Go out of your way to say, “thank you” to a veteran of the military. Start with family members. Do something special for family or friends who have lost someone in the defense of our country’s freedom through a respectful and appreciative act. Discuss the importance of Veteran’s Day with young people/children if the opportunity is there. Fly your flag, email the troops, thank a friend; show your gratitude!
Last month, Wired editor Christina Bonnington decided to go “walletless”, only using her smartphone as a wallet, and even flying to Hawaii without identification. We already pay so much attention to our digital devices, so today your goal is to try and lose your wallet. For some hints, Bonnington suggests these: Google Wallet and Square Card Case for mobile payments; Uber for taxi needs; Amazon mobile for general purchases; Delivery.com, Eat24, and GrubHub for food delivery; Starbucks for caffeine; and Fandango for movie tickets.
Have you ever noticed that when a lotto jackpot gets outrageously high, more people buy tickets? It is a common occurrence, and one that does not make sense to participate in if you look at it statistically. The more people there are buying tickets, the less chance you have of winning. Instead of getting your hopes up and then dashed in situations like this, proceed as follows. Choose your numbers and do not buy the tickets, post on your desk or carry in your wallet, check out the winning numbers, and be grateful you did not lose a few dollars when you realize someone 4 states over won the jackpot. But then, there’s always that small chance it could have been you…
Saving money is definitely trendy. One easy way to do this without sacrificing is to add a few generic labels to your grocery list. Experiment with breaking bonds of loyalty to certain brands and give generic a try. There are more products now than ever before that are store-based and may shave considerable dollars off your weekly food spree: cereal, coffee, bread, ice cream, salsa, and much more! If your taste buds (or your family) can tell the difference, you can always switch back. Or you can start with items that aren’t edible!
In recent years the comeback of the board game has surged. Monopoly, Sorry, LIFE, and even checkers are back on lists for birthdays and the holidays. On store shelves which house games of the video-variety, these board games are finding their place again and at reasonable prices. So don’t be embarrassed that you still have Parcheesi under your bed or “pop-o-matic” Trouble in the attic. Dust them off, show them off, and find a competitor to challenge!
Didn’t play many boardgames? How about Hide and Seek or Cops & Robbers?