Lifestyle

You need to be smart in handling your money. When you take out loans that require a long-term commitment, you need to be even more responsible; otherwise, you will have a hard time finishing off the loans. These are the tips to help you become smart in deciding how to use your monthly income.

List all your expenses

You need to have an idea about how much you’re going to spend the following month and on which expenses. You have to make sure that you don’t forget anything since it could lead to bigger penalties. Once you already know what to spend your money on, it’s a lot easier for you to do the budgeting.

Don’t be impulsive

You have to think things through. Don’t include in your budget an item that you don’t need just because you want to buy it. You can suspend all these plans and reconsider them later when you have enough cash to spare. For now, focus on the priorities and let go of the unnecessary expenses.

Rethink your plans to buy items on sale

Just because there are items on sale doesn’t mean you have to buy them. Some of these things are unnecessary. When you need to buy them in bulk, it might be a waste of money. Yes, you’re getting savings, but do you really need to buy that much? You can use whatever amount you spend on shopping during a sale period for some other important expenses.

Learn to say no

Another reason why you can’t properly budget your money is that you can’t say no. When your friends ask you to go out on a Friday night, you immediately say yes. When they ask you to go on an unplanned trip, you also say yes to it. This is a problem because you don’t need to do all of them. You can tell them that you don’t have enough money or you’re still paying off other expenses. They will understand your decision. If they don’t, they might not be your real friends after all.

Focus on a long-term commitment

If you took out loans that require several months of payments, you need to focus on them. Find a way to repay the loans as soon as possible. You might even have to do advanced payments if necessary, so you won’t have to think about the loans in the future. You can get back to all other unnecessary expenses once you have finished paying off your loans.

It takes time for you to be an expert in managing your finances. You even have to learn how to sacrifice if you wish to achieve your financial goals. You need to stay focused and committed. Don’t allow yourself to get side-tracked. It doesn’t mean you can’t use your money for entertainment or leisure. You can still include them in your monthly budget. However, you need to know which expense to prioritise.

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At first look, it might seem impossible for you to afford anything expensive. Considering how much you earn each month, it doesn’t make sense to aim for expensive stuff. Before you abandon the idea, you need to understand that it’s possible for you to purchase these things. You just need to identify what you want and work hard to have it.

Get an extra job

What do you usually do after work? If you have nothing to attend to, it doesn’t hurt to get an extra job. You can earn more money and use the amount so you can buy something expensive. It’s exhausting, but also rewarding once you finally get what you want. You may also try online jobs so that you don’t have to leave your home. You can keep earning by sitting in your chair.

Don’t pursue an expensive trip 

Yes, there’s a benefit in travelling to different places. An international trip might also be a good thing. However, there’s no need to do it all the time. You can cancel these trips if there are other opportunities in the future. For now, you can save whatever you earn so that you can buy these expensive things. Besides, going on expensive trips is like blowing your money and you have nothing to keep apart from memories. Two international trips that you cancel would be enough so you can afford a luxurious item.

Stick with your budget

When you think about the expenses you have each month relative to what you’re earning, it’s possible to purchase luxury brands. The problem is that you always go beyond the amount that you intend to spend. For instance, you keep eating out when you can stay home and cook healthy dishes. You also hang out with your friends during the weekends and end up spending a lot. If it’s not in your budget, you have to say no.

Set your eyes on the goal

When you know what you want to buy, you will do everything to reach that goal. You can even start a savings account intended for the items you want to buy. Even if it seems challenging, you will find a way to achieve your goals.

Be smart in what you buy

Some luxury items seem overpriced, but you need to check their value. For instance, a luxury watch is something you can use for a long time. It’s also flexible in terms of use. When you check out online stores, some of the options are even available at a lower price. If you need an Omega nato strap as a replacement part, you can also get it online. However, considering the quality of luxury watches, you won’t have to think about buying these replacement parts any time soon.

You deserve great things in life and don’t let anyone prevent you from having them. You don’t always get the chance to spend on all the things you love, so you have to desire these things

 

If given the chance, you need to meditate. You can’t end your day without meditation or any other mindfulness activity. It’s becoming popular these days especially in a world that quickly becomes stressful. People who struggle with mental health issues also use meditation as an opportunity to relax and feel better.

You assess your emotions

When you argue with other people, you usually respond based on how you feel at that moment. You don’t think about what you say or the impact of your words. When you meditate, you pause for a while before you proceed. You give yourself enough time to think about what you said and even contemplate asking for forgiveness if you know you were wrong.

It clears your mind

You face lots of challenges each day. You might have no idea how to face the challenges ahead. Therefore, you need to meditate to help you clear your mind. Your ability to make the right decisions might start to get affected when you have a lot to think about. Your productivity is also on the line when your brain gets clouded. You need to clear your mind, and meditation is a good way.

You don’t need a special place

You might say that you can’t meditate because there’s no space for meditation available near you. The truth is that you can meditate anywhere. Some people can even do it while inside a bus. You can also do it at home. If you have freestanding baths, you can spend a few minutes meditating. As long as you’re comfortable in a place and you’re willing to let go of all negative thoughts, you can start to meditate.

Things will be clearer

You feel like you have no idea what to do next because your brain gets blocked by everything that you face. With meditation, you can finally clear things out. You will realise that you were at fault in a specific situation. You will also think about talking to a person you hate. You make terrible decisions when you’re at the height of emotion. Things start to be better when you have clear thoughts.

Make it a habit

You will find it challenging to meditate at first. You think that it’s a waste of time. You still have lots of other things to deal with, and you have no time to meditate. However, when you start to practice being mindful, it will become a natural process. You can even meditate in your office amid a busy schedule.

Inspire others to do the same

When you finally realise the value of meditation, you can recommend it to others. Some people think that they don’t need to meditate, but they do. You could save people from the brink of mental health problems when you tell them to meditate. You can also share some tips that helped you meditate quickly. Even kids should have an idea of how to meditate.

To read more on topics like this, check out the lifestyle category.

Money is tough for everyone, but there are things you can do. If you find yourself struggling to pay off holidays and Christmas, you could probably use a budgeting app that can help you save and allocate money. There is never a better time to start saving than now. Don’t be a slave to debt anymore, find out what you need to do to better save and take care of your finances without stress or inconvenience. Below are a few options you have to begin saving in a fun, dynamic way.

Free Apps for Saving

There are more options to help you save money than you likely realize. Most are approved by the FCA and regulated by open banking providers. Open banking began in 2018 as a way to enable third parties and access financial information in a secure way. These platforms are encrypted and safe. Only current data is included in open banking right now, you may need to share information about credit cards or your mortgage to interact with those details.

Oval Money

The Oval Money app allows you to monitor your spending while setting up steps, rules, and parameters for yourself. You can add rules based on your habits. For example you may pay into your savings when you go for a run, post on Facebook, or buy coffee. You can also set up a weekly deposit into your savings account. Savings on Oval are held in a segregated account at Barclays.

You should keep in mind that the Financial Services Compensation Scheme protects deposits up to £85,000 per provider. There is also the option to invest through the app, and it will not put your capital at risk. Finally, Oval Coach sets savings missions to improve your habits. The more missions you complete, the harder they become.

Money Dashboard

Money Dashboard is available on Android, iOS, and on the Web. This dashboard allows you to see your accounts in one place, including checking accounts, savings accounts, and credit cards. With all of your income and spending automatically categorised, you can see where your money is spent. You can set targets for each category, which is handy when you need an incentive to cut down on extraneous costs like eating out.

This free app is great because it also gives you the option to look into the future. The app predicts your income, expenditures, and balances. Looking to save money for Christmas? Seeing four months in advance can show you how much you need to start saving ahead of time. Money Dashboard is support by 70 UK banks.

Yolt

According to MoneyPug, a site commonly used for budget tactics and to find payday loans, Yolt is also free and available on the same operating systems as Money Dashboard, but it only supports 35 banks and financial institutions. The app puts all of your accounts, cards, and pension investments in a single place, and you spending is split up into categories. This way, you can see where your money is going, aided by a three-month spending history chart. Debits are highlighted so you can avoid surprises. You can also set and track spending limits for each category. You will also be able to monitor renewal dates for bills and subscriptions.

Cleo

The same basics of Yolt and Money Dashboard apply to Cleo, but unlike the other apps, Cleo works through Facebook Messenger. Ask it if you can afford a night out and you will receive insight into your spending. The free app sends notifications, quizzes, and challenges to keep you updated and engaged.

Bean

While subscription is king right now, Bean allows you to track and stay in control of your regular payments. Connect your bank and credit accounts, use the dashboard to find recurring payments, and sort cancellations of things you don’t need to pay for. The apps also provides a comparison and switching service to find a better deal. Bean will notify you if your bills are going up and makes sure you’re not paying more than you need to.

Whatever app you choose, there are plenty of options to help you save money and spend wisely. Take a look at these options today and begin budgeting the right way.

 

 

People live a little differently here in Washington, DC. If someone were to visit DC from a small town in the middle of the country, they’d likely be shocked by the pace of life here. Visitors would also be likely to notice that DC residents work very, very hard; even when they’re technically off the clock, you’ll catch DC denizens firing off emails or cutting deals over dinner. All of this stuff leaves very little time for eating well, so DC residents tend to consume a lot of take-out and restaurant food.

And then there’s the booze; oh, boy, the booze. From government leaders to financiers and from college students to wealthy men and women of leisure, Washington, DC is packed to the gills with folks who like to throw back a cocktail or seven. Studies paint a grim portrait of DC drinking culture; ours is the hardest-drinking city in the country, and one of the booziest cities on planet Earth.

As you go about your daily life in the DMV, you may not realize how exceptional some of these things are. After all, these are the things that everyone here seems to be doing. You need to be careful, because a typical DC lifestyle is not a very healthy lifestyle at all.

Taking stock of your DC lifestyle

Not everyone in DC works long hours, consumes massive quantities of booze, and gorges themselves on take-out. Many of us do, though, and it’s up to us to notice these bad habits and correct them.

Take stock of how you’re living your life. A food and exercise journal can help you keep track of the facts, and so can a daily schedule. Look at how you’re spending your time and your money, and consider what you’re putting into your body and what you’re expecting to get out of it. Are you driving yourself too hard?

Make a list of the things about your DC lifestyle that could be hurting your physical and mental health. Then, resolve to do something to improve each of the things on it.

Making changes and improving your lifestyle

You’ll probably always work hard in DC, and you may never completely banish stress and anxiety. But this doesn’t mean that you can’t make meaningful changes to the way you live. By altering habits and building new healthy lifestyle norms, you could quite literally add years to your life.

To make real changes, though, you’ll have to do two things: Choose sustainable changes and focus on habits. Diets and exercise plans tend to fail in part because those who create them are so bent on making massive changes. Massive changes require massive willpower to implement, and they often end up being short-term solutions. Even if you manage to crash diet your way down to your ideal weight (and you shouldn’t do that, because it’s not healthy), studies show that you’re likely to gain it all back quickly. Why? Because a crash diet doesn’t change the way you eat when you’re not dieting.

So focus on your habits: When do you eat poorly, and why? Break habits loops or, better yet, replace the “reward” with something healthier. Choose moderate changes and keep enjoying a filling diet even as you make it a healthier one.

You should also get some help. There are plenty of therapists in DC who can help you make meaningful changes to your lifestyle that will improve your mood and thought patterns. Therapy has the potential to reshape the way that you respond to stress and negative thoughts, and it can help virtually anyone build a healthier mind and craft a healthier lifestyle.

You won’t change overnight, of course. But you don’t have to let DC’s stresses and unhealthy norms hurt your body and mind. Team up with mental health care professionals, adopt better habits, and get more out of life.

To read more on topics like this, check out the lifestyle category.

Keeping yourself rooted in good mental and physical health is key at whatever age. It can be true that while you get older it can be harder to maintain exerting yourself physically. One of the most surprising is the age at which one of the most common leg issues can impact you. Varicose veins. From young men who spend all day at their desks working, or even those that spend too much sculpting their leg muscles. As with many issues in life it is about balance.

How do Varicose Veins Form?

Your body has a network of veins that spreads through all of your limbs, carrying blood between your extremities and your heart. The veins in your pelvis, legs, and feet have a harder job ahead of them, as they have to push the blood against gravity. To do this, the veins have small valves inside them. These valves help to stop the blood only flowing downwards, and push the blood back towards the heart instead. When these valves are put under too much pressure or are overworked, they can stop working effectively and can fail. If this happens, blood begins to pool in the vein because it isn’t being pumped back up properly.

Blood pooling in the veins can lead to many complications, and rapidly becomes painful. The vein begins to swell and twist, as the blood causes the walls of the vein to distort. Often you can see this kind of bulging vein through the skin of the leg. Sometimes blood can also leak into the tissue around the vein, and this may appear to be bruised skin or an ulcer. In some cases this will also cause the skin to dry out and flake, and can become venous eczema. The biggest risk is that a blood clot (deep vein thrombosis) will develop, which can cause a stroke or death. Varicose veins may look like a cosmetic issue, but they should be taken seriously.

There are a number of different treatment options for varicose veins, but most of them fall broadly into heat-based or chemical-based treatments. Generally these are outpatient surgeries, that take place using local anaesthetic. Having varicose vein surgery doesn’t need to be a big deal, and in many cases you will recover quickly within only a few weeks. This outpatient surgery is quick and easy, but there are a few steps that you should take to make sure your recovery goes as smoothly as possible

Tips for Recovery

Your varicose vein treatment and recovery can be simple and uncomplicated, but make sure you follow some precautions.

The main thing that you should do in the first few days after surgery is rest. Your leg and the incision site will feel stiff and sore for a week or two after the surgery, so you should make sure to take it easy during this period. Keep your legs elevated for the first few days, and don’t do anything strenuous. There will also be bruising at first, which will fade after a couple of weeks as well. You can use arnica for bruising and pain relief,

The exact length of time that you will need to rest for will depend on how many veins you had treated, and exactly where the veins were located.

It’s extremely important that you don’t take any long-haul flights for at least four weeks after your varicose vein surgery. Long-haul flights can contribute to blood clots in the legs due to the pressure changes in the cabin and the long periods of sitting down without moving your legs. If you have just had surgery, these kind of flights can slow down your recovery. If you need to take short flights, this is okay after one week has passed since your surgery.

Another option for helping to speed up your recovery is to wear compression stockings. Generally, you should wear compression stockings for the first two to four weeks after your surgery, as these will help to reduce the pain and bruising from the surgery.

Your surgeon and medical team will also give you painkillers to manage the pain after surgery. Make sure that you take these as prescribed and for as long as your surgeon suggests that you do.

Recovering from varicose vein surgery shouldn’t be too complicated or painful, but you do need to take some steps and precautions for reducing any possible pain that you might experience. Make sure that you take care not to overexert yourself and don’t take any risks when it comes to flying. New treatments keep being developed, and with any luck recovery will also become more simple as treatments improve.

 

You may not have ever heard of Akio Kashiwagi but he was an extremely wealthy real estate tycoon from Tokyo who once claimed to have an annual income of $100 million on top of over $1 billion in assets. Well, casino operators were quite familiar with him. Casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City knew him well because of his outrageous gambling habit. It was not unusual for Kashiwagi to walk into a place like the Trump Taj Mahal and play baccarat for $200,000 per hand. In theMartin Scorsese film Casinothe character of Japanese high roller K.K. Ichikawa was based on Kashiwagi and those who saw the movie will have a good idea of the VIP treatment he received. Would a whale like Akio Kashiwagi have frequented the casinos that he did if those casinos didn’t offer him all the perks and privileges like private jets, the most luxurious suites, and all of those free bath towels? Probably not.

Casino operators have always pulled out all the stops when it comes attracting high rollers and it is the same at online casinos. Most high rollers might not be on the same level as the aforementioned Akio Kashiwagi but they still have a lot more money to play with than the average Joe. Even though high rollers can place single bets of £10,000, £100,000 or even more on a hand of online baccarat without thinking twice doesn’t mean that most of them aren’t looking for all the added value they can get. They are. This is why so many online casinos offer such valuable rewards to people who regularly play for higher stakes. The online casinos are constantly trying to outdo each other in this very competitive industry. High rollers want bigger bonuses, frequent promotions, and the best loyalty rewards programs available.

There are plenty of reputable online casinos for high rollers. These high roller online casinos offer bigger and better bonuses and promotions along with higher limits on deposits, withdrawals, and stakes. They offer rewards programs that feature perks like cashback, faster payouts, and prizes such as comped first-class trips to exotic locations or popular events like Wimbledon and the World Cup. 888Casino’s VIP Casino Club is one of the top loyalty rewards programs for high rollers. Players reach the top tier when they become VIP Platinum members. The estimated £5 million in wagers that is needed to earn the required 750,000 comp points might be out of reach to a lot of customers but high rollers can easily achieve this and, once they do, they are eligible for a whole bunch of extras. Hefty weekly, monthly, and yearly cash rewards, jewelry, high-tech gadgets, free trips, and plenty of exclusive events are just the beginning. VIP Platinum members also get their own account manager, exclusive support staff, and a higher comp point conversion rate among other things. That 100% up to £1,500 first deposit match bonus is just a drop in the bucket when you are a high roller at 888casino.

Those who live the fabulous high roller lifestyle at Mr Green Casino can look forward to being invited into the prestigious Club Royale where they are treated like royalty. Club Royale members no longer pay any transaction fees and their withdrawals are instant. Members can increase their deposit limits and wagering requirements on exclusive bonuses and promotions are drastically lowered. Club Royale members can enjoy members-only events and they can win comped VIP trips to locations and events all over the world. Concierge services that are tailored to the high roller’s desires and a personal accounts manager is at their beck and call around the clock. Add in the regular bonuses like Mr Green’s welcome bonus and their REEL Bonus Spin Fossils through which customers can collect over 1,000 free spins and you have an online casino experience that is far beyond most others.

It isn’t just online casinos that give preferential treatment and amazing extras to high rollers. There are several online bookmakers that also have fantastic VIP programs that cater to the more affluent sports bettor. Ladbrokes is one the most recognizable and trusted brands in online betting and one of the things that keeps their customers happy is their VIP Program. Unlike many other sites that offer casino games and sports betting, Ladbrokes’ VIP Program allows members to earn points when they play at the casino and when they bet at the sportsbook. In fact, points are earned at a faster rate by wagering on sports. Every £10 worth of single bets earns 2.5 points while every £10 wagered on accumulators earns 3 points. It won’t take a high roller all that long before they get invited into the exclusive Platinum VIP club where they will be treated to exclusive promotions, hospitality prize draws, VIP events, their own account management team, and enhanced point redemption.

If you enjoy playing at online casinos or betting with internet bookies and you want to be treated like a high roller should be treated then you certainly have a lot of options. Online betting sites are doing all they can to get you to place your bets with them and you might be surprised at the lengths they will go to. Higher limits, priority customer service, instant withdrawals, and plenty of cash and prizes are just some of the things that are waiting for high rollers at the best online casinos.

To read more on topics like this, check out the lifestyle category.

Salt glazing is an old technique in pottery that is becoming a new craze for collectors. It originated in the Rhineland region of Germany between the 13^th and 14^th centuries but has evolved and developed greatly, making it unique and unpredictable pottery. Collectors love the beautiful results of salt glazing. As stoneware pottery, it is more difficult to find, making it more appealing to hobbyists.

What is salt glazing?

Salt glazing uses a unique method of applying the glaze. Instead of applying a coat of glazing minerals before firing, potters completely cover pots in sodium vapours and fire. The salt is added to the kiln at 200 degrees and releases sodium that acts as a flux of silica. The vapours then melt the surface; that is why it is also called vapour glazing. The discovery of this process came from the use of salt soaked wood from barrels that contained brined food.

The salt creates vapours that react with clay at a very high temperature, or with the silica, and produces sodium silicate. The latter is liquid glass, so it naturally glazes the pot with the clay’s properties. Classic pots made using this method have a distinct orange peel look, but potters would later realise that adding salt when firing can create various effects.

As an alternative to salt glazing, soda glazing was developed as it is less toxic. The technique is the same, and both salt and soda create sodium vapour. Soda produces sodium carbonate, which has no chloride.

How is it done?

Wares should first be bisque fired before salt glazing. Salt is thrown carefully into the kiln’s firebox with a steel angle at a temperature of about 1300 degree Celsius. It should vaporize before hitting the floor. Some potters add sodium carbonate to water and spray it. To achieve the orange peel look, add a pound of salt for every cubic foot of kiln. When the vapours start to form, they will start dropping on the pot. Those drops identify salt glazing. Most potters use separate kilns for salt glazing because residue can build up inside, which may have an effect on other firings.

Beauty

Salt glazing achieves texture, surface and colour quality that no other process can. Each is unique, which is challenging yet remarkable in a market of uniformity and mass production. Firings can affect any slip or underglaze on pots and result in interesting, varied outcomes. No doubt, this technique adds brilliant texture from building up the layers to the marking of salt vapours. No wonder famous potters such as Bernard Leach embraced it. His works are displayed in London’s Victoria and Albert Museum.

Salt glazing is a difficult, yet addictive process, as potters would put it. Today, it is practised by a dedicated few. It involves science, as you have to put salt at the right temperature. As an art, it takes a great deal of skill to throw salt. Beginners may take two years to learn it. In the UK, there is only one company licensed to produce salt glazed pottery.

Image: https://pixabay.com/photos/ceramic-clay-container-crock-2138/

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The notion that we carry of a wedding is either of the wedding attire of the bride and bridegroom or it is the decoration of the wedding. However, the reality is quite different. Many guests attend any marriage only for the food, desserts, and of course, the cake! If you are thinking of getting an idea of your wedding cake from a social media site, then let me tell you, it ain’t a painless job. Did you know that Instagram alone accounts for more than 6000 wedding cake images? Now, would you consider selecting your wedding cake amongst 6000 cakes? So, the one-stop solution to this problem is availing online portal services providing cakes suitable for every occasion. All are required to do is order a wedding cake online, and there you are, done with one of the biggest responsibilities.

You just have to take care of one thing, i.e., just keep the trends and fashion you want for your wedding cake handy. This will help you in getting a clear picture of the type of wedding cake you would finalize. Let’s take you to some trending wedding cakes doing rounds in 2019-2020.

White On White:

A white cake never gets out of fashion. It adds elegance and classiness to any wedding. Moreover, the new features that were added in 2019-2020 are the white decorations that add charm to the cake. Be it edible beats, lace, or piped embroidery, these elements give the cake an extraordinary appearance.

Metallic Cake:

Metallic touch is lit. Be it makeup, decoration or even your wedding cake. The highlights of this metallic forte of the cake are that it gives more of vintage glam, stylized, and art deco feels. Touches of sparkles, edible glitter, luster stencil, gold or silver foil are the decorative elements that make metallic look classy ever than before. Thus, it is quite understood, why these cakes in demand are in the present-day-scenario.

Painted Cakes:

What could be better than oh-so visually incredible wedding cakes? The Monet inspired wedding cakes, the marbelized cakes, and even the stained painted glass cakes are the trending desirable wedding cakes that have been crashing many elite weddings in 2019 already. The best part about these cakes is that these cakes are easy to achieve. How? See, you just need to paint the white marble cake with edible icing colors. Also, you can order cake online to surprise your soon to be the wife and make her fell in love with you even more.

Florals:
I am personally very much in love with this cake. Not just because unbelievably beautiful, but also, they also stand tall on the matter of the taste. The floral pattern is anyway winning the game in every field. Be it the decoration or be it the wedding cake, everybody is going after the floral pattern. Keeping the base simple will consequently give the cake a more classy appearance. For say, pistachio green, white, or peach colors are the most trending colors these days.

Lace Inspired Cakes:

This classic cake has made its appearance in the market with a bang. 2019n is the year for lace-inspired wedding cakes. This delicate French laced cake gives a romantic and fairy-tale outlook on your wedding cake. An amazing fact about this cake is that you can match the lace of this cake with your wedding gown and own your wedding like a boss.

Ombre:
Ombre cake design for wedding cakes is an artful thought. Turn your wedding cake into savage from sophisticated conventional cakes. An ivory ombre is the perfect choice to give your wedding cake a more classic look. This way, your wedding cake will be both, subtle and mind-shattering.

Weddings cakes play a vital role in any wedding. Hence, getting a beautiful cake for your wedding can become a mind-wrenching task. So, Winni brings you a huge collection of wedding cakes that are trending in 2019-2020. Order midnight cake online and get relaxed for your D-day.