The Reader’s Digest website shares these tips for saving money on groceries:

Join loyalty programs. You can get discounts and money back on your purchases through your store’s loyalty program. Sign up and check all the rules so you get maximum value from it.

Look for final markdowns and clearances. Many grocery stores place clearance items in a designated area, or use special stickers to help shoppers identify them.

Be careful with multiples. They can trick you into spending more than you want. For example, if a sign on a bag of chips says “Two for $5,” and a single bag of chips is $3.29, you’re getting a good deal only if you want two bags of chips.

Traveling abroad is stressful enough without accidentally offending the people you’re visiting. Check out these warnings from the BuzzFeed website to steer clear of a faux pas during a trip to a foreign nation:

China. Don’t give any item or gift with the number four in it. The Chinese word for “four” sounds close to the word for “death.”

Denmark. You’ll show bad manners if you take the last item of food off a plate. If you want a little more, take only part of it and leave the rest.

India. Only use your right hand when eating or passing food. The left hand is considered unclean in India, as well as in Africa and the Middle East.

Japan. Don’t stick your chopsticks straight up in a bowl of rice because rice is presented this way during funerals. Doing it during a meal will be seen as bad luck.

Mexico. Your server won’t bring your check to the table before you ask for it, so don’t assume he or she isn’t being attentive to you.

Netherlands. Never gift a knife or anything with a sharp edge, such as scissors. These items are considered unlucky.

Venezuela. If you arrive on time for a business meeting, you’ll appear greedy and rude. You’re actually better off being 10 or 15 minutes late.

The “clocks” in our bodies are important to maintaining good health—and interfering with them can cause big problems, according to researchers.

Three researchers recently won the Nobel Prize for their work studying how these clocks influence every cell in the human body. According to the NPR website, pulling an all-nighter for work or school, or jet lag from a transatlantic flight, can cause blood pressure to go up, disrupt hunger hormones, and increase blood sugar levels.

You can overcome these problems in time, but a regular schedule that throws off your body clock can lead to such health problems as weight gain and Type 2 diabetes. Late-night snacking can also disrupt your body clock. When darkness falls, your “master clock” advises other clocks not to eat. When you override that command, the pancreas starts releasing insulin to break down the food, which can reset the pancreatic clock and take it out of synch with other clocks in your body.

The takeaway? Be attentive and tune in to the clocks inside your body for better health.

If you're thinking about giving gifts to your employees during the December holidays, that's a good idea, but approach it with caution. Here are some basic pointers:

Don’t exclude people. Give gifts to your entire department. Handing out presents to some and not others will only cause resentment and trouble.

Be consistent. Give everyone the same item or a gift that is similar in price and style. Don’t give any one employee a present that stands out from the rest.

Go beyond the workplace. Don’t limit yourself to professional or workplace-related gifts. Decorative items for the home are usually appreciated as much as workplace accessories. 

Be careful when giving food. Some employees might have religious or medical restrictions on what they eat or drink. You should know your recipients well enough to steer clear of potential minefields.

Make returns simple. You can’t please everyone. Include gift receipts so people can return or exchange your presents without trouble.

This month always seems to bring good moods, good food and lots of gifts. Whether you go all out for the season ,or you prefer a quiet retreat at home, my wish is that you take a moment to savor every last bit of it.

The holiday magic is fleeting, as it only comes but once a year. For some of us, it’s when we see the first snow fall, and for even more of us, it’s the only time of the year when we get extended time off from work.

As the pace of the month increases with an ever-growing list of “Things to Do”, I encourage you to pause and take a step back and maybe make a list of “Things Not to Do.”

• Do not stress about giving the best gift.

• Do not fret about making the best meal.

• Do not agonize about eating that extra holiday cookie you loved so much.

The rest of the year has its stressors, and they will be there after this holiday season passes—trust me. Right now, I encourage you to focus on what matters. Maybe that is quality time with your friends, family and pets, or perhaps it’s quality time with yourself. Whatever it is and wherever you are - be there fully.

Until then,

Gino Pezzani

Your Real Estate/Mortgage Consultant For Life