LifeStyle

Over here at Dinks Finance HQ, we’ve previously talked about the costs of getting married. It goes without saying that every girl dreams about the perfect wedding.

Unfortunately, studies have shown that a frightening number of couples have gone into debt all because they wanted to throw their dream wedding.

Being an expression of love and a once-in-a-lifetime (usually) affair, it’s easy to see why some folks want to splurge on the one magical day. However, from a financial standpoint, it’s not exactly prudent to get into debt just for a celebration.

Most of the time, your guests won’t remember the wedding and will usually have nothing but bad things to say about it. After the big day, couples would be left with a staggering amount of debt to repay just as they’re about to start a new life together.

Unless you’ve got some serious cash saved up in the bank, chances are you’re better off hosting a simpler, more meaningful wedding with the ones that actually matter.

It may seem insane to some, but when examined objectively, going into debt just to get married is one of the biggest mistakes that one could make. While we’re not against the idea of holy matrimony, we are against irresponsible financial planning.

So, if you’d still like to host that dream wedding but don’t want to break the bank, here’s a list of tips for hosting a wedding prudently.

1. Trim out the guest list

Weddings are a celebration of a couple’s love and while you may be tempted to include everyone you know; you’d be better served keeping the guest list small.

Each additional guest you invite is an extra expense that adds up over time. Don’t feel obligated to invite people just because you have to. Your wedding should be an intimate affair involving those who mean the most to you.

Apply the 20/20 rule and whittle down your initial guest list by 20% then re-reviewing it and reducing it by a further 20%. At the end of the day, you’ll be spending less on food and spending more time with friends and family.

2. Forget the gifts, get help instead

When my friend Jamie got married, he received a deluge of nice yet rather useless wedding gifts.

Who on earth needs to use 5 coffee makers and 3 rice cookers (his wife is from Malaysia)?

Instead of accepting gifts, why not ask for help from your friends instead. Forget hiring a band, why not get some friends and family with musical talent to provide the entertainment for the evening?

Your cousin has a side hustle taking photographs? Why not get him to lend a hand and save some money on the wedding.

When everything adds up, you’ll find that you’ve saved up quite a fair amount on additional services.

Of course, you shouldn’t cheap out when it comes to saying thank you. Organize a get together after the wedding with those who’ve lent a hand or offer your own services at their own weddings.

3. Pick a simple venue

Whether you’re renting out a hotel or a hall, the cost of booking a venue can be prohibitive, more so if you’re holding your wedding in a hotel. Picking a venue for your wedding is like making picks on NBA on BetAmerica.com: you should go with your instinct and avoid overthinking.

Forget all of that and instead opt for a simple ceremony at home or at the park. Home weddings are often much cozier and more intimate due to the smaller space.

Of course, before doing so, check with your neighbors to see if they mind. At home, you’ll be able to save on accommodation as friends and family can easily bunk with you.

In Malaysia for example, weddings were traditionally held at the home of the bride where everyone got together to cook the meals and prepare the decorations. The communal atmosphere of everyone getting together often made weddings homelier and more memorable.

Holding your wedding outdoors at a park can be equally special but you’ll need to have a backup plan in case of bad weather.

4. Prepare your own alcohol

Having an open bar wedding can be a costly affair. Typically, hotels and function halls are absolutely cutthroat when it comes to booze.

Instead shop around outside and supply your own alcohol. Oftentimes, you’ll be able to get better quality alcohol at much more affordable prices.

Getting married is one of life’s most memorable events. With proper planning and preparation, you should have no trouble hosting your own dream wedding.

Author: Benjamin Lee

Southern California is one of the trendiest locations for a wedding. The weather in San Diego is delightful and almost predictable. Even in the winter months, the temperatures rarely get below 65 degrees. SoCal is perfect for outdoor weddings, like San Diego sailing charters, because the area only sees about 40 days of precipitation each year. February is the wettest month, by the way. October is the most popular month for weddings in San Diego. Here are some basics about weddings in San Diego.

Budget Your Wedding

San Diego weddings can cost more than the national average, but there are ways to manage a smaller budget. A current wedding trend is an intimate wedding with under 40 guests. Know your budget before planning your SoCal wedding to look for venues and vendors that fit into your finances, instead of spending more than you planned.

Plan Your Date

SoCal is a popular destination, not only for weddings. The city hosts many major events, such as San Diego Comic-Con in July and the World Baseball Classic in March. Spring break is another time of the year when beaches and hotels tend to be crowded. It’s a good idea to check the local calendar for festivals and events that might inconvenience your plans.

Get Your Wedding License

One of the first things you’ll need to get married in California is a wedding license. You can get your license at the County Clerk’s office. San Diego offers a way to make reservations to get your license. Both parties need to be over 18 and have ID. There are no blood test requirements or wait time. The license is good for 90 days.

Choose a Venue

San Diego is a modern city with plenty of unique spaces to host a wedding and reception. The city has dozens of beautiful gardens that are bloom year-round. You could choose a wedding on a boat San Diego, a brewery or even a downtown loft. The beaches of San Diego are another nice place to hold a wedding. Check with the specific location to find out if you need a permit.

Guest Accommodations

San Diego has plenty of hotels that are ready to book room blocks for weddings of all sizes. Choose a hotel close to your venue to reduce travel time to the wedding and reception. Fortunately, San Diego also has plenty of transit options and is home to an international airport. Your guests will find multiple options to get to the city and to get around once they arrive.

Things to Do During Downtime

Your guests may want to explore some of the San Diego tourist sites and landmarks while they’re in town. Make a list of the most popular attractions on your wedding site to let guests plan their time during your wedding weekend. You may even want to plan special excursions, such as private dining San Diego on a whale watching tour, to give your friends and family time together while enjoying the ocean.

Book Your Wedding

Choose an experience of a lifetime when you book your wedding charter on a boat to enjoy whale watching and private dining with your family and friends.

It’s raining. You are stuck at home with your children and are frantically looking for ways to keep your restless young ones entertained. You might be tempted to pop in a movie or watch online videos, but unless the material is educational, you realize it will add little value to your child’s life. Additionally, watching too much television can be detrimental to your child’s health and development, and screen time should be limited for young children. In fact, a study found that children who spent too much time watching a screen or using electronics were at risk of developing behavioral problems, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

This leaves you with activities that are more hands-on, but first, you need to create a proper atmosphere in order to get your children to focus and participate. Remove electronic distractions, such as cell phones, tablets, and video games — hopefully, without any tantrums taking place. Of course, you can always promise to return the gadgets later on.

The next step is to select some activities that your children would be interested in. Be sure to ask them for their input and throw in some fun suggestions, but ultimately leave it up to them to decide. In case you don’t know what to do, the following activities are sure to help keep your children busy and stimulate their motor skills and minds.

Bake

Fill your kitchen with fun and warmth by baking something together. Ask your kids what their favorite baked good is and find a recipe. You can involve them in every step of the bake, especially easy tasks like measuring out and mixing ingredients. This is also a perfect opportunity for them to practice their arithmetic skills and learn about ratios. Learning how to bake and cook will also teach self-sufficiency. For additional fun, have them whip up some heavy cream and decorate their baked creations.

Build

Inspire your young architect or engineer by getting some Lego bricks and creating something together. Lego sets come with directions to build cars, buildings, and castles, or you can get bricks in bulk and let their imagination take over with freestyle building.

You can also visit a local hobby shop and purchase a bag of balsa wood. As it is an extremely lightweight and easy-to-cut wood, it can be used to build anything from model airplanes to homes and can be carved with ease. The pieces can also be glued with superglue for fast results. While you’re there, buy some hobby paint and fine brushes and decorate the car or tank you have assembled together. In addition, you can try with mdf veneered sheets as they are easy to cut also.

You can also create geometrical shapes out of marshmallows and toothpicks (and roast them when you’re done).

Experiment

You can also practice chemistry in the kitchen. Melt some sugar to create caramel and have the kids drizzle it on wax paper to create different shapes. Once it’s cooled and hardened, your candy creations will be ready! For more excitement, add a few tablespoons of baking soda into a tall glass or deep bowl and add vinegar and watch a chemical reaction take place. You can even make homemade slime together that your kids will go absolutely nuts for.

A rainy day doesn’t necessarily have to spell doom and boredom for you and your little ones. As long as you stock up on the necessary materials ahead of time, you can enjoy some of these fun projects together on your next rainy day!

 

If you are headed to the Australian lands for your higher studies, here are the top reasons for you to look out for student accommodation. Australia is very popular among the student community; one reason being that this country has very high education standards. Not just education, Australia is world-renowned for its overall life quality. These are the reasons why you could consider student accommodation in Australia.

1. It is affordable

Of course, you can go in for student dorms or university provided stay options. However, even private student accommodation is accessible in Australia. Most of the managed accommodation that you see offers rent, electricity and other items at dirt cheap rates. This means you can budget for these items at the start of the month and forget under budgeting. And mind you, student accommodation prices do not compromise with quality at all. You still get the world-famous accommodation that Australia is known for. According to this Australia government website, weekly rentals range from AUD 95 to 150 AUD. That’s quite a steal. Isn’t it?

2. Making friends

It is easy to make friends while living in shared accommodation. You will find a lot of people in your accommodation who share the same interests as you, so making friends is easy. You will also see a lot of students from other parts of the world. Meet them and learn new things about our so-small-yet-so-big world. Many accommodation providers organize parties and other events for their students. These are great opportunities for you to make lifelong friends.

3. Helpful tips

Whether it is about sharing useful tips or asking for help after a lecture, your shared accommodation would never disappoint you. You may want to explore the city, so, support is at hand in the form of your co-tenants. Reach out to your flatmate, and he may give you the right information if he has been living there for long. Similarly, if you need assistance in understanding your lectures, again reach out to your flatmates.

4. Safety and Security

When outsiders come to Australia for the first time, it can be a nerve-wracking experience for most of them. In the early few days and weeks. They would be worried about their safety and security. Even if it is a university dorm, overseas visitors would be a frightening lot for quite some time to come.

Thankfully, student accommodation providers go the extra mile to provide safety and security to students. They have CCTV cameras, and round the clock security, so there is a sense of security 24/7. Want to get your hand on the best options? Just click here.

5. Amenities

Most students expect amenities such as laundry in their accommodation. Some of them are exercise freaks so they could also demand gymnasium halls. As a student, you will get these amenities too in your shared accommodation.

6. Community life and convenience

When you are not studying, you would be busy interacting with other people in the community. You’d be talking to them in the markets, convenience stores, parks, gymnasiums or movie theatres. You will also be meeting them in sports stadia, etc. In short, living in student accommodation helps you build relations with the nearby community.

You would be living close to major public utilities such as airports, railway stations, post offices, etc. Your nearest market would not be more than a kilometer away. In short, living in shared accommodation means staying close to places of convenience. You can stock your room with whatever that you want to.

To summarize, living in shared accommodation is the best decision that you can ever make when it comes to studying in Australia.

Jen (not her real name) has just discovered that her husband of ten years has been cheating on her with a colleague. This discovery made her feel as if the world came crashing down on her. It was a pain beyond her imagination. It has already affected her work and responsibilities at home.

In today’s society, Jen is not alone. 50% of men and women cheat on their partners at some point in their marriages. The question is can Jen and the thousands of couples whose marriages undergo the challenges of infidelity, save their marriages and rebuild their lives together?

The answer is yes. Infidelity Therapist Marriage Counselling such as those provided by Your Family Expert can foster a healing process that can turn infidelity into a faithful and loving marriage.

Cheating and affairs within a marriage may deem one to be a hopeless case. But the following reasons can shed light and hope to relationships on the brink of breaking down through counselling.

• It Identifies the Root of the Infidelity

Not knowing the real cause of any problem will make it hard to find practical solutions for it. Affairs are symptoms of deep-seated issues within the relationship. Most of the time, it stems from pre-existing issues that, sadly, manifests through cheating and lying. Focusing on the root causes of infidelity will allow a more profound and lasting solution.

A marriage counsellor who is trained to handle infidelity issues will allow couples to discover events in the marriage that caused the affair.

• It is a Safe Haven for Talking About Your Feelings

Keeping all feelings of betrayal, anger, guilt, and hopelessness will break your spirit and affect your health on so many levels. Spilling what has been bothering you for so long within the safety of a private Therapy Session will provide not only comfort but a neutral venue that can help you sort out all the feelings that both of you have bottled up for so long.

A marriage infidelity therapist, like the ones from reputable places such as Your Family Expert, allows you to process the reasons for the affair and explore various issues that may have led to it. The sessions will enable the husband and wife to develop skills that will help them navigate the painful and challenging journey of repairing the damage brought about by the affair.

• It Allows Couples to Better Understand Themselves

The path towards healing begins with understanding oneself. The marriage therapist will help bring out and put into perspective the husband’s and wife’s values, desires, needs, strengths, and weaknesses. Having an in-depth knowledge of who they are as a person and as a spouse will provide a reflective approach that can improve not only the relationship but their lives in general.

• It Can Prevent Affairs in the Future

Statistics show that 60% of men and 50% of women were unfaithful more than once. Counselling may prevent the recurrence of affairs in your marriage. The therapy can provide insights and concrete steps that can assure a more stable and harmonious relationship when moving forward. It enables couples to address any underlying issue that may have caused the affair in the first place.

Every marriage goes through trials of varying degrees. An affair is one challenge that is extremely difficult to navigate. Marriage therapists who specialize in infidelity can help couples create a bright and stable path towards a beautiful life together. But if you feel stuck and you don’t know what to do, you can always approach experts to get a better opinion.

As the global population becomes more concerned with the environmental impact of humankind, companies are trying to find greener options for production, including the food industry. Unfortunately, not all snack packaging is created equal, meaning not everything is recyclable or efficiently compostable. Therefore, finding ways to sustainably create snack and beef jerky packaging is of the utmost importance across the industry. However, finding the most sustainable option goes beyond making things recyclable.    

Recyclable Packages

Recyclable packaging is great because it allows materials to be reused without the need for additional resources. However, Away Today rubbish removal Sydney tell us that not all plastics are recyclable (actually most aren’t), and even the recyclable items only have a limited lifespan. Meaning materials can only be reused for so long and therefore they end up in landfill before long. Also, there is the additional question of the energy used to make the materials usable and the environmental impact of that process. Although, recycling is better than biodegradable materials that can take decades to return to the soil.

Compostable Packages

Recently, there has been a push to find more sustainable options like compostable packaging, which uses cellulose and other plant-based products. To be described as compostable, the packing must biodegrade at the same rate as other known compostable materials with no toxic residue. These packages break down quickly and turn into carbon dioxide, biomass, inorganic compounds and water. While this means the materials aren’t reused, composting means the package can eventually be used to grow new materials and resources, which is the epitome of sustainability.

Flexible Packages

Flexible packaging is likely the most sustainable and efficient option the food industry has at the moment. While not all packages are recyclable or compostable yet, the industry is finding new materials and ways to adjust current standards to allow for more significant change and positive environmental impact. However, currently, the use of flexible packages reduces the environmental impact of corporations in four ways.

1. Landfill ImpactIn comparison to other packaging materials, flexible packages result in far less waste and materials, making their way to the landfill. For example, 31% more thermoformed baby food containers end up in the landfill than flexible options.
2. Water UseNext, did you know that it takes more than 513% of water to make an HDPE bottle for oil than flexible options? Or, did you know it takes 1,605% more water to produce a steel coffee can than it does flexible packaging?
3. Fossil Fuel UseAlso, when discussing the environmental impact and fossil fuels, flexible packages have far less effect than other materials and options. For example, at least 1,429% more fossil fuels are used to produce a rigid cat litter pail than a flexible bag.
4. Carbon ImpactLast, the carbon footprint of flexible packaging is less than other options. For example, a laundry detergent container made from rigid PET will emit at least 726% more greenhouse gasses than other flexible options.

While not every snack package is recyclable or compostable at the moment, the food and packaging industries are making significant strides to counter their environmental impact. Flexible packaging is likely the most advanced and responsible option available. Therefore, if you are in charge of a food enterprise, consider switching to flexible packaging.

When renovating, one of the most exciting things to do is to pick out all the finishes for the space that you’re redoing. This is where you can really let your personality shine through in the design and decor of your home. But along with picking materials and finishes that you love or speak to you, you also need to consider how those materials will fit within your home and your lifestyle, especially when you’re renovating your kitchen.

To help you find the right balance here, here are three things to consider when picking materials for your kitchen renovation.

How Do You Use Your Kitchen?

While you want something that’s going to look amazing, you also need to consider how function is going to play a role in the materials and finishes you pick. Especially when it comes to things like your countertops, you’ll want to go with a material that will fit in with the type of cooking you do and what you use your kitchen for.

For example, HGTV shares that while many people want to get granite countertops when they remodel their kitchen, quartz is often more user-friendly as far as being stain-resistant and more durable. So if you have children, are especially hard on your belongings, or do a lot of cooking and cleaning in your kitchen, granite may not be the best option for you. But if you can handle the upkeep, granite could be a great choice.

Stock Or Custom

Another big expense when you’re renovating your kitchen is the cabinets. While you don’t have to get all new cabinets, sometimes a new coat of paint can’t really take your current cabinets to the place that you want in your new kitchen.

When getting new cabinets, Mary Wynn Ryan, a contributor to HowStuffWorks.com, you’ll have to choose between getting stock cabinets or custom cabinets. While stock cabinets will be less expensive than custom ones, you can try to split the difference by looking for a “stock custom” option that allows you to make some adjustments to stock cabinets that will make them custom to your exact kitchen and specifications.

Pick The Right Paint

Colour Life Residential Painters Sydney says the paint you choose to use in your kitchen also needs to be well thought through. It should match the design of the kitchen and house, but it also needs to be functional for the space.

According to Stacey Freed, a contributor to HouseLogic.com, you should never use flat paint when painting the walls of your kitchen. While you can use flat paint on the ceiling of your kitchen, you should always use high-gloss or semi-gloss when painting the walls of your kitchen, as you can scrub and wipe this type of paint without sacrificing the quality of your paint job.

If you’re going to be renovating your kitchen soon, consider using the tips mentioned above to ensure you get the right materials and finishes for the job.

 

Synthetic grass has been growing in popularity in the last years because people don’t have too much time for working in the garden, they live in a dry climate and don’t want to waste the water needed to keep it alive or they simply want their lawn to always look nice and tidy. Artificial grass has been around for some time now (since the 1960s, to be precise), but it used to be a sports thing only. Now, this low-maintenance alternative to a lawn may be encountered not only at stadiums but also in private gardens, balconies, playgrounds, pathways, staircases, and more. Here are some reasons why it’s so popular now and why it will still be trending in the future:

• It saves water and money

One of the main reasons why artificial grass is so trendy is the fact that it doesn’t need watering. Natural lawns, especially if you live in a climate when it doesn’t rain too often, require a lot of watering which may turn out to be costly at the end of the month.

• It saves time

It’s all about the looks – synthetic grass is always green and you don’t have to spend hours gardening to keep it this way. Some people like to get dirty and tired but those who don’t shouldn’t be deprived of the chance to have a nice lawn without hiring a gardener.

• It’s low-maintenance

You don’t have to mow it, as it’s not growing, and there’s no need to water it. Apart from that, you won’t pollute the air with your mower. The only situation when you will have to spend some time on it will be the cleaning time. It’s extremely easy and quick, though. To remove any bigger, organic materials, you can get a leaf blower or simply pick them up. You will only have to use some water to clean it from time to time, especially if you have a dog, but you will see when there’s a need for that.

• It’s free of pesticides and fertilizers

It’s not natural, hence it’s not growing so it doesn’t need any help to stay green and healthy. It’s not a friendly environment for any bugs, so you won’t have problems with pests. No chemicals mean that you will save money and do something good for the environment and your own help.

• It’s durable

Once it’s there, you don’t have to worry about your grass disappearing or getting seriously harmed. Artificial grass can last several years if there aren’t any major disasters. It’s designed and manufactured so that it can withstand different kinds of weather conditions and traffic. It also doesn’t need sun so you can have a lawn wherever you want, even in the deep shade.

• It’s weeds-free

Even the most enthusiastic gardeners hate weed control. You can fall all over yourself and you will still regularly notice weeds in your precious natural lawn. Getting rid of them takes both a lot of time and money, and it’s never permanent. Synthetic grass is not a real environment so there are smaller chances of anything growing there.

• It’s safer for kids

That’s why many institutions and local self-governments decide to use synthetic grass instead of a natural one – it doesn’t need any fertilizers or other chemicals, so it’s 100% safe for kids, whatever they’re playing. It’s not safe to eat it (we all know how children have to put everything in their mouths), but certainly safer than eating chemicals. It’s also proven that it actually reduces the risk of injuries – that’s why it works so well at football fields.

• It’s safer for dogs (and dog-proof)

It’s the perfect solution if you have a dog who loves to play outside (and all of them do). Many dogs get sick because they get so excited that they eat some grass which very often can be contaminated with chemicals; even if it’s not, it’s still not healthy to eat. Artificial grass doesn’t get eaten by any pets – they’re not interested in it – and they don’t dig holes there. And if they make a mess, you can get rid of it quickly with a little bit of water.

• It’s cleaner

There are less or even no by-products when it comes to synthetic grass, so the mud and the dirt won’t be scattered everywhere. No grass clippings or other debris can get inside your house or on your porch.

• It always looks good

Since artificial grass can withstand most weather conditions, there won’t be a situation when you go out some morning to see that your lawn is devastated. It looks just like the real lawn, but it stays green at all times. Even when there are many people walking in some areas, it will still need less maintenance than natural grass. It’s also more relaxing and soothing for people to see a green lawn even in the middle of the winter (providing there’s no snow). It can also boost your house’s value if you decide to sell it someday – it will look appealing at any times.

To sum up, synthetic grass solved a majority of the problems people had with their natural lawns. It’s low-maintenance, cheaper, good-looking and time-saving. It’s hard to be surprised that it’s still so popular, right?