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5 New Ideas for El Día de los Muertos

October 21, 2018 by Momstart Leave a Comment

5 New Ideas for El Día de los Muertos

by Lizza Monet Morales

Want to spice up your Day of the Dead festivities this year? Here are five new ways to honor and remember the loved ones we’ve lost.

It’s that time of year when the veil is thin and the dead walk among us. We’ve been welcoming them back for years, but this year you might be looking to give your Día de los Muertos celebration an update. Here are a few ideas that bring together the new and the old for a modern, inventive fiesta.

A Digital Ofrenda That Lives On

If you’re looking for a new way to honor and share those memories this year, check out Capsure. You can share “digital ofrendas,” each for a different family member, in private. So your relatives across the U.S. or even on other continents can all trade stories and memories in a cherished space that you’ve built together and can visit or pass on to the next generations. Because your daughter should know about that time that Aunt Betsy helped you win the science fair.

Building a digital ofrenda on Capsure is super easy. Just download the Capsure app for iPhone or Android, then create your first board.

Turn Your Favorite Photos into Papel Picado

Technology gives us new ways to honor and remember our ancestors, and we can combine it with traditional arts to create new effects with a time honored look. Digitize some of your favorite photos of ancestors by scanning them, or just snapping a pic with your phone. Then convert them to black and white (strictly 2-tone, not grayscale) using Photoshop, GIMP, or a simple online generator like Photo Kako.

Print out the black and white translated image, and lay a sheet of colored tissue paper over it on a wooden cutting board or an Xacto mat. Using a new, very sharp Xacto blade, cut out the white parts, so all that remains of your colored paper is the black shapes from the image beneath. Make sure you keep any floating black ‘islands’ connected to some nearby shape, or they’ll fall out when you pick up the finished product.

Hang the finished products on a line for a photorealistic paper storyboard of your family history.

Kids Can Make Bite Sized Sugar Skull Marshmallow Poppers

Set up an all ages edible art station with jumbo marshmallows, licorice lace, edible decorating markers, and lollipop sticks or skewers. Mom.me outlines how to bring these all together to make adorable, bite sized sugar skulls that will entertain the kids and challenge even the most detail-oriented adults.

You can use these skull-mallows as garnishes, cake toppers, centerpieces, or just as a fun activity that’s even more fun to pop in your mouth when it’s done.

Make Your Cocktails Shimmer With a Marigold Infusion

A standard recipe for simple syrup gains complexity and color when you add some marigold petals to the mix. Be sure to wash them thoroughly first, and for the best flavor absorption, let your marigold syrup steep overnight.

You can add it to a classic margarita or your signature recipe for a striking fiestaespecial. Garnish with a marigold for full effect.

If you want to take things to the next level, check out Sweet Life’s recipe for tequila infused with cinnamon and organic Aztec marigold. It takes a week and is absolutely worth it.

Invoke the Mystery of Lotería

El Corazon, El Diablito, and of course, La Muerte. The familiar, mysterious faces of lotería have enchanted us for generations with their invocations of chance, fate, luck and death.

Lotería cards are a great way to spice up your decor. You can use them as place cards for your table setting, add them to centerpieces with your marshmallow skulls, or even host a full game of lotería with prize bags as giveaways.

There’s even a lotería app for Android if you want to play the paperless way.

And, for a Millennial twist on the beloved Mexican Bingo game, pick up Millennial Lotería. Created by my dear friend, Mike Alfaro, and inspired by the popular Instagram account, @MillennialLoteria, the new take on the classic game introduces characters like La Selfie, El Hipster, and La Hashtag.

Bringing Together the Old and New

A party is all about the details, and these will give an updated twist to the time honored tradition of Día de los Muertos. They’re great ways to honor the ancestors in the current age, and they’ll bring the family together in el espíritu de la felicidad. Have a happy Día de los Muertos!

Planning Your Next Family-Friendly Vacation at Palm Springs

October 16, 2018 by Momstart Leave a Comment

Settled prosperously at the base of Mt. San Jacinto, this place is famous for its perennial sunshine, beautiful landscapes, palm stress and of course the architecture. Hollywood stars such as Sinatra, Sonny Bono, and Bob Hope made their residential houses here. Amongst the contemporary stars, we have DiCaprio and Eastwood following their predecessors’ footsteps in settling down here at Palm Springs. Many people are under the impression that Palm Springs is not a great spot for a family vacation, but unfortunately, they are completely unaware of the fact that this place can be perfect for a family retreat. From its glorious art installation to aeroplane museums, this place has family-friendly activities lying all over itself. Palm Springs is easy to reach as it is just a two-hour long drive from LA or San Diego. Get yourself checked in one of the many rental homes in Palm Springs to get your adventure started.

Living Desert Zoo

Families love the zoo and the kids are often fascinated by the number of animals they can see in one place. The living desert that stretches to almost 1200 acre of land is a zoo cum botanical garden. Ranging from different kinds of cacti to a big section for desert foliage, you can expect a rich variety of plants in the botanical section. When it comes to biodiversity this place doesn’t lack any since it is home to numerous species of animals from North America to Africa. Some of the animals are birds, giraffes, lizards, zebras et al. If the heat is too intense and unbearable, visit the animal hospital for a quick tour. If you are tired of walking around the park, hitchhike a tram ride to go around the park. You can expect workshops and other activities if you arrive here in the morning.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

This tramway will elevate you up to around 8516 feet at the top of Santa Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountain with the help of a rotating Tramcar. The floor of the boogie rotates so that the riders can have a complete view of the valley. Once you reach up top, you can expect other activities such as hiking or skiing. If you get tired after the hike, there are eateries that serve great food. The drinks lounge is great for tourists too. Once you reach up top, look for observation kiosk where you can have the panoramic view of the valley and its nearby towns. To be able to ride this tram, you’d need to take a small hike of two minutes to reach here.

Air Museum

This non-profit institution is run by many war veterans who can give you proper tours on the planes showcased there. There are more than eighty functional planes lying in that huge stretch inside the warehouse. You can also look out for artefacts, artworks, and documents related to aeroplanes. You can also talk to the veterans and learn more about each plane. They often share their personal accounts on the war which you wouldn’t find on any written texts. If you want a test flight then there you can try your hands-on simulation. Prices may vary depending on the hours you put in.

Jeep Tour

Kids love adventures as much as adults do. So, get yourself a jeep and book a tour to see the fault lines of San Andreas. The tour can get intense as it will be going through the desert where you can learn a lot about earthquakes, geology, Cahuilla et al. The backdrop of this place is quite amazing so you wouldn’t be bored exactly. The tour guides have a consolidated amount of knowledge about the geographical peculiarities of this place. Be sure to have a guide for your own convenience.

Art Museum

This museum is located at the heart of Palm Springs where art exhibits are shown that came from a diverse set of backgrounds. There are 28 galleries in the museum, all filled with mesmerizing artworks and artefacts. There is a sculpture garden as well which houses some of the best exhibits that this place has to offer. There are over 55,000 recorded objects found in this museum. The art shown here offers a rich cultural insight and also fills you with certain historical highlights.

Splashtopia

Located at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort and Spa, this place is the only resort in the area to have this kind of arrangement. There are about 20 water rides, 13 water slides, and other attractions. You can also head to the big pool section where you will be pitted against simulated waves. There is also a designated kid’s area of activity which is highly supervised. Food and other amenities are also being served here.

Walk of the stars

Palm Springs used to Hollywood’s best kept secret and was the getaway spot for many Hollywood stars. So, to pay tribute to these starts, they have made their own walk of the stars. Your kids can walk down the lane while learning about these legendary actors. It is quite obvious of a thing to introduce your children to big names like Sinatra, Rogers et al.

Horse Riding

Exploring the town on the back of the horse is a quite a unique thing to do. Your kids are probably going to love doing that as well. Head to the Smoke Tree Stables for horse rides. The place is quite easy to locate as it is situated right on the heart of Palm Springs. These stables are tidy, kid-friendly and have experts who can help you and your kids with relevant information.

Some of the places that are worth mentioning here are the Elmer’s Restaurant. Cabazon Dinosaur Museum, and Palm Springs Skatepark. This is a comprehensible list of places that you can look out for but obviously, there are activities which haven’t been listed here and neither places for you can discover them by yourself with the help of the locals. When it comes to family-friendly places, Palm Springs is not lagging behind.

Matching Wine and Beer with BBQ

October 3, 2018 by Momstart Leave a Comment

The desire to throw the perfect summer barbecue is in every amateur and professional griller. From start to finish, serving the ultimate meal that your friends will be raving about for years can be the highest form of praise a griller receives.

But even with the most tender, delicious cut of steak and the most carefully chosen and cooked sides, without the right beverage to complement your meal, you may find there is still something lacking.

It’s true – you have to match your drink selection with your meal, and many people pair wine and beer with barbecue as the definitive finishing touch.

So how do you know what drink to serve with what foods?

Barbecue and Beer or Wine – The Basics

It’s summer. The last thing anyone wants to do on those long, hot, lazy days is spend hours poring over menus and wine and beer lists to put their meal together. Instead, wouldn’t you rather learn some basic serving rules that work any time of year with any food and go with those?

When you are putting together your meal, there is so much to consider, from the appetizers and dessert to the length of time it will take to get your meats to just the right temperature (the right meat thermometer is crucial for this!).

Luckily, there are a few tried and true methods that can help you choose the right beverage to complement your food without a lot of thought involved.

Consider these general rules of thumb when you are putting together your next barbecue meal:

If you are serving spicy foods, pair them with a lightly sweet beer or wine.
Strong, robust flavors of wine and beer should be served with the same types of food.
Contrarily, light, delicate flavors of wine and beer go best with light and delicate foods.
Rich, heavy foods can use a bitter beer or wine to help offset the heaviness.
Ending a meal with a bubbly drink is a good way to pair up fatty foods.

Ready for a Little More Detail?

Once you have those basics down, you can hit any liquor aisle or store and find a bottle of wine or choice of beer to serve with your meal. But if you want something a little more involved to be sure your drink selection hits just the right note with your meal, we’ve got you covered there, too.

Most barbecues have the same categories of foods served, so if you are making any of the following dishes, we’ve given you a little more detail, and if that still isn’t what you need, you can check out this pairing chart for even more.

For stronger grilled meats like burgers, chicken, and richly flavored fish, serve a pale ale beer or a strong red wine (a Beaujolais is always a good choice).
Barbecue ribs are in a league of their own and need the right drink to finalize their perfection. Choose a rich, moderately bitter amber ale with a slight caramel touch to it, or a full-flavored or spicy wine.
Greasier foods like grilled sausage and potatoes need an amber lager with a caramel hint or a crisp, dry sparkling white wine.
Light seafoods like shrimp or scallops need a gentle, citrusy type of beer or a slightly acidic white wine.

Your Meal is Perfect, the Rest is Up to You

Now that you have matched the perfect complement of drink to your food, you can focus on your guests. No matter how good the food is going to be, you have to be a great host to keep them there for the meal!

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5 Tips for Planning a Family Vacation

October 1, 2018 by Momstart Leave a Comment

Bringing the whole family together for a vacation can be a lot more work than you would think. You cannot just throw a few things into a suitcase, throw the suitcase into the back of your car, and then drive off, especially if you plan on vacationing for a week or longer. To have a memorable vacation, you need to plan things out, and there are a lot of factors you’ll have to juggle if you want to keep travel stress to a minimum.

1. Build a Budget

Vacations cost money. There’s fuel if you’re going by car and rental fees if you aren’t taking your personal vehicle. Consider other possible expenses, such as food, lodging, plane tickets, and entertainment costs. You must pay for suitcases and backpacks if you do not have them yet, and if your vacation takes you camping, you’ll need to buy necessary gear and possibly a camping trailer or an RV. You need to have your money on hand both before and during your vacation; therefore, it is wise to add up your expected costs and add approximately 25 percent more for emergencies.

2. Give Your Luggage a Dry Run

When the morning of your big vacation begins, you’ll want to get on the road early, whether it’s to reach an early flight or beat the morning traffic. Due to this, you will not want to waste time trying to fit your baggage into your vehicle. Otherwise, you might find out that you don’t have enough space. Ideally, you should pack as much into your vehicle, as you can, the night before and make sure the extra bags you will add in the morning will fit in the remaining space.

3. Develop Your Itinerary

Image via Flickr by Grand Canyon NPS

Before you head out on your family vacation, you should take some time to research your destination. What are the local tourist destinations? Where are all the best restaurants? Are there any big plays or concerts you’d want to see while you’re in the area? Use the answers to these questions to build your itinerary. Just remember you don’t have to follow it too strictly. You should not stress over fun things. In fact, you may find a hidden gem if you follow your child’s whim instead of your schedule.

4. Check Everyone’s Health

Medical emergencies are never good, but the situation is worse when they happen a thousand miles away from home. If you are going on a weeklong vacation or more, your family should check in with their doctors before they go, especially if they have ongoing health problems. You should also make sure everyone’s vaccines are updated, especially if you plan on going overseas.

It is wise to find out if your health insurance plan covers out of state or out of country doctor visits or emergencies. If possible, find an in-network provider prior to arriving at your destination. In the event you or your family needs medical care, you will know where to go ahead of time. Seniors over 65 can qualify for Medicare coverage and its supplemental insurance plans. Such individuals have an advantage because supplemental Medicare insurance plans allow them to use any Medicare health care provider within the United States.

5. Get Input from Everyone

The whole family should have some say on where they want to go and what they want to do when they get there. Young kids are not very good at planning, but by a certain age, they will know what activities they like and do not like. Older relatives might not be able to keep up if you stay too active, and a museum that is great fun for one person might be dull to everyone else.

A big family vacation can be just as stressful as it is fun, but you can do something about that stress. Plan your schedule and your budget, make sure everyone’s packed and healthy, and always remember to communicate with family members to make sure that all will enjoy the vacation.

Postpartum Fashion: How to style your body following birth

September 28, 2018 by Momstart Leave a Comment

We are partnering on this post about postpartum fashion and how important it is to feel beautiful at all times in your pregnancy.

How to style your body following birth

For the nine months prior to giving birth, it would be fair to say that your body changes in a way that you have probably never experienced ever before. Many women then think that immediately after giving birth, normality returns. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen.

Instead, losing baby weight is a long, painful, process. Your body does change during the postpartum stage though, and it means that it can be very difficult to style your body appropriately. Some women might take advanced steps, such as a breast augmentation, to make things easier, but on the whole, most will just reinvent their wardrobe.

The remainder of this post will now take a look at some of the best ways to style your body as you adapt to your new shape.

Embrace the power of black

Some people say that they don’t suit black, but for the postpartum stage this is something that you simply have to embrace. This is the color that can disguise any lumps and bumps that your ever-changing body is prompting, and ultimately hide away the bits you don’t want others to see.

Of course, we’re not suggesting that you go completely in black. Feel free to break things up with the odd accessory (more on that later), or don an extravagant bag or shoes to add a bit of sparkle to your outfit.

The fit is more important than ever

It doesn’t matter what stage of life you are in, it’s always important to secure a good fit. However, in the postpartum stage, this is just emphasized.

You need to wear clothing that fits your body now, not how it used to look, or not what you are hoping it looks like next year.

Of course, there’s every chance that you don’t have anything which fits you in your current shape. If this is the case, buy something – you can’t get away with anything else.

Use accessories to place attention on the right areas

As already alluded to, there will be parts of your body that you really don’t want to draw attention to. This is where you need to rely on accessories to detract attention away from them, and instead focus on other areas of your body.

For example, a scarf can work a treat in these situations. This is something that can elongate your body, whilst detracting away from your midriff.

Use shapeware to your advantage

This might not have been possible several years ago, but in today’s age you really need to take full advantage of shapewear. Put simply, this sits under your clothing, and is able to compress various parts of your body. For example, it can lift your rear and waist, and by doing this will also impact your posture. In other words, as well as disguising all of the areas that might have been affected by your pregnancy, it can also aid with the elusive confidence factor that so many of us need help with.

Steer Clear of Energy Drinks: 5 Best Foods for a Natural Boost

June 26, 2018 by Momstart 1 Comment

It’s tempting to grab an energy drink from the fridge when you hit that afternoon slump. Although energy drinks wake you up, they contain a lot of things that just aren’t good for you. Get energy the natural way by eating these five foods instead.

Fresh Fruit

Image via Flickr by Theo Crazzolara

Starting your morning with fresh fruit is a great way to have sustainable energy throughout the day. For example, the fructose in an apple beats out the caffeine in a cup of coffee to give you energy for the whole morning. While coffee fights drowsiness, it doesn’t actually supply your body with energy. The fructose, fiber, and Vitamin C in apples provide energy to the body. Other fresh fruits that promote energy include peaches, apricots, guava, dates, lemons, and limes. Start your day with a bowl of fresh fruit and track it in an app like Lifesum to kick-start your morning with a healthy habit.

Maca

Maca root is indigenous to Peru but is quickly growing as a top superfood in the United States. It has a lot of benefits, such as hormone balancing and mood elevating, but it also provides a natural energy boost. You won’t get the highs and lows you get with caffeine. Many people use Maca before or after the gym because it also has muscle-building properties. A little goes a long way to get the energy you need with this superfood.

Quinoa

Quinoa, a South American superfood, also boasts the ability to give you a natural boost. This grain is considered a complete source of protein because it’s so rich in amino acids. Quinoa also is high in magnesium, folate, lysine, and phosphorus. Eat it after your workout to help build muscle and fight fatigue. Quinoa is also perfect to replace simple carbs like rice and pasta. You may find quinoa tastes better, and you won’t get the sugar spike and crash you get from simple carbs and white flour.

Spinach

There’s a good reason Popeye always ate spinach. It’s high in magnesium, iron, and potassium, which help to fight fatigue and can also give you more energy. It’s also light and low in calories, so it won’t make you feel bogged down. Throw some spinach in your morning smoothie, make a spinach salad for lunch, or steam it on the side for dinner. You’ll have more energy, and you’ll enjoy the many other benefits spinach provides.

Eggs

Eggs are a great way to start your day because they’re high in protein. They also are full of Vitamin B, which converts food to energy. Many people use egg whites as a protein source in their post-workout shake, which is good since egg whites also have a lot of Vitamin D, which helps to maintain strong bones. Eggs are somewhat calorie dense, but don’t ditch the yolk. You’ll lose out on a lot of nutrients that way. Instead, make an omelet with one whole egg and a few egg whites to get the full effect without all the calories.

Energy drinks boost you up high and then drop you down low. You’ll inevitably crash from the rush of sugar and caffeine. Skip the energy drink and try getting energy from your food instead.

How to Choose a Vinyl Cutter for Crafting

June 6, 2018 by Momstart Leave a Comment

This is a sponsored guest post.

If you are eager to buy a vinyl cutter for crafting for the first time, or you want to replace your old one, this article is for you. Don’t just breeze into the market and pick any brand without checking it out. If you get a good machine that will serve your purposes, there are certain things you must check in any brand you see. Don’t feel down now thinking it’s such a hard task. I am going to aide your search with the important details that are necessary for a good choice.

Let’s go!

How to Choose a Vinyl Cutter for Crafting

The first thing you have to do is to determine the types of cutters we have, the purpose of purchasing a vinyl cutter and the features you must see on a good brand.

Types of vinyl cutters

Many cutters are available in the market today, and each of them has unique features. Sometimes, many crafters prefer to buy Cricut or Silhouette machine, but there are other types too. Let’s check them briefly.

1. Silhouette machine

These types of are suitable for those people who love to manipulate few things in their projects. It makes use of a design studio software which you can manipulate a little to accommodate your project needs. Another unique feature of this type of vinyl cutter is tracing capacity. You can use this machine to trace and then cut the images in your computer.

2. Cricut machines

These machines are easy to use and also operates quietly. The software it uses is simple whereby you can cut the font size which you have on your computer and can replicate projects from any file you purchase. The design software is easy when you want to learn it but doesn’t allow for many manipulations when you are working on a personal project.

3. Brother ScanNCut

This type of vinyl cutter has a built-in scanner, and with it, you can scan images and cut without connecting it to the computer. As a result, you can cut shapes and edit very easily too.

4. Sizzix eclips2 machine

These types of cutters are easy to use, and you can use their software without issues. This machine cuts cardstock, paper, and vellum perfectly but has some limitations when you want to manipulate it.

Now that you have seen the various types of cutters available, the next thing you will do is to determine your reason or need for the cutter. Are you going to use it for commercial purposes or is it for your personal use? Let’s do a little differentiation

1. Commercial cutters

If you want to buy a machine that you will use for your commercial purposes, that means it must be able to cut intricate designs and handle large jobs. These cutters can cut large designs that you have in many materials and not just vinyl only. They are usually large physically and more expensive, but they can handle complex and multiple jobs at the same time.

2. Individual craft cutting

For your crafting projects, you will get a vinyl cutter that will fit snugly on your desktop. These machines are easy to use and also affordable. They can only handle small projects easily but will take it one at a time.

When you have determined the category of vinyl cutter you need, then look out for the following features in any machine.

1. Cutting Width

Vinyl cutters come in different cutting size capabilities. Some are 6-inch cutters while there are larger ones that can cut up to 64-inches. If you are cutting vinyl as a hobby, you can pick the machine that can cut from 9-12 inches. This size will surely serve your needs.

If on the other hand, you are someone who engages in full-scale marketing of crafts it T-shirts, you will need a sizeable vinyl cutter. Also, if you are into a full-time signage business, you will need something that will match the demands of your business.

However, there are two things I want you to bear in mind. The first one is that the quality of a machine is not based on how large it is and, media size and cutting size are not the same things.

For instance, if you are aiming for precision, you will not go for a machine that can cut larger papers and think it will give you what you want. Don’t forget that these types of machines do not make use of digital servo but uses a stepper motor which makes them wrong for you.

Also, when you see a machine that is Cutter YXZ 24 inches, don’t think they are telling you about the maximum cutting size. That number represents the number of sheets you can feed into the machine at a time.

2. Price

This feature is another thing you have to look out for when buying a vinyl cutter for crafting. If you want the best quality in a cutting machine, go for the expensive ones. When it comes to these machines, what you pay for is what you get.

If you are aiming at those machines that can handle complex and intricate designs, be ready to add some extra dollars to your budget. They will give you a clean and precise cut on any material with their standard blades.

Hey! Don’t forget that small machines are for home use while larger ones are for commercial purposes. Those small and affordable machines may not handle “large,” but they can do “small” perfectly.

3. The software

As a hobbyist or a commercial vinyl expert, you need software to design easily right? Before you pick any machine, check the design software to see if it is something you can manipulate as you wish or if it will serve your design needs.

Most vinyl cutter comes with software that is not so useful, but many people go for Adobe Illustrator. Although there are others like VinylMaster Cut, Cricut Design Space, and Sure Cuts A Lot, Adobe is still a great one to use.

4. Wireless Capability

Do you know that some of the vinyl cutting machines can now work with Bluetooth? Imagine that you can relax in your bedroom and design with your iPad then send to your craft cutter in the sitting room. What an ideal situation. You can enjoy it if that’s what you want. Just check some of the machines that are Bluetooth enabled.

5. Automatic Settings.

Another feature that is present in the cutters of today is automatic settings that allow them to adjust their settings to fit any material you want to cut. Amazing right? Lookout for machines like that if you so wish. They are available too.

For running a vinyl cutting business, you will need some other crafting tools, heat press machines and craft papers. So when you are actually planning for a complete vinyl business plan, get all of them. Before buying and getting into the suitable heat press machine, go throught this article from Tshirt Professional Website.

Conclusion

I am sure that you can now go to your local store and pick a vinyl cutting machine with ease. Since you have known the types and can determine what you want the machine for, you can go and check out other features for a successful purchase.

Always bear in mind that the main thing that will influence your choice of the machine to use is your purpose. Being a commercial or personal use will determine other features you have to consider when you want to be sure on how to choose a vinyl cutter for crafting.

Author Bio:

Name: Alex John

Website: https://tshirtprofessional.com/

Bio: Alex John is a prominent blogger in crafting and DIY industries. He has built his personal blog https://tshirtprofessional.com/ where he shares tips, techniques and case studies of running successful home based small businesses.

Five Financial Moves to Make Dad Proud

June 5, 2018 by Momstart Leave a Comment

This is a sponsored guest post.

Whether teaching us how to change a tire or negotiate a raise at work, fathers impart a lot of wisdom to our lives. For many of us, that includes learning a thing or two about money. This Father’s Day is a great time to revisit those lessons — and maybe pick up some new ones along the way.

Here are five smart financial moves to make Dad proud:

1. Live within your means. Spending less money than you make is key to strengthening your finances. While you might need to sacrifice driving a newer car or eating out frequently, you’ll reap the reward of less stress and more breathing room. Mobile banking apps make it easy to set and monitor your spending limits. Axiom Bank’s new app, AxiomGO, features a built-in budgeting tool, My $ Manager, which does exactly that.

2. Master your credit score. Your score affects more areas of your financial life than you may realize – like your ability to buy a home or car, get a credit card, rent an apartment, or even get a job. A free service like Credit Sesame can come in handy for staying on top of your numbers. This tool shows your balance on any unpaid bills, credit cards or loans and offers personalized tips on raising your credit score.

3. Boost your financial literacy. When you understand how money works, you can build an effective budget, pay off debt, retire comfortably and afford (most of) the things you want. Even if the subject feels intimidating, just get started – you may find the basics are simpler than you think. Two free resources: Kiplinger’s Starting Out column and Basics collection.

4. Do your homework. Does carrying a balance on your credit card help your credit? Should you pay down your largest debts first? Do your research and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Just make sure to find a knowledgeable adviser who puts your interests first.

5. Take a long-term view. Amid the financial needs of the moment, retirement can seem far off. But compound interest is a powerful force that can multiply even a small amount of savings. Whether it’s taking advantage of a workplace 401(k) plan or starting a Roth IRA, take steps to secure your financial future. Explore Axiom Bank’s QuickLearn Library and Financial Calculators to learn more.

Axiom Bank, N.A., a nationally chartered community bank headquartered in Central Florida, provides retail banking services, including checking, savings, money market and CD accounts, as well as commercial banking, treasury management services and commercial loans for both real estate and business purposes.

5 Ways to Improve Your Sleep Quality With Your Smartphone

May 31, 2018 by Momstart Leave a Comment

Travel Advice: Top 8 Ideas on Low-Budget Travelling

January 23, 2018 by Momstart Leave a Comment

This is a partnered post.

Well, if you are a seasoned budget globetrotter then the word ‘cheap’ in the traditional sense doesn’t signify you. Rather, it can be said that you are great at stretching every precious dollar of yours. It makes quite a real sense that spending your bucks unnecessarily on food, hotel or whatever while you are traveling is absolutely absurd!

Instead, you ought to save those dollars and spend the same for doing some unique and fun activities or visiting the extraordinary places. So, here are 8 top secrets that every budget traveler should keep in mind while exploring the world!

1. Walk More

Don’t let yourself to remain limited to an idea of using public transport all the time. Instead, you can just pack a good pair of shoes which is comfortable enough for you and amble to cover the distance that is practically walkable.

It will certainly save a lot of your bucks and thus you would be able to carry on yourself in a much more economical way. One smart trick that you can follow to accomplish such an objective is that you can go for a central accommodation rather than the one in the outskirts.

Wondering about the high price tags of such dwelling facilities? Well, it will be definitely a lesser expensive option as the whole episode would not necessitate cab rides or train tickets always.

2. Don’t pack too heavy

If you can literally pack everything that you need for a trip in a mere carry-on bag, then just do it without any doubt! And, if you can’t then you must reevaluate that whether you really need all such things that you think are necessary.

It’s because expert travelers who love budget-caravans believe that one can save huge while skipping the checked-bag fees which usually adds up very quickly to even the basic itineraries. So, pack light and be frugal on your next vacation!

3. Rent a vacation home, Not a hotel

Some of the potential studies have indicated that you can save up to 30%-40% when booking a vacation apartment rather than a premium hotel. It’s because of doing so you can pay just the upfront price. Also, you can find the best hotel booking deals on Couponsmonk.com.

You can even save some extra while making your breakfasts and dinners by yourself, shopping at local grocery stores and so on. Just you have to bear one thing in mind and that is you need to negotiate smartly the price, length of stay, arrival and departure dates etc. with the owner of the house or villa.

4. Do your own research

When you are finally done with the process of finding the right place to visit then to do a thorough research on where to eat cheaply, where to shop, which days you can get discounted entry fees to museums or national parks is quite essential.

It might be somewhat a tedious work to do but thoroughly researching about your destination before paying a visit is one of ‘The Most Important Thing’ that you should remember as a budget travel.

5. Avoid flying on weekends

No doubt, everyone wants to travel during the weekends to relax after a long tiring week! But, do you know how cheap can it be to travel during the weekdays?

Especially, if it is a Tuesday or Wednesday then the rate seems to fall significantly. So, before booking your flight tickets just make sure that you are checking out the calendar beforehand. It would certainly let you save heftily!!

6. Plan your trip and stick to it

One fine day, don’t just start packing your bag for Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius or wherever you are interested in! Instead, you should plan before what you would do on each particular day, where you would visit and so on.

It’s because if you know all these very well and stick to your plan then there won’t be any chance for you to end up having any sudden unexpected huge expense.

7. Do some food savings!

When you are traveling then food costs can be one of the major facets that become quite hard to control. It’s because when you are on a trip then there is a greater chance that you would be eating out more. So, what’s the solution?

Well, nothing but just a bit of creativity! Just look for the cheap eateries and takeaways, track down the exciting coupons and brainstorm the frugal and simple meals. You can even pack some biscuits, nuts, and other packaged foods to avoid huge food-costs while traveling.

8. Opt for layaway programs

Well, K-Mart is not all about Layaway now! There’s much more places to look for the same. If you just browse through the website of Get Away Today then you can book your vacation while spending as little as just $ 125. You could even choose the frequency of payments as well as the number of payments while booking through such a website.

So, what are you waiting for? Just opt for these practical tips while you go for your next holiday and thus you would able to complete your trip without breaking your banks.

Author Bio:

Clara Decker is an expert small business consultant, free time writer and full-time internet surfer. She likes to work on making in-home life better in society. She lives like an entrepreneur to support her husband at the month ends.