BusinessVoice News Network

Google is ready to help find a price for that vintage item you’re hoping to sell. Open the Google Lens app on your phone and snap a photo of it or choose a picture that you’ve already taken. You’ll get listings of similar items for sale along with price. You can also use the search bar to enter a product name, serial number or keywords to describe the item. Source Link

If your dog could talk he might tell you to stop patting him on the head. Animal experts say dogs prefer chin or chest scratches and don’t like it when you stare directly into their eyes. Dogs usually hate the smell of those cute outfits you make them wear but they love your scent and will cuddle with one of your shoes or a piece of clothing. Source Link

There are plenty of uses for a used tea bag. Dried tea leaves can be a natural deodorant for a litter box or garbage can or sprinkle them on carpeting before you vacuum. Soak hard-to-clean dishes in water with a used tea bag to loosen grease and grime, clean leather shoes by buffing them with a damp tea bag, or use one as a cold compress to take the sting out of insect bites and burns. Source Link

The fake job opening is a scam that can cost you plenty. Bogus listings may ask you to pay something to get a job or send you a check to deposit that ends up bouncing and leaving you holding the bag. Visit a company’s website to verify job openings before you apply and search the company name along with words like, “scam” “review” or “complaint.” Source Link 

A ten-second test you can do at home might reveal your odds of living a longer life. A long-term study found that middle-aged people who couldn’t stand on one leg for 10 seconds were nearly twice as likely to die within a decade. Good balance is essential to avoid falls that can cause crippling injuries. Source Link

An old school way to tell time might help you avoid jet lag on your next cross-country flight. A few days before leaving, start wearing a watch that’s set for your destination’s time zone. Using this throughout the day will help your brain adapt the body’s circadian rhythms to the different time before you leave. Source Link

A good workout may be the cure for the “winter blues.” You can counteract the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder with exercise, and it doesn’t have to be running or lifting weights. Things like yoga, tai chi and even meditation can help, but you need to commit to doing this every day. Source Link

More people say they’re lonely, but what can you do about it if that’s you? First, acknowledge that what you’re feeling is loneliness, and take steps like writing down happy memories, walking in nature, phoning a friend you haven’t seen for a while, or listening to happy music or watching something funny. You can also focus outside of yourself by volunteering to help others. Source Link

Fighting identity theft means moving fast if you are targeted. Get free credit reports from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion and look for suspicious activity. If there are accounts in your name that you haven’t opened, put a 90-day fraud alert on your credit report to flag lenders to contact you before opening an account and report this to your bank and creditors. Source Link

Tracking down who called from that anonymous or blocked phone number is easy when you remember these three-button fixes. Hitting *69 will trace the call back and show you the number even if it’s anonymous or blocked. And *57 goes a step further because the information is passed along to authorities in case you’re being criminally harassed. Source Link 

Many popular vacation spots have a hefty price tag but you might get the same experience elsewhere for a lower cost. Try Philadelphia instead of New York City for great restaurants and a theater scene, or Oregon wine country versus Napa Valley. And the Cedar Point theme park in Ohio has over 150 rides, shows and attractions for a fraction of the cost of visiting Disney World. Source Link

Are you fibbing to your physician about those bad habits? You’re not alone. Studies have found that many people often lie to their doctors about certain behaviors like not eating right or not exercising or forgetting to take medication as directed. Bit it’s hard for your doctor to provide the right care if you’re not being honest with them. Source Link

How long will your current cell phone be supported with updates from the manufacturer? It varies. With iPhones and Samsung and Google Pixel models, you’ll get between 3 and 8 years of product support. You can find out how long any brand or model of phone will be supported by visiting the website EndOfLife.date. Source Link

When you want to clear a stuffy nose, be sure to use an over-the-counter product that’s effective. The FDA says the ingredient phenylephrine that’s found in many cold products is safe but doesn’t help with congestion. Antihistamine ingredients in products like Claratin, Zyrtec and Benadryl could be an alternative, as well as nasal saline spray. Source Link

Why don’t we send more thank-you cards? Often because we’re worried about how they’ll be received. A study found that people underestimated how much others appreciate a written “Thank You” and they worried about finding the right words to express their gratitude. It’s a loss for both sides because sending a thank-you card can make you feel happier. Source Link 

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

Night blindness while driving occurs when you have trouble seeing beyond the glare of oncoming headlights. There are things that can help, like turning your head more to look from side to side and slowing your driving speed. Be sure your contact lens or glasses prescription is up-to-date and remember that thicker and wider frames can get in the way of peripheral vision. Source Link

QR code scams are on the rise, so follow these tips to avoid becoming a victim. Don’t scan a code unless you’re sure who it’s for and never from an email or a sign on the street. An iPhone can show you the web address and Google Lens does the same thing. And don’t use a third-party QR scanner app because these can be malware designed to infect your phone. Source Link