Insurance

What Jane Austen can teach us about resilience

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By Heloise Wood | 2nd February 2021 | The BBC

What Jane Austen can teach us about resilience

Sales figures would suggest I’m far from the only one relying on her humor and heart to get me through these strange days. In the UK, as Kiera O’Brien, charts and data editor of the Bookseller, notes, Austen experienced a sales rise of 20% in the UK between 15 June and 7 November last year, compared to the same period in 2019. Last December saw the 245th anniversary of her birth and her popularity only seems to be getting stronger.ADVERTISE

Her novels may be mischaracterized as romantic escapism, but at their core, they have a lot to say about perseverance – and it makes them perfect reading, for now, writes Heloise Wood.

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10 Hacks to Keep Your Home Cool Without AC

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By Fred Decker | July 9, 2020 | eHow.com | Cool Without AC

Turning on an air conditioner is the quick and easy answer to hot days, but AC isn’t always available. Even when it is, there are downsides: It can drive up your power bill dramatically, and it’s not exactly the most eco-friendly appliance in your home. Keep your home cool with out ac with these 10 smart home hacks, which are good for the planet and your pocketbook.

1. DIY Cooling for Where You Are

It’s a lot of work to cool the whole house when really all you need to do is cool the spot where you are. You can make a simple DIY desktop mini air conditioner unit with just a few inexpensive pieces, including a USB fan, a plastic bucket, and some disposable containers. It does a fine job of keeping you comfy at your desk, or while you’re watching TV from your favorite chair. You can follow the same basic steps to make a larger version from a foam picnic cooler, if you wish, and cool a small room.

2. Be Smart About Appliance Use

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How to Protect Your Brain Health Now

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The pandemic can be hard on your memory, too. Here, from a new report, are tips for building resiliency

by Hallie Levine,  AARP, March 8, 2021 | Brain Health

“While a COVID-19 infection itself can directly harm your brain, months of isolation can take a toll as well,” says Sarah Lenz Lock, executive director of the Global Council on Brain Health (GCBH), an independent collaborative of scientists, doctors, and policy experts convened by AARP to provide trusted information on brain health. That’s why the council has released a report on how the brain health of older adults has been affected by the pandemic and what research is needed to address the problem. Along with the latest scientific findings, the report includes tips for older adults to adopt.

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Money disagreements can destroy families. Here’s how to prevent that from happening

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Michelle Fox |AUG 25 202112:06 PM EDT | UPDATED WED, AUG 25 202110:53 PM EDT | CNBC.COM | Money disagreements

Money disagreements over money can ruin relationships.

To be sure, families will not always agree on all financial matters. It is how you handle the situation that counts.

“Money is emotional,” said licensed marriage and family therapist Dr. George James, chief innovation officer, and senior staff therapist at the non-profit Council for Relationships.

“Try to communicate about money,” he added. “Don’t make it this thing that no one talks about.”

For Derek and Jocelyn Porter, who own a Philadelphia-based children’s entertainment business called D&J Costumes, it was a disagreement over whether to buy a new $60,000 car that brought them to a stalemate.

Jocelyn Porter, who appeared on CNBC’s “Money Court” along with her husband, wants to get a new Mercedes to replace her old car, which is having transmission problems.

“I have had my E350 Mercedes for the last five years,” Jocelyn Porter said. “It adds a touch of class and quality to my business.”

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19 Mistakes People Make With Houseplants

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Experts share common missteps in “plant parenting” and how to get it right.

By Caroline Bologna | 08/16/2021 06:00pm EDT | Updated August 17, 2021 | Huffpost.com

If you follow interior design influencers or otherwise keep up with trends in home decor, you’ve likely noticed the mania around houseplants. Indeed, over the past few years, millennials, in particular, have developed a love affair with all things green.

But as newcomers to the indoor plant world quickly learn, keeping your indoor flora alive can be challenging. The leaves may turn brown, wilt away, develop spots or otherwise fail to thrive. Still, there’s no need to despair!

“Plant parents of all skill levels have trouble with houseplants at one time or another, so don’t worry or be afraid to try, try again!” Liam Heeks, manager of Tula Plants & Design, told HuffPost.

To help new and aspiring plant parents, we asked experts to share the biggest mistakes they see people make with their houseplants. Read on for 19 approaches to avoid (and their advice for getting it right).

Choosing Houseplants For The Wrong Reasons

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When Disaster Strikes: What to Put in Your Medication Go Bag

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Atlantic hurricane season is a good reminder that everyone should prepare this potentially lifesaving kit

By Consumer Reports Last updated: July 05, 2021

A well-stocked Medication Go Bag can be used to soothe a cut or burn—or to save your life during a hurricane, flood, fire, or other emergencies.  

But it’s important not to wait until you’re faced with the need to leave your home in a hurry to assemble your medication go bag, says Geoffrey C. Wall, Pharm.D., a professor of pharmacy practice at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

Whether you buy a kit from a drugstore or build it yourself, Wall recommends that all households keep a medication go bag on hand. It should contain the essentials, including: 

  • At least seven days’ worth of over-the-counter and prescription medications you take on a regular basis. Label the containers clearly, and include a printed-out list of everything you take and the regimen for each medication, plus a copy of your health insurance card (in case you need medical care while you’re away from your home).
  • An antihistamine for allergic reactions, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl Allergy and generic) or loratadine (Claritin and generic).
  • Pain relievers, including acetaminophen (Tylenol and generic), aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, and generic), or naproxen (Aleve and generic).
  • Stomach and antidiarrheal remedies, including loperamide (Imodium and generic) and bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol, and generic).
  • An antacid for heartburn, such as Maalox, Mylanta, Rolaids, Tums, or generic.
  • Antiseptic wipes; an antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin, Bacitracin Plus, Curad, or generic (use only for infected wounds); and bandages, gauze, and tape, for treating burns, cuts, and wounds.
  • Mosquito repellent to prevent bites, and aloe gel, hydrocortisone cream, or calamine lotion to soothe bites and skin irritation.
  • An eyewash solution for flushing out eye irritants.
  • Water-purification tablets.
  • Scissors.
  • Thermometer.
  • Tweezers.

If you and your family have special medical needs, you can build a more sophisticated medication go bag—for example, one that contains hearing aids with extra batteries, an epinephrine auto-injector, glasses, contact lenses, or syringes.

Fill Prescriptions in Advance

For prescriptions, you and your family members take, consider asking your doctor for 60- or 90-day refills rather than a month’s worth. That way, you’re more likely to have extras on hand for your medication go bag. (This can also save you money.)

Always fill prescriptions on the first day you become eligible for a refill, rather than waiting until the day you run out. If you are able to obtain an emergency supply, establish a plan for rotating your go-bag supply so that it remains up to date. And remember to check medications periodically to ensure that they have not expired.

“During an emergency, some states allow pharmacists to dispense an emergency supply of medications without doctor authorization,” Wall says. But, he adds, “certainly if a known potential disaster, such as a hurricane, is predicted, make sure you have prescription meds and supplies before it hits.”

You might also ask your health insurance company to assist you in obtaining enough medication and supplies to have on hand.

Storing and Maintaining Your Kit

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How to Get Rid of Ants

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By: Francisco Guzman | Updated: Aug 13, 2021 | How Stuff Works

Ants invade homes for one reason: food. Whether you left crumbs on the kitchen table or forgot to take the trash out, where there’s food, there are ants. Ants aren’t all bad. They help to clean up dead animals and naturally create topsoil as they burrow into the ground. But they can also pose a danger to you and your home.

Ant bites aren’t only annoying, they can trigger an allergic reaction in some people. A typical ant bite can cause pain and discomfort, but bites from a fire ant can lead to difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, nausea, and dizziness. While fire ants pack a big sting, other ants can do different types of damage.

Carpenter ants, similar to termites, can cause damage to your home’s walls, decks, doorframes, and other wooden materials. These ants create nests in wooden areas that are moist and starting to decay and cause damage by tunneling through the wood.

But if your home has become infested with ants, don’t worry. Getting rid of them is fast, easy, and cheap. Most of our suggestions below use ingredients that are safe to use around babies and pets. Here are some home remedies to quickly and successfully rid your house of ants.

How to Get Rid of Ants

  • White vinegar: Mix a solution of one part white vinegar to one part water or just use straight vinegar. Wipe your counters, tables, appliances, and jars with the solution to kill ants and prevent them from returning. Although you won’t be able to smell the scent after a while, ants will.
  • Hand soap: Spray a soapy water solution into holes and crevices that may be the entry point for ants in your home. Soap is an effective remedy for preventing ants from entering your home because it removes the scent of ant pheromones, which ants use to communicate with each other.

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The US has 10 million job openings

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This is a first: The US has 10 million job openings

CNN | Job Openings |

New York (CNN Business) It’s a hallmark sign of this strange pandemic labor market: America had a record 10.1 million jobs available in June, as businesses struggled to hire enough staff to support the full reopening of the economy. That mismatch between worker demand and supply has been a defining characteristic of the pandemic recovery. Hiring is rampant across industries, as businesses are still rebuilding the capacity lost during last year’s lock-downs. Professional and business services, retail, hotels, and restaurants added the most job openings, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics report released Monday.

But many jobless workers are facing complexities. Some continue to struggle with finding child care, while others are concerned about the risk of contracting the virus at work.

“If we want to sustain our economic recovery, we have to get serious about removing barriers to filling these open jobs,” said Neil Bradley, executive vice president, and chief policy officer of the US Chamber of Commerce.

Specifically, Bradley added, “that includes addressing childcare needs, rightsizing unemployment programs, skills training, and increasing legal immigration.”

Economists expect that at least the child care aspect will be addressed when schools reopen in person after the summer. But the rampant spread of the Covid-19 Delta variant is adding exposure risk. Meanwhile, the generous pandemic-era unemployment benefits that have already ceased in multiple states will run out in September, which could affect the rate of hiring as well.

Hires, layoffs and voluntary quits

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The rise of modular construction

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The rise of modular construction: the pros and cons of modular builds and how to reduce your risk

Modular construction is on the rise, and it’s not just for small-scale builds anymore. In 2016 the first modular skyscraper—made from 930 prefabricated units—opened its doors to residents in Brooklyn, New York. Research suggests the modular construction industry will continue to grow by nearly 6 percent between 2020 and 2025.

Why is modular construction becoming a trend? Contractors cite the perks of a controlled building environment, significant cost savings, and shorter build times. But like any project, prefab construction brings along its own unique challenges. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the pros and cons of modular construction and share strategies that could help reduce your risk when taking on a modular build.

Four benefits of modular construction

1. It’s fast.

Because the majority of the building happens off site, modular construction is significantly faster than traditional builds. Construction of the modules can happen concurrently to on-site building, which cuts down build times considerably. The factory environment and standardization of the build also mean contractors can take advantage of automation to speed up build time drastically and avoid weather delays or on-site changes that slow down the project. According to McGraw Hill, modular construction cut down build times for 66 percent of building professionals, with nearly 35 percent reporting that they saved more than a month on a single project.  

2. It’s more environmentally friendly.

Creating modules in a factory environment cuts down construction site waste significantly because it is more controlled, more automated, and more flexible. Construction companies don’t have to worry about damage to materials from poor air quality or weather. They can even refurbish modules that are damaged or no longer in use. The same research by McGraw Hill shows that 77 percent of contractors reduced waste by switching to modular construction.

3. It’s safer for workers.

Indoor construction environments are typically less hazardous than their traditional, outdoor counterparts—and that’s good news for construction workers. In a factory environment, workspaces can be designed ergonomically to reduce regular wear and tear on the body. The controlled environment means better air quality, access to tools, lighting, and more.

4. It’s cost-effective.

One of the biggest perks of modular construction is cost-effectiveness. With less waste, a more efficient building process, and greater reliance on automation, modular builders save money on materials and labor. And the factory environment reduces the risk of theft and vandalism on project sites, saving even more money and time. McGraw Hill reports that 41 percent of builders lowered their costs by as much as 6 percent by shifting to a modular model.

Addressing modular construction challenges

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How to Bundle Home and Auto Insurance

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U.S. News 360 Reviews takes an unbiased approach to our recommendations. When you use our links to buy products, we may earn a commission but that in no way affects our editorial independence.

By Jim Travers | July 12, 2021, at 12:00 p.m. | US News.com | Bundle Home and Auto Insurance

Insurance bundling simply means buying your home insurance and auto or other coverage from the same company. Bundling insurance policies can have some advantages; most notably, potential savings on your overall insurance costs. It can also simplify your bill paying and record keeping. But bundling doesn’t guarantee savings, and it may not be the right choice for you. We’ll explain why below, along with how bundling works, the advantages and disadvantages, and the potential pitfalls.

What Is Insurance Bundling?

Purchasing more than one insurance policy from the same company is a common practice known as bundling. It can sometimes save customers money compared to buying homeowners and auto or other insurance policies through different companies. More formally known as a multipolicy discount or multiple line discount, insurance companies encourage bundling as a means of saving money on your overall bill. Most insurers advertise savings of between 10% and 25% when bundling two or more policies, compared to what they would charge for each policy individually.

Insurance companies like bundling as a way to generate additional revenue from the same customer. Research has also indicated that customers who bundle policies tend to stay with the same company longer.

If you’re buying your first home, bundling is especially worth considering. It’s also an excellent time to review all your insurance needs and get competitive quotes from several companies, especially if you haven’t reviewed your auto policy or other coverage in a year or more. As your situation changes over time, it’s important to make sure your insurance keeps up.

A good place to start is by seeing if you can get a better rate with your existing insurance company by adding a homeowners policy – just make sure you get competitive quotes from other providers first. You might end up switching to another company with lower overall rates, or you may be able to use a lower quote as a negotiating tool with your current insurance company.

While you’re getting quotes, think about all your insurance needs and consider any changes or updates you want to make to all your policies. The more types of insurance you bundle, the more money you may be able to save. It’s possible that not all insurers will offer all the coverage you need, so focus your search on companies that do.

Bundling insurance has other advantages, like allowing you to track and update your policies through one company website or app. It can also simplify paying your bills.

Finding a company that will give you the best discount will probably require some research, and rates will vary depending on the types of coverage you need, your location, your credit status, your claim history, and other factors. It’s worth doing your own research online, because everyone’s situation is different. Just because a friend or relative gets a good rate with one company doesn’t mean that you will.

Does Bundling Insurance Save Money?

There’s a good chance you will save money by bundling your home insurance with another policy such as your automobile, boat, RV, or life insurance. Your specific savings will vary, depending on where you live, how many policies you bundle, your credit rating, your claim history, and other factors.

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