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Category: Education

5 Best Off The Beaten Path Scuba Diving Locations

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Every year, there are about 8 million people in the United States alone that go snorkeling or diving every year. That number soars when you take the global population into consideration, and it’s easy to see why snorkeling is so popular. There are a lot of great destinations that allow you to see the most beautiful sea animals in the world. However, some spots tend to get overcrowded. If you want more water to yourself that’s less disturbed, check out these five spots off the beaten path to go scuba diving.

5. Darwin Island

Among the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific is Darwin Island, which is what remains of a volcano that went extinct many years ago. There’s a particular diving spot called The Theater that is simply amazing to see in person. It’s around 75 feet deep where you can see some of the most tropical sea creatures around while snorkeling. This includes getting a good glimpse of Galapagos sharks, turtles, whales and even penguins. Named after Charles Darwin, there’s a great blend of animal life off this island.

4. Aqaba

There is only one coastal city in all of Jordan, and it’s a fantastic spot for any snorkeling enthusiast. It’s fairly easy to get to as it’s a major city in the country, and it offers great diving spots. There are over 500 types of fish in Aqaba, and nearly 400 different types of coral. A lot of these types are extremely rare. So rare, in fact, that some can only be found while diving into this part of the Red Sea. 

3. Baja California

While it’s a popular spot to visit as the Mexican state that borders Southern California, the diving spots aren’t quite as frequented the further south you go in Baja California, Mexico. Trek down just a bit to see some great Pacific Ocean spots. Baja California features a lot of different sea creatures to see while snorkeling and diving. This includes whale sharks and devil rays depending on how far out you’re going. If you’re lucky, you might also be able to see some dolphins and marlins, while sea lions tend to stay closer to the shore.

2. Banda Islands

Off the shores of Indonesia, you’ll find the Banda Sea where there are islands that are populated by less than 20,000 people. When on the Banda Islands, you’ll get a great view of the sea and a diving spot that’s not often used by tourists. When you’re snorkeling closer to the shore, you’ll see some manta rays and schools of tuna at Banda Island. If you start diving farther out, you’ll see some of the big fish. This includes hammerhead sharks, several different types of whales and even the fan favorite, the dolphin.

1. The Arctic

When people talk about snorkeling and diving locations, they usually think of warm waters. However, the Arctic region at the northernmost part of Earth features a lot of great opportunities. It’s not easy to get to, but it’s worth the trip. The Arctic offers some of the most unique animals in the world while diving, including leopard seals, the beluga whale and even narwhals. Other interesting creatures include icefish, ribbon seals and the basket star.

5 Essentials Of Trading Stocks

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It’s estimated that just over half of Americans have at least one stock in the market, which might seem alarmingly low when you think about how many companies provide stocks to their employees in the US. However, there has been a huge increase of people getting into the stock market for the first time thanks to technological advances. If you’re one of the many that’s considering trading stocks and establishing a strong financial future, here are some essentials that you need to follow.

5. Simulate

While games like Madden or Call of Duty won’t get you prepared for the NFL or international conflict, there are plenty of useful simulators online. When it comes to the stock market, there are plenty at your disposal and the accuracy is only getting better and better. These are completely free to play and you can invest as much virtual money as you want. This will give you a good idea of how the stock market works and what you can expect over the course of a certain amount of time.

4. Know Your Fees

One of the reasons that online trading has taken off like a rocket in the past few years is because of the lack of fees. We’re getting farther from the days where you’d have to pay a fee for every transaction, but there are still some fees that you need to know about. Some of the more common fees when working with a brokerage include trading spreads, mutual fund fees, account fees and assets under management fees. Take these into account before spending more than you have to invest.

3. Invest When You Can

The best time to invest your money is right now. That’s because every day that passes, the money that you have on hand is worth less. It sounds dramatic, but it’s best to place your money into investments so that it appreciates in value over time. Each month, put as much as you can into investing and you’ll be thanking yourself down the road. There are even some debit cards that round up your change and invest them into your portfolio.

2. Don’t Bank on One Stock

One mistake that a lot of people make when getting into the stock market for the first time is not diversifying their portfolio. Thanks to “meme stocks” there are a lot of people doing this (think Gamestop for example). Spread your money around the best that you can when investing for maximum results. Don’t just place your money into different companies in the same field, either. Throw some into tech, some into retail, etc.

1. Stay the Course

More importantly than anything else, you must know that you’re not going to make a quick massive return on your investment then walk away. It’s important to ride the lows and only get out when you really need to. An investment isn’t something to be taken lightly, especially since it’s your financial future on the line. Panic buying and selling is becoming common, and peer pressure does nothing to help that, but it’s going to be advantageous if you can avoid this.

Designing a Backyard Garden That Could Slash Your Grocery Bill in Half

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The war in Ukraine, the rising cost of gas, and even the avian flu are leaving shopping carts, wallets, and purses emptier than they’ve been in a long time. And it’s unlikely to ease up anytime soon. According to CNN, the cost of groceries is up a whopping 10.8 percent across the board for the year. With so many prices going up so quickly, how can the average American family keep food on the table?

One solution is to grow your own from seed. Even if you have the smallest backyard on the block, there are ways to optimize your space to grow foods such as tomatoes, squash, zuchinni, onions, pumpkins, and eggplants. It may take you a season or two to polish your skills, but within one to two years, you could easily be growing enough produce to slash your weekly grocery bill in half. Here’s how others are doing it. 

Grow What Your Family Enjoys Eating

Before you buy your first bag of seed starter or invest in your first raised bed, think about the types of produce you most frequently buy. Is it lettuce for salads, carrots for snacking, or broccoli for stir-frying? Do you regularly buy pounds of apples or pears? Or are berries more your family’s style? You can easily grow each of these nutritious foods right in your own backyard, but they should be ones everyone enjoys eating. 

Make Good Use of Your Vertical Space

Your garden doesn’t have to be taken over by sprawling pumpkin vines or unruly tomato plants. By training your plants to grow vertically up a trellis or other type of support, you can keep your new backyard garden looking neat and tidy. 

Concentrate on Growing Nutrient-Rich Foods

Grow foods that are satisfying and filling. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, beans, and peas top this list. They also store well. So if you grow enough of them, your family can have healthy sides to eat all winter. 

Learn How to Compost

Good soil is pricey, and you’ll need lots of it to make a go at gardening. So learn how to turn your existing food scraps into rich, dark compost. You don’t need any pricey equipment to begin, just a clear spot on the ground and a working knowledge of the green-to-brown ratio. 

Be Frugal at First

Container gardening is a good way to get started in growing, especially if space is limited. Scour your local yard sales for buckets, baskets, and washtubs to use as planters. You can also score big at the local home improvement stores if you stop by as one season ends and another begins. 

Go online and order a few free seed catalogs to help you in your planning. These are wonderfully inspiring resources for new gardeners. And get outside and walk the area you plan to garden in. Visualize it before you begin digging, and learn all you can about succession planting, and which crops are cold-weather and which are warm-weather. Before you know it, your backyard will have new purpose, and your family will have fresh, healthy food choices freely available — all at a fraction of what they cost at the grocery store. 

Is Crypto A Good Investment Idea?

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Investing is a key part of reaching your retirement goals. The problem is deciding where to invest. Should you invest in cryptocurrencies? What percentage of your savings should you invest? While cryptocurrencies are an option for investment, it may not always be a good choice for your goals.

Short Term Vs. Long Term Investing

Investing in crypto differs from traditional investment strategies. It is a type of currency exchange rather than a brick and mortar business that has specific products or services. Since you are investing in a currency exchange, you may notice that the fluctuations in the market are significant in comparison to other types of investments.

If you are looking for a long-term investment solution, then you may want to avoid cryptocurrencies. Since crypto is a relatively new type of investment, it does not have much long-term data. That makes it difficult to determine the risks associated with holding onto the currency.

Furthermore, the fluctuations in price make it a good choice for short-term investments when you plan to trade at a fast pace. For example, if you are planning for a few months, a year or for similar short-term goals, then it may assist with your plans. If you are planning for 30 years, then opt for safer investments.

High Risk and High Reward

Cryptocurrencies are considered a high risk and high reward investment. That means you are taking a gamble with your money. You may make a high return on your investment; however, you also face a high level of risk. 

Generally, a crypto investment will either rise quickly and make a high return, or it will fall quickly. If you have a high risk tolerance, then it may be a good choice for your investment plans. If your risk tolerance is low, then avoid cryptocurrencies.

Limiting the Investment

Crypto is a good investment idea if you have a high risk tolerance and plan to keep an eye on the market. The key is ensuring that you limit your investment to an amount you feel comfortable losing.

Set a clear percentage of your savings to invest in cryptocurrencies. For example, invest one percent or five percent of your savings. Consider it a part of your overall investment plan, but not a critical part of the overall plan. You want to add it to your portfolio, but continue investing in traditional stocks, bonds, and real estate for a comprehensive long-term strategy.

Keep in mind that crypto is not a good investment if you have a low risk tolerance or do not have time to pay attention to your investments. It requires active trading and attention for the best impact on your investments.

Investing in cryptocurrencies may offer opportunities for high returns. The key is finding the right balance to ensure you feel comfortable with your long-term strategies. By using caution with cryptocurrencies, you will see positive results in your investments. The key is recognizing the risks and taking measures to limit the potential downsides of the investment.

Top 5 Tips To Manage Your Finances Better

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Money management is a significant hurdle for millions of Americans. This is especially true of those who find themselves living paycheck-to-paycheck.

 

But still, whether you need to totally overhaul or financial life or are just looking for ways to free up extra cash, there are a number of important steps you can take.

 

1. Track Your Spending

 

The first tip involves being proactive about tracking your spending. The more you understand about where your money is actually going, the better the chance you’ll have at improving your finances moving forward. Look for things to cut like streaming services or other expenses that you may like but don’t need. Once you have a complete picture of your spending, you’d be surprised by what you’re able to free up.

 

2. Create a Monthly Budget

 

The second tip involves creating a monthly budget that is every bit as accurate as it is realistic. Take a long, hard look at all of your firm expenses. These include things like your mortgage or rent, your utilities and more. Find out how much money you absolutely need every month. Then, you’ll know what you have in terms of disposable income.

 

3. Pay Down Debt

 

Third, make an effort to pay down any debt that you may have – but try to do so in a strategic way. If you have multiple credit cards, focus on the ones with the highest interest rates first. You could even potentially take out a debt consolidation loan to combine all of those balances into one monthly fee that is more manageable with a smaller interest rate as well. 

 

4. Pay Bills On-time

 

Fourth, make sure that you’re paying all of those bills on-time and in full every single month. Make a chart of all your due dates and outstanding balances and do whatever it takes to help pay them when the bill itself comes due. Not only will this help improve your credit, but it will also avoid costly fees and other penalties for late payments as well. There’s nothing worse than having a $200 bill turn into a $250 bill just because you missed a payment.

 

5. Save For Large Purchases 

 

Finally, you should always make an attempt to save up cash to make those large purchases. Yes, those credit cards in your wallet may be enticing and instant gratification is a wonderful thing. But if you save up cash and purchase items that way, you accomplish a few key things all at once.

 

First, you avoid costly interest charges that will make those large purchases far more expensive than you probably realize. Next, you’ll avoid the possibility that you miss a payment on those cards. That could not just again land you with a late fee or penalty, but increase your interest rate as well.

 

In the end, taking control over your finances can be time-consuming and sometimes frustrating, yes. But it is also more than worth the effort, especially once you consider the types of hassles and stress that it is helping you avoid. This is truly one of those situations where a little bit of effort goes a long way.

5 Mistakes People Make When Learning A Foreign Language

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Learning a foreign language can help you communicate better as you work and travel. For success, avoid five common mistakes people make when learning a foreign language. 

Mistake Number One: Forget to Listen

People may use an educational textbook, online course, or app to learn a language. The study material will include various practice tools like memorization. 

While you can learn a lot through memorization, remember to listen, too. Listening helps you identify patterns, structures,  intonation, vocabulary, and pronunciation. 

In your free time, listen to music, movies, podcasts, and news broadcasts. When possible, select options that feature native speakers. This way, you hear the language spoken in real life.  

Mistake Number Two: Learn Rules but Not Context

Learning vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, and other rules is helpful. But a language requires more than vocabulary and grammar. 

Embrace a study approach that starts with context. Hear complete sentences, paragraphs and conversations. Also, learn words you frequently use in your daily life. Later, you can perfect your grammar, pronunciation and other details. This practical approach improves your motivation and boosts your learning speed and accuracy.

Mistake Number Three: Use Boring Learning Material

People may choose language learning tools because they are convenient or familiar. But using dull materials can limit learning and lead to low interest and motivation. 

That’s why you want to use diverse and engaging study materials. Watch cartoons with or without subtitles. Read literature and write poetry. Attend a community gathering of native speakers. Be willing to challenge yourself and expand your learning. 

Mistake Number Four: Study Irregularly

New language learners may spend hours each day practicing vocabulary or listening to the radio. Long study sessions can wear people out, though. And slow progress or daily distractions could dampen enthusiasm. 

Boost your success with a sustainable and consistent learning schedule. Practice for 20-30 minutes a day rather than two hours once a week. Your brain is more likely to retain information when you study in short bursts. Also, commit to studying for a year or more. Give yourself enough time to master the language and gain confidence using it.

Mistake Number Five: Be Afraid of Mistakes

Learning and speaking a foreign language can be scary. To avoid feeling silly or embarrassed, people may avoid speaking the language with a partner or native speaker. They may also refuse to ask for correction or help. 

For success, embrace mistakes as part of the learning process. Also, ask your teacher or language partner to correct you. Then track your errors in order to learn from your mistakes. Note any improvements you need to make and the progress you have made. As you become more fluent over time, you will mess up less often. But continue to permit yourself to make mistakes.  

Have fun learning a foreign language and improve your success when you avoid these five mistakes. 

The 5 Most Misunderstood English Words

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English can be a difficult language to learn, speak, and read. Here are the top 5 most misunderstood English words. 

1. Bemused 

The word "bemused" in English means to be mildly or somewhat amused. But many people believe it means that someone is confused or bewildered. Sometimes, it gets mistaken for meaning someone is engrossed in their own thoughts or is daydreaming. 

Here is a correct sentence with the word "bemused." 

"The old woman was bemused at the commercial playing on television because she used to love the song they used." 

2. Infamous 

The word "infamous" is commonly thought to be synonymous with the word "famous." It is often used to describe any person, place, or thing that is popular or well-known. But this is not the actual meaning of the word. "Infamous" actually means that something or someone has a bad reputation. Even though the subject may indeed be famous, "infamous" is never used in a positive context. It’s used explicitly to denote that a person, place, or thing has a negative reputation. 

Here is a correct sentence with the word "infamous." 

"I know that man from my previous job and he’s infamous for making people feel uncomfortable with his corny jokes." 

3. Ironic 

Although many people use the word "ironic" in everyday language, this English word is actually used out of context most of the time. It is commonly believed to mean that something is coincidental or serendipitous. But this word should really only be used when there is an outcome opposite the expectation. For example, if someone expects sunshine and it rains, this would be considered ironic. 

Here is a correct sentence with the word "ironic." 

"I dressed for warm weather because I read the forecast, but it’s ironic that it’s actually freezing cold now!" 

4. Literally 

"Literally" is another word that is used frequently in the English language albeit incorrectly. Many people use the term "literally" to denote emphasis on something or in place of the words "actually" or "really." However, this is not how the word was originally designed to be used. It actually means in a literal manner, or verbatim. 

Here is a correct sentence using the word "literally." 

"My computer literally got fried during a thunderstorm, as in, an electrical current shot out from the wall and up the cord into my computer!" 

5. Travesty  

The word "travesty" sounds similar to the word "tragedy." Many people use these words interchangeably, but this is incorrect. The term "tragedy" refers to a distressing, catastrophic event. The term "travesty" means that a representation of something or someone is false or has been mischaracterized or distorted in some way. For example, you might use the word "travesty" in the context of someone mocking another person. You might use "travesty" in place of "mockery" or "parody." 

Here is a correct sentence using the word "travesty." 

"The school made an absolute travesty out of the Pride and Prejudice play with the cheap powdered wigs the cast wore."  

Top 5 Easiest Ways To Save Money

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When it comes to saving money, it’s not tricky. Yet many people find it almost impossible to build up savings. The key to building savings is to reduce spending. If you make saving money easy, then it won’t be difficult to build up a little nest egg.  Based on our findings, here are the top five easiest ways to save money by reducing spending.

1. Stop Unnecessary Spending

Everyone has areas in life where they waste money. The key is to find your weak spots. Common areas of unnecessary spending include buying lottery tickets, overpaying for designer coffee to go, splurging on luxury food items and more. An easy way to check your unnecessary spending is to review last month’s bank statement.

2. Lower Car Insurance Premiums

Another easy way to save money is to lower your car insurance premiums. First, review your declarations statement from your car insurance policy. See if you can reduce coverage in certain categories that might reduce your premium. Next, contact two other reputable car insurance companies and see if you can get a better rate. Be sure to compare apples with apples, using that declarations statement as your coverage comparison sheet.

3. Cancel Subscriptions

If you’re like most folks, you have at least one subscription to a service you barely use, or don’t need. Many people are re-thinking their subscription services to things like streaming accounts. After all, how much TV can you possibly watch in a day? You can cancel things like magazines, food delivery subscriptions and more. Calculate how much you just saved and transfer that amount into your savings account each month.

4. Buy Used

When you buy used, you can save a ton of money. The only thing you should never buy used is food. That would be gross. But other than that, you can buy used clothing, used office equipment, used fashion accessories, etc. So where do you access all this great used stuff? Online, of course. Check out eBay, Etsy, Facebook Marketplace for starters. Factor how much you save on each used purchase and then put the difference right into your savings account.

5. Use Cash Not Credit

There’s something about swiping or tapping a card that doesn’t feel like spending money. You can’t physically see your balance going down, for one thing. An easy way to save money is to pay cash not credit and not debit. Take out however much cash you think you’ll need for a week. Consult your budget to calculate the amount. Whenever you buy something, you’ll see that clump of cash dwindling down. It will make you think twice about how much you’re spending. It may even keep you from buying things, especially when there are only a few bills left.

These are the easiest ways to save money with practically no effort on your part. If you do these things, you’ll find that the next time you look at your savings account balance it’s actually got some money in it!

Top 5 Ways People Waste Money Without Realising It

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If you’re like many people, you often wonder why your money seems to disappear. Chances are that your money is going down several drains rather than just one source. Most of us waste money without even realizing it. Following are the top five ways people waste their money. 

Failure to Plan Ahead

Advance planning saves money in a variety of ways, ranging from morning coffees and weekday lunches to international travel. Making coffee at home and packing a lunch instead of grabbing these items at local retailers may seem like small savings, but they add up over the course of time. When planning a trip, the sooner you book your airline and hotel reservations, the more you save on travel costs.  

Subscription Services

Subscription services have a way of sneaking up on people. At first they seem convenient, and many offer an introductory price. After the introductory period is over, subscribers are often shocked when their credit cards are charged the full amount. Always read the fine print when you subscribe, and make sure it’s something you’ll actually use. Set aside some time to weed out subscriptions that are no longer useful to you. 

Grocery Shopping While Hungry

Whether you do your grocery shopping online through a delivery app or visit your supermarket in person, always enjoy a good meal prior to stocking your cart. If you shop while you are hungry, you will end up buying more than you need. You will also be likely to make poor decisions based on what appeals to your taste buds instead of thinking about nutritional content. 

Using Third Party ATMs

Despite the popularity of digital payment systems, cash still has its uses in today’s society. However, running to the ATM every time you need a bit of cash means running up unnecessary transaction fees that add up over time. You can avoid these fees by either using a local branch of your own bank or by using the "cash back" option during checkout at your local supermarket. If neither is possible, determine how much cash you will need at the beginning of the month and withdraw that amount instead of visiting a third party ATM every time you need some cash. 

Gym Memberships 

Most people don’t use their gym memberships the way they planned to when they enrolled. If you fall into this category, you’ve probably thought about canceling your membership. Staff at these places are trained to discourage members from canceling using a number of tactics, including playing on your guilt about not working out as often as you planned. You can bypass this pressure by sending your cancelation request to the company’s headquarters in writing. 

5 Common Errors of Non-Native English Speakers

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English is tricky language. Even as you begin to master it, there are small errors that can make your conversation sound slightly awkward. Here are five examples.

1. Using Plurals on Words That Don’t Take Them

Some English words, such as mail or gum (as in “chewing gum”), are not countable. Therefore, it’s not correct to say, “Do you have any gums?” or “Did we get any mails today?” Nor should you refer to a single items with an article, as in “a gum” or “a mail.” Whether you have one piece of gum or many, you have gum. Whether you have one letter or several, you have mail.

2. Adding or Leaving Out an Article

English is inconsistent on which words require an article. The articles are “a,” “an,” and “the.”. Long-time English speakers do it properly without thinking about it. It’s correct to say, “Let’s go to the zoo,” but not “Let’s go to zoo.” On the other hand, “Let’s go to work” is correct, but “Let’s go to the work” is not. You introduce your profession by saying, “I am a lawyer,” not “I am lawyer.” Also, some countries require an article. It’s proper to say “We visited the United States” but “We visited Canada.”

3. Confusing the Forms of the Present Tense

“I go” and “I am going” are present tense expressions that mean close to the same thing. Their use in English, however, is slightly different. “I am going” is the present progressive tense and is used for something that I’m doing right now or will do in the near future. For example, “I am going to the store” could mean I’m on my way or I’m going sometime after I’m done talking to you. “I go” is the simple present and is used for a recurring event that isn’t happening right now. For instance, “I go to the store every Saturday.”

4. Adding or Leaving Out a Preposition

Different languages have different rules about when to use propositions. In English, there are verbs that require a preposition, especially when the object is a person. Therefore, it’s “Wait for me” and not “Wait me,” “Explain to me the situation” and not “Explain me the situation.” In other instances, the preposition is not used. It’s “Ask me a question,” not “Ask to me a question.” Sometimes the difference is subtle. For example, “Give to me the book” is not quite wrong, but “Give me the book” is better.

5. Agreeing with Negatives

If someone says, “I didn’t like that movie,” and you didn’t like it either, you might be tempted to say, “Me, too.” However, to agree with this kind of negative, “Me, neither,” is correct.

None of these mistakes are terrible. People will still understand what you mean. However, with attention and practice, you can clear up these issues and sound more like a native speaker.