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Although there are plenty of gurus out there who try to make financial freedom sound so complicated that it would require an advanced degree in differential calculus just to get started, it’s actually quite simple.In fact, there are only three ways that you can achieve financial freedom:Increase IncomeDecrease ExpensesLeverage High Return Opportunities by Creating a “War Chest”That’s it.Let’s dive in.(Note: This content originally appeared on my blog Knowledge for Men. If you’re interested in reading the article in its entirety just click here)Simple Strategies for Increasing Your IncomeBefore we can dive into the different strategies for increasing your income, let’s go ahead and get one thing straight…You cannot save your way to wealth.Sure, you can cut back on your expenses and invest the difference into a mutual fund or something similar.But at the current rate of inflation, it’s unlikely that you will be able to save enough to retire on, let alone to live your dream life.Unfortunately, this is how most people go about their financial journey.They trip over dollars to save pennies when they could just ignore the pennies and pick up the dollars.Just think about it…Even if you lived the most barebones quality of life (which for the record is not good for your health, longevity, or future earning potential) and you were able to cut your expenses back to only $1,500 a month on a $3,000 a month salary, you’re still sacrificing 80% of your quality of life for a fractional financial gain.If you spent the same amount of energy on doubling your income that you currently spend on scrounging for deals and clipping coupons, you would be able to enjoy a quality of life that is more than twice as high and still invest an additional $2,000 a month into your Roth or 401K (which I don’t recommend, but we will get to that).Do you get the point?Living below your means is necessary for financial freedom.But unless it is combined with a steady increase in your income, it will never be enough to break free from the system and live the life that you truly desire.With that out of the way, here are a few of my favorite ways to increase your income.1. Start a Freelancing/Service Based Side HustleThe fastest and easiest way to make up some extra cash is to use your existing skill set to find new clients that will pay you on a per-project basis.This could be anything from writing sales copy, designing marketing campaigns, remodeling homes, working as a personal trainer, or editing videos.It really matters what you do.If someone will pay you for it and you are able to charge a reasonable rate, you can turn just about any interest, skill, or hobby into a healthy side income.To get started, I recommend that you check out Chris Guillebeau’s Side Hustle School and start jumping into as many online communities and social media masterminds as you can.There’s money to be made with just about any skill set as long as you know the right place to look.2. Start a BusinessFor those of you with the patience to make it to profitability, starting a business is an excellent way to boost your income that will allow you to create automated systems to generate money without your direct input.Even though it took almost five years to work out the biggest kinks (and I can promise you that it is an ongoing process), I’ve built Knowledge for Men to the point where I could generate 6-figures+ per year while working fewer than 15 hours a week… If I wanted to.If you have the time, patience, and capital to dive into the world of part-time (or full time) entrepreneurship, these are a few of my favorite interviews to help you get started.Pejman Ghadimi – Millionaire by 25 and the Founder of The Secret EntourageMJ Demarco – Author of The Millionaire FastlaneCameron Herold – Author of Double DoubleSean Ogle – Founder of Location RebelAlex Charfen – 7-Figure EntrepreuerJay Samit – World Renowned Consultant and author of Disrupt YouThese interviews will provide you with more than enough juice to get started down your journey to entrepreneurial freedom and if you take action on this content in conjunction with a few of the top business books, I promise you that you can achieve your entrepreneurial dreams faster than you ever thought possible.If you’re interested in building a virtual coaching business the same way that I did, then I’d like to invite you to attend one of my upcoming webinars on how to become a highly paid virtual coach in 10 weeks or less.I leave nothing unturned and will help you crack the code to building a profitable coaching business now.Just click this link to sign up and get started.3. Negotiate a RaiseThe final way to increase your income is simply to negotiate a raise at your current position.Depending on your field, this could be as easy as talking with your boss for 15 minutes this Friday or it could require 3-6 months of working overtime and proving your worth.I don’t know your specific field and I have no idea what your manager’s temperaments are like, so instead of trying to give you a blow by blow checklist for negotiating a raise, I’ll provide you with a few tried and true principles that can help you increase your annual income by 10-40%.-Timing is Everything:If you ask for a raise during the wrong season or after an expensive reorganization then you will be shot down every single time. Try broaching the topic of a raise during your company’s highest grossing months or after some sort of positive event like a successful product launch.-Request a Raise on Merit, not Tenure or Market ConditionsYou can’t expect to receive a raise if your performance at work hasn’t earned it. When you go into negotiations, be sure to focus on the quality of work that you’ve been providing not the length of time you’ve been with a company or the salaries that the competition is paying.-Manage Your State During NegotiationsOne of the worst things you can do is to show up to your salary negotiations with weak and defeated body language. I know that these meetings can be tense and awkward, but maintaining an upbeat and positive attitude will make a “Yes” much more likely.-Figure Out the Number BeforehandIf you go into salary negotiations without a clear understanding of exactly how much of a salary increase you want and why you deserve it, you’re going to fail. If you bid too high, you’ll offend your employer and seem like a bit of a narcissist. If you go too low, the increase won’t be substantial enough to matter to you or your employer.-Handle Rejection GracefullyIf your manager or employer says “No” the first time around (and this is very likely), don’t get discouraged. Simply thank them for their time and ask them “What specific outcomes would be required for me to receive this raise within the next 3-6 months?” If they can’t answer this question, you should probably find another employer.How to Reduce Your Expenses without Sacrificing Your Quality of Life“Spend extravagantly on the things that you love and cut costs mercilessly on the things you don’t.” ~Ramit SethiAlthough increasing your income is the best way to move closer to financial freedom, in and of itself, it is rarely sufficient.Most people tend to spend whatever they earn and, without the proper systems in place, increasing your income will result in less financial freedom and more payments on pointless crap that you don’t need.Embracing Minimalism and an Experience-Driven LifeThe first and most important step that you can take to reduce your expenses without sacrificing your quality of life is to commit to the minimalist lifestyle.Ever since the 1950’s and the inception of the “American Dream”, our society has become hell-bent on owning and accumulating lots of “Stuff”.We spend $5,000 on our couch, $2,000 on a new TV, and $400 for a freaking nightstand.But when you stop and think about it, is this really the best way to spend your money and achieve happiness?I’m not saying that you shouldn’t want or buy nice things. But there comes a point where materialism can detract from the experience of living life.When you are mired in credit card debt and have more than $1,000/month in payments for things that you’ve financed, it makes it difficult to spend time and money on the things that really matter in life.So I want to encourage you to become a minimalist.Spend your money on things that will really matter in the long run.Would you rather have:A couch from restoration hardwareA brand new LexusA new wardrobe from GucciOr…A four-week backpacking trip across New ZealandA year abroad in Europe with your girlfriendA one-week seminar learning how to become your best selfSome of you may truly prefer things to experiences, but according to the research, people derive the greatest amount of happiness by spending their money on experiences and relationships, not things.I won’t tell you how to live your life or how to spend your money.That’s up to you and the next section will help you create a plan for your finances that is tailored to your personality and values.But I will tell you that becoming a minimalist was one of the greatest decisions that I ever made and I’d encourage you to give it a go for yourself.The Conscious Spending PlanMost people despise the idea of a budget because the method they’ve learned feels restrictive. In reality, however, a budget is simply a plan for spending your money.Since “Budget” has become a four-letter word to many people, I prefer using the term “Conscious Spending Plan” (coined by Ramit Sethi).Instead of having a specific destination for every single dollar you earn, you should have a written system that determines what portions of your income will be spent on what expenses and luxuries.But before you can do this, you need to know where you want to spend your money in the first place.How do you do this? By following your values.There’s an old saying that, “If you show me a man’s calendar you can show me his priorities.” I believe that this is true, but I believe that it’s even truer that “If you show me a man’s spending you can show me what he values”.Your conscious spending plan should reflect your internal values and goals, not meet some arbitrary standard set by society.If you are a single guy who doesn’t spend a lot of time at home, then why in the world should you spend 30% of your income on an expensive apartment?Conversely, if you are a married man with two children, it doesn’t make much sense to spend 10% of your income on car payments if you could simply buy a used car in cash and roll the 10% into a bigger and more comfortable home for you and your family.The only non-negotiable item in your conscious spending plan is your personal growth and development.If you aren’t setting aside at least 10% of your income to invest in coaching, masterminds, courses, books, and seminars, then you are doing it wrong.I’ve spent tens of thousands (maybe even more than 6-figures) on my personal growth and ever single investment I made paid back dividends.So right now, before you go any further in this article, I want you to take a minute and write down the answer to a few questions.What would I do if money was no objectIf I was given a blank check that could solve one problem in my life, what would that problem be?If I was given $10,000 and was forced to spend it on FUN how would I spend it?What is the one thing I would change about my current living situation (housing, cars, clothes, etc.)?Got it?Good. These questions will help you figure out your values and how you should allocate your money.By having a clearly defined set of values, you can decide exactly where you want to spend your money.For example, if you don’t spend a lot of time at home, you can spend less money on your apartment while spending more on dining out and partying with friends.If you are someone who doesn’t enjoy nightlife and prefers to be outdoors, you can create a conscious spending plan that allows you to spend $15,000 a year on adventure vacations and epic trips.Or maybe you are someone with a wide array of interests and you just want to have $500 a month to spend on whatever catches your fancy at the time.A conscious spending plan allows you to do just that!When you cut back on the things you don’t love, you will naturally have more money for the things that you do.Negotiating Lower Payments on Your Biggest ExpensesAlthough I’m not a fan of penny-pinching or scrounging for deals, there are a few key expenses where you can save yourself $1,000/year+ with just a few phone calls.Specifically:RentCar InsurancePhone BillLoans (Credit cards, student loans, etc.)Most people overpay for services and are completely oblivious to the massive number of discounts and specials that are offered by banks, insurance companies, and apartment complexes.For example, if you’ve been insured for more than a year and your premium hasn’t dropped, you should be able to get your insurance lowered with only one phone call.In twelve months, your car has lost a significant amount of value and this depreciation will only be reflected in your insurance premium if you are willing to call and request a rate change.The specific scripts and tactics that you should use to get a lower rate are beyond the scope of this guide, but Ramit Sethi has an excellent article on finding hidden income that will teach you the word by word responses you should use to lower your biggest expenses.The Ultimate Financial Hack: Becoming a Digital NomadFor those of you with a location independent income source, or the ability to find/create one in the next 12 months, becoming a digital nomad is the ultimate financial hack.Although more and more people are leaving the country in favor of cheaper locales, it amazes me how few people truly understand the power of geoarbitrage.In the United States, you can expect to spend:$1,000+/month for a single bedroom apartment$500+/month for groceries$200+/month for utilities$400+/month for transportation (Insurance, car payment, gas, Uber, etc.)Oh and 20%+ of your income in taxesIf you were willing to relocate to a developing country like Colombia, Thailand, Vietnam, Nicaragua, or Budapest you could simultaneously spend less money for a greater quality of life.Although prices vary, based on conversations with my digital nomad friends you should expect to spend:$750/month for a luxurious single bedroom apartment in the city center$200/month for groceries$100/month for utilities$200/month for transportation (or less)This is just a rough estimate and I’ve even known guys who have lived on less than $1,500 a month abroad.In and of itself, it’s pretty amazing that you can enjoy a higher quality of life, travel the world, and save money, but the real financial incentive comes from the tax advantages of living abroad.For individuals who spend 11 months or 330 days outside of the united states in a given calendar year, the first $102,000 that you earn are income tax exempt.Depending on the state that you live in, this could be a total savings of more than $25,000/year JUST for living outside of the country!Talk about a life hack.If you can adapt to life on the road, becoming a digital nomad is one of the best financial decisions that you can ever make.And you’ll have a helluva time while you’re saving money.Building Your War Chest: The Keys to the Financial KingdomI’m not a CPA.I don’t have special knowledge about different investing strategies and I couldn’t help you pick out the best index fund for your savings if I tried.However, over the past 10 years, I’ve consistently applied a single tactic that has allowed me to invest in opportunities that 2X, 5X, or even 10X’d my investment.I call this tactic the war chest.Better than a 401K: Why You Should Focus on Your War Chest and Not Your Retirement FundI know that plenty of gurus still preach the importance of investing in low-risk medium yield mutual funds and index funds.But I respectfully disagree.You’re never going to enter into the upper echelons of wealth by earning a 7%/year return on a few thousand dollars.You’re going to do it by amassing massive sums of money and then investing that money into highly profitable opportunities and endeavors.I realized early on that I would never be able to consistently save money if I was putting my hard earned cash into a boring fund or a 1% interest savings account for a “Rainy Day”.So I decided to make savings a game, to make it exciting!So, ever since I graduated college, I’ve been consistently socking away part of my income every single month into my “War Chest”, a savings account that I use exclusively for high yield investments.This war chest allowed me to:Quit my job and build Knowledge for Men for an entire year without needing to make a profitEarn $15,000+ in 14 days during the Crypto-Craze back in November 2017Generate more than $300k in revenue by spending $6,000 on a high-level sales coachInvest in heavy hitting companies like Spotify and Netflix when they started to peakAnd so much more.But you aren’t going to use your war chest for any investments like these… Not yet at least.For now, you are going to invest the funds from your war chest into one thing and one thing only.Yourself. Invest in books, coaching, seminars, and training programs that will help you improve your skills and become more valuable to the marketplace.From there, you will be able to dramatically increase your income and then intelligently invest your war chest funds into unique opportunities that arise.ConclusionThat’s it! I know this was a long response but I hope that it helped you get started on your journey to financial freedom.Let me know if you have any questions about the content or would like to know more in the comments :)

India’s premier institutes have come into light in the recent time, including my Alma Mater, IIT Delhi as well, for the issues that have aggravated the problems coming from depression. Therefore I would like to address this question with the full sincerity that it deserves.Came to know about an interesting fact that an average mind makes 35,000 decisions/day. In these formative years of college, some of the decisions that you are going to take in these myriad and complexity of choices, will decide how you shape yourself for the future and the person you will be at the end of these crucial years.Since, I too have been a victim of depression in my years at IIT, I would like to share my experience with you.I came to IIT Delhi in the summer of 2009 excited about the future and oppotunities. I had chosen IIT Delhi as I wanted to continue my interest and passion in Physics by opting for Engineering Physics.I had came from Ranchi and had always been sheltered by my parents till that point. I had thought that I was ready to make the big jump, be independent and face the Delhi atmosphere. Wrong decision. It was a big cultural change for me. Going from “Hum” to “Mai” and from “Aap” to “Tum” was something that was sudden change to me. The lingo, the climate (too cold for my taste), the food (what the hell is Kaali Daal) the people were not agreeable. Could not adapt to hostel culture and began feeling home sick.Coming out to the new world I wanted to try my hands on everything dramatics, debating, film screening, Sudoku, Word Puzzles, quizzing. I believed some ill advices that co-curriculars would be the backbone to getting a good CV- was over confident that I cannot fail a course. Wrong decision. I flunked one course at the end of first semester (PHL 120 I believe) and two more courses by end of second year(electrodynamics and quantum physics). 12 credits (3 core course) short at the end of second year is a big deal at the end of four semesters. I was neither doing great in co-curriculars either. My Debating Secy was not happy with my performance as I was not able to give time to the club. My dramatics performance was not great either- I entirely had forgotten one monologue in my play (Art by Yasmin Reza) and had left a poor impact. I was feeling as if there was nothing that I could excel in.I believe that many of us have been at this crucial juncture- at the exact same position. Now from here on, you will find things going rapidly downhill. People might make fun of you, look down upon you. Your self-esteem and confidence takes a major dip. The blind, blood-sucking rat race doesn’t help. Darwin’s survival of the fittest might find one of its strongest examples in any of the IITs. No one has the time to look behind and pick you up. The easiest decision at this point is to give up. Give up on yourself, your dreams and your ambitions and plunge straight to darkness from where there is no return.But there is that one decision that can change everything, one decision that can get you back on track. That one decision takes a lot of courage, lot of will to make and embark upon. And that decision to accept that you have failed. Denial is only going to make it worse. To accept it that you failed and the will to make amends for your failure. And it is that one decision that changes everything in your life.Mine came in the summer of 2011. That is when I decided to meet the IIT-D counselor. That was the one solid right decision.I used to think that counselling was only for the weak minded and did believed it a futile post made for formality. Couldn’t have been more wrong.I believe at that low point in my life, the decision to go and speak to someone about your fears was the best decision I had made at that point of my time. Low self-esteem, low amount of confidence would prevent you further for making a personal connection with anyone. Depression leads you away from friends, family, parents as you might not feel comfortable to share your weakness or emotional loss at that point of time. Further, it might be also an apprehension on your mind to share it with someone who might not take your problem in all sincerity. It is critical at that time to talk to someone who will not judge you, look down upon you or make fun of you and one who would look objectively at your problem and that person remains the counselor.I had only one meeting with the counselor-just the one, but it had left already a huge impact on me. What I noticed was that the counselor never suggested the solutions herself. She let me speak about my problems for an entire hour and just asked me some questions that forced me to introspect. I realized that it was I who held the key to the solutions to all my problems and my fears. I came out of that meeting with a plan, a new found confidence and a fire-the fire, that will that I had not felt since I had left home two years back.I pulled my act together, shed the extra curricular activities I could not cope up with- picked dramatics. Started attending classes (even the environment ones), making notes- understood how profound each and each every course was. Found that one true friend who eventually became my BTP partner and I still remain in touch with him. Yes, it took one meeting, one hour to change the entire course of my action.It is important to self-analyze oneself at that point of time. And the results were immediate.The summary of my next two years - CGPA went up, found academics interesting once again, loved the professors and lectures (even the same quantum course that I had flunked), got a research paper under my name, a decent placement, two awards for dramatics (which I eventually left in my fourth year).So yeah it is one hell of an easy job to lose hope. The hard part is getting back up from that abyss.Lessons Learnt:a. Academics are important. They are the number. Co-curriculars are the zero that come after it. Attend classes.b. Find good friends. Friends that would help you through tough times, one with whom you are compatible withc. Going to the counselor does not mean that you are weak minded or sissy. It means you had the courage to accept that you have failed. Only when you will accept that you have failed can you strive to succeed.d. Phone your family and loved ones a day. That is very necessary and of utmost importance for people living in hostels. The moment you dont make time for it you leave a big dent on your emotional needs. Boy or girl, man or woman, you are humans- and emotions is all the difference in the world. A more conscious mind would have room for more emotions, there is nothing to deny.

We definitively solved the debate over whether you can still eat cheese with mold on itI have worked in some of the biggest Cheese plants in Canada, and this country has some of the strictest regulation ns when it comes to food safety.I went to the University of Guelph for my second master’s degree in Food Science and had worked with and educated by some of the best experts s in their fields.My late professor was one of the most prominent well-known personality in the field of cheeses.At the beginning of my alliance with him as my supervisor for my thesis, I asked him: Sir, what are your thoughts on cheese molds.He said: In his working career he did not hear/ or see any toxic cheese mold. Secondly, if the cheese industry started to throw a 640 lbs block of cheese, due to a few mold spots, the Canadian cheese industry would have been bankrupt a long time ago.He further added use your common sense in salvaging.Well, he threw the ball back to me. He told me without saying much, either Yes or No. In other words, use your judgment.My journey in the Cheese industry started, ironically my first job was at a cheese plant closed by Government, due to various infractions, one of the issues was a severe mold problem in the curing rooms.Yes: I have seen molds in cheese plants in some plants a lot.Now the answer:Is it safe to eat cheese with a few mold spots on it?I take or understand this cheese is hard/semi-hard cheese, such as Cheddar, I would cut off the places and use the remainder.In case the cheese has more than a few mold spots, wash the surface, reduce the mold, and I usually eat this cheese, it melts, and it is tasty.In case it is soft cheese, as Ricotta, discard it, a mold has penetrated through the liquid portion. It is not worth salvaging I am almost sure cheese mold may not be toxic, but the moldy smell spreading through the liquid part could be overwhelming.Well, there is a lot of information available on the net, please read all the info ( Some of the data is very useful written by very qualified people).AndREMEMBER THE WORDS OF MY MENTOR: Use your common sense in salvaging.Please make your own independent decision and keep in mind, liability laws are extremely tough. In my view: The Government, The Industry, and The Retailer take a foolproof method, to throw in the garbage. Easy solution, in modern times no one wants to risk their existence, be it Government/Retailer/Manufacturer. All these agencies operate on zero risks, and their decision usually is: For example if one sheep is a suspect slaughter the whole herd.BTW: I did not waste much food in my lifespan so far.I handled millions of pounds of cheese if not a billion pound in my career. Indeed,d I used my common sense, starting my career as a foot soldier and taking a bow much before the legal age as a decorated general. To have thirty years of career spot free I believe was a miracle in itself.And now I am running and chasing my dream.I have a lot of respect for North American food standards. However, I wish there was more education to the general public about food molds/expiry dates, etc. Millions of pounds if not billions of pounds of food/fruit is thrown away each year.Some of the food/fruit/vegetables/ all in perfect shape, safe to consume is thrown away each day when you see it, you feel like crying.One small story:A was at one store, I usually do not shop there, it is very high-end Food Store, I was in a rush, and it was just closing time of my frugal and no frill store.However: I stopped at this very high-end store, in addition to my urgent needs. I picked a tray of very lovely blueberries.I finished my shopping, and when I was at the cashier, I was about to pay for my items, blueberries tray was nine dollars.I looked left side of the store in the produce section; one young man was throwing all those blueberry trays in a giant bin on wheels. I approached him and asked him why he is throwing picture perfect blueberries. He said these would expire today after 12 PM.I asked the cashier: Do I have to pay nine dollars for these blueberries, she said: You, have a choice either pay nine dollars or return, the guy will throw in the bin.Mind boggling: At 10 PM blueberries are usable, worth nine dollars for the tray, two hours after this, after 12 AM, it is worthless.Story number 2:Once in my career of 30 years in Canada, I have had the chance to work in one of the most beautiful breathtaking city.Needless to say, this city is one of the most expensive in Canada. When I moved from Toronto to this city, the cost of food shocked me.I thought t; I am going to starve myself here.In the beginning, weeks were tough.In the apartment building I happened to bump into another ex Toronto resident, he retired there. However, I complained about food prices.He said: I will show you some right spots for shopping.He took me to a small store, owned by a family. This store only specialized in buying from superstores and selling food just before expiry.Well, I worked in that city for five years, and believe me I enjoyed some of the best foods in the world.In that city either you have very rich or limited income people. And I believe this small store guy had some arrangement to buy the food just before expiry.Expensive food store would resell prime cuts and some of the most exotic food around the world just about 25 to 40 percent of the original.You may call me cheap, but I would wait for just one day, for lamb chops, rackthe of ribs, filet mignon.He also showed me one clearance center for bread just before expiry.I being in the food science business knew the game of expiry date inside out. It is just an estimate; food does not go from edible to zero at the turn of the clock and change of time. Sometimes, although rare it may go wrong before the date. However, if it is stored at the right temperature and did not contaminate during the use. It lasts much longer.That is a sad story in North America about food/dairy/vegetable/fruit industry.Story number 3:When my wife and I came from India to Canada, in the early 70 s, we were just married.We did not have much money with us, all we had 508 dollars, and we had to start our life from zero.As soon as we came here, within a few years, we had two babies one after the other, even with all the safety precautions.Now never mind two we had to feed four mouths.We were very new to this country, but we had huge dreams. We both started our lives at very humble beginnings.Obviously, the money situation was very tight, we had to watch every penny.We did not watch T.V. at all, and we had no social circle, even if we had we make some excuse not to go. We did not sit on the phone and Yak Yak all day.However, we both, utilized our time in food processing, invested in a, chest freezer.We developed various methods to save money on food, so much so later on our boys became part of the team. They have very fond memories of that time. Now grown and gone, they still do all these things not to waste any food. Buy and process food very economically. And they are very proud of these skills.We both did not stay at menial jobs, for long, we both attended North American University and colleges. I did another M.Sc., and she retrained herself fo r entirely another profession, she did R.N., and we both enjoyed very nice careers.Our two boys now grown and gone, they both complement the very high quality of food at home. And one boy has now two boys, our grand kids, he says: Mom and Dad, please teach them also, what you showed us in foods.There is a moral to our story: There is a lot of potentially saving money and eating very high-quality food, with some efforts. This was the necessity of the time, but in the end, it became a habit for now close to fifty years in this country.Some tips to avoid mold growth:Store cheese at the lowest temperature in the fridge the, best is 38 to 40 F.Keep the fridge in good working order.Never overload the fridge.Clean the fridge at regular intervals.Once the vacuum seal package is broken try your best to use it asap.In case you cannot, you may freeze the cheese.It could be used for cooking, or melt it and use for dip.I have not tried it, but due to my extensive background in Cheese, I have read ad somewhere, once the vacuum package is open, put a thin layer of butter on the Cheese. Theoretically, it makes s sense; it creates a barrier to the oxygen/air. It may delay the mold growth.As said earlier: I am food/dairy science person, I have access to Potassium Sorbate, I spray about 10 percent solution on the cheese and I/my family never seen mold on our cheese. This I suggested but not recommended if you are not familiar with food chemistry/microbiology/.We have also invested in Vacuum packing machine at home.A few words on Mold/Bacteria and Mold Ripened Cheeses.Like bacteria not all bacteria are harmful and dangerous there are good bacteria, and there are harmful bacteria.Bacterial culture is almost an integral part of Cheesemaking.Similarly, mold, not all molds are harmful and dangerous there are good molds, and there are bad molds.There is one class of cheese we call them Mold Ripened Cheeses, such as blue, Camembert and Brie, all these three are made with a suitable mold.Moldy Cheese: “Grate” or Gross?National Moldy Cheese Day is celebrated each year on October 9th, a day for all cheese lovers to come together and celebrate delicious moldy cheeses such as Brie, blue, Roquefort, and Camembert. These cheeses are delicious, but what about the moldy American slices in the back of my fridge? So why are some types of mold okay, but others aren’t? Today, I’m coming to the rescue of cheese lovers everywhere to answer this question and a few more of the most common questions surrounding moldy cheese and its food safety guidelines.Why Is There Mold in Some Cheeses Anyway?The simple answer is … some types of mold taste good! Most cheeses are made by adding bacteria, but only a select few have mold added to them. There are different strains of mold used in different types of cheeses, and each has a different effect on the taste of the cheese. For blue cheese, molds called Penicillium glaucom or P. roqueforti help to give blue cheese its bold, tangy flavor. Without mold, you would be left with a block of plain, salty fermented milk and a plate full of Buffalo wings begging for a punchier dip. Molds, like P. candidum, are used in Brie cheese and help form an earthy-tasting rind around the cheese, as well as helping a wheel of Brie go from a crumbly, dry cheese to a creamy and deliciously spreadable one.Why Is Mold in Some Cheese Safe To Eat?We’ve all had to throw out food that we didn’t eat in time and we’ve all been disgusted by the mold colonies that have formed on the forgotten foods in our fridge. But there’s a difference between mold injected into sophisticated, expensive, aged cheeses and the do-it-yourself mold on your old leftovers. The difference is a naturally occurring chemical called a mycotoxin. Mycotoxins are produced by certain molds and can cause gastrointestinal disturbance, immune suppression, kidney damage, and can even be carcinogenic. However, mold strains injected into cheeses do not produce mycotoxins, making them perfectly safe to sprinkle on your salad and spread on your baguettes.A few words how do I salvage cheese at home:When unfortunately due to my own tardiness, I do not take the proper care of the cheese.These Swiss cheese slices matted together due to prolonged storage, sure enough, it got moldy, fortunately still the on a surface.3. Cut the mold spots, deep enough so that there is no apparent mold left.4. Discarded the mold/moldy cheese spots.5. Wash rest of the cheese with cold and lukewarm water a few times.6. Drain the water and heated the cheese in a microwave oven, until it starts bubbling.AndCheck it with a spoon that it stretches nicely in a string.7. Garnish it with any spice you like, my favorite, Caraway seeds/black peppers/ and a bit of Jalapeno.9. Mix the spices let the melted cheese and cut into cubes.10, Wow, delicious and salvaged another good cheese going into the dumb. Good feeling11. My two adorable Monkeys(My best friends/my soul mates my grandsons) learned another lesson in food processing.A few words about the author:Sam AroraPS: M.Sc. Dairy Science, U of Punjab, India, M.Sc. Food Science, U of Guelph, Canada. Thirty years in the Canadian Dairy/Food/Flavor industry, from a foot soldier to decorated general, and called it quits much earlier than retirement age.And I went running after my dreams and chase the rainbow, above the clouds.I also found new CEO, who is master of all the CEO s, I decided to serve this right CEO.I also found two new toys and center of my new center of the universe, my two grandkids.These are 100 percent homegrown vegetables for pennies on a dollar, this a start of the day for these two boys, homemade white yogurt full of active probiotic bacteria, no sugar just plain yogurt (protein/a tiny bit of fat/and super busy culture), vegetables(crude fiber), bread (carbohydrate/protein and bit of milk fat, (butter).These two kids are involved in growing these vegetables.For wholesome growth and development: Kids must have all around nourishment, for his/her physical, psychological, mental food, proper and balanced meals are vital.Kids cannot grow only on healthy vegetables/fruits/milk/protein/carbohydrates/ once in while they need ice cream/chocolates/donuts/ fries/ hamburgers/The healthy mind in the Healthy body and healthy spirituality is an effort to give a good start to the next generation. Our grandsons are preparing for his competition/tournament.All round development starts with proper nutrition, physical exercise, spirituality, and music.Healthy/nutritious/ well-balanced meals/ with essential vitamins/fatty acids/amino acids/ high-quality protein/fermented products like white yogurt and try to have low white sugar/white rice/ white bread.To make your kids/grandkids listen to you and respect you, it is exceptionally vital to fulfilling their other cravings also. Then they realize we are not drilling masters and we appreciate every trait of their personality. It is crucial from the growth of kids in small doses of their favorite fun food also.Kids must fully understand the concept of balanced meals.All homegrown vegetables.My Grandkids take every word I teach them like gospel because they know when the ice cream time comes Grand Pa is going to take us to the best place for ice cream.They have no qualms in eating vegetables at lunch/dinner and a very healthy breakfast.Let us see what is happening in the Food Industry:Here is one example.This cauliflower is about Three Can Dollars; I paid 30 Cent for this in other words 10 cents on a dollar.World HungerA few words on Bakery:In case one does not take care of the baked goods, these are highly prone to mold growth.Careless handling of baked goods means a lot of waste.This mold has spread and penetrated through; it is not edible, put it in the composter.A bakery is another food item which grows mold very quickly, here are the following tips you use to enhance the shelf-life of Baked Goods.Use the refrigerator to store baked goods. I did all my life, never saw a spot of mold on my baked goods.Air dry if you have the excess of bread/croissants/English muffins/ and use it as croutons.I like dry toast myself as Rusk.Baked goods can freeze very well also.Tip: Grocery stores are overstocked especially before X mas and Thanks Giving., go shopping before the holiday preferably last day and have shopping galore.However, you must be prepared to handle and process the bargains asap.Vegetable and FruitsReason: Blemishes.Citrus fruit is another example, and millions of dollars are wasted, here is what I do with citrus, we pickle it.Wash with water, put it in boiling water for a few minutes, cut into small pieces, and put salt pepper and host of other spices. Let it cure for a few weeks, at room temperature, with a covered in glass bottle or container.Try to find Potassium Sorbate, mold inhibiting aid, and mix five grams to one kg of pickled citrus.Citrus fruit is very prone to mold. Therefore I use Potassium Sorbate and never seen mold on my pickles.Citrus fiber is a potent ingredient for healthy living, and you may review it with your doctor.Eventually, during the pickling, even the skin becomes very soft and it is totally edible, people from the Indian subcontinent have been eating lemon/lime pickles for thousands of years.Once I brought cauliflower home just scrapped it.As good as new.My idea of Cauliflower and Potatoes “ Aloo Gobi” Recipehttps://www.google.ca/search?q=images+of+cauliflower+with+potatoes&rlz=1C1CHBF_enCA763CA763&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=MYb1sx0lmp5CjM%253A%252C6333BdSqBObNNM%252C_&usg=__rRD1v6y2djqKC63-DGfV8W9QtnA%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj6zryF-cHbAhUhw4MKHcFbBCAQ9QEIMTAD#imgrc=MYb1sx0lmp5CjM:Total cost 50 Cents for one of the items the main course for four people.Well, please have a look at these four items, mainly slight cosmetic defect/s.As a food scientist/professional: Freshness/color/shine/packaging/ marketing /distribution/ a little or no knowledge about foods/dairy/meat/ spending too much time on other activities/two people working family/latchkey kids/ convenience/ are some factors to the multi-billions of destruction of food/dairy/meat/on the other hand welcome to the hunger around U.S.A and Canada.Okra in Canada is very expensive, and I believe it is very healthy food,Now here is how you could save money if you like.This Okra started to have blemishes and a store near my house discounts it about 60 percent or lower.Clean/wash/ and blanch it in boiling water, and pack in small ziplock bags and freeze it.For one hour work when you are talking on the phone or watching T.V., you may have saved about 20 to 30 dollars.I did as follows.BlanchingThen packing and freezing.A few moldy strawberries in a tray.Cut the moldy part or if it has spread too far, discard.Wash rest of the strawberries, chop them up.Microwave to boiling and cold, you may hot pack in a Mason jar if you like, or store in a glass jar, and store under refrigerated conditions. Use it for cooking/baking/or add it to a white yogurt,Beautiful Strawberry syrup for the family may be 30 cents on a dollar.King of the fruit in Asia and now is very popular in the world.A few blemishes and nothing wrong with the fruit.Cut the blemishes, oh my God, it is delicious, for 25 cents on a dollar.Ripe/or just appearance not too good looking bananas.Nothing wrong with the fruit, a bit sweet and blemishes on the peel.Even the skins are not waste; these are composted,The uses of this fruit are endless.Ready to eat.Banana bread/cake also bread and cake can be frozen.Milkshake.Add in yogurt.Some other articles on molds by the author:Sam Arora's answer to What is the best type of paint to use in the bathroom that would prohibit mold?Sam Arora's answer to What are the advantages of shredding your own cheese instead of buying pre-shredded cheese?Sam Arora's answer to Who decided that moldy cheese was good to eat?Sam Arora's answer to How is cheese mold different from mold that we would typically not want to eat?25 cent of on a dollar if that and very healthy, hardly any additional sugar added in all the recipes.One in five Canadian children are at risk of going back-to-school hungryOne in five Canadian children are at risk of going back-to-school hungryhttps://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.resumebuilder.us/wp-content/uploads/share-this-hunger-hunger-in-the-united-states.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.resumebuilder.us/hunger-in-the-united-states/usda-data-reveals-record-49-million-hungry-in-america-in-2008-hunger-in-the-united-states/&h=287&w=500&tbnid=kLizS9QPul5MoM:&q=hunger+in+usa&tbnh=114&tbnw=200&usg=__BpdP7NbXZVMH4GvflQLrLerUUjs%3D&vet=10ahUKEwilr4TggcTbAhWN14MKHQ_dAhQQ_B0I5wEwEg..i&docid=9vtTG7p40NrOQM&itg=1&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwilr4TggcTbAhWN14MKHQ_dAhQQ_B0I5wEwEgJapan - a wealthy nation with poor children | DW | 22.12.2016https://www.google.ca/search?q=hunger+in+uk+image&rlz=1C1CHBF_enCA763CA763&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiox6mtq8TbAhUQRK0KHShNA0kQ7AkINg&biw=1920&bih=949#imgrc=dzCcambNec71WM:My thoughts:Liability laws and the insurance costs have made this continent, a mockery of poor people/seniors/ children/ working poor/.Scientists/technologists/engineers/medical expert/ were outstanding to create an almost sterile atmosphere, and marketing gurus convinced the middle/and upper classes of the picture perfect food in beautiful glossy pictures. And the rest is fit for the dump, and that is what is happening.Our boys are grown and brought up here in Canada, as soon as the airplane lands in India both boys are out of commission, my wife, and I left India close to fifty years. We both can knock the bull out of his senses(in other words, our immune systems are well developed, and the kids in NA, are very fragile), when we land in New Delhi, the kids are out of commission for rest of the trip ( we are developing a new generation most of them will be okay in bubbles)We have created a virtual reality for the new generation, most of the coming generation does not know where does the food comes and what does it take to produce it?Try it most of them may answer it comes from a Grocery Store.Also: Please keep in mind: As the time is progressing previous affluent countries are losing their positions on the pedestal. Poverty/Hunger will keep increasing, unless, these countries in this comatose state wake up.Person Trampled As Fight Breaks Out At Greek Free Food Handout ...Zero HedgeThe big fat Greek food fight: Hundreds fight each otherThere is a tremendous amount of poverty and hunger around the world.Hunger in India | India FoodBanking NetworkMy classmates in India who went to grad school in India and then grad school in Canada, a few classmates reached a very high position in Food Science area.They all confirmed there is enough food for everyone, but there is a tremendous amount of waste. Some fruit/vegetables cannot make to the market due to distance heat and lack of refrigeration.Key facts about hunger in IndiaLargest India is home to the largest undernourished population in the world14.5% of our population is undernourished190.7million people go hungry everyday21.0% of children under 5 are underweight38.4% of children under 5 years of age are stunted1 in 4 children malnourished3,000 children in India die every day from poor diet related illness24% of under-five deaths in India30% of neo-natal deaths in IndiaHunger in India | India FoodBanking NetworkMore thoughts and ideas on cutting food bill.Grow your own:Vegetables are very easy to grow, I do some experiments in my garden, and it is an excellent hobby for my grandkids:Once young kids know growing food is tough work, kids learn not to waste the food.