October is an exciting time to go shopping. With Columbus Day Sales and autumn décor stocking the shelves, you’ll find this month brings plenty of temptation. However, if you’re trying to keep your budget in check, there are a few things that you won’t want to grab during the month of October. You might see slight discounts on some of these items, but none will compare to the amazing deals that you will see in the upcoming months. So, if you’re ready to enjoy this great month of shopping try to skip out on these ten items and you’re sure to save a bit of extra money.

1. Appliances
A lot of stores will tell you that now is the perfect time to shop for appliances. Both appliances big and small come out with the new editions this month, so you’ll see a lot of reduced prices on older models. You might even see a few sales on the new items when Columbus Day rolls around. However, you probably won’t see prices as low as you will on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This is one of the best time to shop for any form of appliance as the prices will be set to move. You may even want to stock up on some smaller appliances to give away during the holidays, graduation season and weddings.

2. Candy
You are probably already seeing a ton of Halloween candy on the shelves in your favorite department stores. Although these prices look pretty good, particularly since they’re in bulk, you will find better deals on them soon enough. As a matter of fact, as soon as Halloween is over you will find the prices of the candy are slashed. The longer you wait to buy the candies the more you will save too as stores will want this item off of their shelves as soon as possible. If you live in an area that gets a lot of trick or treaters, then buying a bulk bag is your best option. However, if you’re shopping for yourself then wait to buy the candy of your dreams until the days following Halloween.

3. Electronics
October tends to be a popular period for new releases. It is pretty tempting to go out and buy a new item as soon as it hits the store, but this can be a bad call for your finances. As you know, Black Friday is just a few weeks away, so you might want to hold out until those deals arrive. You might consider at least waiting until you find out what some of the Black Friday deals are going to be. When it comes to items like TVs, laptops and consoles, you will certainly want to wait for these sales if you want to save a bundle. Of course, you will also have good luck on TVs in the month of January when the Super Bowl rolls around. Older Xbox Ones might also see reduced prices too, but you still may end up finding the best deal on the biggest shopping day of the year.

4. Toys
You might think that now is the best time to get a jump start on your holiday shopping for the kids in your life. However, if you can hold off on shopping for now you should. Toys usually are a higher price during this time, especially since many companies are releasing their hot toy list during the month of October. Since the list is coming out, many people want to flock to the stores so they don’t have to worry about missing out on the toy that their child wants. However, your best bet is to actually wait until December to shop for the toys you want. As long as you shop early enough, you shouldn’t have to worry about missing out on the item. If you do happen to miss out, then you will be surprised to find that many toys are discounted in January when a whole new line of toys come out.

5. Cleaning Gear
October might not seem like the season for cleaning, but a lot of people really love to give their home a good scrub down before the really cold months set in. If you’re in the market for items like a vacuum cleaner, steam cleaner and other important cleaning items then you might want to hold out until next month to get your heavy-duty cleaning finished. Usually, you can find these items at a great discount when the holiday sales begin. If you can hold off until Black Friday then you might be in store for even more savings than you can imagine. Of course, if you don’t really need a new cleaning item right now then try to hold off until the spring to buy your item. Spring cleaning brings lots of sales that are hard to resist.

6. Gift cards
The month of October really isn’t the best time to stock up on gift cards for the holiday season. There simply aren’t a whole lot of deals for gift cards during this time of the year. If you can hold out until November and December then you will find an assortment of good options when it comes to gift cards. For starters, many stores will offer free gift cards when you purchase a certain amount of items. Some will even offer a small gift card for purchasing gift cards which will give you more bank for your money. Many stores will even offer freebie when you buy a gift card from their store. For instance, some restaurants will give a free meal with the purchase of a gift card. Of course, if you are looking for gift cards for yourself then there are many websites that sell unused gift cards. These are usually best to check out after the holidays as many people sell their unwanted gift cards then.

7. Boots
If you love a good pair of boots then October simply isn’t the time to satisfy your urge. Of course, if you need the boots for work then you should also hold off if you possibly can. The month of November is one of the best times to grab a wide variety of boots. For instance, Justin Boots usually hosts a huge sale for Black Friday, which will allow you to pick out an assortment of fashion and work boots that will suit you all year long. If you don’t mind shopping for boots online then you should be able to find a whole lot of clearance boots from the summer months. These should still keep you warm in the winter and will protect your feet.

8. Tools
It’s about to be too cold to head outside and work with wood or other supplies. You might think that this is the perfect time to grab some tools to boost your collection or to purchase for the holiday months. However, prices tend to be a bi high during this month. If you want to shop for tools for the holiday then December is the best time to do it. There will be a lot of holiday gift sets for sale that should help satisfy lots of tool fanatics. You can also wait until the end of June when all of the Father’s Day items go one sale. With a little patience, you can stock your tool shed, which will make your budget a lot happier.

9. Perfume
Since the weather is beginning to cool down, you might feel like now is the perfect time to buy a perfume that suits the weather. However, your best option is to wait until November or December. During this time, a lot of stores will be releasing sets that will give you a lot more product for your money. These are also great gift options. The perfume collections will feature new products as well as old classics, which are perfect for everyone on your list. You may even find yourself a little something. With lotion, perfume and the other accessories that are added to these sets, you shouldn’t have to buy perfume for quite some time, which will save you even more money. If you’re not sure what you want in a perfume then there will also be a lot of great sample packs to choose from during this time, which might help you find the scent of your dreams.

10. Halloween decorations
It is very tempting to purchase all of the cool Halloween supplies that began to grace the shelves of local department stores in August. However, if you want to save some money then hold out as long as you can. All of these items, including lights and technological décor, will go on sale as soon as Halloween is over. You will find huge savings on these items that can be used to create the perfect haunted house next year. You might even be able to find amazing savings on some storage bins to help you properly store your items.

There are many exciting things to shop for in the month of October, but there are plenty of things you should avoid too. Luckily, if you have these ten items on your shopping list, you won’t have to wait long until you find the perfect price cut for you. With the busy shopping season coming up, you’re sure to be pleased with the savings on items you skipped this month.

It is finally time to welcome autumn to the year, which means lots of cozy nights and plenty of celebrations. The autumn equinox is September 22, so if you’re not sure what to do to celebrate the season, then these ten ideas are for you. Luckily, these tips won’t cost you a handful, so you can put back money for the upcoming spending season. With any luck, you will have a blast celebrating such a beautiful time, which will allow you to truly feel the magic of the season. Whether you’re celebrating the pagan holiday, or you just enjoy Mother Nature’s charm, these ten ideas will help you recover after such a hot summer.

1. Clean
Just like in the spring, it is a great idea to give your home a good cleaning at the beginning of autumn. Cleaning will help give you a chance to prep for the long winter weather, when you might not be able to do as much. You should go through your clothing, your garage, and anything else that might be not donated or tossed out before it is too difficult to do so. Donating winter clothes in the autumn can be crucial for those in need too, as it will give people time to pick up donations or purchase them from charity shops. Cleaning the home will also allow you to give the home a good scrub down before you have relatives in and out of the home for the holiday season. Of course, it is also great for making sure anything that needs maintenance can be handled before the snow sets in. This can save you a lot of money and stress, while making the cold months a lot easier to handle.

2. Visit a Farm
One of the best things about the autumn months is there are a lot of farms that open up to the public. Some farms do charge a small fee, while others only charge if you end up picking produce from their farm. A lot of the time farms will create a lot of fun activities to help lure people to their farm. For starters, you may be able to enjoy a corn maze, hay ride or even bouncy toys for the kids, when you visit one of these farms. Of course, a lot of the appeal is the produce you can gather. Autumn is the perfect time for pumpkins and apples, which is usually the most popular attractions. However, you can also find wide varieties of squash and many berries. You might even have the chance to get your picture taken in the pumpkin patch or orchards, which create great greeting cards.

3. Preserve Food
There are a lot of great foods about to become scarce, so you might want to stock up on them. Any summer fruits and vegetables that you can’t live without, but don’t want to pay the high price for should be bought in bulk. Once you have them, cut them up and freeze them. You can even precook them to make them a breeze to add to dinner on a busy day. You may also want to start grabbing autumn produce while it is cheap. You can begin to can these items to help them last all year long. It could even work out in your favor to start creating jams for holiday gifts, or preserving pie filling so you can bake your favorite items in no time at all. Pickling is also a lot of fun during this season, especially since you can still get asparagus, cucumbers and green beans at a cheap price.

4. Create Decor
With autumn comes a lot of holidays that will soon be barreling their way through your scheduling. This makes the autumn equinox the perfect time to hunker down and work on some decor for the home. You might want to start with autumn decor, as you can pick out leaves and other natural items cheaply to do so. There are also many crafts that you can do with pumpkins and other gourds. If you already have enough autumn decor to work with, then it is never too early to start on Halloween items. You can easily find crafting supplies for cheap to help make your home the scariest in the neighborhood. Apart from that, you can easily begin to work on Thanksgiving decor, particularly when it comes to a centerpiece for your table and other items used to make guests feel comfortable. If autumn decor isn’t your thing then use a rainy day to start on winter holiday decor. This can even give you time to get a jump start on holiday gifts.

5. Sign Up for Activities
Autumn is usually a time when most families have a lot of activities going on. With school back in session, it is easy to fall back into the swing of a busy schedule. So, sit down with the whole family and see what activities you will be doing during the season. There are many sports beginning during this period, particularly football, cheerleading and hockey. However, most schools will also offer other sports to give students more of a variety. Band, music lessons, art clubs and other academic clubs are also very popular. Some people would prefer to pour more work into their hobbies during this time period, so you might want to check out activities for these items. Other than that, there is always a lot of volunteer programs to sign up for in the autumn. Soup kitchens can always use a helping hand, but there are also programs like Habitat for Humanity that are working hard during this season to get people in homes before winter arrives. You can even keep things simple by signing up to run a Halloween costume drive for underprivileged kids. No matter what you choose, have fun with it.

6. Visit a Festival
One of the best things about autumn is the numerous festivals that pop up. There’s plenty dedicated to apples, corn and more. Of course, there are even festivals that are just for fun. You can catch live music at these as well as plenty of rides, games and seasonal foods. You may even find a maze to help enjoy yourself. Usually, these festivals don’t cost a lot of money and are family friendly so you can let every member of your family find something to keep them entertained. These festivals can even be holiday specific. For instance, you might find a spooky Halloween festival to suit the mood. Keep your eyes peeled for local announcements as this can help you plan accordingly.

7. Planting
A lot of people tend to associate planting with the spring and summer months, but autumn is also a great month to plant a wide variety of things. Autumn produce is in abundance during this time, so you may take pleasure in planting gourds, carrots, cabbage, broccoli and so much more. This will help you create your family’s menu based on the healthy and delicious foods you grow in the garden. Of course, you don’t have to plant for autumn alone. If you place bulbs or seedlings for trees in the ground down, you will certainly have a surprise in the spring without having to do a lot of work.

8. Fashion Show
It’s a given, when the weather cools down, it’s time to try on all of the clothes we’ve put away for the season. Usually, this chore isn’t a family favorite, but you can turn the tedious task into something fun. A fashion show is a great way to do this. Have everyone try on clothing from last year and show off what fits in a fun way. They don’t have to keep the show classic either. As a matter of fact, you can introduce a silly segment or a sophisticated walk to the mix. This will help everyone enjoy looking at their old clothes. It will also give kids a chance to check out all of the new hand-me-downs they will receive.

9. Redecorate
It is human nature to want to create a comfortable home that reflects what is happening around us. So, it might be time to pack away the beach friendly decor and bring out some warmer items. This can easily be accomplished without forcing you to spend a fortune though. For instance, you can frame pictures of beautiful fallen leaves to help create a rustic and creative vibe in the home. You might also consider swapping out living room pillows, dish towels and other items to reflect a warmer design. There’s plenty of ways to warm up your home, so browse around for ideas that strike your fancy and make your budget sing with happiness.

10. Enjoy the Kitchen
With autumn comes cooler temperatures, which often means using the heater to warm things up. You can cut down on your bill by spending more time in the kitchen though. For starters, you might consider baking a few new things. The delicious food will warm the heart of your family while the oven will warm up your home. You might also consider some delicious and heartier meals that may have been passed down from generation to generation. Of course, you can always channel that Pinterest list you’ve been building too. Autumn is the time for many holidays, so you may consider making holiday treats such as candy or caramel apples to liven up the taste buds of your family.

Autumn can be a great time to find celebrations everywhere you look. With the upcoming autumn equinox coming, you may want to look for one of these ten ways to help invite in the autumn season and say goodbye to summer. These tips will keep your budget secure, while allowing you and your loved ones to have some much-needed fun.

If you’re watching the changes that are happening in the world, then you may want to do your part to get keep things back on track. One of the ways that you can help is to work to save the bees. Bees have been villainized for many years, but truthfully, they are one of the major players in the health of the world. Without them, we can say goodbye to many plants and flowers, which can put an end to a wide variety of foods and lessen the oxygen in the air. There’s a lot of options to help bees thrive again though and many won’t cost a lot of money or even too much time. These ten ideas are a great way to give back to the bees that help keep our world working like a well-oiled machine, so you can make this National Bee Month one to talk about.

1. Plant Flowers
If you want to treat the bees right, one of the best things you can do is plant a lot of flowers on your property. Flowers attract bees because bees feed on their nectar. Thus, having a safe place to feed can ensure bees can boost their population once again. You might also find that as your flowers grow they may even spread to create a more beautiful setting for your home. There are several flowers that attract bees, so look around to see if you favor any of them. Most of these flowers will cost mere scents to grow from seeds, so you will get a whole lot out of the process for next to nothing out of pocket. Some bee friendly weeds, like dandelions look great in the yard and grow naturally. So, you can attract the bees without these without putting in any extra effort.

2. Consider a Water Fountain
Like any living creature, bees need a place to stop and drink while they do their work. Having a fountain can make your property a safe space for them if you have something like this. You don’t even have to have to water fountain specifically for bees. For instance, you can set out a decorative bird bath that will be inviting to the bees. However, this could compromise their safety if you do have birds that frequent it. Another option is to set up small areas within your garden. As long as the bees can have access to a small basin of water, you will be helping them out immensely. Doing this can also help out animals that might not have other sources of water, which is especially important in the summer months.

3. Ditch the Lawn
For some time now, many Americans have prided themselves on having a lawn. Usually, this consists of a large area of just grass in the front and/or back of the home. Although lawns add a tidy look to the home, you can do a whole lot more with your land that might show off your individuality and creativity. One of the worst things about lawns, apart from mowing them, is they are horrible for bees. There is actually nothing for a bee to feed on and water isn’t common unless the lawn has just been watered. This can cause bees to have to leave many areas, which means lots of flowers and other plants won’t get pollinated. This can be a major problem if this happens frequently. So, do yourself and the bees a favor by planting more than just grass in your front and backyard.

4. Skip Pesticides
Keeping a garden is great for bees. In fact, it is one of the best things you can do for the bees and your own personal health. However, using pesticides to keep bugs away from your garden won’t do you or your bee friends any favors. Obviously, pesticides are going to kill bees. They are also harmful to human beings. So, instead of grabbing the Round Up, try a more natural solution to the bugs that are giving your garden a hard time. For example, you can keep away snails with beer. Other bugs can be detoured with vinegar and other natural items commonly found in the home. Ask your favorite gardener for some tips or look online to see how you can target the pests in your garden naturally.

5. Buy Local/Raw Honey
Bees are mostly appreciated for one thing. That is, their honey. It’s hard to live without this sweet treat. So, if you’re a honey fan, do the bees in your neck of the woods a favor by buying local or raw honey. You can usually find this type of honey at farmer’s markets. However, some grocery stores will sell raw honey. The only downside to shopping for these items is they tend to cost a bit more than the honey you would buy in grocery stores. You have to consider what is in grocery store honey though. Usually, it is mixed with a variety of preservatives, artificial sweeteners and other fillers that stretch the honey further. This isn’t necessarily good for you. Local and raw honey is actually great for your body and can even be used to help with allergies. This honey makes a great alternative for sweeteners too, so you can cut back on other items that aren’t good for the body. When you purchase honey like this, you are usually supporting the hive itself, so bee keepers can do everything in their power to keep the bees going strong.

6. BEE-SAFE Certification
If you love to be a part of a group, then you might want to check out the BEE-Safe certification program. This program is simple to get into and basically asks you to take a pledge to help the bees. You will be given a list of ways you can help the bees and things that you should stop doing that cause bees harm. The best thing is, it doesn’t matter if you’re an individual, company or school, as the program is open to all. You may even want to see if your children’s school would like to join the program, so you can further the knowledge needed to help keep bees alive and thriving.

7. Sponsor a Hive
If you live in a city, can’t have a garden, or find it impossible to do your part, then you might want to consider sponsoring a hive. The honey business can be a pricey one, especially since many people don’t want to become beekeepers. By sponsoring a hive, you are working to help keep a hive thriving. This will allow beekeepers all over the country and maybe even the world to do their part to keep their small group of bees safe and surrounded by the things they need to pollinate and create honey. Sponsoring a hive doesn’t take a lot of money either. There are many programs that do this too, so you might want to do a little research to see which program suits you.

8. Shop Wisely
In this day and age, being a consumer can be pretty tough. There are so many items that we are supposed to avoid if we want to do our part to end child labor, pollution and other major ethic issues. So, one of the best things we can do is educate ourselves to know which companies do good in the world. There are actually quite a few that work to help the bees. Burt’s Bee for instance is a great natural company that keeps bees. They produce everything from soaps to clothing. One of their most popular items is lip balm which is made from beeswax. Cheerios is another widely popular company that sells a wide variety of cereal. The best thing about Cheerios is they help keep you healthy and full, so you can get more than your money’s worth. There are many other companies out there that work to help bees safely complete their important work.

9. Have Your Own Hive
If you have your own land and would like to keep your own bees then you might want to look into starting your own hive. There are actually courses you can take to learn how to start and care for your own bee hive. Of course, this is one of the priciest ways to help the bees. You will need plenty of special equipment to take care of them and to protect yourself from any potential stings. Courses might also take a bit of money. However, if you’re willing to put in the money and the work then this can be a very valuable experience. You may even be able to make a profit from your homegrown honey or use the wax for crafts you can sell. Of course, make sure to keep in mind your city’s regulations and your neighbors before you begin on this investment.

10. Educate Yourself
One of the most important things you can do to help the bees is educate yourself. Knowing about bees and the myths that surround them can help you set the records straight when you have people trying to kill bees because of these myths. It will also give you the knowledge you need to protect them. Understanding how to preserve a habitat for bees and how to protect them is crucial in the upcoming years. As bees begin to die out, the world as we know it will shortly follow. So, look up as much as you can and share the knowledge. There are a lot of wonderful documentariesto watch on the subject, so have fun becoming a bee expert!

Keeping the bees safe is mandatory for the survival of the world. So, this National Bee Month do your part to help the bee population grow back to a healthy number. With a little extra work from everyone, we can help others understand that having bees is something we need to maintain our beautiful planet.

If you’re most of the United States, you probably had a scare a few days ago that left you wondering how you can protect yourself in a time with so many hackers and leaked information. There are a lot of expensive options to remedy this problem, but there are also a lot of cheap options too. You don’t have to feel pressured into signing up for pricey services just to put your mind at ease though. These ten options should help you feel more satisfied with your personal security, so you can sweat a little less over the Equifax breach or anything else that comes along. With any luck, you’ll feel more empowered over your information.

1. Keep Track of Spending
One of the most important things you can do to protect yourself when there is a breach, or even when there is not, is to keep track of the money you spend. Knowing what you are putting out into the world will help you know if someone has been spending your hard-earned money. You may only notice a small charge at first, as some people love to test the waters before spending other’s money. If you let this slip then it could escalate to huge charges. So, monitor your spending carefully and contact your bank if you see anything fishy on your account. Most banks will allow you to put in a dispute, so you can get your money back and put an end to the fraudulent charges. You may even help them find the person who is stealing from others.

2. Bank Protection
Your bank can be a huge asset when it comes to protecting you from people who want to steal your money and your identity. If you have a debit card or a credit card through your bank then make sure you know their policies for fraudulent charges. Most banks offer this as a free service and will even launch an investigation when something goes wrong. Other banks will still offer the service at a reasonable price. Your bank can also offer a wide variety of other services. For instance, if they feel like you aren’t the person spending your money, then they can instantly freeze your card to help stop a criminal in their tracks. This will prevent you from the hassle of putting in claims to have your money returned. It will also immediately provide you with a different card, so you can carry on using your money. This will force the old card to pop up as stolen, which will help lead officials to the person of interest. Many banks offer even more services, so make sure to ask to see what you qualify for.

3. Credit Monitoring
These days, most people subscribe to some form of credit monitoring, which can be a huge asset when it comes to monitoring your personal information. Some websites will charge you to keep track of your credit, but there are many websites that will do it for nothing. It is important to do some research on these websites though, before you put in your social security number. Monitoring your credit can be the first defense when it comes to stolen information. Your credit will take a hit if any new credit cards are opened as well as any other line of credit. You will also be able to find out if you are defaulting on lines of credit that you might not know about. This will help you take further steps to build you credit back up and stop those who are using your information.

4. Minimize Credit Card Use
Credit cards are the perfect asset when an emergency arises. However, you don’t need to have them on you at all times. Carrying around all of your credit cards makes it physically possible for thieves to take off with your information in a hurry. If you lose your wallet or if a pick pocket takes off with it, then you will probably have hours before you realize your cards are compromised. A lot of damage can be done in this time. By leaving the cards at home, you won’t put yourself at risk. If you do need a credit card then only take one with you to eliminate the number of cards you have to deal with. The same can be said when it comes to online shopping. Don’t save your cards on websites as all a thief needs to do is hack your account to get access to your numbers and to easily go on a shopping spree.

5. Freeze Credit
The moment that you feel your card has been compromised, it is important to hop on the phone and freeze your account. This will stop anyone from making any charges that aren’t authorized by you. Freezing your card is the best thing to do if your card goes missing or you feel someone may have your card numbers. This is especially important with so many phone scams that can trick you into believing your giving your number to a trusted source. By freezing your card, you’re saving your credit and working towards preventing identity theft. Most banks and companies won’t charge you to free your card, so make sure you do it as soon as possible if you feel you need to.

6. Ditch the Signature
One of the best things you can do is not sign the back of your credit and debit cards. Places of business are not supposed to process your card without seeing a form of signature. So, by leaving it blank you are forcing them to double check the card before they put through the transaction. You can also write SEE ID on the signature panel, so you know you’re being checked for ID every time you use your card. Although this may be inconvenient, it can stop a thief in their tracks. It will also prevent your signature from being stolen by thieves who may use it to try to sign other things in order to use more of your credit line.

7. Shred Documents
Although cyber crime is one of the biggest stressors when it comes to theft, there are still old fashioned thieves who aren’t afraid to go through your trash. So, it is important that you shred the documents you throw in the trash or recycle. A shredder doesn’t cost a lot of money and can save you thousands in the long run. It is important to shred any document that has financial information on it, particularly when it comes to your bank account or credit card account numbers. You shouldn’t take any chances with letting people learn your name and address too. Luckily, shredding only takes a few seconds to do and will secure your personal information every time you empty the shredding bin.

8. Password Everything
If you haven’t already, make sure you add a password to anything that can possibly have one. Everything from your phone, computer to accounts on websites should be clad with a password that will leave even your closest friends and family stumped. These days, passwords need to be created with a mixture of capital and lowercase letters, as well as numbers and symbols. You should change your password frequently and never leave it written down somewhere where someone can find it. You should also never save your passwords in word documents on your computer or phone. Try not to save passwords on websites either as this can give people access to your accounts if they enter your phone or computer.

9. Be Inquisitive
You can’t simply trust a phone call or email anymore, especially when someone is inquiring about your personal information. You should always be inquisitive with anyone who is trying to assist you with an account. For starters, you should never get a phone call or email asking for your full social security number. If the person on the line does this immediately hang up the phone. If someone is curious about your account details then ask if you can call them back on their extension. If they do not allow you to then hang up. If they do give you a number, run it through a search engine and check it out on the company’s official website. If the number pops up as a scam or doesn’t match with the company’s number then don’t give them the time of day. Calls made to you are especially dangerous, so don’t be caught off guard if someone calls you with bad news about your account. Simply make sure to ask questions and be alert. The same can be said of emails. Companies should never ask for personal information via an email. You will also never see an email from an official company with a link in it. Most companies now have advanced emails, which offer html coding to ensure you can get the information you need. You can always double check an email address to make sure it is coming from the correct company.

10. Know Rights
With the recent Equifax breach, you may be wondering what your actual rights are when something like this happens. Most people quickly sign up for anything the company tells them to in order to help safeguard their information. This can be a huge problem though as these companies are often trying to keep themselves out of as much trouble as possible. For instance, the recent breach led people to sign up for monitoring which takes the company off of the hook. So, before you sign up for anything designed to help you with identity and credit, make sure you completely read and understand the Terms of Service.

Keeping yourself safe in a digital world can be tough. These ten tips should give you a jump start on monitoring your credit and identity just in case someone has access to your information. With any luck, you’ll never have to deal with a problem, but if you do these steps should help you be prepared.

Over the last few weeks, the world has experienced a lot of natural disasters that have left many devastated. From fires in the west to flooding in the east, there seems to be so much going on that it is hard for relief workers to catch up. Even abroad, there have been record breaking floods that have left thousands homeless. If you are looking for ways to help out with this terrible situation, but you’re on a budget, then you might not know where to even start. There’s actually quite a few things you can do that won’t leave you hurting, but will still help those in need. So, you don’t have to sit idly by if you’re not sure what to do, because these ten tips will help guide you to make a difference.

1. Volunteer
One of the best ways to make a difference in the world is to volunteer. If you live close to the fires and flooding then this is a lot easier to do. Try passing out water, feeding stray animals or even passing out some of your old clothes to victims. You can also join volunteer groups if you want to do harder tasks, like rescuing people that are stranded. Try not to put yourself into danger unless you are with a certified group, as they will have the know how to keep you safe. Some groups like FEMA are taking as many volunteers as they can find to help out with relief efforts. You might also want to volunteer at a hospital or animal shelter to help the overburdened staff. No matter what you do, make sure you follow all the safety guidelines as many people have already lost their lives while helping out others.

2. Go Through Closets
There’s no doubt about it, most of us have an abundance of items that others could use right now. Some people have lost all of their worldly possessions, so helping them out with some clothes is going to be a great way to make a difference. Go through your closet and get rid of clothes you don’t wear and that don’t fit. You might even throw in some extras just to help out more people. The clothes are going to be the biggest necessity now. However, if you want to go through your garage and find items that aren’t used, they will come in handy later. People will need appliances, tools, storage bins and more to help rebuild the life they once had. These donations can be given to special organizations that will transport them. You can also give them to local charities that plan on taking donations to affected areas.

3. Purchase Food and Water
It doesn’t matter what type of disaster you’re providing relief for, this can be one of the most important things to offer to victims. Most water supplies will be contaminated from a disaster, so thousands of people will go without clean drinking water for days to weeks. This is incredibly dangerous, which is why it is important that people send bottled water to the location to help keep people hydrated and alive. Usually, people will stock up on as much water as possible, but stores won’t carry near the supply that they will need. This often causes many to go without. Food is another important thing to donate. Canned goods are definitely a must, especially when relief work has begun and people are making their way back into their homes. However, during the initial emergency many relief groups were requesting handheld foods like granola bars to help keep people going in the shelters.

4. Extend Invitations
Another important option is to help out those in your inner circle. If you have family, extended relatives, friends or even just classmates in the danger zone, make sure to extend an invitation to your home. Some people don’t evacuate an area because they feel as if they have no place to go. With so many people in the country, it would be easy to take in those that you know to help relieve the population of the shelters set up. Of course, if you’re not comfortable with asking some people don’t. If you’re worried about space, there’s lots of great ways to save on space in the home while fitting in more people. Chances are, you won’t be hosting for long.

5. Host a Fundraiser
You don’t have to give away your own money to make a difference, especially if you don’t have a lot to spare. One way to help those in need is to work up a fundraiser. You can ask schools or businesses to help out too, which should help you get more of a turn out. A fundraiser can be a variety of things. You can set up games that people pay to play. Or, you can ask people to donate used goods for you to raffle off or hold an auction. The money you earn from these can all go to charity or directly to a family in need. There’s an abundance of fundraiser ideas to work with, so look around and see what suits your needs and planning abilities. Your community should be able to come up with a few options too, so make sure to work as a leader to help make your town a big help to those in need.

6. Give Blood
Whenever there is an emergency, one of the first things you can do to help out is head to your local hospital and donate blood. Often, there are so many injuries that hospitals run out of a blood supply and have to quickly have more flown in. To have the blood ready to go will help save more lives than you can imagine. Your local hospital should help you find the proper place to donate your blood, so you shouldn’t have to go too far. You may even get paid for your efforts, depending on where you live. Some blood types are needed more than others, so you might want to check into this to see if your blood type is frequently needed. Of course, you don’t have to wait on an emergency to occur to donate your blood. Blood supplies are needed on a daily basis, so offering yours on a regular schedule can help save a lot of lives over time.

7. Be Prepared
Of course, if you are in the wake of a storm or you may be hit by a storm or its aftermath in the future, the best thing you can do is prepare yourself. Make sure you have a good food and water supply well before an announcement comes that you will need to prep. By that point, everyone else will be at the store and the supply may not be there. You will also want to have a proper first aid kit handy. Generators can be very useful in a storm too. You should also keep your windows boarded up if there is going to be strong winds. Having your family prepped and ready for the action will allow you to help out others later on. Whether it’s helping out with food or water or allowing you to clean up the neighborhood, your prepping abilities will take you far.

8. Adopt a Pet
Unfortunately, animals are heavily affected by storms and other disasters. Many have been left homeless or taken from their previous owners. Numerous families left their pets behind during the storm, which means animal shelters are filling up fast as people swoop in to rescue them from sudden death. Of course, there are also many stray animals that didn’t have a home to seek refuge in during the storm. All of these pets will need a loving home and fast. If you can, put in to adopt a pet from this area so you can provide some relief to the shelters. Many shelters will more than likely waive the adoption fee if you can pick the animal up. You might also consider bringing a bag of pet food to help out the other animals while they look for new homes too. If you can’t adopt, then you might want to offer to foster these pets until they can find their owners or a new home. This will allow them a safe environment that can help relieve their stress from the disaster they just faced.

9. Donate Money
Another way people like to help out is to donate money. You don’t have to give a lot to make a difference as even chunk change adds up if enough people offer it. Many stores will offer you the ability to donate a dollar or more when you make a purchase through them. Of course, you will also see popular websites asking for donations. You should be careful where you donate your money to though. Some charities only use a fraction of the money you give to help others, while the rest of the money goes to pay for high salaried CEOs. There are lots of great websites that can help direct to you to an appropriate charity, so you’ll know your money is going to a good place.

10. Listen
If you’re not able to help in these ways, you may use your ability to listen to help. Try opening up to family and friends who may have experienced the disaster. This will help them vent so they can work on the healing process faster. If you would like to make an even bigger difference then join a help line. There are websites online dedicated to helping those who are having trouble. You can work to help people find the assistance they need or simply listen to their stories. There are also phone lines dedicated to helping people out. So, if you’re a good listener, you may find your best asset is to work with those who need to get their stories off of their chests.

It is hard to see people suffering around the world. Luckily, there is many things we can do to help them out when crisis strike. These last few weeks have been frightening for many onlookers, but devastating to those experiencing such a tragedy. So, if you’re looking to lend a helping hand, you may want to try these frugal methods.

Grandparents play a major role in most people’s lives, which is why it is important to make them feel special. With Grandparents Day occurring on September 10, you might want to take some time to make your grandparents’ day or even week extra special. You don’t have to spend a small fortune to do this either. Your grandparents are certain to be pleased with many things that don’t require you to spend your hard earned money. So, whether you’re trying to please your own grandparents or helping your children please theirs’, these ten tips are sure to help you find frugal methods to do so.

1. Plan a Visit
If there is one thing that always brings a smile to your grandparents’ faces, it’s probably a visit that they didn’t have to ask for. Often, grandparents get overlooked and spend a lot of time alone, so a visit is just the ticket to show your appreciation to them. If your grandparents still live on their own then drop by to say hello and catch them up on your life. You might even do a few chores while you stop by. If they are living in a nursing home, then make sure to take some time to see them during visiting hours. You might also bring them something special to help brighten their room. If you can, vow to visit more often, so they don’t have to feel as lonely and they will know that you care about them.

2. Make Lunch
Feeding someone you care about is a great way to brighten their day and show them how much you love them. So, you might want to make a plan to do this for Grandparent’s Day. If you’re feeling ambitious, you might want to recreate one of the meals that you remember your grandparents making you in childhood. This will show them that you have fond memories of their part in your life. You can also find out their favorite foods and make a few of them. If you’re not much of a chef then pick up their favorite and set it up nice on the table, so you can share a family meal together.

3. Scrapbook
Most grandparents love looking at photos of their loved ones. In order to make their day special, you might want to show off some scrapbooking skills. Try to gather up photos from all of your family to help make the book more complete. Your grandparents will love seeing the memories you created with them while watching everyone grow up through the pictures. You can find cheap scrapbooking papers at most hobby stores. If you use a coupon you can save even more money on the project. Try not to use original pictures though as you will probably end up cutting into them. Instead, create cheap prints at your favorite department store or online.

4. DIY Handprints
If you have little ones in the home then you may want to make your grandparents an extra special treat. Creating handprint crafts is fairly simple and incredibly inexpensive. You can use your imagination for this craft too. If you’re on a tight budget then simply make a card using simple printer paper and washable paint. Children can turn their handprints into butterflies, dinosaurs or anything else that strikes their fancy. If you have old playdough in the home then you can press this into a flat shape and then have the child leave their handprint in it. After leaving it to dry, you should have a cute craft your grandparents will love. Of course, you can also buy kits that do the same thing, if you want to spend a little money. Although Christmas is some time away, you can create the perfect gift by having your children place their handprint on the ornament. You can decorate it as snowmen or simply leave the ornament as is. There’s many other ideas for this craft, so have a little fun with it as your grandparents are sure to love anything you come up with.

5. Memory Book
Grandparents love to hear stories from their grandchildren’s childhoods, particularly if they involve special memories they shared with them. So, this might be a gift that is right up your alley. You can start with a book that has a simple binding, which is a cinch to make yourself. Then add a wide variety of colorful pages. On each page, write down a memory that you are especially fond of. You can even add an illustration or a picture from the event. If you have siblings and/or cousins then you might ask them to contribute to. With a little effort, you can make your grandparents a gift that they will cherish for years to come. This book can also help fight Alzheimer’s disease, which can make it a rewarding gift to the whole family.

6. Treasure Box
If you want to take your gift up a level, then you can always create a treasure box for your grandparents. You can fill this box with anything from your childhood that reminds you of your grandparents. This can be trinkets that your grandparents might have given you, or even items you might have picked up from an event you went to with them. This can include anything from a rock to a crushed flower. You might also add in things that remind you of your grandparents. For instance, soaps that smell like your grandparents or even fabrics. This box will show them how you feel about them and will allow you to cherish the memories they gave you even more. Make sure to attach a small story to each piece though, so they can share in the sentiment.

7. Help Them Out
There’s no doubt about it, your grandparents could probably use some help around the house. This might be the perfect time to help them out. Find out what they need done ahead of time and plan the day to get as much done as possible. If you can, go back and finish up the rest. Try to do the jobs that will be tougher on them first. For instance, you may want to mow the lawn, clean the gutters or work on any other chore that requires endurance and strength. Of course, you can also do the tedious chores like vacuuming, dishes and laundry to ensure that they get a well deserved break.

8. Photography
Another great way to surprise your grandparents and show them you care is to offer them photo updates of the family. If you can, get everyone together and use your photography skills to take an update photo of everyone in the family. Try to get group shots of individual families, siblings, cousins and more. Then have the photos developed and placed in a book for your grandparents to admire. If you really want to impress them, then have some of the photos framed so they can update their photo walls. This is sure to bring a smile to their face and will allow them to brag to all of their friends about their growing family.

9. Card
If you like to keep things simple then you can always get your grandparents a card. This is a great gift if you live some distance from your grandparents too. You can easily make your own card to show off your creativity. This is especially great if you have children that want to show their grandparents some love. Of course, they also make a wide assortment of cards to choose from. You should be able to find the perfect card to match your grandparents’ personalities. Make sure to write a special message in the card to help them feel even more special. Of course, you might follow of the card with a phone call.

10. Award/Certificate
You know your grandparents are clearly the best in the world, so make sure they have something telling them they are. One of the ways to do this is to print out a special certificate with your grandparents’ details on it. To make the gift even more special place it in a frame and wrap it up for them. They will certainly be surprised to see such an amazing award in their honor. If you have children then they may want to make their grandparents a DIY trophy. This can easily be cut out of cardboard and decorated to suit their creativity. This is certain to please any grandparent and will make Grandparents’ Day a Success.

Grandparents play such an important role in childhood and sometimes even adulthood. These ten ideas will help you treat your grandparents to something special without breaking your bank. With these ideas, the smile on your grandparents’ faces is sure to make you feel even more grateful for them.

You might think that in 2017 there wouldn’t be a problem with literacy in the world or even your country. The reality is, there are way too many people that are illiterate despite the advances we’ve made in society. September 8 is World Literacy Day, which is the perfect time for you to make a stand to help make the world a more literate place. You don’t have to throw a lot of money into this though. There are actually many things you can do to lend a helping hand to help make illiteracy a thing of the past. If you’re not sure where to start, these ten ideas should point you in the right direction.

1. Read
It may not seem like much, but reading for yourself can help make a huge difference in the world. Today, not many people read, which has led to reduced funding in critical areas. Going to the store and buying a book or even checking one out at the library can help many people find the resources they need to learn to read or improve their literacy levels. Reading in public can also do a world of good. Since few people read now, it can spark the interest of someone that may not know how to read. Try to read in public whenever you can, especially if you’re commuting on public transit. If someone asks you questions about your book then feel free to answer. You never know who you will be giving inspiration to.

2. Read to Your Children
Children are the future, which is why introducing books into their lives at a young age is critical to their development. Beginning as early as 6 months, children should be read to on a daily basis. This helps them connect books with love and happiness. It also helps babies make connections with words that can help them later on in life. Showing children that books are beneficial are critical to helping them learn to read and continue reading into adulthood. This allows the next generation to take one giant leap against illiteracy before they can even walk. As your child grows, constantly encourage reading and provide incentives to make it a daily part of life.

3. Volunteer at Schools
A lot of schools simply don’t have the funding to dedicate to helping children fall in love with reading. Even still, some students fall behind in reading lessons which leaves them struggling in school for years to come. One of the best things you can do to help remedy this problem is volunteer your time. Younger children always benefit from being read too, which can help them learn to read faster. It will also give their teacher a short break to get together better assignments to improve their literacy levels. You may also ask to read at daycares, which often don’t concentrate on a strong learning environment. If you have the resources, you may even ask to help in special needs classes where children are often sent when they have trouble reading. Your help can change the way a child learns, so you can stop illiteracy before it becomes a problem. Don’t just aim for volunteering in primary school though. Many middle and high schools also need the assistance.

4. Donate Books
If you have books lying around the house that haven’t been touched for years, then it may be time to do some spring cleaning. You may want to make an annual date to clean off your shelves when Literacy Day rolls around. This is one of the best ways you can help combat illiteracy, while keeping your home clutter free. There are many things you can do with your books. For starters, you might want to see if your local library will accept them as donations. This can be used as a tax write off and will help your library spend less of their small budget on new books. If you have a lot of children’s books, you may see if a local school will take them in. If you can’t find a place to donate them, then you may want to give them to a charitable thrift store. This will allow people to buy your books for an incredibly low price, while the money they spend goes directly to a charity.

5. Provide Supplies to Schools
Part of the problem with illiteracy has to do with many schools not having the funding to help students properly. When you combine this with low income families not being able to provide school supplies, you create a recipe for disaster. So, if you can, try to donate some school supplies to these schools. You can easily look up schools that may be in need. If you’re still not certain, call up the school and ask if they take school supply donations. Most won’t deny your charity as even some of the best schools need help in the supply department. There are lots of cheap items you can donate too, if you’re not wanting to spend a lot of money. For instance, paper costs mere cents, so donating $10 to $20 worth could make a huge difference to some students. You might also consider donating pens and pencils, so all children will have proper writing utensils.

6. Find a Volunteer Program
Believe it or not, but there’s a lot of programs locally, nationally and worldwide that help fight illiteracy. This offers a lot of opportunities to anyone willing to help out. On a local level, you may work with adults or children that are having trouble with reading and writing. National programs might require you to help out in schools, homeless shelters and adult programs. Both of these programs are great for anyone looking to help out after work and on the weekends. If you want to travel the world while working with people then you may want to check out a worldwide charity. You can be sent all over the world to help children and adults from all nationalities. Make sure to research before joining any program though, especially if the program is sending you abroad.

7. Donate to Charity
One of the easiest things to do to help end illiteracy is to donate to a charity. This won’t just help fight illiteracy in your backyard, but will span your assistance throughout the world. Like all charitable donations, you will be able to write it off on your taxes. Of course, you should be incredibly careful with which charities you give money too. Some charities only give a small percentage of the money they receive to help with the cause. The rest of their money goes to paying CEOs and other employees extraordinarily high salaries. There are a few charities that are worthwhile though, so as long as you do a little research, your money should be in good hands.

8. Tutor
If you have a lot of spare time, then you might want to consider taking on a side job. There are many programs that hire tutors to help children and adults learn to read and write. If you can pass simple qualifications, you may find yourself helping those in need on your off hours. There are even online programs that offer this service, so you won’t even have to leave the home in order to tutor others. Of course, you don’t have to go through a program to tutor. You can easily offer your services in the community for pay or for free. If you need extra resources to help with your tutoring then you should be able to access a wide variety online for next to nothing. You might find that this is one of the most personal ways to see your hard work making a difference in your community.

9. Help Out Your Library
Unfortunately, the nation’s libraries are hanging on by a thread in today’s consumerism world. This is where literacy takes a major hit as for generations the library was the place to go to enjoy reading and even improve on your reading skills. So, if you want to make a difference try to lend a helping hand to your library. You can start by asking if they’re looking for volunteers, this can help cut back on their budget. You might be asked to put away books, clean up or even help people find what they’re looking for. If volunteering isn’t your cup of tea then simply promote your library whenever you can. Whether it’s just the basic services the library offers or an event that they have coming up, telling others will help bring funds to the library and may even keep it open.

10. Get the Word Out
World Literacy Day is almost here. So, if you want to help and don’t have a lot of time or money to do so, then simply spread the word about it. You can tell family and friends and ask them to share the message too. You can even just share a post about it on social media, which others can then share on their social media networks. As more people learn about this holiday, more people will want to help out. This can stop illiteracy in its tracks which will help millions of people live a better quality of life.

World Literacy Day is not only a time to celebrate your ability to read and write, but it is also a day to come up with solutions to help those who do not have this luxury. If people all came together to work on this critical issue, we could all find a way to help those who are illiterate.

Whether you’re looking to start your child out in the pageant life, or you’re looking to star in a pageant yourself, you’re already looking at a pretty expensive endeavor. However, you don’t have to throw your life savings at this hobby in order to become a success. There’s actually quite a few things you can do if you want to live the pageant life, but you don’t have the pageant budget. These ten tips should help you steer through the world of pageanting, while keeping a tight hold on your budget. Before you know it, you’ll be starring in an event while still keeping on track with your finances.

1. Set a Budget
One of the first and most important things you should do when you decide to try out a pageant is to sit down and make a budget. Make sure you budget in your finances and food money, before you place money into your pageanting budget. By doing this, you know what money you actually have to play around with, without forcing yourself to put expenditures on credit cards. You can then sit down and budget how much you will need to save before you begin to enjoy the pageant life. Sometimes, you can find cheap pageants, so you will be set financially while other times it may mean sitting on the sidelines before you try a pageant for yourself. No matter what you choose to do, try to put your pageanting money in a separate account or simply keep cash on hand for these expenditures.

2. Look For Free Pageants
Believe it or not, but there are free pageants out there that you can utilize. This is especially true when it comes to children’s pageants. Typically, local pageants tend to be set at a low price, if not free. So, you may want to start at the local level when entering your child into a competition. You may want to ask around local stores to see if they can steer you in the right direction. You might want to look online for these pageants too. Although they might not be the classic definition of the pageant, websites like CuteKid, can help you get your name out there. This website also gives out lots of great prices just for applying. Young adults might want to look for pageants through their high school or college. Typically, schools can help you with admission fees and more.

3. Know Your Coverage
If you’ve found a pageant that you want to be a part of, then it is important to check out a few things before you apply. For starters, some application fees will actually take care of your food and hotel prices. These can really benefit you, especially if you don’t want to look around for cheap options while you’re concentrating on the pageant. Of course, not all pageants will do this. So, if the fee looks to be a bit high then make sure you do a double take before you accept the price. You should also do the math to see how much money if would cost you to pay for your own hotel and food, if these items are covered. Sometimes, pageants will hike up the fees, which will mean it’s probably best to say no to these pageants. If you find one that suits your budget and is a good deal, then you should be ready to go.

4. DIY Clothes
One area that can leave you practically bankrupt when it comes to pageants is the clothing. In most cases, you have to purchase multiple different items for each phase of the pageant. This is a major problem, considering most of the items you will need already cost a lot of money individually. Luckily, you can quickly make your own costumes to help you stand out from the crowd and save some money. There’s a lot of patterns that you can purchase for next to nothing to help you get started with your evening gown, dance costumes and even bathing suits. If you’re looking for help on a child’s glamour dress then the internet has a lot of options for you.

5. Play on Natural Talents
You might not expect it, but taking part in the talent section can also cost you a lot of money. Between coaches, choreography, costumes and more, this portion of the pageant often leaves the most people struggling. This is largely because people are playing on skills that they have to build rather than their own natural talents. You might be surprised as to how much you can conquer when you actually use the talents you were given. It doesn’t matter if doesn’t matter if it is showing off your ability to solve huge equations in a record amount of time or the 4H skills you have worked so hard on, as judges will just be impressed to see your natural abilities. Of course, if your talent is dance then use it to your benefit. Try coming up with your own routine and showing it off on talent day.

6. Photography
Part of the pageant is having a good head shot to help you land spots in a variety of different pageants. Many pageants won’t even consider you if you don’t have a good photograph of yourself to send in with your application. Believe it or not, but taking a good photograph isn’t entirely hard. There are lots of tutorials that can help you take the perfect image for your applications. Family and friends may also be able to help you with this costly aspect of the pageant world. If someone has a professional camera and the ability to take a good head shot then you’re going to save a small fortune. Of course, if you can’t do it yourself or have someone help you out, then you might want to look into hiring a student. Many students are eager to have the experience under their belt, so they won’t charge a lot.

7. Host a Pre-Pageant
As you know, it costs a lot to get into a pageant and to get all of your outfits and training down. So, it is always best to be prepared for everything that might come your way. Invite some friends and family to help you out by hosting a fun pre-pageant. You can ask a few people to be judges and a few to be contestants and the audience. Once you have it all set then show off your skills as if you were standing in front of the real judges. Your loved ones will be able to give you some constructive criticism to ensure you have all of your ducks in a row for the competition. Make sure people are completely honest with you though, so you can make adjustments to your routine.

8. Judge on Winnings
Choosing pageants can also be crucial when it comes to saving money. You should try to pick pageants that will help you in the long run. For instance, children and young adults may benefit the most from pageants that give out scholarships to the winning circle. Although you are pouring money into the pageant without financial gain, your child will be getting the best reward for their efforts when they don’t have to worry about taking out large student loans. If you aren’t worried about college then go for competitions that might help you further your hobby. The more money you can save in these areas, the better off you will be.

9. Stay Local
One of the keys to saving some money on pageants is to stay local. Usually, local competitions won’t cost as much money to enter, so you’ll be able to have a bit more fun with the pageant. Of course, local competitions often branch out, but if you are pushed through to a round further away your expenses are often covered. When choosing pageants, try to always pick placies that are within driving distance for the day. This will help you avoid hotel costs and ensure you aren’t spending a fortune on gasoline. The closer the competition the better though, as it will give you a chance to get ready for the competition in your own space.

10. Utilize Winnings
Of course, if you begin to compete and win in pageants then you’ve already done your budget a huge favor. Instead of splurging the winnings on other things, you should use the winnings to go towards other competitions. From clothes to application fees, these winnings will ensure you aren’t taking money away from the household in order to fuel your love of competitions. With winnings, you can also put more money into items like clothes, which will help you win more pageants. This will bring up your reputation in the competitive world, so you can compete more and enter higher staked competitions.

Entering into a pageant can be a lot of fun and a lot work, which is why so many people get so much out of it. However, the problems it can bring to the budget also detours many people. These ten tips should help you get on your way to enjoying the world of competitive pageants.