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  • Simple Home Workouts to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions

    Simple Home Workouts to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions

    The holidays are over and it’s time to shed that winter fat. You’ve probably resolved to live a healthier, more active life for your New Year’s resolution. If so, you’re probably eyeballing a gym membership or some home workout equipment. Before you make any big purchases, though, take it slow. Check out some of these simple home workouts that don’t require any equipment or gym membership. These are some of the easiest ways to keep those New Year’s resolutions!

    Simple Home Workouts

    Before you Start

    Before you start any of these workouts, here’s a few quick words of advice. Make sure you drink plenty of water and don’t overdo it. You should also stretch thoroughly before any strenuous physical activity. If you’re not very used to working out, make sure you don’t throw yourself in too haphazardly. You don’t get good results if you over-exert yourself! Take two minute breaks between each rep and catch your breath.

    Incline Push-Ups

    Get a surface like a bench or box that is sturdy enough to hold up your body’s weight. Brace your arms in a push-up position against the raised surface. Keep your body as straight as you can from your feet up to your head. Keeping this straight profile lower your body with your arms until it dips beneath your elbows. After a brief pause, return to your neutral position as rapidly as your arms can safely manage.

    If you find this exercise difficult, you can increase the incline. The greater the incline, the easier it will be for you. Likewise, if you find this too easy, you can instead do a traditional push-up, with your hands on the floor. In either event, 12 to 15 repetitions is a good number for a session.

    Side Plank

    Start by lying on the side of your body your non-dominant arm is on. Prop your body up on your elbow and forearm and make sure your arm is right under your shoulder. Place your other hand on your hip and tighten your core. Using your core, raise your hips from the floor and keep your arm locked in place. Keep your core tight and hold there for half a minute. Then, flip over and repeat this process for your other side.

    If you find it difficult to hold this for a full thirty seconds, you can try a modified version of the side plank. The modified version involves the same motions, but instead of holding it for a full thirty seconds you can drop back and then restart the movement. Do this until you get thirty full seconds across whichever number of repetitions you need to do.

    Squats

    Square your shoulders and stand as up as straight as you can. Set your feet a little further out than your shoulder-width and hold your arms out in front of you, parallel to the floor. Flexing your ab muscles, keeping your back straight and arms out, slowly squat by bending your knees and keeping your hips back. Once you get as low as you can, pause briefly before slowly returning to a standing position. Repeat this motion 15 to 20 times for a full session.

    Hip Raise

    While lying on the floor on your back, bend your knees and place your feet flat on the floor. Put your arms out at an angle from your body and face your palms up towards the ceiling. Tighten your core and breath normally as you squeeze your leg muscles and push your hips off the floor. Keep you body in as straight a line as you can while pushing your hips up off the floor. Pause when high in the air for about five seconds and then and then lower back to the floor slowly. 10 reps make for a full set!

    Jogging

    After doing reps of each of the body-weight exercises, you can round out your exercise with a light jog. Make sure you stretch your legs well and get hydrated before heading out. Stay safe when you’re out jogging, watch out for cars and make sure you don’t trespass. Jog for a few miles every morning or every other day and get in the habit of exercising regularly. If you make it a habit, it’s much easier to get up and get your workout in before work!

    If you stick to these easy exercises and make sure you do them consistently then you may find you have better luck with your resolutions. Happy New Year, and we hope your resolutions go well!

  • Do You Need a Sleep Apnea Mouthpiece?

    Do You Need a Sleep Apnea Mouthpiece?

    Many Americans suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea, or OSA. For a lot of people, the best way to deal with their sleep apnea is through the use of a CPAP machine. However, not everyone can sleep comfortable with a CPAP machine. If this applies to you, then maybe a sleep apnea mouthpiece is right for you!

    Today, we’re going to get into the pros and cons of sleep apnea mouthpieces and CPAP machines and how they can each help someone with sleep apnea. Sleep apnea mouthpieces are often recommended due to how small, convenient and portable they are.

    Sleep Apnea Mouthpiece

    What is a Sleep Apnea Mouthpiece?

    Not many people are familiar with sleep apnea mouthpieces. Primarily, they look like sports mouth guards. They are small plastic implements that are commonly used to keep your airway open while you sleep. Generally, these mouthpieces are specially constructed in order to mold to the mouth of the patient perfectly.

    Generally, the sleep apnea mouthpiece is molded and overseen by a dentist who specializes in sleep-related dentistry. This is referred to as dental sleep medicine, and it encompasses things like CPAP machines and sleep apnea mouthpieces. At the time of writing, roughly 3,000 dentists are qualified to fit patients for sleep apnea mouthpieces.

    It is worth noting that sleep apnea mouthpieces are only effective for patients with obstructive sleep apnea, not central sleep apnea. Central sleep apnea is caused by issues in the nervous system that cause irregular breathing. By contrast, obstructive sleep apnea is caused by physical obstructions to your breathing path while sleeping.

    Getting Your Own

    If your doctor thinks a sleep apnea mouthpiece is right for you then you’ll undergo the fitting process to get a specially-fitted mouthpiece. It’s important that your sleep doctor, together with your sleep medicine dentist, work in concert to get you the solution you need. There are many different types of mouthpieces that you could use, so getting the right one is important!

    Once your dentist starts fitting you, it will take a few visits to get all the measurements and molds ready. The fit is molded exactly to the shape and contours of your mouth and teeth. This makes for a comfortable fit that also helps keep your airways from becoming blocked while you’re sleeping.

    The mouthpiece works by keeping your lower jaw slightly pushed out so that it makes a little bit of space at the back of your throat. Your airway will be opened just enough to allow a proper amount of breath through. Snoring and sleep apnea can both be addressed rather definitively with these simple devices!

    Why Sleep Apnea Mouthpieces over CPAP?

    CPAP machines are great for some patients. However, there are a number of ways that mouthpieces can be a better fit for others. For one thing, mouthpieces are incredibly simple, easy and portable. You need only pop it in before you sleep to get the benefits of the device. CPAP machines, in contrast, involve a large facemask and a loud machine that has to be plugged into the wall.

    A number of snorers who haven’t been diagnosed with OSA aren’t even able to apply for CPAP therapy. This is because CPAP machines require diagnosis of sleep apnea before they can be recommended by a doctor. Mouthpieces, however, require no such diagnosis. They can often help in much the same way as a CPAP machine for those with minor obstruction causing loud snoring.

    Other Pros

    Even among people who have been diagnosed with OSA, if it’s mild enough, they may want to have a mouthpiece. A lot of people who start CPAP therapy stop it themselves after a few weeks, even though they’re not supposed to. The mask is just so unwieldy! It’s much easier to stick with the program when you’re just using the simple mouthpiece.

    It’s also a lot easier to simply pop in a mouthpiece and sleep normally than it is to fuss with the CPAP’s mask and machine. The CPAP machine blows air all night, making it a bit noisy. Many people and their sleep partners prefer the silence of the mouthpiece!

    It’s much easier to travel with a mouthpiece as well. When you’ve got a lot of machinery to cart about, it can be difficult to want to travel. When all you need is a mouthpiece, though, you’ve only got to pop it in your bag and you’re good to go! Finally, many patients prefer mouthpieces to CPAP machines because they’re just so much more affordable.

  • Best Horse Barn Kits: Take Care of your Equine Friends

    Best Horse Barn Kits: Take Care of your Equine Friends

    When it comes to your horses, you want to make sure they get all the best. The best food, the best saddles, the best grooming and especially the best lodging. If you’ve been looking for a great way to get your horse shelter from the elements, we’ve got you covered. Today we’re going over horse barn kits, one of the most efficient ways to house your horse on the market. Make sure you treat your equine friends with love!

    Horse Barn Kits

    Why Horse Barn Kits?

    You might be asking why you’d want to go with a prefab horse barn over simply hiring a contractor for the work. Well, as you might know, contractors can tend to make for very expensive work. For a quality barn, you might pay as much as $100,000 or more after materials and labor are all factored in. That’s where horse barn kits come in.

    Prefab horse barns are perfect for people on smaller budgets who have just one or two horses. You’re just looking for a good, high-quality barn for your horse to stay in, nothing custom or over-the-top. If that describes you, then a prefab barn is exactly what you need. Not only does it keep the cost way down, it also makes it much easier to build in a short time span. Usually you can get a prefab barn together in as little as a few days of work.

    The thing with prefab barns is that they’re shipped in a mostly-completed state. There are usually only a few parts that you need to snap together in order to have a finished product. This means that you can spend a few days assembling the barn instead of a contractor assembling it in a few months. As such, your horse can be in a comfortable barn in no time!

    The Prefab Difference

    What’s the main difference between a custom barn and a prefab, though? Well, generally speaking, prefabs are only really for people with one or two horses. Custom barns can be much more varied and accommodate more specific needs. Prefabs, in general, are made for more generic use cases.

    That said, prefab barns are nearly indistinguishable from normal barns when viewed. Most casual onlookers won’t be able to tell the difference. Your horse will be just as comfortable in a prefab barn as in a custom job, and it won’t cause you to break the bank!

    Types of Prefab Barn

    There are three main types of horse barn kits. There are run-in sheds, modular barns and shed row barns. The most affordable and simple of these types are run-in sheds. Run-in sheds are simple barns that are horizontal and comprised of two bays separated by a shoulder-height wall. These make a great storage space for tack, hay and other horse-related sundries you may have.

    Modular barns, by contrast, are more traditional-looking, with large doors and a more barn-like appearance. These tend to have loft space for your tack and other tools so that you can keep them high up and away from the horse or horses. These are often the higher end of prefab kits, making them a great pick for enthusiasts with two or so horses.

    The midway point between those two extremes is the shed row barn. Like run-in sheds, they are horizontal barns with very open designs. Like modular barns, though, they have sliding doors that shut and windows as well. This makes them ideal for people with one horse but a lot of tools they want to keep from the elements. Generally speaking, any of these options tends to be as much as 30 percent cheaper than going with traditional contractors for the work.

    Options for Prefabs

    Prefab horse barn kits don’t lack for options for both stylistic and functional add-ons. You can typically add these types of options piece-by-piece when shopping for a prefab kit. These options can include things like extra storage space for tools, hay and the like, or even stylistic add-ons. Extra stall partitions, window coverings, kickboards and the like can all be added on, too.

    For those with a love for rustic appearances, flower beds and flower boxes can often be added. Skylights, high, decorative windows and even different colors for you barn so it matches the aesthetic of your property.

    In conclusion, if you’re looking for a great structure to house your equine friends without spending a pretty penny, horse barn kits can be the best option for you. Treat your horses with love!

  • Tips to Grow Your Savings for Your New Year’s Resolution

    Tips to Grow Your Savings for Your New Year’s Resolution

    If it’s one of your resolutions this year to grow your savings account, then you’re going to need a few tips on saving money. It can be difficult to go from spending frivolously to learning to actually save and grow your money. However, there are some simple steps you can take to help grow your savings and get in better habits when it comes to money. Today we’re going to help you keep your New Year’s resolution by showing you some ways to save like a pro!

    Tips to Grow Your Savings

    Make a Budget

    One of the first things you can do to make sure you keep your savings topped off is making a budget. A good budget is one that spends no dollars frivolously. Sit down and look at your income and make a detailed plan for each dollar you make. Typically, you want to use a 50/30/20 savings plan or something along those lines.

    The 50/30/20 plan holds that you should spend 50 percent of your income on necessities, like housing and gas and groceries. Then, you should allocate 30 percent of your finances for wants, frivolous or fun things like movies, going out to eat or going to shows. Finally, twenty percent of your finances should be allocated for your financial goals, like saving money for retirement or a vacation.

    Make sure your entire paycheck is allocated before you get it. If every dollar has a place, that makes it much harder for you to spend more money than you should. This means that you’ll find it much easier to save money and grow your savings.

    Spend Less on Food

    Another way to save money is to spend less when going out to eat food. If you consistently go out to restaurants to eat, you may be spending a lot more on food than you should be. If you instead opt to buy less expensive and more reasonable groceries and eat more at home you can save a lot of money. Then, take the money you saved on eating out and put that in your savings account again!

    Another way to help save on food is buy purchasing more fresh food and less junk food. Not only does this mean you’ll eat less garbage and be healthier, but it will help you save a ton of money. Making meals from scratch might take more energy but it helps you save a lot more money..

    Investments for Savings

    Investments are a great way to grow your savings. If you consistently put money back to save, then you’ll have an ample amount to put towards investments. Investing in the stock market can be easy through online sites that offer advice to new investors. Investments aren’t exactly guaranteed money, but they can be a safe way to grow your money if you use managed portfolios or conservative investments.

    Other investments that people commonly use to grow their savings are 401 (K) accounts or Roth accounts. These retirement accounts are taxed differently than normal savings accounts and are thus often much better for long-term savings. They tend to grow at a slow but steady rate and are very dependable for long-term money growth. The sooner you begin investing in these kinds of account, the better! The longer you have interest compounding in these accounts, the more money you’ll have when you go to retire.

    Savings Accounts

    There are many different types of savings accounts, and some are better than others for growing your savings. Generally speaking, when you put investments into a savings account, the size of the investment influences the interest rates. Interest rates and fees can all change based on what type of savings account and how much money you’re looking to put in it.

    A great way to make sure your savings grow over time is through scheduled regular deposits. Depending on how much you want to save, you can set a regular amount of money to be drafted from your checking to your savings. This ensures that your money consistently goes into your savings and that any interest you could accrue is consistently being applied.

    Conclusion

    The most important thing about saving is consistency. If you’re always keeping a close eye on your savings, depositing money into your account and sticking to your budget, it will become like second nature to you. The best thing about saving is that it is a life-long habit that will ensure you have as much money saved back as you need, no matter what happens!

  • Reduce Your Risk for a Serious Fall

    Reduce Your Risk for a Serious Fall

    Older Americans are at much greater risk of suffering serious falls than they think. One in every three people over 55 takes a serious fall each year. That’s over 30 percent of people over 55! Of those people, about 30 percent suffer moderate-to-severe injuries, such as broken hips or serious head trauma. Even if they aren’t badly hurt, people who suffer serious falls take a hit to their mental well-being, potentially raising their anxiety and impacting their quality of life.

    If you’re an older person or a caretaker for an older person who is at risk of suffering a serious fall, you have options for reducing the risks. Here are some things you can do to make your or your loved one’s home safer from serious falls.

    Reduce Your Risk for a Serious Fall

    See Your Eye Doctor

    At least once a year you need to take a visit to your eye doctor and make sure your prescription lenses are all up-to-date. The easiest way to avoid taking a serious fall, after all, is by seeing obstacles or hazards before you bump into them or trip over them. It can be really hard to see potentially dangerous hazards if your glasses aren’t the right prescription anymore! If you have less than ideal vision or you’re beginning to lose the use of your vision, then it’s time to take further precautions.

    Review Your Medication

    Sit down with your doctor and go over all of your medication and any potential side-effects they may have. If you take a number of medications that could impact your balance or your ability to walk steadily then you might need to consider taking further precautions in and around your home to make it safer for you. After all, your home should be the safest place you can go!

    Modify Your Home

    It’s your home, after all, so it should be somewhere you feel safe. Take steps to make your home more safe for you and eliminate opportunities to take a spill. If you have a stairwell in your home, consider having more handrails added. Anywhere there’s a step up or down, add handrails nearby that you can grip as you maneuver.

    Consider adding extra lighting in areas that are particularly tricky, such as landings and stairs. Additionally, arm bars or hand rails in the shower and near the toiled could be helpful in preventing serious falls. Arm rest for the toilet can also make it easier to stand, making falls less likely.

    Install Helpful Appliances

    If you have a stairwell in your home that is particular falling-prone, consider buying a stair lift. Stair lifts are safe alternatives to walking up and down the stairs and allow you to safely go back and forth between upstairs and downstairs. Stair lifts have seats attached to powered rails that allow you to safely traverse your own home.

    Similarly, if you find getting into and out of the bathtub to be hazardous, you could have a walk-in tub installed. These reduce the amount of stepping up you have to do to enter your bathtub and make it much easier to get in and out of the tub. Many walk-in tubs also double as spas or soaking baths, making them as much of a fun treat as they are helpful appliances!

    Stay Active

    It might sound counter-intuitive, but staying active is one of the best ways for elderly people to prevent falls. If you engage in activities like tai chi, regular walks, water workouts and the like then you’ll reap the benefits. Not only will you feel better as your body needs exercise, you’ll have more strength and coordination.

    It’s much harder to suffer a serious fall if your muscles and coordination are more developed. Not to mention, balance and flexibility go up with regular exercise programs, making them ideal for someone worried about taking a spill in their own home. As always, make sure to discuss any potential exercise plan with your doctor to make sure its right for your lifestyle.

    Keep Your Home Clean

    Don’t allow clutter to build up throughout the house. Homes are much less safe when there is a ton of debris lying about. Old newspapers, electrical cords, boxes, plastic bags and the like can all constitute serious tripping hazards. Work to eliminate as much clutter as possible from your home, and especially from walkways.

    Finally, make sure you use common sense. Don’t go out for a walk when it’s icy, and make sure you wear shoes that are the right size and keep the laces tied up. The last thing you want is to take a serious fall in your own home!

  • Tips for Saving Big on Your Next Car Rental

    Tips for Saving Big on Your Next Car Rental

    When you take a trip out of town, one of the expenses you have to keep in mind is your car rental. However, you don’t have to break the bank just to rent a decent ride to get you around town! Today we’re going to help you save big on your next car rental. Save your money so you can afford to do more fun things on your trip or vacation! Trust us when we say you’re going to be thankful you read this list the next time you travel out of town.

    Tips for Saving Big on Your Next Car Rental

    The Basics

    Most major car rental companies offer coupons for their services that you’d be remiss to not take advantage of. If you’re anything like us, you love finding great deals lurking around the internet. Use some search engine mastery or a plug-in like Honey before you fork over any cash for the next car rental you pay for. There are many sites that collect coupons and codes from many of the biggest car rental companies, so saving money could be a few short clicks away.

    Another basic thing you can try is to simply ask for a discount. You’d be surprised at how many companies offer discounts for various organizational affiliations. For example, if you’re in the military or a retired veteran you may get a discount. Many places offer discounts for AAA members, or AARP members. It never hurts to ask what kind of discounts you can get! The worst that could happen is they simply tell you that they don’t have any discount programs.

    Frequent Flyer Miles

    Another discount you might find could come through your frequent flyer miles. If you’re a member of a frequent flyer program, such as through your credit card company, you might be eligible for discounts on rental cars using your miles. Sometimes frequent flyers don’t even realize these savings are available through their rewards program! Additionally, your rental company may be able to offer you miles in return for renting through them. As always, it never hurts to ask!

    Rental Car Loyalty Program

    Much like with frequent flyer programs, it might be a good idea to look into a car rental loyalty program if you’re out of town and renting cars rather often. Many of these loyalty programs are free to join and give you tons of benefits for sticking with your favorite rental company. Often these programs will allow you to store up points the more you use the company in question for car rentals.

    Once you have so many points, these programs typically allow you to cash them in for upgrades to your rental, or even outright free rentals. While these programs might not occur to you right away when you’re thinking of savings, they’re a stellar way to keep extra cash in your wallet. After all, if you’re often out and renting cars, then you might as well get rewarded for it!

    Shop for the Best Price

    Make sure you do some research beforehand if you plan on heading out for a vacation or distant trip. After all, it can be difficult to find the best price on a car rental when you’re standing in the airport. Instead of getting caught out like that, do your research at home before you set foot on the plane.

    Many websites, like Kayak and other price aggregators, allow you to see a number of car rental prices side-by-side. This allows you to pick and choose which prices look the most appealing to you. This ensures that you not only get the best deal, but it also means you know what you’re in for when you land in a distant airport.

    While you’re online, you should also consider prepaying for your car rental. A lot of people don’t realize that you can save as much as twenty percent if you opt to prepay for your rental car before you go to pick it up in person. This requires a bit of planning ahead on your part, but it will save you a decent chunk of change.

    Consider Avoiding the Airport

    When it comes to car rentals, you should consider avoiding picking up in the airport. While it is very convenient to step off of the plane and get your rental car right away, it could be costing you as much as thirty percent more. If you take a cab into town and rent from there, instead, you could likely save a lot of money (even considering the cab fare).

  • Tired all the Time? You Might Not be Getting Enough Quality Sleep

    Tired all the Time? You Might Not be Getting Enough Quality Sleep

    Do you find that you’re always yawning? Do you doze off whenever nothing stimulating is happening? Are you generally just tired all the time? If these things are the case, you might not be getting enough sleep. Or, you might be getting enough sleep, but not enough quality sleep. Here’s the thing: you shouldn’t need a cup of coffee every morning to have enough energy for the day. You should have that naturally. Here’s how.

    How to Make Sure You Get Enough Quality Sleep

    What Happens When I Don’t Get Enough Quality Sleep?

    A number of things happen when you can’t get enough quality sleep. The first and most noticeable thing is that you find it hard to roll out of bed in the morning. People who suffer from sleep deprivation often hit their alarm multiple times in the morning, sleep in to the last minute and find themselves very groggy and unresponsive for half an hour to an hour after waking. Generally, people suffering from sleep deprivation have high caffeine dependencies to help them throughout the day.

    Those experiencing sleep deprivation often doze off when they aren’t being directly stimulated. For instance, when in a meeting or watching TV, they might simply nod off. More dangerously, some people with extreme sleep deprivation symptoms may find themselves nodding off behind the wheel on their way to work or back.

    Additionally, those who don’t get enough quality sleep are often in miserable moods. They tend to be irritable, easily distracted and more prone to getting depressed. In short, being sleep deprived puts you in a terrible mood.

    What is Quality Sleep?

    If you’re not getting enough quality sleep then you’re going to feel drowsy and groggy all day. That’s no way to go through your life! But, you may ask, what constitutes quality sleep? Generally speaking, quality sleep is sleep that is uninterrupted for 8 straight hours or so. Sleep tends to be more restorative in a quiet, cool, dark room. Constant interruptions, extreme hot or cold in the room you sleep in, or flashing lights (such as televisions) can make your sleep lower quality.

    You might be saying that many of these things are unavoidable. However, we’re here to help you figure out how you can make your sleeping space better for your quality of life. Take bake your sleeping space so you can regain your waking hours!

    How to Get Better Sleep

    Firstly, you should try to stop drinking as much caffeine and alcohol. If you already avoid those substances, good on you! If you don’t, however, it’s time to cut back. Many people find they need a cup of coffee or an energy drink to keep going throughout the day. These drinks are downright terrible for your body and you should avoid them altogether. They can also interrupt your circadian rhythms and make your sleep much more troubled.

    Likewise, alcohol is terrible for your sleep schedule. If you often drink heavily, it could be having profound negative effects on your liver and heart, as well as your intestines and brain. If your sleep is fitful and you find it hard to stay asleep through the night, try cutting back on alcohol.

    Other Tips

    When you lay down for bed, cut off the TV and all lights in the house. In fact, consider taking the TV out of your bedroom. Your bedroom should be a place designed for sleep, exclusively. When it’s bed time, cut your phone off and put it across the room. If you live with noisy neighbors or roommates, invest in some earplugs or a white noise machine to help you tune out the distractions.

    Shut your door to block lights or sounds from outside your room. Consider investing in large, blackout drapes to hang over the windows for when you sleep to keep outside lights out and to dampen outside sounds. While these aren’t foolproof methods, they are steps in the right direction.

    Lifestyle Changes

    If you do shift work for a living, such as working alternating nights, opening shifts and closing shifts, consider changing your line of work. Shift work is terrible on your body, causing you to interrupt your own circadian rhythms and typically resulting in overreliance on caffeine to maintain unhealthy sleeping patterns.

    Remember, your quality of life isn’t worth a few dollars. Try to find work with a company that cares more about you than one that will put your health on the line for a quick buck. You’re worth more than that.

  • 2020 Ford Bronco: What We Know So Far

    2020 Ford Bronco: What We Know So Far

    In 1996, the last Ford Bronco was released, much to the dismay of many outdoors-y enthusiasts. After the rugged, off-road capable 4×4 went off the market, many of Ford’s faithful mud-lovers ended up switching over to brands like Jeep. After all, the Jeep Wrangler has largely kept the spirit that made the Bronco such a hit alive.

    Well, there is good news for those who love to go off-roading: the Ford Bronco is coming back soon. As soon as January 2020, if some rumors are to be believed. This new model still has a lot of questions surrounding it, even including what it might look like as a finished product. However, one thing is certain: fans of the Bronco are ecstatic.

    2020 Ford Bronco

    Rock Solid

    The Bronco’s legacy is that of a rock-solid vehicle that could tackle even the most demanding off-roading challenges. The 2020 Bronco looks set to follow expertly in those footsteps. Body-on-frame 4×4 vehicles are no joke, and you need look no further than the Jeep Wrangler to see that. The Bronco will be no exception. Additionally, the Bronco promises solid front and rear axels and enough ruggedness to make a grizzly bear look like a ballerina.

    Rumor has it that the Bronco is going to share a frame with the Ranger pickup, making it a solid choice for outdoors-types. Likewise, the Bronco is likely to be constructed primarily of aluminum, which allows Ford to keep the body light while not sacrificing on pure power. What’s not to love?

    Looks Like…

    As far as looks go, there are a few guesses out there. Pictures have been snapped of the new Bronco in the wild, and, though it’s covered by specifics-obscuring tape and deflectors, we can get an idea of the appearance. It looks like the design for the smaller Bronco is mostly based on the Ford Escape. However, some sources have indicated that a few of the Bronco’s designs and layouts will be more strongly based on the Ford Ranger.

    From rumors we’ve gathered that the Bronco looks to be a sub-brand for Ford, likely paying second fiddle to brands like the F-150 and other, more established lines. As for inspiration into what kind of performance and handling it can have, many have pointed to the Ford Troller and Jeep Wrangler as examples. These are all stellar design choices on which to base a 4×4, so we can safely say the Bronco is going to look rugged when it rolls out in 2020.

    Under the Hood

    If the Ford Ranger Raptor is any indication, expect to see an Eco-Boost engine under the hood of the 2020 Bronco. Ford is nothing if not consistent, and they’ve been putting the Eco-Boost in everything from the Raptor to the GT Supercar. Our best guess for the engine is that it churns out no less than 325 horses and puts up comparable torque to the Raptor. That means at least 370 pound-feet of torque across the solid front and back axles, meaning this is your go-to vehicle for getting deep in the mud.

    Keep in mind, of course, that this is all speculation based on Ford’s other recent vehicles. Ford themselves have made no indications as to what we should expect when the Bronco arrives in 2020. These are our best guesses, and though we feel they are likely, they could turn out to be inaccurate.

    How Much, and When?

    Again, it’s still a good bit of time away from releasing, so these are estimates at best. However, our best guesses for the eventual price and release date are based on rather credible rumors and educated guesses. Since the Bronco is being produced in Detroit and on the same body as the Ranger, we can make some safe assumptions. The first is that it will have many similar capabilities to the Ranger, and the second is that it will cost around the same.

    That means we can safely peg the price in the low-to-mid 30’s, depending on trim level and other factors. As for when you can expect to see these, we could expect around January 2020. It’s worth noting that we’re likely to see the “baby” version, based on the Ford Escape, hit dealerships first. It likely won’t be until a year after that, in 2021, that we could expect to see a full-sized iteration of the Bronco.

    Keep in mind that none of this is set in stone. Even if these are Ford’s current plans, they’re still more than a year away and could change at any time.

  • How to Save Money When You Upgrade Your Smartphone

    How to Save Money When You Upgrade Your Smartphone

    There are constantly new smartphones coming out. Every year the biggest smartphone manufacturers release new flagship phones full of great new features. If you’re not careful you could end up spending a ton of money trying to keep up with the latest tech trends. If you’re looking to upgrade your smartphone without breaking the bank, you need to have a plan on how to save money.

    There are a number of strategies you can use to try to keep your costs down while you’re trying to keep up with the latest tech. If you follow these tips you should save money and stay cutting edge all at the same time!

    How to Save Money When You Upgrade Your Smartphone

    Consider Switching Carriers

    Smartphones are a very competitive business. Carriers are always vying to lure customers of their competitors away with a number of cost-cutting tactics. Use their rivalry to your advantage! The last thing you need to do is pay full-price for anything. Pit carriers against one another when you look for the best deal on a new smartphone. If your current carrier has a worse deal on the newest smartphone than a competitor, make sure they know about it.

    If you threaten your cell phone carrier with the prospect of switching to get a better deal, they pay attention. Often you can even get discounts on your bill or a credit to your account as an incentive to stay with your current company. Don’t be afraid to play hardball with your carrier, and if they won’t help you save, cut them loose. You have no obligation to spend more money just because you’ve been using them for longer.

    Check Retailers

    Often, big-box stores like Sam’s Club, Walmart and Target offer deals on new smartphones. These could range from gift card promotions to savings on buying two phones at once. Either way, keeping your eyes peeled for deals in unlikely stores often pays when you’re trying to upgrade your smartphone for cheap.

    When it comes to smartphone shopping, you’re not stuck with just your wireless carrier for finding new phones. Between big-box retailers, online shopping and upstart phone companies, there are always ways to save. For instance, many tech-heads find it’s much cheaper to buy unlocked smartphones from the manufacturer and then get cell service added to them, rather than buying straight from the carrier.

    It’s important to remember that you have the power as the customer: your carrier only exists to serve you. Don’t let them fool you into thinking otherwise!

    Trade-Ins

    Most phone retailers will allow you to trade your current phone back in for a credit to your next upgrade. Depending on the carrier you could even find yourself paying nothing up front to pick up a brand-new phone when you trade-in. The biggest factor to keep in mind is the age and condition of your current phone. If you have a seven-year-old phone with tons of cracks and scratches it’s unlikely you’ll fetch much (if any) trade-in credit.

    However, if your phone is newer and of a well-known brand like Apple or Samsung you could find yourself saving a ton of money when you trade-in. Remember, not all carriers offer good trade values. Make sure you do research on your current phone and know what a fair trade-in price for the phone is. If the retailer won’t offer you a decent trade-in credit, simply opt for selling it yourself, or even switching carriers. Know your phone’s worth!

    Sell Your Old Phone

    This requires a bit more research and work in your part but it could be a great way to recoup some of the cost of your new phone. If you’ve got the time and patience to list and sell your old phone yourself you might get a lot more for it. Even selling your old phone for a few hundred dollars less than its MSRP could result in some bargain-hunter buying it off of you.

    This, in turn, frees you up to make sure you get what your phone is worth. The cold, hard cash you get selling the phone yourself allows you to turn the savings into money for groceries or other bills, too. Whether you choose to sell to a private individual or a retailer is your call, though you often get more when you sell it to a private individual.

    Just remember, before you sell someone your old phone you need to factory reset it. You don’t want some stranger having your contacts and pictures! Make sure you also take the old SIM card out of it if you haven’t already.

     

  • How 5G Speeds Will Impact You

    How 5G Speeds Will Impact You

    5G speeds are very nearly a reality for millions of wireless customers. Hype surrounding this next jump in cellular communications technology has been building for years. After all, it’s the next step in how our devices wirelessly communicate with one another. Everything from cell phones to self-driving cars will benefit from the new wireless infrastructure. So, how will 5G speeds impact you? What will 5G speeds mean for your devices?

    How 5G Speeds Will Impact You

    Where Will it Go Live First?

    5G speeds will likely roll out slowly at first, so don’t expect to see it any time soon unless you live in a major metropolitan area. If you happen to live in New York, Atlanta, LA or some other large city hub, you may be using 5G before everyone else. If not, it likely won’t be until late next year or even 2020 that you see 5G hitting your region.

    That’s because 5G represents a pretty major departure from 4G LTE and previous iterations of wireless infrastructure. This new wireless system will require a pretty major overhaul of existing cell towers and will require new hardware devices o take advantage of them. As such, the most populous areas will be the natural first pick for rolling out the service.

    Sprint has promised to have 5G networks up and running by early 2019. T-Mobile, likewise, has plans to go live in around 30 cities before the end of 2019. Take these estimates with a grain of salt, though: Verizon was talking about 5G field tests back in 2015. It may still be until 2020 or later that we see 5G on a large scale.

    What to Expect Early

    If you are one of the lucky few who sees 5G speeds hit your region early, don’t expect to be blown away by speeds hitherto undreamt of. It’s more likely that the fledgling system will have some growing pains before it begins to really show its strengths. For an example we can look to immediately, Verizon has launched a home 5G internet service in markets like Los Angeles and Dallas.

    Verizon’s home 5G broadband is certainly fast, and indicates a pretty big step up from previous internet speeds. However, the company isn’t using the industry-standard definition of 5G, leading many to criticize the company’s use of the 5G moniker. Even in their limited case, though, it’s clear that the 5G system won’t be revolutionizing telecommunication. Not right away, at least.

    5G Phones?

    There are currently no 5G phones in existence. If there are prototypes floating around, they’re still in the earliest stages. As of right now, 5G is more a benchmark that companies are trying to hit than a reality that is just weeks away. While we may see some early forays into 5G in the next year or so, the front half of 2019 is unlikely to have any proper 5G coverage. Well, at least not through phones.

    What you’re more likely to see early in this technology’s existence is “pucks,” or wireless receivers, that have 5G capabilities installed in major cities. These pucks would then process the 5G signal they’re receiving and turn it into a Wi-Fi signal. This would allow customers of various wireless companies to use their carrier’s 5G service through a puck on a phone that isn’t equipped to send and receive 5G signals.

    The Phones, Though

    “I don’t care,” you say, “I just want to know when I can get my hands on a 5G phone.” Well, there’s no definitive answer to that question yet. However, you’re right if you’re assuming you’ll likely never use a 5G puck. Pucks were used in the early days of 4G LTE coverage, but they were weird even back then. In today’s era, it’s unlikely you’ll encounter these. That means that, for the average person, their first encounter with 5G will be through a 5G-enabled phone.

    As for when we can expect to see the first of those, we’re not entirely sure. A conservative guess would be early in 2020, though many smartphone manufacturers are claiming that as soon as mid-to-late 2019 they’ll ship 5G phones. The truth may be somewhere in the middle of these two estimates.

    The earliest 5G phones are likely to inherit a lot of the problems that early LTE phones had. Phones like the Thunderbolt, one of the earliest LTE phones, had issues with short battery lives, overheating and poor performance. It’s reasonable to assume that the earliest 5G phones will experience similar growing pains as these earlier models did.