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Prevention, Tips and Remedy is what you find when you read Tips from Tia. Tia is Radio personality, with tons of answers and tips on Organic Beauty, Health, Life, Home and Sex. TipsfromTia.com; a place where you can trust the tip you're given, and not rely on a dozen different answers. Some Tips are decades old, and all I can say is it may be your grandmother's tip,but with more appeal! Tipsfromtia.com a source you can trust. Remember, looking good; feeling good.
SEX & LIFE

Cut Your Household Bills – Today!

Cut Your Household Bills – Today!

The saying “look after the pennies and the pounds (or dollars!) will look after themselvesâ€, is never more true than when trying to cut the cost of monthly household bills. Little savings here and there will build up, to make a dramatic impact on your budget.

 

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When you actually take the time to check how much money you have going out of your account on a monthly basis, it can be quite a shock. Thankfully there are ways you can make savings and this article aims to highlight areas where big savings can be made. Your bank account will thank you for it and you will have more disposable cash.

 

Utility bills

Often it’s tempting to stay with the same supplier for years and years, as it’s too much hassle to swap – right? Actually it is really easy to change utility provider, as the process is completed for you by your new supplier. After all, it is still the same gas or electric, through the same pipes and cabling, just a different provider!

 

It is worth doing an electricity comparison or a gas comparison to see which providers offer the best deals. It maybe cheaper to go with a provider that supplies gas and electricity dually. It is unfortunate that providers don’t seem to reward loyalty, in fact your bills can rise steeply over time, so it’s best to swap utility providers frequently and do regular comparison searches.

Mobile phone

There is huge competition between mobile phone providers, all wanting the largest customer base. It is worth haggling with providers to reduce costs. Try to negotiate the cost of your tariff at renewal time, by quoting the prices other providers are offering. They may not agree to it straight away, so be prepared to negotiate over a few phone calls. Your current provider will want to keep you as a customer, so you should be able to get a good deal.

 

Look at the tariff you’re on and see if it’s still suitable for your usage. You could save a lot of money by going PAYG (pay as you go) once your contract has ended and keeping your old phone.

 

Reduce your food bill

Everyone loves the brands they use, which is a reflection of the clever advertising techniques that major brands adopt. However surveys and comparison research have shown that there is little difference between branded foods and the shops own. Occasionally it has been found that the food is exactly the same, made in the same factory, but with different packaging! Try switching to shops own products, menu plan and you will soon notice a huge difference in your shopping bill.

 

The place you shop can also be unnecessarily costing you money. If you like branded foods, one supermarket may charge more for exactly the same product, than the supermarket round the corner. Supermarkets brand themselves as premium or budget and price their products accordingly, even if the product is exactly the same. Change your shopping habits and save lots of money in the process.

 

There are many other ways of saving money, this is just a small snapshot. Just think of all the extra cash you will have left over to spend on leisure, new kitchen or to save for that dream holiday!

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

7 Tips to Clean a Drip Coffee Maker

By Guest Blogger, Dennies John

7 Tips to Clean a Drip Coffee Maker

Did you know that poor maintenance is one of the biggest reasons why kitchen appliances meet an early death? Drip coffee makers are no different. Foul taste, ugly stains, and slow brewing are some of the big warnings that signal you when it’s time for a thorough clean up.

But the good news is that regular cleaning can keep all troubles at bay, and you don’t have to be spending copious amount of time doing it! Here are some easy and valuable tips to clean your drip coffee maker and lengthen its life span in the process.

  1. Empty your pot

Let’s start with the obvious. After each cycle, empty the coffee/pods and its residues from the filter. Scoop them from a spoon if needed, and simply dump them into a bin. This will prevent any solid waste from clogging the sink.

 

  1. Dissemble the parts

Residues have a way of seeping through parts that aren’t sealed. That’s why it is important to dissemble all the parts that come off, including minor parts like the rubber that seals the lid. The best coffee makers have fewer parts, and that’s a blessing especially if you have to wash them by hand. Once dissembled, they’ll provide access to every nook and cranny that needs cleaning.

 

  1. Wash

If yours is a machine that isn’t dishwasher-safe, then submerge the parts in a basin with soapy water, instead of soaping them one by one. This will save time, and help to remove even the stubborn dirt. Once done, scrub them and rinse off under running water.

 

  1. Mop

Just because certain parts cannot be washed doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be cleaned. They will accumulate dust, dirt and even splashes of coffee over time. So make sure to wipe them with a wet cloth and repeat it at least once in every two days. This will make your coffee maker look brand new for years to come.

 

  1. Dry off

Never reassemble the parts of your coffee maker without drying them first. Not doing so is like an open invitation for mold and bacteria. Remember, it’s never easy to kick them out once they take up residence in your coffee maker.

 

  1. Use vinegar

According to Mercola.com, vinegar is proven to be the best natural and non-toxic cleaner that can be used on a coffee maker. It not only kills about 80% of mold and bacteria but also removes mineral build-up caused by hard water. All you need to do is mix equal portions of vinegar with water and let it run through the coffee maker at least twice a month.

 

  1. Battle Stains

Stains are the first thing that makes your machine look older than it actually is. Baking soda is a great way to get rid of them. For light stains, scrub the area with a sponge by dipping it in baking soda. If that doesn’t work, let a solution of baking soda and water sit in the coffee pot overnight.

 

If these tips proved to be valuable to you, start adjusting your cleaning-habits right away. You’ll be rewarded with a better looking coffee pot and better tasting coffee in no time at all.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

FOR THE GUYS, SEX & LIFE

5 Things that Put a Huge Strain on Your Relationship

5 Things that Put a Huge Strain on Your Relationship

Long-term relationships are hard work. When we’re young, we dream of finding our soul mate, settling down and living happily ever after; we don’t think about the work that goes into making a relationship work. But, it does take effort, and it’s important to realize this so that you don’t just give up at the first sign of trouble. Even the happiest of marriages have the occasional blip; it’s how you come through them that makes you perfect for each other. What makes a relationship work is different for all of us, but there are a few things that almost universally put a strain on them. That’s not to say that these things should be avoided, just that you should be prepared and give your relationship more time and attention when it needs it.

 

The Internet

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This is a huge change that modern relationships are facing. Our parents and grandparents either spent time together, or they didn’t. In today’s society, we spend time together, sat next to each other in fact, giving our phones and social media feeds all of our attention. We sit together, sharing our day with strangers online, barely communicating at all.

 

Social media, the internet and smartphones are fantastic tools. But, when you start giving them more attention that you give the people in your home, it’s time to take a step back. Leave your phones in other rooms occasionally and give each other your full attention.

 

Moving to A New House

 

Moving to a new house is tough. It takes a lot of time, effort and hard work, and your relationship can easily get neglected, especially if you don’t 100% agree on your new home or your reasons for moving. Try to make sure you are on the same page, talk everything through, be honest with each other and use a removalist to make sure the move itself is as easy and stress-free as possible.

 

Vacations

 

Vacations should be a fantastic stress-free time. In reality, they’re often not. We put huge amounts of pressure on ourselves and each other to have a great time, which can cause arguments and friction. Instead, be spontaneous, and relax. Just enjoy being together away from home.

 

Money

Pixabay

 

Money is one of the leading causes of arguments in most marriages. We worry about it, we argue about it, we disagree on what to do with it, and if we haven’t got enough of it, we lay blame with each other. It’s important to start as you mean to go on with money. Always be honest and talk to your partner about what’s going on and never rush into a financial decision without consulting them first, even if it’s your money.

 

Family

Pixabay

Family is another cause of strain in relationships. If you get on with each other’s family and enjoy spending equal time with both sides, then you should count yourself lucky. For many of us, it’s a constant battle. Learn to compromise, and to bite your lip for the good of your relationship.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME, SEX & LIFE

It’s Time You Started To Take Better Care Of Yourself

It’s Time You Started To Take Better Care Of Yourself

 

Lifestyle

 

The way we live is what overall affects how our body feels and changes, and it’s important that we protect it in our lifestyle. From what you eat to how much you move around in a day is what your body has to go off of, and surprisingly this can have a huge impact on your health. If you’re leading an unhealthy lifestyle you may really start to feel it physically, and you’re a lot more likely to fall victim to serious health issues. Typically, when it comes to starting the new year, people try to make a new year’s resolution to work on their diet or start up a new exercise plan. It’s hard to stick to, but you have to be determined!

 

Checkups

 

If you don’t often see a doctor, it might be worth booking yourself in for a quick checkup to make sure everything is fine. That’s not to say that you should expect bad news, but there’s no harm in making sure! Even if you do find out there’s bad news, the sooner you find out about it, the more chance you have of getting the best result. You might find yourself needing specific drugs to help out with any conditions you have, which can be pretty expensive if insurance does not cover it! You should check out ePharmacies to help you find the best deal out there on the market. You never know how much you could save, and when it comes to an essential purchase like this; you want to make sure that your payments are going to stretch!

 

Bad habits

 

Bad habits are often the worst causes of damage to our bodies. It’s quite common to see people with smoking addictions, and they bring such substantial health risks to themselves and people around them. Managing to quit this addiction doesn’t only help save your body from potential illnesses, but you’re also going to be saving yourself significant amounts of money. It’s hard to give up these addictions, but there are many services and treatments you can invest in to help you quit. The problem with most people’s addictions is, they don’t usually want to give them up, but it can be made a lot easier if you take the available treatments. For example, with the latest e-cigarettes, you don’t really have to give up smoking in a sense, but instead, you can lower your chemical intake significantly by using those instead. Smoking isn’t the only habit that people tend to get addicted to, alcohol is quite a common problem these days, too. Which again, not only compromises your health but leaves a massive hole in your wallet.

 

(Source: Pexels)

 

The sooner you start to take care of your body, the higher the chance you have at a healthier future. The last thing anyone wants is to be given some bad news based on some silly compromise on their health, like smoking or a lack of exercise. It seems like fun at the time, but it’s something that you would seriously regret when the time comes.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Fill Your Fall Garden with Late-Blooming Perennials

Fill Your Fall Garden with Late-Blooming Perennials

 

In gardening, flexibility and variety are the names of the game. Mixing things up in my garden is what gives it the longevity and the brilliant hue throughout the year. I would not imagine a flower garden that goes flat after the early bloomers have withered away into oblivion.

When one group withers, the other groups should set up their stunning floral show. There should never be a dull moment in your garden. It is for this reason that you need late-blooming perennials in addition to your early bloomers.

To help you put up the most amazing display in fall, I have put up this article to help you Fill Your Fall Garden with Late-Blooming Perennials. With these, your end year garden’s look will be an envy of many.

  1. Hardy Mums

Also called Chrysanthemum morifolium, these late bloomers are meant to do well in both containers and on garden beds. Their cheerful and bright flowers bloom in fall to give your garden a new breath of life.

What I particularly love about these flowers is that they grow all through the summer heat, but you need to give them a cut back in mid-summer so that they get a fresh start for fall. As the flowers start to fade, remove the dead blossoms as this encourages more of them to reappear. (USDA Hardiness Zone 3 to 9)

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  1. Japanese Anemone

I love the brilliant white flowers with yellowish stamens. The paper-like blooms make for a stunning view as they start to bloom around late summer. They then continue the show through to winter.

These plants only need maintenance before they establish. But after they are properly established, they don’t require much to grow along. (They thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 8)

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  1. New York Daisy

How does purple, pink, white and blue sound to you? Such a color combination is just what your fall garden needs. The delicate flowers blossom late in August all through to winter, just like the Japanese Anemone.

In early summer, I would advise you to pinch them so that the yield of flower buds increase in fall. As time goes by, you will love how seamlessly they get along with other flowers in the garden. (USDA Hardiness zones 4 to 9)

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  1. Purple Coneflower

I call this bloomer the drama queen of fall. If you have noticed them, their big purple petals and sizeable center cones are kind of dramatic, don’t you think so? Another amazing thing about them is that their display starts in June and lasts until frost hits.

After their flowers have dried up, they leave behind seed heads that are ornamental and also food for birds during winter. (USDA Hardiness Zones 4-8)

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  1. Sedum Autumn Joy

Their name literally says something about them. These flowers bring you immense joy in fall, just as their names suggest. And since they are hardy and are drought resistant, their bloom will last from late summer and well into fall.

The hot and dry days experienced in late summer are no big deal to them. To demonstrate their exuberance, the clustered flowers change from green, then to pink and then ends in a stunning deep red shade. (USDA Hardiness zones 4 to 10)

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  1. False Sunflower

I love my sunflowers. The deep yellow flowers are just so attractive and beautiful to have around, not to mention their intelligent sun-seeking maneuvers. However, these perennials are not the ones you are thinking of.

The Heliopsis helianthoides almost resemble their oil-producing counterparts, without the oil of course. Their daisy-like flowers have yellow petals and grow to about 2 inches in diameter, with brownish center cones. Once you plant them, they will self-seed in large numbers after that.

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  1. Nippon Daisy

I have heard that it is also called a Montauk Daisy in some quarters; this perennial explodes its perky white flowers in fall. Such a colony of whites can transform any dormant garden back into life late in the season.

They are easy to care for and grow to a height of between 24 and 36 inches. Growing them requires that your garden has full sun and well-drained soil. Otherwise, they are absolutely easy to care for. (USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9)

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  1. Goldenrod

As a native, this flowering plant is easy to care for because of its drought-resistant nature. Over the course of time, this native plant has been modified to give it that extra modern touch. These modern types are more vigorous than the natives and would be great for your garden.

As the goldenrod blooms its yellow flowers during the late season, you get a garden full of color. These flowers provide a feeding haven for hungry bees and butterflies hence resulting in a garden full of life. (USDA Hardiness Zones 3-9)

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  1. Helenium

No flower hue quite beats the yellow, red and orange daisy flowers of the perennial Helenium. These sun lovers will bless your garden with their color rich flowers year after year. More vigor is realized when you plant them in masses.

They are easy to care for plants that continue their terrific show even during low rainfall seasons. (USDA Hardiness Zones 3-8)

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  1. Balloon Flower

Named after its balloon shaped eye-catching flower buds, it provides you with the burst of color you need in fall. After the balloon-like buds have popped open, they expose the magnificent dark blue, white or pink flowers.

These plants will thrive in any garden with sufficient sun. You can as well cut and vase them. (USDA Hardness zones 3-8)

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  1. Oriental Lily

This is where fragrance meets exotic looking flowers. I love it when I take a walk in my garden, and then that refreshing fragrance hits me along. The flowers are available in different hues of pink, cream, rose red, white, orange and yellow.

A keener look at the flowers reveals splashes of dark stripes or spots for more flare. Ensure they are exposed to the sun on well-drained garden soils. To finally enjoy the massive fragrance, you will have to wait for about one year, but it will be worth your while. (USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9)

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Conclusion

Fall flower bloom is an irresistible sight for any gardener out there. These flowers that bloom in fall are rich in color, some have an amazing fragrance, and are easy to care for. They may need a little pinching here and there, but your efforts will be well worth it.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

 

 

Profile Picture: http://www.thefilix.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/barbara-herring.jpg

 

Bio:

Barbara Herring is a contributor at TheFilix.com, where she writes about everything from hydroponics and aquaponics to regular houseplants. She loves troubleshooting plant problems, and when she’s not knee-deep in her garden, she’s usually skateboarding, surfing, or reading a book.