tips

Credit Karma: FREE Credit Score, tools, & tips to help you understand your scores!

Abby H.

If you’ve followed my blog for some time, you know I am a big proponent of keeping an eye on your credit score.

I maintain a high credit score and keep my debt-to-income ratio low by using Credit Karma to monitor my scores with all three major credit bureaus.

I can check to see if there is anything on there that doesn’t belong and clear up any issues as soon as I see them.

It’s never too early  (or late) to start monitoring your credit.

Young adults should take a peek at their credit, and Credit Karma offers tips and tricks to help build their credit.  Good Credit is important- it’s the gatekeeper to so many things in life! Good credit gives you better access to better APRs for credit cards, mortgages, car loans, and lines of credit.

Regardless of your age, Credit Karma is here to help you FOR FREE!

  • Compare personalized offers for credit cards, loans and more without hurting your scores.
  • Get alerted when there’s an important change on your reports.
  • Learn what affects your credit scores and what you can do to improve them.
  • See personalized recommendations for ways to use your credit more wisely

Did you know that the recent FTC study found that over 20% of Americans, or 40 million credit reports, have reporting errors that are costing consumers money in credit card interest rates and loans?

Make sure that your credit report does not contain erroneous information that could be impacting your credit score. Keep tabs on your credit report activities and your score by signing up for free credit monitoring and score services like Credit Karma, so that you can easily protect your financial good standing.

 

 

Legoland Water Park: Kid Tested, Family Approved!

Abby H.

Last month, Legoland had a summer pass sale, and I took advantage of it, knowing it would be an awesome way for us to spend some time outside having fun this summer.

We used the passes for the first time on Friday to visit the Legoland Water Park.

We’ve never gone to the water park before, and it was pretty fun. Like some parts of Legoland, there are areas of the water park that are great for smaller kids, great for families, and some areas perfect for bigger kids. Here is a map of the park.

We spent a lot of time at the Chima area in the wave pool.

It is a walk-in pool, and the deep end is only 5 feet. The waves come on every 5 minutes, preceded by an alarm. The kids had an amazing time swimming in the waves (yes, we brought their goggles) and lazing in the shallow end.

We rented a locker for $16 and stashed all of our stuff- towels, snacks, dry clothes. We didn’t hunt for pool chairs on the deck because we arrived at 1pm; however, there were tons of chairs still available.  I wanted to splash and play in the water with the kids, not sit and watch!

The water slides were also a hit with the kids- I didn’t go on them because my rash guard has a zipper and you can’t have a zippered suit on the water slides (It can scratch the slides). That was cool with me- I waited below in the pool area.

The park wasn’t overcrowded, and there was plenty of water and space. There are tons of fun little areas to splash, relax, and build!

Both of these posts are full of tips for having the best time at Legoland!

Right now, Legoland California has a decent deal on 1 or 2-day park hopper passes.

Or if you only want to visit Legoland,  1-park passes start at $89!

No pics of the kids this time, but we did spot this Lego Monkey outside the backside of the Lego Hotel!

Remember, parking starts at $35 for the day. For our family, it made the most sense for the kids to get the summer passes and for me to get an annual pass that included parking. Based on how much a 1-day ticket costs and how much we paid, we only have to visit Legoland 4 more times before our passes pay for themselves. We’ve already got plans for our next visit!

Legoland: Don’t Miss This Summer Ticket Deal!

Abby H.

Legoland California has an awesome deal going on right now, perfect for an end-of-summer staycation!

Get up to four $39 Kids Resort Hopper Tickets with the purchase of an Adult Resort Hopper Ticket! Hurry, a limited number of tickets are available at this price each day, for a limited time only. Get them before they’re gone!

Resort Hopper Tickets include LEGOLAND Theme Park + SEA LIFE Aquarium + Water Park.

When to Visit: Now – September 13, 2024

If you are enjoying Legoland on a budget, check out my ideas for saving money in the park here.

Water Park is closed on select dates during the promotional window. Check the operating calendar for more information. On dates the Water Park is closed, the offer is valid for a SEA LIFE Hopper Ticket.

Questions? Click here for FAQs.

April is Financial Literacy Month

Abby H.

Financial literacy is near and dear to my heart. I’ve spent much of my adult life working hard to save money, pay bills on time, and live within my means. It is a lot of effort and work, but, it’s made my life less stressful.

In 2020, I wrote a three-part series about making a practical budget that a family can adhere to and how to get some extra help if you need it. This was written during the pandemic, so there is a lot of information and resources, especially for those feeling the financial panic that many felt during the height of the pandemic.

If you already have a budget or feel that your spending is out of control and you aren’t to the point yet where you feel that you need a budget, I did a series of posts in late 2019 about how to reign in the out-of-control spending.

 A big part of financial literacy is tracking where you stand financially. With identity theft happening to 22% of Americans (per a 2022 Bureau of Justice Statistics study), knowing what’s on your credit is important.  Obtaining your free annual credit report is easy.  Free Annual Credit Report is the site that I use.

Once you receive it, go over and verify all of the open accounts are yours. Contact the credit bureaus immediately if there are any incorrect names, addresses, or accounts.

If you are saving for your future, or your kid’s future, here are two great savings opportunities:

Savings bonds- Savings Bonds: The gift that keeps on giving!

529’s/ Educational Savings Accounts- September Is College Savings Month!

Today is National Child Health Day!

Abby H.

The first Monday of October is National Child Health Day. I’m taking a little time today to share some ways you can keep your kiddos healthy while still staying on budget.

Here is my post about how to care for your children’s vision on a budget. If your kids are hard on glasses like my big kid is, contact the company/optometrist’s office if the glasses break within 6 months of receiving them. My kiddo gets 1 pair per year through insurance, and I make sure that if anything goes wrong, we contact the office and get them repaired or replaced ASAP.

Here in California vision and dental insurance is included under health insurance plans for kids 18 and under. To learn more, check the back of your kid’s health insurance card for phone numbers.

Studies have proven that poor dental health and hygiene can lead to other more severe health issues, so please take care of the kiddos chompers! My kids love the Toms of Maine Strawberry toothpaste (also available in fluoride free).  They are not bubblegum or mint fans. Whatever it takes to get them to brush their teeth!!

Another thing that is important to overall health is PROPER REST. The CDC recommendations can be found here. My littlest is hard to get settled for bed, so here are some of the ways we help get her ready to rest each night:

Let’s Get Storm Ready!

Abby H.

As I’m sure of you have seen, Southern California is about to get slammed with the tail end of Hurricane Hillary.

Most of us here in SoCal have never been in this kind of weather storm, so here are a few tips to get your home ready.

For those of us who have been here through wildfires, you may notice that some of these tips are the same, but this time for different reasons. We won’t be worried about ash debris, instead leaves, branches, and maybe items that have not been secured (depending on how high the winds are gusting).

Outside your home:

  1. Secure any loose items. Bikes, scooters, plants, patio furniture, outdoor toys, and play equipment. If it can be put inside the house or garage, great! If not, make sure it’s secured into the ground.
  2. Close your windows and doors. Make sure they can lock. Caulk any gaps. Water stays out!
  3. If you live on the ground floor, sandbags might be needed. Check with your local Public Works department for free sandbags.
  4. Pick up any fallen branches, large rocks, or loose wood- Anything that can be picked up in the gusts of wind and can turn into a projectile.

Inside your home:

  1. Charge everything. Phones, laptops, tablets, portable gaming devices, portable batteries, flashlights, walkie-talkies.  I also have a portable battery that charges via a small solar panel. I am charging that in my front window right now. If power is lost, you can still keep in touch and stay entertained.
  2. If you have tablets and streaming services, download some movies or cartoons to keep the kids entertained and their minds off the storm. I downloaded a bunch of movies and books onto the iPad and tablets last night.
  3. Everyone needs to take a shower or bath. Wash your hair, shave your shaveables. Clean out your tubs afterward and fill the tubs (Or fill some buckets) so you can flush the toilet if there is a disruption in water service.
  4. Speaking of water, everyone in the house needs at least a gallon of water to drink. Fill up pitchers for hand washing and any minor dishwashing and keep them near sinks.
  5. Put some bottles of water inside the freezer. If the power goes out, the frozen water bottles can keep your food cold. also- DO NOT keep opening the fridge and freezer if the power goes out. You are letting the cold air out!

Personal matters:

  1. Make sure you have a week’s worth of meds. We use the daily med boxes (like these). I filled them all last night.
  2. Stock up on any personal care items you may need- especially TP. Body cleaning wipes (don’t flush them). If you are or will be menstruating, make sure you have supplies.
  3. Don’t forget the pets. Make sure you have enough food, water, and treats for them.
  4. Have a plan in case you need to leave your home. Coordinate with someone on higher ground or contact the Red Cross to see where shelters may be located.  This also means you may need to pack an emergency bag to go.  My post about wildfire bug-out bags can be found here. Most of the info is transferable.
  5. Snacks- check your cupboards to ensure that you have ready-to-serve snacks that your family will eat. We took a quick trip to Dollar Tree yesterday. Each kid got $20 to spend on storm snacks.
  6. Fill up your gas tank. Each car/vehicle. If there is an extended amount of time without power, the gas stations will be closed.
  7. Check your car’s windshield wiper blades and replace them if needed.
  8. Check the tires and inflate them as needed.

We are spending our morning getting ready for back to school. I’ve been doing these prep activities when the kids are occupied, so they don’t get the feeling something is off. They know a storm is coming, but beyond that, they are excited for the rain.

Beating the Summer Heat Without Breaking the Bank!

Abby H.

The past few weeks here in Southern California have had some very high temperatures, and it reminds me that we could all use a brush up on our frugal ways to beat the heat.

First of all, if you live in San Diego County check out the cool zone website to find a free place near you to chill out. They are typically places like community centers, libraries, and indoor shopping centers. If you are outside San Diego County, here is a list of all of the California counties and their cool zone sites.

In addition to finding certified cool zones, you can head to cooler areas like the beach, a local swimming pool, or a splash pad. Most beaches have free parking, although state beaches have a nominal fee to park. Community pools and splash pads also have a small admittance fee, although parking is generally free.

Remember to dress for the weather, and that includes floppy hats with wide brims that will keep your head and neck covered, as well as sunscreen if you were going to be outside between the hours of 10 AM-4 PM. Hydration is also very important if you’re gonna be outside in the heat. Water bottles, ice cubes, and frozen packs are all on my summer adventure packing list.

And now finally cooling down your home. We’ve only had a decent AC in our home for two years, prior to that we had the original from when our home with built in the early 80s. We cool our home down by having box fans in the windows each night, and we close the house by 10 AM to keep the cool air inside. We close our blinds and drapes, and we keep the fans going inside the house to circulate the air. We set our thermostat to between 74 and 76°. And because we have a newer AC we use the smart program (it’s an app) that communicates with our thermostat.

This is super important especially if you live in an area where there are wildfires: Set a reminder in your phone or online calendar to change the air filter on your AC once a year or more if you have a wildfire in your area and you’re running the AC. We take advantage of programs like OhmConnect and programs through our local power company (SDG&E). There are programs like FERA, and the Care program that offers discounts off the electric portion of your power bill.  These programs are for lower-income families, or families who need electricity for medical devices.

I make approximately 12 trays of ice cubes each day (are in-freezer icemaker broke about two years ago, and it cost more than a new refrigerator to get it fixed), and we drink a lot of ice water, ice tea, and iced sugar-free beverages daily during the summer. This is the kid’s current obsession. They like it because they can make it themselves in their personal water bottles without any help from mom.

I have become the master at packing weather-appropriate drinks and snacks for when we are on the go when school is out.

Remember that you can increase your water intake by consuming water-rich fruits and vegetables as well. Melons and cucumbers are just two sources of hydration that can also satiate your hunger. Our weekly CSA boxes have been coming with all sorts of delicious cucumbers (both Persian and English) and a variety of melons. I cut them up and stash them in the fridge so the kids can always have a quick, easy snack.

10/10/2022 Today is Mental Health Day!

Abby H.

Every day should be mental health day, but 10/10/2022 is International Mental Health Day. The past few years have been hard on everyone emotionally for various reasons, and it’s time to check in and make sure everyone is getting the love and support they need to get their mental health in check.

I am by no means a doctor, and I do not play one on the internet, but here are a few of my tips to foster better mental health. Most of these come from being the caregiver to two neurodivergent people, who have distinctly different mental health needs.

Check with your health insurance carrier to access mental health services. Call the phone number on the back of your health insurance id card and talk to someone. Looking online on your insurance company’s website can be too overwhelming.

If you don’t have health insurance, google sliding scale mental health services + your city. There are mental health services everywhere in person, online, and even via text or app.

Take your meds. If you are prescribed medication, please take it as prescribed. Regardless of what it’s for. When your body is healthy and cared for, that goes a long way.

Move Your Body. Exercise is not a substitution for medication or talk therapy, but it dovetails nicely. Go for a walk. Find a fitness video on Youtube (I like Yoga with Adriene). Have a family dance party, whatever you need to do to move your meatsack through space!

Drink some water. I know, I know. It’s hard to get in a bunch of water each day. Hydration helps our bodies (and minds) focus. I am a self-proclaimed beverage girl. I have 2-3 beverages at all times. I have two Yeti cups (they were promo cups, I’m too cheap to actually buy real yeti cups), plus a water bottle like this one, an insulated coffee cup  (the yeti makes my coffee stay too hot to drink for too long). If you like the style of Yeti’s tumblers, but are on a budget, I also have one of these Beast cups, and they work just as well. I also have a stash of water bottles in my car, which I am constantly refilling. I bring hte kids fresh cold water after school too- along with a snack. Which leads me to my next tip…

When is the last time you ate? Being Hangry is real. If you are hungry or thirsty your mind can become dysregulated, and that can lead to impaired cognition (or just being an asshole to people around you). Have a snack! Make snacks and food available to you and your family. Y’all know I love a good snack bin. Schedule snack times and meal times throughout your day.

Make time for yourself. I’m not going to tell you that self-care is all face masks and bubble baths. Sometimes It’s mindlessly browsing Target, texting with a friend, or cleaning out your car. Doing an activity that helps you feel better goes a long way. I wrote a post a few years ago with more self-care tips, you can check it out here.

And finally- Ask for Help.  I know this one is the hardest, at least for me. Ask for help when you need it… Before you need it. It’s as simple as delegating tasks around the house, ordering groceries from Target in-app, and doing curbside pick up. Find ways to make tasks simpler. I have a robot vacuum and it helps immensely. If you don’t have a village or closeby family or friends, rely on automation and apps.  There is no shame in asking for or hiring help (if that is available to you). If you find yourself in need of some care or gentle coaching on how to organize and clean while you are feeling stressed, I recommend KC Davis’ Book, How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing.

I’m here! If you need help finding resources, please feel free to drop me an email or leave a comment on my posts. 

 

 

Stay healthy This Summer and Save $5 with Mucinex!

Abby H.

Feeling stuffy? Illness comes all year round, and if you are feeling cruddy remember to give yourself time to heal. 

Here are my tips for recovering from the summer cold:

  • Hydrate! Push water, electrolyte drinks (I like this one LINK), teas, and even 100% fruit/veggie juice. 
  • Wash your paws. Especially if you will be in shared spaces. Use hand sanitizer if you don’t have access to running water and soap. 
  • Stay home! Or if you can’t, mask up! Protect others from your germs by covering your nose and mouth with a mask. We all probably still have masks at home. 
  • Rest! Don’t push yourself to work, exercise, or complete chores. Take care of your body with naps, and go to bed early. No Doomscrolling on social media. 
  • Get your 5 a day! Remember fruits and veggies while you are sick. Whole produce is best because it contains fiber as well as other nutrients, but in a pinch, 100% fruit or veggie juice will suffice. 

And if you need some OTC meds to get you through it, check out this offer from Mucinex!

Join Mucus Fighters+ and get an exclusive $5 off Mucinex® coupon today, plus other kick-sick offers and tips.