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Amanda Blankenship

Free Things To Do in Springfield, IL

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free things to do in springfield

When planning a road trip or visiting any new place, it is a good idea to have an itinerary and budget in mind. If you’re thinking about visiting the state capitol of Illinois, there are a plethora of affordable things to do. Here are some of the free things to do in Springfield, Illinois. 

Free Things To Do in Springfield

Believe it or not, Springfield is a city rich in history and there is no shortage of budget-friendly things to do. Below are just a few of the free activities that you can take part in. Depending on the time of year you visit, there may also be a number of free festivals and other low-cost ways to spend the day. 

Oak Ridge Cemetery 

Oak Ridge Cemetery is where you can visit President Abraham Lincoln’s tomb. The rest of the cemetery also holds a number of historic tombstones and is hailed as one of the most beautiful places to visit in Springfield. Best of all, entry to the cemetery is free. However, you will want to call ahead to verify you can visit that day. 

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Camp Butler National Cemetery 

Camp Butler National Cemetery is another historic stop when you are in Springfield. The grounds were initially established as an Army training camp and later became a Confederate prison. Many prisoners of war died there due to poor living conditions and spreading sickness in the establishment. It was later converted to a burial ground and is now the final resting place for many veterans. Visiting the cemetery is free, but you will want to call ahead to verify hours. 

Lincoln Memorial Garden Nature Center 

These gardens were constructed to honor President Lincoln. Throughout the gardens, there are more than five miles of trails to walk. Depending on the season you visit, you will see different flowers and trees blooming. You may also encounter different types of wildlife. There is no fee to enter the gardens, but you may consider giving a donation (or bring some money for the gift shop). 

Illinois State Capitol and the Old State Capitol Historic Site

free things to do in springfield

You can visit the Illinois State Capitol building during your visit to Springfield. During COVID-19, the inside of the building has been closed to the public. However, you can still tour the grounds free-of-charge. 

This is not where the Capitol was always located though. The building from the 1840s was restored and is now a beautiful place to visit. You can take a self-guided tour of the Old State Capitol Historic Site for free as well.  

Washington Park Botanical Gardens

Springfield is rich with gardens to explore. Washington Park Botanical Gardens are not something to miss while you are there. In the gardens, there are over 1,200 species of plants. You can also get guide books and handouts to help you identify different plants. Self-guided tours of the gardens are free and the gardens open at noon each day. 

Executive Mansion

You can visit the Executive Mansion in Springfield where the state’s governor has resided since the late 1800s. Visitors can tour the building and its grounds with a guide. However, no self-guided tours are permitted. Luckily, the tours are free-of-charge. 

Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Museum 

The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal group for Union soldiers from all divisions of the Army. It is now home to the GAR women’s auxiliary and the Women’s Relief Corps (WRC). Depending on the day you visit, you may get to experience some special events. Admission to the museum is free. 

Cheap Things To Do in Springfield (Under $20)

Of course, not everything on your trip to Springfield can be free. You should take the time to find some low-cost activities to add to your itinerary as well. Here are some to consider. 

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Dana-Thomas House

Another place you can visit for free is the Dana-Thomas House. There is a $10 suggested donation, but you can get away without paying anything. The house was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for Susan Lawrence Dana and it is 12,000 square feet with 35 rooms. It contains the largest collection of original Wright art glass and furniture. 

Lincoln Home National Historic Site

Springfield has no shortage of historic sites to see. The Lincoln Home National Historic Site is one to add to your itinerary. You will need to reserve tickets for a ranger-led tour, which is the only way to get into the home. While the tours are free, donations are recommended. 

Elijah Iles House 

There are a large number of historic homes in Springfield. The Elijah Iles House was built in 1837 and very little about it has changed since then. It was built by Iles himself, who is one of the four founders of the city of Springfield. There is a suggested donation of $3 per adult and $1.50 for kids. 

Route 66 Drive-In Theater 

free things to do in springfield

Springfield is home to the Route 66 Drive-In theater. You can look up what is playing and take the family to see a drive-in movie. Regular admission is $8 and kids get in for $5. It is a great budget-friendly thing to do in the area. 

Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant

If you’re interested in trying some local wine and food, Cooper’s Hawk is a great stop to make. Depending on the wine you are looking to try, you can get a bottle for a good price (under $25). It also has a number of tasty menu items at a reasonable price as well. 

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

Another historic site you can visit is the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. While there you will see a number of historic exhibits as well as live history and performances. You’ll also gain insight into Abraham Lincoln’s life there in Illinois. To visit, admission costs are $15 per adult. Discounts are available for students, veterans, and senior citizens. 

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Latest Update on The Motley Fool Stock Advisor Review

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motley fool stock advisor review

The stock market has been the center of attention for a lot of news outlets since my last update on the ongoing Motley Fool stock advisor review. Over the past month, Redditors found a way to “break” the stock market code and suddenly GameStop was being traded at an all-time high. It seemed like we were living in some kind of fantasy world there for a minute. Trading experts were even baffled by what happened.



A Look At My Progress

I’ve been practicing not checking the market every day and letting my investments “do their thing.” So, I haven’t taken a look at my last stock picks since I made them. As previously mentioned, I have been using the Investopedia stock simulator to test The Motley Fool‘s picks. Honestly, I am floored by the results of this month! Take a look…

motley fool stock advisor review

You’re reading that right: 95% annual return. Every single one of my investments is up since the last time I checked. If you recall, I changed my investments greatly last month. I kept Pinterest and Zoom and sold the rest of my stocks because they were losing money. Plus, they were no longer being suggested by The Motley Fool.

So, taking the new recommendations into consideration, I added Fiverr and Disney to my portfolio. As you can see, both of these investments have done well. Fivver, in the time it has been in my portfolio, has jumped from $238 to $320 per share. Disney has had more of a modest increase, but an increase nonetheless. Pinterest, which I’ve had since starting The Motley Fool review, has nearly doubled in value.

For now, because my portfolio is looking strong, I am not going to make any changes. We will see how these investments continue to perform in the coming month. I’m hoping to continue to see high returns, as illustrated above.

Does My Initial Motley Fool Stock Advisor Review Stand?

In the end, my initial thoughts on The Motley Fool still stand. It is a great stock picking service for investing newbies, like myself. For more seasoned investors, the service probably doesn’t offer much. I’ve seen some negative reviews from individuals who probably know more about the market than the average bear. However, for a beginner, I think the service has a lot to offer.

Not only have my investments done well when I’ve followed their recommendations, but I have been able to take a look at each company and get historic data. You can see patterns in certain industries (like the rise of the tech industry now). All of this information can help someone unfamiliar with the market learn what they need to know to be a successful investor.

The service can also teach you a lot about your risk tolerance. I, for one, am not someone who would ever check the market on a daily basis. But, if I check my portfolio and see it is down, I will start trading (as evidenced in my last update).

All in all, The Motley Fool stock advisor teaches you a lot about investing in the stock market and who you are as an investor. If you are looking to learn more, it is a great place to start. Plus, it is an affordable price for expert advice.

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How to Play and Download a Free Super Bowl Squares Printable Chart

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printable super bowl squares

The 2021 Super Bowl is coming up soon. Two teams that don’t typically appear in the season’s biggest game are playing: Tampa Bay Buccaneers and The Kansas City Chiefs. As the game approaches, many people are beginning to play Super Bowl squares. If you’re not quite sure how to play but want to get an office pool started, here’s a step-by-step guide (plus free printable Super Bowl squares).

Step One: Print the Super Bowl Football Squares Chart

printable super bowl squares

First, print a 10 square by 10 square chart. Use this link to print your free Superbowl squares chart.

Step Two: Set a Price for the Value of the Squares

If you decide to make a friendly wager on the game, you need to determine how much each square on the chart will be worth. Each participant will need to pay this amount for each square they place their name in on the chart. The amount for each square is completely up to you – adjust it according to the group of people you’re playing the game with. Below are a few examples of amounts you could determine each square to be worth, and what the total pool for that amount would be.

  • 10 cent squares would create a total pool of $10.00
  • 25 cent squares would create a total pool of $25.00
  • 50 cent squares would create a total pool of $50.00
  • 1 dollar squares would create a total pool of $100.00
  • 2 dollar squares would create a total pool of $200.00
  • 5 dollar squares would create a total pool of $500.00
  • 10 dollar squares would create a total pool of $1000.00

If you don’t want to bet cash on the Super Bowl, you may consider giving away small prizes to the winning square holders. Typically, you’ll award these prizes after each quarter.

Step Three: Assign Squares

Next, you will need to fill in the 100 squares inside the chart. As long as it is easy to determine who has claimed which square, you can organize this any way you want. The most common way to do this is to have all those participating initial the square(s) they want for the game. You can also assign each participant a color and allow them to color in the squares they’d like to claim.

The number of squares each person gets depends on the number of people playing the game. If you have 10 people playing, each would pick 10 squares (5 people playing, each would pick 20 squares, and so on).

Step Four: Randomly Assign Numbers

Have people fill in their squares before assigning numbers. Then, assign numbers 0-9 on the top and side of the chart. It is more likely for the end score for either team will end in a 0, 3, or 7 than most other numbers. For this reason, you’ll want to assign the number after people have colored/initialed their squares to provide everyone with the same odds of winning.

Step Five: Decide How to Award Prizes

There are a wide variety of ways to award prizes. You can decide which is best for you and the group you’re playing with. Most games give out a small amount at the end of each quarter, with a bigger prize for the participant that has the winning square at the end of the game. Below you’ll find some of the different ways you can award the prize money. For those who are giving away predetermined prizes rather than money, you should also determine how these will be awarded.

Ways you can payout prize money for super bowl squares

Step Six: Determine the Winners

In order to determine the winner, you need to look at the last number of the score for each team. For example, if the score is Kansas City 14 and Tampa Bay 13 after the first quarter, you would look for the “4” column from the Chiefs side, and “3” column from the Buccaneers side. Once the two columns have been determined, you run the lines together until they meet at a square which is the winner. You follow the same process with the scores at half-time, the end of the third quarter, and the final score.

Readers, are you participating in Super Bowl squares or any other Super Bowl game? Let us know your plans in the comment section below!

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How to Win Super Bowl Squares During the 2021 Game

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how to win Super Bowl squares

The big game is just around the corner. It won’t be long before you’re sitting in front of your TV watching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs playing Super Bowl LV to see who becomes the 2021 champion. You may even have put a pool together for the game with money or alternate prizes for some added fun. Here’s how to win Super Bowl squares (or at least better your odds).

How Super Bowl Squares Work

If you participate in Super Bowl football squares pool and it’s done correctly, there really isn’t any way to better your odds of winning. This is because the numbers for the game will be randomly assigned after all of the spaces in the game have been filled. This will mean that nobody knows which numbers they have until after they have already chosen squares. This ensures that those who receive the most coveted spaces do so randomly.

how to win super bowl squares

How to Win Super Bowl Squares

The key is that there’s no way to better the odds if the game is set up correctly. The reason that many times it’s possible to better your odds is that often these games aren’t set up correctly. You can do this by understanding the odds of what number combinations are most likely to appear from past Super Bowls. By knowing the number combinations with the greatest chance of appearing, you can choose those slots giving you a distinct advantage over those who join the pool later or don’t understand that some squares are much more likely to win than others.

When football squares are set up correctly, all participants must choose their square (among the white squares from the image above) before the 0 – 9 numbers for both teams are written (the grey squares in the above image). The mistake that happens more often than it should is that the 0 – 9 numbers are filled in before people choose their squares. When this happens, you can choose squares that are much more likely to pay than those that aren’t because you know exactly where they are. Even if you know nothing about football, you have a good chance of winning by knowing the numbers most likely to appear. Here are the numbers you need to know:

The simple rule of thumb is that you want squares that have the numbers 0, 7, 3 and 4 in them and avoid squares that have the numbers 2 or 5 in them. If you have your choice, you want to pick one of the five following combinations:

  • 0-0
  • 7-0 (0-7)
  • 3-0 (0-3)
  • 7-3 (3-7)
  • 0-4 (4-0)

Looking at all the past Super Bowls, this is how often all the numbers have appeared: “0” has appeared 101 times (26.9%), “7” has appeared 78 times (20.7%), “3” has appeared 58 times (15.4%), “4” has appeared 39 times (10.4%), “6” has appeared 31 times (8.2%), “1” has appeared 23 times (6.1%), “9” has appeared 17 times (4.5%), “8” has appeared 10 times (2.7%), “5” has appeared 10 times (2.7%) and “2” has appeared 9 times (2.4%).

Take Note of This And Good Luck!

By understanding that the 0-0 square (or any of the others mentioned above) is much more likely to appear sometime during the game than the 2-2 square (or any other square not mentioned above), you can greatly increase the chance that you’ll win one of the prizes given away. It’s important to note that these are the odds, and that doesn’t mean the above numbers are guaranteed to win. They simply suggest that going by past Super Bowl games, which numbers are much more likely to appear and which aren’t.

With the above knowledge, you could take advantage of any game put together where the 0-9 numbers have already been written on the sheet before filling in your square(s) and increase the likelihood of winning. A better course of action, at least in my opinion, would be to point out the flaw in the way the game has been set up. The game can then be properly set up so that it’s random and nobody has an advantage over anyone else when the numbers are chosen.

Finally, for a handy printable Super Bowl squares chart, go here.

If you enjoyed this article please leave us a comment below, share it with your friends!

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What is The Minimum Wage in Delaware?

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minimum wage in delaware

If you are considering relocating due to cost-of-living or wages, researching what the state’s Department of Labor has to say is important. While many people are pushing for $15 per hour federal minimum wage, it still sits at $7.25 per hour for now. However, many states have different minimum wage laws. So, what is the minimum wage in Delaware? Let’s have a look…

The Federal Minimum Wage

The federal minimum wage sets a bare minimum that employers have to meet for paying employees. However, there are several ways around minimum wage requirements that employers often take advantage of. For instance, in North Carolina, it is legal for restaurant owners to pay their wait staff less than the minimum because the waiters will make tips.

This and other laws may vary from state to state. Because of this, it is important to know what the minimum wage is where you live, especially if you are planning a move. So, what is the minimum wage in Delaware?

What Is The Minimum Wage in Delaware?

The minimum wage in Delaware is higher than in some other states in the U.S. According to the Delaware Department of Labor website, the minimum wage in 2021 is $9.25 per hour. There is also a training wage of $8.75 per hour that is permitted during the first 90 days on the job. That lands the minimum weekly pay for a full-time worker (40 hours) at $370 per week and $19,240 per year. There are some loopholes though.

For instance, individuals who receive tips can be paid as little as $2.23 per hour in Delaware. Regarding tips, employers are not to take any portion of an employee’s tips unless permitted by law. Additionally, tip pooling is allowed but it is to not exceed 15% of what the employee actually received.

There are other exemptions to the minimum wage in Delaware as well. You may be paid under the hourly minimum wage working in certain positions in agriculture and domestic service. Volunteer workers, fishermen, summer camp counselors, and inmates are not guaranteed minimum wage either in the state. Handicapped employees and student workers may also be paid under the minimum wage, provided the employer has proper permission from the state government.

Cost of Living in Delaware

When it comes to cost-of-living in Delaware compared to the rest of the United States, the minimum wage requirements reflect it fairly well. Delaware is about 10% more expensive than the U.S. national average. Generally, most of the goods and services in the state cost slightly more than what the average is listed as. For example, if you want to buy a tube of toothpaste in Delaware it will cost between $2.82 and $3.47. The national average is $2.45. Movie tickets, on average, are about a dollar more expensive each.

Groceries are more expensive too. Ground beef, for instance, is around $3.80 per pound. In Delaware, the price is closer to $4.30 per pound. Potatoes, milk, and other items

When it comes to housing, the median home value in Delaware sits around $237,000. The median rent price is around $1, 350. Additionally, the average price of utilities across the state sits around $422 per month. Given this information, if you had a minimum wage, full-time job in Delaware, you would not be able to rent an apartment (in the median price range), pay utilities, and eat.

Of course, there are some things that can be controlled. You may find a cheaper place to rent or you may be able to be frugal with utilities. However, you should always ensure your housing expenses are never more than 28% of your income as a whole.

Book Your Delaware Trip

If you are interested to go to Delaware and spend time to understand the area, try booking your trip from these apps.

PlatformsFees and Minimum:Best for:
ExpediaFree sign-upDiscounted flights
Booking.comFree sign-upCheap flights
E-dreamsFree sign-upOnline travel agency

Readers, did you do additional research before moving to see what cost-of-living, minimum wage, and other things would be like in your new home?

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The Motley Fool Stock Advisor Review Update: Stock Market Changes

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the motley fool stock advisor review

If you have been following my journey with The Motley Fool stock advisor review, you know that I reported some pretty sizable returns last month. In fact, I was at about 49% annual return and counting by taking The Motley Fool stock advisor’s advice. However, things have changed more recently. As the stock market changes in preparation for a new president of the United States, my previous investments haven’t been fairing as well overall.

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor Review: Down a Bit

That’s not to say I’ve been losing money. Not at all. In fact, I am still up more than $1,600 in total. The return is less than it was a month ago though, by nearly 10%.

the motley fool stock advisor review

At the time of my last update, I was at 49.81% annual return. While I have lost some of that, I am still ahead overall by $1,694.47. It should also be noted that by the end of the trading day my return was closer to 45%. If you are interested in higher returns, your stock picks may have differed from mine slightly. No matter what, you should still research each stock and its market history before putting any money into it.


 

Will I Change My Investments?

It is important to note that if you are interested in using The Motley Fool stock advisor service that you should be willing to make regular changes to your portfolio. Although many of these stocks have been suggested in previous weeks, the picks are always changing. For example, today some of the top picks included Coupa Software, Amazon, and Disney. These three have never been mentioned in picks in the past.

the motley fool stock advisor review

There are a few others mentioned here as well that haven’t been listed before. Because there has been such a change, I will be changing my investments slightly. I decided to get rid of Square and ASML Holdings, which are no longer among The Motley Fool’s stock advisor suggestions. I will replace these two investments with shares of Fiverr International and Disney. Here is a look at my portfolio now…

the motley fool stock advisor review

Other investors may have decided to hold onto ASML Holidays and Square because they have been top performers in my portfolio since investing in them. My thinking here, however, is to test The Motley Fool stock advisor’s picks specifically. Because they are no longer mentioned in the top picks for today, they are going to be removed from my portfolio, for now. It will be interesting to see how Fiverr and Disney both perform in comparison.

Conclusion

I believe I will continue to stick with my overall conclusion of The Motley Fool stock advisor in that it is a good tool for novice investors, like myself. If you are considering getting into the stock market and are unsure of how to pick stocks according to your financial goals, The Motley Fool’s service can really be of assistance.

However, if you are a more seasoned investor looking for stock advice, you likely don’t need a picking service. Instead, you would be looking for a financial or investment advisor to help guide your portfolio. In some cases, investors work directly with stockbrokers.

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