Shop Smarter - Say Goodbye to Impulse Buying!
Is This You?
Linh has developed a(n) (1) ________ that has led her to buy more than she really needs.
She often finds herself purchasing (2) _________ items that empty her wallet. Despite her best intentions, Linh tends to (3) _________ snap decisions when she sees a trendy product (4) ________.
How to Break the Cycle
Her friends have tried to remind her (5) ________ the importance of budgeting and making thoughtful purchases. They suggest that Linh (6) ________ a step back before finalizing any online order.

A Guide to Car Ownership: Costs and Care
The Costs of Owning a Car
Buying and using a car can be a significant decision for (7) ________ people. While owning a vehicle provides convenience and freedom, the initial cost can be (8) _________. It's important to consider not only the purchase price but also the ongoing expenses involved in car own-ership. For instance, a colossal (9) ________ of money may be spent on fuel, insurance, and registration fees.
Maintaining Your Car
Additionally, to keep a car in good working condition, regular (10) _________ is essential. Neglecting this can lead to serious issues, causing owners to (11) ________ problems that could have been avoided with proper care. (12) ________ budgeting for these expenses, car owners can enjoy their vehicles without facing unexpected financial burdens.

The generation gap in technology is becoming increasingly noticeable as different age groups interact with devices and digital tools in varied ways. Many young people, (18) _______, find it easy to navigate new technologies. In contrast, (19) ________, which can create a divide in understanding.
As new gadgets are introduced regularly, the skills needed to use them are frequently learned more quickly by younger users than older ones. (20) _______. While older individuals may prefer face-to-face communication, younger people often rely on texting or messaging apps to connect with others. As older adults see technology evolving, their frustration with using new tools can sometimes grow.
To bridge this gap, both generations can learn from each other, sharing knowledge and experiences. Workshops and community programs (21) ________. By working together and encouraging open conversations about their experiences, (22) _________, allowing everyone to enjoy the benefits of modern tools.

With the spread of the coronavirus getting worse and worse, many of us must be thinking about how to socialise without having to go outside. While this situation is novel to many of us, there are thousands of people who are constantly making lasting and meaningful connections from their homes, through the world of online gaming.
Almost all video games today have their own gaming communities where players can socialise, and most gamers value these socialisation aspects of games very highly. They are among the main motivations for playing, particularly when it comes to games that have large numbers of players who interact and play with each other on the same big server, also known as "massively multiplayer online games".
Over the past three decades, gaming has become more and more social, and many players have developed good friendships with the people they meet online. One surprising fact is that among gamers, the gender gap is narrowing - 46% are female (average age 34 years) and 54% are male (average age 32 years). Another significant finding is that 63% of gamers play with others and that many players get social support from the gaming communities that they are in. In addition, other research has shown that there appears to be no difference in the friendships between gamers and non-gamers.
Gaming often gets bad publicity because most media coverage tends to concentrate on the minority of gamers who play to such an extent that it compromises all other areas of their life (in other words, those who suffer from "gaming disorders"). However, we have to remember that millions of gamers play every day and many do so for the many positives it brings. So, if you're one of those people staying under lockdown, going online and connecting with hundreds and thousands of people in the gaming community might just be the perfect solution you're looking for.
(Adapted from theconversation.com)

Reza Jafery has been working very hard since 1st grade. [I] Whenever he was assigned homework, he would head straight for the library and would finish it all before going home. [II] However, he was not driven by a love of learning, but by a feeling of anxiety if he didn't have a goal to accomplish. [III] "I felt I had to reach particular milestones by a certain age or else I wasn't successful," says 27-year-old Jafery. [IV]
According to Dr. Sandra Chapman at the University of Texas at Dallas, the brain can become addicted to productivity just as it can to more familiar sources of addiction like drugs, gambling, eating or shopping. "A person might crave the recognition their work gives them, or the salary increases they get," says Chapman. However, what makes addiction to productivity more complicated is the fact that society tends to extol it. "It's seen as a good thing: the more you work, the better," says Chapman. "Many people don't realise the harm it causes until a divorce occurs and a family is broken apart, or until they feel the toll it takes on mental health."
Like all addicts, 'productivity junkies' are overly focused on a single aspect of their life. The constant compulsion to be productive overrides other potential sources of pleasure, such as spending time with loved ones. According to a paper by Shahram Heshmat, an associate professor at the University of Illinois; "This desire is presumably so strong that no other motives can realistically compete." For Matthew Church, who describes himself as a 'recovering productivity addict', his family and romantic life came second to his work for six years. "I wasted six years of my life because I didn't have friends or romantic experiences and I lost my connection with my family. I felt a sense of shame about not having built those things up."
According to Griffiths, no matter how productive a 'junkie' considers themselves, there will come a point when their performance suffers and the effects become potentially life threatening. Therefore, acknowledging the warning signs and taking steps to address them is essential. Dr. Chapman recommends creating a 'not-to-do list' to avoid overscheduling, and giving the brain essential opportunities for relaxation to boost its performance. In a 2019 study of writers, a fifth of their most significant and creative ideas were formed during periods of 'mind wandering', or, in other words, when they are engaged in activities other than work.
And as for sacrificing connections for work? The brain thrives on fun, laughter and meaningful relationships so Chapman's advice is to make room for them no matter what. "At the end of people's lives, they don't wish they'd worked longer hours. They wish they'd spent more time with family or enjoyed the travel they got to do, but were never mentally present because they were checking their phone."
(Adapted from bbc.com)