All posts by ECVtalks

Financial, Health and Fitness

Smart Spending during Sucker Season

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Are you in a mad dash to spend money you probably shouldn’t spend? Are you looking for tips on how-to start 2021 without the soul-crushing debt some come out of this sucker season with? Here are three…

1. Spend time, not money.

Money is tight for a lot of people right now. Instead of feeling pressured to buy a gift that may put you in a financial bind, think about an activity that you can spend time engaging in with the people that are special to you. No matter if you’re in person if they are already in your circle or virtually if they are far away, make sure to put some thought into how to make it special and memorable which oftentimes does not require a huge amount of money.

2. Set one goal & make it a number.

Whether you trying to buy gifts or improve your financial situation, pick your main goal and focus on it. To help you focus, actually attach a number to it. So it might be “spending $1500 or less on gifts” or “paying off $2000 worth of debt.” Whatever your goal, making it a tangible number gives you a target and a way to measure your progress.

3. Practice healthy habits.

Health and wealth are intricately linked and a lot of times that connection is overlooked until it’s too late. So here’s your reminder to practice healthy habits year-round to avoid expensive healthcare costs later. While the tendency may be to overindulge this time of year, try to eat and drink responsibly by listening to your body and choosing healthier options. If you do overindulge, increase your activity level. Depending on your location and the weather, you may be able to venture outside and get active while remaining physically distant to limit exposure to COVID 19.

More tips can be found at this link: https://knowledge-place.wealthmeethealth.com/individual/be-smart/article/choose-healthy-foods-and-stay-active-this-holiday-season/

Health and Fitness, Physical

8 Foods to Fight Stress

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Under stress – whether it is work, study or a relation, dietary habits change substantially. Some people lose their hunger when under stress whilst others tend to overeat – most often fatty, sugary and junk foods. Always blaming stress for making poor food choices is not the right approach. In fact, making the right food choices will help stabilize blood sugar levels and your emotional response. Good nutrition helps in balancing your stress hormones, relieving stress and boosting your mood.

Here are 8 foods to reach out for when you have just about had enough which will calm and soothe you.

🌾OATS: Being a complex carbohydrate, oatmeal causes your brain to produce serotonin, a feel-good chemical. Serotonin calms you down and makes you feel good. Oats are also rich in beta-glucan, which help in lowering blood cholesterol level and also help in weight management.

🌰NUTS: Nuts help replenish Vitamin B stores that are depleted in stress. The B vitamins help us manage the fight or flight response in stress. The potassium in nuts also helps keep the blood pressure in check thus reducing the strain on the heart.

🐟SALMON: Eating salmon on a regular basis has been linked to reducing the risk of getting depression because of the omega 3 fatty acids present in it. It can reduce stress and anxiety in individuals when eaten even twice a week.

🥬LEAFY GREENS: Leafy greens contain folate that produces dopamine in your brain. Dopamine is involved in the emotional regulation in the brain thus keeping you happy. Besides folate, magnesium in the leafy greens also helps in keeping us calm and good.

🌱SEEDS: Seeds like the sunflower seeds, flax seeds, watermelon seeds, etc have stress-reducing benefits. These tiny powerhouses are rich in magnesium that promotes a healthy nervous system. They also are full of tryptophan which is an amino acid that helps in the production of serotonin that helps you feel calm.

🥑AVOCADOS: Avocados are rich in the stress relieving B vitamins, Vitamin C and folate. They also contain potassium that naturally helps in lowering blood pressure. This makes them one of the best foods for relieving stress and anxiety.

🥛MILK: Milk contains tryptophan, an essential amino acid which is a precursor for the neurotransmitter Serotonin. Serotonin is a “feel good” chemical known to promote relaxation and calm in a person. And, milk taken with another carbohydrate will help in the absorption of tryptophan.

🍲LENTILS & BEANS: Being stressed can be detrimental to your nerve health. Lentils and beans are rich in magnesium, folate and potassium which help calm the nerves, reduce anxiety and promote brain health.

Researchers have found that eating a diet of processed, sugary and fatty foods increases the chances of stress and depression. So, as a general rule steer away from these foods if you are looking to improve your mood. Eating a healthy diet not only helps in maintaining a healthy body weight but also helps in keeping the moods in order.

Café Nutrition with their weight loss clinic in Mumbai offer weight loss in Mumbai and over the world through their online and offline nutrition services.

Arati Shah is an expert nutritionist who crafts personalized weight loss programs at Café Nutrition. Having earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition along with a Post-Graduation in Sports Sciences and Nutrition from S.N.D.T Juhu, she runs one of the top weight loss clinic in Mumbai. She heads the team of weight loss in Mumbai and takes a personal interest in each and every client of Café Nutrition.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Arati_Shah/2280869

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9962741

Financial

Why Everyone Wants Your Money NOW

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Instant Gratification Has Overtaken Your Financial Power.

“Waiting sucks!” How many times have you thought that? While it may not feel great at the moment, waiting when it comes to spending is key to reclaiming your financial power. Remembering that old adage that “patience is a virtue” can be extremely tough in this age of instant gratification.

In today’s world you can buy now, one click order, get no interest down, and enjoy same day shipping—but have you asked why? Why is it so ridiculously easy for you to spend your money? Is it…

  1. Because they’re committed to your convenience? (You can’t be that naive.)
  2. Because you’ll buy from their competitor if they don’t? (#Facts but..)
  3. Because they want your money, they want it all, and they want it now?
Seriously still find it hard to believe I didn’t realize Queen was behind most of my childhood favs until that movie – Ms. ME

DING, DING, DING!!! We’ve found our answer at #3. Understand that your need for instant gratification is a conditioned response. When you’re first born into the world, you want everything ASAP. And as a baby that’s mostly ok because what you want is essential, food, love, to not be lying in your own 💩. But as you get older, good parents teach their children to wait which is why we get the terrible twos. That’s the period where we fuss and complain and generally are a nightmare to be around until we learn that you can’t always get what you want.

Unfortunately retailers have spent decades undoing the hard work your parents put in to recondition you to expect instant gratification. Why? Because they want your money—all of it! Picture a tiny stopwatch inside every dollar you own. When the start button is pressed, the dollar starts earning interest. Each dollar is ticking away, earning money for someone. Is it you, or is it the institution that has your savings account, car loan, mortgage, student loan, paycheck, or your next pumpkin spice latte? Every dollar that passes through your hands will earn money for either you or someone else. Every time you put your hard earned cash in the hands of someone else, you’re handing out little money stopwatches that never stop ticking.

Source: Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stopwatch_GIF_Animation.gif
It’s time to reclaim the earning power stolen by your need for instant gratification.

Money you put to work today has the potential to earn more interest than money you put to work tomorrow. Why? Because it has more time to grow. Those who know how money works never want to waste a single day of earning potential.

Did you think it’s a coincidence that taxes are taken out of paychecks now but tax refunds are not paid until the next year? Ever wondered why financial companies hold funds for a few days rather than release them to you immediately? They pay it out only after they’ve squeezed out every possible day of earning.

They’re not doing anything wrong. They’re just taking full advantage of the Time Value of Money. It’s time you did too.

It’s good if this makes you mad. You should be—you’ve been treated like a sucker. Your logical mind and personal finances are covered with the weeds of instant gratification. This threatens ALL your goals for the future. Start ripping the weeds out by reading HowMoneyWorks: Stop Being a Sucker today. Click here to request a copy.

This book coupled with guidance from your licensed and qualified financial professional can help you increase your financial literacy, stop the counterproductive behaviors of instant gratification, and start thinking—and acting—like the wealthy.

Financial, Lifestyles

SPLURGING RESPONSIBLY?

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We have an odd relationship with splurging.

Many of us treat it like a guilty pleasure and almost take a little pride in our extravagant purchases, even seeing it as “self-care”. But there’s also a part of us that knows we’re not being wise when we senselessly spend money.

So how do we resolve that tension between having fun and making good decisions? Here are a few ideas to help you splurge responsibly (even during the “holiday” season)!

checklist1. Budget in advance
“Responsible splurging” might seem like a contradiction, but the key to enjoying yourself once in a while and staying on track with your financial strategy is budgeting. Maintaining a budget gives you the power to see where your money is going and if you can afford to make a big/last-minute/frivolous purchase. And when you decide that you’re going to take the plunge, a budget is your compass for how much you can spend now, or if you need to wait a little longer and save a little more.

2. Beware of impulse purchasing
The opposite of budgeting for a splurge is impulse buying. We’ve all been there; you’re scrolling through your favorite shopping site and you see it. That thing you didn’t know you always wanted—and it’s on sale. Just a few clicks and it could be yours!

Tempting as impulse buying might be, especially when there’s a good deal, it’s often better to pause and review your finances before adding those cute shoes to your cart. Check your budget, remember your goals, and then see if that purchase is something you can really afford!

3. Do your research
Have you ever spent your hard-earned money on a dream item, even if you budgeted for it, only to have it break or malfunction after a few weeks? Even worse, it might have been something as significant as a car that you wound up trying to keep alive with thousands of dollars in maintenance and repairs!

That’s why research is so important. It’s not a guarantee that your purchase will last longer, but it can help narrow your options and reduce the chance of wasting your money.

Responsible splurging is possible. Just make sure you’re financially prepared and well-researched before making those purchases!

What tips do you have for splurging responsibly or as we like to call it “ballin’ on a budget”? Share them below or on our social media:

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