All posts by Anne Younger

Anne is a 30-something full-time SAHM mom of 5 ranging from 3 to 17 and grandma of 1 who resides in Ashwaubenon (Green Bay) Wisconsin. She started blogging in 2008 as a way to regain her sanity. She enjoys coffee, chocolate, cheeseburgers and vodka along with spending time with her husband and kids.

Dedicated to the Cause

Help The Winchester Rescue Mission this Winter

Anne Younger

With winter quickly approaching, it is time to get out all of your kids and your own winter gear and make sure everything still fits. Get your mittens and gloves all matched up, toss anything with holes, and donate the items you no longer need.

Now through Christmas, you can bring your gently used gloves, mittens, hats, winter boots, thermal wear, socks,and any additional winter apparel to Apple Valley Hyundai of Winchester. All donations will be given to the Winchester Rescue Mission to help those in need during this cold season.

In addition to gently used items, you can also donate brand new items .

The Winchester Rescue Mission transforms lives by providing shelter, supportive services, and advocacy to improve and enhance the lives of the poor, powerless and persecuted, to reach their full potential through Christ.

They offer emergency shelter, hygiene services such as restrooms, a hot shower, personal hygiene supplies, and laundry facilities as well as community meals and a food bank.

With the donations the Winchester Rescue Mission receives, they are able to provide more to those in need.

Help keep the community of Winchester warm this winter by bring dropping off your gently used or new items at Apple Valley Hyundai now!

Donations can be dropped of at the dealership at 2934 Valley Ave., Winchester, VA.

Finances

How Small Investors Can Make Money Buying & Selling Gold

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Gold is obviously a very lucrative commodity, and like all other commodities, its spot prices fluctuate in an ongoing way. If you are looking to make a profit from speculating in the gold market, here are a few tips to help you get started.

High Risk Business – For someone who knows little about gold to set up a business with a view to making money buying and selling gold, they are taking a big risk. The more you know about the gold market, the better your chances of being successful, and you must always operate with the principle of buying gold at less than market value, and selling for the best possible price.

Do Some Online Research – If you are going to try your hand at making money from gold transactions, the more you know about the yellow metal, the better your chances of success. Luckily, we have the Internet at our disposal, and a couple of hours here and there will certainly paint a clearer picture of the gold market. When looking to buy or sell gold bullion Brisbane investors prefer, you can rely on an established local gold bullion dealer, as they offer the best prices and you can be sure of payment.

Look To Buy Gold At Lower Than Market Prices – If you can manage to acquire gold at lower than market value, then making a profit is almost assured. People tend to sell gold for less than it is worth when they have an urgent need for cash, such as after a death in the family, during a divorce, or because of debt. You could, for example advertise that you will pay cash for gold, and should a person who wishes to sell quickly see this, they will likely be in touch.

Invest In A Gold Testing Kit – This is inexpensive and will allow you to test gold for purity, and any gold that is not hallmarked needs to be tested for purity verification. The kit contains a number of acids and these react when they come in contact with gold, and this is a great method to be certain of gold purity. The average gold testing kit can verify 10,14,18 & 22k, which covers everything you are likely to deal in. There are articles you can find online that look at buying and selling gold to make a profit, and they are must-reads for anyone thinking of getting into the gold business.

Accurate Scales – If you are looking to trade in gold, then it is essential that you have a set of accurate scales, which is quite an investment, yet it is a one-off payment that will last you for a lifetime.

One thing you will need to do is forge an alliance with a reputable gold bullion dealer, and an online search can help you with this. With a good gold bullion dealer, you can always sell whenever you wish and be sure of receiving the spot price at the time of the sale.

Automotive, Totally Random

Dreaming of a New Dodge Grand Caravan

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I don’t know many moms with more than 3 kids, let alone 4 or 5 that don’t drive a minivan these days. Even though we only have 3 kids at home with us these days, I absolutely love the extra space and separation we get with out minivan.

My current van is 10 years old and while the miles are still low ( I haven’t even hit 100K yet) my van does have a few issues here and there and and it also lacks many of the features I would love to have.

My van and the 2 before that have all been Dodge Caravans (and they have all been white!) and I have loved each and every one. Each had different features to offer however when I purchased all of them, they were all used and didn’t offer everything that I wanted.

What I want, now that the kids are getting a little older and we are spending more time in the car together, is the bells and whistles.

Bells and Whistles

I am currently dreaming of owning a 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan in Black Onyx!

This van has everything I am looking for! There is plenty of space for everyone, lots of storage, TONS of technology ( which we need!), a load of safety and security features and FINALLY doors that open and close with the push of a button so I never have to worry about a door not being shut tight ever again!

I have been dreaming of a new minivan a lot lately, more now that they colder weather is headed our way and I think about all of the conveniences a new van would offer me, as the chauffeur to 3 little kids.

We’ve also been thinking about a possible road trip with the kids next summer and a new van would definitely make the trip much easier.

For now, I have to continue to dream but if you or someone you know is dreaming of owning a new vehicle, visit our friends at Steve Jones Chrysler.

Automotive

5 Ways to Winterize Your Car

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Winter driving conditions can be hazardous due to many factors such as snow and ice on the road. It’s important to be prepared for winter driving which means it is important that your car is prepared for the winter. Here are 8 things you should do before the winter season to make sure your car can handle winter road conditions.

1. Have Your Car Serviced for Winter Conditions

It is important to have your car properly serviced by a reputable service center, like the one at Chrysler of Culpeper. Your battery, cooling system, brakes, belts, hoses, spark plugs, wire and cables, and tires are all in top running condition.

2. Invest in Winter Tires

If possible, invest in a set of winter tires, especially if you experience extremely cold winter temperatures. With winter tires, you can get the maximum performance all winter long.

3. Top off ALL Fluids

Make sure all of the fluid levels in your car are topped off, especially windshield wiper fluid as you can use a large amount in a single snowstorm.

4. Pack a Winter Safety Kit

Make sure you have everything you need should you get stuck in the snow, have an accident, or you car breaks down. You should have water, non-perishable snacks, flashlight with batteries, blankets, flares, a first aid kit, jumper cables, and a small tool box.

5. Always keep Your Gas Tank Half Full

Prevent your gas lines from freezing by reducing the amount of condensation. Always make sure you have at least half a tank of gas, especially in extremely low temperatures.

Following these tips will put you at ease and you will be ready to hit the road when the winter weather arrives.

Totally Random

Top Money Saving Tips for New Moms

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One of the most daunting aspects of beginning the journey of motherhood is financial concerns, such as how to stretch your budget now you have an extra mouth to feed. Fortunately, because most money saving is simply a case of breaking bad habits it is possible to make some serious savings without making too many drastic changes to your current lifestyle. Below are some of the top tips from moms who have found creative ways to save their money.

Make It Impossible to Spend Too Much

Whenever you head out to the store, plan and cost your trip in advance and only take with you the money that you’ll need to get what you plan for (if you’re really worried, take a few extra emergency dollars), this will immediately prevent the majority of impulse purchases, which are where most of us spend unnecessarily. It tends to be the things we think we need rather than the things we actually need that end up costing us the most money.

Turn Your Lights Off, Save Money on Your Bills!

Most money saving is a case of breaking existing bad habits, and as far as bad habits go, this is one of the big ones! By turning off the lights, and other appliances, when you leave a room, you can make some serious savings with little effort. You should constantly review your bills and your energy use to see what areas you can make some savings in and where the inefficiencies are.

You can also make some savings on the money you pay on monthly bills for your phone and internet service. If you’re a long-time customer of a particular provider for these services, get in touch with them and see if they would be prepared to offer you any reductions or special offers as a long-time user. You should also check with these companies what exactly you are being billed for, as many people are unwittingly paying for services that they never use.

Consider Purchasing a Newer Vehicle

While adding in a car payment doesn’t seem like it would be a great way to save money, purchasing a new vehicle can actually save you money. New vehicles come with great warranties and some even come with amazing service packages which can save you a lot of money throughout the year. You might even be able to lower your current payment by trading in your vehicle for something with a lower payment. Visit Apple Valley Hyundai and see if they can help you save on your car payment!

Always Prioritize

No matter how well your money saving efforts may or may not be going, you should always be prioritizing your spending and getting the most important stuff like the weekly or monthly grocery shop out of the way sooner rather than later.

By following these simple steps and implementing some sensible measures of your own, you’ll be well on your way to bulking out your purse and making significant savings on your everyday expenses.