De-stress your day

With negative news about the economy bombarding us on a daily basis, it is no wonder that many Americans feel stressed just trying to make it through their daily routine. 

The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) offers these nine tips to help you get rid of your stress:

1. Walk. A 10-minute walk is a quick way to get some energy to help you get through the rest of your day. If you can, get outside. The fresh air will do you good.
2. Stretch. Whether you’re sitting at a desk all day or always on the go, stress on the job has the tendency to make your muscles tight. Take 10 minutes to stretch, focusing on your neck and back.
3. Schedule ‘me’ time. Do something for yourself. Schedule a massage appointment, set up a babysitter for a solo Saturday shopping trip or make plans to watch the game with the guys. Knowing you have a fun event coming up will brighten your mood.
4. Nap. A 10-minute power nap is a quick way to decompress and re-energize.
5. Laugh. Watch a video clip from your favorite comedian, call your hilarious high school friend who always has a joke or step out for coffee with your favorite co-worker who has funny stories about his kids.
6. Journal. Writing for 10 minutes can help you process what’s on your mind. Give yourself free reign - nothing is off limits. You can whine, kvetch, brag or obsess as much as you want.
7. Say thank you. Is someone making your life better, easier or more enjoyable? Whether it’s a family member, co-worker or a friendly barista, personally thank the individual or write and send a thank you note.
8. Breathe. Taking 10 minutes to focus on your breathing can noticeably reduce stress. 70-90% of doctor visits are stressed-related, but by taking 10 minutes of your day to focus on your breathing, you can skip a visit to the doctor.
9. De-clutter. Is your desk covered in paper, to-do lists and leftover lunch scraps? A clutter-free work environment will reduce stress and help you focus.

6:04 PM - Jul. 1, 2009 - comments {0} - post comment

Are healthy foods really healthy?

 With much ado over the rising rates of obesity within our country, restaurants and food companies have responded with oodles of dishes and products that promise a healthier choice. What you should know is that not all of them are as good for you as they seem.

1. Turkey Burgers
It sounds like a great idea for cutting the fat, calories and cholesterol, while still enjoying the deliciousness of a restaurant burger. After all, turkey meat is lean.

While the latter sentiment is mostly true, you may not realize that a lot of restaurants use only dark meat turkey for their patties. This type of ground turkey can actually have more fat, calories, and cholesterol than a lean cut of beef, such as sirloin. Add any cheese and mayonnaise to that burger, and those numbers increase even more.

If a healthy and lean turkey burger is something you crave make sure that it is made primarily of ground breast meat. Leave off the cheese, ask for extra lettuce and tomato, and make sure it's served on a whole grain bun. Don't forget to substitute mustard for any mayo or mayonnaise-based dressing.

2. Wrap Sandwiches
They're everywhere you look and many are quite tempting. But, before you go ordering a wrap sandwich there are a few things you should know.

While it may be inconspicuous, the main issue is the wrap itself. Many restaurants use a flatbread product that is nothing more than an oversized tortilla filled with modified food starch and fat. Another problem with many of these flatbreads is that the overall surface space is huge. Greater surface space means that many wrapped sandwiches contain more mayo and fillings than a sandwich.

Opt instead for a regular-sized sandwich served on whole grain bread. Once again, fill it with lean meats and fresh vegetables, giving it the nutritional density to satisfy your appetite without adding fat or large amounts of cholesterol to your meal. In terms of condiments, mustard is generally low-calorie and fat free, making it a healthy choice. While the addition of olive oil and vinegar will include some healthy fat grams, a few sprinkles will go far in the way of flavor.

3. Reduced Fat or Fat Free Salad Dressing
Reduced fat or fat free salad dressing sounds like a fantastic idea. The truth is that these types of products generally substitute the fat with loads of sugar and artificial flavorings.

A far better choice is to lightly dress your salads with olive oil and either vinegar or lemon juice. The natural flavors of the fresh salad ingredients will come to life, as opposed to being masked by a cloyingly sweet dressing. Several studies have also shown that olive oil not only aids in digestion, but also the body's absorption of nutrients within raw vegetables.

4. Fruit Smoothies
The poster child for a healthy way to start your day has a lot of potential problems. To start, many smoothies are made with either ice cream or sherbet. It doesn't take a nutritionist to figure out that their inclusion will increase the calorie count of your "healthy" smoothie. It's important to remember that using ice cream will also increase the fat content.

Another issue is that some fruit smoothies include juices and flavored syrups made with high fructose corn syrup, which do nothing but add even more calories. Don't forget to consider the size of the smoothies you are consuming, as many can range upward of 24-ounces. Factor everything together and what you are left with is the perfect storm for a high-calorie beverage.

For a more figure friendly smoothie, make sure that it is made from 100 percent fruit. If a creamier or thinner texture is desired, non-fat plain yogurt and or skim milk are much healthier alternatives than ice cream, sherbet or concentrated fruit juice. Lastly, try to stick to servings that are no larger than 12-ounces.

5. Yogurt (fruit at the bottom)
Yogurt can be a very healthy snack, but diligent label reading is required. While there are many types to choose from, one that needs special attention is yogurt labeled as "fruit at the bottom". Many of these yogurt cups contain enough high fructose corn syrup to boost their sugar levels to that of a can of soda.

Choose instead to buy low-fat or fat-free plain yogurt and a basket of fresh berries. Mix them together and you'll cut the sugar and calories by half. You'll not only receive the healthy qualities of the yogurt, but also some powerful antioxidants provided by the fresh berries.

6. Granola
Granola can be a great source of fiber, but many types contain large amounts of fat and sugar. Once again, it's important to read your labels. A brand of high fiber cereal that we especially like is Kashi™. Offering a variety of options, Kashi™ cereals do a great job of providing fiber, protein and Omega-3 fatty acids, while keeping their fat and sugar levels quite low. They're also pretty darn delicious.

7. Bagels
Who doesn't love starting their day with a toasted bagel smeared with cream cheese? What you may not love – it's a breakfast consisting mainly of high-glycemic carbohydrates and fat. Most bagels are made with bleached enriched flour and cream cheese is a high fat product that most of us apply far more of than the suggested serving. The end result is a highly caloric meal that leaves you wanting even more.

A better choice here is a breakfast sandwich consisting of scrambled egg whites, whole grain bread and sliced fresh tomatoes. It's far more satisfying, as well as nutrient dense.

8. Dried Fruit
As of late, this has become a very popular snack food with new products rapidly appearing on grocery store shelves. But, there are a couple of problems with many of them.

For starters, the process of dehydration leaches out much of the fruit's volume. This allows for mass consumption of this delicious treat. The second issue has to do with the sugar that many companies add to these products. Put them together and the result is a potential for consuming a tremendous amount of sugar.

If a sweet, fruity snack is something you crave, we suggest enjoying a seasonal fresh piece of fruit. There's far more volume to fill you up without adding nearly the amount of sugar to your diet.

9. Energy Drinks, Vitamin Drinks, and Sports Drinks
There are all sorts of problems with many of these products. First on the list is the amount of sugar most of them contain. In addition, they are an overpriced way to deliver trace amounts of nutrients to your body.

In the case of energy drinks, you must be extremely careful. Most nutritionists would agree that consumption of these beverages is hardly the way to either hydrate your body, or provide you with energy. Drinking water and eating a healthy balanced diet do a much better job. The type of energy these drinks provide will most always lead to a quick crash.

If plain drinking water seems a little too boring, feel free to add sliced citrus fruits such as lemon, lime, and orange, along with sliced cucumber to a pitcher of filtered water. It's a tasty, nutritious and calorie conscious way to quench your thirst.

10. White Rice
While it may not be the worst choice you could make, white rice is hardly the best. Having been stripped of its nutritious and fiber-filled hull, it fills you up far less quickly than brown rice. You should know that all grains carry carbs, but it's the carbohydrates that come from refined grains that wreak the most havoc on your blood sugar level.

Let's understand that we're not saying you should completely give up eating anything. Our only goal is to speak honestly about some of the foods touted as being a healthier choice. What's important is that you concentrate on eating a well-balanced, low-calorie and low-fat diet consisting primarily of whole foods. Doing so will not only keep you trim, it'll satisfy your appetite in a much healthier way. It'll also allow for an occasional guilt-free splurge.

6:59 PM - Jun. 29, 2009 - comments {0} - post comment

Skip the hotel and go for the vacation home

This article is by Christine Karpinski, author of How to Rent Vacation Properties by Owner, 2nd Edition: The Complete Guide to Buy, Manage, Furnish, Rent, Maintain and Advertise Your Vacation Rental Investment and Profit from Your Vacation Home Dream: The Complete Guide to a Savvy Financial and Emotional Investment.

Since the beginning of 2008 (or long before), most of your worries have probably involved dollar signs. Whether you’re fretting over your job security, your retirement portfolio, or where our economy is headed in general, the rule of the day is save, save, save. But as the days get warmer, your thoughts and those of your family will likely drift to summer vacation. And if you’ve been pushing those thoughts from your head with a stern ‘We just don’t have the money,’ you’ll be happy to hear there’s a cost-effective solution you may never have considered: the vacation rental home.

Karpinski offers the following reasons why a vacation rental is a better choice than a hotel:

There are plenty of vacation homes to choose from. An overcrowded real estate market means more and more people are choosing to rent out their second homes rather than try to sell them. If you’re looking to stay closer to home this year to cut back on gas or airfare costs, you’ll be happy to know that there’s a vacation home within a two-hour drive of most metropolitan areas in the U.S. By visiting respectable websites-such as HomeAway.com or its affiliates VRBO.com, CyberRentals.com, GreatRentals.com, or Holiday-Rentals.co.uk-you can quickly find the one that’s right for you.

The rental process is getting easier and more convenient by the day. Admittedly, it’s not quite as simple to rent a vacation home as it is to book a hotel room, but it is still pretty easy. Websites like HomeAway provide details about the property and contact info and the consumer takes it from there. Homeowners themselves are becoming more consumer-friendly in their business practices though. Despite popular misconception, you don’t always have to commit to a week. Many homeowners will let you rent by the weekend or even on a nightly basis, particularly during the off-season. And while some of them still expect you to send them a personal check, many others accept credit cards or PayPal.

Vacation homes are more spacious and comfortable. Think about the difference between a tiny hotel room, possibly with limited amenities, and an actual home with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms and kitchens, living and dining areas. People who stay in private homes don’t feel so compelled to wear themselves out cramming in every touristy activity in town. They don’t mind just hanging out in the living room and relaxing more, which after all, is what a vacation is supposed to be.

You can live like a local. No one wants to feel or look like a tourist, an “outsider.” When you stay in someone’s home, you get a more authentic experience.

You can get inside information from the homeowner. One big reason vacation home renters get to “live like locals” is that most homeowners love to provide their guests with helpful hints. They’ll point you to the best restaurants in town, the best hiking trails, and the best bike rental places. They’ll tell you who has the cheapest gas, which roads to take to avoid traffic, and which attractions are overpriced “tourist traps.”

You can cook and do laundry. If you’re on a budget, both of these factors can be huge benefits. Obviously, eating every meal in a restaurant gets pricey. The ability to prepare your own meals not only saves money, there’s just something nice about savoring a home-cooked meal while on vacation. As for the washer and drier factor-being able to bring fewer clothes is not only a sanity saver during packing, it’s a spacesaver for those long car rides.

If the weather’s bad, there’s more to do indoors. Most vacation rental homeowners provide DVDs (along with the electronic equipment to view them on), board games, playing cards, and other family-friendly diversions. Also, more than half of all rental properties now have Internet access.

You might even be able to bring Fido or Fluffy. Many vacation property owners will accept pets, which makes their homes especially attractive to families who can’t bear to part with their four-legged friends for a week.

“Once you go the vacation home route, you probably won’t go back to hotels,” says Karpinski. “Yes, it takes a little effort on your part-and you may have to contact several different owners before you find the right home-but the results are definitely worth it.”

6:43 PM - Jun. 27, 2009 - comments {1} - post comment

Saving money on groceries

This article is by Stephanie Nelson, the Coupon Mom. 

Some basic tips to saving money while serving healthy food include:

-Do it yourself, don’t pay for convenience
-Simple substitutions-be aware of less expensive, comparable alternatives
-Plans meals based on overall meal cost
-Save 10 to 40% by avoiding all food waste
-Save money and calories with proper portion control
-Use strategic shopping (combining store sales with coupons) on your key items
-Be store flexible: know the prices of your common items and shop where prices are lowest

How to save on produce:
-Compare prices for your common produce at a few different types of stores, such as a discount store (Wal-Mart or Target supercenters), a no-frills discount store (Aldi or Sav-a-Lot), a wholesale club (Costco or BJs) and a couple of local supermarkets. You may find that an alternate store is a better source of produce in the off-season. During the summer, a local farmers’ market could be a good source of healthy produce at a lower cost.
-Talk to the produce manager about markdowns, and find out what time of day they markdown produce (that is generally perfectly good).
-Buy fresh produce in season, concentrating on the featured sale items. If not on sale, buy frozen vegetables as they tend to be less expensive and have coupons available for name brands. Frozen vegetables are frozen at the peak of freshness so they may have more nutrition than fresh vegetables that have been in storage for a longer period of time.
-Save money by doing it yourself. The cost savings of washing your own lettuce, peeling your own carrots, cutting your own fruit equates to an hourly wage of over $50. If it takes 5 minutes to save 60-70%, it’s worth doing yourself.
-Consider the cost per serving of fruits and vegetables and make simple substitutions to vary your diet and save money. Also compare the cost per piece of fruit or potatoes of a 5-lb. bag as compared to buying individual pieces by the pound. Smaller apples cost less, lead to less waste, and have fewer calories.
-Pay attention to food waste and work to reduce it to zero. Food waste accounts for 10% to 40% of families’ overall grocery spending (the average percentage increases as the average grocery spending increases according to USDA statistics). Serve realistic portions for weight-management and proper nutrition. Don’t serve children more food than they would realistically eat.

How to save on meat, chicken, fish:
-Only buy main dish ingredients when they are on sale. Pay attention to your stores’ featured sales item on the first page of their weekly ad and plan that week’s meals around that ingredient. Chicken is a common sale item, so be creative about finding healthy recipes that your family likes using various types of chicken. Buy at least one or two extra weeks’ worth of the main ingredient item to freeze so you don’t have to pay full price in the future.
-Consider buying fish that is flash-frozen to save, or only buy the type of fish that is on sale.
-Talk to your store’s butcher about daily markdowns and check them out each time you visit the store. Stores will frequently mark down items with sell-by dates of that day or the next day. As long as you freeze or prepare the item immediately, it is perfectly safe to eat.
-Buy larger family-pack quantities of meat, chicken or pork and package them into smaller quantities for the freezer to pay a lower per-pound cost.
-Buy less expensive cuts of meat and prepare them to be healthier. Marinate less-expensive cuts of steak to tenderize them, which tend to be healthier because they are lower in fat.
-Only buy boneless chicken breasts when they sell for half price. If not on sale, compare the per-pound price of individually frozen chicken breasts sold in the bag.
-Buy whole chickens at a lower per-pound price, or less-expensive chicken drumsticks or thighs. Buy chicken leg quarters and cut off the skin and visible fat. Bake some for dinner and bake additional pieces to use in a chicken soup, stew or casserole later in the week.
-Compare the per-pound cost of your favorite cuts of meat, pork, chicken, and fish at a local wholesale club to save 20-40%. Buy the large quantity for your freezer or divide with a friend.
-Substitute ground turkey for ground beef when it is less expensive in soups, pasta sauces and casseroles.
-Compare the cost of frozen ground turkey to fresh ground turkey; allow time to thaw if frozen is less expensive.
-Don’t buy sliced deli turkey for $8 or $9 per lb. at the deli counter-make extra grilled chicken breasts and slice for sandwiches during the week. You can also buy your own turkey breast and roast it and slice it for sandwiches.

Snacks:
-Managing snacks is important because family members are likely to eat planned ingredients for other meals if you don’t have easy snacks available. Let family members know what snacks are available and encourage them to choose the healthy options.
-Examples of inexpensive snacks include store brand pretzels, popcorn, store brand graham crackers, carrot sticks, small apples, bananas, frozen banana smoothies with skim milk, diet hot cocoa packets, diet gelatin or pudding, saltines, yogurts bought on sale with coupons, and homemade cookies and brownies.

Avoid food waste:
-Plan a leftover night once per week or plan a consecutive meal based on leftover ingredients.
-Have one shelf in your refrigerator with clear, see-through plastic containers with leftovers. Use for lunches, snacks or leftover night with a different meal for each person if necessary.

6:30 PM - Jun. 23, 2009

Websites with freebies

From The Washington Post

As consumers look for ways to pinch pennies, websites that offer or direct people to freebies are gaining in popularity. They include:

• FreeCycle.org: This nonprofit organization, with a mission to help the environment by not cluttering landfills, matches people who want to give away items with people in the same city who want them.

• FreeBirthdayTreats.com: Find out which restaurants give free or discounted meals or services to people on their birthdays.

• Kidsmealdeals.com: If you have children, hit this site to find out where they eat for free with a paying adult. If you register and type in your ZIP code, you'll get a list of all the freebies close to home.

• Swapstyle.com: Swap clothes, accessories, shoes or unused beauty products.

• Avvo.com: Get free legal advice, even anonymously, from an attorney.

5:33 PM - Jun. 19, 2009 - comments {0} - post comment

We need more Sully's

This article is by George W. Mantor at RISMedia.

It is an image for the ages; people standing on the wings of a United Airways jet, floating on the Hudson River.

Living in San Diego, it reminded me of military ships coming into port with the entire crew evenly spaced on the edge of the deck, standing at ease with hands clasped behind their backs.

Next time the flight attendant talks about a “water landing,” I’ll pay more attention. As amazing as the photo is, the story behind the image is equally as riveting and is almost too perfect even for Hollywood.

I don’t recall a time in the post WWII era when we have ever needed a hero more. I don’t need to list the challenges we are facing as a nation, but there is certainly some metaphoric similarities between going down in the Hudson and going down the drain. The problem is that no one individual can save our country. We have a lot of problems and we need a lot of Sullys.

Being a hero is mostly about being in the right place at the right time with the right tools and experience. Meet Captain Chesley Burnett “Sully” Sullenberger III, born to fly. Or, better yet, born to crash. There are very few men alive who could have set that powerless plane down on the water like it was a cigarette boat coming into dock. “We’ll be in the Hudson,” he calmly radioed the tower.

Everything that Sully learned in some 40 years of stick and rudder would be needed on this chilly day in mid January, to pull 155 airline passengers and crew back from the edge of certain death. A pilot since the age of 14, he has done virtually everything one can do in connection with flying. He graduated the top flier in his class from The Air Force Academy. He flew fighter jets and has been a commercial pilot since 1980. He owns his own airline safety consulting business. He had been preparing for his moment all his life. No engines? No problem; Sully flies gliders.

If you ever had to pick the right guy to land a falling passenger plane on a river, Sully had the right resume.

Although, it isn’t really like he had much choice. Pure self-preservation demanded it. The engines stopped and gravity took over. Now, you either fly or die. I’m not discounting his heroics, but it was his fundamental knowledge of the forces of lift and drag, and the pinball wizard’s familiarity with the controls and capabilities of an Airbus 320 that enabled him and everyone behind him to survive, not uncommon valor. He didn’t walk into a burning building to save a child; he woke up in a burning building and got everyone out.

Again, this is no question of his heroism, but he didn’t go from obscure airline pilot to hero in an instant; the hero was already galvanized in him, and when he was called upon he was ready.

So, when you think about what really saved all of those lives, what really put a prepared Sully in that sea it was things like passion, discipline, duty, honor, loyalty, work ethic, attitude and selflessness. Moldy old words to some, but not to men like Sully.

And, that’s a long way from the shrill lament of “Me, Me, Me!”

Long before the events on the Hudson, Sully was highly respected both as a pilot and a man. Sully was the best at what he did and a nice guy, to boot.

The wonderful thing about waking up in the morning is that we never know who is going to make history today-maybe even you or me. But, the question is, when we are called upon, will we be ready? Well, the time has come.

During halftime of the NBA all star game, our first African-American President, Barack Obama, spoke to the television audience about the need to do something for others and the attitude we need to get through the challenges we face. For far too long, we have argued that for some to be winners, others must be losers. But, change has come to America and, if we don’t come together as one, there will be only losers. If our plane sinks, we all drown.

At a time when jocks, actors, and musicians are looked up to as role models, it is good to be reminded that many real heroes just go about their business until the light shines briefly on them. They stick by friends, family, neighbors, and community. They give more than they take. And when we need them most, they are there. They represent the best in all of us.

A hero isn’t someone who throws, or dribbles, or kicks; a hero is someone who takes responsibility for those around him. No special skills are required. Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, but what they have in common is consideration for others.

If you are a secret hero waiting for your moment, your time has come. We need leadership at every level. We need to replace politicians with public servants, takers with givers, and talkers with doers. For too long, we have abdicated our responsibilities for everything from child rearing to representative government. And now, we see what we have gotten for our lack of participation.

It’s time to take back control of our own ship. It’s Sully time in America

5:26 PM - Jun. 17, 2009 - comments {0} - post comment

Uncle Sam's New GI Bill

In August 2009, the Post- 9/11 Veterans' Educational Assistance Act (signed by President Bush in 2008) kicks in for qualifying members of the military on active duty since September 11, 2001. The most comprehensive education program since 1944, this law is designed to provide veterans with a similar level of educational benefits provided to service members at the end of World War II.

Under the new law, qualifying veterans could receive payment up to the full cost of tuition and fees at the most expensive public school in the state in which you enroll. This basically guarantees a free education if you attend your state institution and qualify for the full amount. Under the new law, the current $1,200 program enrollment fee will also be waived.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the maximum basic benefit is earned after serving an aggregate of 36 months of active duty service or after 30 days of continuous service for those individuals who were discharged for a service-connected disability. Individuals serving between 90 days and 36 months of aggregate active duty service will be eligible for a percentage of the maximum benefit.

Unlike previous bills, the new law extends equal benefits to activated members of the National Guard and the Reserves. The Veterans' Administration has advised that clarification and possibly revision may occur until the law takes effect. To learn more about this important bill, visit http://www.gibill.va.gov.

3:52 PM - Jun. 3, 2009 - comments {0} - post comment

Vacation Planning 101

Does planning your vacation cause you stress? If planned in advance and with a little organization, your next vacation could be your best one yet. Here are some tips to help you with your next vacation whether it is staying in state, relaxing on a beach or going on a safari:

3:40 PM - May. 28, 2009 - comments {0} - post comment

You CAN start your own business

If you’ve ever found yourself saying: “I should start my own business,” you’re not alone. Most Americans say they have at least considered starting their own business, or have actually done so at least once in their life. 

According to a new survey by FindLaw.com (http://www.findlaw.com), a popular website providing legal information, 61% of Americans have either started or thought about starting a small business, 30% of Americans say they have started at least one small business and an additional 31% of Americans have thought about starting their own business at some point in their lives.

Small businesses (defined as 500 or fewer employees) are an important part of the economy, generating a significant portion of new jobs and employ about half of all U.S. workers and have generated more than half of the new jobs created annually over the last decade, according to the Small Business Administration.

“Owning your own business is a dream that many people have and that many people act upon,” said Stephanie Rahlfs, an attorney and editor at FindLaw.com. “Even in difficult economic times, people often take advantage of opportunities to start a business where they see unmet needs, a chance to turn a personal passion or interest into a business, or because they want to have more control and responsibility over their work life.

“Starting a business involves many legal and regulatory requirements, including state and local licensing and registration, taxation, zoning, intellectual property and financing,” cautions Rahlfs. “Knowing what the requirements are, what information you’ll need, and where to find good advice and help are essential. Research has found that businesses that make it through the first four years have a much better chance of lasting long-term.”

If you are thinking about starting your own small business, follow these suggestions to help get your business off the ground and keep it going for the long haul:

1. Save up as much money as possible before starting. All too often, people go into business without any savings, exclusively using loan money from friends or banks. They except to be able to start paying the loans back right away with their profits. What these business owners don’t realize is that it can take months or years to make a profit.

2. Start on a shoestring. Think small. Don’t rent premises if you can work somewhere else, and don’t hire employees until you can keep them busy. People who start their small business on the cheap, often in a garage, den, or some other scavenged space, and create their first goods or services with more sweat than cash, have the luxury of making their inevitable rookie mistakes on a small scale.

3. Protect your personal assets. When you go into business for yourself, you are usually personally liable for all judgments and debts that the business incurs. This includes business loans, taxes, money owed to suppliers and landlords, and any judgments against the business as a result of a lawsuit. If you don’t protect yourself, a creditor can go after your personal assets, such as your car and your house, to pay for these debts.

4. Understand how - and if - you will make a profit. You should be able to state in just a few sentences how your business plans to make a substantial profit. For starters, you need to know your costs: how much you’ll spend purchasing inventory, paying the rent, compensating any employees, and covering what is likely to be a surprisingly long list of other costs. Then you can figure out exactly how much you need to sell each month, for how many dollars, to cover those expenses and have an adequate profit besides. These numbers are all you need to create a “break-even analysis.”

5. Make a business plan. Understanding your profit numbers and creating a break-even analysis is the first step in making a business plan. For most small companies, the key portions of a business plan are the break-even analysis, a profit-and-loss forecast, and a cash flow projection. Creating a business plan allows you to determine what your projected start-up costs are (how much money you’ll need to save) and what you marketing strategies are (how you’ll reach customers to make sales). If you can’t make the numbers work on paper, you won’t be able to make them work in real life.

6. Get and keep a competitive edge. Building a competitive edge into the fabric of your business is important to long-term success. Some ways to get this edge are by knowing more than your competitors, making a product that is hard or impossible to imitate, being able to produce or distribute your product more efficiently, having a better location, or offering superior customer service.

7. Put all agreements in writing. The laws of your state require you to put some contracts and agreements in writing: Contracts that will last longer than a year, contracts that involve the sale of goods worth $500 or more, contracts that transfer the ownership of copyrights or real estate.

8. Hire and keep good people. Your goal should be to hire and retain truly excellent employees - not just reasonably competent ones. A highly competent and truly enthusiastic employee is at least two and sometimes even three times as valuable as a person of average skills.

9. Pay attention to the legal status of your workers. When you hire workers as independent contractors, make sure they shouldn’t really be taxed as employees. The IRS can impose substantial penalties against you for not withholding taxes and paying taxes for a worker who is really an employee.

10. Pay your bills early and your taxes on time. In the real world, where a reputation for keeping one’s word is a hugely important asset, a good strategy is to pay your bills up front or pay them early. You gain trust, build a positive credit profile, and have a built-in safety net if things go badly.

11:29 AM - Apr. 28, 2009 - comments {0} - post comment

Getting fit on a budget

This article is by The Debt Diva

More than 80 million Americans go on diets each year, taking a pledge to lose weight, but getting in gear and joining a gym can add up during these tough economic times. But you don’t have to break your healthy resolution because it’s breaking your bank. The Debt Diva, Clarky Davis, offers some great ways to stay in shape on budget in the new Debt Diva Frugal Fitness Guide. 

The Frugal Fitness Guide outlines ways consumers can save money in all areas of their fitness routine. Ordinary items in the home can become workout tools, turning a living room into a gym.

“You’d be surprised at how differently you can look at your couch, a dinner table and even a wall,” says Davis on turning your home to your very own gym. “Everyday items around the home can used as props to hold your feet, keep you balanced and most importantly, help you get in shape you fulfill your resolution to get fit and fabulous, frugally.”

Consumers can also learn smart ways to buy the right foods to stay healthy without spending a fortune. The Debt Diva’s Guide points consumers to community resources they can use on a regular basis to help them save money and stay on track. Davis also suggests ways to lock in a routine alone or with a workout buddy.

Davis offers some great alternative ways to get fit. Stay on top of your fitness goal in 2009 with these tips from The Debt Diva:

1. The best thing you can do for yourself is just to get up and start moving! Take a few minutes each day to stretch out before you start any exercise is a great way to start any workout whether it’s cardio or strength training.

2. The American Heart Association says that a simple 20 to 30 minute walk three times a week will make you feel more energetic, happier and calmer. You mostly want to increase your heart rate when you’re working out, because the more it increases, the more calories you burn. And the more you burn, the more fat you’ll lose.

3. If you have a limited amount of time and are jumping into a workout routine for the first time, start with squats, lunges, pushups and crunches. And best of all, these are all things you can do in your home using ordinary items in your home for support - like the floor, a wall, your couch or even a dining room chair.

4. A set of weights is as close as your pantry. A regular can of soup weighs just about 2 pounds, which is fine to start with if you haven’t done much exercise. If you’ve tried a can of soup, use water bottles for more mass, which can weight about 3 to 4 pounds.

5. After you drink the water, dry out the bottle and fill it with rice to increase the weight.

6. When you’ve started to build your routine, try using plastic milk jugs filled with water (or just halfway) to increase the weights you are lifting. Just remember to tape the lids on securely or do these exercises on a linoleum or tile floor in case you have a spill.

7. Walking and jogging are great cardio exercises you can do around the house.

8. Cleaning your house also burns the calories just like walking and jogging. An hour of cleaning will burn about 200 calories!

9. Work out with a friend. You’ll help each other stay motivated and you’ll most likely stick to a routine because you know someone else is counting on you.

10. Turn your workout into time for the family by incorporating activities for everyone. It can be as simple as a game of tennis or a visit to the playground.

“Getting fit on a budget can be fun and rewarding for your wallet and your health,” says Davis. “Don’t forget to set short term and long term goals for your workout. Your short term goal should be achievable within a month, while your long term goals can be achieved over an extended period of time. Reward your short term goals with a new work out challenge so you’re not spending what you’ve saved. Then take the money you save and reward yourself in a big way, with a new outfit for example, when you achieve your long term goal.”

6:09 PM - Apr. 2, 2009 - comments {0} - post comment

Tips for cold and flu season

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the common cold is one of the largest contributors to missed work and school every year. There are more than 200 documented viruses that can cause cold symptoms of varying severity, and no known cures, therefore, more emphasis must be placed on prevention this cold and flu season.

Although it seems nearly impossible to avoid catching some form of a cold or flu, the University of Phoenix College of Nursing is recommending the following tips to reduce your chances of becoming sick:

1. Get a Flu shot. The CDC recommends the flu shot for children aged 6 months to 19 years, pregnant women, people 50 years of age and older, anyone with certain chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma or COPD, people who live in nursing homes and long term care facilities, and for people who live with or care for those who are at high risk.

2. Hands off. Most cold and flu viruses are spread by hand to hand or skin to skin contact, so direct your germs into a tissue or your elbow when you cough or sneeze.

3. Sleep tight. Lack of sleep may profoundly weaken your immune system.

4. Stay hydrated. Drinking extra fluids and clear soups prevent dehydration caused by fever; can loosen mucus, and keeps your throat moist.

5. Avoid alcohol and smoking. Also avoid secondhand smoke which can make cold symptoms worse.

6. Use over the counter medication. Carefully read the labels of all medicines and remember that there are over the counter remedies, including decongestants that are not available on the shelf but can be obtained from the pharmacist. Parents should contact their child’s health care provider for advice on their child’s cold because many over the counter medications are no longer recommended.

7. See your doctor if symptoms persist. Generally, you can beat the common cold and flu without a trip to the doctor, but if symptoms last more than 10 days or you have trouble breathing, call you doctor immediately. Children should be seen for any worsening symptoms, especially cough, persistent fever for more than 5 days, or any fever of 105 or higher.

3:03 PM - Mar. 21, 2009 - comments {0} - post comment

Going "green" in today's economy

Much has been written about reducing one’s carbon footprint and being green. There is more action than ever before in many earth conscious arenas including; renewable energy, recycling and mass transportation with live/work centers along their routes. We are seeing the banishment of plastic bags and the plethora of re-usable shopping bags available to us. Steel or ceramic water bottles are the new rage; replacing the disposable water bottle as many people’s daily companion. We’ve become a nation more focused on conservation than ever before.

2:53 PM - Mar. 17, 2009 - comments {0} - post comment

Tips for a larger tax refund

No one ever wants to pay more taxes than necessary, but this year it's even more important to save every penny you can. Here are some tips that can help you get a larger refund:

Property Tax Deduction for Non-Itemizers: Before 2008, only people who itemized their deductions could deduct property taxes. For 2008, individuals who do not itemize can deduct up to $1,000 of property tax on a joint return or $500 on a single return.

Driving Deductions: The IRS increased the cents-per-mile deduction for business-related driving expenses from 50.5 cents to 58.5 cents from July 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008. They also increased the rate for deducting medical and moving driving-related expenses from 19 cents to 27 cents for that same time period.

Disaster Losses: Casualty losses (i.e. like those from storm or fire damage) are normally deductible only to the extent they exceed 10% of AGI. For 2008, casualties in federally declared disaster areas can be deducted without having to abide by the 10%-of-AGI rule, which raises the amount that is deductible.

Capital Losses: Review your portfolio and note all your realized losses for 2008. You can write these off against capital gains and you can have a net loss of up to $3,000 deductible against your salary and other ordinary income. What's more, any excess can be used to offset gains or can be deducted in 2009 or later years.

Retirement Plan Contributions: You can make tax-saving contributions to retirement plans for 2008 through April 15, 2009.

Charitable Donations: Not only can you claim deductions for money and items you donate to a charity, you can also claim deductions for expenses you incur on a charity's behalf (i.e. driving costs, printing costs, long distance phone call costs, etc.).

Make sure you take time to go through your records carefully so you receive the biggest refund possible.

3:43 PM - Mar. 9, 2009 - comments {1} - post comment

Get a good night's sleep

Millions of people have trouble sleeping. Sometimes it's the stress of a job or the anxiety over the economy. But, all too often, lack of sleep is actually caused by everyday habits that interfere with your natural resting cycle. If you or someone you know have experienced trouble sleeping, follow these simple steps to help get your body back on a restorative cycle.

Follow the ABCs of bedtime – To help yourself get a good night's sleep, make sure your bedroom is: (A) quiet, (B) dark, and (C) comfortable. After all, if you're constantly awakened by noise or light, you can't expect to fall into a deep, restorative sleep. That goes for comfort, too. Make sure your bedroom isn't too hot or too cold, and that your mattress and bedding are ideal for your preferences. You also don't want to go to bed hungry or full, so monitor your snacking habits before you head off to bed. Finally, remember that your dog or cat may be the cause of your discomfort. If you sleep with your pets, try putting them on the floor for a few nights to see if your sleep improves.

Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine – Most people know that caffeine will keep you awake, but few people realize how long it stays in your system. The fact is, you should cut caffeine out of your diet at least 6 hours before you go to bed. Similarly, you shouldn't drink alcohol too close to bedtime either. Although it may make you feel tired at first, it may be the reason you wake up in the middle of the night and have trouble getting back to sleep. Research has also shown that use of nicotine too close to bedtime may make it difficult to fall asleep, and the withdrawal from it in the middle of a sleep cycle may contribute to further sleep disturbances.

Find a stress-free ritual before bed – Regardless of how stressful your day or the economic news is, you need to find a way to put it out of your mind before bedtime. So find a stress-free ritual like reading or listening to music. Just make sure it helps you relax, calm down, and stop thinking about those stressful events that filled your day.

Watch your workout schedule – Exercise is good for your body for a number of reasons, including relieving stress and helping you sleep better. But make sure you pay attention to when you workout. If you exercise too close to bedtime, you may end up energizing your body. So try to work out during the afternoon or even in the morning if you find your workout routine is interfering with your body's ability to slow down before bed.

Don't drink just before bed – One of the main reasons people wake up in the middle of the night and disrupt their sleep is that old familiar trip to the bathroom. By not drinking too close to bedtime – say, after 8 p.m. – you can help eliminate the urge to wake up at night.

Keep your naps to 20 minutes or less – Falling asleep during the day can be a welcome rest, but it can also throw off your sleep pattern. If you can, try to avoid naps during the day. If you do need a short nap, try to keep it between 15-20 minutes...and make sure it's not too close to bedtime.

3:51 PM - Mar. 7, 2009 - comments {1} - post comment

Healthy recipes = healthy food

We all have our favorite recipes, but many of these are loaded with fats and contain little nutrition. Use these tips to adjust your recipes to make them healthier:

12:59 PM - Feb. 23, 2009 - comments {1} - post comment

You CAN stay connected with family and friends

The holiday season has once again come and gone. And while some of us may be mourning the end of the large holiday feasts and seemingly bottomless platters of treats, many people may also feel a little melancholy about being out of touch with friends and family. After all, one of the best things about the holiday season is spending time with family or reading holiday letters about what your friends did during the past year.

The good news is, you don't have to wait an entire year to reconnect with friends and family members. That's because social networking websites like MySpace.com and Facebook.com as well as sites like Twitter.com and even blogs are ideal for establishing relationships and staying in touch with your friends and family members. The ages of people on these networks range from computer-savvy high school kids to middle-aged professionals. That means there's a good chance you can connect with a number of your friends, family members, and even acquaintances you haven't seen in years!

How to Decide Which Option Best Suits You

With so many ways to connect with people, it's hard to know which option best suits you. The key is to understand some of the basic differences...and to focus on which option(s) will allow you to communicate the way you want to communicate. To help with the decision, the following list breaks down some of the most popular options and how they can help you stay in touch.

Short updates...without the hassle. If you're just looking for a way to share short blurbs about what you're doing, you may feel like a blog or social networking site is too overwhelming or time-intensive for you. The good news is, there's an option that's perfect for you. Social messaging or micro-blogging sites like Twitter.com are designed to deliver short messages or updates. For instance, the longest message you can post on Twitter is only 140 characters long – yes, characters, not words. So there's no pressure to write a long story or upload pictures. You simply type a sentence or two and hit send. You can even send messages via a text message from your cell phone. And when you log into your site to see what friends and family members are doing, you get the same short messages in return. No worries about linking to multiple pages or reading long posts. Just concise blurbs...all posted on one convenient screen for you to read. And best of all, it's free to set up and use!

Show photos, post updates, chat online, or send emails. For a more full-featured way to stay connected, you may want to sign up for a social networking site like Facebook.com or MySpace.com. These sites are free and allow you to write regular updates like a micro-blog site, but they also enable you to post pictures as well as send emails to a special inbox on the site. You can also use the site like an Instant Messaging program, so you can see which friends or family members are online at the same time as you and chat instantly! And, most social networking sites allow you to control some aspect of privacy, so you can set parameters determining who can see your content. Of course, the numerous social networking sites aren't exactly the same. For example, some sites like MySpace offer greater customization, so you can really make your page fit your personality. In addition, you may find that most of the people you want to stay connected with are already signed up on a certain site. So talk to your friends and family members before choosing which site – or sites – you want to use.

Share longer stories and post pictures for the world to see. If you want to share more than a sentence here or there, you may want to start a blog. Blog sites such as Blogger.com and Wordpress.com allow you to set up a blog for free. With these sites, you can write longer articles and even post pictures. The software walks you through the process, so it's easy to do...even if you're new to the whole "online communication" concept. Another nice benefit of blogs is that your friends and family members don't need to be members of a site to read your updates or see your pictures. They just need to know the URL so they can type it into their browser. So, it's convenient for everyone.

Set up your own social network. You may want to have a social network set up just for a specific group. For example, you may want to have one place where all your family can come together to communicate. Or, you may want a special network set up for a work group or class reunion. Regardless of what it's for, setting up your own social network is actually easier than you think when you use sites like Ning.com. With a Ning site, you can invite only the members you want to have access to the site, so it has an added element of privacy. In addition, each member can update their own profile...and you can even include a calendar of events and a discussion forum that everyone can access. With these added benefits, your social network site can truly become the one place that your entire family comes together...just like the dining room table during the holidays, except it's online!

Getting Started

Facebook, MySpace, blogs, and other social networking sites like Ning offer somewhat different services, but they all have similar features. The nice thing is, getting started on a social networking site or blog is easy and can often be done in as little as 15 minutes. Here are some things you'll want to have handy before you begin:

Write a profile. Social networking sites are all about getting to know each other and keeping people up-to-date on what's going on in your life. If you don't have a profile, people can't get to know you. Start by writing a few lines about yourself and what you're interested in.

Pick a profile picture. People like to see who they're talking to. Select a picture that is fun but also somewhat professional. Remember, in addition to your friends and family members, you may end up communicating with co-workers or future employers. So make sure you maintain a public image that works for all situations.

Get some content ready. Start by making a list of items you can add to your page today. You'll want a variety of information: some fun interests and hobbies, along with some insightful details like where you went to school and when you graduated. If you're starting a page on a social networking site, you may even want to get a few pictures of your family or a recent vacation ready so you can share them with friends.

Gather usernames from friends. Many social networking sites have features that allow you to search for former classmates or to check your email address list. But, it's probably a good idea to gather a few usernames of friends so you can connect with them as soon as you set up your page. If you plan on starting a blog, you may want to gather the URLs of your friends' or family members' blogs as well. That way, you can add them as links on your blog for easy access by you and by your blog's visitors who may be interested.

After you get the content ready for one site, you can use that same information to register on other sites if you want. This way, you can manage multiple sites with relatively little work.

4:29 PM - Feb. 7, 2009 - comments {0} - post comment

Fun Presidential facts

 This month, everyone from your family and friends to your children's school will undoubtedly be talking about the historic inauguration of the 44th President of the United States.

But did you know that Barack Obama won't actually be the 44th president? He'll only be the 43rd person to hold the office. So why all the confusion?

It all goes back to Grover Cleveland, who was elected to two terms as president. However, because his terms were not consecutive, he was counted twice – Cleveland is listed as the 22nd and the 24th president. As a result, the number of people who held office is actually one less than the number of presidents the United States has had.

That's just one of many fun presidential facts behind the story of America's presidents. For even more oddball twists and tidbits, take the quiz below and share the answers with your family and friends this month!

Take the Presidential Tidbit Challenge...

1. Who was the first president to live in the White House?

A. George Washington
B. John Adams
C. Millard Fillmore
D. Theodore Roosevelt

ANSWER: This is a bit of a trick question. Officially, John Adams became the first president to live in the presidential residence that we know as the White House. However, when he moved into the residence during 1800, it wasn't called the White House. Instead, it was referred to as the President's Palace, the President's House, or the Executive Mansion. The first president to live in the "White House" was Theodore Roosevelt, who gave the residence its official name in 1901.

2. Who was the tallest president?

A. James Madison
B. Abraham Lincoln
C. Benjamin Harrison
D. Franklin Pierce

ANSWER: The tallest president of the United States was Abraham Lincoln, who stood 6 feet, 4 inches tall. Conversely, the shortest president was James Madison, who was only 5 feet, 4 inches tall – an entire foot shorter than Lincoln.

3. Although it seems like an odd question, who was the first president to be born as a US citizen?

A. Abraham Lincoln
B. Martin Van Buren
C. Herbert Hoover
D. Richard M. Nixon

ANSWER: Martin Van Buren was the first president to be born as a citizen of the newly created United States of America. The seven presidents prior to Van Buren (Washington, J. Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, J.Q. Adams, and Jackson) were considered British subjects. Incidentally, William Henry Harrison, who took office immediately after Van Buren was also born as a British subject. The other names listed above also represent interesting facts about birthplaces of US presidents. Abraham Lincoln was the first president born outside of the original colonies. Herbert Hoover was the first president born west of the Mississippi River. And, finally, Richard Nixon was the first and only president born in California.

4. Who was the youngest president of the United States?

A. Theodore Roosevelt
B. Franklin Delano Roosevelt
C. John F. Kennedy
D. Ronald Reagan

ANSWER: This is another tricky one. Theodore Roosevelt was actually the youngest president of the United States. He was only 42 years old when he took office; however, he became president after William McKinley died in office. John F. Kennedy was the youngest president ever "elected" to office. He was only 43 years old when he was elected president in November of 1960. So depending on how you interpret the question, either answer could be correct. On the flip side, Ronald Reagan was the oldest president. He was 69 when he took office and 77 when he left.

5. Who was the first president to appear on television?

A. Warren G. Harding
B. Rutherford B. Hayes
C. Franklin D. Roosevelt
D. John F. Kennedy

ANSWER: Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first president to appear on TV. The appearance took place during the opening ceremonies of the World's Fair in 1939. John F. Kennedy, however, was the first president to give a live television news conference. Warren G. Harding and Rutherford B. Hayes had famous firsts of their own. Harding was the first president to address the nation via radio, and Hayes was the first president to have a telephone in the White House.

6. Which president was born on July 4th?

A. John Adams
B. Thomas Jefferson
C. James Monroe
D. (John) Calvin Coolidge

ANSWER: The only president to be born on the Fourth of July was Calvin Coolidge, who was born on July 4, 1872. However, three presidents died on this national holiday. Both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on July 4, 1826. And James Monroe died on July 4, 1831.

7. Which president lost the popular vote, but still became president?

A. John Quincy Adams
B. Rutherford B. Hayes
C. Benjamin Harrison
D. George W. Bush

ANSWER: All of the above. John Quincy Adams was actually voted into office by the House in 1824 after the general election failed to produce a majority of the electoral votes. The other three presidents listed above also took office despite losing the popular vote: Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876; Benjamin Harrison in 1888; and most recently George W. Bush in 2000.

8. Which president graduated from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis?

A. Ulysses S. Grant
B. Woodrow Wilson
C. Dwight D. Eisenhower
D. Jimmy Carter

ANSWER: The only president to graduate from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis was Jimmy Carter, who graduated in 1946 and then served in the nuclear submarine program. Ulysses S. Grant and Dwight D. Eisenhower both graduated from West Point. Woodrow Wilson, on the other hand, was the only president who had a Ph.D. He received a doctorate in political science from Johns Hopkins University in 1886.

9. Which president served in the US Congress after leaving office?

A. Andrew Johnson
B. John Quincy Adams
C. John Tyler
D. William Howard Taft

ANSWER: Andrew Johnson and John Quincy Adams were the only two former presidents to serve in the US Congress after leaving office. Johnson served in the Senate, and Adams served in the House. John Tyler did not serve in the US Congress, but he did serve as a delegate to the provisional Congress of the Confederacy after the outbreak of the Civil War. On the other hand, William Howard Taft is the only president to serve as chief justice of the US Supreme Court. After leaving the White House, he became a professor of constitutional law at Yale and was later appointed chief justice in 1921.

10. Who is the only person to become president without being elected as either president or vice president?

A. Millard Fillmore
B. Theodore Roosevelt
C. Gerald Ford
D. Lyndon Johnson

ANSWER: The only person ever to become president of the United States without being elected as either president or vice president is Gerald Ford. He was nominated to be Richard Nixon's vice president after Spiro Agnew resigned. Later, when Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974, Ford became the 38th president.

4:26 PM - Feb. 5, 2009 - comments {0} - post comment

Get ready for tax season

It's that time again...time to start gathering all of that dreaded documentation to send to good old Uncle Sam! Recent stats say the IRS audited approximately 1 out of every 97 returns last year, so it pays to be careful. And even though this may seem like a very painful process, taking just a few simple steps right now will make your tax filing far easier and more accurate.

Keep it together. Make a quick list of all the documents or statements that were needed to complete your return last year – or call your tax planning professional for a checklist. Use this as a checklist to make sure you have a good start on the documents you may need this year. As you receive tax documents in the mail, grab your checklist, and mark the item as received. Then, keep all of the tax documents together in a large file or envelope marked "2008 TAXES."

Do the math. According to the IRS, the most common mistake on tax returns is bad math – from transposed numbers to downright incorrect data. And with one form leading to another, those errors can make a huge impact. Even if you use tax software, you're not off-the-hook – since it only adds the numbers YOU put in. Double-check entries carefully.

Every last cent. The IRS receives copies of your Form 1099 earnings each tax season. So, they know how much you make in interest and dividend income, and they will use that info to double-check your filing information. Make sure you collect all your earnings statements and document them on your return.

Sign on the line. It sounds almost silly, but forgetting to sign a return is actually a fairly common oversight. And the IRS won't process a return that doesn't have a signature. So, make sure you sign to avoid resubmitting your paperwork and possibly paying late-filing fees.

Remember, there isn't a lot of room for error when you're dealing with the IRS. A slight miscalculation could mean the difference between getting a return and writing a check – or worse, paying a penalty. It pays to work with a tax professional.

Beware of Tax Scams this Time of Year

As tax season rolls around, so do the scam artists. That's right...phishing criminals who want your personal information use this hectic and confusing time of year to prey on unsuspecting individuals.

These unscrupulous scammers send spam emails that appear to be from the IRS. These emails are often written to persuade you to link to a website that will allow you to update your data or receive important information. Remember, these phishing emails are quite sophisticated, and the links send you to what usually appear to be legitimate IRS or government websites. In reality, they are not. These sites will prompt you to divulge private information under the guise of the IRS requiring it, or sometimes, ironically, to protect you from identity theft or loss of privacy.

Although these emails are sophisticated and appear to be genuine, there are some simple steps you can take to avoid falling prey to one of these scams.

Always be suspicious of emails. Remember, the IRS does NOT initiate communication with taxpayers through email, but rather through the regular mail. If you receive an email that says it's from the IRS, you should immediately be suspicious and should forward it in its entirety to the IRS, so that they can take steps to shut down the fraudulent and bogus websites. The IRS requests that you forward all questionable emails to phishing@irs.gov.

Double-check the URL address. Keep in mind that all IRS websites begin with the following web address: http://www.irs.gov/. So, if you ever click a link in an email or visit a website that you believe is related to the IRS, the first thing you should do is confirm that the website begins with the correct URL address. Remember, sometimes it may "look" legitimate, but is actually an imposter site that is phishing for information. So always, always double-check the actual URL address before you type any information in the site.

Exercise extreme caution with attachments. When it comes to questionable emails, the best practice is to never open any attachments. That's because attachments are an extremely common method that hackers use to infect your computer with programs that may harm your computer or steal your personal information – often without you even knowing!

In today's technological environment, electronic communication offers us tremendous speed and convenience. But it can also be used for unethical purposes by scammers. Most organizations have worked very hard to put strict privacy policies in place. As a result, government agencies and financial institutions will almost NEVER ask you to divulge personal information via email.

If you receive any email asking for personal information of any kind, you should immediately be suspicious. When in doubt, call the customer service lines listed on your statements or documents and discuss the email that you received.

Make Sure You Get Your Money Now...Rather than Waiting for a Refund Next Year

While you're getting your tax information ready for the past year, it's a good time to look ahead to the coming year. For many of us, it's a constant balancing act to make sure we're withholding enough so that we don't have to pay at the end of the year, but getting a return at the end of the year isn't necessarily the best plan either. When you think about it, getting a refund check means that you let the IRS use your money throughout the year without paying you any interest. Wouldn't you rather have that money to use during the year?

Here's how you do it. The IRS allows you to increase the number of dependants on your W-4 withholding form, meaning that less will be withheld for taxes from each paycheck. But don't go overboard. You should only lessen the periodic tax withholding to match the expected refund. This way you are taking your refund as you go...instead of letting the IRS hold on to it.

Believe it or not, the IRS actually makes it easy to calculate! The IRS offers a handy IRS Bean Counter calculator for free, which lets you see how a change in withholding will affect your paycheck. Take advantage of this calculator today to see how changes can impact your take-home pay.

4:21 PM - Feb. 3, 2009 - comments {0} - post comment

Keep that exercise resolution

OK, it's about time for you to abandon that "more exercise" resolution you made on January 1st.  Here is an article by Smooth FItness that might help you stick to it.

For many Americans, the New Year means a clean slate and a chance to right the wrongs of the previous year. Unfortunately, each year millions of us make some type of fitness-related New Year’s resolution, but only about 20% of those resolutions are actually kept. Smooth Fitness, an online retailer of home fitness equipment, provides some advice to help everyone reach their fitness goals for 2009.

“We see it every year, everyone sticks to their resolution for a few weeks, maybe a month, but eventually they slip back into their bad habits,” said Chad Tackett, Certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Expert, Smooth Fitness. “The key thing for people to understand is that in order to be successful it is really about a lifestyle change, not crash diets or workout fads.”

A few tips for the start of a healthy year and ways to stick to your New Years resolution:

1. Set a realistic goal - Resolving to look like a supermodel is not realistic for the majority of people but eating healthier and increasing daily physical activity certainly is possible.
2. Develop a plan of attack - Determine your goals and specify how you will achieve them. Be specific. “Exercise” isn’t a specific plan, but running for 20 minutes each morning is a plan. It is also helpful to set milestones you plan to reach throughout the year rather than just one overall goal. It is much less intimidating to attempt to achieve a series of small goals throughout the year than one lofty goal that seems far out of reach.
3. Adjust your diet accordingly - Drink more water. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Take a daily vitamin. Substitute sugar and flour with Splenda and whole grains. A well-balanced diet will be crucial to reaching your fitness goals.
4. Do the little things - Take the stairs instead of using the elevator. Park further away from the office building. Do a few jumping-jacks during television commercial breaks. You’ll be amazed with how quickly all the little things begin to add up.
5. Don’t go it alone - Everyone needs a little help from time to time. Ask friends and family to participate in your resolution. You can also enlist the help of a professional fitness trainer.
6. Celebrate your successes - When you reach a milestone, reward yourself with something special. This doesn’t mean having a big piece of cake because you lost 5 pounds. Try something non-food related like a professional massage or round of golf.

3:54 PM - Jan. 30, 2009 - comments {0} - post comment

Frugal is In - 7 ways to save

This article is by George Mantor known as “The Real Estate Professor” for his wealth building formula, Lx2+(U²)xTFP=$? and consumer education efforts.

For the last two decades, our freeways have been getting increasingly clogged with a steady stream of trucks loaded with imported goods. They were advertised to us and we bought them. I like my stuff. Sometimes it’s a little overwhelming and, in an odd sort of way, I don’t own it, it owns me.

It would be easy to blame crooked politicians and their global capitalization for our declining prosperity, collapsing infrastructure, looming debt, lack of health care, and the other problems that don’t bode well for our future; but hey, we elected them.

We were willing participants in a headlong scramble for the “good life.” We rushed from the farms to the assembly lines, and from the factories to steel and glass towers, and now they don’t need us any more. If you worked in the rust belt a couple of decades ago, the words of a Bruce Springsteen song might mean something to you, “…these jobs are going boys and they ain’t coming back.”

We have been marketed to, and we were encouraged to consume. Twenty years ago I got by just fine with what I had. But, who doesn’t want a big screen plasma, a faster computer and an iPod? However, it all comes with a price tag and we don’t quite have enough.

The American savings rate is far below historic lows, but I think saving might just come back into vogue. There could be a time coming when you wish you had a little stash of cash. But, with prices rising and the American workers earnings not keeping pace, what is there to save?

From the crash of 1929 to the end of World War Two in 1945, Americans became more resourceful than at any time in our history. They saved or recycled everything, and got by on what they needed.

The fact is that we have simply forgotten how to save. We have been encouraged to consume, not to save. We are wasteful in ways we do not even realize; hence, we do not see opportunities to save.

Don’t think of savings as not spending money, rather see it as a way of getting what you really want, a house full of imported crap on it’s way to the junkyard or a little less anxiety about the future. It’s a choice.

1. Be proactive

Make a game out of it. Pennies are points, so scoring is easy. Everyone in the family can play because pennies are easy to come by. I guarantee if you see it that way, you’ll never pass up a penny in the street again. The idea is to make the goal of savings more fun than the goal of temporary distraction. If the act of saving isn’t fun, you probably won’t do it.

2. Create a budget

Simply make a list of the bills you pay every month. What can be reduced to create regular savings? Can you eliminate a phone line and do you really need the premium cable package when everything winds up on DVD? Many categories, including utility bills, clothing, groceries and sundries are ripe for savings. Take the electric bills for the last six months, add up what you paid, divide by six and you have your monthly average. By simply being conscious of opportunities to conserve energy, you should be able to save a few more dollars every month.

3. Establish a Kitty

Put the pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters and even folding money in the Kitty. Keep it handy. My grandmother raised six children during the Depression; her Kitty was a sugar bowl in the pantry. She never spent change, saying that these were the seeds of more dollars and we wanted to grow more dollars. If she saved money with a coupon or a bargain, she put that money in the sugar bowl and, when the bowl was full, she was off to the bank to deposit in her savings account.

Clip coupons, take surveys, get cash back, join shopping clubs and when savings are realized, put the equivalent amount in the Kitty. Often, register receipts will show your savings total. Put that in the Kitty. Tax refund-in the Kitty. Any found money goes in the Kitty.

When the Kitty gets full, take it to your bank or credit union and deposit it in your savings account. Here’s a great idea; Coinstar, the coin counting machines, are now participating with some credit unions and banks so that you can direct deposit your change right from Coinstar into your savings account.

Savings accounts don’t pay much interest, but don’t worry too much about that.

Once you start accumulating money, you’ll want to have it working as hard as you do and generating as high a rate of return as possible. But first, your goal is to have six months of budgeted living expense saved.

Distribute them between a savings account to collect the money and a Money Market Account to generate a higher return with no risk and easy liquidity.

Depending on your institution’s minimum money market balance, say $2500, you might want to collect $5,000 in your savings account and then move half to the money market account to get started.

After you have saved six months living expense, it’s time to start saving for the long term; start investing the overage in the S & P 500 and forget about it.

If you haven’t been saving, you probably haven’t been interested in investing. Start with what’s easy and works. Over time, the S & P has produced a solid rate of return.

Now that you are taking your money seriously, you may be tempted to seek the highest returns possible. Starting out, settle for security and performance history.

4. Plan your purchases

One key to savings is simply to eliminate all impulse buying. If you really want something, take your time, research it, and see when and where you might get the best price. Any kid who grew up during the depression will tell you that one of the greatest aspects of getting something they really wanted was anticipation. The waiting, the thinking, the dreaming often deliver greater satisfaction than the thing itself.

My uncle broke my new Pogo Stick on my tenth birthday before I ever even got to try it, and, despite promises, it was never replaced. I spent a lot of time anticipating my birthday and the joy of my Pogo Stick, and then I got to anticipate its replacement until winter came. Knowing me as I do, I probably would have gotten bored with jumping up and down after about four days, but many a happy hour was spent thinking about it.

Everything goes on sale at some point. And, if you plan your purchases, you’ll get a discount of 30-50 percent.

5. Buy things that last

…..like a better Pogo Stick. Often, the best value isn’t the cheapest but rather, the highest quality. Not having to replace something is an easy way to save money.

6. Ask, do I really need it?

I’ve made it through life without a Pogo Stick and still had a pretty good time, and plenty of ups and downs. Sorry, I couldn’t resist. The point is that it is okay not to have everything you want. The thing probably won’t deliver the satisfaction you imagined and it won’t fill the void of wanting. In a short time, you will be wanting something else, and your former heart’s desire will collect dust somewhere.

7. Can you do it yourself?

Gardening is a pleasant hobby to some but, during the Depression, it was a necessity. Canning and preserving food is a chore but families then had no other choice. The added benefit of gardening is that you can have the most flavorful organic food without worrying about where it came from or how it was grown.

We do not know what we are capable of until we are really challenged. We can all do more for ourselves, get by on less, do without some things and, with the right mindset, become a nation of savers.

Depression era thinking is coming back. Throwing things away is so yesterday. Besides, there is no more “away” in which to “throw” things. The landfills are all full. Just when it seemed everything was headed for disposability, durability will make a comeback out of necessity.

The mantra of the Depression was, “Use it up, wear it out, make do, do without!” Now, that appears to be solid advice for the future. Being frugal could be the new fashion. And it could be fun.

2:04 PM - Jan. 28, 2009 - comments {0} - post comment

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