Preparing Your Child for Adulthood

With all the different ways that you are preparing your family for possible emergencies, are you taking the time to prepare your children for life as adults? It is surprising to see the number of young adults who struggle with the basic skills that they need to survive out on their own. I am listing five of the most important. 1) Teach your child how to budget. This includes writing a budget, sticking to it, tracking where the money is going, and analyzing the results. Along with this you need to teach your children the dangers of using credit and … Continue reading →

Five Easy Safety Checks for Your Appliances

As the weather turns cooler, and the leaves begin to change, people begin to turn on their heat. This is a great time of a year to check your home for possible fire hazards, while at the same time making sure that your home runs at a high energy efficiency. Here are five simple things to check around your home. 1) Change the filter on your furnace. Have you checked it lately? I go through times when I change it regularly every three months or I completely forget for a year. If you forget to change your filter it can … Continue reading →

Five Tips to Prepare for Job Loss

One you are an adult, it is important to have a good job. You plan your budget, your life, and your future around the money that you bring into the home. If you are a single income family job security is even more important. It can be difficult in the business world where there can be sudden down-sizing and thousands of lay-offs. Even if you are offered a compensation package, you may have a difficult time before you find your new job. Here are some tips to prepare for the possible job lay-off. 1) You should have an emergency fund … Continue reading →

9-11 Changed the Way We Look at the World

The events of 9-11 changed the way that many Americans view the world and the dangers that we must prepare for. I certainly will never forget that day five years ago. I was expecting my first child and I was at work, listening to the radio. It was a morning talk show full of jokes and harmless pranks. When the other ladies and I first heard the female announcer, Sherry, begin to describe the events unfolding on the television set in front of her, we thought it was another joke. Until she said that she was serious. She started to … Continue reading →

Internet Down? Five Things to Consider

After a recent bout with no Internet access, I realized just how much I depend on the Internet for my day to day living. Here are five things that you need to prepare for in the event that you do not have access to the Internet. 1) If you work online or have other important contact information that you only have online, you need to have an alternate way to access either the Internet or the people who you are contacting. If you have a laptop many cafes have wireless Internet available to use. The public library is also a … Continue reading →

Five Fall Preparations for Your Yard and Recreation Equipment

Fall is a great time of the year, as the air grows crisp and the leaves begin to change. It is also a time to prepare for the following year. Here are five common things to prepare for in the fall, so that the rest of the year goes smoothly. 1) If you have a boat the fall is the time to take your boat out of the water and to store it somewhere during the winter. This will give you a chance to make any necessary repairs and protect your boat for future seasons. 2) The fall is a … Continue reading →

Five Ways to Prepare for Winter Weather

Now is the time to prepare for winter storms. It is a good idea as the weather begins to cool off and fall is approaching to think about preparing for winter weather. You should prepare your family, home and car for the winter weather. Here are five things to focus on when preparing for winter weather. 1) Have an inclement weather plan for your family. This is especially important if you have school age children. You will want to have back up childcare available if the schools shut down and you and your spouse both work. You will also want … Continue reading →

Plan for Five Important Events

One important thing you can do for your family now is to plan for what will happen in the future. This includes planning for retirement, your kids’ education, and also the unpleasant emergencies that may arise in the future. It is important to have these plans in place now so that as these events approach you are not left scrambling to figure out how you will manage. Here are five things to think about and plan for now. 1) You should be planning for your retirement. Depending on how old you are you may or may not get any social … Continue reading →

Plan Now For a Less Stressful Holiday Season

I know that it is early to begin talking about Christmas. I personally don’t appreciate the Christmas stuff appearing on sale in mid-October. However I do think it is important to begin preparing now for the holidays, because it allows me to truly enjoy the true spirit of the season. Here are five planning tips to save you time and stress this holiday season. 1) You can begin buying gifts for your family and friends now. This will allow you the time to find a gift truly suited for each person. You can also save money by deciding what you … Continue reading →

Five Ways to Prevent Car Breakdowns

A car is often a necessity. It can be difficult if the car breaks down and you are not prepared to handle it. You will find five simple things, which will help you to be prevent and prepare for a roadside emergency. 1) Change your oil on a regular basis. In most cars you should change the oil every three months or three thousand miles. You can save money by doing this yourself, but be sure to check the other fluids in your car when you change the oil and the filter. If you have your oil changed professionally they … Continue reading →