Sahar Ajjab

Which COVID-19 Vaccine is The Best For You?

When COVID-19 started, the search for a vaccine was a top priority worldwide. We thought that once ‘the solution’ is found, it will put an end to the global pandemic. However, at the end of 2020, several medical companies had invested so much into creating an effective vaccine. Moreover, despite the race of pharmaceutical companies, none of the vaccines that were certified showed a 100% efficiency rate.

That being said, a vaccine that shows over 80% efficiency is considered a success. In fact, very few cases of non-efficiency emerged, out of millions of people who got vaccinated. So, how do you choose the best vaccine for you? Here is a simple answer.

Age Plays a Major Role

Age is probably the most dominant criteria when it comes to vaccination. Several countries started vaccinating the public starting with the oldest portion of the population. Although CDC ruled that all vaccines are safe, some had more side-effects than others.

To sum up, Pfizer’s vaccine as well as Moderna were those who showed the most ‘drawback’ for older people. On the other hand, AstraZeneca is currently the most used to vaccinate people over 70 years old.

Your Health Condition

The second most important criteria regarding COVID-19 vaccines has been the person’s current health situation. It’s clear that people with chronic diseases or weak health conditions have been the most exposed to the virus. However, they have also shown resistance to vaccines compared with healthy people. For most people with existing health problems, Moderna and Pfizer proved the most efficient.

Pick The Right Vaccine For Yourself

In order to pick the right vaccine for you, there are many things to consider. First, your geographical location. In fact, some countries have chosen to operate with just one COVID-19 vaccine. Therefore, it might be very hard to get your hands on a different one. In addition, it’s almost crucial to get some tests done before getting the vaccine, just to know exactly how you would react to both doses.

Photos: Freepik.

5 Differences Between Millennials And Gen Z We Didn’t Know

Millennials and Gen Z are people sharing the same planet, yet are very different. Generation Y inherited a lot from the generation before, but also shaped a lot of the society that we live in right now. From law changes, to activism, to social media. In fact, there are many factors why the differences between generations can be solid.

Millennials are the generation Y that starts at 1981, and extends to 1996. In other words, a portion of 90’s kids are considered Millennials, while the other portion belongs to Gen Z. Moreover, anyone born after 1997 is Generation Z. So, what are the big differences between us? And how is it shaping the actual society.

Diveristy

First of all, in a study conducted by the Brookings Institute, diversity rates reached its highest with Millennials. According to the research, ”Overall, [M]illennials are 55.8 percent white and nearly 30 percent ‘new minorities.’ However, Gen Z has been the one to really ‘witness’ the change. In fact, experts expect that by 2030, 50% of kids worldwide will belong to at least one minority group.

Stress

Stress levels hit the roof during this global pandemic. In fact, psychologists argued that it might just be one of the most traumatizing experiences both generations have lived. However, stress recorded a significant increase among young adults. Recent data shows that only ”fewer than half (47%) of Gen Zers say they’re content with their lives compared to 60% of Millennials.

Gender

Gender studies and sexuality have known an important shift with Millennials. However, Gen Z have been the ones to really push forward for reforms in both aspects. Even more, the new generation has proven to be more tolerant, ‘open’, and accepting of gender. In a 2016 survey presented by the Walter Thompson Innovation Group found that ‘‘only 48% of Generation Z identifies as “completely heterosexual” compared to 65% of Millennials.”

Technology

This is an obvious one. While most 90’s kids grew up in a time when Internet was not easily accessible, Gen Z grew up with all types of social media. In fact, the tremendous outcome of technology-based differences have been the subject of several studies. According to research, social media is used differently by the two groups. Actually, ”more than 50% of Millennials consistently post updates online compared to only 32% of Gen Z.”

Fashion

Trends change every year if not more. So, fashion is clearly one of the major differences between Millennials and Gen Z. Few days ago, a viral Tiktok calling for style change made some 90’s kids pretty mad. According to the findings of this research, here is what each generation thinks about common fashion styles.

Photos: Freepik.

4 Hacks To Help You Save On Electricity Bills

It’s quite evident why electricity consumption hits the roof in the winter. Between heating, extra use of light, and binge-watching series on Netflix, the electricity bill keeps increasing. Moreover, for obvious reasons, the past year knew one of the heaviest energy consumption all over the world. The fact of staying home more hours than before was the main reason to this increase in the bill.

Nevertheless, if you are tired of spending more and more cash on utilities, we’ve gathered few simple hacks to save on electricity bills this winter!

Switch to LED Bulbs

Another reason to switch to LED light bulbs. In addition to giving the tumbler look to your space, it also helps you save on electricity bills. In fact, they either consume very low electricity or don’t consume any at all (depending on the type.) You can also cut your costs by using sets of LED small bulbs that operate with Rechargeable Batteries.

Turn Off Lights When You Leave

Now that we are adults, we understand why our parents used to insist on turning off the light in rooms we don’t use. The only effort it will take from you is to pay more attention. Even though it might seem like it does little harm, it actually does quite a lot on the electricity bill. Always make sure all lights are turned off at night (including the TV.) Also, don’t leave the heater/conditioner on all night either if you don’t want to pay a fortune.

Enjoy Natural Light

Los 12 consejos que te harán ahorrar en la factura de la luz

Natural light is the best kind of light, and it’s free. In fact, doctors recommend with a daily doses of natural light to fight depression. In addition, the sun is a rich source of vitamin D which affects positively both your body and mind. Nevertheless, even when it’s rainy and cold, you should always ventilate for 15-20 minutes, and absorb that light before night time, when you start using electricity that you will pay for later.

Organize Your Laundry Schedule

The washing machine consumes tons of energy with every load. That’s why you should use it the minimum possible to save up. Of course, this doesn’t mean throwing on dirty clothes, but it means that you can have the same amount of clean clothes doing less laundry. The strategy is simple: Fill in the washing machine, dishwasher etc… Sometimes, you can even create a schedule to keep track of loads, and try to limit your laundry schedule to two loads per week.

Photos: Unsplash, Freepik.

Tips To Make The Most Out Of Food Delivery Apps

It’s Sunday, you are hangover in bed and all you want is a good burger or a Pizza. Obviously, you’ll have to count on a food delivery so you don’t have to move out of bed. Now that we can all relate, let’s talk about how to make the most out of using food delivery apps.

Always Look For Coupons

Food Delivery apps are constantly racing to gain more clients. Sometimes, through targeted-marketing, and others, simply playing on your vulnerability for food. Moreover, regardless of the offers, you can always save extra money through coupons. Yes, a quick search on Google can help you find additional discounts. In addition, signing up and entering your email into the app allows you to receive really good targeted special offers.

Check And Compare Offers

Furthermore, by signing up you also get additional benefits. In fact, you can compare the offers, and see where you can save up more. For example, a certain app would give a discount on the food, while the other one on delivery fees. Make sure to check and compare all your options to see where you can save up the most. (BTW, different apps have different offers for the same restaurant.)

Avoid Surcharge At All Costs

If you apply all the previous tips, it’s most likely that your order will be for very cheap. Therefore, the company will go bankrupt if all their clients got their food delivery for just a few bucks. That’s where surcharge and service fee come up. In fact, some fast food restaurants like Burger King and McDonalds require a surcharge on small orders. However, you can always escape the extra fee, by sharing with a friend/colleague/roommate…etc. Not only will you avoid paying extra for nothing, you get to also split the delivery fee.

When Should You Tip?

Although the apps suggest for you to tip before your order, it’s always wise to wait for the delivery. Sometimes, your order might be very late, canceled or simply don’t arrive. Most apps will refund you for the money but not the tip. However, we recommend a small tip during these tough times, with the weather conditions and a pandemic, it’s always nice to show your appreciation and support front-line workers.

Photos: Freepik, Pixabay.

Can You Really Get Rich With Bitcoin?

Bitcoin has become a trendy form to become a millionaire over the past few years. In fact, it’s among the most searched words in the world as per Google. The idea of getting rich quickly fascinates all of us, right? However, it’s a tricky business. In fact with all the unexpected events happening (pandemic for example,) the stock markets can never be too safe. So, what’s the truth? And if you are thinking of getting rich with Bitcoin, you should keep reading to know what you’ll be getting yourself into.

First Of All, What’s Bitcoin?

A Bitcoin is nothing more and nothing less than a digital currency. Yes, there are many others with very varied names, however, Bitcoin is by far the best known to people outside the world of cryptocurrencies. It is, as its name suggests, “digital currencies”. That is to say, currencies that do not exist beyond the digital plane and whose value is the one given by the users. In fact, there is no known evidence to support the price they have beyond the trust of users.

So, Bitcoin is like investing in money stocks, only with different conditions. But, what are the odds of you actually hitting the jackpot and becoming a millionaire?

How Do People Get Rich With Bitcoin?

It has been argued that the Bitcoin business is one of three key investments that made profit during the COVID crisis. In fact, ”Cryptocurrency and specifically bitcoin is what’s called an ‘asymmetric trade’ in the financial world. That means the potential upside and reward is far greater than the risk involved.”

Again, it’s not easy to get rich with Bitcoin. However, being smart about the way you use it is key. People who reported making lots of cash from this have strategies. For example, mining, training and holding, accepting it as a payment etc…

But Really, Is Bitcoin a Liable Investment?

Now the big question is this: Should you start using Bitcoin ASAP? Well, the truth is that it may not be what you should do for the rest of your life. However, Bitcoins currently are worth 100 times more than 10 years ago. Therefore, if you want to start your investment as a side activity to generate extra cash, now is the time to go for it!

Photos: Unsplash, Freepik.

Safe Plans To Stay Warm While Enjoying Winter

Winter is either your cup of tea or not. However, you can’t deny that it can be a gorgeous season. For those fans of watching snow fall, with a cup of hot chocolate and Frank Sinatra music playing in the background, this is definitely a read for you! Of course, we can’t neglect the fact that with this pandemic, it has become super hard to enjoy any outdoor activity, without being afraid and hesitant. Don’t worry, because these winter plans that we are suggesting are safe, and they will also help you enjoy doing something while avoiding the cold.

Ice Skating In A Park

Sure, sounds like a lot of fun if you know how to skate on ice. But, we really think that it’s a great idea to enjoy winter, even if you are still learning. In fact, it’s a fun activity to motivate you to enjoy a night out. Of course, you can stay safe by avoiding mainstream and crowded skate parks, or ”creating” your own space in a less-crowded zone of the park. Layer up, take your kids, and enjoy this classic winter activity.

Cozy Winter Getaway

Are you and your partner tired of having date night at home every time? Or worse, doing the same things, and eating at the same places? It’s time to spice up your life together this winter. In fact, one of the safest winter plans ever is to get away from the city, the routine, your normal life, and just take break. A cozy weekend in a cabin, possibly with a warm jacuzzi and a glass of Champagne are capable of taking you back home brand new.

DIY Christmas Decoration

However, if you don’t feel too enthusiastic about leaving home, no problem. These holidays enjoy doing fun home-activities with the family. Gather your kids and family, and make your own Christmas decorations at home. Not only it’s considered ”bonding time”, but it’s also an activity that boosts the sense of creativity and self-discipline in children. I mean, what could be better than helping your kids learn while getting them to help in chores at the same time?

Pamper Yourself With a Spa Day

Many people think that a day in the Spa or a thermal bath is expensive. However, with the million offers and discounts available online, you’ll realize that it’s super affordable to pamper yourself. In addition, such places score major points in winter, because they are the warmest place out there. In fact, thermal baths are famous for their various benefits thanks to heat treatments. According to research, ”taking a hot bath or spa can kill bacteria and improve immunity. It can relieve the symptoms of cold and flu.”

Photos: Freepik.