Education

Barnes and Noble Holiday Return Policy

April 15, 2020 By Trey LaRocca Leave a Comment

When holidays come around, everybody struggles over what to buy. Family members and friends want to get you a great gift, but sometimes they miss the mark. When that happens, it is always good to know the return policy at the location they bought it. Barnes and Noble offers more than just books. Many people purchase decorations, toys, and other memorabilia there to give as gifts. With so many different ways to go, maybe your gift-giver didn’t quite nail your taste. If that is the case, here is everything you need to know about the Barnes and Noble Holiday return policy.

The Usual Policy

Before looking at the holiday alterations on it, let’s go over the typical return policy of B&N. First off, anything bought in-store can be returned within 30 days. This qualifies for any physical items including, but not limited to, books, toys, shirts, and board games. Anything that is bought and carried out is eligible. In addition, anything bought on its website, or from its “other seller” list, can also be returned within the same timeframe with proof of purchase (though items from “other sellers” must be returned to the seller from which you bought it). Pretty much the only things that can’t are digital items, as they are too easy to reproduce. These cannot be returned at all and are yours forever.

Holiday Changes

Every holiday is different, and Barnes and Noble does not have any set-in-stone holiday policies. They do, however, have a gift policy. As long as you have a gift receipt, you get an extra 30 days added on to the regular return timeframe. This means that you can return gifts with said receipt up to 60 days after the initial purchase. This helps make up for the time it took the gift to actually make it into your hands. Again, though, this does not apply to digital products. If somebody buys you an e-book, you’re sort of stuck with it (sorry!).

Most of the time, Barnes and Noble will have special holiday policy changes that they create on the fly. Make sure you check out its website to see if they have anything to help you in your situation. With that said, I hope this information helps you pick something you’re going to love. Enjoy!

How to Order Online and Pickup Groceries at ALDI’s

April 15, 2020 By Trey LaRocca Leave a Comment

Everybody is struggling to get everything they need during this coronavirus crisis. With grocery stores being overrun with panic shoppers, and anxiety about being in crowds, shopping for essentials can be difficult. While it is important to make sure you are stocked up on food and supplies, the store experience can put you at risk for disease and a massive headache. The good news about this is that grocery stores are adapting to meet your needs. ALDI, in particular, is joining forces with Instacart to offer online ordering and curbside pickup for customers who don’t want to enter the store. It is a very simple process, but here are the steps to order online and pickup groceries at ALDI’s stores.

Step 1: Visit the ALDI website.

Simple enough, just click the link above to get to the website!

Step 2: Pick out your groceries.

In the online store, pick out everything that you are going to need. Make sure to get all your bases covered. Food, cleaning supplies, pet care products; anything you would normally pickup at the grocery store is at your fingertips!

Step 3: Select time and place.

On the website, you will be given a list of times and ALDI locations for pickup. If your local store isn’t listed, it unfortunately isn’t a participating location, and you may need to go in-person. Make sure you double check! The time part is simple, they will need time to gather your products, so your pickup times are somewhat limited. Select when you want to pick them up and make sure you get there on time!

Step 4: Place the order.

Take one final passthrough of your cart, location, and pickup time to ensure you’ve got it all correct. Once you’re certain that everything is ready to roll, hit “Place Order” and get ready to grab your groceries!

Step 5: Pull your car up to the pickup spot.

To locate the designated pickup spot, look for a blue curbside space with a sign nearby. Read the signs and follow the instructions. Make sure you get there at a reasonable time, because they will not let your groceries sit for too long to avoid any issues with perishables.

Step 6: Grab and go!

Once you have followed the signage by your pickup spot, you can snag your products and get back home! No long lines in the store, no risk of infection, and minimal hassle. This is definitely the safe way to go, and it’s great that ALDI is offering such a convenient service. We hope you enjoy!

The Science Behind How Cannabis Affects the Brain

February 11, 2020 By Justin Weinger Leave a Comment

Marijuana has long been used by individuals as a way to both relax and alleviate pain. The substance can even be helpful when it comes to alleviating anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia and some cases of PTSD. Because of its benefits, it is no surprise that many people are beginning to use cannabis to help their overall health and sense of well-being. If you’re currently living in New York, you can easily visit NuggMD to learn more about obtaining your medical marijuana card online. By applying for and receiving the card online, you’re cutting out the time and hassle of trying to get it from a local doctor or healthcare facility.

Cannabinoids

You have a number of cannabinoid receptors in your brain. When these receptors are lacking or depleted, this can cause mental and physical problems to show up. For example, individuals who have severe, chronic insomnia may be lacking in certain cannabinoids as well as those who have PTSD and anxiety. When you use cannabis, you are essentially replacing these lost chemical compounds so that your brain is able to function appropriately. These chemicals are vital to overall neurotransmitter functioning, and replacing them with a natural substance such as medical marijuana is easy, quick and effective.

Dopamine

Another way that marijuana affects the brain is by increasing and releasing a chemical known as dopamine. You probably know of dopamine as the feel-good brain chemical that you might get from other types of activities, like hugging, working out, or even playing your favorite retro video game. However, cannabis can release greater levels of this chemical into your system. Dopamine is known for improving happiness, pleasure, learning ability and motivation. For this reason, many people who are using cannabis have found that they have the motivation to improve their lives, and it can help in the case of both anxiety and depression relief.

The Length of Effects

There are two main components of marijuana and these include both CBD and THC. CBD can help with replacing the active chemicals in your brain and body without the high feeling that you would get from actually using the full form of marijuana. THC, on the other hand, offers both the benefits of CBD as well as THC. You will feel the high that people get when using cannabis, so you will want to avoid driving or using heavy machinery while under its effects. Effects can last for typically a few hours, however, CBD has cumulative effects as well, so you’ll find that you get better the more that you take it.

Less Addictive Properties

One of the reasons so many people avoid marijuana is because they’re afraid of it becoming an addiction. Cannabis is less addictive than sugar, cigarettes and alcohol, so it is often a safe option for individuals looking to benefit from its effects. As always, it is important to discuss your substance use with your doctor and if you feel that you are becoming dependent on it, you’ll want to seek help as soon as possible. However, many individuals are able to take the substance without any addictive effects.

The 4-Figure Car Purchase: Why You Shouldn’t Spend $10k+

February 7, 2020 By Trey LaRocca Leave a Comment

Car buying is a deeply emotional process. While most people think of it as a logical financial decision, feelings play a larger role than anything else. Constant thought of what others will think, how the car will look on Instagram– how “nice” it is; all of this can cloud your judgement. The fact is, while the “student debt crisis” takes over headline after headline, there is more outstanding car debt than student debt in the US. To the tune of $1.2 trillion, bad car buying decisions plague this country in a massive way. This needs to end, and so I am writing this so you have something to link your friends when they give your used wheels the side-eye. Without further adieu, here are the reasons the 4-figure car purchase is the way to go.

The “New Car Tax”

Everybody knows this one, and yet, we fall into the same old trap. The moment a new car is driven off of the lot, the value plummets. Is this due to mileage? No. New cars on dealer lots can rack up hundreds of miles due to test drives, and the value doesn’t change. Simply, the idea of a “new car” has value in our society. So you are, quite literally, paying for nothing. This causes people to buy from unreliable brands like Nissan and Kia in order to get a “new car” for a low price. I don’t have to tell you not to do this, because you probably can’t for less than $10k anyway!

Affordable Luxury

Just because a car is older and cheaper, doesn’t mean they can’t be pretty. $9999 is an amazing car budget. For example, the main picture on this article is a 1990’s Lincoln Town Car, which goes for $1000-3000 on the used market with decent mileage. Only a couple thousand for an amazing suspension, beautiful classic looks, and astoundingly comfy seats. On the higher end, E90 BMW 3 series are available easily for less than $10000. A wonderful combination of sport, luxury, and sex appeal. If you think cheap has to mean low-quality, you haven’t been looking.

Cost of Repair

This one’s easy. Older cars tend to have cheaper parts and better aftermarkets. This means whether you do the work yourself, or let the dealer take care of it, your repair bills are going down. There are a few exceptions to this rule, but it remains a general rule nonetheless.

Reliability

They just don’t make ’em like they used to. An early 2000’s Lexus LS400 was a luxury showstopper that could run forever. Costing about $2000-3000 for a decent example now, these absolute zombies could run for 300-400 thousand miles. No new car is expected to reach numbers like this, even from the same historic Toyota brand. Older cars were, in general, made to last much longer than the newer ones. Not only that, but there is better information out to inform your purchasing decisions. Odds are if you are buying a car for under $10k, your local mechanic has had enough time to get to know the reputation of most options pretty well. You’ll be paying much less to get much more out of your purchase.

3 Tips to Get a Cheaper Education

January 30, 2020 By Trey LaRocca Leave a Comment

The student loan crisis in America is completely out of control. With rising tuition costs and increased demand for degrees, what used to be a good financial decision is starting to look like a nightmare. Not all hope is lost, though, as there are ways to keep things somewhat affordable. Most degrees require a certain amount of debt, but playing it smart can lead to a manageable loan amount that fits your post-grad income. There are many things that get in the way of an affordable education, and these traps seem enticing. Things like name recognition, “college lifestyle” reputation, and what others will think. You will need to put those aside to achieve these goals, so keep that in mind. With that said, enjoy these tips for attaining a cheaper education.

Community College

Too many young adults fall into the “4-year or bust” trap. The prestige and reputation involved with big universities draws kids in. There is even an underlying culture that makes junior colleges feel like a failure or a compromise. As a result, many kids end up in massive debt piles that could’ve been cut in half by starting out at the community level. One can usually get a tuition of less than $2000 per year. Many even manage to go pretty much for free. Not only that, but the pacing and class size at a JC can lend itself for a lower-pressure environment with more attainable help from professors. Not only does a community college offer financial value, it can even be the way to go to ensure your academic success.

Online Classes

The pricing of online schooling can vary greatly. Usually, the cheapest way to go is to take online classes from your local JC or state college. This allows you more free time to make money with a good side-hustle, or even a full-time job. While the prospect of working and going to school can be daunting, the flexibility of online schooling opens a lot of doors. Whether its an 8-5 desk job, or a a part-time gig at Del Taco, the best way to synergize education and employment is online education. Not only that, but it makes it easier to save on food and transit expenses when you handle it at home.

Trade School

Trade schools have been seeing a resurgence lately, as the country has a shortage of tradespeople. This has led to a rise in salary for skilled tradeworkers, and with most only requiring 2-year schooling, the financial value is enticing. Some will even forego schooling for on-the-job training, making education free. These jobs aren’t for everyone, and one has to be careful when choosing a program. Trade schools got a bad rap in the first place for being notoriously expensive, and despite a general rise in quality of trade programs, there are still a few bad apples out there. This one takes a little more careful consideration that the other routes, but can be extremely rewarding in a short amount of time.

Best Writing Apps That Can Help You Be More Productive

January 28, 2020 By Susan Paige Leave a Comment

The Internet is a very challenging place when it comes to writing. However, it is also a place that offers various handy tools and ideas that can help you write more effectively. You just need to find the right writing app for yourself. But before you can determine which one meets your needs, it is essential to think about the goals you want to achieve. [Read more…] about Best Writing Apps That Can Help You Be More Productive