How to Start Investing Your Money

How to Start Investing Your Money

We all know what stocks are and what a stock market is. The word “investing” can be both intimidating and confusing, but it is really a simple theory.

How to Start Investing Your Money

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

When you have extra money (money you can afford to lose) you can do several things: spend it, save it or flip it. Flipping it is an uncouth way of saying investing. It is the end result. 

There are several ways to invest money. Retirement Plans, Stocks, CD, etc. We will begin by talking about stock investments.

Many people know the basics of investing stocks, but In a Forbes article published in 2020 it depicts that , Most Americans Don’t Have A Real Stake In The Stock Market .

How to start Investing Your Money with Armando Pantoja

This is Love and Lust’s first money episode. It’s all related… Money. Sex. Power so we are going to talk about it. I hope that all of Love and Lust’s Listeners listen to this episode as it is a free insight into investing.

What is FinTech?

FinTech stands for Financial Technology. “Financial technology is the technology and innovation that aims to compete with traditional financial methods in the delivery of financial services. It is an emerging industry that uses technology to improve activities in finance.” Source: Wikipedia

How much should you invest?

There is not a cookie cutter answer. It is based off your  income and profit/loss margin-  Listen to the Podcast For More Answers.  -and Investing in what you can lose.

Also in the Podcast:

Whats apps you can use to help you invest.

Residual Income.

Paying off credit cards vs. investing.

Is it smart to invest rent money or use rent money towards investments?

Making decisions based on finances.

Do you need a two-person household to live?

What is a financial Emergency Fund and what should it consist of. 

Ana Lefebvre and Armando Pantoja give advice on picking a college degree and their thought on college as a whole. Everyone that is considering college should listen to this.

Avocado Salad

Avacado Salad

Avocado Salad

Avocados do not get enough credit. It is a powerful superfood that is high in potassium and has a lot of antioxidants. It is also considered “good-fat”

Here is an easy Avocado Salad recipe that is both easy and quick to make.

Hass Avocado
Shredded pickled beets
Diced red onion
Diced papaya 
Cilantro
Green olives
Salt and pepper to taste 
 
This quick and easy dish can be made as a healthy breakfast, a side dish or even a snack. You can add as few or as many of the ingredients as you like. I cut my avocado in half, removed the seed and spooned out the entire halves and placed them on a plate. I then topped my avocado with some diced red onion, cubed papaya, about 2 spoonfuls of the shredded pickled beets, a couple green olives and sprinkled the cilantro on top. 

Salt and pepper can be added to taste.
One Skillet Breakfast Hash

One-Skillet Breakfast Hash

One Skillet Breakfast Hash

Looking for a yummy breakfast recipe that is family friendly? Here is a one skillet breakfast hash that is quick and easy to make. I remember when I was a child and we would have breakfast for dinner. It seemed unprecedented and scandalous to eat a meal outside of that meal’s designated hour. This breakfast hash can quickly go from breakfast to dinner. You can add vegetarian meat replacements or actual meat such as bacon. Enjoy!

6 russet potato – scrubbed and cut in chunks (I left the skins on)
1 orange bell pepper -cut in chunks
1 green bell pepper – cut in chunks
1 red jalapeno – diced 
4 garlic cloves – crushed 
1 white onion  – cut in chunks
Green scallion 
Granulated garlic powder 
Granulated onion powder 
Adobo seasoning 
Olive oil 
 
Preheat oven to 550°.
 
Place skillet on medium high heat on the stovetop and put enough oil to slightly cover the bottom of the pan. Once oil is hot add in your potatos. Let the potatos cook by themselves for about 5 minutes making sure to turn them occasionally. After 5 minutes add in all your remaining ingredients and seasonings I sprinkle enough seasoning to make sure all pieces are covered and then put the entire skillet in the oven. Let bake for approx. 20 minutes, stirring on occasion. Hash is done when a fork can go easily through a potato. Sprinkle with green scallion last and enjoy!
One Skillet Breakfast Hash
Spinach Stuffed Chicken

Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast

Spinach Stuffed Chicken

Random Fact: Did you know that 65 billion Chickens are consumed every year, making chicken one of the most popular meats consumed. Chicken breast is one of the most healthiest meats you can eat. It is low in fat and high in protein. Stuffing chicken breast is one way to make the dryer side of the chicken, moist and flavorful. Here is an easy Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast that is quick to make that the whole family will love. 

Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast Recipe
 
Stuffed Chicken Breast Ingredients:
 
chicken breasts 
1 cup of chopped spinach 
100 grams of cream cheese 
Dash of cayenne or paprika 
A little pepper 
A little garlic powder 
Dash of Italian seasoning 
A little bit of chicken Bouillon 
 
Instructions:
 
Cream cheese & spinach mixture 
•In a bowl, add the cream cheese 
•Add garlic powder 
•Add the spinach 
 
Mix together  
 
Pre heat the oven to 350°F 
 
Chicken Breast 
•With the knife Make a pocket in the chicken breast
•Stuff the chicken breast with the spinach & cream cheese mixture 
•Use a few toothpicks to secure the chicken breast 
 
Make sure you seared chicken on both side
 
Baking 
•Get a baking tray. Place the chicken breasts 1 by 1 in the baking tray.
 
•Bake for 30 minutes uncovered (make sure the thermometer reads 165 degrees).
 
Let the chicken sit about 5 minutes & removed the tooth picks before serving. 
 

You can switch out ingredients to make it low carb or even take the recipe from a stuffed spinach recipe to jalapeño stuffed chicken or artichoke. Pair with a side salad and grain to make it a complete meal. Quinoa (for low carb) or your choice of rice.

3 Budget-Friendly Strategies for Practicing Self-Care as an Introvert

3 Budget-Friendly Strategies for Practicing Self-Care as an Introvert

3 Budget-Friendly Strategies for Practicing Self-Care as an Introvert
Photo by Maik Kleinert from Pexels

As an introvert, a healthy self-care routine is crucial to your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Without self-care, you’re not giving yourself the time and space you need to recharge your mind and body — and you risk mental exhaustion and social burnout. According to IntrovertSpring, some signs of introvert burnout include depression, fatigue, and irritability.

Fortunately, there are some things you can do to care for your introverted mind and body —long before you begin to experience social burnout. What’s more, many of these self-care remedies can fit just about any budget — and they can be practiced from the comfort of your home.

To explore three budget-friendly self-care strategies for introverts, read on!

1. Exercise from Home

Whether you’re an introvert, extrovert, or ambivert, regular exercise is essential to your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Not only does exercise help to enhance your mood and alleviate symptoms of depression, but it could also treat or even prevent anxiety in some cases. When you’re an introvert who’d prefer to exercise at home or on your own, however, some workouts will benefit you more than others. To meet your exercise needs as an introvert, the pros at PopSugar Fitness recommend solo activities like running, swimming, cycling, or following along to a free online workout video or yoga class.

As you start a solo exercise routine, you may need to purchase some exercise gear and workout equipment that boosts your comfort and confidence. However, you can save on the purchase of your new athletic equipment and clothing if you shop online at stores like Dick’s Sporting Goods and QVC. For instance, you can find QVC promo codes and coupons before placing your online order — helping you to save big on everything from exercise equipment and fitness trackers to vitamins and nutritional supplements.

2. Make Time to Relax

If you’re an introverted personality type, alone time and relaxation are key to recharging your energy levels, clearing your mind, managing stress, relieving tension, and maintaining good physical, mental, and emotional well-being. A few budget-friendly relaxation techniques for
introverts include:

● Reading a book or magazine.
● Meditating with a free mindfulness app such as Insight Timer or Smiling Mind.
● Napping when you’re feeling drained.
● Soaking in a hot bath filled with soothing homemade salts.
● Walking in nature.
● Journaling, painting, drawing, or coloring.

While you could certainly pay for a professional massage, manicure, or facial when you’re feeling overwhelmed with life and in need of some downtime, there are plenty of other ways to relax for free or at a very low cost.

3. Disconnect from Technology

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all self-care strategy for introverted personality types, but these three ideas will help you to find an affordable self-care remedy that recharges you and enhances your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Whether you unwind with a good book, deactivate
the social media notifications on your smartphone, or enjoy a solo workout like walking, swimming, or practicing yoga at home, you’ll be recharging your mind, body, and soul — all without spending a fortune on self-care.

Covid-19

How to Breathe Through 7 COVID-19 Changes

By Jennifer Scott

Covid-19

As a premiere resource for millennials, we get that many young adults are facing some serious changes due to coronavirus. From adapting to restrictions to adjusting to now adjusting to reopenings, it’s been a roller-coaster spring for sure. Of course, some shifts may be easier to manage than others, including these common COVID-19 changes: 

Buying Your Dream Home 

With so many things uncertain due to COVID-19, it may seem silly to buy a home right now. If you’re in the market for a new home, however, this may in fact be the perfect time to begin looking for your dream home. Interest rates are at record lows, and this means you could end up paying a lot less per month for a new house. If you are worried about COVID risks, you can also turn to online tools throughout the homebuying process, which can include 3D tours and virtual showings. 

Selling Your Current Home 

Now if you are thinking about selling your home, you may also want to think about listing it sooner rather than later. That’s because despite COVID-19 impacts, buyers are still out searching for their perfect home. So you don’t want to miss out on a hot real estate market! You can also use the same online tools mentioned above to virtually sell your home. Although, you will also want to complete a few staging projects to help your home compete with other listings. 

Sprucing Up Your Home 

So maybe you’re planning on staying put in your current home. Even so, with more free time on your hands, home improvements may be top of mind. Some simple DIY projects you can use to keep yourself busy and keep your home looking its best include changing out the hardware on your kitchen cabinets, upgrading your walls with wallpaper or changing out your light fixtures. 

Changing Up Your Career 

Another major change people are dealing with right now is career shifts. With so many industries still at a standstill due to COVID-19 restrictions, people are looking for new ways to generate income. If you’re out of work or looking to supplement, online freelance job boards make it easy to find clients and customers in your industry, so you could even think about freelancing as a full-time career. For example, if you are a creative type who has a passion for writing, you could supplement your income with a creative writing gig. There are also jobs for people in law, marketing, engineering, IT; the options are truly limitless. 

Evolving Your Existing Career 

If you’re still working and happy in your current career field, you could also think about using any extra time you have to polish your skills. Many prestigious colleges are still offering free online courses in subjects like computer science, risk management and design. Another way you can boost your career is by using this time to work on your resume and cover letters. 

Boosting Your Remote Work Game 

A smaller job change that millions of Americans are dealing with right now is the transition from working in an office to working at home. This transition has become more difficult if you have kids who are out of school and stuck at home as well, but there are ways to find balance. For instance, you could set up a home office to create separation between your work and home life. You can also create a schedule and establish some rules for your family during this time. 

Giving Yourself a Brand New Look 

Depending on where you live, salons and barbershops may be opening back up. Still, many of these businesses may be operating at reduced capacity for the foreseeable future. If you want a simple change, like new bangs, you also may not have to wait for an appointment to freshen up your look. There are even quite a few tutorials you can follow online. If you want a bigger change, like highlights, you really should wait until you can see a professional. 

We’re all trying to deal with a lot of unpredictability right now. However, if there’s one thing that’s certain about life, no matter what, it’s change. So whenever you face shifts in your life, whether trivial or monumental, make sure you have the right resources to adapt and cope. 

Photo Credit: Rawpixel

Best Crime Drama TV Shows to Binge Watch

Best Crime Drama TV Shows to Binge Watch

Need to a new show to watch? Try these Crime Dramas.

Best Crime Drama TV Shows to Binge Watch

Crime Dramas are one of the mostly popular genres in Television (with the occasional movie). They are both a captivating and alluring to watch.  Here is a list of the best crime shows to binge watch including some popular teen crime dramas.

1. Ozarks

Thriller/ (TV Series)

Netflix

A financial planner must make amends to a Mexican drug cartel by washing their drug money. 

2. Criminal Minds

Thriller/Police/TV Series 

CBS/Netflix

This show follows a group of FBI members that try to psychologically get inside of criminals minds to solve their cases. 

3. Mindhunter

Psychological Thriller

Netflix

Mindhunter is another psychological thriller that follows an elite FBI team. 

4. Major Crimes

Police Drama

Youtube/TNT

This show has been cancelled, but binge watch worthy. 

 

5. The Closer

Police Drama/Mystery

Amazon Prime

This show follows a CSI agent in Los Angeles that covers high profile crime cases. 

6. S.W.A.T. 

Thriller/Action/Adventure/Police Drama

CBS/Amazon

This show follows a Los Angeles S.W.A.T. lieutenant, that is caught in between two worlds. 

7. Person of Interest

Crime Fiction/Science Fiction

Netflix

A former CIA agent that is presumed dead and  billionaire software genius join forces to stop crimes before they happen.

8. Drug Lords

Drug/Cartel Drama

Netflix

This show is about some of the most notorious drug cartel leaders including Pablo Escobar. 

9. CSI

Mystery

Hulu

There are multitudes of CSIs set in different cities. The original CSI (Las Vegas) has 15 seasons. A great crime show to binge watch.

10. Sherlock

Mystery/Detective

Netflix

A spin on the classic Sherlock Holmes and his mate Watson. 

 

11. The Innocent Man

Netflix

The innocent man is based on John Grisham’s nonfiction book. It is a limited serious that is only found on Netflix. 

12. Lucifer

Netflix

Supernatural/Comedy

This show is about the fallen angel, Lucifer, that has abandoned his thrown in hell. 

 

 

13. Queen of the South

Netflix

Drug/Cartel

A young woman falls in love with a member of the Cartel and must pay for his crimes after he is murdered. 

14. Rizzoli & Isles

Hulu

Police

Set in Boston, this show follows a medical examiner and detective solve some of the city’s toughest crimes. 

15. The Punisher

Netflix

A man that loses everything becomes his city’s vigilante. 

16. Pretty Little Liars

Netflix

Teen Crime Drama

This show follows the lives of friends that are being tortured by an unknown person name A.

17. From Dusk till Dawn: The Series

Netflix

Action/ Horror/ Fiction 

This unique show incorporates vampires and the mexican cartel. 

18. Riverdale

The CW/Netflix

Mystery/ Crime/ Teen Crime Drama

This teen crime drama is set in the town of Riverdale, where a killer is on the loose.

19. La Casa De Papel

Netflix

Thriller

This spanish television crime drama tv show is about a criminal mastermind and his 8 recruits that plan to pull of a heist. 

20. Ray Donovan

Showtime/Amazon

Thriller/ Drama/ Black Comedy

This show follows the life of the man that fixes and cleans the messes of Hollywood. 

21. Breaking Bad

Netflix

Thriller/ Drama/ Black Comedy/Drug

A high school chemistry teacher is given the news that he has Cancer and only a certain amount of time to live. He decides to make and sell meth to provide for his family and to cover his medical bills. When he lives longer than expected, he has to pay for his life of crime. 

22. Hanna

Amazon

Thriller/ Action/ Mystery

A young girl is taught to be an assassin by her CIA parent and must fight to stay alive.