Two Can Become One While Being Ourselves

/in /by

Being in a relationship and maintaining your independence are two concepts that may sound counter intuitive. The truth, though, is that becoming co-dependent in a relationship to the point that you lose your independence is very unhealthy. Instead, you want to be two people who share their lives, their experiences, and their goals together while still maintaining independence in the right areas.

Here are some tips on how to keep your independence while also keeping that vital relationship in your life alive and kicking:

Do something on your own

This can be as simple or as extravagant as you like. If you are feeling like you are penned in as part of your relationship then start by doing something simple on your own. Maybe this is refocusing on an old hobby or starting a new one. Fitness classes and sports are excellent examples as well as they will get you out of your house independently of your spouse. For those already in that area, consider a trip to a new city alone where you can spend a couple of days doing everything that you want to do – food, activities, etc. – without having to please anyone else.

Maintain old friendships

In a marital relationship it is only natural that you and your significant other see your circles merge. This is fine, and healthy, as couples friends are an important part of life. One thing to remember though is that you had a life before you met your partner, one that included a friend group that was all of your own. While hanging out as a couple with those friends can still be fun, plan nights to hang out with just your own friends and go out separately. That way you will have more stuff to talk about the next day!

Learn to love yourself

Loving your partner can often be easier than loving yourself. Both aspects of this are vital for a healthy relationship. We are not talking narcissistic love, just a fundamental appreciation of who you are and what you bring to the table for your relationship. Taking care of yourself and your own needs is vital, but if you don’t love and respect yourself then it is easy to fall into a co-dependent trap where nothing you want is ever put first.

Article by Vital Guidance

Two Can Become One While Being Ourselves

/in , /by

Being in a relationship and maintaining your independence are two concepts that may sound counter intuitive. The truth, though, is that becoming co-dependent in a relationship to the point that you lose your independence is very unhealthy. Instead, you want to be two people who share their lives, their experiences, and their goals together while still maintaining independence in the right areas.

Here are some tips on how to keep your independence while also keeping that vital relationship in your life alive and kicking:

Do something on your own

This can be as simple or as extravagant as you like. If you are feeling like you are penned in as part of your relationship then start by doing something simple on your own. Maybe this is refocusing on an old hobby or starting a new one. Fitness classes and sports are excellent examples as well as they will get you out of your house independently of your spouse. For those already in that area, consider a trip to a new city alone where you can spend a couple of days doing everything that you want to do – food, activities, etc. – without having to please anyone else.

Maintain old friendships

In a marital relationship it is only natural that you and your significant other see your circles merge. This is fine, and healthy, as couples friends are an important part of life. One thing to remember though is that you had a life before you met your partner, one that included a friend group that was all of your own. While hanging out as a couple with those friends can still be fun, plan nights to hang out with just your own friends and go out separately. That way you will have more stuff to talk about the next day!

Learn to love yourself

Loving your partner can often be easier than loving yourself. Both aspects of this are vital for a healthy relationship. We are not talking narcissistic love, just a fundamental appreciation of who you are and what you bring to the table for your relationship. Taking care of yourself and your own needs is vital, but if you don’t love and respect yourself then it is easy to fall into a co-dependent trap where nothing you want is ever put first.

Article by Vital Guidance

Safe Driving Can Lower Car Insurance Premiums By 50 Percent

/in /by

The modern world has thrown up a myriad of new insurance product options to consider when you are looking for a policy to cover your auto insurance. One of the newer offerings on the market is usage-based car insurance, a product offered by many of the major companies that ties your insurance premium to the amount of time you use your car and how good of a driver you are.

This is not a good insurance product option for everybody as there are many more variables in play than you would find in a regular policy. These policies use technology – usually a smartphone app along with a tag or dongle – to monitor your driving and calculate a score. This score is based not only on the amount of time you use your car – and the amount of miles you drive – but also on how safely you drive. This means it will track aspects of your driving like acceleration, phone use, speed, and breaking to algorithmically judge how good of a driver you are.

If you score well – meaning that you are classed as a low risk driver – then the savings are significant. Some studies have shown that the lowest risk drivers could be saving anything from 50% to 60% of their premium by using this insurance product option. One major issue is that this type of policy is very strict and rigid. Some companies consider low risk driving to be less than 7,500 miles in a year, ideal for those in the city that use public transport to get around, but perhaps less practical in the Midwest where driving to work – and to other cities that are spread far apart – is an established way of life.

The other issue is certain to be one based on a lack of privacy. These policies have to track you and see what you are doing in order to make them viable. If you are in a car accident there is a worry that the information that has been gathered could be used by the police to some end. Also, risky driving could actually increase your premium on the flip side of saving you money.

As a result this is very much an insurance product option where (ironically) your mileage will vary. If you think you are a safe driver and you drive minimal miles in a year then be sure to check out a usage-based policy to see if you can save some money.

 

Article by Vital Guidance

Safe Driving Can Lower Car Insurance Premiums By 50 Percent

/in /by

The modern world has thrown up a myriad of new insurance product options to consider when you are looking for a policy to cover your auto insurance. One of the newer offerings on the market is usage-based car insurance, a product offered by many of the major companies that ties your insurance premium to the amount of time you use your car and how good of a driver you are.

This is not a good insurance product option for everybody as there are many more variables in play than you would find in a regular policy. These policies use technology – usually a smartphone app along with a tag or dongle – to monitor your driving and calculate a score. This score is based not only on the amount of time you use your car – and the amount of miles you drive – but also on how safely you drive. This means it will track aspects of your driving like acceleration, phone use, speed, and breaking to algorithmically judge how good of a driver you are.

If you score well – meaning that you are classed as a low risk driver – then the savings are significant. Some studies have shown that the lowest risk drivers could be saving anything from 50% to 60% of their premium by using this insurance product option. One major issue is that this type of policy is very strict and rigid. Some companies consider low risk driving to be less than 7,500 miles in a year, ideal for those in the city that use public transport to get around, but perhaps less practical in the Midwest where driving to work – and to other cities that are spread far apart – is an established way of life.

The other issue is certain to be one based on a lack of privacy. These policies have to track you and see what you are doing in order to make them viable. If you are in a car accident there is a worry that the information that has been gathered could be used by the police to some end. Also, risky driving could actually increase your premium on the flip side of saving you money.

As a result this is very much an insurance product option where (ironically) your mileage will vary. If you think you are a safe driver and you drive minimal miles in a year then be sure to check out a usage-based policy to see if you can save some money.

 

Article by Vital Guidance

Many Ways For Seniors To Qualify For A Home Financing

/in /by

When you are mortgage planning in your 30s and 40s you are doing so with the expectation of paying off the 15- or 30-year loan term before you die. It may come as a shock then to learn that there is actually no upper limit on when you can qualify for a mortgage and that the Equal Credit Opportunity Act actually prevents discrimination against mortgage applicants based on their age.

The market of borrowers looking for a mortgage aged 65 or older makes up around 10% of all mortgages originated in the US on a yearly basis. There are other rules that disqualify some potential senior borrowers – like no longer working full time – but even a lack of steady work (due to retirement) can be offset. If a senior has dividends, stock options, or even if their pensions and social security benefits are strong enough, then a mortgage opportunity is out there for those looking for late-life mortgage planning.

While not discriminating based on age is only fair, it can also throw up some ridiculous stories. One example of this comes out of Trinity, FL. Here, a 97 –year-old woman came in to enquire about a mortgage. She qualified for the loan and it is noted that older borrowers can qualify for money that will expire up to their 130th birthday.

Mortgage planning is usually stressful for the borrower. In these cases though, it would seem that the mortgage would be much more stressful for the bank and whoever is insuring the loan. Another story is of a jumbo mortgage that was given to a qualifying 83-year-old man in Manhattan, NY. This mortgage was for an astonishing $1 million over 10 years, a much shorter loan period but still one that assumes the borrower lives to be 93 years of age.

The takeaway here is that you are never too old to buy a house and qualify for a mortgage if your financial status is positive. While buying a new house as a senior is never going to be the right move for everyone, there are people who are looking for that last move in life. If that is the case with you then go about your mortgage planning and speak with an advisor to see if you could start fresh one more time.

Article by Vital Guidance

Many Ways For Seniors To Qualify For A Home Financing

/in /by

When you are mortgage planning in your 30s and 40s you are doing so with the expectation of paying off the 15- or 30-year loan term before you die. It may come as a shock then to learn that there is actually no upper limit on when you can qualify for a mortgage and that the Equal Credit Opportunity Act actually prevents discrimination against mortgage applicants based on their age.

The market of borrowers looking for a mortgage aged 65 or older makes up around 10% of all mortgages originated in the US on a yearly basis. There are other rules that disqualify some potential senior borrowers – like no longer working full time – but even a lack of steady work (due to retirement) can be offset. If a senior has dividends, stock options, or even if their pensions and social security benefits are strong enough, then a mortgage opportunity is out there for those looking for late-life mortgage planning.

While not discriminating based on age is only fair, it can also throw up some ridiculous stories. One example of this comes out of Trinity, FL. Here, a 97 –year-old woman came in to enquire about a mortgage. She qualified for the loan and it is noted that older borrowers can qualify for money that will expire up to their 130th birthday.

Mortgage planning is usually stressful for the borrower. In these cases though, it would seem that the mortgage would be much more stressful for the bank and whoever is insuring the loan. Another story is of a jumbo mortgage that was given to a qualifying 83-year-old man in Manhattan, NY. This mortgage was for an astonishing $1 million over 10 years, a much shorter loan period but still one that assumes the borrower lives to be 93 years of age.

The takeaway here is that you are never too old to buy a house and qualify for a mortgage if your financial status is positive. While buying a new house as a senior is never going to be the right move for everyone, there are people who are looking for that last move in life. If that is the case with you then go about your mortgage planning and speak with an advisor to see if you could start fresh one more time.

Article by Vital Guidance

Four Ways To Encourage & Make Reading Fun For Your Child

/in /by

It is vital to get your kids on the right path about reading, encouraging them to read as a choice and a hobby as opposed to forcing them to do so like it is an extension of school.  The problem is that getting kids to put down their tablet and pick up a book in this digital age is not easy.

Knowing that reading is important to help kids with their language and comprehension skills, here are a few ways to make them more likely to pick up a good book as opposed to watching another video on their device:

Make reading fun

Digital reading is ok at a push, but that just feels like an extension of time on the tablet as opposed to something new and different. Books are great, but the traditional style book that you may have loved as a kid – and may still now – isn’t the only type of reading material that your kids should be introduced to.

A good mentor knows that magazines – yes, they still exist – are a great way to get your kids to read as their short format story style really fits in with the way information is consumed in the modern age. Graphic novels are another amazing source of reading material for kids, with this type of book now popping up in every genre imaginable as they have become more popular over the last couple of decades.

Find a series they love

Harry Potter made this easy for a generation, with each of the books being multiple weeks’ worth of reading material for people of the right age. While Potter is still a good option, there are hundreds of series reads out there that will interest your child immediately into reading more as soon as they are hooked on the general premise.

Reading the first book of a series together is also a great idea to get your child started. You could even read the book out loud at first if they need a little more encouragement to get involved. Any pastime that you can share together is a good thing.

Don’t pressure it but make time available

Kids lead busy lives. Often their lives are more busy than ours when you take into account school, band, athletics, and any other one of the millions of activities they have available to them. It’s not a good idea to sit your child down, and command it’s time to read unless you’re out of option as this makes reading feel like a chore and that is the last thing kids want to do.

Instead, make sure there is no pressure on your child to read. Make it relaxing and enjoyable and free from the pressures they would feel at school.  Be available in case your child needs help with a word or a concept and, be engaged in what they are questioning.

Create a reading nook

If reading has its own special place then reading will happen. Kids love a space to themselves for every activity, so create a reading nook or area that they will want to be in. Make sure that books and other reading materials are available nearby and watch as a child who use to dislike reading at home quickly becomes an avid reader thanks to the rearrangement of a few pillows and blankets in the house.

Article by Vital Guidance

Your Carbon Footprint Reduction Makes Earth Healthier

/in /by

What if eating healthier and getting more of the vital nutrition you need could also help reduce your carbon footprint and play a part in making the earth a healthier and more sustainable place?

With climate change and resource extraction being such hot-button issues there are many people who want to know what they can do to help. One way of doing so is to turn towards more sustainable eating patterns, with some research suggesting that doing so could help slash greenhouse gas emissions by up to 70% over time.

You can’t chance the future of the earth on your own, but you can make nutritional decisions that make you a healthier person while also helping the global fight against climate change in your own way.

Here are some ideas to help:

No More Plastic

This one is an easy change to make that works on multiple levels. Goods packaged in boxes, styrofoam, and plastic are usually full of preservatives and chemicals. Instead of buying these items, go for fresh produce that is full of the vital nutrients you need to live a better life. Beyond that, don’t be tempted to put your groceries inside the plastic bags or wrap provided by the store and don’t use the single use grocery bags. Instead, use your own bags and feel good about what you walk out of the store with.

Eat Less Meat

This is another simple change that you might be shocked to learn would contribute to a serious decline in greenhouse gas emissions if everyone followed a more vegetarian or vegan friendly lifestyle. This is because the emissions from beef and dairy cattle specifically – and livestock production in general – represents about 14.5% of global human-induced greenhouse gas emissions. While taking all meat out of a diet might now be possible, limiting yourself to one meat based meal a day is something that everyone could try.

Grow Your Own Food

For centuries, humans have grown their own food in their back yards, fields or allotments. This is something we have moved away from over time with our city or suburb based lives to the point that it is now rare to see a working adult with a vegetable patch that they cultivate and use. Growing your own fruit and vegetables obviously reduces your need to plastic and other carbon footprint altering materials. Along with the vital nutrients you are guaranteed from your own produce, having a garden to tend to also helps reduce stress and promotes an improved state of emotional well being.

Buy Local

This is an extension of the growing-your-own-food concept but on a larger scale. Local food is less damaging on the environment because it is much easier to transport food on a local level. More than that, local food tends to be seasonal. This is important because food grown out of season – mass produced for a national market – takes a much higher toll on the environment. The added benefit here is that money stays in the local economy and you will learn to love foods native to where you live.

Article by Vital Guidance

Four Ways To Encourage & Make Reading Fun For Your Child

/in /by

It is vital to get your kids on the right path about reading, encouraging them to read as a choice and a hobby as opposed to forcing them to do so like it is an extension of school.  The problem is that getting kids to put down their tablet and pick up a book in this digital age is not easy.

Knowing that reading is important to help kids with their language and comprehension skills, here are a few ways to make them more likely to pick up a good book as opposed to watching another video on their device:

Make reading fun

Digital reading is ok at a push, but that just feels like an extension of time on the tablet as opposed to something new and different. Books are great, but the traditional style book that you may have loved as a kid – and may still now – isn’t the only type of reading material that your kids should be introduced to.

A good mentor knows that magazines – yes, they still exist – are a great way to get your kids to read as their short format story style really fits in with the way information is consumed in the modern age. Graphic novels are another amazing source of reading material for kids, with this type of book now popping up in every genre imaginable as they have become more popular over the last couple of decades.

Find a series they love

Harry Potter made this easy for a generation, with each of the books being multiple weeks’ worth of reading material for people of the right age. While Potter is still a good option, there are hundreds of series reads out there that will interest your child immediately into reading more as soon as they are hooked on the general premise.

Reading the first book of a series together is also a great idea to get your child started. You could even read the book out loud at first if they need a little more encouragement to get involved. Any pastime that you can share together is a good thing.

Don’t pressure it but make time available

Kids lead busy lives. Often their lives are more busy than ours when you take into account school, band, athletics, and any other one of the millions of activities they have available to them. It’s not a good idea to sit your child down, and command it’s time to read unless you’re out of option as this makes reading feel like a chore and that is the last thing kids want to do.

Instead, make sure there is no pressure on your child to read. Make it relaxing and enjoyable and free from the pressures they would feel at school.  Be available in case your child needs help with a word or a concept and, be engaged in what they are questioning.

Create a reading nook

If reading has its own special place then reading will happen. Kids love a space to themselves for every activity, so create a reading nook or area that they will want to be in. Make sure that books and other reading materials are available nearby and watch as a child who use to dislike reading at home quickly becomes an avid reader thanks to the rearrangement of a few pillows and blankets in the house.

Article by Vital Guidance

Your Carbon Footprint Reduction Makes Earth Healthier

/in , /by

What if eating healthier and getting more of the vital nutrition you need could also help reduce your carbon footprint and play a part in making the earth a healthier and more sustainable place?

With climate change and resource extraction being such hot-button issues there are many people who want to know what they can do to help. One way of doing so is to turn towards more sustainable eating patterns, with some research suggesting that doing so could help slash greenhouse gas emissions by up to 70% over time.

You can’t chance the future of the earth on your own, but you can make nutritional decisions that make you a healthier person while also helping the global fight against climate change in your own way.

Here are some ideas to help:

No More Plastic

This one is an easy change to make that works on multiple levels. Goods packaged in boxes, styrofoam, and plastic are usually full of preservatives and chemicals. Instead of buying these items, go for fresh produce that is full of the vital nutrients you need to live a better life. Beyond that, don’t be tempted to put your groceries inside the plastic bags or wrap provided by the store and don’t use the single use grocery bags. Instead, use your own bags and feel good about what you walk out of the store with.

Eat Less Meat

This is another simple change that you might be shocked to learn would contribute to a serious decline in greenhouse gas emissions if everyone followed a more vegetarian or vegan friendly lifestyle. This is because the emissions from beef and dairy cattle specifically – and livestock production in general – represents about 14.5% of global human-induced greenhouse gas emissions. While taking all meat out of a diet might now be possible, limiting yourself to one meat based meal a day is something that everyone could try.

Grow Your Own Food

For centuries, humans have grown their own food in their back yards, fields or allotments. This is something we have moved away from over time with our city or suburb based lives to the point that it is now rare to see a working adult with a vegetable patch that they cultivate and use. Growing your own fruit and vegetables obviously reduces your need to plastic and other carbon footprint altering materials. Along with the vital nutrients you are guaranteed from your own produce, having a garden to tend to also helps reduce stress and promotes an improved state of emotional well being.

Buy Local

This is an extension of the growing-your-own-food concept but on a larger scale. Local food is less damaging on the environment because it is much easier to transport food on a local level. More than that, local food tends to be seasonal. This is important because food grown out of season – mass produced for a national market – takes a much higher toll on the environment. The added benefit here is that money stays in the local economy and you will learn to love foods native to where you live.

Article by Vital Guidance