American citizens are obligated by law to file tax returns at the end of every financial year. With all the new regulations and laws coming into effect in 2019, it can be a challenge to file the simplest of tax returns.

It is, therefore, very important to understand how to prepare your tax returns, what documents are required to make the process an easy one, to know what receipts should you keep for taxes, and what taxes you’re filling, i.e. federal tax or state tax. Although some information may be similar for both the federal and state taxes, your state might have credit and tax deductions etcetera, which apply to you.  

The first thing that you will need is the basic information like proof of identification, your social security number, date of birth, filling and residency status, your bank account number and routing number regardless of whether it is federal tax or state tax. The bank account and routing number are needed if you wish your tax refund deposited in your bank account. If you are married, you will need your spouse’s social security number, date of birth, as well as any dependents.  

Here is a handy tax documents checklist for you

Last Year’s Tax Return Proof

The next thing you will be required to provide is a copy of tax return for the previous year.  A copy or a transcript of your tax returns can be obtained from the IRS. A transcript is much more detailed than a copy. Also, you will need state and a local tax refund from the previous tax year.

Statements of Wages

There are some forms that are needed during tax return processing. Here are the most common forms.

• W-2 forms– Every employer sends the W-2 form to both their employees and the IRS at the end of every tax year. They indicate employee’s wages in that given year, and the amount of taxes withheld.
• 1099 forms- This is another form required when filing your tax returns. 1099 forms are required to report any income other than that paid by an employer. This type of income may include government payments, income generated through self-employment among other sources.
• Form 8843- You’re required to file form 8843 even when you’re not filing for income tax.

Investment Income Information  

When filing tax returns, you are required to declare income generated from various investments during that particular tax year.  This will include statements of dividend and interest income from brokers or banks, income from foreign investors as well as proceeds got from the sale of bonds or stocks.

Rental property income is where you declare the total income from renting your house(s) or apartments for that one year.

If you are unemployed and receive government support, you will be required to declare the unemployment income, your social security benefits, and miscellaneous income. Miscellaneous income can include things like the lottery or gambling winnings and jury duty.

Tax deductions, tax credits, or tax exclusions will have to be declared and issue a proof of the same. There are several tax deductions and credits that can reduce the amount of tax you have to pay and possibly get a tax refund. Here are a few;

•    Homebuyer tax credit

•    Student loan interest

•    Green energy credits

•    Job and moving expenses

•    Childcare costs

As the tax season is drawing nigh, keep the documents as close to you as possible. This will save a lot of your time. If you’re a business owner, you need to file a different type of tax returns, business income tax. You will need accounting records for your business.  If you aren’t too confident doing it on your own, it might be helpful to consult a tax professional.

Always keep all these documents in order at home, not amongst the clutter or in dirty places. Professional home cleaners can help you clean your home and inspire you to get more organized.

Another year has passed and now another Thanksgiving is here to be grateful for all the blessings in your life.  And the best excuse for stuffing ourselves with some delicious home-cooked meals, shared with loved ones. You might be tired of the same yet albeit yummy recipes, so it’s time to mix it up a bit. Spice up your Thanksgiving cookbook with these traditional, but modern, recipes.

Here are some traditional Thanksgiving recipes with a twist!

Roasted Butternut Squash And Bacon Soup

Soup for Thanksgiving? That’s unconventional! But having it on your menu will make you hungry for more. This tasty butternut squash soup is sprinkled with bacon bits and creamy goat cheese. It has the delicious flavors of autumn in one warm bowl.  Check out the recipe here.

Cranberry Mimosa

A holiday brunch is not complete without this drink. If you’re not sipping this fall cranberry mimosa, then you’re not doing holiday brunch the right way. These cocktails will leave the Thanksgiving table full of smiles and laughter. Check out the recipe here.

Caprese-Stuffed Garlic Butter Portobello Mushrooms

By stuffing your mushrooms with a classic Caprese salad, you’ll surely take your recipe up a notch. Get roasted red peppers, mozzarella, and shredded basil leave drizzled with balsamic. Then stuffed into a buttery garlic mushroom will give you a rush of flavor that you won’t be able to resist. Check out the recipe here.

Brie, Apple And Honey Crostini

For a pre-dinner snack, choose this easy-to-make recipe. You need to make a pile  of creamy brie, juicy apples, and sweet honey. Then place them onto toasted slices of french baguette, and you’ll have the ultimate seasonal appetizer. Sprinkle some candied pecans on top for an extra crunch of flavor. This recipe will surely satisfy your family and guests. Check out the recipe here.

Pumpkin Mac And Cheese

Mac and cheese is a staple in anyone’s cookbook, but you can transform this traditional comfort food into a decadent dish. With flavorful chunks of pumpkin, crispy bacon bits, sautéed apples, and Swiss chard, the seasonal veggies and fruits will be on perfect for your fall festivities. Check out the recipe here.

Rosemary Maple Balsamic Roasted Root Vegetables

Elegant yet relaxed, these traits are what Thanksgiving sides should be, like this Easy Rosemary Maple Balsamic Roasted Root vegetable recipe. While your traditional roasted root veggies are made exceptional with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt.

You can use a sprig of rosemary and a maple balsamic reduction glaze as garnish. Carrots, potatoes, parsnips, beets, whatever root veggies you have on hand will taste smashing with this flavor combo. Check out the recipe here.

Cornbread And Sausage Stuffing

With its moist flavor of sage sausage galore, everyone will want a taste of this stuffing passed their way. With its savory, buttery cornbread bits, you might want to increase the ingredients because the addition of apples, pecans, and dried cranberries will make this dish vanish right before your eyes. Check out the recipe here.

Garlic Butter Smashed Sweet Potatoes

With some tasty garlic butter added to the outside, these sweet potato slices will be crispy, but soft and sweet on the inside. Healthier than a regular potato, these Thanksgiving appetizers will be a hit at the table, making you leave almost no room for anything else (although we know you’ll try).  Check out the recipe here.

Apple Cider-Glazed Roasted Turkey

With its irresistible flavor, you’ll stuff down this roasted turkey. Sweet apple cider glaze and savory herbed butter make it an excellent main dish in your Thanksgiving dinner. Check out the recipe here.

Triple Chocolate Pumpkin Pie

Finally, dessert! Half of the fun in Thanksgiving is indulging your sweet tooth. If you have any room still (of course you do), get some of this delicious triple chocolate pumpkin pie.. Check out the recipe here.

From appetizers to desserts, these Thanksgiving recipes will surely captivate the heart as well as the tummy of your family and guests. After a whole day of preparing for this holiday, you can let the professionals handle the dirty aftermath. They’ll make your home sparkly and spotless in no time!

It’s easy to forget about important or valuable documents scattered around your home. They might not be necessary for something urgent or are just memories that you believe will be found right where they are, collecting dust or stuffed in boxes. But essential papers and documents that you may need in the future require great care, and if you don’t take up this task, who will?

It’s not too late to take care of them, keep on reading to learn more.

Before you get started, here are a few reminders to consider when storing photographs and important documents:

• Don’t forget to clean your hands first. Avoid putting on lotion or sanitizer that may contain chemicals that harm photographs and papers.

• While working, you must keep your foods and drinks away from your photos and papers.

• To store them without the fear of damaging, don’t use staples, rubber bands, sticky notes, and paper clips. They can cause tears and stains on your photos and letters.

• Work on a flat and clean surface.

• Take extra care for folded or rolled documents. If you always fold and unfold your documents, the paper’s fibers will weaken and can lead to tears.

Here’s how you can properly store your letters, photographs, and documents:

Go digital to save time, money and space.

By using special records management software, your documents can be easily digitized and organized which allows easy file access.

If you want to save the environment around you, opt to go digital. This method can help you go paperless, which results in better record management practices and it can even help you save tons of money. To prevent unauthorized access or worse, theft, these digital documents should be filed in high-security environments protected by passwords and other multi-layer security measures.

Use Acid-free paper.

Using acidic products can permanently damage and decay your photos or papers. It is imperative to use good quality, acid-free and archival materials to help preserve your treasured memories.

It will slow the aging process and add years of life to the items you value. It’s better to prevent any damage and deterioration than try to repair or fix it.

Group your documents on the same sheet of paper, but remember that the main goal is to guarantee that copies are on an acid-free paper.

Avoid storing old photographs in the light.

If you expose your vintage photographs in the light, it can cause severe damage. There are types of color film that fade within hours if they are exposed to direct sunlight. Keep your pictures in excellent condition by protecting them from light as much as possible. Interior fluorescent lighting can cause damage and must be avoided at all costs.

The best way to collect your old pictures is in a letter file box, archival storage materials or a document storage box if it’s unframed. It may be worth it may be worth it for high-value pictures to spend your money in plexiglass or high-grade UV acrylic glazing for highest protection. Don’t forget that your photos and other documents should not be exposed in direct sunlight.

Consider using document safes.

Depending on the number of documents, document safes provide excellent protection. These are proven to have a fire rating of about 30 minutes or more, which prevents both moisture and sunlight intrusion that causes damage.

When it comes to cost-effectiveness, it depends on how many documents or photos need to be stored. For more essential items, you can use safe and less expensive alternatives for the rest. Here’s the best part: the insides are almost exclusively acid-free, so it would cause no damage to your documents.

Family photos represent years of memories. It would be devastating to waste those memories to wear and tear from being improperly stored and organized. Follow these tips to save them correctly. To keep things more organized and clean, you can always seek help and hire a professional house cleaning service to handle it for you.

If you enjoy being in charge of your schedule, not having to struggle in traffic or find it easier to get things done outside of an office, then working remotely might be the best option for you.

There are many benefits of working from home, but there are also some pitfalls like there are to every situation. If you want to know more, then keep on reading!

Here are some of the pros and cons of working remotely:

Pros:

1. You can start or end whenever you want.

You can choose to work whenever you want. It depends on the sort of work you do. You’ll get the chance to spend more time with your family and friends while doing some activities that matter most to you.

If you want or need to take a break, do it. The convenience and comfort of doing your work at home give you the power of time management.

2. You’ll save tons of money.

When you go to your office, you have to commute or drive there. But, if your office is just in your living room or bedroom, then all you have to do is walk there. You’ll notice a huge difference in your bank account when you don’t commute to work. It even saves you time.

And you can also save on food as you’ll easily be able to whip up your lunch or coffee if you work from home.

3. You can learn more and become more independent

Without the help of your colleagues, you’ll quickly learn to troubleshoot. You’ll find yourself developing new skills when you look for answers, and you become proactive to see what you need on your own.

You can always ask Google, and it will surely give you the answers that you need in no time.

Cons:

4. Low productivity

Since there is no pressure to start your work at a particular time or dress a certain way it can be easy to delay the start of work. Productivity can severely decrease under such circumstances if great self-discipline is not applied.

5. Distractions at home  

Like we just mentioned, getting up and concentrating on work every day when you’re at home takes a great deal of self-discipline and motivation. Creating a workspace can use up living space in your home, so you’ll be constantly reminded of all your tasks, not just ones for work. That can distract you, and you’ll end up not working at all.

6. Lack of competitive spirit

A significant drawback of working from home is lack of human interaction. Your colleagues and peers help you keep a competitive spirit alive that will enhance productivity. Going to the office is an excellent way to get away from the stress at home and vice versa, but if an office is at home, then there might be no escaping the pressure.

Working from home looks promising and secure, but it needs a lot of hard work too. You need to be productive, disciplined, and truly effective in whatever work you do. And to avoid thinking about your chores when you’re at home working, you can hire a professional house cleaning service.

If you want to work from home to slack off, then think again. Only those who work hard and work smart will be able to run a successful business from home. 

That said, if you can keep your focus, then working from home could be the best decision you’ve ever made.

There’s no shortage of wonderful things to do in Austin. From getting that awe feeling in visiting its best attractions to filling up your tummy by dining at its finest restaurants. Texas is the second largest state next to Alaska, and this means there’s a lot to explore when visiting it and its capital.

Austin’s central location makes it a fantastic point for weekend getaways–whether you aim for a relaxed, small city retreat or a big city escape, Austin has you covered. Prepare your pen and paper and list down these things.

Here are the things to do in Austin Texas for your weekend trip.

Have a picnic at Mount Bonnell.

Weekends are the perfects days to just chill, bond with the whole family, and have a picnic under the afternoon sun. Head over to Covet Park, the view from Mount Bonnell, and climb about 100 stairs to reach the top.

The view up here is amazing and is considered to be the best in Austin. Trails at the top are available for you to walk and explore, and you can also take photos from the pavilion at the highest point in the city. If you want more amazing pictures, take the trip at sunset!

Catch a show at the Paramount Theatre.

Your Austin trip wouldn’t be complete without visiting the Paramount Theatre. It had been running for over a century now, and yet it becomes more and more popular. Tourists from all over the world travel just to check out this historic theatre. And you’ll know why after one visit.

Book tickets to the latest show, and scope the place out. Once you set foot, you’ll be able to connect with the vast culture of the city, as well as the other artists. This venue has been up for over a hundred years and will continue to stand the test of time.

Check out the Umlauf Sculpture Garden.

The true essence of Austin lies inside the Umlauf Sculpture Garden. Step inside to witness amazing artwork, surrounded by a variety of foliage and trees, and a waterfall for a more calming vibe.

The garden also features a museum, that shows what it’s like to be in an art studio with sculptors. The Umlauf Sculpture Garden has a lot of fun events like an occasional Family Day and Saturday yoga, so be sure to check their events calendar first before stopping by.

Dine at Franklin Barbecue.

What’s Texas without barbecue? Franklin’s is the best place to get some excellent Texas BBQ. As its tagline says, they serve the best barbecue in the known universe. So, wake up early and get in line to get you some!

Once you get the chance to eat, a good choice is the crowd-favorite moist brisket. It makes customers want to come back and wait in line all over again. After eating, you can go to any of Austin’s rooftop bars for a nice cocktail with a view!

Be a kid again at Pinballz Arcade.

Do you want to relive your childhood? Go on over to Pinballz Arcade. It has the largest arcade game selection in Texas, and you’ll surely never get bored at this place. You can bring the whole family for a fun game night, or hang out with some friends.

No need to go out or order delivery if you’re hungry, as there are a full restaurant and bar there. So what are you waiting for? It’s complete with food and your favorite games from your childhood. Jam-packed fun awaits you!

You need not plan your trip for a whole month or the best Austin weekend itinerary to spend. Use this guide to figure out the thing’s you’d like to do on your vacation. And while you’re busy preparing, take off the burden of cleaning the whole house and hire a professional service for the job!

When the season of back-to-school comes around, do you get into sticker shock? Does it feel like once you opened your wallet, you already bid your money goodbye? Aside from the standard items like papers and pencils, students from kindergarten through the 12th grade often need or want pricer things like headphones and laptops.

Try to save up on your school supplies with these helpful back to school shopping tips!

Tip #1. Timing is everything.

Try to shop early, but not too early. It’s more likely that your kids would want to buy for school supplies on the first day of summer. But, of course, you wouldn’t want these things sitting around the house all summer long, and potentially be used up or lost even before school starts.

If you already have your child’s list of stuff to buy over the summer, you can start shopping as soon as you see school supplies go on sale. In case you wait too long, the best bargains might sell out.

Tip #2. Look ahead.

If you haven’t got your child’s school supplies list during summer, you need not worry about missing out on the back-to-school sales. You can already buy sale items that you know they will need or something that eventually can be used in the household.

Think about papers, pens, glue, pencils, and lunchboxes. Just remember to keep your receipt in the event that you need to exchange something, like if you bought a college-ruled paper, but it turns out that your kid needs a wide-ruled one.

Tip #3. Buy big.

If you can, buy supplies in bulk for the whole year. The things listed on the teachers’ need-to-buy guides are typically meant to start kids out. They eventually will need refills on notebooks, pencils, paper, etc. all year round.

In a few months into the school year, you’ll find that the same glue sticks that you spent a quarter on in August are now worth a dollar and ninety-nine for a two-pack. Therefore a thrifty move is to stock up for the whole year and put it away in somewhere safe.

Tip #4. Always check your list.

Remember to read your school supplies list carefully, as when teachers ask for particular things, they usually mean it. From a grown-up point of view, it can seem like another item can be a close enough alternative to the requested supply, most especially when it’s cheaper.

But know that school is a more regimented place than the ordinary adult world. Teachers frequently have organizational causes to request specific things. So, if you don’t want to waste money spending on the wrong item, take the list literally and save your receipts in case of exchanges.

Tip #5. Work on a budget.

It’s best if you inform your kids first that you’re on a limited budget before going shopping. As kids, most can be resistant to recycling and reusing last year’s lunchbox or backpack or to wear old clothes. Maybe they are eyeing that newly-released binder that everyone has this year.

If this is your kids’ attitude towards buying supplies, emphasize that you’re working on a budget and that if they want an item upgrade, they will have to chip in. You can also let them choose the things to reuse and which to purchase new.

And that’s it! Use these ways to save on back to school supplies shopping and allocate the money for other things like paying your professional cleaning service for an excellent job of tidying up your home during the spree!

For those people who sit down at a desk in their offices most of the day, health and proper well-being aren’t that easy to squeeze in their lifestyles. However, it should be emphasized that you need to be proactive about staying healthy to avoid stress, weight gain, and flagging fitness.

Sitting down almost all day long is considered to be one of the worst things for your health because it increases your chances of having heart disease and weight gain. Aside from the hours of feeling the coziness of your office chair, you still sit in the car, and in your home when eating and watching TV.  

We’re here to help out!

Here are five simple tasks that you can do to maintain and improve your physical, mental, emotional and healthy habits while working on computer.

#1. Maintain a healthy diet.

A lot of office employees complain that they find it hard to eat healthily and blame their decreasing willpower for it. While it might be true you tend to munch on your colleagues’ junk food or treats at the office; it’s essential to develop self-control. Remember you don’t need to bid goodbye to junk food, just limit eating it.

Now that we’ve established what to do with colleague-bought-treats let’s focus on your main meals. Make sure that you eat a good, heavy breakfast in the morning. For lunch, have salads and fruits, and avoid all those greasy foods. Side note: avoid eating lunch at your desk as much as possible. It will prevent you from overeating and get you going!

Snack time means nuts, fruits, granola bars, or healthy smoothies! Get rid of your usual chocolates or chips that will only bring you trouble.

#2. Drink plenty of water.

In case you didn’t know, dehydration can affect you through drowsiness and sluggishness. It’s ideally great for you to drink between six to eight glasses of water daily. There are times when you can get immersed in work and lose track of much you drink in a day. But regardless of any reason, it’s essential that you intake enough water to stay hydrated and active!

#3. Take hourly breaks.

Who wouldn’t want to finish their work early and head out of the office on time? It’s a good thing, but it doesn’t mean that you should sit and work for hours straight and not let yourself have a break. It’s not wasting your time–it can help you be productive. Working for hours at a stretch can reduce your creativity and make you mentally lethargic. That’s why you should get up, stretch, and walk for just a few minutes from time to time.

#4. Be hygienic and keep your workstation clean.

Being hygienic can take a long way in keeping your body healthy. Have a bottle of hand sanitizer or alcohol at your desk, a box of tissue, and wet wipes. It’s also imperative to keep your workplace clean and organized. Make sure to tidy up even five minutes before leaving the office to work in a neat area the next morning. If you need the whole office cleaned, you can seek the help of a professional cleaning service. Take note of the necessity of staying healthy and germ-free.

#5. Keep a good posture.

Maintaining an excellent posture all day requires serious effort and discipline. A majority of employees who use computers tend to stretch their necks forward that puts pressure on their necks and spines. Avoid this from happening by doing desk exercises. It is an essential tool in keeping your physical well-being in great shape.

From stressful long board meetings to sitting in your chair for eight hours a day, working behind a desk doesn’t make it easy for you to protect your well-being. But with the tips mentioned above, you can both boost your health and productivity at the same time. No sweat!

As the summer approaches, it’s time to switch things up in the garden and grow new vegetable crops. Whether you’re a seasoned or a beginner gardener, you’ll find a variety of vegetables to please your palate and fit your summer garden and kitchen needs.

Summer garden vegetables are planted throughout the summer months and are ready for harvest during the fall.

Here are some crops are grown in the summer season in Texas!

Beans

Beans provide amino acids, which are the chemicals that combine to form protein and help build muscle. Which is why beans make a healthy addition to summer salads and side dishes. These are easily grown from seeds and require between 40 and 60 days to maturity.

Plant fava beans throughout the summer months in neighborhoods that receive large amounts of fog or humidity. Runner beans are best planted during June and July. Save some space by growing your beans vertically with the use of twine, stakes or trellises to make room for additional summer vegetables.

Eggplant and Tomatoes

The best time to grow an eggplant is usually during the late spring. However, eggplant grows well when planted through June, as long as your neighborhood is not too foggy. They are best grown from seedlings rather than seeds. Similarly, tomatoes grow well from seedlings when planted throughout June, just like eggplants. Both these crops begin to produce between 60 and 80 days.

Tomatoes and eggplants are members of the nightshade plant family. Do not place these two in the same planting space. Tomatoes and eggplants share similar pests that often mean devastation for your crops when planted nearby. Instead, plant tomatoes with herbs such as sweet basil, which tomato worms avoid.

Carrots, Cucumber, and Corn

June lends itself to grow cucumbers and sweet corn. Sweet corn takes between 60 and 95 days to reach maturity while slicing cucumbers take approximately 60 to 75 days. Though the pickling varieties require 50 to 60 days shorter than the sweet corn and slicing cucumbers.

Grow carrots from seed throughout the summer months; however, be careful when planting carrots in foggy neighborhoods during July. Carrots take up to 120 to 150 days to reach maturity.

Peppers, Pumpkins, and Squashes

Peppers can add spice and flavor to your summer vegetable garden. They are best grown from seedlings. While most of them are planted during the spring, farming can continue up through June to ensure fresh peppers all summer long.

Start summer squashes in your garden as early as May, but also planted throughout June and July. Get a head-start on the fall by planting winter squashes and pumpkins in June. These vegetables take up to 100 or more days to reach maturity, just in time for the fall season. When narrowing down your options, you can also add summer vegetables to grow in pots as planning according to the season is critical. Pick plants that will have a second growing season so that you can make use of the Texas conditions.

Keeping track of which plants grow and when in the Texas seasons will allow you to take advantage of the garden year-round.

Maintaining your home and garden clean is one of the best ways to detox. It’s worth it! An at the end of the day, a home and garden space that’s clean and inviting helps to keep you and your whole family healthy and safe. Hire a professional house cleaning service now!

Do you want to explore an Old West town? A trip to the beach? A national park? Or family weekend trips in Texas? Texas has all of those plus some of the country’s biggest and most famous cities, amusement parks, zoos, museums, and everything in between.

The food also adds to the appeal for family getaways in Texas, with chicken fried steaks that fill up entire plates and authentic Mexican delicacies galore.

If you’re planning a trip this weekend to Texas, make sure you go to these places.

Here are five best family weekend trip ideas in Texas that you and your family will surely love!

1. South Padre Island

Take a relaxing and fun beach trip to South Padre Island. There are tons of hotels, and large condos for families to stay in, many within walking distance to the white-sandy beaches. The ocean brings with it a wide range of activities, including jet skiing, fishing, surfing and dolphin watching.

For a more high-energy action, check out the Schlitterbahn, an amusement park with slides, rides, on-site lodging, and eateries.

2. Dallas, Texas

Dallas is a modern city, offering something to please each person in your family. Your youngest will like the Dallas Firefighters Museum and Children’s Theater, while your teens will beg to visit Hurricane Harbor and Six Flags Over Texas.

Your family can enjoy Sandy Lane Park, complete with a petting zoo, mini-golf, boat rides and more. You can also check out the Perot Museum of Nature and Science and Dallas Heritage Village. It has the fantastic architecture and scenery, alone, are worth a visit during your Texas family getaway.

3. Houston, Texas

Houston boasts some of Texas’s best family-friendly attractions. Because of that, you need to stop by the Space Center to engage with an astronaut, see real space gear, and visit Mission Control.

The Downtown Aquarium is an amusement park, and one of its highlights is a restaurant surrounded by a 150,000-gallon aquarium. While the Houston Museum of Natural Science is great for kids due to its butterfly center in a simulated rainforest is a must-see for all ages.

4. Grapevine, Texas

Just 10 minutes from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Grapevine is authentic Texas at its best. It’s also comfortable for a long layover in Dallas or those considering a short Texas getaway.

The town’s Main Street has cafes, boutiques, and wine tasting rooms, plus a weekly farmer”s market and other events—particularly at Christmas. In fact, Grapevine is the Christmas Capital of Texas, with 1,400 events hosted each November and December—including train rides with Santa on the Grapevine Vintage Railroad!

Also unique to this Texas destination is its Glockenspiel Clock Tower, which features a show performed by lifelike (animatronic) characters four times daily.

5. Austin, Texas

Austin is an excellent place for introducing the little ones to live music, but there’s so much more to do here. If the weather is beautiful—which it is for most of the year—swim at Deep Eddy Pool, Barton Springs Pool, or find a personal haven along the Greenbelt.

Then there’s a kid’s train that runs around Zilker Park, and food trucks throughout the city please every appetite. There’s always something entertaining going on in Austin, whether it’s Eeyore’s Birthday Party, the family-friendly Austin City Limits Fest or the annual Kite Festival.

While you’re out on the weekend with your family, you can always count on a professional house cleaning service to help you with your cleaning needs! Nothing says “welcome home” than a spotless house!

So thank God it’s Friday! And you know what that means–it’s family movie night! With all the energies and efforts you put into your work the whole week, you might feel tired to go out. We feel you! But that shouldn’t deprive you of relaxing with your family.

If you can’t go to the movies, then make the film go to you. Watching movies online is a frugal and convenient way of catching the films that you love right from the comforts of your home. It’s the perfect treat for you and your family after a stressful week!

That’s why get your living room set up, the popcorn and other snacks ready, and decide where and which family movies to stream! Still undecided? We got you covered!

Here are the best choices of streaming sites perfect for family movies 2018

#1. iTunes – The top choice for Hollywood films.

If you’re an Apple user and are willing to pay (either rent or buy) movies online, then iTunes is your way to go. The site has a wide range of new and classic Hollywood movies choices, TV shows and documentaries.

Genre organizes its content, so you can easily find what you want to watch. Each show has a synopsis, option to buy in SD or HD, and user reviews. iTunes also has a wide selection of kid-friendly content perfect for the kids to enjoy.

The only downside is that downloaded movies are only limited to some devices.

#2. HBO Go/HBO Now – The top choice for popular movies.

Although HBO has limited number of films to choose from, it has a high concentration of popular and well-known movies. Take note that it was the only streaming site ever to host the complete series of Harry Potter movies. And yes, it includes Fantastic Beasts too!

HBO had recently released a new app that allows non-cable subscribers to watch the content on their Apple devices. All you need to do is to download and install the HBO Now app and then pay for the subscription fee of $14.99/mo. After that, you can now stream for your favorite movies and HBO shows!

You can browse through their list alphabetically or the search button.

#3. Hulu – The top choice for films you love.

Netflix and Amazon might get the spotlight for being the go-to option for streaming movies, but Hulu is an underrated source for great movies. If there are some films that Netflix doesn’t have, you’ll find it more likely on Hulu.

It has a premium version called Hulu Plus available for $7.99 per month. You can watch all the trailers, movies, TV shows, and original programs available on the platform. Although you should be informed that there are some commercials that you can’t skip. You can browse films by categories, staff picks, networks, or genres.

A con would be its slightly miserable browsing platform. It’s best if you decide first on what you want to watch then search for it directly.

#4. Amazon Prime – The top choice for a wide range of selection.

Amazon Prime is deemed to be Netflix’s primary competitor thanks to its extensive selection and a massive library of foreign films. Oh, did we mention? They’re downloadable. You can watch the Oscar-winning movies like Manchester by Sea and nominees like The Big Sick.

Some downsides can be its browsing function. Once you click “see more,” the site will link you to Amazon proper for typing analysis. Also, its free and paid movies are mixed, so by chance, you may end up watching something you didn’t plan to spend on.

To be a subscriber, you can pay for $8.99 per month for Prime Video or $99 per year for a full Prime membership.

#5. Netflix – The top choice for easy streaming.

Netflix is so far the leading name when it comes to the streaming industry. Most people already have access to Netflix, even if it’s not their own account that they are using. It has a wide selection of movies and shows, along with original content like Mako Mermaids, Stranger Things, Riverdale and The Adventures of Puss in Boots.

Just like iTunes, it also has a children’s section filled with shows, movies and cartoons fit for their ages. You can browse shows by title or actor, and star ratings are also available. From chick flicks, war movies, documentaries, indie films, and anime, there’s a bit of something for everyone!

For $10.99-$13.99 per month, you can enjoy streaming!

With the endless knowledge, opportunities and comfort that the internet gives us, almost everything is now possible. Even bringing the movies in your home is a thing! Stream online films for movie nights with your family on these sites!

Also, don’t forget to make sure your house is prepped for the occasion. Clean it first, or have a professional cleaning service help you out!