Preparing for a vacation can be both time-consuming and stressful, but taking care of household responsibilities before you leave can make it more relaxing and relieve stress. Four tasks to complete before leaving the house include making it appear as if you've never left, purchasing low-cost timers, keeping subscriptions and mail with the postal service, and setting up automatic bill pay to avoid missing payments on utilities and other important bills.
When traveling, using a Visa card is an easy, convenient, and secure way to pay household bills such as utilities, cable TV, and insurance. It is especially useful for frequent business travelers who are frequently away from home. To ensure that bills are paid on time, it is important to prepare plants and pets, set timers for sprinklers, unplug common appliances, and turn off pilot lights. These tips can help reduce pretravel stress and make your return home sweet.
Preparing to leave town, whether for a long-awaited vacation, an extended business trip, or a weekend getaway, can be both time-consuming and stressful. You don't want to add anything to your to-do list. Taking care of household responsibilities before you leave, on the other hand, can make your return home much more relaxing and relieve stress while on the road. This way, you won't experience a panic attack on the beach or in the boardroom when you realize you forgot to feed the dog or pay an important bill.
Here are four tasks you should complete before leaving the house, as well as some time-saving methods for accomplishing them.
Make it appear as if you've never left. As a safety precaution, whether you're 100 or 1,000 miles away, your house should appear occupied. Purchase low-cost timers that can be programmed to turn on and off radios, televisions, and lights to accomplish this. Piles of newspapers near the front door can be a dead giveaway that no one is at home. To avoid this, keep subscriptions and mail with the postal service (downloadable forms are available online at www.usps.com) or choose to receive bills electronically through bill payment services.
Take care of your responsibilities. Set up automatic bill pay before you leave to avoid missing payments on utilities and other important bills. When traveling, using a Visa card is an easy, convenient, and secure way to pay household bills such as utilities, cable TV, and insurance. This time-saving tool can benefit everyone, but it is especially useful for frequent business travelers who are frequently away from home. Choose between one-time payments and automatic payments to ensure that your bills are paid on time every month, regardless of where you are.
Prepare your plants and pets. If you aren't taking your four-legged friend with you, hiring a pet sitter or making kennel reservations will ensure that your pet is properly cared for. Make arrangements to have your yard cared for while you are away to avoid returning home to overgrown landscaping and dead house plants. Set a timer for your sprinklers and consider placing house plants in shaded outdoor areas near a sprinkler for short trips. Alternatively, ask a trustworthy neighbor to feed your pets and water your houseplants.
Give yourself a break on your energy bills. Turn off your water and gas, and unplug common appliances like microwaves and televisions before leaving. This will reduce unnecessary usage while also preventing damage from energy surges. Set your thermostat to 10 degrees below the outside temperature, or simply turn it off. Turn off your pilot light if you'll be gone for an extended period of time to save the most money.
Following these tips, from putting lights on timers to setting up automatic bill pay, can help reduce pretravel stress and make your return home sweet.
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