Sasha Says… – Page 67 – Family and Home. Money Matters. Life in General. And More.

Osteoporosis: The Hidden Health Problem That Could Be Causing Your Pain

November 20, 2017 No Comments

Today, I want to talk about a health problem that affects millions of people without them even knowing it. As the title suggests, I’m talking about osteoporosis. Below, you’ll find some information on what this condition is, how to treat it, and how you can also prevent yourself from having it. Read on to indulge in all this great info.

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What Is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a condition that affects most people at some point in their life. It’s mainly an issue for elderly people, but this is often because it’s only diagnosed later in life. The problem itself revolves around your bones. People with osteoporosis are found to have much weaker bones than normal. As a result, they’re likely to be at risk of regular fractures, causing them a lot of pain.

Most people don’t realise they have this problem until they’ve actually fractured a bone and are in pain. You might slip and fall, or get hit with something, causing lots of pain in a part of your body. You go to a doctor, and they say you’ve fractured a bone, then run tests and tell you that you actually have osteoporosis.

It’s common for people to have minor fractures in bones such as their ribs or spine, which cause persistent pain. But, because they’re small fractures, you don’t realise you actually have a broken bone. So, you go about your daily life experiencing on and off pain, not knowing you actually have a fracture caused by weak bones.

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Treating The Problem

You’ll be pleased to know there is a range of treatment problems available to anyone that might suffer from this problem. Primarily, the treatments aim to improve the strength and density of your bones, leaving them less prone to breaks or fractures.

What can you take for osteoporosis? A mixture of supplements and actual medication is the best way forward. On the supplement side of things, you should take a good quality calcium supplement. As these AlgaeCal reviews and testimonials show, many people enjoy improved bone density when supplementing calcium. But, this alone won’t help combat osteoporosis, and there are plenty of over the counter medicines you can be prescribed. It’s well worth seeing a doctor to learn more about this.

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Preventing The Problem

Along with treating osteoporosis, it’s crucial you try and prevent this problem from harming you. People with this condition can prevent fractures by being more careful around the house and taking as much care as possible to avoid falling.

Again, you could turn to supplements if you don’t have this condition but are worried about getting it when you’re older. Calcium should be a big priority, as should the likes of vitamin D. Being active and exercising can also help, as living a sedentary lifestyle can cause your bones to almost waste away as you’re not doing anything.

You don’t have to be old to worry about osteoporosis. I suggest we all make an active effort to prevent this problem from occurring later in life. Otherwise, the slightest knock could result in broken bones, and we’ll spend our retirement years in and out of the hospital.

Brain Wave, Careers, Freelancing and Self-Employment, Money matters

Elf-Employed? The Freelancer Struggle During The Holiday Season

November 17, 2017 No Comments

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One thing that self-employed people struggle with at the best of times is the holiday season, regardless of whether it is Christmas time, Easter, or you just need a break, the difficulty in taking time off, whether self-imposed or not, is that you don’t get paid for it. So, the self-employed group of workers needs the same amount of time off like everybody else, but because of the nature of the work, this is seldom the case. And as nice as it would be to give yourself those four weeks off, you know deep down that it’s not plausible. So, what can you do to lessen the burden of not being paid, but while also having a good time yourself?

Plan Ahead

Yes, this is, unfortunately, the most sensible solution. You know your working patterns, and you know when you are liable to burn out, so you should structure your finances accordingly. Lots of people make the mistake of taking one job after another, and before they know it, they have worked 6 months straight without a break. While you may be rolling in the monies, your health reserves are very likely at an all-time low. You may have thought instead it’s worth taking a loan out to help cover those free dates in the calendar that you have set aside, but if you get into the habit of taking a loan out so you can enjoy yourself, the burden of debt will very likely rear its ugly head. But while there are resources online on how to deal with debt, the best approach is to plan your finances accordingly. If you’ve been self-employed for some time, you know the peak and off-peak seasons so you can plan your breaks around those.

Holiday With The Family

This may not sound like a great sounding option, but the one thing about taking a vacation back at your parents’ house, or in your hometown, is that it will be a lot cheaper than going to the Algarve for two weeks. And besides, your parents would be happy to see you, even if they didn’t show it! And, time it around peak holiday seasons, like Christmas, and you will get fed! This means that minimal money will be spent on your part and you get a decent break. If this doesn’t appeal, then it’s a Netflix box set, your pajamas, and some chocolates for a week. Again, cheap and cheerful, and it achieves the desired effect!

Being A Social Butterfly

Wild nights out are incredibly expensive, instead, why don’t you propose to have a gathering at your home, or someone else’s? Dinner parties, parties, or any type of social gathering which doesn’t require you to go anywhere, is very cheap, and you will be grateful for the break away from your self-employed life. No doubt, you have been slaving away, day in and day out, for months on end. So, make the most of your time off, and socialize!

Being self-employed doesn’t mean constant vacations where you have no money, but if you find yourself in these trappings consistently, not only should you have a reassessment of how you tackle self-employment during the holiday season, but also how you tackle your finances.

Brain Wave, Life Hacks & Tips and Tricks, Shopping and Merchandise

How to take care of your designer jeans

November 16, 2017 No Comments

Research showed that on average, a woman owns seven pairs of denim jeans! When asked for reasons why they purchased this type of pant, 56% said it was for their durability and 71% said it was for their flattering look. So, understandably, we want these qualities to last. Wear and tear is often inevitable but there are ways to maintain the colour and care for your designer denim. Trilogy Stores, stockists of designer skinny jeans, have provided us with some handy tips.

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When wearing and storing

Denim jeans are a go-to option for completing any outfit at any time of the year! We definitely get our wear out of them and want them to last as long as possible. There are some things that you can do to help maintain their flattering shape and fit.

First of all, wear them as much as possible before the first wash. This will help the denim conform to your body and help preserve them in the shape that you need them. Instead of washing after every time you wear them as you might with other clothing, denim experts recommend that you wash your jeans as seldom as possible. Washing too frequently has been known to fade the colour and damage the denim material. Instead, spot clean with a damp sponge or soft toothbrush to remove smaller stains. Or, if you feel as though your jeans need a freshen up, hang them outside to air or spray them with a fabric freshener.

When storing them in your wardrobe, try to avoid hanging them up with clipped hangers. These can dig into your denim and create impressions in the waistband or in the knees that can be hard to get rid of. Instead, fold jeans and place on shelves, or buy S hooks which you can attach to the belt loops and hang on a regular coat hanger.

When washing

The washing technique that you choose can be what causes your jeans to fade and not last as long as they should.

Turning your jeans inside out is a key tip. It reduces fading and prevents as much colour from running onto other garments. This method also stops buttons hitting against the drum in the washing machine and avoids damage to zips or press studs.

Wash on a cool, gentle cycle that is no hotter than 30 degrees. The heat can destroy the elastane and ruin the fitting shape of your jeans. You can buy a denim wash that has been designed to care for the colour and fibres in denim, it is non-biological and suitable for washing your favourite pair of jeans.

Putting too many pairs of jeans in the washing machine at one time can cause damage to the materials and the machine due to their weight. It is recommended that you wash a maximum of 4 jeans at once. You could also try hand-washing. Although it can be time-consuming, it’s a good way to avoid damage that could occur in the washer. Simply soak for 20 minutes in detergent and then air dry.

Make sure that you keep your colours separate too. Don’t put an indigo pair of denim jeans in with a pastel pair as the colour may run onto the lighter jean. When it comes to coated denim, these jeans should avoid the washing machine completely — opt for a dry clean instead.

There are some other tips out there, that are a bit out of the ordinary but might be worth a try… Some suggest freezing the jean when they need freshening up. Simply make sure that pockets are empty, fold up and place in a plastic bag. Keep them in the freezer until you’re ready to wear them next. Another recommendation is adding salt and vinegar to a hand wash. This is meant to prevent colour bleeding and keep the fabric colour set for longer.

When drying

When it comes to drying your designer jeans, you must be careful to not distort the shape of them or encourage fading.

Definitely do not wring dry. This can cause the shape of the jeans to change and cause wrinkles and creases that you’ll soon want to get rid of. Instead, roll up the jean and press firmly to release and excess water. You could hang the jeans up outside and allow to air dry, however some people are against this as the sunlight can cause fading. Alternatively, you could dry on a flat surface indoors or use a clothes rack.

Avoid drying on a radiator or in a tumble dryer — the heat from these can do damage to the denim. For the same reason, avoid ironing your jeans — simply put them on and the creases will fall out on their own.

A final tip is to read the manufacturer recommendations on the tag. The manufacturer knows the material the best and how to care for it without causing damage. Follow this advice for long-lasting jeans that will continue to flatter you.

Brain Wave, Life in general

Learning to be Selfless in a Selfish World

November 16, 2017 No Comments

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If you struggle with selfishness, you will be glad to hear you are not alone! It can be really hard to put others first and yourself second and as lessons go, this is a long one. In fact, you may spend your whole life striving to do better and become a more selfless person.

Prayer alone won’t do it, though. You need to got out into the world and discover God’s purpose for you.

Mission Trips and Camp

Christian camps are perfect for bringing youths into contact with God and his teachings. They are also ideal places to really get in touch with yourself and figure out what your purpose is. Even one summer as a counselor at a Christian Camp one summer at college can change your life forever and open your eyes to what is meant to be.

Mission trips for teenagers are a great opportunity too. They teach lifelong lessons to help kids set aside their selfishness and care for a community or restore an environment.

Tapping your deep pockets thru a GoFundMe is one way to help those who are interested in going to these mission trips and camps. You may be an instrument in teaching that it doesn’t hurt to be selfless especially in helping others.

The trip might only last a few days, but the experience, like a Christian Camp will last forever and lay a deep foundation for their faith.

Volunteer

The best way to tackle your selfishness head on is to volunteer your time for someone needy. This might be helping out someone who is elderly or sick or it could be a regular activity you do with your church. Giving your time is so beneficial for these people because it shows that you care for them and are willing to put them first. Embody the spirit of Christ and find joy in your selflessness.

Setting time aside for other people will also help you to place your own needs behind those of others. Take a moment to reflect on how you can help and the good you can spread. Let these thoughts influence your prayer to and pray for others as well as guidance for yourself. As time goes on, you will feel the change in yourself – your personal, spiritual and social growth. This can only be a good thing.

Love Thy Neighbor

Finding the ability to love everyone in your heart is a ability that takes more than selflessness, it takes empathy and and strength. Above all else, being able to feel love, even for those who would wish you harm, is a true test of faith and your own determination to be guided by God. Everyone deserves salvation and that is what loving and praying for your neighbors is about: giving them the chance to find God as you have and share in the joy he brings.

When so many others are selfish – and our world has never been so selfish, it seems – it is hard not to look inwardly and become selfish too. It takes time and effort to become selfless, it will be a work in progress over your whole life. But with some guidance from God, you will find yourself in positions where you can make a difference and become truly selfless, even for a moment.

Trust, and He will provide.

Brain Wave, Money matters

Are Your Debts Your Age?

November 16, 2017 No Comments

Debt has become the cross to bear almost all adults have to live with these days. Answering why would be like trying to make sense of anything Jaqen H’ghar has ever said (a little Game of Thrones reference for you there), which is nigh on impossible. At the more innocent end of the scale it has a lot to do with unexpected circumstances popping up in your life, at the more sinister end of proceedings it is to do with the lack of any formal education on money matters, and somewhere in the middle, it is to do with the cost of living.

Whatever the case, debt is something most adolescents don’t think about, getting help with paying debt down is something all middle-aged Americans have to focus on and enjoying a debt-free retirement is something more and more retirees are seeing as a pipedream.

To break this epidemic down a little more, we’re going to delve into the circumstance of each age group, something that will help you know you’re not alone and hopefully motivate you to change your fortunes, literally.

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Under The Age Of 35

The average debt for a household whereby the main breadwinner is under the age of 35 is a staggering $82,764. That is quite terrifying because most people won’t have started accumulating debt until they were eighteen, which makes that a dozen years of heavy spending. Of course, not all households that fall within this age bracket have debt, which is why this is simply an average based on those that do. It also worth pointing out that a mortgage is a big chunk of this – the average mortgage debt at this age is $143,890.

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Between 35 And 44

No surprises for guessing what happens here because, with more years to accumulate date and upsize a home, the debt increases with those that fall within this age group. In fact, the people residing in this bracket have the highest average debt of all at $153,239, with the average mortgage debt being closer to $190,000. This is a terrifying number if your debt is made up of personal loans and credit cards and not a mortgage and just one of the reasons why staying out of debt needs to be of the utmost importance to people growing up.

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Between 45 And 64

This is where the debts a household has accumulated starts to decline, which will have a lot to do with the sudden rise in average salaries at the age too. More money means less financial burden when paying off debts. For those closer to the 44 -ear marker, debts will stand at around $150,000, with this figure slipping away to $131,000 in that twenty year period as they start to focus on the kind of retirement they want to enjoy. They may well have assets that are worth a lot more than this figure or they may have a negative net worth. It i a flip of a coin at this age.

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Between 65 And 74

Most people hold the same dream: to be debt free by the time they retire. Unfortunately, though, this is becoming less and less realistic, especially for us Americans, and by unrealistic we mean carrying the burden of $108,765 with us. That is quite substantial. It is also worth pointing out that many of these secured debts are held against an average mortgage of $130,400.

Brain Wave, Shopping and Merchandise

Christmas Gift Ideas For The Would-Be Interior Designer

November 15, 2017 No Comments

November is here, and that means only one thing: Christmas shopping. Unless you’re one of those odd individuals, who thrives on leaving all of their Christmas shopping until the last minute the chances are that you like to be prepared. Spreading your shopping experience means that you don’t get high street fatigue and with the dawn of Internet shopping you may even be able to cut out the high street altogether.

The thought of buying presents for your nearest and dearest as you write your gift list makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It’s only as you take to the shops do you remember the busyness, the noise and the crowds from last year. You refuse to go through all of that again and hatch a plan. Mulled wine in one hand, mince pie in the other, you make a decision to get in there early, buy your presents in November and have a restful December gloating to your friends that your Christmas shopping is complete as they stare at you enviously.

When it comes to the gifts to buy this year, there has never been a greater choice of gadgets, homewares and toys to satisfy every family member. For the computer-mad kids, opt for online vouchers for Xbox or Playstation. For sports mad pals, buy a ticket to a game. If someone you know loves nothing more than whipping up new culinary creations, send them to a cooking class with a nationally renowned chef. If you have a would-be interior designer in your midst, take a look at these gift ideas that’ll be sure to put a smile on their face come Christmas morning.

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Vintage Lamps

Hot foot it to your local vintage emporium and take a look at the authentic mid-century lighting options. Anglepoise lamps and industrial pendant designs are on trend at the moment. Rustic aluminium and tin plated options ooze warehouse chic and can look incredible over any dining table. For those who want a unique look to their study or want to create a more subtle ambience, an anglepoise design from the 1960s will generate the ultimate mod or beatnik look. The steampunk style involves taking items with a purpose such as car horns, oil cans and clocks and upcycling them with a light fitting and an Edison bulb to give them a renewed look, ideal for those more quirky would-be interior designer acquaintances.

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Hipster

For those twenty-something relatives who adorn themselves in hipster-esque attire each day, take a look at some classic pieces of furniture. With G-Plan, Scandinavian and Ercol wooden pieces becoming ever more fashionable, you could satisfy any distinguished bearded brother or nephew with a telephone table, armchair or set of stools. If your relative has a living room with crisp white walls, a minimal finish and a feature wall complete with a geometrically designed wallpaper, dark wooden furniture will fit in effortlessly.

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Luxurious Furnishings

There is nothing better on a cold winter morning than waking up all cosy in the finest high thread count sheets enveloping you in a soft, dense cocoon of warmth. If your would-be interior designer friend has recently renovated their bedroom and is keen to source some linen for their new king size divan, why not go for the luxurious Egyptian cotton pillowcases and sheets. You could opt for a highly texturised feel, simple pure white or a floral pattern design depending on the recipient’s tastes.

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Art

Although highly subjective, purchasing a piece of art for a Christmas gift takes care and thought. If you know somebody who has a flair for all things creative and loves collecting a painting or two in their spare time, why not invest in a piece of art on their behalf. You could select a modern sculpture from a local gallery, head to the auction house to pick up a pair of 19th-century lithographs or opt for the more traditional landscapes or watercolours that you know they have a penchant for. The original artwork that you purchase as a gift will be a one-of-a-kind piece and something unique for them to discover as they unwrap their presents on Christmas morning.

Christmas is a time for giving. Priding yourself on being the ultimate gift giver means that you go out of your way to think of the recipient that you are purchasing for. For the would-be interior designer in the family, think about their likes and dislikes, their home, the styles they enjoy and the pieces of furniture that may be missing from the humble abodes, and try to fill the gaps with your gifts.

Brain Wave, Life in general, Self-Care Corner

Mastering Adulthood One Piece At A Time

November 15, 2017 No Comments

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For most people, the idea of leaving school when they are young is one of the greatest things imaginable. The thought of complete freedom and a life without school is very grand, and most kids will embrace it wholeheartedly. That is, of course, until they actually get to experience it, and are exposed to the challenges it can bring. Being an adult is never easy. But, it doesn’t have to be all hard, and this post is here to help you out. It will be exploring five of the most important areas of adult life, along with the ways that you can keep them under control for yourself. So, now, being nice and responsible should come as second nature.

– Finance

The very first area to consider in this is finance. Budgeting, saving, investing, and even donating to charity are all a huge part of life, and you will need to get to grips with them before you can be confident in your abilities as an adult. The best place for help in this area is usually the bank. This sort of organization will be able to give you impartial advice, while also pointing you in the right direction to help you learn. As your knowledge expands, you can begin to look elsewhere for money or debt help, using all of the sources you can get your hands on. Of course, though, there’s no shame in getting help with something like this, and an accountant is an excellent way to do it.

– Work & Career

Next, it’s time to start thinking about your career. As a child, you probably had loads of big ideas about your future, and most of them will have been unrealistic. Over time, a lot of people will lose touch with these aspirations, settling in a role they don’t enjoy. To avoid this, you need to always remain on the hunt for something better in your career. Whether this is a promotion or a new job, it’s important to keep on rising, or you might find it hard to change in the future. Not a lot of people will take this area seriously. In reality, though, this will start before you even leave school.

– Social Life

The success you find in your career and financial life will greatly depend on the support of those around you. No one can get through life completely on their own, and most people will want to have a good host of friends to keep them happy. There are no set rules to this part of your life. But, to make sure you don’t end up alone, you will need to make sure that you keep in touch with a good range of people. Having a couple of close friends is very common. Along with this, though, it can also be good to have some other friends on the outside of your main group.

– Family

Friends are going to be the only people you need to give time to in your life. Along with this, most people will also want to spend a lot of time with their family, though this can be hard when you’re starting out in life. When you’re very busy, days can become weeks since you last spoke to someone you care about. In most cases, this won’t diminish your relationship, but it could leave one side of the party feeling bad about it. To avoid this, you should work hard to keep a regular routine in place with your loved ones. Not only will this keep you in contact, but it could also help you to keep a stronger bond.

– Health & Mind

Finally, it’s time to think about yourself for a little bit, with your physical and mental health as your key concern. A lot of people ignore these parts of their life when they are first starting out in the world. Keeping fit and happy can seem unimportant when you’re starting an exciting career or your own business. Of course, though, it’s not worth making yourself unhealthy for your job. Instead, you should be aiming to balance these parts of your life, making them work together. This might be hard, but achieving it will make life quite a lot easier.

When you’re first getting started in life, the important things will often be put aside for your other interests. Of course, though, you can leave things like this until later on, as they have to be carefully managed throughout your life. Thankfully, you’re not alone in this challenges, and there are loads of people out there to help you.

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