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Surgeon General to the Public: Stop Buying Face Masks

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stop buying face masks

The total number of coronavirus cases in the United States has increased by two dozen over the weekend, up to 89 from 65 cases on Friday. There have also been two reported deaths in the U.S. New cases have been confirmed in Rhode Island, Oregon, Florida, Washington State, and New York. Many people are taking additional precautions to protect themselves against the virus, but the Surgeon General is saying they are wasting their time with one effort. The health official has said to the public “stop buying face masks.”

Why You Should Stop Buying Face Masks

You may think that sounds a bit odd, however, it turns out surgical face masks may actually increase your risk of contracting the coronavirus. This is especially true if you are not wearing it correctly, which most people are not.

The Surgeon General’s office shared a sternly-worded message to the people in the U.S. on Saturday, stating…

The only time you should wear a surgical mask, according to health officials, is when you are sick and have to leave your home. This will help prevent spreading your illness to others. The Surgeon Generals says that if you are ill, the best possible thing you can do is stay home and avoid contact with others. If you must leave, to go to the doctor or otherwise, wear a mask.

Wearing one isn’t necessary if you aren’t sick and in public though. In fact, most people wear masks incorrectly and it can increase your risk of getting sick. Believe it or not, the panic surrounding the virus is spreading faster than the coronavirus itself. But, if you want to protect yourself, the best thing you can do is listen to health officials.

How to Protect Yourself Against Coronavirus

The U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams stated, “You can increase your risk of getting it by wearing a mask if you are not a health care provider. Folks who don’t know how to wear them properly tend to touch their faces a lot and actually can increase the spread of coronavirus.” There are a few things you can do to ward off the virus though…

  • Wash your hands properly. You need to scrub under your nails, the front and back of your hands, for at least 20 seconds before rinsing.
  • Cover your mouth and nose. When you sneeze or cough, cover your mouth and nose. The coronavirus is spread through saliva droplets that dissipate when you cough or sneeze.
  • Seek out early medical help. If you are sick, go to the doctor as soon as you possibly can. Doing so can help you get ahead of any illness and rule out coronavirus.
  • Avoid contact with live animals. This specifically refers to animals in live markets and similar situations.
  • If you’ve traveled, you need to quarantine yourself. This may seem a bit over-the-top, but if you have traveled to an affected area, like China, you need to avoid contact with others for 14 days. This includes going to school, work, and even running errands. Additionally, if you develop flu-like symptoms after visiting an affected area, do not leave your home until you’ve consulted your physician.

All in all, this isn’t the first (and it probably won’t be the last) pandemic the U.S. will ever see. Take the precautions above to help protect yourself but, as the Surgeon General said, stop buying face masks. They’re likely a waste of money!

Readers, are you concerned about the coronavirus? Do you think it will become more of a problem in the U.S.?

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Are Democracies Better At Fighting Outbreaks Like Coronavirus?

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Democracies better at fighting outbreaks

In short, yes. Democracies are better at fighting outbreaks, such as the coronavirus. As soon as the first cases of the virus were made known in America, health officials were immediately working to provide them with treatment. In China, many people are being quarantined with no treatment at all, leading to the deaths of hundreds of people. But why are democracies better at fighting outbreaks?

How China Handled the Outbreak

While it does seem democracies, like the United States, are better at fighting large-scale outbreaks, Chinese officials did everything they knew how to contain the virus. They quarantined entire cities, suspended travel, and closed schools and businesses. Officials also placed restrictions on citizens, making many of them stay indoors at all times.

Within 10 days of the outbreak being known to health officials, specialized hospitals were erected. They have also been able to keep close surveillance on the citizens to scale up any contact tracing. However, it just hasn’t been enough to fight the coronavirus off.

Are Democracies Better At Fighting Outbreaks?

As of now, there are 34 known cases of coronavirus in the U.S. Health officials in the states have been upfront with the citizens of the country to be sure they know potential warning signs of the virus. Anyone with the virus has also been quarantined.

This is the biggest advantage the U.S. and other democracies have compared to authoritarian governments, like China. When something like this happens, officials are able to provide full transparency. In China, on the other hand, officials tried to cover up how many cases of coronavirus there were. They also tried to hide how serious the epidemic was.

In addition to having transparency and the trust of the people, health officials in the U.S. also have the resources available to them to work on a vaccine or treatment. Because China underreported the number of cases, many health officials are tied up with treating current patients and disposing of those who have perished from the virus. The resources for developing vaccines or treatments just aren’t there.

Democracies also typically lead the world’s efforts in fighting such outbreaks. In 2014, the U.S. led other countries to stop the Ebola outbreak plaguing many African countries. President Barack Obama had 44 other countries join him in Washington, D.C. to establish the Global Health Security Agenda, which now consists of 67 nations.

They Don’t Do Everything Right Though

Although democracies typically handle outbreaks better than developing countries, they aren’t perfect. During the 2014 Ebola outbreak, a nurse was forced into quarantine in the Newark airport with no medical cause. She was only quarantined because she’d been to a country where the outbreak was occurring. However, when this happened, U.S. citizens stood up for their rights and developing new quarantine procedures only instilled even more trust in the public healthcare system.

In short, democracies are better at fighting outbreaks simply because they are able to be transparent and typically have more resources for developing treatments.

Do you agree? Are democracies better at fighting outbreaks? 

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Is Presidents’ Day the Best Time to Buy a Mattress?

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Most mattresses cost between $200 and $1,500. There are premium mattresses that can cost $5,000 or more, however, many people can find a quality one for around $1,000. A grand is still quite a bit of money to spend on a mattress, so you may want to wait until sales are happening. So, when is the best time to buy a mattress?

The Best Time to Buy a Mattress

If you are a savvy shopper, you’ve probably heard there are specific holidays and times during the year where you may be able to score a mattress on the cheap. That has changed slightly over the years with the increase in popularity of online shopping though.

Before setting out to purchase any big-ticket items it is a good idea for you to have a set budget in mind. Without a set budget and the money saved, you are more likely to overspend and possibly go into debt (and a mattress just isn’t worth that). Once you’ve decided on that, you can move forward with finding the best time to buy a mattress for you. That being said, there are a few days throughout the year that may prove to be cheaper than others.

Late Winter/Early Spring

It can be a good idea to plan and save for your mattress to be bought in the early spring. May seems to be a month where many retailers put their merchandise on sale to make room for the next year’s inventory. The biggest sales are typically seen around Memorial Day weekend. Discounts around this time on mattresses are typically up to 60% (a decent amount of savings).

Holiday Weekends

As mentioned above, Memorial Day weekend is a good time to go looking at mattresses. There are other holiday weekends that have proven to be good for sales too. You can discover discounts up to 60% on Presidents’ Day weekend, 4th of July, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving as well. If you’re in the market for a mattress, you may want to consider waiting for one of these holiday weekends to make a purchase.

Buy Online

Lastly, you can save even more money if you buy your mattress online. Many people still make their mattress purchases in person, but brick-and-mortar stores mark up the price in a huge way. Brands that typically sell for $2,000 to $3,000 in-store can be found for around $1,000 online.

This method of saving money on mattresses does have its downfalls though. You won’t be able to see (or try) the mattress before buying it. You will have to rely on online reviews. But, you will have a plethora of products to choose from, not to mention you won’t have any pressure from salespeople on the floor.

Mattress Coupons

As with anything else you buy, it is possible to find coupons, discounts, and promo codes for mattresses online. However, it is important that you verify the site and source of the coupon code if you are relying on it to be able to pay for the item. It is common for promo codes listed online and elsewhere to be expired.

If you are looking for a promo code, RetailMeNot, Coupons.com, and Groupon are the best, most reliable resources. Members of Costco and Sam’s Club may also find they can get some spectacular deals on mattresses. In fact, according to the Krazy Koupon Lady, Costco has the lowest mattress prices of any retailer.

Most mattress manufacturers don’t offer coupons, per se. Instead, they offer in-store deals and/or bundles. For instance, many mattress companies will give you a free boxspring with the purchase of a mattress or the deal you are getting is part of a larger sale. The Original Mattress Factory does offer printable internet coupons though, which you can access on their website.

As with anything else you buy, it is possible to find mattress deals, discounts, and promo codes for mattresses online. However, it is important that you verify the site and source of the coupon code if you are relying on it to be able to pay for the item. It is common for promo codes listed online and elsewhere to be expired.

Keep This in Mind…

With all big-ticket purchases, it is important to remember you get what you pay for. Most mattresses under $500 will not come with warranties and may not use the best materials available to be constructed. Consider this before settling for cheaper models.

Readers, when was the last time you bought a mattress? How much did you spend? 

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Is There a Science to Saving Money?

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Personal finance doesn’t come easily for most people. Finding a way to manage a budget, saving money, and invest in your future can be stressful. But, as it turns out, there may actually be a science to saving money that will make your financial goals a little easier to reach.

What’s the Science to Saving Money?

Many people find it difficult to save money because they feel like they are missing out on something, especially in the age of “FOMO.” Living in the present is in your genes, Brad Klontz, a certified financial planner and financial psychologist pointed out.

“It’s why we were able to survive as a species. What you’re asking yourself to do [when saving for the future] goes against your entire biology,” he told CNBC. Instead of fearing you’ll miss out, visualize something you want really bad. For instance, if you would like to retire early, or you would like to take a vacation, or you want to be debt-free.

Then, imagine how much happier you’ll be once you reach that goal versus the fleeting enjoyment you’ll get out of going to an event or spending the money on something else rather than saving. It sounds kind of crazy but this visualization is the science behind saving.

The Study

Klontz conducted a study to see how emotions tie into saving money. According to his findings, people save 73% more if they are emotionally tied to the reason they are stashing money away.

Because of something called the “status quo bias,” it goes against human nature to change and takes a significant amount of effort. “If you can get clear about why you want to save, why it matters, who you’re saving for, and execute while you’re excited about it, it can have dramatic effects,” Klontz stated.

There is some good news though! You can adopt a positive mindset around saving and why you are saving to help you reach your financial goals. The most important thing is that you know what will make you happy in the long run.

Vision Boards

Since visualizing your goals and dreams can be beneficial in helping you reach them, vision boards have become more popular in recent years. Jackie Beck, who, along with her husband, has paid off $147,000 in debt, told CNBC a vision board helped her take a dream trip to Africa.

For Beck, it was easiest to create her vision board digitally via Pinterest. “I added pictures and kept thinking, when are we going to make it happen?” she stated. “If you see it regularly, you make it happen.” Just one year after creating her board she and her husband were on their way to Kenya.

Others may find it best to create a physical vision board to hang in their office, on the refrigerators, or on the mirror in your bathroom. The key is to put it somewhere you will see every day. When you have a visual reminder of your goals and dreams, you’ll be more likely to reach them, especially if it involves saving money.

It’s science!

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How to Play and Download a Free Super Bowl Squares Printable Chart

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printable super bowl squares

The 2020 Super Bowl is coming up soon. Two teams that don’t typically appear in the season’s biggest game are playing: The San Francisco 49ers and The Kansas City Chiefs. As the game approaches, many people are beginning to play Super Bowl squares. If you’re not quite sure how to play but want to get an office pool started, here’s a step-by-step guide (plus free printable Super Bowl squares).

Step One: Print the Super Bowl Football Squares Chart

Superbowl squares

First, print a 10 square by 10 square chart. Use this link to print your free Superbowl squares chart.

Step Two: Set a Price for the Value of the Squares

If you decide to make a friendly wager on the game, you need to determine how much each square on the chart will be worth. Each participant will need to pay this amount for each square they place their name in on the chart. The amount for each square is completely up to you – adjust it according to the group of people you’re playing the game with. Below are a few examples of amounts you could determine each square to be worth, and what the total pool for that amount would be.

  • 10 cent squares would create a total pool of $10.00
  • 25 cent squares would create a total pool of $25.00
  • 50 cent squares would create a total pool of $50.00
  • 1 dollar squares would create a total pool of $100.00
  • 2 dollar squares would create a total pool of $200.00
  • 5 dollar squares would create a total pool of $500.00
  • 10 dollar squares would create a total pool of $1000.00

If you don’t want to bet cash on the Super Bowl, you may consider giving away small prizes to the winning square holders. Typically, you’ll award these prizes after each quarter.

Step Three: Assign Squares

Next, you will need to fill in the 100 squares inside the chart. As long as it is easy to determine who has claimed which square, you can organize this any way you want. The most common way to do this is to have all those participating initial the square(s) they want for the game. You can also assign each participant a color and allow them to color in the squares they’d like to claim.

The number of squares each person gets depends on the number of people playing the game. If you have 10 people playing, each would pick 10 squares (5 people playing, each would pick 20 squares, and so on).

Step Four: Randomly Assign Numbers

Have people fill in their squares before assigning numbers. Then, assign numbers 0-9 on the top and side of the chart. It is more likely for the end score for either team will end in a 0, 3, or 7 than most other numbers. For this reason, you’ll want to assign the number after people have colored/initialed their squares to provide everyone with the same odds of winning.

Step Five: Decide How to Award Prizes

There are a wide variety of ways to award prizes. You can decide which is best for you and the group you’re playing with. Most games give out a small amount at the end of each quarter, with a bigger prize for the participant that has the winning square at the end of the game. Below you’ll find some of the different ways you can award the prize money. For those who are giving away predetermined prizes rather than money, you should also determine how these will be awarded.

Ways you can payout prize money for super bowl squares

Step Six: Determine the Winners

In order to determine the winner, you need to look at the last number of the score for each team. For example, if the score is Kansas City 14 and San Francisco 13 after the first quarter, you would look for the “4” column from the Chiefs side, and “3” column from the 49ers side. Once the two columns have been determined, you run the lines together until they meet at a square which is the winner. You follow the same process with the scores at half-time, the end of the third quarter, and the final score.

Readers, are you participating in Super Bowl squares or any other Super Bowl game? Let us know your plans in the comment section below!

Photo: Erik Drost

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A Cup of Green Tea a Day Can Help You Live a Longer Life

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The average life expectancy in the United States is 78.69 years old. That number has risen drastically over the years, but people are constantly looking for ways to extend their lifespan. Now, a new study has found that drinking green tea on a regular basis can help you live longer.

How Green Tea Can Help Extend Your Lifespan

Although many people start their day with a cup of coffee, researchers found that swapping that out for green tea can help lower the risk of heart problems. To come to this conclusion, scientists examined health and behavioral information of 100,000 Chinese adults.

Each study participant self-reported the amount of tea they drank. Those who drank less than three cups of tea per week were found to have a higher risk of cardiovascular problems. Individuals who drank more had a 20% lower risk of cardiovascular issues, a 22% reduced risk of death associated with cardiovascular problems and a 15% lower risk for premature death. It has even been shown to help prevent some types of cancer.

Individuals who drank green tea on a regular basis also lived a year longer than those who do not, on average. This is because green tea is jam-packed full of flavonoids that help improve the function of blood vessels, relieve inflammation, lower oxidative stress, and increase the efficiency of heart muscle cells.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of premature death worldwide. For this reason, it is important to look into things, like drinking green tea, to help people prevent it. At the very least, adding more green tea into your diet promotes healthy teeth and hydration, so why not give it a try?

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