BusinessVoice News Network

Decluttering your home is as much about attitude as it is action. Do you keep something for fear of needing it later? You’ll have to find storage space, organize it and then remember where you put it, and organize that space again when it gets messy, and so on. Giving yourself permission to buy something again will help you get many unneeded things out of your home. Source Link 

The cold hard fact is that hardly any of your laundry needs a warm or hot water wash. Use cold water because every cycle wears out clothing a little bit and warm temperatures accelerate the damage. And you can avoid a big load of laundry by using your eyes and nose. If there aren’t visible stains or a noticeable odor, most clothing can be worn again. Source Link

Using a store’s shopping app on your phone may be convenient but it ‘s often a back door for advertisers to get information about you. Many of the most popular apps share your personal data with third-party advertisers. The solution is to turn off permissions in those apps or make your purchase through the retailer’s website with a browser instead of using the app. Source Link

Identity theft isn’t something to worry about only when you’re online. A lost or stolen wallet can expose you, so limit what’s in there and never carry anything with your social security number. A mailbox with a lock can keep someone from stealing credit card offers or bank statements and shredding important papers before tossing them is an easy way to prevent identity theft. Source Link

It’s a handy tool to get more open plugs but these items should never be connected through a power strip. Refrigerators and freezers pull lots of current and can overload a power strip and the same is true for hair appliances, toasters, slow cookers, air fryers and microwave ovens. And never use a power strip to plug in a space heater or an air conditioner. Source Link

You can find your best camera angle for a selfie with some test snaps. Look into your phone and take a picture with the camera directly in front of your face, then above it and below it. Now turn your face to the right and use the same head-on, upper and lower angles, and then do the same facing left. Review these nine pictures to find your best angle. Source Link 

That simple one-page resume isn’t the fast track to a job interview. You still need one but an online presence like a LinkedIn profile is more likely to attract employers. Keep it updated with specific examples of your success and don’t underestimate the value of recommendations and references that can showcase your soft skills. Source Link

They all live up to the name, but your junk drawer can be more organized. Start by dumping it out, cleaning it and putting in a fresh liner. Use drawer dividers to organize bigger items and make space for small things by repurposing an egg carton to provide a dozen mini-containers for nails, screws and other tiny items. Source Link

Here’s why a dishwasher can give everything a better cleaning than doing dishes by hand. Most dishwashers can boost the temperature of tap water up to 145 degrees to kill bacteria and germs. If you do dishes by hand and want to sanitize them after washing, soak for 10 minutes in one gallon of hot water with one tablespoon of chlorine bleach. Source Link

Don’t fall for a text scam when someone messages to say they have your number but not your name. Thieves can text millions of phone numbers in hopes of finding a few people who will provide their name. And once they have a name with a phone number, it’s easier to piece together other information to steal your identity. Source Link 

To make any cooking pan a non-stick one, just reach for something that may be in your kitchen drawer between the plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Putting down some parchment paper in a pan with a touch of cooking oil can provide that crispy grilled texture without scorching delicate skin-on proteins like fish. Source Link

There’s a strategy to using a balance transfer credit card to get rid of higher-interest debt. Look for a card with no initial transfer fees and zero-percent interest and use transfer checks to pay down non-credit card debt. But don’t be tempted to use that new card for purchases just because it has zero interest. Source Link

There’s a simple way to remember when to add recipients to an email with a “CC” or a “BCC.” If everyone knows each other it’s okay to use a “CC” that shows all of the email addresses. If you’d rather keep those addresses private and not shared with other recipients you should use a “BCC.” Source Link 

Before you quit your job, consider some key questions beyond the basics about wages and benefits. Is the workload manageable and sustainable? Do you have a trusted community at work? How have you tried to make the job better and how does all of this fit into your life? And keep in mind that a job change isn’t always the way to happiness. Source Link

Cutting the salt in your diet is easier said than done, but what if a single kind of spice could help? Researchers working with older adults found that adding a small amount of chipotle seasoning made it hard to tell the difference between high-sodium and low-sodium meals. Adding other spices such as basil, garlic powder and black pepper didn’t work as well. Source Link 

You want Alexa to be ready to help anywhere in your home, but here’s where you don’t want to put an Amazon Echo or Dot. Keep it away from a kitchen sink or anywhere water could cause damage, or near a TV where it could mistake a program’s dialogue for a command. And keep Alexa away from windows where someone outside the house could hijack it. Source Link

Hitting the “pause” button on that next online or in-store purchase might be just the break your budget needs to avoid impulse spending. Give yourself 24 hours to think about going to the store and see if you still want that thing tomorrow. And when you’re buying online, leave items in the shopping cart and come back later. Sometimes, you’ll find a lower price when you come back. Source Link 

What are some of the do’s and dont’s of good dental hygiene? Do choose a toothbrush with a smaller head and soft bristles, but don’t scrub hard. Use a fingertip touch to hold the brush. Do brush with a rotating motion and at a 45-degree angle, or let your electric toothbrush hover over each tooth. And don’t rinse after brushing your teeth. Allow the fluoride in toothpaste to continue to work after you’re done. Source Link