Archive for August 30th, 2008
by Tina T Willer
When you are making money, does it slip through your fingers almost as quickly as you make it? Do you buy things on sale even when you don’t need them? See just how impulsive you are. Be truthful:
1.) Do you live from paycheck to paycheck?
2.) Are you surprised each month when your credit card bill arrives at how much more you charged than you thought you had?
3.) Do you have more shoes and clothes in your closet than you could ever possibly wear?
4.) Is you home or apartment cluttered, with items you rarely use?
5.) Do you buy things just because they are on sale?
If the answer to ANY of these questions was “yes”, I suggest you wait a full minute, at the minimum, and think about what you might buy, before making any purchases. If the answer to ALL of these questions was “yes”, the stores love you and turn on the sale lights when they see you coming. Wait 5 minutes, at the minimum, and think about what you might buy, before making any purchases.
Always put away a portion of your check into savings. Budgeting and setting money goals will help tremendously. Set a limit and budget on how much you will spend monthly on necessities, such as food, transportation and shelter and luxuries, such as another pair of black dress shoes.
You are not the only one who gets hurt when you impulse spend. Your family could get hurt too, with your unwise spending habits. Your friends could get annoyed with you not having money for entertainment with them, because you bought another pair of jeans to add to your collection.
We are not to blame for this habit we have acquired. Some messages are subliminal, and we are constantly being bombarded from every direction with ads telling and showing us how, where and what we should spend our money on to “keep up with society.” I cannot write this enough, always give yourself a minute or more to think about purchasing an unplanned item.
Cut up your credit cards if this will deter you from impulse spending. You can always get them back after you have cured yourself of this habit. Always make a list and check it twice when you are going shopping.
If you see something you think you really need, give yourself two weeks to decide if it is really something you need or something you can easily do without. By following this simple solution, you will mend your financial fences and your relationships.
About the Author:
Tina T Willer,MBA has authored Personal Finance Ebooks. Her advice aids hundreds of people, from all walks of life, in becoming more financially fit. Receive, Because You Deserve It, your FREE and Useful YOUR
MONEY, Personal Finance Newsletter.
by Sara Mendez
Now is the only time that is important. Many people get caught up in their day to day lives and focus on the future which can bring about anxiety or stress. Stress can cause many problems such as concentration issues, lack of good judgment, negativity and lack of productivity. The best way to combat these feelings of stress is through relaxation. Relaxation plays in a key roll in leading a healthy happy life. Relaxation takes as little as ten minutes a day and can be as simple as breathing exercises, or as challenging as a kick boxing class, the choice is yours.
Work, marriage and money are just a few things which can cause stress in peoples day to day lives. Often people get so busy and think they have no time to relax. They can also be fooled into thinking that they need to do something extreme or go someplace such as going on vacation to relax. These people are mistaken, relaxation can happen at home, in the office or while driving. The key is to train the mind to relax.
There are many ways in which you can relax. Finding your method is really your biggest obstacle, but it is easy, just think about what you enjoy most. Maybe you like listening to music, reading, meditating or walking. Any of these activities can be a relaxation method and can be scaled down to as little as ten minutes.
Something simple like watching TV, listening to music, surfing the web and reading offer a break from regular day to day situations. Books can create a world completely different from your own as can a good movie or song. Each of these activities help your mind escape into a visually exciting place.
Meditation can help you learn to control your body’s reaction to stress through reflection and deep breathing exercises. These techniques must be learned and practiced regularly to insure maximum results. You can achieve full relaxation through ten minutes of meditation, and most people have ten minutes to spare in their busy lives.
Other people prefer to hit the gym to relax. Some like to run, walk or lift weights. Others might prefer a cycling, kick boxing or tai chi class. Running and walking burn off excessive built up energy, however not everyone wants to run a marathon. For them there are other sorts of classes which sole purpose is relaxation such as yoga. Many people choose to skip the classes and gym all together and simply walk their dogs in the park.
Your body will tell you what it likes and what it doesn’t like, you just need to learn to listen. Take note of what worked and what didn’t while you were practicing different relaxing techniques. If one doesn’t work don’t be afraid to try a different approach. Make sure to keep yourself motivated by reminding yourself you will be healthier and happier in the end and think how nice it is to do something enjoyable.
Teaching your body something new is always a challenge, however once you get the hang of it, it is like riding a bike, your body won’t forget how. It is important to find an activity which you enjoy and know you will stick with, but you must make a conscious effort to remind and train your body to relax while performing this task. It may take time, but in the end the rewards will be fantastic for your mind, body and lifestyle.
by William Scott
It’s time to finally replace that leaky old faucet. That constant dripping is keeping you up all night and it’s not a simple repair like a washer which is called for; you’re going to have to replace the entire thing. So it’s off to the home supply store - and there you freeze, unable to choose from the huge variety of faucets on display.
Keeping the Same Style Is Easiest
The first thing you need to do is decide if you want to replace your bathroom faucet with the exact same style as before or go for something new. Replacing your faucet with the same style is the easiest route to go. You can remove the faucet from your sink and bring it with you to your local hardware store where you can buy the matching replacement. Of course if this isn’t possible or even feasible, your chore becomes a bit more complicated. There are many different types of mounting for your faucet and you will need to be aware of what type yours is before simply going and purchasing the new fixture. This is actually the hardest step in choosing your new faucet because the one that you really liked at the store may not work with the current configuration of your sink.
Determine Your Type of Mounting
There are some common types of mounting such as widespread faucets which have individual hot and cold water handles; center set faucets with just one handle to control both hot and cold water and covering all three holes which may be in your sink for mounting; mini widespread faucets which are similar to the widespread variety but positioned closer together, single-hole which is similar to the center set design but with only one hole and last but not least, wall mounted, most commonly found on your bathtubs. The center set and mini-widespread faucets are both aimed at sinks with pre-drilled 4″ holes and some of the single-holed faucets include covers allowing them to be used on a sink with 4″ pre-drilled holes. Needless to say if you have one of the other types, you would be best going for a replacement of the same kind.
Once you have determined what type of mount your sink has, your job of choosing a faucet comes down to aesthetics. Which finish will look best in your bathroom? This really is your personal preference and what will compliment the decor in your bath. It is also good to know whether or not your current faucet is a classical design (rounded edges, flowery embellishments) or modern (sharp angles, geometric embellishments). For example, if your bathroom is more of an antique decor, you may want to stick with a classical style, an everyday decor could use either, and somewhat futuristic decor would definitely go well with the modern styles.
Add the Finishing Touches
So you have chosen your new faucet and installation is on the horizon. But have you given any thought to the finish of your faucet? Bathroom fixtures come in all manner of finishes from shiny to dull and wrought iron to chrome. Every finish has its good and bad points. Chrome and stainless steel are probably the most common of finishes but they scratch easily and water spots and fingerprints show up all too clearly. Brass, which looks like gold and is very characteristic, rusts more easily. Brushed nickel, which does not show your fingerprints, is more costly and eventually its plating will wear away. The finish is a matter of personal choice, but knowing your options will help you to decide.
There is also a wide array of choices open as to the style of handles for your faucets. This is a matter of personal choice of course, but be sure to select one which matches your decor. Once you’ve selected the most suitable faucet, all that remains is to take it home and install.