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5 Big Issues To Fix As an Adult

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Man reading bad news on the computer screen

In early adulthood, there’s a good chance that you think you’re doing everything correctly. And then suddenly you’re about 15 years in and you say to yourself – ‘well, that didn’t quite work, did it?’ At that point, it’s time to do some fixing, usually starting with the broad topics that got away from you during your learning and failing period.

And five of those big issues, that run the gamut of society, are going to include bad credit, bad habits, old social media tying you down, clutter, and loose ends that keep tripping you up. If you approach each of these with small concrete steps, you’ll soon become the best version of yourself. [Read more…] about 5 Big Issues To Fix As an Adult

Legal Details: Sets of Information To Be Aware Of If You’re Involved In a Lawsuit

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lawyer-with-clients

Most people only have a vague understanding of the details of law. And that means when they end up in any sort of lawsuit, things can go awry quickly. And depending on the basic financial status of the people involved, there can be a discrepancy in the quality of prosecution and defense, as well as that information void sitting in the middle.

So, some topics that everyone should be aware of before they get too involved in any court case might be things like understanding what structured settlements are, how lawyer’s costs factor in, the difference between civil and criminal trials, how long court cases typically last, and how juries work. All of this information is pretty easily obtainable, but still important to know. [Read more…] about Legal Details: Sets of Information To Be Aware Of If You’re Involved In a Lawsuit

Approaching Credit Cards From a Healthy Perspective

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how-to-use-credit-cards-wisely

The idea of credit is extremely important to your financial well-being. You may be great with money. You may understand bank accounts, checking accounts, and cash-only budgeting skills, but until you really dig into the meat of using your credit successfully, you’re missing out on a big part of the monetary puzzle.

Five topics in particular to consider include making sure that you know how to fix your credit if it’s broken, you understand interest rates, you know how budget apps can help you with credit functions, you know the difference between credit and debit, and you have a basic understanding of how credit rating works with respect to applying for loans. [Read more…] about Approaching Credit Cards From a Healthy Perspective

Tips For A Successful Etsy Shop

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etsy-shop

So you’ve dreamed of being able to sell your handmade crafts for a living and be your own boss. Chances are your dreams of getting rich doing it are big, but your knowledge on how exactly to achieve that isn’t quite polished.

When setting yourself up to run a successful Etsy shop, consider that there are various factors that really set successful shops apart from the rest. Some shops are barely skating by, with one or two customers a month, while other businesses are gaining one to two customers a second! [Read more…] about Tips For A Successful Etsy Shop

5 Anniversary Gift Ideas For Your Husband

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barbecue-gift

Some people might say that women are much easier to buy anniversary gifts for than those of the opposite sex.  

Women traditionally receive jewelry or flowers on this day of celebrating your union.  Many companies have built their entire business around anniversary gifts specifically for women.

Because of anniversary gift marketing tending to lean towards wives rather than husbands, many women find themselves stumped when trying to choose a gift for their spouse.

Try these anniversary gift ideas, and give your husband the equivalent of the joy you would feel receiving a big sparkling diamond.

Season Tickets

If your husband is a sports fan, consider gifting him season tickets for his favorite local sports team.  Not only does this gift him the pleasure of being able to watch his favorite team, but it also gives him the gift of camaraderie with his male social circle.  

Nothing says “bro time” like watching some sports in real time surrounded by the roar of the crowd.

Gutter Cleaning Service

Regardless of whether you are a progressive couple or not, gutter cleaning generally tends to be a male dominated household chore, because in most cases a man has a longer arm reach, and taller stature, making them the most qualified out of the two of you to get in there and do the job.

If your husband is like most, then chances are he absolutely loathes this chore.  Surprise him with the gift of not having to do it at all!

Consider hiring a professional gutter cleaning and roof repair service, and watch his face light up with “Yay! I don’t have to do it!” glee.

A Barbeque

Nothing says I love you like the gift of throwing barbecued flesh on fire.  Many men enjoy being able to participate in the cooking duties.  Particularly helping with meat.

Perhaps this is an ancient caveman instinct that has remained in the heart of man.

If your husband is the impatient type, opt for a gas grill over old fashioned charcoal, which can be a timely process.  The bigger the better!

A Vacation

Whether you’re a man, a woman, a child, or a grandpa, who doesn’t love a vacation??  Taking a trip to escape the stress of day to day life is the ultimate gift package.

Consider a sentimental trip, perhaps to the first place you ever kissed, if it happens to be far from home.  Or perhaps there’s somewhere you’ve always said you’ve you wanted to go together.  Surprise your love with the gift of adventure, and you can be sure that’s better than even the shiniest diamond.

Something Lacy

Imagine giving the gift of something for yourself, that’s actually for him!  Everyone wins!  Many couples have been together so long that they experience a decline in their intimacy.  

Anniversaries are a great opportunity to rekindle the passion and surprise your partner with a sizzling night he wasn’t expecting.

Which Milk Is Right For You? Try These Popular Alternatives

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Many people suffer from some type of milk intolerance or allergy, and while once this would have meant dry cereal and vegan baked goods, today there are more milk alternatives available than ever before. If you’re new to the world of dietary alternatives, however, this can be overwhelming. Which one should you choose?

Milk alternatives can be expensive, depending on what type you buy, so it’s important to do your research about the nutritional benefits of milk and to try new products when you have coupons. As you consider the many options before you, here are a few things you should know about these dairy case options.

Dairy Versus Non-Dairy

Among the many milk options available in your local grocery store, you may find that in addition to traditional cow’s milk, there are also goat and sheep milk options. Now, if your food intolerance or allergy includes all dairy, this won’t help much, but if you have a hard time digesting a specific protein in milk, you may want to test drive these offerings.

What sets goat and sheep milk apart from many other types of dairy is that it doesn’t contain A-1 casein. Most cow’s milk contains both A-1 and A-2 casein, but it’s almost always A-1 casein that people have a hard time digesting or that causes inflammation. If you think this may be the problem, try one of these milk types or look for milk that comes from A-2 exclusive cows.

Nut Milks

The most popular milk alternatives on the market today are nut milks, including almond and cashew milk. Almond milk, which has become such a mainstay that even Starbucks now offers it, is low in protein compared to cow’s milk, but it’s also much lower in calories. You’ll find 110 calories packed into 8 ounces of 1% fat cow’s milk, but only 40 calories in unsweetened almond milk.

If you shop in specialty stores, you may also encounter macadamia nut milk or hazelnut milk, but don’t expect to grab these in your local dairy case. These milks tend to be pricier, but they’re a nice, rich alternative if you’re looking for something to put in your coffee, for example.

Classic Soy

It used to be the case that if someone had a dairy intolerance, their first choice would be soy milk, but soy seems to be falling out of favor as tastier alternatives come to market. What makes soy appealing is that it can meet or even exceed the amount of protein in cow’s milk, while typically offering lower carbohydrates and more fiber – it carries a nutritional bang. Just watch out for sweetened varieties that are loaded with sugar.

No matter what type of milk alternative you prefer, the good news is that for those who can’t tolerate traditional cow’s milk, there’s almost always an alternative product in coffee shops and grocery stores today. These alternatives are also great for baking, making ice cream, and more – now you don’t need to live in denial just because you can’t digest traditional cow’s milk.