by Mrs C | Sep 16, 2021 | Blog
When you think of potential pets, chickens certainly aren’t the first to come to most people’s minds. However, the benefits of raising chickens in your own backyard may surprise you! Here are a few examples of why chickens may be the perfect addition to your home.
Help Your Kids Learn
Chickens serve as a perfect teaching tool for a number of life lessons. Learning to raise and care for animals is a valuable lesson in responsibility and nurturing. These birds in particular are fairly low maintenance animals, so even the youngest of children can participate in their feeding and care. Help your children learn about animal life, the food chain, nutrients, and more. Let your children learn about running a fair business by selling eggs locally! You can even use their eggs as an opportunity for your toddlers to practice counting! Few other animals, if any, carry such easy and natural teaching opportunities as chickens.
Get Resources
Of course, organic chicken eggs are another huge benefit of owning your own little coop. In fact, eggs produced from chickens that aren’t farmed in factories have proven to contain significantly higher levels of vitamin E, beta carotene and omega-3 acids, and have shown significantly lower levels of cholesterol! This is because chickens that roam in your yard are more likely to peck at green grasses and plants that contain healthy nutrients. Plus, their main sources of food are whatever you give them, so if your chicken feed is full of nutrients, they (and their eggs) will be too. Chicken manure is another resource you have access to that can be extremely beneficial to your gardens as a form of nutrient-rich compost. Chicken manure is high in nitrogen, so you want to compost it for several weeks. Utilizing this waste is healthy for the environment, and for you.
Therapeutic Animals
Chickens are underappreciated for their minds! These birds are smart, fun, and have vibrant personalities that make watching them a surprisingly entertaining and cheerful activity. They are extremely social, which makes them the perfect animal for anyone suffering from loneliness and stress. Additionally, studies have proven that chickens are an effective “therapy” animal because they are statistically shown to improve depression and anxiety. Chickens are cheap, friendly, and easy to take care of, making them a perfect choice for many people.
Home animals can quickly become a favorite part of yours and your family’s lives. If you want an animal that can contribute some learning opportunities, some healthy resources, and some emotional support for your family, chickens may be just the right fit!
Read next: Is Owning a Home Right for Your Family?
by Mrs C | Sep 15, 2021 | Blog
The search to find your dream home can be exhausting and discouraging. The first piece of advice is: don’t give up! Your dream home will find you eventually. To help encourage the process, you can try things such as finding a great real estate agent, having it custom built, and utilizing the power of a remodel to help you one day inhabit your perfect dream home.
Find a Great Real Estate Agent
A real estate agent can be a powerful friend in helping you find your dream home. Yes, an agent should be your friend. While you are going through the process there will be a lot of communication between you and your agent, so make sure you enjoy working with them and they are easy to communicate with. A great agent will understand your vision, have background knowledge on the type of neighborhood you are looking for, and will find a home that stays in your budget. Don’t be afraid to switch realtors until you’re working with the right person to help you find your dream home.
Have it Custom Built
Choosing to have your home custom built opens you up to thousands of possibilities in achieving your dream home. The primary advantage is that you get to put personal expression into the design elements of the house. You can also customize the floor plan and fixtures to achieve the highest level of functionality for your lifestyle. It can take several months to build a custom home, if not years from the time you buy the land till move in. Be patient with the process and know that if your budget doesn’t have room for a specific feature now, you can always add it in the future.
Don’t Underestimate the Power of a Remodel
It is natural for part of your dream home to revolve around a specific neighborhood, school system, or commute time. Sometimes it is impossible to buy property and build with those requirements, or you may prefer homes with a history. Don’t underestimate the power of a remodel in helping you achieve your dream home. A remodel lets you use your imagination to create a completely new space at a smaller cost and with a bigger sense of accomplishment. When it comes to remodels, where there’s a wall, there’s a way.
Your home is a place of refuge and self-expression. Finding the perfect home for you to enjoy is critical for your happiness. Take your time and invest in proper resources to help you achieve your dream.
Read this next: How to Make Sure Your Family Gets Adequate Health Treatment
by Mrs C | Sep 9, 2021 | Blog
Regardless of the specific item you are purchasing, everyone wants to get the lowest price they can. However, figuring out how to find the best prices for everything from groceries to a car can be challenging. Following these tips can help you have a better shot at finding a great deal
Shop Around
One of the most important habits you should adopt when trying to pay less for different items is to shop around. Instead of buying the first item you see, look at different sellers’ prices and at different stores. Taking this approach helps you be aware of all the options available to you.
Not only will this give you an understanding of all the different price points, but it will also help you understand the different features that you could be getting depending on the specific item you decide to eventually buy.
Negotiate
As you start to narrow in on a specific item, adopt the habit of discussing the price with the seller. Some sellers are actually willing to come down significantly on certain items just to get the product out of their store where it is taking up coveted space.
For example, haggling can help you get a better deal on a bed at a mattress store. If an older mattress has been sitting in the store for a long time, you might be able to take it off the store’s hands for a cheaper price.
Buy Used
One of the best ways to get the best bang for your buck is to buy used. This is especially true for items like furniture, cars, and a variety of other things. Take advantage of resources like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and other websites where people buy and sell different things.
You would be surprised by how many nice items you can purchase at hugely discounted rates because sellers are desperate to get rid of certain things. Using these resources is also a good environmental choice as it results in reusing something instead of requiring the creation and expenditure of resources for another new item.
Finding the best price for whatever product you’re hoping to purchase will probably take more time than just purchasing the first item you find. But taking this time will be worth it if you’re able to save big. And ultimately, simply adapting some of these habits on a day-to-day basis will make a big difference in your finances over time.
Read this next: Should Your Family Buy Dental Insurance?
by Mrs C | Sep 8, 2021 | Blog
All assets you possess when you die are your estate. These assets include real estate, bank accounts, stocks and securities, life insurance, and other personal property. What happens to all this when you die? No one can take their possessions with them after death, and that is why an estate plan is so important. With an estate plan, you get to decide what happens to your property and who benefits from it.
Plan for Every Possibility
The saying goes, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” However, it can be very hard to know what to plan for. So, in the case of your estate plan, it is important to think of and plan for every possibility. You want to make sure that your family or beneficiaries are protected, your assets are taken care of, and you have someone who can make decisions in the event you are no longer able. Some key pieces to allow this to happen are a living will, power of attorney, medical power of attorney, and a trust. Planning in this way gives you peace of mind knowing plans are in place for the future.
Avoid Probate
Probate distributes your estate following your death. Reasons why you may want to avoid this is it is a slow process, it can be costly, and it is a legal proceeding which makes it public. Naming beneficiaries on your accounts is the simplest way to avoid probate. This means that beneficiaries will have already been decided, reducing the number of steps in the process. Other ways to avoid probate are to have a small estate or to make your estate smaller, having a living trust, have another owner on your property, and setting accounts to be based on death.
Seek Guidance from Professionals
Your estate plan is an important part of you because it states what happens to your assets. If your estate is large, it can become complex and more difficult to navigate your estate plan. To not miss anything, or to make the best decisions possible, it may be helpful to seek help from legal or financial professionals. It is also a good idea to update your estate plan from time to time, as changes in life stages are inevitable which often comes with changes to your estate as well as who your beneficiaries are and what you want for them. Professionals can help you to make these updates to your plan as needed to make sure that your plan can be effective.
At the end of the day, people are more important than possessions and money. But when you are leaving possessions and money behind, it is good to know that a plan is in place for where it all goes. Plans become especially important when you are leaving behind loved ones, so planning now before you are unable to plan is the most important step you can take for your estate.
Read this next: How to Secure Financial Success for Your Children
by Mrs C | Sep 1, 2021 | Blog
Juggling the joys and stresses of parenthood with the work of a career can be an overwhelming task. As you search for a job that will allow you to do that juggling a bit more easily, consider the level of flexibility, the benefits and the independence of time that potential jobs offer! Look for professional jobs that will allow more freedom of time and more helpful resources for you and your kids.
Flexibility
Your kids have daily needs, school, extracurriculars, and lives that require time and attention on your part! A job that allows flexibility of schedule will open up your availability to be there when your kids need you. For example, positions that prioritize task completion over hours spent, or that offer opportunities for remote work, mean that you can work where and when you want or need to and tailor your daily schedule accordingly. In addition, companies that offer flexible work hours have shown increased levels of productivity, and are generally more efficient with their funding.
Benefits
Look for a job that provides benefits for yourself and your family. This can include health insurance, disability insurance, 401K plans, vacation time or holiday breaks, and even paid time off. In addition, most employers provide dental insurance along with other medical benefits. These benefits can save you a significant amount of money on essential insurance plans that you would not have access to otherwise. Companies may also offer reimbursements on travel, phone use, and any extra expenses. Be aware of all the benefits you can take advantage of, so that you aren’t missing out on valuable resources for your kids.
Independence
Even with all the flexibility possible, it is extremely beneficial to have a job that you can “leave” at the workplace. Not having your job on your mind all the time is an incredibly valuable element to careers for the sake of your relationships with and availability for your children. Plus, parent-friendly jobs create a better balance of work and play by allowing you to compartmentalize those parts of your life and give your full attention to the things you value most. In interviews or through reviews, look into what potential employers expect of you in everyday tasks to figure out what kind of equilibrium of work life and home life you can create.
As you search for a job that will tailor well to your family needs, financial goals, and career dreams, you should also seek out those that help you put family first! You may have to compromise here and there, but a job that has any or all of these qualities will foster a better home life for you and your family.
Read next: How to Secure Financial Success for Your Children
by Mrs C | Sep 1, 2021 | Blog
Insurance is meant to instill confidence that the buyer is always taken care of in case of an accident, emergency, or unexpected medical situation that requires some serious financial help. But what if that insurance company you put your trust in refuses to pay for your needs? Here are a few things you should do in this situation that will help you solve the issue and receive the help you need.
Ask Them for an Explanation
One of two things can happen when you ask your insurance company to explain why something was not covered: a, they may realize that there was a misunderstanding or mistake and the case should have been covered, and you receive due compensation. B, they have to explain to you in detail why your circumstances are considered unqualified for coverage, giving you a better understanding of your policy and their expectations and providing additional information on qualification requirements that you can use to reestablish the points of your case, and re-present it to them to prove your legitimate qualification. Either way, their explanation is the biggest help you will get in resolving your problem!
Fight It in Court
If after their explanation you still feel you qualify for insurance coverage, fight their refusal! Consult a lawyer who specializes in insurance claims. An attorney can improve your chances of winning a settlement. Their training on the ins and outs of insurance policies, what is generally deserved, and how to frame a case to get the most out of your claim, are all invaluable skills to getting you the coverage you need. Furthermore, their experiences in similar cases to yours will have helped them learn tips and tricks to getting the upper hand on these kinds of legal proceedings.
Don’t Give Up!
Be persistent. Many of these cases fizzle out without the insurance provider ever giving that coverage requested of them because they ignore and postpone and excuse repeatedly until the buyer (you) gives up on trying. Your persistent demands are your best strategy for the roles to be reversed, or for you to have the time to come up with genuinely helpful information that will win you the case. Stay on top of deadlines, don’t let things go unacknowledged for long periods of time, and be bold and determined in your actions!
You put your trust and your funds into insurance payments that should protect you—make sure that they do so! Be prepared, determined, and diligent, and fight for the care you deserve.
Read this next: How to Get Compensation for an Accident That Wasn’t Your Fault
