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Website Loading Slow? Here’s How to Fix It

Is your website loading slow?

Getting into digital marketing is a vital part of a business’s success nowadays. Some even say it’s even more important than the product itself. They say that you will end up wasting your time if you don’t have the right marketing tactics.

A large part of digital marketing comes down to your business website. Every business needs one now no matter how small or large they are. This ensures that people have something as a reference and to lure in customers with convenience and engagement.

However, if you have a slow-loading website, it can turn potential customers away instead. Many things that can make this happen. You need to prevent this to ensure a successful marketing campaign.

Here’s how you can fix this problem and make your website load faster.

1. Use a Content Delivery Network

A CDN comprises different servers in different locations. These are in strategic locations in an area to provide coverage to anyone who accesses the Internet. CDNs save a website’s data when a user visits it.

Doing this is a way for the pages to load faster the next time users visit the website. Not having your website registered in a CDN means you can’t enjoy this feature. This will cause visitors to experience the same loading speed every time they visit your website.

It becomes even more of a problem if your business revolves around recurring visits. E-commerce websites are an example of this business type. Visitors won’t be happy with slow business transactions because of the website’s loading speed.

2. Cut Down on Plugins

Plugins take up a lot of processing power on a website. This causes them to slow down the overall loading time. It may even cause them to crash in low-spec computers and may also force the blue screen of death.

These are all undesirables, so cutting down on plugins is the best option for you. Plugins may make your website prettier and give more functions, but removing those which don’t serve any vital purpose can help your website load faster.

This is a common occurrence for WordPress websites. The only way to ensure a clean code is to double-check as often as you can. The platform often leaves a mess if you’re not thorough with clean up.

3. Compress Images on Your Website

Placing images on your website is a great way to engage your audience. It may even convince customers to buy the product if they like the image they see. These can slow down your website’s loading time, though.

This is the case when you use high-resolution images for your website. These even take longer to load than the page itself in some scenarios. This makes the website look under-optimized and unprofessional.

These can impact how clients can look at your business. You can ensure this doesn’t happen by using compressed images for your website. You can also take your current photos and compress them with the help of special tools you can find online.

4. Choose a Better Web Hosting Service

Web hosting enables your website to go live. These servers make your website accessible to the rest of the Internet. These servers are often top-notch, but they’re often the reason your website is loading slow.

This is often the case when you opt for a low-quality web hosting service. It may have been a good choice before because they offer free web hosting. Now that you’re running a business website, though, it’s time to be realistic and opt for a premium web hosting service.

Premium hosting often ensures the longevity of your website. Make sure you register and qualify for a premium hosting service before you leave the first one. This ensures your website won’t experience any downtime while you transfer hosts.

5. Fix All Broken Links

A website loading slow means there are a bunch of broken links littered across the site. These are the links that lead to non-existent web pages. They are also the ones that have bad links and lead to nowhere.

These take up a lot of bandwidths from a website and make them run slower. This will apply to all website functions, including media loading. Having these infect your website will be a way to get a visitor to leave as soon as possible.

There are tools available online to help you determine which links have gone bad. Take this time to fix them and optimize the pages they lead to.

While we’re discussing links, reduce the number of redirect links. These can take up a lot of time and processing power. It’s better to remove them than to risk slowing your website down.

6. Optimize Your Website Design

The main reason you have a slow loading time is that the way you’ve designed your website is not optimal. This often means you have a lot of lines of code cluttering your site. These take up essential processing power and make the whole system load slower.

This is the most common case for business owners because they try to make their website by themselves. This is a noble effort, but it can leave you with a lot of bugs on the website. Investing in a website design agency is often the best move to make.

These professionals can optimize your website and make it the best version of itself. They can clear up unwanted lines of code and give you a significant speed boost.

7. Enable Caching

Having a caching plugin is the easiest way to fix your slow loading website. These plugins cache data to the visitor’s device to save. The next time the user visits the website, the website will have cached data to speed up processes.

This will cut down on a lot of loading time and make revisiting your website easy.

Is Your Website Loading Slow? Optimize It Today

A website loading slow will only mean the downfall of your digital marketing. This can then lead to the downfall of your business. Optimize your website now and increase your campaign’s chances of success today!

Improving your site doesn’t end here. There are other important factors to work upon, like your site’s design and landing page performance. Don’t worry if you feel a little lost — feel free to read more of our guides here to discover all the tips and tricks you need!

Could Sciatica Be the Cause of Your Back Pain? Here’s What You Need to Know

About 5-10% of people with low back will suffer from sciatica. As much as 70% of the population will deal with low back pain during their lifetime.

Unfortunately, despite its prevalence, sciatica is not very well understood. Even those who suffer from it don’t always realize that the source of their pain is something different than regular back pain.

Could sciatica be the cause of your back pain? Read on to learn common symptoms and what you can do about it.

What Is Sciatica?

The sciatic nerves are the two largest nerves in the body. Many nerves are tiny, only about 20 microns or 0.02 mm in thickness. The sciatic nerves, however, are about the size of your little finger. 

They split off from the bottom of the spinal cord. One goes down each leg, running from the spinal cord to your big toes.

Sciatic pain occurs when something pinches one of the sciatic nerves. For this reason, most people experience pain on only one side of the body. Of course, this depends on what is causing the pinching in the first place.

Symptoms

Typical sciatic pain begins in the lower part of the spine and goes to the buttock. Pain radiating down the affected leg is also quite common.

Since the sciatic nerve runs all the way down to the big toe, you can experience pain anywhere along its trajectory, although along the back of the thigh and the calf are most common. 

People experience sciatic pain differently. Some describe it as a dull ache, others as a sharp, burning sensation or throbbing heat. Still, others experience excruciating pain that inhibits their ability to walk or even stand.

Sometimes it comes on quickly and people experience a jolt or shock of pain. Tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness are also common symptoms.

Sitting for long periods of time can worsen the symptoms. 

In severe cases, patients can experience problems like loss of bladder control or complete loss of feeling in the affected leg. If this happens, you should seek medical help as soon as possible. 

Causes

There are various ways that the nerve can get pinched.

A herniated disc in the spine is a common culprit. The vertebrae in the spine are cushioned by a series of tough discs. These act as shock absorbers for the spine and ensure that the bones don’t rub against one another.

These discs can get pushed out of place. This can happen as a result of a forceful injury, like being in a car accident. The ligaments holding the disc in place also weaken with age, meaning that a relatively minor event, like twisting wrong, can also cause displacement.  

The displaced disc, in turn, pushes on the nerve and causes pain.

Osteoarthritis can be another culprit. The disease can cause the root opening through which the nerves travel to become smaller, thus compressing and damaging the nerves.

Inflammation, spinal degeneration, and bone spurs on the vertebrae can also be the cause.

Risk Factors

Several common factors indicate whether you could be at risk for sciatica. These include: 

• Age: Because of the degenerative effect of aging on the spine, older people are at a higher risk of herniated discs and bone spurs. 
• Being Sedentary: Sitting for long periods of time can contribute to nerve compression and lead to sciatica.
• Diabetes: Because of the effect of blood sugar on the body in people with diabetes, they are at a higher risk of nerve damage.
• Obesity: Extra weight puts more stress on the spine, which can cause changes in the spine that lead to sciatic pain.

You can’t do much about getting older, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t lower your risk of sciatica in other ways.

If you work at a desk, take frequent breaks to get up and move throughout the day. A simple trip to the water cooler can help. Giving your brain a break can even make you more productive.

Incorporate a few stretches at your desk and ensure that you are using the proper ergonomic equipment. Being more active will also help you lose any extra pounds that may be slowly damaging your spine. 

If you have diabetes, you should already be paying close attention to your blood sugar. Doing your best to avoid unnecessary highs and lows can help prevent sciatic pain.

Treatments

Most cases of sciatica go away on their own. Some people experience just a few episodes and then the pain disappears. Others struggle with episodes over a period of months.

The type of pain you experience is directly related to the root cause of your sciatica.

To treat the symptoms, you can take over the counter painkillers like acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil), or naproxen (Aleve). Icing the area can also help to bring down any inflammation that may be causing the compression. 

Mild stretching and low-impact exercises are excellent for treating sciatic pain. Because of the pain, some people cease all physical activity, fearing they will make it worse. While a little rest can help, being too sedentary can worsen symptoms.

Instead, focus on gentle stretches and mild exercise. Check out more from the Stretching Institute for some great ideas of exercises that you can try.

Your doctor may recommend trying steroid shots or pills if the pain is persistent. However, steroids are only effective for some people.

Living Life Pain-Free

The good news is that most people will only have to manage sciatica pain for a short while. Many issues resolve on their own or by making some lifestyle changes. Meanwhile, the pain can be controlled with exercises and stretches, heat or ice treatments, and mild pain medication.

For more great tips on just about anything, feel free to check out more articles on our blog!

Can You Get Big Loans with a Bad Credit Score? Yes, It’s Possible. Here’s How

Bad credit is a serious problem for a lot of Americans. In fact, approximately 25 percent of all Americans (that’s 43.4 million people) have a credit score that is 599 or lower.

If you’re part of this group, you know that getting approved for credit cards and loans (especially big loans) can be quite challenging.

It’s important to know, though, that it’s not impossible for you to get the money you need, even with a low credit score.

Read on for some tips that will help you get big loans if your credit score is subpar.

Learn Your Credit Score

The first step to take if you want to apply for a loan is to check your credit score. A lot of people have no idea what their credit score is or if it’s accurate.

Start by checking your credit report and finding out your score. Then, look more closely at your report to see if there are any errors that are bringing your score down. If you notice any errors, work on getting them corrected as soon as possible.

Evaluating your report will also give you insight into the issues that have caused you to have a lower score. Is it a lot of late payments or missed payments, for example? 

Work with a Credit Union

Once you know where you stand with your credit score, you can do some more research and find out which lenders are most likely to work with you.

As a general rule, credit unions are often more forgiving than banks and are more willing to work with people whose credit is less-than-stellar.

Reach out to a local credit union and find out what kind of loans you qualify for. You might be surprised at what’s available.

Apply for a Secured Loan

If your credit score is low, you might still be able to qualify for a secured loan.

Secured loans require you to offer up an asset like your car or your house as collateral in exchange for funding. Lenders are more likely to approve your application if they know that the loan is secured against something for value.

Make sure you have a plan to pay back this loan, though. Otherwise, you’ll end up losing your belongings if you can’t meet your payments on time.

Find a Co-Signer

Having someone with a high credit score co-sign your loan is a good way to access financing when your own credit isn’t up to par.

A co-signer is someone who agrees to take over your loan if you default. It’s a big responsibility, so it can be hard to find someone who’s willing to do it.

If you can, though, it’ll help you build your credit while also giving you access to the money you need.

Consider Personal Installment Lenders

A personal installment lender takes a lot of factors into account (not just your credit score) when determining whether or not they’ll provide you with the money you need.

Look into working with one if you’ve been turned down by other lenders and need money to cover a large emergency expense.

Work with an Online Lender

Online lenders are another good option to consider if you find yourself getting turned down by traditional lenders.

According to Bonsai Finance, online banks often offer better loan terms and interest rates than traditional lenders. They’re often more flexible as well and have options for people in all financial situations, including those with bad credit.

Before you agree to work with an online lender or give them your personal information, be sure to do some research to make sure they’re credible and don’t have any complaints against them.

Get Multiple Quotes

No matter what kind of lender you’re considering using, it’s smart to get multiple quotes before you agree to work with one over another. 

Doing some research upfront will help you ensure you’re getting the best rates, loan terms, and fees possible. 

Beware of Predatory Lenders

When your credit score is low and it’s harder for you to get lenders to approve your loan applications, you’re a prime target for predatory lenders.

Be wary of loan offers with terms that seem too good to be true. There’s a good chance they are.

Many predatory lenders offer loans that seem great on paper but are actually full of fine print that can cost you a lot of money in interest and fees later on.

Always read through loan agreements carefully before you agree to work with a particular lender.

Improve Your Credit Score

All of these strategies are useful when it comes to trying to get a loan with a bad credit score. While you’re working on choosing the best loan situation for your needs, though, it’s important to also work on improving your credit score.

Set up automatic payments to avoid late penalties, and make sure you’re keeping your credit utilization as low as possible.

You might even want to delay applying for a loan for a just a few months until you can raise your score. Even raising it by a small amount can help to increase your chances of approval and allow you to enjoy better terms and interest rates.

Get Big Loans Today

As you can see, it’s totally possible to get big loans when you have a low credit score. The key is to make sure you’re implementing the tips listed in this post. 

It might take a bit of trial and error for you to get your loan application approved, especially if you want a loan with great terms and interest rates.

If you know all your options and take the right steps when applying for these loans, though, you’ll be much more likely to get approved and get your hands on the money you need.

Do you want to learn more about how to qualify for loans and manage your money?

If so, we’ve got plenty of helpful resources available to you. Check them out today by visiting the Money Management section of our website.

Why Is Content Marketing Hogging the Attention? Here’s the Future of Print Advertising

In 2011, the number of smartphones in the US surpassed the number of people. More people are looking at their phones than reading print. Is the future of print ad campaigns dead and gone? 

If you own and operate a business, you’re always thinking about the future of advertising and marketing. You need to be able to keep up with the times if you expect to succeed in the business world. 

You may notice people these days talking a lot about digital marketing, SEO, and social media marketing. 

While these will likely continue to be important, what about print marketing? Continue reading about print advertising and find out if it still has a future. 

Print Advertising Isn’t Dead!

Here’s a spoiler: print marketing will remain alive so long as there remains a physical customer presence. Many experts will tell you print marketing still holds incredible value alongside your digital marketing campaign. 

Even with the advent of computers, mobile phones, tablets, and virtual reality, even young people have an affinity for paper. 

The Permanent Nature of Print  

Digital content is fleeting. When you design your digital marketing campaign, you need to think about constant updates to your internet content. 

This is true for your blog and various social media platforms. 

Print on paper carries an inherent feel of permanence. In a digital world, it can feel like information comes and goes with a moment’s notice. 

Think about ancient collections of books. With proper care, print has the potential to last forever. 

While this is true of the digital, digital information is quickly lost beneath mountains of information. 

Entice Customers to an Online Experience 

So far as we can tell, the best way to think about print advertising is as a complement to your digital brand. For example, you might consider getting customized stickers with your social media links printed across it. 

You can use your print ads to encourage potential customers to interact with your brand on an online platform. 

Will Print Disappear Forever? 

Of course, there is an anxiety about the future of print as a medium. Books, magazines, and newspapers face a certain uncertainty. 

It follows print advertising may soon lose traction. 

Soon, our augmented realities may overlay our present physicality. Print may soon disappear from the collective memory of humanity. 

Sound a bit like a science fiction dystopia? Already, we are seeing digital information integrate with reality in real time. 

The future of technology and its implications are still vague. One thing is certain, though. The future of print and print marketing is uncertain. 

Live in the Present 

Although the future of print and marketing are uncertain, you and your business should continue to live in the present. For now, print advertising remains a valuable asset in your marketing campaign. 

Print can be a great complement to your digital marketing campaign as you build your brand. 

Always stay up to date on the business world and find out what works and what doesn’t. To find more advice on marketing and business, visit our marketing section. 

Do I Need a Medicare Supplement? Here’s How You Can Find Out!

Every day, 44 million Americans put their mind at ease because they’re covered with the help of Medicare. If you’re one of them, you’ll find that there are still some limits to what’s covered. You might wonder from time to time “Do I need a Medicare supplement?”

It turns out that you might if you meet certain requirements.

Making Frequent Doctor Visits?

If you have to visit your doctor fairly often, those costs are going to add up. If you have any of the 10 standardized Medicare supplements, you’ll be able to pay for 50 percent of just about every visit. Most Medicare-covered visits are going to get you at least halfway to the finish line.

However, if you’re paying half of twice the visits of the average person, you’re going to be in trouble. Those costs are going to start ticking upward and end up breaking past your coverage limits.

Copayments add up when you’re sick, need to see specialists, or are just at an age where you have to make frequent trips to the doctor. Even just managing an injury that you’ve recovered from can be stressful.

If you have Medicare Part B, your deductible is $185. That’s what you’ll have to cover before you start your coverage. Even then, you’re only going to have 20 percent of your average visits paid for.

Calculate what you usually spend on doctor’s visits in a month and compare that to the cost of supplemental coverage.

You might find that it’s cheaper to pay for that coverage than pay for your bills out of your own pocket.

Do You Need Quality Equipment

For aging people and disabled individuals, medical equipment is important to maintain their quality of life. However, when saddled with cheap or inadequate equipment, quality of life is challenging and people struggle to get around comfortably. The cost of quality equipment can be several times more than the cost of cheaper or lower quality medical equipment.

Medicare supplement plans cover equipment costs that could drag down the amount of savings people with disabilities have. Whether you need a walker, wheelchair, or hospital bed, the differences in quality are broad from the bottom of the price range to the top. If you’re unable to buy the best equipment, you’re likely to struggle with comfort or even the ability to just get from your home to your doctor.

If you buy a piece of equipment that costs $2,000, you might have a coinsurance policy that requires you to pay for $400 of that. However, if that’s most of your monthly budget for necessities, this could be a massive undertaking for you. Taking on costly expenses could lead you to take out personal loans or other funding options that you can’t afford.

Medicare supplements are great for taking care of those coinsurance costs. Because different plans are going to have different coverage limits, you need to shop around and compare what companies have to offer. With Medicare supplement plans, you should be able to stay ahead of costs.

Hospital Visits Are Costly

If you’re facing the possibility of an extended hospital stay, you should get the right insurance first. If you have a history of having to stay in the hospital for a week or two at a time, these costs are going to add up. In case you end up staying beyond the 60-day limit of Medicare, it’s going to cost you hundreds of dollars a day.

There is zero fee in coinsurance when you have Medicare Part A. You’ll be able to get into the hospital and stay as long as 60 days if you’re covered by this plan. However, if you find that you’re stricken with an illness that requires constant attention for a long time, you could pay more than $300 every day.

Beyond 90 days, the number jumps up to more than $600 a day. Staying in the hospital for three months costs tens of thousands of dollars without supplemental insurance. Look at your current situation what your doctor projects.

If this is going to be a problem for you, consider supplemental coverage. The right plan is going to not only cover those costs of staying in the hospital but potentially get you out of the hospital sooner.

Coverage While Traveling Is a Challenge

If you travel a lot for work or to see friends and family, you’re going to need to be covered, especially as you age. Foreign travel isn’t a priority for everyone but it’s a necessity for some families. Travelers insurance is often much more expensive than the Medicare supplements available.

Traveling puts you at risk for more problems than you’d face staying home. You could slip and fall, run afoul of some bad food, or end up catching something that doesn’t naturally occur at home. The consequences are dire as we get older.

Medicare isn’t going to cover any care you get outside of the U.S. or any of its territories. If you buy all of the supplemental insurance plans up to their limits, you’ll be covered with 80 percent of your medical emergency fees while traveling. This could be a real godsend if you need to travel all the time but have a fragile constitution.

Even if you’re currently in good health, you never know what’s going to arise in the future. Supplemental insurance is always a good idea.

Still Asking “Do I Need A Medicare Supplement?”

If you’re still asking yourself “Do I need a Medicare supplement”, you might have to dig deeper into your own needs. Everyone has unique medical needs, so it’s up to you to figure out what works best for you.

In case you’re searching for a caregiver, check out what people are looking for in the best ones out there.

Should You Outsource IT Services? Here’s How to Tell!

Outsourcing jobs can be a difficult decision when you are starting your business. The high cost of labor can seem difficult to justify, but there comes a time when it becomes a necessity to continue to grow.

Obviously, outsourcing makes your life easier, but when does it become “worth it?”

Large jobs, specifically IT services, can be extremely time-consuming for a small business. As your business grows, so does the amount of time and manpower needed for IT. 

If you’re wondering if it’s the right time to outsource IT services, here are a few things to consider that can help you decide. 

Is IT a Primary Service Your Business Offers?

If IT support and services is not the primary service your business offers, then it can become quite a burden to your business’s growth. 

Spend your time where you make your money. If keeping up with IT takes away from your primary services, it’s time to outsource. 

By outsourcing IT, you can ensure that you’re getting the best IT services possible while also spending your time where it matters most. 

Will It Increase Your Efficiency?

Specialization is essential for a business to increases overall efficiency and growth. If you and your team are trying to juggle too many tasks, it can drain your productivity. 

It can be very time consuming trying to teach yourself new tasks. Especially tasks that don’t have anything to do with the main services your business offers. 

Outsourcing can help streamline processes in your business, and free up valuable time for your team members. 

Are You Looking to Grow Your Business?

Chances are, the answer is yes!

If you feel like your business has reached a standstill, it’s time to outsource your IT. Taking advantage of someone else’s expertise can really help propel your business forward. 

A combination of freeing of time while boosting productivity will allow your business to bring in more revenue. You will actually save yourself a lot of money in the long run by outsourcing IT services. 

This extra revenue can be invested back into your business to allow your business to continue to grow. 

Do You Want to Enhance Your Team’s Capabilities?

By outsourcing, you can seriously enhance your team’s capabilities. It can help you add more diversity and skill sets to your company. Having people focus on multiple areas can drain energy and resources. 

Your team will be more well rounded and have the capability to accomplish more. By allowing people to focus on their specialties, they can do what they do best and continue to grow in that skill set.

Help both your business and employees thrive by outsourcing needed IT services. 

Outsource IT Services

The decision doesn’t have to be difficult, in fact, it should be quite easy!

Propel the growth of your business, increase efficiency, and enhance your team’s capabilities by choosing to outsource IT. 

You will thank yourself later. 

For more business help, read up on four tips for great customer service. 

Staying Warm: Here’s How to Pick the Best Parkas for Cold Weather

Are you looking for a parka to wear in the cold weather this winter?

Finding the perfect parka for the blistering cold takes taking the time to consider what you really need and what is in your budget. 

Read on to learn how to pick the best parkas for cold weather!

Weather Conditions

Arguably the most important factor to consider when buying a parka is what weather conditions you will be wearing it in.

That’s because each place has weather that is a little bit different from others.

For example, you may be wearing your parka in a place like South Carolina, you should be prepared for both cold and rainy conditions. But it won’t be cold like Wisconsin. You will want a parka that is waterproof and lightweight so that you can wear it around comfortably.

A water-resistant parka also comes in handy when the snow melts against your parka!

But in a place like Illinois or Wisconsin, you can expect temperatures in the single or negative digits. This makes it important to pick a parka that has insulation and layers to keep you warm. 

Fair Weather Clothing offers designer parkas starting at only $39.99! You can view here to check out their entire inventory! 

Unique Features

There are many types of jackets and parkas on the market for you to purchase.

These fun styles have unique features that can help you stand out from the crowd while you are out and about on the town.

While parkas typically have zippers, they are not all the same. Some zippers have unique colors like red or gold that gives them contrast from the rest of your jacket. 

Another unique feature on a parka can be a belt around the outside of it. This gives your parka a stylish look to it and can help complement the rest of your outfit underneath it.

Budget Concerns

Another important consideration in finding the best parka for you is how much you are willing to spend.

The best parkas for extreme cold can cost over $1,000, but you can also find some that are not quite as expensive.

For example, the Canada Goose Expedition Down Parka is popular for its superior design quality and brand recognition. But it also retails for $1,050!

But you can still find a great parka and spend far less. 

Wrapping Up: Find The Best Parkas For Cold Weather

The best parkas for cold weather are all a matter of personal choice and what you need.

One thing to remember is that your parka should keep you warm while also helping to make a statement about you and your personal style. Since parkas can be expensive, you want to find one that you will enjoy wearing for a long time.

But perhaps you need for a completely opposite condition – fire! If you work around a hot condition or open flame, fire resistant clothing can be an important safety feature for you.

Check out our blog post on ‘Fire Resistant Clothing: What Is It and Should You Be Wearing It’?

Not Sure How to Wear Your Masonic Ring? Here’s How

You’re a mason and you’re proud to be in such an honorary group of men. As a result, you probably have a masonic ring to show your pride and support in freemasonry.

But, have you heard different viewpoints on how you should wear your ring?

Who should you listen to?

It all depends on what you believe and how your fellow masons wear theirs in the lodge.

As a diplomat of this age-old craft, you should be educated on the what the different ways of wearing your masonic ring represent.

Here’s your guide on the different ways of wearing your ring.

Pointing In

Pointing in is considered wearing your ring down towards yourself. This is probably the most common way masons will wear their rings.

Masons choose to wear their rings pointing in because it reminds them of their obligations as Freemasons.

When the compass is pointing towards your heart, it helps to remind yourself of the life-long fraternity that you are a part of.

Some people believe you should wear your ring this way until you have served and earned your time.

Wearing your ring pointing in also means you are always wanting to receive light from the compass until you are a Past Master of your lodge.

Pointing Out

Pointing out is considered wearing your ring up or out towards others. This way other people are able to tell what the symbol on your ring represents.

This way seems to be a newer way of wearing a mason ring, but it seems to be just as popular.

Many masons will wear their ring this way to show others that they are a mason and proud. This would make you an ambassador for Freemasonry.

For many, it represents to others how masons choose to live their life which is upright and on-level like the compass displayed. If asked what it means, it also becomes much easier to explain the design.

The choice is in your hands

As you can see these two different beliefs have been debated about forever. There really is no right or wrong way to wear your masonic ring.

In the end, all that matters is that you are reminded of your obligations and act upon them in all situations.

To be clear, there is no definitive answer for how you should wear your ring.

However you choose to wear your ring, you should always remember to stay in harmony with your choice by acting like a mason would.

If you’re still lost and new to having a masonic ring, try wearing it pointing in towards yourself until you feel you have earned your time as a Past Master.

Once you reach this point, you can then wear your ring pointing out to showcase to others what it means to be a freemason.

As your last effort, you could always ask your lodge representatives and other freemasons part of your fraternity how they wear their rings. Sometimes there are guidelines to follow.

Hopefully, you’ve learned that all that matters is wearing your masonic ring with pride. Now it’s your turn to start thinking about how you’d like to wear your ring.

While people will have their opinions on which way is best, it ultimately comes down to you to decide.

Are Medicare Supplement Plans Worth It? Here’s Everything You Need to Know…

Senior citizens make up over 13% of the United States population and are projected to make up as much as 20% of the population by the year 2060.

That growth of seniors in our country means that more and more people are asking questions about Medicare, what it covers, and whether or not Medicare supplement plans are worth investing in.

Chances are you already know what Medicare is, but for the uninitiated…Medicare is a single-payer insurance program provided by the United States government that helps cover senior’s and other special party’s healthcare costs.

What many people don’t know is that Medicare is not free.

So then, are Medicare supplement plans worth it?

As you’ll see below, the answer for many is yes.

What is a Medicare Supplement Plan?

A Medicare supplement plan is an insurance policy that helps fill in the gaps in your Medicare coverage.

What gaps are there in your coverage? As it turns out, a lot.

For example, most Medicare recipients pay expensive deductibles and 20% of their outpatient care expenses. Furthermore, Medicare has no deductible ceiling.

That means if your medical expenses are high during a certain year, you’ll keep paying out of pocket as you receive treatment.

People who have previously asked themselves, “Are Medicare supplement plans worth it?” have come to find that they love keeping their Medicare-related expenses in check with supplement plans since it lets them have predictable healthcare costs as opposed to volatile expenses.

A Comprehensive List of Medicare Supplement Plan Benefits

In case you’re still not convinced of the value a Medicare supplement plan can bring to your life, here are some of the top benefits people cite as supplement plan holders:

1. Protection Against Healthcare Cost Surges

As we’ve mentioned, the primary benefit of Medicare supplement plans is that they cover your Medicare-related experiences.

That means you can budget a concise amount of money each month for your medical costs without having to worry about getting sick one month and needing to dip deeper into your savings for treatment.

2. Many Medical Supplement Plans Have Ceilings

One of the worst aspects of Medicare is that there is no ceiling as to how much you can pay in deductibles during any given year.

Not only do Medicare supplement plans cover endless Medicare deductibles, but supplement plans also have ceilings.

That means after you’ve paid into your supplement plan up to a certain amount, it will continue to cover your Medicare expenses without asking you for any additional constitutions.

3. International Coverage

Did you know that Medicare doesn’t cover health and injury-related expenses that occur outside of the United States? That means you can never take a vacation or travel without worrying about facing a health issue.

With Medicare supplemental insurance, a good policy will fill in those Medicare international travel gaps so you can feel safe no matter where you go.

4. Guaranteed Acceptance During Open Enrollment

With most insurance policies, insurers can deny you coverage or charge you more based on your health situation. With a Medicare supplement insurance plan, insurers need to accept you and can’t raise costs based on your condition so long as you enroll during your open enrollment window.

Open enrollment for Medicare supplement plans is open for 6 months from when you turn 65 years old.

5. Plans Are Always Renewable

Even if your health takes a turn for the worst, a Medicare supplement insurer can’t cancel your plan so long as you’re keeping up with your premiums.

That means you can be sure that your plan will always renew at the end each calendar year without any issue.

6. You’ll Have Options

There’s no such thing one size fits all when it comes to health. That’s why Medicare supplement plans offer a variety of different coverage options to make sure you get all of the care you need and pay for none of the care you don’t.

The more comprehensive your plan is, the higher your monthly premiums will be but if you don’t need much in the way of Medicare expense help, you can also save by picking a less comprehensive insurance policy.

7. The Freedom to Try

When you have a Medicare supplement plan, there may come a time when you want to try another policy on for size. It could be that another policy is cheaper or that you’re interested in doing business with a more reputable provider.

With most Medicare supplement plans comes a “free look” contingency.

Free look contingencies enable supplement plan buyers to switch to a new policy, try it for 30 days, and then opt to either keep or revert back to their old policy without penalty during that period.

That means that you never have to feel trapped in the Medicare supplement policy you initially sign on to.

Wrapping Up Are Medicare Supplement Plans Worth It? Everything You Need to Know…

As you can see above, we are big-time proponents of investing in a Medicare supplement plan. At the end of the day, as you grow old, most people will be on a fixed income and have unpredictable health needs.

To make sure you’re always taken care of and to never have to worry about losing massive portions of your savings to illness, answer yes to the question of, “Are Medicare supplement plans worth it?”.

Start researching what supplement plans are out there and good luck finding the perfect plan for your unique needs!

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