A few factors such screen size, sound as well as picture quality, or connectivity is quite important while purchasing a new TV set. Although in recent years, another crucial factor has been added to the list, which says: Is it a smart TV? So it's vital to understand the essential criteria for a TV to be smart. Then only you'll be able to judge and analyze before getting into a real deal. Smart TV. What's that? A smart TV is a TV that has an operating system or platform that let consumers access, manage, and view media by streaming it from the Internet with an additional box. This is done by the Internet-connecting capability of the TV through Ethernet or WiFi. After connecting to the Internet, you can enter any desired login and data provided by the Internet service provider. Once it's logged in, the TV will show a menu that will display the list of available channels. There are preset as well as downloaded apps. After clicking on the symbol of one particular channel or app, the various entertainment media will be displayed. Depending on the brand as well as the version of the operating system or platform, there will be variations in the navigation features of the smart TV. Advantages of Smart TVs There are certain advantages of a smart TV like the capability of accessing several channels and there is no need to connect to a TV antenna or box or any subscription for this. In a few cases, web browsing or gaming facilities are also accessible. Smart TVs can also receive TV programming through antenna/cable or satellite; some brand like Vizio has eliminated the conventional built-in tuners as well as antenna and cables to produce a streaming platform. Other features Apart from providing web streaming, a few brands give additional features like Miracast or Screen Sharing that lets the users watch content from their smartphones (compatible) on the big screen of the TV. The alternative of sending content from TV to a mobile device is also available in some cases. In this, the user will be able to see the content even if they are located away from the TV. Some limitations There might be an issue regarding the price and some limitations which require some consideration. Most smart TVs need two types of subscriptions, monthly or pay-per-view kinds. Apart from free channels, these subscriptions are a necessity in most of the cases. This usually helps in paying for those channels which are needed. Though all brands provide a few core channels like Netflix or Pandora, there are additional channels that might differ from brand to brand. Besides, for people using iTunes to stream songs or videos, it's important to buy a new Apple TV box to get these features as no TV brand has this feature. Another limitation is displaying channels that the user has watched previously. This can be an issue in exposing the 'recently watched’ menu at unwanted times. Any alternative? Everyone loves to have updated and latest feature; this may cause a dent in your wallet. People who are worried about the cost of a smart TV or 4K TVs can have an alternative by keeping the old working TV in place and add some smart features at a minimal price. The media streamer is an option to provide HDMI input or analog audio connections to older TV sets. There are Blu-ray disc players as good options to magnify the viewing experience as well as to provide access to physical media like discs, DVDs or CDs along with providing some internet streaming channels. There are DVRs and stereo or home theatre receivers to add these extraordinary features to the existing set.

Every individual saves for a comfortable retirement life. In order to enjoy a stress-free retirement period, it is important to invest at an early stage and plan your retirement to make the right investment decisions. Consider your current financial condition and set your retirement goal; based on the same, you may make investment decisions that will allow you to grow your wealth. Roth IRA accounts are highly preferred by investors due to the taxation benefit. Consider these investment plans during your retirement planning. When you withdraw the amount at the time of your retirement, you will not have to pay any tax on the same. There are a number of funds you can choose to invest in. Carry out a market research or consult the portfolio manager to make a well-informed decision. We have listed out the top five Roth IRA funds for investment during retirement planning in 2018.

• TIAA-CREF Lifecycle Retirement Fund This investment generates a high return over a long period of time through income and capital appreciation. It invests in institutional class shares or other funds of the trust and in other investment products. This fund is ideal for investors who are already entering retirement.
• Vanguard Target Retirement Income This fund is a part of the Vanguard target-date series and is suitable for those in retirement or those looking for a target date fund with a conservative strategy. It has retirement dates of 2015 through 2065 in five-year increments. This is the best when you are planning your retirement. It allocates 30 percent of the funds into stocks and 70 percent into bonds. Its parent company, Vanguard is the largest mutual fund provider in the country and offers an array of mutual funds to choose from.
• American Century One Choice in Ret Port The main purpose of the investment is to seek current income followed by an appreciation of capital. It invests into American Century mutual funds, which represent a variety of asset classes and investment styles. It allocates the major portion in stocks followed by bonds and a small portion in money market funds.
• USAA Target Retirement Income Fund There is capital appreciation and current income with this investment. It allocates 35 percent of its net assets into funds that invest in equity securities of alternative asset classes and the remaining 65 percent is invested in fixed income securities.
• Fidelity Advisor Freedom Income Fund The investment strives to generate a higher return with principal preservation. It invests in bond funds, domestic and international equity funds, and short-term funds.

Consider the prevailing retirement annuity rates and weigh your options when making an investment decision during the retirement planning. Determine the amount you want to receive at the time of your retirement, consider your current financial position, and make your investment decisions accordingly.

The best cell phone plan deals seldom come easy. It can take careful research and extensive comparisons to create the best cell phone service plans that come with unlimited data mobile plans. With so many carriers offering competitive rates, it is not hard to customize a cell phone unlimited plan or even shop cell phone plans on a similar rate. There are various websites now available online that offer handy comparison tools for the customer to compare plans on. Although these tools are beneficial, it is important to go through the check out process and read everything in detail to make sure that you get the most accurate quotes on your cell phone unlimited plan. There are the moving target rates that are probably the prime consideration for most people, but one must keep in mind the network speed, the strength and the coverage the carrier offers, especially in areas the phones are expected to be used. There is no point paying for a top-notch plan when the carrier service provider does not offer services in the location you intend to use the plan at. It is a good idea to check out some websites that have compiled a survey of the strengths of each network provider’s coverage considered to be a major player in the region. For example, the fastest mobile networks analytics are a good place to begin at to analyze the network strengths of the most popular carriers. There are primarily two types of wireless phone plans that are designed to suit two groups of shoppers – the individual users and the group users, like in the cases of large families or corporate plans. The plans created for individuals are slightly more straightforward, although they too come with their own set of clauses and add ons that can get very confusing. In the case of group plans that are created for families sharing the services, the complexity of the plan can get worse. But on the bright side, it has often been noted that group plans often come with great discount options that can be availed by bundling the services together.

The idea of getting free makeup is a very intriguing. Imagine getting your favorite or the latest products to try out without actually doling out some moolah. You end up saving money and experimenting for free! Free samples are also easy to carry during travelling, and most importantly, if you're in love with a certain product then a free sample pack is just the icing on the cake. Most companies today come out with free samples. It is a very effective marketing strategy which they indulge in the hope that one would end up buying the product. However, the best part about trying out makeup samples mean that it lets you have a run-through of all kinds of cosmetics the high-end makeup choices as well as drugstore cosmetics. As of today, acquiring beauty samples for free is not a big deal because it's easily available by email or at the stores. - There are websites, which provide free samples through emails every day. There are few common products whose samples are available online. One can get free samples every month from online beauty retailers just by paying postage fee or signing up or subscribing for getting their emails. - If one doesn't wish to subscribe online, the other best way to collect them is from cosmetic department stores where they have a wide range of free samples. The fact of the matter is that any store that markets and sells makeup products will definitely have free samples because they want the free samples to convert into a sale later. - Some stores let you join their makeup trials. Often, the trials are free and are usually surveys that are conducted by cosmetic brands. You are free to put down your suggestions, which would later help them improve their products. The 'PF buzz program' is even more interesting. Through the Physician Formula, one can get their brand new cosmetic products to try and keep them with you after the trial. - Some cosmetic biggies such as Sephora have free events that you can attend to get free samples. In the past, they've given away free samples of eyeshadow, mascara, lipstick, and eyeliner during these events. - If you're a member of any particular buyer program of certain products, you'll also be able to rack up points each time you buy something online. You can exchange and redeem these points for product sets, special collectibles and deluxe samples.

Wet food is messy, especially for cats. So, you can get dry food for your pet cat. But you need to choose the best dry cat food. This will ensure that the pet is getting all the required nutrition. Cats are generally known to be messy eaters. If you offer wet food to it, you may find it all over the room. To prevent this, you need to offer dry food to cats. But dry foods are not as attractive to them as wet foods. Moreover, wet foods are high in nutritional content. If you are substituting wet food with dry food, you need to have the best dry cat food. This will ensure that the animal gets enough nutrition. However, dry foods are also notorious for their adverse effects on cats. Therefore, you need to be selective and choose the best. Let us go through a list of ingredients that should not at all be present in the best dry cat food.

Potato

Dry foods already have a notoriety for stoking diabetes. Potato is a high glycemic food, meaning that it can precipitate a spike in blood sugar. Like human beings, cats too are prone to diabetes and blood sugar, if you offer it potato or food containing potato regularly. So dry foods containing potato is not at all good for your pet cat. However, you can proceed with sweet potato. Though it is sweet, it does not stoke diabetes or blood sugar.

By-products

Many companies in the pet cat food business prepare the food from byproducts of other industries such as poultry. But these are not good. Pet foods containing byproducts of other industries may cause a variety of health problems in your cat. It may suffer from allergies, stomach irritation, diarrhea, vomiting etc. If it has a sensitive stomach it can often exhibit these symptoms. So, the best dry cat food should not at all contain byproducts.

Gluten

Corn contains gluten, and most pets like cats and dogs are allergic to it. So you must see that the cat is not given a food which contains grains like wheat, corn, and soy. The best dry cat food must not contain glutinous substances.

High-carb content

Foods containing high amounts of carbohydrates, such as white rice, can precipitate blood sugar. Since pets are not used to much activity, high carb food can easily stoke diabetes. Moreover, pets don’t digest carbohydrates well. So, the best dry cat food should not have a high carb content.

Artificial preservatives and colors

Most cats don’t tolerate artificial preservatives and colors. Some of these elements are even harmful to the cat. Vitamin K3, which is produced synthetically, can be a dangerous food for your pet cat. This particular synthetic product may be toxic to the liver, kidneys, and heart of the cat. So the best dry cat food should not at all contain artificial preservatives and colors.

Artificial sweetener

While sugar is not good for pets, artificial sweeteners are the worst. Artificial sweeteners like Xylitol can lead to sudden fall in blood sugar level. These products may cause a sudden release of insulin leading to a drastic fall in sugar levels in the blood. All this can happen within half an hour of eating. It is also harmful to your pet’s liver. Such artificial sweeteners are usually present in candy, gum, mouthwash etc. However, some low-quality foods may also contain these substances. The best dry cat food does not contain any of these substances.

Contents of the best dry cat food

The best dry cat food must be balanced in all respects. A cat needs nutrients like various vitamins, amino acids, minerals, proteins, and fat. It needs meat since there are some nutrients which it can obtain only from meat. So, the best dry cat food must contain meat but should not contain any grain. There are a number of such brands in the pet food market.

It is easy to book tickets, and it can also be affordable if you know what you’re doing. You can take some measures to maximize your savings on any flight ticket. Some people travel with budget airlines while others use a travel credit card. Some travelers use fare-finder calendars to check the best time to purchase a flight ticket. Others keep an eye out for great deals and book accordingly. The opportunities are endless. Here, we have explained some of the best practices that you can follow to find very cheap flights.

• Book at the last minute Airlines often panic when they realize that they have empty seats left on a flight. To maximize their revenue, they offer great deals on these flights. Therefore, if you are ready to travel at the drop of a hat or if you're looking for a spontaneous getaway, book a flight ticket that is very cheap and set off for a new adventure.
• Unleash your inner explorer Some sites like Kayak will display the cheapest airline tickets and their destinations. If you are in the mood to travel and you notice a great deal, do not hesitate to take it. It could end up being a fun trip, and you might end up with unique experiences and beautiful memories. The site shows a map with the cheapest flights to each destination. If you find what you're looking for, pack those bags and get going!
• Cheapest days Try your best to leave on a Saturday. According to multiple reports, more seats go vacant on these days, and so flight operators will want to sell them in any way that they can. Thus, you get to choose from great deals and offers. Another insider tip is to book tickets on Tuesdays at 3 PM Eastern Time. At this time, you're sure to get very cheap flight tickets.
• Social media If you are getting a great deal on a one-way ticket, do not hesitate to take it. You don't have to book a ticket for the return journey from the same airline. Try using a different airline if they provide a better deal. You can also check the social media pages of different airlines for updates on offers. Some airlines put up exclusive deals on Twitter and Facebook which get sold out very quickly. It is also helpful to subscribe to the airline’s newsletter to get the cheapest airfare and tickets.
• Frequent flier You have higher chances of getting very cheap flight tickets if you are a frequent flier. If you use the same airline repeatedly, you can earn great deals and discounts.