Month: January 2022

Categories
Debt Financial Loans

Can’t Pay Rent? Here’s Where To Find Help

Can’t Pay Rent? Here’s Where To Find Help

Hundreds of thousands of American tenants lost a critical legal safeguard when the countrywide eviction ban was repealed.

The United States Supreme Court recently overturned an eviction restriction. This now means that landlords throughout the nation to proceed with evictions without restraint.

The Eviction Ban is Over

Even while the federal moratorium was in effect, the eviction prohibition was not standard across the board. The moratorium was not enacted in every state in the United States. And not all tenants were aware of the order or how to benefit from it. Therefore, it didn’t reach as many people as it should have.

Although the federal eviction moratorium is no longer in effect, if you have been unable to pay your rent or your utilities due to the epidemic and are facing eviction, you may be eligible for a personal government bailout.

Rent Help Still Remains

Despite the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the federal eviction moratorium, another program remains. A first-of-its-kind, $47 billion government rental assistance program, which covers energy bills and up to 18 months of rent for tenants who have been unable to pay due to the pandemic’s financial effects, is still in place.

The federal program has been hampered by regulations and rules and red tape and has been far too slow to get off the ground since its creation last year, but authorities are working to make it simpler for hard-hit tenants and landlords to collect money they are entitled to. There are many tools available to assist individuals in determining where and how to apply.

How to Get Rent Help

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has built a website where people may input their location. This way they can get contact information for the local organization that administers the assistance in their area.

Another website, run by the nonprofit National Low Income Housing Coalition, provides details on the 493 state and local agencies that distribute the aid, including which agencies allow renters to simply state that the pandemic has caused them financial hardship and that they have lost income, or that they meet other eligibility requirements. Applicants in certain states are required to provide papers. This includes leases and pay stubs to establish that they fit the criteria.

According to existing rules, roughly 750,000 individuals will be evicted throughout the country before the end of the year.

Conclusion

The rental aid program is the last remaining enormous protection for American renters now that the larger eviction ban is over. And many of the remaining state eviction bans are supposed to end by September. With evictions allowed to resume in an estimated 90% of the country by October, the need for financial help to millions is needed just as much now as before.

If the present rate of rental aid distribution continues, 1 million to 2 million families will be behind on their rent and without help by the time the remaining state eviction moratoriums expire.

Thankfully, the federal assistance program exists- although many people don’t know of it. People are calling on the federal government to do even more. They want them to assist people but so far there are no plans in Congress for such help.

Categories
Health & Home Wellness

How To Improve Your Posture at Work

How To Improve Your Posture at Work

You may already know the fact that the more you move your body throughout the day, the better it is for your overall well-being. However, that can be quite a challenge when you work all day sitting at a desk. After all, your posture can affect your overall health, including your blood flow, mood, and the strength of your muscles and joints. While it is normal for people not to take notice of their posture, you should know that poor posture is the reason for your backache.

We understand if you think that you can’t do much to help yourself, but here’s the good news: you can be mindful of your posture and fix it while going along your usual workday. Here are a few ways you can work smarter at your desk.

Sit All the Way Back

If you are a person who experiences constant back pain due to sitting for long hours, you need to change how you’re sitting. Most adults experience back pain because they’re unaware of the right way to sit in an office chair. Make sure that you are sitting with your butt touching the back of the seat. Then, you will notice a gap between your lower back and the seat, which is the natural sway in your spine. You should use a firm cushion and place it in the hollow space to support your back.

Adjust the Height of Your Chair For Better Posture

If your work involves a lot of typing, this will do wonders for you. Your keyboard or desk should be at a height that your elbows bend at an angle of 90 degrees while you type. If you feel like this is not true for you, you can adjust your chair to the correct height. Or, it is even better if your char has adjustable armrests. Make sure you adjust them to the same height as your desk.

Position Your Screen

You must have experienced cervicogenic headaches or neck pain from working long hours sitting at a computer. The reason for such pains is that you have your screen positioned at the wrong height or level. This can cause bad posture. Such head and neck aches occur when you stare at screens that are either too high or too low. So how can you make sure to position your screen correctly? Your screen should be directly in front of your eyes, at natural eye level. When you do, your chin will stay parallel to the ground when you look at the screen.

Avoid Slouching

This may require a little practice to finally master, and at times, you may even forget to maintain proper posture. Nevertheless, it is totally possible to fix your posture once you build an awareness of how you’re standing or sitting. It is very common for people to slouch to some extent, which can be really hard on their spine. You can open your shoulders by rolling them down and back. While you do this, you will feel your upper back muscles engage. This can be hard in the beginning, but in time, it can effectively relieve all your aches.

Let Your Feet Touch the Ground For Better Posture

We believe that you can’t ensure proper posture if you don’t start from your feet. It seems impossible to fix your posture if your feet are not placed flatly against the floor. This can negatively affect the shape of your spine if you sit down to work for long periods of time. Make sure your feet are pressed on the floor, and your knees are bent at a 90-degree angle. Propping your legs on an object can tighten your hamstring muscles or cause an irritation of the sciatic nerve.

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Health & Home Media Recreation & Leisure Tech & Media

Read These Books If You Love The Royal Family

Read These Books If You Love The Royal Family

Do you love to read about the British Royal Family and their secretive lives? To satisfy your curiosity about the most famous monarchs in the world, here’s a list of 15 books that you must read if you’re a fan of the Royal Family.

1. The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser, and the Wardrobe

The book is all about life inside Buckingham Palace. Coming from the perspective of Queen Elizabeth’s dresser of 25 years, this book covers royal fashion.

2. HRH

While discussing one outfit after another, the author takes the reader through a journey from post-WWII to Megxit. The book talks about four of the most iconic Royal Family women.

3. Before the Crown

If you love reading romance novels, this book should be on the top of your list. It highlights and imagines a setting in which Princess Elizabeth meets Philip for marriage.

4. Buckingham Palace

From an interior designer who is also an artist, this book is a vivid description and guide to Buckingham Palace. This book plans the perfect illustrations for Royal Family fans.

5. Ninety-Nine Glimpses of Princess Margaret

Encompassing the possible aspects and imaginable outcomes of Queen’s sister’s life, this book is one of the most popular Royal biographies on the internet.

6. Elizabeth and Philip: A Royal Love Story

If you’re interested in the background of the Royal Family, try out this book that covers the love story of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth with some rare Royal Family photos.

7. Lady in Waiting

This book dramatically showcases the life of those in the inner circle of the Royal Family. It outlines the life of Anne Glenconner, befriending Princess Margaret and the Queen.

8. Matriarch

If you have spent enough time learning about what’s happening in the Royal Family these days, you’re probably curious about the family’s history. Here’s a book about Queen Elizabeth’s dear biological mother.

9. The Royals

Do you wonder if certain events actually took place? Read this amazing book that tells shocking details about some of the most memorable events involving the royal family.

10. Finding Freedom

Swift through this attention-grabbing book’s pages to learn about the events leading up to Meghan and Harry’s departure from the Royal Palace.

11. Elizabeth the Queen

Find out more about the life of Queen Elizabeth as a modern-day monarch in this book.

12. Meghan: A Hollywood Princess

What do you know about Meghan, Duchess of Sussex? Read this book to learn how Meghan met Harry in the author’s words.

13. Snowdon

Dive into the details of Princess Margaret’s husband’s life and how he tackled issues during his time with the Royal Family.

14. The Windsor Knot

This novel series involves Queen Elizabeth and tracks the journey of her solving a murder mystery that took place surprisingly at a supper event.

15. The Duke

Right before the passing of Prince Philip, this book gained popularity as it outlined and covered the eccentricities of his life.

Conclusion

These 15 books can surely add to your fandom for the Royal Family. Consider reading them according to your interests and preferences to learn things about the Royal Family that you didn’t know before. Some of the books are also part of a series, so they have sequels as well!

Categories
Health & Home Wellness

Personal Trainers’ Go-To Exercises

Personal Trainers' Go-To Exercises

If you are looking for the best go-to exercises that personal trainers believe in, you should use the ones that they do at home.

Here are just a few of the easiest, most reliable exercises that you can do daily to achieve the body and stamina, and energy of a personal trainer.

Squats

You have time to do some squats while waiting for your coffee to complete brewing, brushing your teeth, or waiting for your shower to heat.

The squat is a basic compound activity that is used by personal trainers all around the world. That’s not just because it’s a terrific way to increase lower-body strength, but it also allows you to move about more freely in daily life.

Consider this: you’re ready to sit or stand up and you’re performing a squat. Inside and beyond the gym, the squat is essential for functional mobility.

The nicest thing about squats is how simple of an exercise they are to do. Simply stretch your feet shoulder width apart, engage your core, and drop your mid-section as if sitting in a chair. Stay in that posture for a certain length of time before rising up and repeating the process.

Plank Exercises

Planks are just maintaining the posture at the top of a pushup, and they are a consistently great shoulder, core, and willpower exercises. They’re also versatile since you can use them to do burpees, mountain climbers, side planks, plank jacks, and more.

The plank stance is also beneficial to the back. It activates the core stabilizing muscles, which helps to maintain the spine. Its simplicity is also important since it can be done anywhere and requires no special equipment. That’s why so many personal trainers return to the plank on a regular basis, at least once a day.

Lunges

Movement is essential, but it’s also critical to concentrate on techniques that combat physical stagnation. Personal trainers are fully aware of this and remind their customers about it on a regular basis.

Sitting causes muscles around the hips and lower back to shorten, while also causing other muscles to overwork and become irritated. This is why the lunge matrix, sometimes known as “around-the-world lunges,” is recommended by so many personal trainers.

These multidirectional lunges enhance range of motion by lengthening the hip, lower back, and leg muscles that are latent when sitting.

How do you go about doing them? To begin, stand with your feet shoulder-width wide. Then, using your left foot, take a big stride forward. Make sure both knees are bent to around 90 degrees, distributing your weight equally between both legs. The front knee of your front leg should be precisely above your ankle. Return your left foot to the middle.

Then Step out to the left side with your left foot and bend your left knee. Maintain a straight right leg extension. This is how you do a side lunge. Return your left foot to the middle.

Step your left foot behind you, bringing your right leg in front of you. This is your back lunge. Return to the starting position with the left leg.

Rep the process with the right leg in the opposite direction: right foot steps back into a rear lunge, then out to a right side lunge, and finally forward to a right front lunge.

Categories
Debt Financial

Ally Bank Does Away With Overdraft Fees

Ally Bank Does Away With Overdraft Fees

One of the most annoying features of banking in America has been eliminated by one financial institution. And it’s already receiving rave reviews from customers and promising a change for the entire industry. Overdraft fees are no longer charged by Ally Bank to any of its clients. Starting in April 2020, the bank will temporarily eliminate certain overdraft costs due to COVID-19 problems. This is a more permanent change for many big banks, and it is the first of its sort.

Ally CEO Jeffrey Brown stated in a message to customers: “Overdraft fees are a source of frustration for many consumers, but they are especially burdensome for others. It’s past time to put a stop to them.”

This is fantastic news for clients, and it might herald a sea shift for giant banks. Those who have long profited handsomely by charging tiny fees to large customer bases. Overdraft fees have long been seen as one of the most inconvenient and inevitable aspects of banking in the United States, but that perception may be changing.

What is an overdraft charge, exactly? Consider the following scenario: you write a check or are charged for a regular online payment, but your account balance is insufficient to cover it. Banks will often charge you an “overdraft fee” if you force them to pay the amount for you.

Why No More Fees?

Overdraft fees alone brought in $4 billion for America’s top four banks: Chase, Wells Fargo, Citi, and Bank of America. They make a lot of money only from overdraft fees, as you can see.

A bank may handle a rejected check for less than $1  and sometimes even less than that. Banks have progressed beyond passing on those costs to charging a huge, profit-driven multiple of their own costs.

Lower-income families are more likely to be harmed by these fees since they are more likely to be short on cash. According to a poll released recently, those who lost money during COVID-19 paid more than four times as many fees to institutions.

According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 5% of checking account customers overdraw their accounts more than 20 times each year.

Ally has consistently been called one of the finest online banks in the country. They receive high marks from customers across the board. Clark likes online banks over conventional banks, along with credit unions, since the excellent ones have low costs.

This isn’t the first time Ally Bank has taken such a step. Fees were removed by Discover Financial in 2019. Some banks that claim to have eliminated overdraft costs, simply do not accept overdrafts. Others provide “overdraft protection.”

Consumers will be pleased with Ally’s decision, and it may be a splash that will reverberate across the banking industry.

Overdraft fees have long been seen as part of the price of doing business with banks. However, this change with Ally shows that might not be the case much longer. After the wonderful reaction Ally got, it is likely that other banks might follow in its foot steps and eliminate their own overdraft fees soon.

Categories
Financial Savings

Budgeting: 7 Things That Will Hinder Your Finances

7 Things That Will Hinder Your Finances

Coffee is widely spent on, especially if it’s a Starbucks. One cannot go by the day without coffee. While, it has become a support system in our lives, it is also one of the causes of wreaking chaos in our financial management. That being said, you cannot just manage your finances by cutting back on coffee. Here are 7 things that are possible hindrances to your finances:

1.   Neglecting budgeting

This should be a no-brainer. You can watch your money being spent but you don’t know where half of it went. When you start budgeting, you will know where your money went instead of just wondering about it. This will also help you in avoid buying unnecessary things.

2.   Working on a consistent salary

You need to start thinking of yourself as worthy enough to ask for a raise. If you have been working in a company for almost 3 years and you are still on the same salary package, it affects your finances. With inflation everywhere, your stable income won’t be of any use to you unless you buck up and ask for a raise. 

3.   Buying things you cannot afford and budgeting

Do you really need that car? Or a new place to move into? All of these decisions impact your finances. Buying things that give you no value can be cut back. The money can instead be put in a savings account. If you are taking loans just to fulfill your materialistic desires, it will affect your life. You will eventually be caught up under the pile of loans.

4.   Remove your Starbucks addiction from your finances

You don’t need to give up on coffee altogether. However, you can simply cut back on the number of coffees you have every day. If you have 4 cups of Starbucks, cut it down to three, two, and then one. You will notice how much money you save just by cutting back.

5.   Ignoring credit

You need to build up your credits. If you don’t focus on that, you can’t qualify for easy loans and low interest rates. A good credit history and score can help your finances in a number of ways. Building credit is not a day’s work but takes years to do so. So, start building your credit for your financial benefit.

6.   Not setting your financial goals

Not setting your financial goals also impacts your finances. You can get into spending loads without even thinking about the future. Set a savings goal every month. This will help you in spending money within your set limit. This will also help you to achieve future financial goals.

7.   Taking the same route

This might sound funny, but changing your daily route also helps. Take a route that doesn’t have Starbucks right around the corner. It will automatically help you control your urge to buy coffee every time you pass around it. Believe it or not, this will save you money and create a positive impact on your finances.

Saving up and helping your coffee addiction are parallel concepts that are linked together. So, don’t give in to your addiction and save your finances!

Categories
Health & Home Wellness

10 Ways to Feel Healthier by Tomorrow

10 Ways to Feel Healthier by Tomorrow

Getting healthy has become much more important nowadays. With so many of us indulged in an overload of work, our health takes the backseat. It is about time we all make space for a healthy lifestyle in our schedule. Here are 10 things you can do to feel healthier by tomorrow:

1.   Exercise – Even if it is for 15 minutes

Ensure that you move your body, even if it is for 15 minutes. Sitting all day and working for eight or nine hours will stiffen up your bones. A light run, walk, and even some yoga moves will help ease you into exercising daily. This is also good for your mental well-being.

2.   Avoid Munching Late Night

Your body needs to go through its digestion process after you finish dinner. You should eat at least 3 hours before you sleep. This will help your body to maintain its process, otherwise, it all keeps adding up as fat in your body.

3.   Drink Lots of Water

This needs to be a full-on habit, especially during winters. We often forget to drink water as soon as the temperature drops. Water keeps us hydrated, resulting in glowing skin and better blood circulation. Coffee and tea are not considered liquids that keep you hydrated. So keep a bottle of water everywhere you go.

4.   Prepare a Nutritious Meal

Everyone loves burgers, pizzas, and pasta; but these are not healthy meals. Avoid having them frequently. If you are not a salad fan, go for healthy food like salmon, vegetables and chicken, soups, chickpea noodles. You will not find them boring, and they taste fine, too!

5.   Adopt Portioning Snacks

Portion out your snacks, so you have something to reach out to when you are hungry. Pack snacks that have protein and fiber. This will prevent you from overeating and keep your energy level intact.

6.   Stretch. And Stretch. Stretch.

We often underestimate stretching, but you will feel so good after doing so. Always stretch when you wake up in the morning and before going to bed. It helps your muscles to relax and give you a good night’s sleep. Perform each stretch for about 30 seconds.

7.   Drink a Cup or Two of Coffee

If you are a fan of coffee, this is for you. Coffee has beneficial antioxidants. One or two cups of coffee is an appropriate addition to your healthy routine.

8.   Eat Dark Chocolate for Sweet Cravings

You don’t have to cancel all your sweet cravings but find an alternative instead. Dark chocolate is the best alternative if you cannot give up on sweets. The cocoa in it also includes beneficial antioxidants and flavonols that help prevent heart diseases.

9.   Sleep for Seven to Nine Hours To Be Healthier

Going to sleep at a decent hour is highly important for a healthier lifestyle. Your body needs rest, and you need to stick to a consistent schedule for that.

10. Connect with Your Surroundings

We all get so indulged in the work that we forget to connect with everyone around us. Volunteering, doing community work, and communicating with loved ones also positively affect your physical and mental health.

Adopt the above-mentioned steps in your life and pave the way for a healthier tomorrow!

Categories
Career Career & Education

How to Prep for Performance Review & Get a Raise

How to Prep for Performance Review & Get a Raise

Despite enjoying your work and being happy with it, performance review still scares us all. It is that time of the year when you have to sit down and go over your performance with the manager. The review can either result in you staying at the same place or earning a raise. It is both time-consuming and causes anxiety. However, if you are prepared beforehand, you can save yourself from getting worried about it. Here are a few tips to prepare for a performance review and even land a raise:

·      Think of Your Performance Review as a Job Interview

You must remember how you did all the preparation before landing this job. Your performance review will analyze your current performance and possible prospects for a raise. So, take it as applying for a higher-level job. Revisit your old interview practice approach. Have your friend do a mockup interview.

·      Show Your Achievements

One of the important techniques is to show your achievements. Make a good presentation about what objectives you delivered and how much they positively affected your company. Brainstorm the value that you bring to this company. Show them how it can improve with your work in the future. You can talk about an upcoming project that you think is perfect to lead with your experience. These ideas will present a positive image to your manager and a possible raise.

·      Prepare to Get Criticized

This is your performance review of the year. It cannot be all positive, so you have to make up your mind to accept the criticism that you will receive. Listen to it and note down the points. You might not agree with all the criticism, but you have to accept it as your future in the company depends on it.

Explain to your manager how you will overcome the observed criticism and ensure your commitment to the company.

·      Review Current and Future Goals

Go over your previous goals and come up with future goals. This will show your boss your commitment and dedication to the company. You might even land a raise if your boss considers your efficiency. If you have already met your previous goals, that counts as a big plus for your raise.

·      Present Your Case for Salary Raise

You need to directly bring up the salary raise objective on the table. After all the discussion, make a case for your future in the company. Show them how you have earned the right to get a raise depending on the past performance. Tell them how you fulfill all the requirements and should get a raise. A strong case from your side will grab your boss’ attention.

Your hard work and commitment will determine how far you have come and how far you can go. You have done everything in the past year, so all you can do for your performance review is to be one step ahead. Review your performance, prepare for your boss’ analysis and be sure to present a powerful case that lands you a raise.

Categories
Health & Home Recreation & Leisure

15 Edible Gifts to Send to Your Friends This Holiday

15 Edible Gifts to Send to Your Friends This Holiday

Who doesn’t love to indulge in sweet treats during the holidays? Of course, everyone does! And who doesn’t love to receive gifts on Christmas? Everyone loves it! Be it a chewy chocolate cookie, or Santa-shaped candies, Christmas is not Christmas without all the delicious edibles. Let’s have a look at 15 edible gifts to send to your friends this holiday season:

1.   Madeleine Cookies Dipped in Chocolate

The sweet, airy treats covered in chocolates can be the perfect edible gift for your friend. Add some edible red sprinkles on top, and you are good to go!

2.   Christmas-Shaped Cookies

Cookies shaped like Santa, stars, Christmas trees, or gingerbread men can never grow old. They are a favorite of both children and adults and even pets!

3.   Cream and Ginger Sandwich Cookies

Combine cookies and cream to form a delicious sandwich! This will be a hit among your friends.

4.   Chocolate Granola Bark

In most cases, granola is a high-fiber protein bar, but add in some chocolate, and it becomes much more exciting. The pistachios in the bark add a fine flavor, too!

5.   Jam-Filled Cookies

Jam and cookies are the perfect Christmas combo! Bake different shapes of cookies, add the delicious strawberry jam, and combine them together to make a sandwich. Delicious written all over it!

6.   Santa Spoons

Create Santa spoons with cocoa and marshmallows. These frosty spoons look adorable in a gift package and taste delicious with hot chocolate!

7.   Pretzels

This salty-sweet treat becomes tastier when dipped in chocolate. Add multi-color sprinkles on top to give them a Christmassy feel.

8.   Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Nobody has ever said no to Chocolate Chunk Cookies! Your friends will never stop munching, especially with the gooey chocolatey goodness inside. Wrap them beautifully and put a red bow on top to complete the Christmassy feel.

9.   Milk Mug Mixers

Make use of those beautiful vintage spoons this Christmas. Put frosted chocolate on the spoons and wrap them in cellophane. The chocolate will melt when you mix it in hot milk. A delicious warm drink by the fireplace!

10.  Homemade Jams

Homemade jams never go wrong. Make seasonal flavored jams, and package the jar. Add in a baguette or two to complete the gift for your friends.

11.  Eggnog Mix

The ultimate Christmas drink pancake mix. Pack eggnog mix in jars and add a cute little note around them. Your friends will love it and who knows they invite you over for breakfast to enjoy!

12. Crunchy Popcorns

Make caramel-covered crunchy popcorn, and send it over to your friends. The simple, yet yummy snack makes up for the Christmas movie night. Pack them up in tins for a beautiful presentation.

13. Nut Biscotti

This almond chocolatey biscuit is the perfect snack for the holidays. It is not very sweet and a good munching partner. Put them in jar containers and add a bow to make it a beautiful gift.

14. Chocolate Hazelnut Clusters

 Clusters are one of the easiest holiday gifts you can give to your friends. You can make them with two to three ingredients only, depending on what you want to add. Your friend can also keep them in the fridge for up to a month.

15. Mini Cheesecakes

A cookie-based cheesecake will light up your friends for sure! This tiny wonderful treat has its own pleasantness. Don’t forget to top it up with a yummy blueberry sauce.

You can come up with lots of edible gifts to send to your friends during the holidays. Make sure to present them beautifully and make their holidays even better!