GR8TR Today Magazine

Living a GR8TR Life Every Day

News

Saving Tips For The American Family

Many companies try to entice the consumer into buying their particular brands over those of the competition regardless of the value or the quality of their products.  A pretty product that is packaged well and looks pretty may perform worse than the simple packaged one.  As a consumer, you may fall for the marketing and buy the pretty package over the better one, but hopefully, you will make the mistake only once.

Many Americans are struggling with mortgage payments, car payments, insurance payments etc, to worry about other things like comparing prices, weight or performance of the products they are buying, but being savvy about the products they are using should save a buck or two, and in the long run, make us better consumers.

What are some of the items we use daily that can save us some money?

Gas and Electricity: Comparing prices for gas and electricity can save hundreds of dollars every year for the average American family.  There are many companies one can choose for gas and electricity, and even if entering into a contract with a particular company, it will save you money.  Be choosy when signing a contract, and make sure the penalty for canceling it early is not too much.

Car Insurance: If you want to save in car insurance, you need to shop around.  If you have a good history of no accidents or other claims within your company and you do not get any discounts with them, you need to shop around with other companies.

Dishwashing Soaps: According to a Consumer Report test, all dishwashing soaps perform equally well and according to them you should really buy what’s on sale because all dishwashing soaps perform equally well.

I can personally tell you that I do not agree with their results.  I can tell you for example that for me Palmolive, does not perform better or equally well than Dawn.  And some generic brands that you find on the shelves at the grocery stores, pharmacies or Wal-Marts require almost double the amount that you would need for Dawn.

Very recently, I tried a brand called “simply done” a registered trademark of Topco Associates LLC.  By simply looking at the bottle, it reminds you of the generic brands you see at the store.  I expected the same results as well.  The truth is that you do not see a difference between “simply done” and Dawn.  Is there a difference?  There may be a difference between the dishwashing soaps, but the price does not warrant buying the most expensive brand.

Restaurants: Despite having issues with money, Americans are spending over $3,000 eating out according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The convenience of having food readily available without having to cook it is very enticing, but the convenience of having no dirty dishes or cooking chores come with a steep price. Eating out should not be abandoned by families but should be treated as a treat instead of a necessity.

Saving is very smart, try to practice the habit.

Flooring For Every Room In Your House

Many people make New  Year resolutions to begin the year with a bang.  Many of us do not stick to them, and some of us make resolutions that are bound to fail from day one. If you made a resolution this year to spruce your home and declutter, that’s a resolution that makes sense and that you might be able to accomplish.  If you are replacing the flooring of a room in your house and don’t know where to begin, read ahead.

Depending on the room in your home, flooring can be an easy decision to make but also it can present itself with questions about what it’s best for your family.   

Kitchen and bathrooms: These wet areas require flooring that is sturdy, and won’t be damaged by water spills.  Some flooring can become slippery when wet and can be very dangerous for your family.  The best flooring for these type of rooms are:

  1. Vinyl
  2. Laminate
  3. Tile

Keep in mind that there is some specific laminate flooring you can use in these rooms.  Normal laminate flooring can become very slippery and warps rather easily with small amounts of water on it.  You need to find the laminate flooring that can withstand water or other types of liquid spills without damaging it.

Living Room, Dining Room, and First Floor Rooms: These high traffic area rooms need a more sturdy, high-quality flooring that will not only be durable for your home but can make your home look beautiful as well. These are some of the types of flooring that are most commonly used for these rooms in your home:

  1. Hardwood
  2. Bamboo
  3. Laminate
  4. Vinyl
  5. Carpet

For many environmentally conscious homeowners, hardwood does not seem like a very likable option.  Many of these homeowners have chosen to opt for the more environmentally friendly bamboo flooring. If you are thinking about vinyl flooring for some of these rooms – especially for dining rooms, kitchens, bathrooms and the main entrance of the home- vinyl has come a long way from the one sheet vinyl flooring our parents and grandparents grew up with.  The look of vinyl is not what it used to be, so choosing it over other types of flooring is not outdated.

Carpet for the bedrooms of the home has been the main choice for many homeowners though out the years, but if you have children with allergies or other respiratory problems, laminate or bamboo flooring can be a very nice second option for you.

There are many pros and cons you have to consider with every choice of flooring there is. Price, durability, ease of installation, look.  But, remember, buy what you love for your home.

Mushroom Coffee Review

One of the most exciting things I have discovered in a long time is mushroom coffee by the guys over at Four Sigmatic.  Sounds disgusting, right?

Bear with me – because what it did was amazing.

I heard from Tim Ferriss that this mushroom coffee increased focus, energy and mental sharpness so I ordered some right away.  After all, he is the guy always experimenting, trying to find the optimum performance.

Got the order and in one day it was like a fog cleared.  No, it does not taste as good as a normal cup of fresh brewed coffee, but it was not bad.  But let me list the benefits I experienced (Keeping in mind I am not a health professional and results will vary).

  1. Experienced sharper mental thinking within an hour
  2. Enhanced will power later in the day – I often fade as the day goes on and start eating badly.  (Lost 7 pounds after 2 weeks of this coffee)
  3. Worked longer and more productive hours – because I got less distracted and bored.
  4. Stopped drinking 5-7 cups of normal coffee.  Now just drink this stuff and green tea.
  5. Accomplished more goals and remain very excited about getting stuff done.

What is even more interesting is that my Wife and my teenage daughter had almost identical effects.  Our daughter scored her first perfect college math score IN HER LIFE after being on this for a while.  She reported she is simply more patient and understands the lectures better.

I LOVE this stuff – you can buy it here: Check out the flavors. I recommend Lion’s Mane Coffee.

Is Your Car Heater Not Working?

There can be several reasons why your car’s heater could be broken or simply just not working. The following reasons may help you to understand why it is not working and why you need to take it directly to a mechanic to have it fixed.

It could be as simple as the engine thermostat, the fan motor, or simply a fuse that is out or simply not working properly. You will need to take the vehicle to a car repair shop right away to have them diagnose the problem and get your heat flowing properly once again. If you decide to fix the problem yourself you may be doing more damage to the vehicle by not knowing the correct diagnosis. Car repair shops can easily diagnose the problem. So take the vehicle to a mechanic and save yourself the headache and money of making it worse off.

Many people think that they may just be low on coolant in the radiator and try to fix it themselves. By doing so you can cause yourself and your car some serious damage. The cap could release and intense amount of steam that has been built up by pressure and burn you very badly.

So the best remedy if your car heater is not working properly is to take it to a car repair shop and let a real mechanic fix it.

Jobless But Earning – Three Ways To Earn Money Online Without Actually Being Employed

Intriguing title, isn’t it? After all, a lot of us would want to earn money without having to work, but hold up. Don’t get me wrong here. This is not one of those posts that say you can earn money just by lying in your bed all day. Don’t confuse the phrase “not being employed” to being lazy because I’m pretty sure those two are not the same. And just to be clear, I do not know of any way that you can earn money just by doing nothing.

This post, however, will provide you three ideas where you can possibly make money online without actually being employed. By employed, I mean that you have your own employer with definite working hours throughout the day. I would also like to clarify that this is not for everyone and not every person who will read this post and try out these ideas will be successful at it. This will still take some effort on your part and perhaps, a little bit of luck. Are you ready to hear out these ideas? Let’s begin then.

  1. Set-up an online business. I know, very original, but seriously, consider the perks of this. You are your own boss. The success of your business, however, will depend on how much you work for it, but if it’s something that you love doing, it’s not work at all. If you love baking, you can set up a small cupcake business. Cupcakes are so in these days, so you may have a lot of competition, but if your products taste absolutely amazing, word will spread. Don’t be shy. Ask your friends for help, they can recommend prospective clients to you. You don’t even have to own a bakery to do this. In fact, I would suggest starting a homebased business. It will cut your initial costs while you’re still starting up. Another great online business would be selling knick-knacks, especially if you love visiting thrift stores for collectibles. You can set it up in an online marketplace like eBay and start earning.
  2. Sell gigs. What are gigs, you ask? Gigs are simply things you offer to people who need to outsource work online. There are many websites where you can sell gigs, like Fiverr and Gigbucks. Are you a writer? Offer to write a 1000-word story for a gig then. Do you like making crafts? Great, you can offer to make a scented candle for a fixed price. You don’t have any talent except that you look cute and quirky on cam? Not a problem! Gigs can be serious or wacky, it doesn’t matter. If you’re good at something (wholesome, please), offer your services in the site. Who knows? Someone might find the video of you singing Happy Birthday adorable and will hire you to make one for him.
  3. Sell items at an online consignment shop. Are you one of those people who like to buy designer bags or shoes, but get bored after wearing them twice? Well, there are a number of online consignment shops that offer to sell your gently-used clothing or bags. The shop will have to take a percentage off the sale, but that’s normal. Besides, you can get rid of you stuff to make room for more and earn money to pay for your next designer item.

So, there you have it. While these ideas will work, success will not be possible without some effort on your part. These may not be actual jobs, but it requires hard work and ability to make it possible for you to earn some money from it.

Do you have other ideas on how to earn money online? Share them with the other readers by commenting below.

Tax Advantages with Home Based Businesses

Tax advantages with home based businesses are plenty that there is no reason not to take the income opportunity home based business provides. Tax advantages include equipment deduction, deductions on office supplies and furniture, and travel needed to provide service.

Employing yourself to the income opportunity home based business basically means that you may have a certain area in the house dedicated to the business. The IRS regards this as the work space and allows deductions for any needs that will support that area of the house.Equipment including computers and service equipment needed to start the business can be deducted from taxes and allow ample opportunity to purchase what is needed. Thinking big in your business can be an excellent way to kick start the career from home but it is generally recommended to start small and then work up to more expensive equipment depending upon the area of expertise.

Deductions include furniture and office supplies for your income opportunity home based business and can provide the office space with enough to feel comfortable. Working from home should be a comfortable experience in order to provide enough space and arrangement for furniture to work within the area. Creating a theme in the workspace is highly recommended for the career from home minded individuals for a pleasant working environment.

Traveling, entertaining, and fuel expenses can also be deducted from the taxes of a home based business. These are plausible opportunities to gain further clients and provide service or products for the growth of the business.

Important Car Maintenance Before Winter

Winter can be a difficult time for your car engine. Falling temperatures can make your belts contract and cause the moving parts in your engine to dry out more quickly. It is a good idea to visit a professional auto repair service in the early autumn to make sure that all of your car’s systems are ready for the winter.

An engine inspection is even more important when you notice a noise in car. Engine noises can mean that your oil is dangerously low or that something is not properly aligned in the engine. An auto repair service can perform a comprehensive engine inspection to discover anything that might be causing the noise in car before it becomes an expensive problem to fix.

Extremely low temperatures can cause your car’s battery to die if it is too old or weak. It is much more comfortable to have an auto technician check your car battery during a scheduled inspection than to find yourself stranded in a parking lot with a dead battery. An auto repair service will have the right tools to check your battery strength without even removing the battery from the car. The inspection is quick and inexpensive, but can save you quite a lot of trouble during a cold winter. If you do need a new battery, the shop can install one for you on the spot.

3 Home Repairs You Must Do Right Away

If you are the proud owner of a home and have been living there for many years, you are probably accustomed to the daily noises that are particular to your home. It is understandable

you are used to those noises and pay no particular attention to them because you hear them every day.  But, keep in mind that some noises can be an indication of more serious problems in the home. Therefore, it is important for you to take action to avoid costly repairs. Here are three home repairs you must do right away before they become a serious problem.

Drain pipes

If you notice the kitchen sink is not emptying as quickly as before, or you hear gurgling noises when you use the sink or run the dishwasher, you probably have a clogged kitchen pipe.  Any gurgling noises you have in any sink or bathtub means your pipes have a blockage that will eventually stop the drainage in those places. Calling a plumber before you have an emergency it’s the only solution for this problem. Furthermore, in less than an hour, a plumber will unblock any problem you have and will clear the way for the drainage to continue flawlessly.  If you wait and let the problem continue, or have an emergency, you will pay extra for any plumber to come and fix the problem.  It is better by far to be proactive and get a solution to the problem as soon as you notice there is something wrong.

Clogged Gutters

In the Northeast Ohio area, the fall season is full of chores every homeowner must do to prepare their home for winter.  Clean gutters are one of those chores that if you forget to do or choose to ignore to do it, can become expensive later on. After the leaves have fallen and before the cold weather sets in, cleaning the gutters should take precedent over many other chores.  Clogged gutters mean the rainfall and melted snow will pool around the foundation of the home and eventually seeped into the basement. If the gutters are clogged, you will hear the puddles forming around the foundation during a heavy storm. The damage might not be evident right away, but the damage is there and can become an expensive fix to do.  If and when the gutters are clean, every homeowner should make sure the spouting is firmly in place and they are not damaged.  If the spouting is damaged, it can easily be replaced at very little cost.

Leaky Roofs

A leak on the roof might not be too costly to repair if it’s small and it’s done quickly.  A roof with a leak that is not fixed quickly is bound to be expensive to fix.  If your roof is old and needs to be replaced, it is better to do it right away.  As homeowners, we tend to postpone home repairs because we cannot afford them at that particular moment, and it is very unwise to do so.  Postponing fixing a leaky roof is financially irresponsible and will be more expensive in the long run.  Call at least three companies and ask for a quote and references.  You can Google them before you call to find out what customers are saying about the company.  Look for good and bad reviews about them, and when calling them, ask a question that is particular to your problem.

There are many home repairs that are very expensive to do if they are ignored. And many homeowners believe they cannot repair them right away unless those repairs are absolutely necessary.  On the other hand, fixing roofs, gutters, spouting, and pipes in the home before it is an emergency, can save you money, and many headaches in the future as well.  It is imperative you do not postpone any of these repairs for the future.  You, without professional advice, can distinguish between a problem you can fix or one that requires professional help.

Teens and Technology

The time our children spend glued to their phones seems unhealthy to many parents, and although it is an activity we all do, it seems it is not as unhealthy as we thought it was for a teenager. According to recent studies about the impact, the use of technology has on the well-being of adolescents found it is not as harmful as we think it is.  Mainly, because such adolescents do not view their technology usage as harmful. And, secondly, according to the review, global mental health problems have not increased in recent decades. In other words, the increased usage of technology-driven gadgets-smart phones, tablets, laptops, etc.,- by teenagers is not considered to negatively affect their mental health.

Notwithstanding such studies’ findings, the time teenagers spend on their smartphones or tablets might keep them away from other constructive endeavors. If you are a concerned parent and want to minimize their time spent using their iPhone, here are 8 tips to help you breach the subject.

  1. If you are a concerned parent and find your teens’ smartphone usage unhealthy, read bout recent studies about the topic before engaging in a losing battle with your teen. Instead, try to have a calm conversation with your child or teen about their smartphone usage and ask them what they think it’s the right amount of time for them.
  2. Compromise but do not set rules they will find unfair.  If they have done their homework and extracurricular activities and they are relaxing, let them do it peacefully.  Respect their free time, even if they choose to spend it with their smartphone.
  3. Encourage them to practice an activity to help them build a skill instead of using their smartphone.  Music, painting, drawing, or a physical activity class will keep them away from the smartphone while developing a life skill they will appreciate later in life.
  4. Ask them to read a book.  There are lists of books for teenagers that will surely capture their interest.  You can research a library’s teen recommendations together to find the perfect book to read.
  5. Exercise together if you can.  Biking and hiking are two activities teenagers can do with their parents without feeling embarrassed about spending time with them.
  6. Be an example to follow.  If you cannot put your own smartphone down, you cannot ask your teenager to do it. Grab a book or seek your child to start a conversation.  Ask them about school, friends, or even the videos they are watching on their smartphones.  You can always start a conversation and ask your child to join you.
  7. Have a daily meal together with your teenager. The diner table is a neutral, peaceful place to have a conversation where everyone can join in.  If you have more than one child, ask about their day individually and offer a comment or two before going on to the next.  Everyone should get a turn to speak and to be heard. Ask for silence from the other members of the family till the speaker is done.
  8. Respect your teenager and listen to what they are saying.  Even if you think they are spending too much time with their smartphones, listen to them before you complain.  You are the manager of your teen, not the boss.

Every teen is different. They have different needs and different problems.  Many of them can easily adapt to any situation and never have a serious problem.  They can have excellent grades but be depressed about an issue.  As parents, we can form a healthy relationship with them by listening and guiding them, instead of imposing rules and forcing them to follow.  Let’s put away our smartphones and begin a healthy conversation.