Regardless of your income, it is important to be aware and potentially be prepared for the future financial challenges that you might face several years down the line. By understanding the dangers here, you can make sure that you avoid issues like unmanageable debt levels and, ultimately, keep your financial situation healthy. This is going to benefit you and the rest of your family. So, let’s explore some of the steps that you can take to ensure that you are protected from tomorrow’s financial challenges.
Understand Insurance First, you need to make sure that you understand the insurance industry and benefit you personally. If you are aware of the latest insurance trends, you will know the type of coverage that you should be thinking about investing in. An example would almost certainly be disability insurance. Research shows that you are more likely than not to develop a disability or long-term injury before 65. This could impact your ability to earn, and as such, it does make sense to invest in disability insurance.
Purchasing Real Estate Next, you need to make sure that you are purchasing real estate as soon as possible. Real estate allows you to skirt around the issue of dead money. The problem with dead money is that it means that you are not getting anything out of renting a property in the long term. As such, you need to make sure that you do think about buying instead. You might think that buying a home is always going to be beyond your budget. However, this is not the case, and it’s just a matter of putting the right money away each year until you have enough for a deposit.
Invest As well as investing in real estate, you also need to make sure that you think about diversifying your investment decisions as much as possible. There are many different investment options that you can explore which could be beneficial to you. For instance, you might want to look at the cryptocurrency market. Many experts maintain that crypto is the future of finance. So, it does make sense to at least consider this possibility. Remember, Bitcoin isn’t the only crypto that might be worth exploring on the market.
A Second Income Finally, regardless of how much you are earning on the market, experts recommend that you have a second income that you can fall back on. The right secondary income will provide the additional cushion of cash that you need. It will mean that you can easily cover the cost of unexpected bills that would otherwise weigh you down.
We hope this helps you understand everything you need to think about to guarantee that you are protected from financial challenges you could run into several years from now. If you take the right steps here, you will guarantee that you are in a far better position and can adapt quickly to changes and challenges.
The key to gaining confidence in how you look is all wrapped up in taking care of yourself. With a positive mindset and a goal to put your best self out there, you can gain and maintain confidence in no time! If you’re feeling insecure about your looks, check out these four ideas to boost your confidence and maintain the glow that you already have within you.
Groom Yourself One of the best ways that you can refresh yourself is through grooming. While grooming, you can do the bare minimum of showering, shaving, and moisturizing. Or you can pamper yourself with a self-care routine. Here are a few examples of some self-care activities:
– Take a bath – Paint your nails – Throw on a beauty mask – Exfoliate your skin – Moisturize your lips – Play around with makeup – Do a hair treatment
Engage in Exercise Exercising is a great way to gain confidence. You can create health goals, strengthen your body, and try out new routines to give yourself more energy. When you exercise, you are prioritizing your health and your body. Exercising also gives you a goal to work towards and motivation to better your overall health. You can start with a simple routine or create a workout calendar with designated health goals if you’re a beginner. One of the best parts of jumping into an exercise routine is that you can choose one that best suits you.
If you want to be more flexible, you can do yoga, or if you want to build stamina, you can start including a run in your weekly schedule. Whatever you choose to do, remember that you’re doing it to make yourself feel better. Go with an exercise routine that’s fun.
Here’s a beginning workout video:
Take Care of Your Smile Smiling is a great way to build your confidence and show everyone around you that you have command of the room. When you smile, you want to feel strong and good about yourself. That’s exactly why taking care of your teeth is extremely important. Give some love to your teeth by visiting the dentist, brushing and flossing your teeth, and rinsing your mouth with mouthwash. Nothing screams confidence more than a nice smile! You can add this to your self-care routine and call it a day.
Dress For Yourself Everyone’s heard the phrase, “dress for success.” But what if you started dressing to impress yourself? Clothes and fashion play a powerful role in expression and identity. You can try new styles out and see what look fits your personality the best. When you take the time to wear clothes that make you feel good, you nurture your confidence and self-esteem. At the end of the day, do what makes you feel good, and your self-love will follow.
When it comes to gaining confidence, you can practice self-care, dress up, exercise, and take care of your smile. Once you set out on a journey of self-love, you will be able to gain the confidence that you’ve always wanted.
I want to take this opportunity to wish all of the fathers a very Happy Father’s Day. I’m not going to lie. For me, this day is tough. My father passed away when I was twelve. To be honest, I use to hate it. Having to ‘celebrate’ it without him was tough, especially when I would see other people’s fathers were still alive. What made it even harder is that my father’s birthday is June 13th, usually just days before Father’s Day. As time went on, I was able to turn my grief into joy. And today, I can take what was a sad day and still celebrate Father’s Day even though my own father is in Heaven.
Jay with his father
I know that many people who have lost their fathers will spend the day at the cemetery. For me, this is a big NO. I have done that in the past, and I felt more depressed and sad when I left. I refuse to go to a cemetery unless I am there for an actual funeral. For me, a cemetery does not bring me good feelings for my father. It just reminds me that he is gone and not with me in the physical world. And I am surrounded by the reminder that family members and other people are no longer with us. There is something about a tombstone that doesn’t bring me peace. So that is why I am not going to a cemetery unless it is to honor a family member or friend who recently passed.
When I am in a cemetery, it makes me focus on my father’s death. The last six weeks of his life were extremely hard for him. He lost his battle with lung cancer. I don’t want want to focus on that or how he struggled to live. I want to focus on his life and how he lived it. I want to focus on what he meant to me, my mother, my family, and the people he knew. Although he walked on this earth for only 54 years, he greatly impacted the people who knew him.
I want to remember him as the man who started a construction company with only an eighth-grade education. I want to remember the man who provided for this family, for his employees, and the partners even when he struggled through the tough times in business. Finally, I want to remember the man who told my mother that he wanted just one more child, which is why I am here today.
On Father’s Day, It is easy to think about the times that I lost out with him not being there. The first shave, my graduation ceremonies, my wedding, or the father-son talks that he missed out on. But I focus my mind on thinking about the good memories that I have of my daddy. I would spend time traveling to the construction sites; when he would give me a paycheck for helping him on the job or watching him build things in his woodworking shop. I had to train myself to focus on the good memories and to cast aside the bad memories. I had to work hard to focus on how he lived his life and not think about how his life ended. As the years went by, it became easier for my mind to stay focused on the good times. And now when I think about him, or his birthday or Father’s Day,
On this Father’s Day, I want to honor and thank my father. He is the reason I am here and why I am the man I am today. Even though his death has separated us in the natural for almost thirty-four years, I will always have him close in my heart.
Thank You, Daddy!
I Love You!
If your father is in Heaven, how do you remember him on this day?
I pray that you are having a wonderful day and keeping cool during this heatwave that we are experiencing on the first weekend of summer.
Today is June 19th, and I remember my mother today because it’s her heavenly birthday. Today has also been designated as a new federal holiday, honoring the legacy of Juneteenth. Many people may not be familiar with what Juneteenth is and why it needs to be celebrated and remembered.
June 19, 1865, marks the official end of slavery in the United States when the last remaining slaves were freed inTexas. The Emancipation Proclamation, signed by Abraham Lincoln, became law on January 1, 1863, and marked the end of slavery in the United States. But it would take two and a half years for all enslaved people to experience their freedom. Texas was the last of the confederate states that stood in rebellion following the Civil War. However, due to insufficient Union troops and officials in Texas, the Emancipation Proclamation was not easily enforced, and enslaved people were still being held captive there.
Union Major Gen. Gordon Granger and his regiment rode into Galveston on June 19, 1865, with news that the Civil War had ended in April and that the more than 250,000 enslaved people living in Texas were now free. Granger proclaimed,
“The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.”
Almost immediately, enslaved people in Texas celebrated their freedom with great joy and jubilation. They coined the celebration as Juneteenth. And in the years that followed, the newly freed men and women and their descendants would celebrate the day with music, BBQs, and prayer services. There is even a Miss Juneteenth Pageant in Fort Worth, Texas.
And now, one hundred and fifty-six years later, Juneteenth becomes a federal holiday. But how should we be celebrating or honoring this day?
I believe it is an opportunity to teach people of all ages about the stain that slavery has left on our country. The United States was established on the principles of freedom, but that freedom was not given to all people.
I believe it is an opportunity to teach people of all ages about unity and acceptance of all people, regardless of skin color or ethnicity. No matter what they believe in or who they pray to. We need to look at their heart and their character and learn to love them for who they are.
I believe it is an opportunity to teach people that history is not an easy thing to understand, that there is more to understanding it and learning it than what is presented in our textbooks. That the history of people who don’t look like us still needs to be studied and learned.
I am interested to see how, in the coming years, Juneteenth will be celebrated and honored. I see it as a great opportunity for healing and unity in this country. But only if everyone makes that effort and takes a step closer together.
Some of us have sought solace in our own bubbles of being after more than a year of lockdowns or restriction. As restrictions loosen across the community and our social media feeds are filled with places beginning to reopening, we may start to feel anxious. But, because we have been through so much, it is perfectly natural to feel a range of emotions, from excitement to overwhelm or anxiety. Let’s look at how you can learn to cope with coming out of a pandemic.
It’s important to acknowledge that you have options. It is absolutely fine if you are not ready to fill your calendar with social activities. Friends and family should not pressure you into doing more than you are happy with. You might feel overwhelmed at first after being out and about for too long but take it slowly. Try not to concentrate on what others are doing to help you remain calm, and instead focus on yourself.
Talk about how you feel with someone that you trust
Talking to a trusted friend or family member about how you are feeling is a crucial first step in regaining control of your life. It is very likely that they are experiencing the same feelings as you. After all, we have all been through this together and will emerge stronger as a result. Recognize that any doubts or concerns you have are rational.
Consider what advice you would offer a friend who said that they felt this way and treat yourself with the same kindness. If you do not feel comfortable approaching a friend or family member, there are plenty of professional agencies who can lend a helpful and caring ear.
Be organized
It is possible that being in a crowd right now is daunting. Take some time to prepare and create a schedule for returning to work and socializing. Call ahead to find out when bars and restaurants are open to avoid the busiest times of the day. It is also a good idea to inquire about the precautions in place to keep you safe.
Many people, understandably, would be concerned about public transport. Consider how you can reduce your risk factor and increase your sense of security. Bring hand sanitizer with you, wear a mask, and keep your distance from others.
Look after your body and mind
When life becomes busier, it is important to schedule a time to care for your health. Consider what you require right now in order to truly care for yourself and make it a priority. It may be that you need some rest or a quiet moment – whatever it is, make time for it. For many people, now is the time to get that long-overdue haircut, manicure, or sort out your smile with All on 4 Dental Implants. If it makes you feel good, and it is safe to do so, do it!
Keep up to date with news, but know when to switch it off
Make sure you have the most up-to-date knowledge and information from reputable sources. If it starts to feel stressful, limit your news consumption to once a day.
I pray that you are doing well. Spring is around the corner, and daffodils are starting to bloom.
It is hard to imagine that at this time last year, the world began shutting down, and everything came to a sudden halt. COVID-19 hit like a bombshell and quickly changed life as we knew it. Schools shut down, public events were canceled, and people were told not to leave their homes. A temporary solution to a potentially serious situation would be necessary to keep us safe so that we could return to a normal life.
One year ago today (March 18th), my wife and I started working from home with the anticipation of returning to the office by April 6th. That two-and-a-half-week period has turned into a full year. We are still working at home for most of our time while returning full time in the office has not yet been discussed.
No one could have imagined that a year later, we are still talking about it. We are still under the grips of COVID-19 and still looking to return to normal. What is normal? Thankfully, we see the light at the end of the tunnel. People are now being vaccinated, new cases are going down, and businesses are being reopened.
Without question, COVID has affected everyone, either directly or indirectly. Many people lost their jobs, their livelihoods, and even their lives. We remember and honor these people. While people may disagree about prevention and treatment methods, we all must agree that when life gets back to normal, it will not be the same normal as before. For the first time, people have focused on cleanliness at home and in public. Working from home has become the norm, and with a greater expectation of continuing. Loneliness and depression have escalated. People will love and appreciate their friends and family more after being isolated from them for such a long period of time.
For me personally, I see an increased change in ways that I didn’t think was possible. I started looking inside myself and my life. Working from home had proven to be a viable option for me when I never thought it could be possible. I have attended several online training sessions for personal and professional growth that was never available in the virtual format before COVID-19. I could spend more time with my wife, Seppe, and with our Vinny as he faced the last months of his life.
Our Vinny
How has COVID-19 changed your life? Are you concerned about the new normal, or do you embrace change? How are you planning to alter your daily life to remain safe? Let me know in the comments below.
Learn More About JT
Bubbling with Elegance and Grace started out as an outlet for my passion for fashion but has evolved into a place for me to teach, collaborate, and inspire. My hubby has since joined the team and we have been digital creators for 13 years. We are thankful for those who believed in us from the beginning and those who have just started riding with us on this lovely journey.
Our Vinny
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