Would you like to get more exercise, but just can’t find the time? The America on the Move (AOM) program at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center says there’s an easy way to get moving. You can lose weight, and increase your energy by wearing a pedometer. A pedometer helps you monitor how much exercise you’re getting each day. More exercise adds up to weight loss and an increase in your energy.
Just by adding about 2,000 steps a day to your daily activities and eating 100 calories less, (about what’s in a slice of bread), you’ll begin to see results. Every step counts and you can see them adding up. You’ll be more likely to park farther away from work or the store in the parking lot. You could take a short walk after dinner in the evening.
And it’s EASY...no trips to the gym, no exercise equipment to buy, and you can monitor how much exercise you’re getting during the day.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Financial Challenges Get Easier With a Little Help From Your Friends
That’s what Trent from “The Simple Dollar” blog calls someone close to you who seems to be facing similar financial challenges as you are. While a spouse is certainly a “money buddy,” it’s helpful to choose someone else (with a spouse’s okay) who can lend a different perspective. By linking up with that person (or a couple), you can support each other and benefit financially and psychologically. Here are 5 things you can do for each other:
Relieve tension and talk it out. Most of us keep our financial problems to ourselves. You’ll ease your stress if you have someone you trust to talk to. How much information you share is up to you.
Give and get advice from fresh eyes. When you’ve reached a point of financial indecision (“Which debt do I pay off first?” “What bank should I use?”), a money buddy is a second set of eyeballs to look at the situation.
Hold each other accountable for goals. If you set a goal for yourself, share it with your buddy and remind each other of your goals regularly. Knowing your buddy knows your goal can be a great motivator.
Share knowledge and resources. Split the cost of a warehouse shopping club membership or divide the items you buy in bulk.
Celebrate each other’s progress and successes. It’s even more gratifying when you take the journey together.
Relieve tension and talk it out. Most of us keep our financial problems to ourselves. You’ll ease your stress if you have someone you trust to talk to. How much information you share is up to you.
Give and get advice from fresh eyes. When you’ve reached a point of financial indecision (“Which debt do I pay off first?” “What bank should I use?”), a money buddy is a second set of eyeballs to look at the situation.
Hold each other accountable for goals. If you set a goal for yourself, share it with your buddy and remind each other of your goals regularly. Knowing your buddy knows your goal can be a great motivator.
Share knowledge and resources. Split the cost of a warehouse shopping club membership or divide the items you buy in bulk.
Celebrate each other’s progress and successes. It’s even more gratifying when you take the journey together.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Try It…It Works!
Are you a member of the WD-40 fan club? Try these amazing uses:
• Untangle jewelry chains
• Lubricate window tracks
• Loosen stubborn zippers
• Clean scuff marks off floors
• Keep pigeons off balconies (they hate the smell)
• Protect silver from tarnishing
• Remove tar & grime from cars
• Untangle jewelry chains
• Lubricate window tracks
• Loosen stubborn zippers
• Clean scuff marks off floors
• Keep pigeons off balconies (they hate the smell)
• Protect silver from tarnishing
• Remove tar & grime from cars
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Sometimes a Little Stress is OK
Some forms of stress can be helpful. Say you take a
drink of coffee and burn your mouth. Chances are, you’ll
remember to test it before you drink next time. But what
if you spend all week practicing how to ask your boss
for a raise? Then, right before you talk to your boss, you
get an angry call from a customer. In this case, you may
have trouble remembering what you wanted to say.
It turns out there’s a link between stress and memory.
A recent study shows that when stress hormones are
released during or right after an event, they can make
that event easier to remember. But if they’re released
before or too long after an event, your memory of that
event is likely to fade. So, you clearly remember being
burned by hot coffee—ouch! But the stress of the angry
customer, hours after you planned your speech, makes
you forget what you wanted to say to your boss.
In the right amounts, stress can be helpful. It can help
you run from or fight danger. It can also help you learn
and remember important things. But stress that stops
you from doing what you want or need to do is not
helpful. Over time, if stress lasts too long or happens
too often, it can harm your health.
While there really isn’t a way to live without stress, you
can learn to deal with it in helpful ways. This can help
you maintain the right amount of stress—and live a
healthier, happier life.
Here are a few ways to deal with stress before it gets in
your way:
Learn to love lists: Use lists to give your mind a
rest. If you write it down, you won’t have to worry
about forgetting it.
Plan big and little: Set short- and long-term goals
to get where you want to go. Write them down to
keep you on track.
Think happy thoughts: Positive thoughts can go
a long way. Notice when you think you’ve “failed.”
Then tell yourself you’ll try again instead.
ÀÀ Stick with your healthy plans: Don’t let stress get
in the way of healthy choices. Eat well, exercise,
and get plenty of sleep.
As experts learn more about how stress affects our
bodies, we can learn more ways to cope with it.
Remember that some stress is normal. But too much
may mean it’s time to learn new stress management
skills.
drink of coffee and burn your mouth. Chances are, you’ll
remember to test it before you drink next time. But what
if you spend all week practicing how to ask your boss
for a raise? Then, right before you talk to your boss, you
get an angry call from a customer. In this case, you may
have trouble remembering what you wanted to say.
It turns out there’s a link between stress and memory.
A recent study shows that when stress hormones are
released during or right after an event, they can make
that event easier to remember. But if they’re released
before or too long after an event, your memory of that
event is likely to fade. So, you clearly remember being
burned by hot coffee—ouch! But the stress of the angry
customer, hours after you planned your speech, makes
you forget what you wanted to say to your boss.
In the right amounts, stress can be helpful. It can help
you run from or fight danger. It can also help you learn
and remember important things. But stress that stops
you from doing what you want or need to do is not
helpful. Over time, if stress lasts too long or happens
too often, it can harm your health.
While there really isn’t a way to live without stress, you
can learn to deal with it in helpful ways. This can help
you maintain the right amount of stress—and live a
healthier, happier life.
Here are a few ways to deal with stress before it gets in
your way:
Learn to love lists: Use lists to give your mind a
rest. If you write it down, you won’t have to worry
about forgetting it.
Plan big and little: Set short- and long-term goals
to get where you want to go. Write them down to
keep you on track.
Think happy thoughts: Positive thoughts can go
a long way. Notice when you think you’ve “failed.”
Then tell yourself you’ll try again instead.
ÀÀ Stick with your healthy plans: Don’t let stress get
in the way of healthy choices. Eat well, exercise,
and get plenty of sleep.
As experts learn more about how stress affects our
bodies, we can learn more ways to cope with it.
Remember that some stress is normal. But too much
may mean it’s time to learn new stress management
skills.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
What You Should Know About Identity Theft
Guess who are the next victims of identity theft – children! It’s hard to believe but criminals are searching for dormant social security numbers (SSN) online and selling them to people (strangers or even their family members) who use them to establish phony credit. Victims may not know it’s happened until they are older and apply for financial aid or try to open a line of credit.
While you can’t prevent identity theft, you can take steps to limit the opportunities for it to happen. Here’s what you can do and look for:
Safeguard your child’s SSN and only give it out on a “need to know” basis. School sports teams and doctors’ offices do not have to have the number. Be cautious about disclosing place and date of birth details, particularly online (cybercriminals can find SSNs based on that information). Teach your kids not to give out personal information, especially on social networks (have them use nick names or code names when filling out online profiles).
Watch for red flags like these:
• You receive checks, pre-approved credit card offers or bank statements in your child’s name. Note: the pre-approved credit card offer may just be a marketing tool sent by an affiliate of your bank because you opened a college fund for your child.
• You get calls from collection agencies.
• Your teen is denied a driver’s license because another person has a license with that SSN. The imposter may even have accumulated tickets or citations in the child’s name
If you suspect anything, call Social Security and ask if any income has been reported with your child’s number. You can see if there’s a credit report for your child, but don’t do so unless you have a strong indication of theft (ordering a report unnecessarily opens the door to thieves).
For more information, see sites such as www.idtheftcenter.org.
While you can’t prevent identity theft, you can take steps to limit the opportunities for it to happen. Here’s what you can do and look for:
Safeguard your child’s SSN and only give it out on a “need to know” basis. School sports teams and doctors’ offices do not have to have the number. Be cautious about disclosing place and date of birth details, particularly online (cybercriminals can find SSNs based on that information). Teach your kids not to give out personal information, especially on social networks (have them use nick names or code names when filling out online profiles).
Watch for red flags like these:
• You receive checks, pre-approved credit card offers or bank statements in your child’s name. Note: the pre-approved credit card offer may just be a marketing tool sent by an affiliate of your bank because you opened a college fund for your child.
• You get calls from collection agencies.
• Your teen is denied a driver’s license because another person has a license with that SSN. The imposter may even have accumulated tickets or citations in the child’s name
If you suspect anything, call Social Security and ask if any income has been reported with your child’s number. You can see if there’s a credit report for your child, but don’t do so unless you have a strong indication of theft (ordering a report unnecessarily opens the door to thieves).
For more information, see sites such as www.idtheftcenter.org.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Time to Learn New Stress Management Skills
Some forms of stress can be helpful. Say you take a
drink of coffee and burn your mouth. Chances are, you’ll
remember to test it before you drink next time. But what
if you spend all week practicing how to ask your boss
for a raise? Then, right before you talk to your boss, you
get an angry call from a customer. In this case, you may
have trouble remembering what you wanted to say.
It turns out there’s a link between stress and memory.
A recent study shows that when stress hormones are
released during or right after an event, they can make
that event easier to remember. But if they’re released
before or too long after an event, your memory of that
event is likely to fade. So, you clearly remember being
burned by hot coffee—ouch! But the stress of the angry
customer, hours after you planned your speech, makes
you forget what you wanted to say to your boss.
In the right amounts, stress can be helpful. It can help
you run from or fight danger. It can also help you learn
and remember important things. But stress that stops
you from doing what you want or need to do is not
helpful. Over time, if stress lasts too long or happens
too often, it can harm your health.
While there really isn’t a way to live without stress, you
can learn to deal with it in helpful ways. This can help
you maintain the right amount of stress—and live a
healthier, happier life.
Here are a few ways to deal with stress before it gets in
your way:
Learn to love lists: Use lists to give your mind a
rest. If you write it down, you won’t have to worry
about forgetting it.
ÀÀ Plan big and little: Set short- and long-term goals
to get where you want to go. Write them down to
keep you on track.
Think happy thoughts: Positive thoughts can go
a long way. Notice when you think you’ve “failed.”
Then tell yourself you’ll try again instead.
Stick with your healthy plans: Don’t let stress get
in the way of healthy choices. Eat well, exercise,
and get plenty of sleep.
As experts learn more about how stress affects our
bodies, we can learn more ways to cope with it.
Remember that some stress is normal.
drink of coffee and burn your mouth. Chances are, you’ll
remember to test it before you drink next time. But what
if you spend all week practicing how to ask your boss
for a raise? Then, right before you talk to your boss, you
get an angry call from a customer. In this case, you may
have trouble remembering what you wanted to say.
It turns out there’s a link between stress and memory.
A recent study shows that when stress hormones are
released during or right after an event, they can make
that event easier to remember. But if they’re released
before or too long after an event, your memory of that
event is likely to fade. So, you clearly remember being
burned by hot coffee—ouch! But the stress of the angry
customer, hours after you planned your speech, makes
you forget what you wanted to say to your boss.
In the right amounts, stress can be helpful. It can help
you run from or fight danger. It can also help you learn
and remember important things. But stress that stops
you from doing what you want or need to do is not
helpful. Over time, if stress lasts too long or happens
too often, it can harm your health.
While there really isn’t a way to live without stress, you
can learn to deal with it in helpful ways. This can help
you maintain the right amount of stress—and live a
healthier, happier life.
Here are a few ways to deal with stress before it gets in
your way:
Learn to love lists: Use lists to give your mind a
rest. If you write it down, you won’t have to worry
about forgetting it.
ÀÀ Plan big and little: Set short- and long-term goals
to get where you want to go. Write them down to
keep you on track.
Think happy thoughts: Positive thoughts can go
a long way. Notice when you think you’ve “failed.”
Then tell yourself you’ll try again instead.
Stick with your healthy plans: Don’t let stress get
in the way of healthy choices. Eat well, exercise,
and get plenty of sleep.
As experts learn more about how stress affects our
bodies, we can learn more ways to cope with it.
Remember that some stress is normal.
Monday, March 5, 2012
How Will You Spend the Money You Save by Quitting?
Did you know that tobacco companies spend over $34
million dollars a day to market their products to you? If
they spend this much on ads, they’re probably pocketing
quite a bit more. So how much of their profits come out
of your pocket? And what would you spend that money
on if you didn’t smoke?
Because of taxes, the cost of cigarettes can vary based
on what part of the country you live in. But most packs
in the U.S. cost between $5 and $10. If you assume an
average price of $7 per pack, here’s what you’re trading
each time you buy tobacco.
For the cost of 1 pack ($7), you could buy:
A foot-long submarine sandwich, a name brand
T-shirt, or a best-selling paperback novel.
For the cost of 10 packs ($70), you could buy:
A fancy new coffeemaker, the latest video game, or
dinner for 2 at your local steakhouse.
For the cost of 50 packs ($350), you could buy:
New hiking gear, a new cell phone, or a weekend
getaway for 2.
For the cost of 100 packs ($700), you could buy:
A big new plasma television, a new bicycle, or a
year’s membership for 2 at a gym.
What else do you really want or need? Have you had
your eye on a new laptop computer? Or maybe you need
a new car? How many packs of cigarettes not smoked
will that cost you? When you think in this new way, it
can make your habit seem really expensive.
Along with the dollar cost of tobacco come many health
costs. The risks of tobacco include damage to your skin,
teeth, bones, lungs, and heart. Tobacco use can also
take years off of your life.
If you want to quit smoking, keep in mind that there are
many people who want to help. Start by talking to your
doctor. Your employer, your health insurance company,
or a trained tobacco cessation coach may also be able
to help. These resources can support you in breaking the
habit. How you’ll spend the money you save by quitting
is up to you.
million dollars a day to market their products to you? If
they spend this much on ads, they’re probably pocketing
quite a bit more. So how much of their profits come out
of your pocket? And what would you spend that money
on if you didn’t smoke?
Because of taxes, the cost of cigarettes can vary based
on what part of the country you live in. But most packs
in the U.S. cost between $5 and $10. If you assume an
average price of $7 per pack, here’s what you’re trading
each time you buy tobacco.
For the cost of 1 pack ($7), you could buy:
A foot-long submarine sandwich, a name brand
T-shirt, or a best-selling paperback novel.
For the cost of 10 packs ($70), you could buy:
A fancy new coffeemaker, the latest video game, or
dinner for 2 at your local steakhouse.
For the cost of 50 packs ($350), you could buy:
New hiking gear, a new cell phone, or a weekend
getaway for 2.
For the cost of 100 packs ($700), you could buy:
A big new plasma television, a new bicycle, or a
year’s membership for 2 at a gym.
What else do you really want or need? Have you had
your eye on a new laptop computer? Or maybe you need
a new car? How many packs of cigarettes not smoked
will that cost you? When you think in this new way, it
can make your habit seem really expensive.
Along with the dollar cost of tobacco come many health
costs. The risks of tobacco include damage to your skin,
teeth, bones, lungs, and heart. Tobacco use can also
take years off of your life.
If you want to quit smoking, keep in mind that there are
many people who want to help. Start by talking to your
doctor. Your employer, your health insurance company,
or a trained tobacco cessation coach may also be able
to help. These resources can support you in breaking the
habit. How you’ll spend the money you save by quitting
is up to you.
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