Most people view credit cards as a necessity for their day-to-day transactions. Whether you wish to buy a car, house, an expensive mobile phone, or go on a dreamy vacation, a credit card appears to be an important financial tool to enable the same. However, most people are habituated to using their credit cards in ways that put their financial health in a lurch. Here are some of the common credit mistakes that you should steer clear from: Maxing credit card limit Maxing out your credit card limit is the most common and dangerous mistake most individuals tend to make. The more you max out your limit, the more your credit utilization ratio drives up. The credit utilization ratio plays an important role in the calculation of a credit score. If you max out your credit card often, then your credit score will go down drastically. Additionally, any loan that you apply for may take longer to be approved and you may not have a limit to use when you actually need it. Acquiring too many credit cards Having more than one credit card under your name may put your financial health at risk. It exposes you to potential harm from prospective lenders and can also damage your credit score.

If you are a cocktail enthusiast, here’s some good news – no need to spend extravagant money on cocktails at bars. You will be surprised to know that often the most popular drinks at the bar are the cheapest and easiest to make. With just little preparations and basic ingredients, you could whip a variety of cocktails in minutes. Here are some easy cocktail recipes for beginners. Daiquiri Ingredients: 2 oz light rum 1 oz fresh lime juice 3/4 oz sugar syrup Instructions: Mix all the ingredients into a shaker and add some ice. Shake the cocktail until it’s chilled. You must strain this drink to acquire a clean cocktail. Negroni Ingredients: 1 oz gin 1 oz campari 1 oz sweet vermouth Instructions: In a glass, pour some ice cubes and mix all ingredients. Stir well and enjoy it. White Russian Ingredients: 1 oz vodka 1 oz coffee syrup 1 oz cream Instructions: Fill the glass with ice and then pour the ingredients in it. Mix well and feel the burst of the delicious creamy flavours with each sip. Gin and Tonic Ingredients: 4 oz tonic water 2 oz gin Instructions: In a tall glass, mix all the ingredients with ice.

There are many birth control options out there but what works best for you may not work as well for others. They all come with their own set of benefits and side effects, and it’s ideal to understand them all before committing to one of the methods. It’s ideal to discuss your options with your healthcare provider and you might also need a prescription for most contraceptives. No method guarantees a 100% prevention, but here are the top 7 most effective contraceptives that you can choose from. Oral contraceptive Oral contraceptives are the most common and widely used method for preventing pregnancy. Birth control pills manipulate the menstrual cycle with a combination of estrogen and progestin or progestin alone. This combination prevents the release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which are both responsible for the development of the egg. It also thickens the mucus surrounding the egg, making it difficult for the sperm to enter. There are different types of pills with different combinations of hormones to choose from and are characterized as monophasic, biphasic, or triphasic. Vaginal ring This soft, flexible ring is inserted in the vagina and it releases estrogen and progestin that get absorbed by the bloodstream and prevent the fertilization of the eggs.

A nice and cozy blanket is essential in any household. It keeps you warm in cold weather and helps you sleep better at night. The weight of a blanket can have a huge influence on your overall health. The heavier the blanket, the better it makes you feel. A weighted blanket is a comforter made with plastic fillers to make them heavier. These have been around for a long time and are used for conditions like insomnia and anxiety. Benefits of using a weighted blanket for certain health conditions: ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a chronic condition observed in children as well as adults in which the patient finds it difficult to focus on one task or thing for a longer period. People suffering from ADHD could greatly benefit from the use of weighted blankets as they are known to help improve attention and reduce hyperactivity. Sleep disorders Weighted blankets can be a great aid in assisting people who find trouble sleeping at night and find themselves tossing and turning through the hours, either due to stress and anxiety or underlying conditions like insomnia. The weight from such blankets helps give the body a sense of calm and gets it ready for resting.

The key focus of a keto diet is to cut down on carbohydrates and substitute it with fats and proteins. With a reduction in carbohydrate-content, the body goes into a state of ketosis, where it starts breaking down fat to create energy. This can kickstart healthy weight loss, and is thus a diet followed by many. For accurate results, however, food intake should be monitored strictly. If required, it is recommended to consult a dietician before embarking on any specific diet. To help get you started, here are five keto-friendly foods that are extremely healthy. Add these to your regular meals and you’re good to go. Avocados The keto diet is a high-fat and moderate-protein diet. Therefore, avocados surely fit the brief. This is because these are one of the fattiest fruits ever. 77% of the calories that come from eating an avocado are derived from its fat content. Also, half of a medium-sized avocado has only nine grams of carbohydrates, seven grams of which are nutritious fiber. Avocados can also be incorporated into delicious recipes, which makes it easy to include in your keto diet. Whole milk Greek yogurt Yogurt that is made with whole milk has few carbohydrates and is extremely nutritious.

As kids get older and are exposed to more and more activities, their lifestyles tend to get a lot busier. They, then, happen to do everything on the go and rarely agree to eat their meals by sitting in one place (lest they miss out on their playtime). However, these are the years in which kids should be given nutrient-rich foods at regular intervals to facilitate healthy growth. Here are some fun and quick snack ideas that will not be met with sour faces; those that can be easily prepared and kept ready for kids who are constantly on the go: Hummus and carrot sticks Serving carrots instead of pita bread with healthy dips such as hummus is a great way to ensure that your children are eating wholesome meals and not just tossing in empty calories throughout the day. It is even better if you make the hummus yourself and keep a pre-made batch ready for snacks at all times. Ice pops Especially popular during summer, ice popsicles are easy to make at home. Kids are sure to love this delicious summer treat that is made from all-natural ingredients; it contains healthy nutrients from fresh fruits. Just pop in a few batches in the freezer and offer them to your kids whenever they need a refreshing snack on a hot summer afternoon.

Dogs are man’s best friend and should be treated as such. Many store bought dry dog foods and Bully sticks treats are filled with fats and fillers that have been accused of causing obesity and diabetes in dogs, which in turn can lead to more severe health conditions, like arthritis and cardiovascular and kidney issues. Dog owners, in an attempt to properly care for our pets, must also look at the many human foods that potentially cause obesity, allergies and toxicity. Here are some dangerous foods for dogs: 1. Onions and garlic This human food has a toxicity that causes severe anemia in dogs. Operations as serious as blood transfusions must be performed. One owner thought it nice to share mashed potatoes with his dog. When the dog showed listless activity, the vet discovered there had been a lot of onion and garlic powder in the potatoes. After a weeks stay convalescing in a hospital the dog was well again 2. Avocado This food can possibly send your dog to the veterinarian if eaten because of a toxin called persin. Persin can cause diarrhea, heart congestion and vomiting which can be very hard on a dogs’ system. The pit of an avocado is loaded with persin and dogs love to chew on hard bone type objects.

Tax season is an often dreaded time given the complexity and constantly changing nature of the tax code. With all of the paperwork you may need to gather (W-2s, 1099s, etc.) and the various tax forms to choose from to submit it’s easy to get confused and make mistakes. Further, with all the brainpower it takes to get all the hard things right sometimes it’s a simple mistake that will cost you. Common mistakes when filing income taxes include 1. Name change or wrong address It’s an honest mistake should you get married and change last names or move to a new address, but capturing the wrong information here will cause an IRS rejection 2. Incorrect bank account numbers This is a mistake that could really cost you dearly. Double check your entries and then check them again because an erroneous bank account could end up in routing your refund to another account. Recovering the funds from that kind of error will be a daunting task 3. Failing to report all of your income  Employers will report your income to the IRS so there’s no way around them knowing the truth. Besides, not telling them the truth will, at minimum, land you a penalty.

Personal life insurance is a way to secure the financial future of your loved ones in the event of your unexpected passing. It helps to cover any financial obligations you leave behind, such as mortgages and loans, and it also provides support for family members. There are many different types of life insurance protection out there, so you will want to do your due diligence when selecting a policy.  Here are five common mistakes to watch out for when seeking life insurance 1. Not shopping around for the best rates Premium costs for life insurance vary from provider to provider, even for plans with similar coverage. Check out several different plans and insurance companies (i.e., AARP Life Insurance, First Horizon, etc.) before making your decision. Otherwise, you may find yourself needlessly overpaying every month for coverage that may not be the best match for your specific health or medical needs 2. Being unprepared for your medical exam Many insurance companies require you to undergo a physical exam before buying life insurance. Just as with a usual physical, the doctor will check your weight and your blood pressure. But you may also be asked personal questions about your family health history, prescription usage, your activity over the course of the week, lifestyle habits (i.e., smoking), and even your driving record.

There is nothing wrong with dressing simply and practically. However, if you want to take your outfit to the next level, consider playing around with your accessories. Using fashion accessories, like handbags, belts, and sunglasses, is a great way to individualize an outfit, and it is effortless to do when you keep some pointers in mind. Following some basic ideas still leaves you lots of room to personalize your look: 1. Go casual with trendy streetwear While the last decade was about skinny fits, baggy, androgynous clothes are now back in vogue. At the same time, wearing outdoor performance gear is also one of the hottest trends in streetwear. Therefore, the baggier, more practical clothes you saved for outdoor adventures, including pullover fleeces, oversized sweatshirts, and Carhartt jackets, can be worn with your favorite jeans to many events. 2. Wear bold colored shoes Your shoes are a great place to add a pop of color to your outfit. When selecting shoes, such as AMS shoes or Nike running shoes, consider the color of your outfit. It is impossible to match your outfit’s primary color exactly, so try to think about the color wheel and choose a color that is opposite your outfit’s primary color.