Photo Credit:  the age

No matter how hard you work, nor the simple fact that your work-week hours now average well over 80 and closer to 100 hours a week; the paycheck you get is just not stretching to cover your fixed expenses for the month.  Also, the idea of saving 10% or even less each month has become a figment of your imagination, rather than a plan based on the reality of the cost of your living expenses.  Due to fuel costs which have been unconscionable lately, and even though they are lower right now, you have no idea if this trend will last; and with the rising cost of everything else from food to energy, you must now have begun to feel like you’re sliding backwards up a slippery slope to solvency.

Try these 10 Simple Solutions for Spending Less:

1. Consolidate your indebtedness.  Cut down on the number of credit cards you have and pay off the balances as fast as you can.  If you get a good offer, transfer the balances to the lowest interest rate you can get.  Check to make sure that there are no hidden penalties associated with transferring your balances.  Don’t try to get a second mortgage to pay these debts because right now banks really aren’t lending, and it might be a waste of time and effort on your part.

2. Begin to collect all of your lose pocket change, and your family members too, and place it in a convenient container (the old pickle jar works just fine).  When it’s full, roll the coins and put these funds into savings for life’s little emergencies.

3. Buy in BULK whenever the supermarket or Big Box Stores have a good value on the things you really need.  Stocking up, just for the sake of what you think is a good deal, often isn’t.  Do the math to make sure that buying bigger is cost effective.

4. PAY CASH. Using credit and having a mind-set to always want things and buy more, is one of the ways the economy and your own budget (and mine) is failing.

5. Bring Your Own.  Stop paying premium prices for trendy coffee and pre-packaged foods.  You can make your own coffee and carry it in a thermos.  The pre-packaged foods you buy are often unhealthy and filled with additives.  They aren’t nutritious and the cost is very expensive.

6. Comparison Shop on-line before you buy anything you need that is of significant cost.  There are many sites that offer convenient comparisons for you, and some sites offer coupons which are good on-line and in the bricks-and-mortar stores.  If you must purchase something, use debit cards for safety and so that your credit cards will be idle!

7. Shop for used items.  Craigslist, yard sales, estate sales, and on-line auction houses often have great deals on tools, yard equipment, books, clothing and even furniture.

8. Use coupons, either in-store, on-line or the kinds that come with circulars in your mail.  It may take a little time to find the right coupons for your shopping needs, but the savings is worth it.  Also, buying no-name brands can be a great savings and if you make comparisons, you will often find little difference in ingredients.  You have been paying for Brand Names far too long.

9. Cut out idling time when you are waiting in your car for some reason, for any length of time, like at the bank or to pickup the children from school or activities.  Make only the necessary trips and try to drive efficiently when doing errands, in order to save fuel.

10. Check your “flow”, where does the money go:

a. Do you have too many magazine subscriptions?  All the latest news, fashion information, health advice, and much more can be found online.
b. Do you have the best cell phone or land line phone plan for your family’s usage and needs?
c. Are you insurance poor? Comparison shop your car, home owner’s and even health insurance plans for the best deals you can find.

Monitoring what you spend, whether it’s fixed monthly expenses, food and energy bills and cable, entertainment and leisure expenses or whatever.  Keep a constant vigil over credit card statements, bank statements, even the charges on your cable bill can be incorrect.  Looking for errors is a smart way to save.

Cut out unnecessary spending and there will be a bigger amount left after your pay check covers your expenses.  Having at least a small sum of funds set aside for any emergencies is a priceless gift for your own peace of mind.

Photo Credit:  flickr

Being in a state of constant happiness takes effort, thought and purposive behavior.  You remind yourself that there are many blessings in your life, and that takes some thinking, sometimes.  You also take care to be available to and for those you love and respect, and they reciprocate this action.

Out in the real world, you strive to do your best work, and give it quality time, but, with the kind of boundaries in place, that allow for fun, laughter, rest, and recreation.  All of these tools of behavior are working for you, at least, a good percentage of the time, and you are happy.  However, is there a blessing that may not be receiving the kind of celebration it deserves?

This blessing is labeled in our society as “friendship”, and it is, like any blessing, priceless.  If a person is in your life, many people believe, it is not by accident.  Friends are often not planned by you or your conscious choice.  They happen, as if by a great cosmic design!

OK, you don’t think about your good friends in that way.  Well, think again, please.

Your friendships are gifts to you, and you, in return give back this goodness, to the other person, or people.  The support and insights given to you in many forms;( from great conversations, sharing of common  interests and experiences, working  together to be successful, volunteering in ways that you both find stimulating and satisfying, ) that are provided by friends, add to your wholeness as a human being.

All of these events are constructed of and based upon, interaction with those you trust, believe in, and respect.  Even the people whom you find to be challenging and difficult at times, and with whom you may often disagree, add a dimension to who you really are as a person.

NEVER underestimate the value of your fellow-man, whom you have met in your lifetime, and have called your friend.  Never get too busy, or over-committed to reach out to and nurture these people, and treat them as well as you wish to be treated.  This interaction with valued peers and others,  comes back into our lives as surely as if we had planned it.  It is almost as if we are writing the book of our lives by our actions, and the ending will be the outcome of each conscious decision we make about  what our actions are going to be.

In many cultures, how a person greets others is a very much cherished event.  In India, great care is taken to smile and stop to spend time with the friends you meet each day; to listen to them and take great care to let these people know that they are valued.

In the Far East, people give the salutation “I See You”, which means “I am the Light in You”.  What this means is that they are giving blessings to each other, to show that they value the place each has in the life of the other human being.

Treating your friends with consideration, respect, and genuine affection is a very positive action to take.  It is not possible to over-value your friendships.  The fact that we have become part of the lives of other people isn’t really an accident, in my view, it is a miracle.

If your friend calls after you have had an extremely difficult day, or just  e-mails, and you find yourself laughing, smiling, giggling, and uplifted, and yes, restored;  to me that is a priceless gift.

Deep thinkers, scholars, and gurus of every kind, over the centuries, and yes, today as well, say that when we meet a person, and call that person friend, then it is because you see yourself in this person.  Treat him or her as you treat yourself; think of him or her as you think of yourself, and remember that you can find or lose yourself by the way you interact with your friends.

You cannot be truly happy, if you don’t make the time and take the time to value, respect, and rejoice in your treasured friendships.   Make sure that how you say “HELLO” let’s them know that they are part of your sustained happiness and wholeness in life.  You will never regret treating these people as you would treat yourself.   Make sure you find ways to thank them for being part of your enhanced life, and well being.

My friends are a light in my life, and I wish you all, this kind of contentment.

Photo Credit:  Nbizz

What is it about making changes in your routine, lifestyle, work, or even your location, that strikes a cord of fear and uncertainty into the depths of your being? Life is so unpredictable, and the upside-down economy is forcing many people to rethink their priorities, make adjustments, cut back on spending, look for ways to earn more money, and maybe even have to sell or lose their homes and move to a new location.

There is always a very natural sort of innate or inborn fear factor that gets triggered in the human psyche when anything unfamiliar and untried, presents itself in your life. If you stop, and take the time to reflect upon this new and different challenge or set of circumstances; and then look at how past changes have perhaps improved the quality of your life; it will be easier to conquer fears and move forward.

No matter how powerful you feel in your current routine, change happens. It is inevitable. If you try to resist change, you only end up hurting yourself. If you look at the troubled economy, and the fact that your money is not able to work for you by earning interest; you can see that what is going on today, is not the result of your actions, alone, if at all.

Perhaps the best way to accept that changes must be made is to realize that almost nothing remains the same for very long. Change is natural and it is also probably a good thing. Think about the members of your own family and close friends. Have they faced changes and has the outcome of these occurrences been positive for them? If you can learn to embrace changes in your life, or at least to be accepting of the challenges you face, you’ll be happier and healthier than if you become angry and frustrated.

Whether you have to change jobs, relocate with your family, sell your home, go back to school and re-train for a new occupation, move in with family members until things improve, or relocate to a different state; there are positive ways to deal with the “stuff” that life hands you.

These techniques will help you cope and make the best of the situation:

1. Let go of fear, and decide to make the best of the challenge you face, as if it was an opportunity to enhance your life.

2. Let go of old behavior patterns and decide to make a new and better life for yourself and your family.

3. Count on the support of your family and friends, who care about you and your happiness and success. They will be there for you, no matter what changes occur.

4. Learn to accept changes without feeling angry or frustrated. Getting a better or different job may be more satisfying and it might lead to even more opportunities.

5. If you have to relocate alone or with family members, try to focus on your immediate needs; a job, a place to live, and don’t try to “fix” everything at once. One by one, you will overcome these obstacles in time.

6. Make time to count your blessings. You have them and they are priceless. These changes can bring better jobs, new friends, a closer tie with your family, and perhaps a better quality of life.

If you can find the humor in your current situation, and laugh whenever possible, you will feel more able to cope with what life is handing you today. Talk about your feelings with the people that you love and trust. Accept the situation you’re in, but make plans to use it as a spring board for moving forward.

You have inner strength that perhaps you’ve used before in life, and testing yourself, by making positive changes, will make you even stronger. It might just be the right time to do the things you’ve always wanted to do. Being open and flexible as you and your family make changes in your behavior patterns and lifestyle, will help you to maintain your health and happiness during this process.

Taking the time to eat nutritiously, exercise, and rest well, along with staying positive and nurturing your meaningful relationships, will let you feel in touch, again, with that powerful person you see in the mirror, no matter what stuff life hands you!

Photo Credit:  Krittersinthemailbox

Handling your snail mail six days a week can turn into a majorly disorganized mess if you let it. What seems like a minor irritant today, can be tomorrow’s “late-payment” nightmare.

Having a system in place, that works to make this on-going task not only manageable but efficient, is invaluable for you when time is precious and you are over-committed, over-worked, and needing more time to decompress.

How to create an action plan for speedy mail handling is not as simple as you might think, but it is do-able. When other family members interact with the mail that you receive, or have their own mail and no system in place, you could have the beginnings of “clutter-creating-chaos” on your hands.

What you need to put in place, right now, is a small distribution system for the mail; so that you and your family members will know where the mail is supposed to go, what is pending, what has been paid, and what must be filed.

Start by:

1. Creating a desk top stackable (tray type) filing system

2. Clearly label each file appropriately for Bills, Pending, TO BE Filed, Family Member etc.

3. Open bills immediately and pay them promptly. You can clearly check mark the portion of the bill that you retain for your records, with the date paid, and check number. Be sure to review all credit card statements for charges that are mistakenly added to your account. Also, check that no late fees have been applied, if they are not warranted. Late fees add up, and they also negatively affect your very valuable FICO Score and good credit.

4. Find a specific and convenient storage area for magazines, bulletins, and newspapers. Keep these items for a (mutually agreed upon) time and then purge them regularly, to your recycling bin.

5. Toss out the junk mail immediately. Anything that you receive as solicitation, or advertisement, or the stuff you get that you have no interest in, just throw it away, right away.

6. Informational mail with necessary times, dates and deadlines for activities, and appointments can be noted on a highly visible calendar, that can be positioned where it becomes an easy reference for not only yourself, but the whole family. Then toss out the mail itself.

7. Mail that must be read by other family members should be placed in their own individually labeled  stackable tray. Make it part of this system, that they are responsible to act on their mail in a specific and timely manner.

8. Find a place where everyone gathers and keep a bulletin board of sticky notes for pending activities and bills that need to be discussed BEFORE clearly marked DUE DATES. You might want to designate a specific time or date each week to discuss the issues that the mail creates.

9. Make copies of important mail and then file everything that is irreplaceable in properly labeled files. This would include Social Security Notifications, Medical Billing, immunization records and insurance receipts or forms, anything notarized like paid school loans, or paid off notes to lending institutions, and all legal documents which you may need to have copies of, at some future date.

10. Toss those catalogues! Don’t tempt yourself with these beautiful and motivating books that are budget busters, and take up space that soon becomes clutter.

Today, you don’t have 30 days to pay bills, and prompt action is the only way to pay timely, without incurring some kind of penalty or increased interest rate. Often a billing cycle can now be 18 days or less, and credit card companies and utility companies don’t seem to need a reason to raise rates (interest or other).

You need your very good credit score these days as if it were made of solid gold. Therefore, how you handle the mail can be critical to your financial well being. Setting up a system for sorting, sharing and taking action with snail mail is very necessary.

It takes a certain amount of effort to continually re-sort, file and dispose of the mail. However, creating a system that works well , will not only save time, and help you keep control of your paper shuffle, it will become a great habit and viable routine for everyone in your household.

Photo Credit:  ltl-light

How well do you know yourself?  Does what you know about who you are and how you interact with others, everyday, give you a feeling of purpose, achievement, and contentment?

Every person needs a certain amount of material comfort such as food, shelter, and clothing, of course; and it’s important to care about others and be cherished by them as well.  However, in order to live a happy, balanced and simple life, as human beings, people need to take care of emotional needs and not just the physical and visceral kind that sustain life.

To be able to fill your emotional needs, it is necessary to set aside a certain amount of time to pursue deep and meaningful relationships.  Many people work so hard to fill their lives with things, or feel authentic, relevant and important, that they don’t take any time to connect with family members,  life-partners, and friends.

Life and its pivotal moments fly by and people don’t even make the time to take a look at how their lifestyle is either helping them achieve their goals, or keeping them from having an opportunity to pursue dreams and have meaningful moments and memories.

Often, an entire week can pass without your having one conversation for the pure joy of reaching out to , and finding out about, someone on a deeper level than just saying “how are you”, with them giving the obligatory knee-jerk response, “fine”.  Neglecting the relationships that we should cherish, is like putting a brick wall between yourself and the activities that enrich you, and give your life the meaning and purpose you seek.

When you decide to make time to nourish and nurture your meaningful relationships with loved ones, you are also becoming fully present in your life and in the wonderful world around you.  It can be as if you are seeing every object, person and place in a new way, with dimension, scope, and presence.

This kind of happy and content existence is defined as simplistic.  Some say that it is a way of living from the “center of your being”, or from the best and deepest part of your soul.  How do you reach that inner most part of yourself?  Is there some straight line from the brain to your core, where peace and serenity are waiting for you?

The most content and serene people that I know, have learned to have acceptance about the process of being interactive in the world.  They try to do work that is satisfying and fulfilling, and make an effort to:

a. Be honest
b. Practice kindness
c. Be generous
d. Demonstrate love and friendship
e. Have compassion for others
f.  Find contentment by wanting less

Being the best and most virtuous person you can be, gives you freedom to live in the moment because you never have to rethink your own behavior.  You can count on yourself to do what is right.  Taking the time in each day to have peaceful thoughts, and practice patience, as well as, finding  moments to goof off and have a little laughter and fun, is as essential to your well-being and soulfulness, as having food and shelter.

Making the center of your world a place where quiet times are celebrated, people are valued, listened to, and loved; and living within and even beneath your means, is an everyday practice that gives you more choices to simply be happy and content.

It takes work and effort to find your life’s force or soul, and truly get to know yourself and those you love on deeper levels than just sharing ordinary daily tasks and troubles.  Meditation and spending quiet times in celebration of each other, and all that the world you share offers, from a rainbow, to the sunrise, to a sky filled with billions of twinkling stars; this is where you find  your core, your soul, your contentment and sustainable happiness.

It does not take the making of a million dollars to live a life of inestimable value. It takes a desire to live a simple existence, in the deepest and truest way.

Photo Credit:  Redbubble

Taking just one moment, occasionally, to reflect on your life, knowing that it’s rushing by, is very possibly a gift to give yourself.  What should be the object of this reflection, you might ask?  There could be any number of objects to take another look at; for instance, the things that are of inestimable value to you, such as, your children, your relationships, and or your health and happiness, and there is no wrong answer to this question.

For me, taking a look at my own behavior and the messages that I am inadvertently sending to those I like and love, when I’m very stressed, like now, due to the obligations and deadlines that working and raising a family places on all of us, is critical.  How am I interacting with loved ones, treasured friends, co-workers and others?

Was that me, finishing the sentences of anyone who happened to pause, when speaking? Did I just cut short an important moment with my significant other, just to pick up a ringing phone, out of habit and with no thought for his feelings?  Am I showing affection, saying thank you, smiling, and forgiving enough in my life?

I’ve made a list of little and big changes which I need to make in order to feel like I can be an example for my kids, that they might mirror when they’re grown up and out in the world, with little ones of their own.   Also, for my life partner, and dear parents and friends, I want to be who I really am, and keep their love and respect, which is so very important to me.

Read my list with the intent of making your own, if upon your own reflection, you see some gray areas that need tweaking:

a. Give more hugs and smiles and show people how they are treasured, valued and listened too, daily.

b. Say thank you and mean it; write notes of congratulations or good wishes for the health and happiness of others.

c. Apply humor generously, wherever possible, because it is a very necessary element in a happy life.

d. Make it a point to concentrate on all the “good and positive events” which are occurring with great frequency in your life.

e. Even though you must be more frugal in your spending habits, then ever before, and spend as “if every dollar was your last”, there are always opportunities to spend time (not money) having fun with the ones you like and love.

f. Make time to resolve conflicts and disagreements in a way that considers the issues fairly, and includes respect for the feelings and differing view points, as well as, the strategies of others.

Whether it’s the end of the year, and you’re thoughtful, or the beginning if a new year and your hopeful, or any time in between; remember that you get one chance  to live this life well,  love deeply, create an environment where children thrive and love abounds.  Reflect on the history your making, every now and then, to gain perspective and find areas to improve upon.  You will never regret it!

Photo Credit:  lb-Main

As the days have gotten shorter, and in many places it’s so much colder, the fact that electricity and home heating fuel costs have risen by at least 6-9% or more, in recent months, is probably having a devastating effect on your already strained budget.  You don’t have to just accept this situation as one of those “things you cannot change” situations.  There is no way for the consumer to control these ever increasing prices; however, there are simple steps that you can take, right now, to decrease the amount of energy and electric you are using.

1. If you recently purchased a plasma or LCD television, did you factor in the 10% of your energy bill that these magnificent items use? Don’t leave the set on when no one’s watching,;and if you haven’t upgraded to one of these sets yet, do the research and pick one that is rated with an Energy Star label from the Federal Program for energy conservation.
2. Use your toaster oven, instead of your large oven when warming food, or cooking smaller items.  If you don’t have one, consider this: many items that you prepare in your full-size oven can be easily cooked in an energy efficient toaster oven for a fraction of the energy use.  In a toaster over, reheating food costs just a few pennies.
3. Try not to over stuff your refrigerator or freezer with food. When you have the fridge loaded with to its fullest capacity with food, the compressor works overtime to keep everything cold and maintain the settings you have put in place.  The refrigerator consumes a huge portion of your electric bill, and there goes the budget.
4. If you live in a cold climate and the temperature falls well below 30 degrees, it’s not a cost effective time to use your fireplace.  It might seem like a cozy idea and you could tell yourself that the fire will more than make up for any heat loss, but it just isn’t true.  Studies have shown that heat loss from an open flue is far greater than the amount of heat your fire creates.
5. Replace your furnace filter every 30 days.  Your furnace will work more efficiently and use less energy. If you have a washable filter, check it often, and keep it clean.  When the filter is dirty, the furnace works much harder, which can cause expensive repair bills over time, too.  Make sure you put in a programmable thermostat, for at least a 20% savings on your heating bill.
6. Don’t forget to use your ceiling fan in a “reverse” rotation  during the colder months.  You can easily install a switch that will let the fan run in a counter-clock-wise direction to force warm air down into the living spaces.
7. Dial back to under 70 degrees and wear warmer clothing.  Your energy bills will embrace this change and you will be healthier.
8. Caulk or install weather striping around windows and the door walls in your home.  It costs very little money and takes just a short time to complete these tasks and you will save at least 2 to 3% or more on your energy usage.
9. Lubricate your door hinges and locks to make sure that the door closes snugly and securely.  Any heat loss is money thrown away.
10. Unplug appliances when not in use, because they are using energy even when turned off. Toasters, computers, printers, the microwave, and other items, are wasting energy which we all need to conserve in order to not only save money, but to reduce our carbon footprint on the planet.

Taking simple steps to keep costs down and energy efficiency high is good for your already squeezed budget and the environment too.  There are devises that you can purchase at the hardware store, which detect heat loss in your home.  Make a list of these deficient areas, and one by one, work to make them air tight or better insulated.  Every appliance you replace should be upgraded to an Energy Star rating, for overall savings now and in the years to come.

Photo Credit: Carterfsmith

HGH is a hormone that is made in and secreted by the Pituitary Gland.  In babies and increasingly in children, there are very high levels of HGH that control muscle and bone growth, as well as, helping to establish a healthy immune system, tendons, ligaments and their flexibility, muscle mass and bone strength.

As you age, less and less of the HGH is secreted.  Stress, poor nutrition, and lack of adequate sleep can affect the amount of HGH in a person’s body at any age.

By the time a person reaches the age of 60, their total body accumulation of HGH has been significantly reduced by about 80%.  The physical signs of this reduction are:

1. weight increase
2. loss of bone density
3. hair loss
4. muscle mass loss and some atrophy
5. tooth loss
6. weakened immune system
7. thinning of the skin
8. tendon and joint loss of elasticity
9. on-set of Arthritis
10. increased illness and longer recovery time

As early as 1985, studies were done to see what the effects of HGH would be if administered to the elderly in order to strengthen their immunities and stop bone density loss from having crippling effects on patients.  Injections of controlled doses of HGH showed significant improvement in bone and muscle mass, as well as a definite strengthening of the immune system.

This was encouraging news and many people began to believe that it would be possible to reduce the signs of aging ,and keep people looking and feeling years younger than their actual chronological age.

No one wants to age, so of course, people began to look for ways to obtain HGH in some kind of dosage that would allow them to recovery their muscle mass, energy, skin tone, bone strength and flexibility.  However, consumers don’t always know the risk factors, and are not well informed about the so called wonder drug HGH and its manufactured synthetic supplements.

The F.D.A. only approved certain applications for the legitimate prescriptions that doctors may write for HGH, and it generally only works well when injected under the skin.  Research is on-going to see if correctly administered doses of HGH can prevent aging without having very serious side-effects such as,  an increase in the growth of cancerous cell production, and damage to the heart and liver.

The Senate is considering a bill that would place the HGH hormone on the controlled substance list, and this would make the usage and sale of HGH and its synthetic supplements illegal.

If you look on the Internet for answers, there are many sources that offer a great deal of information about HGH.  You need to know that the risks often outweigh any significant improvement in mobility, wellness and appearance.

Perhaps, in the next decade, researchers will come up with more definitive results and map out a safe way to restore that youthful energy, strength, and wellness, which we all seek, as we age.  For now, information from trusted physicians, and gathering all the risk factors, is the best way to determine if you can actually “turn back time”.