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  • Money Market Savings Account: How They Can Work for You

    Money Market Savings Account: How They Can Work for You

    If you’re interested in getting your money to work for you, then you should think about getting a money market savings account. Maybe you’ve heard about these types of accounts but you’re not sure if it’s right for you.

    Today we’re looking a bit deeper into MMAs and we’ll tell you everything you need to know about these financial opportunities.

    Money Market Savings Account

    The Difference

    A savings account, on average, doesn’t have particularly high-interest rates. Compared to a money market account, a savings account is much lower in terms of contributions and minimum balances. Generally speaking, anyone can open a savings account and can afford the minimum balance and deposits.

    On the flip side, a money market account is, on average, going to offer much higher interest rates. That’s because an MMA is more like a combination of a checking and savings account. These accounts tend to have much higher minimum balances. Generally speaking, MMAs are for people with higher income levels than average.

    Why Open an MMA

    There are some upsides to opening a money market account. Notably, these accounts are insured and protected, and you can feel assured when you deposit upwards of thousands of dollars into them. People often prefer to deposit large sums in MMAs because of the higher interest rates they tend to have.

    If your bank or credit union offers a high-interest rate on an MMA, consider moving your savings into such an account.

    Another reason people like MMAs is because they offer access to your funds in a pinch. You can write up to six checks per months from an MMA, and you can use a debit card for those funds up to six times per month. That makes them ideal for covering larger transactions that occur infrequently.

    What to Look For

    Generally speaking, when you’re looking for a good MMA, you want to find the one with the best interest rates. If the rates in an MMA are comparable to your savings account, you can safely ignore it. Likewise, if the interest rate is much higher, invest your money there.

    On the same track, try to find an MMA that doesn’t have monthly fees. There are plenty of MMAs out there that don’t charge monthly fees and offer great interest rates. As such, there’s no reason for you to pay more just to have your money grow!

  • Top Tips for Treating the Cold or Flu

    Top Tips for Treating the Cold or Flu

    There’s nothing quite as deflating as coming down with the flu or a cold. When you feel that funk coming down on your health, it’s time to cancel plans and call out of work. Really, no one wants to suffer through with a cold or the flu.

    What are some of the best ways to treat these common bugs?

    Treating the Cold or Flu

    Vitamin C

    One of the best ways to combat one of these common bugs is by getting tons of vitamin C. Whether you’re drinking orange juice, eating tons of vitamin C-filled fruits or taking supplements, vitamin C is great for you.

    This wonderful little vitamin helps your body’s immune system and can help you kick a bug faster. Supplements like Emergen-C and other flu and cold medication often include lots of vitamin C to help bolster your immune system.

    Pain Relief

    One of the hallmarks of the flu, and, to a lesser extent, colds, is that they bring aching muscles along with them. If your flu or cold symptoms include this painful ache, consider keeping pain relievers on hand. Aspirin, ibuprofen, Tylenol and the like are often recommended to help with these kinds of general aches and pains.

    Make sure you take these NSAIDs and pain relievers only as directed. If taken improperly, these medications can cause damage to the liver.

    Stuffy Nose

    Decongestants can be a huge help if you’re suffering from a stuffy nose. It’s quite miserable being unable to breathe through one’s nose, so decongestants are a great investment during flu season. They come in several delivery methods, including nasal sprays and pill form.

    Nasal sprays tend to be the fastest-acting, often allowing for relief in a few minutes of using them. Make sure you only use decongestants as directed. Using nasal decongestants for more than three days can result in a rebound where your congestion gets worse. Oral decongestants, while slower, don’t have this drawback.

    Cough

    If you’re struggling with a rough, loud cough, there are ways to combat that, too. The most obvious way is to take cough drops, which can help coat the throat and reduce inflammation. However, it’s worth noting that a cough drop or other cough medication is likely not going to last for long, as they’re addressing the symptoms and not the causes.

    Many doctors suggest warm drinks, such as tea with honey, for relief from a cough instead of medication. That’s because medications can have side effects that could exacerbate other flu/cold symptoms. A bowl of warm soup can have similar throat-soothing properties.

  • Weight Loss Programs for Men: Where to Start

    Weight Loss Programs for Men: Where to Start

    A lot of guys don’t know where to start when they want to lose weight. Maybe you’re embarrassed to go to the gym due to your current shape. You’ve heard about weight loss programs, but it seems like they’re aimed at women.

    Where should you start? Today we’re going to look at some of the best weight loss programs for men.

    Weight Loss Programs for Men

    Before We Begin

    Before we begin, we want to stop and remind everyone that all bodies are good bodies. You’ve only got the one body in this life, so you should love the skin you’re in. Just because you’re not cut like a bodybuilder or lean like those other guys doesn’t mean that you’re not attractive the way you are.

    Remember, only you can define your worth. Your weight, your appearance and your amount of muscle all have nothing to do with your inherent worth. All people are worthy of love and respect, regardless of their body type, their gender or their background. Guys aren’t told that enough, so we just wanted to make sure you heard this message.

    Weight Loss Programs

    There are a number of weight loss programs you could opt for. For instance, Noom is a great option, as it allows you to use your smartphone to track your calories and workouts. There’s a monthly fee, but it’s a really robust and well-rounded program.

    Guys don’t have to feel embarrassed about it, as it’s a very community-focused way to lose weight and stick together with a program.

    Weight Watchers is another example of a weight loss program you can keep up with from your smartphone. You don’t need to go to meetings, but you can sign up for them if you want. Otherwise, keeping up with your “points” is a fun way to watch your weight and intake!

    Like Noom, Weight Watchers gives you a community of like-minded people to help you lose weight and stick to your goals. This is a great way for guys who are self-conscious to lose weight and have a support network without going out to meetings in person.

    Exercise

    Remember, a good diet and exercise can go a long way. Not only for weight loss, but for your mental health! If you’re worried about how you look, start doing some workouts at home or going for runs and jogs. It’s amazing how much good a little exercise can do for one’s self-esteem!

  • How to Save Big on Printer Ink

    How to Save Big on Printer Ink

    Don’t you hate that feeling when you hit “print” and the page comes out spotty and washed-out? The printer ink cartridge is getting low, again, meaning you’re about to have to spend a small fortune.

    While there are a number of reasons that printer ink is expensive, that matters less to us than helping you save money. Today we’re going to help you save big on printer ink.

    How to Save on Printer Ink

    Wholesale

    Wholesalers are able to confer some degree of savings to the end user if you know where to look. Online sites that focus on buying in bulk are a good start, as they’re often able to use that bulk discount to offer you lower prices. It can be difficult to find uncommon types of ink, however, such as ink for outdated printers, through these sites.

    Another option is to go through warehouse stores like Sam’s Club or Costco. Much like with discount websites, the savings in these stores comes from their ability to buy in bulk. The economy of scale is at play in these places. While you might not find terribly inexpensive single cartridges, you might find stellar deals on packs with three or five cartridges in them.

    Remanufactured

    An environmentally friendly, and less-expensive, way to buy ink is to go through remanufactured ink companies. Remanufactured ink cartridges are older cartridges that are refilled by a different company. This offers a few benefits for consumers.

    For one thing, remanufacturers are able to sell cartridges for much, much less than first-party ink-makers. They’re not subject to the same overhead and price wars that companies like HP and Dell are, so they’re able to pass that on as large savings to the consumer.

    For another thing, this also means that there will be less waste in landfills. Metals and plastics are very bad for the earth when dumped in landfills and using remanufactured printer cartridges is just one more way to avoid wastefulness.

    Remanufacturing Notes

    It’s also worth noting that remanufacturers often fill the cartridges up to capacity. This has long been a sore spot for consumers who have noticed their cartridges seem to be only partially filled up, even when brand-new.

    However, be aware that you should research any third-party remanufacturer before ordering from them. Make sure they have good ratings and high praise from actual customers. Especially check them with the Better Business Bureau to make sure they’re the real deal, and not a scam!

  • Top Decongestants for Spring Allergy Season

    Top Decongestants for Spring Allergy Season

    Warm weather, blooming flowers and constant sneezing are the hallmarks of Spring. While we love the pretty flowers and warm temperatures, we could do without all the congestion.

    To help you fight the worst of your Spring allergies, we’re rounding up some of the top decongestants. Here’s how you can beat your seasonal allergies this year.

    Top Decongestants for Spring

    Why Decongestants?

    Decongestants perform a very different role from antihistamines. Antihistamines prevent your body from engaging in the immune behavior that causes allergy symptoms like sneezing, itching, watery eyes and the like. Decongestants, on the other hand, do what their name says. They simply help clear nasal congestion.

    How they do that has to do with the mucus membranes in your nasal cavity. Allergies cause these linings in your nose to swell and become agitated. Decongestants work by causing the blood vessels in these membranes to contract. This, in turn, results in the passageway becoming more open for air to pass through.

    What They Don’t Do

    Decongestants, it’s worth noting, don’t do the same thing as antihistamines. They are unable to help with normal allergy symptoms like sneezing, itching, redness of the eyes and the like. These symptoms are better treated with an antihistamine, such as Allegra or Benadryl.

    That said, taking just an antihistamine alone isn’t enough to address all of your allergy symptoms. If you want full relief, you need both!

    Best Decongestants

    There are several different types of decongestant that are preferred by different people. They can be taken in pill form, as a nasal spray or even as liquids or nose drops. The common types of pill-form decongestants are typically a combination decongestant-antihistamine. An example of such a product would be Allegra-D, or Benadryl Allergy.

    Notably, these types of medications often have the side effect drowsiness. It’s not recommended you start your day taking an antihistamine-decongestion hybrid medication.

    Types

    There are a few different medications that can have decongestion properties. Oxymetazoline is found in products like Dristan and Vicks, for instance. Pseudoephedrine is found in Sudafed, Silfedrine and other such products. Likewise, Sudafed PE and Suphedrine PE contain phenylephrine.

    The differences between these compounds is not noticeable from an “active ingredient” standpoint for the patient. They all have the effect of helping to decongest a stuffy nose! That said, they have distinct properties when it comes to allergies and interactions, so make sure you carefully research any medication, even over-the-counter, before you take it.

  • Discount Pet Medication: Best Places to Save Big

    Discount Pet Medication: Best Places to Save Big

    When it comes to your pets, you want only the best. If your pet is sick, you want to make sure you’re getting the best quality medicine to help them get better.

    However, medicine can be prohibitively expensive. If you want to make sure you can afford the best for your pet, you might need to pick up their medications with a discount.

    What are the best ways to save on pet meds, though? Today we’re walking you through some of the best ways to save money on your pet’s medications.

    Discount Pet Medications

    Shopping Online

    It can often be much more affordable to shop for your pet’s medicine online, as opposed to vet’s offices. Vet’s offices, while important in animal health, are often unable to match the prices found on wholesale sites. They often have to include more markups in their medication, making it difficult for them to match online prices.

    Online prices, however, aren’t everything. When you shop online, make sure you’re shopping through wholesale sites to get your discounts. If you’re buying medicine from disreputable vendors or from shady, overseas sellers, you might find you’re getting sub-par medicine for your pet.

    What to Look For

    The last thing you need is to support a shady vendor. When you’re looking for the best deal on pet medication, make sure the site is reputable. You’ll want to only buy medication from VIPPS-approved sites that require prescriptions. It can be a pain to make sure you always have a prescription for medication, but it ensures the site is trustworthy.

    You’ll also want to make sure that the site is verified and secure. Some disreputable discount pet med sites are actually elaborate scams and have no intention of sending you real medication. Even those that do could be selling your information to identity thieves.

    Non-Prescription

    Even with non-prescription medication, you need to be careful. If a deal is too good to be true, it is. When you receive medicine in the mail, check the sell-by date to make sure you’re not giving your pet outdated medicine.

    Likewise, make sure any medication you buy online hasn’t been tampered with. Keeping your animal happy, healthy and safe is your first priority, so accidentally harming them is something you need to avoid.

    Remember, when in doubt, go through reputable sites, even if it means spending a bit more money. There’s no reason to let harm come to your pet just to save a few bucks.

  • Best Treatments for Muscle Aches

    Best Treatments for Muscle Aches

    Everyone knows what it feels like to get done with a hard day at work and feel muscles aches and soreness. When you’re trying to just unwind and relax, you just want relief from aching muscles.

    Today we’re going over some of the best treatments for muscle aches to help you relax and unwind.

    Best Treatments for Muscle Aches

    Myalgia

    Another name for muscle aches is myalgia, and it’s a rather common condition. Anything from strenuous activity to the common cold can cause aching muscles. Stress and tension are other common causes, though muscle pain can also result from damaging muscles during exercise.

    Whatever causes your myalgia might have, there are a number of treatments you can try to ease your pain. Remember, if your pain is extreme or causing you serious medical problems, contact your doctor immediately.

    Take it Easy

    This one might seem like a no-brainer, but you need to take it easy on a sore muscle. If your bicep is aching and sore, don’t exert it. Drink plenty of water and just relax. Tension can be a huge factor in muscle aches, so simply relaxing and letting your muscles rest can be a huge help.

    Stretching is another way to help your aching muscles. Gently stretch out the affected muscle before using cold and hot compresses on it.

    Hot and Cold Compress

    Using a cold compress or ice pack can help reduce inflammation and soreness. Following that up with a warm compress or hot pack is then great for relaxing muscles and helping them heal. Products like Icey Hot are marketed for this exact purpose.

    NSAIDs

    An over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen can be a huge help when it comes to soreness of the muscles. Make sure you take NSAIDs only as directed, as they can cause liver damage if taken improperly.

    When to See the Doctor

    If your pain persists for more than a few days, or causes you extreme discomfort, see your doctor. There’s no reason to try to treat an injured muscle at home if you’re experiencing serious discomfort. You risk further injury if you improperly treat a damaged muscle, so don’t hesitate to see your doctor.

  • Treadmill Workouts for People in a Hurry

    Treadmill Workouts for People in a Hurry

    Making time to monitor your health and fitness can be quite difficult. If you’ve got a busy schedule, you’ve likely found it’s very difficult to get time to focus on your exercise.

    However, having a treadmill in the house is enough to get you started with a few easy workouts. Remember, every little bit helps! Even a few minutes of cardio can be a huge help for your health.

    Treadmill Workouts

    Side-Stepping

    Get started by walking at a normal pace for a minute, then move to a gentle jog for two-to-four minutes. Next, go back to walking speed and turn to the side. Use the side rail, squat down, and do some side-shuffling. Do this for about half a minute.

    Then, return to a standing position and walk normally. Move up to jogging again, or running if you’re looking for a more intense workout. Keep this faster pace for about two minutes, then go back to walking speed and do another thirty seconds of side-stepping on the other side.

    Round this out with a nice five-minute cooldown walk.

    Sprinting Intervals

    Get started by walking at a normal pace for a minute, then move up to a jogging pace for about five minutes. This is a good warm-up for a workout.

    Then, up the pace to something close to full-tilt running and keep this pace for thirty seconds. Then, go back down to jogging for a minute and a half before cranking it back up to full-tilt for another thirty seconds.

    Repeat this process for as many times as you have time for. Ideally, you’ll want to get around eight or nine repetitions of this cycle in. Remember, if you don’t have the time, however, that any amount of cardio is good cardio!

    Finish your exercise with a cooldown walk. Take about five minutes at an easy pace to cool down from your workout.

    Classic Jogging

    Finally, a classic jog is great when you don’t have a ton of time. Start at a walking pace for a minute, then crank it up to a jogging pace for four minutes. Next, crank it up to a run for two minutes. Finally, take it up to a sprinting pace for thirty seconds.

    Once you’ve finished the sprint, work back down to a running pace for a minute. Then, work your way back into a jog for two minutes before finishing with a cooldown walk. Make your cooldown around four minutes. This is a great quick workout for when you only have about 15 minutes to dedicate to exercise.

  • Rheumatoid Arthritis: Diagnosis and Treatments

    Rheumatoid Arthritis: Diagnosis and Treatments

    Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition that includes symptoms of joint pain and weakness in the muscles around the joints.

    Diagnosing RA can be difficult in the early stages, as its symptoms can mirror that of many other diseases. Today we’re looking into the diagnosis of and treatments for RA.

    Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosis

    Diagnosis

    Diagnosing Rheumatoid arthritis can prove somewhat difficult. Even in patients with symptoms that are consistent with RA, there might be a number of other diseases that could be to blame. When your doctor attempts to find out what’s causing your joint pain and inflammation, they will likely start with a physical examination of your joints.

    During a physical exam, the doctor will look for redness and swelling. Warmth is another indicator of potential RA. This check could also involve checking your reflexes and strength in order to rule out certain other conditions.

    Other Tests

    There are a few other tests doctors can try to determine whether a patient has RA. Blood tests to determine if you have an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate are common. Likewise, X-Rays or other imaging tests could be used to determine the severity of arthritis.

    It is worth noting that there is no single test that can show that a patient is suffering from RA. There are a number of other diseases and conditions that can send similar symptoms and evidence, making diagnosis a complex undertaking.

    Treatments

    There is no cure for arthritis. The disease is degenerative and will only become more severe as time goes on. There are, however, treatments that can help to slow the disease’s progress. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, or DMARDs, are one such treatment that has been shown to offer remission from certain symptoms.

    DMARDs

    DMARDs offer relief from joint pain and work by slowing the progress of the disease. In fact, when taken soon enough, DMARDs can even safe joints and bones from permanent and lasting damage. They aren’t without side effects, though. DMARDs can cause lung infections, liver damage and marrow suppression in some patients.

    A new type of DMARDs, called biologic agents, work by targeting parts of the immune system that give rise to arthritis. In particular, they stem the onset of inflammation in the body that leads to the lasting joint damage found in arthritis patients.

    Like traditional DMARDs, biologic agents can also lead to a higher risk of infection. Also, while DMARDs can result in remission from symptoms, they are not a cure. Once you have arthritis, you have it for life.

  • Get Your Taxes Prepared for Free

    Get Your Taxes Prepared for Free

    It’s that time of year again. Tax time, the time when you need to get out and get your taxes prepared. Maybe you’ve been putting it off, since it can be pricey.

    However, there are a number of ways to get your taxes prepared for free. In fact, you can even get your taxes prepared online for completely free today! Here are some of the best sites to use for free tax preparation.

    Free Tax Preparation

    FreeTaxUSA

    FreeTaxUSA is a user-friendly and well-made site for tax preparation. The site is very straightforward, easily walking you through filing your taxes step-by-step. If you’re worried about your taxes being too complex to fill out online, don’t. This site offers you a very thorough helping hand in getting everything filed easily.

    While the federal return is totally free through this site, filing a state return through this site costs money. On average it costs about $12, so make sure you factor that in when you’re considering your tax filing. Keep in mind that it’s most likely that any tax prep site you use will require a small fee for filing a state return.

    H&R Block

    Many people are much more familiar with H&R Block due to their physical tax preparation locations. However, H&R Block also offers a free tax filing service through their website. While preparing online might not sound like the normal H&R Block, it’s actually a rather streamlined and easy-to-use site.

    Not all types of returns can be prepared on the site for free, however. As with most sites, state returns will still require a fee to be sent in from their site. Additionally, more complex tax returns could include a fee for filing.

    The upside to H&R Block is that if your taxes prove too complex to fill out online, you can go to one of their physical locations. Then, a tax-preparer can get you set up in-person! Keep in mind, however, that using in-person tax preparation won’t be free.

    TurboTax

    As their numerous commercials have proclaimed, TurboTax allows you to file your federal return for free. As you might expect, this doesn’t apply to state returns, which include a small fee. Much like FreeTaxUSA, TurboTax offers a great user interface for inputting all of your tax information.

    You won’t have to worry about forgetting something or getting lost. If you miss a box or need to input more info, the useful client will remind you. You can rest assured with TurboTax that your return will be accurate before you submit it!