Category Archives: Guest Post

Earn Income, Guest Post

What You Should Do After Receiving a Raise

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Getting a raise is always a reason to celebrate, and seeing a larger paycheck as a direct result of your hard work is one of the best feelings. However, raises can lead to some unwise financial habits. It can be tempting to run out and buy that new big screen you’ve been eyeing, or funnel the money into a ticket for a family trip to Disneyworld, but take a moment to pause and think about how to use your new income in a way that will most benefit you and your family in the long run.

Reassess Your Budget

Any time you experience a change in income, whether for the worse or better, it’s important to look at your budget and adjust where necessary. When looking at your new income, it’s important to assess just how much the government will be taking out of that larger paycheck. Check out your credit history and take note of the places that you seem to spend the most, whether that be travel, entertainment, or dining. After looking at your budget, take a look at accounts that could use a little bolstering, then funnel your raise income difference into these areas. Another option is to invest your extra income in the stock market, this can be a good way to grow your asset pool and learn the financial system better. Through doing research into how companies are performing, as well as the general consensus on the amazon stock forecast (or other companies you’re interested in) you can predict trends and better invest your money where it will grow. The good thing about investing your money is you won’t be tempted to be wasteful with it, in the same way you might be if it was left sitting in your checking account.

Retirement Accounts

No matter where you are in your career, it’s important to have a retirement plan, whether you are in your mid-twenties or late forties. Thinking about the future is always essential when it comes to finances, and siphoning more money into your retirement plan will leave you with a larger retirement income and may mean you get to sign out of the professional world at a younger age than you ever imagined possible. Whether you’re putting more into your 401(k) at work or making deposits into an IRA, your future self will thank you for the forethought.

Charitable Donations

Sometimes, raises can affect our taxes, effectively seeing us owing more to the government when tax season rolls around. Charitable donations are a good way to spread the wealth while also being strategically sound with your finances. Donations to qualified charities can make you eligible for lucrative tax deductions when you file taxes online, and you’ll feel great about paying it forward.

Long Term Purchases

If you do have some need to buy items on your list, make sure your raise money goes towards those things which will benefit your family and finances in the long run. It might be an energy efficient washer and dryer, an update to your backyard living space that improves the value of your home, or investing in safe stocks that can make you a bit of interest each year. Speak with a financial advisor about what might be best for your family, and make sure you keep those impulse buys to a minimum, especially in the weeks directly following your raise.

Pay Off Debt

Have you been stuck in debt for a while? It’s time to get yourself out from under this financial strain. With your new income, it’s likely possible for you to become debt-free sooner than you originally thought possible. Take a look at your accounts and put them in order of interest rates, highest to lowest. Work on paying off the accounts with the highest interest first to avoid paying more over the long run than necessary. As your debt lessens, your credit score will improve, and the mental strain that’s alleviated will be more than welcome. If you owe the government, it’s essential to put all of your efforts into paying any back taxes owed under your name. The longer it takes you to pay back the IRS, the more dire the consequences. If it’s a serious amount of money owed, always be sure to use companies like www.communitytax.com to figure out what is going to help your case quickly and efficiently.

If you’ve received a raise for a job well done, it’s important to use that money in a smart, financially sound way that will best benefit your family. Keep these tips in mind and enjoy your new income to the fullest.

Going Healthy, Guest Post

5 Healthy Summer Habits for Kids

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I’m handing the Going Dad reigns over to another stay-at-home dad who’s also into nutrition, fitness, and raising a healthy family. Sean Morris has a wealth of information on healthy living to share, and today it’s all about habits to help our kids keep healthy and have fun during the summer months.

Summer is filled with fun, relaxation, and the joy of not having a rigorous school schedule to keep up with. But summer can also mean later nights, meals from the baseball field concession stand that aren’t exactly the healthiest choices, and other poor health habits sunscreen, safety, healthy living, that can impact both physical and emotional well-being over time. Here are a few healthy summer habits to instill in your kids that will cultivate healthier habits for life.

Always Wear Sunscreen

If your child loves to spend the whole day outside in the sun, wearing sunscreen is a habit you’ve probably already developed. But even if your kids tend to spend more time indoors on their smartphones or video games, teaching them about the risks of sun damage is a valuable nugget that will help them stay healthy and well throughout their lives. The sun can cause damage even on cloudy days, so daily sunscreen application is key for all children and adults.

Check for Ticks

Ticks carry Lyme disease, and in some parts of the U.S., tick populations are growing. It’s not always possible to avoid areas where ticks are common, but you can wear insect repellent and protective clothing (with long sleeves and long pants) when you know you’ll be in an area well-populated with ticks. You should also carefully check your child’s entire body for ticks after spending time in such areas. Remove ticks properly and know when it’s necessary to seek medical attention for a tick bite.

Get Adequate Sleep

One especially useful habit to foster in your kids is getting ample rest every night. Sleep is the time your body uses to rest and rejuvenate, yet, especially during the summer, many children and young adults happily sacrifice sleep to participate in fun, late-night activities, whether they’re simply watching TV past their bedtimes or hanging out with friends. Teaching your kids now that the time they spend awake is more productive and enjoyable when they’re well-rested will prepare them to make better choices about sleep as they get older.

Stay Hydrated

When kids are having fun outdoors, it’s easy to forget about drinking water to stay hydrated. Most kids won’t think about drinking unless their bodies are telling them they’re thirsty, but they may ignore such cues if they’re having too much fun. Have your kids carry a water bottle, and encourage them to drink pure, cold water rather than sugary sports drinks. If they do have a sweet tooth, adding a splash of citrus fruit or berries can enhance the flavor of plain water, making it more appealing to some kids. Make sure they know that it’s necessary to drink more water than usual on especially hot days or when they’re engaging in rigorous physical activity.

Stay Safe Around Fire and Fireworks

Camping, Fourth of July celebrations, and other activities bring with them camp fires and fireworks displays. Kids who understand fire safety and know how to stay safe around fireworks are less likely to suffer burns or injuries. Teach your kids about the dangers of fire and fireworks, how to use child-appropriate fireworks such as sparklers safely, and safe habits to practice around fires.

Teaching your children how to stay safe in the many different circumstances they’ll encounter throughout life is no simple process. As a parent, you want to protect your child from every possible danger. While you can’t be there to keep them safe every moment, you can begin to teach them safe and healthy habits that will help them lead a long and happy life.

Sean Morris became a stay-at-home dad after the birth of his son. Though he loved his career in social work, he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get to spend more time with his kids. He enjoys sharing his experiences via LearnFit.org and hopes writing for the site will help him provide other parents with tips and advice on juggling life, career, and family.

Image via Pixabay by milli_lu

Meeting other health-minded dads like Sean is always a pleasure , and hopefully he’ll share more of his tips/advice on healthy living in the future. Thank you Sean, for taking the time to create this list of handy healthy summer habits for kids!

Guest Post

Six Gifts for the Active Dad this Father’s Day

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Father’s Day is on the way, and for all you moms and kids out there wondering just what to grab that special dad in your life, I know it can be tough to narrow down gift ideas. Whether you’re shopping for your dad or for the father of your children, if he’s an active guy, you can appeal to his health passions and take your Father’s Day gifts from ordinary to extraordinary. From sports tickets to family adventures, the latest in melbourne storm merchandise (or whoever their team is), to gym necessities, you’ll find something for your active dad on this list.

  1. Tickets to a Game

If your dad is an avid sports fan that knows his favorite player’s stats like he knows his own child’s birthday, then make sure he gets the chance to see his idol in action with tickets to a game. Check out Ticketmaster to see if there are any games coming to a city nearby in the near future, or plan ahead and buy accommodations out of town for a surprise trip that will blow his mind. If you find the tickets have already been sold out, just check out Craigslist or Stubhub to grab resale tickets.

  1. A Fitbit

If he’s all about staying in shape and pushing his body to be the best it can be, you can’t go wrong with a Fitbit. These awesome activity trackers will give him a plethora of important health information, helping him reach the recommended amount of steps each day, track his food, and keep his heart rate in check. There are various models out there at different prices, so you can find something that matches your budget and appeases your pop on Father’s Day.

  1. Quality Earphones

If he’s a runner or gym rat, he’s likely got a playlist of pump-up jams that get him in the mood to pump iron and pound the pavement. If that’s the case, make sure he gets to listen to his sweet tunes with the best audio possible and buy him a pair of high-quality earphones. Check out the JayBird X2 wireless earbuds. They’re a bit of an investment, but the quality is more than worth the price tag, especially if you know your dad will get great use from them. He can get rid of those pesky wires and answer any emergency calls while he’s at the gym getting a great workout in.

  1. A New Gym Bag

If he’s always out the door and on the way to the gym to follow his daily workout regimen, make sure he can get all his essentials to and from with stylish ease. A new duffel will help him go from home to office to gym in one fell swoop and keep all of his gym necessities contained, whether it’s shower essentials after a sweaty session or his work clothes to go from gym to desk in the morning.

  1. An All-Out Adventure

Your active dad is likely an adventure-happy fellow, and if he spends a lot of his time chasing adrenaline pumping activities, then an experience gift is probably right up his alley. Websites like Excitations.com offer a variety of exciting events to take part in. If your dad loves fast cars, take him for a spin in an exotic speedster for the day. If he’s a water sports enthusiast, a white water rafting trip will be the present he never knew he needed. All you have to do is enter your zip code and the website will pull up all the nearby activities that you can purchase for him. This is sure to be a one of a kind present that will make this Father’s Day more than memorable.

  1. Sports Gear

If your dad is an active member of intramural sports teams, then you can’t go wrong with new sports gear. Baseball bats can be a great gift if he’s part of a league as they are constantly evolving, with companies consistently coming out with cool new designs and functionality. In a similar vein to golf clubs, remember that just because he already has them, doesn’t mean he won’t want the latest and greatest.

Show Dad how much you appreciate all he does for your family with the perfect active gifts sure to give nod to his athletic passions and make this a Father’s Day to remember.