Wealth of Geeks – Page 5

March 8, 2023

10 Bone-Chilling Horror Movies from the 2000s You Totally Forgot Existed | Wealth of Geeks

Horror is one of our favorite genres here at Wealth of Geeks.

From the classic thrills of the best horror movies from the 1980s and 1990s to the laughably bad horror films that we love to hate. We even love reading horror books and comics filled with over-the-top ghoulish hosts and post-apocalyptic zombies.

Horror films have always been an extremely self-referential genre, but they reached new heights of recursiveness in the 2000s. The found-footage genre was obsessed with making horror films about horror films.

The biggest new franchise of the decade, Saw, featured a villain who was essentially a horror movie director constructing sets to trap his victims/viewers. Reflexivity pushed the genre to new extremes of arch humor and mannerist excess; it’s a decade that includes some of the funniest horror films, and some of the most repulsive.

The films are listed in order from best to less best, but still great.

1. Paranormal Activity (2007)

Image Credit: Paramount Pictures.

The Paranormal Activity Blumhouse found footage franchise quickly plunged into the mediocre sequel abyss, but the first entry remains a masterpiece.

Oily, subtly controlling boyfriend Micah (Micah Sloat) decides to film the odd phenomenon occurring around his girlfriend Katie (Katie Featherstone.) Director Oren Peli is a master of squeezing horror out of non-effects: a chandelier swinging or a door opening. The actors deliver their bickering is delivered with such small-as-life querulousness you can barely believe it’s acting.

The Blair Witch Project inaugurated the found footage genre, but this may be its most perfect form: just two people filming each other, and the demon taking shape between them.

2. Shaun of the Dead (2004)

Best Zombie Movies to Stream Right Now — Image Credit: Universal Pictures.

Edgar Wright’s best film is both a send-up of the zombie genre and a loving example of it. Wright takes George Romero’s core metaphor—the zombies are us!—and pushes it to its logical extreme; Shaun (Simon Pegg) and Ed (Nick Frost) are stuck in such pointless dead-end shuffling lives that they don’t even notice when the dead start rising and devouring around them. The brilliant set-pieces in which Shaun wanders on his daily rounds while carnage shuffles quietly around him are juxtaposed with jump scares created out of nothing but genre cues, brilliant camera work, and lower-middle-class ennui.

It’s also one of those rare horror movies, and rare comedies, in which the final twist ending is one of the absolute best gags in the film, and just in general.

3. Death Proof (2007)

Quentin Tarantino’s sole foray into horror is probably his least discussed movie. Which is unfortunate, because Death Proof, originally part of the Grindhouse double feature, is fantastic.

Kurt Russell plays a Kurt Russell parody tough guy who gets his kicks by crashing into women’s cars and killing them. It’s basically a slasher on wheels. But where most films in the genre show you little of the victims except for their fear, Death Proof spends the bulk of its run time exploring the nuances of women’s friendships and relationships. Every death is someone you know. It’s a horror film that will break your heart—which only adds velocity as the second act speeds towards revenge.

4. Dark Water (2002)

The Ring is the most famous Hideo Nakata-directed J-horror based on the writing of Koji Suzuki. But the little-known Dark Water has a deeper and clammier chill. Yoshimi Matsubara (Hitomi Kuroki) is a single mother trying to retain custody of her six-year-old daughter. The two move into an apartment haunted by a perpetually leaky ceiling and a sodden ghost.

Initially, in horror film tradition, it looks like some evil something is coming for the child. But this isn’t the Exorcist, with its theatrical demons. There’s no real antagonist or evil in the run-down building; just love thwarted and the steady, agonizing drip, drip, drip of anxiety, grief, and loss. The film’s rhythms are as mesmerizingly ominous, and as inevitable, as water rising.

5. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

Pans Labyrinth 1 — Image Credit: Warner Bros.

Horror often plays with the line between fantasy and reality, but rarely with such grace or cruelty as in Guillermo del Toro’s breakthrough film. Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) is a lost princess who must complete three tasks to return to her father’s kingdom. Or else she imagines she’s a princess to escape a miserable reality in which her mother has died and left her in Franco’s Spain with a fascist father who hates her. Every time Ofelia steps through the chalk-drawn doorway, you want to yell at her not to come back. But when she doesn’t, it’s worse.

The effects—including a bloated mud-spewing toad and a flesh-eating Pale Man with eyes in his hands—are amazingly imaginative and tactile. All the more so because the movie never lets you forget for long that the real child-eaters are less wondrous, and colder.

6. American Psycho (2000)

Silence of the Lambs presented serial killers as super-cool super-genius. “Pfft to that!” said director Mary Harron, and gave us Patrick Bateman—serial killer as a bland corporate social climber with atrocious musical taste.

Christian Bale wears his good looks like an empty shell as he brutalizes women, tries to place dinner reservations and praises Huey Lewis with the same mix of bland insecurity and teetering rage. The horror isn’t so much in the blood and murder, which, given Bateman’s tenuous hold on reality, may or may not even actually happen. Rather, the movie is unsettling because of its portrait of a life and a culture so empty even the super-cool super-evil super-geniuses have nothing on their minds but their own business cards.

7. Hostel (2005)

Slashers like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Hills Have Eyes are often built on urban/rural anxieties and resentments. Eli Roth switches up the formula to east/west, so you get to delight as Europeans take their bloody revenge on misogynist entitled American backpackers, and then delight further as the Americans get their revenge in turn. The film is notoriously gore-filled, but the most disturbing bit involves a creepy German who eats salad with his fingers. He says he wants to get closer to the guts of life…which is the ugly motive of tourists, and of horror film watchers too.

Hostel II is the rare sequel that rivals its prototype, so if you like this, you should watch that. But not, for pity’s sake, Hostel III.

8. The Human Centipede (2009)

Dutch director Tom Six’s nightmare surgical hybrid of body horror and slasher is often dismissed as a crass exercise in self-indulgent depravity. Treating crass exercises in self-indulgent depravity as art is one reasonable definition of horror, though. Six really has managed to create a carefully, bloodily constructed new creature from the bits and pieces of Dr. Frankenstein, David Cronenberg, and his own grotesque, self-loathing vision of humankind as a suffering, crawling thing.

German Siamese twin specialist Josef Heiter (Dieter Laser) kidnaps two American tourists and a Japanese man and surgically connects their mouth to the anus with a single digestive tract. The film is as viscerally repulsive, degrading, and cruel as that description suggests. It’s an atrocity and a triumph, and it will make you despair. What more can you ask from a horror movie?

9. Teeth (2007)

There are a fair number of female vampire films, and a lot of revenge films, but there is nothing quite like Mitchell Lichtenstein’s teen coming-of-age castration romp Teeth. Dawn (Jess Wexler) is an abstinence-touting purity-culture devotee trying to make sense of her growing attraction to boys.

When the nice Christian youth she’s been fantasizing about tries to rape her, though, she and he discover that the local nuclear plant has somehow given her a vagina dentata, which enacts bloody vengeance when her consent is violated.

The inevitable scenes of unpleasantness (enacted upon skeevy step-brothers and condescending gynecologists alike) are uniformly flinch-worthy. But what really makes the movie is Wexler’s performance. Dawn starts out afraid of her sexuality and her power, and gradually recognizes the pleasures both of saying “yes” and of being able to say “no” with teeth.

10. Martyrs (2008)

The most infamous movie of the infamous New French Extremity movement, Pascal Laugier’s Martyrs both depicts and embraces torture for its own sake. Young girls Lucie Jurin (Mylène Jampanoï) and Anna Assaoui (Morjana Alaoui) are brutalized pointlessly by a cult that seeks to create martyrs through extended suffering. The second half of the film is little but Anna being force-fed, struck, and tormented with mundane cruelty as gentle music plays and she wastes away before our eyes.

Laugier tempts viewers to embrace violence as grotesque revenge, violence as genre payoff, and/or violence as formal aesthetic beauty, even as he continually reminds you that violence is pointless and exists only for its own consummation. It’s a frustratingly gratuitous and gratuitously frustrating film, which leaves you unsure whether to be angry at the director, yourself, or the world.

Final Thoughts

I only wanted one film per director, but I thought about picking Hostel II or Cabin Fever instead of Hostel, and The Devil’s Backbone instead of Pan’s Labyrinth. Other films that were on and off the list were Ginger Snaps and Battle Royale. And I seriously considered Claire Denis’ Trouble Every Day, which is supposed to be great. But I ended up not being able to stream it. The best horror has to be a horror you’ve seen—though there are always other horrors out there.

This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.

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March 8, 2023

The Surprising Ways Venmo is Cashing in on Your Transactions | Wealth of Geeks

Post By zittrexstore Money Making How Does Venmo Make Money, The Surprising Ways Venmo is Cashing in on Your Transactions, Wealth of Geeks No Comments

Did you know Venmo comes from the Latin word vendere, which means “to sell” — or that it was once a music start-up where you could text bands to receive MP3s via email?

Yet those details, interesting as they might be, aren’t what we will discuss today. Instead, we’ll look at other sides to Venmo that could save you sizeable sums of money as you continue using the app.

While Venmo may appear to be a free service, it can be pretty expensive if you don’t understand how it works as a business. So, how exactly does Venmo make money from its customers? Let’s find out.

What Is Venmo?

Founded in 2009 by Andrew Kortina and Iqram Magdon-Ismail, Venmo is a leading U.S. mobile payment app. It lets people aged 18 and over send each other money for free. You can transfer funds instantly to friends, family, or businesses at the touch of a button, with no transaction costs, right from your Android or Apple smartphone.

Venmo also has integrated social features. For example, users can add friends who use the app and see (depending on their privacy settings) details about their transactions, such as the time stamps and descriptions. You can also exchange emojis on Venmo when making or requesting payments, which helps the payment process feel more light-hearted.

In combination with its user-friendly nature, Venmo’s social element made it an instant hit, especially with the younger population. Following a series of acquisitions in 2012 and 2013, PayPal took over Venmo. It has over 70 million users and processes around $230 billion in payment volume annually.

How Does Venmo Work?

Anybody who wants to send or receive money using Venmo begins by downloading the Venmo app. After signing up, you can connect your new account to a debit card, credit card, or checking account and immediately start adding friends and exchanging money.

Want to hold cash in your Venmo account like a wallet? You can do this too! But it isn’t essential—many exchange funds directly from their debit card, credit card, or bank account.

Users can also request a Venmo debit card. Connected to the app, people can purchase products and services as expected from the growing number of businesses accepting Venmo payments.

Venmo users can also use the app to cash checks after verifying their identity, buy products using in-store Q.R. codes, and receive wages via direct deposit into their Venmo account. In addition, you can buy, sell, and hold Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Bitcoin Cash. Unfortunately, at this time, it isn’t possible to make purchases with the crypto in your Venmo account.

How Does Venmo Make Money?

Now we know a little bit about Venmo, let’s dive into eight ways Venmo makes money. Keep these sources of revenue in mind when you’re using this money-making app. Then, whether you’re an individual or a business owner, you can use this knowledge to decrease unnecessary Venmo expenses.

1. Credit Card Purchase

As we’ve seen, you can send money, receive money, and make standard payments using Venmo at no cost. However, that changes when you use a credit card rather than your debit card or checking account. In these scenarios, you’d pay a 3% processing fee on the transaction.

That means sending $100 to a friend via the credit card connected to your Venmo account would cost $3. That might not sound like much, but it adds up over time.

2. Pay-With-Venmo Transactions

Venmo offers people a quick, easy way to pay for products and services. But did you know that the vendor (i.e., the business you’re buying from) has to pay a fee to process each purchase?

While it’s free for the user, Venmo charges the merchant 1.9% of the purchase price, plus a flat $0.10 fee on every transaction. So, for example, if they spend $100 on Home Depot goods, they’ll only receive $98 of it. The other $2 goes to Venmo.

3. Instant Transfers

Let’s say somebody sends money to your Venmo account that you wish to transfer to your bank account. Thanks to the Instant Transfer option, you can do precisely that and have access to those funds within 30 minutes.

That’s lightning-fast compared to the 3-5 business days it usually takes! You pay for the privilege. Standard withdrawals don’t cost a cent, but Venmo takes 1.75% of anything you send via Instant Transfer. So you’ll pay a minimum of $0.25 per transfer but no more than $25.

4. Credit Card Interest & Fees

Credit cards are one option when you need quick access to money you don’t already have. The trouble comes when you can’t repay the money and fall foul of their notoriously expensive interest rates and late fees.

It’s no different with Venmo, which offers qualifying customers its Visa and Visa Signature Credit Cards. Depending on your account, the (Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for these cards can be up to 25.99%. That also applies to cash advances, their transaction fees, and any penalties you incur along the way. In other words, despite a slew of perks, you risk paying through the nose if you mishandle your Venmo credit card.

5. Withdrawal Fees

Their Debit Card is another way the company generates revenue. Although you can get your hands on the card for free and use it in stores without paying anything, certain types of cash withdrawals incur a fee.

For example, if the ATM you withdraw money from is not in the MoneyPass network, then you’ll pay $2.50 (alongside whatever the ATM owner wants to charge). There’s no fee if it’s “in-network.” Venmo users also pay $3 for an over-the-counter cash withdrawal at a bank or other financial institution.

6. Cashback Program

One of the main incentives to using Venmo’s debit or credit cards is the cashback you can earn from using it at select stores/merchants and on eligible purchases.

Everyone’s a winner. Users get cashback, the merchants boost their sales, and Venmo generates extra revenue. So how does Venmo make money? By teaming up with a company called Dosh (an automatic cashback platform) that pays it a referral commission.

7. Cryptocurrency Fees

Venmo also makes money when people buy and sell cryptocurrency on the platform. That comes in the form of a transaction fee that increases with the size of the sale. Here’s what users currently pay on a sale/purchase:

Anything between $1 and $4.99 costs $0.49
Anything between $5 and $24.99 costs $0.99
Anything between $25 and $74.99 costs $1.99
Anything between $75 and $200 costs $2.49
Anything between $200.01 and $1000 incurs a 1.80% fee
Anything over $1000 incurs a 1.50% fee

However, notice we didn’t say “hold.” Keeping crypto on Venmo is free. You only pay when you buy and sell it.

8. Cash a Check

Venmo allows users to cash checks if they have a Venmo Debit Card, verify their email address, and enable the direct deposit feature. But, once you do so, cashing a check this way grants speedy access to the money.

Unfortunately, that convenience comes at a cost. Venmo charges a sizeable 5% on all accepted checks apart from payroll and government varieties, for which it charges 1%. Moreover, they won’t cash any check worth less than $5. The maximum value you can cash in a day is $5,000, and the max per month is $15,000.

But, Is Venmo Safe?

Generally speaking, yes, Venmo is safe to use. It boasts an enormous user base of 70+ million people. It’s safe to assume those numbers would be strikingly lower if there were a fundamental problem with safety!

More specifically, Venmo protects users against unauthorized transactions using advanced data encryption technology that safeguards your account information. It also stores user data on servers in secure locations and enables people to log out of phones they may have lost or stolen. Combine those precautions with the PIN code you can set up, and Venmo should be safe. There are some factors to consider, though.

What Are the Risks of Using Venmo?

Risks come with the territory of internet-connected apps, especially those involved in financial transactions. So whether we’re discussing Venmo, PayPal, Revolut, or other similar apps, users should consider all the risks.

The main one comes from hackers. In theory, someone with bad intentions and the right skillset could circumvent the safeguards Venmo has in place.

If someone gained access to the app, they could transfer funds to another bank account and change the linked email address. That way, the user would never receive transaction notifications to tell them something was wrong.

Thankfully, a few simple strategies can help you avoid this nightmare scenario. Start by limiting the amount of money you store on Venmo and only use it with trusted friends and family. A strong PIN/touch I.D. will help, as will setting your account to “private.”

If that wasn’t enough incentive to limit how much cash is in your Venmo account, consider that Venmo isn’t insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), unlike traditional U.S. banks. That means there’s a risk you won’t get your money back if the company goes bankrupt or otherwise loses your money.

Reducing Venmo Expenses

Ultimately, the best way to reduce your Venmo expenditure is to reduce the number of pay-for-Venmo products you use.

By avoiding their credit card, cashing checks the old-fashioned way, ignoring the instant transfer feature, and only withdrawing cash from ATMs on the MoneyPass network, you don’t have to spend a dime.

It’s more complicated if you’re a business or have a side hustle that accepts Venmo payments. However, the fees involved are unavoidable, so the only option would be to change to cash-only transactions or cheaper electronic alternatives.

Final Thoughts

While tens of millions of Americans use Venmo today, we’d bet that only a few would have an answer to the question, “how does Venmo make money?” Well, now you are one of the knowledgeable few.

Not only that, but by keeping the insights from this article in mind, we hope you’ll also be able to use the app in a budget-friendly manner, keeping more of your own money.

This article was produced by Wealth of Geeks.

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March 8, 2023

World’s Longest River Cruise Debuts, Taking Travel Trends to New Waters | Wealth of Geeks

Post By zittrexstore Money Making Taking Travel Trends to New Waters, Wealth of Geeks, World’s Longest River Cruise Debuts No Comments

The debut of the world’s longest river cruise – a regal 51-day journey of almost 2000 miles along 27 rivers crisscrossing India and Bangladesh has river cruises hitting novel waters and reaching new heights.

The new Ganga Vilas cruise is a far cry from the gentile river cruises down the Danube that first popularized this travel trend. This record-breaking, boundary-pushing travel experience is just the beginning for an industry sailing toward a bright future.

Back and Better Than Ever

While river cruises represent just a small part of the global cruise industry, they mark a growing trend set to break records. River cruises now carve out a lucrative share of the ever-increasing cruise market – nearly 1.5 billion dollars worth.

After a challenging few years, the cruise industry is back and better than ever, and river cruises, in particular, are projected to continue to grow rapidly in popularity.

At the heart of river cruises’ appeal are more intimate experiences onboard smaller luxury ships headed to off-the-beaten-path destinations that larger liners can’t access. They set themselves apart from ocean cruises at every turn.

However, companies eager to meet growing traveler demand aren’t immune from taking a page out of the “bigger-is-better” playbook of ocean liners. Colleen McDaniel, Editor-in-Chief of Cruise Critic, weighs in on new river cruise trends: “[A] trend we’re seeing are very long river cruises, lasting a month or longer. This mirrors the popularity of grand voyages or even world cruises that we’re seeing on the oceans.”

The Ganga Vilas cruise isn’t anything if not trending. Departing from the northern Indian city of Varanasi in January, the cruise crisscrosses 27 rivers during its 51-day journey, covering nearly 2000 miles of some of the most scenic corners of India and Bangladesh.

Overseeing the launch of the inaugural voyage was India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who said the record-breaking new route will “herald a new age of tourism in India.”

The new route through India and Bangladesh is catching on in more ways than one.

Visiting New Waters

While river cruises in Europe remain more popular than ever, hitting new waters in unexpected destinations is a trend in river cruises that shows no sign of slowing down. McDaniel continues, “Now that people are more excited to travel internationally, we’re seeing interest in some of the more far-flung destinations.”

From the Mekong River in Vietnam to the largely unspoiled destinations in India on the Ganga Vilas cruise, 2023 marks an exciting opening for the industry, poised to draw travelers looking for something new.

The uniqueness of the journey isn’t lost on Rainforest Cruises, the company behind the new Ganga Vilas cruise.

“This is a historic step forward for the river cruise industry that will be showcasing a spectacular route between these two South Asian countries for the first time,” says Jeremy Clubb, the founder of Rainforest Cruises.

With several sailings of the Ganga Vilas cruise already sold out well into 2023, it looks like a journey that is quickly becoming a favorite.

A New Grand Tour

This unparalleled cruise would impress even the Maharaja himself. Carving a path through northern India with its departure from Varanasi, through Bangladesh and India’s Assam Valley before ending its journey at Sivasagar, the new route will allow passengers to visit some of the most impressive destinations in the region, visiting hidden gems that few travelers get to see.

Passengers can take part in incredible Hindu religious ceremonies. There are opportunities to explore national parks and spot elephants, rhinos, and Bengal tigers. And voyagers get up close and personal with some of the most important historical and religious destinations in the region, all while retreating to the luxurious Ganga Vilas boat at the end of each day.

With a maximum of 36 guests on any cruise, this handcrafted boutique ship boasts just 18 suites for the ultimate in personalized service. Modern furnishings in colors reflecting the vibrance of India, an industry-leading crew-to-guest ratio, and plenty of onboard educational chats, classes, and performances hit all the musts for the discerning river cruise traveler.

Passengers can also choose to take one of two unique legs of the journey should their itinerary not allow for the entire 51-day cruise, with shorter routes departing from either Varanasi or Kolkata, allowing travelers to visit other favorite Indian cities like Jaipur or the Taj Mahal in Agra as well.

The Best Way to See India?

Despite its unique destination and unexpected features, the Ganga Vilas cruise hits very much at the heart of river cruise travel, offering a travel experience unlike any other. “This new itinerary truly is an experiential voyage of epic proportions, not only in terms of its duration, but also in its exploration of the riches of the Indian Subcontinent, encompassing art, cuisine, wildlife, spirituality, and so much more,” Clubb extolls.

No navigating busy cross-continental trains or flights or packing and unpacking suitcases every few days. Simply retire to your cabin and awaken in a new destination.

McDaniel can’t think of a better way to see the subcontinent: “A river cruise is a fantastic way to visit India, as you get to see the incredible sites the country has to offer while someone handles all the logistics for you. For many people, a visit to India is the trip of a lifetime, and river lines know how to do it right. It takes the stress and guesswork out of it.”

The Ganga Vilas cruise certainly packs an enormous punch for travelers looking for the next biggest and best thing from this booming travel trend.

This article was produced by Explorers Away and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.

Carley Rojas Avila is an avid traveler, writer, and creator behind Home to Havana. Having traveled to twenty-five countries and spent years living abroad, she shares destination guides, travel tips, and hacks to help travelers and digital nomads feel at home when traveling off the beaten path, whether their travels take them to Havana or beyond.

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March 8, 2023

Worried About Inflation? How Stay at Home Moms are Making Themselves Recession Proof | Wealth of Geeks

Post By zittrexstore Money Making Wealth of Geeks, Worried About Inflation? How Stay at Home Moms are Making Themselves Recession Proof No Comments

Everywhere you look, the cost of items is rising thanks to inflation and worldwide supply chain challenges. Some rise at an almost imperceptible rate, while others, like butter, margarine, and flour, rose in price by more than 20% in 2022. If you’re a stay-at-home mom, the rising cost of living likely worries you about the future.

One question may be hanging over your head: Should I return to work for financial stability? As a stay-at-home mom (SAHM) in anticipation of an economic downturn, you may have more options than you realize.

The Number of Stay-at-Home Parents Is Rising

According to some reports, 1 in 5 parents stay home with their kids instead of entering the paid workforce. These numbers have risen by 60% since 2019. Why?

When schools were closed and lockdowns enforced during the peak of COVID-19, a lot of parents were forced to work from home or leave their jobs altogether. For some women, this was a hard economic decision. They faced leaving jobs and careers they’d spent years growing, only to devote their efforts to helping their children.

Do SAHM’s Need to Return to Work?

You don’t have to look far to see hiring signs in every business window across town. When digging into why people, particularly parents, aren’t returning to work post-COVID, here’s why:

More than 60% of the women who stay home do it because they want to be present for their children. That leaves 40% of women with no choice but to stay home due to other external factors like lack of childcare and other financial concerns.

A 2022 study demonstrates that moms felt a reduction in “parenting strain” from the flexibility gained working from home. This makes them reluctant to return to their workplace.

During the pandemic, many parents began working remotely or quit their jobs and were able to spend significantly more time with their kids. Now, they understandably don’t want to return to their old work schedules.

With this reluctance, the question remains, do parents need to return to work? As a SAHM, if you’re craving time outside your home as a professional or the anxiety of one income is affecting your health, maybe. Yet, you can have the best of both worlds at home.

Choices That SAHM’s are Facing in a Recession

Stay-at-home moms are known for their excellent multi-tasking skills. So, in the face of economic hardship, returning to work may not be the best fit for their family’s individual and financial needs. Here’s why:

Childcare Costs

With 100,000 fewer childcare workers than before the pandemic, there is a severe shortage of childcare options. The steep loss inevitably leads to a price increase due to demand. The shortage makes the hunt for childcare impractical for many families, particularly families with children under 5.

The Cost Benefit of Household Work

SAHM’s should know their worth – economists have demonstrated that a mom’s work is never done and holds the same value as a 6 figure annual salary.

Going back to work and spending less time at home may mean higher food costs from store-bought meals or take-out instead of SAHM’s cooking while their child does their homework.

Family Budgeting

You might be considering a return to work due to a disparity between your spending and income. However, consider ways to cut costs to thrive as a single-income household.

Sit down with your partner and create a family budget. Evaluate your household priorities and choose whether you want to work based on those needs rather than fear of economic change. Understanding your financial landscape in your current situation will help you decide if returning to work is feasible or necessary.

What’s Best for Your Kids

Overall, parenting is a critical component of a SAHM’s identity. Being present for your children is a primary family goal for you and your kids. That’s why it’s essential to consider your family’s emotional needs too.

The Rise of Flexible Jobs and Side Hustles

These days, moms can return to the workforce without leaving the house or working full-time.

There are many opportunities to earn extra cash in just a few hours a day, sometimes referred to as a side hustle, that can fit into a mom’s busy schedule. They often are based on being super productive to achieve a livable income without the need to work full-time hours.

Signs of a good side hustle for moms in 2023 include:

Being recession-proof
Extremely flexible
Only requiring a few hours per day (maximum)
Providing an enjoyable creative outlet

Recession-Proof Side Hustles

If SAHM’s want to stay home and contribute to their family income, they should consider these options. Emeritus reports 17 recession-proof jobs in the primary categories of healthcare, education, and utility work.

For SAHM’s, the ones that are best suited for flexible part-time hours include:

Virtual Assistant
Health support for nutrition, weight loss, exercise, mental health, etc.
Content writer
Selling everyday goods (perceived as necessary by consumers)
Content marketer (online)
Online teaching or tutoring
Coaching parents with daily struggles, such as meal planning, sleep consulting, etc.

On the other hand, jobs to avoid during a recession include real estate, entertainment, tourism, and construction, as they strongly correlate to the economy.

How to Choose a Side Hustle

As a SAHM, if you’re ready to give a side hustle a try, there are a few considerations to keep in mind.

If you need extra income as soon as possible, you might find an online employer. If you have time to learn a new skill or use your experience to build your own business, consider how to offer your services. Regardless, factor in the cost of starting your new business venture and whether it fits your skills, interests, and financial needs.

Being a SAHM is an important job and one that carries many responsibilities. If you need to supplement your income or are looking for flexible work opportunities, consider creating a budget and exploring side hustles or other part-time jobs. Research, planning, and dedication make it possible to find the right balance between family and work.

This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.

JayDee is a mom, writer, and Doctor of Physical Therapy. She’s passionate about helping women live their best lives through community and education. Outside of her work as a health and mom blogger, she loves traveling the world and exploring the great outdoors with her family.

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March 8, 2023

15 Things To Do in Sydney Australia on Your Next Visit

Post By zittrexstore Money Making 15 Things To Do in Sydney Australia on Your Next Visit, things to do in sydney australia, Wealth of Geeks No Comments

With Sydney’s breathtaking views, excellent public transport, and foodie culture, what’s not to love? This famous city has plenty to do, from iconic landmarks and stunning beaches to cultural institutions and parks.

15 Things To Do in Sydney Australia on Your Next Visit

Sydney isn’t the cheapest city to visit, but that doesn’t mean you must empty your wallet. There are plenty of affordable or free things to do. Our list of 15 items includes the best things to do in Sydney Australia on your next visit.

1. Luna Park

The iconic Luna Park, with its 1930’s art deco style, stands out along the Sydney Harbor. It’s just a short ferry ride from Circular Quay, and you’ll enjoy beautiful views of the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Opera House on your way.

Luna Park is a carnival-themed amusement park modeled after the original in Coney Island, New York. Entry is free, but if you want to go on rides, you’ll need to purchase a wristband that gives you all-day access to its original and newly developed rides.

Image Credit: Nokuro/Shutterstock.

It still possesses the same ’30s style, glamor, and eccentricity but with modern additions of thrill rides. While you may want to get here early to make the most of your Day Pass, you must experience the beautiful view atop the Ferris Wheel at night. Lines for food are long, so if you properly fuel up ahead, you won’t waste time standing in a long queue for a sad serving of fries.

Luna Park is a must-do in Sydney and the perfect way to kick off your trip with adventure and thrills. This location has been impressively maintained and continually developed, putting its Melbourne counterpart to shame. In 2021, the park added nine new rides that appeal to younger children and older thrill seekers.

2. The Opera House

You can’t talk about Sydney without conjuring up an image of the Sydney Opera House. It’s like New York City without the Empire State Building or Egypt without the Pyramids. The Opera House is conveniently right next to Circular Quay.

The iconic arches of this building can be appreciated from afar, up close, or inside. The photo-op in front of the Opera House is obligatory on any trip to Sydney at this point.

Sydney Opera House, Downtown Sydney skyline in Australia at twilight — Image Credit: f11photo and Shutterstock

The Opera House gets 10.9 million visitors annually and is one of the landmarks on everyone’s bucket list. My recommendation? Don’t just stand outside it for a picture; go inside!

The grand architecture of this building cannot be fully appreciated unless you experience it in all its glory. That means going to see a show in one of its inside theaters. Thanks to the remarkable acoustics, any seat in the house will leave you with second-to-none sound quality.

So many shows pop-up in the Opera House, including plays, dances, singing performances, and other acts. If you don’t think a show is for you, then daily tours operate inside the building and are an hour long for $43 per person. You can even dine at one of the restaurants inside or enjoy a luxurious drink at the Opera Bar.

3. Bondi Beach

Bondi beach deserves an entire day on your itinerary to fully explore the beach town, lounge on the picturesque beach, swim in the Bondi Icebergs Club pool and stroll along the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk.

Bondi beach is just as beautiful as the postcards and Bondi Rescue would have you believe. As one of Australia’s most famous surf beaches, there’s plenty to enjoy, whether basking in the sun, catching some waves, or using the skate park conveniently located directly on the beach.

When you work up an appetite, you should explore the surrounding hole-in-the-wall shops and dining restaurants. One such small shop, Funky Pies, offers a delicious assortment of vegan Australian meat pies in a bohemian cafe.

4. Bondi Icebergs Club and Coastal Trail

Bondi Icebergs Club is a popular tourist spot along Bondi Beach, where you can swim in seawater pools overlooking the ocean. The pools are so close to the sea that the waves crash into them. You can also grab a bite to eat or a coffee while you’re here.

Before calling it a day, you have to walk along the coastal trail that travels from Bondi beach to Coogee, overlooking the ocean, rock pools, cliffs, and unbelievable views that will have you wishing you had brought a GoPro with you. If the 3-hour walk is too intensive for you, you can make the shorter hour-long trail, which takes you to Bronte beach.

5. Queen Victoria Building

In the heart of the CBD, you can find the Queen Victoria Building (QVB), one of the city’s oldest, most beautiful shopping centers. It’s so architecturally captivating on both the inside and outside that you’ll often find wedding parties taking photos here.

With over 162 boutique shops, specialty stores, and cafes spread along five levels, this building takes up an entire city block of George Street. You can get a fantastic cup of coffee at one of the many coffee shops inside, but I recommend Underground Espresso.

Half the glory of shopping in QVB is being taken aback by the sheer elegance of the spiral banisters, stained glass windows, and European architecture. The building is decadent and rich in history since it was built in 1893.

The shopping selection includes luxury designer brands, cafes offering afternoon tea, and jewelry stores. A breathtaking and sizable Christmas tree, decked in Swarovski crystals and dazzling lights, is placed under the glass dome during Christmas.

6. Royal Botanic Gardens

If Australia is known for anything, it’s vast plots of lush gardens filled with plants, flowers, and tranquil water features, usually located right next to a river. If you need a break from the city, the breathtakingly peaceful stroll through the garden is an effective stress reliever.

With ample sunshine, over 28,000 plants from over 8,000 species are home to certain wildlife like birds and possums. The expansive botanic gardens stretch over 74 acres and pass through several great tourist spots. It takes about 1 to 2 hours to cover the entire thing, but it depends on how much of the garden you want to explore.

As you stroll along the harbor, you get magnificent views of the Sydney Harbor bridge and the Opera House in the background. This pristine garden has been magnificently maintained and is the perfect place to picnic in the middle of the day.

It’s not often that one of the best things a city has to offer is entirely free. There are some incredible historical artifacts and locations that you will spot along your walk, including Fort Dension. This island was a prison for convicts in the early days of Sydney’s settlement.

7. Circular Quay

You can think of Circular Quay as the central hub in Sydney, as it’s located right off the harbor, positioning you right in front of the infamous Sydney Harbor Bridge. It’s situated between the Sydney Opera House and the Royal Botanic Gardens.

8. Sydney Harbor Bridge

If you want to get closer to the bridge, along with a beautiful view overlooking Circular Quay and the harbor, you can pay to do the bridge climb, which is a few hundred dollars. Alternatively, you can climb the Pylon Lookout, which is connected to the bridge and has an interesting museum inside.

While this lookout is lower than climbing over the highest points of the bridge, it is only a fraction of the cost at $19 per person and still provides beautiful city views. Undoubtedly, this area is jam-packed with tourists clamoring for photos, but you’ll also find many dining options offering unparalleled views and impressive street performances.

9. Contemporary Art Museum and The Rocks

Food and drink options in this area are pricier than elsewhere in the city, given the location, but having a glass of wine or a cup of coffee overlooking such a beautiful view is worth the extra few dollars. In the area, you can go to the Contemporary Art Museum, which is free.

Since Circular Quay is the main station for ferries, this would be the best place to enjoy views of the harbor onboard and travel to another area via ferry. A short distance from Circular Quay is The Rocks, a town paved with old cobblestone streets and rich in history. You’ll find plenty of old pubs, markets, and historical museums.

10. New South Wales Art Gallery

These are separate buildings, but they’re best explored on the same day if you want a taste of Sydney’s history and culture. The Art Gallery of NSW is about 15 minutes away from the city center, and entry is free for all visitors.

New South Wales Art Gallery building — Image Credit: EQRoy/Shutterstock.

Browse through the collections of aboriginal, Asian, contemporary, and Australian art, or take a free guided tour. Museums and art galleries naturally go together. They’re like an extension of one another, giving you a glimpse into the past through depictions in paintings or carefully preserved artifacts.

11. The Australian Museum

The Australian Museum has excellent exhibitions on Australian history and culture. You need to check out the Wild Planet and dinosaur exhibitions. There’s a section of the museum that displays 200 treasures of the museum, all with fascinating backstories.

12. State Library of New South Wales

Finally, stop at the State Library of New South Wales to end your night. Bookworms will be fascinated by the vast collections of books, but this library also has broad appeal for its stunning architecture.

The beauty of this building is so mesmerizing that you’ll often find bridal parties taking photos on the steps. It is a great quiet, peaceful place to get some work done, find some peace, or silently reflect on your day as you browse through the collections of books and admire how silent it is inside.

13. St. Mary’s Cathedral

You don’t need to be religious to admire the mysticism of a beautiful gothic cathedral. St. Mary’s Cathedral is a famous church in Sydney and a major tourist destination. There are free guided tours every Sunday at 2 pm.

If there isn’t a service, you can walk around and take in the beauty of the grand arches and fine craftsmanship. You’ll spot over 40 pictorial stained glass windows as you walk around.

St. Mary’s Cathedral is the longest church in Australia and is completely free to visit. The beautiful scenery of Hyde Park also surrounds the location. The divine inspiration for this church can be best experienced during a service when both locals and tourists join together in prayer.

14. China Town

If you’re looking for cheap eats and affordable shopping in a cultural enclave, China Town is the place to be! It is a great nighttime spot to get a delicious meal for a reasonable price. If you still need to pack any minor necessities or gadgets, you can find them at a discounted price in many shops here.

It is the largest China Town in the country, and it’s lined with markets, shops, restaurants, Chinese art, and architecture. You aren’t limited to Chinese cuisine either, as you’ll find many Asian culinary options, including Japanese, Indonesian, Vietnamese, and Korean food.

Another tourist attraction on this list is Paddy’s Markets, located just next to China Town in Market City. A wide variety of accessories, souvenirs, and apparel are on sale here at a discounted price compared to anywhere else in Sydney.

Don’t buy your souvenirs in the CBD. You can get a ton of artfully crafted souvenirs for a fraction of the price at Paddy’s Markets! The markets offer hundreds of stalls open from Wednesday to Saturday, 10 am to 10 pm.

15. Darling Harbor

One of my favorite areas in Sydney, Darling Harbor, is home to many exciting shopping outlets, dining options, and entertainment precincts. You can enter Darling Harbor through a walking bridge over Sydney Harbor.

Some standouts in the area are the Chinese Garden of Friendship, a beautiful and serene heritage-listed garden, and Darling Square, a cultural food mecca featuring food from over 20 countries.

Darling Harbor in Sydney Australia — Image Credit: Shutterstock.

There are plenty of museums to visit on the waterfront, like the Australian National Maritime Museum or Madame Tussauds. Darling Harbor has many activities for kids and nightlife for adults, including rooftop bars and The Star, Sydney, a 5-star hotel featuring a 24-hour casino.

Final Thoughts on Sydney

Sydney has excellent weather, people, and food, so even when you aren’t jumping from tourist attraction to tourist attraction, you’ll enjoy your time in this mesmerizing city. There is plenty to check out, and everything is close to each other. Best of all, public transport is cheap and easy to use, so you can easily explore Sydney’s many destinations.

This article was produced by The Money Dreamer and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.

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March 7, 2023

10 Cool Things To Do in Gold Coast Australia | Wealth of Geeks

Post By zittrexstore Money Making 10 Cool Things To Do in Gold Coast Australia, things to do in gold coast australia, Wealth of Geeks No Comments

The Gold Coast is known for its beautiful weather, long sandy beaches, surf conditions, theme parks, and even some celebrity sightings. Located in subtropical Queensland, about an hour from Brisbane, you can stroll along the beach all year round.

The Gold Coast is packed with a variety of entertainment venues, beautiful beaches, and natural parks. Whether you’re more interested in nightlife or the outdoors, there’s something for everyone. I’ve narrowed it down to the top nine things to do in Gold Coast Australia.

1. Go to Surfer’s Paradise Beach

Surfer’s Paradise is the most famous beach on the Gold Coast due to its long 1.86-mile stretch of sand, turquoise waters, and perfect surf conditions. The backdrop of high rises stretched along the beach makes for picture-perfect views. I highly recommend getting a hotel with an ocean view.

However, the beach isn’t the only thing to offer in Surfer’s Paradise. From 4 to 9 pm on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, you can stroll through the beachfront markets for a unique shopping experience from independent stalls.

Cavill Avenue is located just in front of the Surfer’s Paradise beach sign and it’s the main strip of entertainment, dining, and shopping venues in the area. There are often live street performers playing music and there are plenty of activities to do. Surfer’s Paradise is one of the livelier and more youthful beach towns. It’s lined with adventurous games, bars, nightclubs, and food to grub on.

2. Solve Your Way Through Infinity Attraction

Infinity is an immersive light experience packed with mind-bending solvable mazes that utilize your different senses. As you make your way through the maze, you’ll encounter new challenges and illusions as you try to find your way into the next room.

The attraction implements special visual effects, interactive displays, moving floors, rooms full of mirrors, and much more. If you like mind-stimulating activities or puzzles, this is the perfect day or nighttime activity and only takes about 30 to 40 minutes. That is, if you can find your way out!

3. Stay at or Visit The Star Gold Coast

The Star Gold Coast is a luxury 5-star hotel complex with a 24-hour casino, an array of world-class restaurants, bars, decadent and spacious rooms, spa amenities, and entertainment. You don’t have to stay at this hotel to access their restaurants or casino, but I highly recommend it.

Relax in the giant outdoor heated pool or jacuzzis and order a poolside cocktail. Stay in a luxurious room with cozy king-size beds, automatic window shades, Nespresso machines, and 24/7 room service.

The Star Grand usually offers reduced rates during slow seasons or on weekdays which are a steal for the value. While staying here, you must try their rooftop bar, Nineteen at the Star, accessible only through a secret elevator. Here, you can sip on some cocktails as you overlook the Broadbeach skyline or enjoy a meal for breakfast, lunch, or dinner on certain days.

Other dining options at The Star range from fine dining to casual eats. There are six bars inside, including a 24/7 sports bar with televisions displaying live sports games and pub-style food.

The staff is extremely accommodating and will take your bags upon arrival. It’s the best place to stay in Broadbeach if you want to be treated like royalty. They even host The Logie Awards, an annual Australian television awards show.

4. Take In Epic Views At Q1 Skypoint Observation Deck

Skypoint is the 25th largest building in the world, taller than New York City’s Chrysler building. It’s the only beachside observation deck in Australia and is the tallest building on the continent. You’ll ride an incredibly fast elevator that takes you 77 floors up to the observation deck in just 42.7 seconds.

Once you’ve reached the 77th floor, you’ll walk into the observation deck, which offers panoramic views of Surfer’s Paradise through glass windows. Tickets gain you entry for the entire day, so you can return as many times as you want throughout the day.

Both morning and night offer gorgeous views, but it’s more difficult to capture good photos at night because of the reflection in the glass windows. The observation deck is also a lovely cafe. Have a latte, cocktail, or bite to eat as you soak in the views of the ocean, skyscrapers, and the hinterland.

If you’re more adventurous, you can also do the Skypoint Climb, a 90-minute climb outside the skyscraper during sunrise, the day, or at night. From inside the observation deck, you can enjoy the scenery and watch participants climb the outside of the tower.

5. Go to One of The Many Theme Parks

The Gold Coast is home to most of Australia’s most famous theme parks: Dreamworld, Movieworld, Wet’n’Wild, and WhiteWater World. Best of all, they’re all located relatively close to each other, within a 20-minute (at most) drive.

Ride iconic rides like The Aqualoop at Wet’N’Wild, one of the world’s only true looping waterslides. This was the first waterpark to install more than one Aqualoop, with riders having a selection of 4 different Aqualoop slides.

Then there’s Movieworld’s DC Rivals – the southern hemisphere’s tallest, longest, and fastest hypercoaster. You can’t go to Dreamworld without riding the tallest and fastest ride in the southern hemisphere with The Giant Drop.

It’s a tower that climbs 39 stories high, suspends you in the air for a few minutes to get you squirming, and then plunges you back to the ground, reaching speeds of 135 kph, accelerating at the speed of gravity.

6. Ride The Slingshot

If you’re a thrill seeker but don’t want to pay the steep admission prices to the big theme parks, why not try the gravity-defying Surfer’s Paradise Slingshot? Now even higher and faster than its original build, you and another brave soul will be strapped into a spherical cage suspended to cables that throws you into the air at a speed of 160 kph (90 miles per hour.)

As you soar into the sky, the cage repeatedly flips you upside down before freefalling back down. This ride reaches up to 6Gs and reaches a height of up to 90 meters. Rides are $40 per person, and for an additional $20, you get to keep the funny video of the entire experience.

7. Shop at Pacific Fair

Shop ‘til you drop at Pacific Fair in Broadbeach, Gold Coast. It’s home to over 400 casual and luxury stores. You can easily spend an entire day here selecting goodies, sipping on coffee, grabbing something to eat, or relaxing in the outdoor leisure area surrounded by relaxing water fountains and lounge chairs.

With countless retail shops, fast food, bottle shops, and multiple grocery stores, this is the only shopping complex you’ll need when staying in Broadbeach and is a must-see tourist destination in and of itself.

The design of the complex is eye-catching and sleekly lit with LED lights. The outdoor “resort” leisure area creates the ambiance of a vacation resort. Shops are located inside the air-conditioned building as well as outdoors, and there are over 65 dining venues. Have the kids with you? Send them over to Play street, an interactive play area, and a jungle gym for kids.

8. Crazy Cat Cafe

Crazy Cat Cafe is the only cat cafe on the Gold Coast, and it’s located right in the heart of Surfer’s Paradise. Bookings are available for half or full sessions (25 or 55 mins) to cuddle up to your heart’s content with adorable cats of all ages.

This fully licensed coffee offers alcohol, coffee, as well as sweet and savory treats. You can bring your drinks into the cat lounge. Here, you’ll find 16 cats of varying breeds, sizes, and fluffiness. You’re free to cuddle with them or pick them up (so long as the cat doesn’t mind).

Some cats may be sleeping, playing, or running on their giant wheel for exercise. It’s the perfect dopamine boost if you’ve been feeling down or stressed out lately or just really love cats. You can even book private sessions in the VIP Paw Lounge. This gets you an hour to yourself (or whoever you’re with) with up to 4 cats of your choice. VIP bookings come with a free hot or soft drink.

9. Play Games at Timezone

Play games, and win prizes with friends and family at Timezone. Load up a prepaid Powercard and use it to play as many games as you can in a certain timeframe. You can purchase 30 minutes for 22 AUD (about $15) or one hour for 28 AUD (about $16.)

Games are color coded as red, yellow, purple, and blue. Red means you can win tickets to exchange for prizes later, yellow is for air hockey or driving video games, purple are prize games you have to get the claw to grab to win, and blue games are feature games like motion simulators.

For just 28 AUD ($16) you get all-you-can-play red and yellow games for 60 minutes, two purple prize games, and one feature game. Inside Timezone, you’ll find plenty more than just arcade games. There’s also a selection of bowling, laser tag, bumper cars, mini golf, escape rooms, and table tennis. This is the perfect night activity after you’ve lazed on the beach all day and want something more action-packed.

10. Play Glow in The Dark Mini Golf at Putt Putt Mermaid Beach

There are plenty of places to play mini golf around the Gold Coast, especially in Surfer’s Paradise, but you’ll find the best courses for the best price in Mermaid Beach.

Putt Putt Mermaid Beach offers multiple 18-hole golf courses with colorful and whimsical themes. Choose from Fun Run, Jungle Trail, and Waterways, or don’t choose at all! The ultimate pass is just a few dollars more than the single pass, giving you entry to all three courses on any day of your choosing.

While playing during the day can be just as fun, if you’re mesmerized by the light and color displays, I highly recommend taking part in their Twilight Mini Golf. At night, the courses are lit up with majestic colors, and even the golf balls glow in the dark!

The best thing about this place is, you can tell they were very intentional about the design and complexity of the courses. Some require hitting your ball into a windmill, shooting it over a body of water, or spinning the wheel at each course for additional challenging instructions.

Final Thoughts on Things to do in Gold Coast, Australia

There are so many things to do in Gold Coast Australia, and this list is just the tip of the iceberg. However, it’s the perfect starting point for someone new to the area or visiting for a short stay who wants to hit all of the major tourist attractions and the best that the Gold Coast offers.

While this guide mostly focuses on the central Gold Coast, there’s plenty more to do in Australia’s northern and southern beaches or the hinterland rainforest.

This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.

Jill is an expert travel writer focusing on family and adventure travel as well as practical tips to help travelers get the most value out of their vacation experiences. In addition to Wealth of Geeks, Jill has written for Business Insider, MSN, Tripsavvy, Matador Network, Canadian Traveller, and Travel Awaits. She lives in San Antonio with her husband and sons but she’s usually somewhere else.

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March 7, 2023

The 67 Most Inspirational Tiger Woods Quotes of All Time | Wealth of Geeks

Post By zittrexstore Money Making The 67 Most Inspirational Tiger Woods Quotes of All Time, Tiger Woods Quotes, Wealth of Geeks No Comments

Tiger Woods is undoubtedly one of the best golfers of all time. Known as the greatest role model in the game, Tiger Woods is singlehandedly responsible for bringing tons of new players to the sport.

Like any other prominent figure in professional fields, Tiger Woods has his fair share of inspirational quotes. The most famous Tiger Woods quotes help motivate you regardless of whether you’re a golfer or not.

Between his funny remarks, moments of golfing wisdom, and comments regarding leading a good life, you’re sure to find a Tiger Woods quote that you’ll love.

Funny Tiger Woods Quotes

Though Tiger Woods is known for his stoic behavior on the golf course and uncanny ability to clutch up and win tournaments, he’s also had his fair share of funny moments. Indeed, golf can get slow at times and it’s important to keep the atmosphere light from time to time. Here are some of Tiger Woods’ funniest quotes.

“Hockey is a sport for white men. Basketball is a sport for black men. Golf is a sport for white men dressed like black pimps.”

“As a kid, when I was growing up, as any kid, you think you know everything, and I was no different to that.”

“I’m addicted. I’m addicted to golf.”

“I did envisage being this successful as a player, but not all the hysteria around it off the golf course.”

“I didn’t hit one ball like that on the range.” – Tiger Woods talking to Steve Williams on the first hole of the final round at the 2004 PGA Championship.

“I don’t know if I even have an aura, man. I just try to win.”

“Never beat yourself up, because there are plenty of people that will do it for you.”

“You ever go up to the tee and say, ‘Don’t hit it left, don’t hit it right’? That’s your conscious mind. My body knows how to play golf. I’ve trained it to do that. It’s just a matter of keeping my conscious mind out of it.”

“My dad used to say, ‘Just because you dress up in a coat and tie, it doesn’t influence your intelligence.’”

“Sensationalism sells—don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story.”

“I miss hanging out with my friends, getting in a little trouble. I have to be so guarded now.”

“I do not look back at what might have been. If I did that, playing golf would drive me crazy.”

“I chase a little white ball around and work on my farmer tan, that’s about it. I think that I’ve been lucky enough to represent some great companies, and I think maybe that’s what it is.”

Motivational Tiger Woods Quotes

As one of the highest-paid and most well-known athletes of all time, Tiger Woods has accomplished more in his life than most people probably ever will. One of the main reasons he was able to achieve so much is due to his intense motivation. Here are some Tiger Woods quotes to help fuel light that same motivational fire in you.

“Other golfers may outplay me from time to time, but they’ll never outwork me.”

“I will be a better golfer, I will be a better person, I will be a better father, I will be a better husband, I will be a better friend. That’s the beauty of tomorrow.”

“No matter how good you get you can always become better, and that’s the exciting part.”

“The joy I get from winning a major championship doesn’t even compare to the feeling I get when a kid writes a letter saying: ‘Thank you so much. You have changed my life.’”

“You’ve got to stay patient, stay in the moment, and keep grinding. You never know what can happen.”

“The greatest thing about tomorrow is I will be better than I am today.”

“My main focus is on my game.”

“If money titles meant anything, I’d play more tournaments. The only thing that means a lot to me is winning. If I have more wins than anybody else and win more majors than anybody else in the same year, then it’s been a good year.”

“I’m going to try to keep getting better.”

“Winning takes care of everything.”

“I have a big picture outlook. I am willing to fall, and I understand it’s ok to fall. But I am going to get back up. I may take a step back, but in the end, I am going to take a giant leap forward.”

“I believe in myself. There’s nothing wrong with believing in myself.”

“People don’t understand that when I grew up, I was never the most talented. I was never the biggest. I was never the fastest. I certainly was never the strongest. The only thing I had was my work ethic, and that’s been what has gotten me this far.”

“Talent is something you are born with, and a skill is something you develop.”

“My dad told me this, ‘You get out of it what you put into it. If you put in effort and log your time, you’ll get the results.’”

“I don’t want to become as good as I once was. I want to become better.”

“There’s always stuff to work on. You’re never there.”

Tiger Woods Quotes on Life

Outside of golf, Tiger Woods practices Buddhism, is a father to two, and a friend to many. Here are some of his best quotes regarding how to lead a good life.

“In therapy I have learned the importance of keeping spiritual life and professional life balanced. I need to regain my balance.”

“If you are given a chance to be a role model, I think you should always take it because you can influence a person’s life in a positive light, and that’s what I want to do. That’s what it’s all about.”

“Money and fame made me believe I was entitled. I was wrong and foolish.”

“As a child, the family that I had and the love I had from my two parents allowed me to go ahead and be more aggressive, to search and to take risks knowing that, if I failed, I could always come home to a family of love and support.”

“If you’re lucky to have three close people in your life, you’re blessed.”

“I don’t believe that human beings can achieve ultimate enlightenment, because humans have flaws.”

“I’m trying as hard as I can, and sometimes, things don’t go your way, and that’s the way things go.”

“Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn’t have to mean public confessions.”

“We all make decisions. But in the end, our decisions make us.”

“You have to look at the past in order to learn from it and move on. I’ve done a lot of reflecting over the past year. And certainly, I’ve turned the corner and am looking more toward the future in a lot of ways.”

“In order to help people, you have to first learn how to help yourself.”

“I think life is all about having a balance, and trying to find equilibrium and not getting things one way or the other.”

“I wake up every day and I can’t wait to go to work, and that’s a gift. Not too many people have the opportunity to feel that way.”

“Well, you know, a lot of people look at the negative things—the things that they did wrong and which I did. But I like to stress on the things I did right, because there are certain things that I like to look at from a positive standpoint that are just positive reinforcement.”

“You’re going to make mistakes. The key is to learn from them as fast as possible and make changes as soon as you can. That’s not always easy to do because ego and pride get in the way, but you have to put all that aside and look at the big picture.”

“The virtue of privacy is one that must be protected in matters that are intimate and within one’s own family.”

“My goal is to remain healthy my entire career, and a healthy diet seems like a good start.”

“One of the things that my parents have taught me is never listen to other people’s expectations. You should live your own life and live up to your own expectations, and those are the only things I really care about.”

Tiger Woods Quotes About Golf

At the end of the day, Tiger Woods is a golfer. No post on Tiger Woods quotes would be complete without a section devoted to golf. Here are some of Tiger Woods’ famous quotes regarding golf.

“You hit a bad shot, you have to get over it right there and then so you can get focused on the next one”

“Don’t force your kids into sports. I never was. To this day, my dad has never asked me to go play golf. I ask him. It’s the child’s desire to play that matters, not the parent’s desire to have the child play. Fun. Keep it fun.”

“Golf is a great way for someone to learn discipline, responsibility, and sportsmanship. ”

“Sad to say I’m missing the Masters. Thanks to the fans for so many kind wishes.”

“It was a mixed bag pretty much all week. A lot of really, really good stuff out there, some mediocre and some bad.”

“I think that in itself, if you’re a true golfer, you’ll see specific things you need to work on. Much cheaper than private lessons.”

“I’m not as far along as Jack Nicklaus was at this age, but I’m trying.”

“As a kid, I might have been a psycho, I guess, but I used to throw golf balls in the trees and try to somehow make par from them. I thought that was fun.”

“You’ve got to figure out what works best for you. That’s the hard part. I know I can’t play as stoic as Hogan, and I can’t talk as much as Trevino. You have to be your own person.”

“I’m trying as hard as I possibly can each and every day to get my life better, and better, and stronger. And if I win championships along the way, so be it.”

“I think the golf swing is all about rotation, all about trying to keep the club on plane.”

“It provides a different type of element and mental strain athletes love. That’s what makes the game of golf so special.”

“If you have wind, it becomes more difficult than you think.”

“I don’t think you’re ever there. You never arrive, but if you do, you might as well quit because you’re already there—can’t get any better. And as players, if you ever have that moment, you should never have that moment. You’re always trying to get better.”

“A golfer should never make a mental mistake because the ball is just sitting there waiting for you to hit it.”

“Golf is fluid. It’s always changing. It’s always evolving. First of all, you never master it.”

“Golf has made me and shaped me into the person I am here today.”

“I’ve been in some seriously bad places playing golf and it’s just part of the game. You’re going to hit bad shots, you’re going to be in bad spots, and each course, when you learn it, you learn where not to go.”

“I treat golf as a sport. I let other people treat it like a hobby.”

The Best Tiger Woods Quotes of All Time

Tiger Woods is largely regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time. Indeed, with 15 major championship titles and 81 career PGA Tour wins, Tiger Woods will almost certainly go down in history as one of the best golfers of all time.

Despite his immense success, he always remembered to find time to drop pieces of wisdom here and there throughout his career.

This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.

Jeff is a current Harvard student and author of the blog Financial Pupil who is passionate about learning, living, and sharing all things personal finance-related. He has experience working in the financial industry and enjoys the pursuit of financial freedom. Outside of blogging, he loves to cook, read, and golf in his spare time.

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March 6, 2023

Review: Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars Was a Risk Worth Taking | Wealth of Geeks

Post By zittrexstore Money Making Review: Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars Was a Risk Worth Taking, Wealth of Geeks No Comments

In the nearly 50 years Star Wars books have existed, few have taken the kinds of risks Sam Maggs takes with Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars. Each risk pays off, resulting in one of the most satisfying novels ever set in this universe.

At first glance, a Star Wars book about characters originating from a video game may not seem promising to the masses. Many fans still don’t know there are canon tie-in books with the Electronic Arts Star Wars: Battlefront games. The story of Cal Kestis resonated with audiences enough to warrant a second game, however–but before that, the first game’s characters needed a little more time to grow.

One dangerous piece of stealth technology, a rogue stormtrooper, and one queer romance later, Cal, Cere, and the rest of the crew are ready for another game. But the book knows it’s more than time-filling prose. It didn’t have to go this hard. But it did. And the journey is beyond worth the ride.

A Masterclass in Character Development

While Jedi: Fallen Order takes place five years after the events of Revenge of the Sith, the book Battle Scars is somewhat more ambiguously wedged between that game and its forthcoming sequel Jedi: Survivor. The front cover of the book specifies the story occurs “in the years before” Survivor, set 10 years after ROTS.

As the opening of Battle Scars unfolds, the author paints the crew of the Stinger Mantis as a strong band of rebels who have grown comfortable in their routines. Though they strike the enemy where it hurts and vow to do what they can to protect the galaxy, their risks are calculated. They have an end goal, but their exact paths to achieving it remain unclear.

Star Wars books don’t often supplement video game franchises, but Fallen Order’s characters needed a space to evolve further before Survivor‘s release in April. A book full of beloved characters many fans are already at least somewhat familiar with could have felt like an advertisement for another yet-to-be-released story. It could have read like a book that tried too hard to be a game. It could have produced two-dimensional characters that couldn’t level up outside of a game that hasn’t been released yet.

But Random House Worlds (previously Del Rey Books) chose the perfect person for the job. Thus, none of the above proved accurate, and even the highest expectations going into the story weren’t high enough.

Sam Maggs Draws From All Her Writing Experience

The author didn’t enter this arena solely with an affinity for these characters and story – though that certainly helps bring the book’s events to life. Maggs also comes from the video game development world, working full-time as a professional writer in the industry.

This is why reading Battle Scars feels like sitting on the couch watching someone else play a video game–except it’s way more fun than that. The action, the dialogue, and the environment wash over the senses in increasing intensity page by page, though the reader doesn’t have to navigate the perils of making sure they hit the controller buttons in the correct order to avoid virtual death a dozen times over.

Even though the book feels like a video game at many points throughout, it’s also able to achieve something a game cannot. In its quieter moments, the book is able to dive deep inside different characters’ heads, showing the story’s events from varying perspectives and how each individual feels the weight and impact of each moment.

Fallen Order tells a great story – but it’s still a game that shows its storytelling limitations like any other. Maggs saw an opportunity to take what the previous story left to be desired and use it to her advantage. Greez’s life-altering pivotal moment in Battle Scars especially plays to Maggs’ strengths as a storyteller. A game might show a soft side of this rough character when warranted, but can’t let it linger. A book can show Greeze grieving and let the consequences of that emotion stick around.

Read Battle Scars – Even If You’ve Never Played a Star Wars Video Game

Not everyone is a gamer – and it would be both unfair and unwise for a book publisher to expect its audience to know every detail of a game like Fallen Order before picking up one of its products. Battle Scars had no choice but to lay out the most important story details readers needed to know or had forgotten since their last game playthrough.

Thankfully, Maggs is a skilled storyteller. The moments she’s reminding or informing readers what happened in Fallen Order are quick, seamless, and impactful. Every time Cal or Merrin remembers a moment from the game, it simultaneously puts that detail at the front of the reader’s mind and provides a foundation to further develop the character in question.

Cal isn’t just reminiscing on his last run-in with an Inquisitor to bring the audience up to speed; he’s also still mentally struggling to prepare for future encounters, an important aspect of his character. Merrin isn’t simply telling the reader she’s having a hard time using her magic; that hurdle will stick with her throughout the book and is vital to her growth by the end of it.

If you’ve played Fallen Order, you might recognize and appreciate the small details Maggs includes in her prose honoring the game from which she’s building her story. But the book refrains from punishing the reader who doesn’t want to experience the game firsthand. Exposition can be difficult to execute skillfully, especially in Star Wars. Maggs, however, is an expert.

Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars is a book that brilliantly balances its action-adventure label with its attention to emotional detail. It’s fast and fun when it needs to be, but it also takes extra care in its slower, more delicate moments to prioritize its emphasis on grief, trauma, and the many consequences of sacrifice.

It embodies everything that makes a Star Wars story authentic. It pilots the reader through disheartening moments but sends them off with a small sense of hope. It broadcasts the dangers of greed while also illuminating the surefire power of friendship.

But Battle Scars also stands out in its effort to embed survival in its motif of sacrifice, in the way it shows that forging one’s own path doesn’t always require walking away from the people that make you feel meaningful. The book does not shy away from its true agenda: To ensure its characters reflect both the good and sinister sides of humanity. No one is perfect. No one consistently does the right th ing or does something for the right reasons. Everyone hurts. Anyone can end up on the wrong side of a war.

But in the end, it’s the trust one has in themselves that heals even the deepest wounds.

Star Wars Jedi: Battle Scars hits the shelves on Tuesday, March 7.

This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.

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March 6, 2023

The Best Ways to Avoid Seasickness on a Cruise

Post By zittrexstore Money Making 8 Ways To Avoid Getting Seasick on a Cruise, avoid seasickness on a cruise, Wealth of Geeks No Comments

Seasickness is a motion sickness that happens while traveling through the sea on a boat or ship. Seasickness typically occurs when rough waters rock the vessel more than usual, causing passengers to feel nauseous, dizzy, have headaches, vomit, or be unwell.

Some people are prone to motion sickness and may experience it in the car, on planes, on amusement park rides, on trains, or on boats. However, anyone can experience seasickness when the conditions are rough enough.

Photo: Shutterstock.

How To Avoid Seasickness on a Cruise

The last thing you want on a cruise is motion sickness that leaves you stuck in your cabin instead of making the most of all the food, drinks, and entertainment onboard.

If not prepared, seasickness can ruin a whole day or, in the worst cases – your entire trip. When it comes to seasickness, prevention is paramount. These are the five best ways to treat and avoid seasickness on a cruise.

Why You Get Motion Sickness

Motion sickness occurs when there is incongruency between the information sent to the brain from your eyes, inner ear, and sensory nerves. Your inner ear canal is responsible for maintaining your balance.

When there is a rocking motion, the fluid inside your ears will move around, indicating significant movement. However, when this information doesn’t match up with the data your eyes receive (you can’t visually see movement but can feel it), you start to feel sick.

It can be helpful to keep your eyes ahead when traveling in a car and avoid looking down at a book while a vehicle is moving. The same principle can be applied to cruise ships – try getting outdoors and paying attention to the horizon or land.

1. Medication

There are many prescription medications specifically formulated to treat seasickness. While many different brands may vary by country, you can rely on these ingredients: promethazine, cyclizine, dimenhydrinate, and meclizine.

The most popular brands are Phenergan, Marezine, Dramamine, and Bonine. All four of these are taken orally and work best when taken preventatively. That means you should take it before the onset of symptoms take effect.

Untitled design 12 — Image Credit: Shutterstock.

These medications effectively treat nausea by blocking certain chemicals responsible for activating the vomiting center in your brain. These medications are available over the counter, so you don’t need a prescription to pick them up.

Different medications require taking them at different times. Most of these medications are advised to be taken 2 hours ahead of travel, while others can be taken 30 minutes ahead of travel.

Follow the medication’s instructions, and don’t mix any medication with alcohol. You may experience side effects like dry mouth and drowsiness, though some non-drowsy formulas are now available at drugstores.

2. Ginger Tablets

While prescription medication may be most effective at immediately treating the symptoms of seasickness, it’s not always ideal for all passengers. If you already take other medications or if you’re drinking alcohol, then you don’t want to mix prescription drugs with these.

In this case, it’s helpful to try a more natural alternative. You can find seasickness tablets that don’t contain any prescription drugs, such as natural ginger tablets. Ginger is available in many forms, including capsules, candies, ginger chews, spices, pickled ginger, or whole ginger root.

You should ensure you can tolerate the taste of ginger if you opt for chewable ginger tablets. Otherwise, they may make you feel sicker if you can’t stand the taste. Instead, you can try capsules filled with ginger.

Ginger offers other benefits on top of reducing nausea and vomiting. It’s also anti-inflammatory, doesn’t interfere with other prescription medications or alcohol, and doesn’t cause unwanted side effects like dry mouth and drowsiness.

You can often find ginger tablets marketed to treat seasickness in drugstores. Follow the directions to understand how many you can take per day. Ginger is an ancient medicine for nausea, vomiting, and upset stomach.

Though the mechanism by which ginger treats nausea in motion sickness is unknown, many studies have demonstrated that participants who took ginger were able to reduce their feelings of nausea.

3. Sea Bands

Another popular “natural” seasickness treatment is to try using motion sickness bands. The most popular brand is Sea-Bands, but others are sold under other name brands. They all work in the same way – through acupressure.

The bands contain a hard ball that you place on your wrist over a pressure point known as PC6 or nei guan. You can locate this pressure point by placing three fingers across your wrist and using your thumb to press directly below this point to feel two large tendons.

The ball of the band should be placed in the center of the lower wrist. They must be placed on the pressure point on both arms to work correctly.

Many swear by Sea Bands, while others insist they don’t work. In my experience, Sea Bands did not work for my seasickness, but I did not put them on ahead of time. It may be worth trying since they’re inexpensive, non-invasive, and last your entire trip.

4. Foods & Drinks for Nausea

First and foremost, you want to ensure you’re well-hydrated to prevent feelings of sickness and nausea. If you’re not drinking enough water, consuming other medications or foods in the hopes of relieving your symptoms will only have negligible effects.

Another component of being hydrated that is often overlooked is making sure you’re maintaining a proper balance of electrolytes. If you’re running around, sweating, drinking alcohol, and eating a poor diet, you likely need more than just water.

Untitled design 13 — Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Electrolyte tablets or drinks meant to replace lost electrolytes can help. It is vital if you have been vomiting. If you’re feeling sick, you should limit your consumption of alcohol and stick to more bland foods that are low in acidity, spice, and grease until you feel better.

Foods like green apples, bananas, saltine crackers, and plain toast can help soothe an upset stomach and prevent nausea and vomiting. Ginger or chamomile tea can also calm an upset stomach.

5. Wear a Patch

A medicated patch containing scopolamine is placed behind your ear, steadily releasing active ingredients that ward off nausea and vomiting. While this is one of the most effective medications for seasickness, you will need a prescription.

Scopolamine blocks acetylcholine from affecting the nervous system by releasing scopolamine which binds to its receptors. It prevents acetylcholine from stimulating the Area Postrema (the brain’s vomiting center).

It lasts three days, so you can put it on and forget about it. However, remember that this prescription medication is released into your body and causes side effects like dry mouth, drowsiness, and disorientation.

It would be best not to drink alcohol while wearing the patch. The patch is not recommended for children and may come loose if you frequently go swimming or showering. If it falls off, you will need to apply it again. The patch should be used preventatively, so you should put it on at least 4 hours before travel.

6. Breathing Exercises & Getting Fresh Air

It might sound silly, and it’s often difficult to get people to try it, but you can control feelings of nausea by manipulating your breathing. Try performing deep belly breaths by breathing in slowly through the nose, holding the breath for 3 seconds, and slowly exhaling through the mouth.

A 2015 study found that 86% of pregnant women struggling with nausea and vomiting found relief through meditation. Another 2015 study found that focusing on controlled breaths from the diaphragm decreased motion sickness symptoms thanks to the effects of breathing on the parasympathetic nervous system.

It would help if you also tried to get onto the outdoor deck for fresh air. While you’re out there, try looking at the horizon rather than focusing on things inside the ship or in the water. Looking out can help your brain reconcile the conflict between your inner ear and visual perception.

7. Stay Low & in The Middle of The Ship

If you’re worried about experiencing seasickness on your cruise, you’ll want to choose a stateroom in the middle of the ship, ideally on a low deck. The center of the ship, logically, experiences the slightest movement compared to the front or back of the ship.

The lower decks also experience less movement since they’re closer to the water than the top decks. If you’re on level 14 and feel queasy, move lower and to the middle. Moving lower mitigates the rocking motion you will feel, which can make a big difference through the night.

If you are prone to developing motion sickness when you travel, it may be worth it to pay to choose your cabin to avoid being stuck at the extreme ends of the ship, where a rough day at sea will feel even more extreme.

8. Emergency Shot

As a last resort, if you have tried all of these methods to prevent and alleviate motion sickness, and to no avail, you are still nauseous or vomiting, then it’s time to call the medical center. Every cruise ship has a fully staffed medical center stocked with emergency medication, including a shot that they give passengers experiencing severe bouts of seasickness.

The shot is expensive – typically over $100 for one shot and it will probably send you right to bed because of the intense drowsiness accompanying it. The shot contains an antihistamine and a sedative. However, it can be a lifesaver when you’ve been vomiting all night and nothing else is helping you.

Knowing this is an option can put you at ease, but it is not a preventative method. It is a treatment in urgent cases where other methods have not worked, and the passenger is extremely sick.

Final Thoughts on Seasickness

There’s no need to work yourself up about seasickness before heading out on a cruise. While it can be stress and anxiety-inducing to think about the possibility of getting seasick on your cruise, anticipating it can often be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Instead of thinking about getting sick on your cruise, prepare accordingly.

Pack all of the medicinal and food essentials, take medication ahead of time, tread carefully on alcohol and greasy food, and pay attention to how you feel. If the worst comes to the worst, there’s always an emergency shot that can provide relief, so worry not, and enjoy your cruise!

This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.

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March 6, 2023

22 Delicious Vegan Meal Prep Ideas and Recipes | Wealth of Geeks

Post By zittrexstore Money Making 22 Delicious Vegan Meal Prep Ideas and Recipes, vegan meal prep, Wealth of Geeks No Comments

Going plant-based with your diet can help the environment and also have many health benefits. Nowadays, more and more people are going vegan and reaping the benefits.

However, it can be difficult to find vegan recipes that are both delicious and easy to meal prep.

With these healthy meal prep ideas, you’ll be able to save time, money, and stress.

Here are the best healthy vegan recipes that you can try out during your next meal prepping session.

Vegan Breakfast Meal Prep

One of the most stressful ways to start your day is to worry about what you’ll have for breakfast at the last minute. Having your breakfast meal prepped in advance is an easy way to avoid this. Breakfast meal prepping doesn’t need to take a long time either. Most of the following recipes will take less than 15 minutes to prepare.

Steel Cut Oats

Steel-cut oats are easy to prepare and also highly customizable to your taste. If you’re looking for a quick meal prep that will save you tons of time in the morning, you need to check out this recipe. Prepare a considerable batch of steel-cut oats in advance, and you’ll be able to save a few minutes every morning. The best part is that the reheating process only takes 2 minutes!

Vegan Breakfast Tacos

Tacos are one of the best ways to start your day. Colorful, crunchy, and delicious, tacos are the food that dreams are made out of. However, as good as they taste, the preparation process is usually quite messy and time-consuming… but not anymore. You’ll be happy to learn that this recipe shows you how to prepare vegan breakfast tacos that are not only tasty but also extremely meal prep-able. Get your meal prep containers ready as you’ll want to stuff them full of these breakfast tacos.

Tofu Scramble

One extremely high-protein vegan food is tofu! This healthy vegan meal is a great substitute for scrambled eggs and can help you get your daily nutrients. It’s only seven ingredients, super simple to put together, and takes ten minutes to make. Once you’re done cooking a big batch, you can store the tofu scramble for up to three days in your fridge before it starts to taste funny.

Vegan Breakfast Burrito

Made with delicious tofu and a crispy potato hash, this vegan breakfast burrito is an incredible way to get your day started. While orange juice, cereal, and coffee are good staples in your breakfast, nothing beats having something savory in the morning. These burritos are so good that you’ll want to make a whole batch and stuff them in the freezer for future mornings.

Baked Oatmeal

Classic oatmeal is good, but there’s just something about baked oatmeal that takes the breakfast experience to another level. This recipe includes ingredients that you likely already have in your fridge and lets you make a sheet of baked oatmeal that you can cut up and portion out for the future. Though this is in the breakfast section, you can enjoy this for dessert (with a scoop of vegan banana ice cream) or even pack it as a daytime snack!

Vegan Lunches and Dinner

The cool thing about meal prepping for lunch is that there are so many ways to do it. You can cook everything ahead of time and toss your food into meal prep containers, pre-assemble the ingredients and put them into a slow-cooker when the time comes, or even enlist the help of a skillet to warm up your meal. Whatever the case, you’ll find that the following recipes are both delicious and extremely easy to prepare.

Spicy Tofu Meal Prep Bowl

This mouth-watering meal prep bowl is not only tasty but also very aesthetic and pretty. Packed into little meal prep containers, this bowl is tangy, savory, zesty, and sweet. The zucchini noodles don’t require any cooking and the recipe help you make four portions in under 45 minutes.

Crispy Sesame Tofu

Yet another zoodle creation, this crispy sesame tofu recipe is low-carb, vegan, and gluten-free. You can prepare the peanut sauce and the rest of the recipe separately, then separate the two in containers and keep this meal in the fridge for five days. With fiber, proteins, and healthy fats, this meal is all you could ever ask for from such a simple recipe.

Vegetarian Quinoa Burrito Bowls

You might be shocked to learn that you can actually prepare this recipe in an instant pot. All you have to do is prepare your ingredients, toss them into the instant pot cooker, and press a button. When you come back to check you’ll have a full burrito bowl meal waiting for you!

Roasted Vegetable Quinoa

You’ll never view salads in the same light after trying this roasted vegetable quinoa bowl. This bowl is so easy to make that you can hardly call it a “recipe.” Nevertheless, it is extremely tasty and also super healthy. Good cold or hot, fresh or packed away for a week, this is truly a versatile meal that will accommodate to your desires.

Vegan Noodle Meal Prep Bowls

This recipe by Sweet Peas and Saffron is a perfect way to prep ahead for lunch. Hearty whole wheat spaghetti? Check. Spiralized vegetables and cooked chickpeas? Check. A creamy almond butter sauce that you can store for days? Check! This recipe is also great served cold so you don’t need to worry about being near a microwave to enjoy this meal.

Fresh Spring Rolls

When you go to restaurants for spring rolls, they often give you way too many noodles, only a few vegetables, and not nearly enough sauce. Thankfully, the recipe shows you how to make restaurant-quality spring rolls at a fraction of the price and with satisfying proportions. The best part is that you can make as much sauce as you see fit!

Southwest Baked Sweet Potato

Filled with plant-based beyond meat, this baked sweet potato recipe is stuffed with nutrients and calories. Stuffed with avocadoes and topped with cilantro crema, these baked sweet potatoes are zesty, creamy, savory and utterly delicious. Each loaded sweet potato is a meal all by itself, and you can make up to four at a time (and store them in the fridge for future enjoyment).

Vegan Sweet Potato Bowl

If there’s one recipe that you can probably live off for the rest of your life, it’s this one. Featuring a base of rice topped with roasted sweet potatoes, warm black beans, creamy avocado, and caramelized onions, this recipe looks and smells as good as it sounds. These sweet potato bowls take a while to prepare but they’re well worth the wait, especially considering how you can make many of them at a time.

Image Credit: Ella Olson / Unsplash

Vegan Desserts

Arguably the best part of every meal, desserts can make or break an eating experience. Just because you’re at the office or in a rush doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get to enjoy some delicious dessert. Here are some of the best vegan dessert recipes to help you with meal prep.

Vegan Carrot Cake

Carrot cake is one of the best desserts to end a meal on. Not only does it taste incredible, but it also has a whole bunch of healthy ingredients (so you can tell yourself that you’re eating healthy while indulging in cake). Whether you want to prepare this special treat for a gathering or make a big cake that you can portion off for yourself via meal prep, this recipe is great for any occasion.

Dark Chocolate Turtles

Requiring only three ingredients, these chocolate turtles are super easy to make and also very tasty. All you need are some soft dates, some dark chocolate, and a handful of raw pecans. These turtles can be put into the freezer and stored for up to 2 months so you can make a big batch and siphon off it for weeks to come.

Raw Brownies

Don’t let its name fool you; these brownies aren’t considered “raw” because they’re not ready to be eaten, they’re considered raw because you don’t actually have to cook them! These are rich, decadent and only take a few minutes to prepare. Your co-workers will be wondering where in the world you got such good looking brownies from.

Chocolate Avocado Pudding

You might be surprised to learn that you can actually make quite a delicious pudding without using any milk or cream. This chocolate avocado pudding requires only a few ingredients, and when you’re done preparing it, there is no trace of avocado left. All that’s remaining is a creamy, delicious dessert for you to enjoy!

Frozen Banana Ice Cream

If you love bananas and have a bit of a sweet tooth, you’ll love this recipe. This recipe is quite literally one ingredient, yet produces an ice cream that is smooth, sweet, and utterly delicious. Just make sure you have a high speed blender or food processor before attempting this recipe.

Vegan Snacks

Snacks are a great way to provide sustained energy throughout the day. Here are some easy vegan snack ideas that you can prep in advance and bring with you.

No Bake Vegan Cookies

Vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free, these cookies are pure bliss and accommodate for nearly any dietary restriction. Packed full of peanut butter, maple syrup, and chocolate, these cookies can satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth.

Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies

You might think that it’d be impossible to create good cookies without butter and eggs, but you’d be wrong. This recipe is proof that you can make mouth-watering cookies with just vegan ingredients. The best part is that the cookie dough is completely edible and you don’t even need to bake these cookies to fully enjoy them.

Lime Coconut Balls

This snack is perfect if you’re a lover of coconuts and sweet foods. You can enjoy these balls anywhere as they are super easy to pack and handle. Just make sure to use soft, moist dates when attempting this recipe (as they are what keepp the balls together!)

Hummus and Crackers

There’s nothing better than hummus and crackers as a quick midday snack. This recipe will show you how to make the best hummus you’ve ever had with only five ingredients. After trying it out, you’ll never want to purchase grocery store hummus again!

Chocolate Crunch Balls

These chocolate crunch balls look like donuts, feel like rice krispies in the mouth, and taste like decadent chocolate! All you need is three ingredients to prepare this snack and you can make tons of them at a time. They’ll be ready after one to two hours and you can store them in the freezer for up to five days!

Whether you’re just deciding to go vegan or have been vegan for a long time, chances are you’re constantly on the lookout for good recipes to try. This post has provided you with over twenty delicious vegan meals to try out and incorporate into your meal prepping.

Not only will you feel satisfied after your meals, but you’ll also feel good knowing that every one of the recipes is extremely healthy and also good for the environment!

This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.

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6. American Psycho (2000)

7. Hostel (2005)

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Choices That SAHM’s are Facing in a Recession

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1. Luna Park

2. The Opera House

3. Bondi Beach

4. Bondi Icebergs Club and Coastal Trail

5. Queen Victoria Building

6. Royal Botanic Gardens

7. Circular Quay

8. Sydney Harbor Bridge

9. Contemporary Art Museum and The Rocks

10. New South Wales Art Gallery

11. The Australian Museum

12. State Library of New South Wales

13. St. Mary’s Cathedral

14. China Town

15. Darling Harbor

Final Thoughts on Sydney

1. Go to Surfer’s Paradise Beach

2. Solve Your Way Through Infinity Attraction

3. Stay at or Visit The Star Gold Coast

4. Take In Epic Views At Q1 Skypoint Observation Deck

5. Go to One of The Many Theme Parks

6. Ride The Slingshot

7. Shop at Pacific Fair

8. Crazy Cat Cafe

9. Play Games at Timezone

10. Play Glow in The Dark Mini Golf at Putt Putt Mermaid Beach

Final Thoughts on Things to do in Gold Coast, Australia

Funny Tiger Woods Quotes

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The Best Tiger Woods Quotes of All Time

A Masterclass in Character Development

Sam Maggs Draws From All Her Writing Experience

Read Battle Scars – Even If You’ve Never Played a Star Wars Video Game

How To Avoid Seasickness on a Cruise

Why You Get Motion Sickness

1. Medication

2. Ginger Tablets

3. Sea Bands

4. Foods & Drinks for Nausea

5. Wear a Patch

6. Breathing Exercises & Getting Fresh Air

7. Stay Low & in The Middle of The Ship

8. Emergency Shot

Final Thoughts on Seasickness