Lifestyle trends: “Going Underground” Has A Whole New Meaning!

Normally if we hear someone speaking of “going underground”, we would assume that person means “going underground” in the sense of disappearing out of society for a while. However, the term “going underground” can literally mean you plan on living underground! What might surprise you even more is the fact that the concept of living underground is not a recent one and there even exists an underground town in Australia known as Cooper Pedy, which has been around since 1915!  You can read more about the town by visiting http://www.cooberpedy.net/ 

Interested in building an underground house of your own? If so, there are many companies that specialise in green building. For example you can visit http://kirknielsen.com/project/underground/  if you wish to view such a company. Incidentally they are the same company that built the structure you see below.

Many tourists flock to The White Cliffs Underground Motel in New South Wales Australia every year. Now I am not sure about all of you but I sure as heck won't be able to stay here! Hello claustrophobia! 

Cooper Pedy is by no means the only underground town around, in fact there are at least nine others scattered in different parts of the world. A good example of one being Dixia Cheng, situated in Beijing China. This city originally started out as an underground shelter for use during disasters and attacks.

A few years ago the concept house featured in this photograph below (known as Casa Brutale) was designed by a company known as Open Plan for Architecture. It was meant to be built overlooking the Aegean Sea in Greece but to my knowledge, up until now the company has not managed to find an investor for the project. 

If going underground is not your thing, you can always choose to live in a cave like Angelo Mastropietro. His house which he affectionately named The Rockhouse Retreat is all the rage!

So what do you think? Is underground living for you? 

Till next time

Debbie Nel

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Lifestyle trends: Van living!

In the past when we thought about vans, we thought of them in the lines of being transport for mass amounts of people or even as little take away businesses at best.

However these days vans have become a lifestyle trend for many in that vans have become the housing solution of choice for quite a few couples! Even families with children are choosing to live in vans!

But just why has this trend picked up though? Well for various reasons actually.  For starters the cost of living/housing has become so expensive that humanity has decided they need a cheaper alternative and what could be cheaper than living in a van?

Others have decided that they are tired of living stressful lifestyles and opt to live in vans due to the freedom and stress free existence that living the life of a van nomad will grant them.

Since van living is so cheap, many bloggers and other “internet employees” have opted to live in vans so that they can quit their day jobs and just survive on the small incomes their online jobs supply them with. In fact, some are even calling van living the “New American Dream”! 

This is all good and well but I must say that to me, van living is a sure way to live the “American Nightmare”! Why I say this is simply because we are living in the 21st century. An era filled with crime, especially rapes and murders. Therefore I do not see living in a van (or any mobile home for that matter) as being a smart life choice. 

This rings true for any country in the world and not just America (since van living has turned into an international modern day trend). It is simply just not safe enough anywhere anymore for people to go around living in vehicles that offer little to no security whatsoever. 

The idea is nice, this much I will say, but unfortunately reality is a bitch.

Till next time.

Xxxxx

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Five New Year's resolutions you should adopt today!

This year has really flown by and once again we are standing at the edge of 2016. I am not sure if it is just me, but the years seem to grow shorter and shorter the older I get. So much so, that I have begun contemplating my own mortality of late. 

We as humans tend not to think about the inevitable reality of our own senescence, however aging is an undeniable fact of life. Bearing this in mind, don't you think that now is a good time to make a few positive changes from which you can reap the rewards in your golden years?

There is no better time to take on a new outlook, as well as new positive habits, than in the beginning of a brand new year! 

Below you will find my list of five great New Year's resolutions for everyone to adopt this coming 2017:

1. Resolution number one: Eat healthier (and live longer) 
As Anthelme Brillat-Savarin first said in 1826, "we" truly "are what we eat", so why so many of us poison our systems by consuming vast amounts of junk food each year, is totally beyond my understanding. Since starting my #debnelv3monthchallenge, I have never felt better! Yes it is true I do cheat sometimes (like now over the Christmas season) and eat some foods considered to be quite unhealthy, however, I honestly try not to make a habit of this. You have nothing to lose so why not find a healthy diet that suits your lifestyle and budget and try and stick to it for at least a few months as part of your positive changes for yourself this New Year? You are not only going to feel bounds and leaps better, with tons of renewed energy and positive vibes, but you are also guaranteed to awaken your taste buds to new, natural healthy flavours that will make you wonder (after just a few short weeks) why you never tried anything like this before. 

2. Resolution number two: Save more money (and consider your retirement)
So many people simply cannot afford to retire at the ages they initially planned anymore. In fact, even those who have retired have come to realise, that with the global economy being in the state that it is they don't have even nearly half of what would be needed to sustain themselves in a comfortable manner for the rest of their lives. Adopting a simple budgeting and saving strategy today could help you in remedying this ailment in the future. 

3. Resolution number three: Stress less (and get over all the bull in life)
We as humans really have more than enough problems in life, yet we insist on creating more issues for ourselves by adopting the habit of stressing over virtually everything. It is really simple. If you stress about something it is not going to make the situation magically disappear. In actual fact, it is most probably going to just make things worse for you in the long run (for example due to factors such as hasty decision making or overreaction as a result of stressing excessively et cetera). The same goes for the bull issues in life. If you hold onto it, it will plague you. If you let it go, the issue vanishes. 

4. Resolution number four: Make more time for actual living (since your life is passing you by)
How many times have we heard older people say things such as, "I wish I did..... when I was younger" or "I should've made more time for ........"? Don't let this be you in the future. Do all the things you want to do in life and stop waiting for "one day", since that "day" may never come. 

5. Resolution number five: Ignore the stupidity of others (and know when to move on)
People have an absolutely extraordinary way of getting under each others' skin. So much so that entire events can be ruined by just the sheer stupid utterances of one narrow minded individual. It however doesn't have to be this way. A while ago I adopted a mannerism that I wish I thought of embracing years ago, which is to simply ignore others and in doing so, not allow them to have any influence or effect in/on your life. The same rings true when it comes to knowing when to move on from negative people. If someone in your life is affecting it in a not-so-positive way, then the solution is quite simple - Move on!

And there you have it, five resolutions guaranteed to better your life now and in the long run! 

Have a fantastic New Year and thank you to all our readers/subscribers for your support in 2016! Here is looking towards all the fabulous new adventures (such as the launch of the much anticipated Academics Can Kill Your Sanity .com website early in January 2017) we will be having together in the future!

Much love, Debbie Vermaak Nel (Mortal Life Modes)

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Mental Health: Do you feel unsatisfied with your life? Then this one minute read is for you

Many of us don't feel content in our current lives. Most people often think to themselves, "this is not the life I pictured I would have one day when I was a child. Where did it all go wrong? Will I ever find happiness and true contentment in this lifetime?"

My simple answer to you is yes, you will! We all have the power to lift ourselves up into the existence we so desire. I promise you this is possible and I should know because I am doing just that!

Dream big, fantasize, and try different things. This is my advice to you. We are all so unique and therefore only we, ourselves, can figure out what is right for us in life. There is no "one size fits all" solution. However, we can give each other ideas of things worth trying and/or advice in the form of a recall of our own personal experiences and achievements, and who knows, you might just land up finding your "true self" in this way (or help someone else find theirs). So read more interesting articles and socialise more with people you find fascinating!

We can learn so much about ourselves from others. How? Through the ideas they can create in our own minds about things. For instance, I would never have known I am passionate about photography, if it wasn't for the interest to try it out, sparked in my mind by the experiences of others. I would never have known I like live classical music (instrumental) performances/concerts, if I didn't decide to follow the advice of a friend and attend such an event. Remember to also share your life experiences with others!

We all deserve to have a life we love -To have interesting hobbies, a career we are passionate about, fantastic romantic relationships and a strong bond with friends and family and it is only we, ourselves that are standing in our own way. We create barriers in our lives by NOT believing we can achieve and by not being willing to try new things and embrace the change that comes with these! We also tend to live our lives in such a fast paced way that we forget to make time for others. This is a major no, no! Your nearest and dearest are very important, so make yourself, make the time to visit with them. 

As mentioned above, don't be afraid to try new things, because what do you have to lose in doing this? Just don't follow others blindly and attempt to do stupid things just because they recommended it (a good example of this would be me, attempting to make my life easier by cleaning a shower with a combination of vinegar and bleach one afternoon, because I read on-line that this is the simplest and easiest way to achieve fast, amazingly clean results, however what the blog failed to mention was the fact that this combination creates a lethal chlorine gas which, in effect, almost killed me). Do your research!

Happiness is almost within your reach so what are you waiting for? Start building your ladder so you can grab it!

Here's to the great journey ahead and here's hoping you find yourself along the way!
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Financial Life(style) - How to live a cheaper existence and ease your stress and burdens

In this day and age it's getting harder and harder to get by and make ends meet (especially in countries like South Africa, China and India, where the currency is so much weaker). In fact most people I know of have admitted to having to go into debt every month just to buy food and other groceries! It truly is shocking how much the Global Economy in general, has gone downhill in the last 20 years or so. Money seems to have no value anymore. 

Because of the above-mentioned, I have decided to share some tips with all of you on how to live a bit cheaper and in the process, ease some of your stress and burdens (hence making you happier and a little more content again). People in other countries outside of South Africa, India and China, can also benefit from reading this, since in this day and age, we can all use some money saving tips and advice.

Tip number one - work on a budget 

Start budgeting your grocery bill (by making a weekly list and sticking to it). This is actually a lot easier than it seems and I have been doing it for years. When you make your list, put your maximum amount to spend on each item, next to that item. This way you can total up your total maximum spend, and not have any nasty surprises at the till/checkout.

Tip number two - purchase a cheaper car 

We all need vehicles to get us from A to B but what we don't need are vehicles costing a small fortune. Why put yourself through obscene payments in a month for something that decreases in value? Rather purchase second hand than purchasing new. Something I find totally ridiculous though, is the fact that the used car market has even become outrageously overpriced. I was laughing the other day when I saw a vehicle, that used to sell brand new, for 40 000 South African Rand (an Opel Utility Vehicle), in the market by a car dealership for 60 000 South African Rand. Can you imagine?! In South Africa you will pay more for a used car now then when it was new! I am fortunate enough to have access to motor vehicle values booklets and was shocked to see how many used car dealers advertise their vehicles for way over book value. So do your homework first by finding out the real values before searching for a more reasonably priced car, to avoid being done in.

Tip number three - not only cheaper, but also smaller (car)

Remember, the smaller the vehicle the less the petrol/fuel, which means less expense in a month. Some households can save thousands this way. Don't believe me? Well compare cars (and their average fuel consumption) and do the math for yourself.

Tip number four - live in a cheaper house/home

It is true our homes are our castles, but why pay the price for a castle if you are not a king? Property has become obscenely expensive in South Africa the last few years. Some might say it's due to the weak rand, however I have been doing a little research recently and this led me to discover something very interesting. Some homeowners and Estate Agents are the ones causing the unrealistic rises, by advertising properties at drastically bloated prices (in order to pocket more money in sales and commissions). Again, do your homework by finding out what the real market values are, before purchasing a home. 

As for those who are renting their home, my advice would be to try and find a house/flat of equal standards, or maybe even a little smaller than what you have now, for a price more affordable than what you are currently paying. 

Remember, the key here is to be realistic and to not live above your means. 

Tip number five - cheaper insurance

Insurance is yet another expensive commodity we cannot dare live without. Just be sure you are getting yours (car and household insurance) for the absolute lowest premiums possible. Beware of brokers though as they will take a cut (making your insurance a bit higher). Rather compare different insurances online for yourself.

Tip number six - cut back on the booze

Boozing it up might be fun but it doesn't come cheap (health and money wise). Many people (especially in South Africa) don't realise how much money they drink away each month. I do realise drinking is a stress release but honestly, if I have managed to find cheaper and healthier stress relieving pastimes, so can you.

Tip number 7 - take holidays closer to home

Surely you can skip that sea/beach holiday once in a while and take a break someplace closer to home. You might even land up having more fun (since you will be exposed to new and different types of experiences). If you simply can't stand the thought of not going to the Ocean, why not do it out of high season then?

Tip number 8 - make use of Groupons and other coupons

I am relatively new to the whole Groupon concept myself, but what it basically is, are various coupons for various things (such as restaurant meals) which you buy online to get the said item for a much cheaper price. Other coupons for a discount on items such as milk can be found in magazines, pamphlets and newspapers. Don't be embarrassed to make use of these, since in this day and age any savings you can make are worth it. 

Tip number 9 - try to use less electricity

 Set your geyser/water heater lower, use energy saver bulbs only, cook on a gas stove, have a prepaid electricity meter installed. All these (mentioned) things are a huge start. There are many other ways to save on electricity bills if you just apply some grey matter (such as making use of solar lanterns at night to create a peaceful mood and save some bucks for example).

And that is it from me. The above nine tips can save you a ton each month (and keep you out of financial trouble). There are of course many other money saving tips and tricks out there, as mentioned above (that don't involve things like re-using a tea bag for example). All it takes is some research and some thought.

Happy saving!

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Weekend Lifestyle: Pamper yourself at home (at a fraction of the cost of a health spa)

We all deserve a little pampering now and again but unfortunately most of us can't afford the ridiculous prices charged at salons or spas. So, why not create the salon/spa experience at home for yourself?

It is a lot cheaper than you think and all you need are a few "investment pieces" to start you out. These include:

1. A foot spa

2. A face steamer

3. A face massager (with various brushes for cleansing and attachments for massaging)

4. Aromatherapy bath oils

5. Face masks (or a fresh avocado pear each round)

6. A manicure set (nail file, nail scissors. pumice stone and/or electronic foot/hand file)          

7. Nail polish

Still sound a bit expensive to you? Well not really. Remember, you will only need to purchase most of the listed items once and the rest (such as the bath oils, face masks and nail polish) should ensure you at least a few treatments before a repurchase is needed. Also, you can build up a collection of the items as you go along and you don't need to purchase all at once. You can then just create "mini spa/salon" days for yourself at home until you own all the items. The list is by no means extensive and you can add any items you see fit.

On the days when you plan to give yourself treatments (or home spa/salon days as I like to call them), make sure that you "book" yourself out for a few hours and that everyone in your household knows not to disturb you (unless there is an emergency). Play soft music in the background, put on your favourite robe/gown and slippers, open a good bottle of wine and proceed with the pampering. You can do your treatments in any order but I have found that the following order works best for me:

1. Pedicure (soak your feet in the foot spa, file your toe nails and then remove dead skin from your feet using the pumice stone).

2. Manicure (soak your hands in a warm bowl of water and then file your finger nails).

3. Face steaming session (using the facial steamer).

4. Face cleansing and massaging session (using the cleansing and massaging attachments of the facial massager).

5. Face mask and aromatherapy bath

6. Manicure and pedicure round off (nail painting)

Once done for the day I usually treat myself to a nice big green salad to round off the spa experience. Here is the recipe for my favourite green salad (just mix all the ingredients together in a glass bowl):

2 Ripe avocado pears (diced)

2 Large pickles/gherkins (sliced into rounds)

4 Lettuce leaves (shredded into pieces)

1/4 Green pepper (chopped into small pieces

1 English cucumber (sliced into half rounds)

1/2 Cup green olives

Enjoy your pampering!

Extra note: This works well for both women and men, so come on boys, give it a try! You will be amazed at how relaxed you feel afterwards.

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Reasons 33 to 100 of 100 reasons people decide not to have children (in this day and age)

So folks, as mentioned in my previous posting (Reasons 11 to 32 of 100 reasons people decide not to have children), I will be finishing off this series, with this, the last posting, listing the final less detailed and elaborate reasons, people might decide not to have offspring. 

Here is, reasons 33 to 100 of 100 reasons people decide not to have children (in this day and age)

Having a child might mean/cause:

33. Less sex (since you will be exhausted all the time)

34. Lack of sleep/sleep deprivation

35. An unhealthy diet (since you are so pressed for time that fast food becomes the norm)

36. Depression 

37. Anxiety

38. Premature ageing

39. No alone/personal time (even having time to take a shower alone could be challenging)

Having no kids means being able to look forward to:

40. An early retirement (if you so wish)

41. A yard free from ugly red, blue and yellow plastic furniture, slides, jungle gyms et cetera. 

42. Long bubble baths in the evening 

43. Relaxing with a glass (or bottle) of wine after work

44. Sleeping late on weekends

45. Adult Christmas, New Year's or dinner parties

46. A flourishing career (if you wish to put the hours in)

Having no children means never having to:

47. Hire a babysitter or ask your friends/family to look after your kids (just so you can leave the house)

48. Put your foot in a school yard ever again (if you so wish)

49. Hide your head in shame when your kid blabs out an embarrassing secret about you

50. Watch Barney the dinosaur (unless you are into that sort of thing)

51. Stick a suppository up someone else's butt (again I say, unless you are into that sort of thing)

52. Brush someone else's teeth or wipe their rear end

53. Awaken to the sounds of a screaming baby (unless you choose to babysit another child that is)

Being child-free means you will:

54. Have the money to be able to further your own studies if you so wish

55. Actually have the time to study further

56. Be able to take up interesting hobbies and pursue other interests

57. Most likely live longer (due to less stress and worries)

58. Be able to wear nice clothes and have expensive furniture without worrying that they will be ruined 

59. Have peace and quiet at home (unless you, yourself feel like making some noise by blaring the stereo at high volume)

60. Have more time to spend with/on your pets

61. Have more space/money to adopt (and save) shelter animals

Not ever being pregnant means that, in addition to the points mentioned already in point 6:

62. You won't have to endure nine months of bloating

63. You won't have to experience morning sickness

64. You won't have to experience the agony that is childbirth

If you remain childless, come retirement age you will:

65. Have enough money to retire comfortably

66. Not have to worry about your adult children needing to move in with you again (due to job loss etc.)

67. Not have to face the reality of a possible dead beat child (who never even moved out) still living with you

68. Not have to face your children bickering over where you will live or whom you will live with

69. Be able to retire to/in any destination you wish (since you won't have kids forcing you to stay in the towns they are living, because it is "safer" and/or "more practical")

70. Not have to endure being treated like a child by your now adult children (I see this happening all the time and I find it so ironic)

Childless couples never have to worry that after their death:

71. Their children will bicker amongst each other about who gets what

72. Their grandchildren will feel as if their siblings or cousins got more than they did (in the will)

73. Their children will fight over possession of "the family house" or "the family jewellery" 

74. Their children will be able to cope (mentally and financially)

75. Their children will (ever) be hurt

76. Their grandchildren will (ever) be hurt

And finally, in general, childless couples don't have to face/worry about:

77. Anyone, ever teasing or bullying their kid

78. Their child getting pregnant (or getting someone pregnant) while still in school or studying

79. Their child falling into the wrong crowd

80. Their child doing or becoming addicted to drugs

81. Their child becoming ill

82. Their child being born with a disability/special need

83. Their child not "fitting" in

84. Their child making good grades

85. Their child getting into trouble at school 

86. Their child getting arrested (see point 9)

87. Their child getting into a fight with another child

88. Their child turning against them

89. Their children turning against each other

90. Their child dating someone they (the parents) don't like

91. Their child marrying someone they (the parents) don't like

92. The costs of a child's wedding

93. The costs of having to buy a child their first car

94. The burden of having to clean up after a small child or lazy older child (or adult child)

95. The burden of having to do endless mounds of child created washing and ironing

96. The burden of having to help raise and look after their children's children (grand kids)

97. The hassle of having to teach their children to drive

98. The hassle of having to deal with teenage mood swings and hormones

99. The hassle of having to deal with toddlers in their terrible two's

100. The ungratefulness and selfishness modern teens/children tend to exhibit

And there you have it, 100 reasons why some people decide that it is better for them not to have children.  

As I have stated before, I have no problem with kids and I adore my nieces and nephews, however having children is just something that some people were just not meant for. 

I hope you enjoyed this series. 

Till next time

Debbie Nel

Mortal Life Modes

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