Consolidate Maxed Out Credit Cards Using Your Home – Post-Holiday Spending Tips

During the holiday season many families will turn to credit cards to finance Christmas expenses. This makes it less stressful to make ends meet, especially during the holidays. Sometimes we don’t even realize how much damage is done until the credit card bills start to arrive in January.

Credit cards are very convenient but have their pitfalls. Credit cards bear very high interest rates, often more than 20% interest and in the case of department store cards up to 30%. Interest is calculated monthly so if you get caught up in a pattern of only making minimum monthly payments, they can take years to pay off. Credit cards that have balances more than 75% of their limits will damage your credit rating/credit score.

The last thing you want to do is go into the next holiday season with credit cards that have balances from the spending you did the past holiday season. The best thing to do if you have accumulated balances on credit cards from holiday spending is to consolidate maxed out credit cards using your home.

There are many reasons why it is a great idea to consolidate maxed out credit cards using your home. Here are just a few:

1.Using your home to consolidate maxed out credit cards will enable you to start the New Year on a fresh foot and with a single monthly payment.

2.Using your home to consolidate maxed out credit cards will increase cash flow because a home equity loan or line of credit will bear a much lesser payment than what you are paying to your credit cards on a monthly basis.

3.Using your home to consolidate maxed out credit cards will reduce the overall interest that you are paying to loans and credit cards. Home equity loan and home equity line of credit interest rates are much less than what you are paying to your individual credit cards.

4.Using your home to consolidate debt will improve your credit because all of your credit card balances will be reduced to zero and the less debt reporting to your credit report, the higher your credit score will be. Also, as we mentioned when credit card balances exceed 75% of your limits, it reduces your credit score and will trigger a message to appear on your credit report that indicates that your credit card balances are too high in proportion to your credit limits.

It is important that if you consolidate your maxed out credit cards using your home equity that you don’t continue to use your credit cards. Put them away and only use a single card and make sure to use the card in denominations that you can afford to pay off in full each month. This will ensure that you don’t find yourself in the future with a new payment on a consolidation loan and paying credit card balances.

Start your New Year off with your finances in order and without the stress of having to pay a windfall of credit bills.

Craft Supplies How to Get Your Children in the Holiday Spirit

When the winter winds start knocking at your door, it can be challenging to keep your children occupied. The holiday season is a busy time with shopping, decorating, baking and preparing to entertain. There may not always be time for you to sit and enjoy the season, but if you use your creativity you can create valuable holiday memories with your children that will last a lifetime.

Craft supplies offer the perfect opportunity for you to do some holiday multi-tasking. By engaging in holiday crafts with your children, you can spend quality time together while also knocking some important holiday tasks off your to-do list. More importantly, by making homemade cards, gift tags and ornaments, you can save money for more important things.

Holiday Cards

Holiday greeting cards are a staple around every major holiday. Sending warm wishes to the important people in your life is a nice sentiment, but cards, stamps, address labels and finding spare time to fill them out can be nuisance. However, if you turn your greeting cards into a holiday craft project, you can get your kids involved and make the process much more enjoyable.

Craft Supplies:
Cardstock
Embellishments
Glue
Scissors
MarkersHoliday Gift Tags

When giving out your Valentines Day, Christmas or Hanukkah gifts, homemade gift tags can make your presents a little more special. With just a few craft supplies you can create ornamental tags that are ideal for any holiday. Use photographs of your children or let them draw holiday pictures for an even more personalized look.

Craft Supplies:
Cardstock
Ribbon
Embellishments
Glue
Scissors
Photographs
MarkersHoliday Ornaments

When you think of holiday ornaments, you probably think of a Christmas tree. However, you can use ornaments to decorate your home for any holiday. Use green clovers for St. Patricks Day or Fireworks for the Fourth of July. Use any craft supplies you have in your home to create decorations for every holiday that are inexpensive and personal.

Craft Supplies:
Photographs
Popsicle sticks
Close pins
Glue
ScissorsFor even more holiday craft ideas, visit your local craft supplies store and browse the aisles for inspiration!

Crewed Sailing Holidays In Greece – Paros Sailing Charter Station

Sailing in the Greek islands is for sure a perfect choice for a fantastic time during summer vacations, a time of your life that you will hark back to.

The irresistible blue of the Aegean Sea is enough to persuade any possible sailor. Considering the protected bays, the peaceful waters and the ideal weather conditions you will not hesitate to charter a boat and discover the unique beauty of the Greek islands.

The Greek islands are famous for their sandy beaches which are safe and clear: here and there is no possibility of being threatened by a shark or failing to go swimming because of strong and dangerous waves. The natural environment is not only very friendly but also interesting.

A very convenient start for your sailing holiday is to charter a yacht and hire a captain from Paros. Nestled in the center of the Aegean Sea, in the Cyclades island group, Paros is the ideal place to begin your cruises around the neighboring islands that are located in small distances between them. Paros is an island for every visitor; every village, and every beach have something different to offer; many pleasures for the sailors; you can anchor wherever you feel that the place is hospitable for you, your friends, your mate or your family.

Add in all the above the historical, archaeological and religious attractions which are present on all Cyclades islands as well as the various remarkable facilities for tourists and you will have the whole image of this almost visionary place of the earth, the adornment of the Mediterranean Sea.

Sailing in Cyclades is a unique experience that satisfies your body, your mind and your soul. Swim in the most transparent waters, refresh your body cells and clean your mind from anxious thoughts, dive into this crystal clear sea water with the stunning life and feel the zest coming from the exploration of this unknown sea world.

The Cyclades islands offer a variety of entertainment for all tastes and ages. If you travel a few miles away from Paros, you can visit an isolated, almost uninhabited island, named Koufonisi, with a primitive sense of life and inexhaustible natural beauty.

On the other hand, if you wish a cosmopolitan resort in a popular and busy island, sail towards Mykonos. Mykonos is the most glamorous island of the Cyclades attracting visitors from all over the world and happily holds its style and reputation. The sea and the picturesque architecture of the white cubic houses will capture your heart forever.

The Cyclades islands are considered to be the most marvelous islands in the world as their landscape consists of steep mountains and rocky hills combined with superb beaches. They offer such a great variety of pictures and experiences that the most demanding visitors will be able to feel the joy, relaxation and excitement of a top quality vacation.

We reassure you that setting off from a Paros yacht charter base and sailing in Greece will fulfill all your dreams about an unforgettable summer or even autumn time.

Sail in Greece; the country where the blue dominates in everything.

The family holiday can be amazing

The family holiday is still a preferred way to explore the world in the company of the people you love most of all. The family holiday gives a chance to the busy parents to spend some time with their children and to share some new emotions.

Some families prefer to have their family holiday in the summer and they choose a place where their children, as well as they themselves, may enjoy the sunny rays and the sandy beaches. However, there are such families who prefer to spend their family holiday in the tranquility and the wilderness of the mountains.

There are, however, and such families who want to go on a family holiday but just dont have the financial ability to do this during the peak of the season and prefer to wait till the season is over and they may take advantage of some discounts.

There is no need to travel to a remote and exotic place to have a great family holiday. Actually, the idea of the family holiday is to be together, no matter whether you will choose the nearby city or another country. Most family holidays are really associated with a chance to relax. This is due to the fact that the parents spend a lot of time working and they really need to relax and to pull together as they will soon have to return back to work. Thats why the busy schedules which involve visiting a lot of places are not a suitable option for the family holiday.

All family members enjoy the family holiday and have a really amazing time together. They explore some places with rich history and share their impressions. They may practise some kind of sport together or may just sit and talk. The parents forget at least for a bit of their daily obligations including the job, the housework, the bills. Some of the best memories, which remain in your mind all life long, are made during the family holiday.

Its important to choose such a destination for your family holiday which will respond to the expectations and the needs of all family members, especially if the children are older as they will need some entertainment.

Most families turn the family holiday in a tradition and it turns out to be a desired time which the whole family anticipates all year long.

There are special offers for the middle class families, for example, which give a chance to save some money on the holiday and still to have a great time. The family holiday is a good chance to show to your family how important they are for you and how much you actually need them. You can enjoy a variety of activities together and may talk about everything. The family holiday gives the families a chance to gather together and to share with each other all which has bothered or delighted them but they didnt have a chance to talk about because of the tense everyday life.

How to Choose the Perfect Family Holiday Accommodation

Once you have decided where you would like to go on your family holiday, you will need to think about where you will stay. There are several factors which will influence this decision:

Taking the car?

If you are hiring a car, or taking your own vehicle then you might want to search for accommodation in a central location between the various attractions in the area which you would like to explore. This would ensure that these destinations are all within a sensible distance, and youll avoid any excessively long car trips!

Going green

Relying on local public transport? Look for accommodation near a train station or bus stop, and check out how regular the links are. If relying on public transport in rural locations you may want to plan your excursions in advance.

Raring to relax?

If you are planning to stay on-site for the duration of your stay, then you might want to look for a site which offers its own forms of entertainment especially if you have children who easily get bored. Some holiday parks even offer kids clubs, meaning you could get some quality time to yourself while they are busy making new friends.

The options

There are several options for your family holiday each with their own pros and cons. Here is our comprehensive summary below:

Holiday Park:

Holiday parks often offer a range of self-catering caravans or apartments, and sometimes offer a full or half board option. These can be good if you want to spend all or part of your time on-site, as there will usually be organised activities for the children, as well as quizzes, keep fit and cabaret for the adults.

Pros:
Full / Half board means you dont have to worry about cooking.
Self-catering gives you flexibility to eat what and when you choose.
Kids activities to keep them entertained.
Evening entertainment.

Cons:
More expensive than some other accommodation (without entertainment).
Kids activities could encourage them to stay on site, where you might want to go on day trips.
On-site food and drinks will usually be more expensive than the local town.
Full/Half board can be restrictive in terms of planning day trips away.

Bed and Breakfast / Hotel

Having a family room or suite in a hotel can be an option if you plan on taking lots of day trips, and can make sure that you get up and out.

Pros:
Having to leave the room at a certain time will make sure you get on with your plans for your holiday.
Many rooms will come with TVs providing some entertainment should the weather be disappointing.

Cons:
Family rooms may be expensive, and hotels will be more expensive than most other types of accommodation.
You may have to be out of the room at certain times, not allowing you to spontaneously do as you please.
Hotels and Bed and Breakfasts are not the most child-friendly places (usually).
You will have to pay for all meals either eating out or at the hotel / B&B.

Self-Catering apartment or cottage

Self catering allows you the freedom to come and go as you please, giving you a good base to explore from.

Pros:
Flexibility to do as you please.
Flexibility to eat what and when you like.
A larger space, so if you want to spend a day in the children would have room to play.
A cheaper alternative to inclusive holidays.
Somewhere to go if it rains.

Cons:
You will have to cook.

Camping

A cheap and cheerful camping holiday used to the quintessential British holiday.

Pros:
Cheap.
You can teach your children the basics of camping.

Cons:
Can be uncomfortable if it rains.
Not suitable for very young children.
Will have to cook without mod-cons.
Only really suitable for the summer months.