Thanksgiving week is prime time for receiving financial favor. It is the gateway to unlimited abundance if you know how to take advantage of it.
Thanksgiving is a high vibration time of year for most people, especially in North America. Everyone is giving thanks, feeling grateful, and in general very happy. You are likely feeling that way too. If you are not it wouldn’t be hard to get in the Thanksgiving frame of mind, if for nothing else than to get great shopping deals. Outside of the deals this is the season to set yourself up for prosperity, abundance, and financial blessings.
If you’ve watched the movie, The Secret, you’ve heard the featured experts talk about the law of attraction, manifesting, and getting what you want out of life by simply thinking about it.
Unlimited Abundance Through the Law of Attraction
The law of attraction says you can basically manifest whatever you want, including money, jobs, love, vacations, and much more. Maybe you tried it but didn’t have much success. The truth is, it takes more than thinking to make the things you want to appear in your life. It takes feeling good and it takes being thankful. Those are two ingredients that are often missing when you are trying to use the law of attraction. Fortunately, Thanksgiving is the perfect time to practice manifesting what you want and tap into unlimited abundance.
Think about it for a moment. What happens during Thanksgiving week? You are planning a delicious meal, preparing to visit family, shopping for ingredients, or finishing up projects at work or school before you have a few days off (a.k.a. long weekend) for the holiday. You might be traveling or meeting at family or friends’ homes locally. You laugh, hug, eat, and hang out together and feel really good. Of course there may be some family drama, but overall it’s a wonderful time of year isn’t it?
You are grateful you made it through the year so far and you are looking forward to Christmas/holiday decorations, shopping, and rest. The anticipation is real, the love is real, the gratitude is real. All of these feelings are the secret ingredient to making the law of attraction work for you.
How can you harness all of this power? How can you use these positive feelings and high vibration to get what you want? The answer is simple. Ask.
You might be thinking, “Really? All I have to do is ask? I’ve been asking and nothing has happened for me!” I hear you. Consider this. You were asking but your feelings were probably not what they needed to be.
What Blocks Unlimited Abundance?
If you were skeptical, fearful, disapproving, depressed, nervous, frustrated, resentful or negative in any way then your request could not get past the ceiling. The law of attraction only operates in an atmosphere of hope, love, excitement, gratitude, and anticipation.
If you are feeling anything other than that, the law of attraction will not work. Your request will be overlooked. It’s the sad truth but you have the power to change the results.
What Attracts Unlimited Abundance?
The key is to not let this Thanksgiving feeling of happiness and gratitude fade away once the day is over. Keep living this way 365 days of the year. Make everyday Thanksgiving! You might be saying, “But that’s not realistic” but I beg to differ. You can live a thankful, happy life if you choose. No one can make you feel happy or sad unless you give them that kind of control over you life. You can decide before you step out of bed every morning to be grateful and have a wonderful day.
First, on Thanksgiving morning make list of things you really want to happen in your life deep down. It could be a raise, a promotion, a better job, a new home, improved health, a healed relationship. Whatever it is, write it down on paper.
Next say thank you for each item on your list then put the list in a private place.
Finally, go throughout the day enjoying family, friends, food, and fun scheduled for the day. Really enjoy each moment. Tell everyone how thankful you are to see them and have them in your life or tell everyone what you are thankful for when it’s your turn around the dinner table.
When your list comes up in your mind, see yourself with all the things on the list happening in your life.
When Thanksgiving day is over make a decision to carry the feelings of the day throughout the rest of this year. Then on New Year’s Day look back at the last few weeks and see what has changed and how your life has improved.
Now you see how Thanksgiving is the gateway drug to unlimited abundance through practicing the law of attraction with joy and gratitude. Embrace the feelings and gratitude of the day to ask for what you want then take spirit of the day through the rest of this year, next year, and every day for the rest of your life. You will find that you will attract much more good now that you have shifted your mind by embracing the holiday spirit 24/7/365!
Samantha A. Gregory is a financial freedom evangelist who practices the law of attraction to get what she wants out of life. She is the author of, The Magic Money Formula: Get What You Want Now with Law of Attraction Manifesting. She is also the editor of RichSingleMomma.com, a personal finance, parenting, and personal development magazine for single moms who are ready to thrive not just survive.
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Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
Taking a family vacation isn’t cheap these days, with the average vacation costing somewhere in the ballpark of $4,500 for a family of four. That’s not chump change, and it is a dollar amount not easily accessible by most American families. If you like to travel but have limited funds, keep reading for five budget-friendly family vacation tips on how to make the most of your time off together while keeping your bank statement safely above zero.
Buy the Gear You Need on the Second-Hand Market
If you have ever used VarageSale or hit the early morning yard sales for kids clothes, then you have already been a part of a very important second-hand economy, which has blossomed into a global multi-billion-dollar sub-industry. Buying used is not only for the things that you use every day, but can help you save money on occasional-use gear like hiking boots, life vests, and other items you’ll need depending on your planned adventures. You can also buy or borrow a few outfits and travel toys for the kids to make sure they look great for your vacation pictures and stay entertained en route respectively.
Don’t Sign Up for That Car Rental Insurance
If you’ve decided to drive instead of fly and you’re renting a car, you know the cost of the daily insurance on a rental is expensive and can quickly add up. If your current auto policy doesn’t cover rentals, consider a short-term weeklong policy to ensure you’ve got the coverage you need. Not only are these rates cheaper, but you might even find a better deal if you go through your current provider.
Take Advantage of Free Attractions
Sure, a trip to a theme park is a ton of fun, but there are plenty of free attractions all throughout the United States that easily trump waiting in line for hours for a 60-second ride. Traveller contributor Marla Jo Fisher list everything from Garden of the Gods in Colorado to the iconic Mount Rushmore carvings in South Dakota in this post. Of course, if your kids absolutely must have bright and colorful entertainment, you can always search for a hotel that has an on-site waterpark included in the price of the room.
Find Easy Ways to Keep the Kids Occupied
Inevitably there will be downtime while you’re on vacation, so plan ahead for your children to have plenty to do. Whether it’s with books, workbooks or electronics, helping them stay occupied can ward off boredom. Many parents find that tablets provide a happy medium in offering educational activities and something to pass the time. With apps for reading, drawing, learning a new language and, of course, gaming, there’s plenty to keep your child busy. If you’re in the market for a new tablet, look to models like the Amazon Kids Fire, which has serious durability at an affordable price. Alternatively, you can look to the newly released iPad, which can be had for as little as $19 a month, plus this could come in handy since this updated version has similar capabilities to a computer.
Know What Discounts Are Available
There is no shame in the discount game, and especially when it comes to your travel expenses. It pays to know what type of discounts are available when it comes to airlines, hotels, and events. For example, kids often fly free on Frontier Airlines with a Discount Den membership. A quick Google search can also help you determine places where kids eat free in most major cities, including Chicago and New York.
Go All-Inclusive (But Be Aware of Extras)
When you have a large family, all-inclusive resorts and cruises can be a smart option to help you stay within your budget. For the most part, all of your food and activities will be included along with your room and, in many cases, daytime childcare. But be cautious and know what’s included and what’s not before you book so that you are not hit with a big bill at the end for activities like the game room or premium menu choices. And don’t forget about coupon books, which you can buy ahead of time and plan your activities according to the best deal.
Traveling means that you are going to spend some money. However, there are ways to be frugal while having fun wherever you may roam.
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Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
“All the thoughts and dreams of people throughout history, and all you need’s this little card to borrow ’em for free!”
Other children of the ’90s might recognize this lyric from the classic tune “Library Card,” rapped by the cast of the cartoon show Arthur. It’s a silly song, but it’s a solid reminder that libraries can be amazing sources of entertainment and education. And unlike a credit or debit card, swiping a library card doesn’t cost a thing.
But exactly how much can you save by choosing your library card over a credit or debit card?
I recently overhauled my budget, and in the process, I decided to put my local library to the test. The exercise saved me nearly $700 per year in dodged subscription costs—money I now use to make $57 of extra student loan payments per month. Here’s how it worked.
Cutting Back on Entertainment Subscriptions
I’m decent at setting and following a budget. But there I was, facing another month where my family netted $0.
Specifically, I was bugged by how many frivolous entertainment subscriptions we had. I subscribed to a video streaming service here; my husband signed up for a premium account there. Although each account seemed affordable or even cheap, they added up.
Upon review, I realized that in the past year or two, we’ve paid for a number of entertainment subscriptions:
$12 per month for Hulu Plus
$9 per month for Netflix
$15 per month for Audible
$11 per month for online newspapers and magazines
$10 per month for Spotify Premium
We’d mindlessly signed on for $57 per month in subscription fees that added up to $684 per year.
Don’t get me wrong, I think entertainment subscriptions can be a savings-savvy alternative to pricier options like paying for cable or seeing movies in theaters. The problem wasn’t the subscriptions themselves—it was the mindless spending they reflected.
Finding Free Entertainment at My Local Library
I thought I could find better uses for that cash if I canceled those services. But I didn’t love the idea of quitting cold turkey.
My Audible subscription caught my eye first. It cost me $15 per month. But I already used the OverDrive app, available through my local library, to request, check out, and listen to audiobooks for free. So I killed my Audible subscription and gained an extra $15 per month right there.
I wondered if I could replicate those results for other subscriptions. I dove into my library’s digital catalog and quickly found out.
Magazines
My library partners with RBdigital (formerly Zinio) to offer a range of digital magazines. I used the service to replace a subscription to ESPN The Magazine ($2.50 per month) and found lots of other reading material worth browsing.
Newspapers
The New York Times digital pass that’s part of my library membership grants me access to New York Times apps and unlimited articles at NYTimes.com. That meant I could cut $8 per month from my budget and still support an outlet I love.
PressReader is another decent replacement for subscriptions to periodicals, and I can access it for free through my library.
TV and movies
I took the plunge and ended up canceling my $9-per-month Netflix membership of more than eight years. Now, my family accesses documentaries and movies through Kanopy and OverDrive, thanks to our library accounts.
For my 4-year-old daughter, Nickelodeon shows on Hoopla are all the rage, so I was able to cancel my subscription for Hulu Plus and save $12 per month.
Music
My library card granted me access to music streaming and downloads through Hoopla and Freegal. Bye-bye, $8 Spotify Premium fee.
In all, I found $57 worth of monthly fees to cut from our budget. My family easily saves $684 per year while enjoying much of the same entertainment and content we’ve always loved.
5 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Library Card
Like most budgeting decisions, trading in your subscriptions doesn’t come without sacrifice. I’ve learned a few tricks along the way to make the most of my library card.
Don’t Forget Analog Entertainment
My main goal in cutting costs was replacing my entertainment subscriptions. However, I can’t always find a decent digital replacement. In many cases, I request a physical copy of the book, movie, TV show, or music album and pick it up during my next library visit.
Get Comfortable with a Little Delay and Inconvenience
A huge benefit of paid subscriptions is instant, convenient access to any content you want on a particular platform.
With library services, there might be a limit on how much content you can check out or access at a time. You might get put on a waiting list for a book or movie as well. It can be an annoying adjustment, but remember that you’re saving money.
Find Other Cost-Saving Materials and Services
Some library districts offer free tutoring services as well as resources to help students study for the SAT or graduate placement exams.
I also found out that my library card gives me access to Lynda.com’s online educational training. This allowed us to replace a $29-per-month membership my husband had been using to brush up on his web development skills and brought our annual savings up to $713.
Take a look at some of the streaming services available with your library card. You might have access to free workout videos, which could replace a gym membership.
Watch Out for Late Fees
Of course, it’s important to watch out for library card fees. One of the reasons I prefer digital library content is that it’s automatically returned when the time is up, so I never get a late fee.
But I’ve racked up some significant late fees and replacement fines for physical items I didn’t return to the library in a timely manner. If you’re not careful, your library fine could wind up in collections and damage your credit.
If you do check out physical copies, get in the habit of keeping track of them and making regular trips to return them on time.
Know When to Keep a Subscription
Some library districts are well-funded and have great selections. Others, not so much. If your library’s pickings are slim, you might decide you’d rather keep your paid subscriptions. Even a big library district with awesome options won’t be able to offer you everything you could hope for.
Although my library offers a robust selection of services, I decided to keep a few subscriptions. My Amazon Prime membership offers tremendous value for its $99-per-year price, including access to free shipping and streaming services for music, movies, and TV shows. My husband loves podcasts and decided he wanted to keep his $5-per-month Stitcher subscription to support the platform.
Take the challenge to turn to your library card before your credit card, and you might be surprised by the savings. And remember: When you cut out monthly subscriptions, you’re saving money not just once, but also every month thereafter.
You can take your new cash flow even further by using it to pay down credit card debt—a smart option, considering the average credit cardholder owes over $4,000. Or you could look for other ways to build lasting wealth, such as saving for retirement or building a side hustle. Find more ideas on how to save money without depriving yourself at Credit.com.
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
In this day and age, I think we can all agree that a little side hustle never hurt anybody! When approached and undertaken in all the above-board ways, making a little extra family income on top of the main parental or guardian salaries can help to relax the purse strings a little bit and open the door some more family fun throughout the year.
As the saying goes, ‘every little helps’, and if you are dedicated and creative enough, there are dozens and dozens of side projects you can take part in that will help to make some extra cash. To help you get in the right frame of mind, here are five of the most popular family side hustles that are a great idea to get involved with.
Tech Consulting
If you or an older teen in your home has a higher than average understanding of technology, then why not offer your services for hire in the form of lessons and consulting sessions? This can be a small or large scale as you like. For example, there are always elderly neighbours who want to get to better grips with the internet. For a small fee, you can give them a beginner’s guide lesson to make it easier for them to socially network with their family in different locations.
Sell Produce
If you have a lot of land at your disposal, then why not start selling your own produce? Local, organic fruits and vegetables are more popular now than ever before. Lots of neighbors and families from further afield will love the opportunity to buy goods that have come from their own area.
Rental Service
If you have a second property that isn’t always in use, make the most out of it by making it available for holiday rental. There are plenty of online facilities that allow you to advertise your property and set a nightly rate, enabling tourists and visitors to book up instead of staying in a hotel or bed and breakfast. This is a simple and effective way to make extra cash.
Arts & Crafts
If someone in your family is particularly gifted in the arts and crafts department, then you should consider opening up a small side hustle business for things like homemade greetings cards, labels, small sketches, knitted/crochet items or whatever. These types of businesses are especially popular during the Christmas and other celebratory seasons and with secure and safe parcel delivery through ParcelBroker, your small business can be really professional.
Reselling Goods
If your household is the kind that always has extra and unused items in it, then you can swap those items for cash through websites like eBay and Amazon Marketplace. Keep in mind that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure, so rather than simply throwing away the items that you don’t want, see if they gain any interest on the online marketplace sites. It’s an easy way to add to your family’s income.
All it takes is a little thought and effort and you can find side hustles to make extra cash with and for the family.
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
During the school year, many parents find themselves on the sidelines of a field, watching their child participating in football, soccer, baseball, or some other sport. Some children may even opt for more unconventional sports, such as horseback riding. The benefits of childhood sports are well-documented. These types of activities help children learn to stay active, and they develop positive traits, such as perseverance and teamwork.
However, many parents may not understand the risks of playing sports or what kind of injuries can occur. While getting a scrape or a bruise here and there is just part of being a child, sometimes sports injuries can be devastating and costly, impacting a child’s life significantly. So, what you should know if your child plans on playing sports this year? Well, you need to be informed about the types of injures that could occur and what to do about them. Here is a list of the most common types of childhood injuries caused by sports:
Head Injuries
The head injuries that children can get from playing sports are called traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs. TBIs are can range from mild to severe, and they are one of the most common injuries caused by sports. They are seen most commonly in football players, since football is a contact-heavy sport. However, they can also be caused by other sports, such as basketball and soccer.
If your child gets a TBI from playing sports, it will most likely be a concussion. Parents of children who play sports should make sure they are familiar with the symptoms of a TBI. If left untreated, some TBIs can cause permanent damage. TBIs can also have delayed symptoms, so if your child suffers a head injury, it is important to seek a medical evaluation, even if there are no immediate symptoms.
There are several main signs to look out for that indicate a mild TBI. These include headaches, seeming dazed, fatigue, loss of consciousness for a short time, trouble sleeping, vomiting or nausea, sleeping more than usual, loss of balance, dizziness, blurry vision, ringing in the ears, speech issues, memory problems, mood swings, and sensitivity to light and/or sound.
A child with a more severe TBI will exhibit additional symptoms, such as the inability to awaken from sleep, seizures or convulsions, clear fluid from the nose or ears, numbness in the toes and fingers, slurred speech, profound confusion, and out-of-character behavior, such as sudden aggressiveness.
If you notice your child displaying any of these symptoms after a head injury, make sure you get them checked by a medical professional right away. TBIs can worsen if left untreated.
ACL Tears
The term “ACL tear” refers to a tear in the anterior cruciate ligament or, “ACL.” This is a serious knee injury common in young athletes. An ACL tear requires immediate medical treatment and can take a long time to heal. This injury can be caused by a variety of sports and can happen when an athlete is landing a jump, or when the knee is injured when an athlete collides with another player. When this happens, a loud popping sound can often be heard, and the injured player may feel a popping sensation in the knee. Generally, the player’s leg will then give way when weight is put on the knee. ACL tears often require surgery. People will this injury normally have to go through extensive physical therapy as well. If your child injures his or her knee during a game, don’t let them try to push through until the end. Pull them out and seek medical care immediately.
Sprains
Sprains are another common injury among children who play sports. Ankle sprains are probably the most common type of sprain caused by youth sports, but sprains are also common in the wrist and elbow. Mild sprains generally mean a child needs to take a short time to rest and heal, but more severe sprains require treatment. If your child has a difficult time walking or moving the impacted area, or if they are in continuous pain, take them to the doctor right away. An x-ray will show the true extent of the injury, and your doctor will help you and your child come up with the best treatment plan.
Additional Common Injures
Other common injuries parents should be on the lookout for include:
Dehydration
Hyperextension of the big toe (or “Turf Toe”)
Rotator cuff tendonitis
Little Leaguer’s Elbow
Hand and wrist fractures
Dislocated shoulder
Tips for Parents
The truth is, there is no way to guarantee your child won’t be injured while playing sports, but you can do a few things to reduce the risk. Whether your child is in preschool playing t-ball or in high school playing basketball, you should take all injuries seriously. As soon as you notice your child has an injury, you should get medical attention right away. Getting help quickly can be crucial if your child has a time sensitive injury, such as a TBI or fracture.
If your child wants to be active but hasn’t chosen a sport yet, you can try to steer him or her towards a “safer” sport and away from sports with high rates of injures. Sports like swimming and tennis have lower rates of injures.
Football is probably the most dangerous sport your child could choose to play, and that is because of the risk of a traumatic brain injury. Football is responsible for around 60% of all concussions caused by childhood sports. But what is even worse is that children who play football can end up with a long-term injury called chronic traumatic encephalopathy. This condition is caused by the repeated collisions that occur during football, and it can lead to lifelong problems with memory loss, poor judgement, and even things like impulse control.
Soccer and basketball also have a high rate of childhood injures, although the injuries caused by these sports are less likely to cause lifelong damage. Soccer tends to cause knee injuries, and ACL tears are common in soccer players. Basketball causes a lot of sprains and other injuries to the wrists, ankles and knees. Additionally, basketball causes the most dental related sports injuries in children. This is because players can sometimes collide, and the sport doesn’t require protective facial gear.
If your child is dead set on playing a more dangerous sport, and you want to let them follow their dream, you can still try to lower the risk of injury. First, you can sit down with your child and talk about the possible injuries that can occur. Make sure your child knows to let you or their coach know right away if they are injured. This way, you can get medical help right away. In addition, watch a few of your child’s practices to see what the environment of their team is like. If the coach is pushing the players too hard, or if there are aggressive children on the team, you may want to consider letting your child play somewhere else.
There is no sport that is 100% safe, but if you and your child are informed and prepared, the chance of injuries and long-term damage can be minimized.
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
Hi! Welcome to RichSingleMomma.com. I started this website almost a decade ago because I couldn't find any blogs back then that helped single moms with money. I was having some success in that area so I decided to share what I knew about side hustles, making extra money, and managing money. Read more...
Samantha A. Gregory is a financial freedom evangelist who practices the law of attraction to get what she wants out of life. She is the author of, The Magic Money Formula: Get What You Want Now with Law of Attraction Manifesting. She is also the editor of RichSingleMomma.com, a personal finance, parenting, and personal development magazine for single moms who are ready to thrive not just survive.
