Hey there! It’s go time, or rather, Low time. You know what that means. We’ve got your weekly roundup of apropos info to keep you in the know. This time around, we’re sharing some helpful insights that’ll benefit you in several ways. Before we get to them, let me remind you about our free AirPods giveaway. It’s coming to a close, so be sure to subscribe if you haven’t and get your friends to subscribe for extra chances to win. Also, follow us on FB and IG to keep up with the Low throughout the week. Now, onto the good stuff:

Discover what the 50/30/20 rule can do for your finances.

Update your skincare routine for fall.

Enjoy the high life at Lilu Farms.

Learn how to practice mindfulness in your day-to-day.

Find out what the Olympic Yachting Cauldron on River St. is all about. 

More details follow down below, and thanks again for reading the Low. 

You probably don’t need to be told that budgeting is helpful, if not essential, for effective money management. After all, budgeting helps to provide you with a clear picture of exactly what you’re working with and where your money is going. At the very least, a budget should keep track of what your income and expenses are for a given period of time, usually on a monthly basis. 

Once you have a good grasp on what you’re taking in and spending, you’re in a better position to make most of your money. So, what should you be aiming for when it comes to your budget? Good question. There’s a tried and true budgeting method that will help you manage your money with ease. It’s called the 50/30/20 rule.

What is the 50/30/20 Rule?

If you haven’t heard of it, the 50/30/20 rule is a guide that will help you budget your monthly after-tax income swiftly, simply and sustainably. Here’s how it works: You’re going to take your monthly income and divide it into three spending categories, specifically, needs, wants and savings. 

How to Use It

You’re going to allot 50% of your income for needs, things that are absolutely essential for your daily life. Think rent/mortgage, utilities, food and transportation. Then set aside 30% for wants, things that aren’t necessarily essential, but nice-to-haves that you want to include in your life. This category is for things like dining out, shopping, entertainment, gym memberships, etc. Lastly, 20% is for savings, you know, money that you set aside for a rainy day or a nest egg. This category can also include debt repayment, if you have any outstanding debts.  

So, that’s the breakdown. Now keep in mind that the 50/30/20 rule is just a guideline. You can adapt it to fit your needs. If inflation makes it hard to imagine covering all of your needs with just 50% of your income, cut some of your wants to give yourself more wiggle room. Your budget may look more like 60/20/20 or even 70/20/10, but make 50/30/20 a goal to aspire to. With diligence and discipline, you’ll be able to get there.

Fall is a favorite time of the year, bringing in beautiful amber leaves, fun festivals and the holiday season. It also means cooler weather, which can have a dramatic effect on your skin. The fall comes with colder temperatures and a rise in indoor heating, both of which can dry out the skin significantly. If you want to keep your skin looking good and glowy this season, you’re going to have to adjust your skincare routine a little. Here are some helpful tips to improve your skincare game this season. 

Fall is generally less humid than the summer, which is a great relief here in Savannah. But that means the drier air can strip away your skin’s natural moisture. Replenish that moisture daily with an oil-based moisturizer, which will help your skin retain hydration better than water-based products. 

There’s nothing like a nice long, hot shower, or better yet, a spell spent soaking in the tub. These are revered self-care pastimes, but beware. Hot water can dry out your skin. Instead, opt for lukewarm water for your showers and baths, and be sure to moisturize immediately after to lock in some much needed hydration. 

As your skin dries out, it can become rough because dead skin cells are building up. Exfoliate with a light scrub or mask regularly to reveal softer, brighter skin. And once you’re done, follow up with a moisturizer. 

You may think that cooler days mean you don’t need protection from the sun. Not true. The sun remains intense throughout the entire year, so you’ll need to protect against UV rays year-round. 

Be sure to hydrate from the inside out by continuing to drink enough water everyday, and maintain a healthy diet. Doing those things alone will take you pretty far when it comes to your skin. Keep these helpful tips in mind as you enjoy the awesomeness of autumn. Your skin will surely thank you.

Located on Whitaker St. not far from City Market, you’ll find Lilu Farms, a local dispensary selling a variety of cannabis products to passersby who respond to the invitation, which is a neon sign posing the all-important question: Wanna get high? While the sign is provocative enough to get people in the door, the helpful, knowledgeable staff and the impressive array of products are what keep ‘em coming back. 

About Lilu Farms

Having opened its doors on March 14, Lilu Farms is involved in every aspect of the production process, ensuring top-notch quality and good times all-around.  

“We are a seed-to-store, farm-to-table dispensary. We have a cannabis farm in Metter, Georgia, and we have a network of suppliers that we buy from if we need to. And we have a lab where we process cannabis and extract compounds that are useful. And we are manufacturers of cannabis edibles, vape oil and topicals,” said Josh Polley, Lilu Farms co-owner, who bears the dignified title of Allfather.  

Products

Lilu Farms boasts a great selection of cannabis products including Delta 8, 9, and 10, HHC, and a variety of THC goodies available as gummies, dabs, vapes, buds and pre rolls. Best sellers include the Super Gummy and the Super Space Nugget, both of which deliver enjoyable euphoric effects. If you’re looking for a good buzz, Lilu Farms has plenty of products that will get you there. Beyond getting high, there are all sorts of reasons why someone might turn to cannabis, and Lilu Farms’ staff is well equipped to help you find the right product for your needs. 

“We’re really good at guiding the customer to make the decision with more information on what’s right for them,” Polley explained. 

Things to Know

A few things to know about Lilu Farms: Everything they sell is completely legal and within DEA guidelines so you don’t have to worry about trouble with the law, unless you do something stupid, of course. That being said, you shouldn’t use any of these products if you have drug tests to pass, even though these products are legal. Polley recommends that you avoid cannabinoid products altogether if drug tests are a concern. Lastly, if you’re new to THC, Polley’s advice is to start small:

“If you don’t have a tolerance yet, less equals more fun.”

Whether you’re new to THC or a certified stoner, Lilu Farms has something for you. If you’re curious, Polley advises you to drop by and give them a try. 

“If you want to learn more about us and who we are as people, follow our social feed or come in and talk to us,” he said. “We actually love what we do, and it’s not just a cash grab. We love to talk to people about these products, and we love thinking of new ones,” he continued. 

Visit their store downtown and follow them on social media at @LiluFarmsStore. When you go, let them know the Low sent ya.

In the last few years, you’ve probably heard buzz words like manifest, mindfulness and meditation. But today, we’re going to take a look at one of these words and examine what it really means and how you can benefit. By the title, I’m sure you know what we’ll be covering: mindfulness. 

What is Mindfulness?

So to cut to the chase, mindfulness is the active process of focusing your attention on the present moment, observing your feelings, thoughts and bodily sensations, accepting them all with calm and impartiality. 

In today’s age of overstimulation, there are always all kinds of things vying for your attention: social media, dinner plans, worries, work tasks, school, etc. Your mind can be a flurry with thoughts racing from moment to moment. Being mindful is about quieting that noise and zeroing in on the here and now.

Benefits

Mindfulness offers a lot of benefits including improved cognitive ability, reduced stress and anxiety, increased sense of well-being among others. And it’s really easy to incorporate mindfulness into your day to day. 

How Practice Mindfulness

If you’re new to it, an easy way to start is by focusing on the breath. Take a minute or two and focus all of your attention on breathing and the sensations that come with it. Take notice of the way your belly and chest rise and deflate as you inhale and exhale. Pay attention to the experience of breathing, how the air feels cool as you breathe in and warm as you breathe out. It only takes a short period of time to focus internally and reap some benefits.

If you need some help, there are all kinds of mindfulness meditations available online that will guide you through these exercises. A simple search on YouTube will yield thousands of results. Look for mindfulness meditations to suit your needs.

Helpful Tips

Mindfulness is all about living in the present moment. Avoid thoughts about the past and the future, and focus on all that there is right now. Pay attention to what you’re doing at the moment. If that’s eating, focus on how the food tastes, smells and feels as you enjoy it. If that’s walking, take in the sights around you and pay attention to the feeling of your body as you move through the space. 

Lastly, be kind towards yourself. If your mind wanders, don’t beat yourself up over it. Simply refocus and resume your activity. Negative self talk is adverse to mindfulness. Consider adding some positive affirmations into your mindfulness practice to develop a healthier inner monologue. 

Whether you’re a mindful maven or new to the practice, taking just a few minutes each day to practice mindfulness will help you to experience more peace and gratitude while fostering positive mental health. Add mindfulness to your self-care routine and prepare to reap the benefits!

On the River St. waterfront in Morrell Park not far from the Waving Girl, you’ll find the Olympic Yachting Cauldron. Also known as the Olympic Torch Sculpture, the work of art is a monument to Savannah’s role in the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. The games were hosted in Atlanta, but the official Olympic yachting events took place near Savannah. 

Georgia artist Ivan Bailey designed the sculpture, which was erected in 1996 shortly before the games. The cauldron was lit with the original Olympic flame all the way from Olympia, Greece. 

About 100,000 people came out in the summer of 1996 to watch the torch relay and cauldron lighting. The flame made its way through the Historic District to Daffin Park, Forsyth Park and finally to River St. 

The Olympic Yachting Cauldron continues to stand today as a legacy to the Olympic spirit. The sculpture features five columns representing the five Olympic rings. The sculpted copper flame is framed by sails, paying tribute to the sailboats that participated in the summer yachting events. 

The next time you’re on River Street’s east end, be sure to check out the Olympic Yachting Cauldron. Remember its special history and celebrate what it means for Savannah. If you take a picture with the sculpture, tag us on social media at @getthelow. We’d love to see it.