A guide to medical tax deductions seniors and retirees are entitled to
Lifestyle

A guide to medical tax deductions seniors and retirees are entitled to

Even with excellent health insurance and medicare, medical expenses tend to add up. Particularly in the case of senior citizens who need long-term medical care. Sometimes these costs can be as much as $280,000 per year and burn a hole in your pocket. Thus, it is necessary for elders and their family members to understand the tax deductions seniors and retirees can claim against medical expenses. Some overlooked medical expenses that can be tax-deductible are: 1. Home aides and caregivers Sometimes, when the elderly individual is disabled or requires round-the-clock care, a caregiver is appointed. The caregiver lives with the senior citizen as a home health aide. If thought out properly, you can maximize your tax deductions for a home health aide. Firstly, you need to decide whether you will be paying your home aide as an individual contractor or as an employee. If you decide on the latter, you will need to withhold their taxes and at the end of each year send them the W-2 form. Also, remember to take down the employee ID number of your caregiver from the IRS. The I-9 or Employee Eligibility Form is necessary to prove that the caregiver is eligible to work in the USA.
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6 disadvantages of liquid assets
Lifestyle

6 disadvantages of liquid assets

Across all types of liquid assets, there are drawbacks that come up regardless of whether or not you’re in a financial bind. Liquid assets are those that are easily convertible in the form of cash. They refer to cash in hand and items that can be exchanged for cash without significant loss of value. The liquidity of an asset is its ability to be converted into cash quickly. The different types of liquid assets include cash, stocks, bonds, checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, and mutual funds. Liquid assets certainly come in handy when you have an emergency, but you should know these six things that your liquidity is susceptible to: 1. Fluctuation in price When you’re able to store so much in the form of different types of liquid assets, you’re liable to lose as much. Say you’re investing your total net worth in the stock market. If the stock you invested in drops by 20% over one year, it cuts 1/5th off your total net worth. Fixed assets, conversely, don’t fluctuate in value to that extent. 2. Ownership Most of your liquid wealth is likely in your own house. Investors highly and literally value clothing, jewels, art pieces, vehicles, and many other possessions of their own.
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Gardening tips and tricks for beginners
Lifestyle

Gardening tips and tricks for beginners

In today’s Internet-driven world, gardening is a great hobby to have. One of the benefits of gardening is that it lets you spend a lot of time outdoors and expend your energy well. It is so much fun to tend to plants and watch them grow. At the end of the day, the fruits of your labor can be enjoyed by you and your family. When you are a beginner at gardening, your knowledge and experience of gardening is limited. There will be many trials and experiments. There will also be a lot of learning from failed experiments in gardening. The benefits of gardening outweigh the risks and toil involved in gardening trials. Those who are serious about gardening can derive great benefits of gardening like clean, pesticide-free food; beautiful blooms; and a healthy ecosystem for the family. Here are a few gardening tips and tricks for beginners at gardening: 1. Start small Once you decide to do gardening, choose the location first. It is best to choose a small location first and then expand the gardening area as you master gardening techniques. Also, decide if you are going to have a vegetable garden or a flower garden. Maintaining a vegetable garden requires good research in terms of the right soil, temperature, season, weather, etc.for the healthy growth of plants.
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Know about the potential side-effects of Botox
Lifestyle

Know about the potential side-effects of Botox

Botox is primarily used to treat various muscular conditions. Typically, Botox cosmetically removes wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing the muscles. Botox is produced from a neurotoxin called botulinum toxin which is found in the bacterium clostridium botulinum. Botox is termed as a powerful poison. However, when it’s used correctly, it can be helpful in several health conditions. In addition to facial treatments, botox can also be used in the treatment of excessive sweating, migraines, muscular disorders, and some bladder and bowel disorders. 1, Potential side-effects of Botox Botox is usually given at the site of the condition that needs to be changed or rectified. Hence, it has been found that the major side effects primarily occur in the injected area. A few side effects which are observed across the injected area include redness, bruising, infection, and pain. When Botox is used for relaxing muscles, it leads to various minor and major side effects. These side effects include dizziness, mild difficulty in swallowing, etc. Further, it can also lead to various respiratory infections such as cold or flu, pain, nausea, headache. Weakness in the muscles is also observed as a prime side effect of Botox. Besides, botox injections lead to various vision-related disorders; these include:
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Top 5 plastic surgery trends in the country
Lifestyle

Top 5 plastic surgery trends in the country

In 2018, over 1.77 million cosmetic procedures were performed in the country. There has been a significant growth by one quarter million since 2017, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) reports. Plastic surgery is trending only to become more popular year on year. As trends keep changing with fashion and technology, plastic surgeries have also evolved every year. Following are the 5 popular plastic surgery trends in the country: 1. Breast augmentation In 2018, a total number of 313,735 breast augmentation surgeries were performed in the country, which makes it the number one cosmetic surgical procedure of the year. The ASPS reports, breast augmentation surgery increased by 4 percent from 2017. Also called breast augmentation, this procedure is all set to be hi-tech in 2019 with hybrid augmentation. The new procedure combines implants and reshaping options through fat transfer. This procedure is one of the most popular plastic surgeries because it can sculpt natural breast. It is a more natural-looking option than standard silicone breast implants. Moreover, it has fewer risks and speedy recovery. 2. Lip augmentation Fillers were the most commonly used for lip enhancement. However, with the growing demand for natural-looking lips, Lip Lift surgery was introduced.
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10 foods that do not need refrigeration
Lifestyle

10 foods that do not need refrigeration

Refrigeration has been a boon as it extends the shelf life and prevents the food items from spoiling. If you find your refrigerator is always full, it may have got things which may not exactly be refrigerating foods. There are many food items that will actually not taste good when kept in colder temperatures. Putting everything that comes from the grocery store into the refrigerator will not only reduce the space for essentials but also affect the flavors of many foods. Hence, decluttering your fridge from time to time is essential. Keep reading to know the list of 10 foods that should not be in the refrigerator. 1. Pickles This is the number one non-refrigerating food item. Pickles have a longer shelf life as they are preserved in sodium and brine for this very reason. They can be kept in the pantry at room temperature until opened. 2. Potatoes Refrigerating foods such as potatoes is a sure way to spoil its taste and flavor. Temperatures below 50 degrees cause the potatoes to discolor on cooking. Additionally, they should not be stored close to onions as both will spoil sooner. 3. Oils Oils lose their smoothness and will harden if stored in a refrigerator.
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Things to avoid when traveling alone
Lifestyle

Things to avoid when traveling alone

If you have decided to be a solo traveler on your next trip, there would be many well-wishers warning you against the adventure. However, solo traveling gives you a confidence boost and a thrill like nothing else. There are some potential dangers too when you are alone, especially if you are a woman. To make your travel a satisfying beautiful memory, here are a few solo travel tips: 1. Never underestimate the importance of research Check the ratings of the place where you intend to stay. This is the number one solo travel tip. Seeking accommodation in an unfamiliar place can make a person vulnerable. Do your research before you book a place. Check the reviews and customer ratings to come to a decision. Also, read up on the culture, common scams, and the ways of dressing so as not to offend the local sensibilities. 2. Never be out of touch with people at home Keep someone posted about your whereabouts even when you are traveling alone. Keep your phone activated and with an Internet connection even if it costs a little extra. The solo travel tip here is to ensure the place has free Wi-Fi. Often, in certain geographical areas, it gets dark early depending on the time of the year.
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A guide to tattoo aftercare
Lifestyle

A guide to tattoo aftercare

You need to decide on a design and color for the tattoo, and the region where you want to get the tattoo done. Also, you will have to find a good place and an experienced artist to get it done. After getting inked, you need to strictly follow some pieces of advice to ensure that the tattoo is not infected. Aftercare for your tattoo starts as soon as you get it done. The artist will apply a layer of petroleum jelly after the tattoo is done and cover the area with a plastic wrap or bandage. Covering the region helps prevent any bacteria or infection from affecting the skin. Also, the tattoo won’t face any irritation due to clothes or any other thing getting in contact with the skin. You need to follow some guidelines to protect your skin until it heals. This article aims talks about some things to know about tattoo aftercare: 1. How long does a tattoo take to heal? On average, a tattoo takes about 4 months to heal completely, but it appears to be healed on the surface in about 2-3 weeks. It may appear scaly and shiny in the first few weeks, and you need to follow instructions to aid the healing process.
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Everything you need to know about essential oils for pets
Lifestyle

Everything you need to know about essential oils for pets

Essential oils are volatile, aromatic substances that can be extracted from seeds, stems, barks and leaves, flowers, and plant roots. They are known to be highly beneficial for human health, but whether or not essential oils should be used for pets is a question that needs to be deliberated on. Essential oils are especially harmful to pets if you plan on using the oils in a concentrated form. Among pets, birds are at greater risk than cats and dogs when it comes to harm from exposure to essential oils. Here are a few need to know essential oil facts when it comes to pets: 1. The effects of exposure to essential oils for pets When you use essential oils, pets can be harmed if their skin comes in contact with them. In such a situation, it may lead to poisoning. There are even occasions when the pets ingest these oils by mistake. This is a rare occurrence, but the risk cannot be ruled out. This is why as pet owners, you must be very careful when you use 100% essential oils in your house. 2. How can you keep pets safe from essential oils? In case you need to diffuse the oil, you should do so only for a limited period, and that too in a room that is secure from pets.
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Fleas and ticks – natural remedies for cats
Lifestyle

Fleas and ticks – natural remedies for cats

Nobody wants to see their cat suffer from fleas and ticks, as they cause pets to itch constantly. Most people are hesitant to use the chemical-based products that are available in the market as they could have a cocktail of possibly toxic chemicals, which could affect the cat. Ticks are more dangerous than they appear, as they are carriers of many diseases. If a tick attaches itself to a cat, the sooner you get it off the better. One should wear gloves and pull the fleas out; however, you need to be careful as they embed their heads into the skin, which could be quite painful for your cat. Treat the site and dispose of the tick in a container of alcohol. Ticks can crawl out of trash cans, drains, and attach themselves to any other pet or human. Even after removing a tick, one should watch the cat for signs of illnesses. Avoid grassy wooded areas when going on walks. Additionally, free-roaming cats need to be periodically examined for ticks. Thankfully, there are a few natural remedies to help get rid of these creatures: 1. Dish soap Dish soap destroys the exoskeleton of fleas. A diluted solution of dish soap sprayed on your cat then lathered and rinsed off will help get rid of fleas.
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