"I feel good about taking things to Goodwill and actually, I do like shopping at Goodwill. It's so cheap that it feels like a library where I am just checking things out for awhile until I decide to take them back." - April Foiles

SavingAdvice.com Blog

Bridging the gap between saving money and investing


Join Now or Login

Health

Signs It’s Time to Take a Mental Health Day

By Leave a Comment

Mental health day

Your mental health has a profound impact on other aspects of your life, including your finances. Although we often joke around about taking a mental health day, most of us could benefit from one from time-to-time.

“Fake” Sick Days

Most of us throw around the words “mental health day” like they are a joke. The benefits of taking a day for yourself are just as big as taking a day to recover from illness. In fact, even though most folks have paid vacation and sick leave, they don’t take advantage of it.

However, mental health days are truly important to your overall well-being, whether you realize it or not. If you have the ability to take a day off and tend to your personal needs, you should, especially if you’re experiencing any of these signs.

Signs You Need a Mental Health Day

Everyone has hit a wall where they feel like they need a vacation. Once you’ve got there, it is typically a breaking point though. Usually, there are a few signs you need to take a day off before you reach your wit’s end.

1. Your sleep schedule isn’t right.

If you have been having trouble sleeping or have been sleeping at odd hours, consider taking a day off. Taking the day to rest and reset your body’s clock can make all the difference in the world for your mental health and overall sense of well-being.

2. You seem to be struggling to control your emotions.

When your mental health needs attention sometimes you’ll have trouble controlling your emotions. You may find yourself crying more than usual or having mood swings. If this is the case, consider taking a day to unplug and relax. Do a few of your favorite things.

3. You have a low tolerance for the presence of others.

Another sign of a much-needed mental health day is an overall low tolerance being around others. Small things that normally wouldn’t bother you are getting under your skin and it seems everyone in the workplace’s main goal is to drive you insane. If that’s the case, stay home and stay to yourself for a day. Watch some of your favorite movies, take naps, eat your favorite foods, and unplug from technology.

Mental health day

4. You find yourself having to talk yourself into going in.

If you have been sitting in your car outside of work considering whether or not you should go in, you are probably in need of a mental health day. Sometimes the stresses of our jobs can get to us. Maybe you haven’t had the time to do other things that are important to you. Whatever the case may be, this is a sign that you need to cash in a PTO day and stay home.

5. There’s a lack of enjoyment in everything you do.

This is a sign you are starting to slip into a depression. If you aren’t enjoying anything and have no enjoyment in the workplace, it is time for a day off! Maybe even make it a Monday or Friday to get the benefits of a three-day weekend.

6. Making any kind of decision seems daunting.

If decisions seem to cause immense anxiety, you need a day off. Stress and being overworked can often add to anxiety and make regular everyday tasks seem daunting. Stay home for the day and take it easy.

7. Focusing on anything seems impossible.

When you are so overwhelmed by your own mental health and environment, focusing can be difficult. If this seems to be happening to you, take a day off to regroup. Practice self-care in the form of organizing, planning, and doing things that will make focus a bit easier.

8. Your health has been suffering.

Sometimes stress and mental health problems can take a serious toll on your physical well-being as well. Stress, anxiety, and being overworked can cause your immune system to be compromised and lead you to fall ill more often. If you find yourself catching the common cold a little too often, it may be time for a vacation!

9. You genuinely can’t remember the last time you took time off.

We all know someone that works so much they can’t really remember the last time they took actual time off. If that’s you, take a day now! You have no idea what benefits taking a single day off can have for your health and even your productivity at work.

These are just a few signs that you may be in need of a mental health day. If you’re feeling at all overwhelmed, consider taking a day off for yourself. When you come back refreshed and able to conquer your tasks in a productiv manner, you’ll be glad you did. Heck, you might even get a raise…

Readers, when was the last mental health day you took? 

Read More

Your Diet Drinks Are Increasing Your Risk of Stroke

By Leave a Comment

Diet drinks

Exchanging diet drinks for high-sugar soda seems like a no-brainer, especially if you’re dieting. Why waste the calories (and ingest all that additional sugar) for no reason? Health officials have been wary of diet soda and other similar beverages for some time. Now, new research has shown women who drink a lot of diet beverages have an increased risk of stroke.

Avoid Having Two or More Diet Drinks a Day

For the purposes of the study, researchers defined “a lot” of diet drinks as two or more per day. Women who claimed to drink at least two artificially sweetened beverages per day were found to be 31 percent more likely to have an ischemic stroke. For African American women and women who are obese, those chances double.

An ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke and is typically caused by a blood clot. The chances of individuals having this type of stroke more than doubled if they consumed high levels of diet drinks.

The findings were derived from health data from over 12 years and included more than 81,000 women, ages 50+. Researchers compared the health status of women who drank two diet sodas or fruit drinks a day to individuals who drank those types of beverages once a week (or not at all).

What they found is the high consumption of diet drinks came with increased health risks, not just an increased risk of stroke. Women who consumed high numbers of diet beverages were shown to have a 29 percent higher risk of heart disease. Researchers also found they are 16 percent more likely to die earlier than others.

Diet Drink Alternatives

Although the study did not specify which artificial sweeteners the drinks contained, it is safe to say you should probably avoid them altogether. The American Heart Association suggests that the best no-calorie drink you can consume is water (plain, flavored, or carbonated). As long as it is unsweetened, it is the best choice for a diet drink.

Because all of the participants involved were 50+, it is unclear as to whether the findings would apply to everyone. However, regardless of your age, it is probably a good idea to steer clear of artificial sweeteners.

Readers, how often do you consume diet drinks? Are you concerned about these findings?

Read More

10 Important Things Money Can’t Buy

By 32 Comments

things money cant buy
We talk a lot about money: How to get it, how to spend it, where to spend it, and how to save it. For all the time we devote to talking about, worrying about, and dealing with money, you’d think it was the most important thing in the world. If the time spent obsessing about money truly equated to its worth, there would be nothing you couldn’t do or have without money. Money would be the only thing that mattered. But is money really as valuable as our obsession level leads us to believe?

Money Can’t Buy Everything

Money is important, obviously. Without it we’d have no roof over our heads, food in our bellies or clothes on our backs. Money allows us to do and have more things than we can without it. It’s a means to an end. But, for all that money is useful and good to have around, for all that it can buy, there are quite a few things that it can’t buy. Even if you have millions of dollars, there are some things you’ll never have with money alone. So what can’t money buy? Here’s 10.

1. Lost Time

Money cannot buy back lost time. As each day passes, it is lost and you can never get it back. When you miss that chance to say, “I love you,” to someone special, or you tell your kids, “Not now, I have to work,” that opportunity is gone. No amount of money that you make in the future will get that day, that moment, back.

2. Happiness

It’s a cliche that money can’t buy happiness, but it’s also true. It can buy you some fun and fleeting joy-a cool vacation, a big TV, a fast car-but it can’t buy the true happiness that comes from liking yourself, having stable relationships, and good a familial support system.

3. Happy, Well-Adjusted Kids

Money can buy your kids a lot of clothes, toys, and gizmos, but it can’t turn them into secure, responsible, well-mannered, intelligent people. That only comes from the time you spend with them and the things you teach them. Money might help with some aspects of parenting, but it’s been proven many times that kids, once their basic needs are met, benefit more from parents spending time with them than the amount of money spent on them.

4. Love

It’s another cliche that money can’t buy love, but a true one. Money can buy initial attraction or even lust, but “true” love comes from mutual respect, caring for each other, sharing experiences, and growing together. There’s a reason that people who marry only for money rarely end up happy. Love at it’s best functions regardless of whether you have a lot of money or very little.

5. Acceptance

True, you can buy things that make you fit in-the latest cars, clothes, shoes, or electronics — but these things don’t represent true acceptance. If you really want your peers to accept you (beyond high school where a pair of shoes really does make you part of the in crowd), you’d do better to focus your energies on making yourself valuable to those around you. Being a good friend, a kind and helpful person, and someone who excels at what they do will go further in gaining acceptance than the stuff money can buy.

6. Health

Money can buy healthcare and medicine, but it cannot replace health once it’s lost. It’s far better to take preventative action such as watching what you eat, exercising, not smoking, and getting regular physicals than to rely on money to save you once your body has started to fail you. Money also can’t buy back your youth. No amount of money you make in the future will replace those days when your body could do anything easily and look good doing it. You can spend thousands on “treatments” to preserve your youth, but it’s an illusion. Once your youth is gone, no amount of money will get it back.

7. Success

Some people succeed by being slimy and paying/bribing their way to the top. But these are the exceptions, and I would hope you wouldn’t aspire to that. Success comes from hard work, applying your gifts in the best way possible, and paying your dues to move ahead in the world. There is very little that money can buy you to help you succeed. It might be able to buy you some training or equipment, but the majority of your success is determined by the work you put in, not the money you spend.

8. Talent

People are born with certain talents. Money can certainly nurture a talent. You can buy music lessons or coaching sessions to nurture your talents, but money cannot buy a talent. You can learn to do certain things well — I’ve learned to play the piano after years of lessons — but you can’t buy the true gift to do it well. Even after years of lessons, I don’t have the ability to make the piano truly sing, whereas others in my family have had that talent from birth.

9. Class/Manners

There are plenty of rich people who are rude and crude and plenty of poor people who demonstrate perfect manners and respect for others. And vice-versa. The amount of money you have doesn’t determine whether you behave well or poorly. You can’t buy manners and classy behavior; parents and family members who want to see their offspring behave well in society teach and practice it at all levels of society. Money doesn’t confer good behavior. Money can buy you entry into a better class position, but it cannot make you behave with class.

10. Peace

If money could buy peace, I think we’d be there by now. Think of the amount of money that governments have spent over the years in the name of “peace.” Has it worked? Nope. Peace isn’t something you buy. I think peace only comes from acting fairly, humanely, and treating others (people and countries) as we would want to be treated. And even then, it might not be possible. But for sure money won’t buy it.

Considering What’s Really Important

I’m not suggesting you give up the pursuit of money and go on some monastic quest for deeper meaning. It is important to manage your money well, to educate yourself about money, and earn enough to secure your financial future. However, it pays to stop and think every now and then about the things you would still have even if you didn’t have money. How much money you have doesn’t determine your family, your health, and your gifts and abilities. There are things that no amount of money can buy and it’s worthwhile to pursue them even as you worry about money. Money is important, but maybe it’s not the most important thing in the world.

Is there anything else money can’t buy? Share with us in the comments below!

Read More:

(Photo Credit: Flicker.com/Photo4jenifer)

Alcohol Is Killing More People Than Opioids

By Leave a Comment

 

alcohol is killing more

Alcohol is killing more adults in the United States than the opioid epidemic, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington. The surge in alcohol-related deaths is new and, for many, it is surprising.

Deaths From Drinking

The opioid epidemic has gotten quite a bit of news coverage. However, it turns out the drinking epidemic may be more harmful to the U.S. population. Opioids kill around 72,000 people each year. Alcohol kills 88,000. All in all, drinking leads to 2.5 million years of potential life lost.

Over the past decade, the number of alcohol-related deaths has increased by 35 percent. Surprisingly, the demographic being affected by the alcohol epidemic is young women. Among this group, alcohol-related deaths rose by 67 percent, compared to only 27 percent for men.

Alcohol Is Killing More Women

The National Institute on Alcohol and Abuse and Alcoholism says women are more susceptible to these types of deaths because they generally weigh less than men. This makes women feel the effects of alcohol faster and those who drink excessively are prone to liver damage, heart disease, breast cancer, and possible pregnancy complications.

The Institute has also found that 9.3 percent of women said they drank alcohol while pregnant. Another 51.1. percent drank alcohol in general, compared to 61.3 percent of men. Twenty-two percent of those surveyed said they engaged in binge drinking in the past month, compared to 32.1 percent of men. Only 5.4 percent of female drinkers and 7.4 percent of men received help for an alcohol disorder.

Researchers did have some good news to uncover in the report though. Overall, teen drinking deaths are on the decline (down 16 percent in 10 years). However, deaths attributed to drinking for people between the ages of 45 and 64 have increased by 25 percent.

Who Cares?

Although it seems like women are drinking less than men, overall, they are still experiencing a higher rate of mortality associated with drinking. It is important to note that most of the alcohol deaths included in the report are not instantaneous. Many of them develop over time.

Location is also a factor. At the top of the list for most alcohol deaths is the District of Columbia, followed by Georgia and Alabama. Other states on the list are general places with lower alcohol control policies (Nevada, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Wyoming).

The bigger question here is, with alcohol-related deaths on the rise, why do Americans still feel that drinking in excess is acceptable? Psychologist Benjamin Miller noted, “Culturally, we’ve made it acceptable to drink but not to go out and shoot up heroin,” he said. “A lot of people will read this and say ‘What’s the problem?’”

Readers, what do you think about the latest report? Are you surprised alcohol-related deaths are on the rise?

Read More

Smoking is Bad But Not Exercising May Be More Deadly

By 1 Comment

not exercising

Of course, smoking is bad for your health. That has been common knowledge for decades. Others argue your diet leads to more health problems than anything else. However, a new study found that a third factor is more important and most Americans are ignoring it completely: fitness. Not exercising may, in fact, be more deadly than smoking.

Study: Not Exercising is More Deadly Than Smoking

The study, which was published Friday in JAMA Network Open, took a look at 122,007 patients between 1991 and 2014. Each of the patients involved was subjected to a treadmill exercise test. After recording the results of the tests, researchers then took note of each patient’s mortality rate.

They also took a look at the patients’ habits, medical history, and how long they survived after the treadmill test (noting the median follow-up after the test was 8.4 years). What they found was a clear connection between high levels of exercise and longer, healthier lives.

While the study isn’t necessarily telling us anything new (we all know we should exercise), it points out something much more problematic. That is that a sedentary lifestyle or a lifestyle that incorporates no exercise is equal to having a major disease.

Are You Skipping Your Workout?

In some cases, researchers found a sedentary lifestyle to be three times as bad as smoking for health. Only about 23% of Americans get enough exercise.

Researchers called upon healthcare professionals to begin to encourage their patients to lead more active lives. It is the easiest and cheapest thing you can do to extend your lifespan and increase your overall health. And, it is undoubtedly one of the easiest things to push off.

If you get home at the end of a busy day, the last thing you want to do is go on a run. Getting up earlier simply means you are getting less sleep. So, it is easy to say you don’t have time, but just imagine how much time you’re adding to your life by doing this one simple thing.

Exercise on a Dime

Another excuse many people use to talk themselves into not exercising is the cost of going to a gym. However, that isn’t a good excuse anymore. There are plenty of ways to get your workout in on a dime.

  1. Groupon: Groupon is a great place to get cheap exercise classes. For instance, there is a cycling class nearby that usually runs $99 per month. Groupon is running a deal that makes it so you’ll only pay $30 for the first month (and you can cancel after that).
  2. Free places to workout: If your local park has an outdoor gym or other “workout” machines outdoors, take advantage of it. You can also find other locally-run places to workout for free (or really cheap).
  3. Discounted memberships: As mentioned above, Groupon is a great place to get discounted memberships or exercise classes. However, you can also see about getting a discounted membership at the gym itself. Sometimes they run deals that will cut your membership in half or wave the joining fee. Keep an eye out for these deals.
  4. Workout videos online: You don’t necessarily even need to leave your home either. Check out these workout videos online and get your cardio in in the comfort of your own home.
  5. Check out Pinterest: Pinterest is another great place to find workouts you can do at home. Search for exercises by body part or skill level and you’ll be able to put together the perfect at-home workout.
  6. Walk! Walking is one of the best ways to get exercise every day and most people don’t do enough of it. Instead of driving to lunch, consider going somewhere within walking distance. Or map out some time during the day where you can take a break, soak up some sunshine, and get some exercise.

There was no doubt that making time to exercise is important. Now, with the findings from this new study, you really can’t afford to be not exercising.

Readers, what do you think of these findings? Does it make you want to jump into the gym this week? 

Read More

Contrary to Popular Belief, Vitamin D Supplements Don’t Improve Bone Health

By Leave a Comment

vitamin d supplements

If you’ve been spending money on vitamin D supplements, you may be able to save some cash. Recent scientific findings show that, contrary to popular belief, these supplements don’t do anything to improve bone health.

Doctors Mark Bolland and Andrew Grey from the University of Auckland in New Zealand, along with Dr. Alison Avenell from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, took a look at a set of randomized controlled trials. In each trial, there were adults taking vitamin D to improve bone health. The doctors evaluated the findings of each of these to determine if vitamin D supplements prevent bone loss, fractures, and falls.

So, how does vitamin D impact your overall bone health?

Vitamin D Supplements Don’t Do Much… For Bone Health

The review took a look at 81 trials including more than 53,000 participants. What they found was that vitamin D supplements have no significant impact on the risk of fractures, broken bones, or falls. This was true no matter what dose they took.

“Since the last major review of [the] evidence in 2014, more than 30 randomized, controlled trials on vitamin D and bone health have been published, nearly doubling the evidence available,” said Dr. Bolland.

It was concluded that there is little justification that vitamin D supplements will help maintain or improve musculoskeletal health. Because of these findings, the researchers involved hope doctors will consider altering their guidelines. Although vitamin D supplements won’t harm your health, they are largely unnecessary for maintaining bone health.

How to Get Vitamin D Naturally

You probably don’t need to take vitamin D at all. The researchers pointed out that natural vitamin D, through sunlight or vitamin D-rich food, can help your body absorb calcium. This is what will help you build and maintain bone strength. However, supplements do not have the same effect.

It is recommended that you get 5 to 30 minutes of sun exposure without sunscreen between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at least twice a week. This will improve your overall health more than any supplement on the market.

People in need of additional vitamin D can also get it through vitamin D-rich foods. These foods include cod liver oil, swordfish, salmon, tuna, sardines, orange juice, milk, yogurt, margarine, eggs, beef liver, and Swiss cheese. Eating just three ounces of salmon can provide you with 112% of the daily recommended vitamin D.

Who Needs Vitamin D Supplements?

This doesn’t go to say everyone should flush their supplements down the toilet. However, before you go wasting money on more vitamin D pills, you should chat with your doctor.

Older individuals are more likely to need more vitamin D than others. There are also a number of medical conditions that may require vitamin D supplements. For instance, people with inflammatory bowel disease or individuals who’ve had a gastric bypass surgery may need supplements because their bodies cannot absorb vitamin D from food. Individuals living in areas of the world where it is difficult to get sun exposure may also need supplements.

All in all, until another study proves anything different, vitamin D supplements are largely a waste of time and money.

Read More