Outdoor Activities to Improve Your Mental Wellbeing

If we’re honest with ourselves, we can admit to living in a modern age full of stressors, daily pressure to perform at the highest standard and to be in near constant communication with others through social media. 

Existing perfectly within our modern society is nearly impossible. Whether you’re feeling the strain of “making appearances” in person and online, or just feel stressed by our daily work lives, you might end each day feeling ready to head the hay and the snooze button in the morning.

It’s tough to create a healthy distance from the things that bring on a lot more negative emotions than we might be able to acknowledge initially. Surely, we don’t always have the opportunity to go off the grid, both figuratively and literally, whenever we want. 

There are ways to promote our mental and physical wellness while taking a short break from our everyday routines, and it’s relatively simple. Get outside!




Nature is a natural healer. It may seem like too simple of a solution, but studies show that even 90 minutes outside in a natural setting can lower our levels of stress and even lower out cholesterol. 

Engaging in activities outside that require a bit of exercise can be a huge plus. You’ll be doing yourself the favor by giving your mind time to relax and also receive the mental benefits of getting your body moving.

Go hiking 

Easy and affordable, hiking is a great activity to get yourself outdoors and on your way to a happier you. There are physical benefits to getting outdoors and challenging yourself on a long hike, but the mental benefits out-way even that. Go on your own, or as a loved one to join you. 

It’ll give you a chance to connect with yourself or someone else without the temptation of modern screens. Not only can a quick hike, or even walk around your local park, help you rebalance your mind, but like any exercise, you’ll also get a boost to your endorphins. That natural high can keep you going throughout an otherwise stress-filled day.

Take your yoga session outside 

This can benefit you in several ways. Yoga is already a great way to “actively rest”, it’s an easy enough activity to let your body heal from more strenuous workouts while relieving stress. Your body is engaged in a physical activity that boosts your strength, flexibility, and coordination, but the action of yoga is relaxing on your muscles and mind. 

Most people choose to do their yoga routines indoors or in a classroom setting, but if the weather’s nice, try taking your matt outside! Get your daily Vitamin D, while finding the ideal balance between exercise and meditation.

Backpack

If you’re inclined to be outdoors for than more than a few hours, try out backpacking. Although even a short walk in the woods can be both mentally and physically beneficial, longer trips can give you the time you may need for personal reflection. 

Backpacking is an activity that can help you sit with your thoughts, figure out where you’re at emotionally, and even lead to a bit of self-therapy.

There are an endless amount of activities you can do outside that can help you promote some much-needed self-healing. If you don’t know where to start, the simplest thing to do is put down your phone, shut down your laptop, and take a few hours to yourself outside. 

Whether it’s in your own backyard, a park, or a nearby hiking trail. Give your mind the peace and quiet it deserves every now and again. 

4 Easy Ways to Make Extra Income after Retirement

Most people look forward to their retirement. It is their time to relax, travel some, and start enjoying life. Unfortunately, many retirees find that the dream they had to enjoy their retirement is not within their reach due to a lack of finances. 

Luckily, it is not that difficult to fatten your wallet without taking on a full time job. Here are some easy ways for retirees to make an extra income.

House Sitting

This is one of my favorite ways to make some cash. While traveling, many people do not like to leave their home empty. They would be very happy to pay you to stay at their house while away. 

Home owners like having seniors who have reached retirement age watch their house because older people are usually more responsible than their younger counterparts. It’s very easy to find work doing house sitting by searching online for house sitting jobs. You will find many websites offering such a service.

Pet Sitting

This is very similar to the house sitting jobs mentioned above. People don’t like to leave their pets locked up in a cage while traveling away from home. 

They would rather find someone who will take good care of their pet. This arrangement allows their pet the freedom to run and play while staying with you at your house.

Sell Stuff for Quick Cash

If you are just looking for fast money to finance some travel or give yourself a little treat, then there is no easier way than to sell something that you don’t use anymore. This is especially true for retirees. You spent your entire life accumulating belongings that you probably haven’t used in years. Take some of the items and sell them online. 

You can sell smaller items on Ebay or Amazon. Also, there are companies that will give you money for junk cars if you happen to have an old one in your garage that you don’t want anymore. You get to clear up space, and you make cash at the same time. Nice deal!

Find Part Time Work Online

Since you’re retired now, you probably don’t want to work a full-time job anymore. Have you thought about working part-time? There are many jobs available where you perform work online. The best part about these jobs is that many are very flexible with your work schedule. If you search for online jobs, then you will find many that suit your skills.

In conclusion, retirement should be the time to do the things that you always wanted, but you’ve never had the time to do them before because you were too busy working. With some creative brainstorming, you’ll discover some easy ways to finance your new lifestyle and start enjoying life for real.

Which Emergencies Should You Save for in Your Retirement?

Even if you have saved up quite a bit for your retirement, you might still run into a few emergencies that put your finances in jeopardy. That is why everyone who is nearing their retirement should spend some time putting money away for a few expensive situations that could pop up in the coming years.

Household Repairs

Carrying out preventative maintenance should keep your household appliances running smoothly for years, but there will come a point when some of those devices need to be repaired or replaced entirely. 

You must also be ready to replace your HVAC system if it is more than 10 or 15 years old. Replacing an HVAC unit can be a huge investment, and your home insurance probably won’t cover a new condenser or the installation fees.

Unexpected Travel

You should be able to plan most of your trips months in advance, but emergencies can happen at any time. If a family member becomes ill and you would like to see them right away, your ticket is going to be quite expensive. 

You don’t need to save up tens of thousands of dollars for unexpected travel, but you should have enough to cover one or two flights and a few nights in a motel room.

Long-Term Illness

Long-term illnesses are extremely common among the elderly, and most basic insurance policies won’t cover those health problems. At the very least, your emergency fund needs to be large enough to help you deal with a medical emergency that lasts for a few weeks. 

That will give you plenty of time to contact your insurance provider and file a claim. You should also consider upgrading your insurance policy if you have a family history of chronic illnesses.

Auto Accident

A serious auto accident can happen in the blink of an eye, and one of those collisions could wipe out your savings if you aren’t careful. Your auto insurance policy should help you after most accidents, but major collisions can be very expensive. 

If you aren’t fairly compensated after an accident, then you need to contact a personal injury lawyer to explore all of your legal options. You might need to take the other driver to court if they are under-insured or completely uninsured.

For many of these situations, a world-class insurance policy is going to be your first line of defense. A solid policy will cover a wide variety of expenses following an accident, injury, or illness.

Ascending Triangle Definition and Tactics

An ascending triangle can reveal a lot about current market sentiments and how well an asset is going to perform in the coming period. It’s a great tool to use when you need to spot the right breakout from a certain pattern. Traders can highlight them in advance and take advantage of the right moment to invest.

When it comes to how best you can use ascending triangles, they can be leveraged across one-minute charts, five-minute charts and longer time periods. They’re dynamic and flexible at the same time, while allowing traders to incorporate real time data into their mix.

Regardless of whether you’re day-trading or scalping, the ascending triangle can be used successfully to perform a wide array of trades. The triangle takes advantage of supply and demand balances to get the right valuation at the right time.

Understanding the formation

The ascending triangle is basically a continuation pattern that can be drawn across critical data points. It is a bullish triangle that eventually leads to a breakout opportunity. When the opportunity can be tracked in advance, it opens up avenues for traders to make a profit. It’s the perfect bullish pattern that can uncover potential trades in the future.

It is also the opposite of a descending triangle, which is commonly termed as the bear pattern or bear projection. Essentially, the ascending triangle has three key elements, which are –

Upward trend line – This is the connecting of the lows as a rising trend line across a time-based parameter. The bullish pattern can be joined through this line and aligned against the second component.

A flat resistance level – The resistance level is a flat line, that isn’t allowing the value of a certain asset to go ahead of a peak price point. The market has tried several times to break through this line, but the balance of price power shifts back.

Connecting line – After charting both the lines, the connecting line forms the third base of the triangle. This helps complete the ascending triangle, showing the complete picture to the savvy investor.

Remember – The trendline of the ascending triangle needs to run through at least two swing highs and lows. This can help with the initial setup of the ascending triangle formation.

Key tactics when using ascending triangles

It’s not just about finding the perfect time to buy or sell a certain asset class. It’s also about taking advantage of the area inside the triangle as well. This is important to note as it can help you find multiple opportunities instead of just the one. If the triangle is touching across points in the future, then it can be a good predictor of perceived value by the market.




Sellers may be interested in staying put at a certain point, because of an announcement made by a certain analyst. Buyers may also want to get more aggressive as the trend seeps downwards inside the triangle charted.

Ascending triangles can also be formed when you want to make a profit in the short term. Automated software packages can detect when an ascending triangle is being formed for you to take maximum advantage. Additionally, traders can make a calculated forwards move if they are going to expect the price of a certain asset to reach a certain point within the triangle.

Another important tactic to be mindful of is to chart the right data. This takes a bit of judgment and experience, but the right dataset can help you get better results when working with massively fluctuating points. An ascending triangle can be followed by a descending one, and vice-versa. Traders that can take advantage of both, emerge more profitable in the long run.

4 Benefits of Installing Central Air Conditioning in an Older Home

You’ve purchased an old home, and it’s heading into summer. That means heat outside. If your home has no central air, it can also mean hot and stuffy air inside. Air conditioning was not a priority before the past few decades, and the heat may have you considering central air if you lack it. Here are four benefits of installing a central air unit in your older home.

Cooler Indoor Temperatures

Overall, it’s possible to keep a house cooler with a central air unit than it is with a few window units. Central air conditioning comes with ducts that fairly evenly distribute the refreshing cool air throughout the house. 

By keeping older window units, only the rooms that house the units will remain cool. The rest of the house could be quite warm when temperatures hit the 90 or 100 degree mark.

More Efficiency

While you may have to refer to a professional for AC system repair periodically, you will not likely have to use as much energy to keep a home cool. The reason for this is the higher efficiency that’s tied to newer models when compared with those built even 10 or 20 years ago. Better efficiency ratings mean lower costs because less energy overall will be used in the process of cooling your home.

Tax Benefits

Even though the federal rebates for energy efficiency ended recently, some states provide tax credits for the purchase of a new HVAC system that’s energy efficient. This means that the overall cost of putting in a system could be much less than the sticker price any prospective installers might quote. 

These tax credits and rebates can go a long way toward making the purchase of a new AC system affordable. Of course, it would be a good idea to check into any sate or local incentives before making the purchase.

Increased Value

Most people want air conditioning. In many parts of the country, it’s a necessity. Those who are looking for a home might not pay enough to take care of the entire cost of a new system, but people are less likely to buy a home that lacks one. Prospective buyers will pay a slight premium for AC, and this premium will probably be higher in areas in which most homes lack it.

There are many benefits that come with installing central air in an older home. Newer units are more efficient so the overall cost will be lower. You’ll also be able to enjoy more comfort when relaxing at home.

7 Reasons Why Payday Loans Are Ideal for Working Quinquagenarians with Poor Credit

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Finances can become a touchy subject for a quinquagenarian (a person between the ages of 50-59). By the time you've reached this age, in most cases, you're either comfortably wealthy to the point of already being an investor or entrepreneur, or you're like most others who are still in the position of needing to work to pay their bills. 

If you're in the latter group like the vast majority of the population, it can be easy to find yourself encountering financial jams as you get older due to compiling debts and obligations combined with increased forgetfulness. This is why you might want to get a payday loan.

Payday loans are sometimes criticized for their short-term repayment requirements and above average interest rates, but for many people, they can provide a means to fixing their finances in a hurry. 

They're particularly ideal for older citizens who don't want to create additional long-term debt commitments and only need a quick band-aid to turn around a minor financial predicament. Likewise, they can often be the only option for people with poor credit.

With that said, here are seven reasons why payday loans can be ideal for an employed quinquagenarian:

1. You Only Need Proof of Income to get a Payday Loan

Regardless of your age, if you have poor credit, you're going to find it difficult to obtain approval for any kind of financing other than a payday loan. Payday loan providers are able to offer loans without conducting any credit checks because they verify proof of employment before granting approval. 

Furthermore, when you get a payday loan, you'll be initiating a direct deposit agreement with your bank to automatically transfer the loan amount to the lender on a specified date – typically the date of your next paycheck. In this way, lenders are able to issue payday loans while only requiring proof of identity and proof of employment.

2. You Can Be Approved Quickly

Submitting an application for a conventional loan of any kind can leave you waiting for days to receive an approval or denial notice. Payday lenders can approve you on the spot and the money will be transferred to your bank account within 1-2 business days. If you visit a physical office location, you can walk out of the building the same day with your loan in hand.

3. Failure to Repay Generally Does Not Affect Your Credit

One of the biggest concerns when taking out a loan is that it might negatively affect your credit if you're unable to make payments on time. That's certainly a valid concern, especially if you already have a low credit score. 

While you should always make your best effort to make repayments as planned, failure to repay a payday loan usually won't affect your credit report or score in any way. There are cases in which a lender could sell your debt to a collection agency, which could then file a claim with one of the major credit reporting agencies, but in the vast majority of cases, this does not happen. 

However, keep in mind that failure to repay your payday loan will render you ineligible for future payday loans from the same lender or network, which is a significant consequence for someone who can't obtain approval for any other kind of loan.

4. The Terms and Fees Motivate You to Repay it Quickly

One of the dangers in creating any sort of debt is that you could wind up being burdened by repayments and taxed by interest and fees for years to come. While long-term loans will usually give you better interest rates, they'll also have you making repayments for many months. 

On the other hand, payday loans generally charge higher interest and fees for late payments, so you'll have all the incentive you need to get your debt squared away instead of putting it off with minimum repayments.

5. You Don't Even Have to Leave the House to Get the Money

Applying for a payday loan is a process that can be handled fully online. You may need to take a picture of your ID to submit along with your application. All of the information required by loan providers can be submitted on their website or via email. 

Once approved, the money can be transferred directly to your bank within a matter of 1-3 business days.

6. The Loan Amounts Are Doable

Borrowing ability can be just as much of a risk as it is an advantage when over-utilized. Since payday loans are given in modest amounts that range from $100 to $3,000, they keep you from over-extending yourself with a $5,000 to $10,000 personal loan. 

Plus, the recommended repayment and loan amounts are calculated based on your income, so you should have no problem paying them back with a bit of discipline. Furthermore, since the amounts are usually small, you give yourself a fighting chance of getting out of the hole even if you were to fall behind on payments.

7. They're Enough to Cover Most Household Bills

If you're struggling to pay your bills on time and are looking for fast relief, payday loans are an ideal option because they're usually enough to cover essential living expenses like rent, utilities, internet, phone, gas, and food. 

If you have a part-time job that doesn't pay much, you might have a hard time getting approved for a higher amount that will make the loan worthwhile. As such, these loans are usually better for people who are employed full-time.

Try to Avoid an Income-Reducing Debt Cycle

Although all of the above points are definitely valid reasons why quinquagenarians can benefit from payday loans, there's also a downside in that your next upcoming paycheck will be less than usual due to the interest and fees. 

Since most payday lenders will offer to immediately renew the loan, that's often the best option for making sure you still have spending money left on payday. However, it may be better to practice restraint and refrain from renewing the loan repeatedly, as you could get into a cycle that has you losing a significant percentage of your income to interest.