All posts by Full Editorial

8 Activities to Teach Elementary Students About Finances

8 Activities to Teach Elementary Students About Finances

By Full Editorial on

Is elementary school too early to teach kids about being money smart? Research done by Standard & Poor’s in 2019 found that only 57% of adults in America are financially literate. This astoundingly low number highlights one of the missing components of the American public education system: a lack of consistent, complete financial knowledge provided to students. Even if the curriculum in upper grades involves concepts supporting financial literacy, for some students, a lifetime of sound financial practices can actually begin in elementary school.

1. Introduce Budgeting

Kids love to be involved in reaching a goal that rewards them with a treat or something out of the scope of regular life like a special toy or video game. Parents and educators can model and assist with budgeting using allowances, classroom prizes, or other transactional tokens to earn items or experiences they would like.

2. Use Multiplication to Teach About Paying Compounding Interest

Let students work through a real-world problem of wanting to buy something without having enough money. Introduce basic interest through the multiplication equation of interest = principal x rate x time to discover how much extra money is needed when interest is compounded.

3. Use Multiplication to Learn About Earning Compounding Interest

Using the same multiplication concepts, students can also learn about how compounding interest can benefit them. Create a “bank account” for students to practice anticipating how much money they can earn with compounding interest is applied to a savings account.

4. Teach Compounding Interest with a Game

Kids love tangible practices so using a game like Double the Penny is a perfect way to illustrate the growth of compounding interest. Using a jar with a preset amount of change and a worksheet to fill out each day, students double each day’s totals for two weeks to explore compounding interest benefits.

5. Practice Buying on Credit

While elementary students are arguably too young for their own credit cards, they can understand the concept behind buying something by paying out a little or a lot at a time. Using an online credit card comparison tool, students can see early on how having a well-designed card can benefit those in need of making big purchases or be detrimental to increasing debt loads.

6. Create a Savings Thermometer

Utilizing an old-school growing thermometer that is colored in to indicate growth, let elementary-aged kids create a visual representation of savings growth over time.

7. Introduce Savings Accounts

Using an academic lesson plan from Scholastic, show elementary students the differences between savings and checking accounts as well as what Certificates of Deposit are.

8. Play Monopoly

This classic board game is fun for kids of all ages. Students can learn how to budget their money, pay taxes and fees, buy and sell the property as well as how to keep track of their savings along the way. Monopoly is even an excellent tool to use in small doses. Since a game can go on for a long time, playing for a specific goal like only buying as much property as you can provide an opportunity for a more targeted lesson to be understood or practiced.

4 Crucial Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a New Car

4 Crucial Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a New Car

By Full Editorial on

Buying a new car is quite a large investment, and you need to make sure that you buy a car that will fit your needs for a long time. Because of this, it’s imperative that you take your time to find the right car. Here are four crucial mistakes that you should avoid when buying a new car.

1- Not Doing Proper Research

Cars change quite often, and you can determine which cars will meet your needs by doing the proper research. Don’t just walk into a car dealership without researching each type of car that you are interested in beforehand. Take the time to write down the pros and cons of each car so that you can narrow down your search to several makes and models that you may want to purchase.

2- Having Your Heart Set On Just One Model

While it is good to have a general idea as to what type of car you want, you don’t want to have your heart set on just one model. This can limit your car search quite a bit. Not all dealerships will have the car available that you want. Even if you are in a rush to buy a new car, you should look at more than just one model.

3- Failing To Negotiate

Many people don’t realize that the sticker price on a car isn’t what they have to pay. A lot of dealerships price their cars too high simply because they know that people will try to negotiate with them. Because of this, you shouldn’t make the mistake of not negotiating. Offer the dealership at least several thousand dollars lower than the asking price. Chances are that they will come back with a counteroffer that’s in the middle of what you are offering and their asking price. If they don’t come back low enough, don’t be afraid to walk away. Many dealerships will lower the price even more if they think that they are going to lose out on a sale.

4- Foregoing The Test Drive

Just because you’ve done a lot of research on cars, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t test drive as many cars as you can. You might be surprised to find that a car drives a lot differently than you think. It also isn’t uncommon to hate the way the car feels once you are sitting in the driver’s seat. This is why you need to take a car on an extended test drive before you purchase it. Try to take it on back roads as well as the highway so that you can see how it handles at different speeds and driving conditions.

While buying a new car can be a daunting process, you can do some things to ensure that you don’t make any of the crucial mistakes mentioned above. Just keep in mind that you are the one spending this money, and you need to choose a car that you absolutely love and not one that you felt pressured into buying.

3 Healthy Hacks to Improving Your Child’s Allergies

3 Healthy Hacks to Improving Your Child’s Allergies

By Full Editorial on

All parents desire healthy and happy children. However, allergies cause misery in both children and adults. Further, some allergies can cause life-threatening reactions to the body. Sadly, allergic reactions make it very difficult for children to enjoy day-to-day activities. Varying factors can cause allergies. In this modern age, there are numerous hacks to improve child allergies.

1- Cleaning

Airborne allergies cause coughing, a runny nose, itching, and sneezing. The allergens that cause airborne allergies are found in the air. An allergen is a protein-based substance that is not harmful in itself. However, it triggers allergic reactions in some people. Common airborne allergens include pollen, pet danders, fungal spores, and dust mites.

Hence, parents and guardians need to look for ways to prevent airborne allergens. Cleanliness is a core factor core when it comes to preventing allergies. Moreover, cleaning involves dusting surfaces. Dust particles are a significant trigger of allergic reactions. Floors and dirty surfaces harbor dust mites, pollen, and pet dander. Therefore, you should vacuum, dust, and clean floors and surfaces in your home as often as you can. Essentially, as you dust and vacuum surfaces, make sure you wear a mask. It will prevent you from breathing in allergy triggers.

Additionally, you can avoid fabric carpeted floors in your home. The material used to make them is heavy; hence it harbors dust. Alternatively, if you have fabric carpets, it would be best to clean them regularly.

Cleaning your beddings and clothes often is another way of killing dust mites. Moreover, washing your clothes using hot water kills dust mites. Cleaning improves your child’s allergies.

2- Avoiding Allergy Triggers

Ideally, to prevent allergic reactions in children, you should try avoiding allergens. It might be hectic trying to avoid allergens since they are found in the air. The best way to avoid allergens is by avoiding contact. Suppose you are allergic to a specific pet; you can try to stay away from it. Additionally, you can select a different pet.

Those with food allergies like eggs could choose an alternative type of protein intake. Notably, allergens such as pollen are challenging to avoid because they are found in the air.

When pollen levels are high, you can encourage your kids to stay indoors. Installing an in-home air filtration is also a great way to reduce air pollutants. A dehumidifier is vital in homes because it prevents the growth of mold. You can cover your children’s beds and pillows with sheets to prevent dust mites. It is a great way to improve your children’s allergic reactions.

3- Use Local Honey

Alternatively, some people prefer natural remedies to treat allergies, especially children. Notably, the authenticity of local honey is because it is harvested around your area. Hence, it is available to you since it is locally made. Interestingly, local honey is unprocessed and locally made. The option is immensely favorable to children because honey is sweet. The taste of honey motivates children to take it, unlike western medication, which involves injections, which are painful to children.

Ideally, using honey to treat allergies is similar to using allergy shots. Physicians are skeptical about using local honey. Mainly, it is because its effectiveness has not been scientifically proven. However, taking honey means taking natural pollen. The body becomes more adaptive to pollen. Ultimately, your child will experience fewer allergic reactions. Honey makes the body more tolerant of pollen.

Allergies can either be caused by absorbing or ingesting allergens. They either affect the skin, respiratory system, or digestive system. Often, pollen, dust mites, and various foods can result in the body overreacting to these substances. The rise in allergies has increased immensely over the years. It is mainly attributed to the increase in foreign diets and air pollution. There are several ways to prevent these allergies in children. Research in allergies has also led to new methods to treat allergic reactions.

How To Proceed When You’ve Been Charged With A DUI

By Full Editorial on

Dui is a charge that can stick with you for the rest of your life. The consequences of a DUI can follow you forever, so it’s important to know how to proceed after your arrest. If you have been charged with a DUI, you must take the steps necessary to protect yourself from the potential ramifications of a conviction. DUI lawyers can answer any questions you might have about your case and what you can do to defend yourself going forward. These are some ways to proceed when you are charged with a DUI.

Post Bail

After an officer catches you violating the DUI laws, he will typically take you to the station or a nearby hospital to determine whether you are impaired. You will be detained until the results of your blood, breath, and urine test come back. If the officer determines that you are impaired and that your driving was unsafe, he will typically book you on a charge of DUI or DWI, which can lead to penalties like fines, probation, community service, jail time, and more. You need to post bail so you can start dealing with the DUI charges.

Get A Lawyer

When you don’t understand the laws that apply to your specific circumstances, you should contact a DUI lawyer in your area. A DUI case can take a turn for the worse if you choose to defend yourself against the charges alone. If you are unsure of your next steps, it is best to get professional guidance from a DUI lawyer in your area. A good lawyer will have a solid understanding of the laws applicable to your case. A DUI lawyer will explain what those laws are, and they can help you pursue the best defense for your situation.

Return To Court

If you complete all of the required steps required by the police and prosecutors, then you must go back to court before being convicted. Not showing up for court or otherwise displaying an unwillingness to participate in your defense is a bad idea. It can be detrimental to your case and even result in an automatic guilty conviction.

Request a Pre-Trial Conference

If you have been receiving letters from prosecutors, then you should make a point to contact them to discuss your case at some point. If you are not sure if the prosecutor has already written you or if you are being investigated, try to find out your status before going in for trial. Knowing will help you to take appropriate actions as the situation moves forward.

If you are unsure when it is a good time to contact the prosecutor and are interested in discussing your case, you should review the documents you have been sent. Discuss your options with a DUI lawyer in your area to help you understand what comes next and allow you to follow through with whatever best represents your interests at the time.

In conclusion, a DUI charge is a serious matter that results in penalties that can impact your life for years to come. If you are not sure of what you will do, you should contact a DUI lawyer for advice about proceeding. A knowledgeable DUI attorney will help you understand your legal options and what those options mean for how the case moves forward.

8 Exciting Ideas for a Memorable Spring Break Adventure

8 Exciting Ideas for a Memorable Spring Break Adventure

By Full Editorial on

Are you thinking about planning a spring break adventure for you and your friends or family? There are many different ways you can have a fun and successful spring break trip. Whether you’re looking for a week of rest and relaxation or a non-stop action-packed vacation, here are eight great ideas to help you plan the trip of a lifetime.

1- Plan an Unforgettable Road Trip

There’s something about hitting the open road with a car full of friends and great music that makes road trips so popular among spring breakers of all ages. Whether you plan on driving through route 66 or you’re setting out to visit a national park, an epic road trip could be just what you need to recharge this month.

2- Hit the Beach for Fun in the Sand and Surf

Could you use a little fun in the sun this month? Consider a relaxing trip to your local beach. Renting a condo, relaxing in the warm sun, and feeling the cool ocean breeze on your skin is invigorating and delightful.

3- Go on an Ultimate Food Lover’s Tour

Do you love exploring new cuisine and interesting flavors? Create a list of interesting restaurants and food trucks you’ve always wanted to try and go on the ultimate food lover’s tour. Bring a friend or two along and enjoy discovering new favorite restaurants and dishes.

4- Enjoy the Adrenaline of River Rafting

River rafting is one of the most exciting ways to experience the power of nature. River rafting can be tailored to your personal skill level, and is kid-friendly too! Consult a local river rafting guide and get ready for the experience of a lifetime.

5- Take Your Spring Break Abroad

Have you always wanted to explore a different country but never had the time to do it? Spring break is the perfect opportunity to hop on a plane and discover everything the world has to offer. Many airlines offer great deals during spring break that can help make your trip more affordable. Check out youth hostels for even more efficient ways to save on lodging, meals, and more.

6- Consider a “Staycation”

Sometimes the best spring breaks are spent closer to home. If you’ve been overworked and stressed out lately, a staycation may be just what you need this spring break. Plan an at-home spa day, catch up on your favorite tv shows, and enjoy the process of cooking a gourmet meal for yourself. Staycations are a great way to unwind after a particularly busy month, and they’re less expensive too!

7- Explore a Theme Park

While going to a theme park may seem like the stereotypical spring break experience, it’s a great way to feel like a kid again. Roller coasters, park snacks, and entertaining theme park parades can put a smile on anyone’s face. Be sure to check for special student or military discounts before purchasing park tickets.

8- Go Camping in the Wilderness

We spend so much of our lives typing away in drab office buildings, why not reconnect with nature and get back to basics? Rent a cabin or pitch a tent in your local state park. Unplug and spend some time basking in the sights and sounds of the forest. You’ll feel instantly recharged and gain a newfound appreciation for the beautiful world around you.

4 Interesting Ways to Use a Gabion Pillow in a Yard

4 Interesting Ways to Use a Gabion Pillow in a Yard

By Full Editorial on

Gabion pillows are the most versatile of the gabions, essentially being large cylinders filled with whatever material you want. It’s a great way to hold everything together. The use of pillows in landscaping is not a novel concept. Pillows were used by ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians to elevate their sleeping surfaces and can be seen in Roman mosaics.

Gabion pillows are the new, eco-friendly kid on the block. The term “gabion” is derived from an old Italian word for the basket and describes wire cages filled with rocks capable of retaining soil or holding backwater. Gabions were once used in construction to make walls and retaining structures, but the same design is effective when making a landscape pillow.

Gabion pillows are used to make stone walls or similar structures. The pillows themselves look like large tubes made out of stone and wire mesh that is filled with smaller rocks. Once the rocks are in place, the whole pillow is wrapped in chicken wire fencing to form a nice rectangular shape before being buried.

1. Stabilize an Uneven Area

If there is a slope in your yard that is becoming a nuisance for your kids or just getting in the way, you could simply use a gabion pillow to stabilize it. Not only will it help keep things from sliding down the hill, but it has the bonus of being nicer looking than an earthen mound!

2. Create a New Area

If there’s a certain area you’d like to turn into a garden or some other kind of planting, you could use gabion pillows to create that new area. They’re an easy way to hold back the soil and keep it from eroding as well as keep everything in its place!

3. Create a Wall

Gabion pillows can be used as walls. If you have some kind of retaining wall around your yard, a gabion pillow might be the perfect addition to it! It will look nice and blend in nicely with your existing wall.

4. Make a Fire Pit

Gabion pillows are also great for making fire pits. Just fill them up with some stones, charcoal, paper, and lighter fluid, then light it up! It’s a great way to have a bonfire that won’t damage the grass or soil.

Gabion Pillow Benefits

Erosion Control: Gabions are a kind of facility that stabilizes the soil, thus preventing it from being washed away by rain or any other natural phenomena. By using these pillows as landscaping elements, you help your garden stay as beautiful as possible even in cases when there are heavy rains.

Energy: Since their pillows are made of gabions, they can serve as very good reflectors of solar energy. The reason for this is that the gabion surface area reflects light in a way that turns it into heat. Thus, it benefits both the environment and your wallet since you won’t have to use as much electricity to heat your house during the cold months.

Environment: Gabion pillow benefits both the garden and the environment because it benefits one by being a great landscaping element, thus turning the garden into something beautiful, and benefits the other since this element prevents soil erosion.

7 Advantages of Investing in a Franchise This Year

7 Advantages of Investing in a Franchise This Year

By Full Editorial on

With the economy on the rise, many people are looking to invest in their businesses. Franchise ownership is one way to do this. You can take your business to a new level when you own a franchise by expanding it into new markets and businesses. You can also run your business more efficiently and more effectively than working individually. Finally, franchising can be an excellent investment for your career growth.

1. You Will Get Brand Recognition

You will get your own identity in the franchise world. You can use their name and logo when you own a franchise to market your business. You can also take advantage of their marketing techniques and advertising methods to build up name recognition for your business. You will use this brand recognition to help you sell more products or services.

2. You Can Expand Your Business

There is no limit on how big your business can become when you own a franchise. By expanding into other franchises, you can grow your business even faster than working alone. Most franchises have different types of markets and businesses that they can expand into, and different marketing techniques that they use to promote themselves.

3. You Get Initial and Ongoing Support

When you own a franchise, you get the support and experience of the owner. You will ask them questions and get advice on what to do and what not to do. You will also get help setting up your business. And once you start your business, you will have their ongoing support and their advertising and marketing techniques.

4. You Can Work in a Part-time or Full-time Position

You can work for a franchise when you are not working for yourself. Some franchises allow their owners to work on the weekends or even on nights and weekends if they choose to do so. This will enable owners who have full-time jobs during the week to use their business during these times. If you are interested in working for a franchise, you can ask them about their owners’ hours.

5. You Can Earn a Higher Income

If you own your own business, you will likely make less money than working for someone else. However, when you work for a franchise, the business is likely to be more profitable than running it on your own. This is because franchises are usually run by experts who know what they are doing. If franchise owners do not know how to run their business properly, they will probably not make as much money as they were running it themselves.

6. You Can Start a New Business

Owning a franchise is an excellent way to start a new business. You can use the experience and knowledge of someone else to help you get off to a good start. And once you have been in business for a few years, you can decide whether or not you want to keep the franchise or start your own business.

7. There are Lower Failure Rate and Risk Involved

When you own a franchise, there is less risk involved than running your own business. You are not the only one who owns the business. If you do not do an excellent job of running it, then other people will be able to take over and run it for you or even sell it to someone else.

Owning a franchise is an excellent way to start a new business. You can use the experience and knowledge of someone else to help you get off to a good start. And once you have been in business for a few years, you can decide whether or not you want to keep the franchise or start your own business.

4 Important Reasons to Have a Professional Paint a House

4 Important Reasons to Have a Professional Paint a House

By Full Editorial on

Painting improves the home’s general outlook, therefore, making it more valuable and enticing to live in. At times people paint their houses to save on money among other considerations. However, one might not have the relevant skills tools, and knowledge to paint the house excellently. Therefore, one should hire professional house painters whose work has been ascertained by the public and the government.

1- Convenience

Painting might not demand professional skills and knowledge, but it consumes some time. Therefore, one should hire professional house painters because they take their time and uphold quality. Getting the best painters, supplies, and paint may be cumbersome, but worth it because the project will be done accordingly. Room preparations and painting also consume time, and so one can spend many days on a painting project a professional could have completed in even a day. Professional painters save time and alienate fear because they have mastered the job. Professional painters use materials maximally because their estimations are mostly accurate in the past projects handled. Therefore, one can easily focus on the daily schedule when a professional painter is at work because of their excellence without supervision.

2- Time Efficiency

Painting is a subset of home improvement ideas. Therefore, one might not do any painting job because of skills incapacitation. If one can, delays will be experienced because some complex painting operations are quite demanding. Painting in different patterns is not for everyone, and if it is done to beautify the house for prospective property sales leads, then a professional should be hired to work within the specified deadlines. Professional painters understand the project scope to determine the needed timeframe for the house to have an excellent appearance. Homeowners can depend on professional painters to attract potential buyers.

3- Value for Money

Excellent painting can only be done by professionals, and so one has to invest in them because they do not disappoint. Professional painters have the necessary equipment and resources to complete the job according to the set deadlines. Unlike DIY painting, professionals have tools like spray machines, vacuum senders among others performing specific tasks. In short, professional painters are nicely equipped to handle different projects accordingly. Properties are worthwhile, and whenever they appear outstanding, the market value increases. Therefore, hiring these painters is an investment for transforming one’s home forever in a way that DIY ideas could not.

4- Project Organization

Painting projects’ timeframes differ based on the magnitude, and so some can run for days or even weeks. Therefore, professional painters begin by highlighting the focus areas. They cover unmovable parts or sections not requiring painting. Therefore, they work on the focus sections to complete within specific deadlines. After that, they clean the house and leave it ready for occupation or selling. Home cleaning may be unpleasant and tedious, but professional painters ease the burden for the homeowner. These painters clean any mess that might have happened because they would not like to ruin a home’s excellent finish.

Painting gives a house a different appearance and a better market value. Therefore, one should find professionals to qualitatively do the work at one’s convenience and urgency. Professional painters make one appreciate the value of investment done on a house because of their proficiency and organization.

8 Clever Ideas for Celebrating a Military Veteran

8 Clever Ideas for Celebrating a Military Veteran

By Full Editorial on

Memorial Day and Veterans Day are days set aside to honor military veterans and their service, but you can honor military veterans at any time throughout the year. Because of their service and sacrifice, military veterans should be honored whenever possible.

1- Get a Free or Discounted Meal at a Local Restaurant

Many restaurants offer free or discounted meals to veterans on Memorial Day and Veterans Day, and some restaurants and stores offer discounts to veterans throughout the year.

If your employer allows employees to bring in snacks, baked goods, or treats to share with their teammates, be sure to bring something perfect for veterans. Cookies or treats shaped like military uniforms, camouflage-flavored snacks, and drinks are all great ideas. If you are unsure if this will be allowed at work, check with your human resources department or manager before bringing in snacks.

2- Write a Letter of Appreciation

One of the simplest but most heartfelt things you can do to show your support for a veteran is to write them a letter of appreciation. Thank them for their service and sacrifice, and let them know how much you appreciate the freedoms they have given to you, your family, and your country.

3- Visit a Museum or State Park

Veterans need to get outside and enjoy nature. Many museums and state parks offer free admission to veterans. Be sure to check with your local museum or state park for special hours, times, and discounts for veterans and their families.

4- Send a Card or Video Greeting

If you cannot spend time with your veteran, sending them a card or video message is the perfect way to let them know that they are in your thoughts. If you send an emailed greeting, be sure to check first to see if it will open properly on your veteran’s device.

5- Give a Challenge Coin

Challenge coins are a unique and thoughtful way to thank a veteran for their service. Challenge coins can be given in person or mailed directly to your loved one. If you give the coin in person, you can present it yourself during a visit with them, or they may present it when you next see each other. For written messages, include a short note explaining the significance of the challenge coin.

6- Donate to a Veteran’s Charity

Many charities support veterans and their families. Donate in honor of your loved one, or find a charity that is especially meaningful to them. This is a great way to show your support for veterans year-round.

7- Help a Veteran in Need

Many veterans struggle to find work when they return home. If you are looking for ways to contribute or volunteer in your community, check out organizations that provide clothing and food to veterans in need, welcome home programs for veterans recently released from prison, and counseling services for homeless vets.

8- Involve Children in Your Celebration

Children are often eager to learn more about the military and what veterans have done for their country. You can read stories about veterans, visit a local museum or state park, or make a donation to a veteran’s charity on behalf of your child.