Author: Dennis Piper

Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/BduDcrySLKM/download

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some people discovered that staying at home was beneficial. They were able to work from home without making a long commute. Some people have been able to help their children with school in more ways while others have taken time to connect to their family and friends in creative ways.

For some people, they stopped liking the idea of staying at home during the first few weeks of the pandemic and have struggled to continue making adjustments. Fortunately, there are a few hobbies that you can try to make a difficult situation a bit easier.

Movies and Television

Although it might not be a hobby, you could spend time during the pandemic watching your favorite television shows and movies that you haven’t had the time to enjoy. You can skip through commercials with streaming services and fast forward through parts of movies that you don’t want to see. You could even enjoy a movie night or two with your family as a way to spend more time together.

Learn a New Skill

One way to better your mind during the pandemic is by learning a new skill or new subject. If you have friends or family members who are in another country, you could start learning a new language and find lessons online for university students so that you can communicate through emails and video calls. You could also brush up on other subjects, such as math and science, especially if you plan to go to school and so that you can help your children with their work while they are in school.

Pick Up a Book

When you’re busy with work and taking care of your family, it can sometimes be difficult to find the time to enjoy a good book. With some of the free time that you might have during the pandemic, consider starting a book series or reading a book that you’ve always wanted to try. Some of your friends can read the same book so that you can discuss it through a video call, giving you a way to do something that you like while also talking to your friends. If you don’t want to keep a physical book in your hand, you could always use a Kindle to enjoy stories as well.

Exercise

Even though you might not be able to go to a gym, you can still exercise during the pandemic. This could be the best time to get started as well if you find that you have more time at home instead of going to work or school. You could set up an area outside to exercise so that you get fresh air. Get the family involved as well so that you can spend time together while staying healthy.

Crafts

From holidays to decorations, there are numerous reasons to make crafts. This can be a fun hobby for all ages and one that can keep you busy when it seems as though there’s nothing else to do at home. If your hours have decreased at work or if you’ve lost your job, then you could begin making crafts as a way to make money to support your family. 

It’s also a way to take your mind off of some of the things that take place pertaining to the pandemic. You can send your crafts to friends and family for special occasions if you’re unable to see them to let them know that you’re thinking of them. If you don’t have the supplies that you need, you could always subscribe to a craft box so that you get something new each month.

Games

From board games to video games, there’s an assortment that you can play to keep you busy. Start playing the latest game online with your friends, or spend an evening playing board games with your family to see who can come out victorious. There are games for all ages to enjoy, and there are options that are educational so that you can help your children learn while they aren’t in school while having fun at the same time.

Projects

Even if it’s painting the cabinets in your home, you can use the pandemic to your benefit by completing a few projects around your house. This could be beneficial since some companies might be booked out for a few months after needing to restrict the number of appointments that are made or because some workers aren’t able to enter homes to complete projects that they once performed. Aside from painting, you could replace the flooring in a room or change a few doors so that there’s a new look in your home.

Gardening

This is a hobby that can get you outdoors instead of staying inside all the time, especially if everyone is at home at the same time. Take the time to learn about the plants that you care for and how you can make them grow better instead of just putting a few flowers in a pot and watering them.

In 2020, Americans’ consumer debt rose to over $14 trillion, but in 2021, it appears that the situation many experts expected – a full on debt crisis driven by the pandemic, actually didn’t happen. Despite record high unemployment and many other financial woes, credit card balances and other types of debt went down instead of up. This isn’t to say that debt went away completely, of course as we navigated unprecedented times, there were financial difficulties that did require people to get into more debt to survive, but the outlook isn’t as dire as one might think. 

So if credit card debt went down, what drove this? Let’s explore the reason why consumer debt was surprisingly lower than expected. 

A Cautious Society 

The looming and eventual crisis that was the pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns made everyone understandably nervous about spending, so during the pandemic spending on certain things went down. People knew something significant was coming, so they prepared by cutting back on spending. There was a lot of panic about a Great Recession type crisis, and people braced themselves for a difficult time. When people expect a crisis they change their habits, and make decisions that are good for the wallet in order to get through it, and that could have been why there was less consumer debt than expected. 

Real Estate

If 2020 was a crisis, it was a different flavor of crisis, and it didn’t look the same as 2008. One big difference is that real estate was not the reason for or a victim of the pandemic, actually real estate boomed and thrived through 2020. Homeownership increased, most markets reported low inventory showing that there was high demand and of course, the interest rates were really low so the factors that usually led to a collapse in real estate weren’t present. That meant people could take advantage of real estate to prop themselves up. Some people use the proceeds of selling their home for more money to consolidate or even reduce debt, other people were able to renegotiate their mortgages, and the people who had an understanding of the different reverse-mortgage pros and cons, were able to leverage their home equity. 

Less Lifestyle Spending 

The usual things that drove consumer debt were out of reach thanks to stay-home orders. Things like clothing, travel and other leisure activities can drive a lot of credit card spending. With everyone stuck indoors, things like clothing started to feel quite unnecessary so that kept spending down for a few months. Lifestyle spending definitely contributed to people being crippled by debt, so when those things weren’t present, it kept that part of borrowing down. 

Stimulus 

Another reason why we didn’t see such a massive increase in debt is definitely the stimulus. The government stimulus helped a lot of people endure the hard part of the pandemic, and others used the money to pay off debts or invest into other ventures. Because lifestyle spending went down as a result, whatever money people got from the government either went to expenses or to finding a way to better their financial situation.

Savvy Consumers 

Consumers haven’t just become more cautious in times of crisis, they are also more savvy about how they spend their money. For many people, the lessons of 2008 are still heavily resonant today, and there’s a lot more people who are focused on making sure they escape debt and potential financial ruin. People have a keen interest in learning about personal finance, and ways to build wealth, and they’ve become intensely aware of just how costly it is to maintain large amounts of credit card debt. People also use debt intelligently, to make their lives better in a meaningful way. This is also why people didn’t ramp up credit card spending because they are clear on the downsides. 

Credit card and consumer debt has been considered a crisis in America for years, and one only has to look back to 2008 to see the catastrophic effects of it. Surprisingly, the credit card catastrophe that people anticipated in 2020 actually didn’t happen. For many reasons, Americans were able to stave off complete collapse, and even though it was a challenging time, it really could have been a lot worse. There’s still a few months left in 2021 to see how the situation will shape up, especially as the economy is now starting to recover. The lesson is, it’s not all bad news and there have been some encouraging trends that show that the economic fallout of the pandemic is one the nation can recover from. 

Cravings to try CBD products? It would be fair to say that they are on every corner of the Internet, and you can easily place an order and get them now. Yet, those who have never tried them before puzzle their heads with the types of CBD products, and dispensaries. This article will speak of the recommendations on such goods, and where to buy them without trouble. Off we go!

Buying CBD Near Me Locally vs Online

When shopping you always have two options – either to go for a walk to the shopping mall or sit on your sofa and scroll the Web for the best stores. Everything depends on your comfort. Let’s compare both.

1. When you choose local stores, you have the ability to see CBD goods on the spot, and even speak to the sales associate. It fits those who do not trust online shopping where you literally buy a pig in a poke;
2. Online shopping is designed primarily to help you access the utmost comfort. You do not go anywhere. You scroll the websites, overlook the products like CBD oil near me, prices, and learn about the delivery terms;
3. The CBD near me shops won’t be very favourable in terms of prices. Compared to online stores, they may charge you more. Beyond that, they rarely feature any interesting promotions or discounts;
4. Online shopping will be powered by discounts, and special deals that can help you buy more but at a reduced cost;
5. Both parties can be chosen for a wide assortment. So, here is a draw game.

Then, with both, you can potentially access information about lab tests, and other quality certificates. Note, if the store does not reveal this information, you should not buy with them any CBD goods. 

How to Choose the Best CBD Near Me Dispensary?

First off, let’s offer you the opportunity to understand how a reliable store should look like. Black Tie CBD is a shop that offers a myriad of CBD products. You can find CBD oil near me smokeable, edibles and topical for any liking, and paying capacity. Black Tie CBD has a responsive customer support where you can address your inquiry and get prompt help on your orders.

What about other dispensaries apart from Black Tie CBD, how to choose them?

#1 Research Information Online

On most occasions, local stores that sell CBD oil near me have their own websites, so you can both order online or go there to pick your goods. Do also focus research on understanding the ratings of the shop. For instance, what people say about it, how they rate the pricing policy or just the quality of CBD products. Be very suspicious regarding only positive comments. There should always be a golden mean that can hint you at real clients’ feedback.

#2 Speak to Your Healthcare Provider

Normally, CBD products should be always discussed with your doctor. It especially concerns the events when you have medical conditions and want to boost your health or wellbeing. A doctor may first recommend the CBD product for your particular case, as well as share advice on dispensaries where you can buy it.

#3 Talk to the Store Representatives

Either on the spot or online, you have to speak to the representatives to understand what their store just stands for. It can be a seller that offers a wide range of health, beauty products, or a party solely for CBD goods. Beyond that, you should ask about permits to sell such goods, or lab tests again to rest assured knowing about the quality.

#4 Ask Test Results

As was hinted above, this step is crucial. Trustworthy dispensaries do always distribute products that are third-party lab tested on their purities and potency. On some occasions, you can also scan the QR code found on the labelling to scan the results. When you shop locally, you can also ask for the results, and receive on the spot consultation.

#5 Learn the Guarantees

Yes, you cannot return the hemp flowers after smoking because you did not like the quality, however, there should be a money-back guarantee for unforeseen occasions. For instance, if you receive a wrong product, or there are issues with the delivery. Normally, online stores will definitely come up with some kind of refund, or just resend your order with some treats to not lose a client. With local stores, such events are very rare.

#6 Speak to Cannabis Experts

If you did not know such experts do exist, and they work by providing information on CBD products, and medical marijuana. If not with an expert, you can find online blogs. For instance, the Black Tie store has its own CBD blog where you can learn the basics about such goods, and understand how to take edibles, topicals, smokeable among others. After familiarizing yourself with such information, you will be more knowledgeable about how the industry works.

#7 Understand the Shipping Policy (When Buying Online)

If you choose online shopping, ensure the store delivers to you, and understand how the shipping works with them. For example, with the Black Tie, all the orders are shipped within 2 business days after receiving your request. The average delivery takes 3-7 business days. And, they cover all 50 states, unlike many other stores that exclude Hawaii and Alaska. On some occasions, some stores may also take longer for the delivery due to holidays. If there are issues with delays, again refer to the refunds or re-selling.

All in all, the CBD near me can be shopped locally and online. It is up to you to choose the most comfortable option, however, never run for prices only. CBD products are markets where you can be rigged with low-quality goods. If you see that, for example, a tincture is too low in price, it should arouse suspicions. If you see that a smokable is too expensive, there should be explanations for that. Refer to the Black Tie for your acknowledgement, and high-quality CBD products first, and understand what good products stand for.