Welcoming a new baby into the world is exciting, scary and hard work all tied together. Everyone knows that baby proofing your home or apartment is necessary, but most people don’t realize you can save a lot of money by doing all the basics, and not wasting it on things you don’t need. Among some of the most important items are:
Baby Monitor: If you want to spend the extra money on a fancy monitor with a viewing screen, in addition to audio, that’s great. However, the most important thing is to be able to hear your baby. Most monitors have great digital range and can be used well after your child’s baby stage.
Baby Gates: With toddlers especially, who will always attempt to gain access to off limits places, baby gates act as an invisible guard. Make sure that any gate you purchase is high enough so your child can’t climb over. Always install a gate at the top of stairs since tension gates are not always reliable.
Electrical Outlet Blocks: These simple plastic covers have worked for decades and are essential to baby proofing your home. Remember to tie up any cords that are hanging low so your child can’t pull down lamps or computers from a tabletop.
Crib: As special and charming as a passed down crib can be, it’s important to purchase new when it comes to this necessity. Safety codes are always changing and a crib from ten or more years ago, most likely isn’t up to set standards. Cribs that have adjustable sides will allow you to use it longer as your child continues to grow.
Doorknob Covers: These covers are an easy way to block off entry to rooms that you don’t want your child getting into. There are several types on the market, but whatever ones work for your doors specifically are what you should purchase. Doorknob covers work so well, they can even be tough for parents to adjust to. 
Remember that a safe home makes things easier for you as you adjust to life with your new baby. To get the best view of the dangers in your home, get on your hands and knees to view the house from a baby’s level. You might be surprised how much there is for your child to get into.
Recently, Norcom began taking our ‘Norcom Cares’ program to a new level. We started by reaching out to our employees in Avon and throughout the East Coast, asking them to recommend causes they would like to see us getting involved in. The response was overwhelming, as there are so many passionate people at Norcom that want to give back. Here’s what we have been up to lately:
Gifts of Love Backpack Fundraiser: 52 backpacks collected to support a program that provides students and their families meals over the weekend.
Miles for Smiles: $2,169 to fund 9 cleft palate/lip surgeries!
National Kidney Foundation Kidney Walk: Norcom’s Shira Stein and team surpassed their goal of $1,200!
Walk MS Simsbury Walk: $30,199
Walk MS West Hartford Walk: $194,576
Simsbury River Run: 747 runners participated, funding 4 scholarships for Simsbury and Granby high school seniors to attend the college of their choice.
Last weekend we were in two places: the Radio 104.1 Chase Away Animal Hunger Pet Adoption, and the Focus on Canton Walk for Hunger. Hundreds of people came to take home a pet while the participants and sponsors raised enough food, supplies and funds to support over 11 rescue groups.
The Walk for Hunger was a resounding success, raising over $6,578 in donations, sponsorships and registration. We had beautiful weather that allowed our community to come together in support of the local food bank.
For photos from these and other Norcom Cares events, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.746928062013380.1073741829.305347736171417&type=3
We look forward to broadening our participation in various events as Norcom continues to grow.
In a world dominated by technology and information at our fingertips, we have become accustomed to searching the web for what we need, especially when it comes to our role as consumers. We’ve become comfortable skipping the stores and instead browsing websites or pictures online, and the same holds true for buying a home. So what kinds of sites are out there? Which should you use, and what information can you trust?
Realtor.com
This site is operated by the Official National Association of Realtors and has some of the most accurate and up-to-date information on home listings. Their database comes straight from the MLS (multiple listing service) every fifteen minutes. It also provides valuable information on home remodeling trends, how to find out what your home is worth if you are thinking of selling, and other resources in the world of real estate.
Zillow/Trulia
Zillow and Trulia are online real estate databases that allow you to custom search for the type of home you are interested in. They are the top sites for people to use when looking for homes, providing comprehensive search fields for you to sort by price, location, how many bedrooms/bathrooms, days it’s been listed, etc. There are some homes for sale by owner but most listings have a realtor to contact. Perhaps the best part is the amount of photos associated with each listing. Zillow rules the mobile world in terms of an accessible real estate database, while Trulia offers helpful information about local realtors.
Craigslist:
Set up as an online “classified ad” website, you can look for just about anything you want on Craigslist, including homes. Believe it or not, Craigslist was a top search site for home sales before Trulia and Zillow came along, especially with foreclosed properties. While there are reputable listings by realtors, who are using the site as a second place to host their listing, you will find a lot of For Sale by Owner properties on Craigslist. You should be cautious of any listings without photos or minimal information and descriptions.
So, if you are ready to start looking, why not try one of these sites. Keep in mind, however, that the information on them varies, and should be used as a “big picture” tool. When you want real numbers with detailed information, you are better off going to your broker’s website. Also remember that any realtor can show you any home, you do not necessarily need to contact the listing agent assigned to the property.
We’ve seen a couple warm days and the snow is beginning to melt which means we can focus on our favorite outdoor activities. After a long winter it’s nice to get motivated and try something new. There are plenty of opportunities to get outside and discover what’s in your backyard.
Hiking: A great form of exercise is to go hiking. Take the family, some friends or your dogs and find the local trails your area has to offer. Find a mountain trail or a path along the beach, if available. All you need is a pair of good walking shoes or sneakers.
Golfing: Contrary to popular belief, golfing can be very affordable to pick up. There are plenty of stores and online resources for finding used clubs. For all the costly courses, there are several public courses that offer a cheaper round of golf. You can practice at a driving range and even practice your short game in your back yard.
Running: After a winter stuck on the treadmill, take your workout outdoors. All you need is a good pair of supportive running shoes. There’s a big difference between running on the treadmill and the road, so remember to stretch and warm up before your runs.
Biking: If you have an old bike, dust it off and put some air in the tires. There are shops that sell used bikes as well. If you think you will spend a lot of time biking for exercise, invest in a new one! Pick a spot to bike to for a picnic or commit to riding it for small errands instead of taking the car if you are able to.
Regardless of the activity you choose, take advantage of the warmer weather and get out in the sun. When you switch up the options for exercise, it becomes less daunting and more enjoyable.
