Tricia's Musings

Random Thoughts about life in general, living in the big city of Toronto



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Archives for February 2013

Time to start thinking about the future

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It seems it’s time to serious start thinking about the future and investing what little spare money I might have to invest. By this I mean investing in my future so that I have a decent retirement income. It would certainly help if I manage to get back to work soon! I’m still working on that. I should have news on that front soon.

My husbands bank has been calling on and off for the last week or so. They seem to want him to reinvest his retirement savings in a different way. They’ve suggested a few things but we told them to hold on for a few days while we thought about it. This of course means we’re doing a little research on their suggestions.

The problem is that the interest rates they are offering are fairly low. Some of the products have higher interest rates than others. One of them is something called a hybrid annuity. I’m just learning about annuities but it seems that hybrid annuities combine aspects of fixed and variable annuities so that you get the best of both worlds investment wise if you like annuities as an investment.

My husband will probably make a decision as to whether he’ll change his retirement savings over to some other type of investment that earns him better interest in the next little while. I think I’m going to see what my bank is offering as well and see if I can do better on my savings too.





Tips For Planning A Party On A Budget

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Parties are perfect for celebrating all of the greatest milestones in life, from birthdays and anniversaries to weddings and graduations. But the problem with parties is that they can become quite expensive, especially for those on small budgets. If you want to throw a party and invite a lot of friends and family members with whom you can celebrate a special occasion, you will need to invest in a venue, food or catering, music and entertainment, decorations, and more. All of these things can quickly add up, putting you way over budget and making your party seem impossible to pull off.

If you find yourself in a situation where you do not have a lot of money to throw a party that you really want to throw, just know that it is not impossible after all. You can still host an amazing party that all of your guests will enjoy, even if you have a very tight budget to work with.

Here are some tips for planning a great party while on a budget.

Choose the Most Affordable Venue, or Use Your Home

If you live in a large enough house that will fit all of your guests comfortably, consider throwing the party at your home. If not, perhaps one of your friends or family members would be willing to host the event at their house. If a house simply will not be an option, you need to then start looking at potential venues.

Venues come in all shapes and sizes, and all budgets as well. Do your research into local venues, from open halls that you can have decorated to suit your needs and catered to provide your guests with food, to those venues that provide all these services for a flat rate per person, you will probably be able to find something that works for your party.

Print Out Your Own Invitations or Use Online Invitations

When it comes to invitations, many people today are using electronic invitations in place of traditional paper invitations. This saves you money on purchasing the invitations and the postage necessary to mail them out to all of your guests. If you absolutely want to use paper invitations, consider going to your local arts and crafts store and purchasing invitation paper in the design you like, and then print the invitations at home. This will still cost you a bit of money, but it should be less than purchasing fancy pre-made invitations.

Make Your Own Food

If you have chosen a venue that does not provide food for your guests, such as a house or a hall, you need to figure out a plan for your food. If you cannot afford an inexpensive catering service, you can consider making the food yourself. This is perfect for a small party, such a bridal or baby shower, where snacks and finger foods can be just enough to keep your guests satisfied. Prepare the food ahead of time so that you can just bring it to the party’s location on the day of the event.

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Lisa is a writer who enjoys educating others on all things related to finance. While performing some research, she found the site uSwitch.com, which provides information on, and comparisons of, a Capital One credit card and many other credit cards offered by other banks, thus allowing consumers to make informed decisions before applying.

Little Goals Are The Best Way To Achieve Exactly What You Want In 2013

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At the start of each year, many people set huge goals for the next 365 days. A lot of those goals relate to self-improvement. While everyone makes their big goals with the best intentions, the reality is that most discard them within a matter of weeks. This pattern isn’t limited to the beginning of the year. If someone has a big project they need to tackle, they generally start out with very ambitious goals. But almost inevitably, they still end up scrambling the night before the project’s deadline to get everything finished.

These common scenarios make it clear that setting huge goals that are somewhat vague isn’t the way to accomplish what you want. Unfortunately, this type of advice still gets repeated even though it’s obviously not effective. If you’re tired of getting stuck in this type of goal trap, the good news is there is a way to break the cycle.

Little Goals > Big Goals

One of the reasons that so many people continue to only set big goals for themselves is they don’t want to put effort into something that doesn’t seem to provide much of a reward. What they don’t realize is putting aside big goals and focusing on little ones doesn’t mean they can’t accomplish something significant. What it means is that it’s easier to accomplish a string of little goals that amount to something notable than to try and tackle a huge obstacle all at once. Additional advantages of little goals include:

Momentum: Just getting started can be one of the hardest parts of accomplishing something. When someone faces a really large goal, it can feel too overwhelming and cause a type of paralysis that prevents them from taking action. So while you may initially feel like little goals set the bar too low, it’s important to realize that’s not a flaw or accident. Instead, it ensures you’re actually able to get started, which in turn will naturally allow you to build momentum.

Feedback: Studies related to everything from weight loss to job performance have shown that consistent feedback plays a significant role in successfully accomplishing a task. Keep in mind that this feedback doesn’t have to come from others. Instead, it can take the form of self-evaluation. With really large goals, it can be hard to set milestones to figure out where you’re at in the process. But with little goals, their very nature means that you’ll easily be able to assess how you’re doing on a regular basis.

Easy to Adjust: Another problem with big goals is they’re not very flexible. And since making such a big change requires a significant leap, people almost always fall off track. While that completely derails their attempt, with small goals, you can just acknowledge that your original plan wasn’t exactly right and adjust accordingly.

John Weezypoppy is a freelance writer who blogs about cheap scrubs as well as other medical supplies and uniforms.

How To Stay Safe & Secure On A Night Out

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What better way to forget the stresses of your working week than a great night out? With a little planning and common sense, you can ensure your night out is one to remember … not one you would rather forget!

  • Eat before you start drinking

It’s a great idea to have a decent meal before you begin your night out. Having a well-lined stomach will help your body better absorb alcohol and stop you getting too intoxicated, too fast.

  • Don’t go out alone

Someone by them self is an easy target, and in a group you lessen the odds of becoming a target for unsavoury attention. Travelling with friends can also make the taxi fare cheaper!Stay in well-lit, populated areas and never leave with someone you have just met, no matter how enticing they may seem.

  • Carry your phone

Ensure you have your mobile phone on you. Keep your valuables safely tucked away out of sight and on you at all times. Don’t take non-essential expensive items with you on your night out.

  • Never leave your drink unattended

Unfortunately, having your drink spiked is a common issue. Never, ever leave your drink! Keep it in your hand covered with your hand if necessary in a crowd. Remember not to accept drinks from strangers that you haven’t seen poured either.

  • Alcohol

Watch your alcohol intake. Excessive alcohol lowers your awareness and increases your vulnerability, making you more likely to make poor decisions. If you drink sensibly, alternating with glasses of water, you are more likely to stay in control – and avoid a mean hangover!

  • Taxis

Don’t drink and drive! If you don’t have a designated driver then taxis are your next best option. Make certain to have the phone number of a reputable taxi service pre-programmed into your mobile. It’s a lot simpler at the end of your night out when you might have had a few too many!

Many taxi companies offer a Call-Back service that informs you your car has arrived and even goes as far as to give you the vehicle’s details and a meeting point. Contact your local cab company to register and for more details. Another tip is to put a spare £10 in your shoe in case of emergency.

  • 0800-Reverse

This is a fantastic free service that you can use anywhere in the UK. Available on all mobile phones, home phones and even payphones. No need to subscribe to this service, you simply dial 0800 REVERSE (0800 7383773) and follow the prompts and the charges get reversed to you! Simple and easy to use. You only need to remember one phone number on your night out.

  • iPhone Users

For all you iPhone users out there, there is a free app you can install on your iPhone. Find My iPhone could be used as a great tracking tool for your partner to use at home so they know where you are at all times. This great app even gives you driving directions to where your iPhone is located!

This guest post has been sourced, researched and written by Diane Povey who is contributing content for the road traffic accident claims and work accident compensation claims at Claims National.

Basic Mattress Care: 4 Tips For Maintaining Your Mattress

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Finally, you have purchased a new mattress. A mattress is a very important investment. It can affect your sleep, which will then affect the overall quality of your life and health. For this reason, the maintenance of your mattress must never be taken for granted; especially if you want it to last for many years. Mattresses usually last about ten years; however, a few simple maintenance tips and techniques can add more years to their useful life; while improving your sleep comfort.

1. Consider Your Mattress Support And Foundation

When buying a new mattress, it is vital to have a sturdy base and matching foundation. Today, a lot of mattresses already have a matching foundation which is created to provide the best support and durability for that specific mattress. This is important since it will protect the mattress and will add more height to the bed.

If you are still in the process of buying a new mattress, try purchasing the matching box spring as well. Putting a new mattress on a mismatched and old box spring will only lead to problems. Some of the problems you might encounter include:

  • Not getting what you expected. The comfort you felt back at the store won’t necessarily feel the same when you bring your mattress at home.
  • The mattress will sag and wear sooner. This means that the mattress won’t live up to your expectations, won’t last for many years, and the warranty will probably be invalid.

2. Avoid Folding Or Bending Your Mattress

It is very important to avoid bending or folding your mattress, especially when you try to fit it in or out of a particular room. You can consider flexing the mattress so that it will fit, but you can never fold, curl, or bend the mattress. In doing so, you will cause damage to the springs and coils because the comfort layers will shift and will become an uneven space for sleeping. To carry the mattress to your bedroom, you can carry it upright. This way, you can easily handle it and you will avoid damaging it.

3. Turn Your Mattress

Most people sleep on the same spot on their mattress every single night. This will eventually lead to uneven wear on coil springs which provide support for the body. To reduce the chances of wearing and to enjoy more years of sleep comfort, it is recommended to turn your mattress every two weeks during the first couple of months after buying it. After a few months, you can then turn it every two months. As an additional tip, you can turn it head to foot, and flip the mattress. In doing so, you will be able to distribute the wear patterns.

4. Clean The Mattress

To keep your mattress looking and smelling new and fresh, you need to clean stains using a mild detergent and a clean, dampened cloth. Never use any volatile chemical removers because this can damage and degrade the fabric of the mattress and other materials. In addition, you can also vacuum the mattress. In doing so, you will not only get rid of dust and other allergens, but you can also get rid of any dust mites and bed bugs.

You can also consider employing a professional cleaning service provider who can offer mattress cleaning services; however, you have to make sure that they are not using techniques that were not approved by the manufacturers of mattresses. This means that the professional cleaners must not use shampoo or steam to clean the mattress. Remember that using the wrong cleaning methods will only damage it; thus, it will reduce its comfort and support level.

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Attached Images:
  •  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/Interiors_g380-Luxury_Modern_Bedroom_p34641.html

Kris Lim is a prolific blogger for lifestyle websites where she offers simple tips on how to clean and maintain mattresses. She also contributes her thoughts to online mattress stores, such as www.parklanemattresses.com.

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