Community Weekly Report 50 by d-mars.com

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COMMUNITY WEEKLY REPORT

Volume 2, Edition 50

Inspire, Inform & Educate

December 16 - December 22, 2021

Page 3

Making Pregnancy and Childbirth Safer in America D-MARS.COM INFO MAIN OFFICE: 7322 Southwest Fwy., Suite 800, Houston, TX 77074

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2 | December 16 - December 22, 2021

Community Weekly Report FINANCE

FINANCE

Tips to Manage and Improve Your Personal Finances By d-mars.com News Provider

5 Ways To Enjoy the Without Breaking Your Budget

Holidays By d-mars.com News Provider

new survey reveals that Americans say the holidays will give them something positive to look forward to, after many people had to curtail last year's holiday celebrations due to the pandemic. In the new 2021 Coinstar Holiday Survey, respondents said that while gift buying may go down this year (one-third plan to buy fewer gifts), people overall are looking for more activities that bring them holiday joy - as they still manage their budgets.

Here are tips to help boost your holiday spirit, without breaking the bank. 1. Embrace regifting If you've ever thought about regifting a present to someone who might actually enjoy it, you're not alone. According to the survey, more than onefourth (28%) said they're likely to regift something this holiday season. There's nothing wrong with regifting, and here's why: * It saves you money * Reusing is good for the environment * Your closet gets a little less cluttered * You may be giving the absolute perfect gift to someone else

Be sure to regift with care, and not give the gift back to the same person who gave it to you! 2. Use spare change to stretch your budget When finances are tight, you may be surprised to learn that you have more spare change lying around than you think! Check your purse, couch cushions, car or change jar for loose change. Survey respondents estimate they have approximately $123 in spare change at home, and over half (52%) said they are likely to cash in or use their spare change this holiday season. This newfound cash can be used for buying gifts, decorations or donating to others. It's easy to cash in your spare change at a Coinstar kiosk in your local supermarket. At the kiosk, you can convert your spare change to cash, a no-fee eGift card - or even donate to charity, which makes it perfect for boosting the spirit of giving.

3. Deck the halls with holiday spirit Nothing brings back your childhood sense of holiday wonder and magic better than beautiful colored lights and holiday decorations, whether at your own home or around your neighborhood. Over 90% of the people surveyed plan to decorate their homes this season, and three out of four say they will start or increase their tradition of driving around to enjoy decorations and lights nearby - a fun and no-cost activity to delight your whole family. 4. Bake a little joy for the holidays Baking is one of the most fun and inexpensive ways to spend time with your family, as well as being a great way to create giftable treats. In the survey, 80% of Americans said they will start or increase their home baking this holiday season. Find festive tins, jars or holiday-themed plates to load up with goodies, wrap in foil, then stick on a colorful ribbon and voila! A tasty gift anyone would love to receive. Baking not your strong suit? No worries. You can find pre-made refrigerated or frozen cookie dough in most stores, so you can still have the fun - and delicious aroma - of homemade cookies without all the fuss and muss. 5. Bring joy to others by giving Giving to others can bring unexpected holiday joy. After more than a year of challenges, nearly twothirds of Americans (61%) say they'll start or increase their donations of money or volunteering time to charity this holiday season. Another way to feel the warm glow of giving to others is by tipping service providers who help you throughout the year, from your childcare provider to your mail carrier. Well over half (57%) of Americans say they tip service providers during the holidays. It doesn't take a lot of cash to make the season bright. Revisit the traditions you have with friends and family and perhaps create a few new ones to make this year memorable. Approaching the holiday with an attitude of creativity and gratitude will go a long way toward capturing the joy of the holiday season. Source: BPT

f you’re like many Americans, having a better understanding of money management is a priority for you right now. In fact, nearly 75% of Americans hope to improve their financial literacy in 2021, according to a recent survey conducted by OnePoll for World Finance. The same survey also found that 50% of Americans need advice on how to budget properly. “While money matters can seem overwhelming at first, there is a simple formula for successful personal finances: know your credit score, create a manageable budget and build your savings,” says Chad Prashad, president and CEO of World Acceptance Corporation, the parent company of World Finance, a personal finance company. To help you get started, World Finance, which helps over one million customers each year improve their financial situations, is offering the following tips and insights: 1. Know your credit score: Many banks and lenders will let you review your credit score for free on a regular basis. If your credit score has room for improvement, a simple way to build it is through a credit building loan. This is a small loan designed to be easy to pay back, helping you establish positive credit through the lender. When taking out a loan, always be sure to use a reputable lender that reports to credit bureaus so that repaying your loan positively impacts your score. 2. Make, and stick to, a monthly budget: There is no one-size-fits-all way to make a budget so find a method that works best for you. A few systems to try include envelope budgeting (dividing expenditures into physical or digital envelopes representing different spending categories), zero-based budgeting (earmarking every last penny of your income to a useful purpose) and the 50/30/20 Rule (allocating 50% of your income to needs, 30% to wants and 20% to savings and debt reduction). 3. Start saving: While building a savings account can be daunting, it’s important to allocate one in your budget. Doing so will mean you have an emergency fund to keep you afloat when the unexpected happens in life. According to the OnePoll/World Finance survey, nearly 30% of Americans do not feel that they have the safety net or resources available to cover a financial setback greater than $400. If you find yourself in a situation where your savings won’t cover what you need, a personal installment loan with equal monthly payments designed to fit into your budget could be a good solution. Find a lender that will work with you to understand the complete picture of your finances, such as World Finance. To learn more, visit loansbyworld.com. “Every so often, it’s a good idea to take inventory of your financial wellness,” says Prashad. “Use the opportunity to understand your credit score, employ budgeting tactics and create a savings fund.

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Source: StatePoint

December 16 - December 22, 2021 | 3

Community Weekly Report HEALTH

Making Pregnancy and Childbirth Safer in America By d-mars.com News Provider

t surprises a lot of people to learn that the United States is the most dangerous place to give birth in the developed world. Women in the United States are more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than women in Libya and Kazakhstan, and the United States is the only industrialized nation to experience an increase in maternal mortality over the last two decades. Pregnancy is especially dangerous for women of color. Black women in the United States lose their lives in childbirth at three to four times the rate of white women. But there is good news. Experts say we can reduce deaths among moms and babies by improving health policies and changing the way care is delivered. MomsRising, an online and on-theground organization working to improve

the health and economic security of moms and families, is urging federal and state lawmakers to invest in research into the reasons pregnancy and childbirth are so dangerous in the United States. The group is pressing to improve prenatal care, better train doctors and nurses, diversify the perinatal health care workforce, make it easier for working moms to breastfeed, improve mental health care for pregnant women and new moms, ensure that pregnant women on Medicaid can keep their health insurance for a year after giving birth, and guarantee paid leave. Right now, one in four women go back to work just two weeks after giving birth because they can’t afford to take any additional unpaid time off to recover from childbirth and care for their infant.

both babies and parents,” says Tina Sherman, MomsRising’s senior campaign director for maternal justice. “Families need that time to bond, moms need it to heal from birth and establish breastfeeding routines, and it’s crucial for infant development.” Learn more at www.momsrising.org. Source: StatePoint

“The early weeks of a baby’s life are critical for families. Insufficient paid leave for moms and dads is harmful for the health and well-being of

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4 | December 16 - December 22, 2021

Community Weekly Report

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