Kerrie's Favorite Affordable Beauty Products

These are products I swear by, and I hope you give some of them a try and fall in love with them too! 

Also, I'd love it if you'd follow me on my Facebook fan page for more updates! I'm also on Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Instagram! And if you're a writer, blogger, proofreader, or just love words, follow me over at The Published Parent! Here we go with 13 of my most favorite beauty products:

Garnier SkinActive Moisture Rescue Face Moisturizer, Normal/Combo, 1.7 oz. was only $6.43 at WalMart (doing the grocery pickup*, of course). It's lightweight and perfect for summer or when you just want something NOT thick. My 15-year-old daughter loves it too and kept using mine so much I got her one for herself. We've probably bought this about 5 times so far. It's great for a quick moisture touch-up when your skin feels dry, during travel, first thing in the morning, last thing at night, etc.

Update as of 12/13/24, my youngest child, my son, just stole this from me! Teens love it because it isn't too thick and definitely isn't greasy. It doesn't contribute to the pimple problem, is what I'm saying! The price has gone up quite a bit from when we were first buying it but it's still worth it.

Tick Tock Escape Games in Overland Park, KS

I can't say enough good things about our experience at Tick Tock Escape Games in Overland Park, KS. When they contacted me to see I'd like to come try it out for free in exchange for a review blog post back in the summer of 2017, I was intrigued. My son Michael had been to an escape room once and loved it and he was excited to try another one. He loved Tick Tock so much that his 15th birthday is coming up and he specifically asked to go back to Tick Tock and take 4 friends and his dad!

I really didn't know what to expect, and of course I can't share much because you have to figure out each room on your own! We took our three oldest kids and left the two youngest with our friend and her kids. The kids we took were then 16, 14 and 12.

When we got there, we were given instructions about how to get through the escape room situation. 
We were in a room with cool music and retro clues, so I was in trivia heaven. My husband didn't grow up watching a lot of TV, so I was super helpful in that area. However, that's about where it ended. Everybody worked together and we did so well we only missed the one-hour time limit by a couple of minutes. It was so great as a mom to watch my kids work as a team and come up with some smart ideas of things to try and they figured out so many of the clues! I went into the experience thinking my husband and I would have to carry the whole deal, but the kids were amazing!

They had a blast and wanted to do it again immediately. I texted my dad right away and told him he needed to do the same room I had just done, and he needed to do it with his brothers sometime soon. Fantastic workplace team-building opportunity. Great for birthdays, a double date, family or friend fun.

(I had written this post but not published it. In creating a list of enrichment activities for homeschoolers on my homeschooling blog, I remembered this escape room and added it to the list!)

The Impact of Concealed Carry Apparel on Personal Safety and Public Perception

 

Key Takeaways:

• Concealed carry apparel offers a way to navigate personal safety concerns with discretion and preparedness.
• Understanding the balance between the practicality and regulations surrounding these garments is crucial for lawful usage.
• Technology advancements greatly enhance the functionality and variety available in concealed-carry clothing.
• Education on properly using concealed gear is encouraged and essential for public safety.
• The public has diverse views on concealed carry apparel, necessitating a conversation on social responsibility.

Table of Contents:

• Introduction
• Benefits of Concealed Carry Apparel
• Concealed Carry Clothing and Legal Considerations
• Design and Functionality
• Impact on Law Enforcement and Security
• Choosing the Right Apparel
• Conclusion

Introduction

As society grapples with safety challenges, an innovative apparel category has emerged: clothing designed for concealed carry. These garments aim to seamlessly integrate personal defense tools into daily life, ensuring safety without sacrificing aesthetics or personal comfort. Not only do these innovations afford wearers heightened peace of mind, but they also engender an essential dialogue regarding personal preparedness and public perception. Amidst all these considerations, clothing solutions like those provided by concealment gear manufacturers have become a cornerstone for countless individuals aiming to merge their right to personal safety with day-to-day discretion.

Podcast-Inspired Rant: Hard Questions for Myself

Here's my problem with this podcast...

It takes too much time to listen to it.

And that's partially my fault because I have to pause to cry, reflect, transcribe some of the words and concepts, share with friends. 

And I'm only on episode #6 of We Can Do Hard Things, about overwhelm.

Here's what made me cry today because I felt seen:

Amanda, who is sister to Glennon Doyle and incredibly insightful and careful with her words, shared: 

... the people that I want to love don't feel my love because my effort is in the carrying and not in loving them the way that they need to be loved themselves. And then they look at me and say, not with their words, but with the, "Why aren't you investing in us? Why aren't you giving me what I need?" 

In my heart and in my mind, I'm like, "I am giving more than I have. I'm giving every ounce of myself, every moment, I have no mental space, no physical space, no hours that are not carrying for all of you and loving you. 

And so I feel like I'm pouring it out and then sometimes I feel like I'm getting back, "Well, put it down." 

"...Put down my way of loving?"

YES. THIS. And there are so many more words like this on the podcast that say exactly how I feel and explain the weird feeling in my belly when someone judges my parenting efforts or my stress level. 

I created this big, chaotic, beautiful life I am entirely in love with. But I don't have to walk around smiling constantly about it, being jolly and grateful every second of every day. I don't have to hide all of my exhaustion and overwhelm because I am not a robot (or a homeschooling mommybot).

I'm so tired of certain people in my life telling me to relax, slow down, that I seem stressed and anxious. These are exactly the people who maybe...

* have never homeschooled from kindergarten through high school, taken on the responsibility of teaching their own children to read, swim and drive, do not yet have adult children (completely different from having babies/toddlers/regular kids LOL), never had their kids in time-consuming activities, etc.

* do not have the same kind of marital or household or pet situation I have

* are not on a leadership committee at a homeschool coop for the last 3.5 years because of a need to make things amazing for their own kids and the kids of others, and/or do not understand the pressure and time that teaching takes

* do not have my same past experiences with domestic violence and a variety of trauma (which often appears in my life as control and trust issues)

* do not own their own business, have a fire in their belly to write, or a need to make money for their family while still being available for that family

* do not have attention deficit disorder (hate that word "disorder")

* are content with their lives as is and do not feel a driving urge to experience All The Things and live life to the fullest while trying to make a difference in the world

And then I had some questions for myself:

Why am I listening to these people? I am 52 years old and don't need to apologize for who I am when my life is going pretty well, despite challenges I've either created myself or which have been put on my plate.

Why am I giving any head space to these people who will never walk in my shoes, which means they won't ever understand the intricacies of my life? This takes energy from loving my family and my people, the people who consistently show up for me even when I'm pushing them away.

Why do I think I need to change? Sure, I could hand off some things, stop procrastinating others, go easier on myself in a lot of areas, go harder on myself in others. We can all use some improvement. But improvement is different from changing who you are as a person entirely.

Why am I not spending more time in prayer, listening to the One who created me, rather than some of the ones who just want to judge me or feel superior to me? Sure, some of these people want to be helpful and see me happy, but they are going about it the wrong way. (Which of course leads me to think about how I say things to people because I don't always understand the shoes they are walking in either—step-parenting, single parenting, parenting multiples, parenting very young, parenting at a later age, working two jobs outside the home to make ends meet, and the list goes on and on.)

My new response when this comes up: "You seem to have your shit together and know how I can get mine together, so what do you suggest? Where should I start? Which spinning plate should I let drop first? Should I check back in with you if it doesn't work out?"

I don't think people are assholes on purpose but we all maybe need a better way to connect with others so we can just LISTEN, which is sometimes all anyone needs in that moment of stress. (and maybe you could do some dishes for them or bring them a meal?)

My dear Catholic and Protestant homeschooling friends, yes, Glennon is a divorced lesbian. So what? The words that are said will speak to you the same as if your priest or pastor said them, if your priest or pastor understood what it's like to be a mother especially. 

I've listened to episodes about anxiety, boundaries, infidelity (there are a variety of ways), fun (do we even know how to have fun anymore as burned-out moms?), addiction (loving addicts), and now overwhelm. Coming up are episodes I'm excited to listen to on fighting well, self-care, our bodies, brave parenting (aren't we being brave by taking on homeschooling?), talking about sex more, quitting, playing our roles, and so many more.

So even though it will take some time, some thought, and some tears... the epiphanies will show up when you least expect them and whack you hard in the feels.

I give this podcast 5 out of 5 Dove chocolate hearts.

I also recommend Glennon Doyle's book Love Warrior (Oprah's book club), which I read in 2020 and underlined/highlighted like crazy and kept (I don't keep many books because homeschool stuff crowds them out currently).

She also wrote Carry On, Warrior, and the wildly popular Untamed (Reese's book club), which I'm listening to on Spotify Premium right now (a lot of great audiobooks included with your subscription).

* Full disclosure: I might make a few cents if you click a link or two or purchase something. 

POGO Pass for 50% Off!!!

Here's what I know:

This is an AMAZING GIFT for your own family, another family, anyone who is new to the area, grandchildren, and newlyweds. 

This is not just for kids!

Kids older than 12 often count as adults and the price of things goes up, but with POGO Pass, it's just one redemption no matter the age of the person using it. 

The app makes it so easy to keep track of everything you've already done!

Here's how to buy one if you're ready to roll. $44.99 + tax through my site instead of $99.98 + tax just by going to my link!

Head over here to see how much all the current Kansas City Pogo Pass venues would cost WITHOUT a Pogo Pass.

World Breastfeeding Week August 2023 #WBW

August 1st through August 7th is 2023's World Breastfeeding Week. And here's my post about the attachment parenting debate.

#WBW2023 will focus on breastfeeding and employment/work. It will showcase the impact of paid leave, workplace support, and emerging parenting norms on breastfeeding through the lens of parents themselves. Target audiences including governments, policymakers, workplaces, communities, and parents will be engaged to play their critical roles in empowering families and sustaining breastfeeding-friendly environments in the post-pandemic work life. The theme is aligned with thematic area 4 of the WBW-SDG 2030 campaign.

Check out my post called What is Attachment Parenting?

and

The Attachment Parenting Debate: Mom of Five Weighs In

How to Attain the Best Outcome from a Legal Dispute

In life, we all experience stressful times. For some, stressful times involve family issues. For others, stressful times involve legal disputes. Although neither is great to deal with, legal disputes can be worse as they could hinder your freedom or finances.

If you are wondering what you are saving money for, it could be for an emergency like a legal issue. You never know when these might pop up. They might occur when you least expect them.

If you are dealing with legal issues and worry you won’t attain the best outcome, here is how to get the best result.

Hire someone with the appropriate experience

Every legal expert has experience and expertise in different fields. Some might be great for divorce but not able to help with a manslaughter claim. 

Harlem Globetrotters World Tour #globies Review

 Check out my pre-post about the Harlem Globetrotters 2023 World Tour and a 20% off promo code!

Disclosure: I was provided tickets in exchange for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When I told my family we were going to see the Harlem Globetrotters at the T-Mobile Center in Downtown Kansas City, Missouri, they were so excited! My son Sam, who is 13 and loves basketball, could hardly sleep the night before the big game. 

The Globetrotters certainly brought their basketball skills and athleticism, as well as quite a few laughs as they defeated the Washington Generals. 

This was my kind of game, with a 4-point shot line and over-the-head backward shots like I attempt sometimes. One of the players even got on top of the backboard and hung out there for a while! We loved Globie, the mascot, and all the pranks the players inflicted on each other and the audience!

This was fun for our entire family and a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon. I highly recommend grabbing your family and a bunch of friends and going to see the Globetrotters!

During halftime, we got a basketball for our son and he was THRILLED! 

But I think his favorite part was AFTER the game, when anyone who had a ball got to go around the court and get their ball signed by the Globetrotters AND take pictures with them!

This is a World Tour, so check the Harlem Globetrotters tour schedule and find out when a game is coming to your town! Grab tickets and plan for a fantastic afternoon or evening of family fun!

"Put Your Homeschool Year on Auto-Pilot" by Pam Barnhill

*Disclaimer: I approached Pam Barnhill to receive this product and do this review.

It's time to get planning for the next homeschool year! Can you imagine getting all of your homeschool planning done by the end of summer so you can enjoy the rest of the year without scrambling every Sunday night to figure out what you're going to teach on Monday morning?

So there are 10 modules in the Put Your Homeschool Year on Auto-Pilot online course. I printed out all the paperwork for each module, 3-hole punched the whole set, then put it into a binder for a place to take notes, do planning, etc. I had to block out time in my planner to make sure I was actually dedicating my time to the course. This is career development, after all.

Module 1: Vision. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP. Watch the video, mull it over, then just sit down and do it. Then come back to it. Make a brainstorm mess. Then make it tidier. Then finish it up after you Google some other homeschool vision statements. You can do this! Here is our family's Homeschool Vision Statement.

Module 2: Goals. Instead of saying, "My kid will finish the Algebra workbook by the end of April," try "My kid will do one lesson of Algebra per day, 4 times per week until it's done." I used this section to make a whole big mess of ideas and goals until I squeezed it down into just a couple of pages for my kids. I also made goals for myself about consistency.

How to Save Money on Groceries by Tiffany Doerr Guerzon

I love the Internet. It would be so easy to feel a little isolated as a work-at-home mom who also homeschools and is way too busy to have many meaningful in-person interactions. But with the Internet, I have met a lot of writing moms from other states and even call quite a few of them friends! Tiffany Doerr Guerzon is one such writing mom. We met in a group of regional parenting magazine writers and found we had a lot in common. Then she said she had written a book on Amazon and I was like MORE in common! So I checked out her book and left the following review:

As a mom of 5 and honorary "foster mom" to tons more kids in the summer, I found this book to be full of tips, smarts, and humor. I found some great new things to try, including apps to download to save money and put recipes together for me, as well as blogs to check out and much more. The recipes in the back were a nice surprise!

Here is the book description on Amazon and the purchase link is here!

How to save money on groceries is a popular topic. This is because, within most family budgets, there isn't a lot of wiggle room. You can't usually change the dollar amount of your mortgage, rent, or car payment. The weekly grocery bill is one of the few places a person can save a few dollars. But how? Food costs have increased in recent years and many families have food allergies or intolerances that require the purchase of more expensive food products. In this book, I share what I have learned about saving money on groceries through years of trial and error. I have found that a “back to basics” approach works best for me. Many of these cost-saving methods—such as buying in bulk, stocking up, cooking from scratch, buying on sale, and planning meals—are probably strategies our grandparents used. By going back to basics, I can save significantly, without clipping coupons or driving to several stores each week. I also include information on saving apps, batch cooking, alternative buying methods such as food co-ops, and how to read price labels at the store to decipher the best deal. I also include tasty, nutritious recipes. 

While I can't promise you will save a certain percentage on your grocery bill, I can say that by following even some of the saving methods in this book, you can gain control over your grocery spending.

What Is Bitcoin and What Are Its Uses?

While a great number of people in the finance and technology industry are well-versed when it comes to bitcoin, there is still a vast majority of people around the world who aren’t familiar with it. If you are among this group of people or if you are just curious about what bitcoin is and how it works, here’s some info about bitcoin that you might want to know.

Bitcoin in a nutshell

Bitcoin, abbreviated as BTC, is just one of the thousands of available cryptocurrencies available in the market today. Cryptocurrency, or virtual currency, is a digital asset intended to function as a medium of exchange, which operates with the use of cryptography—a method used for securing, processing, and verifying information and communications through the use of codes.

A Miscarriage Memorial, Hashimoto's, and my Husband Got Hit by a Car

Warning: sad post and a little long. I am usually a pretty upbeat person, but sometimes certain things happen in our lives and we need a little time to recover, and they change who we are. We all grieve in our own way. I think it's important to journal and share, if you feel comfortable doing so (originally posted September 23, 2018)

Back in March of 2018, I had a miscarriage. I was 46 years old and excited to be pregnant with my sixth child with my wonderful husband. Our other kids were 8, 10, 13, 14, and 16 at the time. They were also excited, as were our friends, our families, our neighbors. I had waited a couple of weeks after my period to take a pregnancy test because my periods had been irregular about once a year. I just figured this was that once-a-year period that went long. One Friday, I took a pregnancy test and was excited to see my nausea and exhaustion now had a reason!

Wonder Woman and Bravehart; I'm holding baby #6 and he's holding the pregnancy test!

Sadly, the next day I started to bleed, right after the Brookside St. Patrick's Day parade. I wish I had taken a pregnancy test sooner just to have the idea of this child in my mind and heart longer! I'll spare you the heartbreaking details of the next seven days (at least in this post), but I lost the baby.

75 (and Counting) Clean Movies with Minimal Sex/Nudity (updated regularly)

*"Clean" means different things to different people. My kids are 12 and up, so violence and cussing are not things I worry about as much as others might need to. It's the visual sex and the messages sent that I am now trying to watch out for. Definitely watch out for some of the PG-13 movies and make sure to read what others have posted.

I have to admit, we have watched some questionable movies. Sometimes we'll put on a movie for the family that we enjoyed once (pre-kids), and then we realize ... "Oh wow, I forgot about that inappropriate part." (examples: why does the guy have to be naked at the start of Die Hard 2, and why does there have to be a poster of a naked woman on the wall as Bruce Willis walks by in Die Hard?)

But it's never too late to turn things around! A quick trip to the IMDb website parent guide, which my best friend told me about now solves all that. (just go to IMDb site and search for the movie or show title, then scroll down to Parents Guide) If something is rated R, don't freak out. Sometimes movies are rated R for something like smoking ;-)

It goes further than Common Sense Media in that it explains specific instances and scenes. I'm okay with most language (hate when God's name is taken in vain though), and some violence is fine, but the sexual stuff that's inserted even in kid movies is just so unnecessary! There's a section at the top called Sex and Nudity and it shows instances and describes them so you can make an informed decision about watching the movie or not.

BONUS: Many of these movies are based on true stories and count as educational history!

Check out this list of movies, vetted by my girlfriend for her family of 7 boys and 2 girls 😀 plus a few of my own. And PLEASE leave your ideas in the Comments section or email them to me at mommykerrie@yahoo.com so I can check them out and add them!

All the Marvel movies (except for the Iron Man movies)

Captain Phillips

Courageous

Dunkirk

Godzilla movies (newer ones, 1998 and 2014)

Goosebumps

Hunger Games series (four movies)

In the Heart of the Sea

Inception

Interstellar

Lincoln

Night at the Museum (and 2 sequels) — We've seen this many times and I didn't realize how clean it was! Sam requested it for his 12th-birthday night movie after his homemade sushi dinner. 

Pacific Rim and sequel

Pursuit of Happyness

          Quiet Place 1 and 2 

Source Code

The Bourne Identity (and sequels)

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (we read the book first as a family for homeschooling, then watched the movie ... be prepared to be depressed afterward)

The Eagle

The Giver

The Greatest Showman (one of our family's favorites!)

The Impossible

The Maze Runner

There be Dragons

True Grit (the newer one)

Vantage Point

Walk the Line (Johnny Cash)

My Family's Recommendations (movies we have seen or want to see again or for the first time):

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Because of Winn-Dixie Just started this book with 12-year-old Sam (November 2021), then we'll watch the movie.

Cast Away (male butt cheek)

Cheaper by the Dozen (how could I forget this one?!) but NOT the second one

Chef (read the sex/nudity stuff before watching with your kids, depending on their ages)

Cinderella Man

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (2012)

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Evan Almighty

Good Will Hunting

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

Little Women (2019) We've read the Junior Classics version of this book, and need to watch the movie!

McFarland USA (it says 7 instances, but one instance says "there is absolutely no sex or nudity" and then it goes on to talk about things like a married couple kissing or a brief shot of a shirtless man, so you do need to read it!)

Me Before You (fantastic date night at home movie, but the message about self-euthanasia is something to watch out for and discuss)

Moneyball

RED (Retired Extremely Dangerous) (my aunt recommended this one forever ago, so I recently checked it out and was shocked that it had zero sex/nudity and only 1 instance of profanity) (Update: if anyone in your household is triggered by being tied up or women with duct tape on their mouth and a bit of cleavage showing at the same time, skip this one. Keep an eye on the "violence" category in IMDB as well, because something like this was not in the "sex/nudity" category and also I didn't realize that people just like you and I are the ones leaving these notes.)

The Princess Diaries (2001) *Cheerleaders and bathing suits at a beach party*

That Thing You Do

The Terminal

Twister (I was typing up some Science stuff for homeschooling and this movie came into my mind, so I looked it up and it's clean!)

Wall-E

Walt before Mickey

Yes Day

Recommendations Found Online:

A Boy Called Po

A Little Game

All is Lost

Arrival

August Rush

Cool Runnings

Finding Neverland

Glengarry Glen Ross

Hachi: A Dog's Tale

Heart of the Country

High Strung

Locke

Major Payne

Martian Child

Mr. Church

National Treasure (cleavage)

Storm Rider

The Great Gilly Hopkins

The Intouchables (subtitles)

The King's Speech

The Truman Show

Waffle Street

Your Recommendations: 

Have seen but won't watch again with the kids:

Bedtime Stories (or anything by Adam Sandler, sadly)

Pixels

Image by Devon Breen from Pixabay 

Homeschool Hacks by Lindsay Knerl Book Review

Today I'm sharing a great book with you called "Homeschool Hacks: How to Give Your Kid a Great Education without Losing Your Job or Your Mind" by Linsey Knerl, mother of six and freelance journalist. 

I was sent a copy to read and review, and I was not compensated monetarily other than with a free copy of the book. Opinions are my own.

After you read my review, you can purchase "Homeschool Hacks" here if you wish! It's available for Kindle, in print, and as an audiobook.

I'm going to pop the Table of Contents here so you can see what's included in the book, then we'll talk some more about my thoughts on it. 

Introduction: How to Use This Book

Chapter 1: Who Are the Homeschoolers?

Chapter 2: How Do You Start?

Chapter 3: Homeschool Legalities and Requirements

Chapter 4: Tools of the Trade

Chapter 5: Sample Schedules and Proper Planning

Chapter 6: Homeschooling through the Grades

Chapter 7: Paying for Homeschool

Chapter 8: Handling the Childcare Problem

Chapter 9: Homeschooling and the Family Business

Chapter 10: Working outside the Home

Chapter 11: Military Homeschoolers

Chapter 12: Temporary Homeschool

Chapter 13: Getting Kids College Ready

Chapter 14: Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Appendix A: Resources

Appendix B: Sample Junior High and High School Course Outline

Some thoughts:

The Tools of the Trade chapter contains quite a bit of common sense, like writing utensils and other school supplies, including a printer and a computer, so probably the book could've done without this chapter entirely. 

The Sample Schedules and Proper Planning chapter was pretty useful, even for a homeschool veteran like myself. This chapter also includes information about setting homeschool milestones, for example, we need to be done with lesson 80 of math before Christmas break. This way, your child can work ahead or know how much they need to do to get caught up before the break. This is helpful when you have those days (or weeks!) where everything explodes and nothing gets done.

This book is pretty much like other books on homeschooling and anything you can find on the Internet, except it's in a smallish package that you can easily carry around and digest a bit at a time. I do think it's a great resource to have around if you are just getting started, but maybe not so much for a seasoned homeschooler.

The Homeschooling and the Family Business and Working outside the Home chapters were a nice update to a lot of other homeschooling books, many of which do not take these unique situations into consideration. I don't have a family business and I don't work outside the home, but I have worked INSIDE the home and while traveling with the family pretty much ever since my first child was born 20 years ago.

There's a lot of great information in this book, and I recommend you grab it if you have small children or are just getting started. It's one to purchase for your home library in that case. For those who have been in the homeschool game longer, definitely grab it at the library first, and then you can decide if it's one you'd like to purchase.

*If you feel like sharing this on social media, please tag @TillerPress and @simonandschuster, as well as @mommykerrie and @thekerrieshow. Thanks!

#WorldsofFun — the Perfect Family/Fun Day! Find Your Amazing!

So I initially titled this post "Perfect Summer Day" ... but we've been to WinterFest and it was a Perfect Winter Evening. How about The Haunt? That would be a Perfect Autumn Evening! Carnivale? The Perfect Summer Night! We are so fortunate to have Worlds of Fun here in Kansas City, and it's no wonder people come from all over the country in all seasons and in all types of weather to enjoy it!

All photographs you see in this post that are of my family on a ride were taken while others were still loading onto the rides. We did NOT take any photos while a ride was being operated. You are not allowed to do this, and we did not do it!

*I need to start by sharing how great the Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun park app is. It stored all of our tickets and passes, including meal and drink passes. It showed wait times of rides and had a map of the park. It also made it quick and easy to get into the park.

Why You Can & Need To Get A Car In Debt

 In many ways, being in debt is a financial wake-up call that encourages you to streamline your lifestyle and reduce your expenses. It would be unfair to pretend that debt recovery is as simple as creating a list of the things you can and can’t keep. However, it makes no doubt that a frugal approach can significantly contribute to your financial recovery. 

But the definition of frugality can seem too obscure. How do you figure out what you truly need? Simple choices, such as buying a cheaper food brand, can cut down your grocery shopping costs without compromising nutrition and health. Additionally, reconsidering expensive hobbies to lessen the impact on your budget will also make a difference. But there’s a thin line between what you need to keep and what you should discard in your debt recovery journey. 

Indeed, car ownership, for instance, comes at a cost. You need not only to consider the cost of purchase but also insurance, maintenance, and fuel expenses. Therefore, you may wonder whether a vehicle is necessary when you’re in debt. However, before you decide to ditch the car for now, here are the many reasons why you can and should have a vehicle while you recover your financial stability. 

Unsplash - CC0 License 

Money lenders understand the meaning of cars

When debt gets out of control, financial advisors can recommend filing for bankruptcy. However, most people assume that going bankrupt means you will lose all your belongings. In reality, the bankruptcy trustee will work closely with each individual to define whether or not they will lose their car. Depending on the value of your vehicle, it may be a good idea to sell it and opt for a cheaper car. In most bankruptcy cases, if the car is essential to maintaining your job, financial advisors recommend keeping the vehicle. 

Unsplash - CC0 License 

While expensive and valuable cars can be sold to repay your debt, it doesn’t mean you can’t purchase a new vehicle. Many financial options, such as New Roads Auto Loans, are specifically designed to support people with bad credit history. 

A car is essential to maintaining your health

Your car is also an essential part of your health routine. For instance, if you need frequent medical appointments, you can’t afford to go without a vehicle. Your car makes essential health-related commutes possible. Skipping medical appointments is a false economy. Health issues can make it hard for you to maintain your performance at work and pay off your debt. 

Your car also plays a significant role in preserving your social network. Debt can make you feel isolated and alone, which contributes to depression. Unfortunately, depression is one of the most commonly overlooked causes of debt. In other words, it is a vicious circle. You feel depressed because you are in debt, and your debt becomes less manageable because you are depressed. Keeping your vehicle means you can reach out to friends and relatives and maintain a supportive social network. You need to stay healthy, both physically and emotionally, to recover from debt.

In conclusion, a car is an investment in your debt-free future. Being able to own a vehicle even when you are in debt is a no-brainer. You need to have a car to secure your income and protect your health. 

Should Parents Care About What Their Kids Are Doing Online?

 When it comes to technology, there is often an asymmetry between what parents and kids know. 

Being older, parents are much less likely to be the first to hop on the latest apps, while children tend to use them much earlier. And that means that adults usually only discover the dangers of various platforms well after their kids have begun using them. 

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The reasons for this are sociological. For kids, social status is everything. They want to be the most popular person in school. And modern technology provides a route for doing just that. Kids are jumping on whatever platforms they can so that they don’t miss out. 

These developments, however, are worrying for parents. Many simply can’t keep up with the changing online environment. And the vast majority have no control over the type of content that their kids view. 

The strangest part of the entire process is how the digital world is fragmenting identities. Teenagers can often wind up with multiple personas, depending on the platforms that they use. That’s leading to a range of unexpected behaviors that parents might struggle to manage. 

For parents, concerns usually fall into the following categories: 

• Reputational: Parents are concerned about how their children’s behavior will affect their prospects in the future. They already know that many companies trawl people’s social media accounts, looking for more information on the type of person they are. If they find something they don’t like, they’ll flat it up, potentially denying that person a job.

• Criminal: Enticing a minor by computer might be illegal, but that doesn’t stop thousands of people from trying to do it every year. Parents worry that criminals will use new apps and platforms to hoodwink their kids into meeting up with them. 

• Search risk: Once something is on the internet, it appears to stay there for life. Thus, once you say something, it can potentially follow you around for decades to come, potentially impacting everything you do in the future. 

In general, parents understand the risks that the internet poses. Things hang around for a long time, anything you post is highly visible, and messages can often go viral. We’ve seen dozens of examples of young people’s lives being destroyed by mistakes that they made online, and we don’t want it to happen to our own offspring. 

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The good news is that most teenagers are managing all of this rather well. Most understand the risks of posting with reckless abandon. They know that it’ll likely follow them around for years to come if they do something controversial. And it could land them in serious trouble at their school. 

If they do post something contentious, they need to go into it with a full understanding of the drawbacks. Sometimes they might want to say something they think is true but other people will not like. 

Parents need to bear this in mind too. The internet is a forum to act disgracefully and heroically. And young people need the opportunity to do both when exploring their characters. 

4 Green Habits That Really Do Make a Difference

 

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With everything going on in the world right now, you’d be forgiven for forgetting about the other big global threat looming over us. Climate change has been an issue for several decades and is showing no signs of going away. Big changes are needed if our planet is to reverse the effects of global warming and make the earth habitable for future generations.

As consumers, we are regularly given opportunities to do our bit for the environment. We can recycle our used goods, reuse our shopping bags, and buy biodegradable laundry tablets. These are undoubtedly meaningful actions to take, and if everyone were to do the same, it would certainly make a huge difference. But individually, these small steps are barely a drop in the ocean of what is needed to change the planet. And there is a risk that people will carry out these small steps and feel as though they are doing their bit for the environment, when their actions really amount to very little. More is needed.

If we are to arm ourselves against the assault of climate change, it is necessary to take larger actions that have greater consequences. Although it is the governments of the world who can incite real change, there are some habits you can adopt at home, which will have a larger impact on a greater scale.

Cutting out meat

The meat industry is one of the biggest polluters on the entire planet, yet it shows no sign of slowing down. It uses up huge swathes of land, releases vast quantities of methane from animals into the atmosphere, and burns excessive fossil fuels in the production and distribution processes. If everyone were to switch to a plant-based diet, the world’s food-based emissions would drop by 70%. There are now so many delicious alternatives to meat and dairy out there that going vegan is easier than ever.

Stop flying

The other big polluter is the aviation industry. Plane travel might be convenient, but it does a lot more harm than good. So next time you take an international holiday, why don’t you travel by train, coach or boat instead? It’s perfectly possible to see the world without flying, and communication technology is making international business travel more or less redundant.

Go zero waste

As consumers, we produce an inordinate amount of waste in our everyday lives—packaging, uneaten food, discarded toys, and clothing, you name it. Not only is this incredibly wasteful, but it has a huge environmental impact. Plastic ends up in the ocean, and the increasingly full landfills generate vast amounts of methane. By taking steps to eradicate household waste, you can dramatically reduce your own carbon footprint. Find innovative ways to make your food last longer, recycle or donate your used and broken items, and buy food without plastic packaging whenever possible. Donate your wood waste to companies like Edrich Lumber, Inc. and compost organic waste rather than sticking it in the trash.

Use your voice

There’s only so much one person can do. The most effective way you can personally help the planet is by spreading the word. Tell others about your green habits, talk about environmental issues on social media, sign petitions, and get involved in local politics. Change starts with all of us.