Money

6 Tips To Deal With Financial Emergency

October 18, 2017November 16, 2020 Jayne1 Comment

5 Tips To Deal With Financial Emergency Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a financial emergency? You may even be experiencing one at this moment; what can you do? You’re not alone, over 76 million Americans struggle each year according to a survey from the Federal Reserve Bank. There are lots of reasons and causes of financial stress. Whether you’re in the middle of a crisis, or want to help plan for the future, there are options available to get you back on your feet.

Here’s five tips on how to deal with a financial emergency:

1. Start an Emergency Fund

An emergency fund is a specific savings account that you only touch in the event of an emergency. Personal financial planners will tell you that an emergency fund is even more important than paying off certain kinds of debt—because having an emergency fund is what prevents you from going into debt, especially debt with burdensome terms like payday loans. Follow the link to find out more: https://www.gofundme.com/c/blog/emergency-fund

2. Create a Budget

How do you get control of your finances? Spending less money sounds easier than it really is. Creating a budget (and sticking to it) can be a great tool for spending less, and saving more. Here are some tips for creating a budget.

Track your weekly spending. If you use a debit or credit card, you can see where your money is going each week. Small purchases like a morning coffee or fast food can add up over time.
Divide expenses into categories. Some examples can be entertainment, eating out, groceries, bills etc.
Set money aside for an emergency fund. Even a small amount saved overtime will add up when you need extra funds for a crisis.
Gradually cut down expenses. Instead of cutting out restaurants entirely, limit yourself to once or twice a week.

If you need additional assistance in creating a budget, take a look at this article from US News.

3. Cut Expenses

Cutting expenses can be another option to take during a financial emergency.

Spending less money in just a few areas can provide relief.

Here’s some tips for reducing your monthly expenses:

Save money on transportation. One option can be to carpool to work with your friends. By alternating days with your coworkers, you can save on gas, reduce wear and tear on the car, and in some cities, make use of carpool lanes.
Reduce entertainment expenses. Do you have cable for watching your favorite shows? Switching to a streaming service like Hulu or Netflix can be a cheaper option. Some of the networks also stream episodes for free on their website as well.
Cancel unused memberships. How often do you go to the gym that you pay for each month? If you only go once a week, it may be a cheaper option to find a gym to pay per use.

For other tips on saving money by reducing expenses, Trent Hamm has written up 40 ways to save on monthly expenses.

4. Prioritize Your Expenses

Are your bills overwhelming you?

A financial crisis can make it hard to follow your budget. It’s important to be pay your monthly bills, but sometimes this is impossible.

Here are some tips on how you can prioritize your expenses and get through the crisis:

Make a list of all monthly expenses. Listing them out gives you a clear picture of how much money you’re spending each month.
Figure out which expenses you have to pay. Once you have your list, you can mark which ones have to be paid first. Groceries and your rent/mortgage should be at the top of your list. Most utility companies will give you extra time to pay bills so that you can prioritize the more urgent bills.
Contact your creditors. Late payments can damage your credit, and ignoring the problem will make it worse. Most creditors will let you set up a payment plan or allow an extension.

For additional tools on prioritizing your expenses, visit the United Way’s article.

5. Reduce Your Debt

How many of you want to get rid of your debt? Even if you’re on a tight budget you can follow these tips to be debt free over time.

Create a budget. Once you write down everything that you spend money on each month, subtract that amount from your monthly take-home pay amount. Look for areas where you can cut back on to free up more cash.
Separate your debts from the budget list. Arrange your debts from smallest to largest. You will want to know what the minimum payments are for each of these debts.
Use money that you’ve freed up to start paying off the smallest debt. For all other debts you will want to maintain the minimum payment. Once you pay off the small debt you can use that money on the next loan repeating the process.

For more tips on reducing debt, take a look at the Huffington Post article from Tiffany Allche.

6. Get Financial Help

What if you’ve exhausted all other options for managing a financial emergency?

Ideally you would have access to emergency funds that have been saved up over time for a situation like this, but if you’re currently experiencing a hardship, you need cash urgently.

An option would be to get a loan to help pay for bills, essentials for the household, and other needs during the emergency.

A traditional bank loan may not be an option. You may be asking, what can I do? A 30 day payday loan, like one from ElcLoans, can help you.

Used responsibly this can get you through an emergency until you’re back on your feet.

Conclusion

I hope that you found this information helpful.

Having a financial crisis can be a stressful time, but there are tools and resources available to help get you through the hard times.

Each of these tips are options that you can put into practice immediately.

Do you have any other tips that you would like to share?

If you found this article helpful, be sure to share it with your friends and family.

Parenting

Little Emergency Guide for When Mums Need Help

March 15, 2017 JayneLeave a comment

With mother’s day approaching, there are plenty of cards in the shops that are dedicated to the perfect mommy. Mom knows best, the best mother ever, wonder mommy, you name it, there’s a fair bet that the shops have it already! Or if they haven’t, you can probably make you own on an online card provider, so that’s you sorted in a matter of clicks. But to come back to the main topic, mothers, it does happen that sometimes even mommies need a little help to get by. So if you are a mom and you are going through a lot of stress to sort things out, here are the top 6 cases where you can ask for professional help without feeling guilty at all.

Even Mommy needs help

#1. Picking The Perfect Home

If you are looking to move house, you have probably already experienced the difficulty to find the perfect house at the perfect price for your family. For some families, finding their ideal nest can take several months up to a year, and sometimes even longer! It is often a hard task that requires a lot of research and a lot of visits and appointments. More importantly, there’s also the problem of getting a mortgage, preparing for the move and decorating the new place. It’s no wonder that moving house is the third most stressful event after bereavement and divorce. While you can work with a professional estate agency to get on top of the latest properties on the market, you can also set up notification alerts on real estate websites. This will keep you updated with the new houses available in your preferred locations, and it will also help you when you are preparing your application for a mortgage.

#2. Managing Money Effectively

Managing the household budget can be a tricky task, especially when you are facing sudden and unexpected expenses. Financial matters have become a lot more complex nowadays, with the introduction of credit cards, different interest options and dangerous loan scams that promise easy money and drain your budget in repayment. As if things were not complicated enough, the cost of energy and education are rising dangerously too! In short, moms have difficult tasks to keep the budget under control. If you find yourself struggling with repayment to multiple creditors, it may be time to ask for debt management support. This will put you in touch with financial experts who work out a repayment plan that is fully tailored to your personal case. Expenses are easier to manage when you can plan ahead for the end of your worries.

#3. Staying Healthy Every Day

Health is no matter to take lightly. Whether you are looking after your eyesight, your teeth, your skin or even your bones, there are very little elements that you can control about your health. In truth, what you can do is make sure that you have an active lifestyle and a healthy diet so that your body receives all the nutrients and energy that it needs. But you still need to book a regular medical appointment to check your health and the one of your family. Think of the big ETC: Eyes, teeth, and cardio. Additionally, if there is any known issue in your family, such as diabetes or allergies, it’s always a good idea to get it tested regularly for those who are likely to develop similar problems too.

#4. Recharging Your Batteries

Sometimes everyday pressure gets you. Whether it’s stress at work or family problems, it is difficult to keep a cool head when too much is going on. You need to plan every week a few hours that are entirely dedicated to your mental health. This will help you cool down and relax. What you do during this time is entirely up to you, but it’s best to leave the house and let someone else look after your nerves. A visit to your local spa centre can be just the thing you need. If you’re not one for a massage, have a look at your local gym for yoga classes. Not only this will keep you fit and active, but yoga is great to soothe the soul and the mind during hard times. So make time for yourself and let someone help you relax.

#5. Maintaining The Home

Whether you are a stay-at-home mom or a working mom, there are certain areas of your home maintenance activities that you can’t do by yourself. Checking the roof, the quality of the insulation and the plumbing and heating systems are some of the elements that need to be trusted to professionals. You will find the exact list of home maintenance and renovation works that you need to rely on professionals within your home insurance contract. Indeed, certain types of work can invalidate your home insurance if they are not performed by a certified expert. Additionally, if you are a working mom, there’s no reason not to hire someone to keep the house clean when you are at work. After all, you surely want to spend more time with your family when you are at home.

#6. Going On Family Holiday Together

There’s no such thing as easy family holidays. Indeed, when you are planning holidays for the whole family, it’s never easy to find the best deal and the best package for your situation. This is why you need to trust travel agencies to help you organise the best vacation at the best price for your family. Whether you only need children-friendly places, or whether you are also looking at specific travel insurances to cover for medical needs too, travel agents have direct access to hundreds of options and travel packages in a matter of a few seconds. They can find the best solution for you while you wait on the phone. This can save a lot of your holiday stress!

In short, whether you are looking after yourself, your budget, your health, your home, your holiday or your family, there’s nothing that says that a super mom can’t use a little help from the experts from time to time. In the end, you want to save as much time as possible to be with your family, so cut the stress and get in touch with qualified advisors.

5 Ways Parents Can Help Kids Ace Their Homework

July 15, 2016 JayneLeave a comment

Pixabay

We all want to help our kids achieve their best possible results throughout school and college. And the best way a parent can get behind their kids is by helping them ace their homework. Even if you weren’t the brightest at school back in the day, there are still certain ways you can help them out. It isn’t all about sitting down with them and doing the academic stuff! So do you want to give your kids a fantastic chance in their academic career? Here are five ways you can help your kids ace their homework.

Create A Quiet Space For Them

One of the most important things you can do for your child is to give them a quiet spot where they can get on with their work without being disturbed. This will provide them with the peace and quiet that they need to concentrate. If you have a home office that you use for work, let them work at your desk when you are not there. That way, they can shut the door, so there are no distractions from elsewhere in the household. Is there is space in their bedroom? You could put a desk in there. You just need to make sure that there are no toys or electronic devices that could distract them away from their work!

Pixabay

Set Up A Routine

You need to insist on a daily schedule for your child. This way, they will have an allocated time in which they should be doing their homework. There are a few benefits of a regular schedule. The best one is that it frees up time for fun stuff, like hobbies and sports. You will know when your child will work best at home. Perhaps it is as soon as they come in from school. Or maybe they need an hour or so to settle down at home before they get on with homework. Whichever you decide, you need to stick to it. Also, make sure that your child has half an hour’s break in the middle of their homework. This helps them refresh and grab a snack. But don’t let them watch TV or go on a computer – you may have a hard time getting them away from the screen!

Pixabay

Don’t Be Overbearing

No matter how much you want your child to succeed at school or college, you should never be too overbearing with them. If you are very overbearing, this could have a negative effect on your child’s behaviour. They may begin to rebel and refuse to do any of their work. So whatever happens, try to stay relaxed and stay out of their hair as much as possible! Remember that we all need breaks sometimes, so don’t push your child too hard or criticise them for taking a break. It can help them clear their mind so that they can continue to work to a high standard.

Teach Them The Repercussions

Has your child called you because they forgot to take their homework book to school? Don’t give in to their wishes and take it to them. Instead, they need to understand that their actions have repercussions. Once they have been punished for forgetting their book or equipment, they will always remember to pack their bag correctly! And the same goes for not doing homework. If they don’t do an exercise, don’t constantly remind them of it. They will have to face the repercussions and be punished at school. Hopefully, this will ensure that they become more responsible and always do their homework in the future!

Pixabay

Get Extra Help

If your child appears to be struggling with their homework on a regular basis, they might need some extra help. You might be tempted to try and reteach them a topic. However, this won’t be helpful for them. You might not have a full understanding of the topic, and this can only confuse them more. There are a number of steps you can take. Discuss the matter with your child’s teacher. They might go throw the subject again in class if a few pupils are struggling. Your child might also benefit from after-school study clubs. There are also some services that specialise in UK coursework writing if your child is struggling with a college assignment.

If you follow these five steps, you’ll find that homework won’t be such a big struggle in your household. By being a supportive parent, you can help your child achieve fantastic results and achieve everything they want from life!

Education · Review

TutorFair Review

August 26, 2015 JayneLeave a comment

As you’ll know if you’ve read this post, Sausage is a super bright girl, but thanks to being let down by a previous teacher, she lacks confidence in Maths and related topics. So when we were asked by Tots100 if we’d like the opportunity to receive a couple of tutoring sessions with TutorFair in a topic of our choice, we jumped at the chance. TutorFair offer teachers in a number of topics, including instrument tuition, but it seemed prudent for us to take advantage of some extra help with maths, if only to show Sausage just how capable she actually is.

The TutorFair website is one of my favourite things about the whole experience – it gives you the ability to narrow down what you’re looking for by subject, area, even budget, so you don’t end up trawling through a list of irrelevant teachers at prices you can’t afford. It also gives you an overview of the experience and qualifications of each tutor; the young man who came to see us was a Physics graduate and did his post-grad teacher training at Cambridge University, which is pretty impressive!

On the day, our tutor Sam arrived early for the session but jumped straight in (after taking his shoes off at the door, despite my protestations – excellent manners!) and gave Sausage a special programme to work through on his iPad to show him exactly where she was in terms of her knowledge. This allowed him to see exactly where she needed help and meant that their time together was properly optimised.

Using a combination of iPad and traditional pen and paper, Sausage and Sam worked through a whole load of topics (with me hovering around to get a good overview for review purposes) and it seemed like he was really able to connect with Sausage and pass on some new techniques for doing certain sums. I try not to criticize the UK’s free education system too much as it’s fantastic for most families, however there can be a slightly “one size fits all” approach to teaching when class sizes are large which means that some kids catch on quicker than others. Extra tuition like the sessions Sausage received are a brilliant way to solidify knowledge that’s passed on during school time and make sure that all of the new concepts have really sunk in.

In terms of cost, the tutor who came to us would usually cost around £38 per hour, which is by no means the most expensive session on the site and could be well worth it if your child is having a lot of problems with a subject. There are also tutors who offer help with 11+, GCSE’s and A-Levels and Sam told us that, in some cases, 11+ tuition begins as young as 8 years old.

All in all, I felt like we had a really positive experience with TutorFair. Sausage felt a lot more confident even after one session and it’s something that we would definitely consider continuing with, should she need the extra help. As a final point, another thing we liked was that, if you were a normal TutorFair customer, all payments are made via the website, so there’s no awkward exchange of cash at the end of the session – this may sound like a silly little thing, but it just made me feel like I’d be a lot more comfortable about using the service in the future.

For more information on tutors in your area, visit the TutorFair site.

Baby

Asking for Help

March 17, 2014March 31, 2014 Jayne9 Comments

When I first came home from hospital after having Burrito Baby, I have to admit, I was exhausted. In the days leading up to her birth, I’d been on a ward having a course of steroids to mature her lungs because my unstable blood sugars meant that she had to be delivered at 36 weeks and 6 days. In the entire three nights that I was there, I managed a total of about 7 hours sleep, so by the time BB finally came along, I was wiped out. My doctors were happy to discharge me the day after I had BB, but the midwives advised that I stay an extra night so that I’d have access to stronger painkillers if I needed them, rather than struggling at home in unmanageable pain.

Once I got home, Husband was amazing. He’d done an awesome job of caring for Sausage while I was in the hospital and maintained all of the cooking, cleaning and parenting duties for days after our homecoming. I was still exhausted and BB decided that she wouldn’t sleep in any room of the house except the lounge, so I set up camp on the sofa to deal with night feeds.

After a few days, it became apparent that I wasn’t coping very well with all of the duties that I’d taken on. I’d muscled my way into the household duties, despite Husband being happy to deal with them himself – I have to admit, I’m a bit of a control freak, especially when it comes to caring for the kids. It took me a long time to accept help from Husband when Sausage was a baby as I felt that I should be doing everything for her myself, but these days she goes to him for just as much help as she does with me. However, I slipped straight back into the same pattern with BB and despite Husband constantly offering help, I was reluctant to take it, at least on a subconscious level.

For some reason, I seem to have a real mental block when it comes to asking for help. I think I see it as some sort of weakness, like an admission of fallibility if I can’t do something all by myself, which is utterly ridiculous. I’m only human and I need to remember to see myself as such, rather than piling unnecessary amounts of pressure on myself, which create a horrible cycle of ‘refusing to ask for help>failing to cope without help>feeling like a failure’.

The problem was, I still hadn’t really caught up on sleep and the night feeds were becoming a struggle. On more than one occasion, I’d be giving BB a bottle of an evening, or winding her, and Husband would turn round to see me with heavy eyes, on the verge of falling asleep. Being tired is one thing, but being stubborn to the point of endangering BB with my stupidness is quite another. I needed to think of a better way to get through the night and contrary to my ‘do it all myself’ instinct, this meant asking for help. Fortunately, Husband is a bit of a night-owl anyway, and was more than happy to help. In fact, more than that, he wanted to help and my reluctance to loosen my grip was totally unfair.

With Husband’s support, I managed to regain the balance of being able to sleep between feeds and being alert enough to be able to deal with BB when she needed me, in a safe way. If I did feel tired while feeding her, I handed her over to Husband so I could get a drink and wake myself up a bit. All it took was making myself ask for help when I needed it, and Team Crammond found a way to cope.

Fortunately, we’ve rounded a corner with BB’s routine (more about that in another post) and I’ve managed to get a lot more sleep, but I’ve learned a really important lesson in the last few weeks:

Asking for help and admitting that you need it shows true strength, not weakness.