How Do Modern Games Bring People Together?

Humans have always enjoyed playing games. Since the dawn of time, people have been on the hunt for ways to burn their spare time, and playing against one another is often one of the best ways to do something like this. In the modern day, things haven’t changed too much, though the games which people play have taken on a new form; video games. Often viewed as something anti-social and restrictive, this post is going to be showing you another side of these titles, exploring the elements which can bring people together.

 

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Communities

One of the best things about the Internet is the communities and groups which it can inspire. When it comes to gaming, there are countless blogs, forums, and other types of sites which are dedicated to hosting discussions and questions about video games. While this also goes for other hobbies and interests, the online gaming community is particularly large, and gives you loads of different options when it comes to choosing the types of people you’d like to talk to. This has lead to a number of achievements which wouldn’t be possible without these groups, including millions of dollars being raised for charities around the world.

Cooperative Play

A lot of people worry about playing games with other people, thinking that they don’t have the experience to have a level playing field. In reality, though, some of the best multiplayer experiences out there are cooperative, rather than competitive, and this means that you work together. Experiencing a well-told interactive story with someone you care about can be far more satisfying than watching a movie.

Competitive Play

Of course, while some people don’t like the idea of playing against others, this is still a very valid side to this field. Whether you want to play Ted Slot games online or jump into a Call Of Duty tournament, you have loads of options in this area which will help you to find a format which you enjoy. Over the last few years, there have been more and more large-scale competitions for video games, bringing huge crowds together to enjoy something which they all love.

Challenges

There are a lot of video games on the market, and many of them have extremely variable difficult levels. For example, a game like Dark Souls is pretty tricky when you first get started. Those who have played for a long time, though, will work with other people online to devise challenges for on another. Speed runs are a very common example of this, but there are loads of unique ways to handle this in a variety of games.

With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to get started on the time you put into getting more out of video games. This field is always getting broader and more diverse, with loads of examples of extremely creative games for you to get wrapped up in. Of course, though, it takes more than simply playing to get yourself involved, and you’ll need to hunt around for ways for games to bring you closer to others.

This post is a collaborative effort by St. Louis Dad.

How to Save Money on School Supplies

Back to school, like Christmas is a family budget-buster today. According to a study by Huntington Bank, the Backpack Index revealed that the average cost of sending a child back to school was $1000 in 2017.

You do not need to drain your bank account and spend that much though. If you plan and start early, it will only cost you a fraction of the $ 1000 to set your kids off.

Here are strategies to help you shop for back to school as a frugal parent, whether your kids are off to college, or starting kindergarten.

Supply sweep

Round up all school and office supplies you own. If you look around, you may have plenty of these lying around your house in the desk drawers, basements bin or closets. Office and schools supplies that you own can help you save a significant amount of money.

Collect all of them in a central location like the dining room. Make a list or take pictures of what you have and carry the list or photos with you to the store when going for shopping to remember what you have.

Also, check the kids closets and dispose of worn-out clothes. Donate or sell what your child has outgrown. The sweep will give you a clear picture of what you need to buy and prevent you from getting what you already have.

Plan a supply swap

Get your neighbors and friends on board, and organize a supply swap before you go shopping. You may have things that they need, like reams of paper bought on sale but will never use. Someone else may have some packs of pencils that they would willingly trade for the paper. Family and friends with school-going children may have extra supplies that they will not mind trading in. Talk to them and sell the idea.

Shop at thrift stores and garage sales

You will find used shoes in good condition, clothing, school supplies and even backpacks in garage sales. Hit up the garage sales for all the things you need as they are a treasure trove. Though this may take time, you may get great bargains and save significantly on back to school clothes and supplies. All you need to do is to start early, and also ask family and friends to keep an eye on garage sales near them. Moms will also find great bargains on other things.

Thrift stores are also a great way to save. Many stores run back to school items sales for parents and clothing is incredibly affordable. Since many parents are after saving, the selection is picked over early, hence you need to start early.

Start shopping for clothes in mid-June to late July when the clothes selection is plenty. Put the clothes away until school start so as not to wear off the newness of the clothes.

Consignment stores

Here you will find great bargains on used clothing as their products are vetted, unlike the thrift store. You will not have to go through blouses from 1975 to get a designer cloth on a budget.

Check if consignment shops around you will have summer sales. Many organize seasonal sales. Keep watch on the back-to-school shopping season as several stores may have a mega-sale in one location.

Check the dollar store

Dollar stores have incredible school supplies bargains and you will find basic things like pencils and notebooks, sanitizer, and Kleenex, all at discounted prices. Shop in summer months as you will never know what the stores will order and how long the items will be in stock.

Compare prices

Amazon’s ever-changing prices are a great way to save on kids electronics that most parents have to buy. Websites like camelcamelcamel track the history of the price range for every product on Amazon. Sign up for the price change alert of the particular products so that you can tell when it changes.

There are many apps to help save money by comparing prices across retailers to find out the best deal. ShopSavvy, available for Android and iOS users will let you know if a product is available at a lower price in another store when you scan the barcode. Download a barcode scanner for it to work.

Also, check your nearest drugstore or grocery store for the best prices on school supplies. You may be surprised that items are cheaper in your neighborhood when on sale than the big stores. If you have any store dollars from loyalty programs, consider using them and save.

Conclusion

Many parents would rather enjoy summer than think of back to school shopping for the coming school year. However, it pays to prepare early. Planning ahead will save you money as you take advantage of every sale and opportunity to save that comes your way. Find a safe way of keeping the coupons you collect through the year as they will come in handy when shopping for back to school.

This post is a collaborative effort by St. Louis Dad.

RedRock 4×4 Giveaway: $5K for your Truck at AmericanTrucks

Are you ready for Christmas in July? RedRock 4×4 is sponsoring a $5,000 Truck Parts giveaway on AmericanTrucks.com now until 9/30/19. Better yet, participants can enter daily for the best chance to take home the grand prize—no purchase necessary.

Attention all Domestic Truck Owners: here is your chance to win $5,000 in parts and accessories for your pickup from AmericanTrucks (AT), brought to you by RedRock 4×4. RedRock 4×4 is a manufacturer of off-road truck armor including grille guards, side armor, rocker panel guards, truck side steps, taillight guards and other sturdy, functional, and affordable components.

The RedRock 4×4 Giveaway is an “enter-daily” sweepstakes which runs now until September 30th, 2019. For the best chance to win, participants can visit the RedRock 4×4 page on AT’s site and complete the entry form daily—no purchase necessary. A winner will be selected on or around October 7, 2019 to be awarded with a $5,000 shopping spree on AT’s site. Even though this giveaway is sponsored by RedRock 4×4, all brands on AT’s site are up for grabs. See official rules on entry form for exclusions and full details.

F-150 Owners enter here: https://www.americantrucks.com/red-rock-f150-parts.html

F-250 Owners enter here: https://www.americantrucks.com/f250-monthly-sweepstakes.html

RAM Owners enter daily here: https://www.americantrucks.com/redrock-4×4-ram-parts.html

Silverado Owners enter daily here: https://www.americantrucks.com/redrock-4×4-silverado-parts.html

About AmericanTrucks
AmericanTrucks is regarded as one of the best, most reliable online aftermarket retailers providing parts and accessories for F150, F250, Ranger, Silverado, Sierra, and RAM. Catering to the needs and demands of late-model truck owners and enthusiasts, AmericanTrucks provides the best parts with support from genuine truck experts. Located just outside of Philadelphia, AmericanTrucks is dedicated to offering the truck community with the highest quality of parts and customer service. Please visit https://www.americantrucks.com for more information.

This post is a collaborative effort by St. Louis Dad.

Innovation and Investments: Have You Got Good Instincts?

Looking after your family will always be your number one priority. The balance of making good money and spending time with your children will always be a tough one to crack. Admittedly, you can be blinded by opportunities that seem too good to be true, so you want to work on making better decisions. When you have strong instincts it will protect your finances and family for the future. Whether you’re trying to tap into the world of online gaming or you’re looking for investment opportunities that are out of your comfort zone, there is so much you can do for your family. Have you got good instincts? Find out how to hone in on those positive vibes right here.

 

 

Scoping Out Investment Opportunities

If you want to go above and beyond for your family, you always need to have a keen eye open for new opportunities. Whether you’re connecting with people on social media or you’re finding out more information about investing in new ventures here, you will be able to find what you’re looking for. Investing involves a lot of risk, so make sure you are comfortable with the market you are entering. It takes a lot of guts to commit to a new venture, so do your research and speak to professionals who can advise you along the way.

Using Your Own Innovative Ideas

You should never underestimate the power of your own innovative ideas. Starting your own business when you are a dad can be extremely beneficial in the long run. As long as you have confidence in your own abilities, there is no reason why you can’t pursue a whole new career path. Hone in on your own creative ideas, follow your gut instinct and you will find the right path for you.

Finding the Balance

Investments and business opportunities can seem extremely appealing, but make sure you don’t lose sight of what’s important in your life. When it comes to finding the balance between work and family, this should always be your priority. Making money is at the top of many people’s agendas, but it won’t bring you happiness in the long run. Keep a level head and trust your instincts; don’t allow new opportunities to take over the all important time with your loved ones.

From seeking out excellent investment opportunities to finding a balance between your career and your family, you will be faced with so many decisions in your lifetime. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself as the breadwinner; even though you want a secure future for your family, you can’t forget to enjoy the here and now. Time with your kids is precious so enjoy every moment of their childhood. That work email can wait until tomorrow and that business idea will still be in your head next year. Balancing your business instincts with your dad duties can be difficult, but you will soon find a way to make it work for you.

This post is a collaborative effort by St. Louis Dad.