3 . I moved from America to Italy 14 years ago and I have learned a lot along the way. Here are several money-saving tricks I have picked up from living in Italy — most of which can apply to wherever you live too!

Buy fewer groceries at a time.

Italians tend to buy more fresh food — and buy it in smaller quantities. We have just what we know we’ll consume in a few days, before anything has a chance to spoil and go to waste.     1    .

Eat seasonally.

I love strawberries, cantaloupe and watermelon, but in Italy, I can only get them in the summer, when they’re ripe. Out of season, these fruits would have to be imported.     2     Instead, enjoying them seasonally helps me appreciate them more.

    3     Neither my husband nor I have developed any gardening skills just yet, but fortunately, his mother, uncles and cousins have, and they frequently leave bags of just-picked produce on our doorstep.

Cook more meals at home.

I live in a small town where we have no fast-food restaurants other than a pizzaria that does carry-out. OK! Not only do we save money on expensive restaurant meals, but we get more quality family time by cooking, eating and cleaning up together.     4    

Yes, bigger cities have more options for fast food, delivery and carryout.     5     I’ve also found that Italians are more conscious of what’s in their food, so they tend to be less willing to make fast food more than an occasional meal.

4 . In today’s society, kids are interested in films, music and video games. However, many parents are looking for exciting, protected and educational hobbies which their kids can get pleasure from.     1    , but here we will talk about collecting coins.

One of the several reasons why collecting coins is a hobby that is fantastic for children is that it is an activity that can be enjoyed by oneself or as a family activity. It can teach them the significance of collecting potentially worthwhile items.     2     but the top quality time spent collecting, examining and researching coins can be regarded as priceless.     3    .

In terms of coin-collecting supplies, a lot of parents choose to obtain coin-collecting starter kits (入门套件). Coin-collecting starter kits may be different.     4    . In truth, several coin-collecting starter kits even come with coins! This is a wonderful way to get youngsters interested in enjoying collecting coins as a hobby. It is a fantastic way to get a coin collection started.

Depending on kids and their age, parents can educate them on collecting coins and the possibilities it holds. For instance, even if kids are just interested in collecting coins for entertainment, they must know that their coins collected may turn lucrative (赚钱的) one day. Of course, for that to take place, all coins collected need to be properly stored and cared for.     5    .

As previously stated, collecting coins is an excellent, protected and fun hobby for children of all ages to take pleasure in.

7 . Traditional feedback (反馈), which often involves criticizing past actions and performance, can sometimes be discouraging. However, there’s a powerful alternative that has been gaining popularity — feedforward. Feedforward is about sharing constructive and forward-looking comments to help individuals and groups move forward together, building a positive path to collective progress.

Constructive feedback has long been a cornerstone of personal development. It helps individuals identify their weaknesses and areas for improvement, but it can sometimes feel like a constant spotlight on one’s shortcomings. Feedforward, on the other hand, shifts the focus from past missteps to future possibilities. It is a tool that fosters (培养) a culture of growth, emphasizing what can be done to enhance one’s performance and contribute to the overall betterment of a group or organization.

Instead of focusing on past mistakes or weaknesses, feedforward encourages people to recognize their strengths and potential, highlighting the possibilities of what they can achieve. This approach not only boosts confidence but also motivates individuals to struggle for excellence. In a world where negativity can often overshadow positivity, the power of feedforward lies in its ability to uplift and inspire people.

When applied in group settings, feedforward becomes a powerful tool for building unity and cooperation. Teams and organizations that welcome feedforward form an environment where team members feel valued and supported. By focusing on future improvement, teams can collectively work towards their goals, fostering innovation, and achieving better results.

Feedforward can also be valuable in building personal relationships. It can be used in families, friendships, and romantic partnerships to encourage personal growth and strengthen bonds. Feedforward instead of being judgemental increases confidence. By offering constructive and forward-looking comments, you can support your loved ones in their pursuit of happiness and self-improvement.

To successfully implement feedforward, it is essential to foster open and honest communication. It’s about providing advice that is specific, practical, and, most importantly, constructive. The emphasis should always be on helping individuals identify their potential and offering suggestions for growth.

8 . A great skill to have is the ability to solve problems effectively, specifically interpersonal and behavioral problems. In order to achieve this, you need to follow a few key requirements.     1    

First, you should understand “why” the problem exists.     2     If you know something about why the problem exists, you’ll have a better time to resolve the problem. Let’s take the example of a child who doesn’t want to come to school. Before you can reach a solution, it is important to find out why the child doesn’t want to come to school.

Once you have clearly identified the problem, you need to understand what you have control over and what don’t.     3     You may not control whether a child comes to school, but you are able to deal with the barrier to the child not wanting to attend school.

Don’t jump to conclusions. Once you have all of your information, analyze it carefully and look at it from various viewpoints. Be as objective as possible and don’t be quick to judge.     4     This is a time for you to use your critical thinking skills.

    5     How many options do you have? Are you sure? Which options seem reasonable? Have you weighed the pros and cons (事物的利与弊) of your options? Are there any limitations of your options? Are there any options better than others and why? Are there advantages and disadvantages you need to take into consideration?

9 . Creative is just a simple short word. However, creative thinking is the key to success, but how to think creatively? Here are tips you can try.

Think that all can be done. Be sure that we can do it for something we are working on.     1     Then replace it with expressions full of optimism, such as “I certainly can do it”.

    2    The pattern is marked by fears of conservative (保守的) thinking to accept changes, although the changes are advantages. Conservative way of thinking cuts the creative thinking.

Increase the quantity and quality of work.     3     Being satisfied means you have closed yourself to other jobs that can enrich the development of your thought. Accept another job, so we open ourselves to the new challenges that we’re required.

Improve the habit of asking. Asking questions is a sign that our minds are still “alive”.     4     An asking habit shouldn’t be considered that we do “not understand”.

Become a good listener. A good listener can listen to information from the outside.     5     Being a good listener means knowing any information coming into the mind. We’re required to think creatively so that we could respond as desired.