Comfort is Not As Expensive as Medical Treatment
It’s Christmas season once again and so many things are on sale. Many of the things on sale are the old inventory items of department stores that they weren’t able to sell during the year. Along with chairs and computer tables, there are also more advanced equipment like power tools and the like. It’s not difficult to see why these items didn’t sell well. Some items are beautifully designed.
Some items are just hard to use. You feel strain whenever you use them. They make you feel tired faster. Sure, the price may be cheaper, but are you willing to sacrifice comfort? Ergonomic is the new healthy, and I discovered this the hard way as a work at home mom. Hands, arms and the backside tend to become sore when the equipment is too difficult to use. Shoes that don’t fit well are always on sale, and some of those who buy these shoes end up storing them only for special occasions because they cannot bear to wear these shoes daily.
I found that it’s easier on the budget if investments are made on comfortable pieces. It’s probably mind-boggling to think that you will have to replace every mattress you have with memory foam mattress, but if you want to sleep better, it’s a good goal.
3 Moving House Essentials
Some people move around, which means that they either drag around furniture, or they keep a spartan lifestyle. Even if you’re a minimalist when it comes to the things you bring into your new home, there are some essentials that have to be there. In particular, there are some things you bring with you when you go for initial move in, or the time when you’re simply visiting to check if the pipes are in order and the repairs have been done by the construction company.
Surfaces
A table meant to accommodate plates and stable enough to withstand the weight of plastic bags full of groceries is essential. If you don’t have a stable surface inside a big empty room that is supposed to be your living room, you will end up placing your plates on the floor when you eat. In the meantime, you can use a foldable table that can fit inside your trunk easily.
Sleeping Bags
Just in case you need to stay overnight, have some sleeping bags around. If you have a body pillow in your car anyway, you can pass on bringing bulkier stuff. Your first night in your new home should be exciting, especially since everything’s still clean and you feel like you’re making a fresh start.
Bulbs and Door Bolts
Take this opportunity to install locks and security measures, even if it’s just placing the light bulb on the porch or yard. Bring enough bulbs so that you don’t have to waste time installing when the bulk of your furniture arrives.
Mom and First Aid: What Is Your Cure All?
There are some items in medicine kits that have always baffled me as a child. Now that I am a mom myself, I understand better. Why is there a big tub of odorless, seemingly useless petroleum jelly around? Why should there always be a bottle of alcohol in there? Band aids I can understand, but elastic bandages?
Now I know. Petroleum jelly can be a cure all for a lot of skin problems like rashes and burns. Some items like egyptian magic may work for psoriatic spots, but for the most part, having a tub of petroleum jelly around can give peace of mind. If you’re on your way out to buy a tube of sunscreen, you can hydrate temporarily using petroleum jelly. At the very least, you won’t be going out unprotected. I also realized that petroleum jelly can double as a make up enhancer. Mix hardened eye make up or blush with a bit of petroleum jelly and it can be applied again! Clever creation, this jelly.
Rubbing alcohol can be used for various purposes. I found out quite early that it can be used as a disinfectant, and that it stings. It can also be used for its main purpose, rubbing, as in massage. The only problem is that alcohol can leave your skin dry and itchy. Maybe after applying on skin as a disinfectant, you can hydrate with petroleum jelly.
Elastic bandages are for bigger wounds that smaller band aids cannot handle. They can also be used on painful muscles if the person can’t afford to stop working, or while waiting for the painkiller to work.
What to Put Into Christmas Stockings?
You all know what Christmas stockings are. They’re oversized socks that you place under the tree hoping for Santa to drop some goodies in them. Traditionally, ordinary socks are used, but seeing how full Santa’s basket is in popular media photos, it wouldn’t hurt to have more space for him to fill, right?
Warning: If you’re under 12 years old, don’t read the next line. Don’t spoil your Christmas. 
So, parents, what can be done to make the proverbial Christmas stocking more appealing to those who will receive the gifts within? I have always thought that setting up goodies for the stockings during Christmas is a lot like putting together some items for party loot bags. In short, you should have a collection of candies and mementos.
Have at least one expensive item among the cool stocking stuffer gifts, and then add fillers like candies and small whimsical toys. A keychain may be the main gift, then the rest can be added for the surprise factor.
Consider also your child’s personality. Does he enjoy receiving plastic iguanas or lizards? If he’s the adventurous type, you can add plastic replicas of scary animals. If your child is scared of these things, you can leave them out. The same goes for candy. Your child may have a particular brand he or she likes. Think about the small trinkets your daughter has been gushing about while reading your fashion magazines and get cheaper counterparts.
The Hospitality Business Is Booming Despite the Bad Economy
One thing I’ve noticed lately is the way people are still splurging on travel even though they may not have enough to live the next year in relative luxury. Why?
I can think of many reasons why people would want to spend what money they still have to visit places they’ve always dreamed of visiting. This is great news for countries that thrive on tourism. One main reason why the travel industry is on the rise is the thought that “you only live once”. Meaning: they’d better go where they want to go before they become too poor to do so. And if they starve because of this expense? At least they’ve achieved one life goal. The way the economy is going, they’d probably be close to starving by the next year anyway.
Tourists who have the money to spend are better off going now because the hotel industry has shrewdly cashed in on this ‘trend’ of people becoming more fatalistic and saying ‘que sera sera’ to their lives. There are options upon options in wherever tourist spot you’d want to visit, with countries opening their doors to tourists with money to burn. To each his own, as they say. Some people go for travel, some people go for gadgets.
So, what does this mean for all of us? It means we can expect careers like Tourist Guides, Travel Counselor Jobs and Hotel Management to boom again. That’s a heads up for all parents who are still doggedly pursuing nursing and medical careers for their children when there are other careers available.