Our brain-boosting posts are having PayPath readers on the ball and sharp as tacks, so here are more brain-boosting foods – P, Q, and R - to add to your healthy grocery list. Last time we covered mackerel, nuts, and oats, so it's time to bring on even more variety for a diet that's good for the body and mind.
Aside from being delicious, pumpkin seeds, quinoa, and rosemary are all beneficial to the brain and will keep you focused and clear-headed while at work and well into the night while with friends and family. Knowing you're eating right will steer you towards feeling energetic and as smart as a whip. Get ready to grab something good for your gray matter!
Pumpkin Seeds
When it's pumpkin-carving season, be sure to save those seeds because they are brain-boosting and super-nutritious. And if you can't get 'em fresh, nearly any supermarket or health food store carries pumpkin seeds year-round.
As per mindbodygreen, pumpkin seeds are, "a rich source of zinc, a mineral that plays an important role in memory and overall brain function."
Additionally, eating these tasty little seeds can help you get a good night's rest – also important for a productive day ahead. According to Mercola, "Pumpkin seeds are a rich source of tryptophan, an amino acid (protein building block) that your body converts into serotonin, which in turn is converted into melatonin, the 'sleep hormone'."
With just about 150 calories in a one-ounce portion, pumpkin seeds will keep you trim while satisfying your need to nosh.
Quinoa
Quinoa is one of the healthiest foods around and is considered a "superfood." According to mindbodygreen, "Quinoa contains iron. Iron helps keep our red blood cells healthy and is the basis of hemoglobin formation. Iron also increases brain function because the brain takes in about 20% of our blood oxygen."
And if work is giving you a headache, quinoa may be the cure. It is rich in magnesium which has been shown to ward off migraines.
As per Authority Nutrition, one serving of quinoa packs in 8 grams of protein and is full of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Make quinoa your new go-to grain and see the difference it makes in your overall health and brain function.
Rosemary
It's time to start adding some zest to your favorite foods, and rosemary is the perfect choice for flavor and function. According to Dr. Axe, "Carnosic acid, one of the main ingredients in rosemary, helps protect the brain from neurodegeneration. It does this by protecting the brain against chemical free radicals, which are linked to neurodegeneration, Alzheimer's, strokes and normal aging in the brain."
Add fresh or dried rosemary to pastas, omelets, potato dishes, meat dishes, salad dressings, and more. It will elevate the gourmet-factor of your favorite dishes while elevating your brain power!
Next up? Salmon, turmeric, and udon noodles. Tempt your taste buds and get brainier bite by bite!
The Federal Reserve sets the guardrails for the federal funds rate, and through that helps control the money supply for the nation.
When you take out a loan for a car, charge something to your credit card, or get a personal line of credit, there is going to be an interest rate that applies to your loan.
A lot of different factors go into what you will be charged, including your own personal credit score. But even those with flawless credit still see a minimum charge that they can't get around. That all goes back to the Federal Funds Rate.
One thing consumers rarely realize is that all of our banks are lending money to each other every night. Banks are legally required to maintain a certain percentage of their deposits in non-interest-bearing accounts at the Federal Reserve to ensure they have enough money to cover any withdrawals that may unexpectedly come up. However, deposits can fluctuate and it's very common for some banks to exceed the requirement on certain days while some fall short. In cases like this, banks actually lend each other money to ensure they meet the minimum balance. It's a bit hard to imagine these multibillion-dollar financial institutions needing to borrow money to tide them over for a bit, but it happens every single night at the Federal Reserve. It's also a nice deal for those with balances above the reserve balance requirement to earn a bit of money with cash that would normally just be sitting there.
The exact interest rate the banks will charge each other is a matter of negotiation between them, but the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) (the arm of the Federal Reserve that sets monetary policy) meets eight times a year to set a target rate. They evaluate a multitude of economic indicators including unemployment, inflation, and consumer confidence to decide the best rate to keep the country in business. The weighted average of all interest rates across these interbank loans is the effective federal funds rate.
This rate has a huge impact on the economy overall as well as your personal finances. The federal funds rate is essentially the cheapest money available to a bank and that feeds into all of the other loans they make. Banks will add a slight upcharge to the rate set by the Fed to determine what is the lowest interest that they will announce for their most creditworthy customers, also known as the prime rate. If you have a variable interest rate loan (very common with credit cards and some student loans), it's likely that the interest rate you pay is a set percentage on top of that prime rate that your lender is paying. That's why in times of low interest rates (it was set at 0% during the Great Recession), a lot of borrowers should go for fixed interest rate loans that won't increase. However, if the federal funds rate was relatively high (it went up to 20% in the early 1980's), a variable interest rate loan may be a better decision as you would be charged less interest should the rate drop without the need to refinance.
The federal funds rate also has a major impact on your investment portfolio. The stock market reacts very strongly to any changes in interest rates from the Federal Reserve, as a lower rate makes it cheaper for companies to borrow and reinvest while a higher rate may restrict capital and slow short-term growth. If you have a significant portion of your investments in equities, a small change in the federal funds rate can have a large impact on your net worth.
Whether you're leaving a job involuntarily, departing for something new, or just want to prepare for the unknown, it is smart to understand all your options regarding your 401k.
diy gifts
Frugal gifting often gets a bad reputation. However, this shopping method does not make you cheap — it makes you practical. Frugal gifts often avoid waste and overspending and can be just as meaningful (if not more so) as any other present.
With the National Retail Federation predicting each consumer this holiday season to spend upwards of $1,000 on holiday gifts amidst an economic recession —this year might be the perfect time to reconsider your spending budget. We've formulated the ultimate list of frugal gift-giving ideas to get you started.
