Life Tips

Many states legalize the use of marijuana because they recognize its health benefits. It reduces anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and insomnia. Since some of the weed users experience a relaxing feeling whenever they smoke, they are also becoming independent of marijuana drug.

However, what if there’s an alternative to marijuana?

This alternative does not have to be addictive. Instead, it can produce the same feelings of happiness and relaxations without you becoming too dependent on it.

Fortunately, there are products derived from cannabis plants that are not marijuana. These are called CBD or cannabidiol products.

What Exactly is CBD?

CBD or cannabidiol is extracted from the hemp plant. Marijuana also comes from hemp. However, the main difference lies in the amounts of THC present in CBD and cannabis. The THC levels in CBD is lower and is not addictive. CBD usually sells in the form of pills, supplements, oils, tinctures, capsules, and edibles. Both CBD and marijuana affects your endocannabinoid system, but they produce different effects.

How Each Compound is Different

CBD or cannabidiol is one of the second most prevalent active ingredients of cannabis. However, CBD is more linked to the medical world due to its positive effects on a person’s health. For one, it relieves anxiety without the individual experiencing the so-called “high.” According to the reports made by the -World Health Organization or WHO, CBD does not indicate potential long-term abuse because it is not addictive. There is also no contrary public evidence regarding the use of products that are made up of pure CBD oil. Get more info with CBD here: https://www.verywellhealth.com/cbd-oil-benefits-uses-side-effects-4174562.

Is CBD Legal?

Most states in the USA have legalized the use of CBD oil as a supplement. Although there are still degrees of restrictions involved in its use, it is always safer compared to marihuana. The federal government still consider CBD to be on the same category as marijuana, but they do not do any actions against the use of it.

Some people obtain CBD through online platforms. Some of the sellers do not have a cannabis license to sell the products legally. The position of the government about this supplement is vague because CBD derives from the hemp plant. However, some people in congress are in favor of making hemp crops legal so that the laws can change anytime.

CBD Derived from Marijuana

Some companies manufacture CBD oil that comes from marijuana. Some of the benefits include the following:

• The relief comes from the effects of THC and CBD combined
• High levels of THC that makes it useful in combatting pain and other medical conditions
• The high content of cannabinoid even if small doses involved
• There are a lot of flavors obtained from a variety of strains
• Can be bought illegally or legally depending on location
• Associated feelings of addiction and “high” because of the psychoactive effects of THC.

CBD Derived from Hemp

• Cannabidiol provides relief
• CBD is sold as supplements in the 50 states of the US
• Can easily be bought from websites and other platforms
• Many options to choose from including juices, tinctures, and oils
• It does not have the psychoactive and “high” effects associated with THC.

Companies Manufacturing CBD Oil

Some of the well-known companies that manufacture CBD Oil is Nanocraft. You can read more about them on this page. During the process of manufacturing, they are known to suspend the core ingredients into nanoemulsions. The creation of smaller particles means that the body can absorb the products more efficiently. These small CBD components are absorbed by the body better, and the particles bind into the endocannabinoid system more effectively.

The CBD Industry Still Needs Research

In many countries, such as the UK, the extraction and the use of the cannabis plant is still prohibited. This is because there are still people who believe that legalizing them will negatively affect millions of people. It will also go against the moral standards of many when more research is done to the hemp plant. Thus, an industry that offers plenty of promise when it comes to health is not given the freedom of exploration. More researchers won’t delve fully into a full-blown study of the benefits of hemp because many are against it.

Many companies import marijuana from other countries because it is more convenient. This is because the farmers of cannabis are only allowed to do extracts on the plants’ stems and leaves. They are not legally allowed to extract anything from the flower of the cannabis where the CBD is present in large amounts. This is a disadvantage to many, and the government may even be wasting an opportunity to charge taxes on a helpful and beneficial industry just because certain people are against it.

Fortunately, some scientists and politicians are already catching up to the trend. Anyone who smokes weed know that it is relaxing and can put the users to sleep within minutes. Some studies found out that cannabis extracts improve the mood more than a glass of red wine. The complications between THC, CBD, marijuana, and other active compounds still need to be studied further for potential health benefits. But in-depth researches might not yet be available at this time.

Possible Side Effects

Some people and even dogs tolerate CBD even in large doses. However, there are side effects that one should still be aware of. These side effects occur if an individual’s prescribed medication is not compatible with CBD-related products. Some of the temporary side effects include:

• Increased Heart Rate or Palpitations
• Problems with Body Coordination when Moving
• Mouth Dryness
• Swollen Eyes
• Loss of Memory

The psychoactive compounds present in the marijuana-based CBD products can be responsible for these side effects. Be wary of CBD oil that contains large amounts of THC as this often results in psychiatric effects. When it comes to drug tests, some of the popular ones, including urine drug testing, won’t be able to detect trace amounts of CBD. They will only look for THC compounds. Hemp will also produce a positive result for THC, so it is best to consult a medical professional before using it.

 

The holiday season is quickly approaching and if you’re looking for that perfect luxury gift to give your coworkers, significant other, friends, or family, then look no further.

We’ve put together a list of beautiful luxury gifts your loved ones are sure to be obsessed with. You can also get them from the comfort of your own home with just a few clicks. That means no leaving your warm house to venture out into the crazy overcrowded stores this year.

Keep reading for our list of amazing luxury gift ideas you can give this upcoming holiday season.

A Box of Roses

If you’re looking for a luxurious and romantic gift to give to your special someone, then they would love a box of roses that smell great and can last for over a year. Venus et Fleur has created a box of roses for you to give as a gift that will smell amazing, look great, and last all year!

These are lush vibrant roses grown right from Equador and shipped to New York. At the factory, they make them breathtaking colors and turn them into beautiful bouquets.

Normally, giving a gift of flowers to someone will only last for about a week but your loved one will have these flowers all year. They can look at them and remember how thoughtful of a gift-giver you are. These flowers don’t need any watering or maintenance and will always look great.

Luggage Set

Some people love to travel all over the world and experience new places. A luggage set would be the best gift for someone who loves to travel. You’re helping them get their belongings to new places and they will be grateful for that.

A nice luxurious luggage set is something that a lot of people do not want to spend the money on for themselves which is why it is a perfect gift. You could get them the main luggage, carry on suitcase, and matching bag for the airplane. Luggage is an awesome gift to get someone who likes to travel or travels a lot for work.

Personalized Whiskey Glasses

Are you looking for a gift for someone who likes to drink? Then personalized whiskey glasses are the perfect luxury gift that looks very expensive and fancy. This is another gift that people will love to have but probably wouldn’t buy for themselves.

There are so many different ways you can personalize whiskey glasses for the person you’re buying for. These glasses feature their initial and name, which make them look very professional. Most people think that personalized items take forever to get to you but these glasses ship within four days of placing the order.

Silk Pajama Set

If you’re looking for a luxury gift that will help to spice up the night with your significant other, then a silk pajama set will surely do the trick. You can go for a bold color such as red or stick to a neutral black. Silk pajamas will make your loved one feel expensive and luxurious.

A silk pajama set is the best thing to unwind in especially if your significant other has been throwing lots of parties this holiday season. They will love the gift of comfort and relaxation.

Leather Wallet

A leather wallet is a great luxury gift to give a man in your life. Lots of men have a hard time finding the perfect wallet, so do it for them! There are many different options when it comes to leather wallets for men.

You can look for expensive name-brand wallets that a fashion lover would be sure to love. A wallet is a great gift to give because it is practical and can be used every single day. This will also help your guy be a bit fancier in corporate situations.

Jewelry

Any woman would love getting a sentimental luxury gift such as jewelry and there are so many options. You could get a matching necklace and earrings set that your loved one will be sure to love.

Make sure when you’re picking out jewelry for your significant other or family member that it is meaningful to them. Getting them a bracelet with their favorite gems or stones will surely make them obsessed with the gift. They will feel glamourous walking around with a diamond around their neck or in their ears.

Wine

A great gift that people love getting is an expensive bottle of wine. It’s something that is delicious and they probably won’t be buying it for themselves.

Make sure when you’re buying wine as a gift that you know the tastes of the person you’re buying for. Spend some time with them before the holiday season so you know exactly what they like to drink. They will be even more impressed with you that you have chosen the perfect bottle of wine for them.

Expensive Chocolates

Another great gift idea is a box of fancy expensive chocolates. If the person you’re buying a present for has a sweet tooth, then they will love to receive a box of chocolates that was picked out by you.

This is such an easy gift to give because it is something practical that people will eat. They can either share it with their friends and family or just eat it themselves. Regardless, they will love to receive an expensive box of chocolates during this upcoming holiday season.

Luxury Gift Ideas

When it comes to finding the perfect luxury gift ideas for your coworkers, significant other, friends or family, you will just have to sit down and think about what they will appreciate. Do your research and see what each person enjoys doing outside of work.

When you take the time to think about a gift for someone, then you’re giving them so much more than just a gift. They will recognize that you took the time to find the perfect gift for them. The sentimental value is much better than the actual gift itself.

If you enjoy food, beer, or traveling, then check out our blog so you can find our favorite places to go!

The most important aspect of any celebration is the venue. So choosing a perfect venue will set a great ambience for your wedding celebration. But while selecting the best marriage hall one must keep several factors in mind. These factors will help you choose the perfect marriage venue in Gurgaon for your wedding celebration. Here listed below a list of quick checks you must do before selecting the best marriage hall.

• Budget

Budget is an important factor to consider before choosing a marriage hall for your big day. You have to consider everything from marriage hall, food, decorations; accommodation, etc. budgeting will help you make the right choice. This will allow you to choose a fabulous venue with great service. So it is better to consider the budget of the venue or marriage hall before booking it. You could also look online to know about the different offers available at the wedding hall.

• Location

Location is of prime importance while finalizing your marriage hall. The location of the marriage hall or venue should be such that it is very accessible for all your wedding guests. The location should also have ample space to host different events during the ceremony. Think about the number of guest attending the wedding celebration before zeroing down on location and space. Many marriage halls in Gurgaon are situated in a prime location and very accessible so these are ideal for a wedding celebration.

• Facilities available

Facilities such as parking, lifts for elderly and people with disability, rooms for the bridal party to get ready, storage space for wedding gifts, etc are very important. These facilities will save you from lots of stress on your big day. You will not have to worry about storing wedding gifts or stressing over parking space for guests. Therefore opt for marriage halls which offer such services. FNP Garden offers tons of such facilities to their customers and is the perfect venue for any marriage celebration.

• Availability of services

You should also inquire about the services offered by the marriage hall or wedding venue beforehand. Services such as catering, valet parking, wedding DJ, tattoo artist or bridal makeup artist are available or not. You should also inquire about the wait in staff services during different services to get a clear picture of the services available. Availability of such services will help you relax and enjoy your big day.

• Conduct proper research before finalizing the marriage hall

This is very important before finalizing your perfect wedding venue. These banquet halls have illustrated online customer reviews and rating. You could easily check for authenticity for the actual customers and well as the type of services provided by the marriage hall. This will help you to make the correct choice before finalizing the marriage hall. This is easy to do the task and saves you a lot of stress later.

This above-listed checklist will help you to choose an ideal marriage hall for your big day. Make sure you book your marriage hall well in advance so that you do not miss out on your favorite wedding venue.

Also Read: Indian Wedding Quotes

 

Bracelets are one of the jewellry pieces that you can wear every time, everywhere. Just by changing the style of the ornament, you can look gorgeous. If you are going to the office, a sleek bracelet with a diamond will look gorgeous. The teenagers experiment with different styles and colors, and patterns of bracelets. Those are not that much expensive, and that’s why quite popular among the young people. Simple white gold bracelets are immensely popular among teenagers. Again, if you are going to a party, you can wear gorgeous and a bit gaudy bracelet to complete your look. These party wear bracelets are also available in different styles and designs which can go well with western wear as well as with eastern apparels.

Bracelets are made of different materials. Did you know that such bracelets come with certain benefits? Yes, you must have seen people wearing copper bracelets. Those are quite trendy and there are certain benefits also. So, if you are not allergic to this metal, you can wear copper bracelets for the following reasons. Read on to know more-

• It Removes Stiffness from Your Joint and Relieves Joint Pain

People, suffering from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, believe that wearing a copper bracelet can give relief from joint pain and stiffness. Though it is still not scientifically proven, people say that their condition has been improved once they started using the copper bracelet as they get relief from the inflammation and pain.

• It Takes Care of Your Cardiovascular Health

Lack of copper in your body can cause aortic aneurysms. Along with adding copper through the ingredients in your food, wearing a copper bracelet can also help to add that element in your body and keep your heart at good condition. Maybe the process is slow, but if you wear it for the long term, you can get the benefits of it.

• It Has Anti-aging Benefits

With time, aging is an inevitable truth of your life. A copper bracelet can slower the process due to the anti-oxidant properties in it. In astrology, wearing a copper bracelet has certain importance. Copper is effective in increasing the collagen production and thus, increases the elasticity of your skin. So, if you want to slow down the aging process, you can now wear a designer copper bracelet. Not only you will feel energetic, you will also look younger now.

• It Cures Anemia

This is another benefit of wearing copper bracelets. Anemia is the condition when your body lacks copper. If you are already suffering from the disease, you can wear a copper bracelet now. Once it comes into the contact of your body, you will get copper regularly and always. Your body will absorb the mineral through vascularization and your problem will be lower.

So, these are the benefits of wearing a copper bracelet. You can order now online and buy a designer one that is perfect for wearing at any occasion and also on a regular basis.

 

Let me tell you a story. There I was, on a bus near a middle-of-no-where Vegas casino, when we came to a stop for some gas. I got off to use the restroom when I noticed that my pants were hanging lower than usual (thankfully, no one else noticed).

I discovered that the problem was that the head of my belt had torn off from the belt itself (it was a type of ratchet belt, without notches). Attaching it back on wouldn’t have been a problem, but the end of the belt was frayed and torn.

I needed to cut off the excess belt in order to reattach the head.

And guess what?

My knife was stuck in my luggage, underneath the bus.

When the bus started moving again, I had to sit there with a small metal ruler I found in my bag, and slowly saw my way through the excess belt. Do you know how hard it is to cut through leather-like-substances with a flimsy little ruler?

This little anecdote is just one example of how being prepared at all times can save you so much time and hassle, but if you’re going to be carrying around knives everywhere you go, you gotta know your basic knife safety. Here are some rules of thumb to keep in mind if you like knives and being prepared to use them.

Keep your knife Sharp

Keeping your knife sharp may sound counter-intuitive in terms of safety, but trust me, a dull knife is absolutely more dangerous than a sharp one! There are two reasons for this.

One, as the knife gets duller and duller you start pressing harder and harder, so if that knife should slip, god forbid, you could seriously end up hurting yourself.

Two, a dull knife will catch and get stuck easier, and there’s the same danger again to apply a force to get it unstuck, slipping, and hurting yourself. Or someone else, even. Keep your knife sharp, either by getting yourself a whetstone or going to a professional.

The Right Knife for the Job

Knives are a tool, just like hammers, screwdrivers, and wrenches. Using the right tool for the job will not only make the job easier but is also better for the tools. You don’t hang a painting with a tire-iron.

Knowing what kind of knife you have and when you should be using it is important for both the care of the knife and your own safety. A chef’s knife is a good type of knife; it cuts well and has a good strong handle. But it won’t cut through bread.

A serrated knife, such as your typical bread knife, is what you need. I have a Swiss-army-knife that has about four different types of knives on it, and each of them are for different situations. Know what tool you are holding, because knowing is half the battle.

Safe Knife Usage

Using a knife properly mostly comes down to common sense. What are you trying to avoid when using a knife? Chopping fingers, gutting yourself, nicking fingernails – these are accidents that happen all the time, every day.

Not because the knives are dangerous (and, obviously, they are), but because of “user error”, to put it nicely.

If your cutting, say, a sheet of cardboard, always cut away from your own body, even if it’s inconvenient. If your chopping a tomato, DON’T hold the tomato and cut at your own palm. Before even using a knife, if you can wash and dry your hands so that you can retain a firm grip. Remember, slippage is dangerous. Don’t be “that” guy because you were lazy.

Bottom Line

Knives are awesome. They look cool, they’re wicked sharp, and they’re dangerous. They’re a tool, designed to be used, and it’s up to YOU to use them right.

You can sharpen ‘em properly, wear gloves and safety gear, and buy the highest quality you can get a hold of, but at the end of the day, the only way to feel safe is to be safe.

Know what you’re doing, what you’re using, and be prepared. Always.

To read more on topics like this, check out the life tips category.

Summer is undoubtedly a time for enjoying yourself, but it’s easy to get carried away among all the fun and games. It’s important to retain as healthy a lifestyle as possible, with the sunnier months presenting their own set of unique challenges and opportunities to live well day to day.

Here, we discuss four key steps to enjoying a healthy summer.

Stay safe in the sun

Sometimes, all we need to see is a slight glimmer of sunlight through the clouds to don our shorts, rev up the barbeque and prepare to make the most of the warmer weather. On a hot summer day, it’s all about bathing in as much sun as possible, but plenty of us forget to prepare for weather properly in among all the excitement.

Regardless of whether you’re in your back garden or on the beach, it’s essential you remember to respect the sun. Plenty of sun cream (no chancing it without for a few hours) and a sensible approach to your exposure time is essential. Also, remember to have a glass of water every so often to avoid dehydration and heat stroke.

It’s common sense stuff, but often easily forgotten.

Make the most of the weather with exercise

Many of us will have had that fitness plan on hold during the winter months. The cold, wet and windy weather is decidedly off-putting when it comes to going for a run, likewise it offers a decent enough excuse to duck the gym as well.

Especially in the modern world of office jobs and 9-5s spent sat down in front of a screen, regular exercise is hugely important. If there’s a time to get yourself started on a new fitness regime, surely it’s when the sun is shining brightest.

Use the warm weather and nice days to encourage your first steps into a new plan, or to expand on your current routine. It’ll make the hard work a bit more enjoyable, and hopefully start you on your way to a healthier lifestyle.

Pay close attention to you spending

There’s always plenty going on during summer months. Holidays, weddings, family activities and plenty of great nights out are there to be enjoyed, and rightfully so. However, with so much going on, you’re bound to be under increased financial pressure, and unfortunately your pay packet doesn’t get any bigger for the summer season.

It’s important to keep track of your finances and budget carefully during this period. Remember to stay true to the simple concept of not allowing your outgoings to surpass your income and you should be OK. Whether that means saving ahead of the summer to fund the fun or being particular about what you choose to do, it’s essential you don’t head into the autumn with extra debts hanging over you.

Take a holiday

Speaking of holidays; they might cost a pretty penny, but they sure are worth it for the sake of giving you a break from your usual daily life. With most of us spending 11 months a year working the daily grind, it’s important you find time to get away from the traditional stresses and responsibilities of daily life, and the summer holiday is the perfect time.

It doesn’t matter if it’s two weeks in Barbados or a weekend break, find the time this summer to give yourself a reprise from life’s everyday pressures, so you can return to work refreshed and ready to go again.

So, while we all might be carrying both an umbrella and sun cream with us at the moment, it’s still important to remember to look after yourself this summer. A little attention paid to your money and physical and mental health over this period will see you head into the colder months in great shape.

 

 

People who work a full-time job while running a household often find themselves exhausted at the end of each day. Spending 40 to 60 hours working is not a joke, and then you still have to cook, clean, and do the laundry as soon as you get home from work. Instead of enjoying your days off, you will end up waking up earlier so you can have a head start on your chores and errands. Plus, you also have to spend quality time with your spouse and kids, which is non-negotiable. To make life a lot easier for you, here are several tips that will make cleaning faster and more efficient so you can do more recreational and relaxing activities with your loved ones.

Clean a portion of your house each day

It is quite impossible to clean the entire house when you have to report to work every day. Plus, you also have other things to think about like your social life, family time, and even your hobbies. If you try cleaning your entire house all at once, you might end up walking away from all the clutter, leaving things the way that they are. To make sure that you can accomplish something, make a commitment to clean a small portion of your house every day. Write down a schedule of your cleaning tasks each day so you know exactly what to do, making your day more productive.

Set your alarm 30 minutes early every day

It is hard to clean the house when your kids are starting to get ready for school. Besides, you also have to spend time preparing breakfast for everyone. If you want to accomplish one or two chores first thing in the morning, then you need to get out of bed earlier than the others. In thirty minutes, you can load your dirty laundry in the washing machine and vacuum your entire living room. Squeezing in some chores is quite challenging, but it makes your life easier during weekends.

Create a habit of cleaning as you go

It is crucial that you teach other people, including your family members, how to clean the house effectively. Since all of you live under the same roof, it is also fair for them to do their share of chores.

Make it a habit to wash the dishes right after eating, return things to their original place after using them and make the bed as soon as you wake up. Look around and be observant of the items inside your home. If you see anything that is no longer in use like empty bottles and containers, discard them right away.

Lastly, if you find cleaning too overwhelming, then reach out to companies for junk removal in Miami Beach to help you remove excess junk and garbage inside your house. It helps to seek help from people who have had years of experience in cleaning and decluttering that can be very challenging to busy people.

To read more on topics like this, check out the life tips category.

 

Have you been wondering how you will pass that upcoming drug test requirement for the job you recently applied? Well, calm down because you should expect nothing short of success with any Testclear drug testing products.

Testclear is a leader in the industry of drug testing solutions, with over two decades of experience, selling only proven solutions to help people pass drug tests worldwide. There are four categories of drug tests covered by the Testclear solutions, and these are;

1. Urine drug test
2. Hair drug test
3. Saliva drug test
4. Blood drug test

Supervised Testing

The most critical drug test of all is usually the supervised test. Luckily Testclear has enough products to help you pass any supervised drug test of the above categories. Some of these products are;

1. Clean Cleansing drink – available in three types (ready, XXtra and Mega) retailing for $20 to $70
2. Detox programs – available from 1 to 10-day program retailing for $55 to $190
3. Gold cleansing drink retailing at $22

Self-Testing kits

If you need to carry out the tests by yourself, you will also find a variety of testing kits to help you identify the levels of different toxins in your body. All the products available at Testclear are easy to use with simple instructions. You can also call the company any day on their toll-free number for customer service assistance. Some of these self-testing kits are listed below.

• Amphetamine Home Kit going for $9.95
• Barbiturate Kit sold at $9.95
• Benzodiazepine Kit costing $9.95
• Ecstasy Kit also for $9.95
• Methamphetamine Kit at $9.95
• Nicotine Kit selling at $9.95
• Oxycodone Test Kit retailing at $9.95
• Steroid Testing Kit sold at $145.99
• Cocaine Test Kit sold at $9.95
• Hair Confirm Regular Hair Testing Kit going for $82
• Marijuana Test Kit sold at a few cents below $10
• Opiate Testing Kit going for less than $10
• Hair Confirm Express Hair Testing Kit sold about $95
• Hair Confirm Prescription Hair Testing Kit for close to $112
• Synthetic Marijuana Testing Kit (K2 or Spice) retailing at about $10
• 5-Panel Saliva-Confirm Oral Fluid Screening Kit sold at less than $14
• Home Dip Test 5-Panel Multi-Drug & 10-Panel Multi-Drug going for around $15
• Hair Follicle Drug Testing Kit retailing for about $105

Drug Identification Kits

Testclear also offers drug detection kits which will help you verify whether your system has substances that are in the classification of drugs. These kits are the same types used by law enforcement agencies to detect drugs in our bodies. Some of the products available at Testclear for drug identification are as follows:

• Marijuana Detection Test Kit
• Test Kit for identifying Cocaine in Alcohol or Water
• Heroin / OxyContin Detection Test Kit
• Cocaine Detection Kit
• Methamphetamine Test Kit
• Methamphetamine Residue Detection Kit
• LSD Test Kit
• MDMA – Ecstasy Detection Kit
• PCP Detection Kit
• GHB Detection Kit
• Methadone Test Kit
• Amphetamine Detection Kit
• Cocaine Detection Residue Swab Kit
• Heroin Residue Swab Test Kit

Each of these drug identification test kits from Testclear retail at $9.95 and has been proven to work effectively multiple times, as indicated in the many positive customer reviews.

Conclusion

With an experience of at least 23 years in the drug testing industry, there is no doubt that Testclear is indeed the best drug testing company. The wide variety of products is another reason to try out Testclear for any drug test.

To read more on topics like this, check out the life tips category.

Are you spending too much? Do you think that it’s time you need to learn how to stop spending money?

There is a straightforward test that will give you a clear answer. Are you spending more than you are earning? If you’re not, you may be safe – for now. But if your outgoings are more than your incomings, you are on the road to financial ruin, and you need to stop spending, immediately.

One of the biggest culprits when it comes to overspending is the credit card. It may, at times, feel like your best friend, but use it too frequently, and it could easily turn out to be your worst enemy.

The thin end of the wedge

The problem with credit cards is that they seemingly allow people to buy things at a fraction of the price. Of course, that is not really true because if you only ever pay the minimum repayment when you receive your monthly bill, you will have to carry on paying the balance you owe month after month and pay interest on it too.

In the meantime, you can carry on making more purchases via the card. They, of course, increase the size of the overall debt and if you carry on only paying the minimum repayment each month, that debt will relentlessly grow larger. It is the thin end of the wedge.

The further you eat into that wedge, the thicker it becomes, and this is where the danger lies; especially if you are getting towards spending more than you’re earning. If you carry on in the same way, you may eventually have to pay out more money than you have coming in, and that will spell disaster.

Treat your credit card like a cash card

The best way to use a credit card is to treat it like a cash card. In other words, when the bill comes in you pay it off in full. If you go down this route, you’re using your card to ease your cash flow.

Like many (in fact the majority of) South Africans, you could find yourself in a situation where you spend your monthly earnings within five or six days of receiving them. According to Businesstech over 56% of middle income South African earners fall into this bracket.

Make a conscious decision to stop spending

If you do find that your spending has gotten out of control and you’ve crossed that earning versus spending threshold, you must stop spending straight away. Yes, that is easier than it might sound at first, but there will probably be many areas when you can limit your expenditure. Take a look at this list of helpful tips on how to stop spending, and you’ll see what we mean.

Deciding to stop spending on non-essential items is a big step to take. But once you have taken it, you will be on the way to controlling your finances. If you stick to your guns, you should find your debt steadily decreasing, and who knows? You may one day find yourself in a place where you have sufficient earnings left over at the end of the month to start a saving habit.

To read more on topics like this, check out the life tips category.

If you’re looking for a few, simple yet effective ways to keep cool this summer, read on to discover how to keep cool on hot summer days.

How to keep cool this summer:

1. Create your own homemade ice blocks using fruit juice

It’s a great idea to have homemade ice blocks on hand, for hot summer days, when you’re in need of a cool, refreshing treat. One simple way to make homemade ice blocks is to freeze fruit juice in ice block molds, which you can keep in your freezer.

2. Update or install a quality air conditioner for your home or living space

If you find your home is constantly hot or at an uncomfortable temperature, especially when trying to sleep at night you may want to consider using an air conditioner or updating an old one if it has stopped working. You can find many services like, Deepchill Air Conditioning Gold Coast who supply air conditioners and have knowledge on how to help with any repairs that may be needed.

3. Use an old school ice tray to freeze lemon juice ice cubes

If you’d like to add a bit of flavor to your water this summer, simply squeeze lemon juice into a bit of water in an ice cube tray, which you can keep in your freezer, until you’re ready to use your lemon infused ice cubes. Alternatively, you can also experiment with using lime juice instead of lemon juice, if you prefer the taste of limes.

As a handy tip, if you have friends or family members visit you, it’s well worth placing a few lemon infused ice cubes in a water jug.

4. If it’s too hot to handle visit an air-conditioned mall or a movie theater during the hottest part of the day

If the summer heat becomes unbearable, instead of suffering in silence, simply spend a couple of hours in an air-conditioned mall or a movie theater. Until it’s cool enough to comfortably spend a bit of time outdoors. The best time to avoid the sun is between 11 am to 2 pm when the sun is at its hottest.

5. Carry a small handheld electric fan with you

If you enjoy outdoor pursuits such as hiking and are looking for a smart, efficient way to keep cool during summer, it may be worth investing in purchasing a small portable electric fan, which you’ll be able to use on particularly hot days. Some portable fans even boast a small water bottle, which will allow you to squirt water onto your face, when it’s humid or hot.

6. Purchase a sunshade to keep cool when you’re spending time outdoors

Sunshades are extremely useful and can be used on camping trips as well as at the beach or at your local park. As you’ll be able to retreat to your sunshade, whenever you’re in need of a bit of shade.

7. Make sure to keep hydrated by using an insulated stainless steel water bottle

The easiest way to keep cool is the simplest, make a real effort to keep hydrated and to drink plenty of water. If you find it difficult to drink 8 glasses of water a day, it’s a great idea to purchase an insulated stainless steel water bottle, which will keep your water cool, no matter how hot it gets.

So as it gets hotter this summer, it’s a great idea to experiment with using a few of the handy tips which are listed above. All of which will help you manage the heat this summer.

To read more on topics like this, check out the life tips category.