Category: Frugal Living Tips

When most people think of going to the chiropractor, they think of the “rack’em and crack’em” types of chiropractors who give the industry a bad name.

Yet, there are many benefits of chiropractic care. More people than ever are experiencing low back pain and other preventable illnesses. Chiropractic care has become a reliable form of treatment for many ailments that aren’t just limited to the spine.

Are you ready to learn about the benefits of chiropractic care? Read on to discover what they are.

1. Undo Some of the Damage from Sitting All Day

They say that sitting is the new smoking. We sit at work, in traffic, watching TV, or just relaxing. All of that sitting is doing us a lot of harm.

Your hips get tight, which pulls everything out of alignment and can lead to low back pain. Chiropractic care can help alleviate some of that low back pain.

2. Improve Immune System

You probably didn’t realize that chiropractic care can improve your immune system, but it can.

Your spine is extremely important to the rest of your body. It’s in your back and it holds up your body. There’s so much more to it than that, which is why chiropractic care is so effective.

Your spine is also home to many different muscles in your back and the central nervous system. The nervous system communicates with the rest of your body to manage pain and manage the basic workings of your body.

When your spine isn’t aligned properly, the systems misfire, leaving your body more vulnerable to illness and ailments.

3. Pain Relief

There are many reasons why you experience pain. Most of the time, muscles are tight, which can pull the skeleton out of alignment. This can impact nerves which is the pain that you feel.

When you visit a chiropractor, you’ll quickly discover the difference between having a body that’s aligned and misaligned.

4. Realign Your Body

The physical structure of your body is really a kinetic chain of events. Your feet serve as the base of your body. Your ankles, knees, hips, and back all play a significant role in how your body moves.

If there’s one thing out of whack, it can cause injury. That’s why you see so many weekend warriors on the bench with injuries. Even those old injuries you had in college can throw your body off if they didn’t heal properly.

Chiropractors look at the alignment of your entire body, and they have the tools to get your body back on track.

5. It’s Natural

How would you like to recover from pain, move better, and sleep better without drugs? You can with chiropractic care.

One of the benefits of chiropractic care is that it is a completely natural treatment. It’s a manipulation of your spine, which impacts your nervous system. The alignment does all of the work without the

6. Improve Range of Motion

When your body is properly aligned, you move better. You’re able to get a full range of motion after an adjustment because your muscles have the skeletal support to move properly.

If the muscles don’t have the support to move well, they simply won’t which can lead to injury.

7. Sleep Better

Chiropractors can help you sleep better. After an adjustment, you experience less discomfort and your blood flow is improved. This is a recipe to sleep much better.

8. Chiropractic Care Can Be Used on Children

Chiropractic care is a very safe way to treat pain and keep our body aligned and nervous system functioning well. It’s so safe, it is often used on children and even infants.

9. Recover from Car Accidents

Car accidents can do a lot of damage to your body. Even a simple fender-bender can cause whiplash or other back issues. Any type of sharp physical trauma can cause your body to be sore.

It may take a few days for symptoms to show up because your muscles are trying to heal. When you do experience soreness, it can be difficult to function.

Chiropractors can help you recover from these injuries with a thorough treatment plan. View here for more information.

10. More Insurance Companies Cover Chiropractic Care

The reputation of chiropractic care used to be that it was full of hacks. As more studies were done on the benefits of chiropractic care, it was obvious that it’s a sound form of treatment.

Insurance companies started to include chiropractic care as part of their plans. They realized that chiropractors can complement treatment for many different issues.

When to Go to a Chiropractor

You may see the many benefits of chiropractic care, but you’re not sure if it’s what you need right now.  You might think that a massage therapist would be a better option.

Massage and chiropractic care are two different methods of treating pain and other ailments. Massage mainly deals with surface-level muscular issues and soreness. It’s a great way to recover from an athletic event or to relax from a stressful day.

Chiropractic care is more specialized. It can be used to treat pain but a variety of other issues.

If you’re still not sure, you’ll want to visit a chiropractor who can tell you what the best method of treatment will be.

You’ll want to find a good chiropractor in your area. You can start looking for one by asking your network for recommendations and check online reviews for chiropractors in your area.

The Many Benefits of Chiropractic Care

You may be surprised to learn about the benefits of chiropractic care. It does so much more than treating back pain.

It can improve your immune system, align your entire body, and reduce pain. Overall, chiropractic care is a way to make your body work better.

Do you want more great lifestyle tips? Head over to the health and fitness section of the blog for more great articles.

Most Americans get around 15 to 20 paid vacation days, and 52 percent of them don’t even use them all up. With so little paid time off, you may feel the pressure to make it the perfect trip, which may give you a lot of unneeded stress.

Vacation should be a fun time, so you need to eliminate the anxiety surrounding it. In this article, we’ll give you some anti-stress tips so your future vacations can be as dreamy as you envision them to be.

Exercise More

You may feel like you already have enough on your plate, so you might be skipping out on your regular gym routine to conserve energy. But the truth is, exercising can take some of that stress away by letting you blow off some steam.

Also, by burning that extra anxious energy off, you’ll be able to sleep better at night. If you’re tossing and turning after you turn off the lights, adding some physical activity can aid in wearing you out and providing for better sleep quality. That way, you’ll feel refreshed in the morning and ready to tackle the day.

Cut Out Caffeine

We know; coffee is an important part of your daily life, and if you could get an IV drip of it, you’d do it. But caffeine is a stimulant after all, which can make your heart race, give you the jitters, and even make you break out in cold sweat. All these symptoms aren’t very fun to deal with when you’ve got an important break coming up.

If you can’t cut out caffeine completely, at least consider switching to something with less of it. For instance, swap out coffee or energy drinks for tea or soda.

Start a List Early

Worried about forgetting something important for the trip? Then start a list early. You can jot it down on a Post-It, start a document in Google Docs, or put it down on a whiteboard.

As things slowly come to you, put them down on the list until it becomes a big comprehensive one. That way, by the time to pack comes, you’ll have a good list to work from.

Start Packing Early

If you’re especially anxious about your upcoming trip, not only should you start a list early, but you should pack in advance if possible. When you jot something down on your list, see if you can throw it into the suitcase already. For instance, if the thing you’re writing down is your bikini, then put that in there if you aren’t going swimming anytime soon.

Not only can this cut down on vacation stress, but it can also save you time as the departure date gets nearer. You won’t have to dedicate an entire day to packing!

Take Care of the Not-So-Fun Things

Yes, it’s a break from real life, but unfortunately, there are a few things you need to take care of before you can totally kick back and relax. The sooner you get these things done, the less stressful it’s going to be.

Not only do you have to ask for time off of work, but you may also have to arrange for things like a new passport or apply for a travel visa. If you have pets or are leaving your children at home, you’ll also have to find people to look after them.

For any travelers who are on medications, make sure you have enough to last you for the whole trip. It may also be prudent to ask your doctor for some extras in case they get lost.

Consider Using a Travel Agent

To really take the stress away from your vacation, consider using a travel agent. While it’ll be more expensive, it may be worth it to reduce your anxiety.

Travel agents can also help you plan an itinerary or get you on a group tour so you don’t have to plan your days yourself. When someone else has control over these factors, it can really take a load off your shoulders.

Try Using CBD Oil

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a cannabinoid, which means it’s related to THC. However, it won’t get you high, which means you can reap the benefits without any impairment to your judgment.

CBD may be beneficial in treating anxiety, so it may be worth a try to add it to your regimen to help calm your nerves. When your thoughts aren’t going a million miles an hour, it can help you plan better and appreciate your time off more. Products such as Kula CBD can help alleviate any anxiety you have and let you fully enjoy your trip.

Don’t Expect It to Be Perfect

There’s bound to be little kinks in your plans, so it’s not worth your energy to stress out about them. The higher your expectations are for the trip, the more anxiety you’ll have when things don’t work out.

Just remember that you’re away from home and the worries of everyday life. You’ll fully appreciate your trip when you can take things in good stride and find the positive side in every situation.

Use These Anti-Stress Tips to Have a Great Time

It’s normal to feel a little stressed out about an upcoming trip, but if it’s dominating your emotions, then it may detract from your enjoyment. This may defeat the whole purpose of going on vacation in the first place.

Going on vacation should be a happy time, so use these anti-stress tips to get rid of the negative feelings surrounding it. You’ll definitely feel a world of difference and the weight lift off your shoulders. And not only can you use these tips for your fun trips, but for everyday life too!

If you want more interesting reading material, check out our blog section.

There’s undoubtedly a lot of good in the world. Unfortunately, there’s quite a bit of bad as well. This is particularly true for women, who are vulnerable to danger both in and outside of their homes. 

For this reason, as women, we must take extra measures to ensure our safety throughout the course of our lives. Curious as to what these measures are? Here are the top 10 safety tips for women to utilize. 

The Top Safety Tips for Women

Fortunately, whether you’re sitting at home alone or walking the streets at night, there are plenty of ways to keep yourself safe. The best methods include the following. 

1. Maintain Awareness

First and foremost, you must maintain awareness at all times, particularly when you’re out in public. Your eyes and your ears must both be attuned to what is happening around you. When you fail to take in your surroundings, you leave yourself vulnerable. 

For instance, when walking to your car late at night, you would be best served by leaving your phone in your pocket. Looking at your phone impairs your awareness of your surroundings, giving you little time to react in the event that you’re met with trouble. 

Get to your car and get back home. Then you’ll have plenty of time to look at your phone and to do whatever else you need to do. 

2. Answer the Doorbell 

Old wisdom goes that, if the doorbell is rung past dark, you should ignore it. While the logic behind this makes sense, it’s not quite rooted in reality.

See, many intruders ring doorbells to ensure that homeowners aren’t home. If no one answers, they assume the house is empty, prompting them to break into it later in the night. 

So, if you want to keep intruders out of your house, you should answer the doorbell. If it’s rung past dark, you might even want to think about calling the police. 

3. Listen to Your Heart

Everyone has instincts. Everyone gets that feeling in their gut when they think that something’s amiss. You’re advised to trust this feeling and to listen to your heart in every situation you encounter. 

For example, let’s say a strange man asks you for help with something. You feel uneasy about it, but also don’t want to come across as rude. For this reason, you decide to help him.

This is a mistake!

You’re under no obligation to help anyone with anything, particularly if that person makes you feel uncomfortable. The reason that you feel uneasy is that your brain is triggering a stress response. In other words, your body is telling you that something’s not right. 

Don’t worry about being polite. Say, “Sorry, I can’t,” and walk toward the closest group of people you can find. 

4. Keep Your Doors Locked at All Times 

Home alone? Whether it’s the middle of the day or the middle of the night, you’re advised to keep your doors locked. 

While most home intrusions occur at night, it’s not unheard of for an intruder to make his or her way into a home by the light of the day. Some unseemly individuals will even break into a home early in the day so that they can accost the homeowners later that night. 

5. Plan Strategically 

It’s a sad reality, but the truth of the matter is that, when you’re out in public, you need to have everything planned out. By planning your actions throughout the day, you reduce the risk of something going awry. 

For instance, when making your way to your car, you should have a direct route in your mind. In addition, you should also have scheduled phone calls with a friend or family member. This way, someone knows that you’re safe and that there’s no cause for alarm. 

Generally, it’s when someone deviates from their plan that they encounter danger. Stick to the plan and stay safe.  

6. Take Self-Defense Training Courses 

While your first line of defense against a dangerous situation should be to run, running isn’t always an option. For situations such as these, you need to know some self-defense tactics. While men are generally stronger than women, certain self-defense moves will give women a fighting chance. 

Regardless of where you live, there are sure to be self-defense training courses nearby. You’re advised to sign up for them so that you can be prepared in times of trouble. 

7. Scream!

The last thing an unscrupulous individual wants is for someone to draw attention to his or her unscrupulous activity. That’s why, if you’re accosted by someone in public, you’re advised to scream as loud as you can. 

By screaming, you not only prompt the unscrupulous individual to fear repercussions and flee the scene, but you also alert others of your distress, causing them to come to your defense. 

8. Carry Pepper Spray 

Pepper spray is not an end-all-be-all defense against bad guys. However, it can help to stop an individual in his or her tracks, giving you time to flee a dangerous situation. As such, you should always keep pepper spray on your person. 

9. Stay in the Public Eye 

It’s fairly rare that a seedy individual would try to assault someone in a crowded area. After all, if an assault happens in the public eye, the assaulter will have to face consequences. 

This is why you should stay in the public eye as much as possible. Don’t walk dark streets alone at night. Always be in the proximity of other human beings. 

10. Run, Don’t Fight 

As was noted above, when accosted in the streets, your first instinct shouldn’t be to fight. It should be to run. 

Unless you’re a bodybuilder, there’s very little chance that you’ll be able to overpower a man. In other words, if you try to fight, you’ll probably lose. Run as fast as you can until you find another group of people. 

Learn Other Important Life Tips 

And there they are, the top safety tips for women. If you want to remain safe and sound, you would be wise to put these tips to use. 

Looking for other important life tips? Thrifty Momma Ramblings can help. Our site is loaded with life tips, covering everything from safety to finances to travel and more.

Take a look at our other articles now! 

We all want dazzling teeth, but so many of us can’t afford the hefty price tag that comes with it. Dentists recommend we go for a check-up every six months, but sometimes we encounter emergency dental problems that cost a fortune.

There are, however, many ways we can forgo the eye-watering bill and keep your savings for a dream vacation or as a back-up fund. Here are tips on how to save money on dental work.

1. Take Preventative Measures

A simple way to save on dental procedures is to ensure you are taking good care of your teeth. Regular brushing and flossing will decrease the chances of having to get fillings. Another solution, great for kids, is to have a dental sealant which prevents 60% of decay at one-third of the cost of filling a cavity.

Also, keep a balanced diet to protect your teeth by providing them with the right nutrients. You can do this by limiting your sugar intake, taking vitamins and drinking plenty of water throughout the day. 

2. Triage

If you need more dental work than expected, ask your dentist which procedures are urgent and which ones can wait. If your dentist knows you’re tight on funds, she or he may recommend temporary fixes to hold you over until a permanent fix is possible. 

3. Ask for a Cash Discount

It sounds cheeky but you can ask for a dentist cash discount if you’re paying cash. Since you’ll be saving him credit card fees and billing hassles, he’ll most likely agree. Emphasize that you can pay full up-front so he knows that you’re reliable and making a serious offer.

4. Get Dental Insurance 

Buying dental insurance can save you money if you know you’ll be in the dentist chair often. Make sure you can postpone treatment until the policy is valid and verify that it covers your treatment.

5. Buy a Dental Discount Plan

Another way to save on dental care is to buy a dental discount plan. This is an option if your employer doesn’t offer dental insurance or if the premium ones are out of your budget. A dental discount plan means you pay a small, one-time fee each year (around $100) and all your dental work will be discounted.

6. Go to a Dental School

If you want a super discount on your dental care, consider having cleaning and work done at a dental school. Students (under the supervision of instructors) will undertake the procedure and you only have to pay a fraction of the normal cost.

Dental schools offer a variety of treatments such as crowns, fillings, implants, braces, and whitening, so check up a local school near you.

7. Visit Dental Care Events

For those who want to save dental, there are many events that offer free dental care nationwide. Sometimes at large-venue events, thousands of people are treated in a day or over the weekend. Many dentists offer a free exam, cleaning, extraction, and other dental procedures.  

8. Use Coupons

Many dentists send coupons in the mail or you can find them on Valpak.com. To find a coupon, type in your zip code or city name and narrow the results by adding “dentist” to your search. You’ll find many deals offering an exam, x-rays, and cleaning for as low as $48.

9. Use Online Reviews

Checking out dentist reviews gives you a better idea of their rates and services. You should create a list of acceptable dentists and call the office directly to ask about a specific treatment like dental implants.

10. Be Wary about Corporate Dentists

Corporate and private-practice dentists have major differences. For example, corporate dentists are employees and their bosses are determined they meet quotas and profit goals.

Corporate dentists are less flexible about offering cheaper alternatives and try to up-sell compared to a private practice. Taking to the owner of a practice is far more comfortable when discussing treatment and payment options.

12. Use a Health Savings Account 

A Health Savings Account is another way to save money for your dental work. Finding a suitable Health Savings Account lets you put pre-tax money to the side which you can use for dental care whilst lowering your overall health costs.

The Internal Revenue Service allows money to be saved in an HSA to be used for procedures such as teeth cleaning, apply sealants and fluoride treatments to prevent tooth decay.

12. Go to a Specialist Only When Necessary

Many patients splurge on an appointment with a specialist when a more affordable general dentist is all they need. If you’re getting a wisdom tooth extracted by an oral surgeon, compare costs as it could save you a bundle.

13. Get a Second Opinion

If you go to your dentist with a toothache and he proposes a treatment plan that will cost you hundreds, take a step back. Call another dentist for a second opinion. And when you schedule an appointment, ask for a free consultation to avoid another exam and bring recent X-rays so you don’t have to pay extra.

Now You Know How to Save Money on Dental Work, Good Luck!

Going to the dentist can be scary not just for the potential discomfort, but because of the potential cost of your treatment. Luckily, there are many ways to prevent this such as searching for coupons, applying for dental insurance and even receiving treatment from student dentists.

Finally, always double-check how much your treatment should cost and compare it with other dentists to ensure you’re getting the best deal. 

Looking for more helpful content? Check out the rest of our blog!

We’ve all been there before.

It’s the weekend and you have plenty of free time on your hands, but no real plans. You don’t want to spend a lot of money doing something that might not even be all that fun, but you don’t want to sit around doing nothing, either. 

Luckily, there are tons of cheap things to do on any weekend that are sure to be a good time!

In need of something that isn’t costly that you can do with a group of friends? Or something fun that you can do by yourself at the house?

No matter your situation, worry no longer because we’re here to help!

In this article, we’ll discuss 9 things to do on the weekend that won’t cost you a ton of money but will still provide you and your friends with a ton of fun.

Now then, let’s get started!

1. Host a Movie Night

Going to the theatre to see a new movie can be quite costly. Once you’ve paid for your ticket, some snacks, maybe even a soda, you’ve often spent a pretty penny just to see a movie that may or may not be any good. 

Well, you can get a very similar but far less expensive experience in your own home by hosting your very own private movie night! Rent a movie, or watch an old favorite that you already own, on your big screen at home.

Make some snacks, or go get a few bags of candy and other treats from the grocery store, and invite some friends to join you. You and your friends can have fun together on the cheap by staying at home and having a movie night party together. 

2. Take a Hike

Getting outside and enjoying what mother nature has to offer is often free and a great way to spend your time. 

Assuming the weather is right, getting outside and hiking with a friend or two is the perfect way to spend any weekend. And on top of having a good time, you’ll be practicing good health, too, which is always a good thing.

3. Check out the Arcade

Finding a local arcade can be a bit tough in 2019. But if you are fortunate enough to live in an area where there’s a fun spot to play some games, consider checking it out this weekend.

Grab a couple of friends and have a competition to see who can get the best overall score on various games. The person with the highest score gets bragging rights until the next time you guys visit the arcade. 

4. Play Some Games at Home

If you don’t have an arcade nearby, but still want to get your game on with your friends, play a home console or even go old school and break out the board games! You can make it a competition, or just play for fun.

And if your friends aren’t local, online gaming is a great way to play with your buddies.

5. Do an Escape Room

You’ve probably noticed that escape rooms are all the rage right now, with new locations popping up in your area all the time.

Well, it doesn’t cost much to load up a car with your friends and take on the nearest escape room challenge near you. Navigating your way through a revolutionary war escape room, or another themed adventure is a great way to learn about yourself and your friends while having fun in the process.

6. Get Crafty in the Kitchen

If you’re someone who can handle yourself in the kitchen, head to the grocery store and pick up any ingredients you need to cook something delicious.

Turn up the music and jam out while you get your bake on with your pals. Whether it’s something sweet, or a delicious meal, you’ll have a ton of fun cooking something with your friends or family.

7. Do Some Spring Cleaning

Sure, cleaning all day might not be your idea of fun. But a productive Saturday or Sunday where you not only get things cleaned and organized but find things to get rid of isn’t a bad way to spend your time.

And once you’re done, you’ll have a home that feels warm and welcoming, which makes it all worth it in the end. 

8. Learn a New Skill

Thanks to the internet, it’s never been easier to learn a new skill in just a few short days. From YouTube tutorials to sites like Skillshare, you can easily and quickly pick up a new skill in a few hours.

So whether you want to start your journey to learning a new language, or pick up an instrument for the first time, consider trying to learn a new skill this weekend.

9. Create a Dream Board

Last but not least, one of the coolest (and most fun) things you can do this weekend is to create a dream board. Using the dream board, you can set goals, both short term and long term, that you will aim to achieve over time.

This is something that a lot of people do, and it can really help you find happiness and success in your personal and professional life.

Try These Fun Things to Do on the Weekend

Well, there you have it! Those are 9 cheap things to do on the weekend that are sure to be a good time! So whether you’re rolling solo, or hanging with your friends, you’ll be sure to have a good time doing anything on this list!

Remember, you can have a movie night experience at home and save a ton of cash. Or you can do something for yourself and by yourself, like creating a dream board or learning a new skill, and still have fun. 

Looking for more tips on how to live frugally? Check out our blog!