Category: Frugal Living Tips

As of 2020, there are about 7,111 known languages that are spoken around the world.

A lot of people speak at least two languages fluently. Some speak many more. The fact is the more languages you can understand, the better for you.

Why?

Well, the world is becoming increasingly globalized, and mobility is now a lot easier than it ever was. Learning a new language can prove significantly helpful when you’re traveling abroad or seeking new career prospects. It can also help you develop mental abilities, besides other benefits.

In this guide, we give you several top language learning tips that will help you speak fluently within no time. These tips are applicable to any language you’re interested in learning.

Read on to learn more.

Easy Language Learning Tips that Will Help You Speak Like a Native

Learning to speak, read, and write a new language can seem like an impossible affair for some people. This, however, doesn’t have to be the case, as this article proves. Check out the following guidelines that can help make everything easier for you.

Start with The Most Common Words 

In every language, different vocabulary is made differently. You want to focus on vocabulary that gives you the best return on investment. If you hire a tutor, ask them to start with words that help you follow basic conversations.

Many people make the mistake of studying vocabulary for family members, kitchen equipment, and the home. When it comes to something as simple as asking directions, they have no idea what to say.

Make a list of the 100 commonest words in the target language and practice making sentences with them as many times as you can. Within days, you’ll find that you feel comfortable with these words.

Read What You Write out Aloud

One of the most effective ways to get a good grasp of a new language is by learning to write it. Chances are you’ll be using a book that teaches you the grammar of that language. Take the time to complete the exercises provided in the book at the end of each lesson.

Besides solving the provided questions, practice reading what you write out aloud. As you do so, your confidence gets a boost, and this is an important aspect of progress. When you finally get in actual conversations, you’ll find that things are easier for you.

Find a Good Language Learning Tool

You already have a smartphone, so why not download one of the top language software available today to aid your language learning efforts? There are plenty of language learning tools that make it easy for people to learn a new language whenever and wherever they are. This way, you can accelerate your progress and become proficient quickly.

Many of these tools have a visualization feature, which makes it easier for you to remember important vocabulary and essential phrases. Some tools come with lots of speaking tasks that help you master the language faster.

Find Movies That Have Subtitles

Video subtitles may seem distracting for you. But when you’re attempting to learn a new language, such subtitles can be helpful. Remember, you’re looking to hear and learn the native speech.

Below are three steps that will help you benefit the most from foreign movies with subtitles:

1. Watch the movie while reading the subtitles. Write down any words you don’t understand in your personal dictionary and find its definition.
2. Practice pronouncing any new words and get the accent right. Try fitting these new words in your own sentences.
3. Watch the movie again without reading the subtitles. See if you can understand as much of the speech as possible.

Continually Practice the New Language in Your Head

Everyone has monologues that keep running in their head. Typically, these monologues run in the language they’re most familiar with. Challenge yourself to start thinking in the language you’re trying to learn.

Construct sentences and hold conversations in your head in the new tongue. Think about questions you’re likely to encounter, and how you can answer them in the new language. This kind of visualization makes it easier for you when you finally hold actual conversations.

Imitate Native Speakers

Watch that foreign movie again. By now, you’re probably already familiar with the scenes, but you’re not going to get bored since you’re watching the movie with the purpose of learning. Listen to how the actors pronounce certain words and imitate them.

You’ll certainly need to pause the movie many times to imitate speech, but that’s okay. After you’re able to move your tongue and say words more easily, you can stop pausing the movie and try to mimic what characters are saying at the same time. 

Learn the Lyrics of Local Songs 

The words of a new language tend to flow naturally when you’re singing. It’s also easier to pronounce words right when you sing.

Music brings you a lot closer to the language you’re trying to learn. Find a song whose tune you enjoy and research its lyrics online, along with their translation. Then try to sing along, following the flow of words and learning as much as you can.

Find a Companion Who’s Also Learning the Language

Making friends with someone else who is also trying to learn the new language can prove highly beneficial. You may not notice that your pronunciation is slightly off, but when you’re working with someone else, it’s easy for them to do so. 

Practice talking to each other in the new language and correct each other if need be. Often, the corrections will result in heated discussions regarding the right pronunciations of specific words. These confrontations can be very productive as you and your friend analyze the new language together.

You Can Learn a New Language Fast

Mastering a foreign language may seem challenging at first, but the rewards are well worth the effort. For those aspiring to learn the new language within the shortest time possible, the language learning tips we shared in this guide can help.

Would you like to read more great content like this? Please keep visiting our blog.

Do you want to know how you can get your child to take better care of his or her teeth?

Tooth decay ranks as one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood in America. Kids tend to eat a lot of sugary foods, which contribute to the growth of cavities or tooth decay.

Teaching manners is important, however, dental hygiene is also essential to learn. We understand that some kids aren’t as open to learning new things, especially when it comes to hygiene. In this post, we’ll show you some kids flossing tips plus other ways to get your kid to take better care of his/her teeth.

1. Kids Flossing Tips: Teach Proper Flossing Early

As an adult, you already know that brushing isn’t enough to keep teeth healthy. Flossing helps clean between teeth where toothbrushes can’t reach.  This is why dentists recommend that everyone sticks to a daily flossing routine.

“When should I teach my child to floss?” You may be wondering. Are your child’s teeth already close together? This is a sign that he or she needs to start flossing them. 

Start by explaining to your child what flossing is and why it’s vital for their dental health. Next, teach them how to floss the right way. Take care to watch how they floss their teeth and let them know if they’re doing well. 

Start as soon as two teeth start touching. This way, you teach them early on the importance of flossing and the proper way to do it. Be sure you remind them to make it a regular habit as well.

2. Act as the Role Model 

It’s cute to see kids pick up their first toothbrush and brush away. For some, it’ll even take them ten minutes to finish for their first brush. Do you know how a child takes an interest in brushing his/her teeth in the first place?

It’s because your kid most likely saw you or another adult doing it. When it comes to children, the trick to getting them to do something is to show them you’re doing it too. It’s like how you teach your child manners or house chores.

“Monkey sees, monkey do” is how children learn to survive, after all.

If you want a young child to pick up the habit of brushing and flossing his teeth, you have to make it your habit first. Better yet, brush your teeth with them in the morning and before sleeping.  The same idea works with flossing for kids so get your kids flossing products for kids.

3. Teach Them Proper Brushing

When they pick up an interest in brushing their teeth, you can start telling them how to do it right. Show your child the step-by-step process of brushing their teeth. Start with how much toothpaste they need to use.

For kids under the age of 3, they need to use a rice-size amount of toothpaste only. This is especially important if they don’t know how to spit yet. When they learn how to spit, you can then let them use a pea-size amount of toothpaste.

Teach them to brush for two minutes each time and to cover all parts of their mouths. Ask your child to sing a nursery rhyme in her head or hum it out loud. Also, remember, brushing isn’t only about cleaning the teeth.

4. Feed Your Kids Healthy Foods

Cookies and cupcakes aren’t enough to keep a growing girl or boy healthy. Remember, the food you feed your child doesn’t only benefit their growth and development. Their diet also fuels their oral health.

The diet they need must be a balanced one. That means having veggies, lean proteins, fruits, and dairy products in their meals. Cut back on sugary foods and drinks, especially juices.

People have a misconception on the unhealthiest “healthy” drink, which is fruit juice. Yes, 100% juice still has most of the vitamins from the original fruit. However, in essence, it’s a glass of fruit vitamins and a lot of sugar in liquid form. 

Fruit in its whole form is the best and healthiest kind of snack or breakfast for you. If you turn it into juice, you lose all its fibers but none of its fructose (natural sugar). The healthiest a fruit juice can get for you is a cup of 100%, no-sugar-added fruit juice.

5. Have Them Visit Their Dentists Twice a Year 

You and your kids must keep dental appointments at least twice a year. These appointments will include checkups and dental cleaning. It may also include extractions for both kids and adults.

“My child grew his/her first tooth recently. When or how soon should he/she visit a dentist?”

Your child needs to visit a dentist within the first 6 months of a child’s first tooth or first birthday. Whichever comes first will define the schedule of his/her regular dental checkups. Set a schedule and make it a habit for the family to see a dentist every six months.

6. Talk to Them About the Importance of Dental Health

Finally, for the last tip of the kids flossing tips guide, give your kid a reason to take care of their teeth.

In the end, it comes down to how well your child understands why they have to keep their teeth healthy and clean. If they understand the consequences of having unclean teeth, they’ll know to clean them. 

Be gentle and patient when you explain the importance of dental hygiene to your child. Always remind them to brush and floss their teeth. They’ll thank you for it when they’re older and wiser.

Help Keep Your Kids’ Teeth Healthy

As our schedules fill up and we get less time for self-care, we often begin to disregard our health. Dental health is often one of the first things that get neglected. Look out for your kids’ dental health while it’s early and later, have them do it for themselves.

When they grow older, keeping their dental hygiene becomes a difficult habit to break.

Don’t hesitate to follow these kids flossing tips! But don’t stop here. If you want to read more content on dental health, check out our other guides available, today!

Your washing machine is one of those things you don’t think to clean. Even though you pour soap in it every time you use it, it still harbors bacteria and germs.

What’s the proper way to clean it? Washing machine cleaning tablets or generic powder? Here we breakdown which agent is the best for getting your washing machine squeaky clean.

Pros and Cons of Washing Machine Cleaning Tablets

Washing machine cleaning tablets have become popular in recent years. Consumers praise their convenience and simplicity. 

One benefit of machine cleaning tablets is that it takes the hassle out of measuring cleansing solutions. All you have to do is pop one in your washer and let it work its magic.

Another thing people praise about washing machine cleaning tablets is that it effectively dissolves. This means that less is lost down the drain — compared to a liquid cleaner that gets wasted before the wash begins.

While washing machine cleaning tablets come with a host of benefits, there are a few cons. First, tablets dissolve slower than loose powder and at lower temperatures — anything under 68 degrees F. This means that they most likely won’t dissolve in hot water.  

At the end of the wash cycle, you may still find little clumps of powder left in your washer. Over time these little clumps can add up and cause malfunctions with your washing machine.

Not only is this a nuisance but it’s can be expensive. The cost of washing machine repair ranges from $50 to $1000 — that’s a lot of money! 

Now that we’ve gone over the pros and cons of washing machine cleaning tablets, let’s talk about regular laundry powder.

Pros and Cons of Regular Laundry Powder

Traditional powder detergent is a long-time favorite and gets the job done. Not to mention, they are cheaper than liquid detergents. Some consumers say that they’re even more economical than tablets.

What’s also great is that most brands of laundry detergent powder contain oxygen bleach that helps keep your washing machine clean and sanitized.

Although these are a preferred detergent for many, they are slowly leaving store shelves. This means it may be harder to get your hands on a box of traditional powder detergent.

Like washing machine cleaner tablets, the regular powder does pose problems for your washing machine. As explained, the powder doesn’t dissolve easily and may leave solid deposits in your washer. 

So what’s the difference between washing machine cleaners and generic powder?

Cleaning Tablets Vs. Laundry Powder: Which is Best?

While both washing machine cleaner tablets and generic powder have similar properties, they serve different purposes. Powder detergent has agents similar to cleaner tablets but doesn’t do a good job of sanitizing your washing machine.

If you want to break up dirt and residue from your washing machine, we recommend washing machine cleaners. However, be sure not to use them more than once a month. Using them too often may leave solid particles in your washer — no one wants that.

How Do You Clean Your Washing Machine?

Cleaning your washing machine keeps it bacteria and mold-free. Whether you choose more natural methods or washing machine cleaning tablets, make sure you do it once a month.

For more budget and lifestyle tips, follow this blog! 

Do you often wake up in the morning feeling sick? Does it go away if you leave the house, or worsen if you stay home all day? Then there’s a good chance that your home could be making you sick. 

Keep reading to learn about household toxins and how to get rid of them. 

1. HVAC Systems

Your heating and cooling system might be the biggest problem in your home and could be causing you to feel sick. When your air conditioning is running it will often leave small traces of moisture in the air ducts which allow bacteria and mold to grow. This growth can be the leading cause of your asthma, coughing, allergies, and even headaches. 

Your respiratory issues aren’t always linked to your home’s HVAC system. However, if you have been experiencing these issues, it is a great place to start looking and see if your air ducts have been contaminated.

To prevent this from being an issue you should have your air ducts cleaned every few years by a professional service. Not only is it better for your health, but your HVAC system will operate more efficiently as well. 

2. Your Furniture

Microscopic bugs known as dust mites love to live in your favorite recliner or the mattress you’ve owned for too long. These dust mites thrive in warm and humid areas that are perfectly provided by your body. If you suffer from allergies or have asthma they can cause a reaction that is not only uncomfortable but can also be debilitating long-term. 

In order to reduce the number of dust mites you have, you should wash your sheets weekly in hot water, vacuum your carpets, curtains, and furniture often, and dust weekly. If you are particularly sensitive to these tiny bugs you should use a pillow and mattress cover. These make it easy to protect against the dust mites by allowing you to remove and wash the covers often. 

3. Bathrooms

Your bathroom is one of the dampest rooms in the house, especially if it doesn’t have a proper ventilation system. This can be a breeding ground for mold and mildew and other bacterias that are harmful to your health. If you don’t have a ventilation fan then you should consider adding a fan if you can, keeping the door cracked when taking a shower, or opening a window to let some of the steam out. 

Your bathmat in front of the toilet and bathtub can also be a hotbed of bacterial growth or dust mite activity if you do not wash it routinely. When you get out of the shower or bath and don’t dry off before stepping out, all the water soaks into the mat.

If you also like to sprinkle corn starch on yourself after drying off, all the powder then sprinkles down into your mat. The corn starch is essentially feeding the dust mites and bacteria and creates a breeding ground for them both.

To avoid this, dry yourself off before exiting the shower or bathtub and if you can’t avoid using the corn starch, stand on a towel before sprinkling it on yourself. You can then throw the towel into the washing machine and avoid creating a problem with your bathmat. 

4. Cleaning Products

Sometimes even your best intentions can create a harmful environment for your health. Certain cleaning products might be causing the breathing problems, headaches, and eye irritation you have been experiencing at home. 

You may not even realize that the products are causing the problem or you might know they are harmful and continue to use them without taking the proper precautions. If you are using harmful cleaners you should be using protective gloves, wear a mask, open windows, or dilute the product when necessary. If you are not following these recommended tips for proper usage you are only making your health problems worse. 

In order to avoid the problem altogether, consider using safer alternatives. For instance, water and distilled white vinegar make a great glass cleaner, baking soda is an effective abrasive scrubbing product or just basic soap and water for common household chores. To learn more about safe and effective household cleaners visit safehomecleaningproducts.ca for more information. 

5. Your Vacuum Cleaner

Vacuuming is an essential household chore, especially when tackling dirt and dust. What you may not realize however is your vacuum cleaner might be reintroducing some of these allergens back into the air. 

To avoid this problem, make sure your vacuum has a HEPA filter. These filters will help capture roughly 99% of the dust particles without reintroducing them back into the air. Some brands will claim they are “HEPA-like” and aren’t actually controlling the dust as they should, so be sure it has the real deal. 

If you use a cleaning service to tackle these day to day chores, make sure they are also using vacuums with a HEPA filter. Not only will this protect you from the dust and allergens in your own home, but it also keeps your home from being contaminated from the previous homes that were vacuumed using the same machine. 

6. Refrigerator

When cleaning out your refrigerator rarely do you think about cleaning the dust and dirt that collects underneath or on the coils on the back of your machine. This dust might get blown back into the air you breathe every time the air compressor kicks on thanks to the warm air that is produced. 

Your best bet is to routinely pull your refrigerator out from its home and clean the floor underneath and dust off the coils in the back. Depending on the style of your refrigerator you may need to wear gloves to protect your hands when doing this. 

Learn More Today About How to Avoid Common Household Toxins!

These are the most common reasons why household toxins might be making you sick. With some precautions and specialized cleaning, you can start feeling healthier in no time. 

For more household tips and information be sure to visit our website daily!

Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years, and it continues to be used because it works wonders. As you’re probably aware of, acupuncture is mainly used to help reduce pain and alleviate joint problems in a patient, making it useful for a wide audience.

However, acupuncture can do more than just relieve bodily tension and pain. It can actually be useful for a number of other things, including helping to reduce your level of stress and allowing you to take on the day with a clearer mind.

How does this work, exactly? This article mentions what you should know about applying acupuncture for stress, and how it could end up helping you to improve your health and your lifestyle. Keep reading to find out more.

Applying Acupuncture for Stress Helps the Nervous System

Most people know about the external factors in their lives that may cause stress. However, they most likely don’t actually know the factors that occur within them as they experience their stressful matters.

When the human body encounters a stressful situation, it triggers a chemical reaction in the nervous system. In due time, repeated exposure to stressful situations can cause your nervous system to wear out, or worse, become damaged.

Acupuncture directly targets the nerves in your body so you will experience a calmness to and regeneration of the nerve cells, allowing you to better handle stressful situations and be less stressed.

Healthy Chemicals Are Released Into the Body

As mentioned earlier, stress causes the body to release harmful chemicals into the body. With acupuncture, the result is the opposite.

Just as there are harmful chemicals, there are also good ones that your body can release as well. Acupuncture can help boost the level of endorphins in your systems, allowing you to feel calm and even happier with each treatment.

As a bonus, you can also use acupuncture for morning sickness that you may be experiencing. Acupuncture is a natural way to help facilitate the chemical workings within the body and produce a healthy flow of nutrients, so you’ll be energized the moment you wake up.

In short, acupuncture can do some incredible things, and provide nothing but benefits to all who use it. Make sure to try it for yourself today!

Live Your Best Life

You know that you can use acupuncture for stress to handle your stressful matters and improve your overall mental health. Now, you need to learn about what else you can do to get the most out of every situation. We can help with that.

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