6 Secrets To Sell Things On Craigslist

If you’re moving or just want to get rid of some extra things around your home, here are six tips to help you make the most of the online marketplace at www.craigslist.org: 1. Look at the “wanted” section to see if anyone wants what you’re selling. You may sell your item before creating an ad! 2. Research competition to see if your price is right. Search for similar items to set a competitive price, but leave room to negotiate. 3. Use your ad’s title to bring traffic. Be specific and state the price to get more people to click on your ad. “Nice brown couch” is not as good as “Lightly used Brown 60 inch Crate & Barrel couch $500.” Research similar products advertised and be more descriptive to make your ad stand out. 4. Include pictures or people may skip your ad. You don’t need a lot of pictures, but use at least one. Also, give specific details in the description (dimensions, attachments, etc.) to encourage serious buyers to contact you. And, specify “cash only,” “pick up only,” “all sales final,” “price is firm” or “OBO” (Or Best Offer). 5. Respond quickly by phone or email. Buyers have a lot of options and may move on to the next seller in the same day. 6. Keep your ad near the top. Every time you post an ad it appears at the top of the page, pushing other ads down. Check again tomorrow and it’s far down the page. Repost the ad every other day, or at least weekly, to increase the chance it gets noticed.

How to maintain strong bones?

First, while bone weakness is evident in older Americans, strong bones begin in childhood. Here are four steps you can take today to prevent osteoporosis and maintain strong, healthy bones: 1. Get the recommended amount of daily calcium by drinking milk and eating green leafy vegetables, soybeans, yogurt, and cheese. (1,000 mg of calcium per day). 2. Exercise 30 minutes per day for adults; 60 minutes a day for children. This can be walking, running, or any weight-baring exercise. 3. Get Vitamin D (200 IU), which is produced in the skin by exposure to the sun. It’s also found in fortified milk and cereals 4. Your doctor can order a bone density test (DEXA), which measures bone density at the spine, hip, and wrist where most fractures occur. For more information on osteoporosis, call 1-866-718-BONE, or go to www.surgeongeneral.gov.

Create Healthy Money Habits In Your Children…

We all want our kids to do well in life...and not make some of the mistakes we might have made. Here are seven important money strategies to teach your kids that will serve them well throughout their lives: 1) Don’t carry debt. Avoid credit card debt. It’s expensive money! In fact, about 30% of college graduates will enter the workforce with $10,000 to $25,000 in credit card debt and other loans. 2) Pay yourself first. Have your children open an investment account and regularly have them put away money for goals and emergencies. 3) Set up a budget and track your expenses. Help your children set up their own budget, and teach them how to track their income (from allowances, gifts, money earned) and expenses. 4) Don’t compare yourself with others. A friend may drive a fancy car and wear expensive clothing, but they actually may be deeply in debt. 5) Don’t trust anyone with your money. No one cares as much about your money as you do. 6) Invest in a Roth IRA, and/or a market index when you start earning money. To reach long-term goals investing is a must. 7) Money doesn’t buy happiness. Money can make life easier when you don’t have to struggle financially to make ends meet. But money can’t buy love or happiness.

Time for A Simple Blood Test?

How many episodes of ER have you watched and wondered...what exactly does the CBC tell these actors turned doctors? A CBC (complete blood count) can reveal a lot about your health. The CBC measures your hemoglobin (a protein that allows red blood cells to transport oxygen and gives blood its red color). Low hemoglobin indicates anemia. A hematocrit measures the volume that red blood cells take up in the blood. Elevated numbers may indicate dehydration, or it may be an early sign of cancer or kidney disease. Low numbers indicate anemia. Your white blood cells (WBC) fight infection and promote healing. A high WBC count indicates a bacterial infection. Very low numbers may indicate exposure to toxic drugs or environmental toxins, or other diseases. Your platelet count indicates your body’s ability to initiate blood clotting. A high number may indicate anemia, inflammation or a more serious condition. A low number may indicate an autoimmune disorder, allergic drug reaction, or an enlarged spleen. Your physician may order additional tests if your blood measurements don’t fall in the normal range. If you any questions about your CBC, be sure to ask your physician to explain the ranges and results to you.

Get Your Child Excited About Reading

Does your child spend too much time watching TV or playing video games and not enough time reading? Here are 7 quick tips to make reading fun and exciting: 1. Let your child choose books they’re personally interested in. This way they won’t get bored right away. If they can’t decide, help them by matching a book topic with one of their interests. 2. Encourage them to act out the book as a play. Kids love to perform for others, and this will help them remember more. 3. Ask your child to draw pictures of the characters. This gets them to really think about the details, plus it’s fun! 4. Read chapter books. These have more surprises and character development, which will help your child visualize the words more. 5. Take turns reading and let them ask questions. Also, have them read aloud to their siblings or friends. 6. Work with other parents to start a book club for kids. Here’s a video: www.howdini.com/howdini-video-14452277.html 7. Get your child an eReader. If you can’t get them away from video games, at least make their time in front of a screen more productive. If you have an iPAD, go to www.progressbythepage.com to find a reading app. It comes with a list of free eBooks, and ways to monitor their time spent reading.