BusinessVoice News Network

How do you raise kids who are smart about money? Build their financial awareness by pointing out prices on a menu, comparing labels at the supermarket and explaining the costs of living like paying for a house, car, and utilities. And use that magic word “no” to teach budgeting and demonstrate the difference between wants and needs. Source Link 

How could adding one number to a password make it much harder to hack? Researchers say the number 7 is less predictable and less frequently used, so it’s harder for hacking software to crack. Adding a hyphen before the 7 makes a password even stronger, and using a 7 to substitute for an “s” makes for a rock solid password. Source Link

Understanding how puppies play can be real work for their humans. Play-fighting helps a puppy bond with other dogs, but those tiny, razor-sharp teeth can be painful for your hand. Don’t react in anger when this happens and don’t worry when a dog uses its mouth to play with you because this is also a key way for them to communicate. Source Link

When you want to train your brain, put away the apps and pick up a musical instrument. Studies have found that musical training enhances verbal memory, spatial reasoning, and literacy skills. Learning to play an instrument uses information from the senses of vision, hearing, and touch, as well as fine movements. Source Link

You might be able to save a smartphone dropped in water with some fast steps. Turn off the phone immediately to avoid damage to electronics, wipe it dry with a towel and use a vacuum cleaner hose to suck water out of openings. Putting your phone in rice can lead to a sticky mess. Instead, be ready by purchasing a special drying bag that’s made for smartphones. Source Link

Decluttering on a weekly, monthly or annual schedule can make it easier to keep your home neat. You should declutter countertops or inside the fridge every week, but your pantry can get a monthly clean-up. Closets, paperwork and toys can be part of annual decluttering sessions, like a closet clean-up after summer, purging old paperwork after tax season, and sorting toys after the holidays. Source Link

It’s tough to be patient when you want to lose weight now, but what’s a safe level of weight loss? People who succeed do it gradually at about 1 to 2 pounds per week, which translates into 4 to 8 pounds a month. Remember that fad diets or highly restrictive eating plans may prompt fast weight loss, but not permanent weight loss. Source Link

Call it the “Comic Sans” technique for total recall. Research has shown that people can remember something better that’s written in a weird font. You can also use a larger type size or put it in boldface. The harder the text is to read, the more you concentrate on it, and the easier it is to remember. Source Link

The health benefits of stopping smoking can start just moments after you take that last puff. In 20 minutes, your heart rate and blood pressure begin to drop, and blood carbon dioxide levels normalize in a few days. And in a few weeks, blood circulation improves and lung function increases. Source Link

Can the order in which you eat the food in your meal make a difference for health? Researchers found that eating fiber-rich vegetables or lean proteins first, rather than bread or carbs may help to lower blood sugar levels. This may also help you eat less because it causes your body to secrete higher levels of the hormone that gives you the feeling of fullness. Source Link

Using over-the-counter CBD products should be on the list of supplements you share with your doctor. That’s because the active ingredient in CBD may interact with prescription medications. Antidepressants, sedatives and blood thinners are some of the drugs that could be adversely affected by CBD. Source Link

It doesn’t take that many more steps per day to help older adults with hypertension lower their blood pressure. Research showed that adding 3,000 steps to a typical 4,000 step-per-day routine can help protect against heart failure, heart attacks and strokes. The speed of walking doesn’t matter, as long as you walk a total of 7,000 steps per day. Source Link

If you’re getting too many junk robocalls, the sound of silence may be the answer. When it’s a number you don’t recognize, pick up the call but don’t say anything right away. Automated calling systems often wait to hear a voice and the silence can make them disconnect quickly. Source Link

A sticky household staple should also be part of any home emergency kit. Duct tape along with plastic sheeting can be used to cover a broken window, patch a leaky roof, or build a makeshift shelter. Duct tape can also mend torn clothing, or a hole in a shoe or glove, patch a leaking hose on your car’s engine or even reinforce a sprained ankle or keep a bandage in place. Source Link

You might be surprised at some things that’ll cause problems when you’re going through airport security. A wrapped present may need to be unwrapped and small sports equipment like that tennis racket or pickleball paddle could be used as a weapon should go in checked baggage. And loose batteries are more likely to be confiscated, so keep them in the original packaging. Source Link

Take care to avoid these things that can shorten the battery life of your smartphone. Using vibration for calls and notifications, giving location permission to apps that don’t need it and not using auto-brightness for your screen can drain a battery faster. And leaving your phone under your pillow at night or out in the sun can cause it to overheat and damage the battery. Source Link

When you can’t wait for that beer or soda to get cold, a hack that uses a paper napkin can speed up the process. Wet the napkin before wrapping it around the drink’s container. Now set the beverage in the freezer for 15 minutes to enjoy a frosty drink in a fraction of the time. Source Link

You can ditch your to-do list and instead focus on first things first. Making a list of smaller tasks to tackle right away can help build momentum for the day. And here’s a bonus tip – check off completed items instead of crossing through them on the list so you can see exactly what you’ve accomplished. Source Link