Author: Rebecca Alston

Some Smart Ways How Single Parents Can Manage their Debts Effortlessly

The national debt in the United States has reached an all-time high record of $22 trillion in February 2019 and this surely is an indication of worsening of the nation’s overall finances and debt situation in particular.  One of the most badly affected groups is single parents, in this ever-increasing debt problem.

Living just on a single income and bearing all the expenses independently of kids could be a challenging task for many single parents. Kids could be a really expensive proposition. A single parent would have to provide with not only the basic requirements like food, shelter, and clothes but also, school and college education, school supplies, medical expenses, extracurricular activities, and other expenses.

Sometimes due to abandonment by the partner and divorce, a single parent would be compelled to bear all the expenses fully. Under the current financial scenario, a single income is often not adequate for running a family smoothly without falling into serious debts.

College education for kids is quite pricey. You are aware that parents are constantly helping their children by funding a college education. You simply do not wish to shirk the responsibility of giving your children a sound start to their careers. However, we are witnessing how parents are running into massive debts by helping their kids. Numerous single parents are saddled with a huge amount of debts as a result of their children’s student loans. As per https://www.forbes.com, a recent survey showed that 55 percent of the parents who had co-signed or taken out a loan for their kid’s education have ended up with over $40,000 in terms of student loans. That seems to be a tremendous amount of money for adding to your balance especially when retirement is just a decade or maybe two decades away.

Super-Efficient Debt Management Tips for Single Parents

When single parents do not have sufficient money for making ends meet, many of them would be turning to credit cards for getting through the month. This situation could culminate in insolvency without a substantial increase in income or effective modifications in lifestyle. A decrease in overall expenses and a boost in income could prevent the accumulation of credit card debt when single parents seem to be in a cash crunch situation. Here are some smart ways of staying on top of your debts if you are a single mom or a single dad.

Determine the Total Amount of Your Debts

Create a comprehensive list of all your current debts. You must include specifically the names of all your creditors, the exact amount you owe, the due date and the precise monthly payment that is supposed to go toward each creditor. When you see such a list, you could get a quick glimpse of your debt situation and you could remain aware of your entire financial and debt scenario. You cannot just chalk out a list and completely forget about it. You must consistently refer to this debt list from time to time and once you start paying the bills each month, make sure to update your list. This should be projecting the changes in the final debt amount. Browse through nationaldebtreliefprograms.com for perfect debt-associated solutions and professional guidance.

Promptly Pay All Your Monthly Bills

You must stick to paying all your monthly bills on time. Delays in monthly debt repayments could make things more difficult for you and you would find it harder to deal with your debt. You would need to pay an extra amount as a late fee every time you end up missing a monthly payment. Suppose you miss a couple of payments consecutively, your finance charges and interest rates would shoot up. It is best to utilize a calendaring system either on your smartphone or computer. It is best when used for setting an alert for reminding you much in advance of your due date. Once you have by chance missed your payment, it is best not to wait for the next upcoming due date for sending your payment. You must make the payment at the earliest possible, as any delay could be reported at once to the credit bureau. In order to avoid impacting your credit profile adversely, it is best to make the missed payment at the earliest possible.

Try Paying More than Your Minimum Balance

You must make it a point to stay on top of your debts by not only making the minimum monthly amount due every month on all your existing credit cards. Simply sticking to paying the minimum amount due every month would imply paying off generally 2% to 3% of your outstanding balance. This would be prolonging your debt payoff strategy. According to experts, you must fortify your resolve to pay off everything by constantly making weekly payments instead of making monthly payments. Alternatively, you could consider doubling your minimum monthly payment, for instance, if you are supposed to pay $100, you could pay double the amount for getting on top of your debt effectively and quickly.

Make the Most of Balance Transfers

Suppose you are having a high-interest credit card that has a balance which you are sure to pay off completely in just a few months, experts recommend transferring the debt to another credit card which is offering 0% interest balance transfer. Simply pay off your debt well in advance of the balance transfer expiry. If you could exercise wisdom and care, you could save lots of money in terms of interest.

Stop All Credit Card Spending

If you wish to prevent the accumulation of overpowering debts, you must necessarily stop carrying your credit cards around while shopping. It is best to leave them back at home while you indulge in shopping. You must stop spending by using credit cards even if you would be earning cash backs or some other rewards on your credit card purchases.

Conclusion

You must, first of all, understand the symptoms that are screaming the fact that you are suffering from overwhelming debts and need to exercise caution and seek expert assistance. You must understand the symptoms and seek professional assistance from renowned and reliable debt relief agencies. Along with the above tips, you may opt for effective debt settlement or debt consolidation options and try to understand their implications to manage your debts effectively and quickly. Single parents must be doubly cautious and must be vigilant about their financial situation and debt issues.

Newborn checklist: The Must-Haves (and Don’t-Needs)

Having a child might be one of the most beautiful and challenging things to happen to you. No matter how excited you are to start your life with your little one, you’ll soon end up feeling overwhelmed and maybe even scared. This is mostly because, once you have a kid, everyone is suddenly an expert of babies. Be prepared for a number of pieces of advice from aunts, uncles, grandparents, and even friends. With so much information, it’s hard to recognize what’s actually relevant. Don’t fret, this checklist is there to help.

1. Baby’s sweet dreams

Decorating the nursery room will be one of those activities your partner and you will most bond over. Choosing the cot and mattress is a fun thing to do together but also offers a moment of intimacy when you imagine your child’s first nights spent in this very cot. That’s why it’s important to choose a high-quality mattress– you want them to have good support and be comfy. On the other hand, you don’t have to pay so much attention to the sheets.

You’ll be washing those regularly, so there’s not much logic in opting for designer sheets. They’ll get ruined as fast as regular cotton sheets. Instead, you can invest this money in a cute and snugly stuffed animal your baby can share the cot with.

2. Stocking up on supplies

It’s very important to stock up on baby formula, bottles, and everything else that needs to be replenished often. In fact, this is best done before birth when you have time to shop on sales. You’ll be ready for the arrival of your little one and you won’t spend as much money in the process. That being said, there is one thing you need to pay attention to.

Nappies are the number one thing new parents stock up on, and that’s for obvious reason. Still, most make the mistake of buying too many newborn nappies. You won’t believe how fast your child is going to grow. In the end, you’ll just end up throwing those away and replacing them with bigger pairs, so try not to go overboard. It might be best to buy a few packs at a time.

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3. Dressing to impress

Though baby clothes may seem adorable and irresistible, you can’t just buy everything you “Aww” at. First and foremost, your baby’s clothes should be practical. It’s easy to fall in love with an outfit full of buttons and zippers, but you’ll hate it as soon as you have to put it on your baby. The truth is, they’re small and fussy, so getting them an impractical outfit only stresses both of you out. Stick to simple baby clothes.

On the topic of shoes, it’s important to say that baby shoes are a waste of money. Your little one isn’t walking yet and will outgrow their shoes very quickly. They’re expensive but don’t have a real purpose. If you want to put on something cute and tiny on your kid’s feet, opt for socks. These fashion tips may not have been what you wanted to hear, but don’t worry, your baby will have plenty of time to be a fashionista once they grow a bit older.

4. Staying safe on the road

Your child’s world might be your house for the first few weeks, but that’s about to change pretty soon. You’re going to have family outings, doctor’s visits, or even just late-night drive-arounds when your little one can’t fall asleep. For all of these adventures, you’re going to need a luna car seat. Not only is a car seat required by law, but it’s also extremely beneficial for your child.

They’ll be able to stay comfortable and in place for the whole ride. This means you won’t have to worry if you break too suddenly or jolt the car a little to avoid a pothole. Small children also have trouble staying still, so strapping them in for the road will keep them for accidentally hurting themselves.

5. Your baby’s vehicle

While on the topic of road safety and transport, we should also mention your baby’s vehicle- a pram. When you’re not driving, you’ll be walking. Whether it’s to take a stroll around the neighbourhood or to have a more comfortable vacation, your pram will be the most useful thing you ever buy. A quality stroller will be able to support your child from birth to an age when they outgrow it.

This is a safe and convenient method of transportation, and it lets your kid enjoy the world around it while staying very comfy and snug. You’ll also be able to bring any necessities with you, making picnics and beach days a breeze.

Conclusion

Hopefully, your confidence and excitement have returned a little after reading this article. After all, now you’re one step closer to creating a safe and loving environment for your new bundle of joy. Don’t pay attention to what other people have to say, as this is your child and you’ll do what you think is best for it. Of course, you can always ask for advice and support, but don’t be afraid to trust your new-found parental instinct either.

Some Tips to Help Single Parents Get Out of Debt

As a single parent, it can be quite difficult to manage your personal finances. This can be more so if you have more than one child to support. There are a number of different expenses that you would have to bear with, like the schooling costs of the child, regular food expenses, paying the babysitter or a nurse if it is a young child, and so on. The problem gets more in the vent that you have a debt to pay. A lot of single parents take loans to support their families. But when you cannot pay these loans on time, then it can become quite a crisis. In this article, you will learn about several tips that can help you to reduce your expenses as well as gradually come out of any debt.

Getting over the debt

It will not be of much importance if you owe too much debt. But you can still start now and repay the debts. You should understand that you are not the only person who feels overwhelmed with debts and that you are not the only one to be under debt. On average, Americans have around $90,000 in debt. People have around sixteen thousand dollars in credit card debts alone. The average car loan is around $27,000. Student loans can reach up to $27,000. For a single parent, it can be incredibly difficult to pay all these alone.  If you have student loans consider debt consolidation or refinancing. By comparing student loan refinance rates you’ll be able to choose the most affordable for you and pay off your debt sooner.

But before you start to pay off your debts, it is important that you do some preparatory work first. These are some of the things that you should do, also you can find more info here https://www.sofi.com/private-student-loans/:

1. Tally the expenses up

It can become impossible to repay all the debts that you owe unless you first know where to start from. It can be understood that you would be initially hesitant to tally your expenses, but it should be done at the earliest. You should be honest with yourself. Get all the credit card bills that you have, along with your student loan expenses, your personal loans, home loans, and all of them up. It is essential that you combine the amounts that you owe so that you understand how much money you must pay back.

2. Create a new budget

You will have to create a budget now. A budget will allow checking how much money you would be able to spare to repay your debts. If you see that the money does not amount to too much, then you need not worry because you are just starting out. You can find out a lot of different ways by which you can cut down on your expenses as well as also get additional income to repay your debts.

3. Chalk out a plan

You must chalk out a plan to repay your debts. You have two basic ways to repay your loans either in the form of a debt snowball or as a debt avalanche. In a debt snowball, you must list all the debts that you have in a specific order from the smallest to the largest amount. You must try to repay the smallest loan first all the while making some payments to repay the other debts. Once you have paid that small debt off, you can move on to paying the next small one. In a debt avalanche, you would be again listing all the debts you have, but this time in an order with the highest interest first and the lowest one at the bottom. You would be trying to repay the debts that have the highest interests first and make some minimum payment for your other debts. In this payment method, you would save more money in the end. You should take a decision about the way you want to repay your loans.

4. Have some emergency funds in place

Before you start to pay your debts off, it is vital that you have around a thousand dollars as your emergency funds.

Set aside Some money strictly for emergencies purposes. This will keep you from relying on various forms of debt in case something crucial comes up. And let’s be real, we know that emergencies come up that require money more often than not. You must try and save at least a thousand dollars when you make the payments for your debts.

5. Do not use the credit card any longer

Credit cards can be really irritating as they can easily rake up your debts. The interest rates of credit cards are also quite high, and you can take a lot of years in paying the bills. In the event that your credit cards have got you into any debt, then you must not use them anymore. You ought to destroy them quickly. Do not use your credit card as your funds for emergency situations.

6. Look at your debts like the emergency that it is

Debts can hold you back from plenty of different things. When you have a debt, you would be unable to increase your savings. It will also not allow you to be independent financially. There can be situations like when your child is sick; you would be unable to take a break from work as you have got no savings but there are lots of debts to be repaid. Although you do not like your job, you would still have to work. Thus, you must look t your debt like it is an emergency which you must repay as quickly as you can.

You can visit nationaldebtrelief.com in order to learn about more innovative ways by which you can successfully pay off your debts.

Conclusion

For a single parent, it can be quite difficult to repay debts. Life can be extremely difficult. But when you have some debt management plans the process will become easier. Before you repay your debts, you should prepare yourself for the ordeal first. Hopefully, the information mentioned in this article will have helped you.

White Noise Machine – Giving the Perfect Baby Gift

Are you invited to a baby shower? Then you must be looking forward to get your hands on the best gift that you can give to a baby. In fact, purchasing a gift for a baby shower can be quite overwhelming. That’s because you have a variety of options available to consider.

The traditional gifts that people tend to give at baby showers include outfits, bath items, car seats, strollers, sheets and blankets. But if you are looking forward to give something more useful and productive, you can take a look at the white noise machines. Here is a list of some of the most prominent reasons, which indicate why you need to think about purchasing the best baby white noise machine, before you go to a baby shower. 

White noise machines help the little ones to sleep

White noise machines are in a position to provide a great assistance for the little ones with getting into sleep. This is the main reason behind the demand that is available for white noise machines out there in the world as well. The effectiveness of whiten noise machines to aid the little ones to get to sleep is proven from a variety of experiments conducted within the past.

A parent just needs to get a white noise machine into the bedroom. Then it will be possible to turn that on when the baby goes to the bed. This can aid the baby to get to sleep within a short period of time. Most of the parents who had sleeping issues with their newborn babies have been able to receive positive results out of this method. Therefore, you can go ahead with it and you will be able to receive positive results without any hassle.

White noise machines can minimize the stress levels of baby

Yes, the babies also become victims of stress. However, there are some effective methods, which can minimize the stress levels of the little ones. White noise machines hold a prominent place out of them. When a baby is exposed more to white noise, the stress levels are reduced in an effective manner.

White noise can simply be defined as a stimulus. The baby will be able to receive that stimulus on a daily basis. Once the baby is stressed out, white noise is in a position to bring down the stress levels effectively. Therefore, a safe environment will be created for the baby to live in as well. Moreover, a white noise machine has got the ability to block the external noises, which can disturb the sleep of the baby. This is another way how a white noise machine can indirectly eliminate the stress levels that your child has to go through.

White noise machines can help the parents as well

The white noise machines are not just in a position to help the babies. They are also in a position to provide a great level of help to the parents. Usually, the parents of newborns have to wake up multiple times during the day. This can be tiring. If you don’t want to go through such a frustrating experience, all you have to do is to purchase a white noise machine. This can also be considered as the reason why it is worthy for you to give a white noise machine as a gift, when you are at a baby shower.

The white noise machine can provide a good sleep to the baby throughout the night. This can also provide parents with the chance to enjoy an uninterrupted sleep, without having to wake up in the middle of the night.

White noise machines can keep the newborns away from crying

It has also been identified that the best white noise machines available in the market are capable of keeping the newborn babies away from crying. The stimulus created on the baby when he is exposed to white noise can be considered as the main reason behind the above-mentioned fact. This can also be considered as a great reason available for you to purchase a white noise machine as a baby shower gift.

The white noise given out by a white noise machine is similar to the noise that is generated by blood. It will flow through the arteries, which are located in the uterus. As a result, the baby will be able to experience an environment, which they are familiar with. Hence, your baby will not tend to cry when he is sleeping.

White noise machines can minimize the risk associated with SIDS

The white noise machines are capable of reducing the risk factor that is associated with SIDS. This is one of the most recognized benefits that a white noise machine can deliver. The level of white noise that a white noise machine can deliver is extremely powerful. Hence, it has got the ability to reduce the active sleep that your little one will go through. Therefore, your baby will not tend to get to the state, in which SIDS can take place. Therefore, parents will be able to minimize the risk of getting SIDS in their little ones as well.

Conclusion

These tips would convince you that a white noise machine is the best gift that you can purchase when you are going for a baby shower. Even the parents would appreciate the decision you made to purchase a white noise machine. Therefore, you are highly encouraged to give it to a little one at a baby shower. There is no need to think twice and wonder if this is the perfect gift that is available to consider or not.

Three Interesting Ways to Decorate the Walls of Your Home

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Keeping your home looking great takes work, but, it is worth it. If you are due to update your home décor. I think you are going to enjoy this article and find it very useful. Below, I share with you several innovative, slightly different, ways for you to decorate your walls.

Use road and warning signs

For a game room, gym or maybe an office, road signs are a great option. They are big and bold, so you do not need many to make a difference and create an interesting look. You can easily order some stop signs online. These are an especially good option. They are bright and iconic. You will be surprised by how many rooms in your home these signs work for.

Full-sized wall stickers

Most people are aware of wall stickers. Lots of people use the tree style ones in their kid’s rooms and the logo or slogan type in other parts of their house.

But, not that many people are aware of the fact that you can buy wall stickers that cover the entire wall. These are available in a huge range of formats. Including prints that look like high-end wallpaper. The nice thing about these wall stickers is that there are no joins and putting up a wall sticker is a lot easier than wallpapering a room is.

Create your own customized wall hangings

Recently, a lot of people have got interested in crafts. If you are one of them, why not use your skills to create something interesting for your walls. You can easily find inspiration and how to instructions online. But, by far the best place to go for this kind of information is Pinterest. You will get tons of ideas and links to how to videos and articles.

Create a collage wall

If you have too many photos sitting on your hard drive, creating a collage wall is an excellent way to use and enjoy them. You can take several approaches to this idea.

The easiest way to do it is to buy a stack of affordable photo frames and spray or paint them to fit in with your home décor. Or, buy frameless ones, they are really cheap. Load each one with a photo and put them up on the wall in an arrangement that looks good. It could be in rows or something more creative like a heart shape.

Provided the frames are not very heavy, you can use glue or sticky pads to put them up. This will save you time and stop you from ending up with lots of holes in your walls.

Every now and again, take a few, or all of them, down and put some new photos in the frames. For even more variety, occasionally spray or paint the frames in new colors.

Provided you buy the right type of frame you also open up the option to display items like pressed flowers or autumn leaves instead of just photos. Some people use this idea to create something that is akin to a memory wall for important events or family holidays.

I promise you once you try some of these home decorating ideas you will be hooked and want to regularly swap things up to create new looks. When you do that remember to try to sell things like the stop signs or photo frames on via somewhere like eBay. This will stop them from ending up in landfill and give others the chance to enjoy decorating their home with them.

Iatrophobia: Fear of Doctors… But Dentists Seem to Be the Scariest

Iatrophobia is more commonly known as a fear of doctors and it’s actually a very common condition among many adults and children alike. You may find it hard to believe but a lot of people don’t really like going to the doctor… but why is that? Is it the long waits in the cold waiting rooms, the possibility of receiving bad news, or the chances that you’ll endure a painful procedure during your visit? The answer to that question is different for different people.

One thing that’s pretty safe to say with fears of doctors and the visits associated with them is the fear of the unknown. There have been plenty of instances where a person will go to the doctor for a regular checkup and get alarming news that they weren’t expecting to receive. It’s instances like that, that can make anyone be afraid to go back to the doctor out of fear of getting even more bad news, which leads to iatrophobia.

The fear of dentists seems to be more severe than the fear of going to the doctor. Fear of the dentist is called dentophobia. However, with the right tips, it is possible to get over it. Not to mention that if you head over to ALKI Dental clinic, they will be extremely understanding and cater to your needs.

You Have Dentophobia and Anxiety… What’s the Difference Between the Two?

It’s pretty normal for people to have anxiety before going to the dentist so how can you tell when a typical fear of the dentist has turned into a full-blown phobia? It’s actually somewhat difficult to tell the difference. Dentophobia occurs right along with iatrophobia and has the same types of triggers as iatrophobia.

With anxiety, you are afraid and nervous about going to the dentist but you will still go. With dentophobia, you will put off going to the dentist for years. Colgate.com highlights a survey done by the British Dental Health Foundation. It found that 36% of Americans that didn’t go see the dentist regularly stated that it was because of fear. That fear has ultimately led people to deal with unsightly teeth, pain, and gum disease.

What Causes Dentophobia?

For most people, the causes of dentophobia occur due to prior traumatic dental visits, which can range from procedural complications to painful procedures. Dentists will typically numb the gums before starting a procedure by way of using a needle… a lot of patients are afraid of the pain that needle will bring even though it’s used to reduce the pain of the actual procedure.

Now, fear of the dentist isn’t only caused by direct experiences. Some people have a fear of the dentist based on indirect experiences. A person could be at the dentist waiting to get called back and see a patient leaving with a mouth full of gauze… that image can trigger immense fear. A person could also simply hear about someone else’s traumatic dentist experience and it triggers their own fear.

How to Treat Dentophobia

For those who have dentophobia, this condition could be deeply rooted from an experience as a child that continued into adulthood. Now that you’re an adult with a child of your own, you don’t want to set that type of example for your child. can So can you manage your child’s anxiety for the dentist when you have your own fear of the dentist that you’re dealing with?

Well, for starters, you want to find dentists with gentle and personalized care. These types of dentists ease the fears of patients by explaining the procedures in calming ways to ease a patient’s fear of the unknown. This will instill a patient’s trust in that dentist and make it a little bit easier for them to go to the dentist.

Treatment Options

There are also relaxation techniques that patients can do among themselves to reduce fear and anxiety such as deep breathing techniques. Some dentists also give patients the option of “happy gas” and will even prescribe medications such as Xanax or Valium prior to a dental procedure. This allows the patient to feel at ease and still be responsive and alert to communicate with the dentist regardless of if they have dentophobia.

Now, some patients prefer sedation dentistry. If patients have the option to be sleep during the procedure, they would much rather do that. It’s easier to deal with the pain that comes afterward than have to actually be awake and see the tools and not know what the dentist is going to do with those tools.

Self-Help Options

We all, of course, know that going to the dentist is important to our overall health but with conditions like dentophobia can make it quite difficult to do. So, in combination with the above treatment options, there are some things you can bring to appointments to help you get through your appointment.

If you have dentophobia, you’re not alone. Just know that there are treatment options out there for you as well as things you can do on your own to help you get through… it starts with you wanting help.

Buying Guide for Women’s Leggings – Factors to Consider!

Ladies should note that leggings are not pants so make sure you do not wear leggings with tops that expose and make your bottom prominent. Leggings are in vogue, and celebrities sport them with long tops. They are comfortable and look cool. When it comes to buying the perfect leggings for your needs, keep the following tips in mind-

Determine your budget

When you are looking for leggings, keep your budget in mind. Though leggings are a good start to creating a colorful wardrobe. There are leggings in every price range and so when you step out of your home to buy them, make sure you have a sensible budget in mind as you do not want to go overboard and waste money on leggings that are way too high from your budget.

Choose the right length

Leggings come in a variety of lengths. You should determine the length you are looking for. They are available in a knee length, calf length, full length, and stirrup lengths. Keep the short length leggings for the summer months. In the winter, it makes sense to buy full-length leggings. Before you buy leggings determine your body type and size. When you buy leggings, they should accentuate the length. If you are wearing high heels, stirrup or ankle length are ideal for women of every body type. When it comes to knee and Capri length leggings, women with slimmer legs should buy them. Short women again should stay away from calf-length leggings. These leggings have the tendency to cut your height into the half, and you land up looking shorter than you actually are. The appeal and the look of your leggings do not only depend upon your height, but your body type also influences the leggings you wear. If you are a woman with a pear- shaped body, you should consider wearing leggings of darker color as they make your legs look slimmer.

Know about the different types of leggings available

When you are looking for the right leggings, you should be aware of the different colors available in the market. You can easily find basic colors like tan, gray, brown and black. There are bright colors available like yellow, pink, red, light green, etc. Leggings are available in different materials and styles. Some of the notable ones in the market are glossy, zipped, cropped and split ankle leggings for women of all ages to wear.

One size does not fit all

There is a common misconception that one size fits all. In case a brand claims the above, it is smart not to buy leggings from it. Check the women’s leggings size chart to find the appropriate leggings for your needs. Remember, every woman has a unique body type, and she needs the right fit and looks. This is why you should always check what your body size is and consult professionals at the store to help you find the right kind of leggings for your needs.

How can you get the right measurements for leggings?

When you are searching for the right leggings, ask the sales staff to assist you with the measurements as per your height and body type. When you search the market for leggings, you will find they are not sold as per a number system. They are generally available in extra small, small, medium, large and extra- large.  This is why several brands can sell leggings of different sizes to all women irrespective of their body type and height. When you are searching for the ideal leggings, always check the size chart. There are leggings available for plus sized women as well. When you determine the right size for your height and body type, take the leggings to the trial room and put it on. Walk around the room to get a feel and see whether the material you wear is comfortable or not. Determine whether you are able to walk properly with them and sit on a chair to check whether they are comfortable for you or not. When you sit on the chair, make sure the leggings do not stretch too much. In case, the material stretches out of range this means the current size is not right for you.  Get another size and go to the fitting room to check again. Repeat the process until you do not find the correct size for your needs.

What should you pair your leggings with?

Now, when you have purchased your leggings, make sure you pair them up with tunics, dresses and cute looking shoes. When it comes to the material of the leggings you buy, you will find they are mostly available in lycra and spandex blended with wool, cotton and synthetic materials. If you are looking for leggings for a specific reason like for wearing at the gym, or for daily wear, ask the sales staff to assist you to find the right pair. If you are looking for leggings for the gym, choose the synthetic ones for working out. The material will keep your legs dry, and you get warmth for the leg muscles as well. There are some leggings manufactured using sweat-proof material. These leggings stretch as you work out and they allow your legs to breathe. They are generally costlier than the regular leggings you get in the market. They take the shape of your form and accentuate your legs too.

Last but not least, always remember that leggings should be comfortable and not rub against your body. In case, you are worried about the material of the leggings, choose those that do not have heavy stitches. These leggings will rub against your body and make them itch. Opt for leggings that have a lining. They make your legs feel warm and comfortable. If you wish to buy leggings as pants, make sure that you choose a material that is thick. The material should not be a see-through one. If you are heavy inbuilt, it is prudent to choose colors like black and brown that will make you look slimmer!

How to Create a Budget Travel Packing List

Traveling the Balkans can be a life-changing experience if you’re prepared. When you do it passionately, slowly and enjoying every step of your journey – it´s even better. If you opt for a camper to cruise along the Balkans or the Slovenian coast – renting a campervan in Slovenia can also add to having the unique experience.

When people plan their journey, they often fixate on the cost of travel, accommodation, and nourishment while overlooking the expense that comes with packing a bag.

From medication to sunscreen, simply packing for a trip can be a huge expense. Fortunately, with careful planning and a little budgeting savvy, you can pack for your adventure without breaking the bank. If you really know what you’re doing, you can even pack to help save on other aspects of your trip.

Here are some helpful tips for creating a budget travel packing list.

Assess Your Baggage

 

For the experienced traveler, foregoing the use of a suitcase and being able to keep everything in a backpack is the ultimate goal. To do this, you need the right bag. A few considerations to keep in mind when shopping for a backpack are:

 

  • Size – Will it be accepted on an airplane based on its measurements. Take prices of charter jets into consideration as well.  Check the guidelines of multiple modes of transportation.
  • Support – If you’re carrying around your worldly possessions, you want to be sure the weight of your world is distributed along your back and hips properly.
  • Weight – If your backpack is too heavy to be able to pack enough for your trip and still make the airline weight restrictions, you may want to reconsider your purchase.
  • Access – Does your bag open only at the top, or are there different zippers and access panels that will allow you to get what you need without tearing everything apart?
  • Quality – Read the reviews online and see if anyone had trouble with wear and tear in an unreasonable amount of time. You want something durable.

Depending on your travel goals and length of stay, additional luggage may be a necessity. Rather than dragging suitcases with you, consider using a service that will help you with shipping your luggage anywhere. It will be worth the budget adjustment.

Toiletries

Tiny bottles of shampoo and soap add up quickly. Save some money by purchasing empty travel containers from the local dollar store and transferring some of your products from home. Remember to make cuts where you can. Conditioner makes for a great alternative to shaving cream, reducing the need to worry about an aerosol can.

Not only do tiny bottles of goods save packing space, you can take them in a carry on bag and try to forego taking bulky, costly luggage with you. For a truly economical approach, top up your bottles from the complementary stash of toiletries at the hotels you visit during your trip.

Reusable Water Bottle

Like drinking water at restaurants, bringing a reusable water bottle is a fantastic way to save money during your trip. Believe it or not, bringing your own water bottle could save you hundreds of dollars. Simply fill it up each time you come across a fountain or ask a server at the restaurants you visit to top you off.

A word of caution as you travel: while touring the Balkans you might not run into the same clean water challenges as you would elsewhere, but some areas do present issues. To be safe, make sure you are asking if the water is potable before filling up your bottle.

Laundry Gear

If you plan on staying a few weeks or months, chances are you won’t be packing an outfit for each day of the trip. Bringing laundry gear is not only a great way to prepare for budget traveling, but it also helps drastically reduce the clothing you need to pack. Some must-haves include laundry soap, a travel clothesline, and a dry bag.

Don’t be ashamed to do your laundry in a sink! Hang it on the travel clothesline to dry, and if you must move on before the clothes are entirely ready, throw them in the dry bag and hang them at your next location.

Bedding and Towels

You may think that bedding and towels are standard rights in travel accommodations. In most cases, you are correct. However, many budget hostel options charge extra for bedding and towels and offer ones that look less than sanitary.

Sleeping liners are like a sleeping bag made out of less material. You can get them in a variety of fabrics, including silk and cotton. Like a sleeping bag, they have a closed bottom, preventing anything creepy or crawly from touching your toes at night, which is great if you spend a night camping at Lake Ohrid or along the Slovenian coast.

When you’re packing, avoid spending money on frivolous or excessive gear. Buy what you need and leave the rest at home.

Look Stunning on Your Wedding Day – Best Makeup for Brides

Every bride dreams of her big day and those dreams are almost always big. Not only is it a life-changing event, but it is usually a result of months and years of careful planning and preparations. The last thing you want on that day is to not look stunning. In order to look your best, you need to think about the dress, hair, and makeup, among dozens of other things you need to worry about before and during the wedding. To help you look amazing, we’ve selected some modern trends that should help you look more beautiful than ever.

Bronze is gold

One of the tones that seem to have been popular for decades now will give you a natural finish and you’ll definitely look classy. A very similar effect is achieved with a combination of copper and gold since they’ll make your face glow in a positive sense. Imagine your cheekbones covered with a layer in this or similar tone! Complement the overall look with a glittery gilded eyeshadow or highlight in powder formulas.

Eyes tell a story

Smoky eyeshadow or a smudged liner will help you play up your eyes, but don’t forget that there might be some tears of joy that day. So, your smoky eye should work with waterworks to help you maintain your fabulous look throughout the day. If you are brave enough, try including charcoal or gunmetal-grey shadows. It’s really popular these days and there are many wedding makeup experts who can make it look just as you imagined. Those who are less adventurous can still make their eyes more prominent by opting for a cat-eye and red lip, bumped up with lashes or cheekbone highlight, which provide the much-needed glamour.

There will be pictures

You can expect hundreds of photos to be taken during the ceremony and you’d probably like to look great in all of them. Even though that’s extremely difficult, you should think about boosting the amount and quality of your everyday makeup. On the other hand, you don’t want to overdo it, right? So, think about a foundation, highlighter, and a layer of blush thicker than usual or a touch of bronze eyeshadow and some false lashes. You want to look great both in person and in pictures that you’ll look back at years later.

To shine or not to shine?

It’s completely wrong to assume that you need to literally shine at your wedding. Some women just don’t feel comfortable with so much shine and glitter and if you’re one of them, rest assured it’s absolutely OK to go for a full-matte look, but don’t forget to apply your eyeshadow and liner. For maximal effect, apply the contour deeper and have blotting papers somewhere handy, just in case.

Look like an angel

Nobody wants to be intimidated by the bride at a wedding. On the contrary, they expect to see an angel and you can achieve this effect with shimmery eyeshadow or iridescent highlighter. Just tap the glow on the inner corners of your eyes, on your eyelids and on top of your Cupid’s bow. Those of you who wish to make their eyes more prominent and brighter should balance them with semi-matte skin.

The purpose of wedding makeup is not only to make you look prettier, but also to make you feel great. If you’re happy with the way your face looks like, your confidence will go through the roof and everyone will be able to notice that and that’s exactly the effect you want to achieve.

Find the Most Comfortable Trendy Footwear

There are very few things worse than walking around your whole life in uncomfortable shoes. Unlike other clothing situations where you can snip off an itchy label, take off a layer or replace a missing button, uncomfortable shoes will remain uncomfortable until you take them off (and maybe longer). Sure, there are ways you can alleviate the pain by putting on gel pads, band-aids insoles and three layers of socks, but in reality, the best solution is to just find and wear comfortable shoes.

Sneakers

Possibly the most comfortable footwear in the world, sneakers can feel like they’ve encased your foot in a fluffy could. They provide both comfort and stability, and if you go for something like running sneakers, they’ll probably be made with your spine in mind, giving you a bit of a lift. It’s important to remember that not all sneakers are the same, and if you go for the ones that have a thin, rubber sole, they still might be a bit uncomfortable, as you’ll feel every little pebble under your feet from the lack of isolation. You can fix this by putting in a fluffy pad to give you some comfort. And if you think that sneakers are just for casual wear – think again. They might not be red carpet-appropriate, but you can easily find sneakers that are elegant, cool and perfect for a day in the office.

Sandals

Sandals can be a hit or miss, depending on the specific model. For starters, avoid sandals with heels, as they don’t provide a lot of stability and will probably end up hurting your feet; if you want some lift, go for a full block platform. Sandals can have a similar problem to sneakers, where the sole isn’t always the thickest and most supportive. However, if you go for a brand like Arizona Birkenstock, you’ll get a thick sole that allows you to embed your own footprint into the shoe and fit perfectly. You should also look for something with adjustable straps, as it’s important to get a good, tight fit around your foot, especially if the sandals aren’t completely flat.

Heels

Yes, it’s not only possible to find comfortable heels, but they are often better for you than completely flat shoes. First things first – let’s talk heels. You want to find a heel that will evenly distribute the weight of your body along the soles of your feet, and not just place it on one spot on the heel and your toes. This means that thin, pinpoint heels are out of the picture, and you should look for something chunky, that will at least go the whole width of the shoe. Next, you don’t want it to be too high. The height will depend on the size of your feet: the longer the foot, the higher you can go, but the good rule of thumb is just to stand on your toes for a minute, and see what height feels natural to you. Of course, you should still follow all the rules of a tight fit around the foot and a good ergonomic sole.

The days of having to sacrifice comfort for style are way behind us and it’s time to move forward and make shoemakers realize that if their shoes aren’t good for our feet – we ain’t wearing them. Take your time to find the best footwear for you and support the brands that make beautiful and comfortable shoes.