Social Activities (dining out, clubs, sports) - 22.5%
I can understand the desire to maintain certain health/wellness, and some extras to add normalcy during tough times, but there are options worth considering.
For those who want to hold onto non-essentials, I suggest exploring more affordable alternatives:
Amazon Prime provides good entertainment value in addition to free shipping - Amazon offers monthly payment plans - Amazon provides TV/Film, Games, Music, and More in one service - Grubhub orders are free through Amazon Prime
Free streaming services like FreeVee, Pluto TV, Tubi
The key is to budget and do your research, get creative with free/low-cost options, and prioritize covering essential expenses first. Resources like the $30 Now Home Internet service can help make entertainment and work accessible if you need to cut a cost.
Remember, there are also assistance programs in the U.S. for the less fortunate. With discipline and a good plan, you can hopefully get through this challenging time and establish a budget. For saving, Paypal actually has a saving account option that provides you with 4.30%, so if you plug a small amount of money into it on a consistent basis you can benefit.
Lastly, Rideshare drivers, you can make $1200/year without additional work by signing up for a tablet to entertain your passengers. There is no charge for you and tips may increase due to the added entertainment.
I was asked recently about hangout spots in Orlando that may appeal to gamers, so it's the perfect opportunity to recommend some and turn up the in-person interaction with fellow gamers.
One location that immediately comes to mind is... The Pinball Palace at Dezerland. This location has a lounge where you can kick it with friends and play various games on Playstation, Xbox, Nintendo, retro consoles, and ofcourse... pinball + Pool! This lounge also has a bar with an assortment of drinks. Outside of couch co-op games, I'd probably go and play pinball or pool. https://pinballatdezerland.com/
Dezerland is near the corner of International Drive & Oak Ridge Road (It's directly across the street from McDonalds, and the word 'Dezerland' are in huge letters). *There is also full arcade just past the bowling area at Dezerland as well.
Dezerland Park Orlando 5250 International Dr, Orlando (FL) 32819
Player 1 Video Game Bar is similar to The Pinball Palace, but you have a lot more drinks + snack options, which some have a game theme to them.
Snacks are limited. The current options are Boneless Chocobo Tenders, Itsa-me, Mario! Mozzarella Sticks, and Raph's Pizza Pockets. These prices are reasonable for the snacks, especially when compared to the sodas, which are $6.00 per bottle (yikes). https://player1orlando.com/
Player 1 Video Game Bar 8562 Palm Pkwy, Orlando (FL) 32836
Gods & Monsters is a comic book shop that serves drinks in it's Fallout themed "Vault 5421" bar (featuring games like free Joystick arcade tables). It has all sorts of figurines, the atmosphere feels like the perfect after party location once Comic-Con comes to a close. Which is crazy because the Orlando Toy & Comic-Con is going on right now! I can't confirm if they have food or not (in the vault). https://godmonsters.com/
Gods & Monsters 5421 International Drive, Orlando (FL) 32819
Quickly Boba N Snow isn't a place with video games, but... this Asian Fusion restaurant shows gamers, and anime fans a lot of love. Gamers will actually take their Nintendo Switch systems to this restaurant to chill, chat, game, and grub. You can really get your grub on here, and the prices are reasonable. Those Korean corn dogs are next on my list, we would get them here and there from a new place near by (Mochinut), but... you can basically get two for the price of one (because Quickly's Korean corndogs are $4 compared to $7.50). https://www.yelp.com/biz/quickly-boba-n-snow-orlando
Quickly Boba N Snow 3214 E Colonial Dr, Orlando (FL) 32803
While these are options you may be interested in checking out, there are other game/card related shops you can meet at if you don't plan to lounge. Also, you can go to a number of places and turn it into a hangout spot for gamers, because it all boils down to where a number of gamers choose to frequent. Seek places with a great option for lounging, good food at a reasonable price, and keep it respectful so that the owners appreciate the constant presence of gamers. They might even be gamers themselves.
Spring & Summer are my favorite seasons, but no hate on the other two seasons.
Outside of Spring Break trips and Summer Vacays... gaming is still in full effect, but how will things play out for you and yours? I know gas is through the roof right now, but it doesn't put a pause on all the fun. So if you aren't getting away, consider some local fun.
What's going on locally in your area or even in a close neighboring city that gives you access to some discounted fun? Not sure? Groupon is just a click away. As you see at the link, you can find food, fun, etc.
If you're not a fan of Groupon, you also have Trip Advisor... which serves up more than just hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars. You also have access to restaurants + things to do. You can literally use these sites for an awesome staycation where you are.
You could even walk around Walmart and find some free entertainment. Just kidding, but not completely, you just never know when the crazy will emerge.
You don't even have to go out every other week during these seasons, because an empty bank account is less fun. Consider free fun, parks, outdoor activities, and learning how to cook or make new recipes for meals, desserts, and even beverages. A home-cooked meal doesn't have to suck or leave you desiring takeout. There are literally chef's teaching courses on Udemy... that can help expand your mind and your abilities when it comes to the kitchen. Grab some food and get it in!
You could take those cooking skills, invite some of your favorite people over and enjoy yourselves. This could even be a group session to learn how to cook (even the kids can join in), and it can ultimately end up in reoccurring potluck parties and even block parties depending on how close you live. Get creative, you could even grab a Slip N Slide (like the huge 50-foot ones) and relive childhood. BYOF (Bring Your Own Floats)!
You can go average, larger, or massive with your slide and dial up the fun. If you think I'd be on the sideline with one of these within reach, you'd be sadly mistaken! Enjoy life while you have the time!
As the sun goes down, the fun doesn't have to stop, let the streaming flow to your heart's content. You have Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, and even free shows & movies are available on Pluto TV + IMDB TV. So you can save money and still enjoy yourself, just be intentional about what you're doing... narrow down the best shows and movies to enjoy by yourself, +1, or with a group.
Fun it up, and that definitely includes gaming on a console or PC. I'd probably recommend the Xbox Gamepass first and foremost if you just want to play a variety of games. Granted you will not own them once your pass expires, but the monthly fee is low enough to keep you playing the latest games. For console, I'd have to recommend the Nintendo Switch, especially with Nintendo Switch Sports... so you can get everyone in on the fun! Parents, avoid the Nintendo Switch "Lite" version if you're aiming for multiplayer fun on the same system.
One of the games I'm currently playing on Xbox Game Pass (in the spirit of Spring & Summer) is... Windjammers 2! If you're not familiar with the game, check out the included gameplay below.
As an Official Brand Ambassador, I have to end the year with the new Arm & Hammer Disinfectant Wipes. If you're familiar with the post about the Arm & Hammer Fruit & Vegetable Wash... I said that it gave me solace that it took away any potential viruses off of my fruit and veggies. So to see the disinfectant wipes, I was like... oh heck yeah.
I have these in the office, but I got more for my household and a container for the vehicle... since I like to clean items before I bring them in the home. That just increases my peace of mind, plus there are more in the container at a good price without the concern of there being harsh chemicals.
Here is are the ingredients, which you're welcome to compare with your current products. I respect the fact that they use citrus-based disinfectant and that the provided info on the ingredients is compliant with the California Cleaning Product Right to Know Act of 2017 + the New York State Household Cleansing Product Information Disclosure Program.
Here are the ingredients for the Lemon Orchard scented option:
Here are the ingredients for the Renewing Rain scented option:
Things I appreciate about the product are the ingredients of course because I don't want to handle things with a potential virus that may result in us getting sick... but also... I don't want to have chemicals on my hands after wiping something while on the go (i.e. a beverage) and then I eat something with that on my hands. The same thing applies when I'm gaming, sometimes I eat when I game... which is like 9 out of 10 times, and I'd rather handle a clean controller while getting my grub on in between the action.
I don't know if they do anything under those circumstances once our hands are dry, but... if I don't even have to deal with that, I'd rather not. Outside of the ingredients I like the price and the amount that comes in the container. The wipes are durable, so I've been able to stick to one wipe when needed.
Today I thought it would be a great idea to throw a left-field review at you, sort of a mini-review... because there isn't much to review but... a review nonetheless.
Team Arm & Hammer wanted to send us over a few products to try out and... I was definitely game because my garbage disposal was smelling something fierce. The word for today is... YIKES!!! Normally I'd slices of lemon and a little bleach and ice to freshen it up. That method works, but so does the Arm & Hammer Garbage Disposal Cleaner.
This particular cleaner requires you to follow three steps:
Run water + Disposal for one minute
Turn off disposal + Reduce the running water
Drop-in capsule + Run disposal for 15 seconds
It's a simple process, and I don't have to beware of bleach splashing on my clothing. Outside of the ease of use... it actually smells really good and makes me forget about my sink smelling like it just barfed. I still feel that it's necessary to drop ice inside just in case there is any crap lingering on the blades, but... other than that Arm & Hammer's Garbage Disposal Cleaner balls work (with the power of baking soda).
Realistically I could see myself utilizing these throughout the year, but... price wise I'd prefer a $4.99 price tag. I guess $8.69 could fly if I use them once per month (even if they advise using it at least twice per week), but the head turners for me are the bulk prices... that align with my preferred price tag. You can get two packs for $9.99 or four-packs for $14.99. So they played it to where you'd buy more because it's more beneficial to purchase more.
Overall, the Arm & Hammer Garbage Disposal Cleaner is an easy to use product, that smells good and makes the process of cleaning my easier.
Usefulness 5
Ease Of Use 5
Scent 5
Price 3 (Based on the individual price)
4.5 out of 5 Cool Points
Secondly, we were also provided with the Arm & Hammer Fruit & Vegetable Wash... that cleans (well) Fruit & Vegetables.
I'm the guy at the grocery store that places his bananas in a bag because I don't want them touching the shopping cart or the conveyor belt at checkout, so... I really like this. Being related to chefs... I aware of more than a few cleaning methods, including using a little bleach mixed with water to help clean produce. Yeah... that bleach again, but its never enough to be a concern... but I usually just stick to hot water.
Comparing my usual route with the Arm & Hammer Fruit & Vegetable Wash... it's really no comparison. It works, and works well. My main thing was the ingredients:
Seeing the before and after... just makes me think of the crap ingested when the cleaning process isn't as successful. Having less of that going in gives me more peace of mind... even if a good chunk of the time you can find us chowing down on fast food. That said... I still don't want pesticides on my fruits and veggies if I can help it.
Here are the results as shown by Arm & Hammer:
Here is the result I got after using the product. I wasn't going to clean them all at the moment, but... here is one I sprayed compared to another fresh out of the container:
I'm not sure if you can tell by the image, but... it works. There is a lot more film on the one towards the back, compared to the one I sprayed.
You also get a 3 step process with this product... which is spraying, rubbing, and rinsing. I have a love-hate relationship with step 2... because rubbing a bunch of grapes... absolutely sucks, but I like the benefits of it (I would usually just spray hot water through them.
By the way, there was no taste or smell left on the grapes.
Price-wise, the Arm & Hammer Fruit & Vegetable Wash comes in at... $6.37 (for a 16.9oz bottle). It works, but the sweet spot for me would be $3.99... and I think they know that too because you can get a 3 pack for $12.74. That's not off by much, but I guess they figure the incentive to save will be to buy in bulk.
Overall, this is a really cool product... even if I feel that pesticides set into the fruits and vegetables to a degree, it doesn't hurt to clean off what I can (especially if I'm going to eat the non-organic versions).
Before I get to my post of the Top Audiences for Last Week, I'm doing a review for Amazon Restaurants service. Yep... me... señor Snack King (not to be confused with señor smoothy buns)! I'm doing the review this time around! Gwahahaha! Thank you to Amazon for covering the meal... we wouldn't pass up on that! Hehehehe (Hi Mom!)
So we went through Amazon using a prime account to access their restaurants' service, and based on our location... it populated tons of restaurants in the area. We're surrounded by restaurants big and small, so we looked through a few.
Once you find the type of food you have a taste for, check out their menu and food you want to add to your order. You don't get access to every single meal through some restaurants, but it's a simple... cool process for the meals that are on the menu. I wanted seafood.
You check out just like the regular Amazon orders, but it comes a lot quicker. Our food came in about 30 minutes and they didn't make the food until the delivery driver got there. So it was fresh... I like fresh, crispy, DELICIOUS. I guess the restaurants have delivery seals they put on the meals so that you can tell if it was opened or not.
They have a minimum $10 requirement for your order, but there is also a $3.99 fee that doesn't include tip. Blu isn't a fan of ordering in for a number of reasons, and fees are one of them... but the fee comes with the territory if you choose to use the service. They put a suggested tip amount there, but you ultimately decide on what that is. I don't know if you have the option to select no tip, but... if you do that for the sake of tipping cash, tip cash. Do that at restaurants too so the staff doesn't have to wait until payday. Those tips aren't always paid in full. The delivery lady was friendly, gave me the order and she was on her way. I don't want to say that's always the case, but Amazon should stress the importance of that (please please please)... because customer service is great for business online and in-person.
The service is quick and easy, but make sure that you call Amazon if the restaurant no longer has the item you ordered. This happened to us the first time we ordered, so we spoke with them, and they canceled the entire order quickly. LOVE IT!
