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Scotland announces a rent freeze and ban on evictions to address huge cost of living increases

This is what effective government looks like.

nicola sturgeon, scotland inflation, world inflation
via Garry Night/Flickr

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in 2016.

Americans everywhere are feeling the pain of the cost of living increases over the past year, but we’re not the only ones. According to a report in The Washington Post, global inflation is set to reach 6.7% this year with countries all around the world feeling the pinch.

While Americans are quick to blame our own leaders for inflation woes, the problems that have led to the increase in the cost of living are global in nature. Global inflation is the result of multiple events, including the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a downturn in China’s economy and unpredictable weather events caused by climate change.

The Washington Post also notes that worries about inflation can also lead to inflation as people begin to expect and demand higher salaries and food costs. The United States passed an Inflation Reduction Act, but economists say that the reduction in inflation “will be statistically indistinguishable from zero.”

In Scotland, the price of energy for a typical household is expected to rise by 80% from £1,971 ($2268) a year to £3,549 ($4.084). Businesses have also seen sharp increases in energy costs. Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, says that the government will soon announce a program to defray the costs.

To add to that, Scotland has experienced an inflation rate of 10.1% over the past year.

Sturgeon calls the steep increase in the cost of living a “humanitarian emergency,” and so the Scottish government is treating it as such. To help its people weather the crisis, the Scottish government plans to freeze all rent increases and the price of riding ScotRail, the country’s publicly owned railway.

It will also put a moratorium on all evictions.

"Firstly, it will aim to give people security about the roof over their head this winter through a moratorium on evictions," she said, according to Sky News. "Secondly, the legislation will include measures to deliver a rent freeze."

“We will take immediate action to protect tenants in the private and social renting sectors,” Sturgeon said according to TimeOut. “The Scottish government does not have the power to stop your energy bills soaring, but we can and will take action to make sure that your rent does not rise.”

Living Rent, Scotland's tenants union, called the package a “huge win that would not have been possible without years of organizing by members.”

To help families, Scotland will also extend its free school meal programs and the Scottish Child Payment will increase from £20 to £25 a week for each child. In 2021, Scotland enacted a weekly payment to eligible families with children to help fight child poverty.

The Scottish people aren’t responsible for the global pandemic or a war in Ukraine but they are feeling its effects in a very real way. Instead of dragging its feet, the Scottish government took bold action to tackle rising prices and protect its most vulnerable citizens.

The Scottish people are living through a humanitarian crisis and its leaders have decided to treat it like one, instead of telling them, “You’re on your own.” This is what effective government looks like.

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Innovation

Ontario teen says he'll live in 'modular home' invention for a year to prove it can end homelessness

He's already invented a wooden car.

ideas, homelessness, prodigy, social work, solutions
Photo credit: @ribalzebian on Instagram

Ribal Zebian is going to test a house he designed by living in it for a year.

Ribal Zebian, a student from the city of London in Ontario, Canada, already made headlines last year when he built an electric car out of wood and earned a $120,000 scholarship from it. Now, he's in the news again for something a little different. Concerned with homelessness in his hometown, Zebian got to work creating a different kind of affordable housing made from fiberglass material. In fact, he’s so confident in his idea that the 18-year-old plans on living in it for a year to test it out himself.

Currently an engineering student at Western University, Zebian was concerned by both the rising population of the unhoused in his community and the rising cost of housing overall. With that in mind, he conjured up a blueprint for a modular home that would help address both problems.

Zebian’s version of a modular home would be made of fiberglass panels and thermoplastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) foam. He chose those materials because he believes they can make a sturdy dwelling in a short amount of time—specifically in just a single day.

“With fiberglass you can make extravagant molds, and you can replicate those,” Zebian told CTV News. “It can be duplicated. And for our roofing system, we’re not using the traditional truss method. We’re using actually an insulated core PET foam that supports the structure and structural integrity of the roof.”

Zebian also believes these homes don’t have to be purely utilitarian—they can also offer attractive design and customizable features to make them personal and appealing.

“Essentially, what I’m trying to do is bring a home to the public that could be built in one day, is affordable, and still carries some architecturally striking features,” he said to the London Free Press. “We don’t want to be bringing a house to Canadians that is just boxy and that not much thought was put into it.”

Beginning in May 2026, Zebian is putting his modular home prototype to the test by living inside of a unit for a full year with the hope of working out any and all kinks before approaching manufacturers.

“We want to see if we can make it through all four seasons- summer, winter, spring, and fall,” said Zebian. “But that’s not the only thing. When you live in something that long and use it, you can notice every single mistake and error, and you can optimize for the best experience.”

While Zebian knows that his modular homes aren't a long-term solution to either the homeless or housing crisis, he believes they could provide an inexpensive option to help people get the shelter they need until certain policies are reformed so the unhoused can find affordable permanent dwellings.

@hard.knock.gospel

What to buy for the homeless at the grocery store. 🛒 Most people get it wrong. After being there myself, these are the survival items that actually matter 💯 The 2nd to last one is about more than survival—it’s about DIGNITY. We are all one circumstance away from the same shoes 🙏 SAVE this for your next grocery run. 📌 IG@hardknockgospel Substack@ Outsiders_Anonymous #homelessness #helpingothers #kindness #payitforward #learnontiktok

Zebian’s proposal and experiment definitely inspires others to try to help, too. If you wish to lend a hand to the unhoused community in your area in the United States, but don’t know where to look, you can find a homeless shelter or charity near you through here. Whether it’s through volunteering or through a donation, you can help make a difference.

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Communication expert shares 3-step reset method for dealing with extremely negative people

Some folks live to rain on your parade.

negativity, thumbs down, man in suit, judgement, no good, bad
via Canva/Photos

A man giving a big thumbs down.

Everyone has that person in their life who casts everything in a negative light. You go out for a great meal, only to hear them complain about the service. They never highlight anyone's positive qualities, just their faults, and the only joy they seem to get comes from putting down the things you love.

It's like they are programmed to be antagonistic about absolutely everything. The problem is that, whether they're friends, family members, or co-workers, we're stuck dealing with people who drain our energy and have a knack for ruining a good time.

Fortunately for us, communication expert Jefferson Fisher recently shared a three-step reset method on YouTube for dealing with these impossible people. Fisher, who has become massively popular on social media, offers tips "to help people argue less and talk more."


How to deal with negative people

Here is Fisher's three-step reset method for dealing with negative energy:

1. Don't absorb the negativity

"Don't absorb what they said," Fisher says. "Instead, we're going to call it out. You're going to say it out loud. That means when you claim it, you control it. Meaning, you control your own reactions to it. That's the takeaway there."

Examples include:

"This feels tense."

"This feels heated."

"I'm sensing some negativity."

2. Call out the truth, not the tone

"When that happens to the negative energy, you're going to send it right back by having them repeat it," he says. "How? It's very similar to how I recommend handling insults. See, they can't repackage it in the same way again when you ask them to repeat it the same way. They can't say it the same way. Then they just look terrible."

@arnaldo.sifre

Master Negative Energy_ React to Truth, Not Tone Discover the simple but powerful technique Jefferson Fisher uses to stop negative energy without arguing or escalating. Instead of reacting to someone’s tone, you focus on the truth behind their words. The method? ➡️ Ask them to repeat what they said. Most passive-aggressive people cannot package their negativity the same way twice. When they repeat it, the tone weakens and the truth comes out. If it’s still negative, calmly ask again: “I need you to say that again—better.” This forces clarity, removes hostility, and shifts the power back to you. Stop reacting to tone. Start uncovering truth. Transform every interaction starting today. #fyp #CommunicationSkills #JeffersonFisher #ConfidenceTips #EmotionalIntelligence #StopNegativity #PassiveAggressive #BetterConversations #MindsetMatters #HealthyBoundaries #LifeSkills #SpeakUp #PersonalGrowth #RelationshipSkills #foryourpage

3. Protect your presence

"You cannot control another person's mood," he adds. "You cannot make somebody happier. That is their choice. … Big takeaway: you are making sure that your mind acknowledges the negative energy, but it neither matches it nor tries to attach to it. That's the difference. That's how you handle the negative energy."

Here's the whole video:

- YouTube youtu.be

Why are some people so negative?

A primary reason some people are overwhelmingly negative is that they are extremely fearful and hyperfocus on the negative aspects of life.

"In brief, almost all negativity has its roots in one of three deep-seated fears: the fear of being disrespected by others, the fear of not being loved by others, and the fear that 'bad things' are going to happen," Raj Raghunathan, PhD, writes in Psychology Today.

Humans also have a negativity bias, which means we're more primed to respond to negative than positive stimuli. That's why we remember insults far more often than praise and are more likely to recall negative moments than positive ones.

Why all the negativity? It's a survival technique. People who can detect danger and harmful situations are much more likely to survive than those who focus on the positive. Unfortunately, we sometimes have to make a conscious effort to see the good in the world.

Even though negative people can be a burden to be around, taking Fisher's advice and refusing to let them affect our presence can turn them into a reminder to reset and refocus on the positive in life.

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Mom realizes she's been using the 'heavy' setting on her washer wrong for years—and fellow moms are shook

"Today years old when I realize why my blankets are sopping wet."

washer, washing machine setting, how to use washing machine, laundry, laundry tips
Image courtesy of @granolabarpan/Instagram (with permission)

Stay-at-home mom Catrina shares shock at learning what the 'heavy' setting on her washer means.

Knocking out loads of laundry is a feeling of accomplishment that is unmatched. Depending on what needs to be washed, washing machines offer a variety of settings for the ideal clean. But even the most seasoned laundry pros can admit that they don't fully understand how to use them properly.

One stay-at-home mom shared her funny and relatable washing machine mistake. Catrina (@granolabarpan) got the shock of a lifetime when she realized that she had been using the "heavy" setting on her washer wrong for years.

"POV: today years old when it clicks why my blankets are sopping wet!!! I thought HEAVY meant heavy items being washed," she wrote in the video's overlay.

"Heavy on my machine means heavily soiled," she went on to add in the comments. "I thought it meant the stuff I was putting in the machine was heavy in weight/pounds."

Some moms are also realizing this for the first time. "Ok.. so I am 66 years old learning this???!! I always thought that heavy meant weight also😂," one person commented. Another person wrote, "Well I was today years old when I learned what heavy meant too…😂"

Others expressed confusion with so many settings, and reminiscing on simpler times. "Wait a minute. 😂. I think I need to for once go and read the manual because I have been wondering about all of the options," another user wrote. And another chimed in, "I want my old $250 3 options hot/warm/cold on/off washer back. It didn’t die it rusted out but took 25yrs to do it. I had 5 kids, plus my ex in-laws living with me."

Washing machine settings, explained

Struggling to understand the settings on your washing machine? You're not alone.

"Knowing these settings helps avoid common laundry mistakes, such as using the heavy cycle for heavy fabric weight instead of heavy soil, which can lead to ineffective cleaning or damage over time," Vanessa Ruiz, a professional organizer at Sparkly Maid San Antonio, tells Upworthy.

These are five washing machine settings and how they work:

1. Normal/Regular Cycle
Ruiz explains that this is your typical setting for day-to-day loads such as t-shirts, jeans, sheets, and underwear.

"These laundry loads are typically washed in warm water and the setting is rinsed with medium spin speeds through agitation in order to properly clean moderately soiled garments," she says. "This cycle is safe enough to wash a variety of different fabric content with a somewhat dirty load."

2. Delicate/Gentle Cycle
Ruiz notes that the delicate cycle is created specifically for delicate fabrics—lingerie, silk, lace, or embellished clothing—that may become damaged in a normal or regular wash.

"This cycle will use moderate spin speeds through gentle agitation to thoroughly dry clean and not damage clothes too easily," says Ruiz. "This is the preferred cycle when laundry items that require extra care or are labeled 'delicate' or 'hand wash' need to be washed."

3. Heavy Duty Cycle
The heavy duty cycle is specifically for heavily soiled items like work clothes, kitchen towels, and bedding.

"This setting uses higher water temperatures, longer wash times, and powerful agitation to remove stubborn dirt and grime. It’s perfect for those tough laundry jobs, but not recommended for delicate fabrics," explains Ruiz.

- YouTube www.youtube.com

4. Bulky/Bedding Cycle
This cycle is often confused with "heavy."

"This cycle accommodates larger, heavier items that absorb a lot of water, such as comforters, pillows, and sleeping bags," says Ruiz. "It uses more water, medium spin speeds, and longer wash times to thoroughly clean bulky items without causing damage or imbalance."

5. Quick Wash
In a rush? This is the perfect setting to use.

"It is an accelerated wash cycle designed for small loads of lightly soiled clothes, usually lasting 15 to 40 minutes," says Ruiz. "It’s great for when you need clean clothes fast and can save energy compared to longer cycles."

This article originally appeared last year.

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Mom finds long-lost grocery receipt from 1997. She bought 122 items for a shockingly low price.

"That is WILD 😭😭😭."

1990s grocery store, 1990s grocery shopping, 1990s grocery prices, 1990s grocery receipt, grocery prices
Photo credit: Canva

Mom finds grocery receipt from 1997 and is shocked at how much grocery prices have increased.

It's no secret that grocery prices today are astronomical. As people look for more ways to save on their grocery bills, it can spark nostalgia for days when groceries didn't cost an arm and a leg, like back in the 1990s. One mom recently unearthed a long-lost grocery receipt from June 20, 1997 that proves how much grocery prices have skyrocketed.

TikToker Zoe Dippel (@zoeydippel) shared an H-E-B grocery store receipt that had been tucked into a baby book from her mother-in-law. It showed a massive shopping trip with a seemingly minuscule total compared with today's grocery prices. The 122 items cost just $155.

"POV: her mom saved a grocery receipt from 1997," the video caption reads.

@zoedippel

I WISH!!!! #heb #viral #groceryshopping #fyp @Courtney

The women were stunned as they went item by item through the receipt, sharing what certain products cost back in 1997. A few examples include:

  • Little Debbie brownies ($1.09)
  • Gerber baby food jars ($0.55)
  • Loaf of bread ($1.26)
  • Large container of yogurt ($0.50)
  • Bag of ground coffee ($2.47)

"We were immediately shocked," Dippel told TODAY.com. "As we started reading off the prices, our jaws dropped … It wasn't until that moment that I truly realized how much the world has changed in nearly 30 years."

Viewers had lots to say in the comments about how expensive groceries have become:

"That is WILD 😭😭😭."

"I used to fill UPPPPP a whole shopping cart at H‑E‑B for like $150 😭 I miss those days."

"It makes me sick to my stomach to see how expensive groceries have become. It's validating tbh, to see your mom's receipt."

@zoedippel

$155 to $500 is CRAZY!!!!! WHAT?!? No wonder we are all struggling to survive out here. 🤣 Our parents had it so good!!!! #fyp #viral #heb #groceryshopping @H-E-B

Many viewers also asked Dippel to do a price comparison by buying the exact same items today to see the full difference, and she followed through. In a follow-up video post, she shared that she input all of the items into H-E-B's online curbside pickup shopping feature to get an estimated price for today's cost, and the total was astounding.

As she starts to add up the items, Dippel says, "This is going to be bad." For example, she shares that Little Debbie brownies now cost $5.75 and a bag of coffee is $9.43. After looking up the price of each item, the total comes out to $504.11—a more than 200% increase.

"$155 to $500 is CRAZY!!!!! WHAT?!? No wonder we are all struggling to survive out here. 🤣 Our parents had it so good!!!!" Dippel captioned the second video.

Once again, viewers had plenty to say in the comments:

"We aren't mad enough about this. THANK YOU for doing this"

"Now THIS is journalism."

"And boomers will tell us 'work harder', 'y'all are lazy' 😂."

Dippel's posts highlight the challenges many Americans are feeling. "It's honestly wild to see how dramatically grocery prices have changed due to inflation," Dippel told TODAY.com. "It's impossible to ignore how broken the system feels."

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People swear that one of the very best house-cleaning tools available is a leaf blower

No, really.

cleaning hack, leaf blowers, life hack, house cleaning, dust
Photo credit: Canva

Believe it or not, leaf blowers can help clean indoors.

Whether it's an apartment or a mansion, the majority of us are looking for better ways to clean our homes. Even the most thorough cleaners have trouble getting dirt and dust from the back of bookcases, under the couch, or behind the fridge. However, several homeowners and renters alike swear by an unusual power tool to help: a leaf blower.

It may seem counterintuitive at first, since it could spread dust and debris, but many people use a leaf blower as a first sweep to loosen hidden dirt and push it out into the open for their vacuums to finish off. Plenty of videos on social media praise and promote this little cleaning hack.

Many people on Reddit vouch for this technique:

“I thought I did a great job cleaning, but I was disgusted by how much I didn't get! SO much dust, enough dog and cat hair to make a kitten, a missing charging cable, a few tissues, AND a gift card for $50 that I lost over a year ago!”

“It got dust out of my speakers and from inside machines! It caused me to dust and vacuum things that sometimes get neglected. (door frames, curtains, doorstops) I know there is still dust in places I don't see, but now there is so much LESS of it!”

“I use a leaf blower for all my Lego stuff—it's a game changer. Definitely recommend.”

“I did this a few months ago to get to the coils on my fridge…Yikes! So much dust came out it was all over the kitchen. I will say that it didn't get everything but it got way more than any other method I've tried.”

“My house is open concept. I'm thinking of opening the back door and just starting from the front and blowing it out the back!”

Several others shared ideas inspired by using leaf blowers to clean indoors:

“I use my leaf blower for clearing light snow off my car. Saves me from scratching the paint with a snow brush.”

“I was thinking about running my air purifier on max while doing this. To catch as much air borne dust as possible before it settles again.”

“It works great for the interior of your car, too. Open all the doors and blow from one side to the other. Then blow the other side just like you did the first time. It's great for getting stuff out from under your car seats and places you can't really reach with a vacuum.”


@joey.foo

The trash cans were critcal#cleantok#cleaning#clean#carclean#carcleaning#cardetailing#leafblower#leafblowing#leafblowingcar

“We also use a leaf blower to clean our box fans we use every night. They get so gross.”

“I saw a hair salon using a hairdryer to dust the products on the shelves.”

“Pro tip: most shop vacs have a 'blow' feature. So if you don't have a leaf blower or just have a gas one, borrow a shop vac. Just make sure the shop vac can is EMPTY first. And maybe just remove the filter, if it's dirty.”

If you want to give this a try, many people who clean with leaf blowers offer the same basic guidance. First, make sure you use an electric leaf blower, since gasoline-powered versions can stink up the house and release fumes that are dangerous to inhale. Second, depending on the power setting, you'll want to turn on a fan and open a door to help move any lingering dust particles out of your home. Lastly, depending on where you blow the dust, you may need to wipe it off your walls, especially if a neglected area releases a lot of debris.

Have fun cleaning!

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