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5 basic principles to follow when giving adult children money

<p>The link between money and relationships is undeniable. Money issues can break couples apart, destroy relationships between siblings and cause tension between parents and adult children.</p> <p>Parents have an important role in ensuring their children are not only financially literate but are able to make sound financial decisions and act responsibly with their money.</p> <p>There is big difference between financial literacy and financial capability. This means parents have a continuing role to guide their children past childhood so they not only understand money concepts but know how to put them into practice as they face major decisions and events in their adult life.</p> <p>However, different attitudes towards money and expectations about parental responsibilities can cause serious issues for both parents and adult children.</p> <p>To what extent should parents interfere with or criticise their children's financial decisions and behaviour? Is it reasonable for adult children to expect financial assistance from their parents at times of need? At what point should parents expect their children to be self-sufficient?</p> <p>Every parent wants to see their children succeed but there are different philosophies about how best to help children get ahead in life. Some parents feel the best way to help their children is to give them a hand through gifts of money or interest-free loans. Others think it is only by children pulling themselves up by their own bootstraps that they will learn how to be successful. These deep philosophical differences can be problematic when one parent has a different view from the other and when children have expectations of parents which are not aligned with their parents' philosophy.</p> <p>Parents give money to their children because it makes them feel as though they are being better parents. It is good to give to others, especially your own family, but there are dangers involved. Giving too much or too often can lead to financial dependency, lack of responsibility, repeated poor financial behaviour, enablement of problem behaviours such as addictions or over-spending, delayed retirement or increased financial risk for parents, and resentment from siblings if one child is seen to be receiving more assistance than the others.</p> <p>There are some basic principles which will help decide how and when to support adult children:</p> <p><strong>Decide how much you can afford to give</strong></p> <p>Every financial decision has long-term consequences. The more you give to your children, the less you will have later on to pay off your mortgage or save for retirement. Make sure you are financially secure before helping others, or financial strife will simply transfer from them to you.</p> <p><strong>Set clear expectations</strong></p> <p>Have conversations with your children about what you are prepared to help them with and to what extent. If you are providing ongoing support, set a time limit for how long this will continue. Expect your children to make a contribution rather than giving them all of what they need.</p> <p><strong>Act like a banker</strong></p> <p>If your adult children went to the bank to borrow money they would need to fully disclose their assets, debts, income and expenses so the bank could decide whether to lend or not. You need to do the same. Make sure you understand why your children are in the situation they are in and what behaviours they need to change to avoid being in the same situation again. If you expect money to be repaid, you need to know how likely it is that this will happen.</p> <p><strong>Get legal advice for large sums</strong></p> <p>It may be necessary to have written loan agreements for large sums to avoid disputes later. If your adult child has a partner, you will need to consider what might happen to a loan or gift to your child in the event that the relationship ends as it may become relationship property.</p> <p><strong>Consider your other children</strong></p> <p>Be upfront with your other children about what help you are giving and why. Sibling rivalry is natural, and children can feel deeply hurt by being treated unequally unless they understand the reasons. Equality can be achieved in the long run by making adjustments to how your estate is divided, taking into account prior assistance.</p> <p>It is good to help your adult children but in many cases, teaching them how to make better financial choices is more beneficial than handing out money.</p> <p>Do you agree with this advice?</p> <p><em>Written by Liz Koh. Republished with permission of <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p>

Retirement Income

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"He's basically a pig": Erin Molan and Piers Morgan slam Kyrgios

<p>Erin Molan and Piers Morgan have called out the court-side antics of Nick Kyrgios, after he was slammed for his behaviour at Wimbledon. </p> <p>After Kyrgios' first round win, he spoke of his frustration with a line judge and admitted to spitting in the direction of a disgruntled spectator, as well as eating sushi throughout an explosive post-match press conference. </p> <p>Appalled by his actions, Piers Morgan condemned his behaviour in an interview with Erin Molan on Sky News’ <em>Piers Morgan Uncensored</em>.</p> <p>Morgan vented, “He’s basically a pig he’s eating his food as he talks to the media, he abuses a female lineswoman, he abuses an elderly linesman, he abuses the crowd, he spits at one of them."</p> <p>“The man is out of control. Can you put up any defence for this antipodean monster?”</p> <p>Molan agreed with his comments, saying, “Piers, there's plenty of Australians who think he's in an absolute tool as well.</p> <p>“I’ve been one of his most vocal critics for a very long time.”</p> <p>“But I'll tell you what, the spitting even towards someone in their direction is appalling,” she continued.</p> <p>“The abuse of anyone in their workplace is appalling, the hypocrisy that he displays is completely appalling."</p> <p>“He replied to someone on social media overnight that had taken him to task over this and said, ‘Oh, but I would never go into your workplace and abuse you.’"</p> <p>“Does he think the linesmen are volunteers? That's their workplace he's abusing them.”</p> <p>Following the incident at Wimbledon, Nick Kyrgios defended his actions as he believed he did nothing wrong. </p> <p>He went on to say it was unfair that the audience was allowed to shout things at the tennis star and he couldn't respond. </p> <p>“That’s fine. But if I give it back to you, then that’s just how it is," he said. </p> <p>“There’s a fence there and I physically can’t do anything or say anything because I’ll get in trouble. They’re able to say anything they want.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: TalkTV</em></p>

News

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Sam Mac accused of basically doing nothing

<p dir="ltr">Sam Mac has been called out in the Sunday Mail newspaper, with a local questioning what he actually does for a living.</p> <p dir="ltr">The <em>Sunrise </em>weatherman shared the snippet onto Instagram titled “Not a cloud in the sky” which was sent in by Neill from Woodcroft.</p> <p dir="ltr">Neill said he smiled when Sam said he had a “fantastic week” before slowly drilling the weatherman and his antics.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I had to smile when Sunrise’s Sam Mac recently said he’d had a fantastic week,” the note began.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Well, of course he would say that after being in the Hunter Valley all week. But what does he actually do?</p> <p dir="ltr">“It seems to me very little, except for giving the weather temperatures and telling viewers if it’s going to be raining or sunny.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Not a bad job: getting paid while enjoying free accommodation, meals and, I presume, airfares.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’d like to know what he does for the rest of the day.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CfBS5-TOXrX/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CfBS5-TOXrX/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Sam Mac (@sammacinsta)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Sam responded to Neill by sharing his hobbies, making it unclear on whether or not he should be offended by the letter.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Hello Neill from Woodcroft, &amp; thank you for your enquiry,” Sam began.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Firstly, I must commend you on your accurate summary of my role as a Weatherman, ie telling people the weather. Well spotted Sir. You got me.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Now, in answer to your question, when I’m not basking in the glory of free accommodation, meals &amp; airfares, I like to spend the rest of the day partaking in my favourite hobbies…Stone skipping, latin dancing, managing the anxiety of having to decide which jar to put my local matters bottle top in at Grill’d, collecting navel fluff, breakfast tv cosplay (aka “Kochplay”), beatboxing, downloading podcasts I have no intention of listening to, quilting, learning national anthems on the flute, &amp; if there’s anytime left over, I like to write snide letters to my local newspapers.</p> <p dir="ltr">“How about you Neill? What do YOU do for the rest of the day? Sincerely, Sam.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Sam discussed the letter with his colleagues Nat Barr and David Koch, who laughed and said they agreed with Neill.</p> <p dir="ltr">“A guy named Neill, with two Ls, from Woodcroft in South Australia wrote a letter in the Sunday Mail asking ‘what does that weatherman do for the rest of his day?’,” Sam said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He thinks I’m just on holiday, he thinks I’m just having a laugh, but as you guys know, I do the hard yards!”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Neill is very perceptive. We get you, Neill,” Kochie said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Neill is all of us,” Barr laughed.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Is your pen name Neill?” Sam then asked Kochie.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Australia should have a universal basic income for artists. Here’s what that could look like

<p>While artists struggle to get noticed in the Australian political arena, particularly in the lead up to an election, other nations take their artists more seriously – even seeing them as critical to a successful and vibrant community.</p> <p>When I talked to artists during the pandemic, it became evident they needed <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/24/13561">four conditions</a> in place to be able to practice successfully as artists: a regular income, a place to do their work, capacity to do their work and validation of their work. </p> <p>Without these conditions, productivity and mental health suffer. </p> <p>The Republic of Ireland has recently instituted <a href="https://mymodernmet.com/ireland-basic-income-program/">a new scheme</a> to provide three-year support for up to 2,000 individual artists, piloting a form of universal basic income.</p> <p>Artists will be expected to meet at least two out of three qualifying terms to apply for the scheme: have earned an income from the arts, have an existing body of work and/or be members of a recognised arts body, such as a trade union. </p> <p>Successful artists and creative workers will be given a weekly income of €325 (A$479), and be able to earn additional money without this basic income being affected.</p> <p>The Irish Minister for the Arts Catherine Martin hopes this first model <a href="https://www.thesun.ie/news/8609980/basic-income-support-scheme-artists-ireland-catherine-martin/">can be broadened</a> to include all practising Irish artists in the future. </p> <p>She sees it as a simple and economic method to protect artists from precarious existences while benefiting the community as whole.</p> <h2>International support for artists</h2> <p>The Irish scheme for a universal basic income for artists isn’t the only model.</p> <p>In the US, several states and private foundations have developed schemes to provide direct support to artists as an outcome of the pandemic. </p> <p>In May 2021, the City of New York paid <a href="https://www1.nyc.gov/site/dcla/cultural-funding/cityartistcorp.page">3,000 artists</a> no-strings-attached grants of US$5,000 (A$7,080). Additional grants were provided for public art works, exhibitions, workshops and showcase events.</p> <p>In June 2021, the philanthropic Mellon Foundation announced a new program called <a href="https://news.artnet.com/art-world/mellon-foundation-creatives-rebuild-new-york-1976068">Creatives Rebuild New York</a> to provide 2,400 New York artists with a guaranteed monthly income of US$1,000 (A$1,415) for 18 months.</p> <p>The program employed another 300 artists and creative workers on an annual salary of US$65,000 (A$92,000) to work in collaboration with community organisations and local authorities for two years. They will <a href="https://www.creativesrebuildny.org/">also receive</a> other benefits and dedicated time to work on their artistic practice. Both these programs were designed by artists. </p> <p>The city of San Francisco provided US$1,000 per month for 130 local artists for six months from mid-2021. Thanks to philanthropic support from Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, the <a href="https://sfist.com/2021/05/24/guaranteed-income-program-for-sf-artists-gets-expanded-thanks-to-3-5m-gift-from-twitter-square-ceo-jack-dorsey/">scheme expanded</a> to support 180 artists for 18 months.</p> <p>The city of St Paul in Minnesota, with a population of just over 300,000, has <a href="https://www.twincities.com/2021/04/05/st-paul-springboard-for-the-arts-launches-program-to-grant-500-a-month-to-frogtown-and-rondo-artists/">initiated a program</a> to give 25 artists a guaranteed unrestricted income of US$500 (A$708) per month for a period of 18 months.</p> <p>Closer to home, the House of the Arts (HOTA) on the Gold Coast recognised the economic dilemma of local artists during the pandemic.</p> <p>In 2021, they <a href="https://www.artshub.com.au/news/news/artkeeper-program-puts-artists-on-payroll-2515622">employed four artists</a> to work three days a week for six months on their own creative projects at HOTA. They were given a regular salary, a studio to work in, and were invited to participate in the organisational planning of HOTA.</p> <h2>Could we recreate this in Australia?</h2> <p>In Australia, some artists were eligible for schemes like JobKeeper and JobSeeker during 2020 and into early 2021, which could provide a model for how to support artists with a basic income going forward. </p> <p>But in 2020-21 the Australia Council only funded <a href="https://www.transparency.gov.au/annual-reports/australia-council/reporting-year/2020-21">584 individual artists</a>, a drop of nearly 50% <a href="https://australiacouncil.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/australia_council_annual_report_2012-13.pdf">since 2012-13</a>.</p> <p>Ireland’s three-year pilot program for artists will cost the government around €25 million (A$37 million). With a population about a fifth of Australia’s, a similar scheme applied here using the same ratio could provide funding to 10,000 individual artists at a cost of A$185 million over three years. </p> <p>This would be a drop in the ocean for the <a href="https://theconversation.com/budget-2022-frydenberg-has-spent-big-but-on-the-whole-responsibly-180122">Australian federal budget</a>, but it could be a game changer for the community, the arts and artists. </p> <p>A universal basic income provides a regular amount of money that allows the individual to live above the breadline. It can transform an individual’s life while having a <a href="https://julkaisut.valtioneuvosto.fi/handle/10024/161361">positive impact</a> on the whole of society. </p> <p>Schemes that provide an ongoing income to individual artists – such as royalty schemes, lending rights and long-term leasing of artwork by government bodies and corporations – are all important, but the amounts received from them for the majority of artists are usually quite limited.</p> <p>Just imagine if every Australian arts centre, library, school, university, hospital, local council and government department employed an artist in residence. The artist gets an income while the institution gets an extraordinary input of ideas and imagination that can transform their environment. </p> <p>We need to stop patronising our artists by giving them tiny grants and making them go through endless hoops and form filling to gratefully receive them. </p> <p>Artists are essential to our community. It is time to demonstrate – like Ireland and New York – the success of our artists reflects our healthy and vibrant nation, and pay them accordingly.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/australia-should-have-a-universal-basic-income-for-artists-heres-what-that-could-look-like-182128" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Art

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Basic tips for staying healthier throughout winter

<p dir="ltr">The cooler months are just around the corner and the last thing we want is to not feel our ultimate best.</p> <p dir="ltr">We can all admit that we’d rather be in bed under a warm blanket, watching TV, bingeing on junk food rather than going out to the gym, or making healthy foods because takeout is so much easier.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, it is just as important to stay fit and healthy in winter as it is in summer.</p> <p dir="ltr">Below are the Top Six ways to do just that. </p> <ol> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Eat immune boosting foods</strong></p> </li> </ol> <p dir="ltr">To ensure an ultimate healthy lifestyle, it is recommended to stick to foods from the five food groups. </p> <p dir="ltr">Need a refresher? They include: vegetables and legumes/beans, fruit, lean meat, fish, poultry, grains and cereal, milk, cheese and yoghurt. </p> <p dir="ltr">Stay on top of your Vitamin C which is in most fruits and veggies.</p> <p dir="ltr">Zinc is just as important and could be found in most animal products, nuts and seeds.</p> <p dir="ltr">Iron is also one to stay on top of which can be found in meat, beans, lentils and even spinach.</p> <ol start="2"> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Drink water</strong></p> </li> </ol> <p dir="ltr">Water is just as important in the cooler months as it is in the warmer seasons. </p> <p dir="ltr">Stay hydrated however is not just limited to water, you can drink as much soup, tea as you want and it all helps. </p> <ol start="3"> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Stay active</strong></p> </li> </ol> <p dir="ltr">The weather may not be in your favour but there are many fun indoor activities you can get up to.</p> <p dir="ltr">Indoor rock climbing, obstacle courses, dance class…whatever tickles your fancy.</p> <p dir="ltr">Or just join the gym.</p> <ol start="4"> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Limit the alcohol intake</strong></p> </li> </ol> <p dir="ltr">Alcohol affects our mood, sleep and energy levels which in turn can leave us feeling more stressed and exhausted.</p> <p dir="ltr">It also increases the risk of having a stroke, high blood pressure, heart disease, liver disease and cancers.</p> <p dir="ltr">We’re not saying to give it up completely, but it will help a lot if you reduce how much you drink.</p> <ol start="5"> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Practice good hygiene </strong></p> </li> </ol> <p dir="ltr">After three years of the pandemic this should be second nature. </p> <ol start="6"> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><strong>Get some Vitamin D</strong></p> </li> </ol> <p dir="ltr">Take advantage of the good weather whenever it arrives.</p> <p dir="ltr">When you see the sun, pop on some sunscreen, shades and hat and go out for a walk in the park, at the beach or grab a coffee with some friends. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Body

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The bare minimum skincare you need revealed

<p>In a world where new miracle fixes and super serums are landing every second on a beauty counter near you, it can be hard to determine exactly what you need and when – and how much you're willing to pay.</p> <p>Dermatologists are in the business of looking at – and treating – skin conditions every day, and often aren't driven by the lofty promises, fancy packaging and big price points that come with hyped skincare brands. Their recommendations are more often than not common sense, easy and affordable, and they have firsthand knowledge of what works.</p> <p>The bare minimum you need to do to your skin according to dermatologists starts with cleansing. It's crucial to keeping your skin healthy, removes dirt, pollution and the dead skin cells that can make your complexion look dull.</p> <p>What are the most important things to look for in a cleanser? It should be soap-free, gentle and suitable for your skin type. To find your cleansing match, wash your face with any soap-free cleanser then wait about 30 minutes.</p> <p>If your whole face feels tight, your skin is dry, and needs a creamy or milky formula. If you face feels greasy or looks shiny, you've got an oily complexion, so opt for a foaming cleanser. If your skin feels tight just on your cheeks, chances are you have combination skin: so can use either depending on the season.</p> <p>Next, Dr Vania Sinovich, dermatologist at Skin Institute in Auckland says, "the best thing you can do to protect your skin is apply adequate sun protection, particular to the face, chest and backs of hands where most visible photo ageing occurs".</p> <p>She also stresses the importance of staying out of the ‪midday sun, the use of protective clothing such as hats to cover the face, ears and back of neck, and "avoiding repeated, unprotected sun exposure which creates free radicals with resultant photo ageing, photo pigmentation, skin cancers and premature skin thinning."</p> <p>Sinovich recommends finding a sunscreen that contains antioxidants to help mop up free radicals, and to use it every day, rain or shine.</p> <p>On the topic of anti-ageing, she says the use of a topical Vitamin A/retinoid formula at night is a no-brainer, and more efficacious than any hope in a jar.</p> <p>"It helps to even skin tone, reduce pore size, smooth out fine wrinkles and boost collagen," says Sinovich, "which helps to keep the skin firm".</p> <p>Some are so potent that can completely change your skin overnight, and unlike standard exfoliators, retinoids work at the cellular level to increase collagen, smooth out annoying fine lines and even out the tone.</p> <p>Prescription retinoids are more effective but can irritate, so ask a professional for advice on the best one for you – and go easy.</p> <p>"I recommend gradual escalation over time to avoid any reactions," says the good doctor. Start with twice weekly use and reap the benefits.</p> <p><em>Written by Helene Ravlich. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Your basic guide to home maintenance

<p>They say a man’s home is his castle, but when it falls into disrepair, it begins to resemble more of a ruin than a castle. To keep your property looking its best, you’ll need to invest some time and effort – but it will definitely pay off in the long run. Here’s everything you need to do each season to keep your home in the best possible condition.</p> <p><strong>Autumn</strong></p> <ol> <li>Clean gutters, rooftops and eaves.</li> <li>Get your air conditioner serviced.</li> <li>Repair any cracks or gaps in the walls or in windows ahead of winter.</li> <li>If you have one, clear the chimney.</li> <li>Air out winter bedding.</li> </ol> <p><strong>Winter</strong></p> <ol> <li>Stock up on firewood.</li> <li>Go through the house and tighten any loose knobs, handles or screws.</li> <li>Check all locks on windows and doors are in working order.</li> <li>Give bathroom a thorough clean (removing showerheads etc.).</li> <li>If you have one, cover your pool and any outdoor furniture.</li> </ol> <p><strong>Spring</strong></p> <ol> <li>Clean gutters, rooftops and eaves.</li> <li>Have your air conditioner serviced.</li> <li>Tend to dead plants, leaves, branches etc.</li> <li>Give your house a good spring clean.</li> <li>Air out summer bedding.</li> </ol> <p><strong>Summer</strong></p> <ol> <li>At the start of the year, review your insurance policy<a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/insurance/home-and-contents/?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_campaign=insurance&amp;utm_medium=in-article-link-home-contents&amp;utm_content=home-contents-insurance" target="_blank"></a> to ensure it comprehensively covers your home and contents.</li> <li>Remove weeds.</li> <li>Have your house inspected for insects and pests.</li> <li>Give your pool and all outdoor furniture a good clean.</li> <li>Have kitchen and laundry appliances serviced.</li> </ol> <p>Have we left anything off the list? Share your seasonal home maintenance tips with us in the comments below.</p>

Insurance

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Back to basics: 3 Microsoft Word tips

<p><em><strong>Lisa Du is director of <a href="https://readytechgo.com.au/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">ReadyTechGo</span></a>, a service that helps people gain the confidence and skills to embrace modern technology.</strong></em></p> <p>Microsoft Word is a great program that is used daily by many users. We have plucked three tips from our bag of goodies and present them to you below! We know (and hope) that these time-saving tricks will put a little smile on your face when you test them out (it did for me). Maybe you can reply and tell us a few tips of your own! We always love passing on tips from our readers.</p> <p>Use these tips however you like... for efficiency or productivity, for fun or to just plain show off to your friends and family. Ok smarty pants here we go!</p> <p><strong>Tip number 1</strong></p> <p>To select an entire paragraph, make three rapid left mouse clicks anywhere in the paragraph. Voila! (combine this with a tip from a few weeks ago, and you can then hold down the SHIFT key and press the F3 key). Your whole paragraph will change to upper case letters.</p> <p><strong>Tip number 2</strong></p> <p>To select a whole sentence, click anywhere in a sentence while holding the Ctrl key down. Too easy!</p> <p><strong>Tip number 3</strong></p> <p>A tip from one of our keen readers Ian Adair. Ian's tip is another way to change the case while using Microsoft Outlook or Word. Ian even sent us image snippets for this 1 step tip (Thanks Ian)!.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="114" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/35394/in-text-one_500x114.jpg" alt="In -text -one (6)"/></p> <p>1. If using Microsoft Outlook, once you have typed your sentence click on the "Aa" icon (see image below)</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="495" height="120" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/35395/in-text-two_495x120.jpg" alt="In -text -two (6)"/></p> <p>2. If using Microsoft Word, once you have typed your sentence click on the "Aa" icon (see image below)</p> <p>Go on… give it a try!</p> <p>Do you have any tips to share? Let us know in the comments below. </p>

Technology

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The basic beauty products you need to look stylish

<p>Beauty companies are forever trying to convince us to buy more stuff, but when it comes to looking well-groomed, you can cull your arsenal down to just a few key products. </p> <p><strong>Hair</strong></p> <p>Good hair is 80 per cent of the battle to looking good – such is the negative impact of a bad hair day. Find a cut and style that suits your actual hair texture (not the texture you wish you had) and commit to getting it trimmed every two to three months. You'll need to go much more often if you have short hair, so factor that into your style choice.</p> <p>If you want to be low-maintenance, either don't colour your hair or choose a shade fairly close to your natural hue. Sharp, unintentional, colour contrasts due to regrowth make you look instantly unkempt.</p> <p>You need one good styling tool you can easily use, whether that's a heated brush, straightening iron, curling tong or just your hair drier, plus a styling product that works well with it. </p> <p>If your hair tends to run wild, an accessory such as a headband, clip or even a stylish hat, is great to have on hand for bad hair 'emergencies'. </p> <p><strong>Skin</strong></p> <p>Unless you have problem skin, you really only need a good cleanser and moisturiser, and perhaps some rosehip oil to use at night.</p> <p>To look polished, the main point with skin is to have your foundation, BB cream or tinted moisturiser in the right shade for your face. Get someone in a store to colour-match you so you avoid the classic trap of having your neck a different colour from your face. If you occasionally have blemishes or dark circles under the eyes (i.e. most of us) then a little concealer won't hurt either. A brush to blend your foundation is also helpful.</p> <p><strong>Makeup</strong></p> <p>Groomed brows give your look instant polish. Get them done once by a professional, then maintain the look at home with tweezers.</p> <p>As for the rest of the eyes, choose a look you can easily master. Mascara would be the minimum (go for brown if you prefer a natural look), but choose liner and cream shadow or powder shadow if you can easily apply it and it suits you.</p> <p>On lips, bright colours can be best left to experts – soft peach, rose or beige will never take your look into garish territory.</p> <p>For nails, invest in a manicure set so nails are clean and clipped reasonably short. Simply buff, or add nude or clear polish.</p> <p><strong>What you<em> don't</em> need</strong></p> <p>They're trendy and fun to experiment with, but are definitely not essential for a polished look.</p> <ul> <li>​A contouring kit</li> <li>An eye palette that has more than four shades</li> <li>More than three lipstick shades (work, evening and weekend)</li> <li>Specialty makeup-artist type products, such as primer, finishing spray or colour corrector</li> <li>False eyelashes</li> <li>Multiple hair appliances</li> <li>Multiple hair styling products</li> </ul> <p><em>Written by Melissa Williams-King. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Back to basics: How to Copy, Paste, and Delete files

<p><strong><em>Lisa Du is director of <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.readytechgo.com.au/" target="_blank">ReadyTechGo</a></span>, a service that helps people gain the confidence and skills to embrace modern technology.</em></strong></p> <p><strong>For Windows users</strong><br /> There are many different ways to perform these functions on a computer file. We’ll give you the simplest.</p> <ol> <li>Perform a right-hand click of your mouse on the file you wish to copy or delete. This will summon a drop-down menu, which will give you a variety of options of what you can do with the file</li> <li>These options include copy and delete. Simply click on one of these functions with your mouse to perform them!</li> <li>If you click on “Delete”, a window will pop up requiring you to confirm the deletion. After you’ve done so, the file will be deleted</li> <li>If you click on “Copy”, the computer will create a copy of that file</li> <li>To paste this file into another folder, first go to that folder</li> <li>Perform a right-hand click of your mouse anywhere within the window of the folder</li> <li>In the drop-down menu that appears, click on “Paste”. The copied file will then appear in this window.</li> </ol> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="294" height="480" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/33187/image-1.jpg" alt="Image 1 (6)"/></p> <p>For those of you who are looking for an even quicker way to perform these functions, here are some useful shortcuts.</p> <ol> <li>Highlight the file you wish to copy or delete by clicking on it</li> <li>To delete the file, simply press the “Delete” button on your keyboard, and then confirm the deletion. Done!</li> <li>To copy the file, press and hold down the “Ctrl” key on your keyboard</li> <li>At the same time, press and hold down the “C” key, and then let go of both. This will copy the file!</li> <li>To paste this file into another folder, first go to that folder</li> <li>Press and hold down the “Ctrl” key on your keyboard</li> <li>At the same time, press and hold down the “V” key, and then let go of both. The copied file will then appear in this window.</li> </ol> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="200" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/33188/image-2_500x200.jpg" alt="Image 2 (5)"/></p> <p><strong>For Mac users</strong><br /> The process for copying, pasting, and deleting files is much the same for Mac users!</p> <ol> <li>Perform a right-hand click of your mouse on the file you wish to copy or delete. This will summon a drop-down menu, which will give you a variety of options of what you can do with the file</li> <li>These options include copy and delete. Simply click on one of these functions with your mouse to perform them!</li> <li>If you click on “Move To Trash”, the file will be deleted</li> <li>If you click on “Copy”, the computer will create a copy of that file</li> <li>To paste this file into another folder, first go to that folder</li> <li>Perform a right-hand click of your mouse anywhere within the window of the folder</li> <li>In the drop-down menu that appears, click on “Paste Item”. The copied file will then appear in this window.</li> </ol> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="240" height="480" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/33189/image-3.png" alt="Image 3 (3)"/></p> <p>Like Windows users, Mac users have the option to use shortcuts, too.</p> <ol> <li>Highlight the file you wish to copy or delete by clicking on it</li> <li>To delete the file, simply drag the file to the “Trash” icon on the far right-hand side of your Dock. Done!</li> <li>To copy the file, press and hold down the “Command” key on your keyboard</li> <li>At the same time, press and hold down the “C” key, and then let go of both. This will copy the file!</li> <li>To paste this file into another folder, first go to that folder</li> <li>Press and hold down the “Command” key on your keyboard</li> <li>At the same time, press and hold down the “V” key, and then let go of both. The copied file will then appear in this window.</li> </ol> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="495" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/33190/image-4_495x245.jpg" alt="Image 4 (1)"/></p> <p><em>For more tech-tips, visit <a href="https://readytechgo.com.au/"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">ReadyTechGo</span>.</strong></a></em> </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/technology/2017/01/how-to-take-a-screenshot/"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">How to take a screenshot</span></strong></em></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/technology/2016/12/internet-tips-to-make-your-life-better/"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">4 internet tips to make your life better</span></strong></em></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/technology/2016/12/what-to-do-to-when-you-lose-unsaved-documents/"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">What to do to when you lose unsaved documents</span></strong></em></a></p>

Technology

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Back to basics: How to upload photos to Facebook

<p>Social media is made for sharing photos and memories with your friends and family. If you’re not sure of the best way to upload photos to Facebook, here’s our quick guide.</p> <p><strong>To post a photo to your Facebook timeline:</strong></p> <ol start="1"> <li>At the top of your News Feed, click Add Photos/Videos to post to your Facebook page. Click Create Photo Album to upload to a new photo album.</li> <li>Select the photos or videos from your computer or smartphone you want to add to Facebook. You can also tag friends, share what you’re feeling or doing, and add a location to your photo.</li> <li>Click Post. Your photo will now appear on your Facebook.</li> </ol> <p><strong>To upload a photo an existing photo album:</strong></p> <ol> <li>Go to the album you want to add more photos to.</li> <li>Click Add Photos in the top right.</li> <li>Pick the images you want to upload and click Post Photos.</li> </ol> <p><strong>To upload a photo in a Facebook comment:</strong></p> <ol start="1"> <li>Go to the post and click the camera on the right side of the text box</li> <li>Choose the photo you want to attach</li> <li>You can also write a comment to post with your photo. Press Enter to post photo and comment.</li> </ol> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/technology/2015/11/new-things-you-can-do-on-ios9-iphone-and-ipad/"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">10 new things you can do on your iPhone and iPad</span></strong></em></a></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/technology/2015/11/free-upgrades-to-gadgets/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">5 ways to upgrade your gadgets for free</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/entertainment/technology/2015/11/android-phones-security-phone/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Android phones at risk of hacking</span></em></strong></a></p>

Technology

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Back to basics: Three ways to email photos

<p>If you’re looking to (privately) share your digital happy snaps with friends and family afar, here’s our guide to emailing photos.</p> <p><strong>From an email account</strong></p> <p>1. Open a new email in your email account.</p> <p>2. Click “Attach” (or paperclip icon).</p> <p>3. Choose photo you wish to attach.</p> <p>4. Finish writing email and send.</p> <p><em>Top tip: Another quick way of attaching photos to emails is simply dragging picture files from your computer directly into an open email message. The photos will appear in the body of the email. This option doesn’t allow you to choose the size of the pictures though and will appear as the original size.</em></p> <p><strong>From computer</strong></p> <p><em>Note: This only work if you have email program installed on your computer</em></p> <p>1. Open the picture you want to email.</p> <p>2. On the toolbar, click “Email”.</p> <p>3. An “Attach Files” box will pop up. Select a picture size from the menu. Click “Attach”. Depending on your internet connection, you might want to make the image smaller so it will be easier to send. However, this means the quality of the image won’t be as high as the original image. Medium is generally a good size to send without losing quality.</p> <p>4. Your computer will open a new email message with the picture attached.</p> <p>5. Write your email and click send.</p> <p><strong>From smartphone</strong></p> <p>1. Open the photo you want to email on your smartphone</p> <p>2. Tap the “Share” icon, usually located on the bottom of the screen. On iPhones, it looks like a rectangle with an arrow coming out of it and on Android phones, it’s a circle with two arrows coming out of it.</p> <p>3. A menu will appear with a few options to share your photo. Tap “Mail”.</p> <p>4. A new email will now appear with your photo in the body of the message. Write your email and click send.</p> <p>5. Before your message sends, you will be asked what size you want the emailed photo to be. Tap on your preferred choice and send away.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/technology/2015/04/crop-photos-on-smartphone/">How to crop photos on your smartphone</a></span></strong></em></p> <p><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/technology/2015/03/reading-tablet-in-bed-harmful/">You’ll think twice before using your tablet in bed after reading this</a></span></strong></em></p> <p><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/technology/2015/03/podcast-guide/">A guide to podcasts: What are they and where should I start?</a></span></strong></em></p>

Technology

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Eye care boot camp: back-to-basics everyday health tips

<p>It can be difficult to know what to do to take care of your eyes. We’ve put together a list of some simple things you should be doing to ensure you’re giving your eyesight the best care possible.</p><p><strong>Doctor knows best</strong></p><p>You should try to have regular eye tests, even if you don’t wear glasses. Not only does this help you keep track of your own eyesight, it gives your doctor a chance to pick up on diseases like cataracts and glaucoma. Your eyes can also indicate diabetes and high blood pressure, so get those peepers looked at.</p><p><strong>Watch those lenses</strong></p><p>You should ensure that your lens prescription is correct. Having the right lenses will improve your quality of life, and help reduce the risk of accidents such as falls.</p><p><strong>The dos and the don’ts</strong></p><p>Time for a lightning round – here are the things you really should be doing, as well as the things you really shouldn’t if you want to take the best care of your eyes…</p><ul><li>DO eat well. A healthy, balanced diet is important, and will protect against some conditions like cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).</li><li>DON’T smoke. Smoking increases the risk of AMD and cataracts.</li><li>DO wear sunglasses. Protect your eyes from harmful UV rays with good quality sunnies.</li><li>DO ensure you have adequate lighting. Poor lighting can strain your eyes. When you’re 60, your eyes need three times as much light as they did when you were 20. Grab yourself a flexible table lamp to direct light appropriately when you’re reading.</li></ul><p><strong>Related links:</strong></p><p><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/health/eye-care/2015/02/health-clues-from-eyes/" target="_blank">5 health clues from your eyes</a></span></strong></em></p><p><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/health/eye-care/2015/03/how-to-avoid-eyestrain-computer/" target="_blank">How to avoid eye strain when using your computer or tablet</a></span></strong></em></p><p><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/health/eye-care/2015/03/state-of-world-eyesight/" target="_blank">Some interesting statistics on the state of the world’s eyesight</a></span></strong></em></p>

Eye Care

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