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Facebook Outage: Financial Impact of FB Outage on Advertisers

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Facebook has been a disaster to advertisers in March. With the unprecedented outage of the social media platform on March 13, it’s not only the users who were livid about it. Businesses who depend on Mark Zuckerberg’s creation for marketing and ads lost.

The massive outage went far beyond Facebook. This extended to its family of apps like Instagram and WhatsApp. With an estimated $191 Million in daily revenue, this faux pas should not happen again.

The Facebook outage created a palpable financial impact on the advertising world. How much is it? What will the Zuck do about it?

Today, we’ll talk about the server error that lost businesses money. Every time you ask “is Facebook down” and it is, you can guarantee a business somewhere got revenue hits. Here’s how bad it is.

1. Understanding The Facebook Outage

Before we can understand the financial costs of the FB outage, we need to understand first what happened.

On March 13, Facebook and its family of apps started a cascade of errors for its users. During the entirety of the day, many users reported on Down Detector huge issues from their side, which made the social media platform unusable.

At the start of the day, FB speculated it was a distributed denial of service or DDOS attack. The malicious possibility took a different turn later in the day.

Mark Zuckerberg reported a server configuration issue caused the cascade. This resulted in a server error.

Why is Facebook down because of a server issue? The reported server configuration problem prevented users from accessing their applications and other software. This resulted in the debacle we all know as March 13.

2. Businesses Get Hit Bad With The Server Error

If you’re one of FB’s users, you might have felt inconvenience when it went down. Businesses and advertisers, however, got the shorter end of the stick. Many of them lost revenue for that day due to its inaccessibility.

According to Facebook, there are more than 6 million advertisers on the FB platform alone. This doesn’t count influencer deals and their other apps like Instagram.

Advertisers paid money to run marketing and ad campaigns for that day. The FB outage disallowed them from doing so. This resulted in losses for the entire day.

Down Detector found out many high-value regions were the most affected. The denial of service gave issue to many areas with high user density. Areas that checked “is Facebook down” include:

  • Selected California areas
  • New York
  • Seattle region
  • Major Australian cities
  • Japan
  • Philippines
  • Peru

With Facebook’s annual revenue going at around $55.8 Billion in 2018, FB could have lost around $90 million in profit for the 14 hours that the entire platform went down.

3. Advertisers Lose Money From Denial Of Service

Businesses and advertisers drew the shortest end of the stick. Reports say that many advertisers lost $10,000 – $18,000 in ad money for that day alone. This is even more of a headscratcher than those numbers too.

Why? That’s because advertisers don’t run simple ad campaigns. They use influencer marketing to endorse their products.

Losing a single day in endorsements can be detrimental. This is especially true for many small businesses who rely on this method. With a server error, that’s an entire day lost for nothing.

Some advertising firms had to stop operations for much of March 13 until the wee hours of the next day. That’s why if you’re an advertiser, you need to keep a checklist of things to do like in this blog.

4. Small Businesses Pay For The Facebook Outage

For small businesses, thousands of dollars in lost ad money can be a big hit. This is true especially for firms who rely on performance-based metrics to earn their keep. If you can’t advertise for the day, that’s money and reputation that gets a tanking.

This is not, however, Facebook’s first rodeo with server errors. In November, an FB outage of their Ad Manager prevented businesses from advertising. This resulted in lost revenue for the high-value Black Friday and Cyber Monday season.

In 2013, a denial of service glitch happened but only ran for a few minutes before it received a quick patch.

Is Facebook Down? Brace Yourself

With the entire debacle on the afterburners now, the question still remains. Will Facebook provide a refund to its advertisers? With Down Detector finding out many major locations got affected, it seems Mark and his team considers refunding for lost ads.

Bloomberg reports that the company is weighing its options for a refund. There is no public report of a return ever since the incident, but the possibility stands to reason.

The reliance on such digital service for marketing and advertising makes for very little patience of such mishaps. People who know the reliability of Facebook as an ad platform also put forth their investment in its 24/7 operation.

There’s no telling why Facebook is down at any given moment, but such issues should not last long. An FB outage during a week where conversions are fantastic can be devastating. Imagine running your ads, paying for it, but you have zero conversions?

The sad part is that there’s no known information if Facebook communicated a refund to its advertisers. This means they’re not making it easy for teams to recoup their losses. With the massive under-delivery, it stands to reason that a server error should result in giving back advertiser money for it.

Discover More News Today!

When it comes to the financial impact of the Facebook outage, advertisers get shafted, and it’s not right. They lose money in ad money and potential revenue. Mark Zuckerberg should be refunding those who got the short end for sure.

Are you looking for more social media news? Want to know the latest about lifestyle and business? 

Check us out at We Are Augustines and see the stories that matter to you. We are your premium source for stories that concern you. From learning how to do household employee taxes to ways to spice up your married sex life, we have it here for you.

The Ultimate Guide to Household Employee Taxes: The Nanny Tax Explained

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Dreading April 15? You’re not alone. One poll found that 50 percent of Americans would rather serve on a jury than do their taxes.

Another 25 percent would rather miss their connecting flight than complete their taxes. And 11 percent would prefer a night in jail to dealing with tax issues.

Unfortunately, taxes are more complicated for some people than others. For instance, freelancers have more to figure out. So do those who hire household employees like nannies.

What if you pay your nanny in cash only? That’s called paying under the table, and it’s not legal. You need to pay whatever household employee taxes you owe. 

Keep reading to find out what hiring household help means for you come tax time.

Household Employee Rules

The first thing you must do is figure out if you’ve got a household employee. There are two choices here: employee or independent contractor.

Independent contractors have more freedom over their hours and duties. But if you have an employee, that means you’re doing things like telling them when to come to work, as well as what they should do.

Let’s use a caretaker as an example. If you hire someone to care for an elderly relative, then they probably have specific times they come in and help you out.

In other words, you’re not going to say,  “Just come in and help us whenever you feel like it.” You’ll ask for help with certain tasks during certain hours. 

In this case, that caretaker is probably an employee. As of 2018, you must also pay them at least $2,100 in order for you to owe employment taxes. 

The nanny tax doesn’t apply to every single person who works inside your home. But it does apply to most of them.

What are some exceptions? If you have an at-home business and hire an assistant to help with paperwork, you shouldn’t have to pay employment taxes for them.

But if your assistant is also your housekeeper, that’s a different matter. You can make things easier by not hiring the same person to both file your papers and clean your house.

Household Employee Taxes

If you employ a nanny, caretaker, or other household workers, you must give them certain documents.

You must figure out how to give them a W2 that shows their income for the year. That sounds more daunting than it is. It’s the year 2019, so you can generate a W2 online and hand it to your employee. 

You’re also expected to withhold certain taxes from their paycheck. These are FICA taxes.

Some employees split FICA taxes down the middle. Other employees pay all of them so they don’t have to take any FICA taxes out of the worker’s check.

You can hire a business accountant to help manage this part. You can also buy tax software and figure it out on your own.

Protecting Yourself and Your Employees

Paying household employee taxes is annoying in the short-term, but it helps you in the long run. Setting up the right payroll apparatus now protects both you and your employee in the future.

Hiring someone to work in your home is a big responsibility. Before you worry about taxes, you should worry about background checks.

Read our blog on the pre-hiring screening process to learn more. 

 

Planning An Amazing Concert Experience in Texas

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Crafting an incredible concert experience while visiting Texas is toward the top of the adventure list for many people. If you’re big on entertainment and find value in attending musical events and festivals, you’ll consider it very gratifying to plan a trip around one. Exploring Fort Worth, TX opens up a new world for you to explore complete with interesting landscapes, people, cuisine, landmarks, and retailers.

Ways to Make Your Concert Experience Better

As the fifth largest city in the state, Fort Worth offers an experience like no other. It’s a hot-spot for the hottest music talent in the world to perform and a verifiable location rich with artistic talent and culinary delights. Being part of the music experience in Texas is something that you’ll never forget.

Here are some things you can do to make your next concert one for the record books:

Get to know the venue you’re going to

Is it a smaller spot such as the Ridglea Room or the Thirsty Armadillo? Or, is it a big venue such as Dickies Arena? Getting a feel for the venue by reading reviews, learning about its rules, and the types of refreshments it serves can make a world of difference by making you feel more comfortable in the setting you’re visiting.

Set aside some money for merch

That way, you have a physical reminder of the experience that you just had. Wearing a souvenir shirt or hat from your favorite artist or band allows you to relive the moment repeatedly. Merch is a real conversation starter, too. People see it on you and then strike up a conversation about the musicians you’ve just seen. If you’re the type of person who is sentimental about the memories you’ve made, you’ll want to make sure you go home with souvenirs that really mean something special to you.

Pay for the VIP experience

If it’s in your budget, go to the meet and greet sponsored by the venue. That way, you get a chance to see your favorite musicians up close. You’ll walk away with a photo and autograph which you can add to your collection. There are a lot of famous Texans who play music for a living. You may get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet Kelly Clarkson or Khalid.

Share what you felt with others

Post a blog or upload photos to social media. People are curious to see what you were up to while you were away on your trip. They’ll be all ears about the music experience that you had because they weren’t there themselves. You can bond over your love for a musician or band.

Part of the excitement of attending a big concert event is carrying the energy into the other activities you do while on vacation. Planning a music-themed vacation is a lot of fun. Every activity you do in Fort Worth can be full of talent, rhythm, and song.

Enjoy Your Stay at the Hyatt Place Fort Worth/Hurst

Go forth and plan an amazing concert experience in Texas. You’ve got the tools needed to do so easily. It can even be fun customizing your trip beforehand by researching hotels near Hurst, TX. One of the most popular hotels in the area for tourists and visitors is the Hyatt Place Fort Worth/Hurst. With all its amenities and its great location close to the action, it’s great for a quick weekend trip to catch an act you’ve always wanted to see. You’ll have plenty to do, see, and enjoy in between any concert or festival you’ve decided to attend in the Fort Worth area.

How CBD Oil Helps Anxiety – Advice from CBD Oil Experts

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People are guilty of the fact why cannabis has a bad reputation nowadays. For thousands of years, they’ve used it as a cure, but a modern society turned it into an opiate. Luckily, it seems that cannabis returns to the paths of old glory as a powerful and effective medicine.

Medical hemp, a sort of cannabis, breaks the ice. There is much controversy about the use of this plant, but we can’t deny the results of the research proving its potential in treating many diseases. For now, CBD (cannabidiol) oil is an alternative treatment method. But in the near future, it could become a conventional drug, completely legal and available to everyone.

One of the properties of this oil is to act as an antipsychotic. If we use it in the right way, and with expert supervision, this product can be a great way to fight psychoses. It’s a proven treatment for depression and anxiety, and many other conditions caused by stressful and unhealthy lifestyle.

This web source describes how prolonged stress can affect your health: https://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/stress-anxiety-depression.

Anxiety, a Hidden Enemy

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Why “hidden?” Because people don’t like to chit-chat about it. Quite often, they’re even not aware that they are sick. But that doesn’t deny the fact that anxiety became a common disease today, and that we have to fight against it.

Anxiety can occur in various forms – panic attacks, phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, insomnia, social anxiety, etc. This disease is widespread, and experts advise to use medicines that have no psychoactive effect and don’t cause addiction. That’s why CBD oil has become one of the most-wanted products for treating anxiety. And no, it won’t make you high (find more information here ).

Anxiety is an unpleasant state of worry, distress, and feeling that something bad will happen. People can feel this way because their lives are stressful and messy most of the time and everything happens fast. So they sometimes ignore symptoms of a disease. And when it develops, the healing process is much more difficult.

How CBD Oil Works?

Studies have shown that CBD, a mighty cannabinoid from the cannabis plant, has positive effects on our health. It acts on the endocannabinoid system in our body and helps the organism to deal with various diseases. And when this system failed, it can lead to anxious behavior.

In our body, there is a web of cannabinoid receptors with numerous functions. One group is located in the central nervous system, and has a role in the regulation of mood, feeling of pleasure, sleep, etc. These receptors react to cannabinoids such as CBD. They are “messengers;” they tell our body when to start or stop some process. They help to maintain optimal inner balance; if it’s interrupted, many health problems can occur.

When we take CBD oil, it acts on serotonin receptors. CBD doesn’t bind to these receptors; it just regulates the level of enzymes called “bliss molecule.” These elements are in charge of a good mood but without psychoactive effect. That’s how CBD oil helps in relaxing and recovering from stress and anxiety.

Side Effects and Risks of CBD Oil

In general, CBD is considered safe, and our body tolerates it well. Products like Thryve CBD Oil for sale are natural, obtained by extraction from a flower, leaf or cannabis stem. But not just any sort of cannabis; these are plants grown in specific conditions, taking care of the level of cannabinoids in them.

Most of the negative effects of cannabis are related to THC. It’s also a type of cannabinoid, but a well-known psychoactive substance too. Manufacturers of CBD oils take care of the presence of THC in their products. There is an allowed amount, and it is generally low.

CBD oil won’t cause euphoria and boost of adrenaline, but only relief from symptoms of anxiety. In case of taking too much CBD oil (which is almost impossible; you’d probably have to take it in gallons) or your organism doesn’t react well, nausea, dizziness and stomach pain can happen. These symptoms usually pass in 2 or 3 days. In rare situations when they persist or get worse, you should see your doctor.

Hot Desk Decisions – Is A Hot Desking Space Right For You

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The coworking space is a great place to forge relationships that raise your business’s platform. Among its many benefits, the coworking space can create opportunities for professionals from various industries simply through providing access to workshops, conferences, and networking events. There are also the cost benefits, which streamline office space that can be very expensive in many of Australia’s business centres.

At the centre of the coworking phenomenon is the hot desk. Hot desking space is shared workspace, and it involves leasing space at a workstation that usually seats at least four people to one table. Professionals get the best of both worlds – workspace that works for them and the opportunity to work in the middle of the industry. The space can be a dynamic, engaging environment, as it is very social, but it might not suit all professionals and for a variety of reasons.

Keep reading to learn how to determine whether the hot desk is right for your business.

The Need For Quiet

The hot desk can get quite hectic. In one area, you might find that people constantly engage each other throughout the day. The constant conversation and people moving about can be very distracting to people who are used to working at home or in places where there are few distractions.

While working at the hot desk can be somewhat distracting if you are someone who is easily taken off task, there are ways to address this problem. For one, hot-desking gives you the freedom to choose any open workstation to use, and so if you happen to be near a particularly social group of the people, you can simply move. Others, however, choose to simply bring along earplugs to help keep them focused.

The Work Is Sensitive

Another consideration that businesses should make before choosing to hot desk is whether the work is of a sensitive nature. Any time that you work with client personal or financial information you want to find a private space to work. Information related personal discussions, discussions you might have as a part of a counselling session, are private. The hot desk is a highly transient space where professionals you work next to can see your screen and possibly this information.

An alternative is to consider renting space that shields this information from the public. The dedicated desk can provide your business with privacy, and if available, so can the private office. While a bit more expensive, these options can, again, give you valuable privacy when working on sensitive information in the space.

You Are A Social Butterfly

The hot desk is ideal for the social butterfly simply because it places you around people who can give you valuable social interaction. However, being gregarious in this situation can have its drawbacks. For one, your affable nature is attractive to so many people in the environment making it difficult for you to get much work completed. When looking for workspace, you do not necessarily have to forgo the hot desk, though.

Especially gregarious types can work around the issue of being too social by working during off-peak times. Many spaces have a 24/7 platform, which makes it convenient to work around your life. Alternating your schedule by either coming in very early or much later in the day can give you a few hours of quiet workspace.

To Hot Desk Or Not?

The hot desk has so many advantages, especially because it places you in the middle of a very vibrant workspace. Small conversations lead to big discussions regarding very inventive ideas that can be the next huge success, and many of these conversations begin at the hot desk. Whether to hot desk or not depends on each professional’s approach to work, but in many cases, you do not have to discard the workstyle but adjust it to fit your needs.

Choosing the Right Words: How to Help a Recovering Alcoholic

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At least one in every eight American adults has been diagnosed with Alcoholic Use Disorder (AUD). This amounts to about 12.7% of the population.

Creating a support system for your loved one can be the difference between having a successful recovery or not. It improves their chances of maintaining sobriety even after rehabilitation.

Yet, it’s challenging to find the right things to do or words to say during the recovery process.

Consider implementing these four tips on how to help a recovering alcoholic.

1. Work on Your Communication and Listening Skills

Efficient communication with a recovering alcoholic fosters the recovery process. Learn how to talk and listen to them without lecturing or passing judgment.

You should voice your concerns in a considerate way so that they’re aware of your support. This conversation may be uncomfortable, but it’s necessary for your relationship.

Share your expectations of the recovery process with them. Don’t sacrifice your emotional and mental wellbeing when helping a recovering alcoholic.

You can schedule a counseling session at alcohol treatment centers in NJ to improve on your communication and listening skills.

2. Pay Attention to Potential Signs of Relapse

Recovering alcoholic behavior may be occasionally characterized by relapse symptoms. Relapsing to substance abuse will not only disrupt the addict’s life, but also that of their family and friends. Thus, you should be keen on observing early alcohol addiction signs and addressing them immediately.

To identify these red flags, you must be mindful of their recovery process. Each recovering alcoholic’s signs of relapse are unique. Some of these signs include abrupt changes in mood and behavior and sudden loss of interest in hobbies.

To minimize or prevent relapses, you should monitor their progress to detect early signs. You should also develop a contingency plan by involving treatment providers.

3. Support Sobriety Without Enabling Them

If you’re dating a recovering alcoholic, you should support them. However, some of these actions may be enabling their alcoholic lifestyles.

Bailing them out of destructive situations and making excuses for these behaviors are ways of enabling recovering alcoholics. For instance, money from family and friends can be used to buy alcohol.

Support your loved ones by attending counseling sessions and researching the best rehab centers for them.

It’s counterproductive to drink or keep alcohol around them. If possible, get rid of any intoxicating substances around your home. You should make a complete lifestyle change to support your loved one’s recovery.

4. Stage Interventions

Apart from holding personal conversations with them, you could arrange for an intervention with family and close friends. This is a more effective approach especially if the personal discussions weren’t successful in persuading them to seek treatment for their condition.

Consider hiring a professional interventionist to lead the occasion. The intervention process should involve planning, sharing, and suggesting treatment options.

Learn How to Help a Recovering Alcoholic

Hire the expertise of trained professionals to teach you how to help a recovering alcoholic. Ensure you learn the many aspects of alcohol addiction such as health issues, potential triggers, enablement, and psychological changes.

It’ll be much easier to take care of a recovering alcoholic if you understand the addiction process. This will help prevent possible relapses.

Check out our lifestyle blog for more insightful reads.

Keep It Interesting: 7 Easy Ways to Spice up Your Marriage Sex Life

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Did you know that 20 percent of marriages are sexless? That’s pretty tragic. After all, sex is the cornerstone of a healthy relationship in marriage.

Even if your marriage is not quite at this worrying stage yet, it’s never too late to spice things up at home with your wife or husband.

Remember, it’s a slippery slope! If you suspect that your marriage is starting to get predictable, you need to make changes now to save it. 

Our tips could be the answer you’ve been searching for. Learn more about how you can spice up your marriage before it goes stale. Let’s get started!

1. Send a Sext 

Have you ever sent your wife or husband a sext?

Around 88 percent of Americans say they’ve sexted someone within the past year. That’s nearly 9 in 10 people who have sent a saucy message or racy picture to a love interest.

If you haven’t sent a sext, then you’re missing out on the fun. In marriage, it’s easy to limit text messages to “what time are you home?” and “did you pick up the kids?”.

When sexting your partner, don’t be vague and abstract. Remind your partner of a particularly exciting experience you shared together to get their horny juices flowing.

2. Enjoy Watching Porn Together

Do you hide your sexual fantasies from each other? Do stash your erotic literature under the bed?

This should definitely be avoided in your marriage if you want to keep things exciting. Instead, try to embrace each other’s sexual imagination with openness.

Watch pornography together to discover more about each other’s sexual appetite and taste. 

90 percent of men and 60 percent of women watch porn. Therefore, we can agree that watching porn is popular. 

However, only 53 percent of couples watch porn together, even though there is a correlation between watching porn and having more sex together. 

If watching porn is simply not your thing. You could always share erotic literature. Or, try to talk about past sexual experiences together to get each other in the mood.

3. Plan Sex Slots in Your Schedule

Many Americans say that they’re busy all the time. When could we possibly find the time to have sex?

For some couples, planning sex may sound like the opposite of spicing things up. But, it works for others!

You could treat sex like any of your other leisure activities, such as playing tennis. Add it to your calendar on a regular basis and stick to it. 

When you know you’ve got a sex session coming up that evening with your wife or husband, you’ll have all day to get turned on. You don’t need to limit yourself to the time either.

Pick a place—the kitchen or the back-seat of the car?

Pick a position—missionary or doggie style?

Choose an outfit—superheroes or the classic boss and secretary?

4. Put Together a Sexual Bucket List

More than one-quarter of Americans in a relationship say that they have a sexual fantasy which they’re afraid to reveal to their partner. There is a pretty high chance that your wife or husband also has a fantasy or two which they would love to share. 

Next time you get the chance, share your sexual fantasies together on a bucket list. You can then one-by-one make your way through your list of kinky acts.

Ever been to a swingers party together? Check it out!

Ever wanted to pretend to be strangers in a bar? Your partner might get excited about the prospect of reliving your first date.

Are you too shy to talk about it together? It may be easier to write down five each on a piece of paper, then swap at the end.

5. Visit a Sex Therapist

What would you need a sex therapist for? That’s for sexual disorders, right?

Well, actually sex therapists can help individuals and couples with a wide range of problems and challenges related to sex.

What’s the harm of visiting a sex therapist? You never know whether you could improve your sexual relationship by talking through your problems with a professional. 

While sex therapy is definitely not for everyone. You never know what could help turn around your marriage.

6. Send Your Partner a Sexy Gift

You could give your partner a sexy surprise by sending them a gift. What if they received a present while they were at work?

Your partner might notice you put on your panties in the morning. But then, you could deliver them a package containing the same panties by the time they arrive at the office. This would surely spice things up.

Get creative with a bunch of hot gifts to send “special” delivery to your wife or husband. 

7. Go Sex Toy Shopping

Did you know that around 1 in 2 women have vibrators? This may be a shock to some naive men out there.

However, to other men, it’s not news at all. Around 81 percent of women have introduced sex toys into their sex life.

But, what about the shopping experience too? You can go to the sex toy store together to pick out a new toy.

You don’t need to pay in cash to avoid your partner seeing it like normal. This time they’ll be standing next to you trying to decide whether you should buy the pink or the black dildo.

This can be a really fun activity to do together. Worst-case scenario, you both find the whole thing a bit too much and rush home to get into bed together.

Spice up Your Marriage 

If your relationship is on the brink, it’s time to spice up your marriage. You could be surprised by how injecting a dose of fun and spontaneity into your relationship can spark new life. 

Follow our tips and advice from fun things to try in bed to hot activities to do out of the bedroom too. 

Do you want more tips on how to live a happy and healthy life? Check out our blog post on how to improve your mood here.  

How to Save a Life: 5 (Not so Obvious) Signs of Someone on Drugs

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Drug addiction is an insidious disease that affects millions of people. A Surgeon General’s report estimates that one in seven Americans will struggle with addiction in their lifetime.

The good news is that it’s easier than ever to find help for those who are suffering from the scourge of addiction. With over the counter treatments like naloxone for opioid overdoses and the spread of “Good Samaritan” 911 laws, we are becoming increasingly equipped to battle addiction as the public health epidemic it is. 

But, what are the signs of someone on drugs? How do you know if your loved one is suffering from drug dependency? These five not so obvious signs may help identify someone in need of treatment for addiction.

1. Drug Addict Eyes

Look into your friend’s eyes. Is something off? 

The eyes of someone suffering from addiction could be bloodshot, appear “dead,” or have enlarged pupils when they’re under the influence. You might also notice low eyelids during periods of use, depending on the drug of choice.

Some people experience shame during use, and have trouble making eye contact.

2. Making Excuses

People struggling with addict behavior will often make excuses for their excessive use. If your loved one seems hungover or sick every morning yet chalks it up to anything else but nightly drinking or drug use, they could have a problem.

Watch for a pattern of excuses and rationalizations, including trying extreme detox methods before work or school-mandated drug testing.

3. Mood Swings

Everyone is entitled to typical mood swings and a decent number of bad days. But if someone you know is becoming isolated, paranoid, or has unprovoked mood swings — they could be suffering from a drug addiction. 

This one is tough, and is one of the more easily hidden signs of someone on drugs. Depression, anxiety, and crankiness are part of life for some, so it can be hard to source mood changes. Check on your friends if you’re worried about them.

4. Money Problems

It’s tough to know how to tell if someone is on drugs, but chronic financial instability can be a clear sign. This isn’t a guaranteed indicator of drug abuse, though. Be careful accusing or assuming.

Money can be tight for many reasons, including family issues, loss of a job, medical problems, and more. But a drug habit is expensive, and unexplained debts can be a sign of substance abuse.

5. Something’s Off

Whether it’s erratic behavior, a new set of sketchy friends, or just an uneasy feeling, if something’s off with your loved ones, you know it. Talk with a friend if they are exhibiting signs of someone on drugs, and be ready to provide details about drug and alcohol treatment programs.

Do You Know the Signs of Someone on Drugs?

Some people think they’ve seen it all until they miss the hidden signs of someone on drugs. Especially if you’re a parent, make sure you’re staying up to date on information about drug trends in kids. Erratic addict behavior, missing money, and sketchy friends can all be early signs that something’s up.

If you or someone you love has struggled with drug use in the past, alternative healing therapies may be just what the doctor ordered. Meditation, acupuncture, and even the non-psychoactive cannabinoid CBD have been proven to help reduce dependency issues. Learn more about CBD oil from us!

Expert Tips for Selecting Vape Flavors for a Perfect Vaping Experience

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Locking the down the perfect flavor can be a challenge for those new to vaping. With more than 7,700 options to choose from, narrowing a winner may seem impossible. 

Learning the basics about e-juice and liquid flavors helps you avoid wasting money. 

Different vape flavors start from a basic e-liquid or e-juice formula. Both have differing base blends, with e-liquid offering more freedom to mix to your liking. And depending on your previous experience with nicotine, the strength matters as well. 

If you’re new to vaping and can’t decide on the right flavor, keep reading. Learn here how to make the right selection and find some fitting favorites.

What Are Vape Flavors Made Of?

Vape juice is somewhat simple in makeup. It’s composed of just a few key ingredients, the base of which determines strength and flavor. 

E-liquid or e-juice has a five-ingredient composition:

Propylene Glycol – Derived from propylene oxide, PG is an odorless organic glycerol. It produces better flavor in the vape juice.

Vegetable Glycerin – Is a natural liquid extracted from either soybean, palm or coconut oils. VG delivers more vapor. 

Flavoring – All vape juice has food flavoring. That’s where the flavors come from. Most of them are from natural sources. Some organic. 

Nicotine and Water – Nicotine is what supplies the vaping experience. It offers the feel of a cigarette without smoking it. Every e-liquid has a different nicotine level, based on the desired experience.

These ingredients combined create vape juice flavors from tobacco to candy-sweet. 

Have a Flavor in Mind

Everyone has different tastes. Some new users prefer intense flavor while others the natural taste of nicotine. 

Different cigarette brands offer flavor on top of the regular tobacco flavor. E-liquids can match almost every flavor. Decide in advance if you prefer a juice that mimics the flavor of a cigarette or a more food-like piquancy. 

If you’re unsure about where to begin with flavoring, Flavors United is a good starting place.  

Pick a Type

As mentioned, e-liquids and juices come in a variety of flavors. But for the sake of narrowing in on a favorite, they come in categories. 

Depending on your preference, you can choose from a range of options. Multi, single, and tobacco flavor juices and liquids are to name a few. 

If you were a heavy cigarette smoker who enjoys intense flavor, go the tobacco route. Tobacco-flavored e-liquids span from American classic tobacco to potent, Cuban tobacco flavor.

For an assortment of different tastes, delve into single flavors like candy, pie, and coffee. If you have a diverse palate, you can buy mixed flavors as well. Breakfast, dessert, and candy flavors like chewing gum and sour apple are great examples. 

Select a Fav

You can save time and finances by choosing the right vape flavors up front. Start at the beginning by deciding if you want more vape or more flavor.

Add your favorite flavor to the mix. If you’re a traditional smoker, stick to the basic blend. If you prefer flavored cream in your coffee, go with multi-layer vape juices. The important thing is to take your time and get the flavor right the first time. 

Let us pique your interest a bit more. Read more of our lifestyle articles for additional life tools and hacks. 

Budgeting 101 – 4 Simple Money-Saving Tips

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For most of us, daily life is often rife with many challenges and difficulties. And at the top of this list is perhaps saving money. After all, we all need to spend not only to live in comfort and convenience but also to survive. The good news is that keeping your expenditure down at a reasonable level isn’t as hard as some might think. More often than not, the toughest part of being frugal and pragmatic is getting started. To this end, here are a few simple money-saving tips that anyone can adopt.

1. Don’t be economical with your time and do research

One of the biggest reasons why many people often spend a lot more than they need to is because of the habit of going for the first option that they see. From groceries and shopping to routine and regular trash disposal and garage clean out services, it’s good standard practice to never be economical with your time and research all available options. In this way, you’re likely to find cheaper alternatives and potentially save a lot of money as a result.

2. Opt for the do-it-yourself approach

More and more people are starting to see the value of the DIY approach, and for a good reason: taking on certain tasks yourself can save you the money that would have otherwise gone to professional services instead. It is worth noting, however, that the do-it-yourself strategy applies only to the jobs that that you are capable of doing. If the task requires the expertise that you lack, it’s a general rule of thumb to leave it to the experts to avoid any costly or painful mistakes.

3. Always turn off electrical equipment when not in use

It’s hard to break the habit of leaving electrical appliances and other items on even when they are not in use, but doing so can make a big difference in helping you save. After all, the electric bills usually take a sizeable portion of the monthly expenses. And as tedious as it might be, making sure that your household isn’t wasting energy won’t only keep your expenditure low, but it’s also good for the environment too.

4. Consider alternative energy sources

To follow up on the previous tip, investing in alternative energy sources like solar power can drive the monthly bills down even further. In fact, more and more households today are starting to adopt this strategy as it not only allows them to keep expenditure as low as possible, but it can also increase the value of the property too.

As hard as it might be to stick to a budget and save money, it’s not impossible to do. More importantly, budgeting is necessary for the majority of us who are already working with limited resources, to begin with. By following the tips listed, not only do you stand a good chance of staying well within your budget, but you may save a lot more money than you might think.