Life Archives - Foreign policy

8 Tips on How to Live a Full, Bright and Healthy College Life

Published on November 20, 2020

Everyone has their own definition of a full, bright, and healthy life. Some people believe that full and bright is all about staying up late, going to student parties, eating and drinking much, etc. However, this could hardly be called healthy.

In this article, we will talk about harmony and balance between fun and health, studying and actually living. This balance is actually the key to successful academic performance and overall satisfaction with student life.

Here is what we suggest:

Use the Help

Learning gets tough sometimes. Students literally have no time physically to comply with the growing pile of writing assignments. At the same time, professors do not wait for those who are late. There is a requirement for everyone, and everyone should meet it. No one changes the deadline until it is absolutely necessary.

Therefore, first of all, learn to delegate tasks. If you feel that you procrastinate or can’t work properly on the assignment, use paperwriter.com services to get things done. Whatever it is that prevents you from writing, you should always have a plan B, somebody who can handle your burden in no time.

Get Your Financial Problems Sorted Out

Stress from academics and financials can really affect your quality of life. If you feel burdened with debts or other money stuff, you are likely to have problems with living your student life to the fullest.

The best way to resolve this problem is to learn to plan your expenses. Start with tracking them. Then, you’ll see the amount you could’ve saved if you’d managed money properly. Also, you should get rid of your credit card debt. It only augments, dragging you into the endless debt hole. As soon as you learn to rely on the income you have, you are likely to get happier.

Take Care of Your Body

Physical exercise and sports are essential in keeping your body strong and healthy. However, we do not advocate only for the gym. In fact, walking or jogging can really help you restore your energy as effectively as any training does. Such activities as social dancing, yoga, stretching, and others can be seen as alternatives to sports, too.

However, body care is also about healthy meals and quality sleep. Do not think that a few skipped meals or a sleepless night have no negative effect on your body. You may not notice it now, but it will definitely show up later.

For example, when stressed we usually eat much without taking care of the nutritious quality of the food. Just imagine how much damage such negligence causes to your body. You can both have a good time and refrain from harming your health while cooking.

Meditate and Keep Your Mind Healthy

Public mental health has weakened now. More and more students feel anxious, depressed, and stressed about their studies, career, and future. The pressure is tremendous, and they try to resist it. However, the sooner you understand how valuable your calmness and sanity are, the more attention you’ll pay to preservation of the above.

Apart from healthy sleep and proper rest, you should meditate and get distracted from the things that burden you. Your mind should relax from time to time. This can be guaranteed if you meditate or get yourself distracted with a hobby. Studies and accumulated stress should not take all of your time.

Try to Plan and Prioritize

Stress-free and interesting student life is quite achievable. It depends on your ability to set goals, plan and prioritize. For example, if your planning is correct and comprehensive, you’ll have enough time for both studies and leisure.

Having free time for family and friends is very important for your feeling fulfilled and happy. If you schedule your time so that you have an opportunity to spend time with people who inspire you, you’ll most likely get more effective and productive.

Enjoy Networking and Socializing

People are social creatures. We need to communicate as well as to feel supported and recognized. Thus, your desire to dive into education is great, but it is wrong to neglect the importance of socialization.

As a young person, you now have the best opportunity to learn to network. Attend various seminars and workshops, go to student get-togethers and extracurriculars. This all is an immense source of new knowledge as well as a perfect forum for searching for like-minded people. Such unity will definitely ease the academic burden for you and add colors to your student life.

Get Involved in Volunteering

The most rewarding extracurricular experience you can get at college is volunteering. It feels like a treatment to both you and the people you are trying to help. Just think of it: you get to help people who are underserved or discriminated against. At the same time, you get to see the other side of life and celebrate the life you have.

Volunteering indeed adds value to your life and helps you make a contribution. Helping others and growing personally are both necessary attributes of a full and bright life everyone hopes for.

Distract Yourself by Doing What You Like

Being a student does not mean suspending all your interests and passions till a later date. Instead, this is the best time to discover yourself and see what it is that you are really up for. Thus, to live a full and interesting student life, let yourself pursue your passions.

For example, travel when you can and if you like doing it. Go to courses and masterclasses if you like painting, cooking, or woodwork. Do not set your life on pause while you are studying. Discover new facets of your personality to become a better version of yourself.

The right balance between your school and personal life leads to a happy and full student life. There is no standard recipe for it that works for everyone. However, keeping your body and mind healthy, leaving some time for socializing and hobbies, getting your academic and financial problems sorted out can really help.

The Unique Tradition of Doljanchi

Published on November 9, 2020

Life

Koreans have many celebrations however the most prominent one for many families is Doljanchi. The reason is their adoration for their newborn and influence from Korean superstition.

What is Doljanchi

Doljanchi is a Korean First Birthday Party also commonly known as a Dol Party. It’s a tradition that is practiced by many Koreans in Korea and some Koreans outside of Korea.

Koreans in the past used to celebrate Doljanchi as a sign of gratitude because many babies were not fortunate enough to survive to the age of 1 due to famine, wars, and frequent predicaments. Families were invited, a feast was thrown, and the baby was gently passed around.

Doljanchi was a celebration but it was more than just a celebration. This celebration was also thrown to bless the baby with good fortune, long life, and an advantageous future. It could even be argued to be a ceremony to bless the baby more than a celebration because Koreans were extremely superstitious and truly believed the foods eaten at Doljanchi would grant long life and combat evil spirits, prayers given to deities would be heard, and Doljabi would bless their baby.

Although the primary reason to host a dol party may have changed in the present day, the same beliefs are held by many. You’ll find similar foods prepared, similar items for Doljabi, and a similar layout of the event.

Why do Korean celebrate Doljanchi

Indigenous Koreans and non-native Koreans may have different motives for hosting this celebration.

Indigenous Koreans may host Doljabi because it’s expected from their family and their society may encourage it. Indigenous Koreans may still believe in the superstitions that fueled Doljanchis such as the predictions of the baby’s future from Doljabi. Some may just do it purely out of enjoyment because it provides a structured theme for a baby’s first birthday.

Non-native Koreans likely have different motives. Often, non-native Koreans aren’t as connected to their native cultural roots than indigenous Koreans. Thus, non-native Koreans may primarily be motivated to host Doljanchi to introduce their baby to Korean culture and to actively practice ways to stay connected to their cultural roots while living in a culture that’s detached from Korea.

Where can you purchase Doljanchi items?

Doljanchi items are easily found in Korea because of pure economics – where there’s a demand, there’s a supply. Most non-native countries do not see a demand enough to justify a store to open a brick and mortar and carry inventory for customers who will be one-time clients. It’s difficult to find a store outside of Korea that will carry Doljabi items unless one goes to a city in the United States like Los Angeles where there’s a sizable Korean community.

With the adoption of ecommerce, platforms like Etsy have attracted handicrafts that can make almost anything the mind can conceive. Some of these creators are Korean and have found a small demand for Doljanchi items like Doljabi items and found that the profit margin is enough to incentivize them to create a store around Doljanchi.

Additionally, with the increase of ease in creating an online shop through superior user experience of content management systems like Shopify, many online stores have been popping up, and with a couple of refined marketing strategies, some of these online stores have seen great success even with a small demand that might be brushed off by giant corporations like Walmart.

However, some business owners capitalize where big corporations overlook and create an online business around a specific theme. Often known as niche stores, this business model has gained traction due to its profitability. Joteta is an upcoming Korean niche online store that executes this strategy well. They have found a niche that is Doljanchi products and has found a way to be right in front of the faces of the shoppers who are looking for Doljabi items.

Why is Doljanchi increasing in popularity?

The frequency of a Dol Party is increasing in countries like the United States because of the relative ease in acquiring Doljanchi items. There are specific items that must be acquired before the party can be thrown like Hanboks, Doljabi Banners, and Doljabi items.

Globalization has broken the commerce barrier between countries, South Korea and the United States in this context. With the ability to obtain the necessary items, throwing a Korean celebration has no longer become a hassle and hurdle.

With more Dol Parties thrown in the States, more people are being exposed to this tradition – even to Koreans who never entertained the thought of hosting a Korean themed birthday celebration for their newborn. Because of the fun nature of Doljabi, it’s easy for this Korean tradition to convince one who’s indifferent about Korean culture to host a Doljabi for their newborn.

With more awareness and unique entertainment, Doljanchi has become popular amongst Koreans in the United States which is supported by the increase of google searches of keywords closely associated with Doljanchi.

What makes Doljanchi fun?

For the host, Doljanchi is fun because of Doljabi. Doljabi is the tradition where babies are provided a selection of 8 items to pick and each item holds a unique prediction of the baby. By hosting Doljabi, parents can get a quick glimpse of the baby’s possible future and even more interestingly, the baby’s natural preference.

A Dol Party is fun for the guests because of the raffle that takes place. A Doljabi raffle is one where guests are asked to guess which baby they think the baby will choose in Doljabi. If the guests pick correctly, they are provided a prize. Everyone loves prizes, especially if the prize has utility like a $200 Amazon gift card.

Joteta provides Doljanchi items, but it’s important to note that their mission starts with Dol Parties and plans to vertically expand into other sectors outside of party entertainment.

Just like Amazon, platforms like the one mentioned are starting as a niche online store due to the profitable business model of such a store, but plans to expand vertically to stay resilient to market changes, changes in trends, and unexpected situations.

Humans are wired to become dissatisfied which drives new trends. Niche stores are dependent on trends and when something quickly becomes ‘unfashionable’ or ‘old’, niche online stores must quickly adapt by setting up a new niche or else they’ll see a rapid decline in revenue and dissipate like the trend.

3 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Public Records

Published on September 30, 2020

Life

Are you familiar with public records? Many people don’t fully realize or understand the power of public records and aren’t aware that anyone — even you — can access this type of information easily and online.

So what is a public record?

The Freedom of Information Act is the backbone of public records. This Act was signed into law by President Lyndon B Johnson on July 4th, 1966. According to the federal website:

“Since 1967, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) has provided the public the right to request access to records from any federal agency. It is often described as the law that keeps citizens in the know about their government. Federal agencies are required to disclose any information requested under the FOIA unless it falls under one of nine exemptions that protect interests such as personal privacy, national security, and law enforcement.”

Although it was designed to provide greater transparency to government institutions, public records can be used by almost anyone who want to know more about the people in their lives. It can be a useful tool for keeping you and your loved ones safe.

To access public records from county, state, and federal databases, all you have to do is visit Instant Checkmate and enter someone’s first and last name, and the last place you think they lived. This service will then cross reference that information with millions of records, and deliver results in one easy-to-read report.

A public record report on someone might include information like:

Full names, aliases, and maiden names
Date of birth
Marriage and divorce records
Family and relative records and information
Criminal records
Arrest records
Traffic violations and misdemeanors
Property, vehicle, watercraft, and aircraft assets
Bankruptcy records
Financial liens
Business affiliations
Social media accounts
Past and current addresses and locations
Phone numbers
Email addresses
Possible photographs
And much more

So how can this information help you in every day life? There are limitless possibilities for using public records to help you stay safe and stay informed. Here are some of the ways public records can help you lead a better and safer life.

1. Screen Dates

In 2014, Navy Lieutenant Sean Banks was sentenced to 37 years to life in prison without parole for raping two women that he had met on ChristianMingle.com and Match.com respectively. “He has so much hatred toward women,” Judge Daniel Goldstein said when delivering the verdict. Banks showed no remorse for his actions.

Banks had met the women respectively on a dating app, and had attacked them both on the first date. Sean Banks had used online dating to find his victims and was described by the prosecution as a “very dangerous internet predator” who almost managed to get away with his crimes by using pseudo names on the dating sites.

“Sean Banks is an example of why it is very important for women to know who they are going out with,” the deputy district attorney who worked on the case said.

Unfortunately, there are hundreds of stories like this when it comes to online dating. One report from Vice in the UK stated that incidents of rape had skyrocketed by 400% due to online dating. While meeting someone online can be a fun way to meet people you wouldn’t usually connect with, it’s also a dangerous tool that is used by predators to find their victims.

If you meet someone online, enter their name into a public record search to find out more about them. If you can’t find their name in a public registry, it’s possible that you’re talking to a catfish. If you find someone’s information, but they have a long and disturbing rap sheet for violent crimes, stalking, or harassment, you’ll know that you shouldn’t meet up with this person face-to-face.

2. Screen Online Sellers

Recently a married couple in Colorado were murdered after they arranged to meet an online seller in person to buy a car. The parents of 5 saw a classified ad for a used vehicle and travelled to a strip mall carrying over $1000 dollars in cash to purchase what they thought was the deal of a lifetime.

Instead, the seller attempted to rob them at gunpoint and when the couple attempted to escape, he shot them both fatally.

Again, these stories are not uncommon in the news. For a criminal, placing an ad for an expensive item in Craigslist or LetGo is an easy way to bring a victim right into your hands. A criminal essentially asks someone to come carrying thousands of dollars in cash, and they can arrange to meet you in a sketchy location where you could easily be mugged.

Don’t believe everything you read. If a deal looks to be good true, think twice before meeting up. If you can get a name or phone number from a seller, you can easily look them up before you arrange to meet. Additionally, always organize to sell or buy goods from a designated safe zone. A safe zone is often outside a police station or precinct and is a safe place to buy or sell goods. A criminal is much less likely to want to meet up with you when you’re literally outside a police station.

3. Do Parental Due Diligence

The topic of sleepovers has become contraversial in recent years. Letting your child sleepover at someone else’s house rightfully has many parents on edge. If you don’t know your children’s friend’s parents, it’s not a good idea to let them have a sleepover.

Afterall, you have no idea what could happen. Someone in the house could be a dangerous predator, or just plain irresponsible. If you’re on the fence about a sleepover, running a quick background check on the parents is a smart move.

Do they have multiple DUI’s? Have they been charged with anything disturbing? Is their property located in a safe neighborhood or not?

When it comes to the safety of your children, nothing else is as important.

Even when your children are grown up, you can still use public records to keep them safe. Are they going to college or moving in with a friend? Make sure you background check any prospective roommates first. Likewise, is your adult daughter dating some sketchy? A background check might offer you the peace of mind you need — or the proof you’ll need to show her that this guy is bad news.

Top 9 Reasons to Get an Australian Citizenship in 2020

Published on September 25, 2020

Life

Every year, many people across the globe try to become a citizen in Australia. If you live in this country, then you can enjoy many benefits. But many individuals are unaware of the advantages. They may feel that the application procedure can be challenging because a person needs to pass the exam. If you also want to perform well, then you can practice papers from citizenshiptestaustralia.com.au.

No doubt, the Australian government offers many benefits to its citizens. In the following write-up, we will discuss some top reasons you must know why you should get Australian citizenship. When you know its several advantages, then only you will apply for it and see the worth of moving there. It is the perfect time when you can apply for citizenship and move to a better country in the world.

1. Having an Australian Passport

When you become a permanent citizen of Australia, you will have the passport of that country. Now, the best part is that the Australian passport is considered the best across the globe. You can travel to more than 171 countries.

You do not need to get a visa in many places or have an option to take on arrival. When it comes to ranking, it lies in the 7th position, which is quite good. The Australian passport opens up many opportunities to travel to different countries without any stress.

2. Become a Permanent Resident

Citizenship means that you can become a permanent resident of the country. If you are applying for it, then it means that you will stay there forever. But you have to apply for the Return visa every five years if you travel a lot. This visa is used to re-enter the country if you travel to another country. You can live or leave forever according to your preference. It is crucial to have a certificate of citizenship and legal Australian passport.

3. Get Help from Consular

If you want to become a citizen only to travel to different countries, you have to be careful enough about this thing. Many people take citizenship for granted and misuse it. When you travel a lot, then your health suffers, and you can become a victim of many crimes.

You need to protect yourself in an unknown country. Therefore, you can take help from a consular in the local Australian embassy. You need to seek their help whenever you feel that you are troubled.

4. Getting Right to Vote

In every country, there is a right to vote if your age is above 18 years. Similarly, in Australia, if you get the citizenship, you own a right to vote and participate in all types of elections. You will become legal to vote and choose ministers of that country.

If you run or do not poll, you have to pay a penalty of around $180. Therefore, you have to take the benefit of the democratic process of the country. You can choose any representative that you think deserves the position and do good to citizens.

5. Be a Part of the Political World

If you are above 18 years and are a citizen of Australia, you can be a part of the political party. You can elect for the federal or state MP position. If you can influence the audience and do something good for the country and citizens, then the Australian government allows them to elect in different elections. It may not be your country from birth, but being a citizen, you can be a part of the democratic world.

6. Allowed to Do Jobs in the Government and Defense Sector

Many government departments are reserved for the citizens of Australia. If you become a permanent resident of the country, you can also apply for jobs in this sector. You can also enjoy the right working environment and salary like others if you have those skills to compete. There will be no visa restrictions when you are doing the job. No doubt that you will get many opportunities in various sectors, and you can be a part of it without any hassle.

7. Your Children will Become Citizens Automatically

If you are an Australia’s permanent citizen, then your kids born here will also become citizens by default. They do not need any citizenship, and will automatically become legal citizens without any issues. They will also enjoy the same rights as you are enjoying.

8. Get Loans

If you want to take a loan for education, home, or car, you can take it as a citizen. If we talk about the education system, it is hard for many people to afford education. They may take loans or try hard to get an education. Many people across the globe apply for the scholarship to study in reputed colleges in Australia. You can take a loan to educate your kids from great universities.

9. Get Authority to Move to New Zealand

Everyone is aware that New Zealand is the neighboring country of Australia. If any citizen wants to go there for any reason, even for the permanent residency, then they can easily apply for it and shift. The country offers a great education system, and many children go there to get an affordable and advanced education. The authorities allow Australian citizens to move to New Zealand permanently.

The Bottom Line

Becoming an Australian citizen is a dream for many people across the globe. The country offers many opportunities to its people, and therefore, it is quite beneficial to become a permanent resident of the country. If you need to apply for citizenship, you must pass the exam and get a legal passport to stay in Australia forever.

You can enjoy all the rights of the country that every citizen of the country does. It is necessary to go through all the reasons mentioned earlier that will convince us to get citizenship in the country. If you find it a better place to live, then you must switch as soon as possible.

Top 5 Aussie Souvenirs to Bring Home from Sydney in 2020

Published on September 21, 2020October 15, 2020

Life/Travel

Australia is a wonderful place to live in and an even more interesting place to travel. What you can experience on this massive piece of land on planet Earth, is impossible to experience anywhere else. It is so big and diverse, you can see all kinds of different animals and even experience several different climates. But, traveling to Australia, especially if coming from the Americas or Europe, is quite rare considering the expensive airplane tickets. So, if you are visiting, make sure you grab a couple of Aussie souvenirs from Sydney.

However, picking a souvenir that is unique to Australia or Sydney is not that easy. When you enter a souvenir shop, there are all kinds of different things that you could easily find back home. What is the point of buying an item that you can find in your own country? That is right, there is no point in doing that.

This is why I wanted to write this article and share the most unique Aussie souvenirs to bring back home from Sydney in 2020.

Boomerang

I boomerang is something that you can purchase from probably every country on this planet, but the ones that you can find in Sydney are a little bit more unique. Boomerang is a very important symbol and part of the history of this massive piece of land.

If you have not seen a boomerang, it is quite an interesting object. It was very commonly used as a weapon and as a hunting tool in ancient times. Because of its unique curved shape, when properly thrown, it comes back to its user. It is made in this way to ensure that the hunter will be able to recover his/her tool after throwing it.

So, you are probably wondering what makes the boomerangs in Sydney so unique. Well, they surely are quite different than anything else you have seen because they are usually painted in a very specific and detailed way. This painting/drawing technique was very popular in ancient times and this is probably the only place where you will be able to find the use of that technique.

Vegemite

Sometimes, bringing home a souvenir does not always have to be some ancient or historical object that is in some way tied to the country or location. Sometimes, bringing food that is connected to the culture of the people in that country is also very unique. So, if you want to bring the most Aussie type of food back home, you should grab a jar of Vegemite.

This is a type of spread that is very heavily used by Australians. The taste of Vegemite is very specific and most people will not like it at first. It is salty and a bit better, but once you get used to it, it goes great with a piece of toast.

When you bring it back home, make sure you tell everyone that wants to try your Vegemite that it is salty and that it is not marmalade or jam. It looks a lot like a jam or marmalade in my blade, but it is the exact opposite.

It may not be the most interesting product you can bring back from Sydney, but it is definitely something very special to the city and the country.

Tim Tams

If you are a fan of bringing food back home then here is another option. Tim Tams is a very popular type of food in Sydney. It is a simple packet of chocolates/biscuits, but it is so tasty and it is quite cheap. For just 1.5 or 2 AUD, you can get one packet. So, why not stock up on several packets of Tim Tams bring them back home.

Unlike Vegemite, everyone will like this chocolate.

Kangaroo leather

What is the first animal that comes up in your mind when someone mentions Australia? It probably is a kangaroo. If it is not, you should probably change your mind about that and ensure that it is kangaroo the next time. They are indigenous to New Guinea and Australia.

The government believes that there are more than 40 million kangaroos living on that huge continent right now.

This is probably the reason why the kangaroo is the symbol of this country and can even be found on their currency bills. It is a very important piece of Aussie culture.

So, if you truly want to bring back and Aussie souvenir, you should definitely consider getting a kangaroo leather product. It can be anything you want. A lot of people enjoy buying kangaroo leather hats. But you also have the option of getting a belt, some boots, or even a jacket. Some souvenir shops sell plain kangaroo leather. But, before you decide to buy anything, you should probably do a little bit of research on souvenir shops as suggested by Kevsbest.com.au.

Ugg boots

Whenever roaming down the streets of Sydney or any other city in Australia, you will notice one thing about the residents of this country. Almost everyone is wearing Ugg boots. At first, they were just another piece of very comfortable footwear, but they are now a fashion statement. Ugg boots are now part of the Aussie culture.

So, if you truly want to bring in a souvenir back home, I would suggest you buy a few pairs of Ugg boots. Keep in mind, they might not look the best, but they are very comfortable and will keep your feet warm throughout the cold winter days.

A cricket bat

Cricket is a sport that will remind you of baseball, but it is nowhere near how baseball is played. The players use bats, similarly to baseball, but the rules are very different. This is also an important part of the Aussie culture. It is a sport that is primarily played in Australia, New Zealand, and India. You will not be able to find teams or cricket-related souvenirs outside of those countries.

So, why not grab a cricket bat when going home?

There are a lot more things you could buy as an Aussie souvenir from Sydney, but I believe that these five items are the most unique and interesting ones.

8 Money-Saving Tips to Help You Shop Smarter

Published on September 14, 2020

Life/Lifestyle

Whether you’ll be on a tight budget for the next few months or if you are simply looking for ways that will help you save some money, you’ll have to learn how to shop smarter. However, if you have no idea where to begin, you might be wondering – what are some tips that I should keep in mind?

Well, luckily for all of you looking for ways to save money at the end of the month, this article might be able to help you. The text below is going to feature a list of 8 money-saving tips that will help you with shopping smarter, hence, saving money. Let’s take a closer look at the list:

1. First Things First – Put Your Budget on Paper

One of the very first things that you’ll want to do is to create a detailed, monthly budget. Why? Well, it will ensure that you do not overspend and it will also allow you to know how much you can spend on certain things. Naturally, the first thing you’ll do is to deduct all of the bills and loans you have, then determine the variable expenses, as well as your savings. Additionally, if you want to save money for something, determine how much you’ll put aside.

2. Lists, Lists, Lists

Never, I repeat, never go shopping without a list. If you do not have a list to follow, you’ll easily overspend on things that you do not need. Hence, before going to the supermarket, look around in your cupboards and fridge, and determine which items you need. Also, if you need to buy new clothes and shoes, ensure that you make a different list for that as well. Writing down what you need to buy and sticking to it will ensure that you do not overspend on things that you do not need.

3. Shop Online And Wait For Sales

Online shopping won’t only allow you to save a lot of time on commuting, but, it will also help you with saving a lot of money, especially when there are sales! Hence, when you create lists for the things you need – no matter if it is clothes or groceries – browse various online stores in order to see where the best deals are, as well as if there are some sales that will allow you to purchase more for less cash.

4. Promo Codes And Coupons

There is a wide range of platforms such as this website that offer free coupons and promo codes, which means that you should get the advantage of those free coupons and codes! Why? Well, it will save your cash, which means that you can then use the rest of the money for purchasing something else or even better, you can put the money aside and save it until you meet your goal and purchase something from that list of things that you do not need, but want.

5. Out of Season Shopping is Quite Wise

If there are some seasonal things that you need – such as holiday cards or decoration – you might want to buy them when they are out of season. If you do so when they are in seasons, the prices will probably be twice as high as they are during the rest of the year. So, if you are able to find seasonal items before the season actually arrives, you’ll be able to avoid paying higher prices for the same item.

6. Say ‘Goodbye’ to Endless Browsing

You have your lists, so ensure that you stick to them! Wandering endlessly around a specific shop won’t only cause you to lose a lot of time, but, it might also cause you to purchase items that you do not need – which is especially true for individuals that do not have the willpower to avoid useless purchases. For example, if you need items such as toilet paper and fresh vegetables, go to those aisles and avoid wandering.

7. Consume it Before Buying Another One

I used to do a really bad thing that caused me to spend hundreds of dollars on something that I do not need at the moment. How? Well, for instance, when I notice that I half used my hand cream, I would immediately buy another one. This just leads to hoarding half-used products, which can cause you to lose a lot of money. Hence, before you actually buy something – no matter if it is food or other products – ensure that you spend the initial one first.

8. It is Always Better to Go Shopping Alone

You’ll want to avoid going to the store with your children or someone else. Besides avoiding your kids bugging you for some sweets and snacks that can cause you to overspend, you’ll also be able to finish shopping faster, which is extremely important when it comes to sticking to your budget, as well as list. So, if it is possible for you to go shopping alone, you’ll definitely want to do it, especially since you’ll save cash and time.

Bonus Tip – Does Spending Less Mean Saving More?

Just because you’ll follow all of the aforementioned tips, it does not mean that you’ll actually save some cash. Similarly, just because a specific shop has different sales such as ‘buy one and get one for free’ it does not mean that you should buy it – unless you actually need it. Hence, when you come across such sales, you’ll want to ask yourself whether or not you actually need it, is it high-quality, as well as can you place it in your house. If you answer all of the three questions with ‘no’ buy what you need and exit the store you are in.

Conclusion

As you can see, there is a wide range of tips that can help you shop smarter, which will, in return, allow you to save money at the end of the month. Once you get a hang of it, you’ll be able to save hundreds of dollars, which means that you can then use it for something else, such as returning a loan or, perhaps, purchasing something new for yourself.

So, now that you are aware of all the tips you should keep in mind when shopping, you might not want to lose any more of your time. Instead, you should go back to the beginning of this article and begin with the first tip on the list, which is creating a detailed budget for the upcoming month.

Stretch Your Dollar By Retiring In Mexico: Here’s How

Published on September 9, 2020

Life

People are living much longer these days so retiring in your 60s means that your retirement savings may need to last a lot longer than in the past. Are you sure that you have enough money to live a comfortable lifestyle on your limited income?

This is a challenge many Americans are facing these days as the cost of living is rising all the time. Either you have to go very frugal and really tighten the belt, or you try to find a place where the cost of living is low.

While there are many places within the US where you can go and enjoy a lifestyle that suits you, if it is a low cost of living area, then chances are it isn’t as nice a place to live as you would want.

Which is why Mexico should be on your radar. You can retire there and enjoy excellent weather, delicious food and a laid back lifestyle for a fraction of what it would cost to do so in Florida, for example.

In this article, I will give you some of the things you need to know to be able to retire in Mexico.

1. Know your expenses

The cost of living is lower than in the US, but it does highly depend on where you plan to live, what your lifestyle is like and some other factors.

Do research to find the right area that is going to be cheap, safe and have the infrastructure that you need to live a good life there. You may find an area that is very economical, but the health care services are lacking or it isn’t safe to live.

There are websites that can give you the breakdown of the cost of everything you need in a particular city. This is a good starting point to understand if it is going to be within your budget.

Then, write down all of your expenses. Make sure you include health insurance as you will be paying out of pocket for health insurance in Mexico. You can shop around for the best prices on sites like Internationalinsurance.com, but it’s up to you to find a plan. Also, any expenses you will be bringing with you from abroad need to be accounted for. These items include subscriptions for things like Netflix or loans that are still open from the US like student loans.

2. Get a visa

Luckily, for retirees, Mexico makes it easy to come and live without having to jump through too many bureaucratic hoops. There are different visas, though, so you need to know the right one.

If you are planning to come down to do a sort of dry run to see if you would like living there, then a tourist visa is for you. It allows you to stay up to six months which is enough time to judge whether Mexico is actually the right fit or not.

If you do decide to live there, then you will need a temporary resident visa which lasts four years. Before you leave the US you should go to your local consulate to apply as there are some requirements to qualify. For instance, you will need to show a certain amount of income that comes from outside of Mexico. This can be income from a retirement fund or if you work remotely and have a steady income from that.

Once you have been there for four years, you can then apply for a permanent visa so you don’t have to keep reapplying for a temporary one every four years. Once again, you will need to show that you have a minimum amount of money coming in and a certain amount of savings to qualify. If you get accepted then you will have the right to work in Mexico so you can add to your income locally if you can find a job.

3. Learn the language

Though you technically can get by with only knowing English, your life will be much easier if you learn at least some basic Spanish. Relying on locals to speak English can cause some problems especially when you are dealing with paperwork. And hiring a translator can be costly.

If you can speak some Spanish then you can navigate much easier and even integrate in Mexico instead of only having ex-pat friends.

It can also be something that gives you something to do. Learning another language is something that keeps your mind sharp so you are less likely to have a deterioration of your facilities as you age. Learning keeps us young so there is an extra incentive to learn the language as a retirement challenge.

Get a side hustle

This is one that may be in a grey area when it comes to your visa. Make sure that you are allowed to work without any issues as some visas are strict about you not taking a job from a local.

Since you are now a local, you can do things like help tourists that are visiting the region. As you speak English and have insider knowledge, then you could find yourself doing well working a few hours per week leading some food tours or something similar.

If you are not allowed to do that, then you can always do it online. Start a Youtube channel that focuses on this area and have it link to your own website. Then sell e-books as guides for the area. Or, similarly, you can also charge for itineraries that can be downloaded and printed out by the visitor to your site.

Take advantage of living someplace that people want to visit and give them an experience like a local.

Conclusion

There are going to be challenges to retiring in a foreign country, but luckily, Mexico has a lot of American retirees so the path has already been forged for you. If you’re up to some challenges, the rewards are much greater than if you chose to stay back home.

Impact of COVID-19 on Personal Injury Cases in 2020

Published on September 2, 2020

Life

When the first news appeared at the end of December last year about a new, mysterious virus from China, few people paid attention to it. Even in China, they did not consider it a serious threat. By the end of January, Wuhan was in complete isolation, but this was still considered a local concern of China, where epidemics occur more frequently than elsewhere in the world. How we were all wrong. By mid-March, the whole world had stopped.

Perhaps for the first time in human history, the entire planet was quarantined. The number of people infected with the coronavirus was so large that hospitals had no room for patients with other problems. The whole world economy has stopped. It was important to maintain a constant supply of food and medicine and it was mostly successful. But all other businesses have been partially or completely shut down, leading to a global financial crisis.

There is no sector that has not been affected by coronavirus-related events. Person injury cases are no different. First of all, it slowed them down a lot because hospitals and courts handled only emergencies. But people are still getting hurt and now that life is slowly returning to normal, everyone is wondering how to proceed with person injury cases. We will do our best to give you the answers in this article.

Delay of medical examinations

We all know that in order to receive compensation for a personal injury, it is required to have all the necessary documents from the doctor. Only in this way will you be able to prove the degree of injury and how much it has affected your life and work. Without it, you will not receive any compensation or it will be a very small amount of money. But as we have already said in the introduction, during the coronavirus pandemic, many hospitals that were otherwise available to us became COVID-only. This created huge crowds at other hospitals that received patients who were not contagious. If your injuries were not life-threatening, you may have decided to go home and to see a doctor later.

This is a big mistake because it is necessary for him to examine you soon after the injuries occur in order to get maximum compensation. Also, many do not want to go to the hospital at all, for fear of becoming infected with the coronavirus. This is of course your right, but your personal injury claim will then not be successful. Our advice is to go to the doctor, and follow all the advice of the World Health Organization, such as wearing a mask and maintaining social distance.

Insurance companies are trying to reach a settlement as soon as possible

The financial crisis is also hitting insurance companies hard. Imagine how much money they had to pay to insured companies that suffered damage during a pandemic. Also, tourism has almost completely stopped, so the billions of people who pay for travel insurance every year have not done so now. And of course their shares on the stock market have lost significantly in value.

All this has brought insurance companies to the brink of bankruptcy. For this reason, they want to come to an agreement with you as soon as possible, in order to save money. They hope that you will jump to the first offer and that it will pay you significantly less than it is realistic. They also want to shorten the process as much as possible and not go to court at any cost. Don’t be naive and don’t fall for such attempts.

You need a lawyer more than ever

If you want your personal injury claim to be successful, you need a lawyer. And that’s always the case, but now during a pandemic it’s more important than ever. For the very reasons we mentioned earlier, which are the attempts of insurance companies to reach a settlement as soon as possible, you need an experienced lawyer in this field, in order for the whole process to end in your favor. Due to the situation, your face-to-face meetings may be difficult, but this will not be a problem due to the possibility of video call and email for sending complete documentation.

Visit cunninghamandmears.com to see which personal injury services are offered by lawyers specializing in this area of law. The lawyer has a lot of experience and will make sure to get the best amount possible for the settlement. And also the insurance company will know that since you have a lawyer, you are ready to go to court, which will deter them from trying to offer you an unrealistically low amount of money.

Mentally prepare for a long process

It is a long process anyway, and now it will be even longer. The courts operate at reduced capacity and generally handle urgent matters, such as bail orders and the like. So if you get to court, expect a lot of shifting and postponing the hearing and everything else. Now the hearings have started via video conference, so the situation is improving. Still, know that there is a long and exhausting process ahead of you even without litigation. It is up to you to gather all the documentation, hire a lawyer and wait.

Employment problems

Due to the situation with COVID-19, there is a recession all over the world. For this reason, millions of people lose their jobs, and it is almost impossible to find a new job during this period. This will serve the opposing side to offer you less money, as it will challenge the claim that you could not work as a result of the injury. They will state that this is not the main reason, but problems with the labor market and that they would certainly not be able to find a job. However, insist that you have lost significant money due to inability to work as a result of the injury.

Conclusion:

The most important thing is to stay calm and follow the whole procedure. It is clear to you that we are currently living in something called the “new normality” and that is why everything is different than we are used to. But if you persevere, you will succeed.

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