Summer is just a few short weeks away, and for families who spend it together, it is easy to fall into a routine of boredom. Without relying on movies or video games, you can turn your family’s summer into a fun and memorable one. Turn off the TV and use these ideas to bring your family together this summer.

1) At-home Camp Out

Whether you head to your back yard or your living room, you can spend a night together in sleeping bags (and tents), telling stories and eating s’mores. Bring plenty of flashlights and enjoy the camping experience.

2) Lemonade Stand

Kids love to sell lemonade. Work together to create fantastic signs and set up a stand in your front yard. A lemonade stand teaches the basics of running a business. You can also run a stand for charity. Work together and decide what cause your family would like to support.

3) Tie Dye

Summer is a great time for tie-dyeing. This sometimes-messy activity can be taken outdoors and kids can unleash their creative inner-hippies. Tie-dye t-shirts, bandanas, or anything other clothing items you have around the house. This is an especially great idea if your family has summer plans to visit a theme park, as these bright and colorful outfits make kids easy to spot in a crowd.

4) Craft camp

Work with a few friends and come up with a weekly rotating craft camp. Every family can take a turn hosting other kids and leading an activity. It gives children valuable social time with friends, and provides a constructive activity for an hour or so each week.

5) Go on a hike

Head to your nearest hiking trail, pack a lunch, and spend a day in nature. You can create a fun scavenger hunt, or just hike and look for birds, flowers, and other wildlife. Be sure to pack lots of water, snacks, sunscreen, and bug spray for your day outdoors.

6) Volunteer

Summer is a great time to teach the value of service. As a family, you can volunteer at any number of organizations. One great thing to do is a neighborhood clean up. Go out together with trash bags and pick up any garbage that has accumulated around your neighborhood.

7) Plant a garden

Whether you plant flowers or food, a garden is a great way to spend time together outdoors. Even apartment dwellers can grow tomatoes and herbs in pots on their porch. Give each child responsibility for one area or one plant. Teach them how to identify various weeds, and consider composting your kitchen scraps to teach children about the value of reusing materials to help the earth.

8) Beach day

If you live near water, a great activity is to have a beach day. Pack your toys and plenty of sunscreen before you head out. Bring lots of refreshments and enjoy time in the water and playing in the sand. Work together to build a giant sand castle or make play a game of Pictionary, drawing in the sand.

9) Summer Reading

Challenge your kids to read a certain number of books over the summer. Many libraries and local bookstores offer summer reading programs. When completed, children can earn a certificate to buy more books or you can offer them a prize for their hard work.

10) Staycation

Take some time off work and plan a staycation. Explore all of the great things your area has to offer without the expense of travel and a hotel. Visit museums, zoos, and other local attractions. This supports local economy and might expose you to things you might not otherwise do.

Photo by Joon Han

Megan Gates is an active blogger who provides written work to the blogosphere pertaining to NYC Apartments, Hamptons Homes for sale , home improvement and the latest architecture, design, fashion and travel. Follow her on twitter @MEGatesDesign.

You don’t have to be Irish to celebrate Saint Patrick’s day. There are plenty of ways to make Saint Patrick’s day fun for the whole family. Here are some ideas to get you started.

1. Wear some green today. If you don’t have any green shirts or socks, add some ribbons to your hair or shoes, or try some green face paint in the shape of a shamrock.

2. Make some fun snacks. A little taste of lime Jello or pistachio pudding could really put a smile on your children’s faces. If you can’t find either of those, just add a little green food coloring into your child’s glass of milk for a little surprise.

3. Make a paper chain necklace with your child. Make a shamrock on the green paper and cut it out. Cut strips out of the yellow paper and glue the ends of the first strip together. Have the child create a chain. When the chain is long enough for your child, connect the two ends with the last strip of paper. Punch a hole through the shamrock and tie it to the chain with a string.

4. Set a trap to catch a leprechaun. Don’t forget the bait!

5. Create a shamrock charm out of clay. Make three balls of clay about one inch in size. Form each ball of clay into a heart shape. Then press the points of each heart together to form a shamrock. Place a paper clip into the clay, sticking out like a stem. Press some clay over the end of the paper clip to keep it secure. Bake the clay to harden it.

6. Paint a shamrock. Cut a potato in half. Place a heart-shaped cookie cutter into the potato half, cutting around the cutter. Using the cut potato as a stamp, create a shamrock by using the stamp three times. Add a stem.

7. Have a scavenger hunt. Write some clues on some shamrocks, hiding all but the first clue. Hide a treasure for your child to follow the clues and find.

8. Decorate your treasure box. Legend states that leprechauns like to come out to play the night before Saint Patrick’s day, disguising them as grass and leaves. If a leprechaun finds an empty treasure box, they must first fill it, then hide it. After telling your child this legend, have him/her decorate an old shoebox. That night, fill it with small treats and hide it, leaving a trail of shamrocks for your child to follow the next day.

9. Prepare a traditional Irish dinner of corned beef and cabbage in honor of the holiday.

10. Have some fun as a family with some Irish music. Can you do the Irish jig?

This Saint Patrick’s day, have a little fun with some of these ideas and activities. Leprechauns aren’t the only ones who should have a good time!

This year’s tax deadline is fast approaching. If you are thumbing through dusty files, shoeboxes full of receipts, or even piles of loose paper work, it might be time to put a better system in place. Come tax time, your finances should be organized in such a way that you can easily sort through what you need to file your taxes. With these tips, you can save time and money, and probably many headaches when dealing with your finances.

1) Bank accounts

If you have several bank accounts with different institutions, it is a good idea to consolidate. You could be incurring unnecessary fees and have to sort through piles of paperwork. With one bank, you can view statements online, set up automatic deposits and bill pay.

2) Purge

Much of your paperwork can be tossed. If you are hanging onto ATM slips, magazines, manuals, you probably have too much paper clutter. Reconcile your credit card statements monthly and then shred, unless you need them for tax purposes. Often times many of these items can be found online, reducing the need for paper clutter in your home. Always shred anything that you think is sensitive, because identity theft is common and you do not want to hand a thief any information that would be otherwise difficult to find.

3) Go Digital

Instead of saving copies of paperwork, invest in a scanner and only keep images of the paperwork you need. This takes up much less room than a cabinet full of files and with a good file labeling system; it is much easier and faster to find the documents you need. Within each tax year, you should create a minimum of four folders for income, expenses, home, and investments. Add any other files that might pertain to your individual situation.

4) Go paperless

Help the environment and your sanity by going paperless. You can view all of your statements online and download a .pdf of the documents you need into that years tax file on your computer.

5) Clear old files

According to the government, you should keep your taxes and paperwork for about 6 years. After this time, you can start discarding or at least lightening up your files. Documents that you need to keep should be sorted by year and stored in weatherproof boxes. Everything else should be shredded and recycled.

6) Check your credit

Tax time is a great time to remember to check your credit. You can obtain a free copy from annualcreditreport.com and verify that everything looks accurate and there are not any errors bringing down your score.

7) Pay off debt

Credit cards can carry high interest rates and credit card debt can negatively affect your credit scores. If you have debt on several cards, make a plan to pay down or pay off your debt. If you are receiving money back from your tax returns, use it to pay down your high interest credit card debt.

8) Check your withholdings

If you owe the government money at tax time, you might want to consider withholding a little more money throughout the year so you are not stuck with a big expense. If you are receiving giant refunds come tax time, it might be a good idea to withhold a little less, so month to month you have more money in your pocket.

9) Use technology

There are many tax software programs you can use to get your financial house in order. Whether it is software that helps your organize your money or allows you to file your own taxes, take advantage of what is available. You will save money by not having to visit an accountant at tax time.

10) Insurance

Every year it is a good idea to reevaluate your insurance coverage. Make sure you have adequate home, auto, health, and life insurance (plus whatever other insurance is necessary for your well-being). Sometimes you can save money by bundling your coverage with one company.

March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. Most people long to get their home clean and in order come spring. Get your den in tiptop shape by focusing on these spring cleaning routines. By spending a little bit of time each day, you will be able to sit back, open your windows, and enjoy a peaceful, welcoming and clean home.

1) Declutter

Arm yourself with three baskets labeled “trash”, “donation”, and “keep”. Before you start any cleaning, go through closets, drawers, cabinets and shelves, and decide what you can get rid of. Experts say that if you have not worn or used an item for a year it is time to let go. Work with your kids and see if your entire household can reduce their possessions by 20% or more. This will save you time when you start deep cleaning each area.

2) Plan

Print out a weekly calendar and plan what you will accomplish each day. Start from the top of your house and work down. Choose to focus on one or two tasks each day. If you are wiping down walls, only wipe down walls. You will accomplish more then if you try to do bits and pieces of many rooms. Within 2 weeks, your house will be spic and span.

3) Linens and Fabric

Once a year (at least), take down all curtains, drapes, and blinds for a good cleaning. Curtains should be laundered or dry-cleaned. Vinyl blinds can be cleaned in your bathtub with a mixture of vinegar and dish soap. Certain window treatments have to be handled professionally. Some companies will let you mail your window treatments to them for cleaning. Rent a steamer and clean your carpets and furniture. If you are not up for that task, hire someone to come do the job for you.

4) Lights and knobs

All fixtures, knobs, and handles should be cleaned. Wipe down with a mild soapy water solution and dry thoroughly. Vacuum lampshades and ceiling fixtures, being sure to wash fan blades and fixture bulbs when necessary. Again, a mild soap and water solution with a splash of vinegar works really well.

5) Fresh Air

As soon as the weather allows, open up your windows and allow fresh air to circulate through your house. A long winter fills your home with dust and indoor contaminants. Commercial cleaning products also contaminate the air in your home. Open your windows for healthier air to breathe.

6) Safety

Spring is a good time to change all of the smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries in your home. These tools also have a limited lifespan, so if your device is over 3 years old, it is time to replace it.

7) Dusting

Give your home a good dusting from top to bottom. If you have a broom or a “swiffer” type duster, you can attach a microfiber cloth (found in the auto detailing section of most big box stores) and attack the ceiling, walls, and even baseboards in no time at all. These cloths are reusable and can be easily washed and dried.

8) Washing Walls

Once a year, you should wash the grease, grime, and little finger prints from your walls. Fill a bucket with warm water, a squirt of dish soap, and a splash of vinegar for a gentle yet effective wall cleaner. You can also use this solution to wipe down the insides and fronts of your kitchen cabinets. Do not forget to pay attention to light switches, as these items are touched the most in your home.

9) Mattress

You should try to flip your mattress every season, but if you have not done it in awhile, make sure to address it during spring-cleaning. This will extend the life of your mattress and help you to sleep more comfortably. Before you flip your mattress, sprinkle the exposed side with baking soda, allow it to sit for an hour and then thoroughly vacuum the surface. Once you rotate and flip you mattress, repeat with the now exposed top before making your bed.

10) Outdoors

Do not forget to head outside. Wash your windows, sweep your patio, and rake out your flowerbeds. It is almost time for planting and BBQs, and you will want your outdoor living space to be as clean and inviting as the space indoors.

Photo by Joon Han

We have given you great ideas for grown up stocking stuffers, but today we are focusing on the kids. If Santa needs some inspiration this year to make Christmas morning more magical, perhaps he can look here for some ideas. We have items for all ages and every price range. Santa can set the stage for a fun and wonderful Christmas morning for those special kids on his list.

1) Smart Wool Socks

Keep those toesies cozy this winter with Smart Wool socks. Great for winter boots, these socks will keep your child’s feet warm and dry. Perfect for winter skiing, sledding, or a hike in the woods.

2) Silly Straw Glasses

What a fun and useful accessory! These silly specs are a fun way to enjoy your favorite beverage, as your drink travels through the straw, around your eyes and ears and into your mouth. Fun for both adults and kids.

3) Mini Bingo

If you are headed over the river and through the woods, these mini games by Haba (R) make a wonderful gift. Kids can keep themselves busy with this mini bingo game that fits into a tiny tin.

4) Ipod Shuffle

Get those tweens and preteens in your life their very own MP3 player. At just under $50, this is a perfect introductory player that stores 2 GB of music. This tiny stocking stuffer will make your kiddo very happy on Christmas morning.

5) Magazine Subscription

Magazine subscriptions are a fun gift for all ages, and kids love getting mail. Give them a gift that lasts all year long. There are many great choices for children based on age and interest.

6) Movie Pass

Everyone loves going to the movies. Give your kids a free pass and let them choose what they want to see. Perhaps give them enough, so that they can treat a friend. Add in a box of movie candy, and you have a fun stuffer that is unique and fun.

7) Art Supplies

Art supplies make a great stocking stuffer and are appropriate for both boys and girls of all ages. Santa can fill their stockings with markers, paints, crayons, water color pencils, or even modeling clay.

8) Flying Flingshot Stuffed Toy

These hilarious stuffed creatures fly through the air and make funny sounds. They work like a sling shot and come in a wide variety of animals. Get a different one for each kid and they can have flinging competitions while you are busy cleaning up the wrapping paper mess. These also make fun toys for cats and dogs.

9) Nerdy Baby ABC Flashcards

A is for Atom, B is for Binary Code, C is for Cellular Membrane…These beautifully illustrated cards make an awesome gift for your little ones. Are you married to an astrophysicist or a biomedical engineer? These cards also make a great gift for that nerdy someone in your life.

10) Harmonica

Whether you’re riding high, singing the blues or just waiting on a train, this harp from Hohner will get you through the day. A longtime favorite of many Country artists, the Old Standby has standard tuning, and this model is in the key of C. Take it with you anywhere. – Amazon.com

The holidays are upon us.  Gathering with family, friends, or significant others to watch holiday movies both new and old is a wonderful tradition to start or continue.  There are many movies that air on TV throughout the season, but if you miss one, you might have to wait an entire year to see it again.  Here are some movies that you can rent or purchase to enjoy this Christmas (and maybe the whole year through).  What are some of your holiday favorites?

1)

A Christmas Story

This delightfully funny holiday gem tells the story of Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsly) a 1940′s nine-year-old who pulls out all the stops to obtain the ultimate Christmas present. – Amazon.com

2)

Love Actually

Love Actually is the ultimate romantic comedy from the makers of Bridget Jones’s Diary and Notting Hill. Funny, irresistible and heartwarming, an all-star cast (Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth and Emma Thompson, to name a few!) will take you on a breathtaking tour of love’s delightful twists and turns. Fall under the spell of Love Actually and share the laughs and charm again and again. – Amazon.com

3)

White Christmas

Two talented son-and-dance men (Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye) team up after the war to become one of the hottest acts in show business. – Amazon.com

4)

Miracle on 34th Street

Six year old Susan has doubts childhood’s most enduring miracle Santa Clause. Her mother told her the “secret” about Santa a long time ago, so Susan doesn’t expect to receive the most important gifts on her Christmas list. But after meeting a special departement stare Santa who’s convinced he’s the real thing, Susan is given the most precious gift of all – something to believe in. – Amazon.com

5)

The Holiday
The Holiday is about two women trade homes only to find that a change of address can change their lives. Shortly after arriving at their destinations, both women find the last thing either wants or expects: a new romance. – Amazon.com

6)

How The Grinch Stole Christmas

Every who down in Who-ville likes Christmas a lot, but the Grinch who lived just north of Who-ville did NOT! So the cuddly as a cactus Grinch (with termites in his smile and garlic in his soul) tries to wipe out Christmas for the cheerful Who-villains, only to discover: maybe Christmas, he thought doesn’t come from as store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more! Magnificently narrated by Boris Karloff and animated by cartoon legend Chuck Jones, it’s an award-winning Who-roast-beast-feast of a holiday classic! – Amazon.com

7)

Home Alone

Eight-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) has become the man of the house, overnight! Accidentally left behind when his family rushes off on a Christmas vacation, Kevin gets busy decorating the house for the holidays. But he’s not decking the halls with tinsel and holly. Two bumbling burglars are trying to break in, and Kevin’s rigging a bewildering battery of booby traps to welcome them! – Amazon.com

8)

A Charlie Brown Christmas

This television classic features the Peanuts characters in the story of Charlie Brown’s problematic efforts to mount a school Christmas pageant. Everybody’s on board: Lucy, Snoopy, Schroeder, Pig-Pen, but the biggest impression is surely made by Linus, who stops the show with his recitation from the gospels of the story of Christ’s birth. –Tom Keogh – Amazon.com

9)

Elf

A tale of a young orphan who crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts on Christmas Eve and is transported back to the North Pole and raised as an elf. Buddy later learns he is not really an elf and goes on a journey to New York City to find his true identity. – Amazon.com

10)

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Make merry as Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Randy Quaid and an ensemble of comedy favorites strive to gift-wrap the “perfect Christmas” for the Griswold family. The most successful of the three vacations. – Amazon.com

We recently gave you a great list of stocking stuffer ideas for women. Today we are going to do the same for the men in your life. The list covers a wide range of interests from technology to sports, and music to the great outdoors. There is something for every price range so that you can make this year’s stocking fun and memorable.

1) Guitar Picks

Perfect for the guitar playing musician in your life. This fun set of guitar picks celebrates the Beatles and features artwork from Revolver and other Beatles albums.

2) Whiskey Stones

These natural soapstone rocks are the perfect way to chill your whiskey without diluting the flavor. This set includes 9 stones. Just add three chilled stones to your dram, allow to chill for 5 minutes, and then enjoy.

3) Swiss Army Knife

This classic tiny tool set is the perfect stocking stuffer for that camper, hunter, woodsman, or DIY guy. Each set includes various stainless-steel tools which are appropriate for a wide variety of occasions. Sets range from basic to extravagant, so you can choose one to fit any need.

4) Eco Playing Cards

For that green enthusiast in your life, or just that special guy who enjoys a good card game, these durable eco conscious cards are a great gift. Made by bicycle, they are fully recyclable.

5) Barbeque Rub

If he enjoys delicious BBQ, this Tennessee Whiskey BBQ dry rub will add flavor to a wide variety of meat and veggies. It can even be used to season soups and stews on those days that it is too chilly to be outside grilling.

6) iPod touch

You know he wants one. This perfect little device holds thousands of songs, photos, and hours and hours of videos. The ipod touch allows your to do FaceTime, take pictures and video. It is just like an iPhone, minus the phone.

7) Ice Scraper and Snowbrush

For those of us who live north of Florida, snow and ice are a winter reality. Make it easy to clean off the car in the morning before work with this handy snow scraper and brush.

8) USB Flash Drive

For both PCs and MAC, this portable flash drive is the perfect little stocking stuffer is available in up to 32 GB storage capacity. Having an extra flash drive will allow him to make his work portable and to carry his most important files easily.

9) Gift Cards For Men

Treat him to a special gift in any denomination with a gift card. Whether he likes to grab coffee on the way to work, dine out at lunch, or take you to the moives, there are hundreds of options to choose from.

10) Magazine Subscription

Everyone enjoys a good magazine to relax with. Give him his favorite magazine in his stocking with a subscription to enjoy for the entire year.

Stockings are so much fun to buy for.  You can fill stockings with little meaningful trinkets and can have fun surprising those you love with thoughtful and fun presents.  Sometimes you might get stuck in the usual rut of lottery tickets and chewing gum.  Up your creativity this year with our stocking stuffer ideas.  We have ideas for every price range, and to gifts to suit a wide range of interests for that special woman in your life.

1) Body soap

Delicious smelling bath products are all a woman needs to relax and unwind after a hard day. Pamper her with a handcrafted bar of soap in her favorite scent or look for the same luxurious pampering bars in unscented if she prefers.

2) Specialty Coffee

Once in awhile, it is wonderful to splurge on a really good cup of coffee. Buying her specialty coffee can bring the delicious flavor and aroma of coffee house coffee to her home.

3) Gift Cards For Women

Treat her to her favorite music, stores, or restaurants with a gift card. These tiny treats can be ordered in any denomination to suit your budget.

4) Music CD

Give the gift of music this Christmas. The new album, “A Very She & Him Christmas” is popular this year and a great way to freshen up her holiday music rotation.

5) Magazine Subscription

Magazine subscriptions are a gift that last the whole year through. Magazines are a perfect stocking stuffer because there are choices for every type of recipient.

6) Lip Balm

Icy winter winds can lead to dry and cracked lips. A soothing lip balm is what every woman needs to get through the chilly winter months. This tiny treat would make any woman happy.

7) Kindle

If she is a reader, she will love her very own kindle. This lightweight device can hold over 1,000 books. The new fire is an affordable small screen tablet, and can be used for music, magazines, books, and movies.

8) Aromatherapy Candle

Candles come in many sizes and scents. A small candle tin makes a lovely stocking stuffer and creates an enjoyable aroma throughout the home.

9) Slipper Socks

Help keep her tootsies warm with a pair of slipper socks. Unlike regular slippers, they are easy to roll up and put in a stocking. Why not give her two pairs?

10) Fair Trade Jewelry

These handmade and unique pieces are beautiful accessories that you can feel good giving. These necklaces help the artisans who create them to earn a better living.

Like everything else, food prices are on the rise. Whether you are single or a family of eight, groceries are an essential weekly expense, and can add up to a large portion of your budget. There are television shows and websites that show people who are able to shop for hundreds of dollars worth of groceries and only spend a minimal amount of money out-of-pocket. This entails an excessive amount of time researching deals and obtaining coupons, for mostly processed and packaged goods. Rarely are there deals on fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy. Here are some tips to save money and eat well without relying on coupons.

1) Shop the sales

Every week, visit your favorite grocery store websites and see what sales are being advertised. Make a list of the produce, meat, and dairy that is on sale and then plan to use those items in your meal plan for the week.

2) Menu plan

Plan your menu around the sale items you researched in your store advertisements. You should plan meals that use similar ingredients, being sure also to plan your side dishes. Before you shop and plan your meals, take inventory of what you already have in your refrigerator and freezer, so you do not by food you do not need.

3) Eat before you shop

You have heard it before, but I will tell you again. Never shop on an empty stomach. If you are hungry, you will be tempted to buy food that you do not need. Eat a meal or snack before you go shopping, and you will be better equipped to stick to your list.

4) Limit Shopping

Most people throw a few extras into the cart every time they go shopping. If you shop multiple times a week, chances are that you are throwing a lot more extras into your cart. If you limit your visit to once a week, you will automatically cap that aspect of your spending.

5) Shop alone

Kids typically want to try the newest cereal or buy their favorite junk food. Your spouse might have a few things that he or she wants to snack on. If you shop alone, you won’t have to battle your children or your spouse for those impulse buys.

6) Buy Generic

It might be time to consider abandoning your brand loyalty and trying out the generic products. Generic items are usually just as good as brand names. Often, the company that makes the brand name item also manufactures the generic with different packaging. You will save a lot of money if you switch to generics.

7) Grow Food

During the warmer months, consider planting a garden. You can grow fruits and vegetables to help supplement your groceries in the summer. If you are savvy, you can also can your fruits and vegetables to carry you through the winter. This will save you a ton of money on produce, which is an expensive part of your grocery bill.

8) Log your wastage

For one month, make a log of everything that you waste or throw away along with its approximate cost. Tally these items up for a good visual reminder of how much food your family wastes. It will serve as a good reminder to plan and use the food your purchase.

9) Buy in bulk

Buying in bulk smartly can save you a lot of money. Sales cycle in a reliable pattern. Keep your store ads for a month, and track what items go on sale and when. Stock up on the items that you use (and only that you use) when they go on sale. Freeze these extras until you are ready to use them in your weekly menu plan.

10) Cook yourself

Instead of relying on packaged food, cook from scratch. Pre-made foods are always more expensive than the ingredients used to make them. Experiment with modifying recipes so that you are not including packaged items as an ingredient. Homemade food is usually more nutritious anyway.

Facebook is the go-to social network for most people around the world. According to Facebook, as of July 2011 it had over 750 million users. This number has been increasing steadily since its inception in 2004. Facebook is an enjoyable and fun way for many to spend their time. However, at some point, you might decide that your time on Facebook is up. Here are some good reasons to considering leaving Facebook.

1) Privacy

The privacy settings on Facebook are confusing at best. As a user, you have the ability to manage all of the settings. However, for the average user this is difficult and confusing. The settings can and have changed frequently, essentially exposing data you have protected in the past.

2) Anti-social

Despite the “social” experience on Facebook, if you are spending a lot of time with your online friends, you are not going out into the world and experiencing life. Your interactions on Facebook should be in addition to a rich real world existence. If you are spending all of your time in a virtual social setting, you should probably consider opening up your time to real life experiences.

3) Awkward situations

You know the rule about work parties. Never discuss politics or religion. On Facebook, this rule is broken frequently. You might get into heated discussions or be offended by a “friend.” Some people freely tout their beliefs and if you are on Facebook, you are exposing yourself to situations that often become uncomfortable. Save yourself the heartache.

4) Family and Friends

You might occasionally get a “friend” request from someone who you do not consider a friend or from a family member who you do not wish to share your private details (perhaps you shouldn’t share these details with friends). Can you really ignore a friend request from your mother? Do you want your uncle reading about your difficulties with your boyfriend?

5) Wasted time

Some people spend excessive amounts of time on Facebook. The constant flood of news and events from people you know (and possibly do not know) is often too tempting to turn off. If you are checking your account more than a couple of time a day, you are probably wasting time that you could be using to be more productive.

6) Annoying Requests

Many people accounts are flooded with invitations, emails, and requests to join things. Mafia and farm games or the latest quizzes are common things to see. Event invitations, while sometimes welcome, can also prove to be an annoyance.

7) Scams

Facebook is full of phishing scams. Phishing is a way to obtain information in attempts to steal money or a person’s identity. These clever swindles can look real, and there are many phishing scams on Facebook.

8) Social Marketing

Facebook is making billions of dollars because users are willing to give out information. It also captures likes and dislikes, places you have visited, information about your hobbies, and your entire social network. Facebook shares your information with advertisers, who in turn utilize this demographic and personal preference data information to target the ads you see on your Facebook page.

9) Controlling Content

If you have ever been tagged in a picture or post, you know that it is difficult to control what other people say or do on Facebook. You might have a great privacy setup, and be able to manage what you post on your wall, but a friend could come and say something revealing or embarrassing. There are ways to protect yourself in the privacy settings, but it is often difficult to figure out what you need to change to keep others from sharing information that you do not want shared.

10) Real-world implications

If you are applying for a new job, your future employer might do a Facebook search. If your page is not secured properly, you could be revealing information that will have a negative effect on your hire. Some people have been fired for things said or shown on Facebook, and real friendships have been ruined. Sometimes it just is not worth it.