Simple Ways to Grow Your Savings Account

We all know that saving money is important, but it can be hard to actually do it. Thankfully, there are some simple ways to help you get started. Whether you’re looking to grow an emergency fund or saving up for a major expense like a relocation with Black Tie Moving, try out these tips and see how easy it is to start growing your savings account!

 

Automate your savings – have a certain amount automatically transferred from your paycheck into your savings account each month

Automating your savings is a great way to build an emergency fund or save up for a big-ticket item like a house or car. This method of financial planning takes the guesswork out of saving by having money automatically transfer from your paycheck into your savings account every month so that you don’t have to think about it. It’s also great because you can decide exactly how much money you want to move over each month, allowing you to create and stick to a budget without as much effort. Making sure that you’re able to save every month is essential for long-term financial stability and growth, so automate your savings today!

 

Cut back on unnecessary expenses – do you really need that daily coffee or new outfit every week?

It’s hard to ignore the little indulgences you buy here and there throughout the week; coffee on your way to work, a new outfit for a night out. The problem with these seemingly small expenses is they can add up quickly. This doesn’t mean you have to give them up together, but cutting back on unnecessary expenses each month will leave more money in your pocket, which can easily be put towards debt reduction or saving for retirement. You might even find that less really is more and perhaps enjoying an occasional treat will feel even sweeter than buying something every day or week.

 

Make a budget and stick to it – knowing where your money is going each month will help you make better spending decisions

Making a budget and keeping track of your expenses is the best way to keep your finances organized and ensure you make smart financial decisions. Knowing exactly where your money is going makes it easier to identify areas where you could save or invest more. Taking enough time to review your budget will help you stay on top of your costs and prevent any unexpected surprises. It’s important to note that staying committed to your budget will take discipline, so it helps if you reward yourself for meeting specific goals throughout the month – like saving a set amount or paying off an entire debt. This can help motivate you and keep you on track while avoiding unplanned impulse purchases.

 

 

 

Savings is a difficult but essential step when building long-term financial success. Finding successful and sustainable ways to save money may seem daunting, but there are many options available to achieve success. Automating your savings by transferring a certain amount from each paycheck into a dedicated savings account is the first step. Additionally, cutting back on unnecessary expenses is another great way to save money. Finally, making and following a budget every month can help determine what goals need to be achieved in order to meet your financial objectives. With dedication and determination, saving money is not impossible – it only takes some effort in order to be successful!

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6 Signs You’ve Met the Love of Your Life

You just made an appointment with thrivemdclinic.com, and you get a sweet text from your partner. Things seem to be going so well for the two of you lately, and you start to wonder what the future holds for the both of you.

 

Here are 6 signs you’ve met the love of your life!

 

It Just Feels Right

 

Does it just feel right with your partner? One of the greatest signs that you’ve met the love of your life is that it feels natural. You don’t feel the need to force anything. Instead, the love seems to flow effortlessly and naturally. Our intuition is a powerful force, and it often knows what’s meant for us before we do. If it feels right with your partner, this is an indicator that they might be your forever person.

 

Healthy Communication

 

Good communication is a hallmark trait of any healthy relationship. If you find that you can openly express yourself to your partner, this means that you feel safe with them. While conflict arises in all relationships, it’s how you both handle it that matters most. If you and your partner always end disagreements with respect and understanding, this is a match made in relationship heaven.

 

You Have Trust

 

Trust is key to any relationship. If you don’t have trust, you’ll run into major issues later on. If you trust your partner, this is a wonderful sign for things to come for the two of you. It’s important to keep in mind that trust goes both ways. You want to make sure that not only do you trust your partner, but that your partner trusts you as well. Sometimes, this takes time. Yet, it’s very well worth it in the end.

 

Respects Your Boundaries

 

Boundaries are essential to a relationship. If your partner respects your boundaries, this is a definite green flag for the relationship. It’s not uncommon for boundaries to shift a bit during the course of a relationship, but as long as you feel free to be yourself – this is a sign of a healthy, longlisting relationship. Boundaries are designed to keep you safe, and after time – with the right person – you won’t need to heavily rely on them as much.

 

You Have Fun Together

 

Relationships aren’t just about “making it work.” It’s important that you and your partner can have fun together. If you’re wanting a life partner, you want someone you can enjoy your time with. You don’t want somebody who takes life too seriously. If you can laugh and play with your significant other, this is a clear sign that they could be the one for you.

 

You Can See a Future with Them

 

It comes as no surprise that if you start to imagine a future with your boyfriend or girlfriend, it might mean that they’re meant to be in your life forever. If you find yourself imagining what they would be like as a spouse or parent, this means you’re already starting to think long-term with them.

 

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Ohio’s Most Romantic Getaway Destination: Shores & Islands

IF you are like me you have a tendency to put your romantic life on the back burner; with kids, their activities, pets, a house, a career – well, it just seems to happen that way. But on occasion you have to put all that on hold to do something for yourself. Including those little weekend getaways for romance and relaxation.

So ideally if I lived near the ocean I would spend my days in a bathing suit on the beach without much thought for anything else; but since I don’t, and I live where well, we have seasons, you look for alternatives.. and boy did I find one! I love when I find a place that is amazing no matter what the weather – like Shores and Islands Ohio.

 

The great thing about Shores & Islands is that you can enjoy it during any season, as a family trip, girls weekend – or a romantic getaway. There are a TON of things to do, and something for everyone.

If I’m not laying on the beach, I want to be doing SOMETHING – museums, shopping, restaurants , I love to explore! So visiting in the fall is the perfect time to do all of the above. We started a romantic weekend at the Liberty Aviation Museum in Port Clinton.

The Liberty Aviation Museum showcases operational, historical aircraft and vehicles including “Georgie’s Gal”, a WWII B-25 Mitchell Bomber, a U.S. Navy WWII TBM Avenger, Pt-boat, and more! You can also dine in the 1950’s era themed Tin Goose Diner!

There were so many amazing things to look at, artifacts from the Titanic, war and movie memorabilia , and some amazing vehicles!

We could of spent hours, but decided to head outside and enjoy the weather and check out the beach and lighthouse in Port Clinton at the Waterworks Park.

What I LOVE about the park is the walking paths, the beautiful lighthouse, benches to sit and talk with a view of the water, and pier fishing.


I love walking out onto the water and watching the fish jump, and the birds fly – just remember to bring a jacket if you visit any other time besides summer – it gets a little chilly out on the lake!

After exploring we decided to go check in at our bed & breakfast at The Captain’s Lodge. Beth & Turbo run the lodge, along with an amazing fishing charter – that makes this place one of the best, and unique stays near Lake Erie! I absolutely LOVE Beth & Turbo, they are one of the most down to earth BUSY couples I have ever met! Their stories of fishing and hunting, and all their travel make the stay at their bed & breakfast feel like home!

We were able to freshen up and get ready to head to dinner at The Orchard Farm Stand. I will have to admit, this was one of my favorite places (so be prepared to scroll through a lot of pictures)!

The Orchard Farm Stand offers coffee, bakery, applewood fired pizzas and sandwiches daily. Enjoy Orchard signature wine and cocktails at the indoor/outdoor Farm Stand bar featuring a view of the vineyard, apple and peach trees. You can also shop the market for local produce , honey, jams and jellies, french linens, coffee, wine, baked goods, kitchen items and more!

We ordered to appetizers to share and try; the Coconut Shrimp sounded amazing,(and it was!) and asked our waitress what was the best appetizer on the menu, she hands down said that the hot honey & whipped feta with grilled pita! She was right – it was amazing!

Also per her suggestion we ordered the Peach BBQ Burger – I really was unsure about the peach bbq sauce but OMG it was soo good, we bought some to bring home! It came with their signature hot catawba peach chips!

Last but not least, the chicken bacon ranch pizza with truffle hot sauce (WARNING: don’t pour on the pizza, dip lightly lol – hot BUT AMAZING!)

 

After dinner we checked out the store, and the stand out front, which I LOVED! I would love to bring my parents and my kids back up just to visit The Orchard!

After perusing the store and the stand, we headed over to the Orchard Bar, which had the cutest set up; this would be a perfect place for a wedding, or even a reception (which they did have going on while we were there) the sky was gorgeous, and as it got cooler they turned on the fire pits that kept us warm.

After some time hanging out and talking by the fire, we decided to head to the lake to see the sunset. There is something about a sunset over water that is just peaceful.

This was just Day 1! Keep an eye out for the rest of our romantic getaway!

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3 Reasons to Bring Your Own Lunch to Work

3 Reasons to Bring Your Own Lunch to Work

 

One of the easiest yet most effective ways to save money and improve your diet is by packing your own lunch for work, rather than eating out. This can seem like a simple solution, but it is much easier said than done; many people struggle to pack their lunch in advance due to a lack of time or simply because they aren’t sure what to pack. Meal prep services like Lean Kitchen can provide the means to make healthy meals for the entire week quickly and easily. There are also endless ideas for easy, at-work lunches available online. Plus, leftovers from meals you are already making for yourself or for your family make great lunches the following day as well.

Aside from the financial benefits, here are 3 reasons why you should start packing your own lunch for work.

 

 

Portion Control

Bringing your own lunch from home is a crucial concept for anyone who is currently on a special or restrictive diet for weight loss or health purposes. When you pack your lunch in advance, you can plan what you are going to eat which can help you achieve your dietary goals. When you don’t bring a meal to the office and are left with no choice but to purchase one from a nearby restaurant or food delivery service, it is likely that you will choose a less healthy option, and will not have as strong of a sense of portion control. Packing your lunch at home lets you be the one in control of exactly what you are packing, and in what quantities.

 

 

Use Leftovers

One of the biggest benefits of packing your own lunch for the office is that doing so gives you the opportunity to reheat or reuse leftovers from last night’s dinner. If you live alone and find that you often cook more food per meal than you are able to eat at once, packing half of it for the next day is a great solution. Many people dine out or order takeout and find that they cannot finish their entire meal, but their leftovers go bad in the fridge as there is never a good time to eat them. If you find yourself in this situation, the solution is to pack your leftovers for lunch, as a way to enjoy a delicious meal from your favorite restaurant at the office the following day.

 

 

Save Time

The average lunch break for employees in the United States lasts just over 30 minutes. For the majority of people, this is simply not enough time to purchase food and have enough time to eat it. When you bring your own lunch and keep it handy in the office, there is no need for you to waste time driving, walking, or otherwise dealing with the hassle of getting lunch from an outside restaurant or vendor. Having your lunch ready for you at the office gives you more time to eat it!


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A Simple Guide to Multiple Income Streams for Working Professionals

If you’re like most people, you only have one source of income: your job. What if you had many sources of income? How would you feel if you had money coming in from investments and freelance work besides your full-time salary?

By having a variety of income streams, you can smooth out financial bumps in the road. Let’s say you lose your job. If that’s the only way you make money, you’re in trouble. However, if you have other sources of income, you’ll be much better off. 

You can also achieve your financial goals more quickly by diversifying your revenue. Having many income streams can be immensely beneficial if you’re saving for a down payment on a house or retiring early.

There are endless ways to create a variety of sources of income. Here are some examples.

Create Multiple Investments

If you’re already a high earner and you spend all your time working on one business model, focus on building a portfolio of investments.

There are a few things you should keep in mind if you choose this route:

First, high-net-worth wealth management advisors typically recommend balancing your portfolio across a variety of asset classes. Make sure you diversify your earnings by investing in stocks, bonds, and other assets.

Second, diversify the length of your investments. Although short-term investments may be more volatile, they can also provide high returns. In comparison, a long-term investment may be more stable, but its returns may not be as high.

Third, remember purchasing multiple stocks or other asset classes to sell at a higher price in the future isn’t a sprint–it’s a marathon. It takes time and patience to build a diversified portfolio that will provide you with income. However, the rewards can be well worth the effort if you persist.

Build Multiple Businesses

Having more than one business has many benefits. If you work full-time, your best option is to build an online business during your free time. It is essential, however, to learn how to improve your productivity while working from home. If you need some extra cash to get a business up and running, then you can get an installment loan from a company like Western Shamrock. This can give you the short-term cash you need to invest in a new business. 

You can start a blog and use it to sell products or services. It is also possible to start an online course or write an eBook. Some people prefer to buy a franchise or other out of the box business. Regardless of your choice, make sure to pick something you’re enthusiastic about, so you’ll be motivated to stick with it. It takes time and effort to build several streams of revenue, but it’s well worth it.

Set SMART Goals for Prosperity

How do you set goals to generate a variety of income sources, whether from investments or business ventures? 

Identifying your current sources of income is the first step. By doing this, you will have a baseline to work from as you develop new revenue opportunities. 

Setting SMART goals is the next step. A SMART goal is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely. 

By using this acronym, you can develop clear and actionable goals. For instance, a specific goal might be to earn $500 more per month from freelance writing within six months. A measurable goal would be to track the number of hours spent writing and earnings each month. An achievable goal would be realistic given your current employment and commitments. Lastly, setting a time-bound goal will keep you motivated and prevent procrastination.

Start Creating Your Diverse Sources of Income Today

By building several businesses and diversifying your portfolio, you can improve your financial stability and quality of life. For instance, if you have a full-time job and earn paychecks from freelancing as well as renting out property and investing in dividend-paying stocks, you are less dependent on only one way of getting money. Having more than one source of revenue will keep you motivated and inspired because you can weather economic downturns. You’ll have many options to fall back on if one income model dries up.

 

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