Is Your Bathroom Back To School Ready: Tips for Heavy Usage and Health and Wellness

Back to school is a crazy time. With so much to do, there's one section of your home that probably gets neglected: your bathroom. You don't want to let things get messy when you have kids and parents fighting over prime bathroom time. Luckily, Bathroom Butler is here to help! Here some questions I asked Bathroom Butler to help us all get organized for the new school season.

• Q: Tell me more about Bathroom Butler and any health and wellness solutions you provide. 
• A: Bathroom Butler's Heated towel racks provide a healthier and more hygienic self-care experience for you and your family. Our Dry Element Technology allows the heated towel rack to heat up in 10 minutes and uses less electricity than 2 light bulbs. Bathroom Butler's heated towel racks are more hygienic and environmentally friendly - giving your family the best health and wellness bathroom experiences that are designed to optimize your self-care regime. 

• Q: What are the germ and bacteria concerns for bathrooms. 
• A:  There are many areas in the bathroom that should be of concern, but one that is often overlooked is damp towels. Damp towels are a breeding ground for unwanted bacteria. Used damp towels develop an unpleasant, musty odor as the bacteria build up on the surface. To prevent bacteria build-up, towels need to be dried properly after each use. Our heated towel racks do just that  - drying your towels effectively, reducing the bacteria by up to 90%, making them more hygienic and fresher between washes. 

• Q: What are some challenges that families and busy moms face with wear and tear on bathroom accessories from their kids, and even sanitation needs for their children, when it comes to their bathrooms. 

• A: A child's day is filled with outdoor activities that can cause a substantial amount of mess in the bathroom when it comes to bath time. Busy mom's don't have the time or the energy to constantly wash towels to keep up with the high demand. Not to mention the cost implications and negative environmental impact that multiple loads of laundry can create - it's simple unsustainable and inconvenient for the busy modern-day mother. Heated towel racks provide the ultimate solution of reducing towel washes by drying your towels between uses so that you reduce the number of towels you wash and create a more hygienic and enjoyable bath time experience for your child and the whole family too. When your kids get to experience having a dry towel with a comforting touch of warmth after every bath, it will encourage them to hang their own towels up. A common problem we find with chrome plated bathroom accessories is that they often don’t wear well over time and potentially start to show ugly pit marks. For this reason, we make all our bathroom accessories from grade 304 stainless steel which is an extremely durable and hard-wearing material. As there is no coating on the natural polished finish, there is no chance of any pitting or flaking of the surface – essentially it will last you a lifetime. Then also comes the issue of bathroom accessories that frequently come loose on their mounting and need to be constantly retightened. Bathroom Butler recognized this as a product design problem more than 12 years ago and developed what we now call our RIGID Loc mounting system. When correctly installed, once it is tightened on its mounting it will not come loose – no more paper holders falling off the wall at the most inconvenient time.

• Q: What are 3 tips you can give busy moms to help their bathrooms to be more durable and sanitized. 

• A:1. Install stainless steel bathroom accessories for optimal bathroom hygiene - Stainless steel bathroom accessories are more durable and anti-corrosive. This high-grade material is perfect for the humid environment of the bathroom because its natural corrosion resistance properties prevent rusting, staining, peeling, flaking or chipping. Stainless Steel is a non-porous material which means nothing can stick to it and therefore does not collect bacteria or algae, which makes it ideal for any bathroom space. Furthermore, it does not corrode and is easy to keep clean. But be sure to check what grade of stainless steel the product is made from, you should only be buying grade 304 or 316.
• 2. Use high-quality cleaning products - ensure you use high-quality cleaning products that are environmentally friendly (and safer for your family). Simply wipe your stainless steel bathroom accessories down with a warm, damp cloth and then buff dry. You could also use a touch of Chlorine-free stainless-steel cleaner for your stainless steel appliances to maintain the gorgeous shine. It's not advised to include any Tile grout cleaner or Chlorine-based chemicals, do not use them on the finish as these will cause permanent damage. 
• 3. A quick daily cleaning routine - the bathroom is one of the areas in the home whereby daily cleaning needs to be done in order to prevent unwanted dirt, mold and bacteria from spreading and causing health complications. Create a daily habit of wiping down your surfaces to help maintain your bathroom finishings and prevent dirt build-up. This will provide a more healthy environment for your family. 

 

3 Keys For Busy Moms Balancing Work and Career as Kids Get Back to School

I was a stay a home mom for ten years. In November of 2019, I graduated from college with a degree in health administration. I was just getting into the swing of being a working mom again when COVID hit. Then the kids were remote and I was working from home. Now, things are getting back to normal and my children are returning to school, I've been panicking a little. There's a lot to deal with, but if you're feeling overwhelmed, Mom-preneur and Founder of RLM Media has some great kids to help ease you back into a busy schedule. I recently had the chance to ask Farissa a few questions, and this is the amazing advice I received.

Tell us more about you and your company? I have two companies. RLM is a full service, integrated marketing, communications and advertising agency that is about to celebrate 13 years in business. We are strategic, creative, understand all forms of media and how to get our clients’ messages on them and take really good care of our clients. We work in the Healthcare, Higher Ed, Recruitment, Financial Services and Political spaces. And at WhatRUWearing Productions, we focus on the full process of producing scripted original television shows. We are in the process of developing our first scripted show and it’s very exciting.

 

What challenges have you faced with being a business owner while also raising your children? I think the hardest part of it all is balance. How much of my day is spent actively being a mom versus actively being a business owner and working on, or in, my businesses. Every day is different and the best days are the ones that I approach with flexibility and gracing myself the right to pivot, stop and care/think about something new.

 

What are you most proud of about being a working mom? I LOVE that my girls (8 + 6) get to see me being many things at the same time. I am their mother. I’m daddy’s wife. I’m some people’s boss. I am a CEO. I am a Creative. I am proud knowing it is training them to think of themselves (and all women) as being able to do and be anything they want to do- any number of things- and at the same time without waiting.

 

How do you balance your career with motherhood? I do my best to only be one of the many things I am, at a time. When I am at the office, solving problems, strategically thinking and charting the course for the future of my businesses, I am just doing that. And when I am with my kids and family, I am mommy and I care about what they care about and I am present. I try to remind myself that it is not about the amount of time you spend with anything or one, it’s about the quality of time.

 

What were some of your concerns with your kids going back to school this year? Honestly, none. Obviously we are all still dealing with Covid, folks who still aren’t vaccinated and everyone under the age of 12 not yet being able to get the vaccine but we are doing all the right things in my house to make sure we stay safe AND my children get a quality education this year that involves going back to school, learning in person from a professional and continuing to grow as social humans.

 

What 3 tips would you give busy moms as their kids prepare to go back to school? Haha. Moms, relax. Don’t shoot for perfection. We are not perfect and we don’t have to be. Do your best and the rest will fall in place. The second is keep a calendar for the house. It helps keep track of where everyone needs to be and with what things. Last is stop apologizing for being whatever type of working mom you are. If you are the ‘I only go on one filed trip a year’ mom like me, own it and kill that one field trip!

Source Farissa Knox, Mom-preneur and Founder of RLM Media

“Winter Beauty Hacks” from Celeb MUA Joanna Simkin

Whether you’re going on a winter getaway, planning a date night or using the day off to focus on yourself, we’ve got you covered with these makeover Monday “Winter Beauty Hacks” from Celebrity MUA Joanna Simkin.

Simkin stresses that beauty begins with moisturized, glowing skin and is fan of using Vaseline® Cocoa™ Radiant lotion for herself and her celebrity clients. Made with 100% pure cocoa butter, this hydrating moisturizer is a cold weather must-have that treats dry and dull winter skin.

“Winter Beauty Hacks” from Celeb MUA Joanna Simkin

1. Don’t skip SPF! The sun’s rays are still out on cold winter days and can even reflect more directly off freshly-fallen snow. Winter is a time you can use heavier formulas of SPF for added moisture as well. 

2. To help your moisture absorb and last during the winter season, apply Vaseline® Cocoa Radiant™ lotion all over immediately after showering, then add thin layers of clothing or sleepwear (think Long Johns, gloves, socks). The 100% cocoa butter acts an emollient known to help hydrate the skin and lock in moisture to keep skin soft, smooth and glowing

3. Dark, matte lipstick is my favorite winter look! Prep lips by scrubbing with Vaseline® Lip Therapy® mixed with raw sugar to smooth. Rinse and pat dry before using a dark lip liner followed by a matte lip formula. The exfoliation will ensure smooth application, while the pat-dry will ensure no shine peeking through. 

4. To perk up my complexion in the winter months, I love to mix a golden liquid illumination with my winter shade of foundation. It softly warms the skin to look lit-from-within and provides my face with a subtle, natural glow. 

5. Minor skin irritations can be easily caused by dry winter air and harsh winds. I love using a thin layer of Vaseline® Jelly over red, irritated areas such as cheeks - it protects by creating a thin barrier on your skin. 

My Thoughts 

It's been in the sixties and seventies here the last few weeks, but just because it's not snowing, doesn't mean I don't need a good lotion. As soon as we turn on our heat, my skin pays the price. It gets so dry it will actually get flaky and my hands get so chapped it can be painful. The Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa™ Radiant lotion restores health to dry and cracked skin, leaving it soft and healthy.

I just love this lotion. It definitely works great.  The formula glides on smooth with no greasy residue.  With regular use, it leaves my skin soft and even prevents chapping when I go out in the cold. The huge bottle is enough to last at least a few months at a time. Best of all, it's effects last all day without the need to reapply again and again.  This lotion will definitely get you through the even the harshest winter and its an affordable option.

If you'd like to grab a bottle of Vaseline Intensive Care Advanced Repair Healing Moisture Lotion, you can find it in stores nationwide including CVS,Walgreens, and RiteAid. To learn more about Vaseline and all they have to offer, you can visit their website or follow them on social media.

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Tips for Buying a Used Car For Your Teen

Sponsored post.

My daughter turned seventeen this summer, which (in the state of NJ) means she just got her license. Before we even left motor vehicle, she was ready to start car shopping. Teens tend to be impulse buyers, so it's important that parents guide their kids through this first big sale. Here are few tips that helped me during the purchase process.

Shop Around for Loans - If you need to get a loan, don't limit yourself to what the dealer offers you. Take the time to shop around and compare rates. I was able to get a car loan for my daughter from USAA for a much better rate than the local dealer offered.  

Consider Expenses - Remind your teen that the purchase of a car is more than just the loan. They will need to budget for gas, maintenance, and insurance. Insurance prices are especially high for teens,  and full coverage is required if you have a loan.  Make sure to get a quote with your insurance company before the sale so there are no surprises.

Get the Facts - Before you head to the dealership, do your own research online. Cars.com is a great website to get all the facts on both new and used cars. You can compare prices on vehicles in your area, look at loan rates, and even find articles with great tips like when you should consider an extended warranty.

Shop Around - Don't let your teen grab the first car they see just because they are overexcited. Encourage them to shop around and test drive a variety of cars to get the one that is just right for them. Price is a big consideration, but also look at condition, ease of use, and warranty options.  

Safety First - Remember that teenagers are new to driving, and are relying on you for instruction. Be sure to teach them about how to check the tires for air and remind them about oil changes. Once you find the right used car, have it checked over by a mechanic just to be sure everything is in order. You don't want a new driver to have any issues on the road. 

Do you have any tips to help teens find their first used car? 

zulily's Picture Day Contest! + Photo Tips & Tricks #zulilyPictureDay

Everyone is in the throes of summer break and all the adventures that come with the season! But, sooner than we know it, the entire family will be heading back-to-school (BTS).  To commemorate the BTS season, now live, zulily has kicked off a #zulilyPictureDay contest. 

 zulily’s studio department features 310 in-house photographers, stylists, make-up artists, photo editors and copywriters, all working to create custom creative imagery designed to accompany our fresh, daily assortment of 100 events (aka sales!). They’re photographing nearly 100 kids per week!  And, when we photograph children’s merchandise, we engage our community and we photograph children without modeling experience, be it an employee or customer’s daughter or son, toddler, baby, etc. so you can imagine all of the tips & tricks our teams know from interacting daily with families and children to capture the zulily spirit.

So, what have they launched?

• All zulily fans are invited to submit their favorite school’s unique story in 100 words or less as to why zulily should outfit their school with back-to-school photos.
• Nominations are open from July 10-16, 2017 on zulily.com as well as in our app.
• On August 11, 2017, zulily will identify the eight lucky finalists and launch an interactive Facebook Live series highlighting each entrant’s unique school story. During the series, viewers have a chance to cast their vote and help select the winning entrant and school.
• The nominator with the winning entry will receive a $500 shopping credit on zulily.com.
• And, the winning school of which the entry is about will receive a zulily Studio team visit, during which professional photographers will bring to life what we do every day! Plus a few surprises for students & teachers!
• A special gift for entering #zulilyPictureDay is that for every person who submits a nomination, you’ll receive a special $10 off on $75+ purchase during this limited time.

Back-to-school season applies to getting your home, family, kids, pets, etc. ready for the ‘new year’. 

Now you can slay picture day! zulily has some great photography tips from experts who photograph millions of shots every year.  These are some of the best frameable pro-background hacks, tips for taking the best “first-day-back” photo, or age-specific tips on how to best photograph your kindergartener through college-age kid, photographing your pet, your home, etc.

zulily’s Tips & Tricks for Capturing the Perfect First-Day-of-School Photo & More!

The first day of school is as exciting for parents as it is for kids. It’s the time of year when social media newsfeeds are filled with eager smiles, adorable front porch shots and uniquely styled back-to-school ensembles!

zulily’s studio department features 310 in-house photographers, stylists, make-up artists, photo editors and copywriters, all working to create custom creative imagery designed to accompany our fresh, daily assortment of 100 events (aka sales!). They’re photographing nearly 100 kids per week!  And, when we photograph children’s merchandise, we engage our community and we photograph children without modeling experience, be it an employee or customer’s daughter or son, toddler, baby, etc. so you can imagine all of the tips & tricks our teams know from interacting daily with families and children to capture the zulily spirit. 

Kindergarten to 4^th Grade

·         Give your memories some context. Try posing them in a familiar setting with elements that define that time in your child's life. Use the photo as a way to tell a story to their future selves.

·         Squish the Bug! Sometimes it's hard for kids to understand why standing in one place for a photo is important.  In our studio, we draw a little bug on a piece of masking tape and place that tape precisely where we want the child to stand. When the time comes, we don't demand the kid stands still, we just play a game! "Can you jump on the bug?"  "Can you squish him?" Every time the model starts to wander off we say "jump back to the bug," "Quick! Squish him before he gets away!"

·         Simon Says. Games are the best way to keep your kids involved and present during your photoshoot. Rather than ordering them to stand up straight and smile, play a game of Simon Says! Mix in fun commands with your desired poses so as not to give away your new trick… “Simon says put your hands in your pocket!”

Tips for Photographing Tweens

·         Get them moving. Whether it’s a hair flip, throwing a football or flipping through a notebook, movement can capture the perfect candid (and what is more Instagram worthy than that?)

·         Give them something to do. A task. An Act. Three steps. Often times, standing still and smiling can get really old, really quick. For a more entertaining, enjoyable photoshoot introduce some sort of task and the photos will come effortlessly.

·         Big laughs, close crops. More than capturing a moment, we want our pictures to capture the essence of our subject’s personality. Laughter is a beautiful way to bring out those genuine features and we recommend getting up close so you don’t miss a thing!

Tips for High School / College Kids

·         Let them pick their outfits and setting. By high school kids have developed their own style personality and no longer need their parents to pick out a matching top and bottom combo. Let your high schooler/college-age kid show off their unique style and outfit combos that they feel great in!

·         Adding context to the story. The best photos tell a story. Use this opportunity to include objects that tell the story of your kid’s life at the time the photo is being taken. Including things like a basketball, dance shoes, or the family pet can give great context to the photo and provide a wonderful walk down memory lane years later!

·         No peanut galleries. Remember that for the camera-shy, having an audience can make the ordeal all the harder. Create an environment for your model that allows them the greatest comfort – this will lead to even better, more genuine photos!

5 simple, natural ways to stay healthy on the go - TheraZinc Lozenges #Giveaway

Quantum Health, maker of TheraZinc, a delicious lozenge loaded with natural ingredients that provide the nutritional support your body craves this time of year has some great tips to share. Even though the holidays are behind us, cold season is still in full swing. It can be difficult to stay healthy and keep your immune system strong as you head back to work, the gym, and your daily routine. Below are a few tips for winter wellness:

1. Go to bed early. Studies have shown that sleep deprivation can lead to suppressed immune system function.
2. Wash your hands frequently. If you’re tired of hearing this old adage, check out the science behind hand-washing, as reported by the CDC.
3. Put down the candy. Avoiding sugar is a great way to keep your immune system in fighting shape. Consuming sugar can suppress your immune system for hours after ingestion.
4. Take a walk. Not only is this good for your waistline, but exercise provides a myriad of immune benefits, from flushing out bacteria to slowing the release of stress hormones.
5. Keep a roll of TheraZinc lozenges handy. These delicious supplements combine elderberry and zinc to keep you feeling your best. They are easy to keep in a purse or backpack, and dissolve quickly in your mouth.

My Thoughts

Elderberry is an emerging super-fruit that is packed with vitamins and helps keep your immune system running smoothly.  I love making my own elderberry tea. It's great both hot and iced. However, I don't always have time to make homemade brews and the berries aren't always easy to find in my area. TheraZinc Lozenges are the perfect way for me to get my elderberry fix on-the go. These lozenges are made with elderberries and enhanced with  Zinc Gluconate and an immune boosting formula that really packs a punch. If you you want to keep colds and the flu at bay, taking one or two a day can be your lifeline these last few week of winter. 

The best part about TheraZinc Elderberry Lozenges is that it doesn't feel like you're taking a supplement. They melt in your mouth, and have a light, sweet taste. They also add a touch of raspberry, and the blend makes them taste just like candy. They're even gluten free. So you can  improve your immune system while enjoying a tasty lozenge.  You get all these perks packed into one small package. Take them with you on the go and give yourself a boost whenever you need one.

The Giveaway

One lucky winner is going to receive a  a 14-pack of TheraZinc lozenges and a $25 gift card to Amazon.  To enter, just fill in the Giveaway Tools form below. This giveaway will end on  3/14/17. Open to the US only. The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply. Thanks again to the sponsor for offering this fantastic prize.

Entry-Form

3 Tips for Preventing Cold Sores from Lip Clear Lysine - #Giveaway & #Discount Code

 Lip Clear Lysine is a natural cold sore remedy shown to reduce the healing time of cold sores by half. With soothing, moisturizing action that stops pain on contact, Lip Clear Lysine+ is the leading and most effective herbal nutrient ointment available. If you have ever experienced the horrendous sensation of a growing cold sore, then you know the first signs of intense pain, puffy lips, and the nervous waiting for its full appearance can wreck your daily habits for weeks.

Cold sores are caused by many different factors including stress, kissing an infected person, and sharing chapstick and/or eating utensils with someone who is infected. With cold sore season upon us, it is important to do a few simple things each day to prevent cold sores. Here are 3 tips to help prevent cold sores and 1 natural solution for when they do hit are as follows:

Protect your lips - Be sure to apply a lip balm that has an SPF 21. This will keep lips safe from damaging sun rays and infection that attacks chapped lips

Keep stress low - Stress is a well-known cause of cold sore outbreaks, so be sure to do a few things in your life to reduce stress. Activities could include meditating, reading a book, going to a walk, etc.

Avoid Touching Lips - this includes kissing, sharing drinking glasses and kitchen utensils, and chapstick with someone who has a cold sore

Use Lip Clear Lysine+ - Lip Clear is a natural cold sore ointment shown to reduce the healing time of cold sores by half, making it most effective herbal nutrient ointment available. It also soothes and stops pain on contact.

Lip Clear is also available at local wellness stores including Walmart, Walgreens, RiteAid, CVS and others.

Discount Code

The code HEALTHYLIPS can be used at quantumhealth.com for 10% off any Lip Clear order through April 2017. (Limit 1 per customer)

My Thoughts

I hate cold sores. Not only are they painful, they're also embarrassing. I always feel like people are staring at me when I have a cold sore on my lip. It's even worse when I see my kids get one. My six-year seems to get them at least a few times a year, and it can take weeks for them to go away. Lip Clear Lysine is always my go-to choice for treatment.

Lip Clear Lysine is an over-the-counter treatment that gives me the quick results I want. In just a few days, cold sores will improve, and they heal in half the time it usually takes with other treatments. Plus, it glides on smooth, and feels just like lip balm. It doesn't leave any medicine taste on your lips, which makes it much easier to apply to my daughter's lips. One tube lasts for months at a time, and it's available in all my favorite stores. This winter, you can be sure you'll find a tube of Lip Clear Lysine in my medicine cabinet.

The Giveaway

One lucky winner is going to receive a Lip Clear package which includes the Lip Clear Cold Sore Ointment, Lip Clear Invisible Cold Sore Bandages, and Lip Clear Lip Treatment and Protectant.   To enter, just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below. This giveaway will end 10/20/16 and is open to the US only.  The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply. Thanks again to the sponsor for offering this great prize!

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CARSTAR Carpool Chat - Leave Your Tip and $5 Will be Donated to Charity!

It’s back-to-school season and that means it’s time to load up the carpool and prepare for the chaos that ensues.  But today’s wired family often has many devices in use in the car, and they can cause distractions that may lead to fender benders and crashes.  Fortunately, the people who see up close the damage caused by in-car diversions offer some tips for managing and avoiding them.

“We are in the business of fixing mistakes people make on the road,” said Dean Fisher, COO for CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts , North America’s largest network of collision repair facilities. “It used to be that all a driver had to distract themselves was an AM radio. Now, there are enough high-tech electronic gadgets onboard to pilot a space shuttle, and they can all diminish a driver’s concentration.”

Following these tips can substantially reduce the chance of a crash in the carpool lane and make the back-to-school commute less stressful for all involved.

• Adopt a strict no-text policy – According to theNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the risk of a crash is 23 times greater for people who are sending and receiving text messages while driving. Driving while texting has been compared to driving while intoxicated. Drivers can show their commitment to not texting while driving by visiting the CARSTAR and NABC program ItCanWait.com.
• Reduce the fight for the front – Siblings fighting for the front seat or personal space in the back are a major distraction.  Set a schedule for who gets the front and define boundaries in the back.  When fights erupt, pull over to address the situation.
• Limit or eliminate cell phone use while driving – Based on observations and crash data, the National Safety Council estimates that about one-fourth of all crashes can be attributed to distracted driving connected with use of a phone. If a passenger is on board, let that person conduct the conversation while you drive.
• Use a hands-free device, but only for necessary calls – Carnegie Mellon found a 37 percent decrease in the brain’s ability to judge spatial relationships (such as between the car at speed and other objects) when the driver concentrated on answering questions. This suggests that any phone conversation diminishes the driver’s reflexes behind the wheel.
• Program GPS receivers before starting a trip or errand – GPS devices are tremendously helpful on the road, especially those that call out the step-by-step directions. They are only useful, however, if the driver does not attempt to input information while in motion.
• Learn a car’s instruments and adjustments before leaving the driveway – Modern cars have dozens of buttons, switches and handles that might need activating while on the road, and a driver should be familiar with them to prevent distraction. Adjusting the windshield wipers, headlights, radio settings, climate controls and seat height, among others, can distract a driver long enough to cause an accident.
• Save eating and drinking for after the carpool –According to the NHTSA, a driver’s morning cup of coffee and muffin are almost as distracting as a cell phone conversation.
• Keep children and pets in approved seats or areas – Crash-test engineers have determined the safest placement for children of different sizes and ages in vehicles. Following applicable federal and state laws for restraint systems also reduces distraction while driving.  Letting animals roam free inside a vehicle is not only a bad idea; it is illegal in some states.

“There are many ways to reduce the amount of dangerous distractions inside a vehicle,” said Fisher. “These tips address just a few that are easy for most people to correct. Anything a driver can do to concentrate on the road will greatly improve the chances of safe arrival.”

For more tips on driving and collision repair, visit www.carstar.com. CARSTAR Auto Body Repair Experts offers high-quality, reliable repair service in 30 states and 10 Canadian provinces. Contact 1-800-CARSTAR when you need a vehicle repair, and they will send a tow truck, contact your insurance company, arrange for a rental car and repair your car.

******COMMENT FOR CHARITY*****

Getting ready for the chaos of carpool season?  We have tips to help you survive the back-to-school barrage with your sanity – and your bumpers – intact from CARSTAR, North America’s leader in collision repair.  But we want to hear from you.  We’re kicking off the CARSTAR Carpool Chat so you can share your back-to-school survival secrets.  From navigating school bus traffic to timing the carpool line to eliminating the clamor in the car, tell us how you maintain the calm and get everyone where they need to be.  For every traffic-taming, accident avoidance and chaos reducing idea, we will donate $5 to our charity partner – the Children’s Miracle Network.

5 Tips For Kids Wanting To Invest In Stock

Most adults have never invested in stock because it can be expensive and intimidating to get started.  But you don’t have to wait until you’re an adult – or have thousands of dollars or a PhD – to invest in stock.  Here are five easy tips to help you get started with stock investing and find your road to financial awesomeness.

Ask yourself:  Do I want to be rich?  If you want to start building wealth for your future, you’ll want to start saving part of your allowance or your paycheck, but that probably won’t get you there all by itself.  The secret to building large amounts of wealth is to invest your money, which means getting your money to work for you.

Here’s an example.  Let’s say you saved up $1000 this year from your allowance, birthday presents, and other things, and stored it in a shoebox.  If you came back a year later, or even 100 years later, you’d still have $1000 in that shoebox. 

Now let’s say you invested that $1000 in the stock market instead of putting it in a shoebox.  Stocks can go up and down in value (more on this later), but on average, they went up 9.8% a year from 1928 to 2014.*  So if you had invested $1000 back in 1928, you would have had more than $3.4 million by the end of 2014!  Pretty incredible, huh?

*Source:  S&P 500 historical rate of return

How to get started.  The first thing you’ll need to do is open a stock account (also called a brokerage account), and there are a few things you’ll probably want to look for. 

First, you’ll want to open an account that lets you invest as much or as little as you want.  At most brokerages, you need thousands of dollars just to open the account.  And some stocks are hard to afford – one share of Tesla stock costs about $200, and one share of Amazon costs about $700, for example.   At Stockpile (http://www.stockpile.com), there’s no minimum amount you need to open an account, and you can buy fractional shares of your favorite stocks.  For example, you can buy $50 of Tesla, which translates to about a quarter of a share.  It’s real stock that comes in fractions to make it easier to afford.

Second, you want to make sure you won’t be paying any monthly fees because they’ll eat into your investment return.  Same thing when it comes to trading commissions (that’s the fee a brokerage charges when you buy or sell stock, which is between $5 and $10 at most brokerages).  At Stockpile, we don’t charge a monthly fee, and the trading commission is just 99 cents a trade.  So if you want to buy $50 of Tesla stock, you’ll pay just $50.99. 

Third, you’ll want a stock account that lets you keep track of your investments on your own.  Most brokerages can set up stock accounts for kids and teens.  They’re called “custodial accounts,” and mom or dad (or another adult) will be on the account with you.  It’s great, except for one thing – mom or dad get the account login and the monthly statements, which means you’ll have to get them to check in on your stocks for you.  Which is sometimes not the easiest because they’re busy with their own stuff. 

At Stockpile, you get your own log-in so you can check in on your stocks anytime you want, without having to bug mom or dad.  You can even place your own stock trades, which mom or dad can approve.  So if you want to buy $20 of Nike, you just enter that information on the Stockpile app and the trade shows up on mom or dad’s smartphone.  If they approve the trade, it goes to the stock market and executes.  It’s like being a student driver – you get to be in the driver’s seat, with an adult next to you as your co-pilot.

It’s easy to set up an account at stockpile.com. Your parents can help you do it, and it takes only a few minutes.

Start early, invest regularly, and diversify!  Remember how we said that the stock market went up an average of 9.8% a year between 1928 and 2014?  You would have missed out on an average of 9.8% in investment gains for every year you waited to get started!

But that doesn’t mean the stock market goes up 9.8% every year.  For example, the market went up 32% in 2013, but in 2001 it went down nearly 12%. 

It also doesn’t mean every stock will go up or down the same amount.  In 2014, Facebook was up 43%, while IBM was down 14%. 

In other words, you can’t really predict which stocks are going to go up, or when they’ll go up.  You just know that if you invest over a long enough period of time, you’ll do well based on how the stock market has done in the past.  The key to making money in the stock market is to start early, invest regularly (even if it’s a small amount), and diversify. 

Let’s take that piece by piece.  Since you don’t know which years will be the good ones, but you do know that the market has gone up an average of 9.8% a year, starting early will (on average) be better than starting late.  If you invest regularly, you’ll be spreading your risk over a bunch of years, so you don’t end up investing a bunch of money in a bad year.  If you diversify, you’ll spread your risk over a bunch of different stocks, so you don’t end up putting all your eggs in one basket.  And if you do it for the long haul and receive a positive rate of return (say, 9.8% per year), the more years, the better!

Have a strategy.  There are almost as many investing strategies as there are investors.  In other words, everyone has an opinion, but here are some strategies that are better than “day trading,” which amounts to guessing what the market will do on any given day.

One good strategy is to “buy and hold” a stock, because you believe in the company and think it will go up over the course of months or years even though it might be bouncing around a lot day-to-day.  If you follow this strategy every month (by buying a little more stock every month), it’s called “dollar cost averaging.”  Or, you can “buy on the dips,” which means you track companies you think are good, wait for their stock prices to dip, and buy when they dip.  You can also buy stocks you think are underrated or “undervalued” and hold on to them until they make a comeback.  Likewise, people who own a stock sometimes decide to sell when they think the stock is getting to be overrated or “overvalued.”

No strategy is foolproof, though.  You could buy on a dip and then watch the stock go down even further.  Or you could wait for a dip that doesn’t happen for a long time and miss out on lots of gains.  But these strategies have worked well for lots of investors.

One thing that helps is to stick to companies you know.  It may give you a leg up on other investors who may not know as much about a company’s products and what people think about those products.   It also helps to stay informed and read up on your companies online.

Enlist friends and family!  You can get to financial goals sooner by telling friends and family that you’re investing for your future and would love to have their help! 

We’ve made it really easy for them with Stockpile gift cards.  They can buy an e-gift in about 2 minutes by picking a stock and dollar amount, entering your email address, and paying with a debit or credit card.  When you redeem the e-gift, you end up with stock in your Stockpile account!  They can also buy a physical gift card at Kmart, OfficeMax, Wegman’s, Giant Eagle, and other retailers or online.

To make this really easy for you, we’re launching a gift registry this fall.  Email us at support@stockpile.com to be added to our waitlist, so you can tell friends and family which stocks are your favorites and they know just what to buy you for your next birthday or special occasion!