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Family & Love, Fashion, Money, Business, Shopping, Deals

7 Secrets to Shopping Kids Clothing on a Budget

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These days shopping for kids have become tough. Everything is so expensive, and your kids might not like every piece of clothing you get them. Parents need to carefully plan their budgets so they have enough finances for kids’ clothing and groceries. However, some smart choices can help you save money. You don’t need to spend a fortune on stylish clothing. There are affordable options in the market that won’t drain your pocket and will be loved by your kids. 

Children grow up quickly, and you will need to buy new clothes for them more often. That is why every parent must know how to shop on a budget. There are several options in the market which will look stylish and won’t cost you much. Here are the top seven secrets for saving thousands on your shopping spree. 

Shop Offseason 

Shopping in the off-season section won’t let you exceed your budget. Most parents prefer to shop in the off-season because that is the time stores reduce the prices of several items. Since a new season is approaching, companies want to get rid of the previous clothes. 

Nothing can be better than end-of-season price cuts on stylish jeans at Hayden Girls and your other favorite clothing retailers. Brands offer steep discounts on every item. You can buy a larger size and store it for the next season. 

For example, you could buy a large-sized sweater from the off-season sale and use it in the next season. There is no need to worry about the size because kids grow up very fast. A child can grow a lot even in a short span of six months. With each passing season, the price of kid’s clothes increases. So, buying in advance will save you money.

Look for Coupons and Online Discounts

Almost every clothing store has a website where you can order as many clothes as you want. It’s easy and convenient. However, along with convenience, online shopping proves to be financially beneficial. Companies and clothing brands start their online sales early. They might inform their customers by mail or through messages. 

The moment you get a notification about any online sale, visit the brand’s page. You won’t get better offers from any other place. These discounts save you tons of money. Try to register your emails to get notifications about the latest deals and special offers. 

Some companies even give out shopping coupons to boost their brand image. Get hold of such coupons to enjoy exclusive discounts on clothes. 

Shop for Second-hand Clothes

The more kids you have, the higher the shopping expenses. So, you could opt for second-hand clothes. It will be a great way to save your money, but it will require some energy. You could search through gently used retail shops offering second-hand or used clothing. Try to dig through places like thrift stores to find quality pieces. 

Often people find vintage coats, dresses, and pants in such places. There is no harm in using someone else’s clothes. Maybe another kid outgrew his dress, and it could come in handy for you. Families do these things all the time. Many households make younger kids wear hand-me-downs. 

Buying new clothing for every kid isn’t possible, especially with so many additional expenses. In such circumstances, second-hand material is a lifesaver. 

Shop From the Back of the Store

Starting your shopping from the back of the store is more beneficial. Whenever you walk into any boutique or kids clothing section, search items from the back. You will get the best deals in this section. 

Several stores put up discounted items at the start of the store, but that is not the real deal. It is just a way to attract your attention. Instead of shopping from the start, move to the end. At the back of the store, you get better discounts. Items are more than 50 percent off, and you can buy a greater quantity of clothes. 

Try Buying Gender-neutral Clothes.

Another way to save your money is by purchasing gender-neutral clothes. Instead of opting for blue or pink colors, try choosing red, black, cream, or white colors. If you pick such colors, you can use them for your boys and girls. 

Moreover, gender-neutral clothes come in handy when you plan to have more babies in the future. Buying new baby clothes can be expensive, so save your hard-earned money by thinking wisely. 

Parents can use their creativity to style their kids and make them look attractive in any colored dress. 

Reuse Clothes

Some clothes are worn in several seasons. You only need to know how to remodel them according to your use. For example:

  • Use trousers as shorts by cutting off the extra length
  • Add frills and buttons to an older shirt to turn it into a new design 
  • Add a patch to a stained outfit 

A little bit of creativity will save you from buying new and expensive dresses. 

Use Store Cards

Big departmental or chain stores offer store cards. You could sign up for these cards to win points. Once you have enough points, redeem them against purchases. However, pay your bills in full at the end of each month to avoid high-interest rates. 

Money, Business, Shopping, Deals

5 Ways to Boost Your Confidence Right Before Your Interview

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Job interviews can be nerve-racking, and if you let your nerves get the better of you, you probably won’t get the job.

No matter how much experience you have or how great a list of questions you’ve prepared, you need to demonstrate that you’re confident in who you are and confident in your ability to do the job.

Ready to learn how to mentally prepare and psych yourself up before meeting with a new employer?

Here are five ways to boost your confidence right before your interview. 

1. Take Some Deep Breaths

Anxiety is a confidence killer. If you’re experiencing anxious or nervous feelings, taking a few deep breaths can ease the mind and make you feel more confident in a matter of seconds.

While you’re waiting for your interview to begin, inhale and exhale deeply. Deep breathing sends more oxygen to the brain, makes you feel calmer, and eases worry, three things that can instantly build your confidence and self-esteem.

2. Practice Positive Self Talk

The second you start thinking I’m not qualified for this job or the interviewer might hate me, you’ve shot yourself in the foot.

Negative self-talk will only suppress your confidence, and as soon as those thoughts start to creep into your head you have to combat them with positive self-talk.

Think I got this! Think I can do this! Think these people are going to want to hire me on the spot!

When you can convince yourself that you have the ability to ace the interview and land the job, you’re more likely to do so.

3. Do Your Homework

There are a variety of ways that you can boost your confidence in the moments leading up to your interview, but taking some preliminary steps long before the interview begins is even better.

Here’s how to do it:

  • Research the employer online
  • Visit their website and learn all you can about their business
  • Read their social media posts to get a sense of their company values
  • If they’re brick and mortar, visit their physical location
  • Prepare a list of questions to ask the interviewer

You can also research employee reviews of the company on sites such as Glassdoor and Indeed. Knowing what current and former employees have to say about the employer can help you craft intelligent questions and help you get a better sense of the company culture.

4. Arrive at Your Interview Knowing That You Look the Part

Dress for success. The clothes make the man. When you look good, you feel good …

There are endless clichés and quotes about how your outward appearance can affect your inner state of mind, and they’re all true.

Doing research prior to your interview can help you get a sense of the company culture and style. If you arrive at your interview knowing that you look like the perfect candidate for the job, it’s easier to feel like the perfect candidate for the role.

5. Remind Yourself That the Interviewer Wants to Hire You

Employers generally don’t waste their time interviewing candidates that they don’t think will be a good fit for the position. The very fact that you landed an interview means that the employer thinks you could be a great choice for the role.

Reminding yourself of this fact moments before your interview begins is a great way to build your confidence.

Why Is Confidence So Important?

Exuding confidence shows that you believe that you are capable of doing the job. No matter how much experience you may have, a lack of confidence can overshadow all of your previous successes and achievements.

If you’re not confident in yourself during an interview, the interviewer might doubt your ability to do the job. Just keep in mind that there’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance.

Exuding confidence will always help you land the job, while acting arrogant can have the exact opposite effect.

The whole point of a job interview is to get an offer, and sometimes that offer may be contingent on signing a contract.

No matter how great the interview goes and how excited you are to accept the job, you have to be careful about what you sign. Check out this in-depth guide that explains what employment contracts are all about (and why you need to hire a lawyer before you sign one). 

Health & Fitness

Six Mental Health Tips for University Students

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University students have a rigorous lifestyle. Stress can become a regular factor in any student’s life because of the demands of exams, late-night cram sessions, and finding essay writing services at the last second.

This can really start to take a toll on one’s mental health. We are learning more than ever about mental health but still only scratching the surface. But it is safe to say that the constant stress can have an impact on mental health in significant ways.

For university students who are struggling with stress and their mental health, there are more than a few tips that can help. Follow these tips and you will feel better about your schedule and less of a toll on your mental health.

1. Don’t Take on Too Much

One of the biggest mistakes that university students make is trying to take on too much. A full-time schedule, part-time job, and a ton of activities can lead to stress, a lack of sleep, and constantly feeling on edge.

It is important to balance your schedule. Make sure that you aren’t taking on too much because it can have drastic impacts on your mental health. If you have a busy schedule, turning to things such as essay writing services can help to ease the burden.

Know when enough is enough. That is not to say that you should be sitting around doing nothing while taking one course, but doing way too much can be just as detrimental. Start with a lighter load and see how that works before taking on more coursework, extracurriculars, or a job.

2. Hybrid Classes

This recent pandemic taught us the value of not having to be in-person for classes. Although there is something to be said of the in-person learning experience, it isn’t necessarily a requirement anymore.

If anything, it has shown us that a hybrid option can be beneficial to students. Being able to relax in pyjamas while listening to a lecture can mean less stress. It can also mean more time to relax, to study, and to get things done instead of racing to get to a class on time.

Even two days a week can be enough to break up the stress and provide a slightly easier schedule. Don’t overlook the value that hybrid classes can present to busy schedules.

3. Self-Care

An aspect of university life that doesn’t get talked about enough is the lack of self-care. University students have busy schedules, which more often than not means ignoring their own personal needs and wants.

This can only happen for so long before it starts to become a problem. Make sure that you take time to do things you like. Whatever that is, it can provide the necessary break to keep you sane and ready to turn your attention to projects and classes. Stress is a huge factor in the life of university students and taking time for self-care can help manage that stress.

For one, this dentist who does teeth whitening in Redwood City, highly recommends that you should regularly visit medical experts to keep your health in check.

4. Get Sleep

Sleep seems to be the bane of university students. With so many things to do – late night study, last-minute essays, projects to take care of, extracurricular activities, and social events – there isn’t enough time to sleep, right?

Well, make time for it because sleep is crucial to how we function. Getting proper sleep means keeping stress and blood pressure down. It means staying more focused on the task at hand and being generally sharper mentally. Getting sleep is huge for your mental health and you will start to notice a major difference when you fall behind.

5. Keep a Healthy Diet

Eating greasy, awful food and drinking plenty of alcohol is part of college life. But it doesn’t have to make up the entirety of one’s time at university. While it is okay to do that some of the time, living on nothing but burgers and beer isn’t healthy.

Eating healthy foods means keeping the energy levels that you need to adhere to your busy schedule. It means keeping any unnecessary weight off, and it can even have positive impacts on your mental health. Don’t overlook the value of a healthy, home-cooked meal.

6. Know When You Need Help

The simple fact of the matter is that university life is stressful. There is a lot to manage at any given time, and it can be all too easy to fall into the traps of university life. Handling it all is a lot for anyone.

Know when you need professional help. There is no shame in seeing a therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist. When things get to be too much, having an outlet can be invaluable. Simply getting out the frustrations can be enough to recharge you and give the resolve needed to get through even the toughest of schedules.

Travel

Your Guide to Planning a Safe and Enjoyable Road Trip Across the USA

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Whether you go on road trips regularly or you’re about to go on one for the very first time, there is one very important detail you shouldn’t overlook – safety. From how you can stay safe to how making your own rules can allow you to enjoy your trip, here are just a few things to keep in mind before planning the road trip of a lifetime.


The importance of proper preparation
When it comes to a long haul road trip, preparation is extremely important, though oftentimes overlooked. In fact, nearly half of Americans don’t check that proper emergency items are in the car before heading out onto the road, according to one Liberty Mutual Insurance New Beginnings Report. That said, one vital aspect of being prepared before any road trip is to have a comprehensive emergency kit ready to go. With items like first aid supplies, a back up phone charger, and car-specific supplies (such as jumper cables and other tools), you can be sure you’re prepared for situations like a flat tire. 


While you can prepare by packing a generalized emergency kit, it’s also imperative that you’re prepared in case of a car accident as well. While nobody wants to think about the worst case scenario when on a road trip, having important information regarding insurance, your emergency contacts, and the number of a car accident injury attorney on hand can make such a situation less frustrating.This can be especially important in such a situation if you’re injured, as you’ll want to know your legal options (after contacting the police and getting medical attention, of course). Because car accidents can often lead to life-altering injuries — such as broken limbs, spinal injuries, and more, having this information on hand can allow you to get in touch with the right people as soon as possible.
How weather can play a role
In addition to being prepared in a generalized sense, it’s important to take into account the fact that the weather can also play a role in being prepared as well. For instance, because the United States features a vast array of weather climates, a variety of situations are possible — including flash flooding, icy roads, and pop-up storms (depending on the area of the country you’re in and the time of year, of course). In fact, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) said that more than 5.8 million vehicle crashes occur each year based on statistics from 2007—2016, with 21% of those involving hazardous weather. While monitoring the weather before and during your trip is always ideal, however, it’s just as vital to have a plan in place in case the weather creates a situation in which you’re unable to continue on your route — especially if you’re inexperienced with driving in inclement weather. That said, having emergency weather supplies on hand, such as extra food, blankets, water, and tools like an ice scraper can be helpful in a variety of weather-related situations..
Making your own rules
Due to the stress that planning a road trip can cause, there are boundaries you can put into place to ensure you’re enjoying the journey as much as possible. For instance, making a rule beforehand as to how long a driver is allowed to drive can help cut down on frustration, especially if your trip will be particularly long. Additionally, making a rule regarding electronic use is another valuable consideration, which can help create a dynamic that will allow everyone in the vehicle to stay present in the moment. One great idea to keep everyone in the vehicle entertained and engaged is by planning out interactive games to play along the way, such as I Spy or the License Plate Game.
Planning the perfect road trip across the United States can be a daunting and stressful event, especially when there are so many factors to plan ahead for. From safety preparations to boundaries you can set beforehand, taking the time to plan out your trip will allow for both a safe and enjoyable journey.

Money, Business, Shopping, Deals, Travel

9 Realistic Business Goals to Set for Your Next Trip

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For veteran business professionals, corporate trips become routine. Nonetheless, they benefit from setting goals as much as the novice. 

Goals help professionals focus. Even though you find yourself at a convention with thousands of other peers, you can still accomplish at least one goal. 

It’s tougher to accomplish some ideas over others. For example, a business deal doesn’t always close on the first, second, or third try. That’s something that requires groundwork and perseverance. 

Staying present is a goal that professionals can accomplish. It’s a choice, and it sets the tone for the trip.

The following are nine realistic business goals to set for your next trip.

1. Execute the Trip’s Purpose

Companies invest in corporate travel, especially small- and mid-size shops. This means that the traveler must execute the trip’s purpose.

As previously mentioned, closing a business deal requires timing and research. If the deal does not close, attempt to get closer to closing it on the next try.

The top reasons why professionals travel include:

  • Client meeting
  • Training and development
  • Conventions, conferences, and seminars
  • Trade shows
  • Meet with company colleagues in other offices

Making a business connection with at least one peer is a great way to make the most out of a meeting and conference.

Then, ensure that you execute the reason for the trip.

2. Arrive at the Airport with Time to Spare

A realistic goal is to arrive at the airport with time to spare. It’s one thing to experience a delay that is out of your control. It’s another to arrive at the airport late and miss the flight.

Last-minute travel in the corporate world happens. When you have enough time to plan, arrive early.

Arriving early at the airport affords you time to review trip documents, your itinerary, and reports. You can read, listen to a podcast, or meditate too.

When you fly business class, arrive early and enjoy the lounge.  

If your trip is taking you internationally, take a peek at a checklist provided by Hotel Engine.

3. Catch Up on Email

During corporate travel, you will experience downtime. Unless you drive to your destination, flying and riding on trains, cabs, or rideshares affords you time to catch up on email.

You also have time to return calls.

Therefore, productively use your time. Set a goal to clean up your inbox, voicemail, and pending to-do list.

4. Meet Three New Business Colleagues

Veteran corporate travelers believe that their peers should never eat alone during a trip. Traveling for business affords the professional opportunities to set meal dates.

It’s also an opportunity to meet at least three new business colleagues. 

When an office, company, or organization hosts out-of-town professionals, they provide materials to help them get around. They help connect out-of-towners too. 

You can also take initiative and network. 

5. Increase Brand Awareness

Travel is a good time to increase brand awareness. Entrepreneurs and small business owners must remain on the hunt for new business and clients. 

The local market probably knows that your brand exists. Does the regional, state, and national market know it too?

Increasing awareness is as simple as handing out business cards, starting a conversation with other corporate travelers, and handing out useful corporate swag such as pens. 

6. Find a New Business Idea

The start-up sector has shown the world that it’s possible to complete work tasks in new ways.

Traveling is healthy for entrepreneurs, professionals, and executives. The change in environment helps spark innovative juices; it also helps you see how others in the same field solve problems.

Therefore, aim to find a new business idea or an adjustment that helps your company solve problems more efficiently. 

7. Pick Up a New Skill

A related goal is picking up a new skill. Keep in mind that you don’t always need a completely new one. Instead, search for ways to improve on a current process. 

Small ideas and innovations help spark a bigger match.

8. Complete Expense Reports

Before you return to the office after a trip, aim to complete your expense reports. It prevents procrastination.

Since the trip is fresh in your mind, you can complete the reports more quickly. Plus, you can record your receipts before you have an opportunity to lose them. 

9. Send Thank You Notes

It’s good manners and business etiquette to send thank you notes. In 2022, a thank you email is efficient. Sending hand-written notes adds a solid touch.

The point is to touch base with colleagues that you touched base with during your travels. This takes your networking game up a notch.

Conclusion

Business trips provide opportunities to grow as a professional. You can set goals to further your company’s interests and yours as a professional. Setting objectives optimizes your time and travel.