Month: February 2022

Categories
Dating Health & Home

20 Valentine’s Day Dessert Recipes

20 Valentine’s Day Dessert Recipes

No one can resist freshly baked cookies and baked cupcakes, especially when made by someone you love. In this piece, we will discuss 20 Valentine’s Day dessert recipes so you can enjoy the day with your loved one.  

Cakes

1.     Chocolate Lava Cakes

Making this gooey restaurant sweet dish at home will make your loved one love you even more. It takes only 20 minutes to make this lava cake from scratch.

2.     Million Heart Cheesecake

You don’t have to spend a whole day to impress your Valentine. Instead, you can make this cheesecake with minimal baking. You have to bake the crust and overflow it with cheesecake.

3.     Broken Heart Chocolate Cake

Making this delicious Valentine’s Day chocolate cake is therapeutic, especially if you feel nothing but daggers during Valentine’s Day. We are gifting this recipe to you so you don’t feel alone.

4.     Towering Flourless Chocolate Cake

This show-stopping dessert contains intense and rich chocolate on the bottom, while the top is fluffy and sweet.

5.     Chocolate Coconut Fudge Candy Cake

This coconut-filled luxurious cake is a perfect example of chocolate candy blended with a classic tropical center. The dark chocolate spread on the cake will make your mouth-watery.

6.     German Chocolate Cheesecake

This cheesecake will take you and your loved one to a magical land of chocolate.

Cupcakes

7.     Mini Cupcake Chocolate Box

A homemade cupcake chocolate box is a perfect Valentine’s Day gift. You don’t need a guide to make these cupcakes. A drop of chocolaty love portion will work.

8.     Heart of the Batter

Make this heart-shaped dessert with strawberries stuffed inside. The stuffed strawberries inside cupcakes will surprise your partner. Add chocolate and cream topping for the taste buds.

9.     Mini Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes

These one-bite desserts are perfect for Valentine’s Day cocktail parties. Chocolate-on-chocolate placed on the dessert table will make the day special.

Snacks

10. Chocolate-Covered Cherries

Cherries are perfect for Valentine’s Day. But, covering them with chocolate will enhance the taste.

11. Chocolate Strawberry Jelly Roll

Chocolate strawberry jelly rolls are fun and easy to make. Simply layer the cake with strawberries and dark chocolate and make an ultimate dessert.

12. Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Like chocolate-covered cherries, chocolate-covered strawberries are also special to surprise your partner on Valentine’s Day.

13. Chocolate Truffles

You can make chocolate truffles in many ways. Try adding some strawberry syrup on top to make it extraordinary.

14. Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Marshmallows

These adorable pink marshmallows are covered with chocolate mouth-watering treats.

Tarts and Torte

15. Chocolate Tart

Do you want something elegant for Valentine’s Day? Make this luscious chocolate tart and your partner will love you for it.

16. Brownie Tart

Valentine’s Day dessert list is incomplete without brownies. Try this brownie tart with a tablespoon of instant coffee, a bit of floor, and the chocolate flavor for a gooey and dense Valentine’s Day dessert.

17. Flourless Chocolate Torte

This flourless chocolate dessert is light and elegant. It contains a handful of ingredients, but it will still make the day special.

Cookies

18. Triple Chocolate-Hazelnut Cookies

Serve these triple chocolate-hazelnut cookies with a cold glass of milk.

19. Love and Kisses Cookies

When the blossom cookies get Valentine’s Day makeover, you come up with these love and kisses cookies.

20. Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookies

Are you looking for a tasty, simple, and beautiful dessert to surprise your partner on Valentine’s Day? Try these Valentine’s Day sugar cookies.

Conclusion

These Valentine’s Day desserts will make Valentine’s Day more momentous. If you want to surprise your loved one with a treat on Valentine’s Day, you should try the above-mentioned festive desserts.

Categories
Dating Family Health & Home

40+ Valentine’s Day Gifts To Spread Some Love

40+ Valentine’s Day Gifts To Spread Some Love This Year

Are you looking for a perfect gift to surprise your loved one? If yes, then don’t fret, as below, you will find a list of more than 40 Valentine’s Day gifts to make this Valentine’s special. So let’s begin:

Chocolates

Chocolate is the love drug that releases endorphins in the brain. This is a hormone that makes you happy. When you give your loved one a box filled with chocolates, it influences their mood. Also, it means that they sexually attract them. In many cultures, women give men chocolates on Valentine’s Day.

Also, you can share your sentiment by giving chocolates with other gifts. That’s the best thing about giving chocolates to your loved ones. It blends in with any other present that you have in mind. Here is a list of chocolates you can give to your partner:

  1. Bonbon Box
  2. La Maison du Chocolat
  3. Seattle Chocolate
  4. M&M chocolate box
  5. Exotic Truffle Collection
  6. Godiva Chocolatier Classic Gold Box
  7. Charbonnel et Walker Milk Chocolate

Jewelry

Jewelry is a standard Valentine’s Day gift to show affection for loved ones. Furthermore, choosing the right design and piece for the partner is important. Diamonds on the chain or bracelet are a classic gift. Giving precious metals to your partner means they have value in your life.

You can give hearts and flowers earnings or precious rings to your partner to express your emotions. A gold necklace or bracelet will also look outstanding. Here is a list of jewelry pieces you can gift your partner on Valentine’s Day:

  • Necklace
  • Diamond ring
  • Bracelet
  • Cufflink
  • Earrings
  • Antique jewelry
  • Bead Jewelry

Beauty Product Gifts

This season you can gift your partner beauty products for some pampering. Choose their favorite beauty brand and make a collection. Handpicking popular products and packing them in a box is a special gift. Your partner will love to find their favorite beauty products in the gift box. Here is a list of beauty products to give to your partner:

  1. Perfume
  2. Lipstick set
  3. Skincare products
  4. Night skin glowing cream
  5. Bath salts
  6. Eye shadow palettes
  7. Pillow talk kit

Gadgets

If you want to buy a gift for your boyfriend or husband, cool gadgets will be the perfect option. Especially if your partner loves video games, you have a wide variety of options to choose from. A new headset and controller will cheer your loved ones. Find some options below:

  • Headsets
  • Xbox or PS5 Controller
  • Portable projector
  • Wireless touchpad
  • Smart speaker
  • Smartwatch
  • Nintendo Switch

Books

If your partner loves reading books, you can surprise them with a new book. The reason why books are a perfect Valentine’s Day gift is that it gives a personal touch. When you choose the book from a specific genre they love, they will know that you remember their preference. As a result, they will love you even more. You can give candies and flowers with the book, to make it festive. Here are some books you should give them:

  • The Glittering Hour by Iona Grey
  • The Kissing Game by Marie Harte
  • The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa
  • Love, Unscripted by Owen Nicholls
  • The Two Lives of Lydia Bird by Josie Silver
  • Love Her or Lose Her by Tessa Bailey
  • The Honey-Don’t List by Christina Lauren

Gift Clothing

The outfit is another perfect option to gift to your partner. Whether they are a man or a woman, they will love an incredible pair of jeans. You can buy them an outfit from their favorite brand. This means that you don’t have to look around for the perfect gift, you already know what they will love. Here are some options:

  • A pair of jeans
  • Crop top
  • Blouse
  • Sweatshirt
  • Sarong
  • Shorts
  • Gowns

Conclusion

Now as you know the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for your loved ones, what are you waiting for? Simply pick the category from the above-mentioned list and head to the store.

Categories
Health & Home Wellness

Cut Down On These Habits And See What Happens

Cut Down On These Habits And See What Happens

If you think you have a lot going on in your life and want to experience a change, try cutting down on these habits. Not only will they make your life easy and less busy, but they also help reduce the extra costs. This may sound like a fun experiment to you, but it is more than that. These are all good decisions that you can make to improve the functionality and efficiency of your life. Let’s have a look at what you can do to break habits and lead a better life.

Stop Buying Extra Stuff To Save Money

You can think of this list to any kind of list that can help you save money, time, and energy. However, we are specifically referring to a grocery or shopping list. A lot of people tend to buy extra stuff that they don’t really need when they are out grocery shopping.

Some people make it a habit to buy a specific thing every time they head out to the market. Most of the time, they are just collecting the same thing and hoarding it without making any use of it. What does it do for you?

You spend money on something that you don’t need and already have sitting at home. Moreover, things that are not needed but are still there take up storage space in your house.

Reduce Your Coffee Purchase Habits

It is normal and completely acceptable if you love your coffee. A lot of people can’t function without their daily dose of caffeine. But when you spoil yourself by getting a coffee on your way to work, it can rack up your expenses. If you are one of those people, the chances are that you spend a good fraction of money on just coffee.

You will realize how much you spend on coffee if you calculate how much it adds to when you get a coffee every day. Well, you can save that money by trying to make your morning coffee at home. Moreover, this will result in a reduced coffee reliance as it will reduce the amount of caffeine you take in each day.

Limit Dining Out To Save Money

Dining out can feel good and make any moment special. However, you should not ignore that it is also very costly at the same time. Dining out is a special occasion on its own, so cut down on how often you eat out. You can reserve it for special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries.

Most people stop by to have lunch on their way or go out for dinners when they’re just feeling lazy. This only adds up to spending extra money when it is not necessarily needed. It is better to get active and cook dinner and lunch at home to cut down on extra spending. You can go out on special days to keep celebrating any special events.

Conclusion

Saving money and breaking years-long habits is not easy, and you will find it quite hard to begin. You may also feel like giving up when you have a rough time. However, you will also find the results to be really rewarding and satisfying.

Categories
Financial Savings

How To Save Money On Utility Bills This Winter

How To Save Money On Utilities This Winter

Winter is cold for a lot of the United States. Winter is known for its snow and ice and below-freezing temperatures. While it can be a beautiful time of year, it can also become expensive.

Utility bills sometimes skyrocket during the cold months. If you want your home to be at a cozy temperature, your furnace may have to work extra hard, raising your bills to all-time highs.

But what if you are on a budget and cannot afford higher winter utility bills? Continue reading below to find out our top ways to save money on your utility bills this winter.

Insulate Your Home

Having a well-insulated home is crucial to keeping your utility bills low. Insulation will keep warm air inside and the cold air outside. Your furnace won’t work as hard to heat up your home when you have well-insulated walls, doors, and windows.

Open Curtains This Winter

This may sound inaccurate, but it is true. Having open curtains in the winter can allow the sun to shine through. The sun is a natural form of heat and can allow your home to warm up during the day. Be sure to close them at night when the sun goes down.

Keep Your Thermostat Lower

If you want lower utility bills you can try keeping your thermostat a degree or two lower. While it may not be as warm as you would like, it will reduce the amount you are spending.

Replace Furnace Filters This Winter

Replacing your furnace filter regularly, especially at the beginning of winter, will help your furnace work properly. You will know when to replace your filter when it has a layer of dust or dirt covering it.

Add Weatherstrips To Doors And Windows

If you add weatherstrips to your doors and windows it can be a great way to lower your utility bills. Weatherstrips will block and breeze or cold air from coming into your house.

Buy A Smart Thermostat

Buying a smart thermostat can help reduce your utility bills as well. The new technology in these thermostats is more accurate and precise than older thermostats. They will regulate your temperature and allow you to set them from your phone.

Check Your Vents This Winter

Sometimes people forget to check their air vents and don’t realize that they are blocked. A blocked air vent won’t allow the warm air from the furnace to be disbursed into your home. Your furnace will have to work double to accommodate the blocked vent.

Turn Down Your Water Heater

During the winter you may enjoy a hot shower. But having your water heater set too high can also mean a higher utility bill. Adjust your water heater’s temperature a few degrees to help save money.

The Take-Away

Although winter can be a more expensive time of year for utilities, it doesn’t have to be. With some adjustments and quick fixes, you can help alleviate the high bills and still be just as cozy and warm.

Categories
Financial

How to Write a Check: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Write a Check: A Step-by-Step Guide

Writing checks is not as complicated as many newbies think it is. Our world has turned digital, this made writing a check almost a thing of the past. But, sometimes it is still something you will have to do.

If you have never written a check, you may need to learn how to fill one out. In this article, we will learn how to write out a check. Continue reading for our step-by-step guide.

Step 1

The first thing you will need to do is rip off the first check on the perforated line. If you haven’t used a check from your checkbook before, your check number in the top right corner will likely start at number 01.

Step 2

Once you have your check, you will need to fill out the date. The date is located below the check number in the top right corner.

Be sure to date it correctly, as a wrong date can void the check.

Step 3

The next step is to make the check out to whoever it is going to. This line may be filled out to the name of a person or a business. Check your spelling to make sure it exactly matches who the check is going to. This should be filled out on the first line under your name and address.

Step 4

underneath the line that you just completed with the name, you will have to fill out the dollar amount in words. For example, if the check is for $5, you will write it out as Five Dollars. If the amount doesn’t have change, you will write 00/100 at the end. This means zero out of 100 cents.

Step 5

You will also have to write the dollar amount using numbers in the rectangle box next to the written form of the amount. Again, if the amount is $5, you will write it as $5.00. Always be sure to add the zeros at the end. A completed check is harder to change. Scammers are everywhere, so you will want to protect yourself from forgery.

Step 6

At the bottom of the check, in the left corner, you will see a line, this line is for writing what the check is for. Let’s say the check is for a utility bill, you will write “Water Bill” or “Gas Bill”. This line is for your records, but sometimes can help the receiver process where the check goes.

This line can also be used for account numbers. Depending on who you are writing the check out to, they may have a special request of what they want to be written on the line. Be sure to find out exactly what is needed before turning in the check.

Step 7

On the opposite bottom corner, you will see a line for you to sign. This is where you put your signature verifying that you are the person who wrote the check. Be sure to use your regular signature that matches what the bank has on file.

Categories
Credit Financial Real Estate

Buying a Home With a Partner Who Has Bad Credit

Buying a Home With a Partner Who Has Bad Credit

Buying a home is one of the biggest purchases you will ever make. It takes a lot of time and preparation to buy your first home. Sometimes our partner has less than good credit which can complicate the process.

If you have a partner with less than perfect credit, you may want to read below. We will discuss tips to make the buying process better.

Tip 1

If you are married and want the best interest rate on a mortgage, you can buy a home using only one partner’s credit.  Most states consider a property that is bought during a marriage to be both party’s responsibility.

The partner with the better credit puts the house in their name, using their income and credit. While you may not be able to buy as large of a house as if you used both partners’ income, you will get a better interest rate. It will also help your odds of approval.

Tip 2

Save up for a little while longer, and put down a higher down payment. The bank wants to see that you can be responsible for the mortgage payments. If you put down at least 20% as the downpayment on the loan, the bank will see that you have the ability to save.

A higher down payment means a lower mortgage amount, which can help if one partner has bad credit.

Tip 3

Wait until your partner raises their credit. Sometimes waiting is not fun. But in the end, it is worth it. Have your partner take a credit repair course to understand why their credit score is low. Once they understand why they have poor credit, they can begin to fix it.

Credit repair can be done by eliminating debt, paying credit cards and bills on time, and not applying for new credit. After six months to a year, your partners’ credit can be in a better place. Which will help with mortgage approval.

Tip 4

If your partner has bad credit, maybe you should look at buying a smaller home. If one person isn’t good with finances it may not be wise to buy a home that they can’t keep up with. You want to avoid foreclosure at all costs when buying a home.

Think of circumstances where your partner may be the one responsible for the home. If you lose your job or become injured, will your partner be able to take over a large home?

Tip 5

If you want to buy the home of your dreams, but your partner has poor credit, add another stream of income. The more money you make, the more likely you are to be approved for a home.

All Things Considered

With everything you know about the importance of mortgage preparation, you will want to find a plan that works best for you and your partner. You are not out of luck getting a mortgage if your partner has bad credit.

Categories
Career Career & Education

Getting The Most From Your Employer 401k Match

Getting The Most From Your Employer 401k Match

We all want to maximize our money coming in each week. With our jobs and savings, we have more options now than ever to increase profits. Savings accounts accrue interest and our employers supply 401k programs.

But did you know that most employers also have a 401k match program? A 401k is a great way to plan for retirement. Since many employers now offer a match program, growing your retirement fund has never been easier.

A 401k match program is essentially free money. Every time you put money into your 401k, your employer puts money into the account as well.

How To Start A 401k Match Program

Not all employers will offer a 401k match program. But it is never a bad thing to reach out to HR and ask if they do. Ask your employer what options they have available for your 401k.

Some employers will offer a full 100% match, while others offer a 50% match. Depending on the company, you may be able to work up to a 100% match after a few years of employment.

Are There Limits To The Programs?

The most simplified answer to this is, yes. There are limits on 401k match programs depending on the rules set by your employer. No two companies are exactly the same, so your new employer may differ completely from your old employer.

Most employers match up to a certain percentage of your income. For example, let’s say your employer will match 100% of 4% of your income, and you contribute 5% to your 401k. Your total amount contributed would be 9%.

On the other hand, let’s say that your employer will match 50% of 3 percent of your income, and you contribute 1% to your 401k. Your total amount would be 1.5%.

The higher amount you put into your 401k, the higher the match will be. It is always best to put in at least the minimum percent of what they are willing to match. If they match 5%, you should put in 5%. Anything less is essentially losing money that could be offered.

Are Their Caps On My 401k Investment

Yes, there is a cap on your investment. The only drawback to a 401k in my opinion is the limits set on how much you can earn each year.

For 2022, the maximum amount you can contribute is $20,500 for the year. If your employer has a 401k match program, the limit increases to $61,000. If you want to save more money for your retirement you may want to consider an IRA account.

Don’t Exceed Your Limits

Since there are limits on how much you can contribute to your 401k each year, you have to be aware of how much is going into the account. You do not want to exceed your allowed amount because you may be taxed twice on the amount earned. Reach out to HR before tax day to fix the issue and avoid double taxation.

Categories
Financial Loans

Interest Rate Hikes May Come Very Soon

Interest Rate Hikes May Come Sooner

Interest rates, oh interest rates, how we wish you were low forever. But this is not the reality of how interest rates work. And soon, interest rate hikes may grow higher and higher.

During the start of the pandemic, rates were lowered to help grow the economy. If interest rates are low, more people are likely the make purchases using their credit cards or buy homes.

Now that inflation has pushed our economy to the brink, it is expected that interest rates will grow as well. Inflation is at an all-time high, growing more in one year than the previous 30.

It is predicted that interest rates will be raised 3 times during the year 2022. Some people predict that as soon as March hits, rates will begin to climb. They feel the economy has recovered enough that it is time to begin the rate hike.

What Causes Interest Rate Increases?

Interest rate increases are caused by supply and demand. The more people need or want credit, the higher the rates are. The fewer people need or want credit, the lower the rates are.

With the distribution of stimulus checks and government aid during the beginning of the pandemic, people didn’t need as much credit. They were more mindful of their purchases and had the extra cash to buy their necessities.

Now that the government has stopped funding its people, they are back to a new sense of normalcy. Applying for credit and such as they would have before. This means it is time for rate hikes.

Is Inflation A Threat To Our Economy?

Inflation has risen 7% during 2021, and there are no signs that it is stopping anytime soon. Most experts claim that prices will not go back to pre-pandemic levels, and this is our new normal.

Some experts believe that prices will continue to climb well into the year 2024, and with current rates of inflation, that could be devastating for some communities.

Because of the high inflation rates, the cost of rent and other goods are through the roof. These prices are making the average person look for other means to have sustainable living.

What Happens If Interest Rates Increase Too Fast?

If they increase too fast, it could impact the global economy. Many believe it is risky and could be a better solution to keep them low for a while.

Central banks set a standard for rates that are used for loans and debts. When rates skyrocket, fewer people will meet the demand of purchases. Higher interest rates mean a higher cost of goods, and when an economy is already struggling it can be hard to keep up.

Keep In Mind

With high levels of inflation, comes various unforeseen financial drawbacks. We must increase interest rates in order to keep the supply chain satisfied. When we keep rates low for a prolonged amount of time it can hinder the growth of the economy.