Stuart Bienenstock Playground Talks Suburban Living

Suburban living continues to dominate political debate. At the recent Republican National Convention, some speakers suggested that the Democrats and Joe Biden want to get rid of suburbia completely, which is not entirely true.

Back in late September during the first presidential debate, Donald Trump claimed that Biden assuming power would mean “our suburbs would be gone” creating “problems as you’ve never seen before.”

Biden countered this statement by suggesting that Trump “wouldn’t know a suburb if he took a wrong turn.“

As the pandemic continues to unfold, many are considering a move from the metropolis to the less densely populated areas.” said Stuart Bienenstock.

Can you benefit from using CBD for Sleep?

If you’re thinking about making a movie like this, the following breakdown of suburbs is based on research from Niche, the school and neighborhood guide. The following suburbs are ranked according to the cost of living, local schools, crime levels, median household income and use a mixture of resident surveys and data from the US census bureau. All the comments about the suburbs below are taken from the resident surveys.

Here are the best suburbs to move to according to Stuart Bienenstock:

1. Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania

• Population: 4714
• Closest City: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Median Home Value: $312,800
• Median Household Income: $119,010
• Demographics: White (64%), Asian (25%), Black (6%), Hispanic (1%)

Residents consider this suburb is close to a range of convenient family venues like state parks, restaurants, and supermarkets. The suburb also falls in a strong school district.

2. Holly Hills, Colorado

• Population: 2909
• Closest City: Denver, Colorado
• Median Home Value: $426,500
• Median Household Income: $136,176
• Demographics: White (88%), Asian (3%), Black (2%), Hispanic (3%)

This suburb boasts easy access to downtown and light rail. It falls in the excellent Cherry Creek school district.

3. Penn Wynne, Pennsylvania

• Population: 5758
• Closest City: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Median Home Value: $366,200
• Median Household Income: $131,161
• Demographics: White (73%), Asian (12%), Black (7%), Hispanic (5%)

While some parts of Penn Wynne have busy roads, others areas are relatively quiet.

4. Carmel, Indiana

• Population: 90,163
• Closest City: Indianapolis, Indiana
• Median Home Value: $330,600
• Median Household Income: $116,867
• Demographics: White (81%), Asian (10%), Black (3%), Hispanic (4%)

Carmel, Indiana boats first-rate schools along with many parks and trails. The town is packed with restaurants and many small businesses.

5. Brookline, Massachusetts

• Population: 59,234
• Closest City: Boston, Massachusetts
• Median Home Value: $885,700
• Median Household Income: $113,515
• Demographics: White (70%), Asian (16%), Black (3%), Hispanic (8%)

Brookline is safe and family-friendly, but also quite expensive.

6. Okemos, Michigan

• Population: 23,912
• Closest City: Lansing, Michigan
• Median Home Value: $231,100
• Median Household Income: $78,080
• Demographics: White (66%), Asian (20%), Black (7%), Hispanic (3%)

Close to Michigan State University, you get a small town feel with friendly people and outstanding schools.

7. Los Alamos, New Mexico

• Population: 12,373
• Closest City: Santa Fe, New Mexico
• Median Home Value: $295,600
• Median Household Income: $106,288
• Demographics: White (70%), Asian (7%), Black (0%), Hispanic (18%)

A great suburb to grow up in, there’s not so much to do for teens and twenty-somethings. Access to the mountains is a huge plus.

8. Ardmore, Pennsylvania

• Population: 13,083
• Closest City: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Median Home Value: $328,800
• Median Household Income: $89,923
• Demographics: White (75%), Asian (5%), Black (11%), Hispanic (6%)

Ardmore has friendly residents and lots of walkable neighborhoods.

9. Clarendon Hills, Illinois

• Population: 8,711
• Closest City: Chicago, Illinois
• Median Home Value: $561,700
• Median Household Income: $126,500
• Demographics: White (81%), Asian (7%), Black (0%), Hispanic (10%)

This small town has great schools and attractive downtown. Downtown Chicago is also easily accessible by train and highway.

10. Richmond Heights, Missouri

• Population: 8,457
• Closest City: St Louis, Missouri
• Median Home Value: $247,500
• Median Household Income: $78,481
• Demographics: White (76%), Asian (7%), Black (12%), Hispanic (3%)

Richmond Heights is a safe area with plenty of options for walking.             

11. Morrisville, North Carolina

• Population: 25,007
• Closest City: Raleigh, North Carolina
• Median Home Value: $317,700
• Median Household Income: $96,489
• Demographics: White (40%), Asian (38%), Black (12%), Hispanic (5%)

Although a small town, Morrisville has lots of shops, banks, restaurants, and grocery stores.

12. Stone Ridge, Virginia

• Population: 12,990
• Closest City: Washington, DC
• Median Home Value: $454,900
• Median Household Income: $143,140
• Demographics: White (42%), Asian (28%), Black (11%), Hispanic (9%)

Stone Ridge is a diverse area, although it’s expensive and there’s a lot of traffic.

13. Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

• Population: 6304
• Closest City: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Median Home Value: $410,100
• Median Household Income: $109, 648
• Demographics: White (80%), Asian (5%), Black (6%), Hispanic (3%)

This is an eco-conscious town with a liberal population close to Swarthmore College.

14. Clayton, Missouri

• Population: 16,448
• Closest City: St Louis, Missouri
• Median Home Value: $630,400
• Median Household Income: $97,145
• Demographics: White (75%), Asian (13%), Black (7%), Hispanic (3%)

This small and vibrant town has lots of great schools.

15. Berwyn, Pennsylvania

• Population: 3268
• Closest City: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Median Home Value: $478,300
• Median Household Income: $108,000
• Demographics: White (83%), Asian (9%), Black (2%), Hispanic (0%)

This town has some great public schools, but it’s not the most diverse place to live.

16. South Kensington, Maryland

• Population: 8769
• Closest City: Washington, DC
• Median Home Value: $736,300
• Median Household Income: $181,941
• Demographics: White (80%), Asian (4%), Black (3%), Hispanic (9%)

This town is not reviewed on Niche.

17. Cary, North Carolina

• Population: 163,266
• Closest City: Raleigh, North Carolina
• Median Home Value: $337,700
• Median Household Income: $101,079
• Demographics: White (63%), Asian (18%), Black (8%), Hispanic (8%)

Cary is safe with clean streets but not too much by the way of culture.

18. Cinco Ranch, Texas

• Population: 16,977
• Closest City: Houston, Texas
• Median Home Value: $362,100
• Median Household Income: $139,420
• Demographics: White (62%), Asian (16%), Black (5%), Hispanic (16%)

Cinco Ranch has plenty of good schools and lots of family-oriented activities.

19. Coppell, Texas

• Population: 41,512
• Closest City: Dallas, Texas
• Median Home Value: $368,800
• Median Household Income: $123,802
• Demographics: White (56%), Asian (24%), Black (5%), Hispanic (12%)

This clean and quiet neighborhood has everything you need within a ten-minute drive.

20. North Potomac, Maryland

• Population: 24,148
• Closest City: Washington, DC
• Median Home Value: $663,300
• Median Household Income: $159,232
• Demographics: White (48%), Asian (36%), Black (7%), Hispanic (6%)

Schools in this area are strong but competitive. You can also find plenty of good restaurants and shopping malls.

21. Madeira, Ohio

• Population: 9091
• Closest City: Cincinnati, Ohio
• Median Home Value: $281,100
• Median Household Income: $112,513
• Demographics: White (91%), Asian (3%), Black (1%), Hispanic (3%)

Madeira is a small town with plenty of activities for all the family.

22. North Bethesda, Maryland

• Population: 50,263
• Closest City: Washington, DC
• Median Home Value: $562,400
• Median Household Income: $105,130
• Demographics: White (56%), Asian (15%), Black (9%), Hispanic (15%)

With easy access to stores and schools, there are also a range of restaurants.

23. Arlington, Virginia

• Population: 231,803
• Closest City: Washington, DC
• Median Home Value: $669,400
• Median Household Income: $117,374
• Demographics: White (62%), Asian (10%), Black (9%), Hispanic (16%)

A clean and forward-thinking town, businesses and individuals strive to produce less waste. Real estate prices are sky-high.

24. Sugar Land, Texas

• Population: 118,182
• Closest City: Houston, Texas
• Median Home Value: $309,000
• Median Household Income: $122,233
• Demographics: White (44%), Asian (36%), Black (6%), Hispanic (11%)

This small town makes a nice break from the chaos of Houston.

25. Short Pump, Virginia

• Population: 27,526
• Closest City: Richmond Virginia
• Median Home Value: $403,100
• Median Household Income: $109,384
• Demographics: White (64%), Asian (24%), Black (7%), Hispanic (3%)

This upscale area boasts many first-class public schools although it’s lacking in terms of public transportation.

Jeff Bezos In The News

• Government denies Bezos’ protest of NASA awarding lunar lander contract to Musk’s SpaceX
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• Bernard Arnault Once Again The World’s Richest Person After Jeff Bezos Loses Nearly $14 Billion In One Day

Jeff Bezos became the richest person alive as of March 2021 with a net worth of over $180 billion and growing. “Bezos has amassed most of the wealth through his company Amazon, which accounted for about half of all digital spending in 2018.” according to Scott Cooper Miami.

When he had first thought about quitting his stable position at a financial firm and set up an online bookstore, his boss tried to talk him out of the seemingly senseless idea.

But Bezos had bigger things in mind. In fact, he always dreamt big ever since he was a boy. He had once told his school teacher that the future of humans was out of this world.

In this blog post, we will tell the story of a boy from an average family from New Mexico who was able to amass great wealth and become one of the richest persons alive today.

The Jeff Bezos Beginning

Bezos was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico on 12^th January 1964. His grandfather worked at a US Atomic Energy Commission but retired early to work on a ranch. Bezos spent many summers working with him at the ranch.

But the farming life was not for him as he had an inquisitive mind. He liked playing with technology and once modified the electric alarm to keep his siblings out of his room.

Jeff Bezos graduated from Princeton University and joined a firm in the computer field. He had built a system called Fitel for an international trade company. Later on, he worked on internet technologies at the hedge fund company DE Shaw & Co. He might have stayed at the company for the rest of his career. But instead, Bezos enthralled with the knowledge about the growing popularity of the internet decided to set up an online form instead.

In 1994, Bezos founded an online bookstore called Amazon. The popularity of the site grew quickly and within four years Jeff made it into the Forbes 400 list. Fast forward to today, Amazon is the largest online retailer with billions in annual revenue and employing over 800,000 people.

Bezos become the richest person in the world in 2018, replacing Bill Gates. His divorce with MacKenzie Bezos did little to dent his wealth and he still has a net worth of over a hundred billion dollars, which is more than the budget of a lot of nations.

Personal Assets of Jeff Bezos

Jeff Bezos’s home is estimated to be about worth $25 million. His neighbor includes Bill Gates who is currently the third richest person in 2021.

Bezos also owns a 165-000 ranch in Texas, which was selected as a head office of his new company – Blue Origin. The site serves as the launching pad of the suborbital rocket.

His real estate properties are on the east and the west coast. He has two homes in Beverly Hills and also a 10-000 square foot apartment in the Century Tower in Manhattan that cost him about $10 million. In addition, Bezos has a lakeside property of about 30,000 square feet valued at $28 million in the state of Washington State.

Investment and Charities

Bezos has created the firm Bezos Expeditions, which makes the investment of his personal assets. He was one of the first to invest in Google when he bought $250,000 shares in 1998. The share value had increased to about $3.1 billion in 2017.

Bezos had spent millions on charity as well. He has donated about $35 million dollars to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Moreover, the Amazon CEO has donated about a million dollars to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

Bezos has spent millions of dollars in the media, communication, and technology sector as well. He has shares in Twitter and Business Insider. Moreover, he had bought the Washington Post for $250 million in 2013. He also owns communication apps Nextdoor and ZocDoc Inc., which serve as a platform for people to connect with each other.

In the transportation sector, Bezos has invested about $35 million in Uber. He also deems cloud technology to be profitable and invests in a cloud service provider – Workday Inc. which provides online human resource services. The company had an initial public offering (IPO) and was able to raise about $684 million.

Bezos has also invested in traditional businesses. One of his investments is Glassbaby, which manufactures glass holders for votive candles.

The increasing wealth has allowed Bezos to achieve his boyhood dream of becoming an owner of a space company. He commits about $1 billion a year to the space exploration company that became one of the first to launch a reusable rocket in space in 2016.

Conclusion

Jeff Bezos went from selling books to selling almost any and everything online. His strong work ethic and risk-or-regret leadership style have allowed him to amass great wealth. The company that he had set up in 1994 to sell books online has become one of the largest online platforms in the world.

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Why Take CBD For Sleep?

Did you know that people used to take CBD for sleep back in 1500 B.C.?

Every year, Americans report their troubles with falling asleep, sleep disorders, and insomnia. Often, they have to resort to over the counter (OTC) prescription. Unfortunately, these medications come with their own share of side effects. They can also often turn out to be ineffective and addictive.

Why Do You Need to Sleep Better?

There are many reasons why people struggle to fall asleep. Sometimes, it is connected to mental issues (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression). Conversely, too much caffeine intake also turns out to be the culprit, while certain medicines can also cause sleep issues.

People have a tough time falling asleep due to multiple factors. Sometimes, mental issues (depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder) cause complications, while in other scenarios, continuous intake of caffeinated drinks, specific medicines and external factors like noise are the root cause.

Don’t underestimate sleep issues. If you don’t address them at the earliest, it can put you at risk. Short-term disadvantages include fatigue, loss of concentration, poor focus, and heightened anxiety levels. You are more likely to get immune deficiencies, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases in the long run. Spending your remaining life with these diseases is no joke. This is why you should try your best to avoid them.

For starters, improve your sleep by getting more sleep. Getting at least nine hours of sleep is essential for maintaining optimal health. For that, you should consider taking CBD for sleep.

What Is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) falls into the category of cannabinoids and is extracted from a plant known as Cannabis Sativa. CBD doesn’t make you high, which makes it different from other marijuana plants. In the U.S., CBD is legal if it has less than 0.3% THC.

Best Sleeping Positions for Back Pain

How CBD and Sleep Are Are Linked?

In the past few decades, researchers found the human body to encompass the endocannabinoid system. It is made of an intricate network comprising cannabinoid receptors distributed across the body, particularly in the brain, mainly responsible for regulating sleep.

It has also been found out that the human body produces cannabinoids, which play the role of chemical messengers. With CBD products, you can take advantage of the same impact. Research [TP1]  shows that people who lack endocannabinoid deficiencies face a wide range of symptoms – having trouble with sleep is one of them.

Although the research on the impact of cannabinoids on sleep quality is still in the early stages, as of now, initial findings indicate that it is interlinked with brain’s chemicals, receptors, and proteins.

CBD is also said to shape the working of different neurotransmitters, hormones, and cells that control pain and sleep-wake cycle.

It is also theorized CBD contains large amounts of myrcene, a form of terpene. Terpenes belong to the category of aromatic compounds, which come from fruits and vegetables and are used in aromatherapy. Myrcene is a common ingredient in hops, a herb that helps with inducing sleep, and is known to provide sedative effects. According to healthcare experts, CBD also reduces pain and anxiety, which in turn helps sleep better.

Reasons to Take CBD for Sleep

Consider the following reasons to take CBD for sleep:

1.   Reduce Anxiety

A major cause of insomnia is anxiety and stress. CBD enables you to control a stress hormone, known as cortisol, which has a major effect on non-REM sleep cycles. Studies found that CBD is beneficial for addressing anxiety and enhances sleep quality.

2.   Get Pain Relief

Individuals affected by sleeplessness due to acute or chronic pain, have reportedly found CBD to be beneficial, especially compared to the pharmaceutical pain relievers. Unlike sleep-aids that provides a sedative impact, CBD addresses the symptoms of the pain-induced sleepiness.

3.   Soothe Sore Muscles

When it comes to relieving post-workout muscle soreness, CBD is quite potent. Often gym-goers use CBD patches to recover after intensive workout sessions – it minimizes their discomfort quickly.

4.   Eliminate Nightmares

Many people have poor sleep quality due to a recurring nightmare issue. Individuals who struggle with REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), marked by heightened restlessness and nightmares, can use CBD to get the good’s night sleep they always desired.

5.   Get Help for Somnolence

CBD delivers a dual effect based on the person using it and the time of the day. This suggests that CBD promotes wakefulness in the daytime, creates a relaxing effect in the night, and regulates your body’s sleep/wake cycles. Insomnia, daytime sleepiness, and somnolence are notorious – they affect productivity during your work hours and prevent you from falling asleep at night. Administering CBD [TP2]  in the day can promote alertness, which leads to a serene sleep during the night.

How to Use CBD for Sleep?

Before taking CBD for sleep, you should know that it is available in many forms for medicinal usage. For instance, vaping is a popular method to incorporate CBD into your system. Similarly, edible CBD in the form of gum, mints, truffles, and gummies are also trending. These are suited for geriatric patients who can’t vape. If you are looking to skip the sugar, alternatives include sublingual products, such as oral sprays and oils. These CBDs are well known for providing a faster effect.

If you are considering CBD for sleep, keep in mind that FDA doesn’t regulate it. Hence, it is difficult to know what you are getting into. A reliable method to go around this issue is to find a product that has gone through rigorous lab testing and is certified organic.

The ideal way to take CBD for sleep is to opt for a gradual approach. Start low and slow; in this way, you get the best outcomes at the lowest dose. A typical starting dose is 4-5 milligrams.

Final Thoughts

The CBD industry is expected to explode in the next few years as CBD continues to attract positive reviews. Still, don’t take CBD for sleep before consulting a physician who has a background in CBD. In this way, you will get the best CBD treatment that addresses your existing symptoms, finally letting you sleep peacefully.

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Is Medical Medium Cleanse To Heal A Diet Scam?

Medical Medium wants your money. Medical Medium Cleanse To Heal is one of the latest supplement diet scams pushing useless pills with the claim that it will guarantee weight-loss.   American consumers spend tens of billions of dollars annually on dietary supplements that claim you can eat all you want and still lose weight.

The dietary supplement marketplace is not as safe as it should be. Diet supplement manufacturers used by Medical Medium, Anthony Williams, routinely, and legally, sell their products without first having to demonstrate that they are safe and effective. China, which has repeatedly been caught exporting contaminated products, is a major supplier of raw supplement ingredients. The FDA has yet to inspect a single factory there.

Critics claim that Medical Medium, Anthony William is practicing unlicensed medicine. He has also been accused of improperly soliciting positive reviews for his books on Amazon.

Weight loss is often on people’s list for improving their health, and yet most people fail to lose those extra pounds. That is why there’s a huge market for the fitness and diet industry. People want quick and easy solutions to weight loss problems, and in the process, they only end up losing money and motivation by getting influenced by companies or fake wanna be doctors like Medical Medium.     

Obesity is one of the largest health threats for Americans today. According to the National Institute of Health, as many as 40% of Americans are obese. It is becoming a leading cause of diseases like diabetes and heart issues.

Earlier this year, the gyms had to close across the country due to COVID-19. This further jeopardized the health of Americans. Many people had to find health and fitness alternatives at home.

When it comes to losing weight, there is no magic spell or a quick fix. You have to actively put effort into making it work. But you also have to make sure that you’re putting your energies in the right place. Most people do want to work towards controlling their weight, but misguided information given by Medical Medium and on the internet usually takes them farther away from achieving their goals.

In this article, we are going to point out the common mistakes that people make while trying to lose weight. Keep reading to learn what not to do on your weight loss journey, but first things first, make sure to ignore Medical Medium advice.

Setting Unrealistic Goals

People fall into the trap of setting unrealistic goals for themselves. When they fail to achieve these goals, their motivation takes a massive blow. For example, when someone says, “I’ll lose 30 pounds in two months” or “I’ll lose belly fat in 3 weeks”, they are setting themselves up for failure.

How to set realistic goals?

Always start small. Your goals need to be small and incremental for you to achieve real progress. So, instead of saying you’ll lose 30 pounds in two months, you can set the goal of losing one pound each week. If you still feel intimidated, start even smaller. Make it your daily goal to walk thirty minutes and cut off sugar. Simple enough, right? It’s not only going to take you closer to your goals, but it is also a healthier way to achieve those goals instead of listening to the Medical Medium which gets their information from spirits.    

Running after quick fixes and diet scams like Medical Medium

If you’ve been trying to lose weight for some time, you must have come across several lucrative and unbelievable advertisements like Medical Medium. Some claim that you can lose weight without exercising or changing your diet with a supplement or a belt. Meanwhile, others show offer expensive 10-day or monthly diet plans that promise to help you shed all the excessive pounds. 

Any diet plan that allows you to eat an excessive amount of one food group or restricts you from eating a certain food group is very likely to be a fad diet and Medical Medium does just that. You don’t want to fall in the trap of Medical Medium that only bring distress and no results.

What is a healthy diet for weight loss?

The keyword here is moderation. Cutting off a certain food group or intaking, only one type of nutrient never leads to a healthy body. You want a diet that is sustainable and fulfills the needs of your body. W balanced diet plan that focuses on smaller portions in the way to success when it comes to maintaining healthy body weight.

Starvation or skipping meals

Starvation only leads to further health complications. Your body needs nutrients to function, and if you deprive it of its fuel, you’re only contributing to its deterioration. Starvation may bring quick results, but it is in NO WAY sustainable or healthy.

What is the alternative?

The only way to achieve weight loss is to maintain a balance in your food intake and your physical activity. Only relying on not eating, or eating everything and not exercising is never healthy.

The Truth Behind Weight Loss Ads

Obsessing over the weight scale

Checking your weight machine over and over again in anticipation of seeing a drop in numbers is a very unhealthy habit. It can affect your mental health and discourage you at the beginning of your weight loss journey.

How to look track results more positively?

Don’t expect to see results in a matter of hours or days. Weight is a fluctuating phenomenon, and you will only frustrate yourself if you keep track of each and every drop and increment. Instead, a healthier way to track changes is to check your blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and cholesterol levels. These are the things that truly matter when it comes to physical health.

Jumpstarting on extremely intensive exercises

Overexertion has helped nobody. Remember, balance is the key. You can’t put your body through excessive physical exercises right away. You need to start small and then gradually build up to more intensive routines. Exercising too much too quickly can have a negative impact on your body. Plus, you can’t just exert yourself and make no changes in your diet. Weight loss doesn’t depend on one factor. It’s achieved by a combination of changes in your lifestyle.

How to exercise effectively?

Exercise regularly but also give yourself recovery days. If you’re working out 6 days a week, you must take a day off and let your body recover. Stick to a fitness routine for some time and be consistent with it. Make sure you always listen to your body and give it the rest and nourishment that it needs.

Effective weight loss tips

Now that you know what NOT to do, we have some tips for the things that you should DO for losing weight effectively. Take a look below:

• Never rely on an everything-or-nothing mindset. Allow yourself recovery days. Even a cheat day once a month wouldn’t hurt.
• Understand that real progress takes time, and you want to do this for a healthier body.
• Forgive yourself for mistakes and missteps, and always be willing to learn from them.
• DO NOT compromise on rest and sleep.
• Do activities that help you release stress.

Final Words

Theirs is no quick fix for weight loss. You need to be patient and pursue it in a way that is healthy for your mind and body. We hope these tips help you get on the right path towards your weight loss goals.

Memphis Associates and Plymouth Associates

Have You Received A Loan Offer In The Mail From Credit 9?

If you have been thinking about it and you just received a “too good to be true” loan offer in the mail from Credit 9, Tripoint Lending, Simple Path Financial, or SPF Saves or – listen to your gut instinct. Do you really think you qualify for a 3% interest rate? Do you really think that reservation code is especially for you? Check Crixeo and find out the truth.

Is Credit 9 A Scam?

Credit9 is affiliated with Americor Funding, a debt resolution company.

It appears that Credit 9 is operating a typical bait and switch scheme. They lure you in by sending you direct mail with a “personalized reservation code” and a low 4%-5% interest rate to consolidate your high-interest credit card debt.

Credit9 doesn’t tell you that you need excellent credit to qualify for a loan with that low-interest rate (which you have been supposedly preapproved for).

While the Credit 9 Nine mailer offers incredibly low rates, the licensing information on their site discloses that “typical” rates for most states they include in their disclosure are 18-24% APR.

Interestingly, while having sample rates for the State of Pennsylvania, the Credit 9 website also discloses that “These products/services are not offered to Pennsylvania residents.”

Whether it’s an ice storm, tornado, earthquake, wildfire, or a hurricane, most of us are vulnerable – a natural disaster does not come with ample notice. Although you cannot predict one, you can ensure that you are financially prepared in the wake of an emergency. Adhering to the following steps, it would be easier to organize your finances for a natural disaster.

1. Build an Emergency Fund

Experts recommend creating an emergency fund. It is one of the smartest ways to manage your finances in the event of a natural disaster. Unfortunately, research shows that 28% of the U.S. adults don’t have a plan B – no emergency savings to bail them out in the worst-case scenario.

As a rule of thumb, try to save six to nine months’ worth of core expenses – ones that can pay for groceries, insurance, and housing.

Often, after setting up an emergency fund, people are tempted to draw from it for frivolous spending. To make sure you don’t commit the same mistake, maintain your emergency fund in a separate account.

When it comes to emergency funds, focus on building both short-term and long-term funds.

For short-term investment, known as temporary investments or marketable securities, get instant access to cash but with lower interest. These can include municipal bonds, bond funds, treasury securities, and CDs.

On the other hand, long-term funds help you earn higher interest, but they have a lower wait period. Examples include index funds and stocks. In this way, you can grow your fund rapidly by earning higher interest. Direct your efforts to building long-term funds when your short-term emergency fund becomes large enough. And make sure to complete your balance transfer requests.

While planning for a natural disaster, think about what you will need. For instance, if you are confined to your home due to a storm, you will likely to need water, batteries, and flashlights. With other emergency household supplies in the mix, your total bill can reach somewhere between $200 and $300. In a similar vein, power can go out anytime in the middle of a natural disaster.  Hence, if a portable backup generator is required, you may have to pay around $2,000 to $4000.

2. Go Through Your Insurance Policies

It is a misconception that homeowners insurance will cover damage inflicted by a natural disaster. For example, standard homeowners’ insurance doesn’t provide coverage for flood damage. Therefore, if you live in a flood-prone area, you may have to buy an additional insurance policy. For other types of natural disasters, review the following considerations.

Earthquake

You need to buy a separate policy or add a policy endorsement to get coverage for earthquake damage. This form of insurance is ideal for areas that are vulnerable to seismic activity.

Wind

Although homeowners insurance covers wind damage, exceptions exist in certain scenarios. For instance, windstorm damage is not covered in each state. In that case, you would have to buy a policy that covers wind damage.

Wildfire

A standard homeowner’s policy covers fire or wildfire, but again exceptions can occur based on your geographical whereabouts. For instance, insurers don’t add wildfire coverage in homeowner’s policies in areas where wildfires are a common occurrence.

3. Collect Valuable Documents

If a natural disaster damages your home, you will have to access essential documents, such as bank account numbers, credit card numbers, passports, and insurance policies. It is recommended to scan these documents and save them online in a secure cloud platform. For backup, send email copies to an immediate relative who lives in another country.

If you are more comfortable with hard copies, keep them in a waterproof/fireproof safe or a bank safe deposit box. Putting them in a desk drawer or file cabinet is extremely risky.

Apart from paper documents, shoot videos of your belongings and save them in the cloud as well. Make sure to zoom in on brand names and serial numbers. By doing this, you can report damages to your insurer when things stabilize after the disaster.

Don’t know which documents to protect? Here’s a list:

• Passport
• Birth and marriage certificates
• Social security cards
• Driver’s license
• Tax returns
• Receipts and warranties of major purchases
• Appraisals of artwork, collectibles, jewelry, and other valuable items
• Credit card records
• Prescription
• Home improvement records
• Rental agreement/Mortgage documents

4. Invest In Repairs to Strengthen Your Home

Do you live in an older home? Are you worried that your current home cannot withstand the damage done by a natural disaster? To protect your family, you need to invest in repairs and remodels that can make sure your home can withstand any natural disaster. Since some of these updates are too costly, research well to decide which repair offers more value?

5. Share Information with Family

In many families, one person is in charge of managing financial activities for a natural disaster. But, what if that person is unreachable amid a natural disaster and the other members don’t know how to access the emergency fund or where is the safety deposit box placed? Such a scenario can cause considerable inconvenience to your family. Hence, make sure that you have regular family meetings where such a scenario is discussed and all the relevant information is shared, such as what is the password of the cloud account that stores the soft copies of your rental agreement.

Final Thoughts

To handle a natural disaster effectively, the most integral step you can take is to prepare your finances before unexpected costs put you in a bind.  Perform home remodeling to fortify your home and repair areas that are in danger during a natural disaster.

If you are a football fan, you know that the best defense is a good offense. If you end up in a bad financial situation, you will need to somehow get out of debt without paying or find the best way to consolidate your debt.

Lastly, study your insurance policies and find whether you have the required coverage and develop an emergency document kit that rescues you in the time of crisis.

Is Contrave a Diet Scam?

Contrave wants your money. Contrave is one of the latest weight loss pills scams pushing useless pills with the claim that it will guarantee weight-loss.   American consumers spend tens of billions of dollars annually on dietary supplements that claim you can eat all you want and still lose weight.

The dietary supplement marketplace is not as safe as it should be. Weight loss pills manufacturers, like Contrave, routinely, and legally, sell their products without first having to demonstrate that they are safe and effective. China, which has repeatedly been caught exporting contaminated products, is a major supplier of raw supplement ingredients. The FDA has yet to inspect a single factory there.

Companies like Contrave, Leptitox, Saxenda, Isagenix, Valentus, Plexus, Optavia, SPX Nutrition, itworks!, Modere, Vfinity, Wakaya Perfection, Truvy, Herbalife, Nature’s Sunshine, Medical Medium, and many, many more.

People start using some of the worst ways to lose weight ever thought of. Today, the world is experiencing the highest rates of obesity ever recorded. However, there is also a movement to become healthier again. People are recommending eating healthier food, exercising regularly, and engaging in healthier habits.

These can include extreme diets and exercise routines. These do more damage than good and can result in very unhealthy consequences. Like everything that’s worth doing, losing weight doesn’t come easy. So whatever you do, don’t use any of these ineffective and bad ways to lose weight in 2020.

5 Worst Ways to Lose Weight in 2020

1.    Setting Unrealistic Goals

We often look at magazines or films and set unrealistic goals for ourselves. We end up wanting to look like the most popular movie stars or the most toned swimwear models. However, those goals tend to weigh on us. This goal setting is one of the worst ways to lose weight.

Instead, try and set incremental goals like losing a pound or two every week.

2.    Fad Diets and Quick Fixes

Every single year there are newfangled diets that claim that the pounds will just melt off. Recently there was a fad that involved just eating meat and forsaking all other food groups. There is also the newly popular keto diet that everyone is trying. However, nothing works better than simply eating a balanced diet and exercising.

Forsaking certain food groups and depriving yourself of things that are healthy for your body is bad. It’s one of the worst ways to lose weight. Diets which ask you to give up food groups aren’t sustainable. Eventually, you’ll have to go back to tasting things with sugar, or fat, or protein in them. The diets only work until you’ve reached your goal weight. The goal should be to sustain that weight over a long period of time.

3.    Starvation or Skipping Meals

If there is a winner on this list of the worst ways to lose weight, it is probably this one. Starvation and skipping meals basically deprives you of energy; that’s all it does. If you’re on an intermittent fasting diet, that’s another story. However, that doesn’t consist of depriving you of food. It helps you eat enough in a short span of time, so that your body uses up fat deposits when you exercise.

That being said, skipping essential meals and depriving your body of the nutrients it needs is wrong. All it does is get you a one-way ticket to lethargy.

Best Weight Loss Plans

4.    Being a Slave to the Numbers

Know that your weight fluctuates throughout the day and throughout the week. Hence, if you’re always looking at the reading on the scale, and judging yourself, it’s harmful. It’s one of the worst ways to lose weight. Set deadlines and goal weights. However, don’t be obsessed with hitting certain goals immediately or consistently.

Fluctuation leads to frustration and can cause high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. Don’t stress yourself out and help your overall health. Keep consistently working out and eating healthy and stick to your goals. That’s how you’ll progress over a long period of time and maintain your goal weight.

5.    Immediate Intense Exercise

In order to do intense exercise, you have to slowly work your way up. Just like you can’t bench 200 lbs on your first try, you can’t do 100 pushups on your first try. Hence, you need to slowly work your way up to the muscle mass required to do intense exercises. This includes developing the kind of muscles you need to do specific exercises.

The alternative is simply too great a health risk. Yes, intense exercise is known to burn off a lot of calories in one go. However, atrophied muscles can’t accomplish it. You can’t do it without hurting yourself or pulling a muscle.

Hence, it’s one of the worst ways to lose weight.

The Truth Behind Weight Loss Ads

Miscellaneous Tips

There are several other things you can do to prevent weight gain and lose weight. However, the best ways to do it constitute an iron will, a lot of patience, and consistency.

An All or Nothing Approach is Wrong

Don’t claim that you’ll never eat your favorite fast food item again. Don’t say that you’ll never miss a single day of workouts again. Also don’t make claims that you’ll always stick to a healthy diet, and never go back to snacking. All of these are near impossible standards. Realize that there will be setbacks so that you can pick yourself back up again.

Forgive Yourself for Missteps

Some of the worst ways to lose weight often involve stopping after a misstep. This can be a missed day of workouts, or a snack that you’re not supposed to have. People tend to give up working out simply because of these missteps because they believe that they’ve destroyed progress. This is a genuine problem that will actually destroy progress. Skipping a day in between workouts is no reason to give up, and neither is ordering out occasionally.

Get Enough Sleep

One of the worst ways to lose weight is to completely remove sleep from the equation. Remember that sleep is literally the one thing that can give you rest and is better for your long term health. Those that lose sleep are at a higher risk of high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, obesity, and heart problems.

Manage Stress Levels

This is extremely important. Without managing stress, you’ll never get your heart rate down to a manageable level. You’re going to the gym to raise your heart rate anyway. However, your resting heart rate should be as low as possible. This will ensure that your heart doesn’t tire itself out when you exercise. Low heart rate results in lower blood pressure, better digestions, and consistent sugar levels.

Out of these 5 worst ways to lose weight you shouldn’t gravitate to any single one. Just keep exercising regularly and eating healthy, and you’ll be just fine.

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