Some days we get down on ourselves, thinking we don’t matter, that we’re not doing anything important. Today’s Thursday Thought quote is for those days.
Archive for March 12, 2020
What We Always Suspected About the IRS
Many of us are slaving over taxes–gathering those elusive receipts, adding up deductions, buying a do-it-yourself tax prep program like Turbo Tax or making an appointment with a tax preparer, and sweating over what we’ll end up owing. Take a break and enjoy this cartoon. You know you’ve always thought it.
Charity on a Budget
Yes, you’d love to give more, but what can you do on such a tight budget? The answer: always keep others in mind. Use coupons and set aside the savings until you have, say, $20 to donate to a charity. Recycle often, keeping the money in a baggie in your purse—and give what you have to the next homeless person you meet. Watch for good 2-for-1 sales and donate that second box of cereal or sack of flour to a food bank, the food collection at your place of worship, or a family you know who needs it.
If you go to garage sales, pick up clothing and household items in good condition to give to a shelter for battered women or an organization helping disaster victims. Cashing in on a great sale on yarn? Get extra and make items for layette programs sponsored by many churches. We don’t need to be rich to make a difference; we just need to watch for opportunities to help make life better for others.
Take a Nap Today–and Every Day
Feeling extra tired today? You’re not alone. The day after the start of Daylight Saving Time is when most people feel the worst sleep deprivation. That’s why today is National Napping Day–we may need a nap today. And we may need what the Spanish call (and take) a siesta each day.
Besides the Spaniards, other cultures have long recognized the value of a midday nap, going back to ancient Arabia, Rome, and Greece. They found napping to improve health and productivity.
So, celebrate this unofficial national day, for the sake of your health and well being.
Stop That Junk Mail Now!
Learn how to atop junk mail at Eco Cycle. Meanwhile, recycle it and newspapers. Each mature tree this saves will consume thirteen pounds of carbon dioxide per year. And the energy saved by recycling a single ton of paper can heat your home for six months.
[For more easy, eco-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to www.Smashwords.com/books/ view/7000, choose a format, and download to your computer or ebook device.]
9 Facts About Scammers
As we finish up National Consumer Protection Week, I thought I’d pass on some advice on how scammers scam us. Here, from AJC Atlanta News Now, is a list of 9 things scammers tell you. Here’s the list. Read details on their article.
1. Scammers feed off specific clues you put in your profile.
2. He usually lives outside the U.S.
3. Scamming women is his job.
4. What he’ll tell you about himself.
5. He uses romance to lure you in.
6. He’ll always have an excuse for why he can’t see you.
7. You can’t find anything concrete about who this man is.
8. You can’t find anything concrete about who this man is.
9. Action plan for protecting yourself from a scammer.
Produce Shade for Someone
You do things often that you hope will be of value. Then you wonder if it was worth it, because you don’t see change or whatever positive results you hoped for. Today’s Thursday Thought quote is for you.
“Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” — Warren Buffett
How to Shop for Tee Shirts
Warmer weather is on its way. Time to dig out the old T-shirts and buy some new ones. It’s also time to think about what slogans or pictures are on those shirts. After all, when we dress we often become a walking billboard for what we believe. One set of beliefs is described by these sayings (actually seen on shirts): “It’s All About Me;” “Silence is Golden, Duct Tape is Silver;” “Orgy of Hate;” “The last hope for humanity rests on a high powered machine gun;” “A woman’s place is chained to the stove.” Then there is the fuzzy-headed kid urinating on a person of a clearly definable ethnic origin. Other beliefs are expressed, of course, by crosses and religious references or Biblical quotes, but also by “I ♥ [person or place],” “World’s Greatest Mom,” “Do random acts of kindness,” and pictures of a grandchild or multi-ethnic group linking hands. The question to ask ourselves is, Does what I’m wearing reflect who I am inside? Now, about those bumper stickers……..
Coronavirus: What’s Better Protection than Masks?
Masks of any type are not that effective, because any part of a mask not tightly against our skin can let in germs. And none of us can keep, either consciously or unconsciously, from reaching up to adjust it so it’s more comfortable or we want to scratch under it. Besides, our eyes–touching them can bring infection into our bodies–are still out in the open.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) says that the most effective guard against disease, including Coronavirus, is hand-washing. But not the way we often tend to do it. We should do it often, but especially under certain circumstances. See their article. The article also discusses hand sanitizers (always 60% alcohol!), their effectiveness, and how to use them. Here are their 5 steps the CDC says to take for effective hand-washing:
- Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
- Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
- Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
- Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
- Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.