Category Archives: Lifestyle

Life, Lifestyle, Parenting

Saving on the Cost of Running a Family Car

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As a family, owning a car can be a major expense, but it can also be very necessary for getting you to work and school, amongst other things.

The good news is, there are several ways to save on the cost of running a family car, which can make a significant difference to your budget, as you will see below.

Don’t buy fuel at the first place you see

Fuel prices can vary significantly from one gas station to another, so it pays to shop around for the best deals instead of simply buying from the most convenient location. You can even use websites such as GasBuddy to find the cheapest gas prices in your area, or you can plan your route to take advantage of discounts offered at specific gas stations.

Take good care of your car

Regular maintenance is essential to keep your car running smoothly and to prevent costly breakdowns. That’s why you should be regularly checking the brakes, ensuring you have proper wheel alignment, changing the oil, and having a mechanic look her over to ensure your car is in good shape. You’ll save so much more than you spend if you do.

Get a ride with someone

Carpooling is a great way to save money on fuel and wear and tear on your car. Whether it’s to work, school, or extracurricular activities, carpooling can help you to reduce the number of miles you drive, which can save you money on fuel and wear, and it is much better from the environment. Yes, you’ll have to share the load, but if you get a bunch of people on rotation, you will all save.

Learn to drive more efficiently

The way you drive can have a big impact on fuel efficiency and the cost of running your car. For example, accelerating slowly and braking gently can help to improve fuel efficiency and reduce wear and tear on your car. You can also use cruise control on the highway to maintain a steady speed and save on fuel.

Shop around for car insurance

Car insurance can cost you almost as much as a cheap used car in some cases, so it pays to shop around for the best deals. The good news is, it’s really easy to find the best deals these days by using price comparison sites and not settling for the first quote you find. 

Try out car-sharing services 

Car-sharing services such as Zipcar and Car2Go can be a cost-effective alternatives to owning a car. These services allow you to rent a car for a short period of time, which can be a convenient and affordable way to get around, especially if you only need a car occasionally.

Think about fuel efficiency when buying a car

If you’re in the market for a new car, consider a fuel-efficient model. Cars with smaller engines, hybrid technology, and electric power can be more fuel-efficient than traditional gas-powered cars, which can save you money on fuel in the long run.

Owning a car can be a significant expense, but, as you can see there are several ways to save money on the cost of running a family car. So, what are you waiting for?

Life, Lifestyle, Parenting, Tips

Here’s How To Get Your Child To Enjoy School

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Getting children to enjoy school can be challenging for many parents, but it’s important. Education is a crucial aspect of a child’s life and sets the foundation for future success. A recent survey showed that only 49% of fourth-graders enjoy school, while a much lower percentage admitted to hardly being happy at school. If your child dislikes schools, there could be many reasons for it. However, as a parent, there are some ways to get them to enjoy school, including the tips below.  

  1. Encourage a love of learning

A love of learning creates an intrinsic motivation to engage in academic activities, leading to better grades and a more positive attitude toward school. You can start this by creating a positive learning environment at home. Please encourage your child to read, engage in educational games and activities, and provide them with a dedicated study space. You can also create a supportive environment where they feel comfortable asking questions and exploring their interests. Another way to encourage a love of learning is to help your kids discover their passions. When you allow them to explore their interests and find their passions, your children will be happy to explore further. It could be extracurricular activities such as sports, music, or art. Resources like Generation Genius can also help your child learn to love Math and Science. The more they engage in activities they enjoy, the more likely they are to develop a love for learning. Additionally, you can foster a curious mindset in your young ones by teaching them to ask questions. When they do, it will help to provide positive reinforcement for their efforts, progress, and attempts to understand the world around them.

  1. Foster a growth mindset

Fostering a growth mindset is another helpful way to help your child enjoy school and succeed in their education. Children with a growth mindset are more likely to see challenges as opportunities for growth and learning rather than failures. It sounds like a difficult concept to explain to a child, but you can overcome this challenge by simplifying it. You can also stress effort over ability as you focus on your child’s work rather than their grades or test scores. Show them that consistent hard work and persistence in challenging situations are key to success. Use different experiences to show them how perseverance has worked for you. That way, your child can make that connection and be motivated to try that out.

  1. Promote positive relationships with teachers and peers

Promoting positive relationships with teachers and peers can play a significant role in helping your child enjoy school and succeed in their education. Children with healthy relationships with their teachers and peers will likely feel happy and engaged in the classroom. They are also more likely to do well academically. You can do this by encouraging your child’s participation in class. Let them know that it is alright to approach their teacher if they need further understanding of a topic. Over time, this will boost their confidence. As a parent, fostering open communication with your children’s teacher is helpful. When you do, you will be more informed and updated on your kids’ performance in school. That can provide enough background to increase your efforts at helping your child enjoy school.

Lifestyle

Common Myths That People Have About Veterans

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Many veterans trained and fought hard to defend their country. It’s the reason why we have events such as memorial day–to remember those that served in the military to protect civilians across the nation. However, there have been some rather nasty stereotypes surrounding veterans these days, with many of them being extremely negative. Veterans are often referred to as violent drunks, while others see them as mindless drones that do whatever their commander says to do.

So let’s debunk some of these myths to give you a better understanding of what it’s like to be a veteran in today’s world.

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Veterans are all treated well after they leave the military

Not necessarily. There is definitely a lot of support provided to veterans. In fact, there are many companies fighting for veterans benefits to further improve their lifestyles. But it doesn’t mean that every veteran has a good time once they leave service. Adjusting to civilian life can be difficult, and it’s not uncommon for many of these veterans to return to the military or a similar line of work (such as private security or being a bodyguard) because of their skills.

So this is certainly a myth. Not all veterans are treated well, and there are many who are just treated poorly due to the stereotypes around them.

Veterans all leave the military with emotional instabilities

Perhaps this myth was propagated by TV shows and films, but the reality is that not everyone faces it. There are many people that finish their military service and are able to adjust back to civilian life. They don’t have any underlying trauma, and they also don’t have emotional struggles. But that’s not to say it doesn’t exist.

Emotional trauma and PTSD are real issues, and many people leave the military with deep wounds that might never heal. However, to generalize everyone is wrong, so this is yet another myth.

Veterans are aggressive and only think about fighting

Soldiers are trained to fight–it’s part of their job description. But to say that they’re all aggressive is just wrong. While combat training is a part of their life, they’re also trained in other skills. Some have trade skills, others work with computers, and some are great mechanics. Just because you’re in the military, it doesn’t mean that you are aggressive all the time.

In fact, the opposite might be true. If someone is naturally quite aggressive then military training can help them harness that as a positive. They learn to control their violent urges, and they tame those personalities so that they can come out of the military a better person.

Why are there stereotypes?

Like with most stereotypes, it’s usually caused by a lack of knowledge and understanding. People tend to avoid topics such as war and military because they’re usually associated with negative things. However, the more we understand these veterans, the more we’ll find that we actually have things in common. At the end of the day, we’re all here to fight for peace–we just do it in different ways.