How To Shop Amazon Prime Day Like A Pro

As much as I always want to advocate the importance of shopping local and supporting brick-and-mortar stores, with budgets getting tighter and tighter, super sales events like Amazon Prime Day, Target Circle Week, and Walmart Deals Week deserve a second look. 

After nearly a decade covering these large "tent pole" sales events as a Commerce Writer and Senior Editor, I've learned the good, bad, and downright ugly of these major annual sales events. And with Amazon throwing a major sales event nearly as often as a Macy's One Day Sale, I have covered countless articles on The Best Prime Day Deals.

How Do You Find The Best Prime Day Deals?

You are likely already seeing countless articles and ads served to you about The Best Prime Day Deals on things like TVs, Electric Bikes, Beauty,  and Health deals. To create these articles, Editors and writers are given an advanced spreadsheet from Amazon and PR companies showing which products will be on sale, the percentage off (or increased. Yes, some products raise the price on Prime Day. More about that later.)

After spending years poring over these spreadsheets, I have learned a few tips for finding the best deals when shopping on Amazon Prime. I am going to share with you!

1. Don't believe the hype: This IS NOT an all-out Blowout Clearance Sale. 

I always found that the majority of the sale prices were between 10%-30% off, and seemed to creep lower year after year. I also saw plenty of items that were literally listed as more during the sale than on non-sale days. It blew my mind that Amazon would even furnish us with a list that showed that nonsense! 

(**Pausing for a second to consider: Can be sued for telling the truth about the dirty side of Amazon Prime Day? <shrugging> I guess we'll find out!**)

2. It's not just Amazon that's having a big sale July 8 - 11

Before you click buy on Amazon, check prices against the other big retailers piggybacking the Amazon sale, like Target Circle Week and Walmart Deals Week. 

3. You can save BIG on everyday items. 

Basic household items can have pretty solid discounts, from cleaning products to toiletries to health and beauty. You can especially save big on hair care products like Olaplex, Nioxin, and my ALL TIME FAVORITE Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Hair Oil-- It's under $10 all day, (currently $6 for Prime Day) and you can get it just about anywhere from Target to Walgreens to the grocery. I have tested more than two dozen hair oils so far for work and for the money, it's the BEST! 

4. Snag back-to-school deals: 

If you need a new backpack or super cute bento box lunch box, it's worth your time to scroll through your back-to-school shopping list for those higher ticket items or bulk buys on tissues or Clorox wipes. 

5. Look at the Lightning Deals Page, but DON'T be impulsive!

Sure, you can get 57% off a Sony 65-inch 4K TV today, but do you really need it? This is where these sales can get you. If you need a TV or Electric Bike, definitly browse the deals, but still read the fine print to ensure you are buying from a repituble seller, check the reviews to make sure it's not going to be a scratch-and-dent sort of thing, and, above all, before you buy, check the price against other retailer sales and places like Costco that always offer solid discounts. 

6. I have seen firsthand on sales spreadsheets the percentage off actually being PLUS 115% of the normal selling price.

That's right, the really awful sellers will raise the price WAAAAY up during these events. It's like all those awful turds that raised prices "due to tarrifs" that actually never happened. Or advertised tariff-free sales that meant absolutely nothing. 

Greed is the freaking worst! 

Please, don't buy anything of value unless you price check it. And even though these are big sales events, if it seems way too good to be true, it probably is. 

Bottom Line: Even knowing the ugly side of these events, I always take the time to browse the page devoted to Prime Day Deals on Everyday Essentials. I'm always up for saving on everyday items! 

Happy shopping!! 

Note: I may or may not make a tiny percentage if you buy something from links on my site. Likely not, but I have to say this by law. 

Tips To Save Buku Bucks On Spring Beauty Purchases

Yesterday. I covered spring money-saving hacks for kids' stuff, so now it's time to talk about mama's stuff! 

Spring is in full bloom, so I thought I would share a few of my top tips for buying champagne-style beauty products on a beer-budget. (Aveda, Trish McEvoy, Lancome, Clinique, Bobbi Brown, Sephora, OPI...) Or, how I rarely buy high-end beauty products at full price and get a lot of awesome free stuff in the process, and not because I'm a blogger. Let's just say, I'm a product whore with a laughable budget and years of buying experience. 

1. First and foremost, sign up for email alerts from your favorite brands. This alone makes it easy to get the most bang for your buck from your go-to brands. FACT: Department/Beauty store brands (Clinique, Bobbi Brown, Trish, Laura...) promote 'gift with purchase' specials YEAR-ROUND. TIP: Check your favorite brand websites for the weekly gift with purchase specials and free shipping... add a coupon code and SCORE BIG!! 

2. NEVER Buy anything without getting something free! I'm not kidding. I have yet to buy any products without getting free samples. If the brand website is not offering 'gift with purchase' specials, stores like Sephora, Ulta, Nordstroms, and Macy's may offer in-store/on-line promotions for the multiple brand's products. Do you see where I am going with this? Research your brand-loyal beauty products online before heading to the store. Always.

3. Print Monthly In-store Coupons. Love your Cover Girl Mascara or Almay Tinted Moisturizer? Before you shop for shadow and gloss, spend some time downloading + printing coupons. If you play your coupons right, you might score big by combining it with an in-store promotion. 

4. Reap the Rewards, Reviews + Ratings. Thanks to stores like Sephora, Ulta, and Amazon, getting the 411 on products is easier than ever. Amazon is a gold mine for finding reviews, photos, and deals on beauty products. Sephora is the spot for finding new products and scoring a loot bag of sample-size products. Ulta sends coupons for discounts on a single item or entire purchase via snail mail and email, so signing up for the email list is worth it for that alone. I use this for self-tanner and nail polish purchases!

5. Google What Gets You. The next time you want to splurge on a new miracle cream, Google it before buying it. But try googling the specific need, "dark circles," "deep wrinkles," then look for best sellers, then read the reviews. There is no reason to spend a month's salary on an eye serum with so many great options available for a fraction of the cost. Did you know Amazon's best-selling serum costs $15? It does. It also has 4300 reviews and 4.5 stars. 
                                                               

6. GET CASH BACK! Last, and my biggest and best shopping tip, RAKUTEN. I promise I am not getting paid to say that. I cannot recommend enough signing up, then downloading the browser plug-in. Then, every time you shop online, you're automatically notified of the percentage of cash back you get for purchases, and then at checkout, coupon codes are auto-loaded. IT'S AWESOME! I've been a member since 11/19/16 and have a lifetime cash back balance of $695.11 CASH!!!

Seriously... sign up. Download Rakuten then install the plug-in to your browser, 

and that's it! 

These Spring + Summer Staples Every Family Should Have

With Spring on our doorstep (Northern Hemisphere people of course!) and summer around the corner, I thought I would share my 10 MUST HAVE things that make frolicking in the sun with my family much easier.

Full disclosure, while a couple of the things on this list I did review on the blog, not one company is behind this list. The following 10 things are 100% MY FAVORITE SPRING/SUMMER 2015 PARENTING Game Changers!

1. A waterproof travel blanket for trips to the park, firework shows or late nights at a friend's house with a cold sleepy kid. Look for a blanket that fits in the trunk of your car in its own carrying case. I LOVE the Adventure blanket from Tribe Provisions.  It has an attached bag that makes unpacking and repacking a breeze.

Tribe Provision Go-anywhere Adventure Blanket (Black-Gray)

2. A small portable cooler bag.  Two years ago I was asked to review the Pack-It cool portable lunch/cooler bags.  I nearly passed up the offer, but my sister insisted that she heard great things so I tried it. Since I have used it more than any one of the things on this list! I cannot recommend enough a bag like the Pack-it cool.  Basically, it's a bag that you store in your freezer until you need it.  I use the crap out of ours for all kinds of stuff.  This bag keeps Popsicles frozen while at the zoo!  The best part is that it's cheap $15-50 depending on the size.  MOM TIP: Freeze a small washcloth inside of it for cooling off kids, wiping up messy faces and adding an extra level of cold!  DO THIS !

They are in stores everywhere.  For a store locator click here. 

3. Homemade popsicles!  Last summer when Ollie became a Popsicle junkie, which turned his poop BRIGHT GREEN, I thought I better read what the hell is in the store-bought Popsicles.  My friends, I felt like I needed to go to confession to report my sin of pumping my toddler full of things I couldn't even pronounce! I decided then that I would make all of Ollie's Popsicles moving forward.  I bought cheap molds and got to work. OMG! Not only does he love the Popsicles, but I also pump them full of healthy things like Probiotic yogurt, frozen organic fruit and juice, and when he's not looking, every veggie I can blend up small enough! DO THIS!  (Last year's Popsicle how-to is Here, I'm writing a new one for this year with new recipes coming soon!)

4. Super Safe Bug Spray! With all of our outdoor frolicking, by mid-June, if we don't have a great bug spray we become bug food. (SO GROSS!)  Bug spray is essential, but after doing the research on safe bug spray for babies/toddlers, I found not many were available.  Last summer I fell in LOVE with Honest Company's Bug spray.  It's super safe for the whole family, yet extremely effective! Even FTD who insisted on using his Deet soaked crap until it ran out, had to admit that the Honest Bug Spray was just as effective, if not more. Now it's the only spray we use! 

To buy it now, click here! 

5. SLAB O' Water! I keep a case of water in my trunk all year long, but especially in summer.  I go to Costco, buy the biggest one I can and store it in my trunk. Water is not only essential to fight dehydration, it cleans feet, toys, shoes, hands, scrapes and other assorted kid-mishaps in a pinch! 

6. Attachable (Clamp-On) umbrella!  This one is huge for me. FTD and I both have very fair skin, so naturally, so does my child! Since Ollie was a little baby I would push him around with an umbrella on his stroller for extra protection.  I still do.  You can pick them up at Big Lots, or Amazon.  They are SO worth it! 

Here is a super one on Amazon- ($20) Sport-Brella Versa-Brella All Position Umbrella with Universal Clamp, Firebrick Red

7.  First Aid Kit- Chances are, if you're the parent of a toddler, you're already packing band-aids, but with the summer running, jumping, scrapes and falls, make sure you have a full (travel size) first aid kit handy in your bag/car.

8. Outdoor Tub O' Toys. With a toddler's attention span lasting all of 10 seconds, I try to keep a tub full of outdoor toys ready.  I go to the Dollar Tree (Dollar store) and load up on outdoor toys and arts and crafts like chalk, sponges for water painting the sidewalks, and anything else that will make playing outside fun.  I'm determined to keep my kid playing outdoors for as long as possible.  Stupid video games...

9.  Sun protective clothing. I swear by UV clothing. It's so worth the investment (about $50) I do long sleeve top and long shorts. It takes the fear out of a long day outside.

This outfit is from http://www.coolibar.com

 10. SUNBLOCK!!!!!!!!!  There is no one thing more important. Now, that being said, there are four million sunblocks on the market, but when it comes to sensitive skin, there are only a few I trust. I ALWAYS check the Environmental Working Group's Annual Sunblock report, where thousands of sunblocks are tested and rated for skin safety. When it comes to Ollie, I try to stick to the absolute safest rating possible a Zero or One.  I really cannot recommend enough that you check your sunblock's rating before slathering it on your kid.  Click here for a list of last year's, (I will post the second EWG releases their 2015 Sunblock report!)

And for those squirmy little ones, I LOVE Honest Company Sunblock stick, It's the best!!

Are there any products you can't live without?

How To Choose The Perfect Baby Monitor

Eight years ago, I bought my first baby monitor. It was a heavy little black and white TV thing that sat on my nightstand with a clunky walkie-talkie that let me move around the house and still be able to hear my little guy but not see him. That's right, less than ten years ago, baby monitors were total crap. Heavy, colorless, one function, bad reception, crap. 

Today, baby monitors have so many functions, it's mind-blowing, and so is the price for some. It's safe to say, over the years, I've reviewed loads of baby monitors. I've watched the baby monitor market evolve from clunky boxes to hundreds of brands offering monitors with so many bells and whistles, it can be intimidating. So how do you choose the right monitor in the sea of four-hundred choices of brands and functions? You make sure you get WHAT YOU NEED. I get it, it's hard to ignore the crazy bells and whistles, but don't lose sight of the most important thing, your child's safety and your sanity.  Here's how to choose the best baby monitor to get the most bang for your buck.

Smartphone Enabled Baby Monitors are a Thing

A few years ago, I was given a monitor to review that boasted having the longest range of any baby monitor, 1500 feet. It was a major advancement in the market, a monitor that allowed you to garden in the backyard and still be able to see and hear your napping baby from a handheld device. 

Today, there are baby monitors that allow you to be anywhere in the world and still see your baby. GET ONE OF THESE! These monitors connect to your smartphone instead of a handheld device you keep tethered to your body, in addition to your phone.  You can keep an eye on your prized possession from anywhere. No more wondering how your baby is doing while your away or with the babysitter... And here's the best part, and why this feature should be at the top of your list, you can use the camera as a security camera too- Point the camera at your front door when no one is home and instantly get an alert when there's movement or sound. How's that for the gift that keeps on giving?

High-quality Camera Images Day + Night

Just because your smartphone offers high-quality images doesn't mean the monitor will. You want a camera that offers wide-angle 1080p HD with full range of motion, offering crystal clear images day and night! Many monitors will say they have HD video, but only offer a small slice of the baby's room or crappy night vision. Your baby monitor should allow you to see the whole picture beautifully, even when you zoom in for a nighttime close-up

A Microphone With All the Bells and Whistles. Literally.

The only feature as important as camera quality is microphone quality. Some monitors fail when it comes to microphone placement. Make sure this is a feature you check out thoroughly before purchase. Depending on microphone placement, the sound can be muffled. I LOVE Invidyo's external microphone. I've never seen it before on a baby monitor, and it's about damn time! The microphone extends out from the camera. This means your voice sounds perfect, and so do the lullabies. WHICH, Lullabies on the monitor are EVERYTHING YOU NEED! Even my ancient monitor had lullabies and it was terrific! I could start and stop the songs without going into my baby's room and risk waking the little guy. 

What Do YOU Need?

As I mentioned above, the three most important features of a baby monitor are the ability to use your smartphone instead of an external handheld device that stops working when you leave the house, high-quality HD vision and static-free clean sound. 

Now's where things can get interesting and confusing. 

Today, there are so many extra features offered with smart baby monitors you have to decide what is important to YOU?  

• Artificial Intelligence Face Recognition
 
• Familiar Faces notification and `stranger' alarm
 
• Your child's end of day `Daily Summary Video'
 
• Smart Auto Smile Detection and Photo Albums
 
• 24/7 live video and smart event recording
  
• Room Temperature Detection
  
• Instant Push Notifications during the day
 
• Two-Way Audio and Lullabies

I cannot stress enough choosing a baby monitor that utilizes your smartphone. There is absolutely no reason you should have to keep up with a handheld monitor and your phone... There's an App for that!  

Plus, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the idea of turning your baby monitor into a home security camera when it's no longer needed in the nursery. I also love the idea of being able to buy two or three cameras for multiple rooms, all linked in the app. Imagine being able to call out the babysitter from dinner! #Winning. 

For more information about the baby monitor featured in this post ($149!!!!), head over to the Invidyo Website. (I won't make a penny if you purchase one. I just love it THAT much I used it to prove all of my points! It absolutely deserves to be the 2019 Best Baby Monitor winner. It should win 2020, too!)

Everything You Need To Know To Host A Sleepover

The time has finally come, my lil' guy is ready for epic sleepovers. He's been talking about having a sleepover with his best friend since they were four, but they never went through with it. That all changed three weeks ago when Ollie took the plunge and stayed the night next door at his best friend's house. I couldn't believe he made it. I stayed up all night waiting for the call to get him. It never came. What did come was the next morning when the two boys were already planning a sleepover at our house. 

Y'all, who knew the idea of having a sleepover could cause so much angst?! Where would they sleep? What would they do all night? Do I plan activities? What do I feed them? Do I make them go to sleep? Do I just let them be crazy all night and try to not lose my mind? 

Thankfully, a little Q&A with other parents, online research and a new super comfy Gel Foam Bed gave me all the confidence needed to host an epic sleepover. Here's how it's done...

1. Pick Your Poison

The first thing you have to ask yourself, what kind of sleepover do you want to host? Do you want to be an all-out overachiever and plan an extravagant night of fun? Or do you want to be easy-breezy go with the flow? Or somewhere in the middle. Before you answer, I want to give you fair warning... If you go wild with a super themed party complete with out-of-this-world themed snacks, that is where you are setting the bar for all sleepovers to follow.

Whether you are an over-achiever or a go-with-the-flow parent, below are some great, and easy enough, ideas to help you host an epic sleepover.

DIY Pizza + Movie Marathon

Stuff the idea of ordering three pizzas with a multitude of toppings, halved on each pizza, to please everyone. Buy premade pizza rounds or dough and let everyone make their own pizza. Another great twist on the movie night popcorn is offering a popcorn topping and mix-in buffet. Again easy and crowd-pleasing!

Indoor Camping + Scavenger Hunt

This is a great idea during those cold winter months. Pitch the tent and throw in loads of pillows, blankets and fairy lights. A fun way to wear down the little ones is make up a fun scavenger hunt. Have stations with small puzzles and videos that hold the clues to the next stop. It fills the time and keeps their brains churning. 

Ultra-Girly Get Together + Mask Tye-Dye DIY

A pamper party with fun crafts is always a winner. Think: Mask tye-dye party or paint Kindness Rocks. BONUS: When the rocks are dry take a late-night neighborhood stroll to hide the rocks.

Backyard Camping + Glow-In-The-Dark Games

I LOVE the idea of blowing up a backyard pool and turning it into a cloud of pillows and blankets for a night under the stars. Keep the backyard party going with glow-in-the-dark ring toss, egg hunt, water bottle bowling and DIY faux firefly jars!

Themed Throwdown

If you feel up for the challenge, head to the party supply store and go theme crazy. Consider everything down to the pajamas and slippers. While it may kill you to go all out, your slumber party could end up being the event-of-the-year! 

Think: LEGO, Superheros, Pirates, Princess...

2. Games For The Win

Don't have the budget or time to pull together an extravagant planned sleepover? Then make sure you have a few games ready to fill the lulls in the night. Or better yet, make it a game night and keep them guessing on what's next with timed events hidden inside balloons!

There are LOADS of fun games to play at sleepovers all over the internet. Here are a few of my favs...

• Would You Rather IRL: Make up a Would You Rather game with real-life choices! Think: Eat Sardines or clean up dog poop. (Get the kids to do all the stuff you don't want too! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!!)
• Hide & Seek: Speaking of sardines, have the kids try the new fun twist on Hide & Seek called Sardines.

 

• Bob for Apples: It's one of the oldest party games because it NEVER GETS OLD! 
• Keep, Pass, Eat: Even without Covid-19, it's best to use wrapped/sealed pieces of candy for this one.

• And of course, video games. But that's a given. 

3. Snacks or Die.

Don't depend on only your pantry or the pizza dude to feed the crew. Make sure you have snacks, meals, and drinks planned. But before you head to the store, call the parents to see if you should be aware of any food allergies or forbidden foods. I have a friend who will not let her child have anything with certain food dyes. Making the call also opens the line of communication between you and the parents. 

Two of my favorite easy snack ideas were the all-night cereal bar and premade snack kit.

This little snack kit is perfect for containing spills and keeping everyone organized. 

**Whether or not you want to set up a food bar or have snacks on hand, make sure they are easily accessible and as low on sugar as possible.

4. The Sleep Spot

Being that it's a sleepover, you're gonna need a solid sleeping arrangement. After all, there is a point where sleeping should commence. Even if it's when the birds start chirping. 

This was one of my biggest concerns. Ollie has nowhere near enough room for two sleeping bags to fit on the open floor space in his room. I knew it was time to finally put a trundle bed under his open bunk bed space. He'd been using the space as a 24/7 fort, or really, the place he would stuff everything when I told him to clean his room. 

I was able to secure the Miranda gel foam bed-in-a-box mattress from Sound Sleep Solutions and was BLOWN AWAY! It's INSANE what can be done with a mattress these days. And it was SO LIGHTWEIGHT! I could carry it up the stairs by myself! In the words of my mother, "That mattress is far superior to any mattress I've ever bought." 

All Sound Sleep Solutions mattresses are made in the USA and they have been rated #1 by Better Homes and Gardens! As a bonus, the box is huge so the fun for the kids is really endless. It's possible my son was just as excited about the box as the mattress.

Y'all, if you've bought a cheap box bed in the past, and have lost all hope for them, I'm here to tell you all hope is not lost. I wholly recommend checking out Sound Sleep Solutions' Gel Foam Beds. Currently, (8/20) the company is offering a $350 off summer sale - that's basically 40% off the mattress! If you're reading this post after the sale has ended, no worries, use CODE: Firsttimemomanddad at checkout to get $350 off!

Click the image below to see full specs...

*I worked with Gel Foam Bed in the creation of the article. All opinions are my own. No affiliate links were used within this post.

10 Tips For Hosting An Epic Birthday At Home

Hosting a child's birthday in your home may seem like an easy and relatively inexpensive undertaking. Think again. 

Shit can get crazy fast.

I know. 

I learned this the hard way. 

A few times. 

Still, all is not lost, I learned from my mistakes and lofty ideas. Below are my 10 best tips for Hosting A Child's Birthday In Your Home 

1. Make a birthday party food room. 

The very first thing you should do when throwing a party at home is prep for mass destruction.  Seriously, cover the floors if possible. 

One great way to deter major messes is to keep the food in one room. At a minimum, strive to keep ALL FOOD in one area, and prep the hell out of that area.


Think: 'Kill Room'.

You might think I'm kidding... I'm not. Cookies, cake, and chips crumble EVERYWHERE! Add sodas and Kool-aid and... well... You know...

2. Only invite enough kids to fill a police line-up. 

Actually, maybe only half of a line-up.  There is NO reason to invite the whole freaking neighborhood and class! Especially because many parents will drop their child and run like hell. TIP: Think about how many kids you think you can manage, then invite HALF that number. 

3. Hide the good toys.  

There is no, "You break, you buy," at a child's birthday party.  It's more like, "Leave it out, it will die." 



4. Have a clear idea of activities.  

A three-hour birthday party free-for-all will not go over very well on your sanity. Plan activities like party games, arts and crafts, make the hubs dress up as a clown, learn how to make balloon animals... 

Plan at least five activities.


5. Serve Sugar-Free Food. 

You are dealing with kids. Sugar is BAD! BAD! BAD! Fruits and veggies are GOOD! GOOD! GOOD! 

Think: Gremlins

Healthy snacks are the best and safest bet.

6. Give out cups with lids. 

Go to the 'everything is a dollar' store and spring for a few cups with lids and straws - maybe a sticker or two the kids can decorate and personalize their cup.

DO NOT screw this up, these cups will be GOLD!  

7. Have a separate cake for the birthday boy/girl. 

Maybe this is just my kid... so if you are a gambler then go ahead and skip this lesson, but before you go, allow me to tell you a little story...

Picture it: The lights are low.  The excitement in the room is bubbling over.  The cameras are ready to go off in a second's notice.  Mommy (me) turns the corner with a cake lit up like a Christmas tree.  

We all start singing.... Haaappppyyy Birthday Tooo Youuu... (Fast Forward) YAY!  

He blows out the candles...  and Before I can even make a move, this happens...

So, let me ask you this again...
Are you a gambler? 

8. DO NOT OVER DO IT. 

My biggest regret during these parties was not slowing down to actually enjoy the party. I was so concerned with keeping things in order, food on the table, the cake and cookies off the floor, and staying on track...  FAIL!  

Take time to stop and look around. Watch your child having a blast on his day. Stand by your parenting-partner-in-crime and say happy birthday to each other.  This day is for you two, too. Don't waste it sweating and stressing!

9. Throw the party away. 

I love the Dollar Tree when it comes to throwing parties... AWAY! While you are there buying cups with lids and straws, for ten bucks you can buy all you need to decorate like a Boss too! Including, TWO massive cheap plastic tablecloths.  Get one for the table and one to cover the floor underneath it.  Then buy as much paper and plastic crap bowls and serving trays as possible, so when the party is overall you have to do is remove the things you do not want to throw away from the table, then take each corner, tie them together and drag that shit to the garbage!  Then, sweep all the crap onto the tablecloth underneath the table, then throw it away!  This made clean up a Breeze.   Do. This. 

10. Save your pennies in a jar labeled,  BIRTHDAY, so next year you can pay someone to host the party. 

Now, I totally get why people pay the big bucks to host their child's birthday party at a venue. After you spend the money on decorations, food and post-party therapy, you might as well just pay someone! You get in and out, no lingering friends or family to throw out of your house, no carpet cleaner to pay for getting cake, chocolate milk, and gummy bears out of the carpet, no toys to stash and then get back out... Yes, we will definitely be saving our pennies for next year!

Tips For Surviving Bad Financial Times After COVID-19

It seems that the economy has come to a standstill because of COVID-19. Businesses are closed while countries are imposing lockdowns. You may have lost your job or your business may now be shuttering. Many are wondering how they will be able to survive this. While COVID-19 will go, the financial aftermath will be clear. Some say the economy will quickly pick back up while others say that the financial destruction that COVID-19 has caused will stay for a while. You may be thinking about how exactly you will weather this economic aftermath. There are several things you can do. One thing is to save money. Another is to pick up side jobs such as walking dogs or cleaning houses. Even buying the best dividend stocks can make your budget and your wallet bigger. Here are some tips for surviving the bad financial times after COVID-19 is over.

The first tip that you will want to adhere to is to save money. This is simple and tested advice, but many people decide to not do it. One great way to save money is to cut out things that are not essential to your living. A great example of this is alcohol. Many people would be surprised at how much money they actually spend on alcohol every month. Just the money saved spent on this can buy you a couple of high dividend stocks or can be put into a general rainy day fund. Keeping a reasonable budget can help you out financially. After COVID-19 is over, there will still be less money going around in the economy for a while. Keeping a budget and a rainy day fund can really help you survive the economic uncertainty of a post-COVID-19 future.

One way to make money is to invest in high dividend stocks. There are two ways to make money with this stock. The first way is through capital gains. When the stock goes up, you make money when you sell the stock. The second and better way to make money with dividend stocks is through the dividend itself. If you own the stock for a certain amount of time, the stock will pay you a percentage cash payment depending on how much of the stock you own. If you use the dividend money to invest in more shares of the stock, the money will start piling up. This is an excellent way to be more finically secure and to be able to handle some financial shortcomings that will be coming along after COVID is over. Other investing such as bonds and blue chips stocks are both great ways to secure your financial future and to invest in other things.

One thing to do is to make sure that you are being productive. This can be reading a book about investing or even working out every day. When you better yourself and learn more, you will be able to get that good job or start-up your own business. Now that most businesses are closed, and most people are at home, now is the perfect time to learn that new skill or to read that new book about business. Being productive can be a difficult task for most people. It seems that your phone is always ringing or you are always watching videos online. Being productive and focused is a skill all in itself. If you can learn to be more productive, you will have a much better chance of being more financially secure when the economic shortcomings of COVID-19 are over.

It seems that as time goes on, the uncertainty that is surrounding the future after COVID-19 is increasing. Many people are predicting that life will not be the same and that there will be a new normal of social distancing and cleaning efforts. Some businesses will not be there after COVID-19 is over as well. You need to make sure that your money is secure. Betting on yourself, investing in high dividend stocks, and having a reasonable budget are all great things to do, whether it is COVID-19 or not. Make sure that you are making the right steps for your financial situation to be able to be secure after COVID-19 is finished.