August 31, 2021

 If you've always got your mind on your money, give yourself a break by automating your budget. You can manage your money without the headaches by using direct deposit of your paycheck with automatic bill payments and automatic transfers to savings. And if you budget correctly what’s left is money you can spend any way you’d like. Source Link 

So, you’re considering the best approach to peel off some of those pandemic pounds? You can forget the fads, don't become too obsessed with calories, and remember that exercise alone is not enough. And it’s important to know your numbers for cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure to put together a successful weight loss plan. Source Link

Here’s a one-two tip for better car maintenance and you don’t have to pop the hood to do it. First, be sure you read the owner’s manual to know the maintenance needs of your make and model. And while you have that manual open, learn the meaning of all those dashboard warning lights because some require immediate attention. Source Link

August 30, 2021

 Most of the best ways to put money into your house and get it back in higher value are on the outside. Renovations that build curb appeal, like a new garage door, window replacements, new decking or improved siding offer the biggest return on investment. A new kitchen may not match a buyer’s tastes and bathroom remodeling didn’t even make the Top 10. Source Link 

Surveys show that about half of us have an old gift card with unused value still on it but don’t toss it out yet. Under federal law, gift cards are good for at least five years unless a company goes under and you can sell unused cards through online exchanges. You can also donate an unused gift card for resale to benefit a charity. Source Link 

Many of us lose track so make it a seasonal habit to check what you’re spending on monthly digital subscriptions. Every three months look at your bank or credit card statements to see what charges are there and if you’re still using that service. It’s easier to do this checkup if to have all your streaming service charges on one account. Source Link 

August 27, 2021

 You can get a lot of housework done with just 60 seconds of effort. In one minute you could freshen a smelly sink by putting lemon peels through the garbage disposal or wipe down door handles and light switches. Take a minute to declutter a coffee table; refold clothes in a messy drawer to make more room, or quickly clean dirt and crumbs from furniture using a lint roller. Source Link 

A new scam has authorities warning you to keep track of your credit report. It’s called “credit parking” when bad collection agencies put a fake past-due bill in your name hoping you’ll pay it to restore good credit. Check your credit reports regularly and always before you apply for a job or look for a loan to clear inaccurate information before it causes problems. Source Link 

You hate getting them but resist the urge to type “Stop” or hit the “unsubscribe” link on those junk texts and emails. Doing this tells spammers that your phone number or email address is active and ready for more bogus offers. The best move is to report a text or email as spam and then delete it without responding. Source Link 

August 26, 2021

 Need some easy ways to help your diet be more successful? Keep your appetite down during grocery shopping by eating a piece of fruit before you hit the store. Always have snacks from a bowl and not the bag while watching TV. Get in the habit of weighing yourself every day to be aware of changes and learn what’s a healthy portion for the foods you eat. Source Link 

Identity theft isn’t something to worry about only when you’re online. A lost or stolen wallet can expose you, so limit what’s in there and never carry anything with your social security number. A mailbox with a lock can keep someone from stealing credit card offers or bank statements and shredding important papers before tossing them is an easy way to prevent identity theft. Source Link 

Visiting an urgent care center instead of the emergency room can save you time and money. You should go to the ER only if you have any sign of a stroke; persistent chest pain, trouble breathing or loss of consciousness; a high fever with a rash; a serious fall or injury involving the head or eyes; bleeding that won’t stop; a serious burn or a sudden, severe headache or loss of vision. Source Link 

August 25, 2021

 It’s a simple step that might save your child’s life. Millions of car seats are recalled every year for safety issues, so you should mail in the warranty card or register online to be notified if there’s a problem with the car seat you use. You can also see a listing of car seat recalls for the past 10 years at nhtsa.gov. Source Link 

Call it a colorful approach to avoiding dementia. People who consumed just a half serving a day of foods high in flavonoids had a 20% lower risk of mental decline. Flavonoids are an antioxidant found in colorful fruits and vegetables like bananas, apples, pears, sweet peppers, citrus, cherries and berries. Source Link 

How can you keep a social media life from interfering with your work world? Experts suggest using automation tools to write posts on your own time and schedule them for later publication. Have separate personal accounts that make it clear you’re not speaking for the company and remember that any post can be set for friends-only viewing. Source Link 

August 24, 2021

 The road to being happier can take many paths that all lead to the same goal. You can volunteer to help others or a friend. Count your blessings by writing down everything that’s good in your life. Get exercise regularly to help keep depression at bay. Forgive and forget to free yourself from negative thoughts and challenge your inner critic when it takes control of your mood. Source Link 

Forgetfulness is common as we get older, but how can you tell if it’s just aging or the onset of Alzheimer’s? If memory loss makes it hard for you to handle your daily tasks or you’re really struggling to do things like follow directions in a familiar recipe or keep track of bills the way you used to do, those could be warning signs of memory problems. Source Link 

If notifications on your phone are too distracting there are ways to cut down on the digital chatter. In your Settings look for a Notifications tab that lets you go app by app to shut off any unwanted reminders and take advantage of the “Do Not Disturb” feature for times when you need quiet. And when you install an app think twice before automatically allowing it to push notifications to you. Source Link 

August 23, 2021

 Are you guilty of making one of these password mistakes that hackers love? Like not using special characters or forgetting to vary between upper and lower case letters or reusing the same passwords or using ones that are just slightly different. And hackers love it when you ignore news about website security breaches that may have compromised your information. Source Link 

Water plays an important role in weight loss but don’t fall for some of the myths. Drinking more water than you need won’t help you lose weight because that only burns a few calories. But drinking a glass of water before you eat is a good idea because sometimes people will eat when they’re actually thirsty and water has zero calories. Source Link 

If you really want to remember something, it’s best to share the experience. Testing showed that people developed more vivid memories if they described the event to someone or wrote about it afterward. The process of rehearsing the event in your mind in order to share it can build a stronger memory. Source Link 

August 20, 2021

 Taking a midday nap can be a smart choice and not just because you get more rest. A study found that napping in the afternoon may actually boost mental agility. But it needs to be a conscious effort to sleep because people who dozed off in the afternoon from being tired didn’t see the same benefits as those intentional nappers. Source Link 

The best tool to chart the progress of your weight loss plan may not be that bathroom scale. Use a tape measure to track your waist size or try on a tight pair of pants every two weeks to know if you’re dropping pounds. If you do use the scale make it a weekly weigh-in on Friday morning because most people eat more on the weekend. Source Link 

Hand sanitizer can do more than disinfect your digits. It can clean silver or eyeglasses, remove hairspray from a mirror; substitute for deodorant or work as a dry shampoo; pretreat stains on clothing and clean your mouse and keyboard. And putting hand sanitizer over the sticky ends of a band aid makes it come off painlessly. Source Link 

August 19, 2021

 The basement may be your go-to storage spot, but there are a few things that should never be kept downstairs. Rolled up rugs and carpeting are a perfect home for bugs and can absorb moisture and odor. The same goes for wood furniture and upholstered items. And fur and leather clothing, books and toys need to be in sealed containers to prevent damage. Source Link 

How can you make that long weekend feel like a real vacation? Plan ahead for what you want to see and do so you don’t waste time making choices and try something new rather than that same short trip. Don’t check email or do any job work and unplug from social media to focus on what’s happening now. Source Link 

Could one less candy bar make an important difference in your heart health? Researchers say cutting just 250 calories a day along with moderate exercise helped obese seniors fight hardening of the arteries that’s part of heart disease. The combination worked better than cutting 600 calories per day. Source Link

August 18, 2021

 You can reduce the risk of an electrical fire in your home with a safety check every six months. Make sure all bulbs in lamps are the proper wattage and that all electrical outlets and switches feel cool to the touch. Flip circuit breakers to see if any are stuck, check for damaged power cords and unplug all bathroom and kitchen small appliances when you’re not using them. Source Link 

The dog days of summer are a good time for a refresher on skin safety in the sun. Wear a sunscreen with SPF 30 or above and reapply every two hours when outdoors. Avoid the sun during peak mid-day hours and wear a hat that covers your face. And keep a sun shirt or jacket in your car for protection if you suddenly decide to spend time outdoors. Source Link

Try this two-step process to protect your phone from hackers. Step one -- turn it off. Step two -- turn it back on. Occasionally restarting your phone won’t foil all cybercrime but can make it harder for hackers to maintain access and steal data from your phone. The bad guys count on us to never turn off our phones and some people never do. Source Link

August 17, 2021

 Consumer fraud can happen in many ways. Experts say never send money from an unexpected request in a phone call, email or text and don’t believe Caller ID because scammers can fake it. Do an online search of a company or product name and the word “review” or “complaint” and avoid wiring money or using a reloadable card that doesn’t have built-in fraud protection. Source Link 

You might lose more than some shuteye when you come up short on sleep for just one night. Participants in a study said they experienced anger, nervousness, loneliness, irritability and frustration with just an hour and a half less sleep. Physical symptoms surfaced, too, including upper respiratory issues, aches and gastrointestinal problems. Source Link

You’re going to deep-clean your refrigerator, but be sure you do it right. Unplug the power and leave the freezer closed but open the door wide. Remove shelves and drawers and wash these in cool water to avoid cracking them. And tackle those stuck-on messes by covering with a warm, damp dish towel to soften them enough to wipe or scrape off. Source Link

August 16, 2021

 You feel like you’ve aced that job interview but don’t blow it with any of these post-interview mistakes. Instead of pestering them later ask during the interview when the employer plans to make a decision. Don’t change your salary expectations after the interview because you think you have the job and don’t follow the interviewer on social media to seem more friendly. Source Link 

If you’re worried about privacy when using your smartphone you can take some steps to blur that digital trail. Check which apps have permission to use location tracking or your camera or microphone and turn off what’s not needed. You can shut down Google’s ability to track your web and app activity or use a browser like Firefox or Brave that doesn’t track your history or searches online. Source Link 

Can binge-watching your favorite TV shows be bad for your teeth? Those marathon sessions on the couch often include plenty of sugary drinks or red wine with acids that aren’t good for your smile. Try flavored water and air-popped popcorn that’s easy on the salt and butter and maybe swap the fast-food delivery for a binge break to cook a healthy meal. Source Link 

August 13, 2021

 If there’s something in your life that you want to try, commit to a month of doing it every day. That could be starting a new hobby or something practical like putting things away after you use them or cleaning one drawer, rack or shelf each day. Making a 30-day pledge means there’s an end date in sight and performing an activity day after day builds a good habit. Source Link 

It could be the $100,000 answer -- how can good grades in high school pay off for your child? Many colleges offer merit scholarships based on grade point average and in some cases that can be a $25,000 a year discount on tuition. The best time to talk to your child about maintaining a high GPA is the summer after 8th grade and before they start high school. Source Link 

Want to reduce the stress that comes from having too many things to choose from in your closet? Try working with just a handful. Whatever it is, having lots of choices can make you less happy because the decision-making is stressful. Instead, pare down your choices to three or four and give away the rest. Source Link

August 12, 2021

 It’s happened to all of us, but how can you avoid that awkward moment when you’ve forgotten someone’s name? When you first meet, repeat the person’s name in your head through the conversation and use their name as you’re talking. You can also envision the setting where you met the person to retrace your mental steps and recall the name. Source Link 

Just like duct tape, there seems to be an unending list of uses for WD-40 spray lubricant. It’s used to remove chewing gum from hair, can shine the leaves of artificial plants and is sprayed on wire tomato cages to keep insects away. It can take the sting out of fire ant bites and even removes the sticky residue left by, guess what? Duct tape. Source Link

When it comes to raising children, it’s better to be a gardener than a carpenter. A “gardener” parent helps a child’s interest grow on their own by cultivating a fertile landscape, while a “carpenter” parent tries to carve out interests and ambitions that they want to see in their child. Taking a gardener’s approach helps kids have a healthy environment to set their own direction. Source Link

August 11, 2021

 The simple flip of a switch might help prevent being hacked at home. Turn off your computer when it’s not in use and do the same with your router, which should be located in a central part of your home and further away from the street where someone can cruise by looking for home networks to invade. Source Link 

The 5-4-3-2-1 technique of grounding yourself is a quick countdown to a calmer mind. In stressful moments, acknowledge five things you can see around you; four things you can touch; three things you can hear; two things you can smell and one thing you can taste. Grounding helps you focus on the moment and avoid anxious thoughts. Source Link

If you look forward to that long weekend starting with a Friday, it might be better to play hooky on Hump Day. A Wednesday off can break you out of the five-days-in-a-row work week drudge because on Monday you ‘ll know you only have two days of work until another day off. And Wednesdays can be an easier day for errands and to visit parks, museums and movie theaters. Source Link

August 10, 2021

 It’s a favorite spot to catch a nap, but too much time on that sofa may make a real sleeping disorder more likely. A long-term study found that people who spent more than four hours a day sitting watching TV had a 78% higher risk of obstructive sleep apnea. Getting more exercise or simply standing or doing gentle activities more often can lower your risk. Source Link 

Keeping your kitchen healthy means more than tossing out those mystery leftovers in the back of the fridge. You should change your cleaning sponge often because even microwaving it won’t kill all of the germs. And throw away a cutting board that has lots of cracks where bacteria can survive a good cleaning. Source Link 

Responsible use of a credit card can help to build your credit score but all plastic isn’t created equal. Purchases made with a prepaid credit card are not reported to credit agencies and can’t improve your score. A better option is a secured credit card that’s backed by a deposit to the bank or credit union that issued the card. Source Link

August 9, 2021

 Dealing with a lost phone could be a disaster when traveling but you can prepare for the worse. Before you leave, print out travel documents and write down important phone numbers and passwords. And make sure the GPS-enabled “find my phone” feature is turned on before you depart. Source Link 

It’s a twist on the old idea to beat sleeplessness by counting sheep. If you suffer from insomnia caused by stress, try counting every breath you take and count up as far as you can. Another technique to get back to sleep is to stare at a point on the wall until your eyelids get so heavy you have to close them. Source Link 

If a home move is in your plans soon, try these tips to save time and money. Begin culling household items you rarely use and pack room by room ending with the kitchen. Look into more affordable alternatives like using a container to ship your goods and schedule your move for mid-month to avoid the end-of-month rush and higher prices. Source Link 

August 6, 2021

 The diet you need may mean cutting the fat out of your household budget and building more financial muscle. Start with a detox to quickly pay off new debt, then add good habits like avoiding impulse online purchases. And begin regular workouts to automate your savings and contribute the maximum to retirement accounts. Source Link 

Burning 300 more calories with exercise can help in a healthy eating plan, but what does it take to do that? Try 27 minutes of running, 33 minutes of yoga or a 44-minute bike ride. Clean the house for two hours, walk 18 holes on a golf course, run the stairs for 18 minutes, or play pickup basketball for a half-hour. Source Link 

Looking for alternatives to the all-seeing eye of Google? Switch your search engine to DuckDuckGo or Dogpile and browse with Mozilla Firefox or Brave. Start messaging with Signal, try alternative email services like Mailfence or Protonmail and browse YouTube videos without leaving a trail by using Hooktube. Source Link 

August 5, 2021

 The typical home emergency kit has a flashlight, first aid items and maybe some food, but what else can come in handy when the worst happens? Household bleach can be used to purify water and a pair of sturdy utility gloves can help if you’re cleaning up debris. And duct tape and plastic sheeting can be used for quick repairs or building a makeshift shelter. Source Link 

When a job gets to be too much, you might be tempted to take a hike -- and you should. Testing showed that a workday walk helped to improve mood and relieve job stress. A 30-minute walk during the lunch hour three times a week made workers less tense, more enthusiastic and better able to cope. Source Link 

Setting new goals can help to keep you on-track for lifelong fitness. Identify an area that needs work, like cardio endurance or flexibility, and focus on that. You could master an activity that’s new to you, like running, swimming or cycling, or exercise for a good cause by signing-up for an event like a 5K run or a bike ride for charity. Source Link 

August 4, 2021

 “Zoom Fatigue” is a real thing. Researchers say excessive amounts of close-up eye contact can cause stress and mental overload and online meetings keep you sitting and looking at yourself all the time. Solutions include doing away with full-screen mode and not seeing your own camera and taking breaks from video during a meeting to move around. Source Link

You can avoid being ripped off at the auto shop by doing a little work before your car needs some. Shop around for a mechanic by asking friends or checking online reviews and take your car in for a small service to see if you’re comfortable there. And don’t be afraid to have your car towed somewhere else if you feel like you’re being cheated. Source Link 

If you have cash sitting in a savings account earning almost no interest, Uncle Sam has a more-profitable option. Series I savings bonds purchased now are earning 3.54% interest annually. You must keep the bonds for at least one year to avoid an interest penalty and redeeming one can take longer than a typical savings account withdrawal. Source Link

August 3, 2021

 Do you want your credit card to be a rewarding experience or a dollars and cents deal? It depends on how you use it. Rewards credit cards are good for people who pay off their balance each month and those who carry a balance are better off with the lowest interest rate. Surveys have shown that nearly half of Americans don’t understand the basics of credit cards. Source Link 

Now’s the time to think about renewal of your government-backed flood insurance. That’s because two out of three policy holders are likely to pay more after October 1st when new rules take effect. You can avoid those increases for one year or even take advantage of lower rates by renewing your policy before October. Source Link

That dryer sheet you may find in your mailbox isn’t some kind of prank, so leave it there. Postal carriers often put a dryer sheet in a mailbox to keep stinging insects from lurking inside. The fragrance that smells so good on freshly-dried clothes is a real turn-off for wasps and yellow jackets. Source Link

August 2, 2021

 When you need to take someone’s temperature, all home thermometers don’t measure up the same. Earwax can interfere with the accuracy of an ear thermometer and pacifier thermometers and fever strips are not recommended. A digital thermometer placed under the tongue is the gold standard but doesn’t work as well in the armpit. Source Link 

Being hunched over your phone isn't just a bad look -- it’s also bad for your body. Problems with headaches, digestion, breathing and even fatigue can be associated with bad posture. Besides less phone browsing, adjusting the height of a computer screen, using a stand-up desk or just standing up to stretch at least once every 30 minutes can help to straighten things out. Source Link 

If you own a car that’s less than 10 years old it probably takes care of this maintenance chore for you, but don’t expect it to work forever. The TPMS or tire pressure management system alerts you to low air pressure in a tire. It runs on a battery that lasts between five and seven years and is not replaceable, so you’ll need a new sensor for each tire. Source Link