Susie Skog knows Lake Norman Real Estate Inside Out

You’ve heard the warnings about global warming, you feel compassion for stranded polar bears and you worry about overwhelming the landfills. As a homeowner, you may not be ready for composting, but there are ways to become an eco-friendlier household.

Ecologists provide simple but useful tips that even the laziest activist can use to do their part in helping the environment:

Cut down on water use. Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth. Drink tap water in reusable containers instead of plastic bottles. Lower the water level when doing small laundry loads and dont run the dishwasher until its full.

Use less power. Shut off the lightsbeforeyou leave in the morning, and unplug electrical equipment that you arent using during the day and while you sleep"especially your work and home computers.

Adjust the thermostat. Set it for a few degrees higher in summer, and a few degrees lower in winter. You likely wont feel much of a difference, and youll like the decrease in utility bills.

Replace your light bulbs. Sources say if every American household replaced one regular lightbulb with a compact fluorescent bulb, the pollution reduction would be equivalent to removing one million cars from the road.

Change your shower-head. A low flow version will save water while providing just as much pressure.

Save on paper. Keep a digital calendar and notes instead of paper ones. Whenever possible, re-use the back side of old printed sheets for new but less important print jobs. Sign up for paperless billing and pay your bills online.

Use less plastic. Use reusable grocery bags even where theyre not required. Re-use empty plastic food containers with tight fitting lids, such as cottage cheese containers, for leftovers and storage purposes"be sure any unwanted plastic goes into the recycle bin.

Eat less meat. If youre not ready to go vegetarian, try committing to a meatless dinner once or twice a week to decrease the resources you use. Producing wheat and even veggies takes far less water than producing beef, and there are plenty of tasty meatless recipes online that families can explore together.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Good nutrition is essential for childrens health, but countless parents struggle to get their kids to eat right. For many families, mealtime is a frequent source of conflict and power struggles. If your child is a picky eater, you need to understand that it’s not uncommon.

Give Your Child Time
Many kids are reluctant to try unfamiliar foods. Their taste preferences take time to develop"a child may need to see, smell, feel and taste a food several times before deciding that they like it. If your child says they don’t like a food the first time you offer it, dont force the issue; that will only create stress and frustration for both of you. Accept that your child doesnt want to eat the food, and then offer it again in a week or two. Introducing it in another dish with a different collection of ingredients may make your child more willing to give it a try.

Dont Cave In
If your child refuses to eat what you’ve prepared for dinner, dont make them a separate meal. You can offer a healthy alternative, such as fruit or vegetables, or a nutritious snack later, but dont interrupt your own meal and go out of your way to cater to your child. That will only reinforce your childs picky eating habits.

Dont Bribe Your Child With Dessert
Dont tell your child that if they eat dinner, dessert will be a reward"that sends the message that dinner is something that needs to be endured to get to the reward. This strategy could cause your child to overindulge at every opportunity.

Set an Example
Children learn by observing others. If family members talk about how much they enjoy a particular food, a child will most likely become curious and want to try it sooner or later. Don’t just talk about the taste of a particular food, but also the smell, the texture, and the way it complements other ingredients in a particular dish.

Get Your Child Involved
Let your child have input when deciding what to make for dinner. Look at recipes together and take your child grocery shopping with you. Have your child help you prepare meals in age-appropriate ways, such as rinsing vegetables or stirring together ingredients. Your child will be more likely to want to eat a meal that he or she was actively involved in preparing.

Be Patient
If your child is a picky eater, dont despair"tastes and preferences change dramatically over time. Be patient and offer a variety of foods, but dont force your child to eat anything they don’t want to. Keep mealtimes as relaxed as possible, and your child will be willing to try new foods when he or she feels ready.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

These easy techniques will keep your home current, while displaying vintage artifacts.

Be Bold

Layering modern patterns and colors is a great way to make a room feel more contemporary.

Mix and Match

Juxtaposing old and new makes for an original look not tied to any specific time period.

Create Collections

An assortment of items offers unique visual appeal that calls more attention than a single piece.

Take a Step Back

Keep an eye on the big picture. Antiques should complement the look, not define it.

Focus on Presentation

Vintage crafts on contemporary shelving or old posters in modern frames provide a glimpse into the past while still feeling fashionable.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If you want your money to work for you, there are two main ways to achieve this goal: saving and investing. Knowing which option to choose is critical if you want your money to work the hardest.

Here are some ways to prioritize the two:

Start With Savings
Putting money into a savings account of some sort is a good way to get your money slowly working for you in a safe place.

While it’s recommended to have funds saved up to cover you and your family for six to 12 months in the event of an emergency, if you’re just getting started, focus on setting up an emergency fund for at least one month of living expenses. Losing a job, a hospital visit or unexpected car repair qualify as emergency expenses, while buying a new wardrobe or taking a vacation don’t.

Once you have an emergency savings account set up and in good shape, consider a financial goal that you want to reach within five years. This can be anything from saving for a down payment on a house to paying your annual car insurance bill in one payment. Or it could be for a major vacation you want to take a year (or more) down the road.

If you’re putting money away for an event that isn’t right around the corner, you might not need immediate access to it as you would an emergency fund. In this scenario, you may find a better rate of return on a certificate of deposit or similar savings vehicle your bank offers.

When to Invest
If you’ve found a savings account with FDIC insurance for up to $250,000, which should be easy to find, your money is in a safe place"and returns are guaranteed.

After your savings plans are in place, it’s time to look at long-term investments in the stock market, which can net you bigger returns than savings accounts.

The best place to start is investing money for retirement. If your employer offers a 401(k) retirement plan match or other retirement savings plan, it’s like giving your future self a raise. A company that matches a percentage of your contributions is like getting free money. Even if you’re just starting an emergency fund, you can put money in a 401(k) as a way to increase your long-term savings.

If you have more money to invest after contributing to a retirement plan, don’t do it until you’ve paid off high-interest debt such as credit cards and student loans. If you’re planning to retire soon or want to save so your kids can afford college, you should save for those before investing.

Then it’s time to invest in stocks or wherever you want to invest your money. Ideally, this should be money you can afford to lose, which is possible in a stock market that can be volatile.

This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional or legal advice.

Published with permission from RISMedia.