BusinessVoice News Network

Achieving financial wellness takes planning and persistence to make it work. Set a budget and review it monthly to see if the spending matches your plan. Make a point to review retirement or investment accounts twice a year, and use automatic transfers from checking to savings and automatic payments on car loans or mortgages to avoid late fees. Source Link

The right way to clean your ears is simple because you don’t really need to do it. Ear wax naturally works its way out and if you see some use a wet washcloth to wipe it away. A few drops of half-and-half mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide can loosen ear wax, but cleaning with a Q-tip can push wax back into the ear canal. Source Link

That expired milk in the fridge doesn’t necessarily have to go down the drain. Sour milk can be used in savory baking recipes and those that call for buttermilk, like crepes, pancakes and waffles. Milk that’s slightly turned is great with sugary cereal and expired milk can be mixed with breading for fried veggies or cheese. Source Link

It’s using the carrot instead of the stick to help you lose weight — try bribing yourself to shed those pounds. You could put a dollar in a jar that’s the money you saved by eating less and then buy yourself a non-food item at the end of every month. Testing showed that adults were willing to eat less for the chance to win a prize like a gift card. Source Link

Apps are more convenient but going to the website for that service might be safer for privacy and security. Apps can collect information like location, what other apps you use or other devices on your WiFi network. Browsers give you more options to dial up privacy and websites are a good alternative to apps for services you don’t use often. Source Link

Picking a nursing home can seem overwhelming but you can narrow the choices and focus on what’s really important. Start with facilities with top overall rankings and high ratings for staffing levels. Then schedule visits to see how the staff works with residents to provide health care and social and recreational activities. You can find a checklist for nursing home evaluation at medicare.gov. Source Link

Should you turn off the tunes when you’re trying to create? Testing showed that listening to music significantly impaired verbal creativity. The sound of a library was no problem but songs with words and instrumental music were bad and the worst was listening to a song with familiar lyrics. Researchers say music can interfere with the brain’s verbal memory. Source Link

You can organize your kitchen to make cooking easier. Stair-stepped risers are perfect for seeing spices and a turntable lets you spin to access things instead of digging. Store the most–used items like plates and dishes on easy-to-reach shelves, and put silverware next to the dishwasher or mugs near the coffee maker. Source Link

These simple habits are hard on your teeth. Chewing ice can cause small chips in tooth enamel that might develop into larger cracks and sipping an energy drink, soda or coffee exposes your teeth to higher levels of acid that can erode enamel. Drink with a straw if possible and always follow-up with water to rinse your mouth. Source Link

It may be the best way to use a 15-minute break to make your day go smoother. Workers who spent a quarter-hour on a leisurely walk through a nearby park and focused on the natural surroundings were able to concentrate better when they got back to work. If you can’t find any green space for a break, you could try meditation in a quiet place for 15 minutes. Source Link

These technologies can be a big help when making a home safer for someone with Alzheimer’s. Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors that use a human voice instead of a disturbing loud beep to warn of danger. And app-controlled thermostats and video doorbells make indoor comfort simpler and can help with remote monitoring should someone leave the home. Source Link

Ultra-processed foods have been shown to increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, cancer and even dementia, but how do you get these junk foods out of your diet? Make fresh food your first choice and opt for minimally processed food like frozen vegetables. If you love crackers, choose those with just wheat, oil and salt and no other additives. Source Link

‘Tis the season to know the signs of heat-related illness. Cool, moist, pale or flushed skin, headache, lightheadedness or weakness are early warnings and muscle spasms in the legs or stomach can be a sign of heat cramps. A good starting treatment is to move to a cool place and give small amounts of non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated drinks. Source Link

The old advice to, “fake it till you make it” might apply if you slap on a fake smile when you have a case of the blues. Researchers found that people who smiled when they were low were better able to overcome sad feelings. But the technique isn’t effective for someone who’s suffering from serious sadness like depression. Source Link 

If a long workout isn’t your thing, how about an activity snack? Researchers found that taking a quick walk or doing squats after you eat may help retain muscle mass as you age because moving helps you use the food you’ve eaten to build muscle. The small spurts of activity should be in addition to the recommended 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week. Source Link

Boosting your credit score can save big money on that next loan and these credit card hacks can help improve your number. Pay down credit card debt and ask for an increased limit but don’t use it. And when you pay your credit card bill, do it before the payment due date and the balance that’s reported each month will be lower. Source Link

You learned the right way to install a child car seat when your baby was born, but what about when they get older? It’s common for parents to make mistakes attaching the top tether or when using seat belts. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website at nhtsa.gov lets you search by zip code for local resources to help with proper use of child car seats. Source Link

Breathing is about more than getting air into your lungs. Relaxed breathing can decrease heart rate, reduce blood pressure and allow more blood flow to help with digestion. And deep breathing can improve blood glucose in healthy people, and help anyone lower their stress levels and reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. Source Link