Akron Today Magazine

Akron Lifestyle and Entertainment

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Shopping Around – The New Norm

Shopping around for items is normal, but many people are moving towards shopping for items and services that used to not be questioned.  Prices can be very different from one place to another depending on the vendor. And things that used to be a monopoly have a high degree of competition now.  This week I saw a friend on Facebook complain about a new medication he needed be $500 a month and not covered by insurance.  Within an hour he had people telling him how to get it for $60 and places he could maybe get it free (from manufacturer) and how to do it.

Facebook and other social media channels are helping people collaborate and share information to find better deals on things.  But are you looking for better deals when it comes to some of these things?

  1. Utilities – By shopping for utility providers, you can reduce your rate significantly.  Put when your contract is up on your calendar and reshop for it once it expires or your rate will go up and not one will notify you.
  2. Medical – The exact same procedure can be radically different from place to place.  Some people even find it cheaper to go to another country and have a medical vacation versus just taking the first offer on a medical procedure.  (Please do not shop around if it is an emergency though!)
  3. Auto Repairs – If you are one of those people still going to the dealer, you are paying too much for some things.  I do like the dealer for maintenance but not for big jobs unless it requires a specialist.  That said, this is one area asking around is very important.  Just taking the cheapest person to fix your car can be a nightmare.
  4. Prescriptions – Not only does the place matter, but there are programs that will give you a discount at your pharmacy, whether in Akron, Hudson, Fairlawn or Aurora.
  5. Cars – Sure we all shop around for cars already, but did you know if you know what you are looking for and you start calling dealerships (especially if you are a little flexible) you can get a great deal without ever setting foot on the lot (until you buy)?
  6. Entertainment – I cannot even say “TV” or “Cable” anymore because there are so many options for entertainment.  Do you just watch movies and tv shows?  You probably only need a streaming service.  The trick here is to know what you can’t live without and then shop around for the entertainment necessities and cut out the unused stuff.
  7. Insurance – If you got the best price on insurance more than a year ago, why have you not shopped it around again?  For example, we got a great deal on insurance a year ago and this year they raised the price about 30% for no reason.  Clearly the first year was a discount to get the business and they hope people will not move after year one and the price increase.  Time to start calling around.

I wish it was not such a hassle.  It is an unfortunate byproduct of our hyper capitalistic economy that businesses are always using gimmicks, specials and tricks to squeeze more money out of you.  You can either accept the games and pay more or you can manage your buying and pay less.  The choice is yours.

10 Ways To Free Up Your Time

Let’s talk about how to free up a bunch of your time.  Most people feel overwhelmed and busy most of the time and there are ways to put more minutes back into your day and they do not take too much effort.

There are a lot of reasons you should want to free up your time.  Even if you just want to have more fun and enjoy life more, freeing up time is a noble en-devour.  Another reason you might want to free up time is to do more side gigs and make some extra money to pay down bills.  Either way, well worth doing.  Here are 10 ways to grab back those minutes.

  1. Live close to work – Have as small of a commute as possible.  If you are living in Hudson and working in Fairlawn, why?  You can change your job or your home.  Cutting your drive can add an hour or more a day to your free time.
  2. Work from home – Better yet, make your commute a short walk to your home office.  You may be able to work from home all the time or only some days a week, but cutting down on drive time can free up your day.  Also, less office chit chat might make you more productive.
  3. Plan your meals – Do you go to the store every day or two?  Plan out your meals for the week and shop once.
  4. Get up early – Get up earlier and go to sleep earlier.  Chances are you are more productive in the morning and even if your sleep hours remain the same, the morning hours will probably be more productive and free up time later in the day.
  5. Time your errands – Do your errands, such as going to the post office, the bank and shopping during times when other people are working.  This cuts down on lines and waiting.
  6. Prep outfits – Know what you are going to wear for the week and prep them all at once.  The less you need to think about your clothes the better.  There is a reason that many great leaders have worn the same outfit most of the time.  They save their time and energy for more important things.
  7. Declutter your home – In our article on decluttering your home, we talk about how having less stuff saves time and money.
  8. Automate finances – One of the best things I ever did was automate most monthly financial transactions.  I know how much money I need to have in my account and everything happens automatically, saving me time and avoiding late fees.
  9. Hire help – If you are not an expert on something, don’t try to do it yourself (unless you truly enjoy figuring it out.)  You can find people to do thing much more affordably than before with sites for people doing gigs like tutoring, handyman, lawn care, etc.  Know what your time is worth and don’t waste it when you could hire out more cheaply.
  10. Limit Non-work Screen Time – Whether it is binge watching Netflix or reading fake (or real) news, limit your time in front of screens and get back hours a day.

All of these things individually are fairly minor habit changes or location changes that can vastly free up your time and improve your life.

Back to School Cost Cutting in Akron, Ohio

The end of summer is fast approaching, school supply lists have been released, and you’re on the hunt for the best deals on back to school items for your kids. These days, just equipping your kids for the first day can be overwhelming, but with a few cost-cutting tips, you can save yourself money while providing great things for the upcoming school year.

1. Be prepared.

Go over your list of needs and be careful of what “wants” get added to the list by your child or teen. Better yet, give your older student a back to school budget, and have him or her work out how to use the allotted money to purchase the needed items. Do your research to find what items are on sale at which stores, and don’t shy away from shopping several different stores if needed.

2. Shop the sales.

It almost goes without saying, but August is the best time to by any school supplies. Stock up for the year on pens, paper, notebooks, crayons, etc. Staples, Office Depot, Wal-mart and Target are retailers that will have great prices now. In addition to great sales, you can also take advantage of other store loyalty programs such as Staples Rewards (5% off most purchases), Target RedCard (5% off) and Target Cartwheel offers. Target will also have store coupons that you can “stack” to get the most for your money. For example, purchase $30 in school supplies or backpacks and get a $5 gift card.

3. Go through all clothes and shoes before shopping for new ones.

With your child, go through all items in the closet and dresser. Donate any items that are too small or that your child no longer wears. Toss out any that are too old or beat up to be useful to anyone. Then make a list with your child of items that you’re searching for on your clothes shopping trip. It may help to do a little online window shopping in advance to see what stores have the best prices and styles for your budget.

4. Accept help if needed.

If finances are really tight, there are places in Akron, Ohio to get some free school supplies. St. Mary Catholic Church offers free school supplies to low-income students in the Hudson City School District, and Catholic Charities Community Services of Summit County provides supplies free of charge for students up to 8th grade and living in Summit County.

On Saturday, August 20, 2016, the John S. Knight Center hosts the Summit for Kids Family Expo with free admission, fun and educational activities, free back to school supplies and more.

Don’t let the stress of back-to-school shopping get to you. Team up with your student to have a plan of attack and enjoy the extra time together before another school year begins.

The Ledges, Hudson & Peninsula Ohio

Many cities around the country have great parks that make you truly feel like you are in the middle of no where.  Akron is no exception.  There are many great parks a short drive from downtown Akron.  One park we refer to many people is The Ledges, located in Peninsula Ohio very close to Hudson.

These are not just woods to hike in.  The rock formations, cliffs and even a cave do not seem like they should be native to fairly flat Ohio.

There are several large picnic shelters that can be reserved for large groups.  Here is the one shelter on Google Maps which is very close to the most scenic trails.

The Overlook often has a group of people show up on a nice evening to watch the sun set.  It is a great view and a short walk back to your car, which is important as the park technically closes at dusk.

The path does a loop around many rock formations and cliffs, and is only a few miles long but stunning.  Across the street and down just a bit further from the Ledges entrance is another set of trails that are much longer if you want to get more exerciser.  While not full of rocks and cliffs, it is a more challenging trail and has a scenic lake and a lot of up and down areas of the trail that will give you a great workout.

Study Tips For The Middle Schoolers

Whether your children are in the Hudson School District or the Akron School District, Middle School is a difficult time for kids because it is a big adjustment.

The grammar stage of the elementary school child begins to give way to the logic stage of their learning by the middle school years. Your child cannot be satisfied with parroting facts and figures anymore without questioning the logic behind it.  These are very fun years as parents because our children are beginning to question our knowledge and our answers to the questions they ask.  Taking that into consideration, they still need our help in school and will seek help from us and from teachers alike.

What can you do at this stage to help them prepare for high school and beyond?

Here is a list to help your middle schooler achieve her/his potential.

  1. Make sure they have a place to study, keep materials handy, and have a comfortable chair and lighting available to them. Some children prefer having a quiet space, while others do not mind doing their homework on the kitchen table. Ask them their preference.homework
  2. Labeled folders for all their classes where they can keep materials organized is imperative. Homework, handouts, and quizzes, and tests should be kept in that folder.  They can use them as study guides later in the year.
  3. A planner where they can keep their assignments’ due dates is so important for them. Make sure they write when homework due on their planners as the teacher assigns them. Forgetting it at the bottom of their backpack won’t help them at all, ask them to use it
  4. Time management. If they have a 10-page paper to write and is due in three weeks, what can they do?  Ask them and make sure they do a bit every day. It will ensure that the paper will be done and ready by the time is due. Begin by taking a trip to the library to check out books to research the topic, ask them to read about it, and then begin writing an outline. A bit of writing every day will make it easier and less daunting for them, and perhaps they will start understanding the power of preparation.
  5. Regardless of what their assignment is for the day, ask them to read. Remember that the more they read, the more they know.

I hope this list gives you, and your child a starting point to develop better skills to succeed in their middle school years and beyond.

Indoor Tennis in Akron Ohio Area

Tennis is a great sport for any age.  One key to enjoying the game is to win more, and this means sharpening your skills year round.  Serious players know there are indoor courts to play in the Winter months, but a more causal tennis player or someone just starting may not know these indoor tennis courts are available in the Akron area.  We have assembled this list of indoor tennis courts around Akron so that you can play this Winter.

  1. Latuchie Tennis Center – Stow, Ohio – 6 Indoor and 4 outdoor tennis courts and unlimited options.
  2. Towpath Tennis – Akron, Ohio – 10 Indoor and 4 outdoor tennis courts.
  3. Springside Racquet & Fitness Club – Akron, Ohio – 5 Indoor and 6 outdoor tennis courts.
  4. Paramount Tennis Club – Medina, Ohio – 8 Indoor tennis courts.
  5. Western Reserve Racquet & Fitness Club – Hudson, Ohio – 10 Indoor and 5 outdoor tennis courts.

Check out video on YouTube

If you have a junior tennis player that enjoys the sport and wants to compete for a position on a high school team, playing year round is critical.  The junior players that play year round keep advancing their skills and improving, while those that only play in warmer months have to start over each year and do not make as much progress.  That is why the top players on most high school tennis teams in Akron Ohio as well as everywhere else play year round.

Many of these locations have regular times for different skill levels to meet and play.  Early mornings, evening men’s and women’s leagues, junior tennis clinics and regular tournaments all make playing tennis year round easy.

With five places close by to play at, you have no reason to let your game get rusty this Winter.  Give one of these Akron indoor tennis clubs a call and find out what you have been missing.

Akron Indoor Soccer

Looking for indoor soccer this fall and winter? Here is a list of facilities that are in the Akron-Canton area or neighboring cities that offer soccer leagues for children and young adults.  Prices, leagues’ information, and ages are posted on their websites. You can visit them by clicking the links below.

Akron Indoor Soccer Incorporated
73 W Rosewood Ave
Akron, OH 44301
Phone: (330) 785-0552
http://www.akronindoorsoccer.com/home/index.php
Email:  info@akronindoorsoccer.com

Canton Akron Soccer Club
PO Box 36296
Canton, Ohio 44735
http://www.caksoccer.org/
caksoccer@caksoccer.org

NORTH CANTON YMCA SPORTS
200 South Main Street
North Canton, OH  44720
Phone: 330.499.2587
http://www.ymcastark.org/north-canton-community-building
jmilam@ymcastark.org
Fax: 330.499.4019

NC SOCCER CLUB
PO Box 2168 (mail)
5661 Stow Road
Hudson, Ohio 44236
Phone: 330.650.2554
Fax: 234.380.5054
http://www.ncsoccerhudson.com/
brian@ncsoccerhudson.com

FORCE-SPORTS
215 Springside Dr
Fairlawn, Ohio 44333
330-576-3460
http://www.force-sports.com/Default.aspx?tabid=208813

Hall of Fame Fitness Center
2700 Roberts Ave.
Canton, Ohio 44709
Phone (330) 455-7788
http://www.hoffitnesscenter.com/field.htm
contact page: http://www.hoffitnesscenter.com/contact.htm

Do you belong to a facility that is not listed here? Would you like us to include it? Get in touch with us here.

Cold Weather Activities To Keep Kids Active

You need to get creative when cold weather hits so your kids don’t just sit in front of a device all day long.

One of the hardest things about a four season climate like Akron, Ohio is the changes in season disrupt good habits.  Maybe in the warm months you hike, and in the cold months you binge on Netflix.  Maybe not.  But kids need to have good cold weather habits to stay healthy and be social.  Sure, school has gym for the younger kids but are you providing enough additional activities to keep the colder months active and engaging?

We assembled this list of possible things you can have your kids do during colder months.  Enjoy.

  • Swimming – Many indoor pools have swim teams during the Winter months, including the Kent Seariders.
  • Indoor Tennis – available in many locations such as Stow, Fairlawn, Medina, Hudson, Aurora and Green.
  • Karate – Lots of local martial arts studios.
  • Basketball – This time of year most community centers and YMCA’s are going to have Basketball going on.
  • Dance – year round exercise in every town.
  • Theater – You might not think of this as a physical activity but if it is a musical they will spend hours a week working on dance moves, as well as singing and memorizing lines.  Many community theaters exist around Akron.
  • Indoor Volleyball – popular with adults and older kids.
  • Pickle-ball – Sure there is going to be an older crowd, but they usually love getting younger people in there too.  Pickle-ball is all over the Akron area.
  • Gymnastics – There are many gymnastics centers in the Akron area, including Flytz in Cuyahoga Falls.  They not only have more advanced gymnastics training but also tumbling classes for the younger kids.
  • Yoga and Zumba – Classes kids can participate in are all around.
  • And finally, there is always the option of hooking your laptop to the computer, going on YouTube and finding workout videos the whole family, or a group of friends together after school, can do together.  A great workout and zero cost.

Whatever you decide, now is the time to develop good cold weather habits so you maintain good health and fitness all Winter long.

Northeast Ohio Is Tennis Hotbed

Northeastern Ohio, including the Akron area, is full of good tennis players passionate about the game.  This can be seen by the large number of indoor private tennis clubs around the Akron area in Medina, Cuyahoga Falls, Stow, Hudson, Aurora and Fairlawn.  What is especially noteworthy this year is that many teams from our area have won regionals, districts and now some are playing at the national level.

This does not take into consideration that junior players often start here and move to Florida eventually to improve their craft.

Lauren Davis is a professional tennis player from NE Ohio in the top 100 on the WTA circuit.  She grew up in Mayfield.  Now she travels the world playing tennis,  Not a bad gig.

So while Florida remains the Mecca of tennis in the US, NE Ohio is producing a lot of great players.  We recently went to Miami to get some specialized training, and had a great time.  Part of our time was at the Rick Macci academy and part in a private residence with specialist Brian Gordon.

Sports, and in particular tennis for us, has given vacations a purpose and the opportunity to meet people and have goals beyond laying on the beach or visiting tourist traps.  We still go to the beach, but between tennis matches and training.

Whether you are a junior player, a high school player, a college player or part of the adult team tennis leagues, you can get a lot of value out of the sport if you enjoy it.  There is the fitness aspect which is valuable.  If you are limited in movement, try doubles which is less running.

LaTuchie Tennis CenterIn the greater Stow area there is no better place to play indoor tennis than Latuchie Tennis Center - open year round.

LaTuchie Tennis Center

Then there is the competitive aspect.  Don’t ask my why, but we humans like to compete.  And tennis will give you competition that is fierce like combat.

If you are worried about the fact that Winter makes it hard to play year round, consider joining an indoor club where you can play under a roof and with heat.  Junior memberships can be very affordable and it is a great way to stay active during the colder months.  It is also convenient for rainy days.

Lastly, unless you live in a city where there is a lot of tennis, it is a great sport for kids who want to play on a varsity high school team but do not have one sport they are itching to play.  Tennis in many smaller communities will be easier to make the team as long as the player has some experience.  Often kids show up and try out for the team without any experience, so someone who has played in the summers during the middle school years goes out for the high school team, they have a good chance of being an athlete their freshman year.

 

 

Akron Snow Removal

Winter is truly here.  The snow outside your home is a great testament to the fact that winter has finally arrived, and for many northeast Ohio families shoveling season is here.  For many people, shoveling snow is not recommended.  Shoveling snow in great quantities is a strenuous exercise that many people should not do.  If you don’t exercise regularly and are out of shape, shoveling your driveway is not a smart thing to do.  If you have any other health problems, but specially heart problems, shoveling snow is not recommended.

Whether you have someone to do the chore for you, or if you are thinking about hiring a snow removal service, please keep in mind that there are many so called companies that appear every winter, but do not have the long story to back them up.  There are many other snow removal, lawn care, tree trimming , and concrete leveling companies in the Akron area that finding one that meets your requirements should not be a problem.  If you have a neighbor, family member or friend that can recommend one company they like, your job can be very easy indeed.  Here are some companies that have an A+ BBB rating, and they are companies with a long history in their communities.  We do not endorsed them, nor vouch for their work.  We are only offering this list as a starting point.

 

  • All Seasons Lawn care BBB rating: A+

7 years in business

315 Hoover Ave

Akron, OH 44312-1416

 

  • Naragon Companies BBB Rating: A+

32 years in business

2197 Wadsworth Rd

Norton, OH 44203-5328

 

  • Summit Landscape BBB Rating: A+

31 years in business

3621 Summit Rd

Barberton, OH 44203-5375

 

  • Affordable Lawn Care and Outdoor Services BBB Rating: A+

5 years in business

2146 Snyder Rd

Butler, OH 44822-9624

 

  • B&B Landscaping BBB Rating: A+

12 years in business

56 Ambrose Dr

Hudson, OH 44236-4723

 

FYI: We have checked Snow removal companies on Google that show a 4 or 5 star rating-which is very good— but when we checked them with the BBB, their rating was a D+.  When hiring a company for any job you want them to do, check their reviews and ask them for testimonials of customers that are not family members 🙂