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How to Avoid New Baby Budgeting Blues

July 22, 2019 by

Having a baby might be a wonderful experience, but it’s difficult to ignore the expense that comes hand-in-hand with the pitter patter of tiny feet. Babies need a lot of things that you wouldn’t generally account for in your budget, like formula, new clothes, nursery furniture, and countless diapers. If you’re not careful, you could end up spending thousands of pounds before you’ve even hit your second trimester. 

budget

It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you’re preparing for the arrival of a new baby. However, the critical thing to remember is that just like any other financial goal, making sure that you’re ready for a baby just requires a little bit of planning and the right budget. 

Here’s what you need to know if you want to avoid excessive new baby debt.

1. Decide if You’re Going to Need a Loan

When most people think about taking out a loan, they consider borrowing money for things like a new car, or even a new house. However, there’s also a chance that you might need to turn towards loan products for help with your baby costs too. Don’t wait until the baby arrives to start considering your loan options. Start by figuring out how much you need to borrow to pay for things like prams and car seats now, and head online to compare your options.

Remember, even if you don’t have the best credit, you can still reduce the amount you need to spend on your loan by comparing providers such as HappyPenguin Loans and looking for the one that can give you the lowest interest rate and the least fees. 

2. Get Ready to Adjust your Lifestyle

There’s a good chance that you’re going to need to do some compromising to make sure that you can afford your new baby. After all, with new expenses to think about, something in your budget is going to need to take a hit, and you can’t afford to ignore things like your rent payments or your emergency savings. With that in mind, look for thing you can cut down on.

Maybe you can afford to spend less on entertainment each weekend – as you’re likely to spend more time at home with the baby anyway. Additionally, there’s a good chance you’re not going to be interested in going to the gym for a little while after your bundle of joy arrives so that you can cut costs there too. 

3. Find Out What Financial Help is Available

Even single parents aren’t alone when it comes to raising a baby. Maternity leave is available to mothers around the UK, although the amount you get from your employer can vary. It’s a good idea to get in touch with a boss and learn as much as you can about what you can expect to receive while you’re away from work. 

While you’re at it, think about creating an appointment at your local citizen’s advice bureau, where you can find out about any child tax credits or government schemes you can get involved with. You’d be surprised how much help is out there if you’re willing to search for it.

4. Remember Other Kinds of Assistance

When it comes to getting help with the baby budgeting blues, don’t forget that it’s not just financial assistance that you may need to think about. Asking around among your friends and family members to find out what kind of support you can get with things like babysitting and childcare will save you a fortune on paying for babysitters. 

Additionally, don’t be afraid to ask about hand-me-downs from other people in your circle that have recently had children too. Most people won’t mind letting you borrow some essentials, so you don’t have to splash out extra cash yourself. 

5. Practice a Frugal Lifestyle

Finally, as soon as you learn that you’re pregnant, start working on becoming more frugal with your money. That means continually looking for ways to cut the costs of everything that you buy – whether it’s food or baby supplies. Go online to check whether you can get lower prices from another supplier or find out whether it’s cheaper to buy certain items in bulk.

Some companies like Boots and Amazon even allow you to sign up for free parenting communities where you can get access to vouchers and special deals on the must-have items you need. The quicker you get into the routine of using these tools, the better off you’ll be when your baby arrives. 




Win an Amazing Canvas Print from Canvas Factory

July 19, 2019 by

When talking about wall decor, I always mention adding some sort of art on the walls to liven up the space. A picture is a great way to showcase your personality and also cherish your memories. Pictures can tell whatever story you want them too. If you have always thought of getting a great canvas for your walls but for some reason haven’t gotten to it, this is a great chance for you.

canvas print

We have partnered with Canvas Factory to giveaway a gorgeous canvas so that you can have a wonderful art piece of your own. If you live in the USA or Canada then you should definitely take advantage of the opportunity.

Let me first tell you how the Canvas Factory works. The idea behind the business is that every home should have access to high-quality printed images but that is only possible if the high-quality images are affordable. So, the Canvas Factory provides affordable printed images that are of superior quality.

If you want to go through their gallery, you will find tons of amazing pictures from nature to lanspace to urban to architecture. Take your pick. You are sure to find something that suits your taste and the general aesthetic of the decor you are going for. If you would like to have a picture that you captured or a picture of your family or something that means a lot to you, that can be done too.

All you have to do is send in your picture and choose the material you want it to be printed on. You can also choose from effects to suit your style like acrylic look, HD metal prints, split canvases, collages, and more. The company will then print your image on the material of your choice with the effect you desire and the image will be delivered to your doorstep.

Anniversary gift

My favorite is the Canvas split images where one image is split into multiple canvases. I think it is very modern chic. This giveaway is definitely one that adds value to your home so do not forget to enter it as soon as possible. You get a chance to win a 50x40cm (20×16 inch) worth $45.15 / 45x30cm (18×12 inch) worth $34.30 of a great quality canvas print to own one of the best decor pieces that you will truly adore in your home.

Go ahead and enter the giveaway and have a great piece of art delivered to your doorstep!

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How to Pick The Perfect Bedside Table

July 18, 2019 by

Bedroom furniture is an essential aspect of all bedrooms. The bed itself is the centerpiece, so everything that surrounds it is also vital. The bedside table stands right next to the bed, which means that it adds to the impression of the room’s centerpiece.

side table

There are many types of bedside tables, and they come in different styles and designs. If you purchase a bedroom set, your bedside table will probably match the bed, dressing table, closet and everything else that comes with it. If you are looking for something different that will suit your needs, then you may have to consider the available options more carefully. Here are a few factors to consider before making a purchase decision:

STORAGE

If you don’t have a lot of space in your bedroom, but you need some more to store little personal effects, a bedside table can come in handy. Those with many shelves are ideal as you can use them to store personal items such as jewelry and underwear. They will be more expensive, but in the long run, they should save you a good amount of money on storage. These can also double up as small dressing tables if they come with mirrors and you can organize your room much better.

SPACE

Bedrooms are not always spacious. If you have a lot of things in the bedroom, it may be hard to create more space for any more furniture. In such a situation, a small but tall bedside table with few or no shelves will be ideal. It can ideally just be used as a nightstand. You can even get one with a mirror to double up as a smaller dressing table.

On the other hand, a shorter table will be a good idea. You can get two, one for each side of the bed. In general, however, bedside tables with drawers and kids chairs and recliners with storage are cost and space savers. This is especially the case for new mothers who need to reach out for things in a short notice or place a nappy backpack or a diaper somewhere within reach.

BEDROOM DECOR

While you are at it, you can also get a bedside table that matches the rest of the bedroom furniture. This will help create harmony with the rest of the bedroom decor and reflect your taste without looking out of place or clashing with everything else.

For instance, if you are a metal fan, and everything in your bedroom is designed in that fashion, then a wooden stand would definitely look out of place.

EASE OF ACCESSORIZING

Do you want to customize your bedside table or accessorize it to suit a style that you can’t find online? Then choose one that is easy to change. You can get a plain white table and stick gems in a lovely pattern to match the one you made on your bed’s headboard. 

Don’t, however, strain the table. It’s only meant for small items such as a lamp, alarm clock, or storage of small items such as jewelry that you will need in bed or you’ll need to put away in a hurry.

In conclusion, a bedside table should be chosen to suit your space, storage, and style needs. Remember it reflects on the bed and generally gives the first impression of the entire bedroom.




Best Travel Skin Care Routine

July 15, 2019 by

Taking care of your skin is very important and it becomes difficult when you are traveling but also becomes more essential. Consistency is the most important thing when you are moving around. With misumiskincare.com this becomes easier. You will have products that will motivate you to apply them every day With a busy travel schedule and not enough time or resources our skin care routine gets limited. You might only want to relax on your vacations but having at least a simple skin care routine can do wonders for your skin and keep you glowing throughout your holidays.

On travels our skin gets exposed to dirt and pollution. Harsh weather conditions or constantly changing environment can damage our skin. I agree it is very tempting to just go to bed at the end of a busy and tiring day of exploring, but you need to take a little time out to take care of yourself and your skin on the go.

skincare

I know to get into an elaborate routine is difficult and also impractical. So, do these basic things if you are not ready to apply anything on your skin yet. These won’t even take half an hour to get done. And these use next to no products, these are really basic things. When I travel I want to carry as few items as I can so I have always made sure to have a routine that works with just one or two products.

1. Remove your makeup

It doesn’t matter if you wear a lot of makeup or just go with lipstick, we all tend to use at least something to look god in our vacation pictures, It is important to get it all off before you go to sleep just like you do at home.

During the day our makeup usually wears off but when we are on vacation we keep reapplying to look our best throughout the day, the bits and pieces still clinging or the layers piled up can be harmful to your skin if you let them sit all through the night. Removing your makeup also makes you feel fresh and lets your skin breathe freely and also prevents you from ruining someone else’s linen.

2. Cleanse

By removing your making, you have already started this process. Take it a step further and clean your face properly. Use a good cleanser to clean your face that suits your skin type. You can wash your fash with a combination of warm water and a cleanser to get all the effects of a good cleansing.

toner

Most hotels give you kettles in the room so you can get warm water or the faucets in the bathroom will have hot water settings so that is not an issue. You can exfoliate and use a toner too but exfoliating can be done once you come back from vacation. Toner on the other hand can be good for replenishing the oils and moisture that your skin loses in cleansing.

3. Moisturise

When you clean your face, you are not only washing away the dirt, you are also washing away the oils that the skin produces to keep our skin healthy and safe.Is goat milk soap antibacterial? it has been shown to effectively keep away harmful bacteria from the skin’s surface, and protect you against disease-causing pathogens. It is important to choose cleansing product which contain ingredients that clean your skin gently without causing any skin rashes.  You can start using organic soaps that contain natural ingredients which are hypoallergenic and do not harm your skin’s surface. Natural soaps will gently remove dirt from skin pores without causing rashes. Depending on the main ingredients soaps not only clean skin but also may hydrate, nourish, and moisture it. Aloe Vera oil, honey extracts as well as goat milk soaps are nourishing sources that can fight against dryness. To help your skin retain that luster and moisture, moisturizing is essential. If nothing else then using moisturizer to stop your skin from getting dry is a good idea. Washing the face with chemicals can make them dry which is why you need to use products that suit your skin type.

Conclusion:

Once you get the hang of this basic routine in your daily life, it is easy to carry on even when traveling. Using eye creams, face masks, lip care, etc. can be added to your routine as an extra step and honestly using face packs on holiday makes me feel more relaxed. I always carry sheet masks with me. A proper skincare routine, no matter how simple, is important because it gives your skin time to actually soak in the products you use. 

You not being out means you are protected from the harsh sun, dirt, pollution, and weather changes but when you embark on a travel journey or a vacation, it all changes. At night our body heals itself while we rest, giving it something to work with is always a good thing. So, doing all these things at night makes more sense. In the morning you can just apply moisturizer or sunscreen before heading out.




Insect Repellent: Effective Advice for Travelers

July 15, 2019 by

When you travel frequently staying at expensive places is not something everyone can afford. And if you are planning a road trip or into adventure sports that include camping and trekking then this is one problem that you will have most likely faced and that is insects. No matter if you are outdoors or indoors, insects seem to be everywhere. When you are familiar with an area you know what to look out for or how to protect yourself but when you are out and about, it can prove to be difficult.

hotel room

Most of the times affordable places are great to camp out, so we chose that but sometimes and in some places many times the beds can have bed bugs or the room can have mosquitoes and ants or houseflies. Who would want to sleep in a bed bug infested bed and honestly who wants mosquitoes sucking on them everyday. These blood-sucking parasites can make your stay a nightmare through and through which is why insect bite protection techniques becomes important knowledge.

If you stay at an insect infested place, the chances are that some insects are not going to keep to themselves and try to be all over you. We once stayed at a hostel that had cockroaches, it wasn’t a pretty stay obviously. The insects can infest your luggage and clothes and then their next destination will be your home if they are trapped in your bag.

Other than their bites giving you rashes and itching bad and also hurting, you can get in danger personally if the insect is poisonous or it’s bite gets infected or if it is a carrier of germs and diseases. Years of traveling and enough encounters with insects has taught me to always consider the cleanliness and customer service of any place I am living at and if it is nature then I make sure to carry insect repellents and ointments with me.

insect

My brother once caught malaria when he was out for a holiday. He and his friends were staying at a hostel that was on the cheaper side because it was closer to the venues they wanted to visit. It had a park nearby and it was during rains so they decided to play football in the rain one night. When the rain stopped a lot of mosquitoes had started gathering and they got a lot of bites. Two of them, my brother included, ended up getting malaria.

So, from that moment on I tell everyone how and why it is important to not ignore these pesky little insects. They are just not annoying, they can cause health hazards. Carry sanitizers and wet wipes with you to places. Always use sanitizer to clean your hands before eating and wipe down the cutlery if you are in a not so place. You can always wipe down the park benches before camping out there too.

What to do if your hotel has insects?

Change the room as soon as possible. Most hotels will comply and some will even refund you. If it is not much and some insects, then too make sure to let the hotel know. Sometimes even the hotel isn’t aware of the problem they have. Let them know so that they can get rid of the problem or let the people know through your reviews if your hotel doesn’t care.

What to do if you are staying in nature for a long period?

I carry bug spray everywhere I can. I mean it might not be the ideal solution, but it works, so why not. Spray a little on your bag, on your clothes, even the surface you will sleeping in or camping out at. While going out on treks at night, be sure to lather yourself with ointments meant to protect against mosquitoes. Clean out the camping area as best as you can. Spray bug spray around your luggage and sleeping area.

Conclusion:

Being prepared with ointments and insect repellents is the best way to deal with insects honestly. No matter how clean the place is, insects will find their way there. Always inspect your living situation and take precautionary steps already. There are always travel friendly sprays and ointments available that you can pack with you. If you are sensitive to insect bites then you should definitely carry medicines prescribed from your doctor too to be on the safer side.




7 Indoor Activities to Do With Your Kids in the Rain

July 15, 2019 by

Rain can make kids squirmy because they want to go out and play and if you don’t want to risk them getting sick because they already have been playing too much in the rain then it can prove to be difficult on the next level. What I do is plan a day of indoor activities to keep them occupied and for us to spend some quality family time and have fun. It’s like killing many birds with one stone. I love rainy days because of this reason, it gives me a lot of time to get my kids interested in new things. Here are some of my favorite activities to do with your children.

1. Making a blanket fort

No matter what age you are, everyone loves blanket forts. They are so fun and cosy and with rain in the background it is just perfect. Help your kids make a fort with blankets in your living room. Put some pillows and stuffed toys inside and you can play all day in it or even watch a movie bundled up in the fort.

2. Watch a movie

Either in the blanket or your regular movie day – movies keep kids occupied and they have fun. Make some snacks and bundle up your kids and yourself with a blanket. What better use of time than being cuddled up and watching your favorite movies while eating your favorite snacks.

3. Play board games

Board games are way more fun because they need active involvement of everyone. It is a great family bonding activity. Any kind of board game works, but the ones like monopoly can bring out the competitive sides of all the members and it gets really exciting.

4. Cook together

Cooking together is one of my favorite activities. While being stuck indoors, your kids might as well learn to something. When the kids are young they are eager to impress and love getting little tasks so that they feel important and like adults. You can give them tasks like washing the vegetables or mixing the dry ingredients and have fun cooking as a family.

5. Play hide and seek

rain

Playing hide and seek is one of the simple tasks and nothing revolutionary but if you know kids then you know that kids love simple activities. Use the whole house as fair game to hide and watch your kids get creative and giggle throughout the game.

6. Read a book together

It’s never too early for you to introduce your kids to reading. Rain gives you the perfect excuse to whip out your favorite books and get your kids interested in reading. Cuddle up together and read a favorite together or start a book series so that you will have something to read for a long while and also help your kids develop a good habit.

7. Paint

Nothing keeps kids occupied like arts and crafts. Let them let their creative side loose and have fun creating some masterpieces together. Put on some Bob Ross and try following his tutorials together.




Ideas for Decorating a Small Study Room

July 11, 2019 by

A study room should be a pleasant space where the focus on the job at hand is simple. You can readily decorate a study space to represent your private style, whether you have a big budget and a devoted space, or a small corner and only the materials you have on hand. If you have won custody of your children, you must provide them with everything. Here are some tips for decorating a study room for your child:

Basic Setting:

Room color

Make the most of a wall by decorating it with a lengthy, fence-mounted set of drawers or lots of book storage bookcases, desk apparel and a few ornaments. There can be a modernist wall-mounted desk below this unit and a few wooden chairs that fit beautifully below. Use open racks and wall-mounted desks to make the most of a tiny and narrow study space. For everything, including a comfortable window seat, there is plenty of room here.

Lightening:

In order to achieve the correct outcomes, lighting is essential a darkened room can make you sleepy as well as aggravate an eye strain that can destroy the entire environment. But there is no need to go in the opposite direction – serious light like bright yellow can harm the eyes as well. Select Some Best Dressing Table Mirror with Lights to make sure that you’re always looking your best. It can also be a great way to help you get ready for the day ahead. A further thing about lighting is that you should concentrate on it; with a desk lamp you can concentrate the light on your desk or use overhead light to illuminate the entire region.

Gather the mandatory accessories:

In a study room, you must have an organized shelf. You should keep your entire stuff close so that when you need them you can probably find them. Organizing is all about. School stationary (such as pencils, paper, erasers, and so on) should all have their own place in the cabinet or on the desk. You can also make DIY pencil/pen jar. Place a small plant on the table to purify the air. This site will help you to pick up the necessary plant or flowers.

Space for studying:

If you study in your bedroom, make a corner as your study area where you put your bag and all school stuff. Also, you will be more tempted to think about (or simply) sleep if your study room is your bed. It’s where you’re playing computer games, playing games, dining table, eating, etc. You will have a greater chance of creating distracting associations. If you can squeeze out a space even a corner, a niche, a big cupboard, etc. exclusively devoted to study, do it. Just associate your existence with learning there.

Color Scheme:

You must choose a valid color scheme for your study room. Colors assist boost imagination, which is why they are frequently used and conducted experiments with when furnishing study rooms for children. It can apply to all, not just kids. Use all sorts of colors in your research – you can attempt to brightly color your desk and chair, combining them with sight-catching wall art. What keeps the brain going is a mixture of vibrant colors. Try to motivate yourself with inspired artwork.

Also, do not waste your time studying creating a room where there are no distractions because that space may end up being the ultimate distraction.




5 Fun Art Activities to Involve Your Kids In

July 8, 2019 by

1. Rock Painting

Rock painting is one of the most fun and inexpensive art projects you can get your kids involved in. The canvas for the painting – rocks – are totally free and you will have a gala of a time hunting for the perfect rocks with your kids. After you have selected the rocks that you would like to paint – mostly the ones with a smooth surface works the best.

Craft

Set up a painting station – outdoors if you want. Rock painting is great for working outdoors because no paper is going to be flying around. So, it will not be a mess. You and your kids can paint the rocks and make characters out of them which can then be used for stories or playtime or just decorating your garden.

2. Crumpled paper art

Crumpled paper art is a simple technique and is not much different from your regular painting. I would say it works best with watercolor than acrylic, poster, or oil paint because watercolor is easier to move around and simple for kids to play with.

Crumpled paper makes even just running brush strokes on the paper turn it into a different design every time. Other than you deciding what colors to use and what to paint, the end result will always be a surprise to you.

3. Leaf wreath

Making a leaf wreath isn’t only an activity that you will enjoy while in process, you will also get to have fun preparing for it. Just like rock painting, you can spend time with your kids walking and talking and collecting leaves.

Then comes the process of making the wreaths and that is fun trying to decide what leaves to use, which color combo to go for. Do you want it close nit or spaced out? Let your kids decide how the wreath is going to look.

4. Paper mache

Paper mache is a great way to teach kids about recycling and also getting them into the habit of making best from waste. Teach them how to get the paper ready to be sculpted into whatever they want. You can teach them to make paper mache statues, utensils, dishes, and even jewelry. Once you have spent a messy afternoon making them.

You can have another play date painting the dried results. This is a great activity to spread out during the week. The kids also learn how to consistently work on one project over the course of time.

5. Shaving cream marbling painting

This is a fun activity preferably done outside. What we do is get a tub and put in some shaving cream, you then have to put in some paint and swirl it around with a toothpick making a marbling effect. You can use any color combination and swirl it to your heart’s content just let the paints remain streaky.

Place the paper on top and let it stay for a few seconds and then pick it out of the tub. When it dries the paper has a cool marbling effect. You can scrap off the access shaving foam from the paper to have a smooth marbled paper.

This paper can again be used for crafting so the kids are making their own decorative paper. The paper can be used as gift wrapping or can also be used to make greeting cards.




How to Improve Your Cyber Security

July 5, 2019 by

Cybersecurity is concerned with protecting information and users against the criminals who seek to steal and abuse confidential information. In this wide use of internet era and electronic devices, cybersecurity has been a great challenge over the years. In order to protect valuable data, it is very much necessary to maintain effective cybersecurity.

Information Technology consulting involves providing expert advice, guidance, and solutions to businesses and organizations seeking to optimize their technology infrastructure, processes, and operations. IT consultants assess the client’s needs, identify areas for improvement, and propose tailored strategies to enhance efficiency, productivity, and overall performance in the digital landscape. Their services may include system integration, software development, cybersecurity, project management, and training, ultimately helping organizations stay competitive and adapt to the rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Below are some of the easy ways to improve your Cyber Security:

1. Enforce a strong password

strong password

Strong passwords are one of the first lines of defense against breaches, and changing them occasionally might be helpful from the hackers. Including special symbols and numbers, along with various characters, will be very effective.

2. Turn on the two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication (2FA) applies a second layer of security to your online accounts. It usually involves having to enter something you know (such as your password) along with something you have, such as a code which is sent to you by a text message or generated by a token.

Using 2FA means that the hacker will not be able to access your account, even if they steal your password.

3. Restrict apps’ permissions

Nearly everyone has a smartphone now, and on most people’s smartphone, there are apps allowing people to share their day-to-day lifestyle with the world. However, when downloading and installing such apps on your phone, you should always check what permissions these apps are looking for, and should only give the app permissions that allow it to run properly, and no more.

There are apps which can have access to the user’s contact lists, SMS messages, access to camera and microphone, ability to track locations, and many more. Ensure you know the permissions of all your apps, and ensure they are as restricted as possible.

4. Implement VPNs for all connections

Those networks are more vulnerable to an attack which are protected by generic security measures. One should learn to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to protect their privacy.

For instance, implement VPN connections between office locations and make their use easy and mandatory for mobile employees who may connect through public Wi-Fi services.

5. Check your social media settings

Social media setting

Social engineering scams are seen more often nowadays. Social media has made it easier for the cybercriminals to carry out such scams by knowing the information people put out there about themselves online.

To make life a bit harder for the scammers, keep your social media account set to private, and don’t give out too much of personal information (like your phone number, how many family members you have, etc.) to strangers on the internet. The less cyber scammers know about you, the harder it will be for them to know about you.

6. Protect your devices

All your electronic devices (including your smartphone, tablet, computer, etc.) should be protected with good security to detect malware and other cyber threats and keep your data safe. Keep all your devices, software, operating system, and applications up to date.

While downloading any application, make a note that you are downloading it from a secure source. This is where hiring IT consulting services can be especially useful, as they’ll know the best software for each situation and will know how to correctly implement them to keep things secure. Ultimately, keeping software and systems updated with the latest patches will protect you from vulnerable cyber attacks.

In conclusion:

Being aware of the devices and apps you use and being cautious of the networks you connect with is important along with knowing what to share with the world and what not to.




5 Steps For Grocery Shopping on a Budget

July 1, 2019 by

Grocery budget can vary from month to month and having a hold on it from the get-go is important especially if you have kids. If you take your kids to the supermarket then you know how easily they can be distracted by all the snacks. You don’t always say no to those cute faces and if you have a problem giving in to their snack demands every time you go shopping then you will know how easily the budget can get out of hands.

supermarket

Here are the steps to follow if you are intent on staying on budget.

1. Plan

This not only helps with a substantial grocery shopping trip, but it also helps you to not worry about what you are going to cook each day. So, making a weekly meal plan and writing down what ingredients are needed – for all the breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and dinners – is a good way to keep track.

You can then check the ingredients that you already have in your kitchen and make a list of the things you don’t. This way you only buy exactly what is needed for the week.

2. Follow the list

Once you have a list of items you need to buy, you can use that list as a map in the store. Follow the list and only head for aisles you know have them. If you are a regular to one store then you most probably are familiar with the layout of the products. What this does is that it saves you time from going back and forth in the aisles and also stops you from passing the same offer more than once that can tempt you to spend extra money on something you do not need.

3. Distribute

If you have been a reader long then you know how much I love kids accompanying on tasks, it gives you extra bonding time with them plus they learn various skills. Grocery shopping is one such skill that will only help them. Knowing what to buy and from where is very important to run a tight ship in the kitchen.

If your children are young, it can sometimes be more of a problem than fun. You can give them tasks to do like holding the list and pointing you to the next item and ticking off the items you have already picked up. If they are older, you can send them off to grab an item or two from other aisles.

4. Follow the plan

What good is the plan if you don’t follow it. Following the weekly meal is essential for this type of coordination to work. Yes, you can make swap Monday and Thursday’s dish, and yes you can make changes when something comes up. Even when shopping, just because something is on sale, do not grab it if it isn’t in your plan. But, if it makes more sense than what you originally planned then instead of grabbing both, buy the new item and omit the old one.

5. Get the family involved

When you plan for the week, it becomes easier to incorporate your family’s demands in the meal plan. You can get them to choose a day or a meal that they would like to plan. This gives them a sense of involvement. If you can get them to shop with you or even cook with you the dish that they are planning, it becomes more fun than it originally was.




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