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Struggling With Medical Bills? Here’s 5 Things You Can Do

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Mounting medical bills can drain the bank accounts of everyday people and place enormous pressure on those still in recovery. It’s no secret that health care costs increase annually at a rate that exceeds the ability of working community members to cover them. If you are among the many who required a medical procedure that created seemingly insurmountable debt, you are not alone. The good news is that others have been down this road and resolved the burden of medical debt. These are 5 strategies that may help you as well.

1: Check the Medical Bills for Accuracy

A myth exists that hospitals and other medical facilities are highly organized and always professionally run. In terms of treatment and care, that usually holds true. But when it comes to the billing department, not so much.

A study indicates that upwards of 80 percent of all medical bills contain one or more errors. Needless to say, the billing errors generally result in inflated costs and may include treatment that never occurred. One of the most common instances of over-billing involves duplicate charges for medication, scans, and procedures. Your indebtedness could decline dramatically by checking medical statements thoroughly and questioning items.

2: Leverage Legally Required Reductions

Owing money to a health care provider is very different from other forms of debt. For instance, the Affordable Care Act requires non-profits to offer low-income people financial assistance and services reductions. Not-for-profit organizations usually post their policies for clients to review. If you check the right boxes, contact the outfit and request a reduction.

3: Negotiate a Reasonable Payment Schedule or Reduction

A 2021 study discovered that 93 percent of people who negotiated with health care providers saw the cost lowered or wiped out. Creditors are also keenly aware that people sinking in debt could file for bankruptcy. When that happens, the court could erase that debt completely and the party owed money gets zero.

That’s why experienced professionals overseeing a billing department are generally amenable to structuring a realistic payment plan. This entails you making affordable and consistent monthly installments over a set period.

4: Use Borrowing Resources Wisely

It’s not uncommon for people recovering from surgery or debilitating ailments to feel enormous pressure over their health care debt. Collection letters, emails, and phone calls increase stress levels. Don’t be surprised if debt collectors offer to put the tab on a credit card and make the calls stop. Paying with a credit card does not necessarily resolve the financial problem. In fact, given the high-interest rates of many credit cards, using plastic could exacerbate the problem.

Homeowners are uniquely positioned to leverage the equity they’ve accumulated to secure a low-interest loan. Home equity loans are considered secured and lenders offer among the lowest interest rates possible. However, a second mortgage involves carrying two monthly payments and puts your home at risk if you default.

5: Consider Accepting a Helping Hand

A wide range of charitable resources are available to people in need. Consider running an online search for non-profits in your area dedicated to supporting ailing community members. And a great many people have garnered financial support by simply posting a GoFundMe page that speaks to your condition and expense. Good people you may not know are there to help. And if pride stands in the way, keep in mind those who give generously feel good about making a difference, and recognise that anyone could find themselves in the situation you’re currently in.

5 Important Cooking Skills You Can Learn Quickly And Easily

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Certain cooking skills benefit several different recipes and give your cooking a pop that will make your family want more. Instead of dragging their feet to the table, they’ll be sitting there before the meal is done.

Learn to Make Milk Gravy

Milk gravy takes on the flavor of whatever you are cooking with. It’s an old skill that has been passed on for years. It makes the best sausage gravy for biscuits and gravy and makes great pork, beef or chicken gravy. All good gravies start with a roux, but if done improperly, the gravy will taste like flour. Milk gravy starts with a thinner roux, which is never lumpy and always has a great flavor.

Remove the meat from the pan unless you use sausage or burger crumbles. Sprinkle a tablespoon of flour over the grease in the pan. Constantly stir it while cooking it. Add milk a little bit at a time when the mixture turns a shade darker. Add a little more milk as it thickens until you get the thickness you desire. Always start with about a quarter cup of flour.

Cheese Sauce

You can make any flavor of cheese sauce for pasta and vegetables. Melt a tablespoon of butter in a saucepan. Add ¼ cup of milk. Always use two types of cheese. One is the flavoring cheese, such as cheddar. The other melts easily without separating, which is always a softer cheese. Velveeta is a good base cheese since it melts easily without separating. Use about 60 percent Velveeta and 40 percent of the flavoring cheese.

You must constantly stir the mixture, or it will stick to the pan. If the cheese sauce is too thick, thin it with a little milk.

Pie Filling

Pie filling is one of the easiest things to make, and you can freeze it for when the fruit is out of season. For a standard pie, you’ll need about 7 to 9 apples, peaches or similar. If you are using berries, you usually need a couple of pints – around 1.5 pounds of berries. Prepare the fruit by washing and peeling it. Cut it into slices and put it in a saucepan on low heat. Add 1 cup of sugar. As the fruit mixture cooks, you can taste it and add more sugar if you prefer a sweeter filling.

Once the mixture creates a liquid, measure 1.5 tablespoons cornstarch into 1.5 tablespoons cold water. Mix it well. Increase the heat to medium-high and add the cornstarch mixture while constantly stirring. You must stir the mixture through this entire process. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Continue stirring and cooking for about 5 minutes. Set the mixture aside to cool. Once it’s cool, put it into your pie and bake or freeze it.

Flipping Fried Goods

You can speed up cooking by learning how to flip food as it is cooking. To practice, put rice into a dry frying pan and start flipping. When you flip, you need to use your wrist. The rest of your arm should barely move. Flip the food high enough to leave the pan, but not so high that it lands on your head. Once you get the technique down with rice, try frying an egg and flipping it. If unsure of yourself, flip it over the sink, so you have less of a mess to clean up.

Knife Skills

Every cook should learn knife skills — you’ll be less likely to cut yourself when using a chef’s knife. And, with the proper skills, you can speed up prep time. The first rule is to never extend your fingers to the knife. If it slilps, you could lose a finger. Bend your fingers at the middle knuckle, leaving the top knuckles as straight as possible. Hold the food with your fingertips. Place the side of the knife against the middle knuckles. Lift the knife just enough to bring it to the top of the food, leaving the point on the cutting board. You can chop a bunch of parsley or chop veggies in no time once you get used to leaving the point of the knife down and lifting the heel only. 

5 Essential Soft Skills for Your Career in Tech

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Far too many technology professionals suffer under the false impression that the technical nature of the field means that they don’t need to worry about things like interpersonal work relationships or customer service delivery. However, it has been proven time and time again: soft skills are just as important (if not MORE important) than hard skills if you want to go into computer programming, IT, or another area of the tech sector.  

Of course, tech professionals must have the requisite hard, technical skills. But if you really want to set yourself apart, you will want to master some essential soft skills that commonly lead to success in a range of industries as well as life in general. What follows are five key soft skills that tech workers simply cannot afford to overlook. 

  1. Communication

 Most tech jobs involve teamwork among collogues, interacting with supervisors, and/or providing quality customer service. For these reasons, communication tops most experts’ lists of the most important soft skills in the tech world. It is extremely important to employ different communication techniques when communicating with different audiences. While industry jargon and shorthand are preferable when speaking with other tech professionals, it is typically not appropriate when speaking with clients.

  1. Organization

The organized thinking that underlies many tasks in the tech world doesn’t necessarily translate into a tidy desk or accurate record keeping, but organization is important in all aspects of the average tech position. In short, an organized tech professional is a productive tech professional. One of the most important aspects of organization is effective scheduling and time management. Lost in the task at hand, far too many tech professionals have trouble keeping to a daily calendar. 

  1. Critical Thinking

Far from the robotic machines that some people stereotype them as, tech professionals must often employ highly critical, out-of-the-box thinking to solve complex problems. Although the problems that they encounter are typically technical in nature, the methods needed to solve them may require high-level analytical thinking skills and even a bit of old-fashioned human institution. Critical thinking involves questioning assumptions, diversity of thought, and an emphasis on logical reasoning. 

  1. Networking

Similar to workers in most business sectors and industries, tech professionals must develop their networking skills if they want to establish productive industry relationships and advance in their careers. Networking is particularly important in the technology sector work, which often requires collaboration with other experts. Look upon everyone that you meet as a possible industry contact or partner.

  1. Creativity

It may come as a surprise to some, but tech work requires just as much “right-brained” thinking as it does “left-brained” thinking. In other words, creativity is just as important as logical reasoning in the tech sector. Just think about the colorful innovations and scientific works of art that have come to us through groundbreaking tech moguls such as Steve Jobs and Bill Gates! Techniques such as freeform thinking and brainstorming can be quite helpful when building creative thinking skills.

5 Ways to Have a Memorable City Break

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It’s all the rage in travel. A city break means you take a holiday and explore one large city like New York or Boston. Like all things travel, though, there are ways to make it even better. So what can you do to make your next city break memorable? 

1. Keep It Centralized

Your lodging should be as central as possible. You may be tempted by inexpensive hotels and rentals on the outskirts of town, especially if you are on a tight budget. Take into consideration how long it will take you to get to the places you want to see. Also, how will you get there, and how much will that cost? 

Finding a central location might not only be more time efficient, but it could also save you money. Look for something central to what you want to see and, if necessary, near public transportation. 

2. Plan Ahead and Book In Advance

If you want to get the most from your city break, don’t just wing it. Plan and know what sites and events you want to see. If there are specific restaurants or shows on your itinerary, book reservations and buy tickets before you leave. That way, you won’t be disappointed and might even be able to go to the front of the line if people are waiting. 

3. Don’t Think Like a Tourist

If you want to make your trip memorable, look for the hidden treasures in the city. Every city has them, but often people visiting get so caught up being tourists they miss them. If you’ve been to the town before or want something different, do some homework while planning your holiday. Look for the must-see places that are off the beaten path. 

4. Take Plenty of Walking Tours

If your goal is to get to know the city, this is the way to do it. You’ll find walking tours in historic neighborhoods that will introduce you to the customs and history of the area. Most walking tours are short enough that you can go back and explore the things that they went by too quickly on the tour. It’s a great way to find the things that interest you if you are unsure. 

5. Pick a Theme

Maybe this trip you’ll focus on food. Use your city break to explore the local cuisine in the various neighborhoods. Look for markets, craft beer distilleries, and wineries in the area. What is the specialty of the city? If you are exploring Kansas City, you might decide to try the best BBQ places in town. If you are headed to Philly, those cheesesteaks are waiting for you. 

It doesn’t have to be food, though. You might focus on museums, art galleries, or amusement parks. Just pick a singular or a few related themes to make the trip memorable. 

Taking a city break can save you travel time and give you a chance to fall in love with one of the world’s great places.. 

 

The Insider’s Guide: 5 Ways to Get to Know the Real Portugal

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The most popular destinations in Portugal are Lisbon and Porto, but while these cities offer charm, history, and lots to do, they don’t represent the real Portugal. If you want to see how the locals live, you need to get off the beaten path and into the real Portugal. The options are endless, but we suggest exploring these five destinations. 

1. Alentejo
Alentejo is one of the least developed and least populated areas in not just Portugal but all of western Europe. This charming region features cork oak forests, wildflower meadows, quaint white-washed villages, and pristine beaches. The region attracts many Portuguese tourists from the cities during July and August, but during the rest of the year, this sleepy area is peaceful and lonely. If you like sweeping beaches and beautiful roads to yourself, this is a must-visit destination. The area is also famous for rich sausages, dark hams, and world-class wines. 

2. Obidos
Located in central Portugal, Obidos is a fairytale-esque village just an hour’s drive from Lisbon. Get away from the crowds and explore the shops and restaurants on the town’s winding cobblestone streets. Then, head to the Obidos Castle. One of the Seven Wonders of Portugal, the castle has been around since Moorish times. You can explore the grounds, walk on the brick walls, or even rent a room to stay in the castle. If you come to the town from mid-July to August, you can enjoy the medieval market and fair, which makes you feel like you’ve stepped back into the Middle Ages.  

3. Algarve

The southernmost region of Portugal, the Algarve features stunning beaches with dramatic rock formations and historical heritage sites. For a more traditional vacation, fly into Faro and then enjoy the villas, bars, and restaurants along the coast to Lagos which has many charming places to stay. If you prefer to be more off the beaten path, check out the region’s comparatively less developed western Atlantic coast. 

4. Trilha dos Pescadore

If you want to find yourself while exploring the real Portugal, you may want to consider hiking the Trilha dos Pescadore. Part of the Rota Vicentina, this is one of the most beautiful seaside hiking paths in the world, and you will be treated to great views of seaside cliffs, migratory birds, and marine animals. If you walk 5 miles a day for a week, you can get through the nearly 80-mile trail.  

5. Viana do Castelo
The most common castle for tourists to go and see is the Sintra. Unfortunately, while it is a breathtaking sight, it can also be crowded and overrun with tourists. Viana de Castelo, in contrast, offers architectural beauty without the crowds. This is the place where Portuguese families take their vacations. Check out the views from the Byzantine Santuario de Santa Luzia or explore the town’s many manor homes and monasteries. 

Use these five destinations as a jumping-off point. Then, talk with locals to get even more ideas about where to go. The most important thing — look for destinations where tourism is not the main industry. With that strategy, you will get to see and enjoy the real Portugal. 

The Magic of Sao Paulo – 5 Unique Attractions in This Amazing City

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Sao Paolo is not only Brazil’s largest city, but it’s the fourth most populous city on the globe, home to 30 million people in what is termed a megalopolis, or “super city.” There is plenty to see and do, and here are five of the most unique destinations in the area. 

Sao Paulo Zoo

The largest zoo in Brazil, this zoo is home to 3,200 animals, including more than 200 species of birds, all in enclosures that mimic the natural surroundings of the different mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. It includes a large farm that grows vegetables for animal feed and produces materials used for animal enclosures. Located south of the city in what was originally the Atlantic Forest, you can easily spend a day here, captivated as much by the habitat as by the animals.

Underground Crypt of the Sao Paulo Cathedral

The Cathedral itself is massive, but underground crypts that feature statuary of the biblical Job and Saint Jerone almost qualify as a separate cathedral. The final resting place of the city’s bishops, archbishops, and other prominent Brazilians, there is also a huge brass tomb that honors Chief Tibiriçá, a 16th-century native who is credited with helping Portuguese Jesuits colonize São Paulo after he converted to Catholicism. Guided tours of the underground space are offered every day during set hours.

Mercado Municipal de São Paulo 

Nicknamed the Mercadao, this incredible food market was established in 1933 and is housed in an eclectic industrial building that features distinctive stained glass and a towering dome. Open seven days a week, it offers visitors a true “taste” of everyday life in this city, with an ever-changing variety of fruits and vegetables, fresh and dry meats, poultry, cheese, spices, olive oil, and wine. On the second floor, you’ll find a variety of eateries, many of which offer the traditional Mortadella sandwich. It’s a great place to watch the locals and relax a bit! The vendors can be annoying, and you’ll want to be aware of pickpockets and hustlers, but it’s worth a visit.

Town of Embu Das Artes 

Escape the bustle of the city for an afternoon and visit a center of creative arts and galleries just 40 minutes away. It’s a unique adventure, allowing you a chance to shop for souvenirs, stroll picturesque streets, sample Brazilian dishes in small cafes that might also feature live music, visit local artists in their galleries, and enjoy unhurried rural life. It’s a charming detour from the primary tourist destinations.

Enjoy a Day at the Beach

Of course, Brazil’s largest city is inland and has no beaches, but it can be rewarding to take the 50-mile trip to the coast and dip your toes in the Atlantic. The closest beaches are situated at the mouth of the river that leads to Sao Paulo. Santos Beach offers a beautiful stretch of sand as well as impressive gardens. It’s located near Sao Vicente, the oldest town in Brazil and the hometown of soccer star Pele. Or continue to the Green Coast, between Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, to find other secluded beach retreats.

5 Most Unbelievable Hacking Incidents

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It has become a major movie cliche: the computer hacker who, typing furiously under great pressure, needs only a few more seconds to break into “the mainframe.” Something akin to a superhero, the nerdy but attractive character at the keyboard accomplished the impossible, bypassing all necessary security walls in the nick of time.

 

This scenario certainly is exciting, but it is the type of thing that only happens on the film or TV screen, right? Read on for five unbelievable computer hacking incidents that seem too incredible to be true.

 

1. The 1995 Citibank Hack

 

Before Russian software programmer Vladimir Levin hacked into the New York IT system of Citibank in 1995, few industry experts would have thought such an attack possible. Sitting comfortably in his St. Petersburg apartment, Levin authorized a series of fraudulent banking transactions that drew a total of roughly $10 million from individual accounts around the world. Both Citibank and the FBI fortunately tracked many of the transactions, and Levin was extradited to the US, where he served three years in prison.

 

2. The 2000 MafiaBoy Hack

 

When MafiaBoy (the screen name of Canadian teenager name Michael Calce) hacked some of the top sites on the internet in 2000, people simply couldn’t believe that he could pull off such a coordinated attack at just 15 years of age. Using a DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) approach, he overwhelmed the IT networks of Amazon, CNN, eBay, Yahoo, eTrade, and Dell, resulting in financial losses estimated at $1.2 billion. When he was caught, MafiaBoy admitted that he did it simply to impress his fellow hackers.

 

3. The 2004 Delta Airlines Hack

 

Another teenage hacker, German Sven Jaschan brought down the entire IT system of Delta Airlines, among those of other large corporate entities, as an 18-year-old college student. An innovator in the hacker world, Jaschan allegedly coded the Sasser worm. Famous among IT experts for affecting Microsoft Windows, this self-replicating and self-distributing computer virus successfully infected tens of millions of computers that span the globe.  attacked vulnerable Microsoft Windows operating systems.

 

4. 2010 Marriott International Hack

 

One of the most unusual cyberattacks in history, this extortion attempt doubled as a search for employment. Hungarian citizen Attila Nemeth infected the security firm Marriott International with a malicious virus and then threatened further damage if they didn’t give him a job. Marriott responded to Nemeth with a fake employee account and the promise of work. After receiving forms of personal identification that include his passport and resume, the company passed the information to the US Secret Service.

 

5. The 2014 iCloud Celebrity Hacks

 

In what was certainly one of the most salacious of all hacking incidents, a team of hackers in various US locations used phishing techniques to gain access to the Apple iCloud accounts of numerous A-list Hollywood celebrities including Kate Upton and Jennifer Lawrence. After releasing private photos and videos (some of which contained nudity), two affiliated hackers were sentenced to roughly a year in prison.

5 Mediocre Sports Stars Who Achieved Greatness Late in Their Careers

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Ahh, tis better to have bloomed late than never to have bloomed at all, especially if you’re in the professional sports world. Mediocre stars who become great inspire others and create a special kind of legend. They show the world that perseverance and grit mean something.

So let’s talk about five of them that did just that, bloom later in life.

Jamie Vardy

This English footballer’s late rise to greatness is legendary. Vardy was released by the Owls, joined Stocksbridge Park Steels at 16, and then signed for Halifax Town at 23. At 25, he still played non-league football with Fleetwood Town.

Finally, in the summer of 2012, he moved to Leicester, an EFL Championship side at the time. Two seasons were spent in England’s second tier before he found himself 27 years old and finally in the Premier League.

Vardy exploded in 2015-2016, with 24 goals leading Leicester to the Premier League title.

Randy Johnson

Baseball teams were skeptical of a 6’10” pitcher as ball control issues can result from being very tall. Those control issues kept him out of the majors until the age of 25.

Another five years still were what it took to polish and hone his talents, but well worth the wait. At nearly 30, Johnson was throwing fastballs, sometimes over 100 mph. He became one of the greatest left-hand baseball pitchers, inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015.

Kurt Warner

Anyone who watched Warner’s breakout season with the St. Louis Rams, taking them all the way to a Super Bowl victory and the MVP title, will never forget it. It is one of the most improbable sports world success stories.

Warner was bypassed by the big Division I colleges and worked as a supermarket self-stocker at night to train for football during the day. His path took him to Arena Football, then NFL Europe, to NFL third-string QB, and finally to the starting QB spot after the team’s starting quarterback had a season-ending injury. 

The rest is history. Making just the league minimum at the time ($250,000), Warner took the Rams to a Super Bowl win with a 13-3 record. He went to two more Superbowls throughout his career and retired at age 39.

Ken Norton

In 1973, Ken Norton was given the opportunity to fight Muhammed Ali on the long-running sports series, Wide World of Sports. At 29 years old, Norton had a 29-1 record at the time but was otherwise unremarkable. Considered to be just another boxer trying to make a name for himself, Norton beat Ali, who didn’t take him seriously until a jaw-breaking punch early in the fight. While Ali managed to last through the entire 12 rounds, Norton went on to win the decision.

Beating “The Greatest” made Norton a household name, and he became one of the best heavyweight fighters of his time. He did lose his next two fights with Ali, but they were by a tight decision, and he was fighting the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time

Fauja Singh

While not technically someone who bloomed from being mediocre, Singh deserves a prominent mention because of his inspiring story. His career as a distance runner began in 2000, at 89, with the London marathon, and he went on to run eight more marathons.

His records include: 

  • The fastest male to run a marathon over 90
  • The fastest over 100 to run the 5,000 meters
  • The fastest over 100 to run the 3,000 meters
  • The oldest person to run a marathon (at 100)

Singh finally retired at 101 after finishing the 10k race at the Hong Kong Marathon.

Ummm yeah… That’s impressive and certainly qualifies as a late bloomer.

Don’t you love these stories? These are the people that never gave up and triumphed, becoming legends that inspire us.

I think I’m going to start training for marathons now.

Self-Sufficient in the City: 5 Tips to get you started

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City life might be convenient on one hand, but if you are looking to adopt a more self-sufficient lifestyle it might put up a few barriers. It doesn’t have to be that way though. With a little creativity and a lot of determination, you can find ways to be more self-reliant even when you live in the heart of a major city like Manhattan or Seattle.

Here’s where you start.

Grow a Garden

There’s no denying that fruits and veggies fresh from the garden beat produce from the grocery store. The good news is, you don’t need a huge plot of land and a big garden to grow your own food. Urban gardening is becoming increasingly popular and you can do it in a space as small as an apartment balcony. Whether you choose to grow a container garden, square foot garden, or a tower garden – or grow edibles n your window boxes, you can definitely enjoy food fresh from your very own mini garden.

Delve into Food Preservation

Of course, when you are getting fresh food from your garden you will probably want to find ways to preserve your produce so you can enjoy it all year long. Freezing and canning are time-tested food preservation methods that go back hundreds of years. But did you know that you can also preserve meats and sauces as well? Purchase meat from local farmers and preserve that along with your garden fare and you will not only live a more sustainable lifestyle, you’ll save a ton of money to boot.

Choose Composting

Cooking all of those fresh fruits and vegetables that you grow in your garden can generate a lot of waste. Add to that egg shells and other parts of your food that you discard and you have a great foundation for composting, breaking down that waste into soil that is nutrient rich and great for your garden. You don’t need a huge composting bin for this either. Get a small rotating bin and toss your waste in there. They don’t take up much room and can usually fit easily on your balcony or patio if you live in an apartment.

Make Your Own Cleaning Supplies and Toiletries

This has become extremely popular over the last few years as people become more aware of the chemicals and toxins that are in most of the cleaning products and toiletries that line store shelves. You don’t need any fancy ingredients for most products; they can usually be found at your local grocery store or health food market. The beauty of this is that you can select your own ingredients and even the scents you love. There are tons of recipes on the internet so starting up is a breeze.

Mind Your Space

Many people think that being self-sufficient means living on a huge chunk of land way out in the boonies. That isn’t necessarily true though. You really don’t need a bunch of space if you can manage the smaller space that you are in. When you live in the city, space tends to be limited, but if you mind your space and utilize it wisely, you can create an urban self-reliant lifestyle right where you are.

A little creativity can go a long way when you are embarking on a self-sufficient lifestyle adventure. Do your research, make your plans, then make it happen. You can live the self-reliant lifestyle that you want and you don’t need 50 acres to do it.

5 Weird Composting Hacks for Suburban Homeowners

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Composting is one of the most efficient ways to use food scraps (zero-waste), nourish your own garden, and take steps towards self-sufficiency. And it’s entirely possible to do it effectively while living in suburbia–with zero complaints from your neighbors. Here’s how. 

1. Compost in a Tumbler 

For most suburban homeowners, a tumbler designed for compost is the most efficient option to keep smells contained and critters out. Some composting tumblers have multiple bins for compost in different stages of development. Some sit on the ground on a tumbling base, while others are suspended on a stand and tumble in the air. Any of these options will last for years, providing a high output of compost without taking up much space. 

Also keep in mind that you might want to check your HOA’s bylaws if you live in a homeowner’s association, and in strict neighborhoods you’ll probably want to keep your compost tumbler or bin on the down-low. 

2. Explore Vermiculture Options 

It might sound a little unsettling, but vermiculture–worm farming–is an incredibly space-efficient way to generate rich compost for your garden. The worms do all the work for you, and you just feed them food scraps. Vermiculture takes up less space than traditional composting; some apartment owners even have worm farms indoors. You won’t have any unpleasant odors if you do it right, but you will end up with rich worm castings that can be used to amend your indoor or outdoor soil. 

3. Build An Enclosure for an Open Compost Area

Composting doesn’t have to be complicated, and it doesn’t require a huge up-front investment. Building a simple compost enclosure requires a little more care to keep the ratios correct and discourage area wildlife from coming to munch on your melon rinds. But even in suburbia, compost enclosures built from pallets, chicken wire, or 2×4’s can be incredibly effective. You’ll need to consider the best part of the yard to add a compost pile like this–including the amount of sunlight it will receive. A quick Google search will yield plans for a huge array of low-cost DIY options. 

4. Pay Attention to Your Ratios 

Compost is very forgiving. But if you get the rations dramatically “off,” you could end up with a rather smelly compost bin or pile that seems to take ages to decompose. You’ll need a combination of “greens” and “browns” in your compost to allow the right microorganisms to thrive. “Greens” refer to materials with a high nitrogen or protein component; these include vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds, tea bags, egg shells, and grass clippings. “Browns” are pieces like dried leaves, pine needles, corn husks, sawdust, paper, and other dry, inactive matter. Most experts recommend a 3:1 or 4:1 brown:green ratio. 

5. Know What NOT to Compost

Although all animal and plant products will eventually biodegrade, there are some things you simply don’t want in your home compost, particularly if you live in the suburbs. Meat, fat, and dairy products always smell foul as they decompose, and they take much longer to break down than plant matter. If you’re determined to compost absolutely everything you can, you might want to look into a bokashi fermenting system, which produces usable compost faster than any other method. 

Have questions about composting in your area or need troubleshooting help? Try contacting your local extension agent or gardening group to help you out!