Author: Jennifer Brazer

“Happiness is not exuberant or boisterous, like pleasure or cheerfulness. It is silent, peaceful, and sweet. It is an intimate state of satisfaction that begins with loving oneself.”

-Isabel Allende

Starting Over With Yourself

The main point of self-care is to start taking care of yourself again and putting yourself first. It does not mean becoming self-centered and selfish and not paying attention to others; it simply means rearranging your priorities in life.

Learn to Love Yourself

Loving yourself is a fundamental step in taking care of yourself. But loving yourself does not mean giving yourself everything without rules or trampling on others.

Loving yourself means understanding what makes us feel good and respecting ourselves and others.

It is essential to value ourselves, know if the events and affections surrounding us add value to our lives, and feel loved for who we are.

Take Some Time and Moments for Yourself

A moment for you as usual. How can we avoid feeling so empty and dissatisfied?

It is essential to take care of ourselves and prioritize our needs. It is necessary to learn to say no to others when necessary or not to go out or spend more hours in the office.

It does not mean being selfish, but only learning to recharge your energy, think about your well-being, have time to relax, and, why not, do absolutely nothing.

Take Care of Your Body

Do you know the phrase “the body is my temple”? Hippocrates emphasized how the body must always be cared for and respected because it is part of us and leads us through life.

It means reading or carrying out activities that stimulate the brain and pampering it according to our needs.

It could also mean keeping us in shape, tidy, or neatly combed if that also reassures our spirits.

It means carrying out breathing exercises or meditation to calm anxiety or anguish, which also weigh down our bodies.

Everything is connected as always. We must learn to love our body, spirit, and mind.

Cultivate Relationships

Relationships in our lives are a fact that we cannot ignore, but they must be a source of love, experience, and support.

So, equip yourself with patience and try to eliminate those relationships that have hurt you, but also take time to heal that evil inflicted on you.

Enjoy the Moment

Enjoying the moment is a demanding exercise, but it can be gratifying for our well-being!

We are used to living projected into the past and the future, and we often forget about our present. Let’s take moments during the day; they can even be from a few seconds to a few minutes to savor the things we are experiencing. It could be the embrace of a family member, well-cooked food, a natural landscape, the parties of our pet, a message of love, or a laugh.

Organize Your Space

Organize where you live, work, or spend most of your time so that it represents who you are, your wishes, and your needs. It must be comfortable and organized so that it encourages us not to go away, clean, and bright and to recall these sensations in us.

Laugh

The sound of laughter cheers up the spirit, the body, and those around us.

It is an externalization of a feeling, in this case of happiness, and makes the environment and the day you are experiencing more cheerful and carefree. Laughing is part of the good things in life, and it has no side effects: take advantage of it as much as possible!

Exercise

Exercise allows the body to release endorphins and makes you feel better. It can be walking, dancing, or any physical activity that makes you feel good.

Physical activity improves psychological balance, mood, and self-esteem: a circle of positive emotions to be activated with a few simple steps!

Cuddle Yourself

Give yourself something that makes you feel good now, from make-up to the hairdresser to a massage.

Aesthetics also wants its part; if it does not become an obsession, it helps to feel better. The important thing is that these cuddles always feel better, not to please others.

Experience a Moment of Silence Every Day

Breathing and meditation can help restore balance and calm the mind, but even being silent for a few minutes can help eliminate daily chaos.

Keep a Diary

Try to journal your thoughts or what you do every day. When we write down our thoughts and reread them after some time, it is much easier to become aware of what we have written and our feelings.

Writing helps us reflect and to know ourselves and others better.

Sing and Dance

Choose a song, sing, and dance if you feel like it! It doesn’t matter that you know how to dance and sing; the important thing is letting yourself go and being permeated by the music.

Dancing affects memory circulation and makes the body release endorphins (like any physical activity).

Now and Then, He Raises his Eyes

Focusing on what you do is essential, but staying busy is not good. Taking a moment to do nothing and another to look around is critical, too.

Take a few minutes to look up from your cell phone, desk, or TV and see what’s around you. About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

Marriage represents the union of a new family and, consequently, the creation of a new home. In this sense, the need to organize a space to follow the couple’s plans is an almost natural movement, do not you agree?

The detail is that financial health is not always in line with these expectations. It is where funding comes into the lives of most newlyweds. But is financing a property before marriage even the best option? Here’s how to make a good deal for your future!

Planning for the New Life

The transition from single to married life brings new commitments that require much planning. Previously, in this context, an individualized approach became a matter of interest to both. For this to happen, information sharing and a commitment to transparency are essential.

Among the investments of the first urgency is, of course, the purchase of the house itself. Therefore, once the couple recognizes that it is time to put together the toothbrushes, anticipating financing that allows housing acquisition becomes timely. Consequently, it is necessary to draw up a plan involving the analysis of all possibilities, budgets, and other details that may interfere with realizing this dream.

Possibility of the Purchase at the Plant

The couple who opts for a pre-wedding mortgage may plan to buy an apartment still on the floor or already under construction if the expected date of delivery approaches the wedding season. It is good to have at least six more months to cover any unforeseen with the work.

You can believe this is a choice that usually facilitates the acquisition. After all, installments of real estate under construction or construction tend to be easier to pay because the developer manages at least the beginning, financing only the balance due. With this, this option becomes feasible for many couples.

Acquisition of Real Estate Ready

The most exciting option when trying to avoid risk is acquiring a new property, ready to be occupied. In this way, the newlyweds will guarantee that access to housing will be immediate as soon as the union takes place; save on the budget by not renting: this is a worthy goal for starting a new life, do you not think? If it smells again, then better yet!

Investment in Equity

One thing is sure: the money that goes to your rent will never return. On the other hand, the funds intended to pay the installments of a real estate loan will be converted into solid equity, representing a very significant achievement for the couple. Not to mention that the beginning of life to 2 is much more pleasurable occupying its property than dealing with a lease.

Income Composition

Even without being married, the couple can already jointly assume the financing of the property with the bank. Thus, both can compose the income the financial institution requires to release the credit and may also use their FGTS balances as part of the payment. With this, the financed portion may be smaller, making the acquisition process much more manageable.

Interest Accrued

Before or after the marriage, the couple must consider the high interest rates charged by banks, a factor of extreme relevance for those who acquire real estate financing. These rates vary depending on the type of financing, whether by the Housing Finance System (SFH), the Financial Real Estate System (SFI), and according to the bank where it made the loan.

Real Estate Consortium

A great alternative to bank financing that it can also consider before marriage is the real estate consortium. As there is no interest charge on the consortium’s installments, the final cost of the house or apartment purchased through this system is lower than if it made the payment with money borrowed by the bank. About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

You may be entitled to additional benefits even if you already have an income. Every parent goes through this topic and tries to find a solution, yet they forget the main questions. Asking others is very important, too.

Personal Finance is a Skill

Your finances should come first for your household if you’re saving for a holiday in the sun or putting money aside as a nest egg. Developing healthy spending patterns and managing a private account are lifetime expertise that everybody must master.

Distinguish What Can be Spent or What Can Not 

You may find it difficult to remember your money flows; you can prepare a household budget in Excel. Then save this information in an online, secure document that is accessible from anywhere and that you can update if your living conditions change.

Be Truthful to Children About Saving

We would all like to save one thousand dollars per month, but that is unrealistic for most humans. Whenever anyone has set out to save four hundred dollars but finds that. As a result, they have too little left for their monthly bills, and they experience stress and wonder whether they are constantly overspending. Nevertheless, saving three thousand dollars is still very neat if you look at the situation more carefully. 

Teach to Have Keen Eyes on Expenses

When you set your monthly budget, don’t be too modest about your expenses. If anyone knows where to spend, they also know what you can protect; you also see what you can spend. You calculate this amount if you know that you spend twenty dollars per week on dinners and streaming services. 

Ask Others for Help

Contact the support management to check if they can help you set a fixed goal or limit for your spending as an extra check on your weekly spending. Plenty of spending apps are available even if your bank doesn’t offer this option.

Be Careful with Your Documents

When it’s time for tax returns, many people resolve to better organize their documents for the coming year. With a document scanner, you can easily take photos and make a digital version of all your paperwork.

Find Out the Best Monthly Budget

There would be room in your monthly budget for your necessary expenses. For example, if you earn one thousand five hundred dollars per month and your total costs are one thousand dollars, you can still spend four hundred dollars without debt. If you also want to save two hundred dollars, your spending limit is only two hundred dollars.

For Envelope Method

This method operates on a cash basis and is great for those who prefer using physical money. While this might be appealing for those who are still adjusting to cashless spending, it’s important to note that you won’t have the benefits of social security.

With this technique, you divide your inexpensive allowance into several envelopes, such as one for foodstuffs, relaxation, etc. Take the appropriate envelope whenever you go shopping, go to the cinema, or eat out. If there is no more money in it, you are not allowed to spend anything in that area until your next salary payment. This way, you have a clear overview of the amount you still must pay since you have the money.

Be Smart with Money

Understanding budgeting is crucial because it empowers you with financial knowledge and control. Start by creating a detailed summary of your income and expenses, including fixed and variable costs. Consider utilizing budgeting apps to simplify the process and gain insights into your financial habits. Just as apps can be beneficial at work, they can also play a valuable role in managing your personal finances at home. About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

Congratulations, you have taken the first step to achieve financial independence. Budgeting is the door to the financial freedom you are striving towards. It offers you a clear picture of your spending and enlightens you on areas of improvement. Furthermore, it helps you in creating financial stability. However, once you have initiated this practice, what matters is to sustain it creatively. If you are unclear about how to proceed with it, this blog is here to provide your answer.

• 1st way: If you love hanging out with friends or trying new dishes at a restaurant, this method can be a little challenging for you but not impossible! It can put you under financial strain in the coming years. I encourage you to decrease this costly habit gradually. Specify some days for having a nice dinner to fulfill your wants, but this practice is highly beneficial if you are working hard to attain financial freedom.

Well, this was good advice, but do you want to learn creatively? Restaurant deals and holidays! Locate good restaurant deals and save a great deal of money! Additionally, you can utilize coupons to get a discount! Try this hack and share your experience in the comment section below!

• 2nd way: Be alert to your hidden insurance fees. Insurance is an excellent way to secure your future, but it comes with hidden costs that might be unhealthy for your budget. Just as you try to maintain good physical health, it’s fundamental to comprehend the importance of your financial health.

We need to ‘creatively’ cut non-essential expenses, and insurance costs are one of them. Once you clearly understand your budget, you can confidently discuss matters that need to be discussed, such as communicating with your insurance agent to get the best deal and discounts that fit your circumstances. It is an effective and intelligent strategy.

• 3rd way: Start small with debts. In America, 70% of people have borrowed money to finance their needs and improve their quality of life. However, debt can be good and bad depending on how well or poorly you manage it. Financial experts call debt a hollow trap that gradually consumes your happiness. Some experts recommend proceeding with small balances first to ditch the increasing interest rates. Upon completion, you can continue with clearing off the remaining debt balance. It sounds easy while reading but requires consistency and commitment. But, again, it depends on how you treat it. Consider receiving consultation from a financial expert.
• 4th way: Walk to work. Reduce your transportation costs. Don’t get your eyebrows raised like this. The accumulated cost of an everyday commute is quite expensive. You can creatively save money by walking to work, or if your office is at a reasonable distance, consider getting a cycle or electric bike. This practice is like killing two birds with one stone: saving money by walking and getting back in shape. Financial and physical health are both achieved!
• 5th way: Shop at thrift stores. How about purchasing unbranded items? Remember Emma Watson once mentioned that wearing unbranded and cheap clothes doesn’t mean you’re poor. It is powerful; it illustrates how imperative it is to reflect that you have responsibilities to meet and not impress the people around you. Remember, you have a family to feed, not a community to impress. You can turn your visions into reality by making small sacrifices. Wearing unbranded clothes is not considered poor. Instead, it is regarded as creative and intelligent.
• 6th way: Pack a meal for the office. Eating outside at lunchtime can be expensive. Cooking your lunch can save you more than $100 at the end of the month. It might take a few minutes, but this practice is undoubtedly rewarding. Search for delicious meals and give them a try! I can sense the coming of a master chef!
• 7th way: Save on electricity. Switch from regular bulbs to energy-saving electronics. Energy-saving products save a great deal of money annually. Utility bills consume a more significant part of our income. Creatively handle this by making a better investment.

In addition, there are other creative ways to cut your budget:

1. Use coupons
2. Cut back on your entertainment expenses
3. Find free or discounted activities
4. Get rid of cable
5. Manage your credit wisely
6. Use cash instead of credit
7. Live below your means

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are various creative ways to cut your budget. You can save a significant amount of money over time by minor changes to your spending habits. Several free or low-cost resources are available to help you manage your finances. You can stretch your budget even further by taking advantage of these resources. About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

As parents, it is crucial to instill essential life skills in our children, such as maintaining a healthy diet and financial management. Teaching kids about investing at an age-appropriate level is an important way to empower them to make their money work for them. This knowledge will undoubtedly benefit them in the future.

Depositing money into a brokerage account with the intention of teaching your child about investing may not be advisable. If the child experiences losses, it could potentially lead to a negative perception of the stock market, hindering their future involvement in investing. Conversely, if they achieve gains, they might develop an overconfident mindset and take on greater risks, which could pose significant drawbacks. Consequently, it’s essential to consider alternative methods for introducing children to investing that minimize potential adverse outcomes.

4 to 9 years

Children at a young age should not yet learn about the stock market. But you can learn the principles of the stock market. Investing is investing for the long term. So, you can teach your child lessons that spending time and energy on something can yield a valuable result in the long run.

For example, your child can garden. Planting and caring for seeds will eventually produce a beautiful plant or flower. A giant puzzle or craft project can be encouraged and rewarded with a compliment that hard work can bring great results.

10 to 14 years

Kids heading into puberty are generally more interested in finances than you think. They must also be able to understand simple investment principles. You can teach them about well-known brand companies. For example, you can take some ownership of Disney when watching a new Disney movie, or Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, or refueling at Shell.

You can also teach them about spreading. Teach them not to put all their money in one company and that anything can happen to any company. Multiple companies mean less risk. Also, teach them that “get rich quick” is an illusion. Let them enter the lotto with their own money. In this way, they will learn that the chance of winning is minimal to non-existent.

14 to 18 years

After some math knowledge, you can teach the kids about the power of compound interest. Teach them that money can make money. Teach them that the power of compound interest works faster and faster as more money makes more money.

With the rule of 72, you can learn how to double their money. Divide 72 by the return per year, and you know how many years it will take you to double your money. For example, a return of 7% per year doubles your money after ten years (72: 7 = 10).

Also, teach them that inflation works similarly but makes your money worth less instead of more. You can teach them that they lose purchasing power when their money yields less than inflation.

You can let them gain experience with the stock market through a virtual portfolio. It is best to start with well-known stocks from everyday life. Create one or more portfolios per theme. This way, you can show them which system works and which method works less or not at all.

+ 18 years

Here, you can put real money to work. Start investing some of the money they earn during the holidays or weekends. Advise in good times but especially in bad times. Explain why stocks fall or rise. Teach them that investing regularly is more rewarding than investing a total amount at once. Make sure they don’t make the mistakes that you undoubtedly did.

Conclusion

The most important thing is to teach children about investing from the start and know what to teach as children grow because the teaching should change according to a child’s age.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

Spring comes with spring cleaning. However? It applies to your home, but also your money matters. Do you want to get a clear picture of whether you can save money and have it completely clear how much money you can put aside? Then, you can easily overview your income and expenses using our eight tips.

Overview of Income and Expenses: This Man Has It All

1. First, list your income

Make a list of all your income. Do this digitally – for example, in Excel – to save it and save it for later. You naturally start by noting your wages, benefits, or pension. Allowances and regulations such as child benefits are also included in the list. Do you get holiday pay and a 13th month? You also put that in your overview. Note immediately whether it concerns one-off or, for example, monthly income.

2. Next, map out your fixed costs

You create a list with all your fixed costs in the same file. It includes all recurring expenses you must meet after entering a contract. Think of your rent or mortgage payments, the energy bill, insurance, subscriptions, and the municipal assessment. Please note that fixed costs do not necessarily all recur monthly. Therefore, note how often you must deal with these expenses.

3. Divide your other expenses into categories

In addition to the fixed costs, you also must deal with daily or ‘household’ expenses. Write precisely what you spent on this in the past month and the month before. Think of groceries, transport, and the drugstore. It might be a long list if you jot down each message separately. That’s why it’s helpful to divide the list into categories and note your spending on each type.

Nibbed also distinguishes between household expenditures and reservation expenditures. Reservation expenses do not necessarily recur monthly but regularly. These include clothing, shoes, furniture, electrical appliances, and holidays. You also write down all these kinds of expenses in categories.

4. Make your budget for the average month

We said it before some income and expenses come back monthly, others every quarter or six months. That is why it is wise to make an average monthly budget. You then convert all yearly income and expenses into an average monthly amount. By the way, make sure that you do not count amounts twice.

5. See if you can save money

Is your budget ready? Then, you can see if and where you have room to make changes to your expenses. You may be able to reduce your fixed costs by, for example, canceling subscriptions or taking out cheaper insurance. It’s good to check this at least once every six months!

Also, check what you spend money on every day. Do you feel good about that, or would you save on some expenses instead? Our 11 tips to save money are for you in the latter case.

6. Set your savings goals

Do you have money left if you deduct your expenses from your income? Determine how much you will save each month and – not unimportantly – what your savings goals are. Saving is more effortless if you know exactly what you are doing it for. Start with that if you don’t have a pot for irregular expenses. Such a buffer ensures that you will not be faced with surprises.

If you do not need money for a longer period, consider alternatives to saving, such as investing. Although you run the risk, you can also achieve a higher return.

7. Automate with an online housekeeping book

If you start making an overview, manually noting everything down can help your awareness. Programs such as Excel or Google Sheets are beneficial for this. However, plenty of online household books also take the work off your hands. This way, you can see exactly what you spend and on what, all year round, without writing everything down.

If you have a Knob checking account, you automatically have an overview of your income and expenses. The Digital Cash Book is linked to your account by default. You can easily add your credits and debits from other banks via upload. You get a wholly categorized overview of all your banking matters.

8. Plan a little further ahead

In addition to an overview of your income and expenses, do you want to get a grip on your money for later? Read more about the different ways you can save for your retirement. About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

If you’re looking to reduce your spending on dining out, it’s important to recognize that when you go to a restaurant, you’re not just paying for the food. You’re also covering the costs of the entire dining experience, including the preparation of dishes, the service provided, and the cleaning of the cookware and cutlery used during your meal. All of these elements contribute to the total cost of dining out and are essential to keep in mind when trying to save money.

This is How You Save a Lot of Money on a Restaurant!

According to experts, an average restaurant should use a factor of three or even four when determining its prices. This means the prices are three or four times as high as the ingredients used. Even if you can purchase all the ingredients for a meal as cheaply as a restaurant, you will still be considerably cheaper by preparing the meal in question. A restaurant also charges many other costs, even if you only ordered one simple dish. 

Save Money When You go to a Restaurant

From a purely practical point of view, the advice to extend a meal yourself, thus saving restaurant costs, seems perfectly logical. But never escaping the daily stress and hectic pace can be frustrating. Moreover, almost everyone doesn’t have the time to deal with pots and pans after a long day at work. In such situations, it’s important to know how to save money when dining out.

Eating out with family and friends is a fundamental way for many people to socialize. Therefore, it is not pleasant to reject every invitation to a nice restaurant because of a shortage in your budget. Moreover, by constantly refusing invitations, you risk losing contact with people in your immediate environment and, in the worst case, even ending up in social isolation. Fortunately, there are several ways to enjoy an occasional meal in a cozy restaurant without completely disrupting your finances.

The Place Where You Eat Out

Before going out for dinner, you must know which restaurant you will visit. Not every restaurant is the same, so the choice of a particular eatery can also determine the costs associated with such a visit. Your wallet will certainly appreciate that.

The Day You Go Out to Eat

If you visit a restaurant on a Friday evening or at the weekend, the price for, for example, a three-course menu can be a lot higher than if you would order the same menu on another day of the week. On those days, the restaurant is likely to have less customer traffic. Towards the end of the week, and on weekends and public holidays, more people will visit a restaurant, so prices may be a bit higher. Specific discounts are often given. By not eating out on one of the busy days, you can quickly save a few euros per person at these restaurants, while the food service will be the same quality.

Take on the Role of Waiter or Waitress Yourself

When you go out for dinner in a vast luxury restaurant, you must consider that your bill will be considerably higher than when you settle for a much cheaper family restaurant. The difference can sometimes be tens of euros per person. Therefore, choosing a restaurant where you can save money, for example, by going to a self-service restaurant, is vital. After all, in these types of eateries, you don’t have to pay extra for service; therefore, you don’t have to wait until a waiter or waitress has time to take your order. The price of the dishes can often be significantly reduced for this reason, while the quality does not have to be compromised. You can usually eat delicious food at an attractive price in a self-service restaurant.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

If you are an older adult, would you be willing to go back to school? Many are choosing to do so. While the traditional path to higher education typically involves young students fresh out of high school, a growing number of older adults are returning to college campuses. In 2019, 7.4 million U.S. college and university students were 25 years old or older. If you are thinking about joining them, here is what you need to know.

Returning to school is a financial challenge for many families just after the extra expenses involved in the holidays. September is a month as steep as the January slope. To help you manage money during these complicated weeks, we share a practical guide that will make your life easier.

The shopping list is varied: tracksuits, slippers, backpacks, textbooks, stationery, and an infinite number of products until you reach the tablets. We must equip our children to face the new course without going into school fees. The return to school leaves an invoice of around $500 per student, according to the OCU data.

The estimation of school training has become a fiery discussion recently, as both school expenses and understudy advance obligations have gone up higher than ever. However, many investigations continue to demonstrate that there are barely any better speculations.

Textbooks account for half the budget, followed by clothing and uniforms, which account for 32%, and school supplies, which account for 14%. The rest is for other expenses.

Textbooks are, therefore, the primary headache. According to an Amazon study, more than half of the families believe this expense is high, and a third think it is disproportionate—53% claim more discounts on textbooks.

Seven Practical Tips to Reduce the Costs of Going Back to School

1. The first step is straightforward: check your children’s school materials and list their needs. You don’t need many new materials for a new course.
2. Once you have the list, compare, compare, and compare. The price differences between some stores and others are significant. Don’t start shopping at the usual site because it is more convenient; maybe you can save a considerable amount elsewhere. For example, stationery prices may vary up to 36% depending on one store or another.
3. Attention to the campaigns of offers of the return to the school – You can find exciting discounts, but other times you see that the price does not improve. It is just a way to attract customers.
4. Plan. Why buy everything in September? Prices change according to the seasons. For example, purchasing a tracksuit in August is 10.55% cheaper. The shoes cost 19% less in April, a good month for stationery, which is 26% cheaper.
5. Do not go shopping with children to avoid becoming infatuated with either too expensive or unnecessary items, for example, that backpack of your favorite cartoon character worth $10 more than current.
6. Bet on collaborative consumption in product exchange platforms or second-hand sales. It is an excellent way to bring materials from previous years to life while you get them from the new course.
7. Do you know the OCU textbook price comparator? It is a valuable tool for finding the best opportunities at the main expense of returning to school.

Private study loans are unique in that private loan specialists will consider your pay and financial record as a significant aspect of the endorsement procedure. The more grounded your economic assessment, the more likely you will be affirmed and fit the bill for well-being rates.

More established understudies have many indistinguishable choices from more youthful ones about paying for school. Suppose you can stand to pay for it out of your investment fund. That’s fantastic. However, for some individuals, it will mean acquiring. While assuming obligation may not be perfect, particularly further down the road, government and private understudy credits can regularly give the financing you need.

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About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

Why is Self-Care Important?

We have inadvertently disengaged from ourselves in the bustle of life. Maintaining a high performance level at work and family obligations may be demanding. When we ignore our existence, we may not even be aware of it, yet we gradually lose a part of ourselves that may become obvious in the future. There is a universal truth: no matter how charming the outside world is, you may never feel the essence if you are not contained within. It is troubling. Why we give up our time for self-care is beyond me. Aren’t you deserving of your love? Only when you are emotionally and physically stable can you maintain positive relationships with others? You can only have good relationships with those close to you when you are mentally tough; otherwise, you risk losing your sanity and those relationships.

Additionally, your professional performance and general well-being are interrelated. Let’s say that if you don’t maintain your mental and physical health over time, it will undoubtedly deteriorate, significantly impacting your career. But the real question is, how can I allocate time for this activity? Before we start, I want to let you know that this activity requires a high degree of consistency. Yes, it’s a daily exercise. If you don’t work on yourself daily, you’ll remain stagnant throughout your entire life- which is quite depressing. Life is meant to be lived, and it’s only possible when you give yourself a well-deserved treat every day. Since we are unique individuals, we each need a daily dose of love that we can only offer ourselves.

You could be compelled to go through this process, but things might resume their usual course after three days. However, if you want to continue pushing here for a while, I’ll let you in on a little secret that has helped me stay sane and gain more respect every day. To achieve this, make a list of priorities and include this activity. Then, deliberately teach yourself to do this; you’ll first need to push yourself. It must be done for 15 days before you become accustomed to it.

It’s a Kindness By You to You

Self-care blogs abound on social media, offering practical advice and inspiring readers to put it into practice. However, if you’re swamped with work and family, you might not find time for yourself, turning into a significant regret later in life. For instance, you sacrificed your own identity to establish identities for those around you, and this is enough to shatter you from the inside. You don’t have to give up on yourself to fulfill life’s necessities; these two things may coexist. All that is needed is your participation; you alone can change your life for the better. Additionally, self-development and growth are essential components of existence that spur forward motion in our lives and enable us to realize our potential. Furthermore, you are only exercising your right to self-respect; this is not being selfish.

What are Some Things You Can Do for Self-Care?

Self-care is a term that is often used but not always well understood. As mentioned earlier, it refers to the activities and practices we engage in regularly to maintain our physical, mental, and emotional health. In addition, there are many different things you can do for self-care, and what works for you may be different from what works for someone else. However, some general things you can do for self-care include:

• Get enough sleep
• Eat healthy foods
• Exercise regularly
• Take breaks when you need to
• Spend time with loved ones
• Do something you enjoy every day

By taking care of yourself, you will be better able to take care of others and live a happy, fulfilling life.

Penciling in Some “Me” Time

Making time for yourself can be difficult, especially if you have a lot of responsibilities. But it’s important to schedule time so that you can relax and recharge. In addition, pencil in some “me” time can help you feel more balanced and less stressed.

Here are some tips for how you can make time for yourself:

• Schedule time for yourself every week and stick to it
• Designate a space in your home as your “relaxation zone”
• Make sure to include activities you enjoy in your “me” time
• Set aside time each day for your hobbies or interests

You can return to your responsibilities feeling refreshed and recharged by taking some time for yourself.

Letting Go of the Guilt

It’s natural to feel guilty after making a mistake. However, dwelling on your guilt can prevent you from moving on and making things right. You can do a few things if you want to let go of your responsibility.

First, accept that you made a mistake. It cannot be easy, but it’s an important step. Second, forgive yourself. It doesn’t mean that you should forget what you did, but it does mean that you should give yourself some grace. Lastly, make amends if you can, and try to make things right. If you make a mistake at work, apologize to your boss. If you hurt someone you love, try to repair the relationship.

Making a mistake is never easy, but it’s important to remember that everyone makes them. Forgiving yourself is a crucial part of self-care. By doing so, you are just being humane.

About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.

1. Make a vacation plan in time

Especially if you are with several people, think about what kind of vacation you want, a box where the trip is going, and the budget. Simple and effective! Those who wait until the last minute run the risk of being forced to go on holiday during the most expensive period.

2. Go out of the box

The Spanish Costa, a Greek island, or the French Côte d’Azur are lovely holiday destinations but often very touristy and expensive. Once you get off the beaten track, this can make a big difference to your wallet. Especially in Eastern Europe, prices are lower, and there are still many ‘undiscovered’ gems. Two first steps: the coast of Montenegro and the mysterious Transylvania. And for winter sports enthusiasts: have you ever considered the Czech Republic or Turkey?

3. Have a holiday in your own country

A holiday in your own country saves a mountain of travel costs. Moreover, there are plenty of beautiful places in the Netherlands. There is plenty to see and do, from the rolling hills in the south to the mudflats in the north. On anwb.nl, you will find tips per province, which often offer excellent packages or discounts on days out. Or look at the holidays in your own country, ANWB. The following applies: the longer you are a member, the more extras you get.

4. Options for a journey by train

Although a little bit more expensive than the bus, it is often cheaper than the plane. Moreover, you can reach many European cities at lightning speed. Significant places in Belgium, France, and Germany are easily accessible by rail.

5. Rent a car for a week

Do you want to go out in a rental car for a few days? Please inquire about the weekly price. Remarkably, this is sometimes even cheaper than a three-day car rental. As a budget tourist, go for the smallest and most simple model. The temporary four-wheeler only serves to get you from A to B quickly, not to boost your ego. An additional advantage: the replacement car is an upgrade if that model is unavailable.

6. Book your plane ticket smartly: on Sunday!

Still by plane? You can save a lot—for example, book on Sunday. Expedia and Airlines Reporting Corporation analyzed the prices of a billion flights. This research shows that flights booked on Sundays are the cheapest.

7. Departure outside the weekend

You can also reach more hotels and campsites on a weekday. Perhaps you are used to booking a holiday with Saturday or Sunday as the arrival day. Sometimes, this saves a few tens, which is how to avoid Black Saturdays, especially in the high season.

8. Go all-inclusive

The perfect way to keep your holiday budget under control. You know in advance what the trip will cost and what you will lose on the spot.

9. Rent a house

Would you rather not have strangers in your own home? Then you can also choose to rent an apartment or holiday home. It is almost always cheaper than a hotel or guest house, especially if you are traveling with more than two people.

10. Go camping

Invest once in a tent or caravan, and you can enjoy your own ‘home’ on holiday for years to come. In addition, you can often rent sanitary facilities so that you do not walk to the toilet building with the toilet roll under your arm under the eye of the entire campsite.

11. Book your hotel last minute

Would you prefer a hotel? Then wait as long as possible. Research by REIZEN Magazine shows that last-minute booking is often cheaper than two months in advance. The offer just before departure is much more limited, so if you want a choice, you pay more. Although your hotel site is not always the cheapest, it is wise to do a price check there. Also, it is good to know when general hotel booking sites are no longer available. The hotels themselves often still offer rooms.

12. Book a package

For trips in the Netherlands and the surrounding area, it is often interesting from a price point of view to book a package. Think, for example, of a weekend stay plus dinners and excursions, museum admission, rental bicycle, etc. About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.