Tag Archive for tips

Winning an Argument with a Loved One

The more politics invades our lives, the more conflicting news and half-truths bombard us, the harder it is to avoid “discussions” that turn into arguments. And–darn it!–we’re right, so we deserve to win! This is especially hard with older adults, who feel they’ve lived long enough to have a very good perspective on life and how things should be.

The best way to win an argument with a friend or loved one is to avoid letting it come between you and, if nothing else, finally agree to disagree. Getting there is the problem, though.

How to Avoid Arguments When Discussing Politics with a Loved One was written with our seniors in mind but offers good advice for such discussions with any of our loved ones–or others, for that matter. It explains the dynamics of those situations and offers six concrete ways we can, in fact, have an animated discussion and still share a hug afterwards.

Stealing the Season

‘Tis the season…for stealing your identity and financial information. There’s a large number of malicious apps out there anxious to trap you by filling your In-Box with offers of fantastic prices and discounts. Beware! Here are a few tips:

  1. Watch out for texts that contain spelling or grammatical errors. Legit retailers pay good money to make sure their promotional materials don’t have such mistakes.
  2. Avoid third-party app stores. Stick to real, established ones, like Apple and Google.
  3. Look at the URL. Be sure it starts with HTTPS. If not, forget it.
  4. If the prices are too fantastic to be true–and items are not being sold from the trunk of a car–it’s a scam.
  5. Shop only from retailers you’re familiar with and ones you trust.

In short, make sure you don’t bestow the gift of your money and private information on scammer.

Those Painful Broken Plastic Toys

Well, they’re painful when stepped on or go into the landfill. Hasbro has a solution.  They’re working with TerraCycle to recycle them into materials for playgrounds and benches.  Find out how you can participate:  https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades/hasbro.

[For more easy, money-saving, Earth-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to www.Smashwords.com/books/view/7000 or your favorite e-book seller and download to your computer or e-book device. Totally free, with no strings attached.]

Help for the Weary Caregiver

Many of us find ourselves in the position of being a primary caregiver, whether to a child, a spouse, a parent, or a grandparent.  Yet, we need to keep our jobs, too.  This makes for a very full–and tiring–life.  But we do it out of love.

There are ways to ease our burden of love, though.  AARP has a few tips to do just that.  Learn about those tips at their Balancing Work & Caregiving.

Free Helpful App

Here’s a free app that tells you about products that are safe, green, healthy, and socially responsible:  GoodGuide.  Download it from itunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/goodguide/id294447660?mt=8

 

[For more easy, money-saving, Earth-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to www.Smashwords.com/books/view/7000 or your favorite e-book seller and download to your computer or e-book device. Totally free, with no strings attached.]

A Tip About Tips

Ever been a restaurant server? If you or a loved one has, you know how hard the work is and that this is one of the worst-paid professions–often below minimum wage. You wouldn’t be able to make ends meet if you didn’t have tips.

Take  away those tips and give them to the owners. That’s what wealthy restaurant owners, represented by the National Restaurant Association, has been trying to do for many years.  And this year–in time for Christmas!–they have a good chance of success.

Why should we care if we aren’t part of that working group? Because the majority of restaurant workers are women and people of color who put up with frequent sexual harassment.  Because of where the practice of tipping started–after emancipation, it was a way to avoid paying Black workers.

Only since 2012 has it been law that tips belong to the workers themselves.  Now, though, the Dept. of Labor is pushing to give tips to the owners to keep or “pool” (meaning they dole out however much to whichever workers they choose).

Tell the Dept. of Labor that you think this is unfair and would hurt people who are struggling to make a living already.  There’s a petition at https://act.credoaction.com/sign/tiptheft?t=7&akid=26387%2E7078302%2EA0Dubn

How to Keep Buglers Away from your Home

I still remember from 15 years ago when someone broke into my house while I was home alone.  It was frightening.  He broke in at the front of the house while I was reading quietly in the back.  I didn’t hear him.  At some point, I must have coughed or made some other noise, because  that’s when I heard him scramble out and away.  He, like most buglers, preferred ripping off houses when nobody was home.

I had that incident in mind when I read the online piece “We Asked 86 Buglers How They Broke Into Homes.”   I learned, from the minds of experts/buglers, 17 precautions I can take to encourage them to skip my house when they’re on the prowl.  I thought you might be interested.  Find the piece at http://www.wfaa.com/news/investigations/we-asked-86-burglars-how-they-broke-into-homes/344367279.

Be safe!

Try These Halloween Earth-Friendly Fun Ideas

Here it is, two days before Halloween, and you’re getting ready.  There’s a lot of waste (trash and your money) on this holiday.  Read 10 Tips for an Eco-Friendly Halloween and get some fun ideas.

Leaf 6

[For more easy, money-saving, earth-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to www.Smashwords.com/books/view/7000 or your favorite e-book seller and download to your computer or e-book device. Totally free, with no strings attached.]

Easter-Basket Time!

Instead of using a plastic or processed wicker Easter basket, use a wooden one or reuse an old one (may need new coat of paint).  Or sew one out of fabric.  Or use something reusable, like a sand pail.

Leaf 6

[For more easy, money-saving, earth-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to www.Smashwords.com/books/view/7000 or your favorite e-book seller and download to your computer or e-book device. Totally free, with no strings attached.]

Your Smart Green Phone

Carry recycling information with you on your smart phone—what can be recycled, local recycling options, and recycling centers throughout the U.S.  Download Earth911.com’s free app at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/irecycle/id312708176.

Leaf 6

[For more easy, money-saving, earth-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to www.Smashwords.com/books/view/7000 or your favorite e-book seller and download to your computer or e-book device. Totally free, with no strings attached.]