How to Get Your Children Brand Free
How to Get Your Children Brand Free
Those of you that have children know what an excursion to the local mall or supermarket can be like. If you're not careful, this simple trip can easily become a wallet draining experience.How often have you heard:"I want Luchables because EVERYONE eats them at lunch!""Come on mom, these cool pants only cost $80.""Dad, everyone has a Playstation II, I need one too!""I need 2 sodas and 2 bags of chips everyday!"Certainly, we as parents want to make our children happy and not deprive them of a delightful childhood, but who's to say that you must give in to every one of your child's requests.Why must you work twenty overtime hours just so your son can have a new video gaming system? Why must your grocery bill be over $200 just so your children can have the latest cereal, ice-cream, snacks, candies, and sodas available?Truth About "Brand Names"Brand names cost money. Quite a bit of money. Especially when you add them up over time. The reasons these brands must charge more money is to cover their enormous advertising and marketing costs.Since children are constantly bombarded with advertisements on the television and amongst their peers at school, they are most likely going to ask you for these same products.No one really enjoys telling their children they can't have something they want, however looking at the bigger picture, what lesson are we teaching our kids if we simply give in to their every request? For one, they are not learning the value of money and the role it plays in our lives. Secondly, they are not learning about the importance of conservation and how to properly budget their money.Learning to budget and save money at an early age will really come in handy especially as they grow older, start driving, and get offered tempting pre-approved credit cards through the mail. If they are not careful and able to budget their money effectively, this new found freedom may drain all the money from their pockets.Teaching The Importance of ConservationNot only is this the perfect opportunity to get your children "Brand Free" and away from the expensive, trendy stuff, but it's also the perfect opportunity to teach them the value of money.Here's one way you can approach this.Explain to your children that the money you spend on clothes, food, toys, etc, depletes the amount you are able to save for future needs.Explain that starting today, only the NECESSITIES will be purchased. No more ice cream, chips, soda, candy, lunchables, except maybe on special occasions. Toys and games will need to be earned and will no longer be given away for free. Etc...For example, you could state that you will only be purchasing Cheerios (or another low priced cereal). If your children want to have Captain Crunch or Cookie Crisp, they will have to buy them using their own money.Same principal for their lunches. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, tuna fish, apples, oranges, carrots, and raisons. If they want Lunchables or some other type of non-nutritious fast food, they will have to buy it with their own money.Soon, you will have your child(ren) deciding "Is a Quarter Pounder Meal worth $4.50 out of my savings?" or "Do I really need that new video game that cost $50?".This "brand free" approach can be applied to all other shopping areas aside from the supermarket example.When you are shopping for clothes, ONLY buy the necessities. Ignore the most expensive and most popular items. Only buy what you, or the children, absolutely need, ignore all the rest.Regarding toys and games, you can make it so that your children ONLY get "free" toys on Christmas and their birthdays. If they want something additional, they must purchase the item with their own money.Taking These Ideas One Step FurtherOnce you have inspired your children to participate in this money saving, "brand free" lifestyle, it's time to MOTIVATE them to help increase their success.As with everything in life, having a goal to strive for greatly increases the probability of success.Goals help us stay focused on the task at hand. Goals help the individual strive for something tangible that's meaningful or important to them.A runner's goal may be to shave 10 seconds off their lap time. This runner will then practice, workout, and time themselves, striving to run a lap 10 seconds faster than before.In our "brand free" exercise, you may want to come up with a goal that you and your children can strive towards. For example, you could establish a short term goal that states, if your children can eat healthy and not ask for any "brand name stuff" for two months, you will take them to any movie they want to see.Here are some more ideas for the various goal ranges:Short Term: 1-3 months
picnic, trip to beach, movie of their choiceMedium Range: 3-8 months
new game, doll house, Chuck-E-Cheese tripLong Term: 8-12 months
Disneyland trip, Water Theme park, day at the carnivalSticking To Your PlanRegardless what your decide to implement, remember that this is your plan. You are the parent, so you decide what's best for your children. Don't take any negative remarks or any bad mouthing from your kids in regards to this new lifestyle. Stick with it!Just keep in mind that these exercises and lessons will benefit your children in the long run regardless of what they may think of it at the moment.Best wishes teaching your children to be "brand free" and money conscious.Gregory Thomas has been writing effective money-saving tips for SavingSecrets.com for over six years. Hop on over and you'll find FREE money-saving articles, a monthly newsletter, and even a FREE Ebook download just for stopping by! http://www.SavingSecrets.com
Using Cloth Nappies
Using Cloth Nappies
We all know that using cloth nappies is best for the environment and for our baby's health (not to mention our pockets) but just how easy are they to use?Here are answers to some common questions to help get you started.
Are cloth nappies easy to use?The short answer, is YES. The more useful response is to answer some common questions about real nappies.What do I do at change time?If the nappy is simply wet, all you need to do is take it off, throw the liner away (if disposable) and put the nappy and reusable liner in your nappy bucket instead of the bin.If the nappy is dirty, the poo can be flushed away down the loo (far more hygienic than putting it in the bin) and the nappy put in the bucket.Liquid poo can be washed off by holding the nappy under the flush of the loo before being dealt with in your normal way.Are they difficult to put on?Not at all. Shaped nappies or all-in-ones are the easiest to use and require no folding - simply put them on just as you would a disposable. Flat or terry nappies do need to be folded but the fantastic invention of the Nappi Nippa means that you don't have to use a pin.Will I have to do lots of washing?All families have lots of washing, so to add in a few nappies isn't really that much extra work. When you are ready to do a normal wash, simply take the nappies out of the bucket and put them in the washing machine, it is as simple as that.Putting nappies into a modern machine with its fast spin is a far cry from having to put them through the twin tub and mangle that your mother may have used.
Nappies can be washed at 60c and some people even use 40c with the odd hotter wash to keep the stains at bay.The best way to dry nappies is on the line with the rest of your washing (or on a radiator during the winter) but I like to fluff them by putting them in the dryer for 10 mins with the bath towels after taking them off the line.Will I get dirty putting them in the washing machine?No. The poo will have been disposed of, so you are only dealing with a little wee. If you wet pail (see below) you can use a mesh bag to store the nappies in, so you just need to pick that up and put it in the machine. Dry pailing is even easier to do.What is "pailing"?Basically, storing used nappies in a bucket. Wet pailing involves putting the nappies into a solution of water and nappy soak or similar or just plain water.Dry pailing is very easy - simply drop the used nappy into the bucket and replace the lid.Will my house smell?Only if you leave lots of dirty nappies hanging around for days. Just think of how your bin smells with a couple day's worth of dirty disposables in it. With real nappies, the poo is flushed down the loo straight away, so you won't suffer from this problem. If you like, you can put a few drops of essential oil on a cloth that you keep on the top of the bucket to help with any smells.Won't all the washing powders harm the environment?Yes and no. Yes to the extent that all detergents cause some damage (this can be limited by using non-bio or eco-friendly products) but no to the extent that this is still much better than using disposable nappies.
Will I have to change more nappies?
Not really. Guidelines state that you should change your baby's nappy every 4 hours during the day (more often for new borns), so this remains the same.Won't my baby get nappy rash?Nappy rash is caused by bacteria in the poo reacting to the ammonia in wee. The best way to stop nappy rash is to change frequently (every 4 hours or so) and allow fresh air to get to the nappy area.The lock away core in disposable nappies encourages parents to change less often and their very design prevents air from circulating. Most designs of real nappy are breathable, allowing air to circulate, resulting in a healthier bottom.Will they leak?Not if they fit properly. A well fitting cloth nappy with wrap if appropriate is no more likely to leak than a disposable. It is a good idea to try a few sample kits to make sure you buy the right nappy for your baby.What about overnight?It is perfectly possible to use cloth nappies overnight, maybe with the addition of a cloth booster pad. Other parents opt for an eco-disposable overnight.What if I go out for the day?Many parents use real nappies even when they go out and just take a slightly bigger bag with them. Others have a stock of eco-disposables to use for day trips or when they go away.What is a nappy laundry services?A nappy laundry service will provide you with a set of nappies and collect and wash the dirty nappies. A real boon if you are pushed for time but can be a little more expensive than washing your own.Will I really save money?Yes. Figures vary, but you should expect to save over
Bless Your Child With The Name
Bless Your Child With The Name
What a dreamer I am when thinking about parenthood. Most of the time, I do this without knowing to whom my heart will belong and who will share that sacred responsibility. Even though, I am connected with the billions of souls that have always faced the stars at night to decide on what would be the perfect name for our not-yet-conceived little angels"If is a boy? I'll name him?; or if is a girl? I'll name her?" And yes, it is far more important to ask the spirits for the baby to come healthy, but at least our children should have the right to know when people outside the family are referring to them.Although I've heard some funny names, I am not in a position to say that any parent wasn't serious enough. On the contrary, I prefer to forward some ideas to socially bless your angels forever.Start with the starsAstrology gives each newborn the beginning and end dates of the twelve Sun signs. Originally referred to as Star Sign, a Sun Sign represents the Zodiac Sign that the Sun is in at the time of birth. The Sun rules willpower and ego, that is: who you are and what you are about.Now if you are gratefully expecting ? and men also are part of this experience -, then you may start reading the birth chart with the Eighth House, where conception begins. During the nine months of pregnancy, the cycle travels from the beginning of the Eighth House to the ascendant, which represents the moment of birth, the baby's first breath. Using this method, the First House represents babyhood, the next house represents childhood, the next one is the teen years, and so on.PersonalityMany elements may form our children's personality, from our way of raising them to the experiences that they'll have to spirituality itself. But before you ask why little Prudence is picky; why Casey doesn't allow brothers to play with him; or why Alma 's apprenticeship takes too much, let me remind you that astrology plays a fundamental role here. For instance, the Zodiac Sun Sign calendar brings enlightenment even to the most uninformed mind. After reading it, there is a brief description on each Sun Sign and their influence on our baby's behavior.These are the dates that correspond to the Sun Sign for 2005. Realize that the dates can vary from year to year.March 21 ? April 19 Aries
April 20 ? May 20 Taurus
May 21 ? June 21 Gemini
June 22 - July 22 Cancer
July 23 ? August 22 Leo
August 23 ? September 22 Virgo
September 23 ? October 22 Libra
October 23 ? November 21 Scorpio
November 22 ? December 21 Sagittarius
December 22 - January 19 Capricorn
January 20 ? February 18 Aquarius
February 19 ? March 20 Pisces Aries : Spirits in the sky give this Fire Sign baby so much energy that parents must channel it with lot of love. Also, the Aries baby can be quite independent but enjoys interacting with others.Taurus : Playthings will be very important to this Earth Sign baby because it rules the second house (possessions), so parents should try to make him/her comfortable but grounded at the same time.Gemini : Will be curious, creative, the speaker of groups, but loving parents need to stimulate this Air Sign baby for him/her to be happy, as their character is mutable.Cancer : This Water Sign baby is very creative but also is all about feelings. He/she needs to feel protected and will easily pick up any bad vibes in the household.Leo : A totally determined force, this Fire Sign baby will be a leader. Parents will get loads of fun, but less of sleep in the meantime.Virgo : This Earth Sign tot doesn't require a lot to be happy. It's a perfectionist and happy to help others. Although it has a mutable character, it's a pretty good kid.Libra : Here could be the next lawyer or judge. This Air Sing baby displays its social and diplomat qualities when surrounded in groups.Scorpio : This is quite the manipulative little Water Sign tot, is also a bit mysterious, making it hard to figure out what's wrong when the crying starts.Sagittarius : Independent and free-spirited, this Fire Sign baby explores everything, whether it's a new toy or a new friend. Parents, be ready to have your house full of little friends.Capricorn : Rule by the Earth Sign, this tot will be creative and determined. They also understand things better as they get older and appreciate the merits of a reward system.Aquarius : The companionship of friends and others will be quite important to this Air Sign baby, even if they don't know how to demonstrate it. For that reason, this is a pattern of behavior that should be encouraged.Pisces : C hangeable in character, this Water Sign baby is a dreamer by nature and it benefits from an added dose of attention, whether it comes from parents or sibs.New Age Baby NamesI am happy to say that there are some New Age books and New Age sites with more than 20,000 names and combination of names for people to choose the way they want to bless their angels. Those names are derived from ancient cultures such as Native American, Gaelic, Anglicized, Swahili, Arabic, Native Hawaiian, Old Welch and Middle English. And there are different forms of building an original one through anagrams, telescoping, respelling and with the usage of numerology.Well, since I can't give you the thousands of names, I hope you like these Celtics spirited names for both boys and girls:Boys : Adair, Arthur, Blair, Blowen, Cameron, Darcy, Ewan, Ferris, Floyd, Gildas, Gwynham, Herne, Hoel, Keene, Kilian, Leigh, Lloyd, Maddox, Murdoch, Nelson, Nolan, Oskar, Owyn, Phelan, Quin, Rivalin, Roy, Sheridan, Sidwell, Tehague, Thrahern, Uchdryd, Vaughn, Wynne, and York.Girls : Aine, Arleta, Branwen, Bricta, Cara, Cordelia, Dana, Donella, Ethne, Erina, Fenella, Fiona, Ginessa, Gwynith, Ione, Isolda, Jennifer, Joyce, Keelia, Leslie, Lyonesse, Mavel, Morrigan, Neala, Olwyn, Oriana, Regan, Rowena, Ula, Una, Venetia, Wynnie, Yseult, and Zinerva.Alma De la Cruz, a staff mystic employed by http://www.psychicrealm.com, has a profound personal history where she has unabashedly delved deep into the heart of occult mysteries for an extensive period of her life. Her name literally means "Soul of the Cross" in Spanish. Currently she is working publishing a manuscript that delves into the mysteries of Hispanic new age beliefs incorporating old insights with new spiritual methodologies.Check out her bi weekly metaphysical column: http://www.newagenotebook.com where she takes a new twist, incorporating Latin shamanistic philosophies with leading edge occult beliefs.