A soft reset essentially forces the phone to end all of its current processes, turn off, and then restart from a fresh state. No long-term data is lost — you'll still have all of your apps, messages, and contacts saved to your phone after you perform a soft reset. The only data you risk losing is unsaved data in programs that are running when the phone turned off. Because a soft reset is quick, easy, and relatively risk-free, it's a good first step when trying to solve minor issues.  Situations that might call for a soft reset include: You can't seem to receive calls or texts properly Your phone seems slow or "laggy" You can't seem to connect to wifi networks that you know are broadcasting correctly Your touch screen seems unresponsive or erratic An app has become frozen or unresponsive To start the soft reset process, close any applications that are currently open. Be sure to save anything that you're working on, like important texts or emails (note however, that most modern phones will automatically save drafts of your messages.) If the reason for the soft reset is that one of your applications is frozen and won't close, you don't have to waste time trying to close it. Just proceed to the next step. When you're ready to start your soft reset, slide off the rear casing. Carefully lift the battery out of its slot. This will cause the phone to immediately turn off. Give the phone a brief chance to "cool down" after removing the battery by waiting at least a few seconds. Then, simply replace the battery and turn the phone back on as you normally would by holding the power button down for a few seconds. This brief waiting period is something that's also frequently recommended when resetting everything from desktop computers to network routers. The reason for this has to do with capacitors — small structures inside most modern electronic devices that store electric charge. Ten seconds is about how long it takes for most capacitors to discharge. Thus, waiting ten seconds before restarting your phone allows you to be sure that it's 100% "dead" before turning it back on. Another (slightly longer) way to soft reset your phone is simply to turn it off like you normally would by holding down the power button. Select "Power off" or "Restart" from the menu that pops up. Note, however, that if your phone is frozen, you may not be able to get a response this way, so removing the battery will be necessary. Note that some sources of tech knowledge (including executives from companies like Apple) recommend powering off a phone at least once every few days to preserve battery life. Since performing a soft reset by turning your phone off is so quick and easy, you may want to make it part of your regular schedule, especially if there are times of the day when you don't use it (like at night.) Another reason this can be a good idea is because it gives the phone a chance to (literally) cool off. The heat that can result from continuous use can eventually cause the lithium ion batteries in most phones to degrade.
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One-sentence summary -- Use a soft reset for minor problems and service hiccups. Close all applications. Remove the phone's battery. Wait at least ten seconds before turning the phone back on. Alternatively, just use the power button. Consider powering off your phone semi-regularly.


Once you have cooked the macaroni and are adding the ingredients into the saucepan to make the cheese sauce, replace half of the margarine with 3 slices of American cheese. This means that you will add 1/8 cup (27.5 g) of margarine, 3 slices of American cheese, 1⁄4 cup (59 ml) of milk, and the cheese sauce mix into the saucepan with the macaroni.  The American cheese will melt as you stir it in. Alternatively, you can add all of the required margarine and 3 slices of American cheese if you want the dish to be extra cheesy However, the dish will become more greasy. Cook the macaroni and cheese first. Then stir in 1/2 cup (74.5 g) of halved cherry tomatoes and 1/4 cup (6.25 g) of fresh, chopped basil. This will also make the dish more colorful! Heat up 1 can of chili beans while the macaroni and cheese is cooking. When it’s ready, pour the chili beans over the dish and sprinkle 1/4 cup (25 g) of shredded cheddar cheese on top. Add 1/2 cup (115 g) of sour cream just before serving if you prefer. Keep it simple by preparing the macaroni and cheese as normal and mixing through salt and freshly ground black pepper once it is ready. Alternatively, try adding a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of curry powder to add a spicy hit to this favorite dish.
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One-sentence summary -- Replace some of the margarine with American cheese to make the dish creamier. Use cherry tomatoes and basil to make a Margarita-themed dish. Add chili beans and cheddar cheese to make a hearty meal. Add your favorite powdered seasonings to jazz it up.


Most prescriptions have a generic option. These cost much less than name brand medicines, but are essentially the same medication. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if any of your prescriptions can be switched to generic version. Insurance plans often cover more on these as well. There are mail-order pharmacies that you can send your prescriptions to in order to cut costs. These pharmacies take medicines for which you have a long-standing prescriptions and send you a three month supply for the price of one. If you are taking expensive medications for chronic conditions, this can save you a lot of money since you will only pay for four months worth of medication per twelve months. There are certain organizations, such as AARP and AAA, that can offer discounts on prescriptions. There are even certain people who might qualify for free prescription cards through Medicare or other plans. When using a discount card, make sure you find the cheapest price you can on the prescriptions before you use the discount card. Some pharmacies offer lower prices on medications than others. This way, your out of pocket cost is as low as possible. If there are conditions or illnesses that you suffer from that you can use over-the-counter medication for, use those medications instead. Conditions such as chronic allergies or head colds can easily be helped with over the counter medicine instead of expensive prescriptions. If your condition doesn't get any better, see your doctor to make sure nothing serious is wrong.
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One-sentence summary -- Switch to generic medications. Get your prescriptions through the mail. Get a discount prescription card. Use over-the-counter medications when possible.


In order to make the dusting process easier and more effective, remove all of the clutter from around your house. For instance, clear off anything that's gathered on your tables or countertops, and put away loose items that have collected on the floors, sofas, and chairs. To make the job more manageable, work on one room at a time. Also, once you've finished dusting a room, don't move any items back into that room until they've been dusted, as well. Before you start dusting, take any linens, pillows, rugs, or cushions outside and shake them thoroughly. This will knock loose a lot of the dust that's trapped on the soft surfaces, so you won't have as much to deal with inside.  Try hitting your pillows and cushions against each other firmly to dislodge dust that might be embedded deep down. If it's been a long time since you dusted, it may still be a good idea to wash or vacuum these fabrics before you return them to the room. Before you get started dusting, put a new filter in your main air conditioning vent to trap any new dust that ends up in the air. Also, clean out or replace the filter in your vacuum cleaner, if you have one. That way, your vacuum will be able to trap more of the dust you're trying to clean. Even if you're careful to trap as much dust as possible, you'll still probably send a lot of tiny particles into the air while you're dusting, which is why changing your AC filter is important.
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One-sentence summary --
Clear any clutter out of the room. Take any fabrics in the room outside and shake them off. Change your vacuum and AC filters to catch airborne dust.