The Curious Mom

You probably don’t need this blog to tell you that being a parent is hard. From getting to grips with their sleep patterns and getting up for midnight feeds to deciding what first car to buy them (that won’t wreck the household budget), parenthood presents a wealth of challenge from the moment they’re born to the moment they leave the nest. Of course, we’re always more than happy to rise to those challenges. Our love for our kids eclipses all. Yet, no matter how zealously we might want to be the best parents that we can possibly be, we also need to take the time to look after ourselves. After all, how else can we be there for our kids and watch them grow up and have kids of their own?

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When your teenage son or daughter passes their driver’s test they’re often itching to get behind the wheel. For parents, however, the idea of buying your child’s first car can be a little scary, but it’s an important milestone in their lives. You want to give them some independence but also explain the responsibility and cost involved. It can also be difficult knowing which car to go for. Here are five tips for buying your kid’s first car.

Your kid has worked hard and set their mind on passing the test, so they deserve a reward. On the other hand, you don’t want to spoil them or go over your budget. It’s important to teach your child the value of money and get them to contribute to the new car, even if it’s just a little. They might have other ideas about which car to buy, but remind them that cars cost money to maintain. If they are shouldering the finances themselves, maybe they have a part-time job, then you have to stress to them how important it is for them to pay back the money on time. If they do not stick to that, they risk their car being repossessed. You can always consult with a Massachusetts Car Repossession Law firm (or one in your location) to see how you can deal with this if it ever happens, but teaching them the value of a personal possession is essential.

Your son or daughter will have been studying hard to pass their driver’s test. This includes both theoretical and practical road safety lessons. For your own peace of mind at least, go through a couple of refresher lessons with them before buying a car. Reiterate the potential hazards they could encounter while driving. Click Here for more information about road traffic laws, accidents, and consequences.

All drivers need to have a basic understanding of car maintenance. Before your kid gets on the road, it might be a good idea to go through a bit of maintenance 101. Make sure they know what to do if their car breaks down. Give them a quick refresher lesson on basic maintenance such as changing the oil and pumping gas. You could do a quick pop quiz at the end to test their knowledge of what’s under the hood. This will help give you peace of mind when they’re on the road.

Why not consider going used? Have a look online for the best used cars for teens. There are several advantages to opting for a used car. You’ll save money in the long run and many newer models have all the safety features of today’s standards. You can explain the benefits of used cars to your newly qualified kid. They’ll probably just be excited to be finally getting a car of their own.

It’s always a good idea to take a car for a test drive before you buy it. Take your son or daughter with you to test drive the car. It might be nice to surprise them with a car in a big bow outside the house, but it’s important to ensure they’re comfortable driving it. Test drive the car yourself as well and let them know how it feels from the point of view of a more experienced driver. Your child will appreciate your perspective and advice.

Buying a house is a big financial decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. You have to go through repetitive processes from filing to signing before you can call your place your own home. Hence, make your purchase worth it and avoid getting ripped off.

This is a checklist of the things that you need to make sure before buying your property.

For your dream home to come true, you need a huge sum of money to pay for all your expenses. Getting a mortgage deal is the best way to finance your home – but it may come off as the worst option if you get a mortgage that you can’t pay.

Be sure not to max out your mortgage to your current financial status. Make certain adjustments as you don’t know what the future holds when it comes to your money.

It’s exciting to sign your contract when you finally have it before your eyes. The thrill may result in a bad decision, however, if you don’t read every single detail of your contract – especially the fine print!

Aside from this, you also need to recheck the details of your legal name, address of your new home, and other relevant details before signing.

Once that you have the contract sorted out, register your home under your name. Ahead of time, find out the requirements of concerned governing agencies like Registry of Deeds, City Hall, Bureau of Internal Revenue, and other relevant departments.

After sorting this out too, file all the necessary documents on your end so you have proof of the legality of your home.

Before you call your home your own, get a hold of the Certificate Title. This will certify that your home is legally yours – so make sure to keep it filed in the best condition as possible. Hence, whenever a situation may arise, you have proof to present.

Ensure that your Certificate Title is a true certified copy with all your legal details correctly indicated in the document.

If you’re looking to buy a home easily at affordable prices, secure a home now with BellaVita. They’re built with quality materials and are located where businesses and developments are emerging fast!

For more information about the location of their homes and their pricing, visit BellaVita website or Facebook page.

These days most of our income becomes inactive and yet our cost of living in most areas is increasing every day and we can't slow it stop it or least slow it down. When we are at a point in our life or in a condition that we suffer we realize many things such as knowing that it's hard when you don't have cash when there's an emergency or unexpected situations that you need money.

Talking about financial stability, most of us aren't sure if they are financially stable. Being financially stable gives us peace of mind, especially parents like me, I know that my kids are secured and if there's anything they need or happens I can provide for them. It's hard when you are in a financial crisis, anybody wouldn't want to be in that kind of situation but sometimes we can't avoid it, it just really happens to anyone. Let's just pray and save for our tomorrow. 

Here are some personal tips on how you can start saving today.

No to impulsive buying

This is my number one tip, avoid buying things that you don't need. When there are on-going markdown prices in stores, ask your self first do you really need to buy that particular thing? Always make a list when shopping. Keep in mind, needs before wants.

Everyday Budget

If you are working in an office it's best if you bring your own food, you can save by doing this, it saves you from eating in fast-food chains. I recommend using tools such as budget planner where you calculate your every day, weekly or monthly expenses that suit needs and budget. See the image below for a sample.

Be smart in spending your hard-earned money, start saving your money today.

People who sleep well often take it for granted. Consistently getting a good amount of quality sleep is one of the best things for our overall health. Research has shown that approximately 70 people suffer from some form of sleep disorder. So if you’re struggling to get your quota of sleep every night, you’re in good company. 

A bad night’s sleep can knock you off your game the next day but not many people realize how much sleep affects their overall health. 

Insomnia can be caused by all manner of things such as stress, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, alcohol, and stimulants. 

Creating The Right Conditions For Sleeping Well

A good nighttime routine and a bedroom free of distractions are all important for sleeping well. Some people swear by drinking warm milk or taking a supplement such as melatonin or CBD oil, to learn more about its potential benefits. White noise machines are also becoming more popular too. 

Try and keep your bedroom for sleep, rather than keeping it piled high with clutter, or watching TV. Your bedroom should be a place where you can relax.