Toys can become a very expensive thing, even for one child. But you can save money on toys with some savvy shopping and the right attitude. So, here are some little tricks to get started.
Buy One at a Time
Like most things, it is best to spread the cost of your toy purchases if they are expensive. A good tip is to simply buy one at a time. For example, if you have three birthdays coming up in the summer, buy one toy per month in spring. High-quality collectible brands like LOL Surprise also have seasonal promotions and offer toys for all budget ranges. LEGO is also a great option here because you can buy kits that your kids can collect over a longer period of time.
Keep an Eye Out for Deals
Further to seasonal promotions, many toy stores and manufacturers offer great deals. But the trick is keeping an eye out for them. And more often than not, you can spot a deal when you are low on cash. So do some research about the toys you want. It helps to note the times of year when they are usually on sale. Then you can make sure you have the money in your bank to take advantage of the deal the next time it comes around. You just have to play the deal game.
Save Money on Toys with Discounted Vouchers
But why would you not take advantage of getting more than what you paid for? For example, the well-known video game platform CD Keys offers PlayStation Store vouchers at a discount. You can genuinely purchase a $100 voucher for $80. That’s more or less putting money in your pocket. Which of course will go great with a brand new flat screen TV Christmas gift so your teens can stay on Fortnite for weeks on end and give you a little break as a tired parent.
Consider Used Toys
Like many other things, toys get wasted in landfills. It’s usually plastics that cannot be recycled. And this is to be expected. But something you may not be aware of is that around 60% of toys actually never get played with, and some are never opened. So why not consider used toys? Of course, you must check they are clean and safe. But given the statistics, a used toy is likely to be still in its packaging and good as new. Sites like eBay and Amazon are great for used toys.
Buy Quality Instead of Quantity
Cheap toys break easily. That’s a fact. So like anything, you will just end up wasting money by replacing them. Therefore, it is always better and cheaper to buy something of a higher quality instead of a cheaper version. With better quality toys, you can almost always guarantee they will last much longer. And in the event they do break or have defects, a reputable brand will usually have a better customer service or returns policy. Shopping at major stores also helps.
Summary
As prices rise, you may want to save money on toys for your kids. You can buy one toy at a time, take advantage of discounted vouchers, and buy higher-quality toys from a major store.
Renting an apartment can be exhilarating, especially if it’s your first time. But before you relocate, you should ensure you can settle in nicely in your new home. Admittedly, the process can be stressful, from packing boxes to cleaning and decorating your new living space. Nevertheless, you can achieve this without stressing yourself. Here are some practical things to do after renting an apartment.
A comfy mattress is one thing you can’t overlook after getting your new rental apartment. If your old mattress is not in good shape, you probably don’t want to carry that along to your new home. Instead, consider a new mattress and other bedding like pillows and bed sheets. While at it, purchase dressers and bed frames to enhance your bedroom. It’s necessary to design your new bedroom to suit your style. Therefore, shop for the pieces that matter the most. You can also grab some window blinds and curtains to cover your bedroom windows and secure your privacy. Getting some hangers is also vital for keeping your wardrobe or closet organized, so keep this in mind. The earlier you acquire the essentials, the sooner you can make your new home ready for your move.
Verify your mail situation
Find out whether your building’s community has a mailbox so you don’t miss important documents. Some individual apartments may come with small mail slots around the door, so keep this in mind. While at it, verify if a doorman stores packages while you are away, or consider asking a neighbor to pick up your mail. If mail packages are usually left outside your apartment block, you can set up a post office box to improve your safety and security. Many post offices provide customers with 24-hour access to their mail.
Buy a toolbox
You can also consider purchasing a toolbox for your recent apartment if you don’t have one yet. Your toolbox may contain hammers and screwdrivers to simplify DIY-fixing minor mishaps in your home. However, calling a professional is recommended for more complex faults to prevent further damage, so feel free to consider this.
Purchase your furniture
Before moving into your apartment, consider measuring the dimensions of your rooms. This practice will allow you to determine whether your current furniture will fit. Many people moving into new properties discover they need to buy extra furniture. If so, weigh your budget and invest in a comfortable couch, bed, and other furniture sets to furnish your new place.
Check your lock-in period and rent increase percentage
The lease agreement should accurately indicate your one, two, or three years duration. In most instances, the lock-in period is around a year, so keep this in mind. You will need to take notice of estimated electricity bill payments and other terms and conditions. Carefully read through your lease agreement and ask the apartment owner for clarifications if you find anything confusing. When signing the agreement, discuss the percentage increase in the rental fee. Rent increment and security deposits should conform to the Model Tenancy Act 2020 guidelines.
Before you pick your favorite apartment through a broker or directly from the building’s owner, ensure the real estate has no litigation or title issues. You can request apartment documents, namely chain of transfer, previous electricity and water bills, and layout. You may want to investigate further to obtain a basic knowledge of the most recent tenants who occupied the property.
Get your kitchen essentials
Apartments vary; you could move into a small bistro-style set or an apartment with a complete dining room. Whatever the case, make sure your kitchen doesn’t lack any essentials. Modernizing your kitchen is good, especially if you love inviting friends and family to come over for house parties and the like. Moreover, creating a functional area for more convenient cooking and meal prepping is easier. You might have a few plates and cups, but adding more items to your kitchen would be better before moving in. This way, you will always have enough kitchenware for every occasion. You can also invest in kitchen appliances like a fridge, microwave, and so on.
Make your apartment aesthetically pleasing
You may have a couch and coffee table, but these may not be enough. Therefore, consider investing in certain items that enhance your home’s visual appeal. For instance, you can invest in new lighting fixtures, especially if your apartment has only old bulbs. As a tip, purchase high-quality options to get the best value for your money. After this, storage may be your next priority. Bookshelves, television cabinets, and decorative storage compartments may be beneficial, so feel free to consider this. It’s vital to factor in your possessions to choose the best storage solutions.
Prioritize safety devices
Your apartment may have some smoke detectors, but adding more may be necessary for your coverage in older properties. See that you install a carbon monoxide detector and invest in a standard fire extinguisher to improve your safety. Immediately after moving in, replace the batteries of your detectors with new ones. This isn’t just a safe practice to observe; it can prevent your smoke detectors from constantly chirping, so keep this in mind.
Socialize with your neighbors
It’s important to interact with your neighbors and exchange pleasantries when relocating. Renting an apartment means living close to other tenants, and your experience in your new home would be better if you befriend them. This habit will give your neighbors a good impression of you, making associating with them easier.
Clean the place
To improve hygiene, think about giving your apartment a thorough cleaning before your relocation. Admittedly, scheduling your move-in and cleaning simultaneously may be overwhelming and stressful.
Therefore, experts recommend tidying up your space a few days prior. It would also be best to pay special attention to the air quality in your home. Remember to ventilate the rooms by opening the windows to get much-needed fresh air indoors. Home air quality doesn’t end at the windows because there is more to do to rid your space of allergens that compromise the atmosphere indoors. Dust surfaces and corners to remove accumulated dirt, using a damp cloth
Ensure your utilities are working
It’s advisable to ascertain that critical utilities are fully functional in your new apartment. Check your electrical systems, water, gas, and plumbing lines to ensure they work as they should. And if they aren’t, you should fix them immediately. If your lease agreement states it’s your landlord’s responsibility, you should immediately alert them. Otherwise, you may have to take care of them. As a tip, work with the right experts to prevent costly damage and repairs. However, you can DIY if you have the needed skills. For instance, you can purchase plumbing supplies from sites like plumbersstock.com if you are skilled at fixing water and plumbing issues. Your heating, cooling, and ventilation systems are also worth inspecting, so feel free to consider this.
Take time to familiarize yourself with your new surroundings. You can walk, drive or cycle around the area to explore it. This will give you a sound experience of what it feels like to live in your new neighborhood. Moreover, this activity will help you identify grocery stores, pharmacies, healthcare centers, schools, museums, libraries, and other amenities. As a tip, do this with interested neighbors to make the experience more interesting. You can even give yourself the tourist experience by visiting local restaurants and popular areas.
Renting a new apartment can be exciting and stress-free with the right steps. Fortunately, you can consider this checklist to ensure your move is successful. While at it, you can also research other helpful tips, so keep this in mind.
There is nothing better than knowing a gift you have given to someone else is that they love it. Putting yourself in the position of being able to give amazing gifts is a wonderful place to be. The problem is that when you have a big family and a lot of friends, you have a lot of gifts to give! That can become costly and that’s not fun for you or your wallet.
Never let the pressures of society push you into spending money you haven’t got, not when you can buy great gifts from Cap America and be more frugal by making your own. Making your own gifts can be a fun thing to do but it can also be much kinder on the wallet. You want to give joy without going into debt and it’s being frugal that can really help. You can still be an amazing gift giver, and here’s how to do it:
Make what you can. Crafts, baked goods, themed baskets you create yourself and goodie bags will all work as amazing homemade gifts. The options for making home made things are pretty endless and all you need is a little creativity and inspiration. There are plenty of ideas online and if you’re good with cooking, jars of homemade jam will go so well.
Make a memory. You can really remind the people you love that you have memories together. Print and frame photos, or create collages on blankets. You can literally wrap the people you love in your memories and it’s a cheap but meaningful way to make gift giving fun.
Offer something. If you’re a dab hand at DIY or you love to give your time as a gift, then making redeemable coupons for your friends and family that gives them a service of yours will be an amazing way to show some love. Sometimes, doing activities together is the best gift that you can possibly give to those who you don’t get to spend much time with. It can often be better than any material gift out there that could be offered!
Do something for a group. Shopping individually gets expensive but shopping for families is less so. Putting a basket of delicious treats together like a hamper and gifting to the whole family can be more cost effective. You could even suggest a Secret Santa to help save money.
Utilize cards. Gifts are nice but if you can, make your own homemade cards and send those instead. Long-distance friends and family will appreciate the effort that has gone into it and you can show how much thought you’ve put into the card. Remember to post early enough so that you can get your card delivered on time and take into account delivery times during holiday seasons.
It’s never worth going into debt over a holiday or an event. It’s important that you remember that your gift is going to be a good thing either way!
As the cold winter months recede, welcoming the warm embrace of summer, it’s time to start thinking about how to make your home summer-ready. The transition from spring to summer necessitates certain adjustments to your living space to ensure you enjoy every moment of the sun-filled season. This blog post will walk you through simple yet effective steps to prepare your home for the summer season.
First and foremost, ac repair services are a must. Summer can be unbearable without a properly functioning AC. Therefore, have your AC checked by a professional to ensure it’s ready to cool your home effectively and efficiently. Clean or replace the filters to improve the air quality in your home and avoid unnecessary energy consumption. If you don’t have an AC, consider investing in fans or portable air coolers.
Step 2: Dress Your Home in Light
When you think of summer, you think of light, airy, and bright. To bring the essence of summer into your home, replace heavy, dark winter drapes with light, breezy curtains or blinds. This allows more natural light into your home and contributes to the overall cooling process.
In addition, consider giving your home a fresh coat of paint in light, cool colors. Shades like baby blue, mint green, or even simple white can reflect light and help keep the interiors cool.
Step 3: Refresh Your Outdoor Spaces
Summer is synonymous with spending time outdoors. It’s the perfect time to refresh your patio, garden, or balcony. Bring out your outdoor furniture, clean it up, and create a cozy corner for family gatherings or solitary retreats. Plant summer flowers in your garden, or if space is a constraint, arrange some potted plants and vibrant flowers on your balcony or window sills.
Step 4: Energy-Efficient Lighting
With longer daylight hours, take advantage of natural light and save on energy. However, for the evenings, switch to energy-efficient lighting options. LED or solar-powered lights are excellent choices, offering better illumination and energy savings. They also come in various designs, allowing you to light up your outdoor and indoor spaces creatively.
Step 5: Pest Control
The onset of summer often invites unwanted guests: pests. Be proactive and arrange for a pest control service to avoid mosquito, ant, or fly infestations. Screen doors and windows can be a practical addition to keep these summer pests at bay.
Step 6: Summer-Proof Your Kitchen
Summer means fresh produce and light meals. Make space in your refrigerator for fruits and veggies. Prepare your grill for some outdoor cooking and family barbecues. Keeping the cooking heat outside helps keep your home cool.
Step 7: Revamp Your Bedding
Pack away your heavy winter comforters and blankets, replacing them with light sheets and coverlets. Opt for cotton and other breathable materials to ensure a comfortable and relaxed sleeping environment.
Step 8: Declutter
Finally, declutter your home. This includes cleaning out the garage, basement, and closets. A decluttered home feels more spacious, organized, and easier to navigate, providing peace of mind during summer.
In conclusion, getting your home ready for summer doesn’t have to be daunting. By following these simple steps, you can ensure your home is comfortable, inviting, and prepared for all the fun that summer brings. Remember, the key is to create an environment that is light, bright, cool, and cheerful – just like summer itself. Happy summer planning!
If you’ve been bitten by the travel bug you’re not alone. Staring out of the office window and imagining your favorite beaches is enough to make anybody pine for something more, and if you work remotely, this could change everything. There is nothing stopping you from spending your days traveling if you are working from a remote desk.
As you can work anywhere, you’ll be able to actually look at those mobile homes for sale and truly choose something that makes sense for you. Jet setting across the globe or even just traveling around your country might be a top contender on your bucket list, and if you are working remotely there’s no reason why you can’t spend all of your time doing that. As a remote employee, you can work from anywhere and that means that you can go anywhere as long as you have wi-fi! Saving up your time for your vacation days no longer has to be an issue, so here are the reasons why you should travel and work at the same time.
You don’t have to stay in one place. Whether you’re in a mobile home or you are hopping from hotel to hotel, you don’t have to stay in one place if you don’t want to. As long as you have the right visas or paperwork, you can be flexible with your planning and be even more flexible with your locations. Instead of just having your two week vacation time, you can work in any destination that allows you to have fun and then spend your evenings whiling away the time having as much fun and making memories as you can.
You are still connected. When you work remotely you are still connected to your business and your professional life which means that while traveling is a beautiful thing, you still get to stay connected to your world. You’re not that far away from what you do day-to-day, and you know you are earning money while you enjoy every moment.
You get to meet new people. You might not have an office full of people to go out with after work, but you have the whole world at your feet. When you are traveling around the world you’re going to get to spend time in coworking spaces in every country and major city, which makes it so much easier for you to link up with other remote employees. You have freedom, and that freedom is under your feet.
You get to live in new countries and not just visit them. There is a big difference between living in the country for three months and visiting a country for a week. When you are remote working and traveling at the same time you get the best of both worlds which means you can have the experience of living in new countries and add that to your CV.
The flexibility that you gain when you work remotely is going to change your life. All you have to do is decide whether or not you want to go for it now or if you still want to wait!
Every home has a certain energy to it, and over time that energy can disappear, meaning that the home we used to love and feel at peace in becomes uncomfortable and stagnant. It might even start to feel unsafe. To prevent this from happening and causing you distress (this can lead to mental health problems, for example), it’s important to know how to re-energise your home. With that in mind, keep reading to find out more.
The natural world can do a lot to help us feel better and to make the energy of a place work better for us. This is why it’s a great idea to include some natural indoor plants in your home. Not only will they look lovely and make you feel a lot calmer and more relaxed, but they can also remove toxins from the air. All of this added together means that your home will have a much more positive energy about it, and your mental (and physical) health will improve.
Of course, you’ll need to take care of the plants in your home, so it’s wise to choose those that you can handle. One way to keep your plants healthy is to invest in dehumidifiers. These will keep the humidity levels right for the plants and will also help to remove toxins, giving you double the help.
Refresh Your Colour Palette
Colours have a major impact on how we feel and what we think of a place, so it makes sense that they would have a link to the energy of a building as well. If you feel that the energy levels are wrong or low, one way to re-energise your home is to freshen your colour palette and start to decorate with colours that will improve things.
Choose tones that make you feel happy and uplifted, like yellow or orange, or soothing colours like blue and green. Experiment with different ways of adding colours until you find what works for you. You could have an accent wall, for example, or perhaps the cushions on your sofa are a specific shade. Maybe you choose art that contains a certain hue. The choice is yours, but what you should not do is stick to colour trends if those colours are going to do more harm than good – it’s better to be energised in your home than on trend.
Make Your Bedroom Perfect
Even if there isn’t a lot you can do in most of your home to change the energy, you should at least try to make changes in your bedroom – this could be enough to help you feel great and positive (and that will then go on to make you feel better about the rest of the house). Your bedroom should be a serene oasis where you can get plenty of rest and rejuvenate, so getting this right is important.
Make sure you have a good mattress and comfortable bedding to start with. You should also be able to block out all the light when you need to, so blackout curtains or blinds can work well. Soft lighting is ideal, and remove any screens from the room, including TVs – the blue light they emit can confuse your circadian rhythm, and that can mean it’s hard to get to sleep.
