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Saving Tips For The American Family

Many companies try to entice the consumer into buying their particular brands over those of the competition regardless of the value or the quality of their products.  A pretty product that is packaged well and looks pretty may perform worse than the simple packaged one.  As a consumer, you may fall for the marketing and buy the pretty package over the better one, but hopefully, you will make the mistake only once.

Many Americans are struggling with mortgage payments, car payments, insurance payments etc, to worry about other things like comparing prices, weight or performance of the products they are buying, but being savvy about the products they are using should save a buck or two, and in the long run, make us better consumers.

What are some of the items we use daily that can save us some money?

Gas and Electricity: Comparing prices for gas and electricity can save hundreds of dollars every year for the average American family.  There are many companies one can choose for gas and electricity, and even if entering into a contract with a particular company, it will save you money.  Be choosy when signing a contract, and make sure the penalty for canceling it early is not too much.

Car Insurance: If you want to save in car insurance, you need to shop around.  If you have a good history of no accidents or other claims within your company and you do not get any discounts with them, you need to shop around with other companies.

Dishwashing Soaps: According to a Consumer Report test, all dishwashing soaps perform equally well and according to them you should really buy what’s on sale because all dishwashing soaps perform equally well.

I can personally tell you that I do not agree with their results.  I can tell you for example that for me Palmolive, does not perform better or equally well than Dawn.  And some generic brands that you find on the shelves at the grocery stores, pharmacies or Wal-Marts require almost double the amount that you would need for Dawn.

Very recently, I tried a brand called “simply done” a registered trademark of Topco Associates LLC.  By simply looking at the bottle, it reminds you of the generic brands you see at the store.  I expected the same results as well.  The truth is that you do not see a difference between “simply done” and Dawn.  Is there a difference?  There may be a difference between the dishwashing soaps, but the price does not warrant buying the most expensive brand.

Restaurants: Despite having issues with money, Americans are spending over $3,000 eating out according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The convenience of having food readily available without having to cook it is very enticing, but the convenience of having no dirty dishes or cooking chores come with a steep price. Eating out should not be abandoned by families but should be treated as a treat instead of a necessity.

Saving is very smart, try to practice the habit.

Flooring For Every Room In Your House

Many people make New  Year resolutions to begin the year with a bang.  Many of us do not stick to them, and some of us make resolutions that are bound to fail from day one. If you made a resolution this year to spruce your home and declutter, that’s a resolution that makes sense and that you might be able to accomplish.  If you are replacing the flooring of a room in your house and don’t know where to begin, read ahead.

Depending on the room in your home, flooring can be an easy decision to make but also it can present itself with questions about what it’s best for your family.   

Kitchen and bathrooms: These wet areas require flooring that is sturdy, and won’t be damaged by water spills.  Some flooring can become slippery when wet and can be very dangerous for your family.  The best flooring for these type of rooms are:

  1. Vinyl
  2. Laminate
  3. Tile

Keep in mind that there is some specific laminate flooring you can use in these rooms.  Normal laminate flooring can become very slippery and warps rather easily with small amounts of water on it.  You need to find the laminate flooring that can withstand water or other types of liquid spills without damaging it.

Living Room, Dining Room, and First Floor Rooms: These high traffic area rooms need a more sturdy, high-quality flooring that will not only be durable for your home but can make your home look beautiful as well. These are some of the types of flooring that are most commonly used for these rooms in your home:

  1. Hardwood
  2. Bamboo
  3. Laminate
  4. Vinyl
  5. Carpet

For many environmentally conscious homeowners, hardwood does not seem like a very likable option.  Many of these homeowners have chosen to opt for the more environmentally friendly bamboo flooring. If you are thinking about vinyl flooring for some of these rooms – especially for dining rooms, kitchens, bathrooms and the main entrance of the home- vinyl has come a long way from the one sheet vinyl flooring our parents and grandparents grew up with.  The look of vinyl is not what it used to be, so choosing it over other types of flooring is not outdated.

Carpet for the bedrooms of the home has been the main choice for many homeowners though out the years, but if you have children with allergies or other respiratory problems, laminate or bamboo flooring can be a very nice second option for you.

There are many pros and cons you have to consider with every choice of flooring there is. Price, durability, ease of installation, look.  But, remember, buy what you love for your home.

Is Your Car Heater Not Working?

There can be several reasons why your car’s heater could be broken or simply just not working. The following reasons may help you to understand why it is not working and why you need to take it directly to a mechanic to have it fixed.

It could be as simple as the engine thermostat, the fan motor, or simply a fuse that is out or simply not working properly. You will need to take the vehicle to a car repair shop right away to have them diagnose the problem and get your heat flowing properly once again. If you decide to fix the problem yourself you may be doing more damage to the vehicle by not knowing the correct diagnosis. Car repair shops can easily diagnose the problem. So take the vehicle to a mechanic and save yourself the headache and money of making it worse off.

Many people think that they may just be low on coolant in the radiator and try to fix it themselves. By doing so you can cause yourself and your car some serious damage. The cap could release and intense amount of steam that has been built up by pressure and burn you very badly.

So the best remedy if your car heater is not working properly is to take it to a car repair shop and let a real mechanic fix it.

Towpath Trails High School

Today we are highlighting an alternative school system. Towpath Trails High School in Akron, Ohio has 3 branches and is an alternative high school that is a leader in helping students graduate with an alternative career path focus that can lead students straight into good-paying jobs.

Towpath Trail High School is a free, public charter school that has been providing school choice to Akron’s youth since 2012. Towpath Trail High School has been so successful that it now has two satellite locations-one on Canton Road in East Akron and another location opening soon in Barberton. The students of Towpath Trail are provided with the opportunity to earn their high school diploma and an industry-recognized credential in a safe and flexible learning environment. Career pathways that are currently offered to Towpath students are Construction, Phlebotomy, State Tested Nursing Assistant, and Patient Care Technician. Business and Entrepreneurship and Manufacturing will be offered as well. 

An exciting development in the career tech programming offered at Towpath is that the school was recently awarded a YouthBuild grant through the United States Department of Labor. YouthBuild is a community-based pre-apprenticeship program that provides job training and educational opportunities for teens and young adults. YouthBuild students split their time between the vocational training work site and the classroom, where they earn their high school diploma, learn to be community leaders, and prepare for postsecondary training opportunities, including college, apprenticeships, and employment. YouthBuild includes significant support systems, such as mentoring, follow-up education, employment, and personal counseling services; and participation in community service and civic engagement.

Towpath Trail High School also provides exceptional academic instruction.  Towpath exceeds standards overall on the state report card for community schools, which includes measures such as test passage and graduation rate.  Class sizes are small, and students are encouraged to work at their own pace.  Teachers tailor their instruction to each individual student, meeting them where they are and providing they need to progress through the curriculum. Towpath Trail High School also has a strong culture of safety and belonging for both its students and staff. Throughout the last ten years, Towpath has developed and maintained partnerships with community entities to provide on-site counseling services and mental health services to any student who needs them.

If you are looking for a school that is career-focused and places the safety of staff and students at the forefront of a quality education, Towpath Trail High School has a place for you.  All three locations are currently accepting students ages 15-21.  Call 234-542-0102 for more information or to schedule a tour.

Jobless But Earning – Three Ways To Earn Money Online Without Actually Being Employed

Intriguing title, isn’t it? After all, a lot of us would want to earn money without having to work, but hold up. Don’t get me wrong here. This is not one of those posts that say you can earn money just by lying in your bed all day. Don’t confuse the phrase “not being employed” to being lazy because I’m pretty sure those two are not the same. And just to be clear, I do not know of any way that you can earn money just by doing nothing.

This post, however, will provide you three ideas where you can possibly make money online without actually being employed. By employed, I mean that you have your own employer with definite working hours throughout the day. I would also like to clarify that this is not for everyone and not every person who will read this post and try out these ideas will be successful at it. This will still take some effort on your part and perhaps, a little bit of luck. Are you ready to hear out these ideas? Let’s begin then.

  1. Set-up an online business. I know, very original, but seriously, consider the perks of this. You are your own boss. The success of your business, however, will depend on how much you work for it, but if it’s something that you love doing, it’s not work at all. If you love baking, you can set up a small cupcake business. Cupcakes are so in these days, so you may have a lot of competition, but if your products taste absolutely amazing, word will spread. Don’t be shy. Ask your friends for help, they can recommend prospective clients to you. You don’t even have to own a bakery to do this. In fact, I would suggest starting a homebased business. It will cut your initial costs while you’re still starting up. Another great online business would be selling knick-knacks, especially if you love visiting thrift stores for collectibles. You can set it up in an online marketplace like eBay and start earning.
  2. Sell gigs. What are gigs, you ask? Gigs are simply things you offer to people who need to outsource work online. There are many websites where you can sell gigs, like Fiverr and Gigbucks. Are you a writer? Offer to write a 1000-word story for a gig then. Do you like making crafts? Great, you can offer to make a scented candle for a fixed price. You don’t have any talent except that you look cute and quirky on cam? Not a problem! Gigs can be serious or wacky, it doesn’t matter. If you’re good at something (wholesome, please), offer your services in the site. Who knows? Someone might find the video of you singing Happy Birthday adorable and will hire you to make one for him.
  3. Sell items at an online consignment shop. Are you one of those people who like to buy designer bags or shoes, but get bored after wearing them twice? Well, there are a number of online consignment shops that offer to sell your gently-used clothing or bags. The shop will have to take a percentage off the sale, but that’s normal. Besides, you can get rid of you stuff to make room for more and earn money to pay for your next designer item.

So, there you have it. While these ideas will work, success will not be possible without some effort on your part. These may not be actual jobs, but it requires hard work and ability to make it possible for you to earn some money from it.

Do you have other ideas on how to earn money online? Share them with the other readers by commenting below.

Tax Advantages with Home Based Businesses

Tax advantages with home based businesses are plenty that there is no reason not to take the income opportunity home based business provides. Tax advantages include equipment deduction, deductions on office supplies and furniture, and travel needed to provide service.

Employing yourself to the income opportunity home based business basically means that you may have a certain area in the house dedicated to the business. The IRS regards this as the work space and allows deductions for any needs that will support that area of the house.Equipment including computers and service equipment needed to start the business can be deducted from taxes and allow ample opportunity to purchase what is needed. Thinking big in your business can be an excellent way to kick start the career from home but it is generally recommended to start small and then work up to more expensive equipment depending upon the area of expertise.

Deductions include furniture and office supplies for your income opportunity home based business and can provide the office space with enough to feel comfortable. Working from home should be a comfortable experience in order to provide enough space and arrangement for furniture to work within the area. Creating a theme in the workspace is highly recommended for the career from home minded individuals for a pleasant working environment.

Traveling, entertaining, and fuel expenses can also be deducted from the taxes of a home based business. These are plausible opportunities to gain further clients and provide service or products for the growth of the business.

Akron School Safety

Akron City Schools are in the spotlight for being slow to address safety issues. While progress is being made, it is only after a lot of negative news on the fights, weapons, and news coverage about how teachers, students, and parents do not feel safe in the Akron schools.

Many parents do not realize that there are free alternative schools called Charter Schools, which offer smaller student populations making security more easily managed. Today we are spotlighting Middlebury Academy and how they are addressing school safety in Akron.

Safety Matters at Middlebury Academy – More Information

The students of Middlebury Academy are thriving in an exciting, challenging, and safe learning environment. Making staff and student safety a priority, Middlebury Academy has daily, on-site security personnel during school hours. Students, staff, and visitors participate in safety procedures upon entry, and most recently, the school was awarded a safety grant to upgrade its existing security system. School safety is paramount when cultivating a nurturing atmosphere conducive for learning. Middlebury Academy has a centralized focus to prevent violence while promoting academic excellence and positive behavior.

Middlebury Academy also fosters a culture of safety by partnering with community entities to provide on-site counseling services and behavioral support. These wrap-around services provide additional mental health supports for students and families. As a result of Middlebury’s approach to safety, the school has observed a sharp decline in office referrals and increases in student engagement and positive behavior.

If you are looking for a school that places the safety of staff and students at the forefront, Middlebury Academy has a place for you. Enroll today!

For more information, call 330-752-2766 or click here to submit a request for more information. Middlebury Academy is currently accepting applications for enrollment.

Better Parenting for Great Results

Let’s forget that your kids are your “kids” for a moment. Instead, what if they are long-term projects that blend a bit of art, some science and a lot of vision and effort on your part? What you would get is a realistic approach to bringing up wonderful men and women. This is not to say you should not have an emotional connection also, but those emotions should be one of several driving forces to do a great long term job raising them.

The most difficult part of this is actually letting go of the ego somewhat. You have to commit to getting better and being in charge of the outcomes, even if they are not necessarily what you would like.

No one will argue that a first time parent will make some goof ups but with each child, a parent becomes much better at handling situations and being focused on stuff that are definitely more crucial. Yet, the first kids often turn out fine anyway, because humans are adaptive and resilient.

Self Improvement Tricks to Becoming a Better Parent

Find instruction on what is possible. For instance, AllProParent.com offers totally free parent training on how to attend higher education ahead of time and complete a full bachelor’s degree at no cost. It also has the strategy to how top level sports athletes are built.

Join an Facebook group of parents focused on high achievement kids. This will be parents who are proactive and trying to boost outcomes from an early age. You can learn a whole lot and draw inspiration from groups like this.

Never stress about a single day. You will get very good days and terrible days. Take a break and return the following day better than even. One day off is just not going to undo your time and efforts.

Remember to have a real reason, not simply “because I said so” – “Because I said so” is what people with no parenting plan say. It really is grasping at straws and using the excuse that you need to demand respect. Earned respect is far more powerful.

Whether you use online groups, on-line parent education, Vimeo or local in person groups, make sure you keep learning and getting better. And have a real plan and end result you are trying for, as outstanding is less common unintentionally.

The best advice is to begin early and keep pushing towards your goals in a calm, steady and intentional manner. When your kids grow up this way, they are used to it and they expect nothing less than high acheivement from themselves, and your job is easier.

Raise High Achievement Kids | 5 Proven Strategies

High Achievement is a bit of a loaded term.  Depending on where you start, high achievement means something different.  Someone growing up in poverty might consider any college degree high achievement.  Someone growing up with a lot of resources might only consider Ivy League schools high achievement.  Also, it might not be academic high achievement you are interested in.  Athletics and having well rounded skills are outside of typical academic achievement but can also be influenced with these same strategies.

Here are five “big picture” tips that can help you raise a high performer in all these areas.  More detail is available at AllProParent.com if you are interested in free access to individual high-performance techniques broken down by the age of your children.

  1. Start Early – If you start working towards a high achievement outcome from the beginning it will be easier because your child will be accustomed to active learning and training, as well as having a big head start over kids who are not starting early.  30 minutes a day for four years turns into 730 hours of learning.  Since preschool and kindergarten are usually short days and only about half of the days in a year, this puts a 4-year-old around 1st grade level right at the get go.
  2. Never allow bad habits to form – For example, the weekend is not two days to take off and watch TV.  They are two days where you can be more creative and hone new skills that are less academic and more athletic or soft skill oriented.
  3. Encourage and reward strong work ethic – Do not focus on “winning” or having perfect days.  Focus on the value of outworking other people over time.  If you repeat these values, they stick with most kids.
  4. Craft stories – Make sure your child understands and buys into a story you are crafting with them.  This could be going to a certain level of school, graduating early, becoming a professional athlete, being good at science, etc.  Ideally your child agrees with this and it makes them feel special and motivates them.  If they do not like your story, then work with them to create a story (vision) of what they will look like when they are older and very successful.
  5. Reduce bad stress and increase good stress – Minimize problems in family, fighting, complaining and stress related to losing a game, not getting a good grade, etc.  Instead, create good stress when they try to succeed but they know it is OK to fail as long as they continue to improve and learn.

This all seems fairly obvious, but it is very hard to do unless you take a long-term, steady approach.  Staying the course is easier with support from other parents and information from people who have raised high achievement kids.  That is why www.AllProParent.com was founded.  To help you plan a better outcome as well as stick to the plan over time.

Car Winterization Tips

The average temperatures in Akron and throughout Northeast Ohio have been incredibly good this year.  The lowest temperature has been around 53 degrees Fahrenheit this November, and on thanksgiving week, the temperatures are supposed to dip a bit, but nothing too bad for this part of the country.   Taking that into consideration, we are having better weather than other years, and that means we have more time to take care of our cars’ “health” before winter truly arrives. Here is list of 5 things you should be checking out to ensure your car is running smoothly and won’t let you stranded.

  1. Battery – If starting your car seems to be getting sluggish, and your car’s battery is older than three years, it is a good time to get it checked and make sure it is still in working condition. If your engine light is on, sometimes the battery is the one responsible for it, and you need to replace it as soon as you can.
  1. Coolant – also known as antifreeze, can help your car’s engine stay at optimal condition in cold weather. Coolant can keep your engine from freezing during those single digit temperatures in the northeast Ohio area, and you can get a gallon of antifreeze for less than $15 dollars
  1. Tires – We usually replace the tires in our car by the pair.  During cold weather, and when there is snow on the ground, having good tires can be the difference between having an accident or not.  Making sure your car has good tires, and that they have the right pressure, is very important for you and the life of your car.
  1. Lighting – By 5:15 p.m. we are experience the sunset in northeast Ohio, sunlight is no longer there when we leave work, and during this time of the year, it is very important the light bulbs in our cars are all in optimal condition. The visibility we have during the winter months is much less, and we need to be prepared for it.
  1. Washer Fluid – during a snow storm, it is very frightening to find yourself with no washer fluid in your car. Visibility is null, and a Walmart is nowhere in sight, what do you do? Make sure the fluids in your car are checked before winter arrives, and not only the washer fluid.

By taking care of your car, you  can prevent accidents, avoid unnecessary expenses like towing services, and maximize the life of your vehicle.