The internet has opened a whole new world for money-making opportunities. These days you don’t only have the option of working a part-time or full-time job in order to make income. Instead, the internet has created all sorts of new options for people to make quick cash.
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Keep reading to learn about 5 creative ways you can put more money in your bank account.

Product prices fluctuate on a daily basis, and while you may have waited to purchase an item at the lowest price possible, there’s always a risk that the price may decrease even more after you make a purchase. When this happens, you have two options. You can return the product and repurchase it for the lower price, or you can ask the retailer to refund you the difference between the two prices.
But, keeping track of prices after you’ve purchased something isn’t realistic. It also isn’t a simple process to have the price difference refunded to you. To make the process of price difference refunds even easier, you can use the app Paribus. The app looks at your email receipts and keeps tabs on items that you’ve purchased and their current price.
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When a price drop is found, Paribus sends you a real-time alert. The app also starts the refunds process for you so that you can quickly get the money you deserve. If you’re not yet convinced, just read Paribus reviews and learn about the tens of millions of dollars that the app has saved consumers.

We’re creatures of habit, and over the years, instead of cleaning out closets and getting rid of things we don’t need anymore, we tend to hold onto them. But, this causes clutter. Though it can be hard to get rid of the things we’ve held onto for years, you can make serious money by getting rid of clothes, electronics, and even jewelry you don’t wear anymore.
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Selling things you don’t need anymore is one of the quickest ways to make money. You can hold a yard sale in your community or post the items online. As you sell items, not only are you able to make money, you can also free up space in your home. De-cluttering while increasing your income is a true win/win.

Americans watch millions of videos a day, so chances are you partake in this time-wasting task. But, what if you could make money by doing something as enjoyable as watching videos? In reality, you can! Sign up for Swagbucks and get paid for watching selected videos. The site offers hundreds of videos on various topics such as food, hobbies, sports, parenting, and much more.
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What’s great about Swagbucks is that the site also pays you for other easy tasks such as taking surveys and searching. These are all things you already do on a daily basis, so why not get paid for doing them?
With Swagbucks, you earn points that can be redeemed for gift cards and cash. The more points you have, the more money you can cash out.

Do you like writing? Do you know a little bit about digital marketing and search engine optimization? If so, becoming a freelancer is a great way to pull in some serious cash. Online there's an endless amount of freelance work. If you dedicate enough time, you can make thousands of dollars a month. This is especially true if you land a big client.

As a freelancer you can find jobs for:

• Creating blogs
• Posting updates on social media
• Proofreading and editing

Freelancing can become more than a side hustle! In fact, there are many people who work as freelancers as their full-time job.

Your car doesn’t have to be a money-sucker. Instead, you could use it to your advantage by becoming a driver for one of many companies. You can choose between Uber, Lyft, Instacart, GrubHub, Doordash, and many other options. Uber and Lyft are ride-sharing companies while Instacart, GrubHub, and Doordash all put you in control of delivering food to customers.
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By becoming a driver, you have total control and flexibility over your schedule. You work when you want and for as long as you want. Obviously the more you work the more you make but, the key to a side hustle is making it work for your schedule.

Whether it's a dog, a cat or something more exotic, it's easy to fall in love with a new four-legged friend. Maybe your child has been asking for a pet for years, and you think they're ready to take on some responsibility. However, before you bring someone new into your family, it's important to make sure that you have the budget to handle looking after them.

Preparing your budget for a new pet isn't as simple as just figuring out how much you're going to have to pay for their food each month. There are other expenses to consider too. Here are some tips to help you.

Most of the time, it costs to adopt a furry friend into your home. If you're getting your dog or cat from a breeder, then you're likely to pay a much higher price than you would if you looked for a pet at a rescue shelter. That's one of the reasons why it's such a good idea to look for your dream pet at a shelter before you go elsewhere.

Picking a pre-loved pet to bring home with you is a great way to give these animals a second shot at happiness while saving some money. Some shelters will include extras in your adoption fees, such as spaying, neutering, and vaccinations.

Speaking of things like spaying and neutering, you should always make room in your budget for vet bills. If you're lucky, many of the major expenses of adopting an animal will be handled for you by the shelter, but if not, you're going to have to put cash aside for everything from micro-chipping to licensing. Additionally, even if your pet has all their shots, they'll need to go to the vet from time to time, just like a human being needs to go to the doctor.
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Remember that a visit to the vet can cost thousands of dollars depending on what kind of support your four-legged friend needs. With that in mind, many people find that it's a better idea to get insurance to help them handle bigger expenses.

For the most part, pet insurance is an "added extra" on the list of essential expenses that you'll need to address when getting your new furry friend. However, it's worth noting that it's often a lot better to pay twenty dollars a month for insurance than to shell out thousands if your cat suddenly comes down with an illness that needs treatment.
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Remember, when you're looking for pet insurance, you should compare your options, just as you would with any investment. You wouldn't get a loan without looking for the cheapest interest rates, so don't get pet insurance without checking out your premium options.

Feeding your pet will be an ongoing expense that you need to think about when you're looking at your budget. Feeding a cat can be a lot cheaper than feeding a dog, but it will depend on the breed that you decide to get. Some specific kinds of cats and dogs require a very specific diet to keep them healthy, so make sure that you take this into account when you're deciding who to adopt.
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It might also be worth thinking about treats and other "added" expenses that might go into your food budget too. Treats are particularly important if you plan on training your pet. For puppies in need of behavioral training, they're a must-have.

​The supplies that you need to support your new pet will depend on the kind of animal that you get. Cats need nail clippers, beds, collars, litter boxes, and food bowls, while dogs need leads, leashes, and sometimes a crate too. There's also things like grooming supplies to think about too.
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If you have any places in your home that you want to remain "off-limits" to your pets, then you will also need to invest in gates and locks to make sure they can't access that area.

Finally, a complete budget for your new pet also needs some consideration of toys and entertainment options too. Cats are easy to entertain with plenty of random things around your hats, including cardboard boxes and mats. However, it helps to get them a scratching post if you want to save your furniture.
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Dogs often need a few more toys than cats to keep them busy when you're away from the house. Make sure that you stock up on things that they can safely bite and chew.

Parenting is a precious job that can be demanding. Often, we as parents feel overwhelmed. Alcohol is a
quick and convenient escape away from the steady attention that children need. Drinking can appear as an aid to help us cope. The question does arise about the real truth concerning mixing alcohol or drugs with parenting.

Children live in a world where they instinctively see their parents in a way that shapes their world. Parents are the go-to for everything. The kids do not see your needs or desires. They need what they need when they need it. Children do not understand the energy you put out when you are working either in the home or workplace.

Everyone has good and bad days, including the kids, but they may not be aware of yours. When parents drink or take mood-altering drugs, all the children experience is you pulling away from them. The kids depend on the parents for security. When they experience your drinking or the effects of the drugs, they sense that you are less available for them. A sober parent may be tired at times, but the children know you are there for them. 

Being real with the kids is the key to successful role modeling. I am not suggesting parents dump their
adult challenges on them. What I am saying is the kids are watching the parents respond to their issues. This set of parents are laying the groundwork for the next generation. The kids are watching the parents responses by how they solve the problem, the way parents present the solution and the reaction from others to the solution. 
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Drinking and drug use can present a false picture of the way the parent would handle an issue if they
were sober. Being under the influence portrays that the way the parents respond does not have to be
consistent, which in turns devalues the issue and the response. Misunderstandings can escalate an
otherwise simple, straightforward resolution. Serious problems may be downplayed when the parent is
not sober. Children are relying on the parent to show them how to handle problems in a consistent
manner.

Children need positive constructive consistency in all aspects their lives. They are looking for the parent
to provide a structure that they can depend on. The kids want to know that they are loved and come first in mom and dad's life. Being under the influence can destroy the consistency of everyday family life.

The weekend can be a problem if the parent makes it a habit to binge. Sure, the kids may be in bed on
Friday night when you open that bottle of wine, roll that joint, or start on that six-pack, but it is the
hangover the next day that affects the kids. This is the time they are looking forward to family time
together while the parent is dealing with a hangover and just want to be left alone. A sober parent will
be there for them, ready to work and play together.

Kids and parents will not always agree. There are times that they require structured discipline. It is
necessary for them to learn to make good choices. If they are loved, the discipline will be a bonding tool. When the parent drinks or takes drugs, the child begins to wonder if coming home to them is a problem. The child will begin to doubt their worth to the family or the parent.

By staying sober, this concern will not arise. Even though there may be differences between the children and their parents, the kids will not think that the parents are trying to escape them or not care about them. The child's self-esteem can be damaged.

Alcohol and drugs are expensive. Even if you have a comfortable lifestyle, the time and money spent on drugs and alcohol could be going toward family use. Think of vacations together, college funds, and
home upgrades. Show the family that they are the most important part of your life. Be there for them
every moment of every day.

To learn more about drugs and alcohol addiction, please visit The Recovery Village website.

Debt is no stranger to most people. In fact, almost 82% of millennials are in debt. However, debt
isn't just for the younger generations either. More than 80% of baby boomers are also in debt.
While it’s somewhat comforting to know that you aren’t the only one facing debt, don’t let this
keep you from taking the steps needed to begin digging yourself out of the financial hole.
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Keep reading to learn 5 effective steps in paying off debt. In just a few short months, you’ll find
that you’ve made significant progress in paying down your loans and credit cards

​Chances are you have a variety of debt. Most people have student loans and credit cards along
with a mortgage and a car payment. In order to pay off your debt effectively, it’s important to
have a plan of attack. Start by prioritizing your debt.

There’s no wrong or right way to prioritize debt, but there are two preferred options. The first
method is to pay off highest interest rate debt first. This typically includes credit card payments
and personal loans. By paying off this debt first, less of your money will go towards interest over
the life of the loan.

The second option to prioritize debt is to pay off the smallest debt amount first. If you have a
credit card with a $1,200 balance, you can likely pay it off in a just a few payments. This is a
quick way to have more money to put towards higher debt amounts.
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After prioritizing your debt, you can also use tools like a debt payoff planner to help you to
manage when payments on due along with a projected schedule of when a certain loan or credit
card will be paid off. By using a debt payoff planner, you’ll have visual goals to work towards,
making it much easier to stick to your payoff plan.

Another critical tip to effective pay off debt is to always pay more than the minimum. Paying just
the minimum amount due won’t get you anywhere if you’re serious about tackling your debt and
wiping it out for good. While you may not be able to afford to pay double the amount due on all
of your debt, even the smallest amount can have a big impact on your debt amounts.
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Before determining how much to pay towards each debt, it’s helpful to sit down and make a
budget. Write out all of your monthly sources of income along with bills and debt payments.
With the money you have left over, you’ll want most of it to go towards the highest priority debt.
From there you can put extra money towards other debt payments.

To ensure you can pay more than the minimum amount due, it’s important to find ways to
minimize spending so that you’re able to put more money towards your debt and less towards
day-to-day costs. Some effective ways to minimize spending include:

• Cooking meals at home
• Using coupons when buying groceries, clothing, etc.
• Bundling at-home entertainment services
• Using cash back apps
• Comparing prices before making a purchase

By minimizing spending, and only purchasing items that you really need, you’ll have more
money left over each month to put towards your debt. Once you have a good handle on your
spending habits, you may even find that you have money available to put into a savings account
or towards an emergency fund.

Another effective way to pay off your debt quickly is to fund ways to increase your monthly
income. Do you have items in your home that you no longer use? You could hold a yard sale or
sell them on eBay to make cash while also freeing up space in your home!

Do you like to write and know a little bit about marketing? You could apply to become a content
creator or social media marketer for clients.
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The key here is to find an activity that doesn’t take up too much time but also allows you to
make a little bit of money. By increasing your cash flow each month, you’ll have more funds to
put towards debt payments.

​Genealogy is about more than simply tracing your family tree. It’s also about discovering your true heritage, piecing together your family’s story, and maybe even about creating a family medical history. Discovering all about your family is an opportunity for learning as well as a hobby. It can take you across continents and through time.

Most people who research their families will start with their parents or even their grandparents and move back in time from there. For example, if you want to research your Jewish American Genealogy you should visit GenealogyBank and start your journey. You might be surprised at how easy it is to find out your family history and potentially connect with a few members that are still alive.

Tracing your family heritage will give you exposure to quite a few different types of personal records. What you’ll find in these might surprise you. As an example, death records will give you clues to any sort of prominent illnesses that might be present in your family tree. Death records that are older might also have causes of death that aren’t typical, which then gives you interesting information for your family stories. 


Baptism and birth records will also tell you quite a bit about people, including who was present when they were born. These clues can then assist you when it comes to finding those obscure people in the family who don’t appear anywhere else. Wills and land records can also contain important information regarding the people your family dealt or associated with while they were alive. 


It might not be too surprising to find that many of these types of records will involve in-laws that you’ll now be able to trace with ease. Records of this nature also hold correct information regarding how names were spelled as well as birth dates and places. Family stories and lore might have one way the story goes, but the actual records will have the truth of the matter.

Genealogy is a task that’s quite important for everyone. It gives you a way to bridge a connection to the past while also building a future. Genealogy can give you a better sense of your roots and create a sense of familial pride.

Turning 65 is a big day in the lives of most Americans. If you worked and paid Medicare and
Social Security taxes, you’re able to retire with full Social Security benefits, and you’re eligible to
enroll in Medicare.

If you’re about to hit that retirement milestone, here’s what you need to know about your
Medicare eligibility and benefits.

The rules for Medicare eligibility are pretty simple. You are entitled for full Medicare benefits,
including premium-free Part A, if you are an American citizen or permanent legal resident of at
least five years, and one of the following applies to you:

• You (or your spouse) has worked enough years to qualify for either Social Security benefits or railroad retiree benefits (usually around 10 years), or
• You (or your spouse) worked for the government under the pension system, but paid Medicare taxes.

You can still get Medicare if you or your spouse don’t have a qualifying work history, you’ll just
have to pay Part A premiums, which may be as high as $437 in 2019, along with your Part B
premium payments.

Medicare is individual insurance; you can’t cover your spouse or dependent children under your
policy. Your spouse will have to get health insurance through an employer or other plan until he
or she reaches 65 and enrolls in Medicare.

If you don’t enroll in Medicare when you first become eligible, and you go without health
insurance coverage, you’ll pay a late enrollment penalty with your Medicare premium when you
eventually enroll. This penalty never goes away, you’ll pay it as long as you have Medicare
coverage.

That depends on the size of your employer. If you work for a company with 20 or more
employees, you can delay Medicare enrollment as long as you are working and/or you have
health insurance through that employer.

When your employment or health insurance coverage ends, you have a special Medicare open
enrollment period of eight months. If you enroll during this period, you won’t pay any late
enrollment penalty.

Note, however, that for Medicare’s purposes, only coverage through active employment counts.
If you are using COBRA to get health insurance from your employer, you can’t delay Medicare
enrollment without penalty.

If you work for a small employer, your employer may opt to end your group insurance coverage
when you become eligible for Medicare. In this instance, you must enroll at age 65 and
Medicare becomes your primary insurer. Your employer may allow offer some supplemental
retirement insurance benefits that work with your Medicare benefits, but these become
secondary to Medicare. In other words, if you don’t enroll in Medicare, your employer’s plan
doesn’t have to cover any of your health care costs.

When we are younger, we can get away with a lot of abuse to our bodies. Our systems are robust, and the body has a very powerful ability to repair itself. But as we edge closer to retirement, the damage begins to show in life-threatening ways. This is especially the case when it comes to prolonged use of tobacco products.

Just about everybody knows the dangers to health caused by smoking, so we aren’t going to go over them in too fine a detail. What’s important is knowing your heart, lungs, skin, and other vital organs will thank you if you give up the habit for good.

What’s more, those approaching retirement age need to stop and ask themselves if smoking is worth it if it means cutting their lives short. You’re saving and planning for retirement, wouldn’t it be a shame to never get to enjoy it?

With this in mind, here is some worthwhile advice for those who want to stop smoking in order to look forward to retirement:

​While mostly associated with millennials and college students, vaping is a healthier substitute to smoking which can be enjoyed by people of all ages. The best e liquid brands sold in stores and online still contain nicotine, but at adjusted concentrations and without all the toxic byproducts generated by smoke. Better yet, vape juice comes in an almost endless variety of flavors, which can’t be said for traditional tobacco products. Being completely free of addiction should be the ultimate goal for everyone, but vape provides a crucial stepping stone towards that final stage, one which is significantly safer than cigarettes and other smokables.

​There are medications used for quitting smoking for good. Bupropion is great because it can help to combat depression and it can mitigate the unpleasant side effects of nicotine withdrawal. Varenicline is another common prescription used to quit smoking. More popularly known by its brand name Chantix, varenicline limits the pleasure response to the nicotine which can help you to disconnect from the mental side of the addiction.

Use these tools if you need them. However, for most, this isn't the main issue. It is your relationship to the cigarette that needs to change. In those dark moments, you wage war with the past, present, and future. Your associations with these will determine your success. You must treat this as an MMA fighter. In a fight, willpower means nothing if the fighter hasn't trained their preconditioned responses. Mental repetition is needed to build the necessary instinctive reactions. Those gut-level reactions hold the key to your freedom.

Dr. Joe Dispenza, an established neuroscientist, travels across the globe to teach individuals how to precondition their minds for financial, emotional, and habitual success. How do they do this? It’s called meditation. Yeah, you've heard this before, and no, it shouldn't surprise you. Our memories are pliable and we can pull them out and reprogram them. We can also simulate future experiences and our desired reactions. Recent research has shown that the body cannot tell the difference between meditating on experiences and actively living those experiences.

That means that we can establish patterns of success by mentally simulating those moments and their successful outcomes. It digs the trench, a path, that makes your mind susceptible to following the correct course of actions that create success. Try it out, and you will see results. Each morning, set your doubt aside for twenty minutes. Run through those dark moments, and let yourself feel the emotions, sensations, and the thoughts that commonly run through your mind at those times. Now, picture success and enjoy it. See yourself at the point beyond that craving. This may seem silly, but it has been hugely successful for many people.

There are more treatments available to you than those listed. I hope that these tools help you to live the life that you seek. You can recover your health. As long as the heart beats you can work towards recovery. Making it to retirement is entirely possible, and you will enjoy the rewards that a lifetime of work brings.

In autumn and winter, it is especially important to provide the body with the right amount of energy. How to do it in this difficult period are suggested by our experts, which are telling us their ways for being healthy in autumn.

In autumn and winter, it is especially important to provide the body with the right amount of energy. However, it should be remembered that this is not done by eating more calories in meals – advise our expert.

It is also improper to limit cereal products in meals, thinking that in this way we care for the line in the autumn - adds another dietitian - when the body, does not receive the right amount of energy from food, will demand more food, so we can achieve the opposite effect and take on on weight. Remember that in accordance with nutritional recommendations, cereal products, thanks to the high content of complex carbohydrates, should constitute for us the main source of energy in everyday nutrition.

Cereal products should be found in every meal during the day and should be the main source of energy.

What's the matter with this energy hidden in cereal products? Every cell of our body needs regular supplies of nutrients. Our body cannot function properly unless we also provide it with regular energy - it is necessary to maintain a constant level of glucose in the blood.

Complex carbohydrates, included in cereal products, they are the best source of energy because, subject to gradual metabolic changes, they help the body maintain a constant recommended level of glucose in the blood. If we understand these relationships - the professor notes - the fact that each of our meals should contain a portion of cereal products becomes clear. The complex carbohydrates contained in them are gradually absorbed by the body, and this makes it easier to maintain - repeat it again - the recommended glucose level and guarantees an even supply of energy. This energy is priceless. The body uses it to work the brain, breathing, work of the heart, so-called basic metabolism and physical activity - says the dietitian. And the professor adds - The fact that cereal products break down slowly in our body, giving energy for a long time, is an extremely important issue because we feel saturated for a long time.

Above all, we increase the amount of warm meals and we make sure that their products are always cereal products. On the “healthy plate” products, such as pasta, cereals and bread, occupy one of the most important places. This should be taken into account especially in autumn and winter, when there is a greater demand for energy.

Eating cereal products, let's not forget that the principle of a balanced diet is diversity, because each of the product groups has a different function and complement each other. The second group of products that should not be missing during the day are vegetables and fruit. In the autumn and winter season we have a huge variety of all kinds of vegetable and fruit preserves, including silage - cucumbers and cabbage, treated as taste components, rich in high amount of vitamin C.

We adhere to the principles of diversity every day, regardless of the time of year. What does it mean? Add braised vegetables or a portion of meat to the pasta and, for example, sauerkraut salad. Eat porridge or cereal with hot apples and plums and a portion of butter. Let's put a slice of bread smeared with butter, favorite additions, for example a slice of meats or cheese and some vegetable, even a pickled cucumber. For a second breakfast or an afternoon snack, we can quickly eat a slice of bread with cottage cheese and crunch a raw carrot. I recommend especially whole-wheat bread, rich in fiber, which in the colder months we need more, because usually we move less – says the expert.

​In the cold months the breakfast should be even more generous than usual and additionally warm, because we are exposed to cold and we need much more energy. We can eat, for example, a bowl of hot vegetables, preferably steamed or stewed with the addition of favorite spices, and add a slice of wholemeal bread with butter or a breadcrumbs. A good solution is also a bowl of cereal with stewed apples or a hot mousse of dried fruit. In the morning porridge works perfectly (it can be cooked the day before), seasoned with favorite herbs, butter, vegetables or a sliced ​​and heated slice of cold meat or melted cheese.

To understand why breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and regardless of the time of year, we have to go back to the night hours when we sleep deeply. During sleep, our brain uses up to 25% of all glucose consumed by the body during this time. Therefore, in the morning her blood level decreases and when we do not eat breakfast and do not provide a fresh portion of energy, our concentration decreases, especially in autumn and winter, when the energy demand is much higher. Let's try to imagine - the professor urges us - how we function when we have weaker concentration, what happens to us behind the wheel, at work, at school - everywhere, wherever we go in the morning and whatever we do.

​The research showed that long breaks between meals mean that we also have lower productivity - adds the dietitian. Therefore, when we eat less, but often, we feel an unflagging level of energy and it is very beneficial for our body, especially in cold months, when we use additional forces to fight the cold.

​In addition to warm dishes, in the autumn and winter it is also worth taking into account hot drinks, which also warm us. A good idea is tea with herbs and fruits. To make herbal tea, for example, chamomile, lemon balm or yarrow, or fruit I mean raspberries, hawthorn, blackberries, apples, chokeberries or black without - says the professor - we can add lemon juice, honey or various spices, for example cardamom, ginger or cinnamon. Such warm liquids, drunk before a meal, blend in well with warm dishes prepared on the basis of cereal products.

Taking medication is an integral part of illness recovery and maintaining health. Depending on
your condition, there can be serious consequences to missing or mis-timing a dose. But we’re
only human, and humans sometimes forget. Some medications even require a very specific
schedule, such as “take before bedtime” or “take on an empty stomach.” Here are a few quick
tips on how to remember to take your meds.

If you take a certain pill in the morning, put it next to the mug you use for your morning cup of
coffee, or next to where you sit to read the paper. That way, you’re guaranteed to see it on
your morning routine and be reminded to take it.
If you take a pill right before bed, put it on your bedside table, next to the last lamp you’ll turn
off before going to sleep. If you take a pill at lunchtime at work, put the pill inside your
lunchbox.

Set a good old-fashioned alarm for when you need to take your meds. For multiple alarms and
maximum flexibility, use the clock function on your smartphone. You can customize different
alarm tones for different meds, or even record yourself saying “take your pills!” as the alarm
sound.

​There are plenty of nifty products out there designed to help you not miss a pill, such as daily
pill containers and dispensers.

Keep a few extra pills in your purse, car, or at work. There are also little container keychains you
can attach to your keys so you’ll have an emergency set of pills if you suddenly remember you
haven’t taken them.

If missing a dose is a serious issue for you, talk to your doctor about making an emergency
back-up plan. Don’t assume that you’ll be perfect and take your drug correctly every day.
Planning for irresponsibility is part of being responsible!

​Letting someone else know about your medication schedule gives you a failsafe. Two heads
remembering are better than one! Preferably, this would be someone you live with or spend a
lot of time with every day, such as a partner, family member, or colleague.

Medication in America is expensive. If you’re struggling to afford your pills, consider buying
medicine online from a Canadian pharmacy referral service like Rx Connected. Rx Connected
sources prescription medications from reputable international and Canadian pharmacies whose
products have met stringent safety standards. Ordering online may also help you worry less
about remembering to take the trip out to a local pharmacy for a prescription refill.

When talking about investing, most money managers advise their clients to spread their money around or diversify their investments. Doing this will protect you from losing everything if the market heads south. The way stocks have declined in recent years is proof that putting all of your eggs in one basket can be quite risky.

However, if you want to properly diversify, you need to know what to invest in, how much to invest, and how to diversify even within a single investment category.

​Having many investments doesn’t mean that you have diversified. You need to have lots of different types of investments. That means that along with investing in zcash mining​ and other cryptocurrencies, you should also have international securities, real estate funds, bonds, stocks, and cash.

Investments that are made in these asset categories each do different things.

How do you determine how much money to sink into each category of investments?

First, you should set aside enough money in income investments and cash to take care of any sort of near-term goals and emergencies.

Next, a rule a lot of money managers stick to says that you should subtract your current age from 100 and put that amount into stocks and the rest of it into bonds. For example, if you are 40 years old, you would put 40% of your money into stocks and the rest into bonds.

After that, if you want to diversify your money with the other groups of investments, 10% - 25% of the stock part of your portfolio should be in international securities. Take 5% of both the stock and bond portfolios and use this money for real estate investments.

Once you have diversified into different categories, you need to further diversify within those categories. It isn’t enough to simply purchase one stock. You need to have many different types of stocks. Do your research to determine which ones will be the best investments. This will protect you from being devastated if a single stock takes a dive.

If you don’t happen to be uber-rich, diversification while you are purchasing individual shares can end up costing you a lot. This is due to the trading fees you have to pay when you buy each one. The most cost-efficient way to do this if you have a modest amount of money, is to invest in mutual funds.

Mutual funds are a sort of investment pool that combines the money many people have invested to buy things like international securities, real estate, bonds, and stocks.

​Diversification can protect you from losses that are devastating, but it can also cost you when it comes to returns annually. This is because reward and risk go hand in hand when it comes to the financial market. This means that anything that will reduce your risk will also reduce your return.

The best answer is a combination of these that works for you. If a bit of additional risk won’t keep you awake at night, you might be able to get higher returns. But if you’re more worried about the risk, you might want to stick with safer investments.

During the holidays, there is always so much to do that it quickly becomes quite the chore. If you are bed-bound or otherwise unable to leave the house to get Christmas shopping done, the stress of trying to figure out how to celebrate the holidays can be almost overwhelming. Luckily, we live an age where you can do almost anything from the comfort of your home or bed.

​Follow along on a wintery trip through some of the more interesting ways to do some Christmas shopping with limited mobility:

Nothing says Christmas dinner like a delicious ham in the center of the table. Unfortunately, it may not always be easy or possible for people to go out and find a nice juicy ham to prepare for their family meal. This is where you can help save the day and give a great holiday gift without ever leaving your chair.

A ham voucher, like Christmas ham gifts by Perfect Feast, is a time-tested way to give the gift of delicious meat to the people you love the most. There is no need to rush out and grab the best one before everyone else. Instead, you just let your friends, family, or someone else choose the perfect meal for their family.

​The fruit basket is a traditional and appreciated way to show appreciation and offer a warm, heartfelt greeting at Christmastime. The best thing about fruit and gift baskets is there are so many choices available. This makes personalizing your Christmas present for each person on your list easy and fun to do. If you are doing Christmas shopping with limited mobility and have vegan friends and family to shop for, gift baskets are a great way to offer something thoughtful and non-offensive.

Much like the voucher, fruit baskets and other food-related gift baskets can be ordered online or with a call at one time. They are then sent to the recipients without any extra work from you.

​The internet never sleeps. This makes it possible to do your Christmas shopping anytime, day or night. If you have limited mobility or an odd schedule, simply doing some Amazon shopping when you can is always an option. More than just Amazon shopping, the net is full of specialized stores and art-shops that offer one-of-a-kind gift ideas for everyone you know. Online stores like Amazon offer a number of shipping options and offer items that may not be found elsewhere.

​If all else fails, there is always the gifts that everyone loves. There has never been anyone in the history of the world that has ever said, "I wish I didn't get this money for Christmas." While it may lack the personalized touch of gift baskets and online gift shopping, cash, and gift cards are often gladly accepted during the holidays.

With gift cards, you can often find deals going into the holidays with stores offering extra money on your gift card for the same amount. These sales are a great way to get extra bang for your buck during the holidays, but you can also use this time to stock up on future gifts or even money-saving gift cards for yourself throughout the year.

Holiday shopping doesn't have to involve crowds, pain, or discomfort. Instead, stay home and get things done your way in our digital shopping landscape.

​One of the many perks of retirement is the free time that comes along with it, but if you're easily bored, that same free time can be less of a blessing and more of a curse. For retirees with artistic talent, finding a profitable way to fill that time has never been easier. Websites like Etsy streamline the selling process of crafts and handmade goods, making online selling possible for creators who wouldn't previously have had access to a larger market.

If you're primarily a crafter, setting up shop on Etsy is fairly straightforward. Find a few different items that you can get done quickly, make them in a few different colors or options for samples of what you can do, and post them to Etsy. You can also take commissions on different pieces once you've gotten your samples up, a service you can charge more for based on complexity. An online storefront also allows you to keep a smaller stock of items, as you wouldn't have to fill up space in a physical store. If there are larger or more complex pieces that you would be willing to do on a commission basis, you can also set up sections for those.

​Another option that works for some creators is painting. Many people sell original art on Etsy, but if you're still learning the ropes, or you're not sure what you want to paint, there are companies that turn photographs into gorgeous paintings. As long as you can paint pictures out of photos, that's a viable option for you, and if you prefer coming up with your own art, there's definitely a market for that too.

​An added benefit to this route is that turning photographs into a custom painting can lead to commissions. Those you do painting for through a third-party may be so impressed with your work they insist on hiring you to do another.

If none of this seems to apply to you, consider taking the opportunity to learn a new skill! Have you always been curious about knitting? What about woodworking, weaving, or ceramics? Taking the time and effort to learn something new when you have the free time and effort to can keep your mind sharp and your hands busy. If you know you get bored quickly, or that you've already tried most "standard" crafty things, you can always try out a few things at once instead of focusing in on one. Look into beginner versions crafts you've heard of, or find ones that you've always been envious of the skills it took to do. Underwater basket weaving might not be a real thing but basket weaving definitely is, and if you've always wondered about glassblowing, retirement is a good time to learn.

​When you've spent your whole life working, the first thing on your mind is relaxation and the last thing on it is getting paid to do something you love. A hobby might not be something you've ever considered to be a moneymaker, but people sell original art on Etsy for a reason! Even if it's not a get rich quick kind of thing, selling handcrafted items has gotten popular enough that online stores cater to the needs of smaller producers. Don't let your own self-doubt get in the way of a brand new opportunity for you. If there's something you've wanted to do, go do it. If there's a dream you've had, dream it bigger, then work to fulfill it. If you have the time, the drive, and the artistic talent, why not give it a go? You might learn something new about yourself.