BusinessVoice News Network

That old cell phone or unused tablet can help make your home safer. Turn it into a security camera with an app that records when something moves and stores images on the device or in the cloud. Set up outdoor motion lights that can catch a prowler in the act, and stop hiding keys under a rock by using a smart deadbolt that has a keypad or a phone app to unlock your door. Source Link

Having a seat in the dentist’s chair could uncover more than problems with your smile. Nearly 100 diseases can show symptoms in the mouth, like severe gum disease that could be a sign of undiagnosed diabetes. Dentists who perform a blood pressure check can also find warning signs of hypertension that can lead to heart disease or stroke. Source Link 

There are some simple ways to get your child to take medicine. Give them choices, like taking a liquid dose in a dropper or a cup, or choosing water or juice to wash down a pill. Be consistent with medicine times and explain simply how the medicine helps them. And don’t hide medicine in food because if your child discovers this, it could lead to eating problems. Source Link

The best way to chart the progress of your healthy eating plan may not be that bathroom scale. Use a tape measure to find your waist size or try on a tight pair of pants every two weeks to know if you’re dropping pounds. If you use the scale, make it a weekly weigh-in on Friday morning because most people eat more on the weekend. Source Link

Your WiFi router is the fast lane to information on all your home devices and you can keep them safe with a few simple steps. Change the default router credentials and create a strong WiFi password, turn on firewall and WiFi encryption, and create a guest network to protect your devices when others log on. And put your router in a central location further away from drive-by hackers. Source Link 

There are many things that offer quality and a better price when bought used. Jewelry, musical instruments, office furniture and bicycles can be fine when they’re used. And fitness equipment, computers and laptops, and clothes for special occasions are also great second-hand choices. Source Link 

You can see if your pet is overweight without needing a scale. Stand over your dog – if you can see a waistline, they’re probably not overweight. Then run your fingers across their sides. With a healthy weight you should feel ribs easily without pressing. And you shouldn’t be able to grab a handful of fat on the stomach. Source Link

Here’s how to win the battle to fit everything in that carry-on bag. Make a packing list and then pare it down, especially with toiletries you won’t use. Fold bulky items and use packing cubes or plastic compression bags to leave you more space. Stash small items inside shoes or boots that you pack, and wear as many layers of clothing on the plane as you can, including a bulky coat to save space in your bag. Source Link 

It doesn’t take a lot to safeguard your privacy online. Switch to a web browser like Brave or DuckDuckGo that doesn’t log your every move and use the Duck forwarding service to strip out trackers from your emails before you open them. And use a VPN on your phone or tablet to protect your sensitive data when you’re connecting to WiFi away from home. Source Link

You can de-clutter your life by remembering the three Ps — paper, phone and purge. Toss paper records more than a year old but keep financial files for seven years and sign-up for paperless billing. Put phone apps in folders by category and leave only a handful of favorites on the home screen, and purge your home of stuff you don’t need by donating, selling or tossing it. Source Link

Most people wouldn’t brush with a good burgundy, but researchers say the antioxidants in wine can prevent bacteria from sticking to the gums. That’s what causes plaque, cavities and gum disease. And that same bacteria can enter your bloodstream to increase the risk of heart disease. Source Link 

What can you do with an old USB stick? Load it with portable applications that can be used on any PC without installing them. Create a rescue kit with apps that find malware or help recover from common computer problems. You can even load a complete portable operating system onto a thumb drive that can be used without needing to change a computer’s current setup. Source Link

Why not buy name brand items on Amazon? Because it’s often a bad deal. Costco’s Kirkland brand, along with Ikea and Trader Joe’s products are often marked up in price by Amazon resellers, and some may even be counterfeits. You can buy many name brand products from retailers directly online and skip the Amazon up-charge. Source Link

Letting your toothbrush air dry is how you keep it clean at home, but that’s not always possible while on vacation. The solution can be using a resealable plastic bag that keeps your toothbrush separate from everything else in the luggage. When you get to your next destination, open the bag and let your brush air dry. Source Link

Every 11 seconds, an elderly American suffers a fall. To reduce your risk, talk to your doctor and review medications that can make a fall more likely. Have your vision and hearing checked once a year because these can affect balance; remove home hazards like loose rugs and add grab bars in the bathroom, and find an exercise program that helps build your stability. Source Link 

Amazon will help you recycle small consumer electronics for free instead of tossing them in the trash. Any brand of cellphone, e-reader, tablet, chargers, cables, keyboards, mice, and even video game consoles are on the list of accepted items. You provide a box and Amazon gives you a free shipping label for drop-off at any UPS Store. Source Link

Cleaning your glasses isn’t something you should do with a shirt tail or sleeve. Cloth, paper towels, napkins, tissues and toilet paper can scratch lenses. Use a microfiber cloth, but skip the household glass cleaner and your hot breath which can damage lenses or make those smudges worse. Plain water or a lens cleaning spray will do the best job. Source Link 

Many people will agree that flying these days can bring you to tears, and it’s not just the stress of it all. The air pressure inside a plane at cruising altitude is similar to when you’re a mile or more above sea level. That reduces the oxygen in your blood and combined with the effects of dry air can heighten emotions and make it more likely you’ll cry during that sad in-flight movie. Source Link