Perks of Being the Designated Driver

When a group is getting together to drink, it's important to determine a designated driver before the party starts. Many people see the designated driver as the unlucky one — the person who has to sit the night out and babysit. This is not the case. Being your group's driver has some hidden perks and you can have just as much fun — if not more — as everybody else. 

Free Beverages

Any responsible drinker understands DUI laws and knows how important designated drivers are, and many venues show their appreciation for this role by providing free soda or coffee. Be sure to mention to the bartender or server that you are the driver when ordering your soda. If the bar or restaurant doesn't provide this for you, there's a good chance your friends will — after all, you're the linchpin of the party.

Timeless Photos 

When you are helping your friends get around safely, you have a very unique position: you're the sober one. That may seem obvious, but being the sober person in the group means you're seeing things in a way the others aren't. Keep your camera at the ready, because your friends are bound to do something that will be worth laughing at once they sober up. When done in good fun, these photos can become an expected tradition within the group — whoever drives can also be expected to document the night's high jinks. 

Avoiding Regrets

In vino veritas (Latin for "in wine, there is truth"), but in soberness, there is discretion. Throughout history, people have woken up the next morning only to find out the may have said something they had intended to keep to themselves. Making sure you're in full control of what you say or do is especially valuable if you are around people you may have something to say that you'd rather keep as an internal dialogue. 

Speaking of waking up the next morning, if you don't drink, you can't have a hangover. This is particularly valuable if the party is part of an important event, such as the night before a wedding. 

Calling the Shots 

Perhaps one of the better parts of taking on the role of the driver is that you become the decision-maker. You get to decide how many stops will be made, what music you listen to in the car and where you'll eat. Your car; your rules.

Maybe best of all, when you decide you're done and want to go home, the others either have to leave when you decide to leave or pay for a cab. If any member of the group is not coming home with you for whatever reason, it is your job to ensure they have a safe ride home secured before you separate.

Being the designated driver is much more than being the person who can't drink. You'll not only create good memories by staying sober, but you'll also show your friends you care about them and want them to have a good time. The driver's job is to make sure everyone is safe, and by no means does that mean sitting the night out. 

5 Tips To Improve Your Home's Energy Efficiency

Are you concerned that the cost of your monthly bills is rising?  Or perhaps you’re concerned that your home isn’t very environmentally friendly.  Either way, now is a good time to improve your home’s energy efficiency. 

Here are 5 tips to help you become more energy efficient. 

IMPROVE YOUR HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS

Where you live will depend on how much you use heating and air conditioning in your home, but one thing is for certain, you can reduce the amount of energy you consume.

Make sure that any heating or cooling systems you use are regularly serviced. This will keep them running at their optimum efficiency.  Older systems will undoubtedly be less efficient than newer systems.  So, if you’re thinking of replacing it with new, do your homework.  Make sure you upgrade to the best energy-rated systems you can afford.

Although you’ll have to consider any new air conditioning, heat pump or boiler installation costs when replacing existing heating and cooling systems, don’t let the initial outlay put you off.  Think about the long-term benefits.

ADD SOLAR PANELS

Particularly if you live in a warmer climate, it’s worth contemplating the installation of solar panels.  But don’t think that they are just for use in sun-drenched states, solar panels can work even in cloudy weather.  

If you’re unsure whether solar panels are a good choice for your home and budget, get a professional installer to survey your home before making any commitments.  If the installation needs further work to your roof for instance, it may not be financially viable. Again, you’ll need to weigh up the long-term benefits.

DO YOUR MAINTENANCE

Make yourself a regular maintenance checklist to keep on top of those energy-sapping problems around your home.

What tasks can you do to make your home function better?  Draughty windows and doors lead us to use our heating more.  Whereas windows that are overshadowed by foliage will block light and lead us to use our lighting more. Go around your house and make a list of things that may need attention.

ADD INSULATION

Your home could benefit from insulation, or better insulation.  Check whether your loft or attic space is insulated.  If it is, but you’re not sure when it was installed, check the condition and thickness of the insulation you have.  Could replacing it or adding to it improve your home’s warmth?

REDUCE YOUR ENERGY USAGE

And lastly, the easy bit.  Do those little things to make a big difference over time.  Change your light bulbs to energy efficient ones.  Unplug electrical appliances when you’re not using them.  

If you’re not sure where your energy usage could be improved, try using a smart meter.  You’ll soon identify when and where your usage is high, so you’ll be able to take steps to reduce your energy consumption.

Welch's Fruit Snacks Are Now Available to Buy In Bulk From Amazon

Do you feel like your kids can't seem to stop eating and snacking? Of course many of us still have kids at home during the pandemic, since many schools are still not open for face-to-face learning. This means keeping extra snacks on hand are a must. Luckily, Welch's Fruit Snacks are now available in a bulk size for purchase on Amazon. That's right, you can get the 110-ct package of their mouthwatering flavors: Mixed Fruit and Berries 'n Cherries in a combo pack! 

Welch's fruit snacks have been a popular snack and lunchbox items for my kids for many years now. The are known to be America's #1 fruit snack for a reason. The first ingredient is fruit of course, and they are an excellent source of Vitamins A, C and E. Welch's fruit snacks are also contain no preservatives and are fat free & gluten free. This is definitely a plus for parents! 

They are perfect as a quick snack while they wait for a meal, or while out-and-about in the car running errands with mom or dad. I love keeping a couple packs stashed in my purse for that just-in-case snack. My adult daughters love filling the work jar with these delicious fruit snacks to share with co-workers. Adults love them just as much as kids do. 

*This post may contain affiliate links. 

With Halloween coming, Welch's Fruit Snacks are perfect to share with classmates and trick-or-treaters. Don't forget when you make your next Amazon order, add the 110-ct combo pack of Welch's Fruit snacks on your list! If you're a Prime customer, you can get FREE one-day shipping. You can buy them here. 

Thanks for stopping by today, and thank you Welch's Fruit Snacks for the tasty samples. All opinions are our own. 

Understanding Reverse Mortgage Talk

Retirement is supposed to be a fun and relaxing time for people. If you don’t pay attention to the financial side of things in the years leading up to it, you could find yourself in a rough spot when that time arrives. A reverse mortgage is one of the most sound ways of getting around the financial strains that come with retirement. When you first start investigating, there may be some terms and concepts you are not familiar with. Do not panic! We want to help you by breaking down the basics. 

Finding the value of your home

During the duration of your home ownership years, you most likely will make improvements to your property. This is one of several factors that could influence the overall value of the home. Others might include how old the home is, whether or not the area the home is located in is considered desirable, and if you still have an active mortgage on the house. 

Understanding a Reverse Mortgage Calculator 

The reverse mortgage calculator is a central component of the reverse mortgage application process. It is a subjective way for the bank (or any other lender) to determine how much money you can borrow in the form of a reverse mortgage. Because government has implemented laws that prevent you from borrowing the full value amount of your house, the reverse mortgage calculator will help to determine what percentage of that you will be able to borrow. It calculates the value and the applicable percentage.

But what is an HECM, then?

The concept of reverse home loan comes down to the fact that the surety of the bond is linked to your house, and that the loan can provide you with a source of money each month for as long as you choose to live in the house, as opposed to a traditional loan, where you would have been liable for paying the loan back in monthly payments during the course of its validity. 

HECM is very similar. It stands for home equity conversion mortgage, and it is also a reverse loan, but what makes it different is that it is issued by a federal agency and not by banks. The chief difference is that an HECM is insured by government, whereas a privately-issued reverse mortgage is not. 

Receiving your reverse home loan money

One of the most popular ways of doing this is to take it out as a line of credit. Another is to opt for being paid out all in one go, as a lump sum payment. There is also the option of taking receipt of your money in the form of monthly payments of equal value. Many people like this option, as the prospect of a predictable amount coming in monthly gives them a way to budget these funds. Of course, the same applies as if you were drawing a regular salary: you’ll have to keep your spending in check to prevent running out of money!

6 Tips to Help You Start Your Owning Catering Business

Starting your own catering business can be a great choice that can help you be on your way to becoming a successful entrepreneur. On top of this, you get the opportunity to work from home and establish an outstanding work-life balance.

In this article, we are going to talk about six tips to help you get started! Sound interesting? Then keep on reading!

Choose a catering style

The very first step in starting a catering company is to choose a particular style. For example, you might think about focusing on business events, weddings, or funeral wakes. You also can decide what style of food you will be making. While some caterers offer both sweet and savory options, others offer grazing platters or desserts only.

Design a menu

Once you’ve got an idea of what type of catering services you will be offering, you can then move on to designing a menu. This is the tricky part, as you want to be able to serve great food, easily and quickly. You have to remember that you will be serving multiple guests, so you need to be able to do most of the preparation in advance. Check out these tips for planning a menu for more inspiration and advice.

Sort out the paperwork 

Just like any other business, there is always going to be paperwork to sort out before you can operate. Permits, licenses, and tax forms all need to be completed before you can start serving your clients. It may be irritating, but it’s better to get it sorted out first to avoid issues further on down the track.

Source your ingredients

Once you’ve got a menu established, you can also start sourcing your ingredients. In order to save money, try shopping at local markets. You might even look at finding a distributor. You can get chicken meat by poultryeu.eu and even find fresh fruit and veg wholesalers to make your overall ingredient costs much more affordable.

Purchase the necessary equipment 

Just like the ingredients, there is also going to be equipment that you need before starting your catering business. You will need to invest in catering delivery bags to transport food. From platters, cooking gadgets, and cutlery, there is certainly a lot to think about. Try searching for items that you can buy in bulk, and don’t forget to check out garage sales and thrift stores. You never know what you might find!

Advertise

Lastly, once all that is in order, you can now move on to advertising your business! Get creative with different methods, such as social media, print, and radio advertising. There are many different options, but make sure you stick to a budget so that you don’t go overboard. Check out these inexpensive ways to advertise your small business if you are a bit strapped for cash!

And that’s it! These were six different tips to start your own catering business. You’ll have everything ready in no time and be on your way to establishing a successful company out of your own home. Good luck!