Healthy Living Reality

Category: budget

  • My New Wireless Earbuds: Affordable Choice for Park Play, Music Sharing, and Work Calls

    My New Wireless Earbuds: Affordable Choice for Park Play, Music Sharing, and Work Calls

    Sometimes, a small purchase can make a big difference in everyday life. That’s the case with my new wireless ear buds. My old ones broke. Since I have been using them nearly every day, in many situations, I made it a priority to get new ones fast. I’ll use them while playing sports, making phone calls, and occasionally sharing a listen with my son, age 8. 

    There are so many nifty products out there, from tech-related items to household gadgets to clothing, accessories, and toys. Each one may be “just a few” dollars, but together, the purchases add up. It’s hard to tell which may be worthwhile, and which may be something that doesn’t improve your life. 

    Wireless ear buds can be a lifesaver if you work in an office and want to listen to music without disturbing coworkers.

    In this case, the $10 I spent are a good choice. Bluetooth, wireless ear buds let me listen while at the park and transition instantly to making phone calls or joining meetings remotely. They save time because I don’t have to fiddle with wires, and they let me have more “me” time because it’s easy to start listening at any time. 

    Battery and Other Basic Features

    These ear buds have features that appear standard for their price range. 

    • 8 hours of continuous playback or use time on a single charge
    • 48 hours of overall use time stored in the battery pack, or charging box
    • Easy bluetooth connectivity – they pair within seconds when I turn on my phone’s bluetooth setting
    • A mic with noise cancelling for easier phone calls

    I chose the red ones. As usual, I chose from the colors that were the least expensive. I was pleased to find red because my previous ones were black, and I found those hard to find. I also wouldn’t have wanted white because it looks dirty so soon. 

    Comfort Features

    These ear buds are designed to fit 99% of ears. They come with 3 different sizes of ear bud coverings so you can find the one that works for you. They weigh only 4 grams – that’s what a teaspoon of sugar weighs, to put it into context. Soft and comfortable, it’s easy to forget that you have them in your ears!

    Finger Tap Controls

    You can control the ear buds using finger taps. 

    Earbud Touch Controls
    Function Control
    Volume Down One tap, left side
    Volume Up One tap, right side
    Previous Track Long tap, left side
    Next Track Long tap, right side
    Answer Call One tap on either side
    Hang Up One tap on either side
    Voice Assistance Triple tap, left or right

    It looks like a lot now, but I know I’ll learn the various tap controls quickly as soon as I start using them. 

    Use Bluetooth ear buds to keep you company as you walk.

    Water Resistance: IPX7 Rating

    I’m satisfied with the water resistance feature. It’s sweatproof, drizzle-proof, and hopefully a little bit resistant to spills – after all, I’m not perfect, and I live with an 8-year-old. It’s rated IPX7. Here are the features. 

    IPX7 — What’s OK (✓) vs What’s Not Recommended (✗)
    OK (✓) Not Recommended (✗)
    ✓ Drizzle / light rain (walking, short outdoor exposure)
    ✓ Sweat during workouts (running, basketball, tennis practice)
    ✓ Accidental splashes (water bottle spills, playground splash)
    ✓ Short bursts of moderate rain if you quickly get under cover
    ✓ Submersion in water up to 1 meter for 30 minutes (pools, puddles, sinks)     		✗ Prolonged exposure beyond 30 minutes underwater
    ✗ High-pressure water jets (showers, hoses)
    ✗ Saltwater or chlorinated water over time (may damage seals)
    ✗ Extreme temperatures while submerged

    My Daily Uses for Ear Buds

    I use ear buds for active time, “me” time, parenting time, and social time, and work time. For safety reasons, I don’t use wireless ear buds for running. I prefer wired ear buds so I can use just one ear bud and have the other ear fully tuned to traffic and other potential dangers. But for my other listening purposes, ear buds work well. 

    I like listening while I do other things, so it’s convenient for me to have wireless ear buds that won’t get tangled up with my tennis racket, kitchen knife, or keys on a lanyard. Here are some of the times I regularly use ear buds.

    • Playing tennis against a backboard 
    • Shooting baskets alone on a court
    • While walking to and from supermarkets or aimlessly in the neighborhood
    • At home if my son is home and doing his own activity
    • In our building’s gym if someone else is present and I don’t want to bother them
    Find comfortable and water resistant ear buds to make running easier.

    One of my favorite ways to use them is to listen to my son’s playlist with him. We’ll each take one ear bud, and he’ll put on his playlist on my phone. I don’t typically like the music he listens to, but it’s fun listening together and knowing he handpicked each song. 

    Hopefully you got some insight or ideas for your own listening convenience. When do you use earbuds or a headset, and what features do you like to have? 

  • Here’s How We Grocery Shop Without a Car

    I talked before about why I don’t own a car, and how my son and I get where we need to go. Here’s how we go grocery shopping without a car. Good news: it doesn’t involve pizza delivery, meal kits, or exorbitant grocery delivery fees! It involves delivery services and a lot of walking.

    Typical Car Ownership and Driving Habits in the US

    Many Americans may have trouble even imagining what it’s like not to own or share a car. The average household in the US has more than 2 cars. There are 0.8 cars per person, which may not sound like much until you realize that that figure includes children!

    Among drivers, there are 1.2 cars per driver! (Side question: what do people do with their extra cars when they own more than one?). People drive about 7-14 miles per day.

    These numbers are lower in certain dense urban areas on the East Coast like Boston and New York where public transportation is common and more convenient. For example, only about half of households in these cities have cars. But in many metropolitan areas, including the one in which I live, car ownership is near ubiquitous among households. 

    These figures imply that most people drive to get their groceries. Or, since about half of food dollars are spent on food prepared outside the home like at restaurants, people eat out. So how does my household get groceries? 

    Grocery Delivery

    I use Walmart Plus InHome grocery delivery service. For a single annual fee, I get the following benefits. 

    • Groceries and everything else Walmart sells at in-store prices, with no mark-up for delivery services
    • Free delivery on minimum orders of $35, with delivery windows of 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. or 2:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. 
    • No need to tip the delivery person, who is a Walmart employee (not a third party driver as many delivery services use)
    • Free shipping on many items with no minimum fee. Eligible items may include non-perishable grocery items (though a limited selection), clothing, electronics, and other non-grocery items

    I find that Walmart has competitive prices on national brands, great prices on store brands, and a great selection of store brands, including many varieties and flavors analogous to what national brands offer. 

    Their produce is often good, though I regularly get bruised tomatoes and overripe bananas. Walmart occasionally makes mistakes in the orders, but they make it easy for me to ask for refunds. 

    Walking to Supermarkets

    We’re lucky to live within 2 miles of 3 different supermarkets. Within 50-70 minutes, I can walk to a store, shop, and bring back a load of groceries.

    A Local “International” Supermarket

    Most of my fruits and vegetables come from a store that’s 1.25 miles away from my home. There are about 20 locations in my general area of the country. Fruit and vegetable prices are often half the price of standard supermarkets. 

    It’s a fun place to shop because prices can change daily. You never know what great deal you’ll find, like 2-lb bags of organic cauliflower florets for $1.49 a few weeks ago. That makes it ideal for walking because I can’t carry much, so it’s easier to go frequently anyway and only purchase a little at a time. 

    The store calls itself an “international marketplace.” Many of the customers are Armenian or Russian. It’s a great place to purchase things like kalamata or other specialty olives, Bulgarian or Greek feta, and similar foods that are common in the Mediterranean countries and terribly overpriced at major supermarkets. Breads like white and whole-wheat pita and lavash are delivered fresh daily.

    This store is a great complementary option to Walmart. It fills in for fruits and vegetables that are lacking at Walmart. Conversely, it’s not the best place to buy standard packaged American items like oatmeal, peanut butter, and flour. It’s pricey and selection isn’t great. 

    Amazon Fresh Is Attractive

    Amazon Fresh has a location less than a mile from me. I don’t normally shop there much (though I wrote about how I’m currently on a free 3-month trial for their delivery service and am loving it). As for shopping in the store myself, I do appreciate it being there.

    It’s my go-to for a few things like fresh flowers when I need a gift for someone. It often has iceberg lettuce cheaper than at other places, and it does have some store-brand items and random other items at fabulous prices if you look hard enough. 

    Its real draw for me, though, is that it’s kid-friendly. That means I can walk there with my son (walking or biking). I get to take a walk, and my child is happy – that’s a true benefit! When we get there, my son gets to choose a free piece of fruit – he always chooses a banana from among the banana, tangerine, and apple offerings – and uses a kid-sized shopping cart. Sometimes, he gets a sheet of stickers. Whatever works!

    Whenever we’re out with the car, I keep my eyes open for other grocery shopping opportunities. Ralphs (Kroger), Vons (Safeway), and Trader Joes are fun destinations, but they’re not regular for us. Still, every car load helps!

  • First Day of Third Grade: Back-to-School Prep and Observations

    School started last week! I know I’m not the only parent who was ready for it. Here’s how the countdown to the first day of third grade went. My son is 8 years old. 

    Back-to-School Shopping List: Short and Sweet!

    Back-to-school shopping appears to be a season these days. Sales seem to start in June and continue through summer vacation. 

    My son’s school supplies pencils, crayons, highlighters, scissors, and other items that they need in the classroom. There’s a beautiful pencil box waiting on each student’s desk when they enter the classroom. I’m just responsible for supplying a backpack, lunchbag, and water bottle. He ended up with this backpack, which feels cushiony and has reinforcements under the side water bottle holders. 

    I’m also lucky when it comes to buying clothes. My son is easy-going, with a few shirts and pants being sufficient. Plus, he enjoys shopping with his grandparents, so I don’t have to do much for his wardrobe. 

    Though I get off relatively easy, it’s true that there’s no such thing as a free lunch. I do pay the price for having very little to buy! 

    Cost of a “Free Education:” Fundraising for a Good Cause

    Fundraising starts before school starts with the Annual Giving Campaign. The suggested donation is $1,000 per family. I’m happy to pay it. A public education is supposed to be free, but I can see where the money is spent. The school offers extracurriculars like art, music, gardening, computer lab, and science lab. The facilities are very nice, and, of course, there are the school supplies. You can see that families’ donations are going to benefit the children.

    A Relief for Parents

    Summer vacation can be tough for parents. I can only speak with certainty for myself, but I think other parents feel similarly. Working parents like me enjoy unbelievable freedom and flexibility compared to parents who work in the office, but there are challenges, too. 

    In my case, being at home doesn’t always mean my son is disruptive, but he is increasingly savvy as he grows up. Now he knows that he can watch a screen if I need to work and can’t entertain him. So, I try to avoid the situation. Instead, I try to work at home when he’s not home, or take him somewhere without a screen if I need to work. The library, a park, and long bus rides are options that currently amuse him while I can work. 

    School is a safe, dependable place to leave my son without guilt. I can feel good that he’s with his friends, his brain is getting some sort of stimulation (hopefully), and I’m not choosing between one of three not-great options:

    • Asking my parents to exhaust themselves while watching my son
    • Paying for a babysitter
    • Begging my son to be quiet while I’m working

    School is even low-cost, though as you can see from the cost of a free public education above, it’s not quite free. 

    I assume stay-at-home parents also feel relieved when their children return to school, but I can’t speak for them. Many of them may feel lonely during the day.  Others may embrace the chance to socialize, clean their homes, binge watch tv shows, or volunteer at their children’s schools. 

    A Simple First-Day-of-School Ritual…and What I Did After Drop-off

    I had long planned for the first day of school. I’d walk my son to school at his request. It’s a first-day-of-school tradition, since I don’t usually take him to school. (Usually my parents or a babysitter do the honors while I run). 

    My plan was to drop him off, then go to the park to play basketball. (I’m still playing mostly left-handed, though my back is healing nicely). Then I was going to do some work, take a nap, and clean our home. I played basketball and did some work. Somehow, I wasn’t tired. Maybe I had adrenaline from the excitement of being on my own, guilt-free. 

    First Day of Third Grade: A Statement of Independence 

    I don’t typically take my son to school. When I decided to have a child, I promised myself that I wasn’t going to give up my mornings. I like to run, work out, and have my own time. So, I get a babysitter or my parents take my son in the mornings.

    My son wanted me to take him on the first day of school. I got up early, ran, and then we walked to school. I even remembered to take a first-day-of-school photo. 

    The other children were entering the schoolyard with one or two parents. My son sweetly said goodbye and kindly refused my offer to stand in the yard with him like every other parent. So, that was that. 

    I think third grade comes with a little more independent work. That’s great practice!

    “Best Day Ever”

    It’s nice that even though he’s a big 8-year-old, my son still has a lot of adorable qualities. For example, he still regularly has the best day ever. His first day of school was, according to him, the best day ever. Here’s what I gathered about why.

    • He got a pencil from his teacher. 
    • A classmate paid him a compliment (as part of what apparently was an icebreaker to pass along a compliment to another student). 
    • His teacher awarded the class 10 extra minutes of Friday Free Time.

    He also enjoyed being in the big building, which is where the third, fourth, and fifth-grade classrooms are. 

    The Afterschool Meltdowns Continue

    After the best day ever, who wouldn’t have a meltdown? They’re regular; nearly every day of school ends with a shorter or longer meltdown. This one was shorter than some. 

    How did the first day of school go for you and your children? How did they react to it after school?

  • Why We Don’t Own a Car (And Why It Works for Us)

    Most Americans have cars, but we don’t. We walk to get to most places, we use grocery delivery services and walking for groceries, and we are able to borrow my parents’ car for all necessities and some fun. Here’s why I choose not to purchase a car, and how we make do.

    Getting Around by Borrowing a Car

    To be clear, I have good access to a car. My parents own one. It was new in 2001. It has 30,000 miles on it – which you can see means that none of us drive much! Since they’re out of town more than half of the year, it works out for both parties if I drive their car when they’re gone. I usually take it out once a week to take my son somewhere that’s not within walking distance. We may stop at a supermarket to buy something heavy if it’s on the way. 

    My parents own a car and let us borrow it. It’s far from a Mercedes, but it works!

    Cost Benefits of Not Owning a Car

    It’s expensive to purchase and own a car. There’s the initial investment of $5,000-$50,000, depending on factors like whether you buy a new or used car, and what make and model you purchase. Then there’s insurance, gas, and repairs. A common estimate is about $12,000 annually. 

    There are estimates comparing the cost of owning a car to the cost of using a rideshare like Uber or Lyft. The breakeven point may be around 6,000-8,000 miles per year; that is, if you drive more than that, you should be a car. If you drive less than that, take rideshares. 

    Responsibility Benefits of Not Owning a Car

    Cars are a headache, unless you’re one of those people who loves cars, takes pride in them, and enjoys taking care of them. I’m not. To me, they’re a form of transportation with no emotional benefits. So, I’m just as happy not to worry about maintaining a car, getting it serviced, and handling repairs. (Of course, when I’m responsible for my parents’ car, I do all of those things, such as replacing the radiator last year when necessary). 

    Environmental Benefits of Using Cars Less

    The environmental benefits may be most impressive of all, though I can’t claim that the environment has been the deciding factor in my choice not to own a car. 

    Every time you walk a mile instead of drive one, you’re saving about:

    • 400 grams of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (or 150 for an electric vehicle)
    • 3-7 gallons of water

    Walking causes about 90% fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to driving. 

    Having fewer cars on the road also reduces environmental impact from things like repairing roads. 

    Health Benefits of Walking

    Walking instead of driving is a form of exercise. It’s good for me, and it’s an easy way to get an extra few minutes of walking with my son. We can talk while walking, and both of us can use the movement and fresh air. 

    Let’s face it: most Americans would probably be healthier if they had to park their cars ⅓ of a mile away. They’d think before driving and possibly walk instead of driving sometimes if they knew they had to walk 7 minutes to get to their car and another 7 minutes to walk home after using and parking the car. 

    How Else We Get Around

    With a car being just a small portion of our transportation, how do we get where we need to go? We walk to most places. We take the bus or subway occasionally. 

    Walking Most Places

    We walk most places. Here are some of our frequent destinations. 

    • My son’s school is ½ mile away. 
    • My parents’ house is ⅓ mile away. 
    • A supermarket with great prices on produce is 1.25 miles away. 
    • The park where my son likes to play is ½ mile away. 
    • The public library is 0.75 miles away. 

    Plus, since my son attends the local public school, most of his friends live within a mile of school, or within walking distance for us. 

    As you can see, most of our life is within walking distance!

    Public Transportation

    Public busses are fun, but they’re not always frequent where we live.

    We live in a city with notoriously inadequate public transportation. We don’t take it much for necessities, but we do take it a lot for fun. It’s a way to get places without using a car, and it’s easy to take my son’s bike on board a bus or subway. Plus, kids and students get free rides, so I only have to pay for myself.

    Drawbacks of Not Owning a Car

    It’s definitely less convenient not to have a car. There are many times when I would like to just get in the car and go somewhere, whether to a store, to pick up my son, or just to get away. It is a little harder to arrange playdates that are out of walking range, doctor and dentist appointments, and other things that are too far to walk to. And sometimes I simply don’t feel like asking my parents for yet another favor like borrowing the car, especially when it’s not something essential. 

    No Car in My Future…But What About My Son?

    I don’t expect to ever purchase my own car. I don’t like driving, and as rideshares and self-driving vehicles become more mainstream, I can’t see myself needing to take on the headache of owning a car. 

    I wonder if my son will want his own car, though. I can imagine that after so many years – his whole life – of needing to think carefully before going anywhere or plan anything, he may feel that having his own car gives him immense freedom. 

    If he gets one, I hope he’ll give me rides sometimes.

  • We Tried Grocery Delivery from Amazon Fresh – Free Trial!

    Everyone seems to use Amazon nowadays, but are you familiar with Amazon Fresh? It’s Amazon’s brick and mortar grocery store. There are only 64 locations nationwide, but they’re strategically placed and are increasing in number. I got a free trial. Here’s how it’s going (hint: I’m using the service a lot!).

    Free Trial Offer During Amazon Prime Days

    Amazon Prime Days occur during July each year. During this year’s event, I took advantage of an offer for a free three-month trial of free grocery delivery for orders over $25 from Amazon Fresh. I don’t usually sign up for trial offers because I’m afraid I will have trouble cancelling them, but Amazon makes it easy. I’ve never had trouble navigating their subscription services and cancelling on time. 

    There’s an app for that! Now, it’s Amazon Fresh and free grocery delivery!

    Delivery and In-Store Shopping and Pick-Up Options

    Anyone can shop in Amazon Fresh stores. Amazon Prime members receive special discounts, similar to other supermarket chain’s membership cards that entitle you to lower prices. Prime members also get free grocery pickup on orders over a certain amount.

    Grocery delivery is only free for Prime members on orders over $100. Less than that, and it’ll cost you at least $9.95 for grocery delivery. You can choose from 2-hour and 1-hour delivery windows. For quicker delivery, you can opt to pay more.

    To get grocery delivery on orders over $25, you can sign up for their grocery delivery service. It’s about $10 per month, depending on whether you pay for a full year or monthly, and whether you have any other special discounts. 

    The Expected Benefit: Convenience Without a Car

    The convenience of Amazon Fresh grocery delivery service is wonderful for my household. We don’t own a car, so it is nice to have groceries delivered to our front doorstep. I get most of my food through Walmart Plus InHome for most groceries, and through frequent walks to a nearby ethnic store for produce. 

    My son can eat an astonishing amount of watermelon, making Amazon Fresh delivery service especially convenient for us.

    With Amazon Fresh, I’ve been able to get watermelons regularly this summer. They’re something I prefer not to get from Walmart, as quality varies, and they’re too heavy to carry home from a supermarket. They’ve been excellent, and my son loves having so much watermelon. 

    It’s also been nice having narrow delivery windows. When I can schedule a delivery within a 1 or 2-hour window, it’s far easier for me to order frozen foods. Other services often have a four-hour delivery window.

    The App Works, But Not Perfectly

    Finally, the app works, just like you’d expect from Amazon. It’s easy to navigate. And, when you load coupons to your wallet, it’s a seamless process and the discounts appear as they should when you’re checking out.

    A drawback is that I’ve been unable to edit my order after checking out, even though it says I should be able to. Somehow, it won’t save my changes, so I’m in effect unable to make changes.

    An Amazon Benefit: Dependability

    Amazon has fabulous customer service, and their grocery delivery service has been consistent with that pattern. They deliver within the scheduled delivery window. Products are high-quality. And, products are largely correct. I rarely have to spend my time with customer service trying to get a refund, which is different from other services I’ve tried.

    An Unexpected Benefit: Prices

    I hadn’t realized how many low-cost items Amazon Fresh has. If you’re buying national brand items, they’re often lower in cost than at other stores. If you’re able to find the product in Amazon Brand (such as Happy Belly, Amazon Saver, and any of their other in-house brands), it’s sure to be high-quality and low in price. 

    Tomato soup is high in potassium, a source of vegetables, and very affordable at Amazon Fresh.

    For the best deals, check in often! Prices can vary widely from day to day. And, they’re not always advertised in the sales flyer. 

    In the past week, I’ve found these deals. 

    For more savings, I use my Amazon credit card through Chase. It gives me 5% cash back on Amazon purchases. 

    Not a Fan of Tips

    Amazon Fresh asks you to tip. Of course I do it. I understand that it’s how the delivery drivers make a higher wage. But I don’t like the concept of tipping. I would much prefer to be charged a price that includes the driver’s wage and doesn’t require a discretionary tip. 

    When I use Walmart Plus InHome, I don’t have to pay a tip. That’s because I pay an extra annual fee for the InHome service compared to standard Walmart Plus. It makes my shopping and calculations easier.

    I also don’t like how Amazon Fresh inputs a default tip amount of $5. That’s 20% for a $25 order or 5% for a $100 order. Does that make any sense?!

    I do like that you can edit the tip for up to 24 hours after the order has been delivered. 

    Items Are Out of Stock

    Amazon Fresh items are constantly playing musical chairs. They’re in stock, out of stock, and in stock again. It makes it hard to plan ahead. Sometimes I place an order even though one or more of the items I wanted aren’t in stock. 

    Sometimes they’ll come back into stock at great prices, and I’ll feel pressured to place an order quickly before they go out of stock, but I don’t need $25 worth of items. It’s a theme I’ve also noticed when physically shopping in Amazon Fresh stores; it’s rare that I come away with every item on my list, even when my list only includes items in the weekly sales flyer. 

    Bottom Line: Love It, But Won’t Renew

    I have been enjoying the Amazon Fresh delivery service. I’ve been getting items like watermelon that are otherwise difficult for me to bring home. Many foods have been inexpensive. And, it’s been easier for me to purchase frozen items.

    Thankfully, I’m in a position where I don’t have to renew the service (and pay for it). I am lucky enough to get what I need from Walmart and stores within walking distance – including Amazon Fresh! We have one less than a mile from our home. 

    Interestingly, it seems as though Amazon is increasing the selection of groceries, including some produce and frozen goods, that it makes available through its “same day delivery” service for orders over $25. I am excited to see how that plays out. 

    How do you do your grocery shopping? Where do you shop? Do you drive, walk, or use delivery services? Which stores do you shop? 

  • We Got a Bladeless Fan By Accident – And Love It!

    Here’s the story of how my household acquired a bladeless fan for free and by accident, and why we love it. It’s a lighter topic after heavy subjects like donating peanut butter and nutrients in peanut butter. This is what we got. Thank you, Amazon!

    A Mistakenly Delivered Package

    One afternoon, my son and I found a package from Amazon in front of our door. I opened it without thinking because we’re always getting packages from Amazon, and I don’t keep track very well of what I’m expecting to come and when I’m expecting it to come. It was a bladeless fan.

    I admit several things. 

    • I hadn’t even known what a bladeless fan was.
    • My son told me as I was opening the package that the address was not ours. (In my defense, he also told me many other things, ranging from sense to nonsense, and probably hadn’t stopped talking in the last 24 hours, so I may not have been listening to every word). 
    • It took me a day to phone Amazon about the package. (In my defense, I immediately tried to inform them of their mistake over chat, but couldn’t figure out how to tell the chat bot what the issue was or how to get to a live person). 

    A Gift from Amazon

    The next day, I phoned Amazon using their direct number. I found it online on a very useful website. After a minimum of interaction with the automated system, I was able to speak with a friendly customer service rep who claimed it was his first day on the job. After I explained that Amazon had mistakenly delivered the fan to me instead of to a different address, the rep looked into it.

    He found that the intended recipient had reported the package as lost. He had requested and received a refund. Therefore, according to the rep’s logic, I could keep or donate the bladeless fan. Hooray! My son loves anything electronic or electric, and I am happy to have a fan. 

    So…here are the details!

    What’s a Bladeless Fan?

    First, for those of you who were like me and didn’t know what a bladeless fan is, but are too shy to ask. A bladeless fan is a fan without blades. That is, it blows air without the potential for you or your children or pets to get your fingers injured by spinning blades. Air comes out through slots that are narrower than if blades were spinning around.

    Getting Started

    Thankfully, there wasn’t much to do. We took the fan out of the box and plugged it in. It came with a USB cable that we plugged into the outlet and the back of the fan. We put the fan on a table and turned it on. It looks like it’s about a $30 fan.

    Family, Child, and Household-Friendly

    The fan seems sturdy. It’s easy to pick up and carry around. It balances nicely on the tabletop, making me feel as though I don’t need to be as careful with it as I do with battery-powered desk-top fans. It’s also handsome and neutral. It comes in white or grey – ours is white – and I don’t see how it could be aesthetically displeasing to anyone. 

    Since it has no blades, it’s theoretically easy to clean just by wiping it. Since everything else in our household is dirty or sticky, I assume our fan will end up that way, too. Hopefully it’ll work for a while. 

    Lights and Sound – Unobtrusive

    The fan has a light at the back so you can see that it’s plugged in. When you turn it on using the power button on the front, a small light lights up. It’s pale on level 1, a mild green on level 2, and a bright green color when the fan is at its top level, level 3. 

    A neat thing about this fan is that it’s designed to be unobtrusive. The lights only light for a few seconds when you turn on the fan or change the power level. Then they turn off; the purpose is for sleeping to be more comfortable. The sound is very quiet, nearly inaudible at level 1. That is good news for someone like me who’s sensitive to noise. I even used it while giving a talk on a call for work, and it was quiet quiet. 

    Effectiveness and Other Benefits

    It’s quite effective for a small fan. It cools a larger area than a small, battery-powered desktop fan. When I left it running overnight near an open window, I could tell that it circulated more air to cool down our home compared to when I leave a smaller fan running overnight. It’s midsummer, but our place isn’t that hot and the nights have been cool.

    Apparently other customers are happy. Amazon claims that over 4,000 customers have purchased this fan in the past month. The average rating is over 4 stars, with nearly 3,000 reviews. 

    Drawbacks

    The only drawbacks I see are clearly stated in the product description. For example, the fan doesn’t run on batteries. You can only use it while it is plugged in. This greatly reduces the range of places you can use it. 

    Similarly clearly stated, it doesn’t have a remote control. I could see this being inconvenient if you’re using it overnight and it’s out of reach of your bed. A timer could also be useful for overnight use. 

    Final Thoughts and Recommendation

    As a way to stay cool without using expensive air conditioning, this fan is fabulous. If I were looking for one to purchase, I’d probably check for one with a battery, but as a free gift, this is something I’m grateful for and that makes my lift better.

  • Peanut Butter vs. Almond Butter, Sunflower Butter, and More: Cost per Nutrient and More Comparisons

    In Episode 1 of our Peanut Butter Adventures, we talked about peanut butter’s popularity in the US. We also talked about some of the features of peanut butter that make it so appealing. It’s versatile, kid-friendly, and nutritious. 

    In this post, let’s talk about two of my favorite topics: nutrition and cost. We’ll look at key nutrients in peanut butter and compare the cost of peanut to the cost of other sources of these nutrients. 

    Nutrition of Peanut Butter

    Peanut butter has 180 calories per 2-tablespoon serving, or slightly more than an ounce. In the Dietary Guidelines, peanut butter counts as a protein and fat. As a plant-based food, it’s cholesterol-free. 

    Many people know peanut butter for its: 

    • 13 grams of heart-healthy unsaturated fats
    • 7 grams of protein
    • 3 grams of dietary fiber

    This serving also has:

    • 16 grams of fat
    • 3 grams of saturated fat
    • 7 grams of carbohydrates
    • 3 grams of sugar
    • 135 mg of sodium

    It’s a fair source of these vitamins and minerals.

    • 70 mg of magnesium (20% daily value)
    • 3 mg vitamin E (20% daily value)
    • 4 mg niacin (25% daily value)
    • 0.6 mg manganese (25% daily value)
    • 0.18 mg copper (20% daily value)

    And it has a bit more. 

    • 30 mcg folate (7% daily value)
    • 0.13 mg vitamin B6 (8% daily value)
    • 200 mg mg potassium (4% daily value)
    • 0.9 mg zinc (8% daily value)

    Remember that these values are estimates. Specific brands can have slightly different values. 

    Almond Butter, Sunflower, and Chickpea Butter as Nutritional and Functional Alternatives to Peanut Butter

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say about 6 percent of Americans have any type of food allergy. Among children, about 1 in 50 have a peanut allergy. Almond butter, sunflower seed butter, and chickpea butter are common substitutes. 

    Almond Butter: A Close But Pricey Swap

    Almond butter may be the closest substitute for peanut butter in terms of taste, texture, and macronutrients. It’s far pricier, coming in at about $8-$10 per 16-ounce jar. Here’s a jar of Justin’s Almond Butter – one of the more popular brands. Cashew butter has similar costs and nutritional content. 

    Almond butter is increasing in popularity as an alternative to peanut butter.

    Compared to peanut butter, almond butter has more calcium, with 8% of the daily value per 2-tablespoon serving. Almond butter is high in vitamin E, an antioxidant, though peanut butter is also a good source. It also has more riboflavin (vitamin B2), though it’s a common nutrient that you can find in many foods. 

    Peanut butter has slightly more protein and niacin (vitamin B3). 

    Sunflower Butter: An Option if You Have Peanut and Nut Allergies

    Sunflower butter, like SunButter Organic Sunflower Seed Butter in regular, chocolate, and organic varieties, an option if you’re allergic to peanuts and tree nuts like almonds and cashews. It’s especially high in selenium, a mineral which supports antioxidant function in the body. 

    Sunflower seeds have vitamin E, fiber, and heart-healthy fats.

    Compared to sunflower seed butter, peanut butter is higher in protein and fiber. 

    Chickpea Butter: A Legume-Based Option

    Chickpeas, or garbanzo beans, are legumes, just like peanuts are. Chickpea butter is a little different because compared to nuts, seeds, and peanuts, chickpeas or garbanzo beans are naturally lower in fat. To make chickpea butter, you have to add oil. Check the list of ingredients and nutrition facts panel to see what type of oil it contains. Palm oil and hydrogenated oils can add unhealthy saturated fats. 

    Chickpea butter can be higher in folate than peanut butter. It has more fiber, too. Peanut butter is higher in protein and fat. 

    Cost of Peanut Butter Compared to Peanut Butter Substitutes and Other Foods

    Let’s see how peanut butter compares in cost per nutrient compared to almond butter, sunflower seed butter, and chickpea butter at the prices above.

    Food Item Price ($) Cost per Calorie ($/kcal) Cost per gram Protein ($/g) Cost per gram MUFA ($/g) Cost per gram Fiber ($/g)
    Peanut Butter $2.00 $0.0007 $0.02 $0.02 $0.07
    Almond Butter $8.00 $0.0026 $0.09 $0.04 $0.19
    Sunflower Seed Butter $6.00 $0.0021 $0.06 $0.05 $0.14
    Chickpea Butter $6.00 $0.0026 $0.07 $0.33 $0.11

    Cost of Peanut Butter Compared to Other Nutritious Foods

    How does the cost of peanut butter compare to that of other nutritious foods? Let’s look at chicken for protein at $3 per pound, apples for fiber at $1 per pound, and olive oil at $5 for 16 ounces for healthy fats.

    Food Item Price ($) Cost per Calorie ($/kcal) Cost per gram Protein ($/g) Cost per gram MUFA ($/g) Cost per gram Fiber ($/g)
    Peanut Butter $2.00 $0.0007 $0.02 $0.02 $0.07
    Skinless Chicken $3.00 $0.0067 $0.04 $1.24 $inf
    Apples $1.50 $0.0068 $1.36 $75.00 $0.15
    Olive Oil $5.00 $0.0013 $inf $0.02 $inf

    Convenience of Peanut Butter

    Peanut butter is perfect for storing at home and especially for giving away to needy people. Here are some reasons why. 

    • It’s inexpensive, as we talked about above.
    • It doesn’t need refrigeration before opening or afterwards. 
    • You can eat it on its own or with almost anything. 
    • It’s calorie-dense and fairly small, making it easily portable. 

    Do you like peanut butter? What nutrients do you depend on it for?