Tips for Buying Less Junk Food

by Jessica Sommerfield · 0 comments

Junk food is one of the most unrealized perils of grocery shopping trips. In the last few decades, we’ve seen an explosion of newly available brands, products, and varieties of nutritionally-deficit food in the grocery store aisles. Some might think of this as a luxury of the developed world — access to and affordability of food that isn’t essential. While it’s nice to know you can afford to spend money on snacks and treats, it can quickly develop into a habit that negatively affects your health and grocery budget.

I can’t say I don’t ever buy junk food. There are certain ‘unnecessary’ food items I enjoy as a treat on occasion. But I’ve learned that not only do unnecessary foods create a deficit in my nutrition (and a surplus on my waistline), they are a waste of money. And just how do you avoid all those tasty treats and impulse buys when marketers and retailers present them so appealingly for you? Plenty of willpower, and the following tips.

Don’t shop hungry! The best possible advice for avoiding impulsive junk food purchases is to shop on a full stomach. We’re all more susceptible to high-fat and high-calorie foods the hungrier we are — it’s just part of human nature. If you have to shop right after work, make sure you eat a quick healthy snack so you’re better prepared to fight the temptation of the ice cream aisle.

Shop with cash. Shopping with cash is a proven psychological trick for spending less on junk food items (and any items, for that matter). When you pay with cash, your mind registers the transfer of money more concretely than when you use your debit or credit card. You will ‘feel the pain’ of spending $100 on groceries more acutely when you have to hand over a fresh, crisp bill. This reality check with what you’re spending, in turn, helps keep those impulse items out of your cart. You won’t feel guilty for spending money on food you need; you may feel guilty for spending money on junk food.

Shop with a list (and stick to it). Never underestimate the importance of a list. Like using cash, it’s another visual reminder to you of what you’re there for — essential food items. It should consist of sale items you may want to stock up on while they’re the right price, items you have good coupons for, and food items you plan to incorporate into your weekly or monthly meal planning. Even if you end up forgetting a few items you didn’t write down, it’s almost better to make a return trip for just those items than trying to shop by memory and overspending on items you didn’t need.

Shop the periphery. It’s often said that the healthiest, most essential food items are placed on the outskirts of the grocery store, and that’s true. Most produce and bread departments are located near the front, while dairy and meat tend to be placed along the outer walls. Shop this periphery for your essentials and venture with caution into the aisles for the processed food items on your list (staples such as rice and pasta, canned or frozen vegetables, cooking oil,etc.). The further into the aisles you wander, the more processed and junk foods you’ll encounter and be tempted to buy.

Avoid impulse buys at the register. Junk food is placed strategically by the registers to tempt you as you wait in line. As hard as it is, resist the temptation to add anything to your cart after you’ve selected a line. Do whatever it takes — flip through a magazine, play on your smartphone, anything that keeps you distracted from throwing impulse purchases into your cart. If you have kids, this part of the store is often the worst trial, because they’ll start asking you for treats — “It’s only $.96, mom.” These small items may not seem like much, but by the time you’ve purchased treats or drinks for everyone, you may end up spending as much as $10-$15 more than you intended to!

These are just a few ways you can save yourself money and improve your family’s health by keeping junk food out of your shopping cart. Do you have any other tips for avoiding the junk food trap?

4 Dinner Ideas for Hot Days

by Jessica Sommerfield · 0 comments

When you get home from a long, hot day at work (or at play) in the summertime, the last thing you want to do is cook and heat up your home (which may not be air conditioned) even more. This is why it’s good to have a number of go-to foods and meals available or prepped so you don’t just give in and order take-out. You shouldn’t feel like planning and preparing cold meals is a cop-out, either. It’s a way to save money on utilities used to heat your stove and cool your home, while also saving yourself a little time. Since dinner options often become monotonous, especially when you’re limiting yourself to cold choices, here are a few frugal and healthy cold dinners for those hot days of summer.

Creative Salads

I’m not talking about the kind drenched in mayonnaise, potatoes, or macaroni. I’m talking about the fresh kind. While those kinds of salads are fine in small portions on occasion, they’re also loaded with fat and carbohydrates. Keep it simple and healthy — spinach or romaine, chicken or tuna, chopped veggies, low-fat cheese, chick peas or beans, dried or fresh fruit, and nuts are a few topping ideas. = Shop at your local farmers market if you want to stay local and organic, while making use of the freshest possible ingredients. Get creative. See what’s leftover in your fridge from last week’s cooking, and consider if you can make it into salads for your family’s dinner. Do you have leftover burgers? Crumble them up and toss them on some greens to make a taco salad.

Bean salads and ‘cowboy caviar’ recipes are also a great alternative to a traditional salad. They utilize healthier dressings while packing a hefty punch of protein.

Crockpot Meals

Crockpots don’t generate a lot of heat, but if you’re concerned, you can always place them in an outlying room such as the garage or patio. This keeps you from slaving over a hot stove or oven, and you’ll still be able to enjoy a warm, cooked meal. This also save you time because you can get the ingredients together the night before, get it going in the morning, and let it cook while you’re away.

The Grill

Do you only use your grill when you’re throwing a party? Why not all summer? Yes, a grill generates heat, but at least it’s outside, where you can enjoy the fresh air as well. Grilling is fast, and arguably one of the healthiest ways to cook meat; not to mention one of the tastiest ways to cook corn, potatoes, fresh veggies, and even fruit.

Sandwich wraps, yogurt, and fruit

Just because it’s dinner doesn’t mean you have to eat ‘dinner foods.’ A variety of what we usually consider lunch foods are perfect for hot weather, because they require little prep and are served cold. Make some healthy tuna or chicken wraps and serve them with fruit or yogurt. This type of lunch dinner creates the feeling of a picnic, so you might even want to capitalize on it by breaking out a checkered table cloth or eating outside.

Don’t let your ideas of what’s appropriate for dinner limit you to slaving away over a hot stove during the summer months. Get creative, utilize coupons, and stay cool!

Shop for Antique Furniture Like an Old Pro

by Gina Blitstein · 0 comments

In today’s mass-produced, disposable culture, it’s sometimes nice to seek out pieces of furniture for our home that were built according to individual taste and for the purpose of lasting many generations. To find such pieces now, one must look to antique furniture, which was crafted at least a century ago. While it would seem that furniture as old as that would be worn out, that’s rarely the case. Often built better and of higher-quality materials than modern pieces, much furniture considered to be antique has plenty of life and charm to offer.

Even if one is able to spend considerable money on high-quality furniture manufactured today, modern pieces may lack certain elements that create the appeal of antiques, which include:

history
quality
craftsmanship
investment value

Locating antique furniture

Antique shops abound but they’re not the only places to find antique furniture. Private home sales, estate sales and even the Internet are rife with potential treasures. When shopping for antiques, bear in mind that furniture with history can become romanticized in our minds, making it all too easy to overestimate its value based more upon emotion than facts. The most important thing is to deal with someone you feel is reputable and who will provide you with true information about the furniture you’re considering purchasing.

When considering an antique furniture purchase, make certain you are indeed looking at an antique and not something newer or an antique reproduction. Buying antique furniture wisely takes some basic knowledge and considerable research.

Consider these factors when making your final purchasing decision to ensure you purchase a piece with value for a fair price:

1. Is it really antique?

To identify a piece as antique, look for elements that distinguish it from modern manufactured furniture, such as:

artistic handiwork and/or design
materials that are uncommon to modern furniture manufacturing, including wood and hardware
slightly uneven surfaces
less-than sharp corners and edges which indicate it was made by hand
general imperfections, such as boards of varying widths
larger, uneven dovetail joints, indicating they were handmade
wormholes
thicker, more substantial wood veneers
signs of aged wood, including cracking, warping, fading and slightly ragged edges
wear in the spots where it would be expected
thin, slightly warped mirror glass

2. Age = Antique Value

Much of a piece’s value has to do with its age, which can be determined by factors such as:

Style – Certain styles were popular during certain eras.
Construction – Elements such as glue, wood pegs and dowels can provide clues as to when the piece was crafted.
Hardware – The cruder the nails and screws, the older the piece.
Patina (gloss of the piece) – Wear to the patina indicates use, which is indicative of age

3. Determining a fair price

To determine an appropriate price for a piece of of antique furniture, it’s all about fact-gathering, research and patience. Factor in this intel before you settle on a price:

Price comparison – What’s the selling price of pieces of similar age, origin and style?
Condition – Pieces in better condition generally have greater value.
Quality – Just because it’s old doesn’t mean it’s well made; look for quality workmanship.
Artistic appeal – Intricate detail often increases value.
Mark (or label) of its creator – Research furniture with this in relation to other pieces by the same maker to help determine value.
Rarity – A rare find is more valuable.
History – A previous owner or location of note may increase a piece’s value.

Knowing what to look for when buying antique furniture can help you bring a piece of historic, quality craftsmanship into your home for a fair price.

Beyond Your First Job, Skills Matter More Than Your Degree

by Miranda Marquit · 0 comments

Attending college can be an expensive proposition. While there are ways to save money while attending college, it can still be expensive. Scholarships are harder to find, and with the cost rising, saving up can be difficult. It’s not surprising that the Federal Reserve estimates that there is more than $1 trillion in outstanding student debt.

Getting a degree also might not be all it’s cracked up to be — at least once you really get going into your career. In some cases, there is evidence to support the idea that your skills and experience matter more than your degree once you get beyond your first job.

CNN Money reports on a survey from Glassdoor that shows that having an advanced degree might not help you in the long run. According to the survey, most workers felt like having a college degree (undergraduate) helped them get in the door. However, 72 percent of those surveyed indicated that training in a specific skill was valued more highly. Here is a quote about the results from the article:

“Employees with college degrees believe that their education helped get them through the door, but about half say it has no relevance to the work they’re actually doing,” said Rusty Rueff, Glassdoor’s career and workplace expert.

So, even though you can use your degree to get a job, once you get going with your career, your degree might not matter as much. Instead, you are more likely to succeed in the long term by developing valuable and marketable skills. While half of those surveyed say they aren’t doing anything related to their degrees, many more talk about the importance of acquiring additional training and specific skills.

This means that perhaps spending money on an advanced degree might not be the key to long-term career success and higher pay. Instead, you might be better off figuring out what skills are going to be in demand throughout your career and developing those over time.

Developing Marketable Skills

Rather than focusing on a degree — especially after your career is already underway — consider looking into developing marketable skills.

What does your employer value? What could help you become a more valuable part of the team? Find out what you need to advance to the next level. In some cases, you might need an advanced degree to move up. However, this isn’t likely to be the case. Instead, you are far more likely to need some sort of specific training, a special certification, or to attend a training course or a seminar.

Depending on the career, you might even be able to prove yourself competent and ready for the next level simply by developing soft skills that are increasingly valuable in the workplace in general. Learning how to communicate effectively, solve problems, and showing yourself a good leader can help you move forward in your career. In some cases, learning from online open course-ware can help you boost your ability to perform in your job.

Pay attention to what is valued, and work on acquiring those qualities. Being adaptable and focusing on your skills development might be a better career move than getting hung up on your degree.

Cheap Ways to Improve Your Home’s Appraisal

by Jessica Sommerfield · 0 comments

Having your home appraised can be a stressful experience, especially if you’re concerned it may not be valued as high (or as low) as you think it should be. In you’re dividing assets in a lawsuit, you may not want your home to be appraised quite as high because the value of the home is considered one of many possible assets that have to be divided up fairly. On the other hand, if you’re trying to get good terms for refinancing or are trying to sell your house, you’d prefer the highest possible appraisal. Assuming you want your house to be receive a high appraisal (the most common scenario), there are many things you can do to improve its actual and perceived value. Home renovations are usually expensive and time consuming, however, so if you don’t have either time or money, there are many cheap and easy fixes that can still significantly increase the appraised value of your home. Here are a few.

Less is More: De-clutter and Make Space
The longer you’ve lived in the home, the more likely it is to be full of ‘life’ in the form of stuff, and well…clutter. When your home is appraised or shown to potential buyers, they will try to visualize its potential and picture themselves living there. If it’s full of your stuff, the visualization is much harder. Secondly, clutter instantly shrinks rooms to appear smaller than they really are, and gives them the impression of uncleanliness. It also implies a lack of sufficient storage (usually high on the list of priorities for buyers). Simply putting away your belongings neatly and striving for a ‘minimal’ appearance with furniture, decorations, and wall hangings will give your home a fresh, clean and spacious appearance and instantly increase its perceived value.

Cater to Your Market
Speaking to an experienced appraiser or realtor before you make any major changes in your home is a wise first step. There may be trends in the housing market you’re unaware of, especially if you’ve been out of it for a while. What you think will improve your home’s value may be different than the ideas of those who appraise homes, or the majority of potential buyers.

Convert-A-Room
Generally, the more rooms (especially bedrooms) a home has, the higher its value. Older houses, especially, tend to have strange layouts due to later additions. Look at your home with a critical eye and see if there are any rooms that could be easily converted to a bedroom, or a partial room that could be made into a complete one. Sometimes simply adding a small closet converts a room into a bedroom! If you can’t think of anything, bring in another set of eyes to get a second opinion.

Small Fixes Make Great Improvements
If you’re having your house appraised, chances are you’re hoping to put in as little money and effort as possible (unless you’re planning to stay in it and need to make the changes, anyway). The good news is that even small things can make a huge difference. For instance, you can replace broken tile or old ceiling fan blades, touch up paint, steam-clean carpets, improve your home’s lighting, or color-coordinating your kitchen appliances by flipping or switching out face plates. If you’re selling the home, take care to stick to the minimal. The new owner may want to change things and renovate anyway.

Focus on First Impressions
The first thing an appraiser or a potential buyer will see is your yard and the outside appearance of your home. Is your landscaping neat and appealing? Is your yard free of clutter? Is your walkway swept? Pay attention to the entry way, as well. Make it unique and inviting, and be sure to burn some fragrant candles to eliminate any odors you might be unaware of.

These are just a few of the ways you can be sure to get the best possible appraisal of your home. A humble yet clean, neat home improved with simple fixes can create a higher perceived value than a more expensive home that’s dirty, cluttered, and in disrepair.

Summer Skin Care: Made in the Shade

by Gina Blitstein · 0 comments

Along with summer fun, the season brings a host of unique skin care requirements. While basking under the warm inviting sun, you want to avoid the risk of skin damage and the uncomfortable pain and itch of insect bites. Short of staying indoors all season, there are precautions you can take and effective, affordable products you can use that will keep you safe and comfortable while soaking up some rays. The most important skin care issues to consider in summer are:

Sun protection

As much as a summer tan is valued by our culture, it predisposes us to skin cancer – the most common form of the disease. The risk of developing skin cancer can be dramatically reduced by protecting ourselves from exposure to those damaging rays. The American Academy of Dermatology estimates that children get 80% of their total lifetime sun exposure by the age of 18; if they’ve experienced a blistering sunburn, the risk of deadly skin cancer doubles in later life. The most effective way to avoid sun-related skin damage is to avoid it – especially at its peak, between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

Sunscreen
When you do go in the sun:

Choose a water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher which will deflect at least 93% of the sun’s damaging rays. It should provide “broad-spectrum” protection from both UVA rays (which cause premature aging of skin and can lead to skin cancer) and UVB rays (which cause sunburn and can lead to skin cancer).
Apply sunscreen 15-30 minutes before exposure to the sun.
Apply sunscreen liberally – it should take a full minute to rub it thoroughly into skin. When exposed to full sun (like at the beach) apply at least one ounce of sunscreen to your face and body.
Reapply sunscreen every two hours when you sweat, swim or spend an extended amount of time outdoors.
Remember to protect your lips! Due to extended sun exposure and the tendency to forget to protect them, they’re especially prone to developing skin cancer. Lip balm with SPF of 15 or above, applied every two hours will keep that delicate skin protected.
If moisturizer is used, apply sunscreen first so it can thoroughly bind to the skin and provide maximum protection.

Clothing
Clothing and accessories can create a physical barrier to the sun’s potentially damaging rays. A broad-brimmed hat provides personal shade. Large sunglasses protect delicate skin around the eyes. Clothing that has any of these characteristics can block the penetration of harmful rays:

made of unbleached cotton, high-luster polyesters or thin, satiny silk
tightly woven or knitted
dark-colored

Insect repellent

Once you head safely out into the summer sun, you want to avoid insect bites. A number of products are effective at repelling insects – and some don’t live up to their claims. Read about them here on WebMD. Generally speaking, it’s best to apply sunscreen first and wait at least 20 minutes before applying insect repellent. Avoid products that combine sunscreen and insect repellent because sunscreen must be applied more often.

Topical insect bite treatment

No insect repellent, however, is 100% effective. When the inevitable bugs do bite, all you can do is treat the skin symptoms. Topical antihistamines, like diphenhydramine or Benadryl cream, can relieve itching caused by insect bites. However, according to Leslie Baumann, M.D., they can cause allergic reactions, especially when worn in the sun. Alternatively, look for products containing Pramoxine, an over-the-counter anesthetic that relieves itching. Preparations containing menthol, capsaicin and camphor cool the skin, thus relieving the itching sensation as well.

Avoid wasting money on hype and empty promises! Buy what’s effective and use it properly for safe, comfortable summer skin.

Simple, Easy, and Fast Ideas for Fresh Summer Eating

by Miranda Marquit · 0 comments

One of the things I love about summer is how easy meal preparation becomes. There’s something about summer that inspires ease and freshness. This usually translates well into the cooking I do (or don’t do) during the summer.

Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy fresh food during the summer.

First of All: Grazing Goodness

I “graze” a lot more during the summer than I do the rest of the year. The good news is that most of this grazing is done on fresh, health foods. It’s much easier to set out berries, cut carrots, and early peas during the summer. Often, we just set out a tray of fruits and veggies, and just graze. It’s a good way to fill up on healthy foods. Since we have a garden, we start grazing on produce as soon as it is ready to harvest.

Add a little salsa to the mix for the veggies, and you have a tangy treat. You can also stir lemon pepper into cottage cheese for a fresh take on veggie dip. With a little healthy Greek yogurt and some honey, you can create a tasty fruit dip to go with just about any fruit. You can also experiment with other flavors, like vanilla extract and cinnamon.

Other Easy and Fast Summer Food Preparation Ideas

If you like to grill, do up or fish, but add a bit of spice. With a little chili powder, lemon juice, and olive oil, you can whip up a quick marinade for grilled lean meats. Cut a prepare thick pineapple rings, and you can grill those as well. They make a fun and fresh treat to go with the meal, and it’s pretty healthy.

You can also grill corn on the cob with a tasty twist. First, peel back the husks and remove the silk. Grill the corn (this is a great with chicken or fish), and when it’s done brush with melted butter. Sprinkle with salt and paprika. You can also sprinkle with a little asiago or feta cheese for an extra treat.

Summertime spaghetti is one the things my husband makes that’s delicious. In a pan on the stove, saute zucchini, mushrooms, red peppers, and onions in olive oil and with your favorite Italian herbs (I like basil, oregano, and thyme). Toss with prepared spaghetti and grape tomatoes. It’s quick, easy, and fresh.

If you must have potato salad, you can make it without mayonnaise. Use small red potatoes, boiled and quartered (you don’t even need to peel them), plain yogurt, and low-fat sour cream. You can add sliced olives, chopped scallions, radishes, celery, parsley, or whatever else you like in your potato salad. Toss it all together with lemon juice and salt and pepper, and you’re set.

Pita pizzas are fun treats that I like to have with my son. It’s really easy. Just get a package of pocketless Greek pitas. You can put a little sauce on each pita, along with your favorite toppings, including cheese and meat. Broil in the oven until cheese is melted. You can also place these on the grill top.

What’s your favorite summer treat?

How to Handle a Variable Income

by Jessica Sommerfield · 0 comments

Fixed salaries and regular work hours provide a stabilizing influence on personal finances. You know you’ll be making said amount of money per month, so you can plan that amount into your budget. But what if you’re income isn’t predictable, you experience yearly layoffs, or have a job that’s strictly seasonal? An inconsistency in cash flow makes it difficult to plan ahead or deal with unexpected expenses. There are an increasing number of employment situations that come with the ebb and flow of a fluctuating income. Here are a few you might identify with:

Contract work. In this instance, your income is based on piece work or individual contract jobs. You might be contracted to provide a particular service as needed to a larger corporation, or you might be in business for yourself. Either way, the amount of work you get from month to month can vary tremendously based on the seasonal or economical need for your services. Unfortunately, independent contractors tend to suffer the most from downturns in the economy because their work tends to represent discretionary spending at a time when consumers are forced to tighten their belts. Of course, fields that cater to core necessities will feel less of an effect in a poor economy.
Seasonal work and planned layoffs. These types of jobs are usually based on agriculture or are performed in the great outdoors, where growing seasons and weather changes drastically limit or cut off productivity. This is the type of variable income that is easiest to plan for, because the layoffs or end of the work season are expected and regular. It still means you’ll have to save income for your periods of unemployment.
Part time work. Part time workers often have a fluctuation in work hours that increases when business is good and decreases when business is slow, another factor that can’t always be predicted. You might have been dropped to part time without a choice, or been unable to find full time work.

Whichever or these (and other) variable income situations you find yourself in, there are ways you can plan your finances so as to be prepared in an emergency as well as stay afloat through the highs and lows. Here are some basis tips.

Estimate low on your income. The best way to budget when you know your income varies is to plan for the lowest level of income you might receive. This way, you are not overestimating your income and will know you can afford your core necessities no matter what. If that’s not enough to get by with the basics, you may need to find another income source.
Estimate high on your expenses. On the other hand, you should always expect to have the maximum amount of expenses. If you any non-fixed or occasional expenses, factor them in as an average each month instead of being surprised when you face a large bill out of the blue. If your utility or other usage-based bills fluctuate, budget them at their highest by looking at previous years’ bills (this is why it’s also important to keep at least a year’s worth of payment receipts).
Try to anticipate fluctuations in your income as much as possible. Since you know your income will fluctuate, try to determine when and how much. This is a practice that will take time, experience, and looking back at pay stubs, but it will be well worth the reward of more stable finances and accurate budgeting.
Save as much as possible when the cash is flowing. There won’t always be a way to know when your contract work will decline or increase, so save up for a rainy day. Live frugally even when cash is flowing freely, and you’ll be more comfortable when things get tight. Set aside regular amounts, regardless, into a savings account that yields healthy interest.

The changing landscape of the economy and job market in recent years means that many of us will need to rethink the assumption that our incomes will always be the same, or are here to stay. When this happens, having a game plan for how to handle a fluctuating income will mean a greater degree of financial stability, less stress, and fewer reasons to go into debt.

Treat Yourself and Your Wallet to an Off-the-Beaten-Path Vacation

by Gina Blitstein · 0 comments

Planning a vacation can be a fun experience for the family. Once the theme parks, major cities, big adventures and popular tourist destinations have been experienced, however, you may want to experience a getaway that’s different. Perhaps you’re looking for a unique place to get some rest and relaxation or just to have an out-of-the-ordinary vacation experience. One solution is to consider small, off-the-beaten-path communities or destinations. There’s an abundance of places to go and things to see and do all across our great nation; you need only to seek them out.

Why would you look for something different for your next getaway?

Perhaps you’re looking for:

lighter crowds
a quieter, more low-key getaway
a less expensive vacation
an authentic regional experience
an opportunity to visit a different part of the nation
a chance to experience different activities, people and sights

What sorts of vacation options will you find when you look to these smaller destinations?

Think simpler pleasures than are usually the stuff of which vacation dreams are made. Simpler and less commercialized, definitely, but equally fun and restorative (which, after all, is the point of a vacation anyway). Among the options are:

Places to go:

Festivals – art, vehicles, music, cheese, apple, pumpkin… (plan your getaway around festival date)
Fairs – fun, food, music, activities, even fireworks throughout the nation (incorporate a fair into your getaway)
Historical sites – visit the actual places where history happened
Museums – you name it, there’s most likely a museum that displays and celebrates it
Beaches – smaller beaches (ocean or lake) have all the sun and sand with less people
State parks and nature preserves – the most beautiful natural areas of each state are often set aside for enjoyment and recreation
Points of interest – our nation is chock-full of quirky and fun attractions, from giant statues, rocking chairs and balls of twine to “ghost towns” and beer can houses.

Activities:

Water sports
Skiing and cold weather sports
Hiking/biking
Sightseeing/Taking in scenery

Things to experience:

Old town charm – there are still some, “Main Streets” out there with “mom and pop” shops
Unique or regional cuisine
Quaint inn/Bed and Breakfast lodging
Local lore (think Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania or Salem, Massachusetts)
Communities with different customs, like the Amish or Pennsylvania Dutch
Authentic Americana (drive-in movies, neon signs and diners…)

How do you find such out-of-the-way destinations?

Get creative! Consider your passions. Ponder your intellectual curiosity. Think about your interests. Are you a:

War buff?
Collector?
Reader?
Foodie?
Athlete?
Photographer?
Movie buff?
Architecture enthusiast?

Then ask google where to find places where you can experience those things. Whatever catches your fancy can most likely be a vacation destination!

What to expect in these out-of-the-way locations

In general, be prepared to be a bit more self-sufficient than if you were visiting in a traditional vacation destination. Since these places don’t normally cater to tourists, you may have to do a little more in the way of planning and preparation to ensure you have what you need and get where you’re going. Renting a car or finding public transportation may prove challenging. It may be necessary to pack a meal, snacks and beverages for the day since you may not be in the most populated areas where food is readily available.

Regardless of your interests, there’s a place to indulge and enjoy them. Traveling off-the-beaten path will provide endless opportunities for unique getaways, free of tourist hype, tourist traps and tourist pricing. When you travel to out-of-the-way places, be ready for an adventure that will take you far away from your everyday existence!

Where is your favorite off-the-beaten-path vacation destination?

How to Keep Your Kids Occupied This Summer

by Miranda Marquit · 0 comments

The first couple of weeks of summer vacation are always fun. But then the boredom sets in. Your kids are bored, and you don’t know what to do with them. On top of that, you might not have a lot of money to spend on entertainment and camps. For many families, it’s important to keep children occupied as frugally as possible.

The good news is that there are options for you during the summer. Take a deep breath, and then set your kids on a path for a productive and fun summer.

Community Resources

Your first stop should be community resources. You might be surprised at how many free and low-cost resources could be available in your community. Many cities and towns offer activities during the summer time. These activities range from free to expensive. However, most localities have moderately priced camps, classes, and sports opportunities for kids of various ages. Additionally, many towns have programs set up to help those in need participate in more expensive endeavors.

Check with your town’s parks and recreation department to see if there are activities and classes available. This department might also have information about concerts in parks, and fairs and festivals.

Don’t forget about the library. There is almost always some sort of summer reading program at any given library. Check into it, and encourage your kids to read every day. This will provide you with a good way to help your kids stay on top of their learning as well as give them something to do. Encourage at least 30 minutes of reading each day.

Self-Improvement

One of the things that really helps my son stay busy during the summer is self-improvement. He continues to take piano lessons during the summer, so that means he needs to practice each day. I also require him to set aside time each day to work on a Scouting requirement or work on a 4-H project. This way, he’s making progress, and he has something to keep him busy.

Look for ways for your kids to be involved. If they are old enough, encourage them to get summer jobs. That way, they have something productive to do during the summer. Even if they can’t get a job, see if you can find service and volunteer opportunities for your kids. They will learn valuable lessons, and spend less time being bored.

Get Outside

Summer is a great time to get outside. Encourage your kids to go outside if it is practical for them to do so. Encourage them to ride bikes, go to the park, and engage in other activities. One summer, I encouraged my son to go out and learn about the plants around the neighborhood. He spent a couple of weeks, flower book in hand, looking for different varieties of plants and then telling me about them later.

It’s a good idea to have unstructured play time each day, since this encourages creativity and helps kids unwind, but you should also give them some purpose at times. That way, they have a task to focus on.

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