With our Cable Contract expiring on the 20th of this month, I started searching for TV alternatives and where I could cut costs. I will be downgrading to internet only. Sharing my findings in case it helps anyone else.
1) Verizon Wireless Customers with unlimited plans can get Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN for FREE. (There is a cut off date to sign up in February). https://www.verizon.com/support/disney-bundle-faqs/
2) Philo - 63 Channels for $20 a month with unlimited DVR (Saved for 30 days and automatically deleted - no managing). You can create indivdual profiles. Right now they offer $5 off for you and me if you use my referral link: https://philo.com/refer/RSWTRWMD You can add Epix for $6 a month and/or Starz for $10 a month too.
3) Goodbye to Netflix- I am a long standing customer but with the price increases and availability of cheaper but still great quality alternatives, it is time to end this relationship.
4) Amazon Prime Movies is included with your Prime Membership and provides some options as well. https://amzn.to/2JZmDpn
Currently paying $145 a month for decent internet and cable. After doing some research I have found the above set up with internet only from my Cable provider will save over $50 a month (Over $600 a YEAR!) and upgrades our internet too.
Don't have a Smart TV, no worries, here are 2 inexpensive options:
Please feel free to share any saving tips you have found too. 2020 has caused many of us to reassess our finances.
Want to find more balance in your world? Better finances?
#OolaFinance #budgeting
DIY Toilet Bowl Fizzy Tablets are super easy. Drop in a tablet, let it fizz away, once done fizzing, grab the toilet brush for a good once over, and flush. Your toilet bowls are clean and deodorized without any toxicity to you or your family. This recipe uses pure essential oils so there are no hidden chemicals in the fragrance either. Mine are not picture perfect but I don't let that stop me because they clean just as well as the cute ones!🙌 OH...I almost forgot to mention it is super inexpensive to make, so saving money too.😉
Here's the recipe:
DIY TOILET BOWL FIZZY TABLETS
INGREDIENTS:
-1 cup baking soda
-½ cup citric acid
-½ cup cornstarch
-4 teaspoons water
-3 teaspoons V-6 Vegetable Oil
INSTRUCTIONS:
-In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients and mix evenly.
-In a separate bowl, combine water, essential oils or blends, and V-6.
-Pour liquids into the large bowl and whisk together until combined.
-Use mixture to fill ice cube tray or candy mold about three fourths full. If mixture expands and spills over mold, gently repack into the mold.
-Let sit overnight to dry in room temperature area. When dry, pop tablets out and store in a glass jar.
-When needed, put a tablet in the toilet bowl, hard-to-clean bottles, or sink full of dishes to help clean and deodorize. Let tablet sit in bowl, bottle, or sink for 20–30 minutes to fizz and dissolve. Once dissolved, flush or rinse out. Now you’re ready to clean without the slightest fuss!
Note: This recipe is not recommended for toilet tanks. Recipe from Young Living Blog
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I spent many years not feeling empowered due to domestic violence and abuse for a large portion of my life. I really didn't even understand what it was to be empowered. Everytime I tried to stand up for myself or the things I believe in I would instantly hear the echoes of my abusers telling me how insignificant, stupid, ugly, or crazy I am for even thinking of expressing my own opinion or thoughts. Nobody cares what you think or believe is another common phrase I would recall. I always cared more about what other people thought of me and the possibility of judgement, so I would withdraw and keep my mouth shut. Over a decade ago all of that changed and I starting feeling lighter and free.
So how/why did that change? I wish I could say it was because I finally loved myself enough not to be my own worst enemy but in all honesty that wasn't the case. Everything in my life that has ever changed for the better has been directly connected to my biggest blessings - my children. In this case, I have a daughter that is Autistic and advocating for her has been a priority and to do that I had to learn to speak up and stand up for her to ensure she receives the support she needs to be successful in school. While I will give schools the benefit of the doubt that they try to offer everything she needs, it also needs to be understood that their goal at the end of the day is to ensure the required support is given and it is up to us parents to ask if there is any additional support available, and sometimes even have to know the process so well that we are able to directly ask for specific support that may not have been offered.
When advocating for my daughter I was never concerned about what others would think, if they would call me names behind my back, or even judge me. You know why? Because she deserves to have a parent that will fully support her even if that means I am put in a normally uncomfortable position or role. Over time that persona I put on for my daughter's school meetings became my new reality of who I am. I didn't need anyone else to empower me, it was already inside me, and it had always been within me. I just needed to tap into it! To own my thoughts and my beliefs regardless if they are popular among other people.
This has given me the freedom to make major changes in my life that are not popular and people do call me various names but that is their issue, not MY issue. The way other people treat you or relate to you has so much more to do with them than it ever has to do with you. Read that again, the way other people treat you or relate to you has so much more to do with them than it ever has to do with you. I absolutely have found a way to love myself, respect myself, and accept myself. Flaws and all, I was uniquely created just like you. We have different strengths and gifts to offer the world but if we are always worried about what "they" will think, we will rob the world of our talents and gifts. How many lives won't be changed or how many people won't be inspired to make changes in their lives because you never shared your talents and gifts with the world?
In short, forgive yourself, love yourself just the way you are, don't worry about what "they" will say, they don't live your life...you live your life! My favorite phrase is, "If they don't pay my bills, put a roof over my head, put food on my table, or share my bed...then their opinion doesn't matter". Of course my children and my family are largely excluded from that statement but even my family knows I am going to do whatever I decide to do. If you can relate or struggle like I have, then take some time with yourself and tap into your empowered self and own your life. While others can inspire you which is awesome, only you can empower yourself. There is no human benevolent enough to empower you which is why our creator put that power within each of us, so when we decided to accept it or use it, we wouldn't have to look far to find it. My hope is this will help inspire others so they don't loose years like I did not embracing their beautiful empowered self.
I personally invite you to come join a free community of Authentic + Empowered Mamas, look forward to seeing you there.
What does it mean to be authentic? It means to be true to yourself, to be real with your thoughts and your feelings. Having your words and actions align with your internal thoughts and values. Not holding on to what anyone else (parents, family, or society) says about how you are supposed to act or do things.
For me I was not taught to be authentic in any way. I was told how to act, how to speak, what to speak, when to speak, and to be polite above all. This meant if someone asked me how I was doing, I was taught to say that I'm ok even if I wasn't and I would hold everything inside in the name of being polite and having good manners. Nobody really cares how you are doing anyway, it's just a polite question to ask...right?
How absurd is that?! We aren't good or ok every day and that is normal in this human experience. Let's stop making this wrong! There is freedom in being authentic, not suppressing our emotions, and letting others see us brightly shining in our lives even when things aren't perfect.
We should use our authenticity to inspire and build each other up to boldly live our lives and chase our dreams. I spent years surviving life and not living life.
I have chosen to unapologetically live my life by taking time for self-reflection to understand my wants and needs; no longer suppressing my feelings; to have courage to be vulnerable enough to share and release feelings of shame, guilt, regret, etc.; to stop comparing myself to others and trying to portray the appearance of "perfection"; to let go of the old ideas and the projections of others regarding who I am supposed to be and embrace who I actually am.
I personally invite you to come join a free community of Authentic + Empowered Mamas, look forward to seeing you there.
In our increasingly virtual world, it is easy to lose authentic communication that builds trust in our relationships with others. I believe LOVE is our most powerful emotion and can be our greatest tool in manifesting beautiful things in our lives. Love isn't just a romantic relationship/partnership, it is the core of all of our relationships to other people and to our world.
While our world may look a lot different these days, remember to breathe, take time for self-care, and most importantly remember to love yourself, just the way you are. Try saying, "I Love Me, I Love All of Me". Did that feel odd or just plain weird? Then keep saying that in your mind and even out loud with as much love behind it as you can until it feels good to say it and hear it.
None of us are perfect and we all have room to grow but fully accepting and loving who you have been created to be is one of the most powerful first steps you can take in your life. With this step we can better serve others around us too.
I want to personally invite you to come join a free community of Authentic + Empowered Mamas, look forward to seeing you there.
