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As consumers are asked to assume more health care costs than in the past, it’s important to consider benefits packages that offer more holistic support besides the usual health, dental and vision policies. Consumers should know that there are plans available today that will promote their overall well-being, which includes physical, mental and financial health.
Read moreMany employers are finding ways to reward their loyal and productive employees with salary increases. A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional can offer guidance and strategies for how to maximize your salary increase. Think of this windfall not as an excuse for frivolous spending, but as an opportunity to line up your money with what matters most to you, says Karl Frank, CFP.®”With a little planning, a salary increase can become an opportunity to make a long-term impact in your quality of life,” Frank says. Some smart uses for the new funds coming in include:1. Retire ment security. If you have not started saving for retirement, a salary increase is the perfect opportunity. If you have already started saving for your golden years, directing more of your salary into your retirement accounts moves you further ahead.2. Long-term goals. Do you have an event on the horizon, such as a wedding, home purchase or dream vacation? Create an investment account and divert some of your pay increase into it.3. Debt elimination. A salary increase can be the ideal way to pay down or pay off lingering debt, whether from student loans, mortgages, car purchases, or overused credit cards.4. Emergency fund. Whether or not you already have an emergency fund, you can use your pay raise to add to it. “Usually, six months to two years of your living expenses are reasonable amounts of money to keep in safe, very low- or zero-interest, accounts at a bank,” Frank says.5. Career development. Setting aside the money from a salary increase to invest in your career can pay off with even greater financial benefits and higher pay. Consider opportunities for certification or an advanced degree in your field that might take you to the next level. Seeking a career change? Setting aside money from a salary increase can help bridge the gap if you decide to switch to a different field, start your own business or take time off.6. Fun! Spending a salary increase carelessly can be easy, but if you create a budget and mindfully dedicate some of your salary increase to activities you value and enjoy, whether that’s gym memberships, sports events, concerts or travel, you can improve your quality of life now and in the future. To learn more about ways to maximize your salary increase to reach your financial goals, visit LetsMakeAPlan.org.
Read moreTired of eating the same old staples of burgers and hot dogs at barbecues? Try this easy-to-make, do-it-yourself taco station that lets you do some simple prep beforehand. Arrange ingredients in fun serving bowls and have guests serve themselves for a delicious fiesta.
Read moreJohn Randolph and Chaz Evans, two Seminole grid stars, were special guests at Kansa State University this weekend. The two, both seniors this year, were among 40 high school seniors and juco transfers who visited the school’s grid program. Players were invited to the university by K-State Coach Vince Gibson.
Read moreHigh school graduates earning the Seal of Biliteracy on their high school transcripts will now receive six or more hours of advanced college credit in world languages at Oklahoma Baptist University. The University adopted this policy earlier this spring, to reward those students demonstrating outstanding achievement in English and at least one other language while in high school, making OBU the first university in the state of Oklahoma to award college credit for students achieving the Seal of Biliteracy. The Seal of Biliteracy is promoted both to English learners (i.e., students from families where another language is spoken) and to native English speakers studying a second language.
Read moreIt is the busiest travel season of the year, and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) is warning that airplane travel is often inhumane and dangerous for many people with disabilities. The warning comes as reports link a California woman’s death to complications after an airline broke her custom-made wheelchair, causing her to spend weeks in a loaner chair and possibly leading to a deadly pressure sore. Broken wheelchairs are common, as well as injuries from improper transfers to and from airline seats, and no access to in-flight restrooms, according to PVA, an organization that has advocated for veterans and all people with disabilities for 75 years. Paralyzed Marine Veteran Charles Brown, the national president of PVA, was critically injured two years ago when airline personnel improperly transferred him from his power wheelchair into an aisle chair to board a plane. Airline contractors, who were inadequately trained, dropped him onto the jet bridge, fracturing his tailbone and causing a serious infection in his spine that doctors say he was lucky to survive. Now Brown is leading the charge for change. “It is unacceptable that 35 years after the legislation was passed someone in a wheelchair still cannot access a bathroom on an airplane and risks serious injury or death because airline personnel are not properly trained,” Brown says. “These are basic safety and civil rights issues, and every American should be outraged at the inhumane circumstances paralyzed veterans and millions of others with disabilities are forced to deal with to travel on an airplane,” adds Brown. Air travel is subject to different regulations than public spaces on land, and PVA says air travel is the top complaint heard from its members. It’s been 35 years since the Air Carrier Access Act was passed, which legally began the move toward accessible air travel, but PVA says the industry is still decades behind in safety accommodations, particularly for wheelchair users. PVA is leading the fight to demand safer, more accessible airline travel for people with disabilities and is asking the public to join them by signing their petition at PVA. org/AirTravel. The nonprofit organization is pushing for new legislation demanding stricter standards for accessibility on planes and better enforcement of the law. These issues potentially affect 65 million Americans with disabilities, which could include you or someone in your family in the future. These issues potentially affect 65 million Americans with disabilities, which could include you or someone in your family in the future. To learn more about accessible travel, sign PVA’s petition, and join their fight, visit PVA.org/AirTravel.
Read morePuradigm, a global leader in a new category of product, — simultaneous air and surface purification — has launched a residential version of their robust charged particle purification technology. Health-conscious families are taking notice. In a University of Florida study, Puradigm proved to be more than 2,400x faster than traditional HEPA filtration when eliminating SARS-CoV-2 (COVIDd-19). Extrapolating from this study, a typical HEPA filter could take 40 minutes to remove the number of harmful pathogens from an average cough size. Puradigm purified the same amount of pathogens in less than a second.In another study in hospital patient rooms, Puradigm was shown to be up to 8x more effective at reducing pathogens than manual cleaning of contaminated surfaces.A growing number of families have found a way to keep safe in the wake of COVID-19 and mutating coronaviruses with Puradigm’s offering of HOME and HOME+ purifiers. By installing Puradigm, they are also investing in their good health by using the technology to reduce mold, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), viruses and bacteria, as well as harmful chemical off-gassing from synthetic household items. Puradigm has been certified as an organic product.”The Puradigm HOME was an absolute game changer for our family! Our son had suffered for over a decade from environmental irritants, and within 30 minutes of setting up the Puradigm HOME, he felt better. This product really works, and we are so grateful,” says Robert M., a Puradigm customer and father of two in Southern California.Puradigm purification is trusted by major clients around the world to protect their workers and customers, including the Vatican, United Airlines, Lockheed Martin, and the Texas State Capitol building. Dr. Jawad Shah, MD, a neurosurgeon for Insight Surgical Hospital, utilizes Puradigm in his surgical suites and patient rooms and has seen tremendous success in reducing hospital-acquired infections. Puradigm has now made this amazing technology available for home use.Puradigm technology works by converting air and water vapor into charged particles. These charged particles are distributed throughout the home environment, attacking hard-to-reach pathogens simultaneously in the air and on surfaces, and continuously around the clock. This natural, safe and effective purification process has been proven to work thousands of times faster than conventional air filter systems for easy and complete protection throughout the home. The Puradigm system is quiet and non-invasive, as well as energy efficient, with an estimated power consumption of less than $0.05 per day. The system is easy to use via in-home touch panel controls or remotely, with options for wall mounting or free-standing installation. Systems are available to suit a range of indoor living spaces, including single-family homes, apartments and garages so families can enjoy peace of mind in any setting.To celebrate their new residential purification option, Puradigm is currently offering 25% off of its HOME and HOME+ products. Just mention this article with promo code NEWS25 during checkout.For more information and test results, visit https://www.puradigm.com/product/ home/.
Read moreThe delays and confusion caused when a 200,000-ton cargo ship got stuck in the Suez Canal sent ripples through the U.S. economy and led many people to explore alternatives to the global supply chain, which is also susceptible to other forces ranging from weather to cyberattacks. Although global cargo traffic has become the norm for obtaining many products used in the United States, innovative companies such as Baru are examples of a trend towards supporting local manufacturers of American-made and locally-sourced products.Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen recently described the United States’ reliance on foreign supply chains as “a vulnerability,” and emphasized the need to produce more goods domestically for economic and security reasons.”Even when supply routes are relatively calm, the global supply chain is an overly complex and lengthy process. Product prototypes take valuable months to make, ship, test, plan, and re-make,” according to Baru founder and CEO Tino Go.Local manufacturing has many benefits, notably putting the customer in the driver’s seat and creating a relationship with local communities.”By combining automation, craftsmanship, and virtual customization, we’re able to send manufacturing instructions to workshops local to the customer,” Mr. Go explains.When Baru creates made-to-order furniture, other environmental and economic benefits include reduction of global CO? emissions, prevention of unsold inventory landing in landfills, creation of local jobs, and support of industrial innovation by American artisans and craftspeople. Baru also shows its commitment to the environment with an ongoing tree-planting initiative as part of its sustainable manufacturing model.During the design process, Baru selects sustainably engineered wood panels that are both beautiful and durable. The wood goes to one of Baru’s local manufacturing partners, which uses the latest technology of automated machinery for efficiency of scale and design, combined with the skills of local carpenters and woodworkers to create a unique and lasting item that is American-sourced and American-made. Baru’s growing network of workshops ensures that the products are made as close to the final delivery destination as possible to reduce transportation costs and emissions. Finally, the model cycles back to trees — Baru’s pledge is to plant three trees for every furniture purchase made to achieve carbon neutrality. After three years, three trees replace the wood used in production and absorb more CO? than Baru’s hometown process emitted.Visit hellobaru.com for more information about how you can create furniture that is unique to you, with the bonuses of benefitting the American economy and the global environment.
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