Orlando, U.S.A.  – InCharge Debt Solutions (“InCharge”), a nonprofit credit counseling agency, has developed seven important tips for parents to follow so that preparing their kids for school can be a manageable and less stressful process  For many Americans struggling with debt problems, the end of summer is an anxious time because school supplies, sports gear, updated clothing and other necessities can be expensive, but there are things every parent can do.

“It is important to take an objective look at what your children need for school and what you can afford,” says Etta Money, InCharge’s President. “We all want to do everything we can for our kids, but for those dealing with limited financial resources or debt problems, the task can be overwhelming. That’s why we developed these steps for parents so they can prepare their young ones for school while still being able to afford their regular household expenses.”

Here are seven things every parent of school-age kids should do:

• Prepare a written budget – just as you would prepare a guide to your overall expenses, a detailed written plan to follow as you prepare your kids for school is vital.
• Do an inventory – take stock of what supplies you have on hand, what you and the kids can make yourselves, and what clothing can be used again for the new school year.
• Develop a shopping list – eliminate what you already have from your list and write down everything you need to buy to get your student(s) ready for school to open.
• Look for deals – with a month or more to go, you have plenty of time to shop online for deals, look for coupons, and search the local papers for sales.
• Plug in the numbers – armed with the best deals you can make, take the numbers you have discovered for the items you need and work them into your household budget.
• Cut where needed – if the numbers don’t work, you may need to spread out purchases, or make some cuts, either in the school budget or your household expenses.
• Make your purchases – it’s time to buy, but don’t forget to distinguish between “needs” and “wants,” you don’t want to add to your debt.

The article Tips on Saving Money for Your Kids’ School Start appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Traveling for many people means spending a lot of money for leisure and fun. It can also mean harming the environment. The fact is, it is entirely possible to travel in an environmentally responsible way while saving money. Walking is the simplest and easiest option to save money, improve your health, and help the environment.

By leaving the car behind and simply walking or riding a bicycle, you are doing both your health and the environment a favor. Of course, walking for long distances is not a good option for far away destinations. Renting a bicycle for those trips rather than renting a car can strengthen muscles, improve cardiovascular health, reduce congestion, and generate zero emissions.

Public transportation is widely considered to be the holy grail of environmentalism. Buses, trains, metros, subways, and trams are great ways of getting around. Most towns and cities have adequate coverage. Furthermore, the tourist will not get lost as easily because the driver knows where they are going.

It would be an adventure from buying tickets to finding a seat to knowing when to get off plus saving energy. Also, public transportation is the cheapest method to travel around the city compared renting a car or hiring a taxi during the trip. Tram and metro networks can be found in a lot of cities around the world such as Tokyo, Vancouver, Baku, Rome, Valparaíso, Paris, San Francisco, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, and Pittsburg.

Many airports have good public transportation links, which means getting a bus or train to reach to the airport instead of driving there is easy. In some countries, carrying a bicycle onto public transportation is accepted, especially in Scandinavian countries and the Netherlands. In cities that do not allow bicycles on their public transportation systems, using foldable bicycles is a good choice.

Simply choosing an electronic ticket rather than a paper ticket would reduce the wasted papers and inks. It can also help in reducing the number of trees cut. If you are flying, it is better to bring light luggage rather than a large suitcase. The more a package weighs, the more fuel the plane uses, which affects the surrounding enviornment.

Many airlines also have a weight limit, and will charge you for luggage that exceeds the limit. That might lead to unexpected charges to the travel budget you have planned. Selecting a green hotel during the trip is also a great way to save the environment. Tourists can find numerous environmentally friendly hotels, B&B’s, and lodges for different budgets and rates on the Internet.

While staying in the hotel, try not to waste resources. You can do this by turning off the TV, switching off all the lights off, and turning off the air-conditioner or heat down when no one is in the room. Opting for short showers and using your own toiletries instead of the small and usually over-priced toiletries provided by the hotel can also help reduce your carbon footprint.

Last, try to avoid disposable cameras and bring your own digital camera. Like other modern devices, which takes loads of energy to make and only get used once before being dumped, disposable cameras can be wasteful.

The article How to Help the Environment and Save Money on Your Next Trip appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.