JOHN'S LIFE SPACE DISCLAIMER:

"John's Life Space" features a variety of content to many audiences. The majority of content is meant to suit an audience 13 years of age and older. Some material offered in this blog may not be suitable for all audiences and may include some topics too sensitive or discomforting to discuss. All advice offered in this blog is not meant to replace or substitute practical help. If you require counseling or want more professional help, please consult your healthcare provider, a psychologist, or any other qualified individual.
Showing posts with label Commentary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Commentary. Show all posts

Thursday, June 6, 2024

Saving Money and Major Purchases

John B. Marine | June 06, 2024 | | | Be the first to comment!
Things cost money. When things cost a lot of money, you want to save up finances. Major purchases are an exercise in saving finances. How you handle the saving process depends on being able to make major purchases. So for this blog post, I discuss making major purchases. Hopefully this will be a discussion to your liking if this topic interests you.






Making Major Purchases: At a Glance


When something you need or want costs a lot of money, you will need enough finances to make a purchase happen. You need enough credit to acquire something anyways. Some items require more money for which to acquire. There is no one specific way to save up enough finances to buy anything. What may work for one person may not work for another.

I always try to be transparent and real regarding topics I feature in my blogs, so let me share that I am as much into major purchases as you are. For me, I have been trying to save up money lately to get myself a modern gaming console. The original plan was to get a Nintendo Switch. That plan changed to getting a used PlayStation 4. Now, I have considered saving up to get a PlayStation 5 [Disc Version]. The plan I have currently means I have to consider saving up more money to get what I want.

I have made enough strides to save money for things. I remembered saving up money towards buying a computer, a Chromebook, an MP3 player, a PlayStation 3, and a few other things. I have done things like get PayPal money and even doing paid blog posts. I have done nearly anything to try to make and save money.


Inspiration/Motivation to Save Money.

Let me share some of my motivations and inspirations regarding saving money.

A TV program I used to watch years ago (around 2012) about saving money was called "Deals" on the Live Well Network (now known as LOCALish). The host of this former show, host, Katishia Cosley, would offer up money-saving advice ranging from spending less on items to even making your own items to save money. Watching this show around 2012 or so was helpful in knowing what is possible for stretching dollars. ABC 13 here in Houston also had a segment on their afternoon news called just that- "Stretch Your Dollar" with former newscaster, Patricia Lopez. Nowadays with this topic, I watch "Sullivan's Smart Sense" with Heather Sullivan on FOX 26 here in Houston. Saving money can help towards making major purchases in case you are planning on making any major purchases. That is my own personal inspiration towards saving money and in making major purchases.


Now that I have discussed the individual nuances of saving money and my own situation, let's delve deeper into the matter of making major purchases and saving money.




Making Major Purchases


So you want to plan a big purchase some time soon or in the future? Good! Be mindful of a few things, though. Please consider the following...


Major Purchases: Needs and Wants.

If there is something you are looking to buy, is it a need or a want? When it comes to more expensive things, the importance of having it warrants saving up for them.

A need involves something necessary and essential to living. A major purchase as a need includes things like houses, rent, vehicles, some furniture, some electronics, certain services, enough for groceries, going to school/college/university, tuition, and things like that. Needs can also include saving for retirement, paying for insurance, disability benefits, credits for services, and more. Saving up for something essential is surely is serious regarding major purchases.

A want is something you'd like to have that is not essential towards living. These can be simple things like video game consoles, gaming computers, video games and computer games, some clothes, certain footwear, collectibles, and the like. Things non-essential to your living but like to have is a want. Starting a business can also be a want if you are looking for a long-team deal of staying financially stable or being able to provide for your family and others.

Depending on your situation, you will have to weigh your needs and wants. Some wants can be needs if something is very important to you. So even the most comical of things can be something you feel you must have. Maybe you do need something non-essential to help live better or open opportunities to new things. It all depends.


Considerations After Planning Making a Major Purchase.

What can be more important than a major purchase itself is in dealing with finances after the purchase. You may have bought something for about $340 USD, but have you thought about having money left over? I always consider the price of something, the sales tax for it, and then how much money I'd have left over. It would be a bad idea to try to buy something without having sufficient money remaining or any way to rebuild finances after a purchase. It would be an even worse idea if you are involved something that may involve periodic fees. You want to have enough money to handle certain other purchases.

The best thing to think about in this situation is to consider the price of something and add sales taxes (if applicable). Let us use the PlayStation 5 Disc Version example here for a moment. I also suggest you get a little math lesson out of this. Wal-Mart sells the PlayStation 5 for $499.99 USD. Sales tax here in Texas is usually 6.25% or up to 8.25%. Here is the math:

(price of item/service) x (sales tax) = total price

Multiply the price of the item by the sales tax to get the final price. You obviously want to round that total to the nearest hundredth. Then, make sure you have the money to pay for that thing. So in my example, a $499.99 USD PS5 Disc Version coupled with a sales tax of 8.25% here in Texas means you would need to save up $541.24 to buy it. What if you wanted to buy a game or two along with that? What if you wanted to get a gift card to use PlayStation Plus? That means you would have to add those things towards what you want to pay for. That means paying for what you want in addition to anything extra you want with the major purchase you have planned. So that means taking the price of the major purchase and adding on whatever else you want to get with it. That will more than likely equal a higher price tag than just the major purchase you plan to make.

If you do not have enough money to get certain things in addition to making a purchase, you will need to save more money and plan to buy something else later. If you have something that is a periodic payment, such as a subscription to a service or monthly fees, you also have to take that into consideration in having leftover money to handle some other expenses or to add to what you already have. Having no more money and no way to pay for any extra items or expenses can lead to some poor financial health. Think critically about planning any major purchases.

One more important thing to remember about major purchases is that life happens. "Life happens" is not only the motto of this blog, but it is the truth. Trying to save up money for some sort of major purchase can give some obstacles and challenges often times. For example, you may get injured or no longer be employed at a job. These things may require you to find other ways to make money or pay for other things outside of what you want to buy. It is therefore imperative to handle as many financial expenses as possible even while you are trying to buy something you really need or want.



Now it is time to discuss saving money. The next section discusses this matter.




Saving Money


The most important element of making a major purchase is to save money. How you go about saving money depends. Doing whatever it takes to save up money is the challenge.

Some people who barely make any money or are given money will try to save up their finances in hopes of making a major purchase. I hear stories of people who save up a little money and hopefully be able to start a business. Some major companies started out with having just a little money and then saving up to start businesses that ultimately become million-dollar and even billion-dollar companies. Saving up money is a huge part of this process.

If a parent or someone gives you money, this is something to definitely save up for. If you need to use any given money, make sure to use it sparingly. What you want to do is save enough money to make a sort of major purchase. Twitch streamers and YouTube video makers sometimes have streaming services that allow for donations. Some even use the likes of PayPal or Venmo to carry out financial tasks for their work. Regardless, taking advantage of such things is crucial towards saving.

What one certainly wants to do in the case of income and expenses is to make sure expenses do not exceed income. You don't want spending to go over the top.


Saving Tips.

Here are a few random tips of things I know regarding saving money.

• I used to have an account with a bank that charged monthly fees. If you want to save money, try going with a service that does not charge monthly fees. It may also help to have a debit card so you don't have to worry about paying off credit cards. One example of a company that does not charge monthly fees is Bluebird's debit card.

• If you are in a financial pinch and are subscribed to services, get out of subscription services. For example, you may choose to get out of a Netflix subscription just to save some extra money. Getting out of subscription services can help you save some extra money.

• You may also think about signing up for less expensive services or holding back on buying certain things. If you go to a grocery store offering cheaper prices on some of the same items, shop there to save some money.

• If you can make something yourself that costs less than buying from a store, you can try that as well. Some people who have farms or some animals could produce their own products to feed their families. Think about having chickens hatch eggs so you won't need to buy eggs at a grocery store, for example. Some people even meal prep so they will not have so much indecision on what to eat for a day or a week. This can save money especially if your creations are cheaper than something similar you would buy at a store or online.

• Take advantage of sales and discounts. Some things you need or want could be offered for discounted prices. You may be able to score some deals if what you want is sold for a cheaper price than its original price. So take advantage of these opportunities.

• Use coupons if you have any. Coupons will allow you to get certain things for cheap when you go to check out things at stores. For online sales, using certain discount codes work just like coupons. These online codes for online sales can allow you to get a discount like a coupon for goods online.

• Use gift cards or special cards if you have any. If you have a card that can be reloaded with money, be sure to add funds to that card so you will not have to pay so much for anything. Be warned some services may not accept certain cards. For example, I tried buying games on the popular PC game store GOG, and I was unable to purchase games because of my gift card. Be careful in these times.

If you tag some companies on social media with things you make or promote, companies may offer you things as a showing of respect. This can be good to get things without needing to save up money. These usually can come in the form of reviewing things from a company. You may even be compensated for your involvement.

• Want to not spend your own money on things? Have someone else pay for things! This could be great if someone gives you something that you want but have someone else pay for it. You could receive something as a gift. If you are a content creator, try to engage your audience into helping get tips and donations to help you finance something.

• Set up or get involved in crowdfunding. Crowdfunding is where many people join together and donate money towards being able to finance certain things. You may see donation goals for certain online streamers and content creators trying to finance something. For example, an online streamer may set a donation goal towards buying a new gaming system or a better PC or laptop. Even if you do not make your own money, it at least is helpful to have an active, paying crowd to help you with certain financial goals.

• You can sell a lot of things you are not using any more or simply want to get rid of. You can build up your finances and save money to help towards making a major purchase or simply having extra money on hand.

• If you have a method of passable income (such as blogging or selling goods), use those services and get the revenue to help in building your finances. All that has to happen now is saving that extra money up.



Of course, these are only a few suggestions towards saving money. You may be able to find other ways to save money for making purchases.




Saving Money and Major Purchases: Final Thoughts


Money is important to acquiring certain things. When you do have insufficient funds, the task is to save money. How you do so depends on your financial situation and whatever it is you are looking to purchase. What may seem like a want may be a legitimate need for some people. Everyone has different situations in terms of buying something. People may have to sacrifice certain things for which to save money, especially when planning buying something major.

Money is never abundant. We all know money does not grow on trees, so it isn't like you could pick money from trees as you would some fruits. It is best to save money when you can. If you are planning major purchases (or even simple ones), having enough money to cover costs goes a long way towards your personal happiness. You may want to speak with financial advisors or seek solutions from your bank or credit union if you want to make proper decisions regarding your money. Also remember that life can get in the way of making any planned major purchase. Be sure to handle and consider all expenses in addition to making a major purchase.

Make as many smart decisions to handle your finances before, during, and after planning a purchase of any scale. Surely have major purchases in mind, but make sure to be able to pay for all of the associated costs and expenses.





If you are planning any major purchases any time soon, I hope you will be able to save up enough money to help finance whatever it is you need or want. This post is over right now. Feel free to offer your own suggestions if you wish. Help me help others. Subscribe/Follow my blog(s) in any capacity if you love my work. Share my blog post(s) with others if you enjoy my work. Support me further by connecting with me on social media; and if you are inclined, feel free to donate to me (donations are voluntary but would be appreciated). Thank you for reading! Take care and be well.

Visit my JohnMarineDesigns Weebly site, subscribe to My Blog(s), and/or Follow on Bloglovin! Let's connect:
Contact Me via E-Mail Contact Me via Discord

(donations are voluntary)
Visit and Subscribe to My Blogs...
Subscribe to John's Blog Space (JBS) Subscribe to John's Creative Space (JCS) Subscribe to John's Race Space (JRS) Subscribe to StyleSpace (SS) Subscribe to John's Life Space (JLS)
Get Social With Me!
Facebook (Friends) Facebook (Fans) Twitter YouTube
Pinterest LinkedIn (professionals only) Discord ???
Support My Creative Works!
JMDesigns John on Envato
Patreon Soundcloud Bandcamp
Twitch OpenGameArt TurboSquid
read more...

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Discussing Your Mental Health Issues

John B. Marine | February 29, 2024 | | Be the first to comment!
Discussing your mental health issues with others is a touchy topic. It can be a good thing to share your mental health issues. Conversely, it also can seem like making excuses, and not many people will buy your claims. It is a conversation you must try to make when you can. Especially if there are individuals you care about and think can be better people, you want to be able to express your mental health issues and try to get a better understanding with others.

I always want to stress you are not a failure or a disappointment just because you have mental health issues that deter your well-being. While it can be painful to discuss any mental health issues you have, releasing is better than holding back. Bottling up your emotions can only make things worse. If in crisis, there may be a point where your mental health ends up taking over your daily functions and may take you over the edge. You could either find yourself in a mental health mess, or you may become violently angry and hostile to where you do something that may be unforgivable to loved ones.

Be understanding and mindful that such mental health issues are real by people who admit them. Try to work with others and not do and say things that can only make their situation worse. RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE! Most of all, honestly share your issues in a non-violent and sincere matter. Do not discuss such manners casually if you are truly impacted by some mental health issues. Most of all, do not belittle or take advantage of someone who may be suffering mentally. We all must do what we can to help make life better for everyone. This includes friends, family, and others.





I am always looking to make a difference for others. Hopefully this post helps. Subscribe/Follow my blog(s) in any capacity if you love my work. Share my blog post(s) with others if you enjoy my work. Support me further by connecting with me on social media; and if you are inclined, feel free to donate to me (donations are voluntary but would be appreciated). Thank you for reading! Take care and be well.

Visit my JohnMarineDesigns Weebly site, subscribe to My Blog(s), and/or Follow on Bloglovin! Let's connect:
Contact Me via E-Mail Contact Me via Discord

(donations are voluntary)
Visit and Subscribe to My Blogs...
Subscribe to John's Blog Space (JBS) Subscribe to John's Creative Space (JCS) Subscribe to John's Race Space (JRS) Subscribe to StyleSpace (SS) Subscribe to John's Life Space (JLS)
Get Social With Me!
Facebook (Friends) Facebook (Fans) Twitter YouTube
Pinterest LinkedIn (professionals only) TikTok Discord
Support My Creative Works!
JMDesigns John on Envato
Patreon Soundcloud Bandcamp
Twitch OpenGameArt TurboSquid
read more...

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Celebrate Responsibly

John B. Marine | July 18, 2023 | Be the first to comment!
This past Independence Day saw a lot of injuries and deaths due to various celebrations. The most common culprit is often celebratory gunfire. Firing off gunshots in celebration could lead to disposed bullets hitting someone or something. Not being safe using things like fireworks or sparklers can also be dangerous. There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to celebrate certain occasions. If you are going to do so, though, consider your life and the lives of others as you celebrate. Any kind of celebration is meant to be just that- celebration, happiness, and jubilation. You don't want what should be a joyous time to end up being a somber time. So please be sure to celebrate responsibly when you can.

The impacts of celebrating can be further enhanced if smoking or drinking is involved. Impaired judgment can be just as damaging in regards to celebrating. You certainly want to be careful if you are drinking and/or smoking prior to or during celebrating. Any number of things can happen as you are high or drunk. If you are too drunk to where you can't drive home safely, have someone else [who isn't drunk or high] drive home.

Let me get back to fireworks and sparklers for a moment. If you are in a place where fireworks are disallowed, PLEASE don't use them in such locations. There is a chance you could start a fire or get someone hurt. People will still pop off fireworks in places and times where they are disallowed. You can't pardon the foolishness of such individuals, so make sure to take things carefully.

Having said all of this, I'd like to offer my condolences to those who may have been injured or killed celebrating anything recently. Just be careful and mindful as you celebrate. You may also elect to do the simplest things in this situation- either celebrate privately or don't celebrate at all.





This was just a simple blog post regarding celebrating responsibly. Usually, I do more detailed blog posts on topics. This one was more casual but still informative. If you enjoy my work, please Subscribe/Follow my blog(s) in any capacity if you love my work and want to support me any way you can. Share my blog post(s) with others if you enjoy my work. Thank you for reading! Take care and be well.

Visit my JohnMarineDesigns Weebly site, subscribe to My Blog(s), and/or Follow on Bloglovin! Let's connect:
Contact Me via E-Mail Contact Me via Discord

(donations are voluntary)
Visit and Subscribe to My Blogs...
Subscribe to John's Blog Space (JBS) Subscribe to John's Creative Space (JCS) Subscribe to John's Race Space (JRS) Subscribe to StyleSpace (SS) Subscribe to John's Life Space (JLS)
Get Social With Me!
Facebook (Friends) Facebook (Fans) Twitter YouTube
Pinterest LinkedIn (professionals only) TikTok Discord
Support My Creative Works!
JMDesigns John on Envato
Patreon Soundcloud Bandcamp
Twitch OpenGameArt TurboSquid
read more...

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

5 Years of John's Life Space

John B. Marine | November 09, 2022 | Be the first to comment!
"John's Life Space" turned five years old on November 8, 2008. I felt this was an opportunity to discuss this blog's success and what I want for this blog moving forward. I am sorry I did not post this entry on this blog's anniversary, but I made this post anyways to reflect on this blog of mine. So welcome to "John's Life Space" and another post on here!






Five Years of John's Life Space


Prior to "John's Life Space," I would post a host of life issues in my main blog, "John's Blog Space." I felt I needed a proper blog to discuss life issues and only life issues. I even try to find different ways to discuss different issues. After my grandmother passed away four days before releasing this blog, I decided to devote this blog and its content in loving memory of my grandmother. I want to make "John's Life Space" a safe space and positive space for discussing all kinds of life issues. So do not feel bad or punished being here.

A lot of what I discuss are based on thoughts of mine, but a lot of other issues are based on personal experiences. I have no shame in admitting I have done foolish things. I have no shame in admitting I have failed in points where I could have done much better. Whereas some people would see it as showing weakness or only posting for oneself about life issues, I see it as a chance to get real. Not everything has to be portrayed with some song followed by some dancing or acting. Sometimes, boring English tells the tale better than any short online video.

I sometimes have posted blog entries as a means of helping others by releasing my own bottled-up emotions. I tend to be someone who tries to feel better by releasing my frustrations in hopes I can relieve others of their own frustrations. I just want to make life better for myself and others.

Even though I try to offer advice on various life issues, I am not an expert at these things. I am dealing with a lot of the different issues others may be facing. I am trying to help people win their battles over life issues while trying to win my own battles with my own life issues. We are all in this together. I often feel bad about my own life issues as I try to make life better for others. It speaks to the level of strength I have in trying to get over these various issues.

The motto to this blog is simple- "Life happens." Life indeed happens. All the posts that are a part of this blog help us realize that life happens.


Mental Health Focus.

Mental health has become a serious factor over the years. I felt it was important to key in on mental health issues because a lot of us can feel horrible about our lives, but our mental health can play an influence in bringing us down. Some people may be absolutely amazing but are let down by their mental health. Do we condemn these people and everything they stand for? No. We instead need to help these people and instill hope.

A lot of the issues on "John's Life Space" pertains to certain mental health issues. So I feel we really need to consider and respect peoples' mental health situation. Do NOT let people suffer and feel horrible- instead, let's try to HELP people! You may not know or realize how much people may be hurting. It is important we try to help people feel better and happy. I am trying to do what I can.



Helpful Resources and LGBT+ Resources.

While I haven't gotten much feedback regarding my life issues posts, the most successful aspect of "John's Life Space" is the inclusion of Helpful Resources and LGBT+ Resources. I started my Helpful Resources page on July 21, 2021. I felt the need to include online resources to various issues to help people in different ways. You could find almost anything about online videos or the latest memes. However, what about things that REALLY matter? Like- help regarding abuse, addiction, bullying, relationships, and more? This is where I try to offer some support. I am often contacted regarding resource to help people with whatever life issues they want some resources for. I feel this has been the most successful part of my life issues blog. Though I do love this aspect, I want others to also look at my past blog posts for more insight.

You can say whatever you want about the LGBT+ community. I felt like the LGBT+ community isn't as respected as much because people don't really understand LGBT+. Some people just completely dislike the LGBT+ community and its beliefs altogether. No matter where you stand regarding the LGBT+ community, I included a new "LGBT+ Resources" community to help people better understand LGBT+ as well as get resources. While I do not admit being among the LGBT+ community, I am an LGBT+ ally and am highly supportive and understanding of the LGBT+ community. How does the LGBT+ Resources work? Well, pretend you have special feelings or romantic interests in a same-sex partner. You may want to say your romantic interests are bisexual, pansexual, or even asexual. You may even not feel happy with your current gender and decide to go the transgender route. Maybe you don't believe in gender at all; and you therefore consider yourself gender non-binary, gender non-conforming, genderfluid, or anything like that. Maybe you are the parent of an LGBT child or children, perhaps a child who is gay/lesbian or feels he/she was born in the wrong body and wants to have transgender surgery and therapy. Rather than feel ashamed for being LGBT+, you should get certain resources to take a look at to help answer your LGBT-related concerns. So on June 1, 2022; I released my LGBT+ Resources page to assist EVERYONE- not just the LGBT community.

One other important thing to note is that all material I find and feature are meant to be about factual and useful material. I try not to post anything that is comedic, derogatory, anything that is sexually arousing, and things of that nature. I also try not to post material that leads to suspicious websites or spam. I always review any resources suggested to me. I want people to get the resources they want to use and utilize without the fear of being short-changed. Not every resource suggested gets featured. I may decide a certain resource may not fit the scope of life issues or LGBT+ resources. I may instead add those resources to a different blog of mine or disapprove it altogether. For example, if someone contacts me about suggesting a life issues resource about an online fashion retailer, I may add it to my fashion/beauty blog (StyleSpace, by John B. Marine). I recommend people who suggest a resource tell me what category the resource should fall under so it becomes easier for me to put it in a certain category. I may add a new category if I feel it deserves its own place. Some resources may even be included in more than one category.



Future Plans and Considerations.

I hope to keep posting more topics on "John's Life Space." I want people to feel like they are getting help and guidance when they visit this blog. I don't get any real feedback except for suggested resources. Please don't stop suggesting legitimate and useful resources. I want to help everyone, even including the LGBT+ community. So keep suggesting me resources so I can help other people. Also, don't forget to read my blog posts for more information on certain topics. You may even suggest future topics I can try to help people with. If you are interested in making Guest Posts in my blog, be sure to contact me on that, and I will remind my audience these are guest posts and will offer the proper crediting.

I do not employ tactics of cyber begging, but I would appreciate trying to find ways to financially profit from my work without feeling like I'm ripping people off. So if you're inclined, I would appreciate if you can donate financially to me. Donations are voluntary (not required) but would be appreciated. Please support my work any way you can if you appreciate my efforts.





Thank you for your support over the years!

If you enjoy my work, please Subscribe/Follow my blog(s) in any capacity if you love my work and want to support me any way you can. Share my blog post(s) with others if you enjoy my work. Thank you for reading! Take care and be well.

Visit my JohnMarineDesigns Weebly site, subscribe to My Blog(s), and/or Follow on Bloglovin! Let's connect:
Contact Me via E-Mail Contact Me via Discord

(donations are voluntary)
Visit and Subscribe to My Blogs...
Subscribe to John's Blog Space (JBS) Subscribe to John's Creative Space (JCS) Subscribe to John's Race Space (JRS) Subscribe to StyleSpace (SS) Subscribe to John's Life Space (JLS)
Get Social With Me!
Facebook (Friends) Facebook (Fans) Twitter YouTube
Pinterest LinkedIn (professionals only) TikTok Discord
Support My Creative Works!
JMDesigns JMDesigns on Payhip John on Envato
Patreon Soundcloud Bandcamp
Twitch OpenGameArt TurboSquid
read more...

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Minimalism

John B. Marine | April 27, 2022 | | | | Be the first to comment!
Minimalism is about less is more. Minimalism involves downsizing. The idea is to live your best life having as little as possible. Can you live your best life without having a whole lot? This "John's Life Space" post involves minimalism. I will even share my own insights towards developing this mindset. I am not here to convince you to live minimalist, but I am providing insight on minimalism if you are considering living a minimalist lifestyle or want some insight on minimalism.






Minimalism


In most cases, having so little is usually grounds for having sympathy for others. It makes people want to pour into their resources and try to help people whom they feel are struggling in life. However, minimalism is not like that. Minimalism is about having so few resources yet still living a perfectly fine life.

We have grown as a culture to where having a big living space, having a significant other, and establishing a family makes someone a success in society. When someone lives with so less, some people think they are failures and probably wished they would live the lives of what society deems successful. Some people who live a minimalist lifestyle have all they need and do not have to have loads of money and resources to be happy. It is because some people make changes to themselves and their lives to live happily while not having the best of everything. Such people realize what makes them happy, and they don't rely on having a materialistic mindset to be happy.

When someone does not have all kinds of goods that give status, does it mean someone simply is not successful? Absolutely not. I can speak from personal experience. I honestly never felt bad because I wasn't wearing Nike sneakers or have a Starter jacket unlike other school students. I did not feel required to have what everyone else had in order to feel happy. I was okay having knock-off goods. At least I had certain goods. As I look at the idea of minimalism, I would be greatly served having some of the cheapest material as long as it lasted. I didn't care if I wasn't wearing Nike sneakers or have a Starter jacket. At least I had clothes.

NOTE: Now before I go into further detail, I want to advise everyone that living a minimalist lifestyle does NOT mean people are failures. Minimalist people are not those who failed to live the American dream (at least here in the United States of America). I am not suggesting minimalist types need help. I am just here to discuss minimalist culture.


Why Minimalism?

I will give you a lot of thoughts about minimalism to help prove my points on minimalism. Check it...

Someone would want to imagine what the big deal is with minimalism. Well for a lot of people, having the best of everything does not equate to happiness. When you really think about it, a lot of things we are blessed with or have are not exactly REQUIRED to live our best lives. Some things are almost merely non-essential to our survival. We don't care about that often times, but it is true.

Minimalism can pertain to not being flashy or boisterous. Would you rather drive a basic economy car all in stock form, or would you drive an economy car that has flashy graphics and various aesthetic arrangements (such as body kits, spoilers, etc.)? To the minimalist, an economy car is all someone needs. A minimalist is not at all concerned about being under pressure to the better furnishings to compete with other people. A minimalist may also prefer having bland-looking resources rather than flashy look-at-me resources.

As a sometimes fashion/beauty blogger (PLUG: Visit my fashion/beauty blog! Here: StyleSpace, by John B. Marine :) ), I hear of fashionistas who have a capsule wardrobe to express minimalism. This is where fashionable types get rid of clothes they don't really need or like much and instead stick with favorites. Fashionable types still want a decent wardrobe, but they want to do so without having to shop for new clothes all the time. So a minimalist in this regard will stick to a certain set wardrobe.

Believe it or not, long before I considered the layout of my blogs and some of my other social media material, I had minimalism in mind. I feel I can market myself without having a lot of fancy things. I am proud to have online material that are not filled with bloated nonsense. I also believe in minimalism when I do my videos online. I never had the best of the best, yet I made the most of what little I have. A fancy looking blog will get more attention than a bland one, but I always believed in quality over quantity.

Hopefully this section gives you some ideas on how a minimalist may think.


Minimalism Inspiration: Teemaree.

I want to offer a real example to help express the concept of minimalism. Teemaree, once a veteran of various forms of entertainment as well as being a spokeswoman, had achieved loads of success. She was also one of my favorite go-go dancers. She even spearheaded a first-of-its-kind reality show about the go-go dancing lifestyle. One would think someone like Teemaree is head and shoulders above her peers with this much success. Well, Teemaree admits she was mostly trapped and needed guidance. So what she did was a lot of deep thinking and faith. Today, Teemaree is a life coach, author, and creator of "Transform With Teemaree," "Invite God In," and "ALLSWELL Lifestyle." Her life coaching is a mix of offering life advice as well as providing religious insight. Speaking of Teemaree's insight, let me share this with you:


^ Who Is Teemaree?

Teemaree isn't the only example of minimalist lifestyle. She is the best example to me to discuss minimalism that I can provide. I am using Teemaree as an example to help set up discussion minimalism using a real-life example.




Minimalism: How to Start?


Minimalism is not something that can be easily implemented. I do not know all of the nuances of minimalism, but I may help you get started. I will share some of my own minimalist insights and thoughts to help give you some inspiration if you want to take on a minimalist lifestyle. Follow my lead...


Minimalism: What Do You Need?

The first thing to consider about minimalism is to think about what you have and what you need. Especially if you are going to live "off the grid," you have to seriously consider what things are important to you in the moment. You will have to learn to sacrifice some comforts in trying to live the minimalist life you wish to live.

If I lived as a minimalist, I am very involved in technology. So what I would need is powerful WiFi Internet. I want to hold onto my two TVs, my HDTV monitor, my printer, and my Chromebook. I may even want to go from a PC to a decent-spec laptop. If I had the money, I'd invest in an HP laptop that costs around $500 USD (or maybe $600 USD) that has better specifications than my 2014-ish budget PC. A lot of space on my desktop would be gone, and I could use it around the house even if power goes out. As a gamer, I want to hold onto my systems. I don't need a gaming PC when I can do just fine with a simple PC or laptop that can still play a good amount of games while also serving as my personal PC/laptop when not gaming. I would want to cook with a microwave and an air fryer. I would want a place with decent lighting. I feel lighting lightens my mood.

Most important about minimalism is making money. You need to find some sort of revenue stream or grind to stay financially afloat. There isn't much I do to generate income. So in this regard, I would struggle unless I had some proper form of making money.

You also must consider utilities. If you can invest in solar power, it would be cleaner for the environment and possibly even energy efficient. You also need decent plumbing to handle things like taking baths and showers as well as washing dishes. If you plan on getting into farming, you certainly need to consider decent utilities for planting gardens and such.

Minimalism can be a challenge if you have a significant other and/or a family. Be mindful of needs for you as a couple and in maintaining a family when being minimalist. You have to account for taking care of your lover/spouse in addition to your family should you choose to live as a minimalist couple or as a minimalist family.

These are just a number of things to think about when wanting to think minimalist.


Minimalism: Where Would You Live?

Do you prefer living within the big city, living in the suburbs of a major city, or out in the country? Do you even want to live in your current state or country or move elsewhere? You want to be able to live in a place where you can comfortably live your life. The popularity of tiny houses these days make for a unique challenge of trying to live without having to pay high mortgage rates. You would be surprised at how some people maximize their lives living minimalist style. If you do think about the tiny house lifestyle or convert a van or bus into a home, that is something else to consider your minimalist lifestyle in.

I have seen people live in places ranging from tiny homes to vehicles converted into homes. This even includes people who have trailer homes. If I had one such home, I kind of would want a two-story home to possibly enjoy great views and maybe even sit on the balcony outside. Because I am so much of a city person, I feel an affordable housing option within an uptown setting or downtown setting would be the best for me. I wouldn't want to shy too far away from family and friends here in Houston. Look around on various tiny home retailers and builders to think about your minimalist lifestyle.


Minimalism: Sacrifices.

Just like almost anything in life, you have to learn to make sacrifices. A lot of the luxuries you are accustomed to can be given up to live the minimalist lifestyle. Even though air conditioning seems necessary, it is actually a luxury. Living here in Texas, I can't afford to sweat in all of this Texas heat! So I would need a great solution for air conditioning.

If you are the materialistic type, you have to realize some goods you enjoy aren't always goods you NEED. Fashionistas- that means you can do without Louboutin pumps, Michael Kors handbags, Chanel espadrilles, and various other luxury goods.

Most importantly, the biggest move you can make in adopting minimalism is to drop your materialistic lifestyle. Minimalism forces you to think less about owning everything and only focus on essentials. You can live better by understanding the essentials rather than feel like you need material goods to be happy. I will leave this discussion with a little quote:

"You can't have everything. Where would you put it?"

-Steven Wright



I want to present some Final Thoughts on this topic to close out my minimalism discussion. Please look at the next section.




Minimalism: Final Thoughts


Minimalism is about living your best life having only so many resources. Minimalists shouldn't be seen as those who fail in life; instead, minimalists are more concerned with making the most out of live by having the least of resources. Do not think a minimalist has given up on life or should be living a luxurious lifestyle. In fact, a lot of minimalist types have all they need to live a great life. They just do not need status symbols to prove their worth to the world. They also do not need status symbols to be happy with their lives.

A minimalist does not need help; minimalists just choose to live their lives without many of the luxuries many of us consider essential. While minimalists try to live with less, they don't need help or need to get psychological help. If you are a minimalist, you don't need a mansion, expensive cars, fancy gadgets, and the like to live happily. You live on bare essentials. Minimalism allows you to focus on more important things without being bombarded with many [usually unnecessary] things.

If you do choose to live a minimalist life, you need to plan carefully. Think about all of your immediate needs and wants. It is not easy to live a minimalist lifestyle without actually planning ahead. Be prepared to make sacrifices and let go of things you don't think are essential to you. Adjusting from normal life to minimalist life will NOT be an easy transition. However, moving to minimalism or tiny living is possible and doable.

Minimalists have not given up on life or need help; they just are living with as few resources as possible based on their needs. Not everyone is successful with the amount of money they have or the goods they own. They don't need outside help or sympathy for living a simple lifestyle devoid of status symbols. Minimalists just simply make "less is more" work. When you think about it, we do not need too much to live our best lives and to be happy. If we were not so fixated on having certain goods and resources to be happy, life can be much more enjoyable than what many of us make it out to be. Minimalists should be commended for helping a lot of us realize this about life in this regard. So if you are considering going minimalist, good for you! Minimalism is the best way to admire and appreciate what it really takes to live happily and freely.


Extra Resources.

I mentioned Teemaree earlier. If you are interested in learning more about Teemaree in regards to minimalism and minimalistic living, please visit her website at teemaree.com, and (optional) tell her John Marine sent you! :) You may also visit Teemaree's YouTube channel for more advice and insight.


That was really the only resource I can provide. I may open up a section regarding living different lifestyles in my "Helpful Resources" page. I hope you found something useful with this blog post.





That is all for this blog post. If you want to discuss, here is my question for you:

Would you consider living a minimalist lifestyle? Could you survive as a minimalist?

If you enjoy my work, please Subscribe/Follow my blog(s) in any capacity if you love my work and want to support me any way you can. Share my blog post(s) with others if you enjoy my work. Thank you for reading! Take care and be well.

Visit my JohnMarineDesigns Weebly site, subscribe to My Blog(s), and/or Follow on Bloglovin! Let's connect:
Contact Me via E-Mail Contact Me via Discord

(donations are voluntary)
Visit and Subscribe to My Blogs...
Subscribe to John's Blog Space (JBS) Subscribe to John's Creative Space (JCS) Subscribe to John's Race Space (JRS) Subscribe to StyleSpace (SS) Subscribe to John's Life Space (JLS)
Get Social With Me!
Facebook (Friends) Facebook (Fans) Twitter YouTube
Pinterest LinkedIn (professionals only) TikTok Discord
Support My Creative Works!
JMDesigns JMDesigns on Payhip John on Envato
Patreon Soundcloud Bandcamp
Twitch OpenGameArt TurboSquid
read more...

Monday, January 4, 2021

Happier New Year Not Guaranteed

John B. Marine | January 04, 2021 | | | Be the first to comment!
A new year is NOT a magical cure-all for pains from the previous year. The year 2020 has been painful for many of us, Its impacts were felt in some way for all of us. While 2021 was well welcomed, I am reminding you all that just because a new year is upon us, it is not guaranteed this year will be better. Here is just a post to consider some of many things in regards to a new year. I didn't know how to title this blog post, so I will go with the main idea as its name- a happier new year not guaranteed.






Happier New Year Not Guaranteed


Every one of us had some kind of foul memories of 2020. Even those who are not outgoing (like myself) felt like staying home was the best thing to do as the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic raged. You would hear of so many different negative stories. Besides this global health crisis, there were also powerful moments of protest against issues such as racial injustice, social injustice, and things of that nature. We would even see "Black Lives Matter" and "Say Her Name" among other calls to action. Too many things led up to 2020 being a horrid year for many people.

As we all know, the change of a calendar is not going to necessarily reverse the misfortunes of an ailing world. It will, however, provide the focal point for new hope. It is important to remain hopeful no matter what calamity ensued on the world the previous year. Certain things will help re-shape what we consider normal. For example, airport security was ramped up after the the terror of September 11th in 2001. The advent of COVID-19/Coronavirus will likely reshape our normal as we will be sanitizing more often and taking extra measures to prevent the spread. You can not just say that the changing of a year alone will help improve things. Who knows? The year 2021 may actually become WORSE than 2020 if several big things happen during the new year.

One thing I realize about some types in social media is that we all lovingly forget things ever existed in previous times. That's why people on YouTube annoyingly mention if you're seeing something from the past here in the present. I am thinking... just because it is the present that we are not allowed to discuss anything from the past? I do not want to scare my readers, but some negative thoughts from the past can still haunt you today. Even I want to forget people who shunned me aside or people who I was incredibly unhappy associating myself with. Those people are still out there; just that I haven't regarded them much today. No matter what negative memories have taken place in the past, they are still around. You can move on from these experiences, but such experiences will still be there no matter how much you moved on since. Those people are probably still around today even if you disregard their existence in the past. So even if we no longer discuss or acknowledge certain things in the past, they are still there.

So while the new year brings new hope, let us not automatically assume everything will magically be better. It is unlikely the millions of cases of COVID-19/Coronavirus will magically disappear and that there won't be any further deaths. It is unlikely all of the racial and social injustice will go away just because of a new year. We have to work towards a happier tomorrow and hope we can make advances to help provide hope in a seemingly hopeless world. It is also possible better luck will also be needed to help make times better for all. As we often like to say, you sometimes have to make your own luck rather than rely on other people to hand you opportunities. We all have to do our part to ensure a happier future will happen.




How to Maintain Happiness?


It was not easy in 2020 to keep a straight face considering the unknown of 2020. Everywhere you look was some sort of bad story and some sort of disregard for humanity. I was even disgusted at how some people thought COVID-19/Coronavirus was a governmental hoax, so they refused to do things like wear a mask or get upset about not wearing a mask for reasons other than certain health issues that prevent wearing a mask isn't possible. When all you see is what is going wrong in the world, you tend to forget (or disregard) things we all should be happy for. It is so easy to feel like doom is impending considering everything going on around us. So in these respects, trying to find things to be happy foe in the new year will be a challenge.

Something we always say is to "count your blessings." For each worry in the world, find something to be proud of. Find something that makes you happy. As much as times could be worse, times could also be much better. Don't let things that worry you end up contributing to your downfall or ruining your quality of life.

If you need extra guidance, try consulting with family, friends, healthcare providers, or other qualified individuals. Some people feel they need medicine and therapy to help people get their minds straight. Be careful dealing with medicines and such to help treat your depression or any other mental health issues.

Those who exercise often boost happiness. If you lack the motivation to exercise, try to find ways or get assistance from others to motivate you to exercise if exercise is in your plans.

You may also take up on trying to find new activities or hobbies that may interest you. Such acts may allow you to properly relax as well as find new ways to become happy. You may find enjoyment in new activities.

If you seek companionship, try finding love to try to become happy. Perhaps you find someone you like in person or in cyberspace. It is best to find someone you love based on your own preferences. It does not really matter what your sexual preference is, just find someone who makes you feel loved and complete. The two of you can hopefully work together to remain happy and content even in a mad world. If you have relationship issues, talk it out among yourselves or seek help from healthcare providers or relationship experts.


With these thoughts in mind, allow me to share my final points.




Happier New Year Not Guaranteed: Final Thoughts


Just because it is a new year doesn't mean everything negative from the previous year will be made better. As much as tomorrow is never guaranteed, happier times will not be guaranteed in the new year. We all must work to try to provide hope even when hope seems lost. We have to maintain happiness in our own hearts rather than hope someone gives us hope. One must work to make the new year happier and better than the previous year. A new year simply means newer opportunities to try to make times better than before. The change of a calendar is no cure for any ailments of the previous year. It just means new hope of a better and brighter future. As long as we keep this positive mindset and perform actions befitting of a better year to come, we all can feel better about ourselves and others than we ever have.





I hope this blog post gives you some hope in making the new year better than the previous one. This post has concluded, so make sure to Subscribe/Follow my blog(s) if you enjoy my work. Life issues is what this blog of mine is about. We all can use some help in our lives, and I am hoping I can do my part to offer such advice to you all. It may not be the best advice, but at least I am trying. Help support my work any way you can. Thank you for reading! Take care and be well.

Visit my official website at johnbmarine.com, subscribe to My Blog(s), and/or Follow on Bloglovin!
Subscribe to John's Blog Space (JBS) Subscribe to John's Creative Space (JCS) Subscribe to John's Race Space (JRS) Subscribe to StyleSpace (SS) Subscribe to John's Life Space (JLS)
Support My Creative Works!
JMDesigns Patreon Soundcloud Bandcamp Twitch OpenGameArt TurboSquid
Get Social With Me!
Facebook (Friends) Facebook (Fans) Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest LinkedIn (professionals only)
Questions or Comments? Contact Me (serious inquiries only)...
Contact Me via E-Mail
read more...

Friday, December 18, 2020

How to Thank Your Caregiver

John B. Marine | December 18, 2020 | | | | | Be the first to comment!
NOTE: The following blog post is a guest post. This post was originally created by Emily Gibson of Siege Media.






How to Thank Your Caregiver


The relationship between a patient and their caregiver is an emotional and important one. Whether your caregiver is a family member or hired professional, they are there for you to help as you age or navigate illness. When someone is there for you through so much, it’s important to make them feel loved and valued in return.

A small gift of gratitude — during the holiday season and beyond — can help your caregiver feel appreciated, and can help them feel like their work is important. You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on a luxury item, either. Your gift can be a personal or sentimental item that will mean just as much.

We’ve rounded up some caregiver gift ideas to help you find the perfect “thank you” for your caregiver.

[IMAGE DOWNLOAD]

1. Thank You Card

A greeting card is a classic gift that is sure to lift your caregiver’s spirits. You can use this printable thank you card to convey your gratitude and let your caregiver know how much they mean to you. A bonus about a greeting card: you can write whatever message you want on the inside, making it highly personal and sentimental.

2. Coffee Basket

Caregiving is a demanding job that sometimes requires long hours. If your caregiver likes coffee, gift them their own coffee care package complete with gourmet coffee beans, a fun mug and chocolate covered coffee beans. For mornings they don’t have time to make their own cup, you can even include a gift card to a coffee shop.

[IMAGE DOWNLOAD]

3. Gift Card

Sometimes the best gift is the ability to choose your own gift. A gift card to a store your caregiver likes — or a general Visa gift card that they can spend however they like — is a fun and exciting gift. You can even use a printable gift card holder to make your gift more personalized.

4. Time Off

With a job as demanding as caregiving, a few hours off can be the best gift. Make alternate plans for a night and give your caregiver the night or weekend off to relax and recharge. Make sure you communicate your alternate plans with your caregiver so they won’t worry, and encourage them to spend their time relaxing and having fun.

5. Comfortable Clothes and Slippers

Everyone deserves a little bit of comfort. Give your caregiver some comfortable pajamas and slippers to make their time at home relaxing and luxurious. To take the gift a step further, you can even include a sleeping mask to help them rest.

There are many ways to thank your caregiver. Whether you choose a physical gift or just a heartfelt “thank you,” they are sure to appreciate your sentiment. It feels good to take care of those who take care of us!



--- Credits ---

I would like to thank Emily Gibson for providing this guest post here on "John's Life Space." If you would like to visit this guest post's creator, you can visit her site at www.siegemedia.com.





If you would like to provide a guest post for this blog or my other blogs, please feel free to contact me. I will review your content and then get around to putting your guest post in my blog(s) if I approve of your guest post. Thank you for reading! Take care and be well.

Visit my official website at johnbmarine.com, subscribe to My Blog(s), and/or Follow on Bloglovin!
Subscribe to John's Blog Space (JBS) Subscribe to John's Creative Space (JCS) Subscribe to John's Race Space (JRS) Subscribe to StyleSpace (SS) Subscribe to John's Life Space (JLS)
Support My Creative Works!
JMDesigns Patreon Soundcloud Bandcamp Twitch OpenGameArt TurboSquid
Get Social With Me!
Facebook (Friends) Facebook (Fans) Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest LinkedIn (professionals only)
Questions or Comments? Contact Me (serious inquiries only)...
Contact Me via E-Mail
read more...

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Elderly Care

John B. Marine | October 21, 2020 | | | Be the first to comment!
Respect your elders. There will come a time where we will need to take special care of the elderly. Elderly folk may not know how much longer they will live. Therefore, we need to take special care of the elderly to ensure they live as long as they can. This blog post on "John's Life Space" is not a comprehensive post regarding elderly care, but it is my own assembly of thoughts in regards to elderly care. So welcome to my blog and another blog post on it!






Elderly Care


I will set the mood of this post with a picture. I may change it if I am unable to use it for my post, but here goes...

elderly care
^ from: (US News Money) - Looking after the elderly is a great responsibility, as we are unsure as to how much longer some of our elders have to live..

Just about all of us have someone of an advanced age who will need some sort of care to ensure they will live as long as possible. While we don't know how much longer our elders will live, it is best to care for them and address their needs for while they are still with us. Elderly care can range from simply looking after our elders properly to even having retirement homes and hospitals to help assist in taking care of the elderly.

My own story involves taking care of my grandmother. There would be times in which my mother and I had to do grocery shopping once each month to help my grandmother. There were times where my grandmother would go along to the store along with myself and my mother. My grandmother had to be looked after a bit more once she took a fall in her house. Sadly in 2017, my grandmother passed away at the great age of 93. All the while I knew I was doing a lot to try to help my grandmother any way I could. While my grandmother no longer has to suffer, she still helped mold myself and members of my family. If I had my own story in regards to taking care of the elderly, I am sure anyone else in the same situation will have to deal with taking care of the elderly any way one can. Of course- "John's Life Space" is dedicated in loving memory of my grandmother.

Elderly care during the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic is especially crucial. Not many of us have been able to see our elders in care centers and retirement homes because of the pandemic. This can provide emotional stress as we may not be able to connect with our elders in person. This can also provide mental stress in trying to make sure the elderly ones we love are doing well and are taken care of.


So now that we've discussed elderly care, how exactly do you do so? I invite you to the next section with a number of talking points.




Elderly Care: How to Do So?


If you have an opportunity to care for the elderly, be sure to do so to help preserve the lives of those you love most.

Basic Elderly Care.

Basic elderly care can simply involve taking care of basic needs from the elderly. This can mean buying groceries for them, entertaining them somehow, exercising with them, making sure elderly types have taken their medicine, and the like. Anything to keep the elderly healthy and entertained is great enough to help elderly types feel loved.

Retirement Homes and Medical Care.

When the care of elderly types lie in the hands of people outside of your family, you have to put your trust in healthcare professionals to help care for the elderly. Instead of at-home care, some elderly types reside in retirement homes and various healthcare facilities for elderly care. The most important aspect to all of this is in these healthcare facilities and their staff help keep the elderly healthy. You don't want things like malpractice or bedbugs to compromise elderly lives. If you are able to go visit elders in these facilities, do so regularly just to show your love and to keep them in your hearts. Make sure these facilities are doing their best to take care of such elders. Otherwise, you may have to vent your frustration to hope the facility and its staff improve their performance. The best possible care needs to be established to help assist the elderly.


I will now offer some final thoughts to close out this topic. Next section...




Elderly Care: Final Thoughts


Even if we don't know how much longer our elders will live, we need to do all we can to help preserve their lives for as long as possible. Proper care for the elderly, then, is of great importance, because not many elderly types can take care of themselves. Healthcare professionals will need to do all they can to help elderly types live out as long as they can. If you choose to take care of elders by yourself, do what you can to keep elders healthy as well as keep them entertained and happy. Let's make the most of what life most elders have left for their sake and for ours!





I hope you found this discussion of elderly care useful. Thank you for visiting my life issues blog! Be sure to Subscribe/Follow if you enjoyed my work and want to see more of my blogging work. Thank you for reading! Take care and be well.

Visit my official website at johnbmarine.com, subscribe to My Blog(s), and/or Follow on Bloglovin!
Subscribe to John's Blog Space (JBS) Subscribe to John's Creative Space (JCS) Subscribe to John's Race Space (JRS) Subscribe to StyleSpace (SS) Subscribe to John's Life Space (JLS)
Support My Creative Works!
JMDesigns Patreon Soundcloud Bandcamp Twitch OpenGameArt TurboSquid
Get Social With Me!
Facebook (Friends) Facebook (Fans) Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest LinkedIn (professionals only)
Questions or Comments? Contact Me (serious inquiries only)...
Contact Me via E-Mail
read more...
 
Copyright © 2015 John's Life Space • All Rights Reserved.
Template Design by BTDesigner • Powered by Blogger