BusinessVoice News Network

A big belly is bad news for your heart regardless of what the scale says. A study found that people with a normal weight but a fat belly had more risk for heart problems than people without a fat belly, even if they’re obese. Because belly fat is such a risk factor, some people may need to focus on waist loss instead of weight loss. Source Link

Doing your grocery shopping online could help you save money in several ways. It stops impulse buying in the store and lets you easily compare items from different brands. And you’ll have a better handle on what you’re spending because an online grocery cart keeps track of the total cost as you fill it. Source Link

How you answer your phone could put you at-risk for being hacked. Because scammers can easily clone your voice with a phone recording, don’t say “hello” when answering. Better yet, don’t say anything and let the caller speak first. The best defense is to not answer calls from unknown numbers. If it’s important, they’ll leave an email. Source Link

Most home moves happen in Spring and Summer and you can make yours easier with these tips. Mark boxes by room using stick-on color dots and save on buying boxes by putting clothes on hangers in a trash bag. Take a picture of how electronics are connected and use an “open first” box that holds essentials like toiletries, phone chargers or a change of clothes. Source Link

That smartwatch you’re wearing has its own security risks. Make sure that apps you use to pay with your watch are set to private and enable notifications whenever a payment is made to quickly spot any fraud. And keep your smartwatch updated to combat the latest malicious activity from hackers and trackers. Source Link

A cardboard box could be key to reducing the clutter in your life. Fill the box with things you save because you think you might need them. Tape the box closed, store it and set a reminder on your calendar for 12 months from now. If the box remains unopened for one year, you can donate it knowing you won’t miss what you’re giving away. Source Link

Gift cards are for giving and never for paying someone because that’s always a scam. In a survey, nearly 1 in 3 adults said they or someone they know had been asked to purchase a gift card to pay a bill, fee or some other debt or obligation or to claim a prize. And don’t give gift card serial numbers to anyone because that could use that to steal the card’s value. Source Link 

It’s a common reaction for vanity’s sake but sucking in your stomach can actually hurt you. That clinch can interfere with pelvic floor muscles involved in posture and bodily functions and could alter the mechanics of your abdomen. It may also be harder to take deeper breaths, or you could develop soreness and stiffness in your lower back and hips. Source Link

How do you build a better conversation? Start by asking more questions rather than just sharing your thoughts and beware of empathy that might sound like you’re not validating the other person’s experience. Don’t be afraid to go deep on a topic but make it something you’re both familiar with to get the most out of your talk. Source Link

Posture may be an important factor in how fast that pill you’ve taken begins to work. There’s nothing wrong with taking a pill while standing or sitting up, but testing showed that leaning to your right side could speed absorption by about 13 minutes. On the other hand, leaning to the left could add an hour to the time it takes that pill to dissolve. Source Link

Finding the best lighting angle for that outside photo is as easy as raising your hand. Hold your hand in front of you with your palm pointing out and turn your body in a circle until your hand has no shadows on it. That’s the direction to point your subject or stand yourself to ensure a shadow-free photo. Source Link

Just wearing a step-tracking watch can lead to taking more steps per day, even if you never check your progress. Researchers found that people who wore step trackers took about 300 more steps per day than before testing began. They got the “before” numbers by using a little-known feature in every iPhone that automatically tracks your steps. Source Link

It’s happened to all of us — you wake up from a dream and can’t get back to sleep. The remedy might be recalling some details of the dream and then trying to put yourself in those dream images. Don’t look at the clock or turn on a light because clock-watching will make you more anxious about losing sleep and bright light signals the body that it’s time to wake up. Source Link

Improving your credit score can happen faster if you remember these two tips. Paying your bills on time and keeping total credit card debt under 30 percent of your limit accounts for about two-thirds of your credit score. Doing both of these diligently might help your credit score begin to climb within six months. Source Link

Does it make a difference if your young child is learning to read on a tablet or with a book? A study found that e-books could interfere with a child’s comprehension but a digital book could outperform a paper version if the e-book has special enhancements like interactive features that are responsive to the child. Source Link

The financial bad habits that cause Americans the most trouble are a mix of old favorites and new challenges. A survey found that impulse buying is the number-one danger for a household budget and coming in second was paying for subscription services you no longer use. Two out of three people regretted not handling their money better last year. Source Link 

Raising a well-behaved child may have life-long benefits by giving them happier, healthier lives as adults. A long-term study found that kids who were goal-oriented with good self-control had healthier bodies and brains by the time they hit middle age. They also were better prepared with financial and social reserves for old age. Source Link

You probably know about thermostats and lighting but there are lots more smart devices for the home. Try a shower head that connects to your phone to play music, a WiFi aromatherapy diffuser, a smart beauty mirror that can analyze your skin for changes and recommend products, or even a smart diaper that tracks a baby’s sleep patterns. Source Link