If you’re a big lover of geek media (comics, anime, games, and the like), and you have the look to pull of a few of your favourite characters, then the temptations to get into cosplay can very strong indeed. It’s a welcoming hobby, but it can also be pretty daunting! Not only do you have to make a little bit of a show of yourself, but you need to expect people to want to take pictures all day. So, if you’re a little on the shyer side, it can be pretty essential to make sure you’re able to bring out your confidence for the event itself.

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Get your practice in

Worried about how an outfit is going to look after you’ve been moving around in it for an hour? Then take the time to practice wearing it at home, first. Organize a DIY photoshoot as shown at Cosplay and Coffee to see how well you photo in it, and then take a look back over it to get used to seeing yourself in a new costume. Given how out there some cosplay costumes can be, it might take a second to get acclimated to your new look.

Smile for the camera

One part of photographing for cosplay is that, even if your character the moody un-smiley type, you’re likely going to want to smile for cameras and to let out how much fun you’re having. If you’re not confident in your smile and your teeth, however, that can be a bit of a challenge. If you want to make cosplaying a real hobby, it might be worth looking into straightening treatments like SmilePath. Talking to your dentist about whitening treatments can help brighten up your smile big time, too.

Don’t forget your bag of tricks

Cosplaying can be tough! You can be moving around a lot, you can spend a lot of time posing and, while that might not sound like much, it can get pretty tiring by the end of the day. What’s more, it can really put your make-up through its paces. You don’t want to be worrying about whether or not your face is falling off while posing for a photo, so make sure you take a little bag of your makeup essentials with you and a hand-mirror so you can quickly check and touch up whatever you need.

The confidence to say no

Let’s be real, a lot of people find cosplay attractive. A lot of people also don’t have a good understanding (or sometimes respect) of a woman’s boundaries. If you’re worried that you might find the occasional person who will be weird about your cosplay, well, you’re not wrong. But you have to know what your boundaries are in advance and be willing to put your foot down. Stop any unwanted handsy behaviour or anything else that crosses those boundaries by mentally preparing for it, and try rope in friends to watch your back as well. Cosplay is not consent, after all.

Remember, cosplay is about having fun. If there’s something you’re not confident about wearing or doing, don’t force yourself!

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There’s nothing more worth protecting than your family’s future. One way you can ensure a brighter future for your loved ones is with proactive financial planning. As well as focusing on your current spending and saving, look to the long term. Set up the right retirement plan for you and check your insurance and estate planning are in order. There also may be ways you can cut costs or investment options available to you. Here are five tips for future-proofing your family’s finances.

It’s never too early to start estate planning

Estate planning is a secure way to manage your finances for the future. Your estate includes all the assets you own such as property, business, and possessions. It’s never too early to prepare for what happens to these when you’re no longer around. Write a will and name your beneficiaries. You could also consider setting up trusts for family members.

Diversify your investments

It’s not a good idea to keep all your eggs in one basket. If you have investments, it’s better to diversify your investment portfolio. This means investing in different things that won’t be affected in the same way by economic or social change. Types of investments include property, businesses, bonds, and stocks. Be smart about your investments and spread the wealth between them.

Be proactive about your pension

You should already be thinking about your retirement even though it may seem like a long way off. Figure out the best plan for you. Speak to your employer and find out if there are any options to pay a private pension. Do your research and weigh the pros and cons of 401 (K) vs. pension plans, for example. A financial advisor will be able to suggest the best solution for you according to your unique situation.

Protect your business’s finances

If you run your own business you need to make sure this is protected as well. Keep your personal and business finances separate by creating a business account under a separate entity. Protect your business against possible lawsuits by enlisting the help of a criminal defense attorney. These can end up being costly otherwise. You may also want to consider the possibility of a family member taking over your business assets in the future and this should be part of your estate planning.

Ensure you’re on the right deals
In order to reduce your spending make sure you’re on the right deals. This includes basic expenses such as utilities and WiFi. Shop around and find out if another provider can offer you a better contract. Also, look into whether you’re entitled to any benefits or a tax credit. There may well be something you’ve missed. Use price comparison sites to find the best deals on insurance. If you want to future-proof your family’s finances, you should set up life insurance, for example. The more informed you are the better, and it will give you peace of mind that your loved ones will be protected in the future.

Scrabble is a well-loved game that is the ultimate combination of language, strategy and board gaming. It is often found in people’s homes, in bars, board game cafes, etc. 

Winning a game of Scrabble does not come easily, particularly when playing with people who have large and sophisticated vocabularies.

Learning some scrabble skills will help along the way of taking ownership of the scrabble board and becoming champion every time! 

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1. Don’t plan too far ahead of the game 

When you draw your letter tiles, you may find you have the perfect high scoring word available, right near that triple word score square on the board. However, the fact that this strategy game is for at least 2 players, the other players will see the same opportunities that you do. Therefore, it is best to not stockpile your high scoring letters for opportunities later on, as other players will want to jeopardise other players’ chances of winning, too. 

1. Create two words at once by utilizing the letter ‘S’ 

Adding ‘s’ to the end of an existing word on the board to pluralize it creates an entirely new word. There is then potential to create other words that start with the letter ‘s’, too. This gives you the opportunity to create more than one word. 

You should use this wisely, though. With only 4 ‘S’ tiles in the game, use this strategy to earn at least 10 points to make it a worthwhile choice. 

1. Learn two and three-letter words 

Two and three-letter words can boost a game score by up to 50 points!

They are beneficial within a game as they can help to open up areas of a game board that have previously been blocked off. They also minimize the need to pass your turn when the board begins to get cluttered deeper into the game. 

1. Check for opportunities to use your entire deck 

A move such as using all of your letter tiles early on, though exceptionally rare, could decide the winner of the game later on. This ‘scrabble bingo’ score could potentially add 50 points on top of a player’s usual score. 

Even better is having the opportunity to move towards the double word and triple word score tiles early on. A well-executed move could turn your score into triple digits. 

1. Be wise when using parallel words

Using parallel words is a good way of getting rid of vowels while still gaining points toward the end of the game. Playing vowels parallel to another word already on the board means you still obtain points for every new word created. 

Wait for that sweet spot near bonus squares, or even with a high-value letter. Knowing two and three-letter words will prove to be useful at this point.

1. Swot up on scrabble suitable words 

Use a Scrabble word finder if you are ever unsure whether a word can be used during a game. Learning new words will not only help you to win games of Scrabble, but they will also help with increasing your vocabulary, which can also aid your personal and professional life. 

Understanding your financial habits is the first process when you want to build the right habits. Even though there is no magic formula to managing finances, some simple things done the right way will give the desired freedom. You will only be a better manager if you can track your spending and know if you’ve got a negative or positive cash flow. 

Set goals on paper, budget for the monthly pay, start saving, pay all the credit card dues, and have a positive credit score; this can relieve you’ve been yearning for years. Even though this can be a positive gesture, let’s get more in-depth and know how you can organize your finances. 

Set Financial Goals

When setting your goals, be specific on the short-term and long-term goals. Developing the saving habit may seem short but will steer you in realizing the long-term goals like owning property or walking to early retirement. For short-term needs, budget on your salary, pay yourself after accomplishing a challenging task, or sponsor yourself for a vacay. 

On the other hand, prioritize the long-term ones since they are of great importance. Plan on how you’ll acquire a home, start a family, progress in your career – all these are pegged on sound financial planning.

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Have A Financial Plan

While everyone has a goal to accomplish, the only difference between the two of you is a plan. When you have a crafted plan in milestones, attaining a goal is foreseeable. Develop a spending plan, budget effectively, and eventually, you’ll stay out of debt. This is one way you can achieve financial freedom. 

If you can achieve the above plan, chances are your goals will be accomplished at the stipulated time. You’ll have good financial habits and extra cash that enhances goal achievement. You can invest or start a business depending on what you prioritize. 

Stick to A Budget

A budget is one of the critical tools for successful financial planning. From the onset, plan and allocate money to every purchase to help track your spending habit. This is the only way you’ll attain your goals since everything finance follows a detailed plan.

Whether the budget is detailed or not makes it necessary that your spending is accounted for in the plan. This way, you’ll not overspend and have money for emergencies, savings, and paying debts. 

Pay Debts

The only hurdle to attaining financial freedom is a debt – a reason to pay off the debts as soon as possible. If it proves hard to factor in the debt payments, you can have a debt elimination plan to help in the repaying process. For example, if you have accrued bank debts amounting to $50,000 – budget on your monthly spending to see how much you’re left with at the end. From there, allocate a specific amount like $4,000 to repay the debts. In one year, the debt will be fully repaid. 

However, if you encounter challenges with the bank during the debt period, the Maatouks Law group comes in handy to help you negotiate with the bank for a better deal. Once you finish the payment, stick to your budget and commit to staying debt-free. You can leave the credit cards at home or set an emergency fund to help during a crisis. 

Managing your finances doesn’t have to be an uphill task. The focus of setting your goals, plan for the goals, budget your spending, pay the debtors and seek financial advice. If you invest in these hacks, your financial habits will fall into shape, and you’ll never worry about finances ever!

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The power of feature furniture is that it draws the eye and adds a personal touch to any room. You can find feature pieces new or second-hand, or even consider repurposing old furniture. Whether it’s an antique bookshelf or quirky cabinet, and a fun new piece of furniture can be practical as well as stylish. As long as you get the measurements right, and find something that matches your original decor, shopping for feature furniture can be a lot of fun. Here are five useful tips to get you started.

Design a floor plan

Rearranging furniture is an example of the changes you can make to your home this year to shake things up a bit. Design your floor plan carefully and take accurate measurements. You want your new feature piece to fit neatly into the room. It should be functional as well as eye-catching and improve your living space overall. Think about what the room is lacking, whether it’s storage or you simply have an unused space that needs a bit of embellishment.

Match colors and shapes

Learning how to match colors in interior design can be tricky. Look at the existing tones and patterns in your decor and try to find something to complement these. Take the angles of the room and the shapes of your current furniture into consideration as well. A round object might not fit into a perfectly perpendicularly organized room. On the other hand, perhaps a contrast that works will help draw the eye to your new piece. Shop around and look at examples to get some ideas. 

Add a personal touch

A new feature piece should reflect your own unique style and taste. It’s a great opportunity to add a touch of character to a room and this should represent your personality. If you find something that really draws your attention, go for it. Whether your style is vintage, contemporary, minimalist, or ornate, the important thing is that it appeals to you.

Check out second-hand options

If you’re on a bit of a budget, why not consider going second-hand? You can find a number of used items in near-perfect condition. Look for hidden gems that suit your style and personality. There are plenty of places you can find such items like markets and countless websites. If you need furniture shipped privately you can use companies such as Shiply. They will be able to move your furniture for you at a time that’s convenient for you and for an affordable price.

Consider upcycling
Another cost-effective solution is to experiment with upcycled furniture ideas. Perhaps you have old furniture you can revamp or you can buy second-hand items to repurpose cheaply. This is a much more original way to fill your home with feature furniture. You’ll end with a unique feature that will definitely be a conversation piece among your guests. If you’re creative enough, anything is possible. Have some fun decorating your home and bring a more individual look to your space this year.