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How to Pay Cash for Christmas

How to Pay Cash For Christmas
How to Pay Cash For Christmas

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year… or is it?

As reported in a recent survey by Think Finance, Forty-five percent of Americans would prefer to skip Christmas

There really are a few reasons that make the holidays a stressful time for families…

 

According to a survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, Here are the Top 11 Things people Stress about During the Holidays:

 

68%: Crowds and long lines
37%: Gaining weight
37%: Getting into debt
28%: Gift shopping
25%: Traveling
24%: Seeing certain relatives
23%: Seasonal music
19%: Disappointing gifts
16%: Having to attend holiday parties or events
15%: Having to be nice
12%: Holiday tipping read more

8 Stress Free Tips for Traveling with Kids

We love to travel!!

My youngest took her first plane ride when she was only 6 weeks old (I know, crazy!!) When you love to travel and your home based business gives you the freedom to travel as much as you want… you learn a few tips along the way.

My girls have been to Vancouver, Washington DC twice, Disney World a few times, Philadelphia, and many other place!! We truly believe that you should travel with young kids!

 

Most families have to travel some during the holidays, even if it is just a few hours to a near by town, I know these tips will come in handy to help you have a Stress Free time Traveling with kids. 

 

 

8 Stress Free Tips for Traveling with Kids

Food

Always have snacks
  1. I usually make individually packaged snacks for each kid. Usually a few Lara Bars, Annie’s Crackers,  and even Bananas work well on the road.
  2. Cups with lids for ALL ages (even Adults!)

 

Entertainment

  • Keep Toys just for the Car
    1. I love this bin for keeping all your car toys together. This makes getting in the car FUN because they can play with these special toys. Most car toys that we pick don’t have a lot of small pieces and don’t make any annoying sounds lol
      1. Our girls love Barbies,
      2. Magic Clip Dolls
      3. Water WOW Books and Pens
  • Play Car Games
    1. I spy is a great game that all ages can play
    2. The ABC game where you look for all the letters in the alphabet while you drive
    3. Travel Bingo Card Game
  • Movies
    1. When I first became I mom, I said – “My child will never watch movies in the car! She will read the whole way” Then I moved 17 hours away from our family and road trips became a two day excursion… so we compromised to keep the sanity levels at a normal level. Last year we were able to buy our van in cash and it came with a DVD player. We will take turns picking out movies that everyone can enjoy, and I think it has been a great way to reduce that travel stress.
  • Sing Along CD’s
    1. I know I’m totally playing my mom card here, but I love singing in the car! We have a few sing a long CD’s that I love to listen to and sing as a family
      1. Disney Sing Along 
      2. Bethel Kids Music
  • Books
    1. Even if your kids are too young to read, they can enjoy reading with a little help
      1. Leap Frog LeapReader is what we have been using for two years and we LOVE it!
      2. Leap Frog reading Pen
  • read more

    How to Exercise on a Busy Schedule

    I haven’t met a single person who isn’t busy! We all have the same 24 hours in a day – but some how some people are able to get more done in those same hours… what is their tip???

    I think the biggest thing about being efficient with your time is to plan ahead. If you are trying to get in exercise throughout your day, PLAN to be active! Look for opportunities. 

    I do a LOT of traveling, which I love to do… but that usually means long car rides and then trying to get the girls settled in a hotel room – so how do we fit in exercise when our schedule is busy?

    I like to park father away in the parking lot, run up and down the stairs a few extra times during the day, do some squats while I’m cooking or brushing my teeth, take 5 minutes to stretch.

    You can fit it in!!

    I also know that my willpower goes down throughout the day. If you can do some exercise in the morning, you will be more likely to stay active throughout the day. Start your day with a good free 10 minute video on YouTube

    Watch my video below to hear more tips:

    What are your tips to stay active even with a busy schedule?

     

    P.S. If you want to burn more calories while you are exercising, click here to learn about my secret to boosting my metabolism.

    6 Tips for Flying with a Toddler

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    6 Tips for Flying with a Toddler

     

    Adam and I took our first flight back to Louisiana from Virginia last week with Aidalyn.  We have both had the privilege to fly numerous time (including several international flights), so we consider ourselves pros at it. This time was different, though, because we were traveling with a 21 month old. Here are our 6 tips for flying with a toddler that we learned through our experience. 

    It is always horrible to sit next to the crying baby on the plane. However, nothing is worse than being the parents of said crying baby. We wanted to be prepared for every possible reaction. 

    On the Plane:

    1) Bring Snacks and a Sippy cup

    Our first stop to prepare for the flight was the grocery store. I bought several of the popular baby smoothies they have at almost every grocery store. You can take the smoothies on the plane if they are under 3.5 oz with no questions asked  (if they are larger, you just get patted down really well). Secondly, we bought some all natural gummy bears. Aidalyn had never had these before, so they were quite popular. “More, more.” I would say always bring something that is interesting and will take a while to eat (like the gummy bears). Bring an empty sippy cup and fill it with water once you get through security.  Help your kids drink during take off and landing so that the pressure in their ears won’t build and cause pain (eating also helps this, they just need to be swallowing). 

    2) Videos and Media

    Aidalyn has an obsession with Elmo (Melmo) right now, so we knew a video would be a good tool to have handy. Adam was able to download a few episodes of Sesame Street on his Kindle for Aidalyn to watch during the flight.

    3) New small toys

    We also took a trip to the dollar store to find some little things that may be fun to play with – we left with a silly little duck (Quack, Quack) that lights up.

    4) Colors and Paper

    I packed colors and paper as well as paper dolls – but these weren’t used much at all.

    5) Favorite pillow or stuffed animal

    Aidalyn surprised us both with how good she was during the flight. She was better on the trip back to Virginia than to Louisiana because she was able to get a short nap on the first flight. We remembered to bring the secret weapon – her pillow pet. She loved looking out of the window and opening and closing the shade.

    In the Airport:

    6) Bring your stroller

    You can gate check your stroller and carseat right before you load the plane. Having your stroller with you in the airport helps contain your toddler and also helps carry your bags. The airline will return your gate checked items as soon as you land, so you are only without it during the time you are on the plane. 

    All in all, I would say that next trip we will have her pillow, Charlie (her lovey), snacks, the kindle and her iPhone and leave everything else at home.

    What tips have you learned about traveling with toddlers?

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