lifestyle

How to Live in Luxury… Even on a Budget

Angela Manning Finance , ,
How to Live in Luxury… Even on a Budget

Maybe you’ve been in this situation before: you feel like you deserve a lifestyle upgrade, either because you are overworked or you just need some luxury in your life, but the only issue is your income isn’t aligned with those aspirations. Conventional wisdom would say that you need to save up – demarcate certain luxury goals, like a vacation, new vehicle or fancy dinners, and start putting money toward them.

The only problem there is that you want to live in luxury now, not later when you have the money. Thankfully, there are a few easy ways to add a little luxury in your life without emptying your wallet. Consider these your hacks for living like a rich person while you earn a normal wage.

Lease Your Luxury Car

You may not be able to buy a Benz or a Bentley, but you may be able to lease one, especially if it’s used. Because leases only make you pay monthly for the cost of depreciation during the lease term, and because a car does a significant amount of its depreciating in the first couple years, you can find used luxury cars at industry-leading lease prices for low monthly payments.

Learn to Cook

When eating out at fancy restaurants, the vast majority of what you pay for is the service of the wait staff and the time and expertise of the chef. But if you learn to cook like a chef, you can eat restaurant-quality food, with fantastic ingredients, every night of the week. You’re probably saying, ‘that sounds too hard’, and no one can fault you for being sceptical, but there is a wealth of resources online – through YouTube tutorials, recipe and technique blogs and forums – that can help you fast track becoming a better cook.

Consider Product Testing

Get paid to get things. That sounds way too good to be true, but it is the exact job description of an at-home product tester. Through a product testing agency, you are given a number of different products to test that correspond to your demographic – could be electronics, could be games, could be beauty products. You use the products, review them, photograph them, and then (usually) you get to keep them. Plus, it pays a competitive rate and you can do it while you’re doing your other job. It really is a good hack for getting free stuff.

Join a Mistake Fare Finder

Need a vacation, but can’t justify spending an exorbitant amount on international flight? Luckily, every so often, airlines will post what is called a “mistake fare” – essentially, a fare they post in error that is far cheaper than the normal price. For instance, New York to Shanghai might be $1300 normally, but reduced to only $700. These fares are notoriously hard to find in the wild, but there are “mistake fare finders” that use computer programs to comb for low prices. You can sign up for mistake fare finders online, either through an email newsletter or by joining a Facebook group.

Who says you need to spend lavishly to live luxuriously? With a few clever hacks, you can live like a king on the pay of a pauper.

Can We Really Trust Technology to Improve Our Lives?

Angela Manning Tech , , ,
Can We Really Trust Technology to Improve Our Lives?

Applied science has created technology, and as this has evolved it has changed our world beyond recognition. A time traveler from an earlier century showing up in our world today, say, someone in an H.G. Wells story, would think that they had arrived on another planet.

Yet since we have been a witness to these unfolding events, we often take our lifestyle changes for granted. From our perspective, the evolution of the first telephone to the smartphone in our pocket, or the progress of the first medical drug to the plastic vials in our medicine closet, seems to have happened slowly. Yet from the framework of history, we have made astonishing progress in the span of a few centuries.

Let us take a look at some of the ways invention and innovation have played a significant role in our lives and changed it in a way that appears almost miraculous in hindsight.

Electronic Cigarettes

Cigarettes have such an addictive quality that no amount of surgeon-general warnings or scientific evidence or personal experience of adverse health conditions has been able to persuade people to stop smoking. Yet rather than trying to wrestle our stubborn wills into submission, helping our common sense catch up with our craving for tobacco, technology has introduced vaporizers and electronic cigarettes. In fact, the use of e-liquid vape juice takes care of our psychological need for calm and poise that cigarettes bestow.

An electronic cigarette, usually referred to as an e-cigarette, is an elegant handheld device that cleverly simulates the same satisfaction that tobacco smoking gives those of us who are chronic smokers. At its essence, this innovation is remarkably simple and practical. An e-cigarette heats a liquid converting it into an aerosol. Smokers inhale this “vapor” to enjoy the same physiological pleasure they had when they were smoking a tobacco cigarette.

Remote Medical Care

When we think of healthcare, we usually think of doctors asking us questions us in person to diagnose the reason for our ill-health. Medicine, in other words, is a personal experience between a physician and a patient. All this was fine when the world was smaller, when people lived in small towns and where the ratio between doctors and patients was manageable. Now we live in huge cities and hospitals are understaffed. Since it takes decades to train a doctor, the doctor-patient ratio is now almost unmanageable.

Technology has reduced the enormity of this problem by shrinking time and space to make it easier for doctors to meet with patients. Telemedicine has reduced the need for healthcare providers to share the same physical space with those needing medical help. Since doctors can diagnose minor health issues by using a video conferencing application, computer-to-computer interactions now simulate person-to-person meetings.

Adults don’t have to take time off from work or students to ask for permission from their school to see a doctor. By removing the constraints of distance and time, it’s possible for doctors and patients to speak to each other and for the doctor to arrive at a diagnosis based on seeing and hearing the patient describe their symptoms.

Almost Instant Telecommunication

The mother of all these innovations and the reason for this rapid growth in knowledge has been the internet. Since technology is based on science and science is based on education and education is based on shared knowledge, the internet has made it possible for human beings to double their knowledge about the world at an exponential rate. It’s estimated that knowledge doubles every year, but it’s expected to double every 12 hours in the future.

Almost instant telecommunication has been made possible by the internet. It has significantly altered the way we think, speak, and understand each other across the globe. Our world has undergone a massive, unbelievable sea change since the late 1950s when the first internet connectivity made the world wide web possible.

The reason why the smartphone is smart, or for that matter any of our electronic devices, are smart is because of the level of communication opened by the information highway. From providing us a way to meet our basic needs to offering us a channel to enjoy extravagant luxuries, blazing fast telecommunications have made the world a global village.

In conclusion, technology has improved our world in innumerable ways and our next step in human evolution is to learn how to use it wisely.

Simple Life Changes You Need to Make To Look Your Beautiful Best

Angela Manning Health , , , ,
Simple Life Changes You Need to Make To Look Your Beautiful Best

Beauty clinics can offer you some great treatments and remedies to some issues which you are having, but the truth is that much of the way you look comes down to how you live. I have lived in Scottsdale Arizona for a couple of years now and I haven’t really found a clinic which was right for me. I have seen some great reviews and helpful comments for places, the Sono Bello reviews for example are wonderful, but I’ve been more focussed on getting the way live right first. If you want to amp up the beauty stakes, it actually isn’t all that difficult, and these are the steps which should be taken.

Sleeping

When you don’t get enough sleep your entire body feels tired and drained, and guess what, that is how you look too. When iii don’t get enough sleep your body cannot rejuvenate and recuperate as well as it should, leaving you looking withdrawn and ultimately, a little less beautiful.

Water

Drinking enough water is such a simple task but one which so many of us fail to do. The effects of not drinking sufficient water each day are that your body becomes dehydrated and to hydrate itself again, it takes water from different parts of the body, in a priority system. What this means is that hair, skin and nails can all be negatively affected and it can leave people looking in poor health. When should drink between 2-3 liters of water every day, and men should be downing around 3-4 liters of that magical H2O.

Nightly Routine

I was asking a beautician friend of mine about which product I should buy for my face, and she shocked me when she said that it wasn’t all that important. What was important she said, was that I applied a cleanser, toner and moisturizer every single night without fail. The results of doing this have been magnificent and in truth, with the exception of one or two products which don’t work well  with my skin, she was right about it not being important which products that I used.

Sunshine

Sunshine is crucial if you want to look your best as it gives you a healthy boost of vitamin D which is great for anti-oxidizing, and for breathing life into your skin. I haven’t too much to worry about here in Scottsdale, AZ, as the sun is a feature of daily life. The sun however, does not need to be hot in order for the vitamin D to get into your skin, it simply needs to be out. Try to ensure that you are getting out enough and letting the sun touch your skin, it really can make a huge difference.

Beauty doesn’t have to be complex, it is generally the simple things which will have the biggest impact. There is no excuses either, the simple tips are easy to achieve and require very little effort.

How To Live An Extraordinary Healthy And Balanced Life

Angela Manning Health , , ,
How To Live An Extraordinary Healthy And Balanced Life

In her book “You Can Heal Your Life,” Louise Hay talks about how holding on to negative emotions can cause “dis-ease” within the body. In “Heal Your Body” she lists a number of diseases and health ailments, and the emotional cause behind them.

To live an extraordinarily healthy and balanced life, not only does one need to eat and exercise but one needs to be consciously aware of one’s thoughts. It is important to release anger, jealousy, fearfulness and sorrow as they all manifest as diseases and aches and pains in the body.

Once you have a more positive mental outlook it will only lead to a healthier lifestyle and  it is up to you to now choose a lifestyle that will best benefit your highest goals of how you see yourself. There is no such thing as “impossible” and if you are dedicated and disciplined and willing to take the necessary steps, extraordinary health can be yours.

Supplements

I start off with supplements because a very small percentage of us receive all the nutrients we need during a 24 hour day. If I could have a  fridge full of vegetables and fruit of all colours of the rainbow and would be able to eat all of it every day, I would know I was getting all my nutrients. Alas, this is very rare and supplements fill in the missing nutrient and vitamin puzzle pieces in our lives. Obviously supplements range and vary but you need to get them from a reliable source that uses natural ingredients and is known for its good quality. Read Research Verified reviews to find out more.

Moving on I may go into diet and exercise but we all know these are the ways to get healthier. We know that by eating right and exercising we will be healthier. But will we really be healthy overall?

It all comes down to balance. For complete balance in our lives we need to be happy. Obviously a healthy body equals a healthy mind. But what about the quality of our relationships?

Friendship

The ability to communicate and laugh amongst friends is highly important. Motivational speaker Tony Robbins explains that “the quality of your life is in direct proportion to the quality of your relationships.”

Hugs

Hugs make us feel good. As stated by the Huffington Post,  when we embrace someone, oxytocin (the cuddle hormone) is released. This makes us feel all fuzzy and warm inside, which links to social bonding. Hugs also lower blood pressure, are good for our hearts and are a natural stress reliever.

Work Satisfaction

Whatever work we do, whether we are entrepreneurs or employees or even employers, we need to be passionate. We need to feel satisfied at the end of the day. We need to feel  that not only was our job a job well done but also that we contributed to the greater whole in some small, or big, way. A passionless job will only lead to pain, sorrow and in some severe instances, depression.

Vacation Time

We all need vacations, time to completely plug out from our every day reality and take time to relax or even explore parts of the world we are curious about. Traveling teaches us so much and a lovely vacation, even just spent at the ocean, can totally refresh us and bring us back to “reality” like a whole new person.

A healthy and balanced life means a happy life. Make yours extraordinary!

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4 Tips to Fostering a Healthy Work-Life Balance as a Business Owner

Angela Manning Business , , , , ,
4 Tips to Fostering a Healthy Work-Life Balance as a Business Owner

Running a business is hard work. Lots of business owners struggle finding a good balance between their work and home life, as many tend to be “work-aholics”.

After all, that mindset and drive is likely what led them to owning and managing a business. But, at the same time, it can wreak havoc on quality of life outside work.

Plus, burnout can happen, and no one can operate a business effectively at their wit’s end.

If you’re looking to find a healthy work-life balance, below are 4 tips you should try.

Set Boundaries

Boundaries are important in many different facets of your life, but they are especially important in your work life.

Business owners and other entrepreneurs tend to work 24-7, foregoing evening and weekend activities in lieu of squeezing in a few extra hours of work. That’s no way to live.

When you stop to consider the longer term effects of working around the clock, you’ll realize that it’s simply not sustainable. Sooner or later, your body will break down and you’ll be forced to take a break, if not step away forever.

Setting strict work hours and times for people to contact you about work-related issues is a great start to fostering a healthy work-life balance.

Schedule Time to Do Things You Love

With your boundaries set, you’ll want to make the most of the time you have outside of work.

It’s super important to get involved in hobbies and doing things you enjoy to boost mood and even improve your work life, too.

No matter how small the activity, if you enjoy it, do more of it.

Like to go rock climbing but haven’t in a while? Schedule a trip.

Enjoy vaping on your breaks to take the edge off? Go buy the best ejuice you can find and get after it.

The key to a happier life is doing things you love, so it only makes sense that it would be critical in creating an effective work-life balance.

Hire Well and Delegate

If you try to do everything yourself, you’ll end up doing some things fairly well, but most things really poorly. Plus, you’ll work long hours and drive yourself crazy.

It’s important to know your limits and be able to determine tasks that are critical for you to perform, and those which can be handled by someone else.

In a small business of one, that means reaching outside your company for help from freelancers or virtual assistants. If you are lucky enough to have employees, then learn how to delegate appropriately.

Ask for Help

If you’ve done all of the above and you’re still drowning, then don’t be afraid to ask for help. Most people have at least one person they can turn to who would be more than glad to step in and give aid to a friend or family member in need.

Or, consider hiring a business mentor – someone who has been in your shoes before and has made it through successfully.

Asking for help isn’t considered a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of courage and intelligence.

Closing Thoughts

Work-life balance doesn’t just affect you, it affects everyone around you. Use the tips above to run your business effectively while maintaining a healthy personal life.

Things You Can do to Make Yourself Happy

Angela Manning Health , , ,
Things You Can do to Make Yourself Happy

These days we often either put our happiness on the back burner, or in the hands of others and as a result we rarely end up being happy. The truth is that in order to be happy, we have to take control of our means for happiness. The great news is that there are things that we can do on our own to make ourselves happy. Here is a list of some of those things:

Buy Something You Love

The reason people like shopping is because shopping releases chemicals in the brain that cause us to be happy. In fact, even the thought of purchasing something we really love is enough to get these juices flowing. So to make yourself happy consider making a purchase of something you adore. Your purchase can be big or small but it needs to be meaningful to bring your real happiness. You might consider a ticket to your favorite show, a trip to an exotic island, or purchasing a new Suzuki Swift automobile; what matters is that it stirs the passion and makes you feel like you have received something you really want.

Get Yourself a Pet

Relationships these days are more and more difficult to enter and sustain. Everyone wants to ensure that they are not taken advantage of, and that the person to whom they are giving their friendship or heart, is truly someone they can trust. As uncertain as all of this can be, there is no uncertainty when you consider getting a pet. Most pet owners will tell you that owning one is not only worth it, it is the highlight of their life.

The reason for this is that pets never betray or disappoint. They are always there for you and never judge or put you down. Pets provide a consistency that can lead to better self-image and self-worth, and their unconditional love can lift you out of nearly any bad mood. In other words, they are a constant source of happiness.

Change Jobs

For many, the biggest source of unhappiness in their lives is their place of work. The work environment may be toxic or the work itself may be unfulfilling or in the worst case scenario, both are true. Due to the fact that you will likely spend a major part of your life at your work, if it is a downer, you will spend a lot of time being unhappy. Getting away from a job can be difficult though, because you may have been there a long time, like the pay, or are afraid that if you leave you may not find another one.

But for the sake of your own happiness, you need to take the step and move on to something new and more fulfilling. Just imagine what it would be like to actually enjoy getting up every day and going to work. This is possible for you, if you take the steps to finding something that is right for you. When you search for something new, be discerning. Do not settle for a job that fits some of the requirements like good pay, but falls far short on other important ones like happiness. Happiness is a primary reason to take a job and when you are happy at work you will wonder how you allowed yourself to be unhappy in the first place. So get yourself a job that adds to rather than detracts from your happiness.

Take a Class

Humans have a tendency to get into routines and stick with them for long periods of time, and often only change those routines when they are forced to do so. They lose a job, someone dies or they get fired from a job. Other than something dramatic happening most don’t go outside of the regimen they have established. Although having a routine is productive and creates comfort, it can also create stagnation, boredom and unhappiness.

A great way to break out of your mundane routine is to take a class in something completely out of your comfort zone. How about a cooking class, or one for public speaking? How about studying a new language, painting, or learning about how to garden? By introducing new subjects into your life, you stimulate your brain, acquire new and interesting information and open the chance to meet new an interesting people. The combination of the three is sure to bring you happiness.

Happiness is in your hands, take control of it and enjoy your life all the time.

Example on How to Make Money and Enjoy Life

Angela Manning Business, Finance , , , , , ,
Example on How to Make Money and Enjoy Life

What are you are pursuing in your life? Is it happiness, money, success, fame, power? For each person this answer will be different but one thing that the large majority of us can definitely agree on is that we are all seeking for a happy life.

We are spending some time on focussing on a wide variety of people who have managed to achieve the happy life which many of us are looking for and the various stories which we hear serve to further inspire us all to achieve our dreams and live that happy lifestyle, whatever it means to you. Today we are going to look at the life of Bennett Kireker New York City salesman who is living out his comfortable life on the Californian coast. Let’s take a look where he came from, how he earns his money and what he does to relax and enjoy himself.

Agribusiness

Having always had a passion for the agriculture industry, Kireker would go on to study agribusiness in college before deciding that this would be the future for him. Starting out in a small way, the young Kireker began growing and selling organic vegetables from a small garden. The produce would be sold to local restaurants and diners and the profits began to come in. Following this first agricultural venture, Bennett saw the demand and potential for profit in the farming equipment industry and began his own business with a friend of his, selling equipment on a local basis. The equipment sales were a roaring success and so Bennett decided to go national with his business.

Pismo Beach

Following the success of the farming equipment business, Kireker moved himself and his company down to Pismo Beach, California, a place which Bennett himself fell in love with. He runs the business for just a few hours per day from his headquarters in California and spends the rest of us time enjoying the California sunshine, safe in the knowledge that he has created a business which has a strong foundation and requires little input from himself. Kirker’s passion for farming can thrive in the agricultural hotbed of California and it is here that he plans on staying.

Taking the Load Off

When we asked how Kireker likes to spend his time, his description of how he relaxes is enough to make anyone inspired. Aside from enjoying the California lifestyle in Pismo Beach with its proximity to San Francisco and L.A. he also enjoys hand gliding on weekends and allows his inner geek to come out on a nightly basis with some VR gaming, the technology of which is improving each and every day. Despite enjoying the beach scene, Bennett also loves nothing more than a trip up to New York, be it for business or pleasure, and always makes sure that he catches at least a game or two at the home of the New York Jets.

Kireker’s career shows just what you can achieve if you work hard on something you love, and what the rewards are at the end of it.