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5 helpful tips for Buying a New Car as a Busy mom

5 tips for Buying a Car as a Busy mom

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Our family has increased by 3 (soon to be 4) since 2009. It’s been a crazy journey, and one thing we knew we needed was a larger vehicle. As a busy mom of 3 kids I know just how difficult it can be to find a car that fits all your needs. In 2015 we bought our Toyota Sienna. And I always said I would NEVER drive a mini-van. It has been the best investment to our growing family, and I am very happy with our purchase.

There are some things you should look for when buying a car, and I am going to provide some helpful tips for your car buying experience.

Safety and Reliability:

Driving with littles in the car is already worrisome enough, so obviously we’re not going to go out and buy a sports car. Finding something safe and reliable is so important in a family vehicle. Before we bought our van, we knew the Toyota was the best choice for our family. Having a car that fits the needs of all types of car seats was very important to us. At Cars.com they have some great information on car seats and how to determine if the car is a right fit for your family, you can check that out at this link https://www.cars.com/news/car-seat-check/

Space and comfort:

One of the great things about the Toyota Sienna is that it’s so roomy! We have been on a few road trips this past summer and it was a great experience for my kids. The van seats eight people, and there’s 5 of us so we have plenty of room for luggage in our trunk. You can also put the back seats down to create even more space for extra luggage if needed. I love that my kids have space for their feet and are comfortable.

cars.com

Affordability and cost:

We knew no matter what we would have another car payment. After paying off my car in 2010, I was dreading the idea of another car payment. It’s a wonderful feeling paying off a vehicle and saves you so much money. But fitting in a ford focus was no longer an option for us. Luckily, there is a family friend who works for a Toyota dealership and he helped us create a payment that was affordable for us with very little down. Sometimes it’s helpful to know someone in the industry to guide you through the process.

Research and knowledge:

Our decision to purchase a new vehicle did not come easy. It took almost a year to research and figure out the type of car we wanted to buy. We also saved money for a year, although our down payment was not too bad we wanted to ensure we had money just in case. Cars.com has great information for new car buyers and provides informative tips for your purchase. Purchasing a vehicle should not be taken so lightly. Become knowledgeable about the vehicle you desire by reading reviews by other car owners, and believe it or not YouTube videos come in very handy. make sure to go in and test drive it before you make any big moves. When you have a family it’s best not to make an impulsive decision.

Lease vs. purchase Knowing the difference:

According to Cars US News.com

When you are purchasing a car, the loan value is based on the entire cost of the vehicle, minus your down payment and trade-in value. … With the car lease, you only pay the difference between the car’s price and what it’s expected to be worth at the end of the lease, which is known as its residual value.

Purchasing a car can be a great opportunity, if the price is right and affordable for your budget. When you purchase a car with a loan your monthly payment can be substantially higher, than a lease. Although you do not own the car with a lease and will have to return the vehicle at the end of the leasing period; however you also have the option to purchase at this point. Whichever you decide to do it’s important to become familiar with the loan rates and the difference in leasing and purchasing. Once you officially own the vehicle it’s a great asset to have, since you can sell it or trade it in at any time.

I hope these tips are helpful to anyone expecting to purchase a car. Sometimes as busy moms we’ll leave the decision up to our significant others. But I recommend buying something you love, since you’ll be driving it around all the time.

What to look for as a new homebuyer

Buying a home can be a lengthy process for some and depending on what you’re looking for it can take longer than anticipated. This can range from anything to price, neighborhoods, and schools. These are some important factors to consider in the buying process, especially if you have children. As a mom of three small children, schools and neighborhood are very important to me. However, in Southern California it can be more difficult to find the home of your dreams. Luckily there are so many up and coming neighborhoods to help make the dream a reality in this process.

Here are some things to consider when buying a home and to ensure that it’s the best move for you and your family.

Price.
This is a big one. Buying a home is a huge commitment, 30 years to be exact. In Southern California the houses can range any where from the mid to low 400s. This is a good rate, however that may not be in the area you are choosing. Every demographic area is different and prices will fluctuate accordingly.

Schools.
If you have kids or haven’t planned out your family quite yet, schools is still very important. A portion of your taxes go into the local schools and districts. You can find out more by using a website called Great Schools. This site includes a grade of all public schools in your area, comments, test scores, and programs available. IT’s a great tool to use during the buying process.

Neighborhood and safety.
When buying a home always drive around the area during the day and at night to get an idea of what it will be like from both aspects. Check out the houses around you, and the main streets along with cross streets. Find local places around you like grocery stores and gas stations. Talk to people in the area If possible and go to the city website for additional information.

As you can see this is just a small list from my experience. If you are in the Southern California Area, Los Angeles County to be exact. There is a brand new community opening up! Meadow Park is perfect for starting a new family. You can find out more about floor plans, pricing and area in their website. It’s an amazing opportunity and beautiful community.

The Holy Communion Dress and the Symbolic Meaning Behind it

First Holy Communion Dress

The First Holy Communion is a major milestone in a child’s life. They are beginning their commitment to The Lord and continuing on in their faith by receiving the Holy Sacraments in their parish in front of their families. This includes an understanding of the holy commandments, more in depth from when they were a younger child.

For a young girl one of the most exciting thing in this process are the first communion dresses As they begin to search and search until they find the perfect one for their special day.

As the day goes on it’s finally time…
All eyes are on her as she makes her way down the aisle for everyone to see beauty and purity in her through God. An amazing and exciting time for her.

What is the the communion dress?

white communion dresses Are used to signify purity, similar to that of a Baptismal dress. A veil is often combined with the dress as a humility and respect to God.
How to chose a communion dress? All communion dresses Are different for each girl, some girls will want specific styles with different embellishments. This is permitted as long as you check with your church’s guidelines for the dress. For example, some church’s may ask that the dresses have sleeves, things like this is important before purchasing your dress. How much should I spend on the communion dress? This all depends on your budget and how much you are willing to spend on the occaision. Before making any purchases always double check with your parish if the dress is acceptable.

This day is a holy and sacred day for a young child and a lot of preparation goes into this event.  Your surrounded by God and your family as you embark on this new journey with God and the church.

			
									
							

	
	
		
		
        
								Get Your Pretty On Q&A
			
        	
					
											

			

  
	  	    	
    						
I had the pleasure of collaborating with Get Your Pretty On.  A site that it geared toward helping women feel confident when they leave the house.  To feel good about themselves.  Moms, you and I both know just how difficult it can be to get ready in the morning. A little about this site, they have been featured in RedBook, Ladies home journal, popsugar, and daily buzz style.
 
In this Q&A I will ask some questions on the programs available.  You will also find all appropriate links to the site for additional information.
 
SuccessfulMommyAdvice: 
What is Get Your Pretty on?
 
Get Your Pretty On:
Get Your Pretty On is a resource for women who are ready to rediscover confidence through easy style and beauty.  I started it as my own accountability partner after getting stuck in a “yoga pants mom rut” a few years ago. 
 
 
SMA:
How does your website help encourage moms, especially stay at home moms?
 
GYPO:
I provide on-trend casual outfit ideas that work for the everyday life of a stay at home mom without breaking the bank.  It’s just as easy to put on a cute outfit as it is to throw on sweat pants.  You just have to have the right pieces in your closet and know how to put them together.  That’s exactly what I provide.  When we feel good about how we look, that spills over into every area of our lives and makes us not only better for ourselves, but our families too.  
 
 
SMA:
What is the cost for your services, is it affordable and reasonable?
 
GYPO:
The GYPO Style Challenge, my signature seasonal style program is available for $49 which is a fraction of what it would cost to work one on one with a personal stylist.  Each season I provide members with a seasonal trend shopping list and mis and match outfit ideas made up from pieces on that list.  
 
SMA:
What is one thing you would improve on your site? 
 
GYPO:
Running a site like this requires constant upgrades.  We rely heavily on our members’ feedback to make improvements and are always striving to make the experience better.  
 
SMA:
Is Get Your Pretty On easily accessible? For example through mobile apps?
 
GYPO:
We have a membership portal that’s easily accessible upon sign up.  The PDF shopping list and daily outfits are able to be downloaded to iBooks for viewing on the go.  We’re also working on an app that will allow members to access key pieces of the challenge.  
 
 
SMA:
What recommendations do you have for moms? How can your site motivate them to feel their best?
 
GYPO:
My best advice is to make a daily schedule and stick to it.  Try to carve out 30 minutes in the morning before anyone else is awake to plan out your day.  Start off by taking a shower, getting dressed and giving a little attention to your hair and makeup.  It really makes a world of difference in your motivation and how you feel about yourself and sets the tone for the rest of your day!
 
 
Be sure to check out this free 14 piece casual wardrobe shopping list on my site. Here’s the link:  http://stylechallenges.com/free-capsule-wardrobe/
There is also a 2016 Spring Challenge open on March 24th you can check that out by clicking here