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There’s nothing like hitting up a nice rave to enjoy loud music, great energy, and amazing friends all in one place. From the clothes to the accessories, there are some key things to include in your adventure. Here are some things to take with you to a rave. 

Know That All Raves Are Different

You’ll experience indoor and outdoor raves. Maybe indoors holographic rave clothes work best because of the lighting situation.  

If the rave is held outside, pack a lightweight jacket or a scarf because it gets cooler at nighttime. Removable layers that easily fit into a small drawstring backpack are convenient. If you want to keep a colorful look, bright pants and skirts work well to help you create the right raver appeal for the event.

If you do go with a skirt, pack some long socks because you don’t know how cold it’ll get or if there will be any drafts that can make things uncomfortable. Breathable and durable fabrics go a long way to help keep you comfortable. 

Always Think of the Right Footwear

Heels can stay at home. You may not know the surface you’re dancing on and heels aren’t the most flexible or stable for moving all night. Sandals can be cool, but just be sure you’re not on grass. 

Pic Credit: Pixabay

If it rains, your feet can get muddy from the ground. Your best bet is to wear some boots or sneakers that are black or another color that’s easy to wash and dry. As long as the material is good and you feel great dancing in them for hours, you can pick numerous choices.

Have a Small Backpack

As said earlier, a drawstring backpack works well. Make sure that it’s secured tightly so that nothing falls out. Here are some things you can store in there: 

• Portable charger
• Hand sanitizer
• Keys
• Water
• Towel
• Earplugs
• Extra cash

This can come in handy while you’re moving around and storing other things besides a holographic rave shirt. Just be careful to always have it on you. If you do want to place it somewhere, have a trusted friend look after it while you’re hopping in a rave circle. 

By having the right accessories, water, and clothing items, you’ll be able to rave in style. It’s always good to have your options open depending on the type of rave you attend. 

Note: This is a collaborative post

As lockdown slowly but surely begins to lift, those simply pleasures we’ve all missed out on feel as though they’re getting closer – things like going out for dinner, having your hair or nails done, and even just visiting family and friends are experiences we’re all excited to share as soon as possible  

And plenty of parents are dreaming about a little time to themselves as well – with schools not yet ready to re-open, many mums and dads are at their wits end trying to keep their little ones entertained! 

Then of course, there’s the big stuff. As lockdown placed our lives on hold, major life plans have had to be shelved until a later date. As it slowly begins to lift, we may still be a long way from some of them. But it’s never too soon to start planning! 

These are just three of the most popular dreams that so many of us are looking forward to living as soon as possible. 

Travel

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No one knows when international travel will be back on the table, but scrolling through dream holiday destinations imagining yourself sipping cocktails by the pool at an all-inclusive beachside resort isn’t the worst way to pass the time. 

Until you can finally go on that dream holiday, why not choose an adventure closer to home? There are plenty of stunning and magical locations that make for perfect day trips, and will allow your family to make some new memories and make up for lost time. 

Studying 

Going back to school is a common pipe dream that, more often than not, remains just that. 

When you’re already juggling work, a family, and your own busy life, the idea of going back to school seems like a huge and unfeasible commitment. 

But in 2020, traditional routes of study are not the only way. Distance learning is rising in popularity, and in light of the current circumstances, it’s something that many educational institutions are having to adapt to quickly. 

But while others are just finding their feet, ARU Distance Learning are experienced in offering flexible part-time and full-time remote study options that will fit around your busy lifestyle, and their courses could be the key to life-changing new opportunities. 

Getting married 

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Thousands of weddings have been cancelled or postponed as a result of the pandemic. 

And with so many disappointed couples, it’s likely we’ll see many post-lockdown unions when the time is right. 

In fact, a wedding may be just the thing many of us need to lift our spirits after months spend apart – not to mention, it’s the perfect opportunity for a family reunion too. 

While this is amongst the most popular post-lockdown life goals, some couples have decided not to wait in the wake of cancellations, meaning Zoom weddings have joined the list of lockdown trends.

While some American states have found ways to make these ceremonies legally binding, the UK is a little behind, but the symbolic value of a virtual ceremony has been a romantic substitute for those who have to wait a little longer to seal the deal. 

What are your life plans post-lockdown? Let us know in the comments below. 

Note: This is a collaborative post

It isn’t an easy topic, but it’s an important one. Especially when you’re a busy parent also trying to deal with their grief of losing a loved one, funeral planning can be a challenge, and you may even be uncertain where to start or which points you may have missed. 

Let this checklist help you. 

• Decide Whether it Should be a Burial or Cremation 

Pic Credit: Pixabay

It may be that your loved one always spoke about their own preference, or perhaps they left instructions in their will or by other means. If not, then you should think about your loved one and what you feel they would have preferred. It can be a hard choice to make if you’re not sure, but you can always seek the advice of others. 

• Choose a Funeral Director 

The right funeral director is going to make everything immeasurably easier. You should meet with a few London Funeral Directors (or funeral directors local to you) before making a decision to see how you feel about the atmosphere and the interaction. You need to feel fully supported and comfortable with the director you are dealing with and be sure they understand your loved one’s needs and wants. Taking the time to ask about their experience, services, and pricing can also help ensure you’re making the best choice during this difficult time. Professional companies like Exit Here offer full packages and 24/7 support

• Pick the Right Burial Site or Crematorium 

This may be somewhere local to you, a location you knew your loved one enjoyed, or it may be that other relatives have been laid to rest in the same place, and you would like to, therefore, use the same site. 

• Decide Whether to Have a Viewing 

You have the option of viewing an open-casket before the official funeral takes place. You might want to do this alone or invite close friends or family to attend, too. 

• Choose the Extras 

You should make choices on flowers and arrangements for the place of service. Then, also choose a casket or coffin or an urn if there is to be a cremation. You will also have a choice for the headstone or plaque for the place of rest. 

• Inform Family and Friends of the Time and Place 

You should send out invitations to those who you would like to attend, whether officially in the post or simply by letting people know when the funeral is to take place. Sometimes, you can put out a notice of the funeral and welcome anyone to turn up. 

• Think About Transportation 

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Traditionally, you should arrange cars to transport key family members or friends to the place of the service, and have other guests make their own way there. You should think about how many vehicles or seats are required.

• Choose What to Include in the Service 

There may be a certain piece of music your loved one enjoyed or a poem you would like to read. Remember, anything can be included in the service. 

Final Thoughts 

This checklist is provided as a guide only, and of course any funeral plans are completely personal to you and your loved one. You never have to feel pressured to be conventional or have a service that requires a significant number of attendees. Whether large or private, basic or extravagant, any service should be with your loved one in mind and within your chosen budget. 

Note: This is a collaborative post

Dr Death is the true story of a doctor who botched surgeries, causing spinal injury, brain damage, and even death. To hear the true story of this psycho killer, read on…

Putting your trust in someone to cut open your body, and leave it in a suitable condition, is pretty terrifying. Heading to surgery, and waking up paralysed, is something we never think will really happen to us. But, for some people, these nightmares became a reality at the hands of Christopher Duntsch, or Dr. Death.

Compensation for a spinal injury wasn’t enough for Duntsch’s victims, who later saw this criminal put on trial. So, what truly happened during these nightmare surgeries, why was this allowed to happen, and what was the outcome? Find out, right here…

Who is Dr Death? Introducing Christopher Duntsch

Christopher Duntsch is an American surgeon, who trained to become a neurosurgeon. During his five-year surgical training, he ran two labs, and raised millions as part of a grant. After completing his surgical residency at the University of Tennessee, it was clear that he would amount to great things.

Little did everyone know that a psychopath was in the making…

It soon became clear that Duntsch was operating under the influence of drugs. Not only that, but he had only completed a few hundred surgeries during his training, when most residents would complete thousands during their time. An email to a friend during the early stages of his career demonstrated his wish to become a cold-blooded killer… he certainly lived up to this statement.

Duntsch’s negligence over the course of just a few years left tens of patients with severe, long-term damage, and two dead. Whether he thought he was actually the best, and was blinded by his arrogance, or was deliberately trying to maim people is uncertain. What we do know is that he ruined many lives, and cut two lives short, in just a couple of years.

What Were Some of Dr Death’s Worst Deeds?

To get a full picture into the dastardly deeds of Dr Duntsch, some real-life examples are probably in order. Here are some of the most documented and notable cases of Duntsch’s life-altering botched surgeries…

Floella Brown’s Brain Damage, Stroke, and Death

During Dr Duntsch’s time as a surgeon, there were two fatal surgeries which left the victims in severe pain, and soon dying of their injuries. The first of these women was Floella Brown.

After going into surgery at his hands, Floella’s vertebral artery was slit. According to doctors involved in the surgery, they were absolutely aghast as they observed what he was going. One surgeon even felt he had to step in to stop him causing more damage. But, it was too late; the damage had been done, and Floella suffered from a fatal stroke due to her injuries. 

Mary Efurd’s Permanent Maiming

As Floella Brown lay on her death bed, Duntsch went almost straight into his next surgery on Mary Efurd. This routine procedure was aimed at fusing two of her vertebrae together.

After awaking from the surgery in excruciating pain, and no longer able to move her legs, Dr Duntsch was nowhere to be found. Instead, a new doctor, Dr. Henderson, had to re-enter Mary’s body to fix what had gone wrong.  On reopening the wound, Henderson could see pretty clearly what had happened; she’d been completely butchered. Instead of drilling into her bone, Duntsch had drilled into her muscle, sliced a nerve at the root, and had left screws sticking out all over the place.

Ever since this horrifying experience, Mary has been confined to a wheelchair. Today, as an 80-year-old woman, she can barely stand up for more than 10 minutes before needing a rest.

Jerry Summers’ Spinal Injury

Jerry was Chris’ childhood friend, who had been a keen sportsman. After attaining a football injury, Jerry ended up with a back problem, and trusted his old friend Chris to surgically correct it. Despite their close friendship, this didn’t stop the deranged Duntsch from completely altering Jerry’s life.

After going into surgery for a routine anterior cervical fusion, Summers woke up unable to move from the neck down. Despite Duntsch assuring him it was all down to the swelling, and he’d heal soon enough, Summers never recovered. Ever since, he’s been a quadriplegic with incomplete paralysis, meaning he can’t move but can still feel pain.

Kerrie Martin’s Sudden Death

Although Duntsch’s surgical rights were temporarily suspended after Jerry’s surgery, that didn’t stop him from getting back into business. His next surgery after returning was on Kerrie Martin; a surgery that would prove fatal.

After falling in the kitchen, Kerrie ended up with chronic pain in her back, and sought surgery to help her live her life as normal again. When her GP X-rayed her to see what was wrong, a herniated disc was discovered. None the wiser to Duntsch’s reputation, the doctor handed them his card, referring them to him for the surgery.

After an initial consultation with Chris, they felt confident that he would be able to alleviate her pain, as it was just a simple, routine surgery. What Duntsch promised would take only 45 minutes stretched across hours. When Duntsch came out of surgery claiming there had been some complications, Kerrie’s husband could never have prepared for what would happen next.

On waking up from surgery, Kerrie’s conditioned seemed to worsen pretty quickly. She died not long after. A medical examiner confirmed that, when Duntsch had gone into surgery, he’d sliced a prominent artery, and Kerrie bled out internally.

Jeff Cheney’s One-Sided Paralysis

During Jeff’s spinal surgery, he awoke to discover that Duntsch had removed part of his spinal cord! This left him completely paralysed on the right-hand side of his body.

Jeff Glidewell’s Foreign Body

Jeff Glidewell was another victim of Duntsch who was a little luckier than some of the others. During surgery, Duntsch supposedly mistook Jeff’s oesophagus for a tumour, and sliced into it, leaving his voice almost permanently damaged.

It didn’t end there though. To quench the bleeding, Duntsch put a sponge in the area, and then sewed him up with this foreign body still inside him. This meant Jeff had to undergo emergency surgery, which he thankfully survived from.

Jackie Tory’s Severed Vocal Cords

Jackie Tory also suffered damage to her vocal cords, which ended up causing permanent issues. On leaving the surgical room, Jackie’s vocal cords were paralysed, meaning she can now only talk in low rasps.

Philip Mayfield’s Back Pain

Philip Mayfield had been a truck driver, and he loved his job, but the constant loading and unloading of heavy objects meant he required back surgery. After consulting a number of doctors, it seemed that anterior cervical discectomy surgery, to remove the damaged spinal disc, would alleviate his problems.

Philip didn’t want to get it wrong, doing thorough research before landing on Duntsch. His glowing record made him the ideal choice, and after an initial consultation, Phil was fully confident in Duntsch’s abilities.

After going in for this routine procedure, Philip came out unable to move from the neck down. He was transferred to another hospital where they did further tests and discovered he had been paralysed. The pain he felt was excruciating, and an MRI showed that Duntsch had completely deformed Philip’s spine, leaving permanent damage.

Lee Passmore’s Crippling Spasms

Finally, and certainly not lest, is Lee Passmore. He also had part of his spine removed during a routine operation for back pain. Now, he has been left with crippling nerve spasms which make him feel as though an ice pick is being jabbed into his back. He struggles to get from A to B without these incessant pains.

Why Was Dr Death Not Dealt with Quickly?

You’re probably wondering how this man got away with such horrific and psychopathic acts, right? Although Duntsch left two maimed patients, and one dead, at the Baylor Plano hospital in Dallas, Texas, nothing was ever done about it. How could all of this have happened right under peoples’ noses?

Many believe that, if Baylor had reported him, the ordeal would have been cut short, and many people could have been saved. Although the hospital has never provided an explanation as to why Duntsch wasn’t reported, there were a number of reasons this may have occurred, including:

• Parring him off onto other hospitals: an attitude of, “he can be someone else’s problem” seems to have been prevalent for many hospitals.
• Money concerns: the money for legal fees, and hassle needed to bring this case forward, would have been pretty catastrophic for a number of institutions.
• Selfishness: negligence claims often don’t just stay with the doctor, but trickle through the hospital too, and this may have been off-putting.
• Glowing reviews: everything anyone could find on Duntsch was positive, either online or in person. In fact, Baylor Health continued to promote his services with a marketing professional, through adverts, and refer patients to him along the way.
• No criminal crossover across state lines: once Duntsch left one state, and moved onto another hospital, people forgot about him. He then become someone else’s problem.
• Mistakes happen: doctors make mistakes all the time, and aren’t charged or don’t lose their jobs for it. Some people may have wondered why Duntsch should have been any different.
• People didn’t know: many of Duntsch’s colleagues had no clue he was such a liability, so his abilities were never questioned.
• No one would do anything: those who did know would complain, and the problems would go no further due to the reasons above.

Where is Dr Death Now?

This is all pretty scary, and you’re probably thinking, “where is Duntsch now?”. Well, despite the delay in Duntsch’s comeuppance, he was finally given his due. After the damage he’d inflicted on Brown and Efurd, Henderson reported Duntsch, and he was fired. But, the Texas Medical Board, and those higher up, were not persuaded to take action. Then, after being bought on by the Dallas Medical Centre, several more months of carnage led to two physicians complaining yet again.

Finally, Duntsch was brought to trial for his misdemeanours, and was charged with five counts of aggravated assault, one count of harming an elderly person (Mary Efurd), and more. He is the first surgeon to go to prison for a botched surgery, and has been facing a life sentence since 2017.   All four of the hospitals where Duntsch committed his crimes have been hit with civil lawsuits. What’s more, after Duntsch’s arrest, multiple more people came forward claiming they had suffered at his hands. With all this coming to light, it’s now become very clear that the medical system needs an overhaul to bring psychopaths to justice.

Want to Know More About Dr Death?

Pretty crazy, right? It’s hard to believe that all of this was allowed to continue for so long, without anything being done to stop it.

If you want to learn about Christopher Duntsch in greater detail, the Dr Death podcast is a great one to listen to. Otherwise, leave your thoughts and fears in the comments down below, and let me know what you think!

Note: This is a collaborative post

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Always feeling tired but aren’t sure why? You are certainty not alone, as countless other people continue to feel tired despite having enough sleep, with as many as one in five people feeling tired at any given time. If this is something of huge concern always do check with your local GP or specialist. It might be something related to your hormone levels, if so, you can have that checked out and then refer yourself to a specialist within the area you need. For example, if it relates to testosterone, looking up key phrases such as “ED Clinic Roseville” will point you in the right direction. Below is not a substitute for medical advice but it might help by identifying the underlying cause.

Let’s take a closer look at 10 reasons you may feel tired all the time, and how you can fix it.

Lack of Sleep

We’ll start with the most obvious reason most people are tired all the time –  a lack of good sleep. Sleeping is vital for restoring energy levels, so it’s important that you get a restful night’s sleep with minimal interruptions, while sticking to a regular sleep schedule also helps. Sleep is essential for maintaining a healthy and happy life. External factors, such as bedroom environment and stressors from your work or personal life, can contribute to poor sleep quality, but most of the time, they can be resolved without the need for medical intervention.

However, sleep disorders are different. Insomnia, sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and narcolepsy (some of the most common sleep disorders) require the help of health-care professionals and medication or medical devices to treat.

In the case of sleep apnea, sleep aid devices, such as automatic continuous positive airway pressure (APAP) machines, are necessary to prevent the throat from collapsing and help the patient breathe regularly during sleep. Behavioral therapy is one of the treatments for insomnia while narcolepsy, a chronic condition, is managed through medication.

If you suspect that you have a sleep disorder, see your health-care provider immediately, and avoid trying any treatments or taking medication without consulting a medical professional.

Not enough Food

Undereating is another common cause of tiredness. Food gives us the energy to go about our days, so you want to ensure you eat enough calories each day to avoid feeling tired. Your caloric intake varies depending on age, gender, weight, and height, so try work this out an ensure you’re eating enough.

Dehydration

Not drinking enough water is a leading cause of tiredness. The better hydrated our bodies are, the more blood flow to the brain, helping to avoid fatigue and tiredness. So, make sure you’re drinking as much water a possible.

Stress

While we all deal with stress from time to time, suffering from frequent chronic stress has a serious impact on your mental and physical health, including feeling tired all the time. If you frequently suffer from stressful situations, consider stress management techniques such as meditation or yoga.

Sugar

Not only is sugar bad for your waistline, it can have a significant impact on mental functioning when consuming too much.   By decreasing activity of orexin cells, sugar can cause feelings of tiredness after that initial sugar buzz wears off. While difficult, you may want to reduce your sugar intake, especially during the morning and afternoon.

Nutrient Deficiencies

Nutrient deficiencies lead to a lack of focus, increased fatigued, and even physical weakness, with anaemia being an overlooked condition when it comes to tiredness. Consider checking to see if you suffer from iron, folate, or vitamin deficiencies and upping your intake of each should it be lacking in your diet.

Not Exercising

The idea of working out to feel less tired may seem counterintuitive, but it does work, and many don’t realise a lack of exercise is likely causing their tiredness. A sedentary lifestyle may contribute to this, so consider walking, running, or swimming a few times a week – you’ll notice the different immediately.

Skipping Breakfast

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Many people struggle to eat during the morning time, but this should always be avoided, as breakfast provides our bodies with a much-needed dose of energy to start the day. If you don’t like eating much after waking up, try starting with something small such as a piece of fruit, toast, or some yoghurt. 

Too Much Caffeine

Drinking caffeine-rich beverages such as coffee and energy drinks may offer a short burst of energy, but this becomes a problem when done too often. High sugar and caffeine consumption results in rebound fatigue after the initial energy wears off. Ditch frequent cups of coffee and energy juice, replacing them with water instead.

Food Allergies

Not everyone realises their food sensitives, whether is being lactose intolerant or gluten sensitive, but the symptoms are a nightmare, with fatigue being chief among them. Dairy, gluten, and eggs are a few types of foods that could be causing sleepiness – try dropping them for a while to see if it makes a difference.

Your dad is one of your best friends. He taught you how to stand up to bullies at school and stood by you when you went on your first date, making you feel as embarrassed as possible. As silly as dads can be, with their terrible jokes and ridiculous dance moves, they play a crucial part in all of our lives. 

That’s why it’s so frustrating when father’s day rolls around, and you discover that you haven’t planned anything exciting to do to celebrate your dad. If you’re still struggling to pinpoint the best idea this year, the following suggestions could lead you in the right direction. 

Get Him a Special Something

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More often than not, dads don’t get the best deal when it comes to father’s day presents. Since most of us forget about this day until the last minute, we’re usually left handing over a pair of socks or a new tie. Although there’s nothing wrong with that kind of gift, you can do better. Rather than relying on the old staples this year, think about what you could get that would really make your dad laugh or smile. This is your chance to really think out of the box with gift-giving.

If you want to buy something extra special, but you don’t have enough cash right now, consider going in on a group gift with your siblings. This should give all of you some extra room to think about expanding your budget. At the same time, it means that your dad isn’t going to end up with the same half-hearted gift from each child. 

Take a Day Trip

When’s the last time that you and your dad spent some time together, just the two of you? If you can’t quite remember the last occasion, now’s the time to plan something. Go online and find some local brewery tours in your area and take your dad for a tasting session where he can check out some of his favourite craft beers and see how they’re made. You could even find a place that allows you to try making some beer of your own. 

Alternatively, if your dad isn’t much of a beer lover, you could look for something in the great outdoors. Taking a trip where you can go hiking together or play a round of golf could be a great way to make some memories. You could even get out on the water and do some fishing if that’s something that your pop enjoys. 

Try Something New

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Your dad probably spends most of his time living according to a certain routine. He goes to work, does his chores, goes for the occasional drink with his friends. However, he probably doesn’t have a lot of opportunities to try building some new skills anymore. With that in mind, why not sign your dad up to a lesson that he’s going to enjoy. 

For instance, you could take him to a racetrack and see how he fares behind the wheel of a sportscar. Alternatively, you might want to help both your mum and your dad out a bit by paying for some cooking lessons so that your pop can treat you all to a more delicious home made meal. Think about the kind of skills that your dad would love to develop, but never has the time to focus on. Then work from there. You can even take part in the lessons too if you like! 

Keep It Simple

Finally, if you don’t have a lot of money to spend, or you know your dad will berate you from going over the top with a big party, why not choose something simple? One of the best ways to celebrate father’s day is to allow him to stand in his element. Fire up the grill, hire hog roast catering and have a BBQ with the entire family, and a couple of ice-cold beers. 

This is the perfect opportunity for you and other members of your family to spend some quality time together. You can still exchange gifts and make sure that the focus remains on your dad. After all, it is his special day. However, rather than actively celebrating, you can spend more of your time relaxing and unwinding instead. If you dad rarely has the chance to put his feet up these days, this might be the perfect opportunity for him to put his tasks on hold for a while and remember what matters most. 

Note: This is a collaborative post

The task of cooking should be something you look forward to doing. Many families focus on meals as a point of the day to gather and talk about one another’s day. If you find cooking to be more of a headache than a joy, we’re here to provide some suggestions on how a few changes can make cooking less stressful.

Effective Appliances

First, you can’t cook properly without appliances that assist you in the cooking process. While appliances can vary to an individual’s preference, kitchen appliances don’t need to be complicated. Place your attention on your most used items and ensure that they are functioning properly and that you are satisfied with their results.

If a few of your appliances can use an update, head to your nearest home improvement store and shop around for what best suits your needs.

Prep Space

One complaint that a majority of homeowners have who lack their ideal kitchen is space. Updating your kitchen to achieve a larger area for prep work, cooking, and the other many tasks you accomplish in the kitchen can be a game changer.

As seen in numerous El Paso houses for sale is a large kitchen island or plenty of counter space. With large amounts of area to work with, the chances of you complaining you have no room to cook will be slim to none.

Easy Access

During your time cooking, it is likely you are reaching for many objects without even realizing it. From the food and spices to the pots, pans, and cooking utensils, all of these items should be easily accessible. 

Depending on your current kitchen set up, opting for a larger pantry, more effective cabinets, or a simple overhang to place all of your pans this update can be large or small but definitely well worth it.

Easy Clean Up

After everyone has enjoyed the food and the cooking has ended, it’s not unusual to dread the clean up needed afterwards. Creating a system that is simple and less dreadful is the goal. So if you find yourself washing dish after dish because your kitchen doesn’t have a dishwasher, this may be just the update you need. 

However, if you find yourself preferring the wash by hand method, updating your sink station with a drying rack that has plenty of room or a sink with a larger capacity can also help lessen your stress. 

Cooking may be one of your favorite hobbies, or you may value the togetherness of your family during a meal. Regardless as to why you cook, it’s important that you enjoy this process or that you can at least say it’s not the most stressful part of your day. Adapting a few of these suggestions are guaranteed to help you appreciate and look forward to the next meal you create.

Note: This is a collaborative post

When you’re debating between getting a new debit card or switching to a credit card, it’s important to look at the ways they’re used, how they can benefit you, and which would be more helpful in simplifying your financial life. 

Credit and debit cards look essentially the same. They both have 16-digit numbers, expiration dates, and security codes. The differences are perhaps most notable in how they function, where the payments come from, and how they’re involved in your financial well-being. Let’s take a closer look.

What’s the Difference?

Debit cards are set up so that they draw funds from a related checking account. That means, when you order a new debit card, it automatically links back to the account you want it tied to, and each time you use it, the charge subtracts the cost of the purchase directly from your checking account.

Debit cards are usually tied to checking accounts. A savings account is normally opened in order to save money, and although some financial institutions will allocate an ATM card on a savings account, they support your savings goals by not providing the means to electronically draw on the account.

Benefits of Credit Cards

Debit cards certainly have their perks, but they may not be able to offer a comparable level of protection on your account. Unlike being connected to your checking account, credit cards are tied to a line of credit that’s usually based on factors such as your credit score, debt-to-income ratio, and solvency. A line of credit often has a maximum amount “made available” for use via the credit union or financial institution. That amount is based on the account holder’s projected ability to repay the costs of their purchases on a monthly schedule.

Because of the service of extending credit, a financial institution can usually charge a fee or have a set series of requirements in order to be a cardholder. While this may sound more complicated, one of the benefits is that, based on expectation and trust that the money can be paid back, cardholders can spend more money than they have available in cash at the moment. This might be helpful, for example, if there’s a large, unexpected expense, such as the sudden need for a new washing machine or an emergency medical procedure.

Credit cards also offer better consumer protection should the card ever be stolen or hacked. There are often better warranties and fraud protection in place.

Types of Credit Cards

There are four primary types of credit card products that financial institutions offer. These categories sum up the sort of electronic lines of credit available to the everyday consumer.

Standard Credit Card

A standard credit card is just that: a standard line of credit. It’s available to you on the basis of approval and can be used for in-person or online purchases. There’s nothing frilly or fancy about it, but it does make life a lot easier, particularly for digital or over-the-phone purchases. There can be an annual fee with credit cards, and you should both check what the current prime rate is and see what your credit union can do for you with regard to the interest rates.

Rewards Cards

If you do a lot of shopping for your business, travel often, or like to dine out, there are specialty rewards cards that can build awards, travel points, or even cash back. The interest rates on these can vary, as can the annual fees, though, if you’re searching for a new credit card at the right time of year, sometimes financial institutions are able to waive the first year’s fee.

Secured Credit Card

The secured credit card is different from the two above because it actually requires a deposit (usually due upon opening) that will act as collateral for the purchases charged to the card. The issuer will hold this collateral during the use of a secured credit card.

Corporate Card

A corporate card is a type of credit card that is especially handy for businesses that need their employees to be able to operate and make purchases without running it through the company each time. These cards will normally be paid in full each month and either don’t allow balances to be carried over or simply will not carry a balance over to subsequent months because the balance is paid completely each month.

Just like any line-of-credit financial product, a credit card application will be run in conjunction with a current credit report.

Opportunities and Benefits of Debit Card Use

A primary benefit of using a debit card over a credit card is the lower cost to keep it in your wallet. Debit cards tend to have low or no fees. Cardholders also don’t have to worry about paying a bill at the end of the month, so there’s no risk of late-payment fees. Plus, because the spending capacity is limited by an account balance, debit card users can’t spend more money than they have. This completely avoids the potential for interest charges for unpaid balances. You could be charged NSF fees, though, if you use your debit card on a purchase above the amount you have in your account.

Debit cards are generally easier to obtain than credit cards. A standard debit card draws on the attached checking account. This means there are usually few, if any, extra hoops to jump through in order to get a new debit card. For example, generally speaking, when requesting a new debit card, a credit check won’t be required unless the issuing financial institution stipulates it as a prerequisite.

Prepaid debit cards are an option for customers without checking accounts or credit cards. They allow consumers to access services that call for credit or debit card use, such as paying for gasoline at the pump. All they have to do is “fill up” the card, and then they can use it to make purchases. And once again, cardholders can’t spend more money than they have.

To find out more about getting a new debit card or applying for a new credit card, ask the local experts at Rivermark Community Credit Union.

Note: This is a collaborative post