Getting married and having a wedding is one of the most significant events in an individual's life. It's an event you want to have a lasting impression on your life and those who attend your special day. Financial trouble can begin at the beginning of the joyous life you plan to spend with your partner if financial limits are not established when planning your special day. To help you avoid debt while wedding planning, I asked married professionals and business leaders for their best insights. From aiming for a day other than Saturday to setting up a separate savings account, there are several ways you can plan and have a great wedding without running into debt. How to Have a Wedding Without Debt Aim for a Day Other Than Saturday Get Married in Your Backyard Stick to a Low-Key Wedding and Accept Help Wait Longer to Save Up Before You Do the Wedding Set a Budget and Stay With it Do Some of the Things You Need Yourself Track All Expenses on a Spreadsheet Limit the Number of Guests Set Up a Separate Savings Account Aim for a Day Other Than Saturday Sometimes you can get lower prices for your wedding costs if you have your wedding on an atypical day, such as a weekday. For example, try Friday as a compromise - It's not Saturday, and it's during the week, but at least it's at the end of the week. Then, see what venues are available and how much they would charge versus what they would charge on Saturdays. Nick Shackelford, Managing Partner, Structured Agency Get Married in Your Backyard This summer, I got married in my backyard. My wife and I spent evenings and weekends leading up to the event landscaping with free plants we got from Offerup. Since we held the event in May, flowers were everywhere, alive and well, blossoming on trees, shrubs, and other plants. My wife painted a mural on one wall in front of which we had the ceremony. We had friends from all over the world stay at our house, and they helped us decorate, cook, and prepare everything. Everything about the wedding is beautiful and unique to us. Having so much love and acts of service from so many people in our lives made it more than memorable; it was a sacred experience, feeling like a wedding that might have been held hundreds or even thousands of years ago, with only the people you love and simple symbols of why you are brought together. The wedding cost around $5,000, but we got far more value from our shared experience than money could buy. Matthew Ramirez, Founder, Paraphrase Tool Stick to a Low-Key Wedding and Accept Help Eschewing lavishness for a low-key wedding saves couples money and makes their guests happier by creating a more comfortable setting where they can spend more time with you. You can also save money by accepting gifts from friends and family who want to help make your special day more personal and affordable. For example, my sister-in-law made my hair wreaths of flowers, two of our friends provided music at the ceremony, and a coworker baked our wedding cake. As an insurance expert, I've learned another way couples can avoid going into debt when paying for the wedding is to look into wedding insurance. Coverage typically includes costs associated with a venue cancellation or a postponement by you due to an emergency or extreme weather, any damages incurred by the venue, any illnesses or injuries occurring at the venue, vendors who fail to show up, damage to the bride or bridegroom's attire, and lost or stolen gifts. Karen Condor, Insurance Copywriter, ExpertInsuranceReviews.com Wait Longer to Save Up Before You Do the Wedding You do not always have to have a wedding a year after you get engaged. Furthermore, you could still get married legally earlier on. If you wait longer until your marriage, you will have more time to save up for it. Although it may be difficult to wait, consider that if you work on saving a little bit every month, you will not be as steeped in debt when the wedding day finally comes. Drew Sherman, Director of Marketing & Communications, Carvaygo Set a Budget and Stay With it Couples can avoid going into debt when paying for their wedding by setting a budget and sticking to it. Couples should start by creating a list of all the expenses they anticipate incurring during the wedding planning process and setting a realistic budget for each item. Once they have a total budget, they can start exploring ways to save money on individual items. For example, they may get a discount on their wedding venue if they book it during the off-peak season, or they may find a cheaper caterer by doing some research. Sticking to their budget will help ensure that they don't end up in debt after their big day. Admir Salcinovic, Co-Founder, Pricelisto Do Some of the Things You Need Yourself Going DIY for décor and favors is one of the best ways a couple can avoid wedding debt. Instead of spending hundreds on décor, couples can get crafty at half the cost and make unique, memorable items in the process. Something handmade is just that much more special than something store-bought at the end of the day. Chris Coote, Founder & CEO, California Honey Vapes Track All Expenses on a Spreadsheet The best way to avoid debt is to carefully track everything to ensure all spending adds up. Weddings come with excitement, making couples get carried away in a spending spree. Do not assume gifts will offset debts, so spend strictly per the budget. A spreadsheet tracking enhances budget over wishful thinking. Ensure anything in credit can be capability and timely paid per your budget. Everything financial requires accountability, and tracking is the best for an event that can be overrun by spending excitement. yongming Song, CEO, Imgkits- Photo Editor Limit the Number of Guests Couples can avoid going into debt when paying for their wedding by taking a realistic look at their guest list and ensuring it's not too big. Having too many guests can easily turn your wedding into a financial nightmare, from renting out a venue, ordering food, and covering all the other expenses. I recommend creating an Excel spreadsheet with all your expected expenses and then adding how much it would cost per person to attend your wedding. Once you know this number, you can start cutting things off the guest list until you get close to a number you can afford. Amy Gilmore, Managing Editor, Learn Financial Strategy Set Up a Separate Savings Account When my wife and I married, we were determined to avoid debt. One of the ways we were able to stay on track was by setting up a separate savings account that was dedicated solely to our wedding expenses. We automatically deposited a certain amount of money into the account every month and made sure not to use it for anything else. This allowed us to keep close track of our spending and stay within our budget. As a result, we were able to pay for our entire wedding without going into debt. I highly recommend this approach if you're planning a wedding on a tight budget. Ludovic Chung-Sao, Lead Engineer & Founder, Zen Soundproof

The holiday season is approaching, and employers are gearing up to prepare for holiday parties, white elephant gift exchanges, and more. If you've been on the receiving end of an unwanted gift, you've probably put it in the back of a closet or regifted it the following year. So, what is one practical and affordable gift idea for a gift that you can give to a coworker that they won't cringe at? To help you decide on the best affordable gifts that are appropriate to give your coworkers, I asked CEOs and business leaders this question for their best ideas. From candles to milestone bracelets to indoor plants, there are several gift ideas that you could explore when deciding on a practical and affordable gift that is just right for your coworkers. This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Affordable Gift Ideas for Coworkers Candles Help You Unwind and De-Stress After a Hard Day Milestone Bracelets Create Lasting Memories A Podcast Subscription Offers the Opportunity to Expand Knowledge High-Quality Headphones Are In-demand Common Gift Cards Aren't too Personal and Need No Gift Wraps Reusable Carrier Bags Are Always Needed for Groceries Sunglasses Are Never Enough to Have Your Coworkers' Favorite Snack Shows You're Thoughtful Lemons Inspire Them With the Popular Lemon-Lemonade Quote Frame a Picture of You With Them to Show Happy Times A Personalized Water Bottle Can Be Used in Both Summer and Winter An Indoor Plant for Their Home Adds Value to Their Life Candles Help You Unwind and De-Stress After a Hard Day Candles are an affordable idea and always make a great gift. They help you unwind and de-stress after a hard day or get in the spirit of holiday festivities. Each candle has its own unique aroma, and they're a great decoration for any part of the house. It also adds a level of personalization as you can choose the candle that's best for them. Chris Vaughn, CEO, Emjay Milestone Bracelets Create Lasting Memories Gifts to coworkers should be personalized based on what you know about that individual. If you give them a gift basket or bottle of wine, it will be shared with their family, forgotten, or regifted to someone else later. Gifting a milestone bracelet can help them celebrate the occasion and remember who gave it to them and when. If someone's celebrating a milestone birthday, getting married, or graduating, a personalized bracelet will forever keep you, the gift, and the occasion in their memory. Annette Harris, Founder, Harris Financial Coaching A Podcast Subscription Offers the Opportunity to Expand Knowledge Podcasts have become all the rage given how easily digestible the episodes are — they don't demand a lot of your time, and there's a world of topics you can gain insight on. From picking up a new forte to staying on top of industry trends, gifting a podcast subscription to your coworker won't just help them expand their knowledge but also reignite their long-lost interest in a hobby or skill. Harry Morton, Founder, Lower Street High-Quality Headphones Are In-demand It's not a popular opinion, but a practical gift you can give a coworker is a set of high-quality headphones. Headphones are a great gift because they are affordable, practical, and in demand, yet many people don't want to spend money on high-quality headphones. I recommend the Sony WH1000XM2 headphones because they are among the best headphones on the market right now, as well as very affordable. Matthew Ramirez, Founder, Paraphrase Tool Common Gift Cards Aren't too Personal and Need No Gift Wraps Gift cards are easy. They're a common gift, practical, and not too personal. Plus, you wouldn't need any gift wrap for something so small. Furthermore, go for gift cards from places most people could appreciate, such as Starbucks, Target, or Apple Music. It may seem a bit peculiar if you give them a gift card from a local shop they have never heard of. Drew Sherman, Director of Marketing & Communications, Carvaygo Reusable Carrier Bags Are Always Needed for Groceries Reusable carrier bags are an excellent gift idea for a coworker. Everyone needs a grocery or carrying bag for extra supplies or a shopping trip after work. For states with plastic bag bans, these bags are a lifesaver at stores. Finding affordable, customizable bags is not too far off the same low price point if one wanted to make it unique for a teammate. Gigi Ji, Head of Brand and Business Development, KOKOLU Sunglasses - There Are Never Enough to Have You can never have enough pairs of sunglasses — making them an excellent gift for a coworker. For example, if you sit on your sunglasses at the beach, forget them in the car, or leave them at a restaurant — having a backup pair is necessary. You can find sunglasses in various styles and colors at affordable prices to find a pair that suits your coworker's fashion. Cesar Cruz, Co-Founder, Sebastian Cruz Couture Your Coworkers' Favorite Snack Shows You're Thoughtful Snacks — especially our favorite snacks make the work day so much brighter — so why not gift your coworker their favorite snack? For example, if you know a Snickers bar is your colleague's guilty pleasure, it's an affordable gift that you know they will enjoy and can even provide a little humor to your day. The best gifts are thoughtful and show you pay attention to what they want. Patricio Paucar, Co-Founder + Chief Customer Officer, Navi Lemons — Inspire Them With the Popular Lemon-Lemonade Quote Lemons are a funny and interesting gift to give to a coworker. The common saying is, "When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade." Give a colleague some lemons and relay the quote back to them. It's a positive outlook on any situation and encourages optimism. For example, if a coworker is leaving the company, they can make the best out of their new role. Jodi Neuhauser, CEO, Ovaterra Frame a Picture of You With Them to Show Happy Times Wouldn't it be nice to store some memories with friends from work? They can keep it to remind them of your happy moments with them. It will be an invaluable gift for anyone. They can treasure this for a long time. It is an inexpensive way to show how much you appreciate them. Things like this can last to remind you of your friendship. Choose a frame in a color you know they would like. You can also decorate the borders with arts and crafts to make them more unique. Personalize the gift wrapping as well. They will thank you for this wonderful gift. It is rare for someone to put effort into giving this kind of gift. Years may have passed, but each time they see this gift, it is sure to paint a smile on their lips. Laura Martinez, Consultant and Content Writer, PersonalityMax A Personalized Water Bottle Can Be Used in Both Summer and Winter One great gift for a coworker is a nice water bottle. You can personalize a water bottle with your coworkers' favorite themed designs. A sturdy water bottle that doubles as a thermos can be a great gift because it can be used in the summer to keep a drink cold or to have a warm cup of coffee all day long in the winter. Most employees keep a cup or water bottle at their desks, so getting one for a coworker will be practical. Typically, you can find a water bottle anywhere from 10 to 30 dollars, so this gift is affordable for any budget. Liz Hogan, Career Expert, Find My Profession An Indoor Plant for Their Home Adds Value to Their Life Plants are an easy, affordable gift to give a coworker, and it's certainly something that will add value to their life. If you know what their space is like, buy a plant that suits them and is easy to care for. It makes for a thoughtful gift and one they can care for and nurture, and it will remind them of you. Asma Hafejee, Senior Marketing Executive, CMR Surgical I'm sure these gift ideas will be helpful for your future holiday purchases. Or, they may even inspire you to find other choices for the coworkers you find near and dear to you.

I spoke with Janet Huehls, the Founder of Exercising Well, LLC., to find out how she helps her clients practice whole-person health and lasting habits. Janet holds a master's degree in Clinical Exercise Physiology, is a certified health and well-being coach, and is a certified mindful movement teacher. For the past thirty years, she has enjoyed being part of various healthcare teams, teaching people with health concerns such as heart disease, anxiety, diabetes, back pain, extra body weight, depression, and arthritis how to use exercise as part of their plan for improving health. Janet founded Exercising Well to fill the void for a science-based, whole-person health approach to exercise. Her step-by-step online program and regular telehealth coaching sessions allow clients to discover their own way to use a mindful approach to exercise to restore calm, comfort, and confidence to enjoy whole-person health. Personal Finance As we get older and healthcare costs increase, what are a few things we can do to avoid medical and prescription costs? Prevention costs less than cure. The Big Three: Exercise, eating healthily, and managing stress are the core ways your body heals, grows, and preserves the functions of the systems in your body. Be Well Now If doing things for your health is stress-producing, it loses its power. The stress state means less energy goes into healing, growth, and repair. The media is full of health information that has made being healthy stress-producing. To cut through the noise, seek science-based advice for doing the Big Three from degreed professionals specializing in each area. Stay present to how it feels in your body to know if your actions are right for you. One simple rule of thumb; if what you are doing does not make you feel and function better right away, it is not right for your body or your lifestyle right now. Be smart about meds. My pharmacist friend and colleague, Donna Bartlet, taught me to have greater respect for medications and supplements. She just published Med Strong, teaching people how to deprescribe and optimize their meds. Many people take too many medications as they are added by different doctors. She shows you how to talk to your doctor and pharmacist about optimizing your meds at each stage of your life. What are two to three financial benefits of exercising and staying fit? When done mindfully as your body is designed, exercise can prevent mindless and emotional spending. When in a stressful state, your brain seeks ways to feel better, and your body is ready to fight or flee the threat. In this state, you are more likely to make rash decisions about spending and doing comfort shopping instead of clear-headed shopping. Before spending money, do mindful movements such as simple stretches, a short walk, or dancing to the music you love. This will allow you to make clearer decisions about how to spend your hard-earned money. People who exercise regularly are more productive at work and have fewer sick days. That gives you a better chance for promotions, business growth, and commissions. Healthy Eating What should we consider when developing healthy meals for ourselves or our families? Keep it simple. Complicated, rigid eating plans are stress-producing. I love the Plate Plan because it's a simple, evidence-based template for healthy eating. You can choose the foods in each category that are most cost-effective to maintain a healthy diet. Buy in Bulk Choose to buy in bulk carefully. It may cost less, but studies show that people eat more when more food is around. Related: How to Budget for Groceries When is it okay to make budget shortcuts vs. when do we think about investments? This is very personal and will vary depending on what else is happening in your life. Stay mindful, so you are aware of the full spectrum of downstream revenue from your investment in nourishment for yourself and your family. Processed foods can be costly in ways not measured in your food bill. Notice how what you are eating affects your energy level, mood, motivation, and focus. Your energy, mental clarity, and productivity are your best assets for financial success. Foods that make you feel and function better in your whole person are your best investment. When choosing what to buy, remember that you are paying the price for highly engineered foods. More processed foods generally lose their nutrient value. Know that from the look of the packaging to the feel in your mouth. Companies invest big money to attract you to their product. Stay mindful when shopping to know when you are being lured into buying something engineered to attract your brain to the product. Stress & Motivation How can stress affect your overall well-being, and what are some ways to manage it? Stress Stress is the hinge point for health and well-being. Managing it starts with knowing the difference between stress and stressors. Stress is the physiological response to a threat. Stressors are external factors that lead to that stress response. We tend to manage stress from the outside, but it's the internal changes that happen in our bodies that affect our health and well-being. Managing Stress The way to manage it is to know how to shift your physiology from the stress state. Move Well - Stress is your body ready to move. Learn how (or re-learn because you were born with this ability) to move the way your body is designed. This is how moving your body does not add to stress and strain. Mindfulness - Stress is often triggered by a thought about the past or future. That means the stressor or threat is not here and now. Bringing your awareness to the present moment calms 'faux' threats. Kindness - Much of our stress is internally fueled by self-criticism. It can keep you in a loop of stress when you beat yourself up for mistakes or doubt your ability to handle a potential threat in the future. Self-kindness calms the nervous system and lets you be your best ally. When we find it challenging to stay motivated at work, home, or in our business, what are a few ways that exercise can help? Motivation is best sourced from the inside. Our society spends a great deal of money on gadgets, people, and programs to motivate them. Yet, these external motivators are known to be short-term. Internal motivation is the most lasting. Self-motivation is free. Build Self-Motivation. To build self-motivation, exercise in a way that allows you to feel and function better now. As I mentioned, if it does not make you feel and function better now, it won't in the future either. When you feel better in your body, your brain notices and remembers that this thing you call 'exercise' is something to repeat. This is how habits form. Meet yourself where you are. If you feel tired and don't feel like exercising, try my Ten-minute Rule. Start with a light level of movement that would feel good now, like stretching, walking, or dancing. Do it for ten minutes before you decide if you are not going to exercise today. Ten minutes is enough to change your brain chemistry to a more positive state and reduce the tension that could be draining your energy. If, after 10 minutes, you still don't have the energy to exercise, then quit. Your body is telling you that is not what it needs today. Getting Fit For Free When You Hate Exercise What are a few ways we can get fit for free? Use water bottles and detergent bottles filled with water for weights. Put on music and dance. Dancing is a great cardiovascular exercise. Stretch! Stretching has so much more science behind it. It is a simple, user-friendly way to feel and function better in just a few minutes, any time of day. If someone hates exercising, what can they do to enjoy being active? Get back to basics. Usually, disliking exercise comes from the need for an updated definition of exercise and re-learning how to move well in the body you are in right now. Rethink exercise. If exercise makes you feel worse, it's not exercising for health. My definition of exercise for health is any time you move for the sole purpose of self-care. Trust your body to find the type, amount, and level of exercise that feels like self-care. What else should we consider when starting an exercise routine? Use caution when searching for exercises online. Exercise is medicine. You would not shop for medical treatments online or use treatments recommended by someone who does not know you. Before you do any exercise, ask yourself why you are doing it and who is telling you to do it. If you choose to do it, stay aware of how it feels in your body as you do it. If it does not feel right, the problem is not your body. It's the exercise. Five Things With Janet How do you start the day? Stretching in bed before I get up, mindfully, with gratitude. Then I do 10-30 minutes of exercise, alternating days of cardiovascular exercise and functional strength exercises. Doing them mindfully first thing in the morning prepares my whole person for the day! What's one goal you've set for yourself this year? Do a research study on the outcomes of my Start Well program. I plan to use that data to further improve the program with the ultimate goal of offering it as an easily accessible, cost-effective way for anyone to learn how to enjoy science-based, mindful exercise for whole-person health. What's your favorite affirmation to speak to yourself? I use my Core Why as a personalized affirmation that brings me back to what is most important. My word is Wholeness. It brings me back to my true motivation and allows me to be more centered and authentic. What's one thing you do for self-care? Take mindful movement breaks throughout my day. How do you end the day? I have a cup of chamomile tea while stretching to relaxing music. Then I read something inspiring and write at least one thing in my gratitude journal. How can someone get in contact with you? Website: https://exercisingwell.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChkzkjBkg46KeWZmge6tclg Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janet-huehls-ms-90240726/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exercising_well/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/exercisingwell Twitter: https://twitter.com/ExercisingWell Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/Exercising_WELL/

Budgeting for groceries could be as easy as looking at your past food purchases. However, it's not always that easy when you are in a single-income household or your family's age varies significantly. Here are a couple of ways to develop your grocery budget and get your family involved in monthly meal planning. As an advertiser, this post may contain affiliate links. Developing Your Budget When developing your budget, you should consider your monthly income, expenses, savings, and the amount you can dedicate towards items such as groceries. There are a couple of budgeting rules of thumb, such as the 50/30/20 rule or the 70/20/10 rule of thumb. The first rule is 50% of your income towards needs, 30% towards wants, and 20% towards savings. Groceries are needed, so this would fall in that first category when evaluating your monthly expenses. You should also consider the household members' size, age, and gender to estimate what everyone will eat weekly or monthly. Monthly Food Plans The U.S. Department of Agriculture publishes monthly food reports that can be used to help you budget for groceries. The food levels are listed as thrifty, low cost, moderate cost, and liberal. According to the food plan, if you're a family of four, have two teenagers and two parents, and you're budgeting tightly on the thrifty plan, you would spend about $800 a month/$200 per week. This presumes that all meals and snacks are made at home. For example, during the summer, food costs increase. If you budget $800 monthly year-round, any additional funds could be used for school lunches that are needed. Now, say you are budgeting tightly, and you're a family of two with no children on the low-cost plan, you would spend $517.50 per month, and if you are liberal, it will go back to that $800. As you can see, these budgets are general and would depend on how individuals purchase food. Are you buying canned vegetables or fresh vegetables, and how often? Budget Shortcuts & Health Investments It's essential to strike a healthy balance between making budget shortcuts and investing in your future health. If you can't manage your finances because you're constantly trying to eat the most nutritious foods, you can physically make yourself sick. Now, you can buy fresh fruit and vegetables, but you don't always have to buy organic. Organic food purchases can be expensive, and when you're talking about a family of four, your monthly food bill can skyrocket from $800/month to over $1,000 a month or more. This can cause stress, mental anxiety, and even problems within your household. So, it's essential to consider the right balance between investing in healthy eating and selecting the right foods for your budget. I liken it to this: most individuals want that $3,000 Peloton treadmill, but you can find a Horizon for $600 and get the same amount of exercise. Striking a healthy balance by growing your food, cooking, and exercising at home can save you a ton of money. Meal Delivery Service - Dinnerly There are instances when you may be short on time and just don't have time to plan a meal. Meal delivery services are a quick and easy way to reduce your eating out budget and add a bit of variety to your meal planning. Most deal delivery services like Dinnerly are affordable when you eat at least two meals a day at home. For a family of three, you could spend $15 per meal as opposed to $15 per person with fresh food delivery. Involve Everyone Have a conversation with your significant other about your health priorities. Discuss what you would like the family's health to be and how mealtime should look. Having a conversation can help you get on the same page. You can bring the children to the table as well. Children can help make meal plans for the week, encouraging them to eat the healthy meals cooked when they are involved in the process. Children should also be involved in grocery shopping. Helping children understand the differences between branded and grocery store items can help them learn to budget and cut costs. Remaining consistent with your health priorities and managing a monthly food plan can help you keep your budget and health on track.

Henry Ford, the great inventor, once said, "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." We all set goals and lose sight of them. When we do, worry, anxiety, and doubt can take over. Most people can power through obstacles using sheer will and perseverance. Sometimes, we have mental blocks that make obstacles appear immovable, preventing goal achievement. Hypnotherapy for success can help you overcome these blocks and help you gain the momentum you need to achieve your goals. This article explores hypnosis and how to use the 5 Laws of Success for goal setting. How Do You Define Success? How the Oxford English Dictionary defines 'success': The accomplishment of an aim or purpose. Every person has their own personal definition of what success means to them. Success has the following key/common principles: High self-esteem and self-confidence Flexible thinking with a positive attitude with positive thoughts Clear goals with a willingness to take risks A strong focus and an attitude of perseverance Healthy mind, body, and spirit, and the ability to manage stress Folks who have trouble achieving their goals have issues exhibiting the above traits. They suffer from low self-esteem, are stuck in rigid ways of thinking, are unwilling to try new things or take risks, cannot focus well, have issues with everyday life, or have unmanageable stress or anxiety. Hypnosis for success and goal achievement can help these folks. What is Hypnosis? Hypnosis is a trance-like state of consciousness where you experience a deep level of focus. While in this focused state, you are not asleep or unconscious (although you might look that way to others). Through different types of hypnotic change work: (regression, suggestion, and visualization), you may manifest success by understanding how it looks and feels. While under hypnosis, the subconscious programming that governs your behavior is examined to identify the root causes of the mental blocks that are holding you back from meeting your goals. Hypnosis can also make you more open to the suggestions made by the hypnotist. When under hypnosis, your subconscious can hear positive suggestions. These suggestions are easily internalized and adopted. This makes hypnosis more effective than affirmations, cognitive behavioral therapy, or traditional therapy. This super-focused feeling of hypnosis is most likely already very familiar to you. It is similar to when you play video games and lose track of time, 'space out during a yoga session, or the 'flow state' you experience during athletic competitions. For hypnotic suggestions to work, you need to consent to the changes and have a very open mind to accomplishing them. In addition to smoking cessation and weight loss, hypnosis can be used to foster positive changes, like personal achievements, confidence, success in athletics, work performance, and more. How Hypnosis for Goal Achievement Works Hypnosis for manifesting success works by helping you identify and target the obstacles holding you back, like recurring stress or unhelpful ways of thinking. Hypnosis can help you break the mental blocks hindering you from performing your best and meeting your goals. These limiting beliefs may include imposter syndrome, fear of success, financial worries, fear of failure, self-sabotaging behavior, and more. Hypnosis can also help you improve your quality of sleep, reduce stress, confront your fears and issues, or think more positively. Hypnotic techniques that can successfully help you meet your goals: regression therapy, suggestions, and visualization. Following is a description of how a suggestion-based hypnosis session works. Step 1: Identify/Elicit Your Goal In the first step, you identify your goal(s) for success. Start by directly communicating your goal(s) to your hypnotherapist. You may also work with them to determine what your goals are. Step 2: Hypnotic Induction Phase In this phase, your hypnotherapist will guide you into a hypnotic state with breathing exercises, visualization, muscle relaxation, or counting. Every hypnotic experience will feel a bit different. Most people report feeling very relaxed, the only requirement is to focus and listen! Step 3: Suggestion Phase During this phase of hypnosis, your hypnotist makes positive suggestions based on your identified goals. They may also use affirmations, mantras, visualizations, and metaphors to help you move to a different mindset and visualize your goals. In this hypnotic state, suggestions are easily internalized and absorbed. Once you return to your waking state, it will be easy to act upon these suggestions. Step 4: Emerging Phase Your hypnotist will gently guide you from your hypnotic state by counting you up and other similar prompts. Once you are up and out of your hypnotic state, you are ready to start working toward your goals! Many people, family, friends, and celebrities (Tiger Woods!) have successfully used hypnosis to improve their performance and find their defined version of success. Over time you will internalize your suggestions. As you practice this positivity, you will start to experience more success. With the help of hypnosis, the adage, "success breeds more success," can become your reality. How Do I Set Goals? If you are unsure of your goals, you can work with your hypnotist to ideate them. Many start their goal-setting by following the 5 Laws of Success, a guiding framework to a happy and productive life. 1 – Law of Attraction - The energy and actions we put into the world determine the energy and actions we receive back. Our thoughts, feelings, and actions attract us to what we receive in the world. 2 – Law of Intention – Setting intentions clearly and definitively are essential to creating lives that we truly enjoy. The clearer the intentions, the more easily we can create them. 3 – Law of Celebration and Gratitude – Cultivating an attitude of gratitude and counting your blessing creates the space for more blessings to come into your life. 4 – Law of Receptivity – Our ability to have a joyous and abundant life is only limited by our capacity to receive. It is important to increase this capacity. 5 – Law of Involvement – Our lives are our responsibility. Do your part to involve yourself in the process of creating your business. Hypnotists can help you focus on knowing and owning your greatness and increasing that capacity. Saying these things about yourself out loud can help. The next thing is to have you choose two or three habits, situations, or challenges that have negatively affected you in the past. You write them down, verbally speak them, and release them. This action gives you more space for positive energy and change. For example: Many people have financial roadblocks which hold them back from wealth and success. They may have old subconscious beliefs or perceptions about wealth, perhaps built up from childhood. Some people need help identifying their mental blocks. A hypnotist can also work with you to identify the root cause. During the hypnosis session, verbal suggestions will be communicated to your subconscious. These suggestions will replace negative perceptions around wealth and add new, positive behaviors that can be internalized and manifested in the future. The goals for wealth and success can be reaffirmed when the client is brought out of the hypnotic state. They can continue to work on their goals in their daily lives. Since the subconscious mind is open to these new ideas, suggested changes will start to occur. From then on, success breeds more success! Do you have unresolved blocks to your personal success? Is it hard to understand why you rarely meet your goals? Are you too anxious or stressed to get through your day? Hypnosis can help. Lisa Dupras, Owner Elev8 Hypnosis, 609-451-1940 http://www.elev8hypnosis.com Book a consult YouTube Hypnosis

I spoke with Michele Jones, the owner of Michele Jones Financial Coaching, to find out how she helps her clients reach their financial goals through one-on-one coaching. Michelle works with individuals, couples, and small business owners to create financial goals. Michele helps her clients create a monthly budget, pay off debts, save for emergencies, plan for retirement, and have financial peace. She is also a Daily Money Manager, helping manage her client's day-to-day expenses such as bill pay, monthly budget, and financial goals. Michele removes the financial burden from her clients so they can focus on what matters most: retirement, growing their business, or just enjoying life more. Wealth Management What is Financial Literacy & Purposeful Teaching? Financial literacy is knowing how to manage your money to achieve your personal financial goals. Sadly, I do not believe that it is taught. Most people watch how their parents handle money and learn from them. Even if the parents have good money habits, without the purposeful teaching of how to manage money, most kids leave home with no fundamental understanding of money and how to manage it to their benefit. Many individuals struggle with eating out and grocery shopping. What can they do to control their grocery and eating out spending? The best advice I give to individuals struggling with eating out and grocery budgets is to pay cash. I call these "budget busters" if you don't control them. Decide how much you're going to spend on each category and pull cash each payday. Once the money is gone, then you're done spending in that category. Plus, I have found people don't like seeing the cash in their wallets disappear. It's a pain point that's been created. This makes people slow down their spending and think about it before handing over their cash. Debt Management What are a few ways that individuals can manage and reduce their debt? In my opinion, it is important to get out of debt so that your hard-earned money is going to you and not to the debts. To succeed financially, one must learn to manage their need for instant gratification. Putting something on a credit card or making payments means you don't have the money for it at that moment. So you should save or forgo that purchase. I work with my clients using the debt snowball method—smallest debt to largest debt. I like this one best because it allows for some quick wins with paying off small debts in the beginning. I believe the psychological value of those wins is important. As you get to the larger debts, you've already won so many times that your confidence is built, and you know you can finish paying the debts off. The main reason to pay off your debts is that you will have more money for the things that matter most: savings, vacations, college for kids, and retirement. It is your money, and you will get to choose how to use it instead of paying for choices from your past. Your money works for you instead of for some other business. What are some common mistakes people make with student loan debt? The biggest mistake people make is not focusing on paying them off. During Covid, when no payments were required and no interest accrued, many people stopped paying them. If you had the funds, this would have been a perfect time to dump money on the student loans because 100% of your payment was going to the principal. Many people were waiting for debt forgiveness, but you did sign for the loan, so you owe the money. I'm not a fan of student loans (having had them myself), and I would love to see people stop paying the ridiculous tuition and force higher learning to re-evaluate the value they are offering to their students. Related: 7 Ways Parents Can Financially Prepare Their Child for College Investing in Your Future What are a few things we can do to invest when we have limited knowledge of how to start? Once you're debt free and you have an emergency fund, investing is important. The first piece of advice is if your employer offers a 401(k) with a match, you want to put in up to the match. It is free money and doubles your investment immediately. I suggest finding a Financial Advisor you trust to help you make an educated decision. I work with my clients to give them knowledge about investing so they feel they can make a good choice when they meet with a Financial Advisor. Why is it important to begin investing in a retirement fund early? Compounding Interest! This is an amazing thing when it comes to investing. If someone invests $100 a month from 20-30 years old and then stops, when they retire at 65, they will have $668k with an investment of only $12k. But if someone starts at 30 years old and invests $100 a month until they are 65, they will have only $380k and have invested $42k! Begin as early as you can. Advertiser Disclosure Managing Risk & Estate Planning Why is insurance so important? Everyone should have health and car insurance, but I also think it is important to have renters insurance (homeowners is usually required with a mortgage). Life Insurance is critical if someone is counting on your income, like a spouse or kids. A good 20-30 year term insurance ten times the amount of your take-home pay will cover your salary should something happen to you. Cultivating Hope I love helping people who are struggling with finances learn to manage their money. Hope is critical in life, and I love giving hopeless people hope and a dream. I have been there. My husband and I lost our home in a short-sell and had to move in with my parents for two years, with a 2-year-old! We paid off $114k in debt and purchased a home over three years ago in Orange County, CA. It's possible to change your financial future. Five Things With Michele How do you start the day? Slowly with coffee and prayer. What's one goal you've set for yourself this year? I want to double the size of my coaching business. What's your favorite affirmation to speak to yourself? I am smarter than…(whatever I'm struggling with) What's one thing you do for self-care? I get pedicures. How do you end the day? Talking with my husband about our day and what we each have coming up in the next few days. What is the best way to connect with you (social links, etc.)? Website: www.michelejonesfinancialcoaching.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/michelejonesfc Instagram: www.instagram.com/michele_jones_fc I offer a FREE financial coaching session that can be scheduled from my website.

There may have been times when you've been in a bind and needed cash immediately. You probably had to take money out of your savings account, ask a familiar member or bank for a loan, or even gone to a payday lender. Being in a situation where you need cash right away to pay for a parking ticket, groceries, or gas to get to work can be stressful. In comes DailyPay, a payment method that you can use to get quick access to your income from your employer before payday. That's good news. Well, not always. Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of DailyPay when you have difficulty managing your finances. The Advantage of DailyPay If you've been out of work for a while and started a new job, you may have some expenses that you need to catch up on. For example, gas to get you back and forth to work daily or increased rent costs if you live in rent-subsidized housing. Where do you get this money if you haven't received your first paycheck? With DailyPay, you can get a portion of your pay in advance when you have a participating employer. By getting an advancement in your pay, you won't need to ask for or borrow money from anyone. That's great news, but it could also cause financial problems if you do it too often. See my feature in: 11 Best Personal Finance formulae to live by Limited Ease of Access to Your Income With DailyPay, you may assume you can get your full pay in advance. However, there are limits. Your employer can put limits on how much you can withdraw. For example, if you are paid $500 weekly, you can receive 40% or $200 in advance using DailyPay. Your employer will pay the remaining income to you on your regular payday. Once payday does come around, you will notice that you're going to receive a $300 (pre-tax) deposit. This may be a little shocking to you. If you continually request DailyPay, the cycle of receiving various paycheck amounts can make it difficult for you to manage your finances. Inability to Manage Your Finances Using DailyPay Emergencies tend to occur when you least expect them. Things like getting a flat tire, having a boot put on your car, increased utility costs, or your air conditioner failing can cause you to scramble to find the funds you need to pay for these events. If you don't have an emergency fund setup, you may be tempted to use DailyPay. Triggering the DailyPay option will cause your monthly budget to get out of alignment quickly and can leave you scrambling to find the necessary funds to cover your bills at the end of the month. See my feature in: 10 Signs Your Spending is Out of Control - and How to Address It It can also lead to insufficient fund fees being charged when your bill payments are automatically drafted from your bank account. The insufficient fund fee of $35 or $75 may seem minimal when you are in a bind, but it tends to add up over time if you continually receive them. Having a budget that can eliminate the need to use DailyPay and the dreaded insufficient fund fees is essential. Spending Without an Income Schedule or Budget You can make transfers using DailyPay as often as your employer allows. You can transfer your funds daily, every other day, weekly, or on another schedule. The downfall is that you won't be able to predict your income to budget for your weekly or monthly expenses. If you aren't used to budgeting your income, this can lead to dire situations where you can't afford your living expenses. It can also become a habit of requesting your pay in advance, leading to the inability to plan for your future expenses. Predicting your income is critical when establishing a budget for expenses. It will also help with future planning for the goals that you want to set for yourself. What Can You Do To Prevent DailyPay Usage to Predict Your Income and Manage Your Spending? Here are a few tips: Reduce the usage of DailyPay so you can get paid on a set schedule. Establish an emergency fund to reduce the need to use DailyPay. Write down your monthly income and expenses. Create a weekly or monthly budget for the income you plan to spend, save, or invest. Establish future goals that you want to achieve using the SMART method. Reduce your impulse spending on eating out or shopping. Only use DailyPay when it's critical! If all else fails, disenroll from DailyPay or delete the app from your phone.

Left, right, left, right, left... That's right, one foot in front of the other. You may find that you're a little shaky at first. You might even stumble and fall. But you're going to pick yourself up and keep trying. You might stumble a couple of times, but eventually, you'll find your stride, and those baby steps will turn into leaps and bounds. Everything Takes Time You may have heard that everything takes time, or be patient. You'll eventually get there or achieve that goal. Well, it may sound cliche, but it's true. The example above was how babies learn to walk. First, they crawl, pull themselves up, and finally, attempt baby steps. These baby steps start by holding on to furniture, toys, the nearest person, or the beloved family pet. And then, they let go and fall. But they keep trying and falling until they take that first unassisted step. The crowd goes wild! Well, at least the parents do. You know what? It didn't happen overnight. It took continuous practice to build muscle memory in the baby's brain and strength in the legs. The parents were watching and waiting for that moment when they could cheer for their child. This goal was a sign of growth. Achieving Goals Takes Time & Effort Have you ever had a vacation that you wanted to go on to Disney, the mountains, or Jamaica? How did you get there? You may have had to follow these steps: Pick a location Pick a date Find affordable lodging Find a flight Put a budget together and save Drive to your location or airport Get on a six-hour plane ride or rent a car Arrive at your destination! And this does not include all the in-between items like working extra hard at work because you're taking time off. Or even preparing to schedule care for your children or pets. Putting a Plan Together Planning for a vacation, retirement, college, or buying a new mattress requires planning. Planning requires you to create a plan with achievable and measurable goals that can be accomplished in bite-sized pieces. For example, if you want to save $10,000 for your child's college fund, that can seem impossible to some. However, if you plan it out, you can make it possible. Saving money can be possible if you put measurable timeframes around this important goal. The ultimate goal will be to save $10,000. However, you can create smaller goals that make them more achievable. The SMART Method The SMART method is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-Bound goals. You can create smaller short-term goals to achieve your $10,000 long-term goal. Your short-term goal could be: I will save $100 with each paycheck for my child's education from September to August. This goal should be in a place that's visible to you so that you can constantly be reminded of it. Then, as you achieve the goal, you should celebrate. It doesn't have to be anything elaborate. It could be as simple as taking a bubble bath, a nature walk, or a family trip to the beach. Celebrating goal achievement can help keep you motivated to continue on your journey and future goal accomplishments. In the end, you'll be able to achieve the big goals, and it won't seem as intimidating because you used short-term goals in the interim. To get started, use a SMART goal tool to begin your journey. Advertiser Disclosure Left, Right, Left, Right Ultimately, the goal is to stay motivated as you accomplish your goals. You may stumble and fall, but picking yourself back up and dusting off your hands repeatedly will provide you with the results you are looking for. On the way, don't be afraid to reach out for a helping hand to keep you on track.

Finding the right financial advisor can take some time and require research. You want to find a financial advisor that is going to have your best interest in mind and guide you in increasing your wealth and achieving your goals. To help you best prepare to meet with a financial advisor for the first time, I asked financial coaches, CEOs, and business leaders for their best advice on the questions you should ask your financial advisor. From asking how to ensure you never run out of money to inquiring about their personal and corporate values, there are several questions you should be prepared to ask a financial advisor. These questions will help you make the best judgment about their professional competence in managing your finances. 9 Questions You Should Ask Your Financial Advisor Ask How to Ensure You Never Run Out of Money Ask to Know How They Are Paid Find Out the Overall Returns Made for Clients the Previous Year Ask to Know How Aggressively You Should Invest Find Out What Your Five-Year Plan Should Entail Ask About Their Investment Philosophy Get Them to Explain How to Diversify Your Investments Ask to Know Where You May be Going Wrong With Your Investment Strategy Inquire About Their Personal and Corporate Values Ask How to Ensure You Never Run Out of Money When meeting with a financial advisor for the first time, there is only one important question: "How can I make sure I never run out of money?" After asking this important question, my financial advisor proceeded to make a cash flow analysis. This gave me a plan to follow, so I'd never run out of money and the peace of mind I needed. - Janice Wald, Mostly Blogging Ask to Know How They Are Paid The first question to ask your financial advisor is how they get paid. If a financial advisor is fiduciary, they are legally obligated to act in your best interest. If, on the other hand, the financial advisor is non-fiduciary, this means they are not obligated to act in your best interest and can sell you financial products based on the largest commissions for him or herself. A fiduciary advisor usually pays a flat or hourly rate or a management fee (a percentage of your assets they manage). They will not earn a commission off of selling you certain products. - Kristine Thorndyke, Test Prep Nerds Find Out the Overall Returns Made for Clients the Previous Year "What were the overall returns you booked for your clientele in the last financial year?" This question may seem invasive at first glance, but the inquiry being made here is restricted to the performance of the individual as a financial advisor, which makes it a valid one. The answer to this question will reveal the returns the advisor has clocked for their clients in the last financial year. It also provides the advisor an opportunity to convince you of their recommended investment approach and why it is better than the rest. While there's no way to check on the numbers the advisor reveals, the answer to the question should be enough to give you insight into how successful the advisor has been. - Riley Beam, Douglas R. Beam, P.A. Ask to Know How Aggressively You Should Invest "How aggressively should I invest?" Your financial advisor can develop an investment plan based on a combination of what you have to invest and when you intend to retire. How much you can invest and how long you have to retire could determine how aggressively, both in how much and the kinds of investments they will advise you to make. Understanding how much you should be investing for retirement is critical. - Brett Estep, Insured Nomads Find Out What Your Five-Year Plan Should Entail Ask them what would be a good five-year plan financially. This is an excellent place to start if you're unsure where to begin your financial journey. For example, they may ask you about your goals, whether saving or investing and can recommend accordingly. This question can set you up for success from the jump. - Jodi Neuhauser, Ovaterra Ask About Their Investment Philosophy I would recommend asking them what their philosophy is on investing. This is because it's important that you work with someone with a similar investment strategy. You need to understand how they approach investing and whether they have biases that might affect how they advise clients. For example, if they like to invest in stocks or mutual funds, you can assume they might push you toward those types of investments. Similarly, if your goal is to make money now, you don't want to work with an advisor who believes in long-term investing. Therefore, it's important that you know their investment philosophy and how it aligns with your goals. - Tiffany Homan, Texas Divorce Laws Get Them to Explain How to Diversify Your Investments "How can I diversify my investments?" Financial advisers can look at what you have to invest and compare it to your retirement age to create the investment portfolio that best suits you. Depending on how much time you have before retirement age, they can suggest how aggressively you should invest and how to diversify between high-risk and low-risk investments. Understanding your investment options and how much you should diversify is key. - Zachary Hamed, Clay Ask to Know Where You May be Going Wrong With Your Investment Strategy "Can you tell me where I'm going wrong with my current investment strategy?" Ask your potential financial advisor to peek into your current investment strategy and give you quick feedback. After all, the main reason you're hiring an advisor is so you can correct or enhance your financial strategy. The comments you receive will tell you just how much the individual knows and how helpful they are in offering advice. The right advisor will take a thorough look, even ask for time to review your details, and only then get down to giving you preliminary feedback. When you find someone who makes the right diagnosis and willingly discusses essential details, you know you've found the right advisor. - David Northup, InShapeMD Inquire About Their Personal and Corporate Values The first time you visit your financial advisor, you should enquire, "What are your personal or corporate values?" While asking this question may feel odd at first, the most serious financial advisors I've met in the last two decades should be happy to respond. This fosters a sense of belonging, trust, and a genuine desire to collaborate daily. Values aren't the only thing to consider while looking for the proper financial advisor, although I feel they are essential in long-term partnerships. - Paul Walsh, Weselltek

If you're facing challenges at work, it may cause you to want to up and quit. This can cause significant financial and professional consequences when you make a sudden decision to leave your job. To help you and others go about your resignations in the best way, I asked HR managers and business leaders for tips on what you can do so you don't regret resigning from your job. From making a pros-and-cons list to addressing concerns with your manager before resigning, there are several pieces of advice that should guide how employees carry through their decisions to resign from their current employment so as not to regret it later. What to Do Before you Resign from Your Job Make a Pros-and-Cons List Exhaust All Career Growth Options at Your Current Company Don't Make Resignation a Spur-of-the-moment Decision Write a Professional Resignation Letter Make a Wish List to Avoid Regrets Always Leave on Good Terms Address Concerns With Your Manager Before Resigning Make a Pros-and-Cons List We get used to the good things quickly. For example, we might appreciate that our employer pays us back for the internet or gives us a budget for training and development. Unfortunately, after a while, we tend to forget about the good stuff and focus on things that could have been better. As humans, we often see the grass greener on the other side rather than being grateful for what we already have. The same rule applies to job resignations. Employees often base their decisions on a few things that annoy them in their current work rather than looking at the whole picture. That's why it's a good idea to make a pros and cons list of your current job before making any decisions about switching jobs. By doing so, you will consider all positive and negative aspects of your current employment and decrease the risk of regretting your decision later. - Dorota Lysienia, LiveCareer Exhaust All Career Growth Options at Your Current Company While resigning from a dead-end job makes sense, leaving a position where you might've had chances for career advancement can cause regret. Before making a hasty decision to resign, consider availing yourself of any skills training your company offers as part of its Learning & Development program. Be proactive in setting up a meeting with your manager to discuss a raise or promotion. You can also try handling an important project that would look good on your resume when applying for future jobs. Once you've exhausted all such options, you can move on, knowing there wasn't much to gain from that job, preventing any regrets about leaving. I always recommend professionals take charge of their career progress instead of idly waiting for opportunities to come by. As long as you have around four months' finances in your bank and a strong resume, resigning from a dead-end job can be a safe and effective way of motivating yourself to move on to better things. - Anjela Mangrum, Mangrum Career Solutions See my feature in: 12 Considerations When Applying To The Same Company for a Different Position Don't Make a Resignation a Spur-of-the-moment Decision It is normal for humans to feel regret when making "big decisions" if such a decision can make them lose something, such as resigning from a job. Sure, employees can miss their ex-workmates, but regret often begins when employees' expectations after resigning are not met. So for an employee not to regret resigning, it is important that they clearly identify their goals (personal and career-wise) and determine if resigning is the best way to achieve such goals. If the employee still wants to quit to work for another company, they should have a good idea of the company he's hoping to work for, especially its work culture. By doing so, they can prevent the so-called "shift shock." Lastly, they should have a backup plan if things don't go as planned. By having a backup plan, the employee can focus on achieving their career goals instead of regretting any of the past decisions they made. - Jonathan Baillie Strong, Spotlight Podcasting Write a Professional Resignation Letter Give your notice in writing, and be professional about it. Taking the time to write a professional resignation letter, and giving your employer appropriate notice, will help smooth the transition and avoid any hard feelings. This way, you can maintain a good relationship with your former employer and start your new job on the right foot. Moreover, you never know when you might need a reference from your previous employer. - Asako Ito, Divine Lashes Make a Wish List to Avoid Regrets Whenever an employee is contemplating resigning from a job, it can help to make a wish list to avoid regrets. The wish list should be everything that would have to change to make an employee stay at their current company/position. Even if the wish list seems unrealistic, create it. Whether it is a raise, a change in supervisor, a new position, a different team, more paid time off, or incorporating work-from-home options, include whatever it would take for you to stay. Once the wish list is created, review it and see how realistic it is. It may not be realistic for the company to move headquarters from Phoenix to New York, but there may be opportunities in other areas for change. When the employee gets a new job offer, they will already have a list of their wants and a list to take to their current employer of changes that would have to happen for them to stay. Creating a wish list helps develop goals as well as helps recognize where employees are unsatisfied in their current work. - Bryor Mosley, Southern New Hampshire University Always Leave on Good Terms When you leave on good terms, you continue to build a positive relationship with your employer/colleagues. Then, if the new gig doesn't work out, or if you want to work for the company again in five years, you have an open door. I've hired good people back after two weeks and two years - always with joy. At the same time, how a company treats outgoing colleagues reflects how they treat current employees. Others notice how you leave, how you are treated, and how you treat the people you are passing work over to. Work with your supervisor to create an environment of trust and cooperation. You never know when you will need these people in your network or when you can do them a good turn. It's a small world and a long road. Stephanie Miller, Victory Song Marketing Consulting Address Concerns With Your Manager Before Resigning The only time I regretted resigning was when I gave my employer notice without addressing my concerns or reasons for leaving. I remember accepting the new job offer before telling my current employer I was quitting. When I gave my two-week notice, my manager was visibly upset and confused. When I mentioned my concerns about my pay and growth potential, he said that he wished I had told him sooner so that he could address both of those issues. As a manager, I have been on the receiving end of employees resigning, and in most cases, I wish I could have addressed their concerns before they quit. I advise employees to address their concerns with their manager before they resign. In most cases, your manager will appreciate your honesty and work with you to correct the issues. If not, you can then leave regret-free. - Andrew Eagar, Technology Advice

Spending hundreds of dollars on dates with your significant other can add up quickly if you don't track how much you're spending. Of course, you may want to treat yourselves every now and then, but consistently spending money at a high rate can cause problems and delay achieving your future financial goals. To help couples have the best date night on a budget, I asked dating and relationship coaches for their best ideas. From cooking together to trying outdoor movies to having a picnic under the stars, there are several date night ideas that are excellent for couples on a budget. Budget-Friendly Date Night Ideas Cooking Together Keep It Simple With a Picnic Go to a Bookstore Try Outdoor Movies Bring Your Own Bottle of Wine to Dine in a Restaurant Have a Unique Rooftop Dinner for Two Visit an Art Gallery for a Date Play Indoor Board Games Picnic Under the Stars Cooking Together Some of my favorite date nights have been making exotic meals together. Going out for sushi, pizza, Indian, etc., often gets quite pricey when you include alcohol. My partner and I enjoy special date nights where we recreate some of our favorite foods, and often they are much cheaper to make at home (and a lot more fun). Nearly any grocery store now has its own international cuisine aisle and a host of interesting vegan and vegetarian options. These meals have included making homemade Chinese dumplings (you can usually find the "wrappers" for these dumplings in the refrigerator section of the grocery), Indian, homemade bean burgers, and homemade pizza. Choose ahead the movie you want to watch, and you have the makings of an excellent date night on the cheap! - Kristine Thorndyke, Test Prep Nerds Keep It Simple With a Picnic Create a picnic. Whether you choose a traditional outdoor setup or even create a picnic in your home, this can be a fun and affordable date idea. All you need to have a picnic date is a blanket and food or drinks. This leaves the budget entirely up to the couple, whether they want to splurge on a full spread with beverages or keep it light and easy. A picnic is a great, easy way to switch up the routine in any season. - Lisa Odenweller, Kroma Wellness Go to a Bookstore Go to a bookstore for a date night. Select a book for each other. While it's fun to pick something you may like, choosing one for someone else is quite meaningful. This gets you thinking about the other person, leads to conversations about what they like to read and what they're not a fan of, and really helps you understand their personality. It's a great way to get to know each other in a non-typical date setting. - Corey Ashton Walters, Here Try Outdoor Movies Outdoor movies are a great date night for couples on a budget. You can get a smartphone projector for $50 or less or DIY one for a couple of dollars with a shoebox and magnifying glass. Simply find a blank wall or hang up a sheet for your screen. Then, roll out blankets and pillows, grab some popcorn and dollar candy, and enjoy a show under the stars. This special setup makes for a more romantic evening and upgrades movie night from simply cuddling on the couch with Netflix. - Carly Hill, VirtualHolidayParty.com Bring Your Own Bottle of Wine to Dine in a Restaurant Consider bringing your own bottle of wine to date night when dining at a restaurant. When the restaurant allows it, they will charge a cork fee in exchange for you bringing in your own bottle to open. These prices range from $25 to $80, which is pennies compared to what you would pay for the same bottle at an upscale restaurant. What's even better is that you can put a cork in the unused portion and keep what is yours. A little extra bubbly for the bubble bath later? This tactic is a great way to spend more on great conversation instead of the tab. - Will Gill, DJ Will Gill Have a Unique Rooftop Dinner for Two Picture this scene—a dinner date on a rooftop, complete with all the works. Spice things up with dreamy lights, a white canopy, flowers, music, good food, and wine. You can even toss in some blankets and throw pillows for some cuddling. You may think that staging one can break a hole in your pocket. It may be far from the truth. All you need is a bit of creativity and resourcefulness. It can be a DIY thing, with items borrowed from your unit or place. Whip up some gourmet dishes in your kitchen, then bring them to the rooftop. Wine does not need to be pricey. You can buy flowers from the market and wrap them yourself. The same is true with fairy lights, which are affordable and easy to install. The preparation may take a bit of time. But all the effort will be worth it. And one thing is for sure; you are sure to bring some happiness to the person you love. What a way to spend some priceless moments together in the most unique way possible. - Laura Martinez, PersonalityMax Visit an Art Gallery for a Date Art, wine tasting, and romantic ambiance. Selecting an art gallery for a low to no-cost date night is the way to go. Even though this is a public place, you will have excellent conversation starters and enjoy each other's company. Break the ice by discussing your insight on the newest exhibition. What makes an art gallery a great place is the ability to dress to impress without overdoing the occasion. You will enjoy the company of your date and, if successful, will have many fond memories of a romantic night. - Benjamin Earley, HOLT Play Indoor Board Games Playing indoor board games as a night date can be a cheap yet intimate moment. Indoor games allow players to be their authentic selves because once competition sets in, the usual tension of a date eases. The couple will get to bond as they have fun in a relaxed state. Another plus is that such a game requires minimum resources in terms of money. The couple needs just enough to buy snacks and some drinks to enjoy as the games go on. - yongming Song, Imgkits- Photo Editor Picnic Under the Stars Have a picnic under the stars. Can anything be more romantic than that? All you need is a blanket, a picnic basket filled with delicious snacks, and a prosecco bottle to add some sparkle. A picnic date night doesn't require too much planning. Just grab a basket, turn off your phone, and enjoy a night under the stars with your favorite person. Remember that your wishes are twice as likely to come true when you both wish upon the stars together! You can also watch movies, play a couple's card game, or talk about life. There are plenty of picnic date ideas to choose from, depending on your tastes and interests. This date night option is affordable, romantic, relaxing, and original. It's just a perfect idea for anyone, I believe. Have fun! - Agata Szczepanek, Resume Now

Is your child planning to go to college? Planning to save for their education can be challenging if you don't know where to start. To help parents best prepare their children financially for college, I asked financial coaches and mature parents how you can help financially prepare your child for college. From having relatives contribute to a 529 plan to considering studying abroad at a cheaper cost, there are several practical ways that parents may get their wards well-prepared financially for their time in college. Financially Preparing Children for College Have Relatives Contribute to a 529 Plan Get Them to Save 75% of Their Earnings Teach Them How to Budget and Use Credit Cards Responsibly Give Them a Fixed Monthly Lump Sum Allowance Encourage The Kids to Get a Job Teach Them to Explore the Various Student Aid Options Consider Studies Abroad at a Cheaper Cost Have Relatives Contribute to a 529 Plan I have a young daughter, and we have a 529 plan started for her. When family and grandparents ask about getting gifts, we tell them they can also contribute tax-free to the 529 plan. This is a great way to increase the college fund even further. It's not the most exciting gift for a child, but when they are ready for college, they will be very thankful for the small gift contributions that family members gave and how much it grew over those years. - Evan McCarthy, SportingSmiles Get Them to Save 75% of Their Earnings Parents of teens should require them to set aside most of their earnings and put them in a savings account. Teens don't need to pocket more than 25% of their earnings as they don't have rent to pay or any other significant costs. That money should be set aside for when they are faced with steep costs. When the time comes to pay for textbooks and other costs associated with college, that saved-up money should cover them. - Chris Riley, USA Rx Teach Them How to Budget and Use Credit Cards Responsibly Learning to budget with a credit card is an important skill your child should learn before leaving home. New college students have to budget for books, meals, and other expenses for perhaps the first time, and many of these expenses are typically paid for by credit cards. If your child is new to being responsible for a credit card, this financial freedom can quickly put them into debt. Teach your child to budget and spend only what they can pay off on a credit card. By learning to use a credit card responsibly, your child will have the skills to be financially prepared. - Brett Estep, Insured Nomads Give Them a Fixed Monthly Lump Sum Allowance Deposit a lump sum into their accounts at the beginning of every month so they can practice budgeting. This will teach them how much they should spend each week to have enough money to last until the month's end. If they express no difficulty with this, you could always make it more challenging by depositing only once every two months or once per semester. Aside from encouraging consistent and healthy spending habits, this method promotes discipline, responsibility, and forward thinking. - Eric Ang, One Search Pro Encourage The Kids to Get a Job Encouraging their kids to get a job and pay some share of their costs (transportation, entertainment, etc.) is an excellent way for parents to help prepare for college. Beyond expanding their financial literacy, employment will show teenagers how authority and management structures work. The lessons of autonomy and how to budget properly are essential benefits of having a job and its associated responsibilities. - Thomas Yuan, Sanebox Teach Them to Explore the Various Student Aid Options One way parents can help their children financially prepare for college is by ensuring they take advantage of all the student aid options available to them. College students can get financial aid from many sources, including federal and state governments and private organizations. Students should fill out the FAFSA form every year to see what types of aid they qualify for. - Chad Rubin, Profasee Consider Studying Abroad at a Cheaper Cost Studying abroad is rarely discussed or even considered. However, international degree programs are highly recognized and respected. For example, attending a university in Argentina will cost a student $5,000 a program compared to $26,000 in an American university. The costs are significantly cheaper than studying within the United States. In addition, a prestigious foreign degree program will have plenty of opportunities for scholarships, and financial aid programs, to help students from all over the world. Completing the program means less debt and stress of paying back thousands of dollars and gives young adults financial freedom upon graduation. - Benjamin Earley, HOLT