4  BEDS

5  BATHS

5520  SQFT

FOR SALE

$975,000

1232 OLEANDER WAY , ODENTON, MD

Window Guards Offer Much Better Protection
Window guards consist of a series of bars, usually made from steel or aluminum, that block a window opening. The bars are spaced 3 ½ to 4 ½ inches apart to prevent a child from squeezing between them. Window guards are available at many hardware and home improvement stores, as well as online. They come in a range of sizes to suit different window types. Window guards can be removed quickly if people need to evacuate the house in an emergency.

Window guards must be screwed tightly into an undamaged window frame. They shouldn’t feel loose if you push or pull on the bars. Even if a window guard only feels loose on one side, it isn’t installed correctly and can’t prevent a fall.

Other Ways to Prevent Accidental Falls
If you have young children, keep beds, couches, tables and any other furniture that a child could climb on away from windows. Make sure there are no objects in the room that a child could stack and climb on to reach a window. If you have double-hung windows that can be opened from both the top and bottom, only open the top pane. If you have not yet installed window guards, don’t leave a child unattended in a room with an open window, even briefly.

Use Window Guards to Protect Your Loved Ones
Windows pose a serious safety risk to young kids, and many parents and caregivers don’t realize the extent of the danger. It only takes a second for a child to fall from a window, and screens offer little or no protection. If you have children, if you’re expecting a baby, or if young kids come to your home to visit, install window guards to prevent accidents.

4  BEDS

5  BATHS

5520  SQFT

FOR SALE

$975,000

1232 OLEANDER WAY , ODENTON, MD

Update your budget. Having a child means one more individual to care and be responsible for. It’s important to reconfigure your budget to include all the expenses that come with having children, such as diapers, childcare, food, etc.

Look over your health insurance. Review your health insurance coverage before having a baby so there aren’t any unexpected bills. After having a child, make sure to add him or her to your plan.

Establish an emergency fund. If you don’t already have an emergency fund, now is the time to start one, as kids are prone to accidents—and raising a child comes with high costs.

Look into childcare. If both parents intend to go back to work after having a child, you’ll need to find a daycare or nanny, which can take time. If possible, start your research while on maternity/paternity leave so you don’t miss more work. Do extensive research to find affordable prices.

Get life insurance. Getting life insurance is an important part of a family’s financial planning, as it ensures dependents are financially taken care of if the family’s main breadwinner dies.

Make or update a will. If you don’t have a will, now is the time to make one to ensure your family is taken care of. If you already have a will, make sure to add all new beneficiaries.

Don’t forget about retirement. It’s important that you don’t forget about retirement while raising a child. You need to keep contributing to your retirement plan and make sure you stay on track.

Start saving for college. College costs are increasing, and the best way to handle these high costs is to start saving as early as possible. Though college is years away for a newborn, the sooner you start to save, the more money you’ll have for your child’s education.

4  BEDS

5  BATHS

5520  SQFT

FOR SALE

$975,000

1232 OLEANDER WAY , ODENTON, MD

Poor Service
If tellers used to greet you by name and no longer do, your bank has poor hours, or you’re forced to go through a phone tree to get a question answered, it’s probably time to find a new bank.

You’ll know if a bank doesn’t meet your needs and it goes beyond a bank employee being rude or not helping you solve a problem. If you’ve talked to the branch manager and your problem still isn’t resolved, visit other banks and see how they’d help you differently.

Won’t Match Interest Rates
Interest rates for loans and savings accounts are at opposite ends of each other, but your bank should offer different types of each that are in line with what other banks are charging or paying.

It’s often worthwhile to shop interest rates and can easily be done online. If you find a better rate on your home loan and your bank won’t at least match it, then it can be worth the effort to move that loan to a new lender. The same goes for savings accounts, which often have higher rates at online banks.

High Fees
Hopefully you’re not enduring high fees for overdrafts or a monthly checking account fee because your account balance isn’t above $1,500. These small dings add up over time, and while they’re only an annoyance if you only face them one month out of the year, they’re worth asking your bank to waive them if you’ve been a customer for years.

If they won’t, chances are you can find a credit union, online bank or another bank nearby that doesn’t charge maintenance fees and has lower fees or none at all.

You’re Moving
Getting a new bank account when you move is common and one you shouldn’t avoid if your bank doesn’t have a branch near your new home. Call your bank’s customer service line to see if it has a branch near you.

You may be able to do all of your banking online, but from time to time you may need to visit a physical branch, so changing to a new bank can be a good long-term move.

4  BEDS

5  BATHS

5520  SQFT

FOR SALE

$975,000

1232 OLEANDER WAY , ODENTON, MD

Always insert the blade before adding food. Set the blade in the work bowl, and make sure the bowl is fitted on the motor base before putting in ingredients. If the blade isn’t sitting correctly, the appliance could break.

Use the pulse button. This function gets you an even chop without the risk of overprocessing. Otherwise, onions and other foods with a high water content can quickly turn into a purée. Use this for chopping nuts or making salsas.

Let hot liquids cool down. For your safety, bring hot ingredients to room temperature before processing.

Purée soup ingredients without stock. Strain out the cooked vegetables from the stock pot, and purée them in the food processor. They’ll blend smoother without liquid. Then whisk the purée back into the strained liquid.

Partially freeze meats and cheeses. Before processing, get the ingredients really cold, but not frozen solid, for the best ground meat and shredded cheese.

Be patient when making nut butters. The longer you process, the softer and silkier the butter will be.

Avoid “mashed” potatoes. Here’s an instance where the food processor won’t come in handy. Cooked potatoes develop a gluey texture when processed with the metal blade. You’d be better off using a stand mixer to make this dish.

4  BEDS

5  BATHS

5520  SQFT

FOR SALE

$975,000

1232 OLEANDER WAY , ODENTON, MD

Have your kids play in designated areas and don’t let them take out too many toys or books at once. Teach your children to clean up after themselves when they’re young. Even babies can be taught to put blocks and other toys in baskets. Once kids are mobile, they can return toys to the places where they belong on their own.

Have your children eat at a table or in a highchair, not on the couch, on the floor, or in bed. Teach them to put their dishes in the sink or dishwasher and to wash their hands after they finish eating so whatever they have on their hands doesn’t get smeared on other surfaces. Sweep, vacuum or mop up messes quickly so they don’t cause accidents or attract insects.

Teach Your Kids to Pitch in
Have separate areas for dolls, trucks, stuffed animals and other types of toys. If your kids play a game with multiple pieces, teach them to clean up before they begin playing with something else. When they finish using crayons or markers, remind your children to check to make sure they are all in the box. Teach your kids to put their jackets, shoes, backpacks and lunchboxes in designated areas when they come home from school. If you enforce these rules consistently, your kids will put their things away without being told.

If possible, do some cleaning when your kids are napping, watching TV, playing outside or participating in other activities. Set aside some time (10-15 minutes should be enough) for everyone to walk around the house and look for any toys, shoes or other items that need to be put away. Play cheerful music and make this a fun part of your family’s daily routine. Going to bed with the house in order and not having to worry about picking up the previous day’s mess in the morning can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed.

If you have young children and struggle to keep your house clean, you’re not alone. Setting realistic expectations, enforcing rules and praising your kids when they do a good job can go a long way. Be clear and consistent so your children can develop positive habits. Tell them that the less time you have to spend cleaning, the more time you will have to spend with them.

4  BEDS

5  BATHS

5520  SQFT

FOR SALE

$975,000

1232 OLEANDER WAY , ODENTON, MD

Put Down the Phone
In today’s world, it’s unusual to see someone without their smartphone. With endless apps, social media and constant contact with anyone in the world, phones have undoubtedly become a major distraction in our daily lives. Once you have your to-do list, put your phone down! Not only will this help with face-to-face communication and self-care, but it will give you more time and energy to dedicate to things you need to get done.

Prep for Meals
Whether you’re cooking dinner for a family of five or packing up lunch for work, it’s much easier and more productive when all of your ingredients are ready to go—or already cooked! Plan out the meals you plan to prepare for the week before you shop, which will  ensure you have exactly what you need at the ready. Pre-cook and pack up lunches the night before to avoid spending more by eating out. The less time you spend digging for ingredients or deciding what’s for breakfast, the healthier and more valuable your life becomes.

Declutter
Being productive isn’t all about planning ahead and making lists. You have to be willing and dedicated to being productive, and that starts in your mind. To dive into a to-do list, whether at home or in the office, you need a clean space. Remove garbage, old paperwork and any other clutter from areas like your workspace and counters. Clearing the area you work in will clear the mind, opening it up for a mess-free, stress-free day.

Set a Timer
When you have a limited time to get something important done, you may be more inclined to complete it quickly. People have a tendency to attempt multitasking, which doesn’t always help productivity. Putting your focus on one singular task while blocking out any other distractions ensures it gets done, and done right. Also, setting a timer can help determine how much time is actually needed in the future and give insight on similar tasks.

Create a Routine
As you start your journey to improving your daily productivity, get yourself into a routine. Learn what times of day you are most productive and accomplish the most tasks, as well as the tools that help you. By prepping food for tomorrow’s lunch or writing a to-do list for the week, you can cut out the stress of forgetting or rushing through tasks. Try to wake up and go to sleep at the same time each day, as well as repeating and reusing these productivity tips, creating a routine for yourself that will help ease the strain of daily chores and improve your life.

4  BEDS

5  BATHS

5520  SQFT

FOR SALE

$990,000

1232 OLEANDER WAY , ODENTON, MD

2. Get the best price. Check the local newspaper, online and at the store for sales and coupons. Ask about a loyalty card for extra savings at stores where you shop. Look for specials or sales on meat and seafood, which are often the most expensive items on your shopping list.

3. Compare and contrast. Locate the “unit price” listed on the store shelf directly below the product. Use the price to compare different brands and different sizes of the same brand to determine which is more economical.

4. Buy in bulk. It’s almost always cheaper to buy foods in bulk. Smart choices are family packs of chicken, steak, or fish and larger bags of potatoes and frozen vegetables. Before you shop, remember to check if you have enough freezer space to store the extra food.

5. Buy in season. Buying fruits and vegetables in season can lower the cost and add to the freshness. If you aren’t going to use them all right away, buy some that still need time to ripen.

6. Ditch the convenience costs. Convenience foods like frozen dinners, pre-cut vegetables, and instant rice, oatmeal, or grits will cost you more than if you were to make them from scratch. Take the time to prepare your own, and you’ll save.

7. Choose cheaper. Certain foods are typically low-cost options all year round. Try beans for a less expensive protein food. For vegetables, buy carrots, greens or potatoes. As for fruits, apples and bananas are good choices.

8. Cook once to eat all week. Prepare a large batch of favorite recipes on your day off (double or triple the recipe). Freeze the portions in individual containers. Use them throughout the week, and you won’t have to spend money on take-out meals.

9. Get your creative juices flowing. Spice up your leftovers by using them in new ways. For example, try leftover chicken in a stir fry or over a garden salad, or use it to make chicken chili. Remember, throwing away edible food is throwing away your money.

10. Be savvy at restaurants. Eating out can be expensive. Save money by getting the early bird special, going out for lunch instead of dinner or looking for “2 for 1” deals. Stick to water instead of ordering other beverages, which add to the bill.

4  BEDS

5  BATHS

5520  SQFT

FOR SALE

$990,000

1232 OLEANDER WAY , ODENTON, MD

2. Eat healthy. Build your diet around vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, plant-based proteins, lean animal proteins and fish. Make smart choices like limiting refined carbohydrates, processed meats and sweetened drinks. Use the nutrition label on packaged foods to cut back on sodium, added sugars and saturated fats, and avoid trans fat.

3. Stay active. Move more–it’s one of the best ways to stay healthy, prevent disease and age well. Adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity each week. If you’re already active, you can increase your intensity for even more benefits. If you’re not active, get started by simply sitting less and moving more.

4. Watch your weight. Stay at a healthy weight for you. Lose weight if you’re overweight or obese. Start by eating fewer calories and moving more. You can check your body mass index (BMI), and if you need help, talk to your doctor about a weight loss plan.

5. Live tobacco-free. If you don’t smoke, vape or use other tobacco products, don’t start. There’s no such thing as a safe tobacco product. If quitting tobacco is a challenge for you, ask your doctor to help you kick the habit using proven methods. And try to avoid secondhand smoke, too!

6. Take your medicine. If you have a health condition, your doctor may prescribe statins or other medications to help control cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure. Take all medications as directed. But don’t take aspirin as a preventive measure unless your doctor says to. If you’ve never had a heart attack or stroke, a daily aspirin may not help you at all and could cause problems, including risk of bleeding. If you’ve had a heart attack or stroke, your doctor may want you to take a low dose of aspirin to reduce your risk of having another.

7. Be a team player. Your doctor is one of the best resources to help you reduce your risk of heart disease or stroke. Work together on your prevention plan and to address current health conditions. Ask questions, and be open about any challenges you may face in trying to make healthy changes. Stress, sleep, mental health, family situations, tobacco use, food access, social support and other issues can all affect your health and well-being.