(NAPSI)—With day-to-day activities affected by the coronavirus, many people greatly reduced their spending. While saving money is great, a solid financial plan is even better. Here are hints on how:

1. Make a budget, but focus on the things that you can control. You can’t change your mortgage or rent payment overnight, but you can eat more meals at home.
2. Clear the clutter, but keep the cash. You can use sites such as Declutter, Facebook Marketplace and Offer Up to profit from the things you no longer need.
3. Simplify your subscriptions. Today there are subscriptions for everything from entertainment to plants. It’s easy to lose track of how much money you’re really spending. Make a list and do away with subscriptions you don’t fully use.
4. Plan major purchases. If you’ll need a new dryer, roof or car, figure out how much it will cost so that you can start saving.
5. Buy used or refurbished electronics. You can find great smartphones, laptops and other electronics in good condition on such sites as Gazelle, Swappa or eBay. Another tip for saving money is to use Upsie for the most affordable warranties for your electronics, appliances and more. Upsie also offers warranties that include accident protection for used devices.

Learn More

For further facts and tips, visit upsie.com.

(NAPSI)—For many in the American countryside, signals from space have been most welcome for some time. That’s because, in many places, that’s the best way to get Internet service: via satellite.

Then and Now

While early systems may have been only a little better than dial-up, enormous improvements in high-capacity satellites mean they can deliver faster speeds and more data at a more affordable price.

How It Works

Satellite Internet doesn’t rely on terrestrial connections. That’s why it can keep people connected every day and even during disasters when other systems may be down. Instead, the Internet signal is delivered to a connection, which then sends the signal via radio waves up to the satellite over 20,000 miles in the sky. The signal comes back down to your home or office and is captured by a dish-shaped antenna, outside your home, which is connected to the Wi-Fi modem. Continue reading →

(NewsUSA)  – Sponsored News -Whether you are in a hotel room, at your desk, in an RV, or by a campfire, it can be difficult to get a good cup of coffee away from home. With the holiday travel season in full swing, travelers are wondering how best to enjoy their morning java while on the go.

Most away-from-home coffee options have major drawbacks. Hotel room coffee makers are convenient and cheap, but the coffee they brew means a major compromise on taste. Local cafes often offer good coffee, but the cost of all those to-go cups can really add up.

Existing travel coffee presses offer a way to brew while on the go, but they typically brew slowly and therefore brew a bitter and very acidic cup.

Travelers benefit from being able to brew delicious coffee quickly and easily wherever they are. Luckily there is a perfect way to do just that.

The AeroPress Go travel coffee press brews up to three cups of delicious hot or cold brew coffee that is richer, smoother, and lower in acidity than coffee brewed by other travel presses. Simply add ground coffee and water, stir briskly, press, and enjoy a cup of hot or cold brew coffee in just a minute or two. Continue reading →

Unprecedented RV rental demand from cautious travelers has made owning an RV the go-to entrepreneurial venture of the year

(NAPSI)—Millions of Americans who own an RV have it parked in their driveway or a storage facility for the better part of the year. With many families wary of airplanes and hotels these days, it may be time to consider renting your rig to make some serious cash.

According to peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace RVshare, RV bookings have reached unprecedented levels of demand, increasing more than 1,600% since the beginning of April and already tripling 2019 figures. As a result, RV owners are poised to capitalize on the surge of families discovering the unique and adventurous nature of RV travel for the first time.

In fact, the average RV owner who rents on the RVshare platform can earn up to $60,000 a year in rental income. The amount of money you can make from renting your RV can vary based on the type of vehicle you own.  Continue reading →

“The Shadow Girl” by Misty Mount 

(NAPSI)—“A powerful fantasy that combines a coming of age theme with insights into changing family relationships, the impact of past worlds on present lives, and a shy girl’s unexpected changes.”—Midwest Book Review

Shy, thirteen-year-old Zylia has always known she was different. She’s disappearing from this world and doesn’t know how to stop it. Then she stumbles across a family mystery surrounding the disappearance of her great-aunt Angelica years earlier. During her quest to unravel the mystery, Zylia discovers she’s able to cross the boundary and enter the “in between” world. Now, it’s up to Zylia to save herself before she’s trapped “in between” forever. Purchase at https://amzn.to/2V4riZi.

“Median Gray” by Bill Mesce Jr. 

At a time when New York’s mean streets were their meanest, one NYPD detective at the end of his career takes one last chance to correct a 20-year-old injustice, and another cop at the beginning of his career tries to stop him before a police department already scarred by corruption investigations takes another hit.

“Smart, gritty, and authentic, ‘Median Gray’ delivers a crackling tale complete with complex and damaged characters, and a keen eye for what cops know and think.”—SFPD Sgt. Adam Plantinga, author of “400 Things Cops Know” and “Police Craft”. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3epE78e.  Continue reading →

Male dentist Medical treatment to a female patient at the clinic

Gary Severance, DDS, Executive Leader of Professional Relations, Henry Schein Dental  

(NAPSI)—As dental offices re-open across the nation, patients may be in for some pleasant surprises. For one thing, you can rest assured that there will be new protocols that help keep your dental visit safe and comfortable.

What Dentists Are Doing

Enhanced patient protection measures include: All dental team members have upgraded their protective gear. This includes appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for all appointments. Between patients, dentists and their team will meticulously clean and disinfect surfaces and sterilize instruments.

Many dentists also offer a virtual waiting room. Patients can check in via text message and wait, if necessary, somewhere outside the clinic, such as in a car.

Patients and dental professionals are screened for COVID-19 symptoms and risk factors before each appointment.

To help make the air quality sanitary, many dentists have even invested in high-efficiency air purification systems.

What You Can Do

There are also certain steps you the patient can take to help keep everyone safe as well.

Here, from the experts at the American Dental Association, are some useful facts and tips:

Before your appointment, your dental office may call you to ask about your current health and travel records.

You may also be asked to limit the number of people you bring to the appointment. That could mean leaving your children at home or allowing older children go to the office alone while a parent waits outside.

At your appointment: Be sure to wear a mask, even if it’s not required and especially if your dentist’s office is in an area where one is required. When you get to the dental office, you may be asked to wait outside until they’re ready for you. This will reduce the number of people in the office and reduce the amount of time you’re exposed to other people. When you enter the office, be prepared to have your temperature taken or other health test. Inside the office, things people tend to touch in the waiting room—such as toys or magazines—may no longer be there. Hand sanitizer, masks, and gloves may be made available to you.

Once you’re in the dental chair, you may notice some things look different from the last time you were there. The dentist may have covered the computer’s keyboard with a disposable cover so it can be easily cleaned between patients, for example. Your dentist may also be using different protective equipment than you’ve seen at previous appointments, including different masks, face shields, gowns, gloves, and goggles.

After your appointment, the dental team members will thoroughly clean the area with disinfectant. If you start feeling symptoms of COVID-19 within 14 days of your appointment, contact the dental office. You may have already been carrying the virus at the time of your appointment, so anyone who came into contact with you during that time could be at risk for getting sick, too.

Learn More

For further hints from the dental professionals who get equipment and information from Henry Schein, the world’s largest provider of health care solutions and services to office-based dental and medical professionals, go to www.henryschein.com/customerstories to watch Road to Recovery videos on how dentists are working on ways to reopen safely for everyone.

Woman stretching

(NAPSI)—You may be feeling stressed during these challenging times, but stress can affect your physical and emotional health. Learn how to manage your stress so that you can stay healthy and cope with life’s challenges.

What is stress?

Stress is how your brain and body respond to a challenge. Any type of challenge—such as performance at work or school, a significant life change, or a traumatic event—can be stressful.

Your body reacts to stress by releasing hormones. These hormones make your brain more alert, cause your muscles to tense, and increase your pulse. In the short term, these reactions are good because they can help you handle the situation causing stress. This is your body’s way of protecting itself. However, too much stress all at once or over time (chronic stress) can threaten your health.

Everyone experiences stress from time to time, but your response to stress may be different. Some people may experience headaches or an upset stomach. Others may get muscle aches or chest pain. Stress can also disturb your sleep, reducing your energy and making it tough to keep active when awake. In addition, stress can lead to weight loss or weight gain. Over time, stress can contribute to serious health problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other illnesses, including mental disorders such as depression or anxiety.

Managing stress through fitness, healthy eating, and relaxing activities 

Regular physical activity, healthy food and beverages, and other positive activities may help you relieve stress and stay on track with improving your health.

Physical activity may help you start feeling better right away. It can help boost your mood and improve your sleep. In addition, physical activity adds to strength and stamina, which can help you manage stressful situations.

Physical activity doesn’t have to mean long workouts. Short workouts, such as a set of sit-ups or stretches, can help relieve stress. Try adding a new activity to your daily routine, such as walking around the block or up and down stairs a few times. Partner with a friend or neighbor to help you stay on track.

Consuming healthy meals, beverages, and snacks in moderation can be another way to protect yourself against stress. Preparing or purchasing foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, low-fat proteins, and foods without added sugars or fats can give you energy and keep you feeling good.

Learn to recognize what triggers your stress response and identify ways to help you manage it. Other ways to help you manage stress may be to meditate, engage in your favorite hobby, limit your time on social media, volunteer, or connect with people who can provide emotional support.

Visit the National Institute of ­Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney ­Diseases website to learn more about physical activity, healthy eating, adequate sleep, and other behaviors to help you manage your stress. Visit the National Institute of Mental Health website to learn more about stress.

by Samantha Clayton, certified personal trainer 

(NAPSI)—For many people, social distancing brings concern about summer plans. In previous years, summertime was when families planned their vacations. The kids would be out of school, the weather could be fantastic, and the days are longer—allowing optimal time to venture to new places, catch some sun and spend more time with friends and families.

Since you may have already been spending a lot more time with your family then you ever imagined due to coronavirus outbreak, you may be looking for ways to keep your family entertained. Between possibly working from home, managing your kids’ schoolwork and maintaining a functioning household, this time probably hasn’t felt much like a vacation.

Social distancing guidelines are likely to remain in effect in many places during the summer. Activities and entertainment options, lodging, and dining will be affected. The good news is, you really don’t have to totally give up on enjoying the summer at home with your family. Here are some tips to make your staycation exciting for the whole family:  Continue reading →