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While we all know water is essential for our health, not all of us enjoy chugging those recommended eight daily glasses. Or maybe it’s your child who refuses to drink plain old water. Below are a few tips to help you up your water intake.

Add flavor. A squeeze of citrus, fresh mint or a handful of blueberries can make drinking water a bit more fun. Make sure to keep these twists simple and fresh, and avoid sweeteners (artificial or otherwise), which can have health repercussions.

Swap in tea. Unsweetened herbal tea can aid your water consumption, especially if you’re steeping the bags yourself, which helps assure there are no sneaky additives. Add a hot cup of herbal first thing in the morning and before bed to squeeze in a few more fluid ounces.

Choose fruit. While this should not replace the water you drink, focusing on a few juicy fruits a day can help keep you hydrated. Try watermelon or oranges for a fresh liquid burst.

Keep it cold. If you enjoy cold beverages, then keeping chilled water around can help you drink it down faster.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Did your toddler scribble on the walls? Or perhaps a year or two of wear and tear have your interior paints looking less than pristine. If your walls could use a little TLC, but you’re not quite ready for a fresh coat of paint, consider the following methods for freshening up.

Latex Paints
Whether you have dirt or dust clogging up your paint job, all you need to do is mix a few drops of dish soap into warm water, soak and wring a sponge, and go. Be sure to wring the sponge to avoid long drips making their way down your walls and right into your electrical socket.

If you don’t want to use dish soap, two tablespoons of white vinegar to one gallon of water will also do the trick.

Warning: Never use a scrubby sponge, brillo pad or harsh cleaning solution, or you could risk ruining your paint job.

Oil-Based Paints
If your interior paint is oil-based and soap or vinegar just aren’t cutting it, you can safely use a mild degreaser”especially helpful on greasy kitchen walls. Just be sure to follow the instructions on your package carefully to avoid ruining your paint.

Again, avoid harsh scrubbing pads or other cleaners, or you may find yourself repainting, pronto.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Having a child can require many adjustments. Losing sleep and changing dirty diapers are just some of the things parents have to deal with. And even though you’re probably a little sleep deprived right now, there are some financials you’ll have to think about, as well.

Here are five financial moves parents should put at the top of their to-do list after coming home with a new baby:

Revise Your Budget
Children can be expensive, especially in the first year when new costs you’ve never experienced crop up. Diapers, formula, a crib, a changing station, car seats, toys and clothes are just some of the items you’ll have to purchase. Day care may also be needed if both parents are working full time. Some families may need a bigger car or house, and that require more long-term financial planning.

Revise your family budget and find ways to cut costs, if necessary. Since medical bills will likely go up, check with your employer about starting a health savings account so you can use pre-tax money to contribute to an account for your familys medical costs.

Save for College
A 529 college savings plan can help you save for college costs. Contributions grow tax-free and arent taxed when withdrawn to pay for qualified educational expenses, such as tuition. More than 30 states offer a full or partial tax deduction or credit for 529 plan contributions.

As of 2018, each parent and grandparent can contribute up to $15,000 per child and exclude the money from gift or estate taxes. If four grandparents contribute, that could mean $60,000 per year in a 529 plan.

Update Your Life Insurance
Any major life change should lead to a discussion with your life insurance agent. In the case of a parent death, you could be left to pay and take care of your child by yourself. Insurance can, however, provide money to pay for childcare or a lost income. You’ll also want to update your beneficiaries in case something happens to you.

Update Your Estate Plan
As with life insurance, you’ll have to update your estate plan documents when you have a new baby. Wills and trusts should be updated to include a guardian for minor children and to determine who has control over your assets. Without an update, a court could appoint a guardian for you.

Also update your beneficiary designation forms for your 401(k) and other retirement plans, along with any other bank accounts that arent designated in a will.

Organize Your Records
Make paper copies of key records such as the birth certificate, Social Security card and immunization record. Order three copies of your childs birth certificate so you have one and your child has one later in life.

Keep a record of immunizations, which will be needed if your child goes to day care. Put everything in a fire-proof safe.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Your purse or wallet can be more than just a place to pull your money out of so you can spend it. It can also store a few things to remind you to use less money, or at least use it well.

Here are five things to keep in your wallet that can help you use your money well:

Cash
If you follow the rule of only spending the amount of cash you have on you, then youll never have to pay credit card late fees or interest rates on charges, or pay to withdraw your money from an ATM not connected to your bank.

Studies have shown that people spend less money when using cash instead of a credit card. Cash is tangible with value attached to it, while a plastic credit card may not seem like actual money.

That said, using only cash should be a reminder to keep within your budget and not to return to the ATM to withdraw money again and again.

Reward credit cards
Credit cards can get you to focus less on the cost of what youre buying, which isnt a good thing. But if you can control your spending and pay off your credit card balance off every month, then a card that offers rewards or discounts can be worthwhile.

Some credit cards reward more points for certain purchases, so using one card at a grocery store and another at a gas station can pay off with more rewards at the end of the month.

Coupons
Carrying around an envelope full of coupons can be cumbersome. If you cant remember to take specific coupons with you on a shopping trip, then always carry coupons for your favorite department store or restaurant so that youll have them whenever you need them.

Loyalty cards
Smartphones are making store loyalty cards easier to carry by opening an app. They can lead to cash discounts or free items by swiping your loyalty card at checkout.

If you go to some stores regularly that only have the physical loyalty cards, be sure to keep those in your wallet. Some stores tie your card number to your phone number, so all you have to do is recite your phone number to collect reward points.

At the very least, seeing a loyalty card is a reminder that you should shop around for the best deal, regardless of if you have a loyalty card at the store offering the best price.

Health Savings Account card
A card for a Health Savings Account, or HSA, is a reminder to use the cards pre-tax dollars that youve saved for medical services and prescriptions. Without the card you may forget to use the money, which can save you 35 percent by not taxing income put into an HSA.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Digital nomads who work while traveling need to keep their tech devices updated and in good shape if they want to succeed. Without them, their productivity could suffer and could cost them their jobs. Here are some tech must-haves for the remote worker:

Portable Wi-Fi Router
Internet connections at hotels, coffee shops, libraries and other public places can be unreliable. Having your own portable Wi-Fi router that allows you to wirelessly connect multiple devices at the same time can be a lifesaver.

You can buy a Wi-Fi hotspot, such as a Karma Go, for immediate online access. The easiest way may be through your smartphone, which allows you to create your own private Wi-Fi network wherever theres cellular coverage. Check with your phone carrier for what type of Wi-Fi router service is offered on your phone.

Wi-Fi Range Extender
If youre in a hotel where the internet speed is slow, it could be because youre far from the router. A Wi-Fi range extender can help by increasing the coverage areas and boost the strength of slow connections in areas farther from the router.

Youll need the networks password and to at least be on the edge of the signal. You can use your hotels free internet network and password to connect the extender. A range extender can either plug into a wall socket to pick up the signal, or have a mini antenna that plugs into the USB port of your laptop.

Portable Charger
Who hasnt seen their phone or other electronic device die on the road due to lack of power? A portable charger is a must-have while working remotely, and will charge your phone and other devices on the go without you having to be near an electrical outlet.

Portable chargers come in all shapes and sizes, holding varying amounts of power. Find one that will fit in your pocket for easy charging, then upgrade to a larger one if you need it.

Electric Converter
If youre traveling outside of the United States, you may need an electric converter to plug your phone or other electronic devices into.

Electric plugs differ in some countries, and you wont be able to plug your U.S. device into an outlet in Japan, for example, without a converter plug. Its a simple thing to have, and one you dont want to forget on a trip abroad.

Published with permission from RISMedia.