December 31, 2020

 If you’d rather not have your digital life harvested for sale by data brokers there are some steps to shut it down. Begin by making Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts private and then go to privacyrights.org to search for data brokers that allow you to remove your information from their service. Source Link 

These classic first aid moves need some updating. Do pinch your nose but don’t tip your head back with a nosebleed because that lets the blood run down your throat. Skip the ice or butter and use cool water to treat a burn. And don’t rinse off a tooth that been knocked out. Put it in a cup of milk and take it to the dentist. Source Link 

When you want that food truck meal or party plate to taste better, take a seat. Researchers found that people who ate while standing felt that the same foods didn't taste as good as eating when sitting. They think it’s because of your body’s vestibular sense that deals with balance and posture also works with your sense of taste. Source Link 

December 30, 2020

 We know about shopping bags and diapers but there are lots more things that come in reusable versions. There are reusable drinking straws, sandwich bags, drink boxes, K-cups for coffee, dryer balls, and silicone lids for food bowls. You can even get your own cloth bag for produce shopping and skip those flimsy plastic ones. Source Link 

When you’re looking to raise your credit score you should resist the urge to purge those old credit cards. Closing an unused credit card lowers your total available credit and that can hurt your rating. If you’re paying an annual fee you can ask about switching the card to a fee-free version. Source Link 

How can you put five minutes to good use to improve your mood? Try focused breathing or meditate by silently repeating a word or phrase. Five minutes of brisk movement can help too and you can recharge by unplugging all devices for five minutes and let your mind wander. Source Link 

December 29, 2020

 If you’re minding that credit score there are some things that won’t ding your rating. Paying off a credit card won’t hurt but canceling one will because it reduces your total available credit. Checking your credit report or a credit check by an employer has no impact and you can’t have too many credit cards unless you carry balances that you can’t pay off each month. Source Link 

Borrowing from your local library probably includes more than just books, movies or CDs. The American Library Association lists over 200 items that cardholders can borrow for free, from air mattresses to wall art and yoga mats to yogurt makers. Plenty of tech items are on the list, including Bluetooth speakers, webcams, streaming players and even WiFi hotspots. Source Link 

You’ve heard of refinancing your mortgage, but how about the loan for that set of wheels? Auto loan refinancing may be an easy way to save money because many people don’t shop around for the best rates when buying a car. Refinancing an auto loan is much simpler than a mortgage and may take just one day to complete. Source Link 

December 28, 2020

 The family that plays games together may have closer ties no matter where they are. Testing found that playing video games can unite generations of the same family. Word games or action games helped and you don’t have to be in the same room to benefit because online gaming improved family ties with faraway relatives. Source Link 

Looking for an alternative to help you kick the soda habit? If you like the fizz, try sparkling water with a lemon twist, lime twist, crushed raspberries or a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Cola fans can switch to iced redbush tea to get the same taste and if you like a ginger ale you can make your own with seltzer water, freshly grated ginger and a half-teaspoon of the natural sweetener stevia. Source Link 

Finding ways to fit more exercise into your day may not be as hard as you think. Do some toe raises when waiting in line to work your foot and calf muscles or squeeze in a few squats while brushing your teeth. When watching TV you can swap the couch for a stability ball and keep some hand weights nearby for sets of upper body exercises during commercials. Source Link 

December 23, 2020

 When and what you eat can be an important combination for weight loss and better health. A high-protein breakfast might keep your appetite in check for the whole day, and a small meal with carbs and protein before exercise followed by a similar snack afterward can help you get the most from a workout. Source Link 

Giving kids household chores can teach them to be responsible and build self-esteem. Find ones that are age-appropriate like putting away toys, making their bed, setting the table or raking leaves. Put these on a calendar with scheduled days and times and consider giving an allowance to older kids who do heavier chores. Source Link 

If you’re among the half of Americans who admit to using retail therapy to cope with stress you might slow down the compulsive shopping with the “30-day rule.” Wait one month before making that impulse buy. If you still want it 30 days later, it’s probably a worthwhile purchase. Source Link 

December 22, 2020

 Now’s the time to avoid year-end money mistakes like forgetting to maximize your tax-free contributions to an IRA or 401-k account, or overspending on the holidays and assuming you can cover that come January. And if you get a year-end bonus, put it toward paying down debt or building a “rainy day” emergency savings fund. Source Link 

If you have visions of leftovers dancing in your head, make sure your fridge is ready to handle the holiday surplus. Set the refrigerator temperature between 33 and 40 degrees and move any raw meat to the bottom shelf to avoid contaminating other foods. And any food that was left out for more than two hours should go into the garbage and not in your refrigerator. Source Link 

Your cable or satellite provider may have a special gift for you coming soon. Companies including Comcast, AT&T and Dish Network are refunding $1 billion in fees charged for sports networks that didn’t have games this year because of the pandemic. But don’t expect something you can take to the bank because the refunds will come as a credit on your monthly bill. Source Link

December 21, 2020

 Answer these questions first when you want to welcome a new four-legged member to the family. Are you looking for personal companionship or a playmate in a pet? How long will you be away from your pet during the day and who will care for it when you’re gone? And what life changes might affect your ability to keep your pet in years to come? Source Link 

It’s the gift that can keep on giving and it’s easy to get this holiday season. Gifting stocks can be a great way to teach children or grandchildren about saving and investing. You’ll need to open a custodial account in the child’s name if they’re under age 18 and you can give up to $15,000 a year per person without having to pay gift tax. Source Link

A question like, “How was your weekend?” may be a key to boosting productivity at work. Researchers found that simple small talk between co-workers made people happier and enjoy their tasks more. But the casual conversations need to be about things that are not related to your work. Source Link

December 18, 2020

 Getting to zero might be the smartest way to create an effective home budget. With zero-based budgeting, your income minus what you spend and save each month equals zero. Besides living expenses, you can assign money to pay off debt, contribute to savings and investments and set aside some just for fun until your available money is down to zero. Source Link 

For the most refreshing daytime nap, remember these three L’s. Plan your nap for no later than 2 pm to avoid interfering with your body’s normal sleep cycle. Limit your nap to no more than 30 minutes to avoid falling into a deep sleep and find a location that’s dark and cool but don't worry about having a flat surface because an easy chair or reclining your car seat will work fine. Source Link 

Why should you have a will? Everyone needs to communicate end-of-life preferences to their family, whether or not you have a lot of money. A will can make clear your wishes about finances and property distribution so your family won’t have to spend countless hours with probate courts and attorneys. Source Link 

December 17, 2020

 If you want to pick the perfect gift for each person on your holiday list, you should buy them one at a time. A study found that while shopping for gifts for more than one person, people tend to look for unique items rather than what's really wanted. They worried about buying the same gift card for two people, even though neither would know what the other received. Source Link 

It’s round and holds your food, and could be key to keeping you from overeating during the holiday season. Using a plate for everything you eat including snacks can help prevent mindless eating and those extra calories. Using smaller plates can also help you eat less because it takes less food to make the plate look full. Source Link 

Tis’ the season for scam robocalls claiming to be from Amazon and Apple. The Federal Trade Commission says be wary of recorded messages about a suspicious purchase made on your Amazon account or a problem fulfilling a recent order or unauthorized activity in your iCloud account. Don’t respond and don’t call a phone number they give you - simply hang up. Source Link 

December 16, 2020

 Making the perfect holiday meal doesn't mean you have to give up healthy eating. Try replacing salt with herbs and spices or add lemon juice or citrus zest for flavor. Use nonfat, plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream and bake with a half and half mixture of white and whole wheat flour. And substitute unsweetened applesauce for butter in recipes. Source Link 

Here are four cornerstones to raising kids who will have a good relationship with money. Help them understand that you earn money for the work you do and that saving now helps you afford a major purchase later. Explain that it’s important to be patient and satisfied with what they own now and to think of others and be charitable. Source Link

When you want to pick a charity to make a new donation one way to choose is to look back at your life. For example, if you enjoy a hiking vacation you could donate to an organization that helps urban youth experience the outdoors. Or if you lost someone to illness like cancer or heart disease, you could give to a charity that funds research or raises awareness. Source Link 

December 15, 2020

 If you want to make the most of your workday be sure your phone is out of sight. Research has shown that simply being able to see your phone - even if it’s silenced or shut off - can reduce your cognitive ability. It happens because you’re using brain power to actively fight the urge to check that phone. Source Link 

It’s harder to eat healthy this time of year with all the big holiday meals but a few strategies could help. Look for small changes like choosing vegetables instead of crackers or chips; swap herbs for salt when seasoning food and choose nutritious snacks like popcorn. And try meditation or other ways to manage stress that can lead to mindless eating. Source Link 

A list of the worst passwords of the year shows some old favorites like “123456” “password” and “qwerty.” A strong password is a combination of numbers and letters without your name, birthday or a common phrase others could guess. One option is to use the first letter from each word in a short sentence that you’ll remember and mix lowercase and capital letters. Source Link 

December 14, 2020

 Here’s a strategy to beat the holiday meal food coma. Avoid snacking before you eat and take a walk after you finish cooking or after dinner. Go ahead and enjoy those special meals but use the USDA’s “My Plate” method to have the right mix of all five food groups on your dinner plate. Source Link 

If you’d like to do it yourself with home improvements you may want to avoid some of these projects. A survey found that installing flooring, hanging a television and waterproofing a deck were some of the DIY projects homeowners most regretted. About half of those surveyed said they had to hire a professional to fix their mistakes. Source Link 

You’ve seen face masks with a built-in valve but it’s not a style most people should be using. That’s because the valve allows your breath to escape and that could infect others around you. Masks like the N95 with a valve should be reserved for use in hospitals by those who are treating patients. Source Link 

December 11, 2020

 Good posture can make working from home more comfortable. When sitting at a desk, rest your feet flat on the floor with your thighs parallel to the ground and your head level and in line with your torso. The top of your computer screen should be at or slightly below eye level and at arm’s length from you. And a small pillow or towel roll can give you lower back support. Source Link 

Where there’s a will, there’s a better way to protect your family and make sure your wishes are carried out when it comes to guardianship for children or how to give away your possessions. Review your will annually and after life events like a divorce or when children become adults. And consider a living will that lists the care you do or don’t want if you become seriously ill. Source Link 

If every meal seems like a race to clean your plate, try these tips to slow down. Eating with your non-dominant hand can help and set down your fork for 10 seconds between each bite. And use smaller plates and bowls that empty faster to make it look like you’re full even when you’ve eaten less. Source Link 

December 10, 2020

 Which is the greener choice - buying an artificial Christmas tree or the real thing? The makers of artificial trees say one that’s used for at least five years has less environmental impact than the energy it takes to harvest and transport real trees. Growers say live trees are a renewable resource and buying one every year supports farming and keeps plastic out of landfills. Source Link 

It treats your kid’s boo-boos and might also keep your glasses from fogging-up while wearing a face mask. A Band-Aid placed across the bridge of your nose to hold down the edge of the mask can prevent warm breath from fogging eyeglasses. A good choice for comfort and effectiveness is a fabric Band-Aid. Source Link 

Building your savings is easier when you automate the process. Start by opening separate accounts with local or online banks and have one for each of your short-or-long-term goals. Then schedule monthly transfers into each account and set the dollar amount at a level you think you can reasonably maintain. Source Link 

December 9, 2020

 Don’t let a popular holiday shopping offer lock you into high-interest debt. Many store credit cards offer no interest on balances that are paid within a certain time, but those charges will be added in full if you miss the payoff deadline by one day or just a few dollars. Store cards can charge interest rates that are double those of regular credit cards. Source Link 

Eating most of your calories early in the day as part of a healthy diet probably won’t improve weight loss. Researchers found that people who ate mostly before 1 pm and others who had half of their calories after 5 pm lost about the same amount of weight and both groups had decreased blood pressure. Source Link

For some it seems like a problem but there’s evidence to show that wearing a face mask doesn’t deprive you of oxygen. Test subjects wore pulse oximeters that measure oxygen levels in your blood. They found the same oxygen levels for people when they were wearing a face mask and when they were without one. Source Link 

December 8, 2020

 Are you fibbing to your physician about those bad habits? You’re not alone. Studies have found that many people often lie to their doctors about certain behaviors like not eating right or not exercising or forgetting to take medication as directed. Experts say it’s hard for your doctor to provide the right care if you’re not being honest with them. Source Link 

How can you communicate better while wearing a face mask? Make sure the other person can see your eyes clearly and find a quiet place to talk. Use your body language and the tone and volume of your voice to convey the emotions. And if someone doesn’t understand you, repeat yourself while speaking more slowly and enunciate your words more clearly. Source Link 

Avoid buying these things during the holiday shopping season and your wallet will thank you. The best prices on jewelry come after Valentine's Day and bedding and furniture are at deep discounts in January, along with exercise equipment. Mattresses and appliances have the best prices in national holiday sales like President’s Day and wait until mid-January for a bargain price on calendars. Source Link

December 7, 2020

 Here’s how to craft a perfect response to that caustic office email without risking your job. Open your word processor and take a few minutes to let loose with all your feelings and then save that document to a special folder. Return to the folder later to read the reply and others that you’ve saved to remind you of mistakes that were avoided by not hitting “Send.” Source Link 

Self-care is something you can do for your finances. Track your income and expenses and monitor bank accounts regularly to understand where your money goes. Look for self-help books or podcasts on personal money management and create realistic short and long-term financial goals for paying off debt and building your savings. Source Link 

It’s an important question when you’re feeling sick -- is it a cold, the flu or COVID? A common cold usually hits your head with a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing and sinus congestion while the flu and COVID can also include fever, shortness of breath, weakness or nausea. One thing that’s often seen with COVID is a loss of taste or smell. Source Link 

December 4, 2020

 They say it’s the small things that count and that’s true when it comes to budgeting. Most of us worry about the “pop” of big expenses like when an appliance breaks down unexpectedly but those “streams” of smaller spending can have an effect on your budget too. For example, a $5 latte every workday equals $1,000 a year that you could save to afford a new refrigerator. Source Link 

You want them to stay tasty but is there a right way to store tomatoes? Probably not. Researchers used a group of expert taste testers to try tomatoes that were stored in the refrigerator or on a kitchen counter. There wasn’t a real difference in flavor but tomatoes will taste better when stored for a shorter amount of time. Source Link 

Are you guilty of any of these common mistakes when handling your money? You build up a rainy day fund but neglect to budget for retirement savings or you buy food in bulk only to throw half of it away. Or maybe you use a store credit card for a discount on purchases but then make a minimum payment and get hit with high finance charges. Source Link 

December 3, 2020

 When your entire life is on your phone, do this before you hand it over to someone to fix a cracked screen or replace the battery. Log out of all online accounts and delete your browser history and consider doing a complete encrypted backup and a factory reset to protect all your personal information. And look for a reputable repair shop with good online reviews. Source Link 

Getting a clean shave may be a choice for a man’s face or a woman’s legs, but there’s one kind of body hair that should never be razored off. Shaving your eyebrows gets rid of something that traps dirt and dust and keeps sweat and moisture from dripping into your eyes. And eyebrows help others read your non-verbal expressions of thoughts and emotions. Source Link

Time to debunk some home maintenance myths. The right way to test a smoke alarm is not with the test button but with the smoke for a new burned out match and your furnace filters should be replaced about once a month. And here’s a tip -- if you can’t see a light shining through the filter, it’s time to replace it. Source Link

December 2, 2020

 If yo-yo dieting has your weight going up and down the scale, try these tips to stabilize that number. Eat in moderation and practice mindful eating to be aware of what you’re eating and why. Weigh yourself every day and aim for small changes over time and find ways to reward yourself that don’t involve food. Source Link 

Who knew that these household staples led a dual existence? A crumpled handful of aluminum foil can scour and polish stainless steel pots and pans and a mix of one part vinegar to four parts water is a great treatment to remove sweat stains from clothes in the laundry. And packet of Kool-Aid powder poured into the detergent dish can clean soap scum from your dishwasher. Source Link 

Older adults who take an “I don’t care” attitude about life could be at higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers say it could be a warning sign of dementia when the elderly become disinterested in activities that they usually engage in. Severe apathy in older age was associated with an 80 percent increased risk of developing dementia. Source Link 

December 1, 2020

How can you build more exercise into your workday? Start simple by moving your wastebasket and other essentials away from your desk. Walk over to talk with a colleague instead of emailing or phoning and take the stairs to a restroom on another floor. You can also use resistance bands to do foot curls and arm stretches at your desk. Source Link 

When the health care you need isn’t an emergency, take time to explore all the options. Look for information from trusted sources like websites of medical organizations and have a thorough discussion with your doctor about what’s best for you. And remember there’s nothing wrong with getting a second or third opinion about how to proceed with treatment. Source Link 

A common frustration in the kitchen has a quick DIY fix using a power drill. A trash bag that fits tightly around the rim of the trash can forms a seal that leaves a new bag bubbled up and hard to fill, and makes a full bag hard to remove. But a few quarter-inch holes drilled into the sides of a plastic trash can solves both problems by eliminating the vacuum seal from the bag. Source Link