Category Archives: Uncategorized

Funding A Funeral While Battling Grief

The grief of losing someone can sometimes be made worse by the financial stress that is caused. If your loved one did not financially plan for their death (i.e. no savings or life insurance), it could be up to you to cover the costs. One of the biggest costs is the funeral, which on average can cost over $10,605 for a burial and $8,515 for a cremation! The infographic below breaks down the individual costs.

Finances

You may be wondering how you can afford to pay such a sum of money. Fortunately, there are many options to explore. It’s important to weigh up these options and not let grief drive you to make reckless decisions. 

First, gather together any funds from the loved one’s bank account or assets that you have access to. Even if you can only scrape together a few hundred dollars, it’s money that can help to reduce the funeral bill.

Next, see what funds you can get from other people. Friends and family may be willing to put their hands in their pockets and relieve some of the burden. You may even be able to rely on the generosity of strangers via crowdfunding.

Government Support

There may be federal or state financial support that you can also apply to. Some charities in your area may also be able to offer funding if you are on a low income.

Loans should be a last resort. You may be able to find specialist low-interest and even no-interest funeral loans out there. Choose these over regular loans.

Finally, consider which expenses are really necessary. $10,605 may be the average cost of a burial, but you can still put on a great funeral for less than this.


Final Expense Direct covering Funeral Costs

The COVID-19 Lifestyle: Staying at Home and Staying Fit

The Benefits of Staying Fit During COVID Pandemic

Maintaining an exercise regimen at home or in a hotel suite may seem to be more of a ‘should’ than a ‘want to.’ And, with most of us out of employment and suffering financially right now, keeping a fitness center and being active may seem like a much lesser concern.

However, even a tiny quantity of exercise may significantly impact how you feel and think. Training in reality is one of the most effective tools we have for keeping physically and psychologically healthy-and you shouldn’t need a membership to a gym or a costly fitness center to enjoy the benefits. So here’s how you can stay fit even during quarantine.

Stay Inside and Stay Healthy

It’s not always simple to adhere to an exercise programor meet your health objectives whether you’re trapped at home, traveling for business, on vacation, or quarantined. You may have restricted access to exercise facilities or struggle to adapt to a new regimen. Perhaps you miss the companionship of your gym, the comfort of swimming laps at your neighborhood pool, or the social interaction with strolling or trekking with your friends.

If you’re used to going to a yoga studio with a motivated teacher, you may be dissatisfied with the intensity of your exercises. Fortunately, you can search for a professional who underwent online personal trainer courses. Doing so can give you the benefits of fitness guidance and safety from exposure to the virus outside your home.

Despite the changes in our lifestyles, you have to understand the impact of exercise on your health. Exercise may help alleviate melancholy, stress, and worry and assist in treating chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.

You may take responsibility for your mood and well-being by discovering new methods to get moving and remain motivated. Maintain a feeling of control during these times of tremendous uncertainty, and keep on course with your exercise objectives even if your usual routine is interrupted.

While being fit will not save you from getting the virus, it will provide you with many other benefits. Physical exercise produces endorphins, brain chemicals that rejuvenate your body and mind, and it may enhance all areas of your health. Training may improve your mood and improve your sleep while also strengthening your immune system.

But don’t go overboard. While regular physical exercise promotes immune function, excessive physical activity, mainly if you are not accustomed to it, may have the reverse impact and depress your immune system.

Utilize exercise to maintain your stamina and moods through difficult times. You may be less likely to resort to harmful coping strategies, such as binge drinking, which may also deplete your immune system.

Stay Organized and Plan

Planning is essential for establishing and sticking to a workout program. Consider any existing health problems, the hours you have allocated, as well as your motivation and degree of stress while developing an exercise regimen. Many individuals have reported feeling tired recently due to pandemic-related anxiety. If you’re balancing educating your kids and working at home or being jobless and concerned about money, now may not be the time to go on a challenging exercise regimen.

Set realistic objectives centered on things you love, regardless of your circumstances. You are more likely to adhere to a fitness regimen if you start modest, praise your achievements, and gradually increase your workload.

Make your exercises a priority. People who schedule their exercise activities alongside their regular visits are more likely to adhere to their strategy. You wouldn’t reschedule your dental appointment because you were too tired from work or didn’t even feel like it at the time. Instead, you would complete your appointment and then come back to work.

Work out at a time that is convenient for you. Many individuals who follow a long-term fitness regimen work out in the mornings. Performing your exercise regimen first thing in the morning may invigorate you and set the tone throughout your day.

Routine and Organizational Habits

On the other hand, other peoplefind that taking a break from work and getting active in the evening when their energy is low is beneficial. A surge of exercise may excite the brain and assist you in completing the remaining things on your to-do list. So at the end of the day, plan your routine whenever you want as long you can stay organized and be consistent with it.

It’s natural to get upset when conditions make it impossible to participate in your preferred kinds of exercise. Don’t chastise yourself; instead, keep trying with different activities until you discover one you like. And if your desire to get moving begins to wane, remind yourself of how much better you’ll feel following even a tiny amount of exercise.

What A Springtime Garden Looks Like In 2020

It’s a new decade and that means a total revamp of the home and garden. Don’t believe that? Take a look at the recent interior design trends. Leather is out, fabric is in. neutrals have been kicked out, vibrant colors are back in. Metal and glass aren’t being spared either, instead being replaced by wood and craftsmanship. The garden is receiving the same treatment. The normal thoughts around the typical styles are being challenged. So what kind of things can you expect to see in springtime gardens that are of the utmost stylish, in 2020?

The cottage returns

Cottage flower beds are exquisite. There’s no other way to describe them, they are just fantastic to look at. So many bright colors, complimenting pairings and harmonious designs. The cottage flowers that will be making a comeback in every stylish garden will be lupins, honeysuckle, delphiniums, phlox and aquilegia, to name a few. These flowers are delicate in their texture and low in density, but they are very resilient to the wind and rain if they are situated close together. This is because their designs are so varied, that wind effectively passes through and rain is splashed and spread everywhere so every flower gets a drink. Take a look at how the different flower bed designs in classic English, Swiss and French cottages make good use of spacing and positioning to gain a little perspective.

A protective and nourishing border

Garden borders have always been popular but recently, they have become far too common. Brick borders are seen in many modern home gardens because they offer protection from moles that would otherwise burrow under the soil and eat the roots of plants and flowers. They also look hideous when done incorrectly. You must choose a brick tone that matches the flowers otherwise, the border sticks out and takes attention away from the flowers.

Using a mulch border is better in a number of ways. You can find more details about the different kinds of mulch you can use here. Leafgrow is is a fine mulch as you would expect from the name, bark mulch is coarser but very nourishing in the long-term and, shredded hardwood mulch is of slightly lesser nutrition but is cheaper. The mulch will prevent weeds from growing around your plants and flowers, which would then sap water and food away from them. It’s also 100% natural so nothing harmful will enter your soil. It’s also more aesthetically pleasing too because it’s not a hard structure as a brick border is.

Decorative arches

Wooden garden arches are not only aesthetically pleasing, but they can shape your garden in ways you didn’t imagine. If you are creating a sectioned garden, with a pleasing entrance that meets a walkway through a maze or along with a water feature, garden arches are a great non-invasive way to do this. Wooden archways can also be decorated with flowers to your liking, adding a new depth of style.

Springtime is a great time to do a bit of gardening. You can make your new 2020 garden a project which could last into summer if you begin now.

Could History Inspire Every Lesson?

When you’re someone that is homeschooling or you love to be involved in your children’s schooling, it can be really fun to ensure that you are creating lessons that count. Of course, we all know that there are specific lessons that need to be taught, and different subjects that need to be covered off. However, you may find that in most situations, history can inspire pretty much everything that you teach.

From English to mathematics to the arts, this can really apply in a range of situations. But one way to look at this idea that will always inspire you, is to consider the most important developments in human history. Let’s take a look.

How It All Began

As you’re teaching, whatever you’re teaching, you might want to take a look at how it all began. Because whether you’re looking at mathematics or science or even literature, there’s always something in history that puts today’s methods and work into perspective. It can be fun to see how things were once done too.

Reinforcing Today

Of course, in a history class you’re going to want to teach everything that happened before. But then also, you can turn back to what was done hundreds of thousands of years ago to see what was done, in comparison to today. It can be fun to make things stick, by looking at what scientists or mathematicians or philosophers did before.

If you’ve like to learn more about the most important developments in human history, just take a look at the infographic below.


Infographic Design By Norwich University

How to Make Your Bedroom More Comfortable

We want our entire home to be as comfortable as possible, but it’s also true that it’s more important for some rooms to be relaxing than others. Take your bedroom. This is going to have a huge effect on your overall comfort levels, especially as it contributes so much to the quality of your sleep. As such, it’s not a room where you’ll want to take any chances: you gotta make it as relaxing as possible. Fortunately, there are plenty of tried and tested ways to do this. We take a look at a few ideas below.

Source: Pexels.com

Set the Tone

It’s important to make a conscious effort to set the tone in your bedroom. Left to its own devices, it’ll be something of a mess, with clothes here and there, odd items strewn around the place, and so on. To begin with, you’ll want to assign a home for each item, and make sure it’s always put back. You’ll also want to add items of joy, such as works of art, personal items, devices for playing music, and so on. You should essentially feel at peace the second you walk into the room — it’s the state of mind you’ll need for a good night’s rest.

Upgrade the Bedding

We don’t spend much time in our bedroom, but when we do, it’s valuable time. Indeed, there are few things more valuable than a solid night of rest. One mistake people make is putting so much time into making their bedroom look the part, yet ignoring the most aspect — the bed. There’s a huge difference between old, hand me down bedding, and high-quality options. Taking the time to get the right bedding is something that no-one ever regrets. If yours is due an upgrade, take a look at https://shopdiscountdirect.com/shop/mattresses. It’ll transform your sleeping experience.

No-Tech Rules

There’s little value in making sure your bedroom is as comfortable as can be and then undoing the good work in other ways. While it can be tough, it’s recommended that you initiate a self-imposed “no tech in the bedroom” policy. Your bedroom will be much more relaxing if you’re not constantly bombarded with beeping noises and flashing images. Tablets and smartphones have a hugely detrimental impact on the quality of sleep, so try to keep it just in the other areas of the home.

Deep Cleaning

As with any room, you’ll enjoy your sleeping area much more if you’re not constantly feeling like it’s dirty. Commit to thirty minutes of deep cleaning each week. It might sound like a lot, but it’ll make a big difference, even if you only feel it just below the surface.

The Right Temperature

Finally, work on setting the right temperature for your room. It’s hard to feel fully at ease if it’s too hot or too cold in there. Whatever side of the problem your bedroom falls on, there’ll always be ways to make the temperature more agreeable. It’s one of the staples of being comfortable as a human.

Quick Tips To Make Your Garden Your Favorite Place

A lot of people would say that their garden is their least favourite part of the house, but we think that you should change that right now. It doesn’t have to involve any dramatic changes, and to show you how simple it can be we have come up with some ideas of our own! If you keep reading down below, you are going to find some of our suggestions on how you can make your garden into the best part of your home. Keep reading if you want to find out more about this topic.

Pic Link

Think About A Patio

One of the very first things that we are going to look at is putting a patio in your garden. Now, a patio comes with many advantages, one of which is that it will boost the value of your home. However, this should be a secondary consideration as it is not going to help you for right now. You should consider getting a patio because it will provide you with a wonderful outdoor space where you can spend a lot of your time in the summer. The reason that this is a benefit is that it provides you with somewhere to put your garden furniture that won’t sink into the ground when it gets a little soft.

Another benefit of having a patio is that it gives you somewhere to entertain your friends and family when they come over. When the weather is nice, it is always nice to be able to sit in your garden, and a patio will make this possible. You can sit outside, have a BBQ, enjoy a drink or even just sit and read a book. By doing this, you turn your garden into somewhere relaxing, instead of a nightmare.

A Fan

Something else that you should consider is getting a fan for your garden. We know that this might sound a little strange, but it is something that you can add to your patio. You can look into getting a service that provides you with special fan construction for outside use, meaning that even on the hottest of days, you can have the cool breeze that you desire. Enjoying a nice day outside is something that everyone enjoys, but sometimes it is just far too hot to do this. As such, having an outdoor fan will mean that you can do this without worrying about melting!

Keep Your Grass Cut

Finally, you should keep keeping your grass cut to a decent length at all times. Make sure that you are mowing every week to keep on top of this and that way you don’t have to fear it when it comes time to mow. This is one of the most common issues that people have, but if you manage to keep on top of it, then there really is not going to be any reason that you can’t enjoy being outside.

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and will use the advice above to turn your garden into somewhere that you love.

Which of These Four Ancient Crafts Will Be Your New Hobby?

In the old days, if you wanted to learn an ancient craft, you had to get your grandmother to teach you. Nowadays, you can simply jump on Youtube and learn. Crafting is a great way to improve your quality of life, but with so many different crafts out there, finding the one that will suit you can be a little overwhelming. If you’ve been thinking of trying your hand at a new craft, here are some ideas to get you started.

Photo by Dominik Scythe on Unsplash

Ceramics

The possibilities are boundless with pottery. If you’re someone who likes to be guided by creativity rather than rules, pottery can be a really freeing activity. There are no stitches to count or measurements to adhere to. Not only will you be able to make things like sculptures, or jewelry, but if you’re practically minded. You’ll be pleased when you end up with an assortment of handy home-made items, like bowls, cups or plates. If you’re keen to try your hand at ceramics, it’s worth taking an introductory pottery class to see if you gel with the craft, as getting set up at home can require a fairly sizable outlay.

Embroidery  

You might associate embroidery with Victorian ladies, in long dresses who have nothing to do all day, but darn socks. This craft has had a big revival in recent times. No longer a chore, embroidery is a low-key activity that can help you relax. While at the same time creating a lovely cushion or wall hanging. Embroidery patterns are widely available online (mostly for free)! It might be tempting to dive into a complex design, it’s a good idea to go for a simple pattern at first, until you get the hang of the various stitches. Once you’ve mastered the technique, the sky’s the limit when it comes to materials and designs. Try linen thread for a shabby-chic look, or play around with different coloured backing fabrics.

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood from Pexels

Beadwork

Beadwork is an inexpensive craft that demands fine-motor control and decent eyesight. If you tick those boxes and you’re the type of person people usually ask to untie knots for them- beadwork may be for you. All you’ll need to get started is an assortment of beads, some thread, and a few needles. You can either source a pattern that catches your interest or dream up your own pattern as you go.

Woodwork

Whether it’s a picnic table or a shoe rack you’re after, why not try and make your own? If you’re keen to give woodwork a try, you’ll need some specialized tools. Don’t worry, you can build your toolbox project by project. Choosing a simple project like a small coffee table is one way to limit the tools you need to purchase up front. When you’re still working out if woodworking is for you. And don’t think this is a men’s only game: women are totally nailing it in the woodwork world!

Whether you’re just getting into crafts or are experienced crafter looking for something new, these ideas should get your craft engines firing.

Caring for Your Lifetime Pet with a Chronic Condition

If you would like to take care of your most faithful friend, when they are suffering from a lifetime condition, you will need to have a care plan just like you would have with humans. Dogs are good with adapting to new places and circumstances, but you will need to help them manage their condition and keep them pain free, so they can make the most out of the time they are spending with you.

Image via McConnell Air Force Base

Get an Early Diagnosis

No matter if it is just a red spot on their skin, loss or hair, or a change in their behavior, you will need to get your pet to the vet as soon as possible. If anything is causing concern and you want to be sure that their condition is not getting worse, you will need to talk to a professional as soon as possible. Something that looks like a simple tummy bug might be something else that can be managed with medication if it is noticed in time.

Have a Vet Plan

Image via Pixabay

If you suspect that your pet is likely to develop a long term condition, you will need to sign up for a yearly vet plan to ensure you are getting the care you want your pet to have and don’t end up spending too much. You will be able to shop around for deals online, or ask your friends and family members to recommend a vet who is knowledgeable and offers checkups and vaccinations.

Regular Checkups

When your dog gets older, you will need to pay more attention to their health. This means that your checkups need to be more regular than before, You might need to monitor their blood pressure, get their heart and organs checked, so you can prevent illnesses that will cause them lifetime pain and prevent them from running around free. If you want to save money and provide the best quality of life to your pet. It might be a good idea to get them on a monthly plan if you suspect that they are pre-diabetic or have a condition that can get worse any time.

Be the Boss When It Comes to Lifestyle Changes

You, as a human will need to take responsibility for the health of your pet, and this means that you will need to make decisions for your dog. Just because they look tired, you still have to stick to your walking routine and help them stay healthy.

Switch to Organic Food

Switching to organic pet food might be a good option if you want to provide the best care for your aging dog. Nutritional approach combined with the right medication will add years to your pet’s life, so you can spend more time together. You can find online shops for veterinary supplies so you can always have what you need in your home.  

If you would like to make the most out of your pet’s life and health, you will need to step up your game and take responsibility for their veterinary care.

4 Ways to Prepare Your Garden for the Upcoming Summer Season

With the summer season coming up very soon, it’s about time that we start taking our gardens a little more seriously and find ways to prepare ourselves for the hot weather that’s about to come.

Increased temperatures and less rain to worry about, it’s the perfect time to spend more time outdoors but we’re unlikely to do so unless we pretty up our gardens and add a couple of great accessories to make it more hospitable. So get out those garden tools and put on your gloves–here are four ways to prepare your garden for the upcoming summer.

Source: Unsplash

Bring out your tools and freshen them up

Clean and sharp garden tools always work best, so if you’ve not touched your garden tools for a while then it’s time to perform some maintenance on your tools so that they work better. However, if you don’t actually have any garden tools, then we’d recommend going down to your local hardware store and asking them for some advice on a few beginner garden tools.

Consider getting the basics such as a rake, a spade, a new pair of gloves or even a new garden hose for easier cleaning and watering of plants

Tidy up the garden and get rid of any waste

There’s plenty of ways to clean up your garden in order to reset it to a blank slate so that you can start dressing it up with all kinds of accessories and furniture. Start by taking out any dead weeds and leaves and removing any foliage that no longer serves a purpose. Any rubbish that’s collected in your garden over the past few months should also be taken out. This can be a time-consuming process, but it’s the best start for your brand new garden.

Dress up the patio area

The next thing to do is dress up your patio area so that it’s more hospitable for when you want to spend outside. The first thing we recommend doing is getting rid of plastic furniture and getting some modern replacements. For instance, you could get some beautiful modern garden furniture that is comfortable, weatherproof and looks much like the furniture you’d sit on in your living room. This will make your garden more inviting so that you’ll spend a bit more time outdoors.

Making your garden a social area

Your garden is a great social place to share with guests, so make sure you get some accessories that will make it more inviting for when you have a couple of friends and family members over. For instance, built-in grill covers are a great way to protect your outdoor cooking equipment so that they’re not full of dust and debris for when you actually want to use them. You could also consider getting new lights so that you can spend a bit more time in your garden when the sun starts to go down, or even add an overhead sunshade to provide refuge for when the sun comes out.

Summer might still be a few months away, but the sooner you kit out the garden and prepare yourself for the lovely weather, the more excited you’ll be for when the time finally comes.

3 Simple Fireplace Ideas For Your Home

Many people seek to renovate their homes come the spring season. Some people are happy to go with a deep clean; but others want to go one step further and opt for some remodeling, decorating or revamping. A useful place to start is the room you spend the most time in as a family: your living room.

While you adore the homely vibe of your pad; you might be looking to inject your family space with a touch of coziness. The perfect way to do this is by focusing on your fireplace. Generating warmth and having a central feature in your room will create a warm and relaxed ambiance. Take a look at the sorts of fireplaces you might want to consider.

Image Credit

Go Period

If you are lucky enough to live in a period home, it might make sense to head to a reclamation yard. Source an original and authentic surround grills and hearths for your fireplace. Cast iron Victorian pieces were made to be strong, resilient and pump out the heat.

Highly ornate with beautiful tiled surround on a black cast iron backing, there is a Victorian fireplace for everyone. From the decorative pink flamingo tiles to the more subdued red Minton tiles; you can find a look that will complement your decor. Check the size that you need and get shopping.

Make links with a few reclamation yards, and ask them to keep an eye out for your dream fireplace. They carry out house clearances every day of the week and will be sure to stumble across something.

Modern

There are so many different fireplaces that you could choose from. If you’re after a sleek, more modern look that we simply cannot cover them all. The comfortbilt pellet stove has a stunning chrome gray finish, perfect for those homes with an industrial vibe.

rather expensive, it pumps out the heat so it will make even the largest open plan space toasty and warm, in no time. For a sleeker look, an illusion fireplace might be what you are after. With constant flames, these ultra thin pieces of kit can be placed in any room and you needn’t have a chimney to see it working.

Modern fireplaces tend to be more energy efficient and will be more eco-friendly than period counterparts.

Image Credit

Wood Burning Stoves

The wood burning stove is seeing a revival recently, with people keen to chop their own wood and place it onto their fire. This sense of foraging and self sufficiency taps into the cozy psyche of many millennials after a modern, yet also traditional feel to their living rooms. Wood burning stoves come in all shapes and sizes ranging from the ornate and highly detailed cottage like stoves, to the sleek gunmetal gray varieties.  

Make sure the one you choose is approved by the relevant government department and get it installed by a suitably qualified individual. You could have a bare brick insert, a sleeper mantelpiece or a marble hearth. The possibilities with a wood burner are endless.

A fireplace will revolutionize your living space and have you enjoying warm and cozy evenings in on even the coldest winter night.