When you’re looking at family ski vacations, you want to spend less time stressing about the planning and more time getting ready for the slopes.

Ski vacations can be pricey, but the right planning ahead of time can save you bundles of money and stress. With these tips, we’ll show you how to get your family on the ski adventure of your dreams without all the stress.

Be Flexible — But Not Too Flexible!

If you are flexible with your travel dates, you’ll be able to take advantage of promotions and deals. You can often score big discounts if you go on less popular days.

But you also don’t want to go so far chasing a deal that you compromise your vacation! Remember, skiing is a seasonal sport. Without snow, you’re out of luck!

So, if you see a great deal, check what the average weather conditions are like for that area during the time you’re thinking of going. If March in that area is notoriously warm, or they usually don’t have snow by late December, the savings probably aren’t worth the risk.

Instead, consider being flexible with where you are willing to go. 40 states have ski resorts, so you’ve got a ton of choice.

It may be worth going further to get to the resort if you can take advantage of a great sale. So when you’re searching for resorts, cast a wide net.

Consider Alternative Accommodations

A hotel or chalet room might be your default thought when it comes to ski vacations accommodation, but it isn’t necessarily the best one.

Less traditional accommodation can sometimes provide big savings. Condo or vacation home rentals come with kitchen facilities. This means you don’t have to pay to eat all your meals out. Instead, you can cook something healthy and hearty to give your family the energy they need to ski all day!

Plus, vacation homes are often big enough to split with other friends or relatives, helping cut down on costs while making your vacation more social.

Many ski resorts offer these sorts of alternative accommodations. For example, https://www.whistlerpremier.com has vacation homes and condos all throughout Whistler.

Rent, Don’t Buy

Unless you are a family of avid skiers, you probably don’t need to buy your own equipment. It would take a ton of trips for it to be more economical than renting.

When you own the skis, you need to store and upkeep them, and it makes plane travel more expensive. Plus, your kids will be constantly outgrowing their old skis.

Renting is much more economical. However, you will want to buy a few necessities. Ski goggles, gloves, good coats and snow pants are all a must.

Budget Everything

Once you’ve decided on your resort and accommodation, you can draft an accurate budget.

Check out the prices of the resort restaurants by looking at the menus beforehand. Figure out where you can get groceries if your accommodation has a kitchen. Factor in any clothes you still need to buy, like sweaters or long underwear. Don’t forget to stock up on travel essentials like your first aid kit.

And don’t forget a bit of pocket money! You can be sure you’ll want to buy a round of hot chocolates to warm up after a long day on the slopes, and a few souvenirs never hurt. Factoring these expenses into your budget will keep you from overspending.

Wrapping Up

Ski vacations are an absolute blast! With the right planning, you can make sure that yours goes flawlessly.

With some flexibility about your dates, resort, and accommodation, taking advantage of rentals, and having a solid budget, you can set yourself up for a great trip.

Are you planning a ski vacation? How did your last trip go? Leave a reply and let us know!

It’s obvious that children love animals. From toys to clothing to movies, animals are everywhere!

Even more than animals in general, kids love their pets.

There’s a reason why veterinarian is always a top answer when kids are asked what they want to be when they grow up.

Getting pets for kids can benefit them in so many ways. In this article, we’re breaking down the top five reasons why.

5 Benefits of Pets For Kids

Pets teach kids valuable lessons and life skills. Plus, they just make them so happy. What’s cuter than kids and puppies together?

Here are the best of those lessons, life skills, and joys!

1. Companionship

It’s no secret that pets and their owners experience a special bond. This bond gives both parties a sense of companionship. This companionship can be particularly comforting for kids.

It’s been proven that pets help reduce stress levels, likely because of their non-judgmental affection.

Kids are comfortable in front of their pets, even when it comes to developing skills like reading.

Reading to pets can help kids feel more confident when reading aloud. It helps shelter pets feel less anxious too.

2. Socialization

Interacting with pets helps kids learn how to socialize with humans too.

Kids, especially infants and toddlers, often find a connection with pets that is much easier to navigate than the complicated social world of humans.

Studies show that kids with pets often develop higher levels of self-esteem. This is likely due to the sense of competency that results from successfully taking care of another being.

3. Responsibility

It is important for kids to learn the effects of their actions, specifically the importance of responsibility.

Assigning a child with the responsibility of caring for their pet gives them the appreciation that they won’t get from completing other chores: the animal’s love.

The fun aspects, like play time and meal time, are great for young kids to take on. As they get older, it’s also good for a kid to learn the less fun responsibilities, like cleaning up after the pet. This helps to teach them to put in the work for the things they love in life.

4. Nurturing

Having to remember to care for another living being is a great lesson for a child’s developing mind and developing ego.

Kids who learn to instinctually care for a pet at a young age have a leg up in developing their sense of empathy.

Plus, the practice of being a caregiver builds instincts that we keep for a lifetime.

5. Family Bond

A pet that the whole family cares for can help strengthen the bond between family members.

Families grow closer with the shared experiences centered around the pet.

Even if a pet isn’t conducive to your lifestyle, animal centered activities can still help the family bond.

For example, a trip to an Interactive Aquarium can give the whole family new shared experiences outside of the day-to-day activities of school and work.

There You Have It!

Pets for kids can be a great developmental tool and a great way to make them happy all in one.

For more articles on kids and parenting, click here.

We’ve all been there. Your savings are drained, you won’t get your next paycheck for a couple of weeks, and your car breaks down. Maybe your roof needs to be repaired.

If you’re in a jam and need money now, don’t abandon hope. There are several ways to get what you need, including the five options listed below.

What To Do When You Need Money Now

Look for Things to Sell

One of the first things you should do when you need money now is to start looking for things that you can sell. Take old clothes to a consignment store, or take some electronics to a pawn shop.

Depending on the amount of money you need, getting cash for things you don’t want or use anymore can be a great option.

You can also look into things like paid surveys and product testing opportunities to make some extra cash.

Get a Loan

If you need more than you’re able to get from selling old clothes and other items, you might want to consider getting a loan.

Personal loans from a bank are a good option, especially if you have a good credit score. Good credit generally means lower interest rates. You can also look into home equity loans and lines of credit for major expenses.

If your credit is not great and you’re not able to get a loan from a bank, you can also consider borrowing from a private money lender instead.

Get a Cash Advance

Most credit cards offer cash advances. If you need money now, check your cardholder agreement to see is a cash advance is an option. You can get an advance through an ATM, bank withdrawal, or checks that work like a short-term loan.

If you go this route, keep in mind that you’ll likely be charged a transaction fee. Cash advances also tend to have higher interest rates than your card’s usual rate.

Borrow from Yourself

If you’re able, borrowing from yourself is another good option as well. If you’ve invested money in a 401(k) or IRA, you can take a loan from one of these accounts. Interest rates will be lower and your credit score won’t be affected.

Keep in mind, though, that you might have to pay the loan back within a certain time frame to avoid penalties. You may also have to pay it back in its entirety if you lose your job; otherwise, the loan will be considered an early withdrawal.

Look into Peer-to-Peer Lending

Peer-to-peer lending sites allow you to get a personal loan from a stranger who is interested in lending as a source of investment. Just like other types of loans, interest rates for this kind of loan are often based on your credit score.

Before you get a peer loan, you might need to provide pay stubs to prove your income. You’ll also be expected to stick to a payment schedule to avoid late fees.

Find More Options

If you need more advice on ways to get cash quickly, whether it’s for an emergency or to start building up your emergency fund again, check out the rest of our blog!

If you know of any other ways to bring in some quick cash, leave a comment below. We’d love to hear from you.

Many people don’t realize the potential risks and dangers present in the average home. If you slip and fall, it can affect your mobility, balance, and strength, so it’s important to do everything possible to avoid this.

We’re going to tell you about 5 easy and simple tips for slip proofing your home. While there are many anti-slip solutions, you can’t take care of every possible freak accident. You have to concentrate on what can be controlled, and that’s your home!

1. Make Sure Your Lights Work

Many slips happen simply because you can’t see in the darkness. You may find it useful to walk around your home and examine the potential slip and falls risks as you go.

If the light switches don’t work, your light bulb is dead or if you don’t have the appropriate amount of lighting in a certain room, this could increase the probability of slipping. If you have stairs in your home, it can be especially useful to have light switches at both the bottom and tops of your stairs.

It’s also important that the wiring for the lights doesn’t cross an entrance or walkway. This could cause someone to trip up on the wiring. It may be useful to use furniture to secure wiring against the walls.

2. Slip Proofing Your Bathrooms and Showers

Some flooring is more slippery than others!

Due to the increased probability of wet floors, the bathroom is the most important room to slip proof. Not only is it likely to have a wet floor, but add soap to the equation make it a particularly risky area.

To reduce the risk of slipping, you could install grab bars on the walls to provide support when you are getting in and out of the shower or bath tub. This may not be enough to prevent a fall if your feet slip. That’s why you need to a bath mat and slip resistant flooring and coatings for the shower and bath tub.

3. Wear Shoes Indoors

Many people don’t like to wear shoes indoors. But by wearing shoes or slippers with rubber soles will significantly reduce your chances of slipping on a wet surface.

4. Make Clear Pathways

Sometimes slip proofing is very easy. By removing any items, clutter or small furniture that could cause someone to slip you could help prevent falls in your home.

5. Arrange Things Conveniently

If you have to reach awkwardly for the corner cabinet every morning to get the coffee, then you are unnecessarily risking slipping.

Consider rearranging the items you used the most regularly conveniently and accessible. If you arrange the items that you use every day, such as dishes and glasses, in the most accessible places and items you use less frequently, in the less convenient places, you’ll save time and reduce risk.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know the top 5 Slip Proofing Tips for an Accident-Free Home, you can get started on making your home slip-proof.

If you have any questions about slip proofing or anything else, get in touch!

Your teenager is never too young to take a self defense class. While you may think your teenager doesn’t need to worry about an attacker, there are some pretty grim statistics out there that would argue otherwise.

For example, persons between the ages of 12 and 24 experience the highest rates of violent crime. 

Violence against women proves to be an especially severe problem in the United States. One survey found that 23 percent of college women experience some form of unwanted sexual contact during their college years.

These statistics aren’t meant to encourage you to lock your kids in the house until they’re 30.

Instead, these numbers should encourage you to be proactive about equipping your teenagers with the right tools to protect themselves in violent situations.

And one of the best tools you can equip them with is self defense training.

Let’s take a look at 5 urgent reasons you should book self defense classes for teens.

1. Don’t Question Intuition

Most parents raise their children to be polite and respectful towards others, and especially towards adults.

This is great. However, teenagers need to understand that if they’re in an uncomfortable or dangerous situation, they don’t need to be polite. They should trust their intuition and leave.

Self defense classes for teens teach that it is okay to stand your ground against someone who is making you feel threatened. These classes teach that safety is always the number one priority and that coming off as rude should always be the least of their concerns.

2. Learn Prevention

Many people are under the impression that self defense classes are all about kicking and throwing punches.

However, a big aspect of a self-defense class is prevention. Prevention is the best way to avoid an attacker.

Self defense classes for teens teach the key components of prevention:

• Being aware of surroundings
• Avoiding risky places at night
• Conveying confident body language

3. Goal Isn’t to Fight

Self-defense classes help teach teens that fighting an attacker is always the last resort.

This is a very important lesson to learn, as many teens will not stand a chance against an attacker who is larger than them.

These classes teach teens that their primary goal is to shock or hurt their attacker so they can get away.

It’s very important for teens to know an attacker’s vulnerable spots: the knees, groin, eyes, and neck.

Classes teach teens how to attack these areas using their hands or using a device, such as a self defense keychain. 

4. Mental Toughness

Most teens struggle with self-confidence.

Self defense teaches teenagers how to face the unexpected and break through uncomfortable situations. There’s no doubt that your teen will come out of these classes a more confident person.

5. Never Blame a Victim

If your teenager does experience an attack, it’s not their fault. Victims should never be blamed for an attack.

Self defense classes help teens learn this important concept. They also teach teens what to do if a friend or family member confides in them that they’ve been attacked.

Self Defense Classes For Teens: Wrap Up

We hope this article convinces you of the benefits of self defense classes.

If you have any questions about self defense for teens, please don’t hesitate to drop us a comment.