Consumers Are Tightening Their Belts — Just Not On Food Delivery

Consumers are trying to save money, but not on $30 delivery burritos. Sales from DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Instacart show that consumes are still willing to shell out to have groceries and restaurant food delivered to their homes. Their willingness to pay extra for delivery even surprised DoorDash CEO Tony Xu. One reason the delivery apps are still growing is because they’re adding new offerings. DoorDash, for example, struck deals with more regional grocers, even arranging with Kroger to allow consumers to buy have groceries delivered using SNAP benefits. People eat 21 times a week, whether it’s groceries or restaurant food. Frequent delivery app users say the convenience of having food dropped on their doorstep makes the higher costs worthwhile. Those who live with a disability and don’t drive say delivery services like DoorDash are a way to feel independent. Those without disabilities say the time they spend shopping for groceries, planning the cooking, doing the cooking, and cleaning up after, is a lot long longer than it takes to have food delivered. For some shoppers, grocery delivery is a more budget-friendly option than shopping in-store. They point out that when they stop by the grocery store for a couple of items, it’s not unusual to come home with 20 extra items they never intended to buy. At least for the time being, other things may take a hit when it comes to budgeting, but it doesn’t look like food delivery is going to be one of them.

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Ridiculous DIY Fixes That Somehow Get the Job Done

Not everyone can afford a hot tub inside their house, but that didn’t stop a man from fashioning one out of an aluminum truck toolbox, a wheel drum, and a yoga mat. He’s not the only one who has taken the phrase “necessity is the mother of invention” literally. An entire community of people take broken, old, or useless items and turn them into surprisingly functional solutions. They’re called redneck engineers, and some of their DIY fixes are creative, while others are quite ridiculous. Here are some of the most interesting ones that have been posted online.

 

My wife wanted an outdoor bathroom for the kids

Manual mower

The John Deer penthouse suite

For shaving my back

The redneck “boatdeck”

Safety first

How my dad rakes the pond when it needs cleaning

The pallet staircase

Fixed it!

Temu Auto Parts Department

Gas is too expensive to have it stolen

When you don't have a pickup but want one

If it works, it's not stupid.........right?

 

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Dutch Nursing Home Offers Rent-Free Housing To Students

A nursing home in the Netherlands allows university students to live rent-free alongside the elderly residents, as part of a project aimed at warding off the negative effects of aging. In exchange for small, rent-free apartments, the Humanitas retirement home in Deventer, Netherlands, requires students to spend at least 30 hours per month acting as "good neighbors.” Officials at the nursing home say students do a variety of activities with the older residents, including watching sports, celebrating birthdays and, perhaps most importantly, offering company when seniors fall ill, which helps stave off feelings of isolation. “The students bring the outside world in, there’s lots of warmth in the contact,” said Gea Sijpkes, Director and CEO of Humanitas Deventer. Six students from area universities Saxion and Windesheim share the building with approximately 160 seniors. They are allowed to come and go as they please, as long as they follow one rule: Don't be a nuisance to the elderly. 

 

 

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The No-Bake Dessert You'll Want to Make All Summer Long

Heaven on Earth cake is an easy no-bake dessert that simply needs to be assembled and chilled before it can be enjoyed on a warm summer day. The main ingredients of the dish are angel food cake, cherry pie filling, a vanilla pudding mixture, and, of course, whipped topping. The simple assembly and combination of ingredients make a light and decadent dessert.

Servings: 8

Ingredients:

• 1 14-oz store-bought angel food cake, cut into 1-inch pieces

• 1 21-oz can cherry pie filling, divided

• 1 package vanilla instant pudding mix

• 1½ cups milk or half-and-half

• 1 cup sour cream

• 1 8-oz container frozen whipping topping, thawed

• Sliced almonds (optional)

Directions:

• • Place half of the angel food cake pieces in the bottom of a deep 8x8-inch or 9x9-inch baking dish in an even layer. 
• • Spread 1 cup cherry pie filling over the cake. 
• • Top with the remaining cake pieces in an even layer. 
• • Whisk together vanilla pudding mix, whole milk, and sour cream in a large bowl until slightly thickened and smooth, about 1 minute.  
• • Pour pudding mix over top of cake and spread evenly. 
• • Spread thawed whipped topping over pudding layer and dot with remaining 1 cup cherry pie filling. 
• • Using a toothpick or spoon, swoop and swirl pie filling into the whipped topping.
• • Refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 8 hours or up to 12 hours. 
• • Garnish with sliced almonds (optional).

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