Categories
Health & Home Recreation & Leisure

How To Turn Your Car Into A Tiny Camper

With the prices of hotels and flights on the rise, many people have chosen to begin traveling with their own car both for transportation and housing. It’s a simple and quick way to travel and keep all your belongings in the same place. Even if you have a small car, you can turn it into a camper and use it for your upcoming travels. Learn how with this complete guide!

Pack Your Things

This might seem like a step to do after you have turned the car into a camper, but it’s actually a better idea to do it before you start transforming your car. If you pack everything first, you will be able to see how much space your items take up in the car and how much space you have leftover.

Make a Seat Extender for the Trunk Of Your Car

Folding down the seats gives you extra space in the back that will allow you to pack more things. Many cars have seats that fold down completely flat and then you place a mattress or other sleeping surface right on top.

Making a seat extender is an easy DIY project that involves placing a piece of wood or other flat surfaces across the seats to give you a stable and flat surface to sleep. You can also buy car extenders from places like Amazon and Walmart if you don’t want to make them yourself.

Male sure you attach the extender to the seats or the headrests on the front seats. You can use simple straps and tie them around the headrests. This gives your sleeping surface a stable and fixed place.

Use Storage Bins for Packing In Your Car

Although you might be used to packing with suitcases or bags, storage bins are much better for cars. They can stack on top of each other much easier which will allow you to make more use of space. Stacking them in clear containers will also allow you to see what’s inside easily so you don’t have to move every box and rummage through them all when you need something.

Use Memory Foam

Some people are tempted to put a mattress into the back of the car, but this isn’t the best option for space reasons, although it might be the most comfortable. Memory foam can be just as comfortable as a mattress though and will be able to roll up and give you more room in the back of the car.

You can also buy a sleeping pad from a camping store to save space. You will need to inflate it when you are ready to sleep through.

Personalize and Enjoy your Time

Add special touches to the camper like sheets from home, colorful pillows, or a soft blanket. You can also bring along small items like books and photos to decorate the camper and have things that remind you of home while you are traveling.

Adhesive hooks on the side of the car can be great places to hang small lamps or photos.

Categories
Business Career & Education Financial Government Grants Loans

How to Apply for Federal Grants

There is no doubt that a federal grant is a great way for a business or individual to secure a monetary amount that help shape their financial future. It’s the difference between surviving and thriving for many and it can be a literal game-changer. But finding, applying for, and receiving a loan is much easier said than done. In fact, it’s often times incredibly hard to determine the best course to finding a federal grant that is right for you and your business.

Federal Grant Application

One of the most difficult aspects of the federal grant application process is determining which awards a person, small company, or organization is interested in and qualifies for. After all, with hundreds of grants to apply for, limiting the field may take up a substantial amount of time for a potential candidate.

A prospective grantee’s initial action will almost certainly be to register with the organization. In order to apply for a grant, an individual or organization must first register with the federal government. Depending on how well the individual phases of registration are done, registration can take anywhere from three to two weeks.

The Grant Application

The Grant Application package is the next step for potential grantees to take. Applicants will next require their CFDA Number, which is issued to the program for which the grantee is applying, as well as the Funding Opportunity Number and the Funding Opportunity Competition ID. Each of these identification numbers should be mentioned in connection to the grant for which the applicant is requesting.

Once the application has been retained, the applicant is responsible for reading through the pages of queries and saving modifications as they go. The initial pages of the grant application will clearly state the instructions and requirements for applying, which may contain extra items such as grant proposals. To save both the applicant and the federal government agency examining the grant hours of time, grants will not be allowed to be filed online until they are entirely completed.

After completing the grant application, an online applicant only has to click “save and submit” on the cover page to send it to grants.gov, where it will be routed to the appropriate department and people. When a submission is complete, a confirmation page will display, and a tracking number will be supplied in case of support or online submission problems.

Conclusion

Each grant has its own thorough application that explains everything a potential candidate needs to know before and throughout the application process. Potential grant beneficiaries will find that collecting and completing an application is one of the most straightforward elements of applying for and getting a federal grant, thanks to the availability of online registration and federal grant applications, as well as comprehensive instructions. Thanks to modern technology and advances, applying for a federal grant is far easier than it ever has been before.

The thing to remember when applying for a federal grant is that the process does take a lot of time. But most of the time isn’t spent on actually applying. Instead, the schedule is usually filled with deciding which grant is right for you and your business.

Categories
Credit Debt Financial

You’ve Maxed Out Your Credit Cards, What’s Next?

Consumer debt related to credit cards is a significant issue in the United States. According to Debt.Org, more than 191 million people have a credit card in America. As a result of this, many people struggle with maxed-out cards and knowing what to do when that happens.

Whether you’ve done a little too much online shopping, or you needed to get caught up on bills and other responsibilities, maxing out your credit cards is common. In this article, we’ll highlight those steps and go into detail on how to perform each one.

Stop Using Your Cards

Many credit cards will automatically decline purchases that exceed your available balance. However, if you’ve opted-in to a policy that allows overcharging, it’s best to stop using the cards completely once you’ve reached the limit. After all, this cuts off any possibility of escalating the issue if you don’t add to the amount of debt you owe.

If you used any of your credit cards to pay for subscription services, it’s important to cancel them or transfer the subscription to a debit card. While we’d recommend canceling the service, moving to a debit card is okay if it’s necessary.

Plan Out a Budget

Before you start paying off your credit card debt, it’d be beneficial to plan out a budget and means of payment. Doing this will prepare you for what’s coming in terms of your financial situation. Having a solid plan can also help keep you on track to pay your debt off as soon as possible.

While it may be tempting to make only the minimum payments on your cards each month, it’s more beneficial to pay as much as you can. Paying more than the minimum requirement will offset any interest payments that are tacked on and speed up the process.

Pay Off Your Debt

Once you’ve stopped using your cards and you’ve mapped out a budget, it’s time for the hardest part: paying the debt off. There are several ways you can do this and whichever plan you choose will largely depend on your current financial situation. Here are the main ways you can pay off your credit card debt:

  • Pay it in full: This is certainly the quickest option, however, it isn’t feasible for everyone. Unless you have a significant amount of money in your account, paying in full isn’t an option. This is likely the case for a majority of credit card holders.
  • Negotiate with your credit card company: If you’d like to stop using your cards altogether, some companies may allow you to negotiate a lower payback price. If you choose to do this, it may be worth asking for expert help.
  • Make extra payments when you can: The amount you’re able to pay will depend on your income. If you find you have some extra leeway money in your account, consider putting that toward a credit card bill.
  • Use credit card rewards if possible: Some credit cards come with a rewards program. To help alleviate your balance, you may choose to use any accumulated rewards to put toward a statement credit.
  • Utilize debt consolidation: Debt consolidation is a popular option for paying off debt. If you have a good credit score, you may consider taking out another card with a 0% APR on balance transfers and low interest rates. You may also choose to do this with a personal loan from your bank.

Parting Thoughts

Dealing with any type of debt is certainly stressful. Luckily, credit card debt is easily fixable so long as you have a solid budget and repayment plan. To pay off debt, the most important thing you can do is be smart about your spending while paying off your debt and after you’ve successfully paid them off.

By following the steps we’ve highlighted in this post, you’re setting yourself up to pay off your credit card debt as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Categories
Health & Home Recreation & Leisure Wellness

The Best Smart Watches and Fitness Trackers

Smart Watches and fitness trackers are a great way to track your nutrition and fitness journeys. Many professional athletes and bodybuilders use them so they can easily track their steps and their calories throughout the day. Some smartwatches are from large companies, while others are lesser-known and might be more wallet-friendly if you are on a budget. Check out the best ones below:

Apple Watch SE

This is easily the best one on the market, but it’s only a good choice if you own an iPhone. They sink to the iPhone and can be used with all the IOS apps and features. The design is sleek and durable, so you can work out and lift weights the entire time you have it on.

The battery life isn’t as good as with other Apple Watches, but the display is good and it’s a great value for money.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 4

This is the top choice If you use an Android phone instead of an Apple device. It was designed with Tizen and has some of the same features, so you will find it easy to use if you own or use Tizen products.

The performance is great with long battery life. It’s also very lightweight and comfortable, so you won’t feel like it’s weighing down your arm while you’re working out or practicing sports.

Apple Watch 6

Another choice by Apple with better battery life and more features. The price is much higher than the SE, but the extra features will be worth it if you plan to use the watch every day. It has added extras such as blood oxygen monitoring and an upgraded chipset.

It has the same screen and design as the Apple Watch 5 though, so you won’t find the way it looks or feels any different from the older models.

Fitbit Versa 3

If you don’t want the smartwatch paired to your phone or aren’t an exclusive iPhone or Android user, you might benefit more from using a FitBit. There’s a built-in GPS and the design is extremely comfortable to wear and workout with while you have it on.

The main features are all fitness-related, so you won’t find much benefit from it if you want a watch that can pair with the phone and use apps.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3

Allow it’s made by Samsung; you can still use this watch if you’re an iPhone user. It has a rotating bezel which makes navigation and use. Apps on the watch can be used with the Wear OS or Watch OS.

Keep in mind that some apps and features are limited with iPhones.

Fitbit Versa Lite

This is a more affordable FitBit device. The battery can last a few days without needing a charge. The body is small, and light compared to other smartwatches. Overall, this is the best option if you want mainly a fitness watch that is pocket-friendly.

Categories
Family Senior

6 Exercises to Help Seniors Improve Balance

Climbing stairs, playing hopscotch, and riding a bike are all simple tasks when you’re young and agile. You don’t think about balance since it comes easily to you. In fact, at that young age you feel indestructible and capable of absolutely anything.

Regrettably, as you get older, this is no longer the case and simple things become much, much harder. Reflexes and coordination deteriorate as you get older, muscular mass and strength decline, and changes in your eyes damage depth perception and night vision.

All of these changes together raise the likelihood of a fall, fracture, or other major damage. And as your doctor will tell you, that can be downright lethal to people of a certain age. A fall is serious and should be avoided at all costs.

Thankfully, they can be avoided. With certain exercises, you can improve your balance and prevent most falls. Here are just a few.

Stand on One Leg For Balance

This is one of the simplest exercises that involves the least amount of effort, yet it can help you improve your balance.

To begin, stand behind a table or desk with your hands on the top. Lift your left foot while keeping your right foot firmly on the ground. Hold the position for 30 seconds before changing your feet.

Stop utilizing the table after a few weeks or months of practice.

The aim is to stand for at least a minute on each leg without using any external support.

Walk the Tightrope To Help With Balance

Here’s another easy one that will do a lot to prevent falls and injuries.

Lay a long length of thread or a jump rope on the floor to begin. If you don’t have these objects, envision a straight line that starts at your feet and stretches outward.

For balance, raise your arms and hold them out to your sides. For 10 to 20 steps, heel to toe, or from one end of the room to the other, walk without straying from the line.

Turn around and return the opposite way once you’ve completed the line. Rep four times more.

Hold your foot in the air for two or three seconds each time you take a step to make it more difficult.

Shuffle-Step

Put your feet together and stand up. Then t ake a step to the right and cross your left foot over while facing ahead.

From one side of the room to the other, do this again and again. Shuffle-step back the opposite direction after you’ve reached the wall.

Try speeding up your footwork after you’ve gotten the hang of it. Place little impediments in your way, such as a bean bag or a rolled-up pair of socks, to offer an added challenge.

Sit-to-Stand Exercise

Can simply sitting and standing help you improve your balance? It sure can!

To begin, place your feet firmly on the ground, straighten your back, and slant your buttocks forward to sit towards the chair’s front.

Lean your chest on the table. Squeeze your glutes and slowly rise up by shifting your whole weight forward. Slowly return to your original position after around 10 seconds.

Try not to use your hands throughout this exercise, but if you feel unsteady or unstable, lean on a table or desk for support.

Squats

With your feet shoulder-width apart and your hands at your sides, begin this exercise. As though you’re sitting on a chair, tighten your abs, bend your knees, and push your buttocks out.

Keep in mind that you don’t need to go all the way down. In fact, a simple 30-degree angle would suffice.

Slowly rise up once you’ve reached the squat posture. Rep until you feel your quadriceps and glutes begin to burn.

Wall Pushups

Everyone has a wall, which means that everyone can perform this exercise.

To start, place your arm at arm’s length in front of a wall with no paintings, decorations, windows, or doors. Lean forward slightly and place your palms flat against the wall at shoulder height and breadth. As you progressively push your body closer to the wall, keep your feet planted. Push yourself back gently until your arms are completely straight.

Categories
Health & Home Wellness

The Importance of Finding Your Passion as an Adult

It is essential to have a passion growing up. Knowing that you have a passion doesn’t let you give up on life so easily, and from there, you gain all your energy and creativity. The more passionate you are, the more capable and motivated you become when making good use of your time. Can you imagine a life in which you don’t have a passion? That’s definitely unimaginable and scary.

For some people, their passion is the reason for their existence, and it’s something very meaningful to them. If you’re still in the process of finding yours, mentioned below are a few reasons why it is so important to hunt for your passion as an adult.

Allows You To Explore Different Things

To find a passion, there are different things you have to do in order to find out. Waking up every day to a new activity doesn’t only keep you busy, but it also helps you explore your strengths and develop a passion. This could be working out every morning, learning how to cook something, or writing a small piece every day. It will also make you feel like you’ve done something productive. So with finding a passion also ignites a lot of other things, and it’s definitely worth the try.

Keeps You Aware Of Everything Going Around You

When trying to find out your passion, there are a few questions you have to ask yourself. You can write down these questions or answer them in your head. Questions such as: “do I need a passion that has more money? Or “what is something that excites me?” “What are my strengths?” These are some of the many questions you should ask yourself, and take a look at all the answers. These small answers will help you find the pathway to your passion and definitely the right one for you.

Taking Small Steps

The answers you have from the above point will allow you to take small steps and even help you explore beyond your hobbies. The more you explore, the more assured you will feel when you select a specific passion. As mentioned earlier, try out different activities or things that interest you, and from there on, you can tell which one is the best for you.

Finding A Passion Will Help You Discover More About Yourself

There is no such thing as having one passion for the rest of your life. Passions tend to evolve, and that’s completely fine. You can always find new ones to pursue, as, in the end, life is all about exploring. Staying stuck in one field can get a bit boring, but if that’s the only thing you’re passionate about, then do it right away and show your worth.

Finding Your Passion Takeaway

Hopefully, with the help of this article, you can tell how important it is to find your passion as an adult. There are so many ways you can do that, and all you have to do is trust your instincts and rely on yourself. Once you’ve found it, you will surely do wonders with it.

Categories
Financial Loans Real Estate

Low-Income Home Loans: What Are Your Options?

Working a job that provides a low-income can make homeownership seem like an impossible goal. Luckily, there are a variety of options available to assist those with a low income in buying a suitable home.

In this article, we’ll cover some of the most well-known home loans that cater to low-income individuals and families in some way.

Homeownership Vouchers

The Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) allows families assisted in the program to use a voucher to purchase a home. Families will also receive monthly assistance to help with household expenses. The voucher is only available to those families who are enlisted in the program. It’s also not available in every single housing authority.

Other qualifications for this home loan program are to meet specific income requirements as well as having gainful employment. Participants also need to be first-time homeowners, attend and complete a housing counseling program, and meet any other local eligibility requirements.

Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program

Indigenous people and native Alaskans make up some of the poorest populations in the United States. Because of this, the Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program was created. This program is exclusive to native people and guarantees them a reasonable home loan through private financial institutions.

In order to qualify for this program, you and your family must be enrolled members of your native tribe. You must also be in the process of searching for a home. The maximum loan length through this program is 30 years and there are no prepayment penalties either.

HomeReady and Home Possible Loans

Home Possible and HomeReady are two different loans but they have very similar benefits. HomeReady is a loan program backed by Fannie Mae. It is meant to help low-to-moderate income homeowners either buy or refinance their homes. They do this by reducing the standard down payment and mortgage insurance requirements.

Home Possible is backed by Freddie Mac. It is essentially the same as HomeReady, except that it requires a slightly higher minimum credit score to apply. This is perhaps the most helpful for the general population of low-income individuals as a lower required down payment means you don’t need to save nearly as much in order to purchase your home.

Good Neighbor Next Door

The Good Neighbor Next Door Program is an exclusive program to firefighters, K-12 teachers, law enforcement officers, and emergency medical technicians. The loan allows those in these professions to purchase a home at up to 50 percent less than the list price so long as they promise to live in the residence for at least three years.

Down Payment Assistance

Although it’s not technically a loan on its own, down payment assistance can be paired with your loan to decrease the amount you need to pay down on your house. There are approximately 2,000 down payment assistance programs across the country and they’re typically run through the city government.

There are four main types of down payment assistance: grants, loans that are paid alongside your mortgage, loans with deferred payments, and loans that are forgiven after a number of years. This assistance is typically used by first-time home buyers and past homeowners can use most programs after three years of not owning a home.

Categories
Health & Home Home Improvement

4 Ways To Clean Your Space In 15 Minutes

Some people find it therapeutic to see their house go from a mess to a clean canvas and often even enjoy the process. However, there are also some who think that the chore is least enjoyable. If you are one of those people who genuinely hate cleaning up and decluttering your space, this post is for you.

As an adult, you may understand the importance of tidiness. But picking up your mess, or even others’, if you don’t live alone, can be hard. And, if you think that a neat place requires too much time and energy, here are some easy ways to do it.

You can keep your entire house clean by dedicating just 15 minutes each day to tidying up. It is way better than waiting for a huge mess to pile up before finally deciding to clean it up. Not only will it stress you out, but it will also consume a lot of time this way. So, how should you spend your 15 minutes cleaning every day?

Decide what you call ‘clean.’

Everybody has a different idea of what clean means to them. They have their own triggers and limits that decide whether a space is untidy or neat.

So, first, decide what a clean space looks like in your head. Figure out the things that annoy you and what needs no organization to make your house feel good to you. While you’re at it, don’t forget to keep a general idea of what a clean home may look like. This is especially true if you receive a lot of guests, as you may need to take better care of your space.

Estimate your efficiency and keep a chart

To have an estimate of what you can actually get done in 15 minutes is essential to master the trick. Set a timer for 15 minutes and start cleaning. You can do this for a few days to have an idea of how much you are capable of doing in the time span.

Once you know how much you can get done, make a chart. You can also mark your calendar with what area of your space you wish to cover on a particular day.

Or, if you are making a chart, write down the cleaning days and the areas under them. You can hang it somewhere that won’t be out of sight.

Light maintenance

You have finally decided to spend 15 minutes of your day cleaning, but what kind? You can choose to go either light or heavy with it. Maintenance cleaning can include decluttering, dusting, or vacuuming.

You certainly cannot get everything done at once, but you can totally make little go a long way. A light maintenance strategy is to spend five minutes cleaning a room. This way you can straighten three rooms a day. And if you are consistent, your house will begin to appear clean in a week’s time. 

Deep cleaning

The deep cleaning strategy involves spending 15 minutes on a specific area or room. You may need to do chores like scrubbing, detailed dusting, and moving a little furniture to clean the hidden spaces.

If the room you have decided to do requires a lot of work, you can divide the room into zones. This way, you can do one part each day.

Categories
Business Career & Education Media Tech & Media

Falling Unemployment Could Add To Worries

Introduction

When you hear about the unemployment rate going down, you are led to assume that’s good news. In fact, we have always been taught that a low unemployment rate means the job market – and economy – are strong.

While that is typically and usually true, there are exceptions to that. We are currently in a jobs climate where a falling unemployment rate might be a bad thing in some ways. In fact, some experts are fearful for the future of the U.S. economy because of the dropping unemployment numbers. Why is that? What is causing this fear? How can a low unemployment rate be a bad thing?

What is Unemployment?

Before we can discuss what the latest unemployment numbers mean and how it could be a negative thing for the future of the economy, let’s define what unemployment actually is.

According to the U.S. government, the official unemployment rate is strictly defined as the percentage of workers who are unemployed and actively looking for a job. In other words, it’s the number of Americans who are searching for work and currently don’t have a place paying them for their services.

Recently, the American unemployment rate skyrocketed to heights that hadn’t been seen in decades. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, millions upon millions of Americans lost their jobs seemingly overnight. In just a matter of weeks, 16.8 million people filed for unemployment due to shelter-at-home orders.

At the height of the virus, more than 20.5 million would-be workers were laid off. That means the unemployment rate was at 14.7%, which surpassed the 10% mark seen in the depths of the financial crisis.

Current Unemployment Numbers

According to the most recent Labor Department figures, the unemployment rate has been reduced to 5.1% from 5.2%. That’s down from around 15% only a few months ago. Those appear to be positive figures.

While any growth is welcome, some are concerned that the figures are insufficient. Economists anticipate that companies recently added 485,000 jobs to their payrolls, an increase over August but not as large as the monthly gains seen earlier in the summer.

But the numbers, while moving in the right direction, have some analysts worried for other reasons.

What Do They Mean?

As previously stated, the official unemployment rate published by the Labor Department only includes jobless persons who are not working nor actively seeking for work. It is important to note that millions of people stopped working and also stopped hunting for jobs when the coronavirus ravaged the economy in early 2020.

These people are left out of the jobs reports from the Labor Department. In many ways, they have given up the hunt for a job that suits them. That is why some analysts and experts are actually worried about the newest job numbers because it means that millions of people are throwing in the towel and no longer looking for employment. That is a dangerous, scary thought and could prove troublesome in the months and years ahead.

Categories
Career & Education Education Financial Government Grants Loans

Furthering-Your-Education Grants

Introduction

Millions of hardworking Americans are having to adapt to fewer jobs or limited options by furthering their education in order to increase their value in a competitive job market, and the federal government offers a variety of options for prospective or current students who want to further their education.

Aimed towards a variety of fields of study and demographics, new college students and diligent adults wanting to continue their schooling are urged to check into the dozens, if not hundreds, of government grants that are available to help them thrive in their profession. These grants are the key to going through school, studying hard, and finding a career that is right for them. It’s a major difference maker for millions of people who want to study hard and worker harder but require some assistance to meet their goals.

Education Grants

Many of the most positive grants available to students through the federal government are basically scholarships, which are offered by government agencies such as the US Department of Education’s Office of Student Financial Assistance Programs, or specialized foundations named after the scholarship.

Some federal furthering-your-education grants adhere to a wide range of interests, and simply target a particular demographic, such as minorities, or American Veterans. Students who do not fit into a specific subject or demographic will also have choices. The US Department of Education manages the Federal Pell Award Program, which is more of a “blanket” grant that may cover a wide range of career ambitions, age groups, and general sorts of students over the age of 18. Essentially, a demonstrated and demonstrable need for financial help is the most important criteria for awards like the Federal Pell Grant.

Learn More About These Grants

Furthermore, candidates should be aware that Education Grants can come in a variety of formats. While scholarships and direct disbursements of cash for educational reasons are perhaps the most popular awards, long-term, low-interest loans are also available to assist pay the costs of school, housing, household expenditures, and other necessities for both full-time and part-time students.

Colleges, universities, and private schools all have their own set of awards to assist improve the quality of their educational equipment, personnel, and materials, which benefits present and future students indirectly.

Conclusion

With help from the federal government, potential students of all abilities and ages, and at all phases of life, will be able to further their careers and, ideally, their income. The educational scholarships offered by the Federal Government are designed for prospective students who need it the most and cannot afford a higher education without aid. They help guarantee that everyone has a chance at achieving their professional goals while also creating a wiser, more educated nation.

For generations now, countless Americans have turned to the federal government for help when it comes to going to school. And truly billions upon billions of dollars have been spent to create a base of Americans that is hard-working and devoted to learning more There is money available for most students looking for higher education, they just need to know where to find them.