Category: Life

Categories
Adulting Guest Post How To Life

Different Businesses and Online Money-making Ideas You Need to Know

different business ideas, online money-making ideas, how to make money online, corona virus, covid-19 financial hardship

In this guest post,Valentina Wilson explains different businesses and online money-making ideas.

Valentina is a writer and blogger who specializes in personal finance and positive change. Valentina has a master’s degree in financial journalism and seven years of experience in personal banking and believes that small behavioral changes are the key to achieving financial freedom. Check out her blog, Best Debt Consolidation Blog, https://www.bestdebtconsolidation.org/blog/ and follow her on Twitter:@valentinailson https://twitter.com/valentinailson

Due to this corona virus pandemic, the unemployment rate is growing fast. The vast numbers of pay cuts and job losses have created a financial crisis among people. It is true that due to this pandemic, the economy is going through a rough phase and it is the consumers who are suffering from financial problems.

But, to survive in this difficult situation, you have to find different income sources. Most people are trying to look for a secondary source of income so that they can repay debts on time and protect their credit score. Many students are in knee-deep debt due to having no jobs out there. However, there are options to consolidate student loans. Also, Govt. help and an extended payment policy that can help.

According to the experts, you can consider some part-time jobs or businesses to manage your financial life.

According to the experts, you can consider some part-time jobs or businesses to manage your financial life. Online money-making opportunities are widely available, too, if you know where to look.

Home-based businesses, weekend businesses, or jobs can support you by providing extra income that can be utilized in living a peaceful financial life.

Here you go:

Weekend business ideas:

●       Baby-sitting-services

If you have very small kids and you take care of them, taking care of another child along with your own will not be very difficult for you. This service is also very cost-effective as your customers will have to come to you. This will save on your fuel expenses too. In most cases, the parents of these children have their food packed and you will just need to feed the child. However, even if they do not provide you with that then you can make a little extra food at home and feed them that. You may even take additional charges for providing food. You can pay daily, weekly or monthly fees depending on your needs.

●       Cooking classes

If you are good at cooking you could give cooking classes at home. These classes are a very convenient option as you can limit the number of classes based on your needs and you also get paid on the spot.

●       Have  a yard or garage sale

You can also organize a yard or garage sale to sell unused or mildly used items. This can be done at any weekend to get some extra bucks.

different business ideas, online money-making ideas, how to make money online, corona virus, covid-19 financial hardship

Home-based business ideas:

●       Rent your garage home to earn money

If you have space in the garage, you can rent your garage to earn money out of it. If you have a big house and one part of the house is empty, you can rent a part of your home. This will be a great source of income

●       Sell homemade products

You can sell homemade baked goodies. This will be more convenient for you if you have older children at home who can help. In a few main festival seasons, the demand for homemade goodies such as cookies and cakes rises. This allows you to get money by sitting at home and baking.

●       Be a financial coach

During times when there is too much financial uncertainty, most people are looking for someone to fall back on. If you can become a financial coach, you can help people make better financial decisions and thereby make money. You can give an ad for this and open a financial class at your home premises.

You can also create a financial website of your own so that people can have the option of signing up with you and clearing their financial doubts.

Online money-making part-time jobs to earn extra money

●       Start freelancing

If you have the skills to write, you can sit at home and with the help of the Internet, you can do freelancing. There are various freelancing jobs available on the Internet. You just need to choose the right one for you. While choosing any freelancing job, you also need to make sure that you get proper remuneration. Freelancing helps you earn good money in the comfort of your house.

●       Get paid with social networking websites

Different social networking websites like Facebook and Twitter help you earn money. They have become very popular these days. Such social networking websites need more members to join them. In return, they pay their new joiners and also pay them if they post any messages.

●       Get money to read mail.

You get paid just to click on the email and then close it. Every day, you receive paid emails in your inbox that have links to different websites. These emails help you earn money when you view them for just a few seconds.

●       Get paid for data entry

There are many types of data entry jobs available on the Internet. You just need to enter basic data information into these data entry jobs. You can earn good money with the help of data entry jobs.

●       Get paid for participating in online surveys

Online surveys are good ways to make money with the help of the Internet. While conducting online surveys, consumers’ feedback is very much essential. Those who participate in these online surveys are paid some money by the survey companies.

●       Be a social media marketer

Nowadays social networking websites are very popular and you can also carry on social media marketing about your website so that you can earn extra money. Create a profile on any of the social media websites and increase your network and friends so that you can easily boost your profits by boosting the traffic to your website.

●       Become an online content writer or blogger

Another online money-making option is to become a content writer as this way you can nurture your writing skills as well as earn money at the same time. Get in touch with a webmaster that can provide you with enough projects where you can show your expertise in writing and earn online cash. What you need to remember is that you have to do complete research on what you’re writing. You also need to be able to write unique content for their website. You can also start online blogging to earn money over time.

different business ideas, online money-making ideas, how to make money online, corona virus, covid-19 financial hardship

Lastly,

we all know that due to a rapid increase in the price of basic amenities due to the COVID pandemic, life has become very difficult. It has become difficult to pay for basics, that any luxury is way beyond reach. Thus, a single earning member family structure can not quite provide much economic stability in today’s scenario. 

So, both husband and wife must contribute towards the budget of the family. But if you want to be at home and also want to work from the comfort of your home, then there are many ways in which moms at home can make money. Also, if you have no job right now, you can easily embrace an online money-making opportunity. 

However, in any circumstances, you should never give up hope. If you have no income and you are unable to manage any job, you can ask for GOVT. grants and financial help.

Categories
Adulting How To Life Mental Health

A Guide To Showing Up For A Grieving Loved One

Be there for a grieving loved one, how to be supportive, support, grief, help a sad friend

If your loved one is grieving, you’ll know better than anyone that they need help and support. Showing up for somebody who is grieving isn’t the easiest thing in the world, but your support will mean a lot to them and could help them to further move through the stages of grief. Below, we’ll take a look at how you can show up for your grieving loved one:

Talk To Them

Talking to your loved one is one of the best things you can do for them. Talk to them about their feelings, and let them talk about their loved one for as long as they need to. Sometimes they may simply want you to sit in silence with them, so be prepared for that, too. Try not to refer to your own experiences, as that likely won’t help them. They need to talk to move through their grief, so just be a good listener and ask questions. 

Help Them To Find Support

You aren’t a licensed professional (we assume), so consider helping your loved one to find some professional support. Counseling could be a good way to help them move through difficult emotions. You can hold space for the person you love and show up for them, but without proper training, you may not always say or do the right thing. It’s not your job alone to help them move forward, and this can be a big weight to carry. 

credit

Do Things To Take Their Mind Off It 

One of the best things you can do is give ideas to take their mind off it. You could paint with them, go for a walk, or do something else that could be therapeutic to them. Sometimes they may simply need to sit and feel sad, but other times, they may need somebody to do things with them. 

Offer Physical Support 

Physical support could be cooking them dinner, going shopping for them, or even helping them to find jewelry for cremation ashes from Memorials.com. Ask them what they need and make sure they know you are there for them. Bear in mind they may not always tell you what they need, so try to be thoughtful without overstepping the mark. 

Accept Their Feelings

Accept your loved one’s feelings and don’t try to make them feel better with platitudes like ‘Everything happens for a reason’. Just listen. Saying the wrong thing could seriously upset them or make them feel like their feelings are invalid. Validating them is one of the most powerful things you can do right now.  

Watch Out For Warning Signs Of A Serious Mental Health Issue 

Grief can sometimes progress into depression and other mental health issues. Look out for the signs and make sure you get help for your loved one if you feel it is needed. Working through these heavy emotions isn’t always possible without professional help. 

Showing up for a grieving loved one isn’t the easiest task in the world, but you could make such a big difference to their lives if you do. 

Be there for a grieving loved one, how to be supportive, support, grief, help a sad friend
Categories
Adulting How To Life Mental Health

3 Tips for Getting Less Stressed about the Small Stuff

less stressed about the small stuff, don't sweat the small stuff, how to be less stressed, tips for stress, tips for less stress
less stressed about the small stuff, don't sweat the small stuff, how to be less stressed, tips for stress, tips for less stress

Pixabay CC0 License

Life contains a number of different sources of stress, which can wear you down quickly. Before it becomes too much, you should find a way to get less stressed about the small stuff.

Between rushing the kids around, dealing with household chores, meeting work deadlines, and staying on top of appointments, you will find yourself feeling overwhelmed and stressed.

Some of the things that will stress you out will be major and will need to be taken seriously. But, at the same time, there are also plenty of “smaller” things that may be stressing you out.

Here are a few tips for getting less stressed about the small stuff.

1. Indulge in regular opportunities to be playful and to have a good laugh

Laughter can serve as a potent and effective medicine against stress. It can help put things in perspective and remind you of what’s important and what isn’t.

Simply indulging regular opportunities to be playful and have a good laugh with those close to you will help. One fun idea is gifting each other fun sweaters from UglyChristmasSweater.com. Activities like this can really help calm you down and allow you to see things through a clearer lens.

It’s difficult to stay stressed about forgetting to buy milk when you’ve just had a really good laugh.

2. Take up centering and grounding practices such as mindfulness meditation

One reason we get stressed out by “small” things is that we get caught up in our negative thought loops. We end up confronting a version of reality that isn’t the one that’s right in front of us.

It can be a very useful and uplifting exercise to take up centering and grounding practices. Mindfulness meditation can be used to help return your awareness to the present moment. You will be more aware of when you are getting lost in your own mental projections.

3. Focus on getting enough sleep, eating enough, and taking care of your physical well-being

Stress is a physiological phenomenon as well as a psychological one. If you find that you are getting easily worked up about small things, there’s a good chance that at least part of this is because you are caught in an ongoing cascade of stress hormones.

There are various things that lead to a chronically stressed physiological state. This includes sleeping too little, eating too little (and not getting enough vitamins and minerals,) and chronic illness.

To the best of your ability, you should focus on optimizing these features of your physical well-being. Then, you will have the best possible safeguard against stress coming from that direction.

less stressed about the small stuff, don't sweat the small stuff, how to be less stressed, tips for stress, tips for less stress

How Do You Get Less Stressed?

What do you do to stress less about the small stuff? Tell me about it in the comments. 🙂

Categories
Adulting Life Organization Printables

2020 Calendar Printables – Free!

Hey guys! I have definitely been slacking on posting regular blog posts since the quarantine started! So, to make up for it, I’m giving you guys free 2020 calendar printables for the rest of the year!

Am I the only one who feels like they can’t keep up even though we’re home literally all of the time? I hope not, because I’ve been SO overwhelmed. Between working from home and having all of the kids home, it’s been chaotic around here.

I’ve honestly been enjoying it, though. We’ll likely never get another chance to be home with our families for so long. I’m trying to embrace every minute of it, although that’s easier said than done.

Even though I’ve been feeling overwhelmed, I have still been super productive in other ways. These 2020 calendar printables are one instance of my productivity. Normally I’m making them the week before the month begins!

Free Calendar Printables

Alright, here are the next seven months worth of 2020 calendar printables. No download necessary, you can just right click and save the image. Feel free to share them with everyone you know, too! 🙂

June 2020 calendar printable free, free 2020 calendar printables
July 2020 calendar printable free, free 2020 calendar printables
August 2020 calendar printable free, free 2020 calendar printables
September 2020 calendar printable free, free 2020 calendar printables
October 2020 calendar printable free, free 2020 calendar printables
November 2020 calendar printable free, free 2020 calendar printables
December 2020 calendar printable free, free 2020 calendar printables

Use The Calendar Printables For Many Purposes

The reason I make my own calendar printables rather than just buying a calendar is because I use them for multiple purposes.

Each month, I print four copies of the same calendar. I use one to track our monthly bills, then another to track my blog schedule. The third copy is to keep track of parenting time, and the fourth is to plan dates with parents.

I’ve been thinking about doing a 5th calendar to keep track of freelance writing deadlines and things for my regular job. I keep all of these inside of page protectors in a small binder to stay organized.

What would you use the 2020 calendar printables for? Which one is your favorite? My favorite is definitely July! Drop a comment and let me know. 🙂

Categories
Adulting Guest Post How To Life Wine

Alternative Methods of Opening Wine Without a Corkscrew

how to open wine with a corkscrew, how to open wine if you don't have a corkscrew, wine without a corkscrew

You are so excited to attend your best friend’s party! You arrived early to help prepare and set up. However, while doing an inventory of needed party materials, you realized something: your friend doesn’t have a corkscrew! And the party will start soon! What should you do?

In times like these, creativity is your greatest asset. You must find a solution – not drinking the wine is not an option. We will tackle some methods of opening wine without a corkscrew to prepare for similar problems in the future.

Before we start, let us first review how a typical corkscrew works.

Steps in Opening a Wine Bottle Using a Corkscrew

Typically, opening wine only requires two materials: a bottle of wine and a corkscrew. The most popular type of corkscrew is called a waiter’s key. To open the wine, you need to:

  • First, remove the foil or the covering. Place the knife part of the corkscrew underneath the bottle’s lip. Turn the bottle to slice the foil and then remove the cover foil.
  • Push the corkscrew through the middle of the cork and turn clockwise. Stop when most of the corkscrew has penetrated the cork.
  • Pull the handle until half of the cork is out of the bottle.
  • Repeat if necessary.
  • Pull the cork until only a small part remains in the bottle.
  • Using your hand, pull the cork out.

The instructions above are quite easy to follow. But what if you don’t have a corkscrew? What can you do?

how to open wine with a corkscrew, how to open wine if you don't have a corkscrew, wine without a corkscrew

Other Ways to Open a Wine Bottle

Opening wine without a corkscrew will require different materials. Take note of them in the list below:

  • Use a screw, screwdriver, and hammer
  • Get a long screw and using a screwdriver, screw it to the cork. Stop pushing when you only have around one inch of the screw visible. Pull out the cork using the claw (the backside) of the hammer. This method requires a little strength, so you better prepare.
  • Use a wooden spoon
  • You can use the handle of a spoon to push the cork until it goes inside the bottle. You’ll need to hold the bottle steady, as it can easily slip using this method.
  • Open it with a bike pump
  • Punch the needle through the cork until it reaches beyond the cork. Then pump air and watch the cork move out from the bottle.
  • Use a serrated knife or keys
  • Opening wine without a corkscrew is also possible if you have keys or a serrated knife. Push the knife or keys into the cork at an angle (around 45 degrees). Then move the item in a circular motion, slowly removing the cork. After a few rounds, the cork will come out.
  • Use a towel and the wall
  • Wrap the bottom of the bottle with a towel and then hit it repeatedly against a wall. Use just enough strength to move the cork but be careful with the glass bottle. Continue until the cork slides out of the bottle, and you can pull it free. Practice caution when using this method. You don’t want to break the bottle, so make sure you form an adequate cushion with the towel before hitting the wall.
  • Use a shoe
  • If you’re afraid of using the wall, you can use a shoe to slap the wine’s bottom. However, before doing this, you must wrap the wine bottle with a towel and then place it upside down between your legs. Continue slapping until you notice the cork sliding out of the bottle.

Now, you know some techniques used to open wine bottles without a corkscrew. If ever you find yourself missing a corkscrew, then you can utilize one of the above techniques.

This guest post was written by Bill Marcia at Stags’ Leap Winery.

You can follow Stags’ Leap Winery on social media at:
https://twitter.com/stagsleapwines https://www.facebook.com/stagsleapwinery https://www.instagram.com/stagsleapwinery/ https://www.youtube.com/user/StagsLeapWinery

Categories
Adulting Life Organization Printables

April Calendar Printable With Blank Title

April, April 2020, April calendar printable, printable April calendar, free calendar printable

Hey everyone! I hope you’re all staying healthy and safe. If you’re an essential employee, thank you for running things! Everyone else, please stay home so we can get the world running normally again ASAP! You can occupy yourself while you’re at home by printing and filling out the April 2020 calendar that I’m sharing below!

If you need some ideas for how to keep your kids busy during this social distancing quarantine, I wrote a blog post full of fun ideas to keep kids busy. Some of the ideas will require assistance, but many of them can be done by the kids alone while you work or get some alone time.

Now, back to that printable April calendar that this post is all about. I create these printable calendars each month for my own use, but I’ve been thinking about what a waste it is to not share them with my readers!

They can be used to keep track of parenting time, blog posts, social media posts, family or school events, dinner plans, bills, and so much more. I left the title spot blank so you can fill it in as needed.

Feel free to download this printable and share it with anyone who may need a calendar in their life. I sometimes even print a copy for my littles so that they can become familiar with calendars and filling them out.

Printable April Calendar

April, April 2020, April calendar printable, printable April calendar, free calendar printable

I’ve left the image as the full size image here, so all you have to do is right click and hit ‘save’. Who needs complication in their lives right now!? Definitely not me, so I wanted to make this easy on you.

What will you use your printable April calendar for? I use 3 copies of this to keep track of things, will you be doing the same? Leave a comment and let me know!

Categories
Big Kid Family Activities Free Activities How To Kindergarten Age Life Parenting Teenager Toddler and Preschool Age Fun

15 Fun and Easy Ways to Keep Kids Busy at Home

keep kids busy at home, things to do at home, how to work from home with kids, social distancing, family activities, independent activities for kids, stuck at home, how to survive no school, have fun with your kids at home, things you can do with kids at homekeep kids busy at home, things to do at home, how to work from home with kids, social distancing, family activities, independent activities for kids, stuck at home, how to survive no school, have fun with your kids at home, things you can do with kids at home

When you’re stuck at home with your kids, you might all go a little stir crazy. You can avoid it and have some fun by learning how to keep kids busy at home.

Some of these ideas will require assistance and/or participation from you (or another adult or older sibling). Of course, I know you will need ideas for how to keep kids busy so you can get stuff done, too, so there is plenty of activities for that on the list, too.

keep kids busy at home, things to do at home, how to work from home with kids, social distancing, family activities, independent activities for kids, stuck at home, how to survive no school, have fun with your kids at home, things you can do with kids at home

How to Keep Your Kids Busy at Home

1. Help them or encourage them to set up an obstacle course.

The older your kids are, the more likely they will be to do this independently. Be prepared to have to attempt the obstacle course in the end, however.

For younger kids, you may have to assist them in the setting up process, and then teach them how to get through the obstacle course. You may be able to back off eventually and let them make their way through the course on their own.

2. Do a craft.

This doesn’t have to be hard! One of my favorites this week was using old magazines to make collages. All of my kids loved this craft, even the teenager.

Simply supply each kid with a magazine or two, a glue stick, and scissors. Then let them have fun and create whatever they want. Likewise, other engaging activities for kids include face painting. Interestingly, you can buy face paint for kids from online stores; these colors are safe for children to use. It pushes the kids to explore their creativity and try out new crafts. 

There are so many other crafts, however, so be creative and do whatever you think your kids will like. You’ll also have to decide how hands-on you want to be during the craft, too, before deciding on one.

3. Set up a sensory bin.

I love sensory bins!! You don’t have to have a sensory table to enjoy sensory play. All you need is a container such as a medium-sized tote or a large bowl. Then, fill it with whatever you think your kids will enjoy for a while.

Sometimes I just go with soap and water in the sensory bin, or I will dye rice. Other times I get fancier and do a shark-themed sensory bin. Oh, another favorite was our frog sensory bin! There are so many options.

4. Make something out of paper mache: How to keep kids busy

A few years ago, our son had to do a project where he created a 3-D animal. He chose to make a paper mache diamond-back rattlesnake. This project ended up being one of the best he’s ever done, and it gave us all a new-found love of paper mache.

These types of projects are so much easier than they sound and actually require only a few ingredients. Kids can make whatever they want, or you can challenge them to make something specific.

Click here for an easy paper mache recipe.

5. Have a push-up competition: How to keep kids busy

I’m excited for this one! My kids love to compete with one another, and I think even our 12 and 15-year-old will have fun with it. Actually, it may keep my husband busy for a while, too. If you have a gym or workout space, you could even make a day of it. Or if not, creating a purpose built space to entertain your kids could be great.

With a great contractor and basement waterproofing company, it will take no time at all and give you the exact space you need to have more fun as a family. Either way, spending time having a mini olympics or sports day can be fun for the whole family. Make sure someone is counting out loud, too!

6. Have them work on puzzles.

While I’m working from home, puzzles are one of my go-to options when the kids want to be right next to me. I get out a few wooden puzzles for them to choose from

One of the choices is always an alphabet puzzle and as they put it together I’ll call out a random letter that they have to find next. It’s helping with letter recognition along with keeping them busy. I’ve also been having my littles practice their name with the letters.

7. Let them play with and write on sticky notes.

So at first, I was completely against this idea. I didn’t want my sticky notes wasted. htat quickly changed when I realized that my kids left me alone for a bit when I let them use the sticky notes. A small price to pay.

My son has been having me write math problems out on sticky notes for him and then he solves them. My daughter has been practicing writing her name on them. Other times they make random pictures and stick them in random places, but that’s okay, too.

keep kids busy at home, things to do at home, how to work from home with kids, social distancing, family activities, independent activities for kids, stuck at home, how to survive no school, have fun with your kids at home, things you can do with kids at homekeep kids busy at home, things to do at home, how to work from home with kids, social distancing, family activities, independent activities for kids, stuck at home, how to survive no school, have fun with your kids at home, things you can do with kids at home

8. Write a letter on a piece of paper and have your child write it in different colors.

My kids love this one because I pull out my “special” markers for it. Really, these markers are just the ones I hide from the kids so they don’t get lost or dried out.

Sometimes I even let them use glitter pens or a mixture of many different writing instruments.

9. Challenge them to build a Lego or block tower.

Tell them to make it bigger or wider than they ever have before, and to keep it a surprise until they are 100% finished. This should buy you a little time to get things done with kids in the house.

After that is done, you can always challenge them to make different things out of Legos. Be creative and come up with fun ideas that they’ll be excited about.

*Check out my Pinterest board called “Legos” for ideas!”

10. Set up an art center.

Before you get busy doing your own thing for the day, set up a small art center for your kiddos. This could include blank paper, markers or crayons, glue, some colored paper, or any little add-ons you can find to put in the bin.

If you want a themed art center, just go with whatever holiday or season is coming up and offer colors pertaining to that. You can use whatever you have around your house, or you can head to a dollar tree to grab a couple of seasonal items that they can use for artwork.

11. Find a free electronic resource for your kids to use.

Right now, many companies are offering free online resources for kids. This is to ensure every child has the chance to learn something new. A few good ones are Scholastic and ABC Mouse.

My 12-year-old has been loving the Scholastic lessons because they are about things that are interesting to him, and my 3-year-old has been really enjoying ABC Mouse. I think finding the right online source for your child based on their interests and their age group is important, but there are resources for all kids right now.

12. Blow up balloons: How to keep kids busy

No, I’m not kidding. This keeps ALL of my kids busy for a while. There are so many different things they can do with balloons. From playing indoor volleyball or balloon soccer to simply throwing the balloons at each other, they have fun for such a long time when I randomly blow up balloons.

13. Have a board game day.

Pull out yours and your child’s favorite board games and spend a few hours (or the entire day) playing games together. This is great bonding time, and your kid will love the time you spent with them. If you can’t play for such a long time, play a game or two and then suggest that they play with their siblings.

Since I have big kids and little kids, this gets a bit trickier, but it’s still possible. The other night we played Monopoly Voice Banking, which is our 12 year old’s favorite game. The littles wanted to play, too, of course, and instead of sending them away we formed “teams”.

Each little (there’s 3 of them) chose one big person’s team to be on. The little was responsible for rolling the dice and moving the piece (with help when needed), and the big person was responsible for the rest of the turn. We had very little argument or whining during the game and everyone had a good time!

14. Remember, it’s National Reading Awareness Month.

There are TONS of ideas out there to celebrate reading month. This could be as easy as pulling out your child’s school calendar and copying what your child would have been doing at school that day to celebrate. Otherwise, you can check out my blog post about Fun Ways to Celebrate National Reading Month.

15. Play hide and seek

We’ve already played in the house, in the backyard, and in the front yard since our social distancing began. The kids love this game and its one that can be played with parents or with siblings. Even better, it’s actually fun for everyone.

keep kids busy at home, things to do at home, how to work from home with kids, social distancing, family activities, independent activities for kids, stuck at home, how to survive no school, have fun with your kids at home, things you can do with kids at homekeep kids busy at home, things to do at home, how to work from home with kids, social distancing, family activities, independent activities for kids, stuck at home, how to survive no school, have fun with your kids at home, things you can do with kids at home

Recap: How to Keep Kids Busy

There are many ideas for keeping your kids busy, but it’s sometimes hard to think of them when you need them most. This post can help.

What do you do to keep your kids busy? Leave a comment and let me know!

Categories
Adulting How To Life On My Mind

Covid-19: How to Help Small Businesses Amidst the Coronavirus Outbreak

Covid-19, Coronavirus, support small businesses, shop local, help small businesses, small businesses and coronavirus, support the economy, help each other

With all the business shutdowns and event cancellations to prevent the spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19), many small businesses are struggling. This means lost funds for employees and business owners and no income to support their families or pay bills.

For some small business, this means returning deposits received from customers for events that now have to be canceled. This could add up to well over $10,000 in refunds on top of lost gigs and payments.

It can be catastrophic to the small businesses, and may even require business closures. Right now, we should all be coming together to find any possible way to keep them afloat. Not only will we be helping other people during a time of crisis, but we will also be helping our economy.

I know most of us want to help but don’t know how. That’s where I come in! I’ve done some research and spoke to business owners to see what might help them during this time. I hope you will all do what you can, no matter how small.

Covid-19, Coronavirus, support small businesses, shop local, help small businesses, small businesses and coronavirus, support the economy, help each other

How to Support Small Businesses

1. Start booking for next year.

When it comes to wedding DJ’s or photographers, Covid-19 has essentially halted business for them until further notice. With the president saying this could last well into July or August, that cuts out one of the busiest times of the year for them.

Most weddings have well over the recommended limit of 10 people, which means that all weddings will have to be canceled or postponed. Not only that, but with government buildings shut down, no one can even apply for a marriage license now.

This is where the deposits may need to be refunded. Many couples who are affected by this limit on gatherings are going to need their deposits back. So, not only are DJ’s losing out on the payments they would receive on the day of the event, but they also have to dish out tons of money.

With all of that being said, we CAN help them hang on and bounce back when everything is overwith. We can do that by booking our events for next year (2021). When you book with them and make your deposit, you’ll not only be giving them a source of income and giving them job security for next year, but you’ll be helping yourself by getting ahead of the rush.

Just think, some of the brides that have to postpone their dates are going to be re-booking for the following year (we hope), so you’ll not only be competing to book dates with those who will be getting engaged in the next year, but also with those who were already engaged and had to reschedule.

2. Buy gift cards

Right now, only restaurants, nail salons, bars, etc. are closed, but small shops and stores are still open. Unfortunately, since many people are self-quarantined and social-distancing because of Covid-19, those small shops are still down in sales now.

With that being said, all of those places can get by if we all just buy gift cards to their establishments. You can buy them for yourself, since you know you’ll be out and about once this situation is more stable, and you can also buy them for gifts. Plan ahead for Christmas or birthdays and support your local economy at the same time.

3. Help keep the employees healthy

If the business is still open, do your part to keep everyone there healthy. Remember, even if you feel fine, you could still be a carrier of the illness. Make sure you are washing your hands, covering your coughs and sneezes, and staying home if you don’t feel well.

Even more important, if the employee has to come inside your home, take the time before they come to sanitize any surface they may have to touch. Do the same when they leave to protect yourself and your family.

4. See if they offer other services

While even small get-togethers are a no-go right now, you can still book smaller things such as photo shoots. For entertainers such as DJ’s, you could maybe ask if they record music for websites, podcast or YouTube introductions, etc. It is always worth a shot to ask!

5. Hire them to do an interview or write a post

Do you have a blog or podcast? Hire small business owners to come on your podcast and talk about what coronavirus means for their business and what it could mean for the future. If you don’t want to talk about Covid-19, just ask other business questions instead, like how they got started and if they have advice for up-and-comers.

Some small business owners are great writers, too, so they could even potentially do a guest post on your blog. Again, the post could be about this pandemic, or it could be about something completely unrelated.

6. Skip the chains

McDonald’s and Wendy’s are going to be fine. Skip the food chains and head to a local business instead. These are the businesses who will be losing the most since their regular customers can no longer come in and sit down to eat.

Order takeout from them and, if you can, try to tip their waitstaff as if you were sitting down to eat. Remember, they are losing a huge income source, too, and they still have families to feed and bills to pay.

7. Share their social media posts

This is the best way to help a small business during this time. When restaurants post images of their carry out menus, share it even if you won’t be eating there. This way the small restaurant may potentially gain new customers.

For other types of small businesses, share their content to help spread the word about their services. You never know, your share could have a huge impact on a small business.

Covid-19: How to Help Small Businesses Amidst the Coronavirus Outbreak

No matter what your stance is on the actions taken to protect against the spread of Coronavirus, we’re all in this together. If we don’t work together to get through this, it could be bad things for our economy and for local small businesses.

Help one another out, help our economy, and do your part to contribute in a positive way. We can all help small businesses in this time of crisis.

Is there something we can do to help small businesses that I didn’t mention on the list? Leave a comment and let me know!

Categories
Adulting Big Kid Life Organization Our Family Parenting Printables Teenager

Free Printables: Paycheck Budget & Chore Chart

problem solving freebies, easy budget, budget for beginners, paycheck budget printable, weekly budget, easy chore chart, simple chore chart, free budget

One of my New Year’s resolutions was to create a simpler chore chart than what I’d previously been using. My original one was literally four pages long. Well, when I decided to buckle down and create the simple chore chart I was wishing for, I decided to come up with one other freebie, bringing you the two free printables I’m sharing today.

free printables, life-changing printables, problem solving freebies, easy budget, budget for beginners, paycheck budget printable, weekly budget, easy chore chart, simple chore chart, free budget

Simple Chore Chart Printable

The first printable, the easy chore chart, is intended to make it easier for my kids to get their chores done each day.

I wasn’t kidding when I said my original chore chart was four pages long. It definitely didn’t make it easy for the kids to pick chores each day, and it definitely didn’t inspire motivation.

Luckily, the new one has been a much bigger hit. It makes it easier to keep up on chores, and the kids know exactly what they should be doing that day.

I’ve noticed that the chores are getting done more quickly, sometimes before I even make it home from work.

problem solving freebies, easy budget, budget for beginners, paycheck budget printable, weekly budget, easy chore chart, simple chore chart, free budget

Paycheck Budget Printable

Since I was simplifying my life with the chore chart, I was inspired to simplify my budgeting method, as well.

Before, I had been writing my budget out on notebook paper every single pay period. Not a very organized method, I admit. It worked for me for a while, but I needed something a bit easier to wrap my head around.

I have a master list of when all of our bills are due, and each week I sit down to plan out what will need paid that week. I do this before I get my paycheck, and then the day I get paid, I reference my list and pay everything.

This printable can be used for weekly or bi-weekly budget planning and monthly budgeting, whichever you prefer.

problem solving freebies, easy budget, budget for beginners, paycheck budget printable, weekly budget, easy chore chart, simple chore chart, free budget

In “other expenses” I put things like food, gas, and cheerleading (which we pay weekly). In the “savings” section I put upcoming holidays and our emergency fund, which I distribute money to weekly, as well. “Extras” is for any extra money I’m putting towards debt.

Then, the final box titled “leftovers” is to figure out what I’m left with at the end of the pay period. I take our total income and subtract the total amount of money going out.

  • problem solving freebies, easy budget, budget for beginners, paycheck budget printable, weekly budget, easy chore chart, simple chore chart, free budget
  • problem solving freebies, easy budget, budget for beginners, paycheck budget printable, weekly budget, easy chore chart, simple chore chart, free budget

Final Thoughts

Printables make my life so much easier, and simple printables are essentials. I can’t keep up with multiple pages for a budget or chore chart. I need simple ones that allow me to keep all of my thoughts on that one page.

What do you think – do free printables help you simplify your life?

Categories
Adulting Holiday Life

New Year’s Resolutions – Goals for 2020

New Years, New Years Eve, New Year's 2020, New Year's Resolutions 2020, Resolutions for 2020, Goals for the New Year, New Year's Goal

With the new year quickly approaching, we are likely all thinking of our New Year’s resolutions and coming up with ideas of how to be happier, healthier, or more successful in 2020. I know I am! Before coming up with resolutions for 2020, however, I wanted to revisit the goals I’d set for myself to accomplish in 2019.

Some of the goals I set, I know I met without a problem while others didn’t go as planned, unfortunately. I want to revisit those that I didn’t accomplish and think about WHY I wasn’t successful and to try and think of a new plan for that goal. There’s no reason to set totally new goals if you didn’t quite meet some of your 2019 goals!

New Years, New Years Eve, New Year's 2020, New Year's Resolutions 2020, Resolutions for 2020, Goals for the New Year, New Year's Goal

A Year in Review – My 2019 New Year’s Resolutions

To see the full blog post, click HERE. This is just a quick run-down of the goals I had set for myself to achieve in 2019.

  1. Follow a chore chart
    We actually did follow this, but I think it was a bit more complicated than it could be. I also planned on writing a blog post and including a free printable, but I never got around to that part simply because I didn’t take the time to simplify it.
  2. Start seeing a larger increase in our savings.
    I did accomplish this, but I think we can do better in 2020.
  3. Hire someone for the yard work.
    Didn’t do this… yard still needs work. LOL. Any lawn care companies reading this, I’ll give you free ad space on the blog in exchange for mowing, weeding, and leaf removal. JK kind of.
  4. FREAKING LAUNDRY.
    Nope. Definite fail.
  5. Dates with kids weekly.
    We did really well with this in the beginning of the year, but then life got overwhelmingly busy when spring sports season hit and we kind of fell off.
  6. Crunch numbers for vacations.
    I actually did this!! Worked out perfectly.
  7. New blog post once a week.
    So, I may have missed a couple of weeks. But I think overall I did okay.
  8. Make $150 on TextBroker weekly.
    I’m not even sure why I thought this would be possible, honestly. If I was a stay at home mom it would be possible but with a job outside of the home, definitely not. It is an awesome side hustle, though, and it made up a large portion of our “fun money” this year.
  9. Lose 40 pounds.
    Pretty sure I actually gained weight this year.
  10. Buy “clutter baskets”.
    Seriously, all year long I talked about buying these but I was never sure where to put them so I didn’t. I still want to though.

What I Will Do Differently to Achieve the Goals I Missed

My plan is to put those unachieved goals back on my list for the New Year, while also adding a few more New Year’s Resolutions. I still want to have 10 ideas for how to improve my day-to-day life, but I also plan on coming up with a specific success plan for each goal this time around.

New Years, New Years Eve, New Year's 2020, New Year's Resolutions 2020, Resolutions for 2020, Goals for the New Year, New Year's Goal

2020 New Year’s Resolutions

1. Simplify the chore chart.

I found that key things weren’t getting done as often as they should, and I had each little piece of a room written separately on the chore chart. For example; Wiping the kitchen counters and stove is worth $2, doing the dishes is worth $2, and sweeping the floor is $1.

When the kids were asked to choose one chore, they would always choose the easiest (obviously), and the entire rooms weren’t getting done. This still left me with an overwhelming amount of house work. I want to simplify it and make cleaning the entire kitchen one chore for more money.

Doing it this way would give more time for some of the other things on last year’s list like laundry and yard work.

2. Put $20 in the savings account weekly, and then an additional $100 at the end of the month.

3. Weekly dates with kids.

This is one thing I ALWAYS want to make sure we are doing. With 5 kids in the house, it’s so hard to find one-on-one opportunities, so scheduling them is the best way for us.

4. Lose 50 pounds.

I really just need to be more active and choose healthier snacks. Easier said than done, wish me luck.

5. Buy clutter baskets.

Seriously, I just need somewhere to put everyone’s crap when they leave it around the house so that I don’t have to take care of everything for everyone.

New Years, New Years Eve, New Year's 2020, New Year's Resolutions 2020, New Years Resolutions, Resolutions for 2020, Goals for the New Year, New Year's Goal

6. Write in a journal regularly.

I used to do this and it was always so therapeutic. I just find excuses for reasons that I don’t have time to write in a journal now, and I honestly think it could help with some of my anxiety.

This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.

7. Pay off 25% of our total debt.

This is something my husband and I have been talking about. I don’t have a total number or plan yet, but I’ll be figuring that our in the next week or so.

8. Go on regular dates with my husband.

Like most parents, my husband and I don’t spend nearly enough alone time together. It seems like we hardly get to talk when there is so much going on every day. We want to start having date nights together at least every two weeks.

9. Use social media less.

I find myself scrolling aimlessly through my Facebook timeline, not even interacting with people. Sometimes, I wonder how much time I waste this way and while I have no idea the exact amount of time, I do want to lessen the time spent. One way I plan to do this is by not getting on it in the mornings.

10. Practice self care daily.

I want to start doing at least five small self care tasks each day or one big one. I just want to be happy this year and minimize the depression and anxiety that seemed to consume me this year.

New Years, New Years Eve, New Year's 2020, New Year's Resolutions 2020, Resolutions for 2020, Goals for the New Year, New Year's Goal

Final Thoughts on New Year’s Resolutions – Goals for 2020

You can’t just give up on your failed New Year’s Resoltions. Instead, figure out WHY you weren’t successful and figure out a new plan to achieve them in 2020. The key to personal growth is learning from your mistakes and trying again, so make sure your New Year’s Resolutions for 2020 reflects that!

What are your New Year’s Resolutions and were there any from last year that you didn’t achieve? Tell me in the comments!