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  • Lawn Care: Taking Care of Your Grass

    Lawn Care: Taking Care of Your Grass

    Everyone wants the best-looking yard on the block. However, it can be quite difficult to maintain a healthy and plush lawn through the harsh summer months. If you’re looking to keep up a good lawn care regiment and keep your grass looking verdant and perfect, you’re going to want to take some of our summer lawn care tips to heart. Here’s what you need to know.

    Summer Lawn Care Tips

    Know What to Expect

    When the hot summer temperatures show up, it’s time to adjust your expectations of your grass. It’ll grow thick and plush in the Springtime, as even cool-climate grasses love temperatures in the 60’s. That includes grasses like bluegrass and rye. Meanwhile, hot-temperature grasses, like Bermuda and St. Augustine, prefer to grow in the 70’s. Once the temperature jumps above 80 degrees, however, it’s time to expect your grass’s growth to slow and stop.

    Now, you can use techniques like fertilizer and sprinkler systems to make sure your grass gets plenty of coaxing and will want to grow taller. However, know you’re fighting nature when you try to encourage grass growth in the summertime. On top of this, you’re likely using your grass more in the summer time, having friends over, throwing barbecues and parties, and trampling all over your grass. This is a surefire way to see your grass turn brown, dry up and go dormant.

    Proper Watering

    As you might expect, proper watering is a huge aspect of good summer lawn maintenance. If your grass isn’t getting enough water from rainfall, you need to make up that difference yourself. Your grass needs about an inch of water per week, so use a rain gauge to keep up with how much your yard is getting. Make up the difference with your sprinkler system or just by hand-watering your lawn. Make sure you water in the morning to avoid fungal growth and evaporation.

    When you get into watering your lawn for the summer, make sure you’re in a regular groove. Water the grass regularly and deeply to encourage drought-resistant roots. Also, if you’re not going to water the lawn regularly, don’t water it at all. If the grass goes brown and dormant, don’t try to water it back into being green. Your lawn will bounce back in the fall if it falls dormant, so just let it lie if it does.

    Mowing Your Grass

    Raise your mower blade in the summer to avoid damaging your grass. Taller grass is more drought-resistant, with deeper roots and hardier constitution. It also keeps the ground well-shaded, preventing the growth of low-lying weeds. Warm season grasses need to be about two or three inches in the summer, while cooler season grasses need to be between three and four inches.

    Make sure you also mow regularly in the summertime. You don’t want to cut more than a third of the length of a blade of grass, to encourage your lawn’s health. Another important factor is the amount of grass clippings, which could smother your lawn if they fall too densely over your grass. Finally, you’ll want to make sure your mower blades are kept razor-sharp in the summer. If they aren’t, they won’t be cutting your grass, they’ll be tearing your grass. That’s terrible for your lawn’s health.

    Fertilizer

    Use fertilizer sparingly. You don’t need to use fertilizer on brown, flagging lawns. If you do, you’ll only burn the grass out and encourage fresh growths that will just die to the heat. Instead, wait until the fall when your grass is green again to fertilize. Yes, this does mean that your grass will just look bad throughout the summer, but it’ll save you money on dropping fertilizer for no reason.


  • Looking for a Great Gift? Order Canvas Prints Online

    Looking for a Great Gift? Order Canvas Prints Online

    When it comes to printing out photos, there are tons of options available for doing it from home. Certainly you’ve purchased a printer that can output “high-quality” images of your home photographs. Are they really all that great, though? Have you considered ordering canvas prints online?

    The answer is yes!  It turns out that you can order very high-quality prints on canvas material online. Today we’re going to cover some of the most frequently asked questions about this interesting process. If you’re looking for a great gift idea for Christmas, consider these gorgeous canvas prints.

    Some of the top companies for ordering canvas prints online are Simple Canvas Prints, CG Pro Prints and Gallery Direct.

    Order Canvas Prints Online

    The Canvas Difference

    Getting your photo printed out on canvas offers some interesting benefits when compared to traditional prints. Normally, a traditional print needs to be backed and framed in order to be elegantly displayed. In the case of a canvas print, however, the unique durability, appeal and design makes them ideal for just hanging up as-is.

    Canvas prints have a high-quality, artistic quality that makes them look great on any wall. You don’t need to have them framed and they don’t require any backing. Not to mention, the three top-rated services provide prints that are so high-quality that they’ll put most normal printers to shame.

    Cost

    The cost of canvas prints online varies depending on the issuing company and size. That said, you can expect the smallest prints to run right around $5, and some of the largest prints to be upwards of $500. That is to say, it’d be a good idea to shop around and compare price.

    There are some excellent savings to be found online if you compare and shop. When you buy online, one of the best upsides is that you can shop at your own pace. There’s no pressure, and you’re able to easily compare sites to hunt down the best price.

    Shipping

    Depending on which site you order from, you can likely find various rates and speeds for shipping. Some sites will be able to offer free shipping on orders over a certain amount, while others may have a surcharge for shipping and handling. When it comes to high-quality prints, you want to make sure they’re handled well.

    Another consideration for shipping is how long they take to ship. Most canvas prints online will ship in roughly 10-14 business days, although that number could also vary. Again, you have to consider the time it takes to manufacture the print and how careful you have to be transporting it.

    For Professionals

    Professionals love sites like CG Pro Prints as they offer a great way for their photographs to be displayed as art. In fact, in order to accommodate artists, CG Pro Prints offers wholesale prices on their prints to keep costs down for artists.

    If you’re a photographer looking to get a large number of studio-quality prints made for display or sale, consider CG Pro Prints. They’ve got what you need.

    For the Office

    If you’re looking for a great site for prints of stock images and landscapes, consider Gallery Direct. They have a number of generic images you can choose from to decorate a space like an office or lobby. This is a great way to fill a space with high-quality art to keep your space fun and tasteful at the same time.

    While Gallery Direct isn’t the only site who offers this kind of service, they are highly-rated and considered one of the best. They have a wide variety of images to choose from if you don’t have one already picked out. There are landscapes, stock images and more to make your space look that much more inviting.

    For the Family

    Simple Canvas Prints, of the three listed here, is one of the best sites for getting prints made for the family. They offer low prices and good deals on shipping. They also have a relatively quick shipping time if you opt for the expedited shipping, though it costs a bit more.

    However, their biggest draw is their user interface. This easy-to-use site makes it simple to upload you image and have it converted into a gorgeous canvas print sent right to your home. If you’re somewhat daunted by the prospect, don’t be, as it couldn’t be simpler.

    There’s never been a better time to be a photo enthusiast. With ample choices for high-quality printing and fast shipping, all available right from your computer, it’s hard to believe we ever shopped for canvas prints the old-fashioned way.


  • Improve Your Credit Score: Start Today!

    Improve Your Credit Score: Start Today!

    You may think that bad credit can keep you from getting a loan or credit card, but it can also cause bigger issues. It can leave you without a car, home or even jobless. The reason for this is that most enterprises use the credit scores of consumers to make decisions about them.

    Lenders use the credit score of borrowers to gauge their creditworthiness, and how likely they are to repay what they have borrowed. Your credit score determines if you can get a loan and what rate of interest you can qualify for.

    If you have a bad credit score, you can lose a lot of money in the long run. Apart from your net worth, your credit score is probably the most crucial number in your financial life. Your credit score also has a significant impact on your net worth.

    What is a poor credit score?

    A poor credit score is one is below 670. Lenders consider a score between 580 and 669 fair and one between 300 and 579 as poor.

    Although different scoring ranges and models for credit scores exist, a majority of lenders use FICO (Fair Isaac Corp.) scores, and they range from 300 to 850. The qualifying credit scores of different loans differ. However, to get the best rate of any lender, your credit score should be in the 700 range at least. In the FICO scoring model, 700 falls in the center of the good range. Lenders consider a credit score of 700 or higher to be good, while 800 or higher as excellent.

    Credit score thresholds that many auto and housing lenders use to calculate the interest rate they can offer

    Here is what many lenders use to calculate the interest rates they can offer and what you should aim for to get the best rates on various type of loans.

    Auto Loan

    Lenders offer car loans at the best rates for consumers whose credit score is 720 or higher. For instance, if your credit score is 700, you can qualify for 6% for a car loan of $29,620, paid over 60 months with the monthly payment being $572. The total interest is $4,701.

    However, if your credit score is 72 or higher, you can qualify for a new car loan at the rate of 4.6% with a monthly payment of $554. This can save you $18 every month and $1,078 over the loan’s life.

    Cash Back Rewards Card

    Almost half 49% of Americans who own a credit card have a cash-back card. This card is among the most popular kinds of rewards cards. If your credit score is 740 or higher, you can easily get a top cash-back card. If your credit score is 650 or lower, you might still qualify for a cash-back rewards card. However, your credit limit is likely to be lower and the interest rate higher. You can make a cash-back card worthwhile by paying your bills in full to avoid paying interest.

    Private Student Loan

    Your credit score does not matter if you are applying for a federal direct student loan as an undergraduate. However, if you need to apply for a private student loan, lenders will look at your credit history and scores.

    To get the best interest rate on your private student loan, you need a credit score of 750 or higher. That’s is about 3%. You can still qualify for a private student loan if your score is as low as 650. However, the interest rate will be much higher. Lenders can charge you 8 or 9% or as high as 14%.

    Mortgage

    Unlike other kinds of loans, mortgage lenders usually pull three reports and end up with what is commonly referred to as a tri-merge credit report from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Basically, lenders tend to go with the borrower’s middle score of the three reports. This means you need a score of 760 or better at two of the three to get the best interest rate of 3.32%.

    For instance, according to the FICO loan savings calculator, if your credit score is 759, you can qualify for an interest rate of 3.54% on a 30-year fixed loan of $216,000. You will pay $975 every month and your total interest over the loans’ life will be about $135,000.

    However, if your credit score is 760 and you apply for a loan of the same amount, you would qualify for an interest rate of 3.32%. Thus, your monthly mortgage payment will be $949, which is $26 less. You would pay about $125, 500 in interest over the loan’s life. This means that a 1-point increase in your credit score can help you save about $9,500 in interest.

    Before looking for homes for sale, it is advisable to check your credit score and get your credit reports from the 3 major credit agencies. If you address credit issues early on, you can raise your score before applying for a mortgage.

    How to Repair Credit

    If you improve your credit score, you can qualify for better terms and lower interest rates. That is true whether you need to borrow money for personal reasons or so that you can lease a facility or buy inventory.

    The issue with repairing your credit history is that it is almost the same as improving your professional network. You may only think about improving your credit scores when applying for financing. It is not also possible to repair your bad credit overnight.

    Therefore, you should start repairing your credit right now. Thankfully, it is easy to establish, repair and maintain excellent credit. If your credit score is poor, you can do the following things to improve it.

    Review your credit reports

    The three main credit reporting bureaus – Equifax, TransUnion and Experian are required to provide consumers with a copy of their credit report once each year without charging a fee. You only need to request for a copy of your credit report from the bureaus. Once you get a copy of your free report, view the information in them to see if everything is correct.

    Dispute any negative mark

    In the past, the only way you could dispute errors was by writing letters to the credit bureaus. Now, some services enable consumers to dispute mistakes online. Some factors weigh more heavily on your credit score than others do. Therefore, pay attention to such items first.

    Some factors that affect your credit score more heavily include judgements and collection amounts. It is not unusual to have one or more collection accounts appear on a credit report. For instance, you can have a collection account from a health care provider. Your instance firm may have claimed to pay it while the health care providers may claim it was not paid.

    You can dispute mistakes through each credit bureau. Remember that some errors will take longer to rectify than others, but that is fine. After initiating a dispute, you do not have to do anything else. The credit bureaus will investigate the dispute and report the resolution.

    Spend as long as it takes to ensure that the credit bureaus remove derogatory remarks from your credit history because they have a significant negative impact on your overall score.

    Dispute inappropriate late payment entries

    Errors occur. For instance, your mortgage lender may report that you paid a certain payment late, yet you had paid it on time. A credit card provider might also not enter a payment correctly. It is possible to dispute late payments, regardless of whether they are in closed or current accounts, in a similar manner to the way you inform credit bureaus about derogatory remarks.

    Your payment history can have a negative impact on your credit score. Therefore, do your best to clean up the mistakes.

    Increase credit limits

    Your credit card utilization also has an impact on your credit score. Ratio of credit that is available to the credit utilized makes a significant difference. In general, carrying a balance or over 50% of your available credit impacts your score negatively. Your score also suffers when you max out your credit cards.

    You can improve your credit ratio by paying down your balances or buy increasing your credit limit. For instance, if you owe $2600 on a card with a limit of $5000 and you get the limit raised to $7,500, your ratio will improve instantly.

    You can call the company that issued your credit card and ask it to increase your credit limit. If your payment history is decent, most credit card firms will be glad to raise your limit. After all, credit card firms make more money by lending more.

    After the credit card firm increase your limit, avoid using the additional available credit, so that you do not fall back to the same available credit ratio boat or end up deeper in debt.

    Pay all your bills on time

    The way you pay your bills affects your credit score significantly. Late payments remain on your credit report for 7 years. However, their impact on your credit score reduces over time. One great way to make sure you are never late is setting up autopay for recurring bills like car payments and student loans. Your bills will be deducted directly from your bank account on the due date. Therefore, you do not have to log in to a payment portal or send checks. Make sure there is enough money in your checking account to cover the payments so you will not be subject to overdraft fees.

    You also need to inform your creditor about your ability to repay the borrowed funds. For instance, federal student loans have alternative payment plans which can reduce the amount you owe every month. You can only know about such plans by contacting your student loan servicer and inquiring about your options. Credit card firms may also reduce your interest rate or payment for a particular period if you are facing financial challenges. If you suspect that you will miss a payment, talk to your creditor before it occurs to explore your options.

    Avoid closing older credit lines once your pay them off

    Even though it may sound like an excellent idea to close unused accounts, that is not the case. Doing so could raise your credit utilization ratio and this can lower your credit score.

    Avoid taking out large loans or opening new lines of credit

    You are better off when you have less debt. In the opinion of FICO, it is not wise to open new credit accounts to raise you credit utilization ratio since each credit request can lower your score slightly.

    Pay off high interest credit accounts first

    The age of credit has an effect on your credit report. Interest affects your finances. If you have money like $100 you can put toward reducing credit card balances, concentrate on paying off high interest accounts.

    Pay off the newest credit card balances first. This way, you can raise the average length of credit and this will help your score. Besides, you will not pay relatively high interest.

    How to maintain an excellent credit score

    After completing the hard work of fixing your bad credit score, the next step is to keep up the momentum. That means you should diligently maintain low balances on credit cards, pay all bills on time and seek out new credit only when necessary.

    The length of a person’s credit history accounts for 15% of a FICO score. Therefore, it is advisable to keep old accounts open so you can keep a long average credit history. You can achieve this by placing a small charge on your oldest credit card occasionally, and paying it off soon.

    The range of credit types with your name, also known as the credit mix makes up 10% of FICO scores. It is not necessary to take out a new loan just to diversify your credit mix. However, managing a credit card dependably is an effective way to keep your credit score high. Therefore, if you have not applied for a credit card in the past, you can apply for a secured credit card that requires a deposit. The deposit will become your credit limit. You can make small charges and pay them off every month to improve your score and you could then qualify for a conventional, unsecured card in the future.

    If you take all the steps mentioned above and you still find that you are struggling, you can seek help from an approved credit counseling agency. The agency can assist you to create a plan to manage your finances better and reduce your debt.

    Another option if you are struggling with high credit card debt is debt consolidation. This plan can enable you to roll several high interest debts into one payment, usually at a reduced interest rate and provide you with a single payment to track.

    Be wary of organizations that promise to fix your credit with little effort or time, or claim to charge a fee to fix your credit. It takes time and effort to improve your credit score.

    Summary

    Having a bad credit score can limit the loans you can qualify for and diminish the chances of getting financing at good interest rates. However, such a score should not weigh you down. You can take certain concrete actions now and, in the future, to keep your credit score high.

    Knowing the status of your credit history and making sure you do not avoid the reality of you credit status are essential ongoing strategies in the desire to enhance you credit. Get a free credit report regularly and feel empowered knowing you can improve your financial well-being.


  • Investing in Stocks: A Beginners Guide

    Investing in Stocks: A Beginners Guide

    The stock market can be a scary place and an even more intimidating process if you’ve never invested your money before. But investing online is one of the best pieces of financial advice you can ever receive. For one, it’s an excellent way to grow your wealth for a specific period then reap the fruits in the future, probably after retirement.

    The best way to start investing in stocks is to put money in a trusted online investment account and use it to buy shares of stock. However, stocks are not like your typical savings accounts, certificates of deposit, or money market funds. They always have a very volatile principal value. They can rise and fall in very short periods. Therefore, if you still don’t have sufficient knowledge in investing, you can easily lose most, if not all, of your investment capital.

    As a result, it’s crucial that you learn the basics of how to invest and the most effective strategies to use. That’s what we aim to help you achieve in this excerpt:

    What Kind of Investor Are You?

    Before committing your money, it’s vital that you know what kind of investments you want to venture into. Most investment accounts will also want to know which types of investments are best suited to you. Therefore, ensure that you have an investment goal already planned out and set how much risk you’ll be willing to take on in your investments.

    Some investors are always more open to taking an active hand in the managerial part of their investments, while others prefer to set up their investments and forget them entirely until they mature. Both options allow you to invest in stocks, bonds, index funds, mutual funds, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

    If you are the type of investor who prefers to be more hands-on and involved with your investments, this article should be particularly beneficial to you. But if you prefer to have someone else with expertise in the stock market manage the process for you, it’s best to look for a reputable Robo-advisor’s services at a minimal fee.

    It’s vital that you know which type of investor you are to determine which investment types to focus on. Once you’ve found your preference, you should be ready to research stocks to trade.

    Research Stocks to Trade

    Once you’ve found a brokerage firm, you can buy stocks. But the question now arises on which stocks are best to buy. For beginners in the stock investment business, the best place to start investing in might not be stocks. Instead, start off with ETFs.
    ETFs allow you to buy different bundles of stocks at once. This can help build more confidence, especially if you don’t know which individual companies to pick over the others.

    ETFs built to replicate the bigger indices like Nasdaq, Dow, and S&P 500 are the best investment options to use to give your portfolio the boost it needs and broader exposure to the U.S. stock market. Most seasoned traders also advise that you diversify your holdings with other assets instead of just stocks. Diversifying your investments is one of the most effective ways of hedging the risks that arise from stock market downturns (but more on that later).

    Where to Start Investing in Stocks

    A thrifty, self-motivated investor who knows exactly what he/she wants might be served best using online brokerages, especially ones that provide commission-free trading. However, there are also stock options for new traders who feel more comfortable having the system or a broker pick the stocks for them. Such investors are better off using automated investing services, most of which are reasonably priced and provide a user-friendly platform to invest.

    Human brokers and other financial advisors offer some of the highest investment service levels, which mainly revolves around investment advice. But this is also the most expensive option to consider.

    Stock picking can be extraordinarily difficult, especially if you decide to go about it yourself. For the most part, there isn’t any way of knowing which direction the stock market will go. It’s on that note that even the seasoned stock investors, Warren Buffett included, discourage newbie investors from placing all their investments in individual stocks.

    Best New Apps to Use for Online Investments

    Stock investing apps have gained quite a reputation since the invention of the smartphone and the internet. Investment firms are now scrambling to develop mobile-friendlier apps that cater to the digital investor’s interests. The results have yielded some of the best stock trading apps the industry has to offer.

    These apps have easy-to-use features that make them perfect for quick and painless stock investments, even for first-timers. And the only requirements you need is a smartphone and an internet connection.

    As the resilience of Artificial Intelligence and intuitive software becomes more apparent in the stock trading industry, it’s also imperative that traders find the best apps with the latest tools for trading. These apps should have the latest tools and provide real-time research data and assess trading risks.

    Some of the best online apps for the job include:

    1. Robinhood
    Robinhood is one of the most renowned online stock brokerage apps that provide online traders with a completely free way to invest. The app doesn’t charge any commissions on stock, it has no minimums, and has one of the best and easy-to-use application interfaces.

    However, because Robinhood offers free investing, it doesn’t have as many perks as the other online investment apps. For instance, you won’t find features like trading tools, investing education, research, and several other investing options. But what it lacks in some areas, it makes up for in others, like providing high-tech, intuitively-designed, top-rated investing options on the market today.

    The app also allows investors to trade cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. But if you want to take your investing a notch higher, you can buy its premium version, Robinhood Gold, for $5 every month. The premium version gives users access to some of the apps premium features like allowing users to trade on margin, access market data, and make bigger instant deposits.

    2. Acorns
    Acorns is the next best straightforward money-making online investment app you can find today. It’s also definitely one of the best online apps for beginners. Acorns helps users learn some of the must-have investment skills to improve your chances of winning big. This is the online application that will make investing fun and turn it into a daily habit.

    To start investing with Acorns, you will need to link the application to your credit or debit card. Acorns will then round up all your purchases and move the change into your investment portfolio. This makes it one of the best apps to use, especially if you’re looking for a more hands-off investing type of approach but still want to make it your new habit.

    3. Public.Com
    Formerly known as Matador, Public also tops the list of the best stock investing apps you can find. It mixes social media with commission-free investing in creating a simple but unique platform that’s ideal for beginners.

    Public’s iOS and Android apps also help users to connect with other investors. Its developers came up with an ingenious idea to connect users with about 5,000 different securities. Another sweet deal with using the app is that you get a free stock of up to $50 if you refer a friend who signs up and starts trading.

    Public.com’s online trading app lowers the bar for beginners into the world of investing with no minimum balances needed and fractional shares available. After you’ve downloaded the app and opened an account, connect it to your bank account, and you should be set to start investing and trading.

    On the downside, more advanced investors who want to invest in cryptocurrencies or international stocks may miss out when using Public.com. But overall, this is an amazing online trading app for beginners who want to learn most, if not all, of the basics of online investments in a fun and intuitive way.

    4. Betterment
    Betterment is one of the world’s best Robo-advising platforms you can find today. The online investment guru manages and re-balances investors’ portfolios, making them stronger and more financially rewarding. Betterment is also one of the most user-friendly and easy-to-use online investment applications that can help users manage their taxable investments.

    To start investing with Betterment, you will need to answer a few questions about your financial goals, age, income, and risk tolerance. This information helps the application to evaluate you as an investor and the best investment experience with your goals. Additionally, Betterment has built-in financial guidance that’ helpful for anyone who’s still new to investing.

    It’s an excellent mobile application for both beginners and seasoned investors since it provides so much guidance to help all investors in different capacities.

    5. Webull
    Active traders who are looking for a mobile-first way to trade are better off trying Webull. This mobile app allows investors to trade ETFs, stock shares, and options to use. Webull also provides one of the simplest, bare-bone interfaces for smartphone apps. You won’t see several educational contents on the platform, but it’s still a leader when it comes to graphic analyses.

    Webull is an excellent choice, especially for investors who have some idea of what they’re doing. It also offers commission and fee-free trades for stocks, ETFs, shares, and options, making it one of the most desired options with a $0 minimum balance.

    Manage Your Stock Portfolio

    While worrying over daily fluctuations won’t do your portfolio much health, there’ll be times when you will need to check in on your investments.

    It’s always advisable that you revisit your portfolio several times a year to check if it’s still in line with your investment goals. Some few things to consider include:
    • If you are approaching retirement, it may be best to transfer some of your stock investments to more conservative fixed-income investments.
    • Pay attention to geographical diversification. It’s advisable to invest in international stocks as well to safeguard your portfolio. If possible, invest in stocks from different countries.
    • If your portfolio is heavily weighted in one industry or sector, consider buying stocks in a different industry to build more diversification.

    Limit Risks Through Diversification
    Diversification is the most popular way of managing risk exposure in the investment industry. Prudent investors always invest in stocks from different companies in different sectors, sometimes in different countries. They do this with the expectation that if a single bad event affects one stock, it doesn’t affect the rest. Diversification allows investors to recover from losses incurred from some stocks, thereby allowing investors to stay afloat.

    The first rule of trading is never to risk putting all your eggs in one basket. Also, never risk investing anything you’re not prepared to lose. This strategy is based more on the impact of margin trading. It means that you could potentially lose everything in a single trade if you’re not careful.

    Long-Term Investors Vs Short-Term Investors
    Knowing when to use short-term or long-term investments is a crucial part of growing wealth to help you reach your goals. Therefore, it’s essential that you learn all the strengths and weaknesses of short-term and long-term investments and which option is a better fit for your financial future. Here’s a quick brief on long-term investments and short-term investments.

    When to Consider Long-Term Investments
    Although some people put a lot of effort into short-term investments, getting to your goal of financial freedom isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. The earlier you start, the more you’ll be able to accumulate. The earlier you start, the more you can accumulate. And long-term investments help you to achieve this goal.

    Long-term investments are mostly assets like stocks and real estate. They are the investments that you plan on keeping for a while. This allows them to grow and allow your portfolio to grow as well since you know you won’t access them for a significant period.

    Times when it makes sense to consider long-term investments include:
    • When your retirement is 20+ years away
    • You want protection from inflation
    • You need a plan for 7 to 10 years in the future

    When to Consider Short-Term Investments
    In contrast, short-term investments are the investments you intend to use to meet your financial goals within shorter time frames. Often, they include assets like cash, bonds, and annuities. Some few scenarios where trying short-term investments make sense include:
    • You will need the money soon
    • You want a regular source of income

    The Bottom Line
    The information provided in this excerpt should help you start investing and working like a professional. One important note to keep in mind when investing is to never invest in anything that you don’t understand. Above all else, remember that it’s your money on the line. So, don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you have to.

    The investment steps mentioned above should help you to stay empowered and confident, even as you start creating your retirement plan today.


  • Don’t Ignore a Plumbing Leak!

    Don’t Ignore a Plumbing Leak!

    If you have ever ignored a leaky faucet or pipe, you’re not alone. It may seem like it is not a big deal, but plumbing leaks can lead to water damage, mold, foundation cracks and other bigger problems that may cost a lot of $$$!  Fixing the issue yourself or with a plumber is easier and cheaper than you think. Depending on your issue, there are many easy fixes that you can do without the need to call a plumber.

    Easy DIY Plumbing Fixes:

    1. Stop a Toilet from Running: One of the easiest and most often ignored plumbing problem. A leaky stop valve or broken floater valve is usually the culprit. This is a very easy problem to solve, just ensure you shut off the toilet water valve first.

    2. Replacing a Showerhead: When you notice a reduction in pressure replacing your shower head is as easy as unscrewing the existing shower head and replacing it with a new one. That’s it!

    3. Caulking Around a Bathtub or Sink: If you notice deteriorating or cracked seals in your bathroom or kitchen, re-caulking is an easy way to prevent bigger leaks and water damage. Remove the old caulk with a putty knife or razor blade, then apply new caulk using a caulking gun. All can be purchased for under $10.

    4. Unclog a Drain: Try to avoid using liquid drain cleaners or solvents. Over time, these products can eat away at your pipes. To avoid future clogs, simply install a hair catcher. They are very cheap and will help you avoid future problems.

    Plumbing Fixes that Need a Professional:

    1. A Rapid Water Supply Line Leak: You’ll know it when it happens- suddenly there may be water coming out of the ceiling or other places where you know it shouldn’t. Turn off your water main and call a plumber!

    2. A Sewer Line Leak: This typically happens outside, when a blocked or broken sewer line causes a backup into your house. This is a big (and smelly!) problem to fix that you do not want to tackle yourself.

    3. Your Water Heater has a Natural Gas Leak: If you smell gas around the water heater area, this is not normal. Typically the thermocouple may have malfunctioned, or there are leaks in the pipes leading to the heater. Not a problem to take lightly or handle yourself!

    The bottom line is to ensure that you take care of plumbing problems quickly. If ignored, small problems can become big problems, and big problems often cost big money.

     


  • Ever Dreamed of Starting Your Own Business? Have You Considered Dropshipping?

    Ever Dreamed of Starting Your Own Business? Have You Considered Dropshipping?

    What is a Dropshipping Business?

    Drop shipping is proving to be an extremely popular business model to budding entrepreneurs, especially, millennials and gen Zers. This is because it relies largely on internet marketing skills and the idea of not handling stock or the items one is selling adds to its allure.

    If you have been looking for a business that you can start with limited funds, and grow as you continue with your regular job, then drop shipping is for you. Here’s a detailed guide on how to start a dropshipping business.

    In a dropshipping business, the store owner gets to sell directly to the customer without having any inventory. When a consumer buys a product in this store, the product is shipped to them by a third-party supplier.

    In terms of prices, the consumer pays the retail price the store owner has set, while the store owner pays the supplier the wholesale price. The rest is profit!!

    How to Start a Dropshipping Business in 2021

    Now that we’ve seen what dropshipping is all about, here’s what you need to do to set up such a business:

    Commit to setting up a dropshipping business

    Here’s what we mean by this: you’ll need to invest heavily either in time or money.

    Dropshipping is no different from other businesses. It will require significant commitment and that you have a long-term perspective. What do we mean by investing in each of these?

    Investing time into the business

    This is our preferred form of investment for various reasons:

    • You learn the ins and outs of how the business operates, which will come in handy when the business grows and you have to manage it.
    • You develop an intimate knowledge of your customers and market, and this informs your decision making.
    • You’ll steer clear of vanity projects that may eat up your capital to no success.
    • You’ll pick up some new skills that will help grow you as an entrepreneur.

    While not everyone might be able to quit their job and embark on growing their online store, it is still possible to start this business while holding a 9-to-5 position. All you need is to set the right expectations towards customer service and the appropriate fulfillment times for customers. As the business grows, you can move to working full time depending on the business’ cash flow and profitability.

    Investing money into the business

    In this approach, you invest a significant amount of money on programmers, developers, and marketers.

    However, this approach has proven to be too expensive in the long end compared to investing time. This is because success in the dropshipping business requires that you be deeply invested in its success as you grow it from the ground up. Additionally, having no knowledge of how the business works at different levels may expose you to manipulation from expensive ‘experts’.

    While you don’t have to do everything on your own, it’s advisable to be the primary driving force from the go.

    However, you still need a small amount of money in the range of $1,000 for your business to be launched and be operational. This will be used in operational expenses and any incorporation fees required. Once you are committed to the business, the next step is coming up with a business idea.

    Come up with a niche

    The niche that you come up with has to be laser-focused and one that you love. If the product range is not focused, you’ll have a hard time marketing it. And if you are not passionate about the niche you choose, you might end up getting discouraged, as it is a lot of work scaling a drop shipping business successfully. With all this in mind, here’s how you can settle on a niche:

    Settle for businesses with large profit margins. When in the drop shipping business, your focus is usually on marketing and customer acquisition. This means that the effort needed to sell a $20 item is almost the same as for a $1,500 item. As such, settle for a niche that has on demand higher-priced products.

    Low shipping costs are crucial. Your supplier may be handling the shipping, but if the cost is too steep, then it may drive customers away. For this reason, find items that are inexpensive to ship, as this may present you the option of free shipping to your customers, taking up the cost in a bid to attract additional sales.

    Ensure your products appeal to impulse buyers’ with lots of disposable income. When you are keen on getting traffic to your website, you want the highest conversion rate as most visitors might not come back. The products on sale should lead to impulse buys and appeal to those with disposable income.

    Ensure people are actively searching for the item. Leverage tools like Trends and Google’s Keyword Planner to check keywords related to your niche of interest. If no one is searching, that might not be a lucrative niche.

    Develop your brand. You earn bonus points if you can rebrand what you are selling and sell it as your own. Look for products that you can white label and make them your brand using custom branding and packaging.

    Niches that you can start from home

    Here are some of the most lucrative dropshipping niches:

    1. Power tools
    2. Tech supplies
    3. Lifestyle niche
    4. Beauty and Health
    5. Drones and Accessories

    Conduct Competition research

    You are probably aware that you will be operating in the same sphere as other drop shipping operations including retail giants like Amazon and Walmart. In spite of this, don’t make the mistake of going for a product that has little or no competition. This is actually a sign that there is no demand for the product.

    Some of the reasons why a product may face no competition include high shipping costs, lower profit margins, or manufacturing and supplier issues. Settle for products with competition, as this shows there’s high demand and the business model is sustainable.

    Some ways to conduct competitor research include:

    1. Leverage competitor spy tools like Alexa and Similar Web. These tools are good at tracking your competitors’ online activity. They’ll compile competitor online information, including their social media profiles, number of visitors, top traffic sources, and their competitors.
    2. Social media. Browse for Facebook ads related to your niche and note the top brands in the area. Look at how they communicate with their customers, how their feed is designed, and the amount of engagement they are getting.
    3. Subscribe to their email lists. By subscribing to your competitors’ email lists, you get their updates right into your inbox. You also get to see their marketing strategy. You also learn about the deals and promotions that they use to draw customers to buy from them.
    4. Google search. Search engines are a great place to start. Compile a list of your top five competitors. Search key search terms in your niche, like ‘phone covers.’ The top results are your top competitors and you will gather information on how they promote their products.

    Learn everything you can from your customers and keep the research in a spreadsheet for continuous reference.

    Settle for a supplier

    Settling for a dropshipping supplier is a crucial step if you are to create a successful business. Without a supplier, you won’t have products to ship to the consumer, and your business will never see light of day. Partnering with the wrong supplier is another step into the grave and therefore you need to exercise utmost caution.

    Ensure your conduct due diligence. As you will learn, many drop shipping suppliers are found overseas, thus communication is crucial, both in terms of their response speed and also being able to understand one another. If you are not fully confident with their communication abilities, then better ditch them for another supplier.

    Alibaba has grown to be one of the largest resources of finding and communicating with potential suppliers and manufacturers. Oberlo is also a marketplace that helps you find products to sell online. Ensure you ask lots of questions and identify their production capabilities if your business is to grow exponentially. You want a supplier that will be able to scale with you.

    You can learn from other entrepreneurs who have set up similar businesses in the past. You can find plenty of information online from business blogs to subreddits on drop shipping.

    Build an eCommerce site

    The next step to setting up a dropshipping business is to launch a website that supports this business model. You can leverage an ecommerce platform like Shopify for this. This site will be the home of your site- where you’ll be sending traffic, process payments, and sell products.

    Shopify is a complete commerce platform that enables you to sell in different places, in multiple currencies, and you can manage products and payments. Plus, you don’t need designer skills or to be a developer to use Shopify. There are tools that will help you with everything that you need to design your store.

    You might be tempted to get a web designer for a custom solution. However, it’s a wiser move to leverage plug-and-play alternatives, especially at the start. Once you are stable with a regular revenue stream, you can source for website customization.

    Choose a business structure

    If you are keen on setting up a long-term venture, then you want to start a legitimate business entity. Here is a rundown of the three commonly used structures:

    1. Sole proprietorship. This is the simplest structure to implement. However, it has no personal liability protection. In the event that your business gets sued, your personal assets are at risk. Its filing requirements are minimal and your business’ earnings are reported on your personal taxes.
    2. Limited liability company (LLC). This offers more protection of personal assets as your business is established as a separate legal entity. There are additional filing requirements and you’ll pay incorporation and ongoing fees.
    3. C corporation. Major corporations fall under this, as it offers the most liability protection. They are more expensive to set up as they are subjected to double taxation.

    ***Seek legal advice when deciding on the kind of business to choose***

    Devise a customer acquisition plan

    Despite having a killer product and website, you still need customers who want to buy. There are a number of ways to draw potential customers. The most effective way is to launch a Facebook ad campaign.

    • Facebook ads enable you to generate sales and revenue from the word go. This will allow you to scale quickly. The site also enables you to exhibit your offer directly to a highly targeted audience. This levels the playing field with larger brands and retailers.
    • Influencer marketing. If your budget is limited, influencer marketing is a sure way to experience higher return-on-investment while effeciently reaching your target audience. In fact, people nowadays tend to trust influencers more than conventional advertising. If you choose this route, settle on an affiliate fee as opposed to a flat rate. This way, you’ll both make money off each sale.
    • Content marketing. This method will give you a long-term traffic stream to your online store. Start a blog and produce content on your niche. Make the content educative and entertaining to your target audience. Additionally, you can opt to start a YouTube channel, start a podcast, or create infographics that help advertise your brand. For each strategy, ensure that you subtly include call to action tabs.
    • Communities. Involve yourself with cliques that are passionate about your niche. You can strike conversations with prospective customers on online forums such as Reddit, or even Facebook groups. Aim to help the potential customers while building relationships. This ensures they trust your brand and desire to buy from it.

    Analyze and improve

    You need to keep track of the results of your campaign and whether it is reaping benefits. With Shopify analytics, you can get information on:

    1. Sales. You can identify your best performing channels, where to pump more money, your best selling products, and your best customers.
    2. Shopper behavior. This includes the medium, that is, desktop or mobile and their conversion rates.
    3. Profit margins. You compare the sales and gross profits of every month.

    You can also leverage tools like Search Console and Google Analytics to gauge search traffic and improve on your SEO.

    In conclusion, with those steps, you should be on your way to setting up a stable drop shipping business with a revenue stream of over 1000 dollars a month. And with more consumers migrating from physical stores to online stores, the future couldn’t be brighter for drop shipping. What are you waiting for? Opportunity is knocking!


  • Building a Website is Easy! Here’s How:

    Building a Website is Easy! Here’s How:

    Building a website is as simple as walking through the park. With the right tools and systems, nothing could be as simple to make. You don’t necessarily need any coding knowledge or need to hire a web developer because there are many self-serve platforms that are easy to use. The only tricky part is choosing one that is perfect for your needs.
    If you are a business owner, blogger, or an individual, you can create your own website with ease or hire a professional to do it for you. This post will guide you through the basics of building a website that represents your business and brand.

    Why You Should Create Your Own Website

    A website is one of the most powerful tools for communication. It helps you to connect to the world. It’s where you share your passion for music or business, inform people about your hustle,  sell products, or otherwise. There’s no limit to what you can do with your website and there are tons of possibilities available for you. Here are the most popular tools for website building.

    Best Tools to Help you Build Your Own Website:

    As you already know, you don’t have to worry about servers or physical space because site builders are cloud-built. All you need is a computer with access to a web browser like Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, or Safari. All the tools have their pros and cons. We will help you identify tools that may work for you and respective possible shortcomings.

    1. GoDaddy
    Building a website on GoDaddy is easy and straightforward. GoDaddy is a name to reckon within the digital space. They provide domains and hosting, but they are best known for website building. Being one of the most established internet companies, the website builder has been in the market for about four years. The recently added editor comes with a completely new look with added features.

    One great thing about GoDaddy is that it offers a beginner-friendly website builder packed with mobile-optimized designs. They have four plans to choose from, the most affordable being $10 per month. One of the benefits you get is the 24/7 customer support. However, the name of the domain is not included in the $10 package. That means you will only benefit from it through their “Ecommerce” plan. Another advantage of using GoDaddy is that you can now test their website builder in the first month at no cost. This is an opportunity to understand the advantages and disadvantages of the website builder. GoDaddy uses ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) to make website building a lot easier. Whenever you enter the type of website you would like to have, it creates an example site that you can edit, saving you time and technical effort.
    This makes GoDaddy the fastest website builder in the world, especially for beginners. The end product is a website that is simple and speedy, but may not have the advanced features you require.

    Pros

    • Easy to use
    • Smartphone-optimized layouts
    • Free website builder test for the first month
    • Makes work easier by creating an example site

    Cons
    • Editor layouts are limited
    • Blog is too basic
    • Poor support quality

    2. Wix
    Just like GoDaddy, Wix has become pretty well known. Wix became popular due to its expensive marketing campaigns. I’m sure you have seen their ads on YouTube starring Jason Statham, Heidi Klum, and Gal Gadot. As we speak, the Wix website building is hosting more than 160 million websites. What makes Wix stand out? For starters, they offer a drag and drop feature, which makes it easier to create smaller websites. Wix has free and paid packages that provide web hosting as well as access to domain names. They also offer hundreds of templates which gives you many choices in design. Many people prefer Wix because it’s affordable, easy to use, and a hassle-free way of creating your website.

    Gone were the days when we had to pay whiz-kids to build our sites. Wix’s template editor allows you to explore and put your creativity to use without any coding knowledge. If you have gone through the websites created by Wix, they all look professional and beautiful. The reason why you should create a website with Wix is because of their impressive layouts, which are designed for every type of business, large and small. There are layouts for restaurants, businesses, online stores, artists and more. Websites created by Wix are optimized for mobile devices and can also be spiced up with any of the numerous tools in the Wix App Market.

    Wix is like a prefabricated house. It provides a fundamental structure that cannot be changed or altered in any way. However, you can choose a theme, just like you can paint the walls of the house, and add photo galleries, just like you would add furniture.

    Here is our view on the pros and cons of using Wix:

    Pros
    • Extremely flexible
    • Excellent templates
    • Easy to add animations
    • Artificial Design Intelligence (Available for projects like yoga, portfolio sites, etc.)
    • Hundreds of website app on App Market
    • Provides automatic site backup
    Cons
    • The cheapest ad-free plan is not actually cheap. Starts at $14 per month
    • Loading speed is slower, especially on mobile devices.
    • Templates cannot be changed easily. You can only change the design

    3. WordPress
    WordPress is the most popular website builder in the market at the moment. Unlike Wix and Godaddy, WordPress is completely free. It powers more than 33% of all the sites on the internet. Don’t confuse the WordPress.org content management system with WordPress.com, a hosting service. Though they are under the same umbrella or brand, they have different functions. WordPress.org gives you full access to all features of WordPress. You will, however, need some technical know-how to run a website with WordPress.org. The biggest advantage of WordPress is expandability. Once you manage to run your website on the platform, there’s no going back, and no limits.

    Here are some examples of scenario which make WordPress stand out:
    -You want to have a premium membership area within your website that supports online payments.
    -You work in real estate, and you want to provide a potential client with a database to search for property.
    -You need advanced SEO features to beat your competition.
    -You want an impressive design that supports all the latest technical features added on your website while leaving room to adjust the code.

    Long Story short, WordPress.org allows you to build a unique website. WordPress.com works like Wix and GoDaddy, offering a much lighter platform while allowing you to achieve similar results as drag and drop website builders.

    Pros
    • The software is free to install. Hosting and premium templates must be purchased, though.
    • Great flexibility allowing you to code anything you wish to change.
    • You can move from one hosting to another.
    • A CMS with the widest variety of templates.
    • A variety of plugins for e-commerce, multilingual websites, member pages, etc.
    • Many programmers specialize in WordPress.
    Cons
    • Requires updates regularly for your security.
    • Installation may require basic knowledge.
    • WordPress was made by volunteers, and they don’t offer assistance within their system.
    • You don’t get to see the end result immediately unless after publishing.

    4. Bluehost:
    While building a website, you’ll also need web hosting services. The best choice and most popular is Bluehost. They have been around for a while, offering the best hosting at a pocket-friendly price. They also provide excellent customer support. Bluehost offers basic shared hosting from as low as $2.95 monthly on a three-year contract. They offer you a variety of features for your website needs. For instance, they have a great SEO tool that tracks how your website is doing on the search rankings for specific keywords. This allows you to optimize your site for better search rankings.

    When choosing web hosting, you need to understand the purpose of your website, the amount of traffic and growth you expect, and your budget among other factors. Other vital things to consider are the types of servers available, load speed, uptime, and customer support. Using this criteria, Bluehost tops the list as the best hosting.
    Bluehost covers everything you need from a host. That includes installing WordPress, upgrading your WordPress to improve security, or getting more control by upgrading VPS. The hosting also has its share of disadvantages.

    Pros
    • Cheap on the first term
    • Solid uptime
    • Unmetered bandwidth (Doesn’t limit the traffic of your website)
    • Generous storage

    Cons
    • Speed is not that great
    • Bad support
    • Only US servers available
    • No free migration
    • Poor backup options

    The Basics of Running a Website

    To create your own website, you need to follow the following basic steps.

    1. Register your Domain Name
    The first step to owning your own website is registering a domain name. The name should reflect on the products you sell or the services you offer. Doing so will help customers to find your business quickly. Your customers also expect your domain to represent your brand and also be the same as your business name.
    The domain name will also be used for your business’s email address. While you may use your personal email, sending emails from your business address will look professional.
    To register a domain, find an established registrar like GoDaddy. Cheaper options may offer poor support. You may need to change contact information or hosting companies, and a registrar like GoDaddy will be more helpful.

    2. Choose a Web Designer/Developer
    Services like GoDaddy and Wix don’t require you to be a web designer to build a site. If you don’t intend to earn from your leads, you can use Wix to create a free website.
    However, if you need to generate leads, you will need to hire a web designer. Some designers work with developers and marketers who can help your business succeed.

    3. Prepare your Content
    Think about what you want to share with your customers via your website. It helps you to know what sections you want to include on the site.
    You might need to hire a professional writer to structure your content. A website that is well designed and informative will help your business stand out.

    4. Build Your Website
    You can do it by yourself or have a web developer do it on your behalf. It needs to be kept up to date.
    Also, set a free account with Search Console and connect to Google Analytics. This will unlock Google Analytics reports. It will also provide you with critical information about issues your site may be experiencing,

    If you decide to hire a professional, it may be useful to understand some of the basic terms related to building websites. The following are basic terms to know when hiring a web designer:

    1. 301 Redirect
    This is a permanent redirect for one URL to another, usually from an old website page to a new one.

    2. 404
    404 is an error message that is displayed when the user can’t find what they requested.

    3. Accessibility
    These are concerns about making a website accessible by people who experience disabilities. All websites should follow the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines.

    4. Caching
    A cache acts as a temporary data storage and aids the site speed by storing important information on your computer after visiting a site for the first time. When you revisit a site, the computer will not reload the site information.

    5. Bandwidth
    This refers to the amount of data transmittable over a connection at a given time.

    6. API
    Application Program Interface, or API, is how computers and applications communicate with each other.

    7. Cookies
    Cookies are small text files that carry a unique anonymous identifier and visit information sent from a website to the browser and stored on the visitor’s hard drive.

    8. Call-to-Action (CTA)
    This is usually in the form of text, banner, image, and uses action-oriented language to make the user act and engage.

    9. Domain
    The name of the website. People type it into the browser to visit it.

    10. HTML
    Hypertext Markup Language is a markup language used to build web pages and show content like images, text, video, and links.

    11. HTTP & HTTPS
    Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) is a secure version of HTTP, which is a protocol in which data is sent from the browser over to the website and vice versa.

    12. Hosting
    Hosting is the web server where all the files and details of your website are stored.

    13. Page Speed
    A measurement of the time it takes for content to load on a specific web page.

    14. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
    SEO is creating or modifying content for the sake of better visibility on search engines.

    15. SERP
    Search Engine Results Pages are displayed to the users after searching for something on a search engine such as Google.

    16. SSL Certificate
    Secure Socket Layer is a security protocol with the purpose of establishing encrypted communication between a website and a web browser.

    17. User Experience (UX)
    UX is the interaction a user has with a website’s interface, from wireframing to copywriting, designing, and programming.

    18. User Interface (UI)
    UI is the interaction between user and computer.

    19. Javascript
    Javascript is a programming language used to create interaction within web browsers.

    20. Wireframe
    A visual guide that shows the structure of a web page that doesn’t have any design elements. It’s mostly used when redesigning a website or designing a page.

    Summary:
    Your website can be central to your personal or professional success. It can be a place where you connect with the world. Starting one for your business will not only establish credibility, but it will also connect you with your customers. All you need to do is keep it updated with fresh content, be quick to address technical issues, and keep your customers happy!  Once your website is active, be sure to check your analytics and webmaster tools. Always make changes to your site based on the results or reports you see from Google Analytics. This will help you to maintain the visibility of your site and generate more leads, sales, or interactions with your customers.

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  • Review: Restaurants are Closed Again in Many Cities. Consider a Meal Delivery Service Now

    Review: Restaurants are Closed Again in Many Cities. Consider a Meal Delivery Service Now

    Thinking about ditching trips to the supermarket to increase your social distancing and limit your exposure? Over the last few months many Americans have considered signing up for a Meal Delivery Service.

    With the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic surging across the US, many cities and counties are imposing new restrictions on restaurants and dining, even when it’s outside! If you haven’t yet considered signing up for a meal delivery service, check out our recommendations below:

    When thinking about which service to sign up for, ask yourself a few basic questions…

    • Do I like to cook, or do I really just want a pre-made meal?
    • Am I an expert cook or a novice… How much time do I want to spend in the kitchen?
    • What types of meals do I like… comfort food, ethnic dishes, the basics?
    • What types of dietary restrictions do I have?
    • Am I cooking for one, or cooking for the family?
    • What do the kids like to eat?
    • Am I a picky eater? How much flexibility will I have with ingredients?
    • How much am I looking to spend each week on meals?

    There are many options to choose from in the marketplace. Here are some additional questions to ask before you make your choice:

    • Does the menu have enough variety?
    • Who creates the menu, can I send in input?
    • Do they offer different pricing models?
    • What serving size options do they offer?
    • What are the delivery options?

    Make sure the meal delivery service you choose delivers to your area before you sign up!!

    The meal delivery services field is growing, with specialty purveyors focusing on vegan foods, seasonal ingredients, soups and smoothies. These meals can be healthy, tasty, easy to make and maybe best of all, you don’t have to wait for inspiration to strike and then battle the crowds at the grocery store. With home meal kits, you just go online and browse the latest recipe ideas, and they come straight to your door ready for you to put together. So this leads to the question, which one? We have reviewed the Top 5 Meal Delivery Services.

    Purple Carrot

    Purple Carrot runs on plant power. If you don’t eat animal products or are lactose intolerant, you’re in luck. Every single dish from Purple Carrot is not only vegetarian, but vegan, too. But don’t worry, we’re not talking boring grilled veggies here. This box features seasonal produce, herbs and creative sauces that keep things interesting. Each week, Purple Carrot chefs create a new selection of plant-based dishes like cauliflower l’orange and coffee teriyaki skewers. In addition to being healthy and tasty, Purple Carrot encourages users to appreciate that eating plant-based meals (instead of ones containing meat) is environmentally friendly, cutting down on water use and emissions. There are individual plans serving one to two people, a family plan returning that makes two meals for three to four people, and a “performance” plan that ups the protein content of each meal, and is gluten-free.

    Blue Apron

    They’re the OG of meal delivery services.  Most of Blue Apron’s recipes are pretty easy, making the company a good choice for beginner cooks.  Instead of spending all night at the grocery store or in the kitchen, Blue Apron delivers pre-measured ingredients for simple recipes straight to your door. Meals start at just $9.99 per serving and you can choose the two-person plan, this comes with two or three meals per week or the family plan which comes with up to four meals per week. Also for those of you that like a nice glass of wine to compliment this 5 star gourmet meal you just prepared, check out the company’s wine delivery options.

    Another perk is that they love condiments as much as I do. Many of the recipes require you to whip up different sauces or au jus for dipping.

    Though there are generally a few choices for your three weekly meals, this isn’t the best option for those with dietary restrictions, as they really only offer a meat and vegetarian option. And even though the meals won’t take forever to cook, you’ll still spend a decent amount of time in the kitchen—somewhere in the neighborhood of 45 minutes. If you use cooking as a way to decompress and chill out after a long day, you are in luck. Blue Apron never fails to take you out of your comfort zone. The most impressive thing was that out of the dozens of meals I made, there were only one or two dinners that I would not make again.

    Plated

    Plated has easy to follow recipes and is very flexible with customers, but it’s the food that is simply divine. The recipes are crafted by the company’s culinary team and use high quality ingredients that are free of hormones and antibiotics. And while the recipes can be exotic and seductive, you can also just whip up some more standard fare like waldorf chicken salad and spicy crunchy shrimp bowls. You can also add dessert if you really feel like getting carried away.

    Plated is also flexible – the company will allow you to skip weeks, switch recipes and cancel anytime. There is a great range of recipes—from an elevated grilled cheese to stuffed roasted squash to pumpkin rigatoni—that reflect the current season. It’s also great they have a two meal a week option. One drawback though – the company doesn’t offer specifically vegan options

     Hello Fresh

    What makes Hello Fresh unique is that it offers a vegetarian meal plan for folks who don’t eat meat. The company is also committed to using responsibly-sourced ingredients. To use, first choose from the veggie, classic, or family plans, which all come with two or three recipes per week and start at $7.99 per serving. Still skeptical? Purchase a Hello Fresh Meal Delivery Service in select grocery stores for your first go-around. All the recipes are straight-forward and rarely include unnecessary steps. Plus, the portions are bigger, so we always had leftovers for the next day.

    Sun Basket

    If you’re trying hard to stick to a certain food regimen like Whole 30 or the Paleo Diet, Sun Basket’s meals can help. They even list out if the meal is gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, paleo, carb-conscious, vegetarian, vegan, etc.  They only send the cleanest ingredients to their customers. Choose from either a classic plan, which serves two people, or a family plan which feeds four people and starts at $10.99 per serving. If you’re busy multitasking between online meetings and helping your kids with school and don’t have much time to cook but want to provide healthy homemade meals for your family, Sunbasket has come out with some new options that will help.  They have “Fresh & Ready” meals which are chef-crafted meals that go straight from their kitchen to your oven.  You can just heat up and be ready for dinner in under 10 minutes.  If you want to be a little more involved in the cooking process, they have “Speedy” options which can be ready in 20 minutes.

    Bottom line, there are a ton of meal delivery service options out there.  If you just do a little research, you can find the best one for you.  And don’t be afraid to try all of them to decide which you like best. You can also sign up for a few different services and just rotate which meal delivery service you use each week.  Many of the services offer easy to use apps so you can plan your meals weeks in advance.  Happy Cooking!


  • Need Extra Cash for the Holidays? How About Starting A ‘Side Hustle’

    Need Extra Cash for the Holidays? How About Starting A ‘Side Hustle’

    These days everyone could use a bit more money. Like many Americans, if you find yourself at home and looking for new ways to earn income, you might consider starting up a Side Hustle. If you are employed, underemployed or unemployed, many people find that their salary is not enough to afford the ideal lifestyle they seek.

    If you fall under the category where you are left with little or no money to save, you should try a side hustle. You might have thought of it but the question you could have been asking yourself is what kind of a side hustle is most suitable? Below, we discuss various work from home opportunities. If you are there and you have never heard about a side hustle, we do not want to leave you behind. Let’s start by answering the question of what is a side hustle so that we can move on together.

    A side hustle or part-time job is a way of making money outside your normal job. This kind of job gives you an opportunity to earn extra cash, with which you can freely buy items you want, follow your passion, and reduce your financial concerns. Generally, you begin a side hustle with an aim of earning a couple of extra thousand or hundred dollars per month. With such money, you will be able to do a lot and even make some savings that you can use to make investments. Without taking much time, let’s dive into some of the great ideas that can make you earn more money by working in the comfort of your home.

    Money-Saving Browser Plug-ins

    Although this is not direct work from home opportunity, you can use it to earn some money, which you can save or use to do other things. What you need to do is to install a money-saving browser plug-in of your choice. This kind of browser will help you to find reduced prices on the items you purchase online daily. This will add some breathing space to your budget. Right? It is related to earning some extra money.

    Bank Account Promotions

    These kinds of promotions are available in all sizes and shapes. What does this mean? You can find different bank promotions that offer bonus money for instance when you open an account. All you need to do is to get online and search a list of the most amazing bank account promotions for individuals with new accounts. You can find yourself earning some cash just by opening a bank account and completing all the activities that require you to qualify.

    Selling Your Insights through Blogging

    Could you be among the people that view blogs as venues where bored individuals share what they think about anything? Ok maybe you don’t view it this way but all the same, you may have never have thought that you can make extra money through blogging. But how? This is it. Your journey as a blogger starts with an idea. You need to have a unique idea. What if your idea is not unique? Let this one not worry you because you can take an existing idea. However, ensure that the idea is more compelling and sharper than those of your competitors.

    After getting an idea, get to know it from formal training or personal experience such that you will not experience any difficulties as you write about it. You may find it quite challenging when starting but you just need to give it time and you will find that you have tightened your writing process and you are able to produce wonderful content within a very short time.

    The next stage is selecting and purchasing a web domain, you then have to host and design your site after which you can plan your content. This seems to be a lot of work and you may think of taking shortcuts. As the saying goes short cuts are always the wrong ways, avoid them at all cost. By following this work to the letter, you will be laying a solid foundation that you will look and smile about in days to come. After creating a quality site and building a following, you will earn money in different ways and you will come to enjoy it.

    Sell your opinions through focus groups and online surveys

    Have you ever imagined that your opinions may earn you money? They are of more value than you might have ever imagined. Several companies pay a good amount of money to get to know more about the preferences and motivations of their target audience.

    Online Surveys

    You can undertake online surveys at your home any time you feel like be it over dinner or lunch hours, working hours, during your free time, or the wee hours of sleepless nights.

    Although you are expected to give honest and sensible answers, you need not devote all your attention to these surveys. It is up to you. Just devote the time you are comfortable with the survey. An individual survey can take between a few minutes to twenty or thirty minutes to complete. You can handle the number of questions that you are comfortable with.

    The amount of money you earn is based on the kind of surveys you complete. Note that you can earn like $10 per hour if you sign up with several survey companies and complete the tasks allotted to you diligently. Even with less than ten dollars per hour, the amount is better than none.

    Online Focus Groups

    These types of groups are almost similar to online surveys and in some instances, they are administered by the same firms. Note that online focus groups need more time and concentration as compared to other online surveys. Configurations also differ but you have to join a panel and engage on particular issues per month or week. Online focus groups are also more selective as compared to online surveys. You may not qualify if you fail to meet certain income or demographic criteria. If you make efforts you can earn more than 500 hundred dollars per month in-kind awards or cash.

    Sell your expertise through Virtual tutoring

    This is a more personalized manner of earning extra cash. All you need to do is to share whatever you have expertise in. Dissimilar to online classes or courses, which can be accessed by a large number of people who are paying for it a time, a tutoring session is normally a one-on-one affair. Nevertheless, you have the freedom to tutor as many students as can be allowed by your schedule.

    Note that success in online tutoring does not just come. You have to earn it by doing the following things:

    • Sticking to the subjects that you are very much familiar with and avoiding those you do not know much about.
    • Using a highly visible and reputable venue.
    • Structuring your sessions sensibly.
    • Pricing your services in accordance with the market price.
    • Following scheduling most appropriate practices
    • Finally, you need to be enthusiastic when promoting yourself. You could not be good in promoting yourself because enthusiastic promotions are not for all people. You need not worry because you can select a platform that can do the promotion on your behalf. You can search for such a platform by searching for the best tutoring platforms online.

    Online tutoring platforms pay tutors depending on the kind of subjects you have selected. For example, if you are a computer science tutor you can earn more money than the amount of money earned by an English tutor. Most platforms also pay tutors on an hourly basis. Are you a teacher? Don’t remain at home doing nothing, especially during the weekends or holidays. With tutoring, you can earn a good amount of extra cash.

    However, prior to signing up, you need to ensure that your computer also has the requirements of your preferred platform. You will require a realistically fast processor as well as video-chatting capabilities that are real-time. Most platforms also require their employees to have a TEFL certification to be hired to work with them.

    Sell Your Unwanted items

    Have you ever thought that you can earn some extra cash by selling the items that you no longer want? This comes with more benefits because you will not only be getting some cash but you will also be clearing your space. Look at it this way; when you sell unwanted items you will not only be earning some cash but also downsizing and decluttering your life. Although this will not help you earn money throughout, you can use it when you want to clear out your space at least once in a while. Could be you have looked around and wondered what to sell. Here is a list of things that you can earn money from:

    • Old kids’ outfit
    • Sporting goods that you are not using anymore
    • Toys
    • Electronics
    • Wardrobe accessories that are out of fashion
    • Valuable but non-sentimental keepsakes like jewelry, watches, outdoor equipment, dusty tools and even a motorcycle or used vehicle.

    You have looked and said yes I have some items that I can sell but where? There are several methods and places to sell your unwanted items.

    Let’s start with digital options.

    Here are some of the digital platforms you can consider depending on the sales model of your choice and the amount of effort you’re willing to give.

    • Amazon: Note that you can become a professional seller in Amazon if you are planning to be selling at least forty items per month here. All you need to do is to pay a referral fee and a subscription fee and you will sell your items at the comfort of your home.
    • EBay : this is among the most popular sites worldwide. This means that when you post the items you are selling here, most people will view them. All you need to do to beat your way through the other items is to list high quality images and clear description. You will pay a commission on the items you sell.
    • Resale (Trade-in) Marketplaces: there are various places where you can sell your items, particularly, electronics online. Some sites include Gazelle, SellCell, MaxBack, Verizon, AT&T and BestBuy among other online market places.
      Craigslist: you can also try this. It is cheap but it has several disadvantages like high chances of non-payment and potential safety risks.

    Sell Your Words through Freelance Writing

    This is another way of earning by working from home. Most college students have embraced this as a part-time job. Freelance writing is a side hustle with which you can predict the amount of money to earn daily, weekly, or monthly. The amount of money you earn depends on the number of articles you write and their rating. There are various websites that offer Freelance writing jobs including Fiverr, Upwork, Craigslist, ProBlogger, and TextBroker among others.

    Affiliate Marketing

    This is also a kind of side hustle. However, you need to be a little bit careful with it since you can earn a lot of cash or nothing at all. Note that it is more than finding the appropriate item to sell. You also need to select the appropriate brand to partner with. The amount of money you earn through affiliate marketing depends on the product you are selling and the kind of network you are using.

    Above are just a number of side hustles that you can try at the comfort of your home and earn some extra cash? The list of side hustles is just endless. Here are other side hustles that you can embrace:

    • Starting a drop-shipping business
    • Selling your grammatical skills through freelance editing
    • Offering pet sitting services
    • Remote Accounting
    • Selling of E-books and Audiobooks
    • Retail Arbitrage
    • Selling your passion for issues through political advocacy
    • Selling your search queries
    • Selling your fashion skills
    • Selling your cooking skills and becoming an Instagram influencer among others

    With a side hustle, living the life you have always dream can be attainable. There is no time like the present, and it is never too late to start a new career path towards financial freedom. Good Luck! The opportunities are yours to take!


  • Replace Your Roof Before it is Too Late! Our Tips:

    Replace Your Roof Before it is Too Late! Our Tips:

    One of the most critical places to pay attention to in your home or commercial building has got to be your roof. Roof replacement is not an issue to delay or take lightly.

    As much as installing a new roof may not sound so glamorous, it is arguable as vital as it can be. A failing roof, if ignored, may cause unimaginable damage to your home, from allowing water into the house, damaging the ceiling and walls, an old roof can cost you so much more if not repaired.

    What time of the year is best for a roof replacement?
    Typically, the best time for you to have our roof repaired is when you have adequately prepared for it.
    Climatic conditions may, however, become a factor to consider when planning or the same.
    Below are the different seasons and their affiliation to the roof replacement process.

    i. Spring
    Spring is one of the best times for you to replace your roof.
    As the winter season fades and the outsides begin to become enjoyable as the cold goes away, many homes and commercial building owners begin to plan for their improvement projects.
    One of the reasons why spring is ideal for your roof replacement is the temperatures that range below 45 degrees, making it perfect for Asphalt shingles to adhere to your roof.
    The only disadvantage of fixing your roof during spring is that the weather may become unpredictable with showers interrupting the installations. Your roofer must be well prepared for such an occurrence during this season and prepare for a “plan b.” Proper planning should help you proceed despite the spring showers.

    ii.. Summer
    The period of summer through Fall happens to be one of the busiest for roofing contractors thanks to the weather, which is usually warm enough and consistent.
    As spring rains subside before the summer heat and humidity fully sets in, is the best time to have your roof replaced. The weather allows the roofing process to function seamlessly, so most people book their appointments during this time.

    If not booked early enough, prices are likely to rise as roofing contractors become unavailable. Late summer is not the best for the process due to extreme heat and humidity, which affects not only the workers but also the materials.
    Too much heat may cause the asphalt to melt, become less durable and more prone to damage.

    iii. Fall
    Fall is the best time to have your roof fixed. The weather is stable, calm, and with winter oncoming, most home-owners begin thinking of the damage their homes will have from the snow, sleet, and cold hence one of busiest seasons for roofers.

    There are meager chances of unpredictable showers during Fall with the temperatures ranging between 45-85 degrees Fahrenheit. These conditions are perfect for the roof shingles to set and seal properly.

    The warm temperatures are also perfect working conditions for the roofers as they are not overheated. They can work for longer hours a day, which helps with your project completing on time.

    The downside of choosing Fall to replace your roof is that many people are also booking their appointment then, and it may take time between signing your contract and having the job done.

    The roofers often pay attention to the most needed roof replacement, and yours possibly being pushed towards the beginning of winter, depending on the current condition of your roof.
    It is, therefore, to plan months in anticipation of a delay in case it occurs.

    iv. Winter
    Winter season can be one of the difficult ones for the contractors to complete a successful roof repair installation. The climatic conditions pose a massive challenge for the workers and even for the building material to come together.

    With temperatures dropping below 40 degrees, shingles are likely to get too cold and break during installation. They also require thermal sealing to set, and while this could be a quick process in warm temperatures, it could take a couple of days or weeks during winter.

    However, you can have your roof repaired during winter with the right contractor and proper equipment. There is a decrease in the amount of work during winter, and you are likely to get a good deal.

    Signs that Your Roof Needs Replacing

    • Roof age
    One of the easiest ways to know you need a new roof is to serve you for 20 years old and above. An asphalt shingle roof should last roughly 20- 30 years maximum, and hitting that milestone means you need a replacement.

    • Curling shingles
    Your roof shingles can curl in two ways, cupping, where the shingle ends turn upward or clawing where the shingle edges stay flat, and the middle part begins to curve upwards.
    Both are a sign that your roof is wearing apart and looming problems like leaking around the corner. Depending on the extent of the shingle curls, you should be preparing yourself for a roof replacement soon.

    • Cracked and missing shingles
    If you spot a cracked shingle, it is essential to cross-check whether it is random throughout the whole roof, as this is a clear sign that you need a new roof.
    In the case of a missing shingle, be careful not to replace just the missing one and end up covering up a looming problem. Once you have replaced one or two, it makes sense to replace the whole roof and settle the roof problem ance and for all.

    • Houseplants on roof
    Unwanted houseplants around the compound may not be much bothering, but on the roof should cause alarm. Moss and greenery on the corners of your roof indicate trapped moisture, which may be damaging to your roof.
    Besides using a brush to clear the greenery, it is crucial to access and address the underlying problem and have the whole roof replaced.

    • Interior roof check
    One of the ways to determine whether your roof needs replacement is by performing an interior roof check through your attic.

    Grab a flashlight and head up to your attic to look for any signs of roof damage. Look for dark stains and streaks that indicate water going through your roof. Any signs of your roof rotting from the inside is also a sign that there is leakage.

    Observe also to see if any light streaks are coming through any holes or cracks. Any light coming in also means cold air, snow, and water can penetrate your roof causing damage hence the need to have it replaced.

    • Sagging
    A sagging roof can indicate a structural issue, probably decking in the attic or even the foundation support. It can also be an indication of water damage. Examine the area, and if it feels soft, you know you have a water damage issue.
    It is vital to have the issue addressed soonest possible before it progresses and gets out of hand.

    • Shingle granules
    Granules help to protect the asphalt fro the sun. If you find shingle granules falling off to your gutter, it means the shingle quality is deteriorating and will continue to do so as they are exposed to the sun. Your roof is, therefore, susceptible to roof decay and water damage.

    • Poor Craftsmanship:

    It is effortless for you to spot poor craft on your roof.
    If the shingles are fixed in a shoddy manner, and they seem to fit awkwardly, it is obvious your roof is not in good condition.

    How to spot and fix common causes of a leak

    • Perform an outdoor visual inspection of your roof to find any missing or damaged shingles.
    • Perform an indoor inspection to find any peeling paint on walls or ceiling, moisture marks, grey or brown patches that could indicate your roof ventilation is compromised.
    • Pay attention to your roof flashings as most leaks occur here.
    • Clear your gutters to avoid blockage. Poor gutter drainage could cause water to back up on the shingles and seep up into the interior.

    How to fix common causes of a leak

    • Use a wet applied sealant or spray-on silicone on the area to avoid leaks during a storm as a temporary solution.
    • Apply cement or sealant on the rooftop area surrounding the leak
    • Replace you broken or missing shingles by gently removing the nail on the damaged shingle and placing a new one
    • Clean out clogged gutters to avoid pooling up of water, which eventually results in a leak
    • Clear ice dams from your roof using a rake and an ice melt product as per the manufacturer’s instructions. Meted snow refreezing on your roof can create ice dams that hold ice and whose weight can be damaging.
    • Trim the trees and branches away from your roof to avoid moisture on the roofing structure, which may result in the growth of unwanted plants. Falling branches may also cause fractures on the shingles hence the leaks.

    Tips for choosing the right roofing contractor

    1. Recommendations
    Talk to your friends, neighbors, co-workers, and relatives for contractors’ referrals they have worked together in the past. Target people who have had roof-repairs in the past or in progress to give you a chance to access the work progress or result to determine your decision making.
    Asking for recommendations also helps you learn more about roofing contractors in your area, who are well versant with all building codes in the area and with everything construction in your area.

    2. Designations of manufacturers
    A contractor must pass particular minimum requirements to be certified for operation. Find out if the roofer has any accreditation from the manufacturers as it means they have met the specified requirements.
    The accreditation goes to prove the roofer’s dedication to their craft and acts as an approval stamp.

    3. Better Business Reviews
    It is essential to look up a potential roofing contractor on better business review to see their rating before trusting them with your roof. If a contractor is not listed on BBR, then it is not wise to settle with them.
    You may run unprofessional roofers working from their trucks canvassing the neighborhood looking for jobs hence why you should take your time to do your proper research.

    4. Licensing and Insurance
    A good contractor should insure all their workers and subcontractors to avoid litigation between the contractor and a home-owner in case of an accident. The contractor should be ready and willing to provide a copy of the insurance to you for validation.

    Most of the states also require contractors to be licensed, and if so, they should be willing to provide you with a copy of the same for you to do an online confirmation.
    A license requirement does not stop rogue contractors from practicing. Hence, you need to be vigilant to establish their legitimacy before taking them up.

    5. Request for a Written Estimate
    Many reputable roofing companies will offer you a written estimate of the cost to ensure that you are fully aware and understand the charges even before the work begins. Failure to do so should be a red flag for you.

    6. Get a Guarantee
    Work with a contractor that provides you with a guarantee on the quality. It allows you to have the job revised at no extra cost in case the installation was faulty.
    No guarantee means if the contractor messes your roof and does not repair it or goes out of business, for example, you will have to dig into your pockets again to pay for their poor craft.

    Roof Repair Cost
    The cost of roof repair has many variables, such as the size of the house, location, material, and the kind of repair.
    Roofing materials alone cost between 100$-1000$ per square depending on your choice. Most quotes given by contractors break up into 40% product and 60% labor.
    Therefore, it is essential to be aware of the specifics that later translate to the quote you get. Ensure to settle for a contractor that fits your budget and offers quality service as well.