Home

Author: Nick McLane

  • The Unbelievably Simple Tricks to Banishing Arthritis Pain For Good

    The Unbelievably Simple Tricks to Banishing Arthritis Pain For Good

    Arthritis is not just something people suffer from when they age. It’s not a single disease either. There are hundreds of types of arthritis with numerous methods to find relief. In this article, we’ll deliver some of the best ways doctors recommend to achieve arthritis relief and get back to living your best life. .

    Learn From Your Immune System
    Inflammatory arthritis can be the byproduct of your body generating an immune response to rid it’s self of infection or prevent disease. But it can also be due to a diet high in items like processed sugar and refined carbohydrates can often exacerbate rheumatoid symptoms. Reducing your intake of these items can be helpful in relieving some of the pain caused by this type of arthritis, but the nature of the autoimmune-related illness means a more robust approach will likely be necessary to obtain comprehensive relief.

    Finding Everyday Relief
    Osteoarthritis the broad term for arthritis caused by a wearing of the cartilage cushioning our bones. It’s the most common type of arthritis and affects 10% of men and 13% of women over the age of 60.

    According to the Mayo Clinic symptoms include joint stiffness, tenderness, loss of flexibility, swelling, and bone spurs. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease which means it’s something that progresses over time. That’s why many of the steps doctors recommend tend to focus on daily preventative care.

    One Ounce of Prevention
    Recommendation #1 – Regular low impact exercise is key. With low impact exercise you can expect to see relieved stiffness, reduced pain and fatigue and increased muscle and bone strength.

    Recommendation#2 – Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight putting extra stress on your joints which speeds up degeneration of joint cartilage. Like with inflammatory arthritis, avoiding processed sugar and excess refined carbohydrates can be key to helping you avoid arthritis pain in the future.

    Recommendation #3 – Get adequate rest. Living an active lifestyle can be key to maintaining a healthy weight but knowing how to properly balance activity with rest is the real trick. Overuse can easily lead to swollen joints, injury, and future cartilage degeneration. Supplementation with omega-3 fish oils is a good way to help protect your joints if you live an active lifestyle. They help restore and supplement joint tissue by providing additional natural lubrication.


  • Best All New Wireless Headphones for 2021

    Best All New Wireless Headphones for 2021

    Whether you’re looking for a good pair of headphones for working out or just something to wear while drowning out sounds during your commute, not having to fuss with wires is a huge plus. No one wants to worry about the tangle of wires in their pocket or bag, or their cord snagging on something and damaging their headphones. Thankfully, there are some stellar Bluetooth headphones on the market. Here are some of our top picks.

    Jabra Elite 75t

    If you like having wireless earbuds for sports activity, we can highly recommend the Jabra Elite 75t. These new earbuds fit snugly in most ears, and they have a great sound quality for their small size. The drivers are solid, offering punchy bass, good mid-levels, and decent overall sound: while these won’t be beating any dedicated audiophile headphones, they’re good for their price point and size.

    A notable draw to the Jabra Elite 75t is their microphones. They work incredibly well as a headset for taking phone calls, doing a great job of filtering out background noise. If you like wearing earbuds while jogging, cycling or other types of activity, this is a great draw. Taking a call while getting in your workout is a great two-in-one feature for busy professionals.

    Sony WF-1000XM3

    Sony has finally taken its wildly successful WF series headphones and put them into a smaller package. The WF-1000XM3 takes the quality of their full-size headphones and puts them into a smaller earbud form factor.

    Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless

    If you’re looking for the intersection of portability and sound quality, you’re looking for the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless earbuds. These wireless earbuds offer incredible sound quality and accurate reproduction of recordings. They’re incredibly light: you might even forget they’re in your ears. When you need a good set of earbuds for taking with you on trips or to work and back, these are a great go-to.

    While they’re not the best for sports or activity, the Sennheiser earbuds are great for daily activities like walking or commuting. For the person who wants portable wireless earbuds that can be tucked into a pocket but still wants the best sound quality, these physics-defying little earbuds are the best option.

    AirPods Pro

    If you’re already in the Apple ecosystem, these are a no-brainer. Their intuitive gesture controls allow you to change the song, adjust the volume and answer calls quickly and without having to pull your phone out.

    The 2020 update brings even more useful tricks to the AirPods Pro. With Apple’s propriety H1 chip they feature snappier Siri integration. You can send messages, start playlists and ask for internet searches all while jogging, cleaning or whatever you’re doing while wearing the AirPods. If you love high-tech integration and cool fashion statements, the AirPods are a great pick for you.

    Beats Solo Pro

    Apple has finally stepped up the quality of their Beats headphones. The Beats Solo Pro is a set of over-ear, active noise canceling, headphones. They used the same noise-canceling technology featured on their more premium, over-ear, Studio3 Wireless. The H1 wireless chip makes sure they are easy to connect to your phone and feature full Siri support. They’re a bit more expensive than the average headphones, but their great technology integration and stellar sound quality on phone calls makes them great for people on the move.

    PowerBeats Pro

    If you love the idea of the AirPods but want a more fitness-oriented set of wireless earbuds, the Beats Powerbeats Pro are for you. The same technology that went into the second generation AirPods is on display in the PowerBeats Pro, just in a more fitness-oriented shape. The over-ear design on display here helps the earphones stay on your ears while your exercise, making them great for any active person.


  • Getting the Best Deals on Contact Lenses

    Getting the Best Deals on Contact Lenses

    Most people who need glasses don’t really think much about their vision. However, if you prefer contacts, you’re likely constantly considering your contacts’ cost, availability, comfort and more. Today we’re going to be looking at some of the more popular contacts brands, and how you can get some of the best deals on them.

    Contact Lenses

    Why Contacts?

    A lot of people who only wear glasses might be wondering what’s so special about contacts anyway. After all, if you wear glasses, you don’t need to worry about putting in contacts, accidentally falling asleep with them in, buying new ones every so often, and all of the other related concerns. However, contacts are great for a variety of reasons.

    Firstly, contact lenses allow the wearer to avoid having to keep up with a pair of glasses. If you’re going swimming, riding a roller coaster or some similar activity that has a high likelihood of knocking the glasses off of your face, you’ll likely prefer to have your contacts in. Others prefer contacts because they feel as though they look more attractive when they’re not wearing glasses. Others still simply like to be able to wear sunglasses!

    Biofinity

    A particularly popular new brand of contacts is Biofinity, from manufacturer CooperVision. The main draw of the Biofinity line of contact lenses is their superior quality of production: they’re made from a proprietary silicone hydrogel that is designed for a combination of superior clarity and comfort. CooperVision advertises that the lenses are safe to wear for up to seven days and six nights, all while offering great clarity of vision.

    One of the strengths of the Biofinity lens is that it allows the eye to “breath” and moisturize itself through its natural processes. The material the lenses are made from allows for air to not get caught underneath, and many have noted that you can barely even notice you’re wearing the lens. That’s saying something for a lens that markets itself based on comfort!

    Finding Great Deals

    When it comes to buying contact lenses, of course, you want to make sure you get the best deals. After all, the best-feeling, premium contacts can be rather expensive. This means that you’ll need to make sure you find the best prices on them! We recommend shopping online to find the best deals, because online offers a number of benefits.

    For instance, buying online allows you to check a store’s inventory and prices against other retailers. This allows you to comparison shop without driving all over to compare. Likewise, shopping online allows you to forego driving around town, getting stuck in traffic and just generally dealing with crowds. After you order your contacts, you can rest assured that they’ll be delivered to your home shortly. It’s the definition of a win-win: You get to save money, and you don’t have to deal with shopping!

    1-800-Contacts

    An example of a great online retailer is 1-800-Contacts, which has been around long enough to have a name that references their phone number. They offer great prices, quick shipping and a great amount of variety for shoppers. Their name is well-trusted, since they’ve been around for years, so you can rest assured you’re shopping quality products.

    Contacts Direct

    Another example of a great online contact retailer is Contacts Direct, who has a similarly wide selection and great pricing compared to 1-800-Contacts. You can easily compare prices and shipping costs and types, and you’ll be hard-pressed to not find your favorite brand or variety of contact lens among the incredibly wide variety of lenses Contacts Direct has available. Don’t pay more than you have to for lenses: start shopping online today!


  • Is Your Card This Good? Best Credit Cards with No Annual Fees

    Is Your Card This Good? Best Credit Cards with No Annual Fees

    It can be hard to build your credit. Credit cards come in so many varieties. How can you figure out which one is the best for you? To help you decide we’ve rounded up a selection of some of the best credit cards with no annual fees. These are some of the best credit cards you’ll find for building credit!

    Best Credit Cards with No Annual Fees

    Discover it Cashback Match Card

    This no-fee cashback card is an interesting one. You get one percent cashback on all purchases, which is standard for cashback. However, each quarter a new category of five percent cashback is in effect. For example, some quarters will have restaurants as a five percent category while others will have gas stations in that slot.

    While the quarterly bonus rewards are nice, the best part is the introductory period. For the first 14 months the card has zero interest! After that it reverts to between 13.49 percent and 24.49 percent APR.

    Citi Simplicity Card

    This straightforward no-fee credit card is great if you just want a simple card for daily use. It offers an 18-month period of zero interest and has no annual fees. To get accepted for the card it’s recommended that you have credit between 690 and 850. Overall, this card is a fantastic deal. On the downside, there are no rewards associated and the rates are somewhat high after the introductory period.

    That said, this card is worth it for the introductory period alone. No annual fees and no interest for 18 months is a hard deal to beat!

    Citi Double Cash Card

    This Citi card has no annual fees and is one of the best cashback cards you can get. It’s recommended you have between 690 and 850 for your credit score to get approved for the card. This card charges zero interest for the first 18 months, which makes it very attractive for new cardholders.

    The card gives you one percent cashback on all purchases. While it doesn’t have rotating cashback categories, you do get the awesome 18 months of no interest. Additionally, there is no limit on the amount of rewards you can receive. After the introductory period, the card reverts to between 14.99 percent to 24.99 percent APR.


  • See Why Auto Dealerships Are Desperate For Your Business This Memorial Day

    See Why Auto Dealerships Are Desperate For Your Business This Memorial Day

    When it comes to buying cars, you can wait till the end of the month and hope that the dealership will cut you a deal. Or, you can wait until a big holiday like Memorial Day and take advantage of dealerships competing with larger than normal specials for your business. Covid has hit auto dealerships especially hard this year and these deals are proof that they’re ready to fight for your business.

    Start Early
    When do you want to start looking for deals? The earlier you start, the better in position you’ll be to find out what each dealer is offering. But your opportunity to sieze the best deal is generally between Saturday , May 29th and Monday, May 31st. The only downside of waiting this long is that you run the risk of the vehicle you want most being out of stock.

    Mid Size Sedan Sales
    Kia is offering one of the best deals of the year on their flagship sedan. The Optima is $3,500 off the Special edition and LX trims. Or if those trims aren’t your style they’re offering $4,000 off their other packages. You’ll also save money on financing with 0% for up to 75 months plus 120 days of deferred payment.

    Go Green and Save Green
    Getting an all-electric vehicle has too many benefits to count. It’s simple, convenient and requires less maintenance than a traditional gas-powered vehicle. This Memorial Day Chevrolet is offering $8.500 of or $4,750 with 0% up to 72 months on their all electric Bolt EV. The bolt is as fun as electric cars come with over 266 lbs of near virtually instant torque and a 0-60 time of 6.5 seconds.

    Room For the Family
    The 2021 GMC Acadia Is a spacious SUV with more style and refinement than most would expect. It’s a great choice for families. The flexibility of a second and third row fold-flat seating system ensures the interior can change with you. This memorial day you can get $4,000 of all packages but the SL along with 0% financing for up to 84 months.


  • Shaving Kits: Best Subscription Boxes for Grooming Your Beard

    Shaving Kits: Best Subscription Boxes for Grooming Your Beard

    Who honestly likes having to shop for razors? They’re expensive, they’re hard to keep up with and they’re frankly a pain to stock up on. That’s what subscription shaving boxes are for!

    Today we’re looking at some of the best subscription boxes for grooming your beard and ‘stache in style.

    Best Subscription Shaving Kits

    Dollar Shave Club

    One of the most popular shaving kits out there is the Dollar Shave Club. These guys are accurately named, as one of the kits they offer lets you get a new razor blade each week for a dollar per month. There are boxes ranging up to a $9 per month price range, but that’s also not going to break the bank.

    Dollar Shave Club offers a few different razors for subscribers. There’s the normal, no-frills twin blade that will keep you shaved up. There’s the X, which can be used on legs and underarms, making it a popular pick for men and women alike. There’s also the executive, which has more blades and offers a smoother shave.

    Bevel

    Bevel is an excellent shaving kit service that is aimed at people of color. Those with darker skin have often noted that these types of services don’t do a good job helping address the bumps and irritation that come with shaving certain types of skin. Bevel is out to change that!

    Bevel’s monthly rate of $30 is somewhat expensive compared to other shaving kits, though. The Bevel kits include a number of creams and conditioners that are aimed at making shaving smoother and easier for people of color. If you’re looking for a great shaving kit that works for your skin, consider trying out Bevel.

    Harry’s

    Harry’s shave kits are offered in prices ranging from $8-$24, depending on the plan you pick. This is a great subscription, no matter which type of box you choose. The blades they offer are top-quality and at a great price. Really, it makes you wonder how traditional razor companies compete when you see how high-quality Harry’s blades are.

    There are boxes with just blades, but you can opt for more grooming-centric boxes, too. These include shaving gel, as well as your high-quality blades. This makes the Harry’s boxes more of a “set and forget” service that you can just set up once. That way, you don’t have to shop for razors anymore: you get a restock every month!

    >

  • Best Mother’s Day Gifts: Good Finds for Mom!

    Best Mother’s Day Gifts: Good Finds for Mom!

    Mother’s Day will be here before you know it. Have you picked out the best gifts for the Mom in your life yet? If not, don’t panic. You still have time to get her something special. Today we’re going over some of the best tech gifts you can get for Mom this Mother’s Day!

    Best Mother’s Day Gifts

    Wireless Charging Pad

    Does Mom use a phone that supports wireless charging? Maybe she does but hasn’t even used the wireless functionality yet. If that’s the case, you should consider picking her up a wireless charging pad for Mother’s Day! Qi chargers can be found for relatively inexpensive prices, and they’re quite useful for anyone who likes the convenience of charging without cables.

    Make sure the person you’re getting one for has a phone that can be wirelessly charged! Simply ask Mom what her phone is and look up its features before you go with this gift. Most phones released in the last two years have wireless charging, but it’s best to err on the side of caution.

    Fitness Tracker

    A fitness tracker or a smartwatch makes an excellent gift for Mom. We love the Apple Watch Series 4, though its steep price tag might be a bit much for some gift-givers. If you’re looking to get mom a fitness tracker without breaking the bank, consider a Fitbit Versa Lite, or even a Fitbit Inspire HR.

    All of these smart watches track fitness activity, and any of them would be a great gift for a Mom who is looking to get more serious about an active lifestyle. These also make great, stylish gifts with practical use and “wow” factor!

    Audible Subscription

    If Mom loves to read books but doesn’t often have the time to sit still and read, she might love a subscription to Audible. Amazon’s own audiobook service, Audible offers access to tons of audiobooks and a subscription, while not required, would be a great gift.

    A subscription offers a free audiobook once per month, as well as access to two “Audible originals”. Give Mom the gift of great stories with Audible.


  • What’s the Best Website Builder for 2021?

    What’s the Best Website Builder for 2021?

    When it comes to making websites, it’s much easier today than it was 20 years ago. If you’re looking to make a great website, look no further than these excellent resources. Below are our picks for the best web creation tools for 2021!

    The Best Website Builder tools for 2021

    Wix

    Wix is a cloud-based site building platform that is quite popular. It offers a lot of templates and tons of customization options. Their site builder is a drag-and-drop style, meaning it’s incredibly straightforward and easy-to-use. If you’re brand new to web design, it’s a great launching point. Their free version has limited bandwidth and storage, but you can use it to see if you like the style. If so, you can upgrade to premium and get to building more content for your site! The downsides are there, though: it’s unwieldy to move from Wix to another platform. That said, it’s still a good choice.

    Shopify

    A great resource for building online storefronts, Shopify is a fully-hosted site builder. All the data and backups are hosted on their servers. They’re a little on the pricey side, but they offer a great service. You can even integrate your Shopify page into WordPress! They also use a drag and drop style, meaning building your site is very straightforward. If you’re looking to open an online storefront, this is your way to do it.

    Weebly

    Weebly is another fully-hosted site, which is a pro and a con. While your data is backed up and safe, you also can’t change the site functionality. Their site builder is quick and intuitive, though, so you’ve got nothing to worry about there. They also have e-commerce integration, but they charge a 3% transaction fee. All said, they’re a good choice, but not the most popular.

    Squarespace

    Thanks in large part to aggressive advertising via YouTubers, Squarespace is a well-known name on the internet. The web-building tools are top-notch, and it’s easily one of the best out there. You don’t sacrifice a good-looking website for how easy it is to build with the platform. Many swear by the platform’s tools, and it’s rapidly gaining ground as a favorite of web-builders. The only downsides are the limited third-party integration. For instance, they only accept transactions through Apple Pay, PayPal or Stripe, so your options are limited.

    WordPress

    One of the most popular web platforms, WordPress is a fantastic resource. In fact, the site you’re currently on is powered by WordPress! It’s a relatively inexpensive service, but it has a bit of a learning curve. That said, it’s a flexible and robust tool to create any kind of site you would like to make. If you want to exert maximum control, this is a great tool for you! Consider WordPress if a small learning curve doesn’t deter you from making whatever site you have in mind.


  • 7 Ways to Fly for Cheap

    7 Ways to Fly for Cheap

    Cheap airfare, it’s something we’re all looking for. Finding decent prices on flights can be difficult though. It is human nature to want to travel, to explore your horizons and see new places, or perhaps, to return to the places you once knew.

    Whether you want to visit home or see an exotic location, airline travel is fast, but costs a lot of money. What is the best way for finding cheap airline tickets? How do you even start? Whether you are traveling for work, for vacation, or to visit family or friends, finding cheap airfare can help you save on what’s often the largest expense of your trip.

    If you’re trying to take a trip and keep finding it difficult to get a decent price, you’re probably looking for some new travel hacks to help you save some money. Well, the good news is that we’re here to help. Let’s talk about the best ways to fly for cheap! Read more below to learn about who is offering the best rates at an amazing price $73 and $39 for one-way flights!

    Best Ways to Fly for Cheap

    Compare Airfares

    Airfares vary widely, and discount airfare is out there for those who know where to look. The most important thing is that you make sure to compare airfares. The rates offered by one airline may be much higher or lower than the rates of another. If you use one of the popular travel sites, you can easily compare airfares from different airlines.

    Also, if you have any flexibility in your schedule, try putting different dates into the sites’ ticket finders to see if that makes a difference. For example, currently, Southwest Airlines is offering flights as low as $73, and Delta is offering flights as low as $39 during the holiday season.

    Use Reputable Flight Search Engines

    Some flight search engines actually get a cut from airlines when they help generate sales. That means that you could search for “budget flights” and have normal or even premium flights show up. In order to counter this, use reputable search engines that don’t mislead you. Great options are Skyscanner, Momondo, AirWander and JetRadar. Like we said previously don’t be afraid to shop around to find the best price.

    Get Tickets Early

    Get your tickets early — but not too early. You may think it would be smart to buy tickets six months in advance, but in fact, getting tickets more than five months before you need them may keep you from getting the best fares. Aim for two to four months in advance, if possible. If you can’t plan that far in advance, at least try to avoid the two-week period right before a flight, when ticket prices tend to go up.

    Specialty sites like “air fare watch dog” provide a medium for you to search for deals between two specific locations, and also can send you alerts when prices drop to a much more affordable rate. This is perfect for those who know where they want to travel, just are not too concerned about when. They can snag a great deal and plan their trip once they get that informative e-mail from the website.

    Airport Selection

    Fly in or out of airports that are not in your destination city. If you are flying into New York City, you may be able to get cheaper fares at the Newark airport than you would in New York City’s JFK Airport. If you are going to or from San Francisco, try the Oakland or San Jose airports. Many other cities also have airports that are nearby but outside of the city limits. Flying out of an alternate airport isn’t even necessarily a hardship. For example, If you are going to some parts of Manhattan, ground transportation may get you there faster from Newark than from JFK.

    You will benefit on price, though, because not as many people will think of using the other airports, so the seats won’t sell out as quickly. Always think in terms of supply and demand when trying to find cheap airfare.

    Non-Direct Flights

    Accept a little inconvenience in exchange for a cheaper price. You may be able to save money on long trips by taking routes where you change planes rather than taking a non-stop flight. If you’re not in a hurry, you don’t need to pay a premium for the faster route. Try traveling lighter to avoid the luggage fees that so many airlines are charging now. Be creative in figuring out how to get by with fewer things on your trip.

    Incognito Mode

    Lock up your search history tight and don’t look back. When you start looking at flights and trips, make sure you’re in incognito mode. When you search for flight prices, sites use cookies to track how many times you’ve looked at the flight. Each new time you look, the price goes up. Why? Well, to get you to buy as soon as possible so you “lock in the lowest price.” Yeah, it’s dirty, but you can fight back!

    By browsing incognito, you won’t have any cookies tracking you. This allows you to bypass this dirty trick and get a better price for your flight!

    Find the Cheapest Days to Book

    Try to fly on a Tuesday or a Wednesday, if possible. Those are often the cheapest days of the week. If possible, avoid Fridays and Sundays, when rates tend to go up. Flying right before a major holiday, like Thanksgiving or Christmas, is going to be very expensive. But if you are able to fly on the day of the holiday itself, you can usually pick up some very cheap fares because not many people want to fly then.


  • 4 Secrets to Save the Most $$$ on a Flight

    4 Secrets to Save the Most $$$ on a Flight

    Everyone loves traveling, and the most time-efficient way to go large distances is by flying. However, flying can be expensive, especially if you don’t fly frequently enough to rack up frequent flyer miles and earn savings that way. If you don’t fly often but want to find the best deals, where should you start? Today we’re answering just that with our guide to low-budget flights and saving money while traveling.

    Saving Money on a Flight

    Fly Coach

    This might sound like pretty obvious advice, but our first tip is that you fly coach. While it can be tempting to fly first class to make the trip plush and nice, there’s nothing wrong with saving money by buying the least expensive ticket you can find. After all, the more you save on the flight, the more you can spend when you get to your destination!

    There’s nothing wrong with hanging in the back of the plane in a smaller seat with less fancy amenities. It’s not like you’re going to have to spend more than a few hours in the plane, so why spend as much as double the ticket price just to get a bigger seat and a bit more legroom? In either case, you’re on the same plane, going to the same destination, taking the same amount of time.

    Search Incognito

    When you’re searching around to find the best deals on plane tickets, make sure you’re doing so incognito. To open an incognito window, just click in the top right of your browser’s settings and hit “open new Incognito Window.” This makes it so sites can’t track your cookies and keep up with who you are, allowing you to go under the radar.

    This is to help you get the lowest price by sidestepping a sneaky airline trick. Airlines will continually jack up the price of tickets the more you view them online, in order to get you to panic and buy them sooner rather than later. To avoid paying this extra amount, shop incognito to keep them from tracking your browsing habits.

    Stay Off Major Search Engines

    Sorry, Google, but you’re not great for airline prices. Most major search engines get a cut of ticket prices when they help generate sales, so the prices you’ll see through them are also inflated. This is another scummy upcharge that you would do well to side-step entirely in order to find the best price. Instead of going through major search engines, you can look for budget airlines through broader engine searches.

    These include options like SkyScanner, which helps you find the best deals on specifically airlines, and Momondo, a broad search engine that can sometimes fetch budget airlines even cheaper than SkyScanner. Other great options you could check out include AirFare Watchdog, JetRadar, AirWander and Cheapoair. Remember, no one search engine is ideal: you’ll likely find the best results by using a combination of all of these options.

    Find the Cheapest Booking Days/Times

    It’s no secret that the prices of airline tickets can change dramatically based on when you buy them. The time of week, the time of day, the length of time until the flight leaves, all of these factors have a role to play in the cost of the ticket. Narrowing down the best time to fly out can feel a bit more mystical than scientific, though.

    There are a few things you can do to make sure you’re getting the best price based on the date you buy your ticket. One of the best resources is actually the SkyScanner website, which can help you narrow down the best days and times to buy, showing you an easy-to-read calendar with clear indicators of prices. It’s really the best way to shop for airline tickets!