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Life Tips for Personal, Financial and Business Growth

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How to enjoy a ‘night out’ while staying in and saving money

We all enjoy the fun of a night out. The only problem is most of us don’t enjoy the time and effort it takes to get ready before you make it out of your front door and the cost of everything once you are on a night out. With this in mind, here are some ways you can have all of the fun of a night out while saving money at home.

Find the same levels of entertainment online

You might think it’d be impossible to match the emotions you experience on a night out without leaving your house. Luckily there are many ways you can have the same amount of fun and excitement from the comfort of your home. One great example of this is when it comes to casino games. You might think the only way you can have the adrenaline rush of playing these games is by going out to your local casino hall. In fact, you can play the exact same games in the exact same way from your computer. The great thing about playing from home is there are many websites that will allow you to try playing a game without having to spend any money. Find a website, like freeextrachips.com, that lists all of these websites where you only need to pay when you’re sure you’re happy with the game you’re playing.

Zoom with your friends

You might think the only way you can have a good chat with all of your friends is to get them all in the same room together. The only problem is it’s often hard to find a time where you all have long enough to get ready and travel to the same destination. This can be especially hard if all of your friends live far away from each other. Instead, why not try meeting with your friend regularly on a video conferencing software like Zoom. You might find you end up having better conversations as you’re in a more private setting than a loud and busy bar or café. By using this software, you’ll be able to meet up more often and even have longer to chat when you do meet up as you don’t have to waste time traveling somewhere or even queueing to get a drink or go to the toilet. You’ll also save a lot of money on drinks and taxis home.

Cook instead of ordering

One of the most expensive things when it comes to socializing is going out for a meal. If you end up ordering all three courses and lots of wine in-between, you could be faced with paying a very large bill at the end of the evening. You might think that going to a restaurant is the only way to taste the highest quality food. In fact, sometimes going to a restaurant just means you have to choose from a very small selection of meals and sometimes even have to wait a very long time for it to arrive at your table. If you like more choice about what and when you eat, invite your friends round for a meal at your house instead. Even if you aren’t the best cook, many recipe boxes will now deliver every ingredient you need along with an easy to follow instruction card to make lots of different luxurious and exciting meals.

With these tips, you’ll enjoy a great night out from the comfort of your own home.

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How to Help Your Teenager Overcome an Eating Disorder

Eating disorders can develop when a person becomes obsessed with their body shape, weight, and appearance, and they start to use unhealthy methods to lose weight or prevent weight gain. This can include restricting their food intake, purging food from their bodies, and/or exercising excessively. Eating disorders can cause significant physical and mental health complications, and in some cases they can be fatal.

If you believe that your teenager may have an eating disorder, there are several ways in which you can support them to increase the likelihood that they make a full recovery and lead a happy, healthy life.

What causes eating disorders in teenagers?

While most anorexia sufferers are young females with early signs of the condition emerging at the age of 16-17, eating disorders can be brought on by several factors and can affect anyone of any age or gender. However, some teenagers may be vulnerable than others if they have an existing mental health issue like anxiety or depression, a close family member who exhibits disordered eating, or have experienced bullying, trauma, or abuse. There is a lot of societal and media pressure on girls and women to be thin and fit a specific body type. If they take part in a hobby or sport where being slim is viewed as important (e.g., dancing or athletics) this may also be a contributing factor.

Speak to them

Your first step is to offer your child the opportunity to talk to you about anything that is upsetting them. They may decline the offer, but you can still encourage them to speak to another adult they trust. The important thing is that they know you are available to listen.

Find professional help

Eating disorders require professional treatment, so if you have concerns about your child, it is important to find it as soon as possible. The sooner they get the help they need, the quicker their recovery is likely to be. Your first port of call is your family doctor who will be able to provide a referral to a specialist center such as edentreatment.com for assessment and treatment.

Do not judge or criticize their behavior

From the outside, eating disorders can be confusing and frustrating, and this is especially true when our child, who we love and believe is beautiful inside and out, is struggling to see their own beauty. However, it is important not to minimize their issues or criticize their behavior. Let them know that their feelings are important to you.

Learn more about eating disorders

Eating disorders are complicated and can be confusing, so make it your business to find out what you can about their diagnosis as well as their personal triggers, concerns, and behaviors. This will put you in a better position to provide support and show your child that you are there for them.

Stop talking about diets, body shape, or weight

For many people, talking about the foods we eat, weight loss or gain, body shape, and diets is everyday trivial, conversation, but for children and adults with eating disorders this kind of talk can be distressing and triggering.

Be patient

Eating disorders are not cured overnight, and your child will likely fall back into old eating habits on their road to recovery. The best thing you can do for them is remain positive and patient, reassuring them that they are on the right path and you are there for them.

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ULIP Vs. Pension Plans – Which One Is Better for Retirement?

Retirement is supposed to be the best period of your life when you get to relax and spend fulfilling moments with your loved ones. However, this is not always the case, as finance can become a cause of headache after you retire. The biggest challenge of retired life is adjusting to not receiving regular payments.

To tackle this, you must start planning your retired life as early as possible. If you invest in the right instruments, it is possible to build a corpus, which is significant enough to fund a comfortable retirement. The most popular options to achieve this objective are Unit-Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPs) and pension plans. Here, we explain which alternative can benefit you more.

What is ULIP?

ULIP is one of the most profitable investment avenues available today. Its best feature is that it combines life insurance with wealth creation. When you purchase the plan, ULIP fund managers use a portion of that to invest in debt, equity, or a mixture of both types of funds. The ULIP plans returns from these funds enable you to earn a large corpus, supporting you financially after retirement.

The insurance company also provides a life insurance cover, which secures your loved ones’ future in your absence. This quality of dual advantages makes the ULIP investment plan an ideal financial product for retirement planning.

What are pension plans?

Pension plans serve the purpose of offering you a steady income after your retirement. The high inflation rate in India makes it quite challenging to maintain a comfortable life post-retirement. This is why financial experts advises you to not rely on your savings only and ensure that monthly payments continue after retirement.

The workings of a pension or retirement investment plan are relatively simple. You pay a portion of your income towards the pension fund until the day you retire. On reaching the retirement age, you will start to receive frequent returns from the pension plan. This can help you take care of your daily expenses and you can continue to lead a luxurious life.

Which one should you choose?

Now that you know the differences between a ULIP investment plan and a pension plan, it is time to determine which one will serve you better. Here, we have compared these plans based on aspects, like:

  • Tax exemptions

The retirement plan comes with tax deductions. Under Section 80CCC of the Income Tax Act 1961, the money you pay towards the plan is tax-free. Even though it has a maximum limit of INR 1.5 lakh, the money saved on tax can prove beneficial for you. However, the withdrawals received from this plan are not entirely tax-exempt. You do not have to pay any tax on the lump sum received immediately after retirement, which is one-third of the total corpus, but the annuity or regular payment is subject to tax.

In this regard, ULIP has an advantage over the pension plan. Apart from the tax-exempted premiums under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act 1961, Section 10(10D) ensures that you do not have to pay any tax on the ULIP’s maturity benefit.

  • Flexibility

Another ULIP benefit is that it gives you the opportunity to select how the fund manager can distribute your money into different instruments. You also have the choice to switch between the types of ULIP funds, depending on your changing risk tenacity and market condition. All these points make ULIP a more suitable choice for building a retirement fund in comparison to a pension plan.

Before you decide on where to invest, take some time comparing the pension plan and ULIP plans returns along with their additional benefits. This will help you opt for the appropriate investment vehicle.

 

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5 Amazing Holiday Gift Ideas

The holiday season is here, and it’s one that we all welcome with open arms after the year it’s been. It’s also time for the last-minute shoppers to start doing their annual holiday shopping mad dash.

 

Black Friday and Cyber Monday may have already passed, but there’s still time to find great gifts for the people whose names still haven’t been crossed off your shopping list. By now, many of the hottest gifts of the season are probably as hard to find as disinfectant spray and toilet tissue. However, if you’re a last-minute shopper trying to finish off your holiday shopping list, then this short guide should be of some help.

1. Jewelry is a classy move.

 

If you’re spending your first holiday season with a new love interest and she tells you not to get her anything, nod and say, “Okay, Love,” and proceed to ignore everything she just said. Even if she’s genuinely not expecting a gift for the holidays, getting her something nice will always put a smile on her face.

 

One of the more popular gifts to give women during the holidays are charm bracelets. Of course, the great thing about them is that you can add charms to commemorate momentous occasions such as anniversaries and future Christmases. Charm bracelets not only have the gleam that makes jewelry so desirable, but they also show that you put serious thought into the gift. You should start the bracelet off with one charm representing something of great significance to your partner and build from there with every significant memory.

 

No matter how much thought goes into a charm bracelet or even a locket, no piece of jewelry compares to engagement rings. If you know that you’ve met the woman you want to spend the rest of your life with, then make this holiday season one you’ll always remember by proposing.

 

You don’t have to break the bank to get a diamond ring that she’ll love showing off to her friends. You can actually find nice, modest diamond rings for under $200. However, if you want to spring for something more extravagant, you need to start saving up a couple of months ahead of time and work on building your credit to get financing.

 

Also, timepieces make excellent gifts for your father or your beau. Remember, jewelry is more than a gift—it’s a statement of the durability of the love you have for the one you give it to.

2. Upgrade her wardrobe.

 

One thing almost any woman would love for Christmas is a new wardrobe. There’s nothing like going back to work or school after the holidays and looking stylish in new, head-turning threads.

 

If you want to find clothing for women that’s both stylish and affordable, then look no further than the White House Black Market outlet. They have clothing to fit all styles, sizes, and seasons. They have business suits worthy of any corporate setting and gowns made for the red carpet, and at prices suitable for any budget.

 

If you decide to shop for clothes for the lady in your life, you have to pay close attention to her sense of style. Remember, you’re shopping for her, not you. If you watch how she dresses, then you’ll be able to pick up on her favorite colors, styles, and fabrics. But you’re on your own as far as getting the size right.

3. Nothing says Merry Christmas like a new pet.

 

Puppies are another favorite Christmas gift. Whether a child or a love interest, a puppy is a perfect gift for any animal lover, especially during the holidays. If you know someone who has an affinity for reptiles, you should surprise them with something most people would never think of, like an iguana or panther chameleon. Even the most enthusiastic reptile lover won’t expect to receive a chameleon for Christmas, and it will show how much intent you put into finding the right gift.

4. Get personal.

People put a lot into gift-giving because it’s not just a way to show a person you love them and are thinking about them, but it’s also a great way to show someone how well you know them. Great gift-givers aren’t the ones who spend the most money. They’re the ones who are the most thoughtful and give gifts that will have as much sentimental value as style and function.

 

If you know a beverage enthusiast, then you could make their Christmas with a nice drinking accessory or bottle of something special. With a BruMate coupon code, you can get great deals on artisan flasks, bottle holders, and other accessories designed to keep beverages at their optimal temperature.

5. If you’re giving the gift of gadgets, give them ones geared towards growth.

 

New gadgets are always the craze around the holiday season. There have literally been riots in department stores, electronics stores, and malls over televisions, phones, and gaming systems. There’s nothing wrong with getting your loved ones technology for Christmas, but if you’re giving the gift of gadgets, then you should gift them with tech that will encourage growth. You’d be surprised by how many different devices and apps are great educational tools.

 

So, should you get your child their own iPad for Christmas? The short answer is, absolutely! The device itself isn’t a problem. It’s what your child uses it for that will make it either a boost or hindrance to their academic and social development.

 

If you get your kid an iPad or other smart device, it’s key that you monitor their use to track how much time they spend on it and how they spend their time on it. You can start by setting parental controls that limit screen time and block access to apps and websites of your choosing.

 

Also, download apps that are child-friendly and educational. The great thing about technology is that it makes learning more fun. An iPad or smartphone could actually help a struggling student to improve their classroom performance if used correctly.

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The Differences Between Photobooks and Photo Albums

When photobooks first came into the market, the first thing that came to most people’s minds was a photo album. While the two serve more or less the same purpose, the choice of materials, design, page style, and cover options significantly differ. If you plan to gift your loved one with a photo book to mark a special occasion, there are a few things you need to know about them.

Photo books Vs. Photo albums

Even as you browse through Mixbook’s collection of photobooks, understanding what differentiates them from regular photo albums is essential.

Type of paper

Of all the distinctive features that differentiate the two, the type of paper used is the biggest. For photos printed on albums, Kodak photo papers with a slight sheen and are protected by a UV coating will do the trick. It will take semi-gloss, linen, or pearl press paper to print the photos on them for photo books. Of the two, press papers are the best since they allow you to write on them.

Customization

Album photos are printed directly on photographic paper supported by a premium substrate, causing the papers to be rigid. This means that once an image has been printed, an album cover can protect it against dust, moisture, and other substances.

Since a photo book’s pages are printed directly on press paper using advanced construction technology, it will be difficult for foreign objects to destroy the photos.

Page style

You might have noticed that photo albums rely on flatly-laid pages. That means there is no space or binding that interferes with the flow of a spread each time you flip through the pages. It only allows you to get creative with two-page layouts.

Photo books also rely on the flat lay style, but the only difference is that there is a small space or “gutter” between the two pages in each spread. That is a classic style that most creative photography enthusiasts will love.

The Finishing

When you place both of them on your hands, you will notice that the photo albums are relatively heavier than the photobooks. If you are looking to save space on the shelf, a photo book will be a better option for you.

Pages available

Photo albums can have up to 50 spreads, which means they can host up to 100 pages. But for photo books, you can make use of up to 70 spreads or 140 pages. That means there is more room to accommodate more photos. With more pictures, more love is going to be spread.

Browse the vast collection of photobooks from Mixbook

Whether you are a fan of photo albums or want to try your hand in customizing a perfect photo book for your loved one, Mixbook’s templates will be there to guide you through every step. The primary goal of choosing photo books over other gifts is to get those unforgettable memories off the screen and into your home or to your recipient. Visit Mixbook to learn wonderful ways to keep those treasured memories.