Poker tips

Many of us fondly recall the glorious days of online poker. People were motivated to explore and test their talents at online poker tables, not only for the chance to win money but also to be a part of this global craze. News organisations reported on self-learnt poker specialists who amassed a little fortune from the comfort of their own homes.

The online gambling sector had a fantastic year in 2020, with online poker being one of the best performers. The coronavirus pandemic prompted hundreds of individuals to remain at home and look for at-home fun activities that brought a boom in the gambling sector after years of challenging market conditions that led to slow growth amongst regulated online poker businesses. 

Countries like Canada have been open-heartedly welcoming gambling casinos with less strict rules due to the sudden boom in the demands of licensing. Playing games like online baccarat Canada for real money has been a great source of online witty and fun activities.

What has evolved in online poker since its early days?

Online poker has evolved tremendously since its zenith. As other sorts of online poker games are becoming more appealing and profitable, poker’s craze has practically boomed. People are tempted to play simple casino games like blackjack and slot machines more.

 Players expect interaction, enjoyment, and amusement from the game. Of course, winning is still the most important point in playing, but other factors have become increasingly important.

To know more interesting facts about the poker industry as well as other industries in the business sector, check out guest author Michelle Thomas. 

How to get Rakeback in 2021: a step-by-step guide

Rakeback is not really a new concept in the poker world. Rakeback has had such an impact that online casinos that offer slot games have fashioned their own rendition, called cashback, from them. Many people used to get Rakeback deals via referral links from acquaintances or online casino forums. 

Rakeback are no longer primarily distributed through referrals. Poker Rakeback sites, on the other hand, have made it easier for users to compare and select the best Rakeback deals. Since poker players have gained a better understanding of Rakeback and its rules and circumstances, the bargains have grown more reasonable than in previous years.

Online casinos’ reaction to the advent of online poker

Online poker has traditionally been conducted on websites dedicated only to the game. Reputable online casinos, on the other hand, have found a method to entice more recreational professional players to their side by offering superior live casino games. 

These variations are modified versions of standard poker games such as Texas Hold’em, with a greater emphasis on luck. Interactivity is a feature of online casino games, which allow users to engage with the host and other players as well. Although customized poker games are not intended for tournament play, they do provide an indication of how poker games may evolve in the near future.

How will the market change in the next five years?

Despite the fact that online poker is gaining popularity in 2021, many experts and poker lovers do not expect it to remain so for a long time. This prediction is based on a number of factors, the first of which is that the technology used in online poker is somewhat obsolete when compared to other types of casino betting. 

To attract more players, the industry must focus on developing more sophisticated platforms and services for online poker games, as these are the ones who are most likely to earn. The online poker industry hasn’t put much money into innovative technology so far. If that happens, the rise of online poker might be disastrous.

Finally, it is projected that the social side of online poker would become more essential than ever before in the coming years. There has been speculation about allowing players to create private rooms with close friends, as well as tools that allow them to share and vote on games on social networking sites. 

Streaming is a popular trend in all aspects of gaming, and streaming poker has been around for a long time. Younger folks, in particular, want to engage and share their experiences more than those who began playing poker during its golden age.

Follow:

For most adults, rainy days are best spent indoors nursing a cup of hot cocoa while bingeing the latest Netflix series. But if you’re a parent, you know that this also means having to think of activities that will keep your little ones entertained. While parking the kids in front of the TV is an option, research shows that too much screen time can have negative effects on a child’s development, and it can impact their attention, language skills and memory. Having a Harry Potter marathon party may be fun, but there are other things that you can do to keep the kids occupied without hurting your budget. Consider these fun rainy day activities the next time it’s pouring outside.
Encourage them to be creative
Fostering creative thinking in children can help their overall development as it improves their problem-solving skills, enables them to express themselves, and it boosts their self-confidence. So the next time everyone’s stuck at home because of the rain, consider encouraging your child to unleash their creativity and make something out of materials that you have at home. For instance, they can play house and build a blanket fort, and your little one can choose to make a tent, a teepee, or a canopy-style fort. They can also make a robot out of boxes, or they can paint or draw if they feel like it. For tech-savvy kids, perhaps they’d rather film a vlog to post on YouTube or compose a song using a music composer app. Whatever it is, show your support for their endeavors, and try not to mind the mess that comes with the creative process.
Sing along to your favorite tunes
Singing along to your favorite song is such a fun thing to do on a rainy day. Bring out the karaoke machine and let your kids do their thing. To make it even more fun, string fairy lights throughout the living room, and give them some glow sticks to make them feel like they’re at a concert. If you don’t have a karaoke mic or machine, YouTube is your friend. There are lots of karaoke versions of popular tunes on the site, so your little ones can sing along to kid-friendly pop songs like BTS’ “Permission To Dance” and “Dynamite” or Pharrell Williams’ “Happy.”
Go to a museum
Sometimes, staying inside is not an option, and you and your kids just need to get out for a change of scenery. If this is the case, consider going to a museum. Check online to know the days wherein admission is free. Some museums, such as the American Museum of Natural History and the Brooklyn Museum allow you to pay what you wish, so check out the institutions within your area to see if they offer the same thing so you can save on admission costs. Don’t forget to bring a thermos filled with hot cocoa so you can enjoy a warm drink before heading home.
Entertaining children on a rainy day can be a challenge, but with a little creativity, everyone can have fun while staying indoors. Consider these budget-friendly ideas the next time it rains, and have fun with the kids!
Follow:

child nutrition

As a single parent, it can feel as if the weight of the world is on your shoulders. This is completely understandable. It’s never easy to cope with the challenges of parenthood all on your own. Think, financial responsibilities, the absence of a mother or father figure, and even the emotional aspect of being alone. There’s just too much to take care of, that you may feel there isn’t enough time in a day to do everything, and there’s also isn’t enough money to get by.

It’s definitely a big lie to say that navigating through single-parenthood is a walk in the park. The finances are going to pile up one after the other, in a single-income household. It doesn’t help that you may also feel you don’t have enough extra time to take in other money-earning opportunities, to add a few extra cash on the bank.

We’ve heard you, and you’ve come to the right place. Take this as your saving grace, with friendly and helpful advice on how you can budget and prioritize spending, as a single parent.

  1. Earn Some Extra Money Online

Yes, there aren’t enough hours in a day. You may even be missing out on rest, sleep, or even me-time. So perhaps now you’re shaking your head, asking yourself where you’ll even find the time for another job. 

Well, the good news is that advancements in technology aren’t without advantages. There are so many ways now to earn a few extra cash, one of these is through online means. Just think of the numerous ways how to earn PayPal money, which other parents may be doing as well. And, the great thing about these earning opportunities is that many of them aren’t time-consuming. There’s no one job that’s better than another, as every single parent has their respective time and familial constraints. It’s up to you to select the job which you know can work the best for your needs and your family’s.

  1. Enlist Help Of Family, Whenever You Can

If you have family nearby, consider that a blessing! If you have siblings or parents who are willing to spend an hour per day to be with your kids, so you can work longer or do another job, then why not make use of that opportunity. Childcare can be very expensive, and it can eat up a huge chunk of your budget.

Enlisting the help of your family, whenever possible, doesn’t just give you more time to earn, but it also cuts your childcare costs, freeing up a portion of your income now for savings or other expenses. This kind of strategy can help you stay on top of money management, while your parents are also spending precious quality time with their grandparents. Yes, your parents will always be the best childcare ever. No further questions are needed on that.

  1. Stay Away From Credit Cards

Credit cards are heaven-sent, but only when you absolutely need them. But, when you misuse your cards, these can also send you on a downward spiral and never-ending cycle of debt. So, if you can, stay away from credit cards.

If you don’t need to bring it during your supermarket or school run, then leave it at home. This practice encourages you to pay in cash, whenever possible, and spend only the money that you have.

  1. Set Goals

At the start of every year, you may want to sit down and set financial goals for yourself and your children. This step is very important, especially because you don’t have anyone else to help you with those financial goals. Think, housing, kids’ education, emergency savings, and even travel or self-care, for instance.

When you sit down and set financial goals, this makes it easier for you to remember to set aside a fixed amount from your salary every payday, placed towards the attainment of those goals.

  1. Teach Your Kids To Live Simply

There’s absolutely nothing wrong if your kids are the only ones at school without an iPad. Or, if everyone else went on an international holiday, and you didn’t do so for this year. Perhaps even your kids don’t have the fanciest bikes or the nicest clothes. Contentment starts at home, and if they’re well-trained to be contented, you won’t feel the pressure to spend on expensive holidays or entertainment.

The truth is fun doesn’t have to be expensive. There’ll always be more room for pricier entertainment and travels perhaps someday in the future when the budget permits it. But for now, even those simple cost-free, or cheap activities can be just as fun as the more expensive holidays everyone else is doing, for as long as you’re together as a family.

Conclusion

With the tips above, are you now ready to give your budget a little stretch, as a single parent? These may seem difficult to get by, for starters. But, once you get the hang of it, eventually, you’ll begin to enjoy the financial benefits and ease these tips may come along with. You may be living in a single-income household, with all of your kids’ needs piling up, but this doesn’t mean you have to suffer and fall into debt all the time. Now, you can finally come up with budget tactics which are an integral part, to live a financially stable life. 

Follow:

Everyone gets overwhelmed or stuck in a rut from time to time, and that’s totally normal. Finding something that helps us unwind and get out of that bad mood can be quite difficult sometimes. There are days when we just feel down and the only way to get out of our funk is to use an extra dose of self-care to rid ourselves of unnecessary stress and enjoy life.

If you run out of ideas, below are some examples that might help you feel better.

Pamper yourself

Pampering always makes us feels better. Finding time for yourself to unwind, relax and try a new beauty routine can be just what you were looking for. Nowadays you can find many celebrities sharing their skincare routine and of course, everyone wants to try them out – from popular Korean beauty skincare products to modern techniques that make your skin look years younger. 

In fact, more and more people are using microneedling to firm up their skin since it generates new collagen and skin tissue for smoother, firmer, and more toned skin. It’s minimally invasive and very effective in treating minor scarring related to wounds, acne, and aging. Keep in mind that this technique will provide a brighter and firmer skin, and it’s way better than at-home rollers.

Adopt a furry friend

What better way to lift your mood than to snuggle next to a cute little furry friend. Some people consider their pets as antidepressants since they provide unconditional love and always bring a smile to our faces. Just remember that adopting a puppy means you’ll have to take care of them, like providing the necessary medical care by having regular visits to the vet.

Another thing you might want to consider is a pet insurance plan which has plenty of benefits for you and your furry friend. Some people struggle with choosing the perfect insurance plan because they either don’t know which type of coverage they need or which one they can afford. This is why you need to make use of pet insurance comparison websites. These virtual pet insurance marketplaces do a great job delving deep into what each insurance provider offers, helping you make a research-based decision on the best insurance plan for your furry friend.

Consider looking for the best policy that will help you save money while still protecting your pet’s needs. Cuddles will be much safer once you have your pet insured.

Make time for a delicious meal with friends

Did you know that one of the secrets to a longer life and happiness is communicating and socializing with friends? Happiness indeed is only real when shared. Having some alone time can be quite pleasant and relaxing, but so is hanging out with friends. 

People are made to socialize and have delicious meals together while chatting about the ups and downs of life. Having friends who you can talk to whenever life becomes challenging is gold. Sometimes all you need is someone to listen to you and encourage you. 

Finding a way and making time to see your friends while sharing delicious food and laughs can boost up your mood immediately. And instead of sitting home alone and eating unhealthy snacks, do the opposite and treat yourself to a nice meal along with a comforting chat.

Read a book or watch a movie

Reading a book, watching a movie or a TV show, is a very popular hobby among many people. Some like to read books while others prefer to relax by watching a good movie or a TV show. This can be a great journey to improve your mood and relax your mind. 

Dive into an unfamiliar world and immerse yourself without thinking about your problems and worries. Grab a random book off the shelf, pick a cozy spot and get to reading. Some people who struggle with mood swings, depression, and anxiety, find peace and calm in these types of hobbies. 

Exploring different genres and keeping your mind open can change your perspective about some topics. Call up a friend and ask them to go to the movies. Watching a good movie, while laughing and eating popcorn is way cheaper than therapy. Select your favorite TV show, or find a new one that will allow you to relax your mind and it will be even better if you find a comedy. Laughing prolongs life, and that’s a fact.

Shopping

Shopping has a special place in the list of things you should do to lift your mood. This is one of the most common connections with the expression “treat yourself”. When someone is having a bad day they often unwind by going shopping. For some people, there’s something calming about going through different stores, browsing, and buying something trivial. 

Many people treat their loneliness and depression with shopping. Especially if they have money to spend, shopping in a big mall can feel like Disneyland for adults. Shopping doesn’t always mean spending a lot of money on things you don’t need to feel better, and you don’t necessarily have to buy a bunch of things. 

For example, buying something that you’ve always wanted but never had time to go and buy it, can feel so rewarding. If shopping is the thing that makes you feel better, lifts your spirit, and allows you to enjoy life, then don’t hesitate and don’t care what other people say.

Final thoughts

The options for treating oneself to feel better are endless from dancing like nobody’s watching to riding a bike on a sunny day, whatever floats your boat. Adopting a puppy, for example, is a long-term journey with smiles and cuddles. Choose what you want and need the most and never hesitate to do it. If your efforts to lift your mood are not working and have taken a toll on your relationships, or work, think about talking to a mental health professional that will help you find the root of the problem and work with you on feeling better.  

 

Follow:

Out of the four seasons, summer calls for the most versatility. This is because this time of the year is characterized by warm, sunny days, beautiful blooms and bright colors which can be best embraced through fashion.

From cropped tank tops to floral sundresses, every fashionable girl’s summer wardrobe consists of numerous clothing pieces in lots of colors and with artful designs that keep up with the spirit of the season. One of the great things about them is that you can mix and match different garments to create infinite summer looks.

All you need is several wardrobe staples and rotate them all throughout the season to create outfits that work together. This will further help you when you are traveling as you will know how to mix and match using only a few essentials.

To get you started, we have come up with five looks that will take your summer fashion game to the next level.

Puff sleeve tops and wide-leg trousers

Putting together a stylish work outfit when it’s incredibly hot outside can be challenging. What you should be looking for is something to keep you comfortable during your commute and not make you freeze under the AC in the office.

One very stylish choice is a puff sleeve top and wide-leg trousers. While most fashionistas pair the trousers with button-down shirts, others go for a chic blouse that features puff sleeves. Not only is this top perfectly work-appropriate, but it also works well with denim for your after-work get-togethers.

To complete your look, add some beautiful black pearls, in fact, a black pearl necklace will look stunning in a neutral color outfit. Make sure you take a look at a Tahitian pearl buying guide to see which size and hue will suit you best. 

Graphic tees and printed khakis

T-shirts and khaki shorts are another very popular summer outfit combination. They both come in many colors, designs and styles, all of which are perfectly aligned with the season. You can wear either clothing piece to any occasion and match it with other garments to create numerous comfy looks.

For example, if you are going on a coffee date with your friends or running errands, opting for a cool ghost shirt is an excellent summer top choice. Instead of pairing with plain color khaki shorts, you can mix them with printed ones to add more playfulness to your ensemble.

Top off your unusual and stylish outfit with a summer hat and a pair of strappy flat sandals and feel comfy and trendy all day long.

Denim cutoffs and bodysuits

Another popular bottom choice for summertime are denim cutoffs which can be worn to both casual outings and night outs with your friends. They come in many styles and each can be combined with different tops to create infinite looks.

One outfit idea you can put together includes denim shorts, a solid color tank top and a pair of white sneakers. This outfit is perfect for daytime outings when you want to feel comfortable and chic.

For nighttime, all you need to do is switch your tank top with a black bodysuit and a black blazer. Complete your look with a pair of gold sandals and a crossbody bag and you got yourself a cute summer ensemble. Finish off by pulling your hair up in a messy bun and adding some hoop earrings.

Summer dress and strappy heels

A summer staple which can be mixed and matched in endless ways is the summer dress. This clothing piece comes in many lengths, colors and prints, making it the perfect choice for brunch dates, casual and formal parties.

For example, if your friend is having a pool party, then you should definitely consider wearing a lace mini dress because it is very comfortable and stylish at the same time. You can pair it with a pair of flats contrasting the color of the dress to add more vibrancy to your look.

If you want to wear the same dress at night, you can combine it with lace-up sandals and a statement clutch to make your outfit more eye-catching. Top off with layered necklaces and bracelets and be the center of attention.

Matching sets

Probably the most comfortable summer look you can go for is the matching set. It consists of two pieces, usually a cropped top and a skirt or shorts, which you can wear together for a seamless, coordinated look. However, if you want to mix it up, you can split the pieces and pair them with other garments.

For example, one option is to combine the bottom part of the matching set with a solid color tee to create a sports look. You can wear this outfit with sneakers and enhance it with a statement accessory piece like a bandana.

For an informal, but fashionable ensemble for a night out with friends, you can pair the cropped tank top with a pair of white jeans and strappy sandals.

Final thoughts

If you want to experiment with different clothing styles, summer is the perfect time to do it. The season is all about sunshine, bright colors and unusual prints, allowing you to put together all kinds of cool outfits that show your personality and keep up with rising temperatures. From graphic tees and khaki shorts to maxi dresses and matching sets, pick your favorites and mix and match them together.

If you need inspiration, borrow some of the ideas from our article and be fashionable all summer long. 

Follow:

how to pack cables

Your electronic gadgets and belongings are the ones that need much care while packing and moving. A slight carelessness may damage the product. Electronic assets are expensive and useful. They serve a lot of purposes that include both fun and work. Today’s digital life is unimaginable without the usage of electronic mediums. This worldwide pandemic has made people of all ages more dependable on their gadgets. Be it schooling or office work; we are bound to use electronic materials more than ever before. Let’s focus on the precautions suggested by the best cross country movers while packing and moving the electronics and organize cables for moving. 

Pack it Right

Well, you need to pack the electronics individually so that you can identify which thing is packed under a particular box. You can write on the box with a marker pen what is in it. This method is helpful when you have many devices occupying one room. Keep corresponding wires and cables in the same box. Warp these pieces with the devices so that you don’t lose track of them. If you are moving a device unboxed, place the device’s corresponding component in a plastic bag. Label it with the name of the device in it. Now place the bag in another box where other items are kept as well. When movers unload the truck, they will place the device and components related to it.

Sort Out the Problems of Tangled Cables

Make sure you remove all the cables and wires from a device before packing. This will not let any damage to happen during the transition. Connection pieces can bend or break if those are plugged in. So, make sure no device is jostled during transit. Zip ties, rubber bands are useful to keep cables from becoming tangled. Tangling is often a frustrating problem while unpacking electronics and plugging a device. Take it one step further and label your neatly organized cords. For a DIY version, apply some creativity with washi tape & scissors. Take some photos with your smartphone before and after connecting. This will help you to remember how to reconnect again after moving. 

Keep Your Chargers Close 

You may want to bring small electronic gadgets like mobiles, tablets, iPods with you while moving. Keep your chargers with you. The charging cable with the power bank should be carried closely along with the devices all time. A backpack or messenger bag is good to carry. This will help you stay organized during a trip. Don’t forget to remove the batteries from remotes. Charge the gadgets before starting a journey. Taking some extra time to organize and pack your electronics is worth it. You are likely to enjoy unboxing things and settling in more when you don’t have a tangled mess of wires to deal with. 

Packing The Cords

The right way of packing the cables depends on the type of cords. Therefore, make sure whether they are fixed, retractable, or detachable. Small kitchen appliances usually have fixed power cords. It is the same for big items such as refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine, cooking stove etc. Your Television’s power supply cable is also fixed to the unit. Unplug the power cable from the wall socket. Do not wrap the cord around the unit. It may damage the wire. Instead, fold up the wire carefully in a long and thin loop the same way a new cord is folded. Wrapping with bubble wrap is a safer option. The looped-up cord should not get crushed under any appliance when it is placed into a cardboard box. 

Some More Precautions

Save your important files, photos, documents on the computer. Additionally, you can back up your PC before you pack it. Sturdy boxes are a little larger than electronic devices. Try to use the original packing of an item if it is still at your house. Electronic devices are sensitive to static electricity. Therefore, anti-static packing materials are better. Avoid packing with materials that can scratch your tool. Electronic devices are sensitive to high temperatures. So, there should not be a huge difference between the places a move happens. Keep the boxes unmarked where you put some expensive items such as your DSLR camera, iPhone. This is to avoid potential theft. It is a good idea to wrap electronics with linen and clean paper. This will not let dust go inside the electronic device. Seal the boxes completely with strong packing tape. Cover your belongings with moving pads, light blankets, or sheets for more protection. 

Conclusion

So, these are some useful tips to follow while preparing for moving. All your belongings are precious, but electronic ones need more care, and they are expensive too. Some of the electronic devices are bought once or twice in a lifetime. A good moving company will take your assets to the destination safely. Besides that, you must pack the items in a well-mannered way so that they reach safely. We hope our article serves you better ideas regarding the above purpose and makes you stress free.

 

Follow:

Sometimes I think about how my life would look as a pie chart.

I’m pretty sure everyone does this, just like I imagine most people enjoy Venn diagrams as much as I do. Everyone loves a Venn diagram right? Right.

The pie chart fantasy is a visual representation of a long held fascination with the idea that when I die I’ll be presented with some sort of searchable database, where I can access information about anything and everything I have done in my life. I don’t believe in God, but if I did, God would basically be a gigantic spreadsheet.

‘God,’ I’d ask, ‘exactly how many times in my life did I walk into the kitchen to make a cup of tea and get distracted and leave again, never having made a drink?’

‘27,429 times,’ God would say, in a robot voice.

‘God,’ I’d ask, ‘exactly how many people did I sleep with in that dubious 18 months around the time I turned 20?’

God would whirr and click for a while, smoke might come out. You get the idea.

I imagine a not insignificant slice of the pie would be taken up with time spent thinking ‘I really should do some work I suppose’ and sighing a bit, and continuing to watch Golden Girls. I swear that some days I spend more time ALMOST working than I do actually DOING the work. It’s probably the part of being self-employed that I find the hardest, the letting go of the guilt around work when you’re not doing it. I started a part-time job, still on a self-employed basis, back in November and in that whole time I’ve only had four days completely off. I was even doing Instagram stories on Christmas Day.

There is something about being self-employed that makes it hard to switch off. The pandemic has made it worse because I’ve been working at home a lot more and the boundaries have become blurred. Even after 13 years of freelancing, I still struggle to completely let myself off the hook – I’m always thinking of other things I COULD be doing, or SHOULD be doing. It’s a seemingly never ending loop of procrastination – perhaps my brain thinks that a general sense of obligation counts for something, even if I’m not actually getting stuff done?

The thing of course that’s so frustrating is that thinking about it never actually equates to DOING it – I don’t spend 14 hours a day tied to my desk or anything, I just waste a lot of time feeling like I should be. I wonder though if without the constant internal nagging, I’d ever get anything done at all?

Can you actually get things done without discipline?

In Oliver Burkeman’s latest newsletter he talks about this and references an article, written around the time I first became freelance, that is about getting stuff done by not being mean to yourself.

In it the author talks about my exact problem, that idea of spending a huge part of your life setting yourself goals, writing schedules, tormenting yourself into getting stuff done and being miserable. Half way through and I was on board. ‘This women gets it,’ I thought, ‘any minute now she’s going to reveal the secret to my eternal happiness.’

(This is another thing I tend to do – imagine that one thing is going to change everything for the better, if only I could find out what the one thing was.)

Her secret it turned out, was kind of bullshit if I’m honest. It was pleasure – doing stuff just because you want to. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for pleasure, I just don’t think it’s necessarily a valid approach to work. View Post

Follow:

In collaboration with Car Guide

How confident do you feel when it comes to buying a new car? Are you the sort of person who spends hours researching and comparing running costs, doing a thorough car check and looking into the MOT history of each potential purchase? Or maybe you just buy the first one you see in a blind panic and hope for the best?

I’ve spent most of my life in the second category.

I’ve essentially just applied my principle of second crappest and kept my fingers crossed. Sometimes I’ve not even done that, like the time I bought a 20 year old metro on eBay, unseen, for £87. Or there was that time with the satsuma, which it’s best we don’t dwell on.

Basically when it comes to buying new cars, I’m scared. I know nothing about cars or what I’m meant to be looking for in a new car, and so I bury my head in the sand. ‘Do you not even get a free HPI check?’ you may ask. No, no I do not. Honestly, I’d not even heard of an HPI check until I wrote this post. I can just about manage an MOT check for dates, (mainly because I forget for my own car’s and have got good at checking), but I have no idea how to check car history, what questions I’m meant to ask a seller, what repairs to expect at different points in a car’s life – nothing.

I WANT to feel more confident buying a new car though. I do so many other things completely on my own, I feel like I’m letting myself down when it comes to cars. I feel like I’m letting WOMANKIND down. It’s just a car, I need to pull myself together and get some SKILLS, especially if I’m going to realise my midlife crisis dream of buying and renovating my own campervan. (I may not have mentioned this yet. Let’s save this as a story for another day.)

If your feel the same way as me about buying a new car then BUCKLE UP – I’m about to take you on a rollercoaster of a ride around the world of car checks.

Why should I use a car checker?

An excellent first question! Why is it important to get a car check? Doing a car check is a really simple way to boost your car confidence and should be a first step when you’re thinking about buying a new car. A free car check can quickly highlight serious issues like whether or not the car has had a plate or colour change, been exported, might be an ex-taxi – all the classic red flag stuff that you want to avoid when buying a new car.

Doing a quick car check online can help rule out the real bloopers. (Wouldn’t it be good if you could do an online check for potential new partners? Pop in a few basic details and find out if they’re secretly married, have a history of being an absolute loon, that sort of thing. I might write that down as a business idea.)

Can’t I just Google a cheap HPI check?

Well I can’t stop you, obviously, I’m not your mother, (unless this is you reading Bee, in which case I am, but still can’t stop you.) Keep in mind though that not all car checks are created equally. So how do you find the best car checker?

Obviously I can’t claim to have tested every single car check service, but I HAVE had a lovely long chat with the founders of Car Guide and found out all about what makes their car checker different from a lot of the others. I was impressed, not least because Mima, one of the founders of Car Guide, has three cats just like me, AND I got to meet one of them – Tabitha – on our Zoom chat. I find it very hard not to trust someone with three cats. View Post

Follow:

How to save moneyMany of us struggle to save money. Here in the UK, less than half of us have enough saved to cover 3-6 months of essential spending. This means that losing our job or getting an unexpected bill can leave us struggling to make ends meet.

It is, therefore, probably more important than ever that we all try and save a little bit of extra cash. Unfortunately, many of us are still deciding not to though, either because we’re “waiting until we earn more” or because “we don’t want to give up the things we like”.

This is a common misunderstanding though, as it is possible to save money and still do the things you find fun. Here are some tips on how to do just that.

Dining Out

Sharing a meal with loved ones is an activity that is found in every culture. We come together to break bread and talk about our days, share what’s new in our lives, and tell anecdotes and jokes. However, doing this in a restaurant on a regular basis can really add up.

Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to do it while still saving money. The way to save the most is to ditch the restaurants and cook for yourself. This is possible even if you’re someone who is likely to burn a salad as meal kits from companies like Hello Fresh or “dine-in” deals from supermarkets like M&S mean you can enjoy quality dishes for a fraction of the price.

If you’re really against cooking, then why not invite your friends for a takeaway? Take out food is typically cheaper than dining in and you won’t have to pay for expensive drinks.

But if you still have your heart set on getting the full restaurant experience, then look for vouchers or find days (often in mid-week) when the restaurant offers discounted deals.

Gaming

Most of us play games, even if it is only occasionally. Traditional PC and console games can cost a lot of money, upwards of £50 a pop, but thankfully there are ways we can enjoy great titles without having to spend anywhere near as much.

The first thing you can do is to just keep playing the games you already have. The difference between the annual releases of some of the most popular titles is so small that it’s sometimes barely worth paying extra for.

If you do still want it, just hold off for a few months and wait for the price to come down as you can often pick games up for as much as 50% off if you’re patient.

You can also find free-to-play games that contain many of the same features. There are hundreds of thousands of these free options in both the Google Play and Apple App Stores, so you shouldn’t have much trouble finding some you’ll like.

Another great way to enjoy games while saving is to take advantage of promotions. Many online casinos run promotions offering free spins in various circumstances which can be used to play video slot games for free. Marketplaces like Steam and the Epic Games Store also run special offers where you can find huge discounts on great titles.

Money saving tips

Travel

Even if we love our jobs, we all need a break now and then. A change of scenery, even if it’s just for a few days, can make the world of difference. Unfortunately, a holiday can cost us hundreds or even thousands.

Simultaneously going away and looking after our finances can be quite a challenge, but thankfully, there are ways you can do both.

Firstly, booking ahead of time is often a good way to make a saving, as is travelling mid-week, and outside of public holidays. Tools like Skyscanner can often help you see when the cheapest and most expensive times are to fly in order to help you find the right dates.

Staying in serviced apartments can also be a way to save money as it means you don’t have to eat out in restaurants for every meal.

You can also use comparison sites to find the lowest hotel rates, the best travel insurance deals, and the cheapest prices for other essentials like transfers and car hire.

If you’re travelling abroad, don’t buy foreign currency at the airport. Use comparison tools to find the best rates or take advantage of overseas spending cards from banks like Halifax and Virgin Money, and fintech brands like Curve.

Follow:

After getting done with your schooling most of us want to enter the corporate world early. It is not just because we became adults but we want to be independent financially also. When you have a talent and you know you have the caliber to perform you tend to look for a reasonable job to start with.

Even, I am working right after my senior secondary class. It helps you to know the world from the very beginning. It gives you a good idea about the popular skills required in the market and quite obvious reasons why you should have it.

The question comes to what kind of jobs you should do so that you start earning money.

  • Content Writing: It is one way to earn money. Initially you will start with earning pocket money but with experience you can become your own master. Raghav who pays for papers says that if you have good command over languages like English, Hindi or any regional language you can be a content writer. You should have good vocabulary.

Even if you do not have good vocabulary, with patience, time and practice you can improve it. You should develop the ability to research and read habits so that you can update yourself regularly in the area of your writing.

If you have technical education or are undergoing such courses you can even try your hand at it too. It will be beneficial as there is more demand for technical writers in the market. You can also enroll yourself in vocational courses which are of shorter durations like 1 month, 3 months or 6 months and give you good exposure on how to start and apply for work in it.

On different job portals you will get jobs posted for content writer and requirement of interns in the same field. If your work is appreciated by the company you might land up getting a permanent job also.

  • Marketing: It is one of the versatile fields which can accommodate people from any specialization and any interest. It is the core of the business. Without marketing it is not possible to reach customers and make profits. Radhe who is looking for html assignment help says that if you are good at convincing people this is the right option for you. You can earn handsomely by selling products.

You can choose your own time. It can be a national or international market based upon your preferences and requirement of the position. These days you have the option to promote products on social media as well which again is of interest among youth. They can make constructive use of it to earn money.

  • Be an Entrepreneur: Yes! You heard it right. Why go for a job when you are capable enough to run a business and create employment for others. You can join your family business or can start something of your own. Why I am saying this is because you are young and you have more risk taking capacity as compared to your parents. And business is all about risk.

There are various products and options available to choose your company product. But let me tell you there is nothing better than taking your family legacy forward as the new generation always infuses new ways to reach customers and add innovative products. To get motivated you can read articles about young entrepreneurs online and their success stories.

If you have an idea, make a presentation and pitch it to venture capitalists. People are dying to invest in workable models and innovative ideas. You will not only get funds but also regular guidance to run your business. So what are you waiting for!

  • Part-time jobs: There are many part-time available for college students which help them to meet their regular expenses. Generally these jobs can be done after college hours. In some places these jobs are offered on a weekly hour’s basis and in some places on a per hour basis. Somya who provides online class help says that such jobs can be done at a retail store, eateries outlet like McDonalds, KFC, Burger King etc., repairing shop, entertainment centers, driving with Uber or OLA with a valid driving license, assisting in groceries store or being an assistant to some professional. The best part of such jobs is you can work for more hours on weekends as colleges do not run classes on those days. It is a good option to meet your daily expenses. Moreover you get an idea how these businesses make money.
  • Insurance advisor: The insurance sector is on a booming stage and you can take advantage of it. Though it requires persuasion, you have the potential to do it. You can start with the bestselling policy in your country and later start helping clients to opt for different companies’ policies according to their needs.

Before starting you might need to clear an exam to get a license to act as advisor. It is easy to do and with a day’s practice you can easily crack it. You get good commission according to the amount of the policy.

And if you are able to meet the target then you are eligible for further rewards from the company. The best thing in this sector is customers are loyal towards the brand if they are getting the desired benefit. Your networks and relations with them help you to take it as a full time career also. Being a novice you ask your parents to help you out with some contacts and you can form a chain in the same manner.

It is good to be independent but be aware of the fraudsters. They trap people who are in need of money and ask them to do wrong acts. They even blackmail them afterwards and as a caution it is your duty to stay safe. It is always better to discuss with parents or some responsible person and then go ahead with your decision.

Follow:

Firstly, can we take a moment to throw up a bit in our mouths at the expression ‘freedom day’? It’s tacky and gross, but more to the point it’s wrong.

Freedom day is all very well is you are fit and healthy and happy to be out and about amidst a virus, (which I am and I appreciate that), but the virus hasn’t gone away. If you are vulnerable, physically or emotionally, the idea of suddenly now not even having the protection of face masks in busy places must be terrifying. Not exactly freeing for sure.

But this post isn’t a call to arms of any kind, because this is a personal blog and so it’s All About Me, dur.

I’ve not been having a great week.

Okay, that’s not true, Monday was good – we had a few hours left of our motorhome break, (see my Goboony stories highlight on Instagram), and then after we’d dropped the van off Belle and I did a casual Egyptian themed escape room on the way home in 45 minutes – one of our best times in a while. I’m not saying we’re competitive, but there was a lot of high fiving and post room debriefing around how amazing we both are.

And then we got home and everything sort of collapsed in on itself. The thought of having to go back to ‘work’, and I admit I use this term as a freelancer in the loosest possible sense, felt appalling. Not only did I just NOT WANT TO, but I was sure that no one would ever want to give me any work ever again. I checked my blog traffic, I felt sad, my thighs felt vast, the house looked a mess – fair to say I was overwhelmed.

I was hot though, and tired, and I know that coming home from holidays can be tricky. A good night’s sleep I thought, then I’ll feel better.

I didn’t feel better.

I actually woke up on Tuesday with a slight but noticeable sense of dread – something that hasn’t happened in months. I eased myself into the day with coffee and a book in the garden, finally pulling myself together to start work at 10am. At 10.05am I shut my laptop and went upstairs to see Belle. On the way up the stairs I started crying and by the time I sat on her bed I was in full on toddler mode.

‘I don’t WANT to work,’ I sobbed. ‘It’s not fair. Why aren’t I rich? I just want to drive around in a van and have coffees and go on steam trains. I just want to be retired. I don’t want to have to DO things, I want someone ELSE to do them.’

I couldn’t have been much more dramatic about it if I’d actually stamped my feet, or perhaps peed my pants in protest.

After about ten minutes of me crying and Belle sympathetically patting me on the arm and asking if I was pre-menstrual, (maybe, who even knows anymore?), I realised that it didn’t matter how much I cried, the work would still be there in the end, so I set myself a 20 minute timer and got on with it.

It was hard though.

My mind wandered and if I let it go too far from the screen I would feel overwhelmed and make small, pathetic whimpering noises.

I’m boring myself now with this story.

The upshot is that I thought about it a bit and I began to wonder if it wasn’t entirely a coincidence that my anxiety had coincided with ‘freedom day’, so I did what all good influencers do and I posted on Instagram about it.

‘There is something about moving on that makes me sad,’ I said. ‘Amidst the horror and the fear there were moments that I grew to love – the empty roads, the nods in the park to other solitary walkers, the thrill of a takeaway coffee on another weekend walk because there’s nothing else to do but actually you don’t mind because you’ve grown to love the space and the solitude and the slowness.’

I really am sad to let that go.

What I think feels so sad and scary about it is that we will never be able to willingly recreate it. While we can learn lessons from it, try to give our own lives a slower pace, to hold on to the good parts about lockdown, we will only really be able to do it on a very small scale, and probably only by retreating into our own lives and homes, and that’s not the same.

It’s not the same as walking to the beach and it being deserted and being able to see a vast, quiet landscape in all directions. That’s the bit that scares me and makes me sad – that we have all rushed back in to fill the spaces and no matter how much we want individually to slow our lives, we can’t control everything around us.

(I know that this is the crux of it because when I wrote this bit I felt my breath catch and I cried a little bit. I find writing useful like that, as a way to help me figure out what’s bothering me. Bit awkward that I’m in Costa waiting for my car to be serviced next door, but I don’t think anyone noticed because, ironically, it’s too busy and loud.)

What I’m saying is, freedom day hasn’t left me feeling free. During lockdown I felt freedom from decision overwhelm, from the pressure to socialise, to shop, to fill the space, and now I feel crowded, physically and emotionally.

While we may have gained some practical freedoms, it feels like so many others have been taken away.

Freedom day

Photo by Nicholas Sampson on Unsplash

 

Follow:

Advertisement feature in association with Lakeland Furniture

I recently set up an alert for houses near me on Rightmove.

I’m not one of those people who normally has Rightmove as a hobby, but I got a bit overexcited a couple of months ago when a house identical to mine came on the market in the next street for £85,000 more than I paid for mine four year ago. That might not seem much in the grand house buying scheme of things, but given that I only paid £180,000 for mine, it feels significant.

So, then I started having house move fantasies, obviously, not really stopping to consider the cost of actually moving, or the fact that if house prices have increased I’d also need to spend more… BLAH BLAH BLAH! Not listening! I just wanted to look at the pictures okay? Let me be.

What I quickly discovered was that there are two types of house sellers out there. The first type don’t seem inclined even to make their beds, and have random piles of crap scattered everywhere, leaving you not entirely sure what a room is even meant to be. I swear I looked at one last week where in one room they just had what appeared to be a giant metal safe and a box full of chains.

And then you have the second type, who have breakfast bars. 

A breakfast bar has always felt to me like the height of sophistication, and the second type know how to work them. The breakfast bars in type two photos are adorned with overflowing bowls of plump fruits, luring me into the fantasy that if only I bought this house, I would become the sort of woman who enjoyed apples, who would actively choose to snack on an apple in fact, even over a Jaffa cake.

Type two breakfast bars have bar stools that will make you feel like you’re in swanky cocktail bar. All you have to do is perch yourself on a type two bar stool and the husband/butler of dreams will appear, ready to slide a hand crafted cocktail down the breakfast bar towards you while he whips you up some sort of wholesome dinner involving steamed sea bass.

‘All you need is this breakfast bar,’ the type two Rightmove pictures whisper at me, ‘and your life will be complete.’

You’re feeling it right?

To further immerse myself in the breakfast/cocktail bar fantasy I went old school and made myself a Pinterest board. Remember when everyone made Pinterest boards? I haven’t used Pinterest for ages but oh my goodness it was such fun. Cutting and sticking without getting glue all over your clothes.

This is my breakfast cocktail bar board. You can see the vibe I’m going for can’t you? I will never be able to afford it, but a woman can dream.

View Post

Follow: