Since the coronavirus has hit Africa, there have been 47,131 cases, 1,845 deaths, and 15,796 recoveries. Liberia, a small west African country, has had its fair share of casualties. So far they have 166 confirmed cases and 18 deaths as of today, May 5, 2020. These statistics are based upon the cases that are reported. So many underserved communities in Liberia lack healthcare centers that can properly test residents.
Image Credit: dw.com
Before the coronavirus pandemic, the Ebola epidemic claimed the lives of 4,810 Liberians. Thomas Nagbe is the director of infectious diseases and epidemiology department at Liberia’s public health institute. He admits that “not all counties are adequately prepared because of inadequate resources”. He also told Aljazeera News that only 1 ventilator exists in the country. Just one. A severe symptom of this virus is shortness of breath. More ventilators are needed for people to survive.
For lives to be saved, prevention is key. So many are setting up their sewing machines and creating face masks. The face masks are not only fashionable, they are saving lives.
The Bombchel Factory
An issue that remains within the fashion industry is staying above water. Many creatives, including those who sew, have to consistently market themselves to make a profit. It is a never-ending hustle. At the Bombchel factory, women are being trained to create clothes. With the pandemic growing, face masks are being made at a fast pace. Located in the heart of Monrovia, Bombchel is working hard to create face masks for their local community and the world. They teach women how to sew, and they also hold literacy classes. Skirts that are not being sold are being transformed into bright-faced masks. Their employee team is comprised of female Ebola survivors, rape survivors, and the deaf. They are a team of survivors that are doing all they can to save lives during this pandemic. The beautiful face masks are being made out of bold African prints.
Image credit: Bombchel Factory
Since April 24, 2020, the Liberian government has mandated that everyone seen outside must wear a face mask. Cloth face masks must be washed regularly. Also, social distancing must be practiced. Wash your hands as much as possible. Keep a hand sanitizer by your side. And use disinfectant wipes on every surface that you can.
Support Liberians by buying face masks from the Bombchel factory. For every face mask purchased, one will be donated to someone who cannot quarantine at home.
You know the old saying: “A penny saved is a penny earned?” Well, through coupons online much can be saved if you are diligent and resourceful.
Where To Look For Online Coupon Codes
Every time you take a walk through the mall you might feel wary of making a purchase. So many items are overpriced. And forgetting paper coupons is easy to do. That is why many people are opting to shop online. RetailMeNot.com offers coupons that can create a happier shopping experience. Stores like QVC, Sam’s Beauty, Skin Store, and Beauty Brand is promoted on their website. Coupons.com is another great site that has categories in beauty and apparel brands. With the winter season upon us, women want to keep their skin glowing and moisturized. Harsh cold winds can cause extremely dry skin and chafing. L’oreal Paris, Cover Girl, and Macy’s are featured on coupon.com. These brands have cosmetics that can protect your skin. Groupon.com is another popular one that regularly gets promoted by celebrities. Advertisements on local beauty salons with discounts for hair services are easily accessible on their site. Their site is customized so that each user can find ways to save with local businesses. If you do not want to put forth the effort of searching different sites you can find a browser plug-in that will do all the work for you.
Be attentive though at the requirements for each coupon. Some coupon sites show success rates for their coupons, and it has been reported to be about 40-50%. So read what is the expiration date is and keep trying out different codes. This will help you to see before you purchase what works, and what does not.
Online Sites That Have Beauty Discounts
There are sites on the web that specialize in providing affordable beauty products. The most popular ones that stand out are Harmon Discount, Forever 21, and Madame Madeline. “Harmon Discount is my ultimate favorite. It’s super inexpensive for drugstore beauty products, so I buy everything in bulk,” says Ashlee Glazer, Laura Geller’s global artistic director. Maybelline, Revlon, CoverGirl, Neutrogena, and much more are sold with a deduction. Forever 21 is another well-known beauty store that houses low-cost products. “Forever 21 is another one of my favorite inexpensive places to shop for beauty,” says Glazer. “I love to buy makeup bags for travel and fun products (like lip glosses shaped like unicorns).” Madame Madeline is famous for eyelashes. “I love Madame Madeline for brand-name lashes at a discount,” says makeup artist Mary Irwin. And with mink lashes being in demand, many opt for a ghetto fabulous look that does not hurt their budget.
Keep in mind that some stores also offer price drop refunds. That means that if the price on the item you purchased drops a few days later, you can call and ask that they refund you the price difference. Check to see if your credit card offers price protection. Signing up for email alerts on various companies can also give you first dibs on sales.
Has any of these techniques assisted you in saving on online beauty products? Feel free to comment below. Also, follow me on Instagram and Twitter for more updates on fashion/beauty.
Many people perceive Millennials to be lazy, entitled, and social media savvy. But there is more to us than the stereotypes that the media portrays us to be. Although many might view as spoiled, materialistic, and self-centered, there do exist Gen M’s that are giving, minimalistic, and unselfish.
We live during times where the money that we earn is a huge factor. It determines what neighborhood we live in, the type of shoes we wear, what school we go to, and what age we retire at. Because Millennials have a unique upbringing, many are wise when it comes to their spending habits. We try to avoid the mistakes that previous generations have made. But some, unfortunately, make unwise choices when it comes to money management.
As financial reality hits my generation some wake up and contemplate more before making a purchase. Here a 6 bad/good money habits that Millennials make.
Lack Of Understanding When It Comes To The Basics Of Money
Middle school, high school, and even college do not give enough financial education when it comes to how to manage your personal finances. “It starts with a lack of education in middle school, high school and even in college,” says Greg Oray, president and investment advisor representative at Oray King Wealth Advisors in Troy, Michigan.
A global study that was created in 2017 found that 1 out of 5 teens lacked the knowledge of basic financial literacy skills. In fact, China, Belgium, and Canada were ahead of the U.S.
I know personally, I did not own a bank account until I graduated from high school. And even then, I did not know how an ATM machine actually worked. I had to ask an older friend about why credit cards and a savings account would be beneficial to me. Growing up I never received an allowance so my saving skills are very poor. Online resources like the app Mint and the government’s MyMoney.gov website can help you make shrewd decisions with your money.
Fabricating On Taxes
Though not always intentionally, some Millennials are not honest on their taxes. It is becoming more common to be a remote worker. Many young ones are turning to apps to make extra money. Some are starting their own side hustles to showcase their creativity and talent. “No one is particularly well-educated about taxes,” says William Perez, a senior tax accountant with Visor, an online tax-filing and year-round advisory service.
When you are young, you might feel invincible. You lack experience when it comes down to doing your taxes. So you might feel as though omitting some information won’t hurt. But it is imperative that you tell your tax preparer about every side-hustle that you have. “No one wants to pay more tax than they need to,” Perez says, “but no one wants to get a letter from the IRS saying they forgot to report something.”
Failing To Stick To A Budget
When you grow up in an extremely impoverished environment, you tend to pick up bad habits when it comes to spending. You are thrown into a rat race at a young age, thinking that you will evolve quickly from living paycheck to paycheck. But that is not always the case. The great poet Langston Hughes related to many when he wrote about “dreams deferred.” So many financial goals that Millennials arrange have been delayed or missed. We might reach accomplishments later in life compared to Baby Boomers.
“It feels restrictive to use a budget,” Swartz says. Swartz is a portfolio manager with BKD wealth advisors in Spring, Missouri. “The way I think about a budget is tracking where the money is going so I can make better decisions,” he says. When you keep good records of where you spend your money, you will use more meditation when trying to save.
More Investing Than Other Generations
When the Recession hit, many in their early twenties lost their jobs. It became more important to invest in stocks, bonds, and real estate properties. No one wants to be living in their parents’ basement forever. We all want a sense of independence. We all want to have financial stability. So many youths started to invest so that their money was not going into one basket. Even 9/11 caused a lot of economic fallout. With mobile and online technology having so many platforms, many are placing their money into investment apps. For example, the Robinhood app has gained a lot of popularity. I have seen young adults on Youtube claim that their savings have doubled after using the Robinhood app.
More Millennials Are Saving For Retirement
The minimalist movement is popular and so many are opting to live off the grid. I personally aspire to retire by age 40. We have seen our parents’ retirement accounts look so small even after working a 9-5 job for 60+ years. The earlier you start your retirement funds, the better. A recent study from the TransAmerica Center for Retirement Studies found that 70% of Millennials have started saving at the ripe age of 22 and roughly the same percentage of Millennials have opted-in to their 401(k) plans at work. (Source: https://investorjunkie.com/36926/millennials-money-management/).
Another way of retiring early is by having multiple streams of residual income. Through technology writers and musicians have been able to make money in their sleep. I plan to retire early through blogging, selling books and through creating music.
Choosing Alternative Workplaces
Once again technology has created a rocket that the younger generation can soar off of. No longer do you hear of people not knowing how much the next company makes. A quick search through Google will educate you on all you need to know about your wages, companies that can pay you better, and even the great alternative of freelancing. Our youth have created avenues in which they can double their income through the Internet, social media, and digital marketing. How can you go wrong when your workplace is a local bookstore? While sipping on an iced latte you converse with your clients’ via Skype. It does not get much sweeter than that.
Beauty And Braids 