The top Democratic presidential candidates continue to include health-care concerns for Americans as a priority, while recent research shows most Americans, or 69 percent, are also concerned about health-care costs.

Yet, many Americans do not see the connection between health and weight or other factors they can control. A 2019Cleveland Clinic survey shows 88 percent of those surveyed understand the link between healthy weight and heart health, yet 43 percent of Americans have tried to make dietary changes. to lose weight and 40 percent of those who describe themselves as overweight or obese say they aren't careful about which foods they eat.

As a family physician and obesity medicine specialist, heres my recommended five-day challenge to learn about your own health and take steps to care for yourself.

While social media is bombarding us with reminders of counting down to the holidays, perhaps it is time for every American to take five days to count up to better health.

Day 1

Schedule your physical with your primary care provider or find one if you do not already have one. Your primary care provider gets to know you over time and can help make sure you are up to date on your vaccines and screening tests or you can check this page.

Your primary care provider is there to get to know you over time and to help you in health and in sickness. Find out if there are choices you can make to improve or treat your personal medical concerns and health risks.

Day 2

Learn what your weight means. Recognize this is a simple way to check if you are at higher risk of health problems. This means you need to know your BMI (body mass index) and notice if your waist size has been growing larger. You can measure your height and weight to calculate your BMI. [Use this page if calculating BMI for someone under 20 years old.]

For instance, in adults, a BMI of 25 or more is a diagnosis of overweight and a BMI of 30 or more, is a diagnosis of obesity. In the United States, more than two out of every three adults are diagnosed with overweight or obesity.

Know that as BMI increases, there are increased risks of health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, fatty liver, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, depression, infertility, as well as many cancers. There is also increased risk of dying younger. In 2017, the Cleveland Clinic presented data showing obesity is the number one cause of preventable death.

As an adult, if your waist is getting larger and you are not pregnant, your risk factors for insulin resistance, pre-diabetes and diabetes is increased and healthy weight loss will decrease those risks. In fact, we now know that some cases of diabetes can be reversed with consistent healthier lifestyle choices.

If your health would benefit from healthy weight loss, avoiding sweetened and highly processed foods and drinks, increasing activity, decreasing the duration of sitting, improving sleep, reducing stress and adjusting (if possible) any medications that cause weight gain with your health care team are all ways to impact your weight.

If you are considering a medically-supervised weight loss program, know what to look for in a healthy weight loss program or you can find a board-certified Obesity Medicine Specialist to help you on your journey.

Day 3

Learn about your medications, vitamins and supplements, if you are taking any. Gather all of your medications, vitamins and supplements. Throw out the ones that are expired. Make a list of the medications you are taking regularly and write down why you are (supposed to be) taking each one. If you do not know why you are taking a medication, put a question mark next to it so you can learn about it when you see your pharmacist.

Next to each medication, note if it is helpful, not helpful, or if you cannot notice. Take this list with you when you go to see your primary care provider. Talk with your provider about the medications that are not helpful or that you cannot tell if they are helpful. See if there are alternatives or if they can be discontinued and how to do so if appropriate.

Day 4

Understand that the most powerful health-promoting thing you can do for yourself is to increase your activity. Sit less and move more. Get up from sitting, frequently. Find activities you like to do that require more movement. Exercise is important in the prevention and treatment of mood disorders, sleep disorders, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, as well as prevent falls, prevent many cancers, and prevent sarcopenia (loss of muscle leading to frailty and other health problems). Aim to work up to a minimum total of 15 minutes of daily walking. One prospective cohort study looked at over 400,000 people in Taiwan and found that a minimum of 15 minutes of exercise daily resulted in living three years longer.

Day 5

Create a routine to engage your senses. Examples include spending time with loved ones or finding ways to build new connections with others. Also, time spent with pets, in nature and/or engaging with the arts can calm the mind and provide healing as it connects us to the positive energy around us.

Health education is a lifelong endeavor. Its easy to get caught up in daily work and dramas and forget about self-care, particularly at busy times of year. But optimizing health can start with five days of deliberate action and that can start now.

Dr. Naomi Parrella is assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine and the Department of Surgery and the medical director for Rush University Center for Weight Loss and Lifestyle Medicine, and she is board-certified in family medicine and obesity medicine, holds a certification in Chinese herbal medicine, and is a Public Voices fellow through The OpEd Project.

Continued here:
Concerned with health costs? Take this 5-day health challenge | TheHill - The Hill

Like many, 27-year-old Shruti was battling weight problems and reached a point where it brought along additional health risks. She was determined to stop obsessing over the number on the scale and turn her life around, no matter what it took. With sheer determination and willpower, she reversed the damage and shed a whopping 40 kilos in ten months. To know how she did it, read her story here:Name: Shruti GadiyarOccupation: PsychologistAge: 27

Height: 161cm

City: Mumbai

Highest weight recorded: 120 kilosWeight lost: 40 kilos

Duration it took me to lose weight: 10 months

The turning point: I was always obsessed with my weight and getting back in shape. However, we all know that it is easier said than done. I suffered from several sleepless nights just thinking about it or researching things. One fine day, I decided this was it, I had to take a step forward and do what's necessary. After this day, I never looked back.

My breakfast: Poha/Upma/Dosa/Idli Breakfasts are always light and nutritious. Poha, upma, dosa or idli are my go-to staples.

My lunch: I prefer homemade food and avoid outside food as much as I can. Subji made at home, along with two rotis and dahi fill me up.

My dinner: I make sure that I cut out carbs from my evening meals. I usually have something like soup or salad. I relish eating cheat meals once a week. So when I get to enjoy my off day, I have something like chaat, cheese sandwich or a slice of pizza.Pre-workout meal: Dry fruits

Post-workout meal: Any source of protein like paneer, chickpeas or chicken. I wasn't fond of shakes so avoid them altogether.

My workout: HIIT has helped me lose weight for good. I picked up running and run for around 3 kilometers every day at a stretch. I also do some strength training exercises along with my running regime.

Low-calorie recipes I swear by:Salads and soups aren't as boring as we think! They have become my go-to favorite now. Apart from this, I am extremely grateful for my mom's cooking. She manages to make every healthy meal in a tasty way, it doesn't feel I am on a diet.

Fitness secrets I unveiled: I have discovered that portion control and moderation work a great deal in maintaining a stable weight. I make it a point to eat every two hours. Apart from that, I am extremely consistent with my workout regime and do not miss it for even a day.

How do I stay motivated? I look back at how far I have come already and I feel I still have a long way to go. Now that I have transformed, people have started to compliment me which doesn't stop. The support from friends and family is motivating enough. So many people tell me that I am an inspiration for them and this alone is helpful enough to keep me going whenever I feel low or feel like skipping the gym.

How do you ensure you dont lose focus? I set weekly workout targets for myself. In fact, working out has become a daily ritual for me, just like brushing my teeth. It is not something I can even think of skipping!Whats the most difficult part of being overweight? I suffered from bouts of low self-esteem and lethargy. I didn't feel like doing anything and soon enough, this turned into a vicious cycle. This for me was the most difficult part.

What shape do you see yourself 10 years down the line? A fit woman who wouldn't have to compromise on playing with her little one someday because of physical inability to do so.

Read this article:
Weight loss: This psychologist shed 40 kilos in ten months. Here's her diet and workout! - Times of India

Real Housewives of Orange County star Emily Simpson has been open and honest about her struggles with depression, chronic pain, and body issues after she reached her highest weight ever earlier this year. And now, Simpson is sharing her success after she took some major steps toward getting healthy.

Simpson revealed on Instagram back in October that she was undergoing hip replacement surgery later that month so she could move pain free. She added that the new Emily cant wait to run, jump, workout, walk a catwalk, and dance. The 43-year-old also explained in the comments that she was having the surgery because her arthritis had led to her having no cartilage in her left hip.

The pain was so bad that she stopped exercising and living an active life. At the same time, she confessed to being so busy that she often found herself in a drive-thru ordering tacos. RHOC fans have watched Simpson struggle with her weight this season. And, in a recent episode she broke down after stepping on the scale for the first time in a while.

Emilys husband Shane Simpson wasnt much help at least in front of Bravo cameras because he made fun of his wife for being on a diet, and teased her with bread even though she refused.

Everything with Shane is a joke, said Emily. But, this is a serious issue.

Now that the surgery is behind her, Simpson says that surgery is no joke, and now she understands the toll it takes on your body. She compared it to running a marathon, and said that its important to prepare with specific nutrition before and after.

While I may not be running 26.2 anytime soon, the new me is SO excited to get into shape and run around with my kids again. Watch out, the catwalk is calling! wrote Simpson.

She also revealed in a separate post that she has lost 15 pounds since starting a 12-week exercise program created by Paulina Taylor Hefferan, who she reached out to for help. Simpson said that she had no idea where to start when she realized she weighed more than she ever had in her life, and she felt lost.

She [Heffaran] helped me change my lifestyle and has taught me so much about balance. She has also encouraged me to not give up and keep going, wrote Simpson in the caption of a full-body pic. Not only did I want to lose weight to feel and look better, but I wanted to be healthier and set a good example for my kids!

Simpson added that she hasnt felt this good in a long time. And now that she has a new hip and is down 15 pounds, she is finally able to keep up with her kids and be more active.

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RHOC Emily Simpson Shows Off Her Recent Weight Loss And Gives Post-Surgery Update - Celebrity Insider

Diet pills are by no means a new cultural phenomenon. Wherever you have the imposition of patriarchal beauty standards, youll find someone profiting off of the latest miracle supplement with the endlessly appealing pitch: eat me and be skinny! While the salesman remains a constant, the magic elixir has been given a makeover in recent years. Societal perceptions of beauty are beginning to loosen from their ultra-slim hold, and this means a revamp in the marketing department. This is the era of body positivity. There is no longer one quintessential figure that women should strive for, so shouldnt this be reflected in the pills and potions were sold?

Cue Goli Nutrition. You might have heard of the various benefits that come with downing a glass of apple cider vinegar each morning. Its become a cult classic in the natural health food community, and its enthusiasts have made claims to weight loss, lowered cholesterol and even cancer prevention. The catch? It tastes awful. Michael Bitensky picked up on this pesky dilemma, saw the potential to make some bank, and the rest is history. Bitensky founded Goli, a company striving for health and happiness (even the brand name is derived from the word goal Sheesh). This is not your typical dieting capsule. Rather than citing weight loss and fat trimming benefits, Golis branding emphasizes values of wellness with natural ingredients and does so brilliantly. Gluten-free, gelatin-free, and body-shaming free, these are the diet pills of the future.

Societal perceptions of beauty are beginning to loosen from their ultra-slim hold, and this means a revamp in the marketing department.

Gone are the days when skinny was the only sexy. In 2019, marketing a product to young people as purely designed for weight loss can land a brand or ambassador in hot water. Unsurprisingly, recent public backlash against the Kardashians embodies this cultural shift. Kim shocked fans by promoting diet-suppressing lollipops in May 2018; many were angry at the stars public normalization of disordered eating patterns. Khloe faced her own media debacle for promoting diet tea drinks earlier this year. The public has started to reject products that send unhealthy messages about eating to consumers, especially those that target younger audiences through social platforms.

But are Goli gummies really any different? The brand still heavily implies that weight loss is a key impact of their product, but cloaks this implication with buzzwords like wellness and detox to soften the marketing blow. Golis wellness may simply be a convenient euphemism for thinness; and so the wheel is reinvented once more. A gummy that explicitly suppresses your appetite would likely fall under profit-killing scrutiny in todays online environment. Goli sidesteps this pothole; while the companys website mentions benefits to the users weight loss and appetite, it also makes vague promises of body detoxification, healthy digestion, and improved energy. Diffusing the pitch from miracle skinny pill to natural health supplements is the core of Golis marketing ingenious. The brands modesty is compensated for by many of their customers rave reviews. Whether its communicated on the official website or throughout the YouTube community, one thing is undoubtedly clear: people are eating the gummies to lose weight.

Golis wellness may simply be a convenient euphemism for thinness.

This is not to deny the potential health benefits that Goli gummies may actually have. After all, people still drink apple cider vinegar despite its acquired taste. However, its interesting to note the evolution of the wellness product, shaped by a cultural shift away from explicitly regulated body shaming. Previously-loved detox teas are losing their social traction as digital backlash against fatphobic culture becomes increasingly prevalent. Influencers know better than to be associated with a brand that bluntly targets weight loss. The market is still out there, though (expected to reach a whopping $15.5 billion by 2024) and it might give a warmer welcome to products like Goli. Meanwhile, the gummies are making a name for themselves. They were featured on Ellen, and have recently been spotted in trendy Montreal clothing store Editorial, just around the corner from campus. So as products like Goli continue to permeate the health scene, tread with caution. Theres nothing wrong with wanting to improve your health with delicious gummies, but no one likes the taste of snake oil.

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From Weight-Loss to Wellness: Has The Diet Really Died? - The Bull and Bear

The Arnold Community Council held its 2019 annual banquet this past week to celebrate the success of the councils work with AEDC and future projects.

The banquet saw the passing of the gavel to new officers of the council and featured a revelation about plans to return to the moon.

Keynote speaker for the banquet was Dr. David Burns, Director of the Science and Technology Office at NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Dr. Burns is familiar with the workings of AEDC and its missions from his time in the military. He opened his presentation with recalling the time he was stationed at AEDC working on a secret project. He noted the project was so secret that they had to wear civilian clothes so not give away they were military personnel. The problem, he pointed out, was that the clothes were ill-fitted for them and he wondered what civilians thought when they saw them in their clothes with military haircuts, giving each other nods.

Are they in a band or something? Whats going on? said Dr. Burns when pondering what other civilians thought at the time.

He finished his story saying his memories were some of his fondest in his career.

I treasure my days at AEDC, said Dr. Burns. I was absolutely astounded by the talent and commitment of the work at AEDC. It was the hands on work. It was the talent as well as the infrastructure.

He said he hopes Marshall Space Flight Center continues to develop an infrastructure thats similar to AEDC.

Dr. Burns presentation focused on Artemis, NASAs path to the moon and the next step in human exploration.

He started his presentation by explaining that Marshall is separated into three groups: Science and Technology Office, where Dr. Burns leads and works; the Human Exploration Office, where it manages the work that happens on the space station and the Space Launch System.

Dr. Burns said they are considering the challenges of going back to the moon and eventually going to Mars. One of the challenges is the weight loss astronauts experience in zero gravity.

The astronauts on the space station lose about 1.5% of their bone mass every month while in zero-g, said Dr. Burns. We think of challenges in terms of distance, radiation, food, trying to build a system robust enough, from a safety point of view, for the astronauts to stay safe while travelling.

He explained why going to back to the moon is his passion. It all started when he was a kid sitting in his dads station wagon listening to the radio of the Apollo 11 mission.

I could see the Moon and I knew that there were Americans on the Moon and I could listen to their voices on the radio. It was profound and by far that was the biggest influence on my life.

He talked about being part of the generation that was excited about space exploration and going back to the moon but acknowledged the next generation, who had more negative experiences with space explorations given 9-11 and the Challenger disaster, made it more polarizing.

Dr. Burns said it was important that Americans go back to the moon.

If we dont go back to the moon, others will. If we dont go back to the moon fairly soon, we may not be able to ourselves in the future. We may have many other things to pay for and focus on.

He said the goal is to go back to the moon in 2024 and improving technology to go to Mars. He noted that travelling back to the Moon is really being driven by the private sectors like SpaceX and Boeing.

Dr. Burns then showed the engines and tanks that they are working on for the shuttles, which 20 of them are being reused from other space shuttles. He showed the different designs to explain to attendees what they are doing in order for the shuttles to be ready for the trip back to the moon.

He then showed the Human Landing System that he was managing before it was moved to its own project office. He said the purpose of the project was figuring out a way to get four astronauts to get to the surface of the moon and back to Earth safely.

What we want to get is ability to take four astronauts to the surface and have them work on the surface for a very long time and come back. He also said there are 11 different companies that are supporting and helping with the project like SpaceX and Boeing.

He discussed that the plan is to land on the south pole of the moon, where they believe is a large amount of water is stored.

Its been said that water is the oil of space and we should view the poles as the Persian Gulf, said Dr. Burns. You dont only need it for rocket fuel, you need it to drink, and to make oxygen and it enables you to go forward. Its easier to lift water on the moon than it is on Earth.

Dr. Burns then explained the eco system is set up where 80% of the water used is recycled in as its very important to recycle water. He explained when he first started at Marshall, he worked in the lab where they worked on recycling water and was asked to drink the recycled water, with the mindset being if the astronauts are going to drink it then the scientists should be able to.

Along with talk of returning to the moon, he went on to talk about the history of Marshall Space Flight Center and the four sciences they focus on studying: Astrophysics, the study of the universe, Heliophysics, the study of the Sun on the Solar System, Planetary Science, and Earth Science.

He also talked about Redstone Arsenal, who hosts Marshall, and their various projects and centers that make up the base. He noted that one of the final exams students have to complete is blowing up cars to study the chemicals used, what detonator was used, what triggered the explosion, and so on.

To make a long story short, if you have a used car you need to sell, Huntsville is your place, said Dr. Burns.

He mentioned that testing nowadays is mostly mathematical testing, so for them to get to test engines and tanks in person is an opportunity that doesnt happen often.

He finished his presentation by talking about using x-rays to understand cosmic mysteries like black holes, dark energy, and supernovas. He said x-rays are the new frontier for studying space and Marshall is starting to go towards smaller projects.

I believe in the near future of Marshall Space Flight Center youre going to see a lot more smaller projects and a lot more partnerships with other centers as well as other national partners, said Dr. Burns.

After his presentation, Dr. Burns was presented a gift bag of local products, including coffee from Black Rifle Coffee, by members of the ACC for coming to the banquet.

The night ended with outgoing President of ACC Claude Morse passing the gavel to incoming President Ron Schlagheck.

Tonights kind of bittersweet, Ive been involved with the council since its inception in 2000. Its been an honor to serve as President, said Morse.

Incoming President Ron Schlagheck says one of his goals is to start bringing in younger volunteers to ACC.

I hope to improve on that. Our organization needs to represent. From what I hear from other communities out there, we are one of the best communities and its all in this room that makes that true, said Schlagheck.

Some of the notable guests at the banquet were Congressman John Rose, State Senator Janice Bowling, Coffee County Mayor Gary Cordell, AEDC Airman of the Year 2018 Tactical Sgt. Alexisa Humphrey and Commander of AEDC Colonel Jeff Geraghty.

The next ACC meeting will meet Jan 14 at 7:45 p.m.

Read more here:
Fly me to the moon: NASA eyes lunar return by 2024 - Tullahoma News and Guardian

By Jay L. Zagorsky / For The Conversation

Gift giving is a big deal this time of year.

To find the perfect gift, Americans will spend about 15 hours shopping. Women will do about twice as much as men. And theyll shell out about $1 trillion on gifts.

While retailers relish the holiday shopping season as a time when consumers open their purses or wallets, for many consumers especially those who do not like shopping these days are filled with dread. They mark moments when shoppers clog malls, websites become overloaded and delivery trucks block streets. The entire process generates untold amounts of stress and anxiety.

One source of stress is just how much to spend on gifts. Spending too much can put you in financial distress. Spending too little may make you look cheap.

How do you decide whats the right amount to spend on gifts?

As an economist, I study holidays and gift giving because a large fraction of retail shopping is driven by seasonal events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Super Saturday also and more appropriately known as Panic Saturday which is the last Saturday before Christmas.

Dead weight loss: Gift giving is stressful because nobody wants to buy what they think is a perfect gift only to discover it is a dud.

The long lines of people returning items after the holidays seem evidence enough for that.

This has led some economists to argue theres a dead weight loss to Christmas presents that destroys as much as a third of their actual value. A 2018 study estimated Americans spend $13 billion a year on unwanted gifts.

Other economists, however, have resisted this Scrooge-like view of gift giving and point to evidence that a present can actually have more value to the recipient than the price the giver paid. In other words, a gift, even when technically unwanted, could have more value simply because someone else bought it for you.

Setting a budget: So if youre dead set on buying some gifts, how much should you budget for it?

Since gifting is a social act, it makes sense to consider how much other people typically spend.

There are a number of surveys run each year that ask people during the fall to estimate what they plan on spending for holiday gifts. The National Retail Federations annual survey of holiday spending estimates the typical American will spend $659 on gifts for family, friends and co-workers in 2019. On the high end, Gallup puts the average at $942, with more than a third of respondents expecting to spend over $1,000 on gifts.

But these figures arent that helpful for an individual since $659 means something different to someone making $40,000 a year versus $200,000.

Thats where the Consumer Expenditure Survey comes in. Its a large survey run by the Bureau of Labor Statistics that tracks the spending habits of 12,000 to 15,000 families each year. The government uses the survey to determine the cost of living and inflation rates for the typical family.

The survey follows gift giving very precisely. It has categories for common holiday presents like electronics, books and clothes, as well as gifts that typically arent associated with the season such as housing and transportation.

After removing these non-holiday gifts, the typical U.S. family spends about 1 precent of its annual take-home pay on gifts. So whatever you earn, you could multiply it by 1 percent to get a figure that is in the ballpark of what the average American spends, but wont break the bank.

Making the holidays memorable: While calculating a gift budget is one way to take the stress out of how much to spend on gifts, my family has another: Only give gifts to children.

Adults get wrapped boxes filled with paper. After the real gifts are opened and the young children are safely moved out of the way, we crumple up the paper and throw it at each other in our annual paper fight.

That keeps the cost down while making the kids feel special. It also ensures the kids dont feel left out when their friends talk about the gifts they received. Other families follow their own methods for controlling expenses, such as secret Santa gifts or by focusing attention more on togetherness than on the stuff received.

Whether you have a paper fight or follow another family tradition, my main message is that it doesnt take very much money to make the winter holidays memorable.

Jay L. Zagorsky is a senior lecturer in markets, public policy and law at Boston University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

More:
Commentary: How much should you spend on holiday gifts? - The Daily Herald

Gift giving is a big deal this time of year.

To find the perfect gift, Americans will spend about 15 hours shopping. Women will do about twice as much as men. And theyll shell out about US$1 trillion on gifts.

While retailers relish the holiday shopping season as a time when consumers open their purses or wallets, for many consumers especially those who do not like shopping these days are filled with dread. They mark moments when shoppers clog malls, websites become overloaded and delivery trucks block streets. The entire process generates untold amounts of stress and anxiety.

One source of stress is just how much to spend on gifts. Spending too much can put you in financial distress. Spending too little may make you look cheap.

How do you decide whats the right amount to spend on gifts?

As an economist, I study holidays and gift giving because a large fraction of retail shopping is driven by seasonal events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Super Saturday also and more appropriately known as Panic Saturday which is the last Saturday before Christmas.

Gift giving is stressful because nobody wants to buy what they think is a perfect gift only to discover it is a dud.

The long lines of people returning items after the holidays seem evidence enough for that.

This has led some economists to argue theres a dead weight loss to Christmas presents that destroys as much as a third of their actual value. A 2018 study estimated Americans spend $13 billion a year on unwanted gifts.

Other economists, however, have resisted this Scrooge-like view of gift giving and point to evidence that a present can actually have more value to the recipient than the price the giver paid. In other words, a gift, even when technically unwanted, could have more value simply because someone else bought it for you.

So if youre dead set on buying some gifts, how much should you budget for it?

Since gifting is a social act, it makes sense to consider how much other people typically spend.

There are a number of surveys run each year that ask people during the fall to estimate what they plan on spending for holiday gifts. The National Retail Federations annual survey of holiday spending estimates the typical American will spend $659 on gifts for family, friends and co-workers in 2019. On the high end, Gallup puts the average at $942, with more than a third of respondents expecting to spend over $1,000 on gifts.

But these figures arent that helpful for an individual since $659 means something different to someone making $40,000 a year versus $200,000.

Thats where the Consumer Expenditure Survey comes in. Its a large survey run by the Bureau of Labor Statistics that tracks the spending habits of 12,000 to 15,000 families each year. The government uses the survey to determine the cost of living and inflation rates for the typical family.

The survey follows gift giving very precisely. It has categories for common holiday presents like electronics, books and clothes, as well as gifts that typically arent associated with the season such as housing and transportation.

After removing these non-holiday gifts, the typical U.S. family spends about 1% of its annual take-home pay on gifts. So whatever you earn, you could multiply it by 1% to get a figure that is in the ballpark of what the average American spends but wont break the bank.

While calculating a gift budget is one way to take the stress out of how much to spend on gifts, my family has another: Only give gifts to children.

Adults get wrapped boxes filled with paper. After the real gifts are opened and the young children are safely moved out of the way, we crumple up the paper and throw it at each other in our annual paper fight.

That keeps the cost down while making the kids feel special. It also ensures the kids dont feel left out when their friends talk about the gifts they received. Other families follow their own methods for controlling expenses, such as secret Santa gifts or by focusing attention more on togetherness than on the stuff received.

Whether you have a paper fight or follow another family tradition, my main message is that it doesnt take very much money to make the winter holidays memorable.

[ Expertise in your inbox. Sign up for The Conversations newsletter and get a digest of academic takes on todays news, every day. ]

Jay L. Zagorsky, Senior Lecturer, Questrom School of Business, Boston University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

from all of us at Raw Story. In this season of giving, we want to thank you for visiting our site, and we hope you have a safe and joyful holiday season. Like you, we believe in the power of progressive journalism. Raw Story readers power David Cay Johnstons DCReport, which we've expanded to keep watch in Washington. This year, weve revealed efforts to sabotage solar power, exposed billionaire tax evasion by a major Trump donor and uncovered White House efforts to poison our water. Weve revealed financial scams that prey on veterans, and efforts to harm workers exploited by abusive bosses. And unlike other news outlets, weve decided to make our original content free. But we need your support to do what we do.

Raw Story is independent. You wont find mainstream media bias here. Unhinged from billionaires and corporate overlords, we fight to ensure no one is forgotten.

As the year comes to a close, we need your support to continue our reporting. Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Invest with us in the future. Make a one-time contribution to Raw Story Investigates, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click to donate by check.

from all of us here at Raw Story. In this season of giving, we want to thank you for visiting our site, and we hope you have a safe and joyful holiday season. Like you, we believe in progressive journalism and were investing in it as other sites give it the ax. Raw Story readers power David Cay Johnstons DCReport, which we've expanded to keep watch in Washington. Weve exposed billionaire tax evasion and uncovered White House efforts to poison our water. Weve revealed financial scams that prey on veterans, and efforts to harm workers exploited by abusive bosses. We need your support to do what we do.

Raw Story is independent. You wont find mainstream media bias here. Unhinged from corporate overlords, we fight to ensure no one is forgotten.

We need your support to keep producing quality journalism and deepen our investigative reporting. Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Invest with us in the future. Make a one-time contribution to Raw Story Investigates, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you.

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How to pick the right amount to spend on holiday gifts according to an economist - Raw Story