New Jersey Estate Planning Attorney Christine Matus Releases Insightful Article on ABLE Accounts 12-12-2024 09:54 PM CET | Politics, Law & Society Press release from: ABNewswire New Jersey estate planning attorney Christine Matus ( https://matuslaw.com/what-are-able-accounts-in-new-jersey/ ) of The Matus Law Group sheds light on the value of ABLE accounts, a crucial financial tool designed to empower individuals with disabilities and their families. Christine Matus emphasizes the pivotal role these accounts play in safeguarding eligibility for essential government benefits while promoting financial independence. ABLE accounts, established under the Stephen Beck, Jr. Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2014, have transformed financial planning for special needs individuals. Christine Matus explains that these accounts allow individuals diagnosed with disabilities before age 26 to save money for various expenses without jeopardizing benefits such as SSI or Medicaid. "These accounts are a lifeline for families," the New Jersey estate planning attorney notes. "They allow for essential financial stability while maintaining access to critical government programs." For those handling the complex matter of special needs planning, engaging a New Jersey estate planning attorney can be invaluable. Christine Matus highlights that funds deposited in ABLE accounts are not considered when determining eligibility for public assistance. This means families can maintain their loved ones' health and independence without sacrificing vital support systems. ABLE accounts provide a unique advantage: the income earned within these accounts is tax-deferred, offering a financial incentive for long-term savings. "This feature can significantly alleviate the financial strain on families while supporting the quality of life for individuals with special needs," adds Matus. Opening an ABLE account in New Jersey is straightforward but requires careful adherence to eligibility criteria. The individual must have been diagnosed with a disability before their 26th birthday and meet specific functional or government disability standards. "For families unsure of how to proceed, consulting with an estate planning attorney can clarify the requirements and streamline the process," says Matus. Christine Matus outlines the steps for setting up an ABLE account. Eligible individuals, or their authorized representatives, need to complete an enrollment form, which can be submitted online or via mail. Additional documentation, such as a doctor's diagnosis or Social Security verification, may be required to confirm eligibility. An initial contribution of at least $25 is necessary to open the account. Expenses covered by ABLE accounts must align with the definition of qualified disability expenses as outlined by the Social Security Administration. These include housing, health care, education, transportation, and personal support services. "Families should be mindful of the rules," warns Matus, "since non-qualified expenses can result in tax penalties and impact eligibility for benefits." While the benefits of ABLE accounts are substantial, there are limitations. Contributions are capped annually, and the total account value can affect benefits if it exceeds certain thresholds. Additionally, upon the account holder's death, remaining funds may be used to reimburse the state for Medicaid payments unless transferred to another family member with a disability. Christine Matus underscores the importance of working with a knowledgeable estate planning attorney to manage these nuances. "ABLE accounts are a powerful tool, but understanding their intricate aspects is essential for maximizing their benefits," Matus advises. ABLE accounts represent a significant step forward for families striving to balance financial security with the ongoing needs of individuals with disabilities. At The Matus Law Group, Christine Matus continues to provide guidance to families seeking to utilize ABLE accounts as part of their broader estate planning efforts. Families considering opening an ABLE account should consult with an experienced attorney to help ensure they meet eligibility requirements and make informed decisions. Christine Matus and The Matus Law Group can offer comprehensive support to families handling this process. About The Matus Law Group: The Matus Law Group is a dedicated law firm based in New Jersey, well-versed in estate planning and legal solutions tailored to the needs of individuals and families. Led by Christine Matus, the firm is committed to empowering clients with knowledge and tools to protect their financial futures, including those supporting loved ones with special needs. Embeds: Youtube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j50bJGQgSGU GMB: https://www.google.com/maps?cid=6876392708092026946 Email and website Email: admin@matuslaw.com Website: https://matuslaw.com/ Media Contact Company Name: Matus Law Group Contact Person: Christine Matus Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=new-jersey-estate-planning-attorney-christine-matus-releases-insightful-article-on-able-accounts ] Phone: (732) 281-0060 Address:81 E Water St #2C City: Toms River State: New Jersey 08753 Country: United States Website: https://matuslaw.com/ This release was published on openPR.Bjork is 'absolutely' confident that Day will return next year at Ohio StateMIAMI — Bam Adebayo scored 25 points, Jimmy Butler added 24 and the Miami Heat moved back over the .500 mark by beating the Phoenix Suns 121-111 on Saturday night. Adebayo finished with 12 rebounds and eight assists for the Heat (11-10). Duncan Robinson scored 19 and Tyler Herro added 17 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for Miami, which outscored Phoenix 68-53 after halftime. Royce O’Neale had 23 points for Phoenix (12-10), Devin Booker scored 21 and Grayson Allen finished with 16. Bradley Beal had 15 points for the Suns, who were outscored 62-32 in the paint. The Suns played again without Kevin Durant (left ankle sprain) and Jusuf Nurkic (right thigh contusion). Takeaways Suns: Phoenix is winless in its last seven games without Durant and 1-8 when the four-time Olympic gold medalist hasn't played this season. If that wasn't bad enough, the Suns are now 0-8 when allowing 120 points; they're 12-2 when holding teams under that number. Heat: Miami improved to 10-3 when holding teams under 115 points this season; the Heat are 1-7 when that doesn't happen. And they've now won three in a row at home for the first time this season. Key moment Butler had three points on three consecutive possessions — one on a 3-pointer, the other two on three-point plays — in a 62-second span late in the fourth quarter. Miami's lead went from three to 10 in that brief flurry that basically sealed the game. Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) looks to pass the ball as Phoenix Suns forward Royce O'Neale (00) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Miami. Credit: AP/Marta Lavandier Key stat Adebayo's previous scoring high at home this season was 19. The Heat are 3-0 this season when he scores at least 25 points. Up next Both teams play Sunday, with Phoenix going to Orlando and the Heat hosting NBA-leading Cleveland.
We were complicit by our silence
A New Jersey state legislator tore into White House spokesman John Kirby Thursday after hearing Kirby respond to a question on drone swarms seen over the Garden State for weeks. The drones have appeared over the sky of New Jersey, in some cases flying in formation, in recent weeks, according to video footage obtained by the Daily Caller. “America Reports” co-host John Roberts asked Republican State Assemblyman Brian Bergen of New Jersey about Kirby’s claim during a White House press briefing that the sightings were of “manned aircraft that were being operated lawfully.” (RELATED: ‘Shoot Them Down’: GOP Rep Says He Knows Who Could Be Behind Drone Wave Over His State) “That guy is an idiot. That I can tell you right now. Because the colonel of the state police told the members of the state legislature that one of his helicopters was hovering above a six-foot wide drone, and he landed that helicopter because he felt unsafe for his pilots,” Bergen said. “I am a former Apache helicopter pilot and a member of the New Jersey state legislature, and I have seen these things in my own community. That guy, I don’t even know his name, who was on here a couple minutes ago, is a fool if he is going to say there is no issue.” WATCH: “Well, he’s a former rear admiral in the U.S. Navy named John Kirby, so helicopter pilot against the admiral. Go ahead,” Roberts responded, with Bergen saying, “Well, go Army, beat Navy, that’s what I would say in this regard.” Roberts compared the drones to the February 2023 overflight of a spy balloon across the United States, which the Chinese claimed was a civilian meteorological research platform that went off course. The balloon was shot down off the coast of South Carolina Feb. 4, 2023. “We need people to take action. On the segment before I got here, somebody said it is impossible to track hundreds and hundreds of these drones for our state police. We don’t need to track hundreds or thousands, we only need to track one and find out who is at fault for one of these things,” Bergen told Roberts. “I’m telling you, it’s a big issue. I hope at the end of the day we find out that it was nothing, that it’s some commercial application being tested, and this is a big to-do about nothing, but right now, everybody, senators, assembly people, U.S. senators, are calling for action, and people are not making enough of a difference.” “Before, the same gentleman you mentioned earlier, he said we are being resourced, the state was being resourced with this technology,” Bergen continued. “In the briefing that we were at, state police said they were going to be getting some new technology from the Department of Homeland Security to track these drones, and apparently it was supposed to determine what is a bird and a drone to make it easier to track. One of my colleagues – and this was yesterday – said when are you going to get that? They said within two days. Two days? We need it now.” All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org .Single tenure bill not solution to Nigeria’s challenges – AnalystLetter to the Editor: Opposition Leader says: Not Again, What’s Next?
Former Oilers Holloway, Broberg reflect as they get set to return to EdmontonSession closed: Looking back on the work of area lawmakers in 2023-24
Vanna White ’s son is loving the attention he’s gotten from his rare appearance on his mother’s Instagram. In the midst of her first season co-hosting with Ryan Seacrest on Wheel of Fortune , Vanna White’s life at home has become a little more public. Fans found out more about her private boyfriend after she sparked marriage rumors with a recent social media post . Her Instagram account is also the reason all of her fans are currently gushing over her son Nikko Santo Pietro . During this season’s Fabulous Food Week, White decided to share the recipe for her Uncle Roy’s Chicken. Fans were shocked to see a younger man in the video with her. After admitting she “is not a good cook,” she recruited her son Nikko to help her make one of her favorite dishes. After the two had some mother-son bonding time , fans rushed to the comments with their reactions to her “handsome” son. One said: “Is son on the menu too errr I mean great video!!” [sic] Another said: “I’d like to solve the puzzle please.... HUBBA HUBBA. “Vanna where have you been hiding Nikko ? He’s GORGEOUS, “ a third asked. After “America’s boyfriend” saw the overwhelming response, Entertainment Tonight sat him down to see how he felt about his newfound fame. DON'T MISS: Ryan Seacrest makes 'double' Pat Sajak's salary as his on-air blunders continue [REVEALED] Wheel of Fortune fans claim Ryan Seacrest has finally 'found his groove' [LATEST] Wheel of Fortune's Ryan Seacrest and Pat Sajak 'fighting' for Vanna's attention [INSIGHT] “Of course it’s really flattering,” he admitted: "I've always loved being in front of the camera, and I work really hard on my social media. That's a big part of what I do.” While he is loving the attention, he said he’s not letting it get to his head. “People see me as this heartthrob and they're thirsty for me and all this stuff," he explained. "I love it all, but at the same time, it's really good to remember the meaningful things in life and just kind of dial it back, doing a lot of charity work, working hard every day." Nikko currently works as a realtor in Los Angeles . The 30-year-old broke several hearts when he was asked about his current relationship status. “I have an amazing girlfriend. She’s an absolute sweetheart,” he confessed. “We’ve been together for a year. Her name’s Easae.”Browns place LT Jedrick Wills Jr. on injured reserve, ending his season, maybe career with Cleveland
Rutgers had no answer for Princeton’s size in a 66-49 loss to its in-state rival on Sunday afternoon at Jersey Mike’s Arena. The Tigers dominated in the paint early and often —outrebounding the Scarlet Knights 10-0 in the opening minutes — an uncharacteristic start for a Rutgers team averaging 44.8 rebounds per game. Princeton went on to outrebound the Scarlet Knights, 46-33, and scored 36 points in the paint. “I think their size definitely gave us some problems, especially with the trio of Parker [Hill], Fadima [Tall] and Tabitha [Amanze],” Rutgers coach Coquese Washington said. “Their size gave us problems and we really just weren’t able to figure that out.” The Tigers held Rutgers star Destiny Adams, who averages 21.7 points and 12 rebounds per game, to just four points and 10 boards. “They did a good job of taking Destiny away,” Washington said. “She is a dynamic player and she had to play in a crowd all night tonight and we just never could quite get into a rhythm offensively — especially in the half court — because they did a good job of taking Destiny out of the game.” Freshman guard Kiyomi McMiller led Rutgers with 27 points and two assists. She had 14 points in the first half. “Kiyomi is a fantastic offensive player and she is really good at getting her own shot and creating space from her defenders,” Washington said. “We just needed to have more of a rhythm and flow on offense. We have had that in the past and we just didn’t have that tonight.” Ashley Chea led Princeton (4-2) with 20 points and nine rebounds. Skye Belker had 13 points and Tall added 11 points and 10 rebounds. The Scarlet Knights picked up their first loss of the season at Virginia Tech last Thursday, falling to the Hokies, 91-80. McMiller led Rutgers with 24 points. Rutgers (4-2) hosts Marquette and Georgia Southern in the Battle on the Banks Thanksgiving tournament this weekend. MORE RUTGERS COVERAGE Rutgers player grades vs. Kennesaw State: Ace Bailey struggles in homecoming as RU suffers 1st loss Rutgers wanted a homecoming for Ace Bailey. Kennesaw State gave them a humbling defeat. Breaking down Rutgers’ bowl scenarios after losing golden opportunity vs. Illinois Rutgers Rant: How did Rutgers lose that game to Illinois? Making sense of stunning last-second loss Where does Illinois stunner rank among Rutgers football’s most painful losses this century? Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. Joey Chandler may be reached at jchandler@njadvancemedia.comContent oversight and quality assurance provided by Studio 1847 As digital marketing grows more sophisticated, influencer marketing has become an essential strategy for brand success. Ethical practices and fresh approaches are key to standing out. Enter Clark Influence, a global influencer marketing agency aiming to shape Chicago’s market with its commitment to transparency, creativity and responsibility. Redefining the industry with ethics at the core At the heart of Clark Influence’s success is a strong commitment to ethical influencer marketing . Recognizing the complexities of the digital space, the agency has established a comprehensive code of ethics to guide every partnership. This framework aims to promote transparency among influencers, brands and audiences, building trust and credibility — qualities increasingly valued in the influencer marketing industry. From clear content disclosures to carefully selecting influencers whose values align with those of their clients, Clark Influence consistently raises their industry standards. They believe ethical marketing isn’t optional; it’s essential to creating genuine connections. A complete approach to strategy Clark Influence excels by offering a holistic approach that combines data insights with engaging storytelling. Whether crafting a social media campaign for a global insurance brand or tailoring localized strategies for businesses in Chicago, the agency’s skill and expertise shine through. Every campaign is customized to resonate with audiences while communicating a brand’s key message authentically. The agency’s distinction lies in seeing influencers as community leaders rather than merely promotional tools. By elevating their voices in genuine ways, Clark Influence creates campaigns that aim to strengthen both brand reputation and influencer authenticity. A global footprint rooted in creativity With offices in Toronto, Paris and Montreal, and a presence across North America, Europe and the Middle East, Clark Influence blends international expertise with local knowledge. Their influencer marketing agency in Chicago exemplifies this blend, creating campaigns with the goal of standing out while addressing regional nuances. They work to adapt strategies to specific audiences, striving for every campaign to achieve a unique and lasting impact. Image provided by Ascend Agency Recognized excellence Clark Influence’s commitment to excellence has garnered significant recognition. Their creative TikTok campaign for a leading insurance company earned them honors at the prestigious Sabre Awards, showcasing their ability to craft campaigns that deliver real results. Achievements like these highlight their consistent dedication to quality and originality. A vision for growth Looking ahead, Clark Influence has its sights set on expanding its reach into additional global markets, with a specific focus on the U.S. Their Chicago influencer marketing agency hopes to redefine how brands connect with audiences, blending ethical practices with fresh ideas to set new benchmarks in the industry. In addition to expansion, Clark Influence aims to remain a leader in influencer marketing strategies. Embracing emerging trends and new technologies helps them create captivating, engaging campaigns. Building strong connections For brands seeking a dependable and forward-thinking partner, Clark Influence offers a compelling choice. Their focus on crafting tailored campaigns, maintaining transparency and championing creativity may make them a force in the marketing world. As their presence grows in Chicago and beyond, Clark Influence hopes to chart a path for a future in influencer marketing that values authenticity, accountability, and meaningful relationships. Learn more about Clark Influence’s ethical marketing principles by visiting their website , following them on Instagram or connecting with them on LinkedIn . The news and editorial staffs of the Chicago Tribune had no role in this post’s preparation.Vikings withstand Bears' furious rally, win on field goal in OT
uLab® Announces Strategic Collaboration with Voxel and LuxCreo to Revolutionize Direct Print Aligner TechnologyTHE black lace party dress from Asos is perfect for Charlotte. She’ll wear it at the weekend and then, if she feels like it, she might order another dress for the party season. Advertisement 4 A growing number of women are buying clothes, wearing them once or twice, then sending them back (stock image) Credit: Getty 4 The practice has become so widespread there’s a word for it: Wardrobing Credit: Getty Money doesn’t come into it — Charlotte has no intention of paying. Once she’s worn the dress she will stick it straight back in the post. Around a week later, a full refund will hit her bank. Charlotte, a 28-year-old support worker from Manchester, is one of a growing number of women who buy clothes, wear them once or twice, then send them back. Advertisement READ MORE ON FASHION BACK IN FASHION Iconic noughties brand returns to UK high streets after disappearing WRAPPED UP Fashion fans praise soft and cosy stylish winter jacket that costs just £26 More often than not, the item will be something glitzy for a special occasion. The practice has become so widespread there’s a word for it: Wardrobing. Shops label it “tag tuck fraud”. Charlotte has been doing it for ten years and admits she has worn — then returned — between 100 and 150 items. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous TU COSY 'Soft as cashmere' cry shoppers as they run to Sainsbury's for bargain winter coat HOT WINGS People urged to protect bird feeders from garden pests with 75p kitchen staple VOM CENTRAL I got so drunk at the office Xmas party that my male boss had to JET WASH me SEX SHOCK I slept with 100 men a day but had no idea HIV was sexually transmitted She pays for everyday clothes but says she wouldn’t dream of forking out for something she’ll only ever wear once. It’s saved her up to £2k. A shop manager quit her job to resell second-hand clothing - and now makes up to £3,900-a-month “It’s usually party dresses, or something nice for a wedding or the races — one-off dresses I’d never wear again,” says Charlotte. “Because I’m not paying for it, I can go for something a bit different, something I wouldn’t normally wear. Advertisement “There was this little green cropped top with a matching skirt I got once. “It was bold, very out there, and it got a lot of compliments.” For Charlotte, who mainly shops online at the likes of Pretty Little Thing, Shein, ASOS and Boohoo, it’s not just about looking glam for free. Sometimes I do get a kick out of it, I think ‘I’ve just got to wear a really nice outfit for free and now I’m sending it back Charlotte She now gets a thrill out of her underhand habit. Advertisement “Sometimes I get a kick out of it, because I think: ‘I’ve just got to wear a really nice outfit for free and now I’m sending it back’,” she says. “I’ve saved hundreds of pounds — my friends do it as well. I do feel a bit bad sometimes, but not enough to stop.” The only inconvenience, she says, is having to put up with irritating clothing labels rubbing against her skin. “I’ve only had a return rejected once. Advertisement “A blue bodysuit had one of those hygiene stickers on it and I’d removed it. “I had to pay for that — it was about £15.” A survey in October by logistics company Zigzag, and researchers at Retail Economics, found serial returners send back £6.6BILLION worth of online purchases a year. Most of these are items that don’t fit, or the buyer has changed their mind, but 16 per cent of buyers surveyed admitted they had bought the items to wear at a social event, only to return them. Advertisement Cardiff student Sarah, 18, started wearing and returning items two years ago after getting a part-time job in a high-street clothing store. In that time she has “borrowed”, as she puts it, around 50 items. “At work, I realised how easy it was to take things back — staff wouldn’t really check,” she says. “We’d have things coming in a little damaged, with tags ripped off, or minor stains, but they still got a refund. Advertisement “Then a friend saw something on TikTok about wearing clothes once before sending them back, and I thought it was a good shout.” Usually it’s something I don’t want to splash out on Sarah Like Charlotte, Sarah normally returns items she plans to wear once, to a party. “Usually it’s something I don’t want to splash out on,” she says. “I tuck in the labels and wear the piece for a day or two. I’ve bought stuff then taken it back from shops such as Pull&Bear, H&M, Primark — large stores where it’s easier to get away with.” Advertisement 4 Charlotte has been wardrobing for ten years and admits she has worn — then returned — between 100 and 150 items Credit: Getty Sarah only sends returns to larger shops. She adds: “These are all chain stores that don’t really need the extra cash. More people are struggling to buy clothes than there are [chain stores] struggling to make profits, so I’ve never felt too bad about it.” Retailers might not see it quite the same way, as people like Sarah cost them money. Advertisement In September, ASOS said it was introducing a return fee for frequent returners. Julia, 42, a model and writer from Derby, grew accustomed to having a large wardrobe. But in recent years she has had cancer and her husband lost his job. With money in short supply, she started wardrobing five years ago. Advertisement While she does it out of a perceived necessity, she admits she also gets a kick out of it. “It’s like playing dress-up – it’s kind of thrilling,” she says. “It’s usually more showy things, like glitzy party dresses. I needed something for a wedding recently, so bought a nice sequinned skirt for £60 from Zara.” Sarah admits to not telling her husband what she’s doing as he doesn’t agree with it. Advertisement She adds: “He once saw a label sticking out of my dress. I tried to say I was keeping the label on in case the dress didn’t fit, and he just rolled his eyes and said, ‘It fits fine, you’re not doing that again’. “Since then I’ve carried on without him knowing, but I do feel bad. Read more on the Scottish Sun WARMING UP Scots set for 21C swing as temperature rise to bring an end to sub zero freeze HOT BUY Shoppers race to Primark for fleecy £14 hoodie will keep you cosy on frosty days “As long as I’m not hurting anyone, though, I’ll do it.” Names have been changed 4 Retailers label the trend as 'tag tuck fraud' Credit: Getty Advertisement ‘RETAILERS LOSE OUT’ Industry expert Clare Bailey says: “It does create a potential loss of revenue. Retailers have to check the product and process it back into the stock, and then there is the cost of the admin of the refund.”West Ham’s Michail Antonio in stable condition after road traffic accident
Tony Docherty wants his side to “sprint over the finish” as they complete a mini-section of their Premiership campaign on Saturday at Hearts. The have hit form since the last international break, unbeaten in the three matches since losing at Aberdeen. In those two wins and a draw they have scored nine goals and conceded three to move fifth in the table. Now they travel to Tynecastle aiming to build on that run before taking another break thanks to the League Cup Final next weekend. “I challenged the players on this block of games. We want to finish off this block and I want us to sprint through the finish line,” Docherty said. “I don’t want us to kind of just get to it. I want us to sprint through it. “That’s important to me and I see the way the team have been since Wednesday. “The overriding feeling was one of a really strong home performance again and a really deserved “But now the full focus is on Hearts at Tynecastle and we know the task there. “Hearts have very good players and it’s a tough venue to go to but we’re very much looking forward to it with the form that we’re in at the moment.” That form has seen 10 points picked up from the last 15 available but Docherty is keen to keep his players’ feet on the ground. “It is huge credit to the players for building this momentum,” he added. “We went through a wee sticky patch and it’s all about having that trust and that belief in the process. “They’ve kept working away and training in the knowledge that doing all the work pays off and you get your dividends from it. “I think we’re in a good place now. “We’re building that wee bit of momentum and I looked at the form guide this morning, in the last six games we’re sitting third in the league behind Celtic and Rangers. “We’ve got really exciting young players and we’re beginning to build up that momentum – but we’re not going to get ahead of ourselves. “We’re confident but we’re not complacent and it’s important that to ensure that you keep that momentum going, that’s the way you need to be. “You cannot get ahead of yourself. I’ve been involved in this game long enough to know, as soon as you start to think you’re doing well, that’s when there’s a kick in the stomach that comes round the corner. “It’s very important we keep level-headed, we keep doing what’s got us in this position. “There’s a lot of things we can improve and develop on and that’s what we’re focusing on.” Dundee have no fresh injury concerns for the trip to Hearts with Billy Koumetio available despite going off late in the game against Motherwell.
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Brookdale senior living director sells $56,200 in stockIf a new house was built every minute in the UK, it would take close to a decade to clear the vast shortfall of 4.3 million homes. If housebuilding continues at its current annual rate, it would take 65 years to close the backlog — and that is before new annual demands are taken into account. Combined with exceedingly high levels of immigration that will exacerbate pressure on housing stock, the result is a distorted market with ballooning prices and unaffordability. Sir Keir Starmer was elected on an unambiguous platform of building 1.5 million new homes over this parliament. It is hugely ambitious, as it has been over half a century since the UK built 300,000 homes in one year. The government must now approve 370,000 to achieve the new target. Plus there are a million homes stuck pending approval, mired in red tape.Miami (6-7) at Houston (8-5) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, CBS BetMGM Odds: Texans by 3. Against the spread: Dolphins 5-8; Texans 5-6-2. Series record: Texans lead 8-3. Last meeting: Dolphins beat Texans 30-15, on Nov. 27, 2022, in Miami. Last week: Dolphins beat Jets 32-26 in OT; Texans were off, beat Jaguars 23-20 on Dec. 1. Dolphins offense: overall (19), rush (24), pass (14), scoring (23). Dolphins defense: overall (9), rush (7), pass (11), scoring (T14). Texans offense: overall (18), rush (16), pass (17), scoring (11). Texans defense: overall (5), rush (10), pass (7), scoring (T12). Turnover differential: Dolphins minus-2; Texans plus-10. QB Tua Tagovailoa, who has been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL at throwing with anticipation and accuracy since he returned from a concussion in Week 8. Tagovailoa leads the NFL with a 73.8% completion rate and threw for 300 yards for the third straight game last week vs. the Jets. Tagovailoa is the first player in NFL history to have at least 40 pass attempts, multiple touchdown passes and no interceptions in three consecutive games within a single season. QB C.J. Stroud has thrown for at least 225 yards in each of his six home games this season and is 11-4 in 15 starts in Houston, including the playoffs. He has thrown for 3,117 yards with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season. Houston RB Joe Mixon vs. Miami’s run defense. Mixon ran for 101 yards in Houston’s previous game for his seventh 100-yard game this season. He ranks third in the NFL by averaging 88.7 yards rushing a game. This week he’ll face a run defense that ranks seventh in the NFL by holding teams to 105.6 yards a game. Miami LT Terron Armstead is dealing with a knee injury that limited him to just five snaps last week. He did not practice Wednesday... LBs Bradley Chubb (knee) and Cameron Goode (knee) could make their season debut, depending on how this week of practice goes, coach Mike McDaniel said. ... WRs Tyreek Hill (wrist) and Jaylen Waddle (hamstring), RB Raheem Mostert (hip), and LB Anthony Walker Jr. (hamstring) were among those limited in practice Wednesday. ... Houston S Jalen Pitre is expected to miss a second straight game with a shoulder injury. ... DE Denico Autry was limited in practice Wednesday because of a knee injury. Houston won the first seven meetings in this series. ... Miami didn’t get its first win against the Texans until a 44-26 victory in 2015. ... The Dolphins have won the past two meetings. ... These teams first met in the season opener in 2003 when Houston got a 21-20 win on a late field goal. Three of Miami’s final four games of the season are on the road. ... K Jason Sanders needs 13 points Sunday to reach 800. He also needs one field goal to reach 177, which would give him the second-most field goals made in franchise history. ... TE Jonnu Smith needs 100 yards receiving to reach 792 and set a franchise record for most yards receiving by a tight end in a single season. Smith had three catches for 44 yards, including the game-winning TD vs. the Jets last week after having no receptions during regulation. ... Tagovailoa needs a completion rate of 70% or better on Sunday to reach eight consecutive games completing at least 70% of his passes. That would tie him with Joe Montana (1989) and Drew Brees (2017-18) for the longest streak in NFL history. ... The Dolphins gave up a season-high 402 yards to the Jets last week. Aaron Rodgers burned Miami’s pass defense for 319 yards, and Miami’s secondary allowed a combined 223 yards by Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams. ... Houston can clinch the AFC South title for the second straight year with a win and a loss by Indianapolis Sunday. ... The Texans rank second in the NFL with 84 tackles for loss. ... Their 42 sacks also rank second. ... WR Nico Collins had eight receptions for 119 yards for his fourth 100-yard game this season in Houston’s previous game. He has had at least 75 yards receiving and a TD reception in each of his four home games this season. ... TE Dalton Schultz had five receptions for 61 yards and a score in Week 13. He has had at least five catches in two of his past three games. ... LB Azeez Al-Shaai will serve the first game of a three-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head of QB Trevor Lawrence Sunday. ... DE Danielle Hunter is one of two players in the NFL this season with at least 15 tackles for loss (15) and 10 sacks (10 1/2). It’s his sixth career season with at least 10 sacks. He has eight tackles for loss and five sacks combined in his past three games. ... DE Will Anderson has had a sack in his past two home games. ... LB Henry To’oTo’o has had at least five tackles in four straight games. ... CB Derek Stingley had his third interception of the season in his previous game. ... CB Kamari Lassiter had a career-high eight tackles, including a tackle for loss in Week 13. ... S Jimmie Ward has had an interception in his past two home games. He also had an interception in his previous game against Miami in 2022 while with San Francisco. Collins has 456 yards receiving and four touchdown receptions in four home games this season. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
From massive screens to razor-thin frames and stunning resolutions, televisions have come a long way. For many Americans, flipping channels or streaming apps feels like second nature, as many can't remember a time when televisions weren't a household staple. Archive video above: The high cost of high-definition TVs Before 1947, only a few thousand Americans were fortunate enough to own a television set. After World War II, as salaries rose and televisions became more accessible, TV ownership in the United States increased to 12 million, according to the Digital Public Library of America . Now, there are roughly 125 million TV households in the United States, according to the Nielsen TV Universe estimate. TV has come a long way from the boxy black and white models of the 1930s, but when revolutionary new changes, like the remote control, were first introduced, how much did they cost, and how does that compare to today's prices after adjusting for inflation? To create an accurate timeline, Hearst Television consulted the National Capital Radio & Television Museum, the Early Television Foundation and Museum and national news archives. Experts at these institutions, along with news archives, confirmed the debut retail prices of these television models. Prices were then adjusted to today's dollars using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation calculator. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' CPI inflation calculator is an index used to adjust a sum of money from one time period to another, providing the inflation-adjusted cost of these television models starting from the 1930s to the 2010s. Can't see the graphics? Click here. Note: "Today's Adjusted Price" is based on what the toy would have cost in today's dollars according to the Bureau of Labor Statistic's Consumer Price Index inflation calculator. Graphics created by Susie Webb.The Supportive Cabins Initiative was presented to Gananoque council on Tuesday for information purposes. The initiative will consist of 25 individual cabins in Brockville, each equipped with essential amenities to provide residents with a comfortable and secure place to live. The point is to combat homelessness in Leeds and Grenville and serve as a stable, structured, and supervised independent living environment as they reintegrate back into the community, town council heard. Tuesday’s presentation was provided by United Counties of Leeds and Grenville’s Alison Tutak, the director of community and social services. The service provider is the John Howard Society of Kingston and District. The initiative mirrors similar initiatives in Ontario, like in Peterborough and Waterloo. Each cabin will provide a private space for residents, including basic living amenities. The site will be managed by the John Howard Society, with round-the-clock supervision and support for residents. Examples of supports and programming offered by on-site staff includes life skills training, educational workshops, employment support, health and wellness programming, peer support groups, recreation activities, cultural and community engagement, and housing stability support. Residents of the cabins will be required to engage in a participation agreement with the John Howard Society. Resident rules will be inclusive of topics such as violence and harassment, resident restrictions, curfew, substance use, and contraband. Emergency services, like the Brockville Police Service, Brockville Fire Department and Leeds Grenville Paramedic Service have been part of ongoing discussions to ensure the site is safe for residents and the community. Officially, this initiative is located at 1805 County Road 2 East, in Brockville, with a long-term lease arrangement with the City of Brockville for the site. A physical design has been established with consideration of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles and will feature fully-fenced controlled access, Tutak’s presentation noted. Keith Dempsey is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Brockville Recorder and Times. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
Recently, Chris Brown hopped online to share a cryptic video of himself, which has since earned big reactions from fans. While the video itself is simple enough, his choice of song is what followers are focused on the most. He included Kendrick Lamar 's new GNX track "tv off" featuring Lefty Gunplay , which quickly became a fan favorite following the surprise release of the album last month. " Drake about to hit the unfollow button when he wakes up," one Instagram user writes in his comments section. "Plesseeeeeeeee a remix with you would EATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT," someone else says. This isn't the first time fans have seen Breezy show love to Kendrick, however. Back in June, he was spotted at the club dancing to his hit Drake track " Not Like Us. " He's had some issues with the Toronto rapper in the past, but it's also possible he's just a Kendrick fan. Read More: Chris Brown Reveals He’s In Relationships With Multiple Women He and Drake do have something in common, however, as they were both hit with a $5 million lawsuit in October. The lawsuit was filed by Tykeiya Dore, who alleges that the duo stole the structure and melody of her song "I Got It" for their 2019 hit, "No Guidance." According to her, Drake's frequent collaborator Vinylz keeps tabs on the YouTube channel of Benji Filmz. Benji Filmz directed Tykeiya's music video. "Defendant Anderson Hernandez, professionally known as Vinylz," the lawsuit alleges. "Discovered and obtained access to Tykeiya’s song 'I Got It' and Cardi B ’s songs on Benji Filmz YouTube channel." Allegedly, Tykeiya's uncle Jesse Spruils had also previously provided a copy of the song to Nija Charles, the co-writer of " No Guidance. " Eventually, Spruils confronted Charles about the situation on social media but was allegedly blocked. In addition to Drake and Chris Brown, Tykeiya is suing YouTube and Google for alleged defamation, common law fraud, emotional distress, and more. Read More: Chris Brown Dance Battles Kai Cenat During "Mafiathon 2" Twitch Event
MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Dec. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc. (NASDAQ: CUBA) (the “Fund”) today announced that Thomas J. Herzfeld, Chairman of the Board of Directors has resigned from the Board as of December 31, 2024. Mr. Herzfeld has also resigned as Portfolio Manager for the Fund effective as of the same date. Mr. Herzfeld has held the position of Chairman since the Fund’s launch in 1994. He will retain the position of Chairman Emeritus and participate in board meetings on a non-voting basis. The Board has elected Cecilia Gondor to serve as Chairperson effective December 31, 2024. Ms. Gondor has served on the Board of Directors since 2014. She also served as Executive Vice President of Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc. (the Fund’s investment manager) from 1984 through May 2014. During her years at the investment manager, her research analysis garnered her the reputation as being one of the most knowledgeable analysts in the industry. Additionally, she was the Executive Vice President of Thomas J. Herzfeld & Co., Inc., a broker-dealer, from 1984 through 2010. Ms. Gondor currently is an owner and the Managing Member of L&M Management LLC group of partnerships, a residential and commercial office space investor located in Alexandria, Virginia. In addition, the Board has named Brigitta Herzfeld to fill the board vacancy created by Mr. Herzfeld’s resignation. Ms. Herzfeld is a current member of the investment manager’s executive committee and will join the Board as of December 31, 2024. She is a graduate of Bowdoin College (BA), Stanford University (MA) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology – MIT Sloan School of Management (MBA) and Wharton-Singapore Management University (Executive Management Program). She has held positions at Goldman, Sachs & Co and Lehman Brothers Japan, Inc. Mr. Herzfeld commented: “It has been my privilege and honor to serve on the Board of Directors of The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund for its entire history. As I approach my 80 th birthday, it is with much pride that I turn the leadership of the Fund over to a new generation. Cecilia Gondor has been a consistent source of expert guidance for the Fund for many years and is a great choice to take over the chair position. And Brigitta Herzfeld’s financial background and long history with our firm will be an invaluable source of expertise for the board. While I will remain active with the management company, it is clear that the time has come for me to step down from active leadership of the Fund. As Chairman Emeritus I will be working harder than ever to ensure that we maximize shareholder value; we are currently exploring several options that we think will be beneficial to our shareholders.” Mr. Herzfeld has had a long and illustrious career and is generally considered to be “the father of closed-end fund investing”. Mr. Herzfeld wrote the first of his six books on the subject of closed-end funds in 1979. He is the publisher of The Investor's Guide to Closed-End Funds monthly research report and is quoted and interviewed on the subject of closed-end funds by the world’s most renowned financial papers. He has served as a contributing editor for the Global Guide to Investing (published by Financial Times ), and The Encyclopedia of Investments . Ms. Gondor responded to her election to Chairperson: “To follow in the footsteps of Tom Herzfeld is a very humbling experience. He has been a mentor to me and many others in the closed-end fund industry. I look forward to working with Brigitta Herzfeld and the other board members to continue the work that Tom started 30 years ago and am honored to contribute to the legacy he has built in any way that I can.” A graduate of Philadelphia University in 1966, Mr. Herzfeld served in the United States Army Reserve from 1966-1972, and on active duty in 1967. He received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (LHD) from Philadelphia University in 2008. He joined the Wall Street firm Reynolds & Co., in 1968 and began a specialization in closed-end funds. He formed the NYSE member firm of Carlino, Herzfeld and Kemm in 1970 and served as the firm's Senior Partner at the age of 25. He also became an Allied Member of the NYSE, an Associate Member of the AMEX and a senior register options principal. In 1981, he formed a stock brokerage firm, Thomas J. Herzfeld & Co., Inc., that was the first to specialize in the field of closed-end funds. He created the industry's first and only Closed-End Fund Index, "The Herzfeld Average," which has been published in Barron’s weekly since its establishment in 1987. He also coined the term “lifeboat provisions” used in the industry to define tactics funds take to narrow discounts and keep prices afloat. About Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc. Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc., founded in 1984, is an SEC registered investment advisor, specializing in investment analysis and account management in closed-end funds. The Firm also specializes in investment in the Caribbean Basin. The HERZFELD/CUBA division of Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc. serves as the investment advisor to The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc. a publicly traded closed-end fund (NASDAQ: CUBA). More information about the advisor can be found at www.herzfeld.com . Past performance is no guarantee of future performance. An investment in the Fund is subject to certain risks, including market risk. In general, shares of closed-end funds often trade at a discount from their net asset value and at the time of sale may be trading on the exchange at a price which is more or less than the original purchase price or the net asset value. An investor should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objective, risks, charges and expenses. Please read the Fund’s disclosure documents before investing. Forward-Looking Statements This press release, and other statements that TJHA or the Fund may make, may contain forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, with respect to the Fund’s or TJHA’s future financial or business performance, strategies or expectations. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as “trend,” “potential,” “opportunity,” “pipeline,” “believe,” “comfortable,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “current,” “intention,” “estimate,” “position,” “assume,” “outlook,” “continue,” “remain,” “maintain,” “sustain,” “seek,” “achieve,” and similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or similar expressions. TJHA and the Fund caution that forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and TJHA and the Fund assume no duty to and do not undertake to update forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements and future results could differ materially from historical performance. With respect to the Fund, the following factors, among others, could cause actual events to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance: (1) changes and volatility in political, economic or industry conditions, particularly with respect to Cuba and other Caribbean Basin countries, the interest rate environment, foreign exchange rates or financial and capital markets, which could result in changes in demand for the Fund or in the Fund’s net asset value; (2) the relative and absolute investment performance of the Fund and its investments; (3) the impact of increased competition; (4) the unfavorable resolution of any legal proceedings; (5) the extent and timing of any distributions or share repurchases; (6) the impact, extent and timing of technological changes; (7) the impact of legislative and regulatory actions and reforms, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and regulatory, supervisory or enforcement actions of government agencies relating to the Fund or TJHA, as applicable; (8) terrorist activities, international hostilities and natural disasters, which may adversely affect the general economy, domestic and local financial and capital markets, specific industries or TJHA or the Fund; (9) TJHA’s and the Fund’s ability to attract and retain highly talented professionals; (10) the impact of TJHA electing to provide support to its products from time to time; (11) the impact of problems at other financial institutions or the failure or negative performance of products at other financial institutions; and (12) the effects of an epidemic, pandemic or public health emergency, including without limitation, COVID-19. Annual and Semi-Annual Reports and other regulatory filings of the Fund with the SEC are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on TJHA’s website at www.herzfeld.com/cuba, and may discuss these or other factors that affect the Fund. The information contained on TJHA’s website is not a part of this press release. Contact: Tom Morgan Chief Compliance Officer Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc. 1-305-777-1660Real-Time Analytics Reshapes Business Intelligence in the Digital Age
1. A tub of O'Keeffe's hypoallergenic hand cream that will make dry, cracked wintry hands feel as if they were just treated to a 5-star manicure (without having to leave the house and brave the cold). Promising review: "Does this product need another 5-star review? Nope. But I had to. This is truly a miracle product!! I have the driest skin in the winter . To the point where I will look down at my hands to notice they are bleeding from all the various cracks. This product made a major difference after just one use! Here I am weeks later, and my hands have no cracks, look younger, and are no longer red. Can O'Keeffe's fix potholes too?!" — Ms. Chamomile Get it from Amazon for $8.07 . 2. An electric foot heater to give your feet the warm relief they crave that even the thickest, coziest socks can't even provide on the coldest of winter days. Promising review : "Super comfortable and cozy. I work from home, and this keeps my feet warm under my desk all day. The 'bag' itself is kind of big but it allows you to push your feet in all the way up to your ankles or even mid-calf. The control box is even easy to push with my toes :). It has a simple display with a small green light for low, yellow for medium, and red for high, so you can tell at a glance what level temperature you have selected. The pad heats up quickly and at a good temperature for all three levels — not too hot, not too cold. I also enjoy putting this on my lap and pushing my hands inside it as it warms up my hands and core. I recommended this to all my coworkers who now want to get one as well. It's been a great purchase." — BJ Hughes Get it from Amazon for $31.99+ (available in four colors). 3. A foot file if your biggest struggle each winter is annoying, uncomfortable cracked heels that snag on your bedding, socks, carpet, etc. Smoother feet are possible, and they're on their way. Promising review: "OMG, these should be standard issue for every human. I’ve bought them all — the cheap foot files and the expensive ones. None of them remotely compare to this one. I thought I was doomed to have coarse heels forever, but no more! With just one use, my heels are fabulous! The calluses this thing removed were absolutely disgusting, but I couldn’t be happier. You won’t be disappointed!" — JMart Get it from Amazon for $9.95 . 4. An acupressure anti-nausea wristband claiming to ward off motion sickness and nausea, minus the drowsiness side effect found in most nausea medications. These babies are gonna come in handy for any holiday family road trips or winter break vacations you may have coming up. Read more about acupressure and nausea at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center . Promising review: "THESE ARE A MUST BUY!!!! I was having horrible pregnancy nausea that lasted all day — I was hardly eating. These arrived and within minutes I felt instantly better and was able to eat a bit. I would recommend these to everyone! Lifesaving purchase!! " — Amazon Customer Get a pack of two from Amazon for $8.43 (available in four colors, and a version for kids ). 5. An adorable little space heater deserving of a spot on your desk this winter because it'll be pretty dang difficult to respond to all of those emails or have a report ready for your boss in time if your fingers are too cold to comfortably type. Promising review : "I bought this to use under my desk to keep my feet warm. It's perfect, and as you can see, it's little (about the size of a medium coffee), so it's not in the way of me hitting it with my feet. There's a safety button on the bottom, so the heater stops working when it's tipped over, picked up, or not on a level surface. I like that feature a lot, definitely recommend purchasing if you need a little heater at a decent price!" — Ta2dmom Get it from Amazon for $14.89+ (available in four colors). 6. A pair of blackout curtains to help block out light (and the early morning brightness that wakes you up when it's a winter wonderland outside your window), while also helping to prevent the heat you pay wayyyyy too much for each winter from getting out of the room. Also, you know those first few late spring/early summer weekends when you have to adjust to the sun rising earlier yet again, and you start to wonder why you ever wanted winter to end? Well, you'll be thankful these exist when that time of year comes around again. Promising review : "We have a bank of seven windows, which makes the area cool in the fall and winter. Such a great help in warming the area. Superb quality. Color is true to the picture. Extremely pleased with this purchase." — Jeanne Get them from Amazon for $17.95+ (available in various colors and sizes). 7. A pair of fleece-lined tights that'll make wearing a dress or skirt in the colder months something you actually...look forward to?! Groundbreaking! Promising review: "I do not know how I managed to live 39 years before discovering fleece-lined tights. I purchased a pair of black and navy to take home to Wisconsin for the holidays. They are incredible. The fleece is beyond soft, and it doesn't add any bulk to the tights (which I was concerned about). I was able to wear dresses in 20-degree weather without my legs turning into icicles, and they really helped keep my feet warm as well. I haven't washed them ye,t but I am confident that they will continue to wear beautifully." — Blondie, Esq. Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in several colors and packs of two). 8. And a pair of fleece-lined leggings you can bet you'll live in all season. Working from home? Wear these leggings. Going for a run? Wear these leggings. Being brave and going grocery shopping in negative wind chill? WEAR THESE LEGGINGS!! Promising review : "These are by far my favorite leggings that I own! I initially bought the unlined version about a year ago and decided to get these fleece-lined leggings to wear under dresses at work. They are thick enough to wear on their own without being see-through, and they are warm enough to wear as the weather gets cold. They are my go-to for running errands on the weekend and the material looks so nice. l wouldn't say that it's shiny, but the material looks more like a compression/athletic material than the thin, cottony leggings you get for cheap. Love, love, love them! I would absolutely buy again!" — Andrea Get them from Amazon for $34.99 (available in women's sizes XS–3XL, 34 colors, and with one or three pockets). 9. A set of door strips to help prevent warm air in your room from escaping in the winter (because you deserve for your little haven to be niiiice and toasty). On top of that, they also help to keep sounds outside your door at a lower level because noisy family members and pets disrupting your holiday weekend slumber is soooo not the vibe. Promising review: "Just received and installed. Quick and easy to install. One roll split in two covers one standard doorway. It works great at keeping the cold draft out. Stopped it completely. I’ll be using the other roll to fill gaps around a couple of window AC units. I would recommend this to friends and family." — Amazon Customer Get a two-pack of 33-foot-long rolls from Amazon for $7.97+ (available in four colors and two sizes). 10. A pair of fuzzy cross-band slippers you'll never wanna take off, and we can't say we blame you. Just look at how comfy these babies look. Promising review: "I’m 100% not gonna lie but I saw these on TikTok and was interested...needed new house slippers so I ordered. OMG! YES. YAAAAS. I recommend. So soft. So plush. I ordered them in black and a half size up based on other reviews...I just enjoy how they feel on my toes. 🖤🖤 buy! Do it now! Even if TikTok told you to!" — ashdav Get them from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in women's sizes 5–10 and 16 colors). 11. An ultra-hydrating lip balm rich in antioxidants, vitamin E, and green tea that your dry-as-heck lips are gonna be so very thankful for. Not to mention, it will be great to have on hand as fall and winter bring about even MORE dry weather. Promising review: "My lips usually crack and bleed in the winter no matter what I put on them. This is literally the first winter ever that my lips are perfect. This is the best product I've ever used! It's nice and soft, not greasy. I've bought it for several coworkers who also suffer like I do. I hope they never stop making this!" — Mel Belle Get it from Amazon for $10 (available in six flavors and packs of three). 12. A portable electric hand warmer your hands would thank you for if they could speak. Promising review: "This hand warmer is amazing! My hands are constantly cold, and I've tried all sorts of products to help keep them warm, but nothing has worked until now. I charge the hand warmer every night with a standard USB charger, and the next day, I have hours of warmth. The three temperature settings are very helpful — I use the highest setting when I'm outdoors for long periods of time and the lower settings when I'm indoors (e.g., sitting at my desk or in a cold movie theater). I've already given hand warmers as gifts to several cold-handed friends and family members, and they love them as well. I hope Ocoopa comes out with a foot warmer next!" — RK Get it from Amazon for $26.99+ (available in a variety of colors/styles and two-packs). 13. A fluffy comforter that'll pretty much transform your bedroom into the coziest, most luxurious suite at a 5-star hotel. Literally, all you have to do is put it on top of your bed. You're welcome. Promising review: "This comforter is awesome. The quality is great, especially for the price! It is warm, so I probably wouldn't use it in the summer months, but definitely perfect for fall and winter. It is so comfortable, cozy, and warm, yet breathable and lightweight at the same time . Perfect duvet insert." — Meghan O'Keefe Get a queen-size from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in six colors and eight sizes). 14. And this faux-fur duvet cover to upgrade your new comforter. Or pair it with a duvet you already own to make your bed a place you'll wanna hibernate in all winter long. One side is faux fur, and the other side is plush velvet; the twin set comes with one pom-pom-fringed pillow sham, and the other set sizes include two. Promising review: "If my house caught on fire, this is the first thing I’d grab. But seriously, this is one of my favorite things in my whole house. I feel like it tied my entire room together. I get so many compliments on it, and it's seriously so cozy and well-made. My only complaint would be how hard this thing makes it to get out of bed in the mornings. It’s incredibly soft and isn’t the type of 'fur' that will mat and get gross-looking over time. I rely heavily on reviews when I buy things, so I’m here to tell you — if you’re on the fence about buying this...do it!! Also, the pillowcases are amazing. Super soft, and the pom-pom fringe is adorable." — Sk Get it from Amazon for $51.99+ (available in sizes Twin–King and 34 colors). 15. A windshield cover because leaving the house in the winter is bad enough, but add having to scrape snow and ice off your car into the mix? Crying just thinking about it. Plus, it's heat-resistant, so whenever summer eventually comes back around, you'll be able to get into your car without your leather seats burning your skin. Promising review: "This is the best thing I could have ever bought! I bought one for myself, my mom, and my sister. New England just got slammed with a Nor'easter, and let me tell you...this thing works! It only took about five minutes to put on my car and like five seconds to get it off this morning. No snow or ice anywhere on the wiper well or windshield. I highly recommend this!" — Shelley Get it from Amazon for $26.95 . 16. An Amazon-famous thickened down jacket you'll be extra grateful for whenever you have to leave your warm home and step outside into cold temps. This coat features large pockets, a fleece-lined hood, and comes in an awesome array of colors. Let's face it, cold weather szn is awful. BUT this jacket does make it a teensy bit better. I finally bought one for myself last year and I'm so glad I did. It's THICC!!! So warm, so cozy, and those pockets? Talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique. Be sure to read our Orolay down jacket review ! FYI, this is included in Prime Try Before You Buy so you can test it out before committing if you’re a Prime member! Promising review: "Let me start by saying, my husband says that I am obsessed with coats. Out of probably 20 winter coats, this is now my absolute favorite! I can't even begin to tell you how much I love this coat; I love everything about it! The quality is outstanding! I have had every expensive brand-name winter coat, but have never ever had one that has kept me this warm! I'm not even looking forward to the warmer months because I don't want to put this coat away!! Every time I wear it, I get at least one, 'I love your coat!'" — Suzi Linthorst Get it from Amazon for $129.99+ (available in women's sizes XXS–5X and 13 colors) 17. And if a long coat isn't your thing, this cropped puffer jacket is another excellent option. It's bound to make all of your coats SOOOO JELLY because it's all you're gonna want to wear when It arrives on your doorstep. Promising review: "Super cute and keeps you warm. I only got to wear it a few times before my sister stole it from me. She wore it basically every day for two winters, and it’s still in good condition. It’s definitely puffy, but that’s the style, so it’s to be expected." — Adri Get it from Amazon for $49.98+ (available in women's sizes XS–L and eight colors). 18. A suede brush cleaner that'll save you from having to spend your money on bringing your salt-ruined suede shoes to get repaired, or worse...REPLACED. Good for cleaning boots, shoes, coats, jackets, furniture, dance shoes, and sneakers and is compatible with sprays, foams, erasers, and cleaning kits. Promising review: "I got this product recently to clean multiple pairs of suede boots I have. All the salt and snow of winter did quite a job of making my boots look dirty and unkempt. This brush is easy to use and has multiple styles of brushes to clean the various parts of the boot. I cleaned three pairs of boots and they look like new. I would recommend this item." — Celeste Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (available in four styles). 19. A portable paw cleaner to prevent your little mush from tracking dirty snow, mud, and other yuckiness into the house or car. Promising review: " I’ve been using this for a few weeks, and I love it. It cleans the salt off my dogs’ paws so easily. When it’s super dirty, and the streets are covered in salt, I’ll refresh the water supply. I add a few drops of doggie shampoo, and it works great. This product is not a replacement for a bath. I have four dogs in NYC. I have to wash their feet after every walk because the streets are so filthy. It would take me about 10–15 minutes to clean their paws with a spray bottle and towel. Now it takes about 5 minutes. And the towel doesn’t end up filthy. The dirt gets caught in the cup. Plus, the dogs seem to like it. The silicone bristles must feel good. A huge thumbs-up!" — Sandra Get it from Amazon for $14.40+ (available in three sizes and eight colors). 20. A reviewer-loved knit beanie for keeping your head warm and toasty allllll season long. Plus, it comes in tons of cute colors! Promising review: "Saw this hat on TikTok and decided to place my order! It can get very cold where I live, especially during morning time when I’m walking my dog. I need to keep my ears warm! The material is so soft, and there are many color options." — MHF Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in 17 colors). 21. A jetted bathtub cleaner — fill up your luxurious bath, add a quarter of the bottle, and watch it work its magic by removing gross residue from inside your tub's jets. It only takes about 15 minutes to clean and when you're done, you can look forward to taking so many cozy baths this winter. Oh Yuk is a family-owned small biz based in Minnesota that sells home cleaning products Promising review: "They don't call this 'Oh Yuk' for no reason. I previously used Jacuzzi's two-part system, and this worked sooo much better. I was totally embarrassed not to mention grossed out at how much funk came out. It was NASTY! It definitely cleans your tub. You will probably have to clean the sides of your tub after it's finished because of how much stuff might come out. I swear I clean my tub on a regular basis, but I was amazed at how much better this worked. Highly recommend!" — Erica Get it from Amazon for $18.73 . 22. And now that you have a clean tub, you should treat yourself to this bath pillow ASAP so all of your baths are as comfy as can be. Bath Haven is a small biz! Promising review: "Absolutely love this!!! Five stars all the way! I love soaking in baths but always had to use two or more towels every time to cushion my tailbone/neck from crunching against the hard tub. With this bath bed, though, I relax in delightful comfort the entire time and no longer have any pressure on my tailbone or head against the hard surface. Feels like I’m laying on a cloud." — Ashley Get it from Amazon for $37.99 . 23. A unique and scrumptious hot chocolate bomb that's so pretty, you may never want to take it out of the package, but they're so yummy and will make your taste buds so very happy, so please do. Big Bear Chocolates is a small biz based in Spokane, Washington, that sells gourmet caramel apples and fresh fudge. Promising review: After missing the hot chocolate bomb trend last year, I decided that I had to have some this year. It arrived quickly and in perfect condition, and was the perfect size for my mug! It was also one of the best cups of cocoa I've had in a long time, and I'm already thinking of getting more." — Ishita Bose Get it from Big Bear Chocolates on Etsy for $6.20+ (available in 11 flavors). 24. The Comfy — a sweatshirt/blanket combo that might just be one of the coziest things ever invented. It'll allow you to do important things like change the channel or play video games and stay toasty at the same time! I originally bought this for my mom who always gets cold at night when she's watching TV and she loves it, but it may or may not have ended up in my room one night, and now belongs to me — oops. I LOVE this thing. It truly is so warm and so perfect for cold winter nights when I wanna reach that level of toasty warm my sweatshirts alone cannot accomplish. Plus, you can do things while wearing it! I mean, how else am I gonna keep the entire length of my arms warm while trying to play The Sims ? Get it from Amazon for $49.99 (available in 32 styles and o/s). 25. A lightweight jacket equipped with a battery pack to heat it because sweating the second you put on a bulky winter coat is undeniably one of the worst parts of winter. Promising review: "I was honestly kind of skeptical about this at first because it took a bit of time to heat up all the way, but once it did I was absolutely in love. It gets so warm and is absolutely perfect. It’s very very well made and luxurious feeling. 10/10." — Ezra Adair Get it from Amazon in two styles: $159.99 (available in six colors and women's sizes XS–3XL) and $159.99 (available in three colors and men's sizes S–3XL). 26. HelloFresh — a service that will save you snowy trips to the grocery store and send you pre-portioned ingredients and simple instructions so you can quickly cook up fun and innovative meals. Bye, grocery store, see you when it gets warmer outside.* *Just kidding, because you're gonna love having ingredients sent right to your doorstep so much, you're never gonna wanna leave the house again! My colleague Maitland Quitmeyer is a HelloFresh subscriber and swears by it! Here's what she has to say: "For me, there are three great reasons to try a meal kit like HelloFresh right now: 1. to reduce trips to the grocery store without having to forgo fresh produce, 2. to get out of the same-dinner ruts, especially when we're cooking at home more than ever, and 3. to learn new cooking skills in a basically foolproof setting. Here's how it works: You can select from the four preferences: meat and veggie, veggies, low-calorie, and family-friendly. Recipes come portioned to two or four people (but I find the portions to be generous), and you can get either three or four recipes per week (for the two-person plan) or two or three recipes a week (for the four-person plan). And, of course, you can skip weeks, upgrade to ~premium~ recipes (think surf and turf) for an additional fee, or change the number of meals at any time. When your box arrives, you get everything you need to make the recipe, chilled to perfection and portioned accordingly (you just need to provide pantry staples like butter, oil, salt, and pepper). And the instructions? Totally foolproof. My fave recipe so far exemplifies how helpful HelloFresh is for trying out new recipes and techniques — say hello to my little friend, tempura shrimp. I have thought about making at-home tempura for like...years, but it seemed like a lot of work, and I'd burn myself on the hot hot oil. But this recipe took all the scariness out of it — turns out I *didn't* need a whole pot of oil to fry these bbs up, a shallow fry worked PERFECTLY. And when I feel done with HelloFresh, when we're no longer social distancing from the grocery store and I feel like I've learned enough, I will 10000000000% make this again on my own. And I've been thinking about the sauce (an easy mix of mayo, Sriracha, and apricot jam) ever since, and will put it on just every single thing from here on out — including just a spoon. And the portions are IMO, very generous — I could not eat what they'd consider one portion in a single night, and the leftovers always reheated just as deliciously as they were the first night. And the best part = you can access their database of over 2,500 recipes even when you're not a subscriber, so you can just use it as a cookbook when you're done subscribing." Subscribe to HelloFresh starting at $9.99/serving . 27. A towel warmer you can use to heat up more than just towels — robes, throw blankets, pajamas, sheets, pillowcases, etc. This is gonna be your new favorite toy this season. Promising review: "Absolutely my favorite thing purchased from Amazon. You will never be able to take a shower without this once you have it. Just like right-out-of-the-dryer towels!" — Erin Get it from Amazon for $169.99 . 28. A thermal set great for layering underneath outfits so you can rock trendy looks and stay warm at the same time! This is also great if you have any outdoor winter activities planned like skiing, skating, or snowboarding. You may also just wanna wear it around the house as comfy loungewear! Many reviewers say this set tends to run a little big, especially the shirt, so if you're buying this with the intention of layering underneath clothing, you may want to keep that in mind and size down! Promising review: "Purchased these to wear under my ski gear. They were better than expected. The material is buttery and not scratchy. Super comfortable and warm. They do run large. I would suggest sizing down. The shirt is a little big, but works for me!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $22.49+ (available in women's sizes 2XS—3XL, 15 colors, and in crewneck, scoop neck, and V-neck). 29. A Book of the Month subscription so you can enjoy a juicy read whilst snuggled up at home minus the trip to the book store or the guess work of picking from an overwhelming selection of books. I joined Book of the Month three years ago because I wanted to read People We Meet on Vacation and my local library had a waitlist. I thought I'd sign up for one month and cancel my subscription right after, but I am here to say that was not the case. I'm obsessed with my BOTM subscription and can't recommend it enough. At the start of each month, they add five to seven new books to the app. These books span all sorts of genres, include reads from new authors and returning favorites, and some even have a theme (aka: spooky reads for October, holiday reads in December). You can choose up to three books per month. All three of your selections can be from that month's book picks or you can pick a book or two from that month's selections and choose add-on books — I did this in the beginning when I was working on creating my own little ~home library bookshelf~. If you don't like any of their monthly selections that is A-OK! Simply skip that month and a credit will be applied towards future months. It's such a fun thing to treat myself to each month and makes for a perfect gift (both to yourself and to loved ones). Happy reading! Sign up for Book of the Month for $17.99/month ! 30. Or a Kindle Paperwhite that'll basically serve as your own little at-home library. Thanks to this baby, you'll be able to purchase or rent virtually all the books on your TBR without having to leave the house! Plus, the glare-free display makes reading in brighter conditions a squint-free experience, while night mode allows you to unwind before bed sans brightness. AND!!! This lovely device is ALSO waterproof! I did it. I caved on October Prime Day and bought myself this older model of the Kindle Paperwhite, and boy, am I glad I did. For starters, I always thought of myself as someone who preferred physical books over e-books. There's just something SO exciting to me about unboxing a book order or walking into a bookstore and spending way too much money. I even spent two years creating a rainbow library on my bookshelf in my apartment. BUT! After taking two vacations this year and realizing how annoying it is to pack physical books and move somewhere that requires a long train ride to get to the city (aka increased boredom), I decided to just get myself a Kindle. For starters, I'm reading more on this Kindle in the past month than I have all year. It is incredibly lightweight (it fits into my small little BELT BAG WITH ROOM TO SPARE!!!), easy to use, and not to mention a really great investment! I have three free months of Kindle Unlimited , which means access to tons of great books for free, but the best is Libby! I just go on the Libby app from my phone, choose a Kindle book to check out through my local library, and boom, it's instantly delivered to my Amazon account to add to my Kindle library. It's safe to say I'm obsessed. Get it from Amazon for $129.99+ (available in three colors and with or without ads). Reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.