BusinessVoice News Network

Here’s a one-two tip for better car maintenance and you don’t have to pop the hood to do it. First, be sure you read the owner’s manual to know the maintenance needs of your make and model. And while you have that manual open, learn the meaning of all those dashboard warning lights because some require immediate attention. Source Link 

How can you undo the damage when clothing is shrunk in the wash? Soak it for up to 30 minutes in a sink or tub with lukewarm water and a cupful of baby shampoo to loosen fibers. Gently squeeze the water from the clothing and lay it on a flat towel and roll it up and squeeze more. Place it on another dry towel and gently stretch back to preshrunk size and allow the item to air dry. Source Link

It can be a challenge to save enough for a down payment on a home, so help yourself with a few well-placed pats on the back. Break up the total into smaller goals and reward yourself when you reach each one. If you need to save $30,000 total, consider treating yourself to a nice meal with every $5,000 saved. Source Link

There are many reasons why you should keep your home WiFi network secured with a strong password. Freeloaders could slow down your streaming, send you over a data cap or even use your WiFi for illegal activity that’s blamed on you. If you need help changing the password, consult the owner’s manual for your WiFi router or contact customer service for a cable modem. Source Link

Inflation might make it cheaper to dine out than cook that meal at home. Restaurants can buy food products wholesale and lock in lower prices through long-term contracts and that means less inflationary pressure on menu prices. Inflation at the grocery store is running about 50 percent higher than the increased cost of eating away from home. Source Link

Lip and tongue piercings may do more than change the look of your mouth. Researchers found that many people with oral piercings had deep pockets and gaps around their teeth and receding and bleeding gums. About 5 percent of young people have oral piercings and four out of five of them are women. Source Link

Timing is everything if you listen to music as a part of studying. Researchers say listening to music before you start reading can help with recall. But listening to music while you study is a distraction, no matter what kind of tunes you prefer. Reading in silence helps your mind focus on comprehension. Source Link

The air you breathe at home can affect your everyday health, so be sure it’s as clean as can be. House dust can be loaded with allergens and airborne chemicals, so dust and vacuum once a week with a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. And use a fireplace sparingly because burning wood indoors can lead to serious respiratory problems. Source Link

Your grammar school skills may help you spot an email scam. Misspellings of words or misplaced punctuation can be a tip-off and a misspelled email address from your bank or another business is a warning sign. And beware of an email that includes a link to update your personal information. Source Link

Follow this simple rule to reduce clutter in your home – touch it once. Clutter often comes from holding on to things that need action, so stand by the recycling bin with your handful of mail as you sort it or sign kid’s permission slips as soon as they come. This can cut down on paper clutter and take-upstairs clutter. Source Link

A few changes in what you buy can be good for the planet and save you money. Instead of single use plastic water bottles, sandwich baggies and straws, find non-disposable products you can wash and reuse. Store documents in the cloud instead of printing them and send e-greeting cards to save money on paper cards and postage. Source Link

Dry skin and winter go hand in hand but you can beat the itchy red attack with some simple steps. Use an ointment-based moisturizer with oils like a night cream that can create a protective layer on the skin, and take shorter baths and showers in warm but not hot water. And don’t depend on your water bottle for help because drinking more water doesn’t hydrate your skin. Source Link

If you have a traditional IRA this could be a great time to switch and save on taxes. Converting to a Roth IRA and paying taxes now could cost you less than doing it later. That’s because it’s unlikely that individual tax rates will drop any lower in the years to come when Congress will have to deal with ballooning budget deficits. Source Link

Call it the “Comic Sans” technique for total recall. Research has shown that people can remember something better that’s written in a weird font. You can also use a larger type size or put it in boldface. The harder the text is to read, the more you concentrate on it, and the easier it is to remember. Source Link

The health benefits of stopping smoking can start just moments after you take that last puff. In 20 minutes, your heart rate and blood pressure begin to drop, and blood carbon dioxide levels normalize in a few days. And in a few weeks, blood circulation improves and lung function increases. Source Link

When you’re going to deep-clean your refrigerator, be sure you do it right. Unplug the power and leave the freezer closed but open the door wide. Remove shelves and drawers and wash these in cool water to avoid cracking them. And tackle those stuck-on messes by covering them with a warm, damp dish towel to soften enough to wipe or scrape off. Source Link

Could one less candy bar make an important difference for your heart health? Researchers say cutting just 250 calories a day — the equivalent of an average candy bar — along with moderate exercise helped obese seniors fight hardening of the arteries. The combination worked better than cutting 600 calories per day. Source Link

Call it a colorful approach to avoiding dementia. People who consumed just a half serving a day of foods high in flavonoids had a 20% lower risk of mental decline. Flavonoids are an antioxidant found in colorful fruits and vegetables like bananas, apples, pears, sweet peppers, citrus, cherries and berries. Source Link