Tag Archives: saving

Trail Blazers

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Trail Blazers

Hello!! I have been really lucky at the Goodwill lately. Not only have I got a new air hockey table, but I recently bought two gorgeous blazers for a whopping ten dollars total. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love my TJMaxx to death BUT ten dollars for two blazers that appear to be brand new is a deal you would never get at one of your favorite discount stores. Especially when one of those blazers is from Express, which usually runs for about one hundred dollars, minimum. Check these out:

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The total cost for both of my new finds would have been on the better half of two hundred dollars and paying ten for them felt like hitting the jackpot. I love the clothing at Express, but would never consider paying for any of it because they are way over my budget. So, getting a sleek blazer that looks barely worn from there was super exciting! And, I have wanted a retro plaid blazer for quite some time now so finding one by Sag Harbor complete with shoulder pads was a major highlight.

I think that blazers are a fantastic piece of clothing and I regret not owning more of them. But, I am happy to start increasing my collection with the ones above. Not only are they the perfect business casual staple but blazers are also an amazing option for fall, creating a cozy, studious chic look.

Of course, I love my more form fitting black blazer from Express and anticipate on wearing it for meetings for work or a night on the town. But, I am particularly looking forward to styling the Sag Harbor one. I plan on doing an OOTD photo shoot tipping my cap to the British punk scene by sporting black leather skinnies, my Union Jack platforms, a hat with a veil created from my tulle purchase, and the plaid blazer over top. I have always been enthralled with the punk fashion scene from across the pond and my Sag Harbor blazer gave me such heavy vibes from that wonderful style and I can’t wait to show all of you. Be on the lookout! 😀

How do you like to style your blazers? Which era of fashion gives you inspiration? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Pricing Your Products The Right Way

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Pricing Your Products The Right Way

Much has been said about gaining the trust of your customers. You need to have great branding efforts and your marketing materials should be engaging enough to draw them in. However, building trust goes beyond all of these. You need to show that your brand is genuinely caring – that you will always provide them with products and services whenever they need them. You shall act as a friendly advisor. On top of these promises, you have to be fair. Fairness is among the values that establishes the foundation of customer relationships. One way of exemplifying fairness is through pricing the products the right way.

Many business people, though they are genuinely caring, often make the mistake of putting up a high price tag. Your goal is to earn profit, but that does not mean that you will not be transparent with your dealings. You just don’t give prices without any basis. There are a lot of factors that come into play. Here are some of them:

Gauge the market:

The market shall always be your compass when determining the prices of your product. Just look at your competitors. They may be offering the same products and services, and you have to know how much they are charging. By simply looking at this factor will allow you to play the game with your ear. If you charge too much, your customers will go to your competitors. When your prices are too low, there will be risk of overwhelming demands, which in turn may compromise the quality of your offerings. Find the middle ground and take it from there. You can use various price monitoring tools in this case for guidance.

Consider your costs:

Sometimes, you will need to look at your own resources and production to gauge how much you are going to charge. You need to have a breakeven and even get your ROI. Otherwise, you will experience loss, which is not a good thing. Take into account other factors besides product development and manufacturing and include overheads, such as rent, staff salary, and marketing in your list. If you are having difficulty breaking even due to a struggle with efficiency, software services like PLM can assist with task management and production. Tools like this could be the game changer your business needs to experience meaningful growth.

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Talk to your customers:

Before you release or launch a new product, you have to talk to your customers first. Find out if they are willing to spend their money for the product or service you are releasing. You can conduct a survey or a focus group discussion to make this prospect easy. You can also streamline the process with online services like the Kano Model that can be employed to give you more insight into the customer experience.

Look at the economy:

You will also have to look at what the economy does to various industries. The effects of macroeconomic activities trickle down to businesses. They affect the prices of raw materials and manufacturing services. The price of your products should depend on the costs you incur at a specific economic phase.

The price is right, that should be the guiding principle you follow when deciding on the price tags of your product. When you price the products right, you are showing your commitment to being transparent and building trust. Pricing the products the right way should not be difficult, as there will always be methods and tools that will help you.

PatCatan’s Haul

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PatCatan’s Haul

Hellooo everyone! When my siblings and I were younger, I can always remember my mom taking us to the local craft store called PatCatan’s once summer vacation began. We would pick out different crafts and art supplies to keep us occupied and it has been our go to destination for those needs for over two decades.

Sadly, the store is being bought out by the bigger chain, Michael’s, and will be closing on September 30th. This is a major disappointment, because PatCatan’s is so well loved by everyone in my community. But, a huge haul because of the massive sale that they were having helped soften the blow. Take a look:

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I love nothing more than a good sale and everything that I purchased above was at least sixty percent off, making for maximum savings. I was able to get some early birthday presents for my bestie for a fraction of what I would have paid at Target. I just know that she will love her new throw blanket and the metallic pink mason jar filled with a bouquet of fresh flowers!

And, of course, lots of treats for myself were purchased, too. I indulged in a few things that I have always wanted, like the mermaid tail blanket and the wooden body model, which I will be displaying on my desk. The yellow parasol was also a must, too, as I am obsessed with my black one and have been using it often this summer.

I wasn’t expecting to find such cute accessories at a craft store and couldn’t say no to the hair clips, which I got for a dollar each and the blanket scarf for a whole five bucks! I am madly in love with the lip barrettes, which are so perfect and unique. I have worn them a few times already and the compliments have been pouring in. Such a fun new staple bought with pocket change!

I am so happy with all of my purchases above and I’d be a liar if I said that I didn’t want to hit up PatCatan’s again soon for some more shopping. I am hoping to get a head start on holiday gifts if I make another trip there, so we’ll see what happens!

Who else has had a good shopping haul lately? Where is your favorite place to shop for craft supplies? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Happy Tails Thrift Shop

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Happy Tails Thrift Shop

Hello! Recently, a really cool thrift shop opened up right down the road from me. It is called Happy Tails and all of the proceeds are given to the Akron Humane Society. My mom enjoys volunteering there on the weekends and I love taking my clients there to shop around and find some good deals. And, I found some good deals too! This past month, I got a four drawer filing cabinet (Which I’ve wanted for forever.) and a pair of retro sunglasses for just under eleven bucks. Check it out:

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I am so incredibly happy with my purchases and it’s even better that the money goes to helping our local animals in need. I asked for a filing cabinet for Christmas and, sadly, did not find one under the tree. And, while scoping post holiday sales, a two drawer cabinet was still around forty dollars. I got twice that for ten bucks!

I love the old school locker feel of my new cabinets and I had a blast organizing all of my paperwork in accordion folders so that I no longer have to lug huge binders from home to home. I was able to clear away a ton of clutter to house in my new cabinet and I even left a drawer for my mom to store all of her paperwork in, too. My filing cabinet makes me feel like an adulting champion and there is nothing better than that.

My new sunnies that I got for fifty cents was also a huge success from Happy Tails and I’ve worn them every day since I got them. Within the past year, seventy-five percent of the sunglasses that I’ve owned for years have broke. And, while I’m shopping at Target or TJMaxx, I just can’t justify spending twelve to fifteen bucks on a pair of shades. But, fifty scents for these mini framed, mint green beauties was something that I could definitely swing! I’ve wanted a pair like this for forever, and the funky color makes them unique and so totally fun!

Thrifting can bring tons of amazing steals and when your spendings go to a good cause, it makes it that much more enjoyable. I can’t wait to go shop at Happy Tails again soon. 😀

What is the best thing you’ve found at a thrift store? What are some ways that you shop smart? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Stingy Girl Secret

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Stingy Girl Secret

Hiiii! Okay, so before you read this post, a back story is definitely required. Because, even I have to admit, my Stingy Girl Secret makes me sound like the biggest cheapo on the planet. But, I promise you that this was the most unintentional hack I’ve ever come across. Let’s begin:

As all of you know, I had a really unfortunate oral surgery in December that left me suffering for an entire month. Although I am feeling much better, I am still having issues with beverages that are too cold. During recovery, I could only drink or eat anything that was tepid in heat because of the extreme sensitivity that my mouth was experiencing. With that in mind, we may proceed.

Monday is essentially my busiest day of the week, because I have back to back clients all day. Because of this, I like to get a little treat before I start my work day. AKA, I go to Starbucks after I fill up my car at the gas station. It has been my routine for some time now, and my day always feels off if I falter from that.

Normally, I enjoy an iced coffee to start off my work week. But, after an unfortunate incident, I just haven’t had the taste for it. (Long story short, my mouth started bleeding profusely when I was at a client’s house while drinking my iced coffee. The bleeding had nothing to do with the drink but, for now, I just can’t stomach it.)

Anyways, I’ve been on a big green tea kick from Starbucks since that happened post surgery, but I know that my mouth couldn’t handle a hot or an iced tea. So, upon my first trip back to Starbucks when I felt up to it, I went into the store instead of the drive thru, because this required the utmost sensitivity. I hesitantly walked up to the counter and asked for a room temperature green tea with anxious thoughts rushing through my head.

Is this request even possible?

Will they deny me my request for a not hot but not cold beverage?

Should I just run away screaming and never show my face again?!?!?!

Luckily, I didn’t have to run out of the door in shame and return only with a paper bag on my head, because the barista said I could do an iced green tea with no ice. An iced green tea with no ice?? My god, it’s so simple. So brilliant. So exactly what I needed. An iced green tea with no ice. It was a revelation. I paid for my drink and eagerly awaited for it down the way. Once my name was called, I reached for the cup and I couldn’t believe it.

IT WAS FILLED TO THE BRIM!!!

In my hazy post surgery gone wrong trauma, I really don’t know what I was expecting. For them to just fill the cup halfway because of the no ice request, I guess. But, no. My Trenta cup was filled all the way to the top with BEVERAGE. It was a miracle.

I really didn’t realize how little drink that I was getting from an iced beverage when the ice was actually in it. On my normal Monday morning commute, I would finish my drink on my way to work. But, now that I have a filled to the brim drink, I can sip on it happily for a while when I’m working. And, to this day, I always ask for my iced drink with no ice so that my sensitive teeth aren’t screaming at me and I can get a full whopping thirty ounces of beverage with no questions asked.

Stingy? Yes. But, this find was so unintentional and honestly so simple, it’s a bit stupid. BUT, it was literally the only highlight of the major trauma that I went through last month and I had to share it with all of you. I don’t know what I was getting at with this essay but, I’ve said my piece, and I feel really great about it – so thanks for reading! 😀 lololol

What is one of your stingy secrets? How do you save money when you treat yourself? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Making Sure Accidents Have A Minimal Impact On Your Financial Life

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Making Sure Accidents Have A Minimal Impact On Your Financial Life

Hopefully, you won’t be involved or implicated in any accident throughout your lifetime. But it’s a good idea to prepare yourself in case of accidents and to know what to do if you find yourself injured in an accident. Injury can have a profoundly detrimental effect on your overall health and well being, making it difficult for you to work and, consequently, negatively impacting your finances. Here are a few different ways to avoid the financial strain from happening if you find yourself hurt:

Taking Out Insurance:

A precautionary step that you can take in regards to accidents is to take out insurance. Insurance policies essentially protect you from experiencing financial difficulty if negative events occur in your life. Travel insurance can cover medical costs incurred overseas, such as care, treatments, and procedures. Disability insurance can ensure that you still have an income if you become disabled and are no longer able to work.

Gathering Savings:

Another step to take is to gather savings. This means that if times get financially hard during your process of recovery, you will have funds to fall back on. You won’t have to go without at any point. You can generally gather savings by dedicating a portion of your disposable income to a savings account each time you are paid. Make sure to compare different savings accounts and to choose the one with the best interest rate.

Seeking Legal Help:

It is extremely important that you seek help after an injury if the injury was no fault of your own. Generally speaking, injuries take place in spaces where others are responsible for your safety and well being and, if you have been hurt, someone needs to be held accountable. This goes for injuries that occur in the workplace, in public places, or on commercial premises. Should you have been at work when your injury occurred, you will want to research the best workers’ comp lawyer in Wisconsin (or your local area). Getting help through a lawyer that specializes in workers’ comp not only benefits yourself but your fellow employees. With a job site injury, equipment and safety protocols will be improved to prevent another worker from getting hurt.

Seeking legal help through a lawyer for your specific injury such as a Spine Injury Lawyer can ensure that the same doesn’t happen to someone else in the future, and it can also help you financially. Those in the wrong should pay compensation, which can cover your medical costs and can go towards your lost earnings during your period of recovery. This will help you to avoid going into debt if you have to take time off work to get back to your usual, healthy self.

If you are needing assistance from lawyers, remember to find a firm that specializes in your specific case. You might be surprised to learn that there are lawyers that primarily handle Truck Accident Spinal Injury as opposed to spinal injuries in general. Finding a lawyer that has a ton of experience for your specific situation can only help you. It means that they are well versed on the ins and outs of these cases which can speed up the legal process immensely.

On the flip side, legal help can be sought when you were in the wrong and this can help lessen your punishment in court. Everyone makes mistakes and if no one was harmed if, say, you got a DUI then a lawyer can emphasize that point to the judge. Should this be the case for you, a consultation with a Denver DUI attorney (or your local area) can be most beneficial. Perhaps they can assist in getting driving privileges to work so you can maintain your source of income.

Living Within Your Means During Recovery:

Recovery can be a relatively dull period in our lives. We have limited entertainment and distractions and can quickly grow bored of watching the same television shows each day. So, it’s not all too surprising that many people tend to treat themselves excessively and live beyond their means at this time. They might spend more on comfort food. They might purchase films they’ve not seen before. They’ll buy more reading material. The list goes on and on. But it’s extremely important to live within your means during your period of recovery, or you might find yourself sinking into debt.

These are just a few different steps that you can take in order to ensure that accidents have as minimal of a negative impact on your finances as possible. Incorporate them into your routine as soon as you get a chance!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Incorporating Reclaimed Wood Into Your Home

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Incorporating Reclaimed Wood Into Your Home

Interior design trends tend to sweep the world by storm. But, many of us feel reluctant to engage with them in fear that they will soon fizzle out and we will be left with a property that ends up looking a little dated. However, there are certain trends that have longevity to them and are actually beneficial in regards to more than mere aesthetic value! Reclaimed wood is likely to be one of these. If you’ve spent a little time browsing Pinterest boards or glossy magazines for interior design inspiration lately, chances are that you’ve seen the words “reclaimed wood” thrown about a fair amount – so what actually is reclaimed wood and should it be something that you’re paying attention to? Read on to find out!

Why Reclaimed Wood?

Reclaimed wood is essentially reused or recycled wood. It is wood that has a past and has previously been used in some way or another. Generally speaking, reclaimed wood that is used in interior design has already existed in a home elsewhere and can generally date back as far as the eighteenth century. So why use this wood with history? Well, there are various benefits that come hand in hand with it. The first, is that it tends to have a rustic look and feel to it. This can make your home feel more vintage or have a unique aesthetic. It also has environmental benefits. New wood (which is often unsustainably sourced) tends to contribute towards deforestation and habitat destruction. Why engage with this when there’s already perfectly good wood out there? Be careful to not mix reclaimed wood up with salvaged wood – this is wood that has been cut and stored for several years, but that has simply not been used. It is the interior design equivalent of deadstock vintage clothing.

Sourcing Reclaimed Wood:

It can be relatively difficult to guarantee that any reclaimed wood that you purchase is genuinely reclaimed wood. Some people have noticed that they can sell reclaimed wood at a higher cost, so will simply attempt to make new wood look a little distressed and pass it off as the real deal. To ensure that the reclaimed wood you are using is genuine and of good quality, use reliable suppliers like Manomin Resawn Timbers. They will be able to provide you with everything that you need!

Incorporating Reclaimed Wood Into Your Home:

Now, there are various ways that you can incorporate reclaimed wood into your home effectively. Some inspirational options include:

Hopefully, the above information has helped you to see some of the benefits of reclaimed wood and may have given you some inspiration to start incorporating it into your home!

Featured Image By: Pexels

How To Get Your Foot On The Housing Ladder

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How To Get Your Foot On The Housing Ladder

Getting your foot on the housing ladder can be a difficult (and daunting) thing. What does all of this financial jargon mean, and will we ever understand all of the mortgage-related words that are floating around? And, on top of this, will we be in the endless cycle of renting forever? However, getting your foot on the ladder is a great way to stop wasting money on renting, and it feels really good to be on the road to owning your own home. Read on if you want to know how to do it, and say goodbye to your rented property:

Get a loan:

Ah, the dreaded word. Getting a loan may not be as bad as you actually think, though, and it can help you to cover unexpected moving costs, as well as your deposit and other expenses that you’ll have to pay out. Check the rates before you dive head first into the world of borrowing money, and make sure that there are no hidden terms and conditions that might compromise you in ways that you didn’t expect. Whilst getting the home of your dreams is important to you, it isn’t worth risking too much and acting haphazardly, and loan companies don’t always advertise the downsides.

Speak to a mortgage broker:

The most popular way to get your foot on the housing ladder is getting a mortgage, so speak to a mortgage broker if you’re thinking about choosing this method. There are mortgage experts available to assist with any financial situation, whether you’re dealing with Million Pound Mortgages with LDN Private Clients, or similar experts that deal with modest income. The same thing applies here when it comes to getting a good rate with no hidden costs, but speaking to a professional will help you to establish what you really have to pay out, and how many years your mortgage will cover. It may not be as daunting as you really think, and you won’t be paying it off for the next fifty years, especially if you work out a good repayment scheme with your broker. Get in touch with someone like https://altrua.ca/ if you’re looking for a mortgage broker.

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Help to buy schemes:

If you’re struggling to get into the housing market, then the government could help you with a Help to Buy scheme. For every £200 you save towards your own home, the government will give you £50. This goes up to £3,000 in total that you could get from them, so it is worthwhile if you’re serious about buying your first home. This can help you to secure enough for a deposit and, this isn’t a loan, so you won’t have to pay it back. No matter what country you’re living in, there could be help from the government with buying your own home, so have a look into the options that are out there if you’re looking for a hand with funding from the government. One final option if you need help purchasing a new home or if you are under financial duress could be to learn how to sell a mortgage note. By selling a mortgage note on your old property, you can get cash in hand for the things you urgently need.

There are many ways to get your foot on the housing ladder, and getting a loan is one of them, although you should be careful about what you’re actually signing up for. Most people will have to get a mortgage, so speaking to a mortgage broker (a good one) will help you to get the ball rolling. However, before you visit any mortgage broker, make sure that you have a good basis for a deposit, and the government can usually help you with this. Look into your options, and get yourself on the housing ladder!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Early Holiday Shopping Tips & Tricks

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Early Holiday Shopping Tips & Tricks

Hiiii everyone! If you’re like me, then you like to get your holiday shopping done nice and early. I’ll tell you what, there is nothing better than clearing off your Christmas shopping list in November so that you can relax and be merry all December long. I recently began my shopping for my friends and family and even buying for just a few people has let me breathe a huge sigh of relief.

But, sometimes, holiday shopping can seem like a bit much – especially if you have a large family or group of friends to buy for. And, believe me, I get it. I have a pretty substantial list of people to shop for and that’s why I ball on a budget more than ever during the holiday season with the following tips:

Make A List/Budget:

The very first thing that I do when I prep for holiday shopping is the obvious starter of making a list. I go through everyone in my head that I need to buy for from family to significant others of the family to my boyfriend, BFFs, and colleagues and then write them down accordingly. Then, I include some basic ideas of what to get for each person by their names.

Once I have a good idea of who I need to shop for and what I would like to purchase for them, I set a budget. Normally, I have a pretty set in stone price range that I would like to stay in that applies for everyone. But, there could be certain people that you might want to shell out more or less from depending on the situation. Are you surprising your parents with a holiday gift basket? Awesome, ball out. Do you have a white elephant gift to buy for the office party? Spend a little less. That way your budget will still end up balancing out in the end.

Shopping lists and budgets provide a great guideline for completing your present purchasing in a (Somewhat!) stress-free manner. But, don’t let the price points that you set make you go too crazy! Going over budget is fine if the item is worth splurging on and you know that the giftee will love it. Like I said, there are always deals and hacks to utilize to bring yourself back within your spending limit. Like the following:

Steals, Deals, & Freebies:

My number one rule of shopping is to always get something extra out of your purchases. Whether that be points on a credit card, a free gift, or a BOGO style deal in store, always always shop smart. Do your research on the promotions that your favorite stores are running in store or online. Is a huge Black Friday sale happening? Maybe wait on that big screen TV, then. Is the deal that you can get online even better than what you could get in store? Then you better grab it before it goes out of stock.

Being aware of what promotions that the stores are running is just half of the trick. A good way to go about whether to wait for Black Friday deals or to purchase now is to think about what sales the store ran last year. I worked four Black Fridays in a row and the stores that I worked at ran the same promotions every year and they still do now. So, if those deals are worth waiting for, hold off until Black Friday or Cyber Monday. If not, and a good sale is running already, buying it now is just fine.

The next thing that you should be concerned with, are the deals that you can get with your credit or store rewards cards. Sometimes, it’s worth applying for a credit card just to do your holiday shopping on it. For example, if you apply for an Amazon credit card and get approved, you get a free fifty dollar gift card to spend on the site. Other credit cards will reward you with points or store credit when you use them. Can your cash do that?

And, finally, always compare in store and online prices before you purchase! Some stores will price match if it is cheaper online. And, other stores, like Sephora offer deals that you could never get in store. I spent fifty dollars on their website and got free shipping, two free samples, and two free really nice gifts for spending a certain amount of money. You should try to get the most bang for your buck whenever you’re shopping and free gifts for yourself never hurts!

Ready, Set, Gift Sets:

Gift sets are the bread and butter of my holiday shopping. They are a crowd and wallet pleaser and they are so fun to assemble. Some stores offer stellar pre-made sets that have a lot of product for not as big of a price tag, and those are great, too. If a family member or friend has a more eclectic taste, gift sets are an excellent way to go, because you can give them an assortment of odds and ends that will speak more to their uniqueness than a gift card. Or, if you’re shopping for nieces or nephews, hit up a Five Below and create a goody bag on a dime. And, always remember, that a nice basket or container is part of the gift so pick something nice that can be used again. 🙂

What are your tips and tricks for holiday shopping? Who has their holiday shopping finished already? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Lil Red Loves: Libraries

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Lil Red Loves: Libraries

Hi! Something that I’ve been fond of for as long as I can remember but, even more so this year, is the good ol’ local library. In my neck of the woods, there are plenty of different libraries to go to that have instilled in me a love for reading from story time as a youngin up until now as a twenty something. And, what I have learned this past year, is that libraries aren’t just for checking out books and movies.

Frequenting the libraries in the greater Akron area has become a staple in my day job, as they offer wonderful, educational, and fun programs that are all completely free. My clients and I love visiting different libraries and always end up reaping the benefits that the programs and events have to offer. From gaining knowledge and new hobbies to receiving totally free books like the ones below, the library is definitely the place to be.

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The libraries in my area offer everything from reading with therapy dogs to GED classes and murder mystery dinners. I have been to excellent music concerts with clients and showings of recently released movies in a huge auditorium. I’ve also attended yoga classes, escape rooms, and lessons in meditation all for the cost of absolutely FREE.

Just last week at North Hill Library’s meditation class, there were cardboard boxes full of free books for the taking. Mysteries, romances, fiction, and nonfiction alike were all there to be sorted through and there was no limit to what we could select. My client and I had a blast looking at all of the choices and I ended up picking out all of the above horror style murder mysteries (My favorite!) to take home with me. Will I like all of them? Maybe not, but that’s no harm done, because I can always donate it so that someone else can have what might be their new favorite page turner.

Lil Red will always support establishments that better the community and I am thankful that mine has so many excellent libraries to choose from, because they do just that. Libraries are inclusive to every single person in this world and there is much to be learned and a lot of fun to be had during your next visit to the neighborhood library!

Who else makes good use out of their local library? What type of programs does your library offer to the public? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah