How to save money

Happy Wednesday lovely people, hope your week is going well. So today, I would give you tips on how to save money.

Plan out your spending: know what you spend most money on set your priorities so you don’t waste money on unnecessary things.
Make your own gifts: Diying things will save you a ton of money because you can spend as little as £5 in making it instead of spending £30 in purchasing it and the person you give will appreciate it because you put so much time and effort.
Write a list before going shopping: this will help you to purchase only necessary things.
Learn to repair: there are some things that just need repairing instead of wasting money replacing it, you can just repair and save yourself some money.
Stay healthy: this will help you spend less in hospital bills, cigarettes, drugs,medications and probably insurance.
Cut down on electricity usage: turn off the lights, turn off the tv and go outside to read and enjoy nature or you can go for a walk.
Compare prices: walk around the mall and compare the prices of certain commodities so you can get it for the best possible price in order to save money.
Cook: to be honest, we waste our money on fast food when we can just buy the ingredients to cook good food and we can re use the ingredients over and over again.
Sign up for freebies: who doesn’t love free things?
And finally, have a savings account: this is pretty self explanatory

Read more useful articles by Esther here!

 

Alden Ehrenreich Officially Cast as Han Solo in Star Wars Spinoff — TIME

Alden Ehrenreich will play a young Han Solo in an upcoming Star Wars spinoff, directors of the franchise said. The Hail, Caesar! actor was cast for the role of the standalone movie after auditioning for six months, he said at Star Wars Celebration Europe at the ExCel Centre in London, according to Deadline. Read more on  TIME

Authority and Me Before You

Hello Readers,

Recently, I have watched the incredibly emotional film Me Before You. This film open minds, bends stiff ideas and leaves you with one (or lots of) tears. I believe sharing my thoughts on this particular film is important to express. Like a post I have written before, regarding a film, I will write about Me Before You in relation to a theme that it so elegantly illustrated, and that is authority. Authority, in this film, shows that you can be the master of your own destination, if you have a little believe. This was demonstrated by both characters that I wilI write about. I would like for you to read this with an open mind and to remember nothing is ever ‘black and white.’ Feel free to comment any thoughts you may have on this!!

So much, if not all, of society is controlled restricted and overruled by a superior force, in one way or another. This could be in the form of the government, teachers/people we seek advice from or your parents. Sometimes the sense of authority can make you feel ‘safe’, providing you with assurance that your life choices are accepted agreed and Okayed by a figure that you admire. With reassurance given it motivates you, consciously or subconsciously, to succeed even more in the decisions that you make. This sense of security that comes with authority could, however, be so overbearing that one is left trapped, finding themselves in an unrequested life, unable to grasp hold of the steering wheel of their life, simply be a passenger on route to a unknown destination. But just because you are answered with a dismissive glare and hear the stomach-churning, two letter word ‘NO’ do not mean you cannot find your own way. You can create your own key to open the lock!!

The film, Me Before You, follows the story of Will; a man who once was a young highflying city banker with a zest for life and had a love for travelling was left paralyzed following a motorbike accident. He was back living with his parents in a place he described “That people come to when they get tired of actually living.” Will’s life, post-accident, is a total contrast from the way he found his way in the world; from being completely independent, and in control of his destination to having to ask for assistance with every little movement and having it authorised by another person.

Will’s story merges together with the life of Lou. A young lady with a quirky personality, trying to earn money for her family, but finds herself unhappy in every job she takes. She is living in the world not truly knowing which way her life is headed. Lou then applies and is successful caregiving job to a young man, who just happens to be Will. In her first few encounters with Will, he appears to be shut off and very closed minded to the idea of any sort of companionship with anyone including Lou; the personalities of both theses character could not be more different, with Lou always looking at life with ‘the glass half full.’ Will’s bitterness is highlighted when he says to Lou “What if I said I didn’t want you here?” to which she replies “I’m not employed by you, I’m employed by your mother.” Here we see the lack of authority Will have; the director of his life lies with someone else. However Lou’s raw honesty to Will about the effect his pessimism on others “making….life…miserable” that results in his company “not being particularly enjoyable,” allows him to see another’s perspective and that others have difficult times too. From this moment in the film Will’s cynicism begins to fade, letting a relationship with Lou blossom. They both learn things from each other that would otherwise be an unknown territory if their lives did not pave the path that it did; from Lou’s perspective being magnified, enabling her to find a deeper meaning of life that she craved for, and Will’s ability to look beyond stereotypes and find true beauty in people, stepping out of his comfort zone. Both of these characters could be said to play a ‘teacher’ role to each other, one teaching the other vital life lessons.

This beautiful relationship between Will and Lou that makes them re-define the word life plays a deep importance in both of their lives. However for Will what he desires for is unattainable, Lou learns of Will’s wish to end his life; not wanting to endure anymore of the endless physical or emotional pain he experiences every day, as a result of his disability. In the hope that he will change his mind and see that “life is worth living” Lou establishes and make come alive Will’s dreams, dreams of traveling, going to concerts and being part of activities that he enjoyed as what he termed as the “Old Will.” But even in times of joy, Will is reminded of what he yearns for; after He and Lou drive home from concert Will says “I just want to be a man who’ve been to a concert with a girl in a red dress, just a few minutes more” in reply to Lou’s comment “we better get you in (both still sitting in the car).” He still has to ask to do things in order to experience just a fraction of his desired life, which would perhaps be otherwise left unsaid.

Both characters show that some they can gain or regain power over their life. This is firstly demonstrated by Lou and her ability to persevere with the cynical temperament of Will when they both meet, showing him the light amongst the darkness of his perspective. Throughout the film we see Lou’s sense of self blossoming, being able to stand up for herself and not having something or someone else have power over her. Secondly Will regains his ability to be heard and respected. This is first demonstrated when Lou expresses the effect he has had on her when she tells him “I have become a whole new person because of you,” indicating that he have the abilities to change people lives, even if it is unconsciously. A second way in which he regains authority is by having the final say on the direction of his life. Although Will is tried to be convinced that he could still experience life and fulfil his dreams, he wants to experience those things as the “Old Will”; he is still wishes to die. After six months of when he first shared his wish with his parents, he makes his final journey to Switzerland whereby he ends his life. This was solely Will’s decision and a decision he persisted with. Even though people who authorised the way he lived was in disagreement, Will got back control of his life and directed it in the way that he knew best.

All my love XX

Read more thoughtful articles by Rebecca Sullivan here!

 

3 Reasons Why You Can’t Find A Job

Source credit-here

Have you been unemployed? If so, then you probably know how frustrating it is to try to find a job in the United States today. Some areas of the United States have been devastated so badly by the economic downturn. Unless you have been unemployed before, it’s hard to explain the extreme frustration that one feels when you are unable to pay the rent and feed your family. This epidemic has prompted me to become an entrepreneur and become my own boss. However, there is a huge misconception that being unemployed is the fault of those who are unemployed. The truth is that our economy is dying and it is not producing nearly enough jobs anymore.Here are some reasons why it’s hard to find a job.

1. Increased competition:
There have been a record number of college applications across the nation, resulting in more college graduates, and thus, more competition for the limited number of jobs available on the market. I will safely assume that every person reading this knows at least one person in their social circle who has graduated college and is still having difficulty getting a job

2. Lack of networking:
Many people get jobs through referrals. Statistics show the majority of people get their jobs this way. The reason why word of mouth is so effective is because it cuts through all the worry of whether or not this person can do the job. If somebody has been working for a company for some time, then that employee knows what it takes to succeed, and if that employee knows somebody who can do it, it’s an easy fit. The employer will trust the employee referring the new candidate and the new candidate will most likely get the job.

3. Technology Replaces Workers:
This has become a major problems in recent years with more technology there is a lesser need to for employers to hire available workers. This results in a huge number of displaced workers

Read more useful articles by Jay Colby here!

Is this true?: The One Thing That Holds Back Almost Every Entrepreneur

The Entrepreneur Insiders network is an online community where the most thoughtful and influential people in America’s startup scene contribute answers to timely questions about entrepreneurship and careers. Today’s answer to the question, “What are some tips for maintaining a successful startup?” is written by Neil Powell, co-founder of Mugnacious.

I realized, and sadly not very long ago, that my ability to predict my future is not so good. In fact, I’m embarrassed by how often I’ve been wrong. I’m not talking about thinking or preparing a bit for what might lie ahead either. That’s what a good business person does. I mean habitually trying to predict what will happen to you and your business in the future. I’ve spent God knows how many of my precious little life hours obsessing about all kinds of ways things could play out for me and my small business.

The senseless string of questions, worry and doubt:

What if no one calls me for projects next month, even when I’ve had a banner year thus far?

What if that art sale doesn’t happen?

What if they change their mind?Then what would I say?

What if …

And while all this fortune telling was going on in my head, I was never really paying attention to the now part of my business — remembering or noticing all the little signs that life presents to you over and over during the course of a day, a week, a month or a year.

Because while I was racking my brain trying to calculate all the things a client might say during drinks Friday, life had been driving a big dumb clown car down Happy Street passing out new opportunities. But I couldn’t see any of this. I was always so fixated on the future. By trying to predict my future, I would inadvertently make decisions based on fantasy. Most of which played to the conservative side of things and led to predictable behavior. Offering up only opportunities that led to more of the kind of work I wanted to move away from in the first place.

It wasn’t until just last year that I started to change. Career-wise, I was at a crossroads of sorts. I worked as both an artist and an interior designer. Just when revenues from my two roles were starting to even out, I started getting more fine arts projects.

In the past, I would have resisted turning too much of my attention toward my art and away from design. After all, it was the design channel of revenue that was allowing me the freedom to pursue art. But now, I was starting to give in to the fact that people love my art, and when I really focus on it, it flourishes.

Now I was turning my attention away from trying to predict my business’s future and turning it toward spending more time nurturing to what I really want my business to be — a magical place of making and wonder.

In March I decided to make a bold move. I opened a workshop and show space in Brooklyn and it’s given a whole new life to my small business. It was a decision that has transformed the way I work and approach my business. Admittedly, I was a tiny bit scared but nonetheless excited.

I feel reborn as an entrepreneur. All because I stopped trying to predict the future and started to take notice of now.

Originaly seen on the Fortune.

Follow Thoughts Of A Civilian for more influential (shared)articles like this!!

Enjoyment and Connections

Hello Readers,

The word enjoyment…what does it mean to you? What connotations does enjoyment have? Do you have an immediate image in your mind when you hear that word? Perhaps of a place or of a specific person? What feelings to you experience when you think of the word enjoyment?

Enjoyment, the sense of enjoyment is unique to every individual; the passion, the enchanting nature, the singular or multiple elements of entities that drives one to ever find themselves lost in the joyful state. These are precious moments that should be cherished as it gives one a chance to get in touch with their ‘true self’ being reminded of freeing, calming, fun and joyful nature inside them; they are able to go back to the place where they are just ‘let be’. Maybe out of these times whereby they are able to indulge in thrilling experiences, they can recognise qualities in themselves that they have perhaps overlooked or were inattentive to before.

An exciting aspect of enjoyment is that the entity you take pleasure in could be shared by others, other people you may not know; you and that mystery person(s) already have a connection, you just have to go in search of those who are on the other end of the link.

Place yourself in a music concert- the first cord on guitar is strummed, the first note on the piano is played and the first beat on the drum is echoed, it is THE song everyone knows. Now for my favourite bit- looking around and seeing, feeling the vibrations of excitement amongst hundreds of individuals, radiating what you are feeling-all singing the same words and waving their hands in unison. The atmosphere is electric with joy all for one reason and if a person a members of the crowd ‘Why do you like this band?,’ you would find that similar responses would be given- you might even find two people give the exact same answer.

My example of a concert is on a big scale, but even if you were to consider a form of enjoyment that was more individualised to you, you are guaranteed that there is at least another person in the world with similar appreciations as you. This comes to remind you and I that no one is ever completely alone, if you only looked around.

So, go and find what it is you enjoy, what it is that you have deep happiness in doing and..do it!! Even if there is a wall of fear jump over to the other side and find out the answer to ‘what if?’. Most importantly enjoy!!

Until next time,

All my love XX

Read more interesting articles by Rebecca Sullivan here!

 

Obama makes History.

Obama on Friday visited Hiroshima, the first city in history to be targeted with a nuclear bomb, becoming the first sitting president to do so more than seven decades after the attack.

Obama arrived at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The two leaders laid wreaths in front of the cenotaph for the victims of the bomb.

“Seventy-one years ago, on a bright cloudless morning, death fell from the sky and the world was changed. A flash of light and a wall of fire destroyed a city, and demonstrated that mankind possessed the means to destroy itself,” Obama said.

“Why do we come to this place, to Hiroshima? We come to ponder a terrible force unleashed in the not-so-distant past. We come to mourn the dead, including over 100,000 Japanese men, women and children, thousands of Koreans, a dozen Americans held prisoner. Their souls speak to us. They ask us to look inward. To take stock of who we are, and what we might become.”

Ahead of the visit, Obama had confirmed that he would not apologize for President Harry S. Truman’s decision to drop the bomb toward the end of the war. On August 6, 1945, a United States Air Force plane dropped the bomb named “Little Boy” on the city, leading to the deaths of an estimated 140,000 people. A second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki three days later, killing another 70,000 people.

Obama told a news conference Thursday his visit was also a reminder of the need for a “sense of urgency” about the risks of future nuclear conflict, singling out North Korea’s pursuit of an atomic bomb as “a big worry for us all.”

(originally posted on Fortune)

What did you think about President Obama’s visit to Hiroshima?

Did you hear? The new MacBook Pro could feature a Touch ID sensor and an OLED mini screen!

Rumor has it that Apple is about to update the MacBook Pro with a retina display in the coming months. And according to well-informed analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from KGI Securities and 9to5mac, it should be much more than a specification bump.

The company wants to keep two screen sizes with a 13-inch model and a somewhat more powerful 15-inch model. But these laptops should come in a thinner and lighter design, bringing it closer to the MacBook Air.

But if you have a MacBook Pro, you know that the laptop’s thickness is constrained by the ports. The retina MacBook Pro is roughly as thick as a USB port, or a Thunderbolt port, or an HDMI port — these three types of ports are more or less the same thickness.

So how is Apple going to solve that? The answer is USB-C. Apple is already using this thinner USB standard in the 12-inch MacBook with a retina display. And it looks like the company doesn’t want to stop there. USB ports are probably going to become USB-C ports. But you can also make Thunderbolt-compatible USB-C ports, so Apple could also switch to USB-C design for Thunderbolt ports. Similarly, Apple could take advantage of a USB-C port to drop the MagSafe connector. Finally, Apple could drop the HDMI port or replace it with a Mini-HDMI port.

According to these reports, Apple is also thinking about adding a Touch ID sensor right on your Mac. It’s nice that you won’t have to type your password again. But it could also open other possibilities, such as Apple Pay on the Mac for online purchases.

The last addition is a bit more surprising. Apple could be adding a tiny OLED touchscreen above your keyboard thanks a new, smaller metal-injection molded hinge. While Apple has never made laptops with touchscreens, this narrow touch screen would feature shortcuts and could change depending on the app you’re using. This could be the most surprising element of the new MacBook Pro.

The new MacBook Pro will feature the new Intel Skylake processors. It could also feature a redesigned keyboard that would look like the Magic Keyboard.

Unfortunately, today’s reports say that you shouldn’t expect to buy a new MacBook Pro before Q4 of 2016. Many anticipated a big announcement at Apple’s WWDC, but it looks like it won’t be ready just yet.

(originally posted on Tech Crunch.)

One of the World’s Richest Countries Is Voting on Whether to Give All Its Citizens $2,500 Per Month

Next month, the world could get its first national basic income, but the likelihood of it passing remains a long shot.

The Swiss will vote on June 5 whether to institute an unconditional basic income that will take the place of some welfare benefits. The concept of basic income is a hot topic nowadays as the world considers a future with less work, but Switzerland will be the first country to actually vote on it.

Proponents of the stipend say that it will give all Swiss a decent living and allow them to “participate in public life.” The text of the referendum doesn’t specify how much each citizen will receive, but advocates have suggested 2,500 francs or $2,500 for adults and 625 francs for kids per month.

Opponents of measure–including the Swiss government-argue that an automatic income is a disincentive to work and will increase taxes. The government also says the stipend could hamper the Swiss economy by causing a shortage in skilled workers, prompting businesses to relocate abroad. Plus, the suggested $2,500 per month stipend adds up to an annual sum that’s just barely above the national poverty line, according to Bloomberg. Those arguments seem to have resonated with voters. A poll conducted in April showed that just 24% of voters supported it; 4% remained undecided.

But even if the Swiss reject the measure, the idea of basic income is likely to remain a timely talking point, as world leaders grapple with wealth inequality and concerns that machines could someday displace a vast share of workers.

Lausanne, Switzerland made the news last month when its city council narrowly passed a motion calling for a city-wide basic income trial program. Other governments–namely those of Ontario in Canada, Finland, and the Netherlands–have also toyed with the idea of giving their citizens free money to cover basic needs. And some players in Silicon Valley are also infatuated. Y Combinator president Sam Altman said in January that the startup incubator wanted to fund a study of the idea.

At least one basic income acolyte says Switzerland is an ideal testing ground for the concept given its wealth. (It’s typically ranked among nations with the highest per capita GDP.) Former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis told Bloomberg that, “A rich country like Switzerland has the great opportunity to try out this great experiment.”

(originally seen on The Fortune)

What do you think about this?

Do you think Swizzerland should vote Yes or No?

To those who get/have been bullied or have been put down by others…

Image credit-Isvi Ramos

I don’t exactly know why people choose to hurt others. Maybe they’re jealous of you, or don’t like you, or just have nothing better to do…But that is no excuse. No matter what the reason is for their actions towards you, it is not okay.

When people try to bring you down, you often question why, you? What have I done to them? And sometimes those questions remain unanswered because you’ve literally done nothing wrong. Don’t ever feel like it’s your fault, like you deserve it, like you’re unworthy, not good enough, or popular enough and that those are the reasons why they’re picking on you. Never believe what others tell you to try and break you because they’re wrong.

I know that sometimes it all gets too much and you just want to break down and show weakness. I know that it gets hard putting on a tough face all the time and holding it in. So don’t hold it in, let it all out- cry if you have to, talk to someone and tell them how you feel. Go out and do anything you enjoy, think of a happy memory- anything that takes you to a happy place. Deal with it in a way you feel safe and comfortable doing it. It’s okay. It does not make you weak, it’s understandable when you have people tearing you down.

Stay strong, ignore the people who are putting you down and don’t let them get to you. You may be able to work it out yourself, and that’s great but remember the person may not be willing to change. If things are getting out of hand and If you’re being bullied, in anyway- SPEAK UP. Please, tell someone. Get help. Don’t be afraid. A teacher, friend, parent, family member- etc. they’re there to help. Remember, you’re not alone.

Also, remember to never attack back. You’re not them. You’re better than that and you’re not a bully. You don’t need to pick on someone in order to feel good. Influence them into good behavior. Let them know that you will not be like them.

Sadly, bullies or just negative people are everywhere- school, work, online, etc. No matter where you’re being put down, remember to stand up for yourself and not let them get to you.

With that said, stay strong, confident and positive. Surround yourself with people who care about you. It may seem like everything is falling apart but I promise that it does get better. Don’t ever give up.

I don’t really care if I don’t know you personally- if you ever need anything/ anyone to talk to / feel alone. I would be more than happy to be a friend and talk to you.

My personal e-mail is: isviramos@yahoo.com or any of my other links are on my profile.
KILL EM WITH KINDNESS

Check out more great articles like by Isvi here!