(NewsUSA) -  

Writers of the Future, Volume 38
presented by L. Ron Hubbard

In the World of Science Fiction & Fantasy, this Anthology stands out for the stories, art, and extras.

Which will you love most? Discover 25 award-winning authors and illustrators. The best new stories selected by some of your favorite authors—including Brandon Sanderson, Orson Scott Card, Nnedi Okorafor, and Jody Lynn Nye. These diverse stories will fill you with wonder. And a few just might break your heart.

“The Writers of the Future collection is exciting and engrossing, across the spectrum of SF and fantasy, space opera and epic fantasy. These stories explore new mysteries and ideas.” --Publishers Weekly

Bonus short stories by Frank Herbert, L. Ron Hubbard, and David Farland. Volume 38 is a treasure.

Purchase at http://bit.ly/3ERPzcn.

Singing Lessons for the Stylish Canary
by Laura Stanfill

Suspenseful and heartwarming, a whimsical journey full of friendship, adventure, and self-discovery. Georges Blanchard is revered in the small French town of Mireville as a master serinette maker and for a miraculous incident in his childhood that earned him the title "The Sun-Bringer." As his firstborn son, Henri Blanchard is expected to follow in his footsteps, but Henri would rather learn to make lace than music boxes.

When Henri discovers a stash of American letters in his father's drawer, he learns he's not the firstborn son at all: Henri has an older half-brother born to one of Georges's American customers. When he crosses the ocean to encounter his half-brother, Henri discovers there's an entire world beyond Mirevilleace and there may be a perfect place for him yet.

Purchase at http://bit.ly/3EwxVJP.

The Hawk’s Flight: Book Two of the Three Brothers Trilogy
by Elizabeth R. Jensen

From award-winning author Elizabeth R. Jensen comes a gripping tale of adventure and the unbreakable bond of family. 

After twenty years of peace in the land of Etria, war has come crashing across its borders. Both Wanonia to the north and Ruschmann Blackwell to the south have waged attacks. Suddenly, three young brothers find themselves thrust into the role of battlefront soldiers. Following separate paths, the three hone their skills and fight for their people. 

Years pass as friendships are tested and lives are lost. Only then are the brothers reunited on a top-secret diplomatic mission. Can their bond as brothers withstand the challenges they face, or will they become the latest casualties of the dragon sorcerer?

Purchase at https://bit.ly/3h3dVa3.

Visions of Johanna
by Peter Sarno

Johanna, an artist, and Matt, a music critic, couldn’t be more different, but by a simple twist of fate, she plucks him from a crowd at a Dylan concert. What follows is a heady and intense relationship buffeted by the usual suspects that gently rocked the ‘80s. Matt’s lessons in art—as well as life—at the hands of Johanna drive the novel into pockets of feminism and quiet revolution. All of this is tempered by deeply held traumatic secrets that torque their intimacy.

The novel travels through time and social unrest to the final moment. Within its pages, tragedies haunt, acts of moral goodness manifest themselves, and benevolence reigns with a finality that absolves all. "A beautifully intimate romance that doesn't shy away from challenging topics," says Publishers Weekly's BookLife.

Purchase at https://bit.ly/3HoJ5DG.

BookBites is presented by BookTrib.com.

(NewsUSA) -  

“Battlegrounds”
by Stephen A. Carter       

A young John Saxton looks on helplessly as brutal slavers on the slave ship “Wanderer” throw their human cargo overboard to avoid capture by the American Naval Patrol. From then on, the Boston shipping heir and his giant Maasai mentor Matari  (Marcus Brown) become implacable abolitionists.  

A supporting cast of unforgettable characters are caught up in a web of murder, dark secrets and political intrigue. Arrayed against them are two arch villains, Horatio Garrow and his hapless henchman, Harley Blackstone.  

Saxton and his beautiful Black bride, Virginia, survive a dangerous milieu of Confederate espionage, high treason and the siege of Fort Sumter all brought to the fore by one man ... President Abraham Lincoln. This is book one in the four-book Matari Series.

Purchase at https://bit.ly/3Ws0Zug.

“Benghazi”
by Salah el Moncef  

Salah el Moncef’s “Benghazi” is the exquisitely crafted story of a teenager confronted with two equally repressive forces: the dictatorial rule of Italian fascism and the stultifying codes of patriarchy. Stymied and stifled by both, she finds hope and inspiration in the words of a charismatic Tuareg woman.  

Critically acclaimed as a masterpiece of war fiction, “Benghazi” delivers a spellbinding chronicle of the dreary days of European totalitarianism, along with the harrowing tale of a woman’s triumph over the traumas of war and family. A lush, immersive gem of a story from a wordsmith at the height of his powers. “Moncef transforms prose into poetry,” says Michigan Quarterly Review. “Absolutely beautiful,” adds Manhattan Book Review.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3N0l4U5.

“Secondary Break: An NBA Dad’s Story”
by Marvin Williams Sr.  

Named by Book Authority as one of the Best Basketball Books to read in 2021, this book is about more than just basketball. It is about a young man who came from a dysfunctional and abusive family and fell in love with the sport of basketball. His love and passion for the game would take him on a lifelong journey, a journey of disappointments, setbacks and finally triumph. This book will show how, by continuing to follow your passions and dreams, anything can be possible.  

The author is the father of NBA player Marvin Williams Jr. He coached basketball for more than 30 years and is a member of Fathers and Men of Professional Basketball Players.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3fnoVyb.

“Jack Mathias and the Boonetown Bandits”
by G.M. Savage      

He’s known as the class clown  --  the kid with a lot of nerve. And some believe 13-year-old Jack Mathias is too confident for his own good. His audacious practical jokes and impulsiveness frequently land him in hot water, and growing up seems a world away. However, a sudden wild adventure with his unlikely companions, Gene (the nerd) and Edgar (the shy outcast), thrusts Jack toward maturity with more of a shove than normal life would ever have managed.  

The trio’s illicit and desperate quest to find a long-hidden treasure leads them into great danger, challenging their wits and testing the limits of their physical and mental endurance. Will Jack discover the ancient jewels and a different version of himself in the process?

Purchase at https://bit.ly/3WIHiOS.

NOTE: BookTrib’s Bites is presented by Booktrib.com.

(NewsUSA) -  

“Nad of Nadide”
by Wagih Abu-Rish       

This book has been called by Literary Titan “as enticing as the Shakespearian classic Romeo and Juliet, maybe more.” Labeled “an engrossing drama” by The Prairies Book Review, this is a story about love in a maze of social, religious and political obstacles.  

After his love affair with the stunning Lebanese Dania takes a turn for the worse, Fareed Shaheen transfers to university in Istanbul, where he meets the lovely Nad. He falls in love once again, but Nad’s father, General Ali Hikmet, is an intimidating man who has no intention of letting his daughter marry a man of mixed origin. Will the lovers prevail?  

Prairies Book Review adds, “Beautifully written and carefully crafted, this poignant meditation on love and desire makes for a winner.”

Learn more at http://bit.ly/3AnQJdd.

“Pure Dynasty”
by Leila Almarzoh  

In this young adult science fantasy, Isabel, a seemingly ordinary teenager, holds an unexpected secret: She can sense people’s emotions, feeling others’ pain, joy, anger and sadness as if they were her own. Isabel soon learns she is not the only one with a hidden secret; her siblings all have different abilities. They will all find out what is happening as they come together to learn their family descends from witches.  

Isabel and her siblings Molly, Anthony, Austin and Rene fight against a powerful entity that has trapped their father in another realm. It’s time to awaken their abilities and become stronger. The battle is coming; Isabel needs to be ready. The planet is in danger. Magic, time-travel, aliens and spirits -- everything is connected.

Purchase at https://bit.ly/3CZcull.

“Driving Unclaimed Cargo”
by Rick Mammoth  

When the U.S. military decides it is in their strategic interest to update its nuclear assets, it chooses to move the American nuclear arsenal to locations all over the country, preventing the currently centralized location from being wiped out too quickly. Even if a 99 percent success rate is achieved, one failure could occur.  

A bomb is misplaced, and it’ll take the work of a secret internal government organization and its operatives to bring it back. However, to reduce the number of connections back to the U.S. government, they decide to use an inexperienced non-government employee to do most of the work. His inexperience is noticeable. Follow along as they work against the current to return a bomb to its rightful owner in this action-packed adventure comedy.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3DOEGaV.

“Fred the Fox Finds His Family”
by Jerry Winningham  

When Fred’s family does not come home, he is taken in by various animal families over time. During his time with these families, he realizes that he is not like them and feels isolated and alone. This causes him to search for a new home where he would feel he belongs. In the end, Fred realizes something about family that he will never forget.  

Says one reviewer, “Beautifully told and illustrated, “Fred the Fox Finds His Family” shares a touching story of the real way a family is made. The unexpected story of finding one’s place in a family through discomfort -- but ultimately love -- was a refreshing approach with a positive message. All wrapped up with a pleasantly surprising ending and endearing artwork.”

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3EGwKtj.

NOTE: BookTrib’s Bites is presented by Booktrib.com.

(NewsUSA) -  

“Battlefield Earth, Expanded 21st Century Edition”
by L. Ron Hubbard       

It’s the year 3,000, a thousand years after an alien invasion nearly exterminated the human race and left the cities in crumbling ruins -- a post-apocalyptic graveyard. The vicious aliens hunt the remaining survivors for sport. A young hero rises from the ashes and rallies the scattered tribes in an all-out rebellion for freedom that erupts across the continents of Earth and the cosmic sprawl of the Psychlo Empire.   You will love this classic sci-fi novel because of the characters.  

“Pulse-pounding, mile-a-minute sci-fi action-adventure.” --Brandon Sanderson  

“Non-stop and fast-paced.” -- Kevin J. Anderson  

“Over 1,000 pages of thrills, spills, vicious aliens and noble humans. Un-put-downable.” -- Neil Gaiman  

“This has everything: suspense, politics, war, humor, and intergalactic finance.” -- Publishers Weekly “A vivid movie of the mind.” -- AudioFile “Epic story.” -- Booklist

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3S5URnY.

“The Angkor Abduction”
by Austin I Pulle  

When sex-traffickers kidnap a beautiful Eurasian teenager when she is on a school trip to the famous Angkor Wat complex in Cambodia, Alex reluctantly agrees to join in the search but then finds himself fighting a ruthless former Khmer Rouge warlord to rescue the beautiful Imogen and reunite her with her mother.  

Alex had pressed the reset button on his life and relocated to manage the Singapore office of a Texas billionaire. He had hoped for a quiet, successful run, but fate has other plans. Now in a race against time to save the girl from being auctioned off to a select group of billionaire crime bosses, he realizes the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.  

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3Crn0BE.

“Did We Learn Anything from WTC Towers Collapse?...”
by  Gregory Szuladzinski  

The best known and the most extensive engineering investigation into the collapse of World Trade Tower 1 is presented in  National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) reports. But the author argues that the work failed to demonstrate the mechanism of failure. Now, some 21 years after the disaster, the damage done by premature destruction of evidence cannot be undone. However, the analytical part can be corrected and completed.  

This book presents at least three types of material: the discussion of the report as presented by NIST volumes; the background material and information to better grasp what is missing or poorly explained results in the NIST and the analysis of expected results of a similar attack against the new 1-WTC building.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3y4NjuQ.

“Evil’s Promise”
by Daniel O. Noorlander Jr.    

This is the second in a three-part series on what Rush Limbaugh taught for one-third of a century sitting behind the Golden EIB Microphone. Rush was unwavering in his defense of America against the left and their effort to destroy America as founded. This book focuses on what leftists oppose and why. It constitutes a warning from Rush to shun the left and reject their attempt to regulate every aspect of your life.  

Books dedicated to Rush’s memory must include a discussion of what he taught about evil and how to avoid it. Sample chapters, reviews of the author’s favorite Rush segments and a blog about the Rush Revere series of books can be found at TributeToRush.com.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3M3A8zY.

NOTE: BookTrib’s Bites is presented by Booktrib.com.

(NewsUSA) -  

“Love Letters to the Virgin Mary”
by David Richards       

King David is a mortal man who has spent all his life looking for a love he is unable to satisfy. As the pandemic blossoms its dark pollen over the earth, he sees a picture of a woman on Instagram. Over the course of several months, he comes to understand she is the Virgin Mary reborn, and that he has been resurrected as the God of Thunder to bring heaven to earth, and finally meet his Son.  

If you are someone who enjoys books that put your mind to the test, this one’s for you. Written by a life-strategist, number-one international bestselling author and speaker on personal development, this love story is so unique and created from a web of Bible stories, marvel and history.

Purchase at  http://bit.ly/3EPOF08.

“Atom & Molly: The Wireframe Edition”
by Norman Katz  

“Atom & Molly: The Wireframe Edition” is the imagining of a relationship between two perfectly paired particles: Atom, an atom, and Molly, a molecule. Across 95 panels, discover the humor, science and culture involved in their personalities and careers, and meet the other sub-atomic characters in their microscopic world.  

As described by the tag line “The World’s First Sub-Atomic Comic,” “Atom & Molly” is the first comic that uses sub-atomic particles as anthropomorphic characters themselves and brings them to life. The comic’s creator provides commentary with each panel that develops the background storyline and engages the reader’s curiosity. Suitable for children, teens and adults, “Atom & Molly” is a humorous look at science via a relationship and a funny look at a relationship via science and culture. Visit www.atomandmolly.com for more information.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3Rl8P57.

“Harley’s Harlequin Heart”
by  Christina Jaeger   Whether you’re a dog lover, have experienced a similar event, or just want to be your best self and make the world a better place. For children and adults alike, this first “Paw Crusaders” book follows Harley, a Harlequin Great Dane. Readers will experience Harley’s joy as he learns doggy lessons and lives life to the fullest. Your heart will warm seeing his family rally around him when he learns he has bone cancer. Harley bravely shares his story, and readers will watch him go from cancer fighter to cancer survivor.    

This book is filled with fun, resources, and hope for anyone unfortunate enough to have their beloved Paw or other family member diagnosed with a dire disease. Harley’s story will help you understand the value of living life in the moment and giving unconditional love. Paws give us a new perspective and help us change the way we see the world.  

Purchase at https://bit.ly/3flBJp2.

“As Time Goes By”
by W. Royce Adams    Nearing the end, Old asks himself, “Does my life ultimately have any importance in any universal scheme? Am I just taking up space? Have I wasted the time given me? What effect have I had on others? Have I unknowingly -- worse, knowingly -- hurt others in some fashion? What’s my worth?”  

These are playful existential questions with no pertinent answers for the author, who sifts through the sands of my time to see what he can discover through remembrance. Don’t expect any fancy writing. No playing with altered punctuation, or trying to be aesthetically clever or poetic or intellectual. Not here a Sedaris or Saunders, or Atwood or Yuknavich. Just the author, squinting into some memorable windows in his life before they all fog.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3ESMyJm.

NOTE: BookTrib’s Bites is presented by Booktrib.com.

(NewsUSA) - Inflation got you worried money’s tighter than Santa’s belt?

If you’ve searched everywhere but the couch cushions for extra cash for gifts, switching to one of these no-contract wireless service providers could be just what you need to make the holidays merrier.

1.Total by Verizon

This is a great holiday choice to keep you living well on a Scrooge's budget.

Not only do you get access to what’s been rated as America’s most reliable 5G network – just think, no annoying lags while watching videos – but Total by Verizon plans start at just $30 and come with lots of perks.

For the best value, though, check out its $50 Unlimited plan. It includes 5G Nationwide, unlimited data, 10 GB of hotspot data, as well as unlimited talk & text to five countries of your choice and Disney+, the dedicated streaming home for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic.

In other words, you’re getting uncompromising network quality, the latest smartphones and exceptional benefits all while beating the average American cell phone bill. Which, according to JD Power, is $70 per month for a single user.

Think of all that extra cash in your pocket as a much-deserved present to yourself.  

2. Straight Talk Wireless

For the practical people on your list, Straight Talk stacks up as a smart, savvy choice.

For starters, Straight Talk offers great smartphones, including a Samsung Galaxy A13 5G, with no contracts or mystery fees at $99.99. Then there's the wide selection of amazingly priced service plans, including the $45 Silver Unlimited plan, which comes with unlimited talk, text and high-speed data – plus 5GB of hotspot data so they can save money while staying connected with loved ones.

3.Tracfone

Whether you’re shopping for yourself or someone else, if you’re in the market for a quality phone with a simple, budget-friendly plan tailored for those who want what they need, when they need it, then it’s hard to beat Tracfone’s unlimited talk and text plans starting at just $15 a month.

Need data? The $30 Unlimited Talk & Text plan gives you 4GB of high-speed data. And $40 monthly gets you Unlimited Talk & Text plus 8GB of high-speed data with Hotspot capability and IDnotify from Experian. So no matter which plan you choose, if you don't use all your data it simply carries over to the next month.

Meaning, you’re in control and pay only for what you need. Period.

(NewsUSA) - If author Mitzi Perdue is using the example of Mark Victor Hansen for a little inspiration, well, she’s come to the right place.

It’s hard to find somebody who hasn’t heard of “Chicken Soup for the Soul”  -- the consummate inspirational series loaded with true stories about ordinary people’s lives that has sold more than half a billion copies. But finding somebody who knows the name Mark Victor Hansen, the founder and co-creator of the brand, is another matter.

Yet the story of Mark Victor Hansen is a story onto itself, now told in glorious, painful and motivational detail by Perdue -- a “chicken” celebrity in her own right as the widow of the legendary chicken maven, Frank Perdue -- in her new book, “MARK VICTOR HANSEN: RELENTLESS.”

But more than just launching the book this week, Perdue is committed to forwarding all proceeds from book sales to Ukrainian humanitarian relief efforts. This initiative complements her decision to auction off at Sotheby’s earlier this week a trophy from one of the most successful treasure hunts of all time: a 6.25-carat emerald ring salvaged from the depths of the ocean nearly 400 years after the fabled Nuestra Señora de Atocha shipwreck of 1622. Full proceeds from that sale also will go to Ukrainian humanitarian relief.

Says Perdue, “Human traffickers prey on the vulnerable, and during the Ukraine war, traffickers lurk on Ukraine’s borders, targeting women and children. How can we stop them? The money from the sale of this Atocha emerald, as well as the launch of this book, will go toward rehabbing buildings on the border where women can be counseled before they cross and make a decision that may cost them their lives.”

When it comes to Perdue’s book, “RELENTLESS,” one has to ask: What is Mark Victor Hansen, the motivational speaker, trainer and author, really like out of the public eye? Who is the person behind the curtain, the person who struggles, hurts, and deals with discouragement and rejection? What are his successes and failures? What makes him tick?

“RELENTLESS” is the inspirational story of how Mark went from bankrupt and almost suicidal to being in the Guinness Book of World’s Records for selling half a billion books. Readers will learn about his failures and how he transformed them into his own success story.

It’s hard to imagine one man able to conquer so many mountains. He did it by never letting any obstacle get in his way and by inspiring others to make a difference in the world around them. His story is exceptional, but it is his extraordinary perseverance and generosity that led to his long-term success.

“It is my hope,” says the author, “that the lessons from Mark Victor Hansen’s life help everyone build confidence, agency, empathy, and valuable life skills.”

Plain and simple, “MARK VICTOR HANSEN: RELENTLESS” is a must-read, available on Amazon and all popular retail outlets where books are sold.

Mitzi Perdue, a businesswoman and author, continues to be passionate about sharing fascinating information to support people everywhere on their journey to self-actualization.

Learn more at  https://relentless.vip.

(NewsUSA) - The mission of the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to bring hope and joy to children in need through the gift of a new toy, book, or game, at Christmastime and throughout the year.

Each year, the Program strives to reach more underprivileged children, and the success of the mission is made possible by the generosity of the American public. No matter how an individual, company, family, or organization donates, every supporter has a story, and, in their own way, everyone who contributes and supports Toys for Tots can be “Santa” to children in need.

One such Santa is Mr. Irwin Chu. For 20 years, Mr. Chu has been bringing joy and hope to impoverished children through his “Miles of Smiles Bike Drive,” which he created to honor the memory of his son, who was killed in a car accident at age 16.

“As a family tradition, each of us always gave a bike and helmet to the ExxonMobil toy drive in Maryland,” said Mr. Chu. After his son’s death, the family honored his memory by continuing the tradition of donating bikes and helmets to children in need. As the years passed, friends and other community members joined in, and soon, Mr. Chu was donating over 1,000 bikes a year. With the influx of donations, the storage space became even more limited at ExxonMobil, so Mr. Chu reached out to the local Toys for Tots campaign and asked if the Marines on base could assist with the assembly—of course, the Marines stepped up! Throughout the past 20 years, the bike donation has continued to grow, and numerous volunteers have gathered at the Marine Corps base to be “Secret Santas” to assemble bikes and helmets for distribution to less fortunate children.

The support from the community members, individuals like Mr. Chu, as well as donors across the Nation, have a far-reaching and lifelong impacts on the underprivileged children in their local area—and the positive memories can have a rippling effect on their future choices in life. Just like the impact that one donor’s gift had on a young girl, who now serves in the United States Marine Corps— the “Secret Santa” not only gifted this young girl with a toy, but also instilled hope for a brighter future.

Major Mariela Pena, a United States Marine assigned to 1st MLG, I MEF, knows firsthand that anyone can be Santa. Maj. Pena was a recipient of Toys for Tots as an immigrant from Nicaragua in 1987 when she was nine years old. Maj Pena’s family was grateful to be together in San Jose, California, for their first Christmas in the United States, but resources were scarce, and the family had decided to conserve funds and forego Christmas gifts.

A few days before Christmas, Maj Pena and her family walked outside to see Marines in uniform stepping out of a five-ton truck, filled with toys. Maj Pena recalls, “We got the biggest Christmas I think we had ever experienced in our entire lives. I got a yellow bunny stuffed animal that I also used as a pillow.”

Sometimes, it’s not just the physical gift of the toy that resonates with a child—receiving the stuffed animal meant much more than just a Christmas gift to Maj Pena in that moment. “I remember coming outside of the house and seeing the five-ton truck full of toys, and I [knew] that I was going to drive trucks in the Marine Corps, forever,” said Maj Pena. For 26 years, Maj Pena has been serving our country. The “Secret Santa” who donated the yellow bunny not only gave Maj Pena a gift at Christmas, but also gave her hope and inspiration to become a United States Marine.

Toys for Tots is fortunate to have “Secret Santas” across the Nation, and they are “Secret Santas” for a variety of reasons. From physically donating, to lending a hand during a toy distribution, the support that our donors and campaign volunteers give sends a message of hope for a brighter future. Because what may seem like a simple contribution of time or money can give a lifetime of hope and a security—that’s the magic that Santa brings to families and children in need across the country.

Give now, and help make this a hopeful, happy Christmas for less fortunate children across our great Nation! When you give to Marine Toys for Tots, 97% of your tax-deductible gift goes directly to buying the toys, books, and games that give children in need the Christmas they deserve. Visit www.toysfortots.org to make a difference and change a life! After all—anyone can be Santa!

(NewsUSA) - Winter is coming. And so are winter expenses. Planning ahead for inevitable winter expenses, from holiday shopping to home winterization, can save you time and stress as well as money. And it can leave you with a robust nest egg when spring arrives.

Unlike holiday decorations, it’s never too early, or too late, to budget for winter expenses, says Rod Meloni, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^TM professional.

Setting aside funds for winter expenses can help you avoid overspending and make sure that you are covered in case of an emergency, says Meloni. For example, setting aside money in advance for contractors to inspect a furnace or clean gutters means you won’t feel pinched when the cold weather kicks in.

Taking smart steps to winterize your home now can save you money later. Some strategies are simple and free; some are more costly and complicated, but a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^TM professional can offer help to develop a budget or fit these expenses into your budget.

Consider inside and outside factors for winterizing your home.

Outside, be sure to turn off external spigots to avoid bursting pipes, and put away hoses and sprinklers. Swap screens for storm doors and windows that allow your home to heat more efficiently. Don’t forget to clean the gutters — a buildup of leaves can keep water from draining and allow ice to accumulate and potentially leak into your home.

Inside, schedule an annual inspection for your furnace, and check for insulation of water pipes. Check areas around the attic, windowsills, and electrical outlets for air leaks, and fill them with insulation as needed.

Avoid the heating bill blues by incorporating some money-saving ideas into your winter plans. Installing a programmable thermostat lets you set temperatures lower at times of day when you aren’t home, or when you are on vacation. If your budget permits, check out investing in alternative heating systems such as pellet stoves or solar heat, which can pay off in savings if you plan to stay in your current home long-term.

Make sure your insurance is ready for winter, too. A CFP^® professional can help you review homeowners insurance and determine whether you need to increase your coverage.

Also, be aware that winter can bring a catch-all of potentially unexpected expenses, from the need for snow tires or shovels to backup child care in case of a snow day or winter illness. Setting aside an emergency fund for winter expenses gives you a sense of security, and if you don’t need the funds this year, roll them over to next winter.

Every season involves expenses that should be incorporated into your financial plans. A CFP^® professional can help you think through these considerations and build a comprehensive plan that keeps you on track to achieve your goals, no matter the season.