Some people will put off making that credit card payment or delay savings for retirement. These little mistakes can add up to big headaches and even bigger regrets later on in life. The following are four reasons why you should be financially responsible.

1. Good financial decisions can lead to a happier relationship
Money is often cited as the number one reason for divorce. Financial issues can lead to arguments and fights that can cause a major strain in any relationship. Usually, these problems are caused by falling behind on bills and not having enough money to keep up with other monthly obligations. By working together, a couple can set up a budget and avoid financial pitfalls. A little planning can go a long way.

2. Raise a child who understands finances
Children will eventually have to work and begin to manage their own financial lives. Unfortunately, this type of education is not normally taught in high school. Therefore, kids will often learn about finances from their parents. As a parent, if you are financially irresponsible, your child will pick up your bad habits. That can lead an adult child having a hard time adjusting to financial responsibilities. By setting a good example for a child, you can raise him to become financially responsible as an adult.

3. Good financial habits can lead to a happy retirement
Most people do not have enough to retire and they are forced to work well into their 70s and sometimes their 80s. The number one reason why most people can not retire is not that they did not have sufficient income, it is because they did not save for retirement while they were young. By saving at least 10% if your income, and placing it in a low-cost index fund, you can be well on your way to funding a stable and happy retirement.

4. Good financial decisions can lower stress
Ask most people what stresses them out the most and you’ll most likely get “money” as the number one answer. Stress is often cited as one of the causes of high blood pressure which can lead to a stroke or a heart attack. Making smart financial decisions, such as paying off credit card debts and avoiding outlandish purchases, can not only help your finances, it can help you keep your stress levels in check.

Being financially responsible can not only help your bank account, it can help your kids, your relationship, and your own body. Have a plan for your money each month and stay ahead of bills and credit card payments. With a little financial responsibility, you can enjoy a long and happy life.

Moving to a new location is an excellent way to begin living as a minimalist. As you are packing for the move, use these six tips to reduce the number of your possessions.

Minimalist Packing Tip 1: Remove Everything From Your Closets and Cupboards

You probably don’t know how many items you own, but the best way to understand what you have is by removing everything from your current home’s cupboards and closets. After stacking all of your books, CDs and DVDs in one location, you will be amazed at how much stuff you have.

Minimalist Packing Tip 2: Look At Each Time Carefully

In addition to having too much stuff, you may have things that have degraded or broken. If you have a drawer filled with ancient electronics that you no longer use, then you can recycle the items at a disposal site, or you can give these things away to a charitable organization.

Minimalist Packing Tip 3: Consider the Cost Of Moving Your Possessions

If you have a lot of money, then hiring a professional mover is easy, but you may not want to spend thousands of dollars moving old furniture and appliances. In some cases, it can cost more to move your old possessions than it costs to replace items. In addition, you should have a concern about your possessions becoming damaged during the moving process, leading to additional costs for repairs.

Minimalist Packing Tip 4: How Big Is Your New Apartment or Home?

When you are downsizing into a smaller home or apartment, consider how much you can pack. If you have a complete living room set of furniture, then you may not have room for all of the pieces in a much smaller home. You also won’t have a lot of storage space in the kitchen cupboards or bedroom closets.

Minimalist Packing Tip 5: Do You Use the Items That You Have?

When you have boxes of items that you never use, there is no reason to clutter your new home with the containers. You may have the bad habit of tossing your mementos into plastic totes rather throwing the items away. If you have boxes of junk that you haven’t looked at in several years, then give yourself permission to throw the items away.

Minimalist Packing Tip 6: Choose a Maximum Number Of Boxes To Move 

You can pack like a minimalist if you decide to fill only a certain number of containers for your move. If you are a single adult, then you might want to move only 20 plastic totes or cardboard boxes. When you have other people who are moving with you, plan on providing additional containers for their possessions.

When shopping for gun-related products online, take a few extra precautions than you would normally take. Although it is completely legal to buy sights, magazines, holsters, and a plethora of other gun-related products online, there is always a gray area that can cause trouble. Before you begin shopping for your goodies online, consider these five tips and use them to ensure a smooth buying experience.

1- Familiarize Yourself With the Options

Familiarize yourself with the various accessories and their average costs to avoid overpaying for goods. Learn more about the brands, their level of expertise in the industry, and the quality of the product they produce. Knowledge is power. Never assume that a retailer is honest and looking to build a long list of satisfied clients.

2- Search for Deals

If you like to save money, do not shop before you find the deals and offers that are available. Many coupons, promotions, and special offers considerably reduce the cost of the accessories that you want to purchase. These deals are available to any shopper who wishes to use them and reduce costs considerably. To take full advantage of special savings, join email newsletter lists and special clubs, use your favorite search engine to scour for offers, and look for promotions and rebates incentives.

3- Compare the Choices

Numerous online retailers sell guns, ammunition, and other accessories for shotguns and rifles. Each retailer offers their own perks and disadvantages. It is important that you learn why you should shop with a particular retailer and then learn if the disadvantages overshadow the positive attributes. When you compare the options, it is easy to score the best prices, awesome deals, and the products that you really want to accessorize your gun!

4- Choose a Reputable Dealer

Many well-known e-commerce sites sell gun accessories, however, many people agree that it is best to purchase these items with a dealer who specializes in gun-related products instead. Compare the dealers selling products, looking for an experienced company with a good reputation. It is easy to learn more about the company by visiting their site, asking your fellow gun enthusiasts, and by reading reviews posted at various online sites. Choose a company that offers a good return policy (bearing in mind the most e-commerce retailers do not offer return or exchange on ammunition) and honest pricing, too. Don’t forget the importance of good customer service and prompt professionals helping with your purchase.

5- Buying a Firearm?

Expect a thorough background check when buying a gun online. More than 130,000 federal firearm licensed holders sell weapons online and require this check. Private purchase sells do not require a background check. You must be at least 18 years old to purchase ammunition and at least 21 years old to buy a gun. The weapon is sent to the nearest licensed dealer. You cannot purchase a state other than the state you reside.

Most goods are available at wholesale prices for people who are willing to look for them, and health care items are no exception. There are quite a few reasons to make an effort to find health care items at those prices, especially for people who can predict the rate at which they use the products.

Dealing with Discontinuation

It is fairly common for health care items to get discontinued, especially for soaps and other items that can come in a variety of scents, colors, and other varieties. Seeking out wholesale goods will lower the price to the point that most people can stock up before they get discontinued, which will make sure that they have enough time to find an acceptable replacement before they run out of the one that they are accustomed to using.

Saving Money

The simplest reason to seek out wholesale items is saving money. Most stores will get their goods from a wholesaler and add a significant markup before sale so that they can make a profit even if those products spend a long time sitting on a shelf. Wholesale goods avoid that extra markup, which can lead to massive savings for the consumer.

Disaster Preparation

It can be wise to keep a large supply of bandages, allergy medication, and other health care items around in case of a disaster. That can be expensive, and it can be difficult to get a sufficient supply through traditional stores. Buying at wholesale prices will usually avoid both of those problems, which makes it possible to make it through any kind of shortage without running out of crucial supplies. This isn’t appropriate for items that have short expiration dates, but it works well with anything that can last for a long time without losing any quality.

Experimentation

Wholesale prices make it possible to experiment with new products for long enough to get a good feel for how they work without wasting money. That can be useful for any type of health item, but it will most often help when picking out shampoo, cleansers, and other items that perform differently with different skin or body types.

Sharing

It can be a good idea to team up with other shoppers to get the discounts that can come with bulk purchases, and it is always best to seek out wholesale rates when doing so. That ensures that everybody can get the best price possible, which makes it more likely that they will be willing to work together again in the future. In the long run, this can ensure that everyone gets the health items that they need at the most affordable price possible.

Dressing up your kitchen can seem challenging at first glance. After all, most of the features are built in and are expensive to replace. In fact, it may seem like your only easy customization option is to add a new paint color to the wall. With a closer look, you may see that adding a tile design to your kitchen’s backsplash makes excellent sense. These are four thoughtful reasons to update your backsplash with tile.

Easy Customization
While customizing your kitchen in other ways may require a full remodel, updating your kitchen backsplash with tile may only take a few hours in many cases or perhaps a day or two. You simply have to remove the existing material, prepare the surface and lay the tile. You can even hire a contractor to complete this project for you at a reasonable price.

Exceptional Range of Styles
Because your kitchen backsplash is the perfect area to focus your attention on when customization is a top priority, you understandably want to create a unique look in your kitchen. Tiles are available in an extensive range of colors, sizes and shapes. They also have various finishes and textures. With so many ways to lay these tiles and with so many types of tile to choose from, you can create a gorgeous look that perfectly generates the desired results.

Durability
The kitchen can be a wet, messy place because of the cooking activities completed in this space. Many materials that you could use as a backsplash are simply not appropriate to use because they could easily be damaged in this type of environment. The durability and functionality of tile makes it an excellent material choice for your backsplash. Tile likewise is easy to maintain. The tile may simply need to be cleaned regularly, and you can take an extra step to clean the grout once or twice per year as needed.

Affordability
Another excellent benefit associated with remodeling with tile as your backsplash material is the affordability of the material. Different types of tiles have various price points, but you can find an extensive range of affordable tiles to choose from. Some people will use mostly affordable tiles mixed in with some high-end tiles as accent pieces.

Decorating your kitchen may be a struggle at first glance. After all, it may seem like an expensive and time-consuming task to rip out all built-in features in order to give your kitchen a refreshed and personalized look. However, you may be able to achieve great things from your efforts by simply focusing on the backsplash. Because tile offers so many benefits when used in this area of the home, it makes sense to begin examining tile styles available today.

Just about everyone has gotten an offer in the mail at some point about a credit card pre-approval. It’s natural to wonder if a card issuer deciding to pre-approve you will result in a hard inquiry on your credit report, as those can bring down your credit score a bit.

 

Fortunately, pre-approvals don’t put hard inquiries on your credit report or affect your score at all. Here’s what you need to know about them and the other common pre-screening option card issuers use, pre-qualifications.

 

How Pre-Approvals Work

 

Card issuers go through the consumer information to figure out which people could have a financial profile that fits certain credit cards of theirs. This consumer information is available thanks to the three major credit reporting agencies. They then send those people invitations to apply for cards in the form of pre-approvals. These pre-approval offers can sometimes have better deals than the card issuer’s typical signup offer that’s available to anyone. For example, a card may typically have 50,000 bonus points available as its signup offer, but a pre-approval could have a link to get 75,0000 bonus points on it.

 

Keep in mind that since the card issuer isn’t running a hard inquiry to check your credit, they can’t guarantee that you’ll be approved for the card. You could apply and receive a denial. The card issuer is simply extending an invitation for you to apply because it feels you have the right financial profile for that card.

 

Finding Other Card Options with a Pre-Qualification

 

If you’d like to see what credit cards you may be able to get with a card issuer, you can go to their website and look for a pre-qualification tool. You’ll need to provide some basic information to them, including your name and Social Security number. The card issuer will run a soft credit check on you, which doesn’t affect your score, and then show you the cards that you would most likely qualify for.

 

Like a pre-approval, a pre-qualification doesn’t guarantee approval for a card. It only shows you the cards that would likely fit your profile. You have a better chance of getting approved after a pre-qualification, but nothing is guaranteed until you actually apply.

 

Pre-approvals and pre-qualifications can both be helpful when you’re trying to figure out what credit cards to apply for, but they don’t tell you anything concrete. Pre-approvals are primarily useful because you could end up scoring a better signup bonus through them than you would have gotten otherwise, and pre-qualifications can give you an idea of what cards are an option with your current credit score.

Right now, you might enjoy attending services at your local church. If you are planning on moving or if you have just moved to a new place, however, you might not have another church in mind. You could be concerned that it will be hard for you to find a new church home, but it might be easier than you think if you follow these five tips.

1. Think About Your Preferred Denomination

For one thing, you will want to think about your preferred denomination for a church. If you are still a bit unsure about the different denominations and which one might be right for you, now can be a good time to do your research so that you can learn a little more about them. This can give you a starting point for choosing the perfect church.

2. Determine if You Have Any Service Preferences

Different people prefer different things when it comes to church services. Some people prefer more formal services, while others like for things to be more casual. This is a personal preference, but determining what you are looking for can make it easier for you to know that you have chosen the right church home when you find it.

3. Make a List

Once you have a few churches in mind that you think might be right for you, it’s a good idea to make a list. Then, you can try visiting the different churches on your list each week until you have found one that you are happy with. If you are more interested in some churches than others, you may want to put them at the top of the list so that you can visit them first.

4. Check Out Church Websites

Many churches have websites and even social media pages nowadays. If you check out these sites, you can learn a little more about each house of worship. This can help you get a better idea of what to expect and can help you determine whether or not a certain church might be right for you.

5. Call the Churches You’re Interested In

If you are interested in a certain church and have any questions, you should consider giving the church a call. Someone there should be more than happy to provide you with some guidance and to give you answers to your questions.

If you have recently moved or are in the midst of planning a move, one thing that you might be concerned about is finding a new church home. If you follow these tips, you might find that it’s easier than you thought to find a new church to attend.

Whether you live near a lake or plan on visiting one, there’s still plenty to do when the temperature dips. In fact, winter brings about fun activities that can’t be done when it’s not freezing outside. These are just four activities you can participate in when the air is cold and the lake is frozen.

Skate on the Frozen Lake

Before lacing up your skates, you’ll want to make sure that the ice is thick. You don’t want to end up falling into the freezing water and risking hypothermia. If you’re deep in the country, the authorities might not have any say in the places you skate. In some areas though, the lake will be tested for suitability before skaters are allowed on the ice. Learn about the area before you attempt to skate on ice that might not be thick enough. Ice skating on a frozen lake is much more exhilarating than ice skating in a rink. You should try it at least once in your life.

Climb Frozen Waterfalls

In the winter, some lakes with waterfalls will completely freeze. The lake will freeze, but the waterfall will too. A frozen waterfall is stunning to look at with it’s long sheets of blue and white ice. Many people make a sport out of climbing a frozen waterfall. This activity can be a bit dangerous, but rock climbing has the potential to be dangerous anyway. Always have the right equipment and a buddy when climbing on slippery ice that could break at any moment.

Catch Fish Under the Ice

For this activity, you’ll need some equipment for fishing as well as a drill to get through the thick ice. Along with your equipment, you’ll need a way to drag it out onto the lake. A sled will work for carrying your equipment. You’ll need thick boots, winter clothing and a portable seat for the ice. Many people enjoy the solitude and action of ice fishing when the lake freezes over. If you’re a person who is enthusiastic about fishing, you have to try ice fishing.

Learn About Winter Forest Bathing

Hiking through the forest is much different than forest bathing. With a hike through the forest, you’re moving towards a destination. In forest bathing, you’re walking slow, touching the trees, smelling the fresh air and feeling the sunlight. This kind of walking in nature brings peace and relaxation. There’s an added dimension when you forest bathe in the winter.

Lake activities don’t have to end because it’s gotten cold. In the winter, there’s still plenty to do outdoors.

Coordinating your wedding gown to the theme of your wedding is an added touch that will make your special day memorable. Not only does this complete the theme, but it will also allow you to show off your creativity. What’s more? You can create a look that is truly unique to your individuality. Read on to find out how you can incorporate your wedding theme into the look of your wedding dress.

1. Existing Dress Styles:
Some themes translate really well into wedding dress styles that already exist. Even if you are looking for something specific, most bridal stores offer a wide selection of styles that can be transformed into the perfect dress with simple design modifications and the right accessories. For instance, a headpiece can transform a beaded sheath dress into the perfect look for a 1920s-inspired theme.

2.Color-Coordinated Embellishments:
Another way to incorporate your theme into your dress is to add embellishments that coordinate with some aspect of your theme. Consider coordinating decorative accents on your gown with your wedding color scheme. The Knot suggests simply adding a sash that matches your color scheme for an unexpected pop of color. Alternatively, you can also add a colored lining for a more subtle hint of color or colored lace appliques to match your colors.

3. Coordinate with Your Decor:
Coordinate your dress to your wedding decor for an unexpected tie-in. Huff Post shows us that wedding dresses do not have to be white — which suggests that opting for something non-white can help you introduce your theme. For instance, you might consider choosing a floral-pattern gown to coordinate with a floral theme for a spring wedding — tying in the colors of the pattern with your wedding decor.

4. Non-Wedding Gowns:
Alternatively, you can opt for something unexpected by choosing an unconventional gown that suits your theme. One option is to shop vintage dresses to modify into the appropriate style. Or you can choose something different all together — in the case of a New Year’s Eve wedding — a sequin gown will make for an excellent tie – in to your theme. Likewise, a sundress is perfect for a beach-themed wedding, as it is perfectly suited for the venue. To elevate the look of a simple sundress and you can pair it with a flower crown or other stand – out accessories.

Matching your gown to your theme is the perfect finishing touch to a wedding. You may choose to translate your theme into the style of the dress or through design aspects, such as color or decorative motifs. Consider creating an unforgettable bridal look by coordinating your gown with your theme.

Hiring a lawyer can be as important as hiring a doctor. Though taking on the right attorney won’t guarantee that the case will be won, it goes far in making sure that the lawyer and the client are comfortable with each other, understand each other and share the same goals when it comes to the case. The client should not be at all shy about asking an attorney a battery of questions. They should be written down so the client doesn’t forget them. Following are five essential questions a potential client should ask:

1. How long has the attorney been practicing?
This lets the client know something about the lawyer’s experience. Depending on the case, the client may opt for a lawyer with much experience in handling cases like theirs or a novice who is hungry and eager to take the case on.

2. Who is the lawyer’s average client?
This is important because some lawyers specialize in corporations or small businesses as opposed to individuals. When it comes to individuals, some lawyers work best with wealthier clients while others do their best work with clients who do not have lots of resources. The client may also want to ask how much of the lawyer’s business concerns practice areas such as:

• Family law
• Business and commercial law
• Personal injury law
• Criminal law

3. What are the attorney’s fees? 
The client should know whether or not they can afford the attorney they are interviewing. They should ask how they will be billed and what payment options are available to them. Some lawyers turn over aspects of their cases to their legal assistants or paralegals. In that case, the client should ask if the fees can be reduced.

4. How will the attorney and client communicate?
It is important that the attorney keep the client up-to-date on their case. It’s also important for the client to be able to reach the attorney or a member of their staff if they have questions or concerns. The lawyer should let the client know when and how they’ll be contacted and when and how the client can contact the lawyer’s office.

5. How many cases has the lawyer represented that are like the client’s case?
The attorney should honestly answer the client’s question when in comes to how many similar cases they’ve taken on and how many were won, lost or settled.

A list of questions is one of the criteria through which a client should select a lawyer. It is equally important for the client to have a positive reaction to the lawyer. The client will need to trust the lawyer over the course of the case. This will be difficult to do if the client does not feel comfortable with them or feels they are not competent.