from buying gasoline and paying for insurance, students might get a sticker shock when they learn how much they’ll need to pay to park a car that they barely use.

Before you leave for college, investigate the campus parking arrangements. Find the answers to the following questions:

What is the fee to keep a car on campus? Is it a monthly, yearly or per-semester rate? Is summer parking included?
Are parking areas secure?
Is covered parking available? (Don’t forget about hail and snow.)
Are parking spaces numbered and reserved, or does the parking lot get full by the time morning classes begin?
How much are campus parking citations?
Are unused portions of parking fees refundable?

Alternatives to Keeping a Car on Campus

If having a car on campus isn’t an option, there are usually alternative modes of transportation available. Municipal transportation systems typically offer bus routes from campus to popular destinations around town. Check the local transportation website to see if you can ride the bus or rail systems for a discounted student rate. Besides bus and rail service availability, you might not need a car on campus if:

A friend or roommate already owns a car
A bike or skateboard works just as well
Ride-sharing services are plentiful

After you weigh the pros and cons of keeping a car on campus, it might make more sense to sell the high school car before college begins.

Tips to Ensure Good Resale Value When Purchasing a Car

No matter when you decide to purchase or sell a vehicle, there are steps you can take to ensure you get the most money for it when it’s time to sell.

Purchase a car that’s a neutral color. A car that’s fire engine red or electric blue, although eye-catching, tends to draw more attention than the average person wants when behind the wheel.
Purchase a car with an automatic transmission rather than one with a manual transmission. Only 18% of Americans know how to drive a car with a stick shift, so four out five people shopping for a used car will disregard your vehicle.
Purchase an extended warranty for the vehicle.
Wash your car regularly to help preserve the exterior paint. Damage from salt or other corrosives can occur whether you live in the snowy north or near the ocean.
Detail the interior of the car to prevent permanent stains or damage from ground-in sand, dirt or debris.
Protect your car from the weather. Covered parking is good; secured garage parking is even better.
Fix dents and scratches in the body and chips in the glass immediately, before they get worse. Sudden changes in air temperature can transform a tiny chip into fully cracked windshield.

For more tips to increase the resale value of your vehicle, see the accompanying resource.

Infographic Provided by Chrysler Factory Warranty

AUTHOR BIO: Sam Combs is the founder of Chrysler Factory Warranty, an Internet-only provider of genuine factory-backed Chrysler Service Contracts. He has 18 years of experience in the industry and focuses on offering customers the same Chrysler coverage plan for less.