Hi There
Enjoy the articles, I put my heart and soul into them and I hope it shows!Categories
Tags
Blogroll
Tag Archives: tips
Tips for Finishing Your Work at Home Every Day
If you work at home, you know that it is often difficult to get all of your work done. If you have a lot of distractions or are easily distracted, you may need to use these five tips to help you as well. I have been a work at home mom since 2005 with many articles, tutorials, guides, reviews, websites, and blogs under my belt. I usually write 20 – 25 articles, guides, reviews, tutorials, and blog posts in one day. The thing is, you have to stick to it, cut out those distractions and get your work done. It use to take me all day to get 5 articles wrote until I learned how to do certain things differently. That’s why I want to share these tips with you to help you get your work done at home and not take all day.
Tip 1 – Cut the TV Off
If you have the TV on, chances are, you are not getting your work done. You can’t watch TV and do your work like you should. Say you are writing an article and it takes you 30 minutes if you have no distractions. Well, watching TV will turn that 30 minutes into an hour or more. But my favorite show is on.. I know, I have that problem too. That’s why you get Tivo or some kind of recording device on your TV to record your favorite shows. You can then watch your shows at night or on the weekend you can catch up with everything. It is also a great way to reward yourself. Tell yourself, if I get all my work done today by so and so time, I can watch one of my recorded shows tonight. That will give you that drive you need.
Tip 2 – Go in a Quiet Room
If you live in a house full of kids and they aren’t being quiet, go to your bedroom or a room that is quiet. Being in a quiet room with no distractions will help you get that work done quicker.
Tip 3 – Close Facebook and Twitter
Tip 3 may offend some people, but if you are addicted to Facebook and Twitter, close them while you are working. You would be surprised at just how much time you actually check them while you are working. Close them and you will see that your progress will speed up a lot!
Tip 4 – Turn That Instant Messenger Off
If you have an instant messenger, and don’t need it for work, turn it off. It will only be a distraction and keep you from doing your work. Your friends can talk to you later. You must get your work done or else you will be up all night doing it. That is also a great incentive, once you get all of your work done, then you can chat with people.
Tip 5 – Turn That Cell Phone Off
We all know that a cell phone can be very distracting. We use it to constantly text and call people. Turn it off until your work is finished and you won’t have to be tempted to text John back, or give Shelley a call. Let your friends and family know that you have to work and you will be cutting your phone off during work. If you don’t have a home phone, leave your phone on, but tell friends and family to call your cell only if it is an emergency between certain hours.
Keep these tips in mind and you should be able to get your work done more quickly and not work into the wee hours of the night.
10 Tips to Help Your Blended Family Get Along
New parents often dream of the perfect family. The children all get along well and everyone is happy. Maybe if you’re watching a television show. Even then, there are many disagreements that take place. Siblings often have disagreements. Add in a blended family and chances are, you’re facing a real challenge.
Don’t despair, this too will work itself out given time and a few easy tips that will encourage camaraderie among the troops.
Don’t leave the children out of all of the discussions. Make sure they are aware of the impending marriage and allow them the opportunity to meet one another as well as the spouse to be prior to the marriage taking place.
Getting along won’t be instant, often it takes hard work by all parties to have the harmony that one dreams of.
Sit down with the children and let them know that you know it will not always be easy but in households where there aren’t remarriages, the children don’t always get along either. Reassure them that it is normal to not always like their sibling but that you do have specific expectations.
Explain to the children what your expectations are. This may take some prior thought on your part so take some time and think about how you want to approach this conversation. You may even want to write it out so you don’t forget anything. In addition to the basics of not hitting, punching, kicking or swearing at each other you may have other thoughts and ideas you wish to implement.
20 money saving travel tips and secrets
Monday 12 September 2011
Save on flights
1. Travel at the cheapest times
The price of flights varies considerably depending on the month, day and even time of travel. Skyscanner lets you compare flight prices across a whole month or year meaning you’ll be able to see the cheapest days to fly, saving you a potential packet.
Avoiding the weekends can make a huge impact on the price of flights. Why not compare travel from a Wednesday to Wednesday rather than a Friday to Friday. Using Skyscanner’s handy search tool, you’ll be able to see a graph view of the cheapest days of the week to fly.
2. Find the cheapest flight from any airport
Don’t mind where you go as long as you can get there cheaply? Then use Skyscanner’s ‘search everywhere’ option which lists the cheapest flights from your local airport in price order. Watch our video below to see how:
3. Travel in low season
If you can avoid it, don’t head to Australia for Christmas or to Spain just as school summer holidays begin. Travel off-season and you’re sure to find better bargains. Much of Europe still has beautiful weather come September, but with kids back at school, flights will be cheaper and your destination a lot less crowded.
4. Fly indirect
If money is more important than time, then consider a flight with a stop-over. Skyscanner allows you to search for indirect routes (as well as direct) which are often a far cheaper option.
5. Mix and match your flights
Using Skyscanner’s ‘flexible’ search tool allows you to mix and match your airlines to find the cheapest price, and the times that suit you best. You can save money by flying out and back with different airlines or from different airports. Take a look at our article on saving money with split fare flights for more information.
6. Pre-book airport parking
If you need to leave your car at the airport for the duration of your trip, be sure to book your parking well in advance. Booking on the day is normally much more expensive, so read our useful article: how to save money on airport parking to get a better deal.
7. Fly from an alternative airport
Even though there may be an airport on your doorstep, don’t rule out the possibility that it may be cheaper to fly from one slightly further away. It may work out cheaper, even with the cost of a train or bus ticket to reach the alternative airport. Use Skyscanner’s cheap flights map to see how much it costs to fly to various airports. More: Fly cheaper from another airport
8. BYO food on board
Nowadays many airlines charge for food on board. So save yourself a small fortune by taking along your own snacks instead of buying them on the plane or in the airport. More: BYO flight food.
9. Beat the baggage fees
If you’re worried about excess baggage charges, why not wear your extra items instead of cramming them into your case? There are some fantastic products on the market that let you take additional belongings on your person ensuring they won’t count as excess baggage. A luggage jacket combined with a Cabin Max bag will get you the absolute maximum amount of luggage on a plane, without having to pay any check-in costs. Check out our article on Beating the baggage charge.
10. Weigh your luggage before you leave home
Some of us get to the airport to find we’re over our baggage limit and end up paying puffed up charges. Avoid this by weighing your bag before you leave home and take out any unnecessary items if you find you’re over the limit. Read our handy article on Weighing your Luggage.
Save on accommodation
11. Home swaps
If you want to go on holiday but are sick of the usual hotel chains and expensive, soulless rooms then why not consider a home swap? It will cost you virtually nothing, as the name ‘swap’ suggests, and you get to visit a new country whilst enjoying all the comforts of home. For more information check out our article: Tips on home swaps.
12. Ditch the hotel and rent a private room instead
Over the last few years there’s been an explosion in websites that allow locals to rent out their sofas, spare rooms, whole apartments and even gardens! For travellers, the experience can be far more rewarding than a stay in a chain hotel, as well as being cheaper. Where else could you stay in central London for £10 a night? Read our article: 6 hotel-killing websites for more.
13. Do ‘chic on the cheap’
Notoriously expensive destinations like Paris or New York needn’t be out of reach for those on a budget. There are plenty of ways to rub shoulders with the glitterati without spending like them; cheap hotels, hostels, and value eateries all allow those on modest budgets to enjoy a visit to these destinations too. Check out our article on budget boutique hotels and see for yourself: New York and Paris on the cheap
Save when you’re there
14. Eat like a local
Not only is tasting new cuisines part of the joy of travelling but you’re likely to eat far better as well as saving money, when you eat like a local. From $ 1 bowls of noodles in Vietnam to backstreet French bistros, produce is usually locally sourced and tastier, rather than imported. If they’ve had to ship a tin of baked beans 4000 miles, it’s not going to come cheap! Another top tip is stocking up from the hotel buffet breakfast and shopping in local supermarkets for lunch
15. Don’t worry – be ‘appy’
In the era of technology and gadgets, your smart phone can be a handy money-saving travel buddy. There are apps on the market for everything including: travel guides, maps, phrasebooks, and even torches!
Download these and you’ll save not only a wad of cash on paper travel guides, maps and phrasebooks but also a lot of space in your case meaning less chance of excess baggage charges. Remember to download the free Skyscanner app and also check out our favourite travel apps.
16. Save on foreign currency exchange
Withdrawing money abroad can cost a lot in charges. Although using a debit card can be cheaper than a credit card, be aware that most banks will charge for each cash withdrawal on top of a commission fee. So it’s best to take out larger sums so you’re charged less frequently, only take care and don’t keep all your money in the same place.
Getting your currency before you arrive at the airport is also a way of securing the best rate you can and works out a lot cheaper. Check out our article on the Best debit cards to use abroad.
17. Go Abroad. Get paid
If you’re off on extended travels it’s possible to entirely fund your trip or even come home with some extra cash in your pocket if you’re able to work as you travel. From grape picking, to English teaching, there’s a whole host of options available; read our article: Top 10 Paycations: working holidays abroad.
18. Volunteer to travel
In an era where more of us feel a sense of social responsibility than ever before, helping the world’s most in-need is both an inspiration and a chance to see the world, often by paying with your time rather than your money.
With so many opportunities out there from trips that last a few weeks, to two years or more, everyone can discover new places and do their bit for building a better future. For more advice on where to begin, read our article: Tips on volunteer holidays.
More Saving Tips
19. Cheap ski holidays
Love skiing but get nervous about the mounting costs? Fear not, there are many ways to cut the costs of a snow trip. Choosing a cheaper resort, a cheaper time to ski and cheaper accommodation will allow you to enjoy the mountains for less. For more tips read our article: Cheap ski holidays: how to save money on ski trips
20. Get cheaper travel insurance
Taking out an annual multi-trip travel insurance policy is cheaper than buying on the spot insurance for a single trip. Read more: travel insurance tips.