January 2021 - Page 2 of 2

Happy New Year!

January 11, 2021January 11, 2021 Richie Leave a comment

We made it to 2021! I am sure many thought that was never going to happen. Good thing the clock didn’t just keep on ticking into 2020 and it did as it does every December 31st. Now the hard work of 2021 begins. It’s going to take a lot for everyone to do their part so that we as a planet can get back to what can possibly be considered a normal timeline.

So what is in store for me here at St. Louis Dad? Well, I heard a rumor that if you want something to happen writing down your goals helps create a vision in your mind of how you want to be in the future. You can visually see the goal and understand the difference it will make in your life. With something clearly in focus it creates change in how we act as we have clarity and direction.

Therefore here are my goals for 2021.

Write and sharing more. I need to get these thoughts out of my head, and I figure the best way to do that is by writing.

Exercise! 2020 messed up my routine of going to the gym, and while I have not had a soda in 188 days, my body really hasn’t dropped the weight from when I was pounding down 60 ounces of Mountain Dew a day.

Hiking and camping. Our little family had a blast on all of our hikes and camping trips over the last few years. Making more memories like these are exactly the kinds of goals I want for 2021.

I am sure there are more goals that will pop up through-out the year but for now, I think it’s best to stick with just a couple goals to start with. I don’t want to over commit myself and then not do anything. That would be just silly.

So here’s to 2021. I wish for everyone to have a safe and healthy year. Be smart and be kind.

Curbing The Lockdown Boredom

January 8, 2021January 6, 2022 Richie Leave a comment

Lockdown is boring. All of those weeks you thought that sitting around at home would be way better than going to work proved to be incorrect. Working from home was something to daydream about, but the thing is that it’s all fun to daydream about until you have no choice but to work from home. The key word here is “choice” – we are all in lockdowns for the best for the world, but it doesn’t mean that we have to be happy about it. It can become very boring very quickly but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t ways that you can entertain yourself.

We are looking out for one another and the right thing to do is to stay inside. So, from reading about Online Casino Industry Trends in 2021 and becoming a dab-hand at poker, to starting a newfound love of knitting, you can make sure that COVID-19 does not take your creativity from you. So, you need to figure out how to dispel the boredom and we’ve got a few tips for curbing it during this time!

Image Source: Pexels

Get fit. Spending the time during lockdown working on you is important. Not only will you be able to focus on exercise, you can work on your food. You could even expand this by learning how to cook and learning how to batch cook meals. All you need is ingredients and freezer space, and great videos on YouTube. Getting fit gives you a chance to work on your health and you feel rewarded afterwards
Virtual games. The world of the internet is a huge one, and you have online gaming sites, online casinos and pub quizzes available to play online. The list of the different online casino games is endless. There are plenty of websites out there that you can join for free, and you can even get together with your friends to do a Zoom pub quiz as a group! If you love gaming online, you can use consoles and online board games, too. These will enable you to make new friends, and you can play everything from chess to Cards Against Humanity! It’s brilliant fun and it gives you a break from the four walls of your home!
Baking. We talked about learning to cook, but have you considered learning to bake? Whether it’s perfecting pastries or curating cupcakes with a range of flavors. You can pass the time with baking, and you could give your bakes to your neighbors and family with doorstep drop offs. Not only does baking give you a new lease on life, you geet to put out your creativity and evolve a new hobby. You never know, you could end up making an income off of this.
Catch up on reading. That stack of books you bought for your Kindle? They need to be paid some attention! The world is on pause right about now, and that means that you have the time right now to get through them. There’s something incredibly therapeutic about reading and you can do so much of it when you’re stuck in lockdown!

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

How To Reduce Costs When Working From Home

January 8, 2021January 8, 2021 Richie Leave a comment

There are huge advantages to working remotely from home. Whether you’re self-employed or your employer allows you to work from home, it can save you a lot of money. It is estimated that the average worker will save up to $4,000 per year (Source: USA Today: Money.) No more shelling out on commuting, work clothes, expensive lunches, and lattes every day.

While you will save a lot of money, there are some costs that will rise when you make the switch to working from home. Read on for tips about how to reduce these costs.

Internet Contract

Chances are, you will need a high-speed, reliable internet connection. There are so many options to choose from including internet without cable [is possible] or bundled with your landline and entertainment package.

If you have had your contract with your broadband supplier for more than two years, you probably aren’t receiving the special rate you signed up for anymore.

Shop around for a better deal. Most companies will throw in other freebies in order to entice you to switch including tech, entertainment passes, and coupons. Even if you don’t want to switch providers, you can call up your existing provider and ask them if they are able to price match other companies out there, or at least reduce your bill slightly as a gesture of goodwill.

Food Costs

When you work in an office, it’s easy to spend hundreds of dollars per month on lunches, coffee, drinks with co-workers. That’s a great saving, but you’re going to see the cost of your weekly grocery bill rise sharply. Add to that how easy it is to have take out delivered in minutes, your wallet and your health might start to suffer.

Here’s where a bit of planning can go a long way. Meal planning and meal prepping will not only save you money, but it can also improve your health. Plus, who wants to spend their precious lunch break cooking?

Spend some time at the weekend planning your food, drinks, and snacks for the week, then cook and store them in advance.

Energy Use

Working from home means you’ll be using more electricity, gas, and water. You’ll start to see an increase in your energy bills. As with your other contracts, you’ll want to shop around to ensure you’re on the best tariff out there, but there are also things that you can do to reduce it further. Firstly, ensure that your home has adequate insulation. Turn off radiators in rooms you don’t use and use energy-efficient appliances.

Claim Tax Deductions For Your Home Office

If you’re self-employed, you could be eligible for a tax deduction. If you use a part of your home exclusively for work, then you need to take advantage of this. You don’t have to have a dedicated home office, even a small desk counts.

This is one of the most under claimed tax deductions by freelancers and the self-employed, mainly because, like most tax laws, it can seem complicated, so people don’t take the time to look into it.