Check Out Your Library For Some Cool Freebies

Check Out Your Library For Some Cool Freebies


By: Larry Lane


Your local library has gone under some big changes the last couple of
years. You can now find not only books, but a wide variety of
entertainment. Of course there are books, magazines, newspapers from
around the country to browse through. Want to dive into the new hot book?
Don't pay $20, check it out for 2 weeks free of charge. If your library
doesn't currently have it on hand, you can special order it; again at no
cost. If you don't complete your reading you can simply renew for another
2 weeks.

Free internet! Tired of paying $40-$60 per month ($500 or more per year),
you can get free high speed internet service at your library for free. If
you have a laptop, you can tap into their free wifi. No need to go to
your local coffee store and spend $3.00 on coffee. If you've read
previous blogs, you've already had your coffee for a few pennies at home.

Cds-Most libraries now carry Cds. While you're not going to get the
selection you'll see at a typical music store, you'd be surprised what
you'll find.

Movies-Don't spend $5.00 for movie night at home. Instead, check out the
movie section at your local library. Most libraries carry DVDs as well as
VHS. You'll see current titles as well as PBS documentaries you won't
find anywhere else.

Books on Cd/tape-Are you a traveling salesman or do you spend long
periods of times in your car? Turn your mind numbing drive into an
intellectual experience. Your local library may have hundreds of books on
Cds.

Check out your local library and you'll leave with a plethora of
entertainment choices. Most importantly, they're all FREE!

Larry Lane is the editor for InvestorZoo.com,
a social networking site specializing in personal finance


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Larry Lane - About the Author:


Larry Lane is the editor for
www.InvestorZoo.com, a social networking site dedicated to personal
finance.

Investorzoo brings you weekly deals on credit cards, high yield checking
accounts as well as CD and money market yields. You'll also find over a
directory of over 10,000 financial professionals in many categories in
all 50 states.

Are you a financial professional looking to help people with money issues
and gain world wide exposure? InvestorZoo.com is the 1st true social
network dedicated to the world of personal finance. Answer questions on
our public forums, receive leads and start a profile. We are accepting
profiles from any licensed professional (in good FINRA standing) or
published financial author.

If you have any questions, please drop me an email at
larry.lane@InvestorZoo.com or 425-591-9315..

7 Ways To Improve Your Gas Mileage And Save Money

7 Ways To Improve Your Gas Mileage And Save Money


By: Larry Lane



Americans love their cars. The typical family with 2 cars spends about
$3,000 per year on gasoline.  While you can't control the price of gas,
you can control your gas mileage and the efficiency of your vehicle.
Here's a brief checklist to improving your gas mileage.

1)  Gas prices vary by a couple of cents to a dime from station
to station. Do a search on your favorite search engine for "best gas
prices." Saving just $5.00 per week will put $250 in your pocket per year.

2)  Tune ups: Only get a tune-up if you need one. You may
increase your mileage by a few percent; however the average tune up may
cost $200 or more.  If it is time for a tune-up, don't ignore you car's
needs. It will help keep your car efficient, on the road longer and
improve your overall mileage 5-10%.

3)  Drive 55 or the local speed limit. Every 5 miles per hour
over 55 will cost you 5% or more in fuel efficiency.

4)  Replace your old oil and air filters. Oil filters should be
changed with each oil change and air filters about every 5,000 miles.
They're cheap and pretty easy to change.

5)  Properly inflate your tires. People made fun of John McCain
when he suggested everyone inflate their tires correctly during the
Presidential race. However his advice was 100% correct. Properly inflate
your tires and you'll increase your gas mileage by about 3%. Check your
owner's manual for proper recommended levels.

6)  Oil Changes: The cheapest oil change may cost you long term.
By going to the local $9.95 oil change garage, you may be doing more harm
than good. Cheap oil and cheap filters may leave sludge in your engine
and decrease the lifetime of your car as well as your fuel effiency. My
mechanic recommends high grade Mobile Oil or synthetic oil.

7)  If you don't need your air conditioner, don't use it.  Air
conditioning and open windows will decrease your mileage by 2-6%.

If you can improve your mileage just 10%, you can pocket $300 or more
annually. In addition, you'll keep your car happy and prolong the
lifespan of your vehicle.

Larry Lane is the editor for InvestorZoo.com,
a social media website specializing in personal finance. Email comments
and questions to Larry.Lane@InvestorZoo.com


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r-gas-mileage-and-save-money-2167256.html

Larry Lane - About the Author:


Larry Lane is the head blogger and biz dev for

InvestorZoo

 a social networking site dedicated to personal finance.

Are you a financial professional looking to help people with money issues
and gain world wide exposure? Please drop me an email at
larry.lane@InvestorZoo.com or call me directly at 425-591-9315.

Basic Information On The Federal Homebuyer Tax Credit

Basic Information On The Federal Homebuyer Tax Credit


By: Paul
Escobedo



With April coming to an end soon, so follows the expected expiration of
the Homebuyer Tax Credit offered by the federal government for first-time
homebuyers and existing homeowners. The last iteration of the tax credit
was set to expire on November 30, 2009. On November 6, 2009 the tax
credit was extended and expanded through spring of 2010. Presently, the
tax credit is available for first-time homebuyers and existing homeowners
who sign the purchase contract on a primary residence by April 30, 2010
with the closing completed by June 30, 2010.

For in depth information on the federal tax credit for homeowners view
the site at IRS.gov. As far as basic information goes, the federal
government is offering a tax credit for first-time homebuyers and
existing homeowners who enter into a binding contract to purchase a new
home by April 30, 2010 with the closing completed by June 30, 2010.

A first-time homebuyer is defined as a buyer who has not owned a home
during the last three years up to the date of the purchase of the
residence. First-time homebuyers are able to claim a tax credit for 10%
of the purchase price of a home up to a maximum of $8,000. The home
purchased cannot exceed the $800,000 price cap. The full credit will be
available if taxpayer has a modified adjusted gross income up to $125,000
if filing as single and up to $225,000 if filing jointly. A partial
credit will still be available if a single filers MAGI exceeds the
$125,000 as long as it stays between $125,000.01 and $145,000. Joint
filers can receive a partial credit if their MAGI are between $225,000.01
and $245,000.

An existing homeowner is defined as someone who has lived in a home for a
period of 5 consecutive years out of an S year period ending on the
purchase date of the home. Existing homeowners purchasing a new primary
residence may claim 10% of the purchase price of the residence up to a
maximum of $6,500. The home purchased must not exceed the $800,000 price
cap. As with the first-time buyer credit, the full credit will be
available for existing homeowners if the taxpayer has a modified adjusted
gross income up to $125,000 if filing as single and up to $225,000 if
filing jointly. A partial credit will still be available if a single
filers MAGI exceeds the $125,000 as long as it stays between $125,000.01
and $145,000. Joint filers can receive a partial credit if their MAGI are
between $225,000.01 and $245,000.


Retrieved from:

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ederal-homebuyer-tax-credit-2166018.html

Paul Escobedo

Chicago home builders.

A Student’s Guide to Getting a Loan

A Student’s Guide to Getting a Loan


Courtesy of:
Free Articles for Websites



When you are putting yourself through college, it can become quite
expensive. Do not think that you cannot afford college. All you need to
look into is getting a student loan. Use this as your simple guide to
help you along throughout your education. There are certain loans that
will allow you to go through school without worrying about
href="http://www.studentloan4less.com/payingback.html">paying back student
loans right away.

Sit Down with a Counselor

Your school is going to be your first stop when finding the right loan.
By making an appointment with a counselor you will be able to get the
inside scoop to student loans. They will also be able to show you the
href="http://www.studentloan4less.com/">best student loans that you will need
to look into. Your counselor is going to show you how much you need in
terms of tuition, books and living expenses. Take their services for
advantage and let them help you.

Types of Loans

Now, once you know how much you need to get for your school tuition, you
need to look for the right type of student loans. Look for
href="http://www.studentloan4less.com/deferred.html">deferred student loans
that will allow you to get the money you need without having to pay it
back right away. This means that you can get your degree and go through
college without worrying about a monthly payment on the loan.

Picking a Loan Company – The best loan company is going to give the best
student loans. You want to find a lender that will work for you. Choose a
lender that gives you the right terms and the right amount of money. Try
not to get in over your head with student loans. Getting education does
not have to be put on hold because of money, so start looking at student
loans right now!

Big Tax Refund? Big Mistake!

Big Tax Refund? Big Mistake!

by FiGuy


So you are anxiously awaiting your W-2, so you can file your taxes, and get that big refund. Is this a mistake? Filing for the refund isn't, but if you are consistently getting a big refund, you aren't making the most of your money. Would you loan a total stranger money for a year, at no interest? If you are getting large refunds, that is exactly what you are doing. You are giving Uncle Sam a loan, and getting no interest on it. Even worse, you are tying up your own money, instead of putting it to work for you. You earned it, you should be able to use it when you need it.

If you are due a large refund, by all means claim it. You should file for, and get back, every dollar you are legitimately entitled to. Don't pad your claim, but do go after what the rules say you are due. If you really enjoy the forced savings aspect of the refund process, you may want to leave well enough alone, but most of us could use a little more money in our pay envelope. If you are one of them, but don't know how to go about getting it, read on. You will need to be cautious when you make the adjustments I'm going to recommend. If you overdo it, you will wind up owing money, and that is something none of us wants! Consult your tax professional, or if you do your own, run the numbers yourself - carefully - before you commit. You want to shoot for break-even, leaning towards a small refund, rather than owing anything.

Why do this? Well, you don't have to, and after I've explained things you may still decide you don't want to, but you should know you can so you can make an informed decision. Let's say for the last few years you have gotten a refund of around $1700. If you reduced that amount to $500, you would be seeing an extra $100 a month in your paychecks, which I'm sure you could put to good use, and you'd still be getting something back from Uncle Sam, rather than having to pay him come April 15th. Sounds like a winner to me! The IRS page I'm going to send you to later lists "Employees who would like to change their withholding to reduce their tax refund or their balance due" first on the list of people who could benefit from reviewing their withholding situation. If you get small refunds, then you do not want to make any adjustments to your situation, you are already in great shape.

So, how do we do this? Form W-4. That is the form you fill out when you first start work for an employer, listing the number of exemptions you take. The higher the number of exemptions, the less money is automatically deducted from your paycheck. File a new one, and claim a larger number than you currently do. Simply tell the folks in payroll that you want to do this, they'll know what you want, and should have the appropriate form on hand. They may caution you about doing this, and rightly so, but if you have your numbers down solidly, go ahead and go for it. This generally needs to be done at the beginning of the year so your numbers will be accurate, or when you start a new job, so this is the time to do it. You shouldn't need to do so again, unless you add to your family or get a raise or have something else change your tax situation, then you will need to look at your tax status again and decide if you need to adjust the number up or down accordingly.

The W-4 is a powerful tool, so again I warn you to be cautious, but the results can be well worth it. If you claim too many exemptions, you'll get a lot less deducted from your paycheck, but you could wind up owing big money at tax time. That's the potential downside risk. The upside is you will immediately see more money in your paycheck. If you have a complicated income situation, multiple jobs, self-employment, will be leaving your job before the end of the year, or have other factors that keep your tax status less than simple, a review will do you good as well, but you don't want to make any adjustments without understanding what the results could be, and that's a little beyond the scope of this article.

A quick way to find out what adjusting your W-4 exemptions will do for you is to go to this IRS page:

IRS Withholding Calculator

They have solid advice, and will give you good numbers to work with. You can also run numbers through a past years version of whatever tax preparation software you use. Don't just wing it, use your pay stubs and the appropriate tables to get real numbers, estimations may bite you later.

So, if you consistently get large refunds, reduce them in the future, and put a little more in your pocket each month while staying square with Uncle Sam by adjusting your exemptions on your W-4. Just make sure you've got a handle on the numbers so you don't wind up owing when April 15th rolls around.

Standard CYA Disclaimer:
You should always consult a tax professional before making any changes that may change your tax situation.

('')

Consider Charitable Giving

Consider Charitable Giving
by FiGuy

Hopefully you have been out shopping, and helping to stimulate the economy - without overspending and breaking your budget. Most folks know that the Christmas season is make or break time for retailers, with Black Friday being the day they hopefully get out of the red ink and into the black, indicating profits rather than losses. The holiday season is make or break time for many charities, too. If you have the means, consider making a contribution to your favorite cause.

If you've already tightened your belt to the last notch, and just don't have any spare cash, drop a couple loose coins in a bell ringer's bucket, and don't let the guilties get you. If, however, you've been a prudent consumer, saved a little money to spend at this time of year, found a few real bargains, and managed to have more on hand that you thought you would, you could go buy a few more trinkets, or you could help make a difference in a cause near and dear to your heart. Part with a few bucks, giving feels good!

Don't consider giving just for the tax deduction, but if you do give, there is no reason not to take any available deductions that are offered. Depending on where you live, and your tax status and filing practices (you need to itemize), you might even wind up getting more bang for your buck than the value of your contribution. State income taxes are often affected by what happens with your Federal taxes, which can act as a multiplying factor. If you are always close to break even (which you *should* be - more on that next year!) and neither paying a large amount, nor receiving a large refund, that small contribution might just keep you from having to write a check come April 15th. It won't make much of a difference monetarily, but it may be very convenient. Why not pay out a little now, while you have it, rather than later, when you may not?

Make sure the charity of your choice is a 501c or other qualifying organization if you are planning to take a deduction, but there are many worthwhile causes to give money to that are not necessarily tax deductible, so don't let tax status alone determine if the charity is a worthwhile one to you! Pick things you care about, and help out with what you can within your means. If contributions are deductible, get a receipt so you can make the claim when you file. If they are not, enjoy the warm fuzzy feeling of giving and don't worry about it.

Seek out the charity, and give directly. Don't respond to cold calls or middlemen! At best they will be eating up some of your contribution for their own overhead (and you will be encouraging folks to interrupt your dinner to pester you). At the worst, they are scam artists who will pass along nothing to the charity, but will be lining their own pockets. Direct giving avoids all that, and makes sure the charity gets the most potential from your gift, however small.

Don't break the bank because you feel guilty, but if you do have some money to spare, however little it may be, do consider making a gift to a worthwhile cause.

Have a Merry Christmas (or your particular holiday celebration of choice), and a Happy New Year!

Secret Santa Shopping Tips

Secret Santa Shopping Tips
by FiGuy


You've been designated someone's Secret Santa. Here are a few tips to help you fulfill your role, without having to work at it too hard...


If there is an established limit on spending, keep to it. While things you might like to receive yourself can be a good place to start, remember that tastes do vary, and the person you are buying for may not share yours.

Try to keep your gifts practical and useful, it will be appreciated. Stay away from gag gifts, and decorative or cutesy items. That singing teddy bear might be adorable, but the novelty will wear off quickly. After that it collects dust or winds up in the landfill. Also avoid beauty or hygiene items - you'll almost never get the right brands, and you might accidentally send the wrong message: you stink! you're ugly and your mother dresses you funny! etc.


Edible is credible. Most people enjoy getting good things to eat. Unless you know for certain the person likes fruitcake (I'm one of those weird people who does), avoid it. There are more complaints and jokes about fruitcake than just about any other holiday gift. Try to find out if the person you are buying for has any special needs before you buy. Do they have allergies? Are they diabetic? Do they observe a restricted diet for religious or personal reasons (Kosher, Vegan, etc.)? You don't want to give a glazed ham to someone that doesn't eat pork, and those premium steaks won't go over well with a vegetarian! Chocolate is overdone, but there is a reason for that, and sometimes a cliche will work in your favor.


Consider giving an assortment of small items, and perhaps throwing in a bar of chocolate or some candy to sweeten the deal. This increases your odds of hitting on some item that they will like and use, and you have the tasty treat as a backup in case you missed. Are they always borrowing something from their co-workers? Clue!

Go spy on their workplace for some other hints. Do they have lots of pictures of their family? Perhaps a small electronic picture frame would make a nice gift. Page-a-day calendars are almost always useful. Is their workplace plastered with Dilbert or Garfield cartoons? Bingo! Do they have quotes and inspirational sayings tacked up? Bingo! Now you can pick out a calendar to match their tastes.

Flash thumb drives, those little memory gadgets that plug into a USB port, are a wonderful item that has come down into Secret Santa price range. They come in all sorts of colors and graphic schemes these days, and are quite useful. Unless the person you are buying for already has a drawer full of them, this item should go over quite well.


Keep it simple, try to tailor to the person you are buying for, have fun with it. A little creativity, and a little snooping, can have everyone commenting on what a wonderful gift you picked out - and even if they don't know who did the picking, you'll know and feel good about it.

Now go out and stimulate the economy!

Gift Cards - Why They Suck

Gift Cards - Why They Suck
by FiGuy


OK, so the title is a little strong, but would I get your attention with "Gift Cards - Pros and Cons"? Gift cards can be a nice way to give, but they do have many negatives. You should examine your situation to decide if the negatives outweigh the positives, and you might just be surprised at the answer you come up with.

Lets look at the plus side first.

Gift cards are convenient. They can be purchased just about anywhere these days, and with the credit card branded variety, the recipient isn't bound to just one place to shop. You may even be able to use them online, as many merchants are trying to do anything to get a little extra business. Some retailers still won't take anything but a very established standard credit card, but the number of those who are more flexible is growing.

Gift cards can add a little security. If you are sending gifts through the mail, and a theft occurs, a gift card may be able to be replaced (this varies from card to card, read the details before you purchase), whereas cash that is stolen is gone for good.

The restrictiveness of a store branded gift card, which can only be used at the retailer it was purchased from, can be a positive factor. If you don't want a teenage recipient running out to get a ring through their nose or a nifty new tattoo, their being stuck shopping at a certain store has advantages.

Sometimes the cards are offered at a discount, so you pay less than the card amount and can get more bang for your dollar. There is a reason the retailers can afford to do this, and we'll get to that shortly.

Now for the downside.

For smaller children, and some of us fully grown children, a gift card just doesn't have the same emotional impact as that special toy. If you want to watch your grandchildren bounce off the walls with excitement, a gift card is unlikely to do the trick. Someone with their heart set on getting that robotic hamster just isn't going to react the same way to a gift card, even though it might buy them five of the silly things. It isn't logical, but you aren't giving gifts to Spock, are you?

Gift cards are restrictive. Store branded cards are only good at that store, so if the latest fashion or trendy item isn't available at that store, the card bearer isn't going to get it. Even the credit card variety, which can be used wherever credit or debit cards are accepted, has its limitations. Many online retailers won't accept debit cards, only established credit cards, and may not recognize the gift card as valid. There are still businesses that do only cash business. You won't be getting a cart vended pretzel or banana on a stick while you are shopping with a gift card, for example.

There may be fees. Most retailer branded cards don't do this, but there are exceptions. The credit card branded cards can get hit by this the worst. Debit fees and transaction fees can eat away at the value of the card, and the recipient won't get the full benefit of your purchase. If you want the person you are giving a gift to have $20, they may not get the whole $20 after fees have been applied to their purchases.

Gift cards aren't as safe as many advertisers might like you to believe. If there is no security method in place, like a PIN number, once the card is being used, it can be stolen just as easily as cash. It may look like a credit card, but undoing unauthorized purchases mostly doesn't work like a credit card.

The worst factor by far is that even without fees or additional charges, it may be hard to use the whole value of the card. Remember I said the retailers had a reason they could offer the cards at a discount? This is why. Every penny of value you don't use is pure profit for them. While many states have laws that help protect the consumer, many still do not. There are some new rules at the Federal level, but they don't go into effect until 2010, and mostly apply to the credit card branded general purpose cards. A card may expire before the whole value is used up. If the card isn't used in a timely manner, monthly "dormancy" fees may be applied, and quickly drain the value of the card. The store may make it difficult to split a payment across cards, or between a card and cash, so it may not be easy to purchase something that cost more than the remaining value on the gift card. A recent study by the Consumer Federation of America showed that 17% of gift card recipients had trouble using the whole balance on their card because the store wouldn't allow split payments for purchases greater than the value on the card.

The numbers bear out this last negative factor, even in places that have rules protecting the consumer. Every year X dollars are spent on gift cards (this year estimated to be in the 40-50 billion dollar range), and quite a bit less than X dollars are ever redeemed. The difference represents lost value. Now, whomever you may be giving a card to may be a smart and responsible consumer who will use the card in a timely manner, and make sure they get every penny out of it, but the numbers say many, if not most, people do not.

That sucks.

To quote Dilbert: "You are buying something that works like cash, only not as well".

Some of the card vendors are addressing these problems, and laws are also being passed to further protect consumers, so the situation may not be quite as bleak as I'm telling you, but there is still a lot of room for improvement.

Take a look at your specific situation, and carefully read the terms and restrictions of the card you are considering, before you make that purchase. If you will be mailing the gift, if you can buy the card at a decent discount off face value, if the card you are looking at makes a point of addressing some or most of these common problems, or you are happy about some of the imposed restrictions because of your circumstances, a gift card may well be the best way to go. Otherwise cash is probably your best option.

It is hard to go wrong with pictures of dead Presidents!

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are done - what now?

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are done - what now?
by FiGuy


OK, so the big shopping days have come and gone, and you weren't part of the throngs. Have you missed out on all the good deals? Thankfully, no. So where and when are the bargains? Having played the Black Friday game a few times, only to see much lower prices (even on loss-leader items) later, I can tell you the best shopping times still lay ahead.

Even with really good retail sales figures, the big stores will still be fighting for your business until after the January clearance sales. In leaner years they will fight harder, and price reductions will be more drastic, but there will be reductions and enticements for sure no matter what the economic climate.

If you can hold off until after Christmas, the year end sales almost always offer the best bang for the buck. Of course, that doesn't put presents under the tree on the 25th, so many of us will pay a little more than rock bottom for tradition's sake.

So, if you want presents under the tree, should you wait until the last minute, say the 23rd or 24th, in order to get the best prices on the things we want to buy? Not necessarily. You might find a slightly better price, but not find the item you wanted in stock! That late in the game most retailers are not expecting or placing any major orders - they are running with what stock they already planned to have on hand, with the possible exception of one or two super-popular items, especially the toy du jour (this year it appears to be a robotic hamster). They will be getting more stock for the end of year sales, but it isn't going to show up in the stores right before the big day (Christmas).

You might get lucky, and find exactly what you want on the 24th at a deep discount, but the odds are against you. Experienced shoppers most frequently recommend the week containing December 15th as your best bet for finding a nice price, and finding the item you want still on the shelf. This year the 15th falls on a Tuesday, so shopping from the 14th through the 20th should get you the best results in terms of price and availability. Monday the 14th is likely to be the last major delivery of fresh stock to the stores until after Christmas, and with time running out the discounts aren't likely to get much better than those you'll find that week.

Of course there are always exceptions, and if you feel the need to explore right up until the last day, you might score something special. However, if you want to do better than just get lucky, go hit the stores sometime between the 14th and the 20th, that's when you'll have the most opportunities.

Good luck, happy hunting, go stimulate the economy!

FiGuy

Six Mistakes to Avoid in the Coming Recovery

Six Mistakes to Avoid in the Coming Recovery
by: Ed Biernat



While the Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke noted last week that the
recession is "very likely over", the recovery is just beginning. Many
executives and business owners want to get through these changes and get
back to 'business as usual,' and therein lies the problem. "Business as
usual" has caused (or at least exacerbated) the issue, so going back may
not be in the company's long term interest.

Productivity normally rises during a downturn, since everyone is watching
the books more and the organization works hard to do more with less. The
normal increase in productivity in past recessions (1970 - present)
averages about .8 , or 3X the average of the prior six recessions. While
part of this increase is the significant cuts to worker pay and benefits,
part of this increased productivity may be from better utilization of
your human capital and smarter business processes. Don't sacrifice this
gain by retrenching into past practices. Here are some pitfalls to avoid.

Repopulating the company 1 for 1.

The majority of companies have had to lay off a higher number of
employees than in past downturns. And now that things are turning around,
they want to bring them back as quickly as possible. One reason for that
desire is loyalty to the individual, and that is highly commendable. Part
of it is that the manager is using an old paradigm that if sales increase
X%, I will need to restaff with Y number of people. That paradigm may
have been shattered.

· The tasks we do in an organization can be divided into value added [VA]
(those that service the customer) and non value added [NVA] (consume
resources but do not add value). Capture what is being done right now.
How are you able to get it all done with a skeleton crew? What isn't
getting done? Evaluate if it ever needs to come back.

· If it needs to be done, be creative on the how and the who. Who needs
to do it? Typically we have highly skilled workers doing a mix of value
added and non value added work. What if you pulled most of the NVA work
from them and pooled it into a less skilled (and preferably temporary)
person? And how does it need to be done? Instead of adding staff, could
these NVA jobs be automated? Outsourced?

· Remember the bargaining agreement if you have one. Work within it or
start setting the stage for changes. The goal is to get the bulk of the
people back in productive work as needed while giving them some better
assurance that they are on board for the long haul. The mechanisms to
redistribute the NVA tasks are up to you. Think out of the box.

· What about those employees that you couldn't move because they knew too
much or had a special skill set that the organization couldn't live
without? Now is the time to correct that by getting them to put it in
writing the magic that they do. Unless, of course, you want to be held
hostage again sometime in the future.

Being too slow to add resources.

· Stay ahead of the curve when adding resources. This will allow you go
after the NVA activities as you identify them. You will need the extra
bandwidth to follow recommendations and use this recovery time to
continuously improve the organization.

· Focus on servicing your current customers extremely well. Now is the
chance to delight them - you need them more than ever. Make sure the
front line customer support team has the resources to do the job right.
This is particularly true since you are looking to attract new customers
to replace ones you may have lost. First impressions are key and may be a
major differentiator for your company against its competitors.

· Some resources will take a while to get due to lead time on equipment
or locating the right skill set. Start those earlier than you might
otherwise to make sure they are there when you need them and that they
are the best available. (First movers here will probably get a great deal
on critical resources, both human and physical.)

· As you replace lost personnel, hire for behaviors first, skill set
second. If the individual has the right attitude and some expertise and
ability in the area, the specific nuances of the job can be acquired. It
is much harder to change a person's behavior - what you hire is what you
get. If you are a first mover to acquire these individuals, you will have
a greater chance to find people with both the right behaviors and the
right skill set.

Ignoring your suppliers.

· You may have had to add some in haste since your original ones went out
of business. Now is the time to do due diligence to make sure they are
the ones for the long haul.

· These suppliers helped you through the hard times. As the money
returns, be sure to pay them closer to the original terms. They have
probably earned it. But, if the new reality really is net 60 versus the
old net 30, start that dialogue now.

· As you look at NVA activities, you may find a fit with suppliers. It
may not be your core skills but it might one of theirs. It may not be a
bad thing to select a few key suppliers and work to partner with them
more.

Failing to reevaluate your customers.

· Stay close to your key customers. They kept you going. Continue to
service them well through the recovery. The general tendency is to flock
to the newest customers most often. Resist the temptation. Make all your
customers priority customers.

· But take a good long look at them. Are they really the customers of
your future? Some of them may need to get replaced, not today, but over
time. Identifying them early will allow you the most flexibility in your
future agreements.

· Work with them like your suppliers but in reverse. Is there a way that
you can take some of their perceived NVA activities that fit your skill
set? How can you integrate your company into their day to day activities
more?

· Now is also the time to understand what is their view of the new
reality. Your organization probably made concessions to keep the
business. You need to understand what concessions are parts of their
business model going forward, and which ones will return to normal and
when. It is hard to do while you are still starving, but don't wait too
long or you may lose some bargaining room.

Being blind to potential infrastructure issues.

· Since you probably stripped your resources (lived off of inventory,
stock, etc.), think before you bring it all back in kind. Take a snapshot
of what you currently are using and what you didn't use at all. During
this recovery, some things may be difficult to get quickly. Be the first
mover to replace what you will need eventually. On the flip side, you may
have items that you don't need and that may be in demand. Somewhere
during this ramp up may be a great time to rid yourself of these at a
profit if you have them identified and have that as part of your game
plan.

· What corners did you cut that still got the job done? You may have
stopped all preventive maintenance, for example, but you know that isn't
a sustainable answer. Evaluate what was done and not done, and do your
VA/NVA analysis. If it falls into the NVA side, figure out how to get rid
of it or automate it. If it is a VA activity, put it on your priority
list to restart as soon as practical.

· That includes ERP/MRP protocols as well as what equipment to bring back
on line. If you are getting along without it, think twice before bringing
that practice back. Anne Mulchahy, Chairman of Xerox, noted in a recent
interview that the company is evaluating the new ways that things are
getting done as a result of the recession and making the ideas and
process changes that make sense part of the company culture. Never waste
a good idea!

· Take time to evaluate the overall impact of the recession on your
infrastructure. Don't be one of those companies that have to stutter-step
their recovery because of infrastructure snafus. That especially goes for
critical equipment, processes and people. As you regain bandwidth, make
sure that either they are made robust or add some redundancy.

Maintaining a management mindset focused on returning to "business as
usual".

· Your management team just went through a graduate course on how to
survive a significant downturn, so why wouldn't you use that knowledge
going forward? We did a straw poll on how managers are reacting to this
downturn. The overwhelming response was, "I can't wait to get this behind
us to get back to business as usual." So much for the diploma.

· If you followed the advice of most change guru's, you got very close to
your employees during this time and communicated a lot more than you have
historically. Don't throw this one aside as things start back up.
Managing by Wandering Around, visible management and Going to Gemba work
ALL the time. Make this part of the new management paradigm.

· You may have reduced your management headcount as well as the first
line workers. Rethink how you restaff your support team. This is an
opportunity to make some of the structural changes that you may have been
considering. Also, decide what your company culture will look like going
forward. Have you started to rely more on teams versus command and
control? Make sure that you bring back only those individuals that will
reinforce this new way of working.

This has been a challenging time for management at every level, and hard
time for everyone in the organization. Now is the opportunity to turn the
time, effort and money that the recession cost the company for a
investment into a smarter and more solid future. What would you like your
organization to look like and act like three years from now? Today is the
day to start making that vision a reality.

---

About The Author
Edward Biernat started Consulting With Impact in 1998 after seeing a need
to help businesses stream line their production. His credits include
being a successful quality manager at Bausch & Lomb, and having a
certified black belt with Lean Six Sigma.




The author invites you to visit: http://www.consultingwithimpact.com

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Can Give you a Fresh Start

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Can Give you a Fresh Start
by: Nick Messe



If you think there are more people filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy this
year than in the past you are correct. With Chapter 7 bankruptcy your
available personal assets are used to pay off your unsecured debts and
the unpaid balance is wiped clean. Some states, however, do allow the
filer to keep a vehicle and their primary residence. The rules are
slightly different from state to state, so be sure to check with your
court or a local bankruptcy attorney to see how it works in your state.

Most bankruptcy attorneys encourage people to take a good hard look at
their finances before considering bankruptcy. Although many of your
immediate financial problems will be wiped clean, the bankruptcy will
have a negative impact on your credit score and you might find it hard to
borrow money for a while. So at what point should you go ahead and file
for bankruptcy?

When your debts become so problematic that you can't make a dent in them
and your attempts to hold off your creditors are no longer working, you
might be a candidate for bankruptcy. When you do a tally of your assets
and liabilities and you find that your liabilities are significantly more
than your assets, it is probably time to take action. If your debts are
endangering your IRA or any other retirement accounts, filing for
bankruptcy may protect them.

Filing for bankruptcy doesn't carry the same stigma it used to and has
become almost common these days. If your debts are simply unmanageable
and there is no way to get out from under them, there is nothing to be
gained by not facing this fact. There is no point in hiding from the
facts and letting a completely unworkable situation carry on any longer
than necessary. Chapter 7 could be a tool to restart your life without
debt. Just remember not to repeat the same financial mistakes that got
you into this mess in the first place.

Finding a bankruptcy attorney to help you regain control of your finances
could be the best decision you've ever made. Debt can completely take
over your time and attention and the reasons for getting into this kind
of debt are at that point less important than just being able to simply
get on with your life. With unemployment rising and inflation on the way,
Chapter 7 could save your home, your health and your peace of mind.

Many bankruptcy lawyers offer free consultation before it is necessary to
choose who you want to use. This is the best way to find a lawyer who is
sympathetic to your situation and one you feel comfortable working with.
You can also find out the terms and conditions of engaging an attorney
and also what he or she expects of you as a client.

Take the time to consult with two or three different lawyers. compare
prices and reputations then make your decision. Check with the state bar
association to be sure the attorney you're considering is in good
standing and has no complaints filed against them. Choosing an attorney
to advise you and represent you is an important decision that should not
be taken without proper consideration.

Bankruptcy can bring an end to your financial woes and can also be the
start of a new life, especially since credit counseling is usually
required as part of the proceedings. Hopefully you will come out of it
with a better understanding of the dangers of credit, and a commitment to
avoid letting it happen again.

---

About The Author
In the Milwaukee and Waukesha area Michael Burr specializes in bankruptcy
and debt relief services. Milwaukee Chapter 7 bankruptcy is an effective
way to eliminate many types of debt and have a fresh financial start.
Contact Attorney Michael Burr directly. He understands what you are going
through and can help you get on with your life. - http://www.burrlawoffice.com

The author invites you to visit: http://www.burrlawoffice.com

Your Family Budget - The 3 Steps To Do It Right

Your Family Budget - The 3 Steps To Do It Right
by Shevach Pepper


If you are reading this article then your financial situation is probably in pretty bad shape and you want to change it. Don't we all? One of the main reasons that people don't even attempt to make a budget (there are other simpler reasons why they don't implement it) is that they think it is a very complicated process to make a family budget. They reason, "If I can't succeed why even try?" I understand their reasoning but it is not really so complicated. In this article I will show you the 3 basic elements of a family budget and how to do them.

To make an effective family budget there are only three things you have to know; your income, your expenses, and how to bring about and keep that your expenses become less than your income. That's all there is too it. But you have to make sure that you know exactly these three things, rough estimates based on your feelings and not solid data is not acceptable. Without cold numbers our mind plays too many tricks on us. Once your income is greater than your expenses then you will enjoy financial security. The question only is; how to do this?

The first step to doing this is to track ALL of your expenses for about a month. This means to record; what goes out of your bank account (such as your mortgage or your insurance payments) , what you buy in the grocery store, what you spend on entertainment, what you spend on transportation, etc. You can write it on pieces of papers and save them in your pocket, your wallet, or your pocket book. If you want you can put it into a spread sheet on your computer. It makes no difference. The only thing that is important is that you write down somewhere where every penny goes.

At the same time, track and write down all of your incomes; pay checks, presents, stock dividends. Any money that you receive has to be written down.

The third step is, that at he end of the month write down (or enter into your computer) all of these figures into 4 columns. Write in the first column on what you spent your money. In the next column, corresponding to the first one, how much money was spent for each thing. After that in the next column from where you got money. And in the last column; how much money you received. Tally both of these columns and see which one is bigger. If the total of your income is bigger than your expenses, then you are in good shape. If not, then you have to see where you can cut your expenses or raise your income.

Start today tracking and recording all of your expenses. It might be a little annoying in the beginning, but it isn't at all overwhelming. After a few months of doing this you will feel less annoyed at the process and the more you adjust your expenses to be less than your income you will be able to begin to live a happy life of financial security.



If you are having trouble keeping to your budget or are experiencing other family pressures then Click here learn practical tips, techniques,and strategies to help you successfully deal with family problems.

Contact the Author
Shevach Pepper
family relations
More Details about family budget here.

How Does Refinancing A Car Work?

How Does Refinancing A Car Work?
by Jennifer Quilter


Happy to have a new vehicle, but not so sure about your new interest rate? Let's look at how does refinancing a car work and what it can do for you.

If you know much about refinancing a home, then I'd like to start off by telling you that a vehicle will be much simpler. With a home there are large upfront costs and math to be done to ensure it will be worth it.

With a vehicle things are much more straight forward.

Refinancing means to finance again. You are replacing your old loan with a new one, and using the new on to pay off the old one. When you go out to look for a new loan the biggest thing you are looking for is a lower interest rate. The lowest interest rates are usually found at credit unions, but to ensure you get the lowest rate possible I suggest searching for five rates and comparing. This way you know you'll have found the best possible deal.

So, how does refinancing a car work? Once you find your new, lower rate, you pay off your old loan with the new one and then start making the payments on your new loan. It's that simple.

Another benefit some people look for is extending the life of the loan. Because the loan amount is probably lower now, when you get the new loan you can look at spanning it out over a longer period of time. This will give you lower monthly payments now, but will also mean you'll be paying more total interest in the end.

With a new loan you have all new options and possibilities. Anything you don't currently like about your current financing can be changed by starting over. When we look at how does refinancing a car work we see it is starting over.

If you still want to know more check out How Does Refinancing Work? for more helpful information,
including explanations for refinancing a mortgage and the pros and cons of refinancing.

---

After spending her post college years climbing out of debt, Jennifer
Quilter has spent a great deal of time reading up on finances. She now
combines that knowledge with her love of writing and helping other people
understand the complicated world of finances.

Contact the Author
Jennifer Quilter
finances
More Details about How Does Refinancing a Car Work
here.

Money Saving Tips - 7 Super Simple Ways to Save Money

Money Saving Tips - 7 Super Simple Ways to Save Money
by Heidi DeCoux



#1 -- Go out for dessert instead of dinner. Dinners out can get expensive but it's not fun to stay in every night. Eat dinner at home and go out for dessert. To save time and reduce the temptation to go out to eat, make up large batches of food and freeze it in individual serving
containers. This way you can heat up a homemade gourmet meal in minutes then go out for a yummy dessert after wards.

#2 -- Borrow instead of Buy. Need a special tool for a project or maybe a hedge trimmer or tent. Go to NeighBorrow.com to find someone near you that will happily lend you theirs, free of charge.

#3 -- Turn down (or up, depending on the season and climate you live in) your thermostat before you leave your house. Shut the vents off in rooms that you do not use during the day, such as, bedrooms or family room and keep the doors closed. No sense in heating or cooling rooms that are not being used.

#4 -- Have a Clothing Swap with friends. Invite your friends to clean out their closets, bring over their unwanted clothing and accessories along with a dish to pass. Lay out everyone's clothes. Eat, mingle and shop - for FREE! You'll probably leave with at least a couple of new fun pieces
to add to your wardrobe, and you'll have a fun and free night out. Simply donate all of the left over items to charity.

#5 -- Unplug items you are not using. Even if they are off they are still pulling current. This cost savings will add up to more than you think. If you don't want to continually be unplugging items, invest in a Smart Strip (different than a standard power strip). It does not allow your items to pull electric current when off. You will probably cut your electric bill in half. For more info on Smart Strips go to http://clearsimpleliving.com/page/smartbuys .

#6 -- Wash all your clothes in cold water. It's better for your clothes, especially darks, and generally they come out just as clean. Just use a little pre-spot if needed. Also, stop running your water continuously when brushing your teeth or washing dishes.

#7 -- Consider buying gently used versus new, check Craigslist.org, Ebay.com or HandMeDowns.com before paying retail. You can save a bundle!

Added bonus: It's great for our environment when we re-distribute items instead of tossing things out and re-manufacturing new things.

Cheers to saving our planet and saving money!

---

Heidi DeCoux is the publisher of the Life Made Simple E-zine and a
professional organizer in Minneapolis http://www.HeidiDeCoux.com
specializing in home organization http://www.clearsimpleliving.com.
Heidi energizes her readers’ lives by simplifying their homes and
schedules. For more info, free tips on how to find more time in your day,
and to receive her FREE Report: The Fast & Easy Way to Get Organized and
Stay Organized Forever, visit www.ClearSimpleLiving.com and discover how
to end the frustration of endless searching for things and find what you
want fast so you can have more fun!

Contact the Author
Heidi DeCoux
Home Organization & Personal Time Management
heidi@heididecoux.com
More Details about Money Saving Tips here.

Survive the Economy with Shared Housing

Survive the Economy with Shared Housing

by Rosemary Lichtman, Ph.D.


Multi-generational households are making a comeback for Boomers in the
Sandwich Generation - especially with the lack of jobs available for new
college graduates and the financial pinch felt by aging parents as their
retirement incomes dwindle. Don't be disappointed if you were dreaming
about the empty nest. This new living arrangement can reduce stress, with
more family members sharing household responsibilities, financial
expenses and emotional support. That is, as long as guidelines are
clearly set in the beginning and upheld.

Families today are facing a new kind of housing crisis as the economy
continues to be problematic. When one spouse in a two-career marriage
loses a job, making the monthly mortgage payment becomes difficult,
especially for Sandwiched Boomers. Senior citizens who have been able to
pay for housing from their retirement accounts must cut back on that
expense when their retirement funds are down by 50 percent. When a
mortgage begun with an artificially low interest figure calls for a rate
increase or a balloon payment, the cost becomes prohibitive for the
nuclear family.

These scenarios are not about Gen X and Gen Y kidults boomeranging back
home, with connotations of immaturity or irresponsibility. Rather they
reflect adults struggling with the real effects of a global financial
meltdown not faced in over 75 years. An AARP study revealed that more
than ¼ of the foreclosures and delinquencies last year occurred among
those 50 and over. These seniors and their adult children are looking
carefully at what to do to ease the economic woes that have hit everyone
hard.

Some younger families are moving in with their parents, pooling their
funds for mortgage payments. In other cases, seniors are giving up their
individual, larger homes and moving into 'granny flats' or guest suites
on their children's property. Irrespective of the type of arrangement and
reason for combining two families into one home, some serious planning is
needed before taking the plunge. Here are 6 tips to put into play before
sharing daily life with extended family:

1. Have a family meeting to set guidelines before you move in together.
Be frank and honest about your needs. You'll each be giving up some
autonomy and control so you can expect to have situations where push
comes to shove. Present your positions for the best and worst case
scenarios. Then decide how you want to compromise so that everyone gets
some of what they want. Put any absolute deal breakers out on the table
so they can be discussed in detail.

2. Set boundaries so that everyone's privacy is respected. Living
together with roommates in a college dorm is one thing but sharing space
with adult family members can get awkward. Identify signals to use when
one of you wants to be alone. The last time you all lived together, the
circumstances were quite different. Old issues around power or dependency
can resurface in this close environment, particularly when there may be a
difference of opinion about how to handle issues with
children/grandchildren.

3. Work out a schedule for shared responsibilities, chores and finances.
Gain consensus about making the division of labor equitable. When
children/grandchildren are part of the mix, arrive at a clear timetable
with regard to babysitting so that no one feels exploited. The
multi-generational experience can foster a closer relationship between
grandparents and grandchildren, with the middle generation being able to
step away from some care-giving tasks.

4. Respect the needs of everyone involved. When each person feels heard,
it takes away some of the frustration stemming from the lack of control.
You can be supportive to one another just by listening even if you don't
agree with the reason for the complaint. Use the techniques of active
listening and sending I-messages.

5. Think about the problems that can arise and make a Plan B. Just
because you all are having some difficulty with the new living
arrangements doesn't mean you have to discard the entire idea. Continue
to schedule family meetings to discuss the issues and conflicts. Lack of
privacy, intruding on other family members' boundaries and unwanted
advice are often sore points.

6. Be flexible and learn to love compromise and cooperation. Look at the
situation from the perspective of other family members as you work on
understanding their positions. You are all in this together and while you
may not get exactly what you want, you can work out a solution that is
good for everyone.

Generations living together can lead to a win-win situation. Even with
the potential costs of remodeling to accommodate both families,
maintaining one household rather than two creates considerable savings.
And other positive outcomes develop. Support generated on both sides can
serve as the foundation for resolving past misunderstandings, making
forgiveness easier to accomplish. The close bonding allows for building
rich memories to savor over the years. And the expression of gratitude is
good for both giver and receiver. As the older generation continues to
age, these times can be the impetus for planning care by a newly
sandwiched generation, with grandchildren pitching in to help.

(c) 2009, Her Mentor Center

---

Rosemary Lichtman, Ph.D. & Phyllis Goldberg, Ph.D. are co-founders of
www.HerMentorCenter.com, a website dedicated to the issues of mid-life women and www.NourishingRelationships.Blogspot.com, a Blog for the Sandwich Generation. They are co-authors of a forthcoming book about Baby Boomer women and their family relationships. As psychotherapists, they
have over 40 years of collective private practice experience.

Contact the Author
Rosemary Lichtman, Ph.D.

Tips for the Sandwich Generation
Mentors@HerMentorCenter.com
More Details about shared family housing
here.

Save Energy and Save Money

Save Energy and Save Money

by Jane Cocker

Check out these instant FREE ways to save money and energy:

Cost: Your laundry hides two appliances that cost you a load! Your
washing machine and clothes dryer cost you money and energy savings on a
daily basis. A hot wash with warm rinse for example, will set you back
about 80 cents a pop; a quick load in the clothes dryer has you paying
about 45 cents each time.

Freebie: Replace your hot water with cold, instantly saving up to 50
cents per wash. Over a year this could be as much as $167.00 in savings!
Switch to air-drying your clothing rather than operating the dryer and
put another $135.00 away a year for rainy days!

Cost: A typical 75 watt incandescent light globe uses about 5 cents an
hour to run. Households use multiple light fittings and we ‘flick the
switch' so often that these little power suckers are guilty of costing us
up to $110 a year to run.

Freebie: If you aren't in the room, switch your lights off. Simple!
Replace standard bulbs with energy savings; energy-efficient bulbs last
up to six times longer and use 80 percent less energy. What a great idea!

Cost: Are you still running your 1972 cooler-box as a ‘beer fridge'?
Older appliances are energy-hungry, gobbling up to $90 more a year to run
than current energy-efficient models. If you have an ice-chest from the
Ice Age that you keep bait in too, then add another $75 a year to your
energy costs. Freebie: Get rid of your aging or faulty appliances and
replace them with star-rated energy efficient ones. And finally, you'll
have a lot more money left over for fresh bait and cold beers if you just
get rid of that rusted fridge in your back shed!

---

British writer living and working in Buenos Aires.

Contact the Author
Jane Cocker

More Details about how to save energy and money
here.

What if my store doesn't double coupons?!

What if my store doesn't double coupons?!

by Becky Sandefur

Some of the large chain stores have made coupon shopping much more
tantalizing by offering double and triple coupons. They are banking on
the fact that most people will come to their store for that extra
savings, use some coupons in their stores, then fill their grocery cart
with other high priced products. Let's face the facts, corporate America
is in it to make money. Thank goodness, that's not where the story ends!
While double and triple coupons are a great asset to lowering your
grocery bill, you'll end up actually paying more overall if you don't
watch it. The magic happens when you understand the strategy and match
those coupons with the stores lowest priced sales. Sometimes there are
even extra bonus manufacturer savings if you purchase a certain number of
their products in one transaction. Those are the times you load up and
pay little to nothing for those products.

I've heard so many people say that it isn't worth it for them because
their store doesn't double coupons. Drop the anchor . . . Don't jump off
the boat just yet! All over this great country of ours is a plethora of
opportunities just waiting for you to grab hold of. You can look from one
state to another and from one rural area to the suburbs to find the
savings you need. Some places double coupons worth up to .50 while others
will double $1 and $2 coupons; Then others don't double at all. However,
what I have found is that where one place might give those great double
deals, the other place has better sales to make up for it. Also,
different regions get coupons of different values. So where my .50 coupon
might be doubled to make it worth $1, another part of the country has
that same coupon already worth $1 or even more!

In all actuality, some of the very best deals are not even the deals you
get with double couponing. I love it, for instance, when there is a $4
coupon to save on razors and the store runs a special for those same
razors for sale at $4. You can't beat free . . . all it costs is the tax!
Then there's not even the hassle of trying to figure out how many you can
purchase if your store will only double up to three coupons on same items
per transaction. Don't limit yourself or your shopping opportunities.

With prices everywhere skyrocketing, you really can take charge of what
you pay. All it takes is keeping your eyes and ears open to sales and
available coupons. As with anything new, it might take some time to get
used to coupon shopping. Before you know it you'll be breezing through
the stores with keen observation and knowledge while paying just a
fraction of the price, double coupons or not.

---

Becky Sandefur is an entrepreneur known for her gift of helping others
reach their money-saving goals. Her expertise is in the area of Home
Economics, budgeting, and household management. She is the business owner
of "The Coupon Detective" that trains people how to Save Hundreds on
their Grocery Bill.

Contact the Author
Becky Sandefur
thrifty shopping
More Details about coupon shopping http://www.MyCouponDetective.com.

Coupon shopping…cut your grocery bill in half!

Coupon shopping…cut your grocery bill in half!

by Becky Sandefur

As grocery prices are on the rise, one homeschool mom of three beats the
odds by saving thousands of dollars every year on groceries and showing
others how they can get the same results. Becky Sandefur and her family
have lived in the DFW metroplex for the past 13 years. Sandefur's
coupon-shopping spree began several years ago. "I had tried using
coupons, but never seemed to be able to make that much of a difference on
my grocery bill," she says.

Trial and error paid off and she soon discovered that coupon shopping and
saving money is not just about the coupons. It is also about the stores,
the sales, the timing, the organization, and understanding the system.
Sandefur claims it is "not as hard as it seems and totally worth it!"

That's when she became known as, The Coupon Detective. Sandefur began her
business with a website at www.MyCouponDetective.com to help others learn
how they can also easily save hundreds of dollars a month. Many ideas are
simple, yet often overlooked. "The problem most people have with coupon
shopping is the organization," Sandefur says. "They don't have a system,
so it gets too time-consuming or they lose track of the coupons and
really don't save all that much before giving up."

Shoppers all over the United States have benefited from the Coupon
Detective's practical training and inspiration. Academy students
regularly send in testimonials and emails with "thank you's" and
appreciation for helping them save so much on their grocery bill.
Sandefur claims "with the right plan of action, you should be saving a
minimum of 50% on your grocery bill."

---

Becky Sandefur is an entrepreneur known for her gift of helping others
reach their money-saving goals. Her expertise is in the area of Home
Economics, budgeting, and household management. She is the business owner
of "The Coupon Detective" and trains people how to Save Hundreds on their
Grocery Bill. You can get your free report at
http://www.MyCouponDetective.com


Contact:
Becky Sandefur


More Details about coupon shopping
here.

Five New Ways to Save Money at the Grocery Store

Five New Ways to Save Money at the Grocery Store

by Chris Robertson


According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), average weekly
home food costs for a family of four with two children under five years
old rose from $85.60 in March 1999 to $118.30 in March 2009. That's an
increase of nearly 28 percent in ten years. Unless your income has
increased 28 percent or more, you are spending a greater portion of your
earnings on grocery shopping than you were ten years ago.

Other household expenses, such as heating costs, have risen even more
recently. That means there is simply less money to go around and every
opportunity for saving money is worth considering. You probably already
use coupons and look for sales. That's great; keep it up! If you want to
save even more, here are five fresh ideas for lowering your grocery costs.

1. Aisle-by-aisle shopping. Organize your shopping trip by setting up a
virtual aisle-by-aisle grocery list. You'll spend less time in the
grocery store and avoid impulse purchases. Using an aisle-by-aisle
organizer makes shopping so much easier you can bring your children and
save money on baby sitters. Plus, with a virtual shopping list, more than
one person can contribute to the list and that means fewer trips to the
store.

2. Favorites list. Keeping a virtual list of food favorites helps you
avoid the return trip for a forgotten item. Do you always buy a dozen
eggs every week? Do you always buy a jar of peanut butter when your jar
is half empty? The favorites list reminds you of items that should go on
your shopping list. You'll save gas money if you don't have to go back to
the grocery store, not to mention the time you will save and frustration
you will prevent.

3. Pay attention to the store's food recipes. Grocery stores often have
recipes for featured foods. If tilapia is on sale in the fish department,
but you don't know how to cook it, look for a recipe at the store.

4. Set up a grocery coupon organizer and a food recipe organizer. There's
no doubt about it - organizing saves money. When you organize your food
recipes you can easily find a recipe for whatever is on sale that week.
Is pork tenderloin on sale? Just go to the meat section of your recipe
organizer, or look under pork, and there you have it. Same with coupons:
with a grocery coupon organizer you'll know if you have the right coupons
for your purchases. You can also be sure to use those coupons before they
expire.

5. Start a grocery delivery service. Share your shopping expertise. Folks
who are too busy to shop or who are house bond will actually save money
by paying you to do their shopping because you have the skills to save
them serious money. Your customers can email their grocery lists to you,
making it even easier for you to shop for them.

Eating healthy food is important for everyone. Before you cut back on the
quality of the food you buy, consider these and other clever ways of
saving grocery money, so you can still buy the food you want for your
family.

---

Chris Robertson is a published author of Majon International. Majon
International is one of the world's MOST popular internet marketing and
internet advertising companies on the web. Visit their main business
resource web site at: http://www.majon.com (NOTE: Content article shown above may be linked and circulated freely on web sites, ezines and other publications as long as ALL article content, links and author information
remain UNCHANGED in any way whatsoever.)

Contact the Author
Chris Robertson


More Details about grocery http://www.aislebyaisle.com here.

9 Ways to Guard against Identity Theft

9 Ways to Guard against Identity Theft
by Vernon Williams



The following steps will help avoid being a victim of identity theft:

1. Protect your Social Security number.

* Never carry your Social Security card in your wallet.

* Never have your social security number preprinted on your checks.

* Only give your Social Security number when it is absolutely necessary.

* If asked for your social security number, suggest an alternative form
of identification.

* If your state uses your Social Security number as your driver's license
number, ask them to substitute another number.

* If your health insurance company uses your Social Security number as
your policy number, ask them to substitute another number Before giving
over your social security number, ask:

o Why do you need my Social Security number?

o How will my Social Security number be used?

o How do you protect my Social Security number from being stolen?

2. Shred sensitive documents before putting them in the trash

Shred your charge receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance
forms, physician statements, checks and bank statements, expired charge
cards that you're discarding, and credit offers you get in the mail.

3. Cancel prescreened credit offers.

Call: 1-888-5-OPT-OUT (1-888-567-8688) to stop receiving prescreened
offers of credit in the mail.

4. Promptly remove mail from your mailbox.

If you're planning to be away from home and can't pick up your mail,
contact the U.S. Postal Service at 1-800-275-8777 or online at
www.usps.com, to request a vacation hold. They will hold your mail at
your local post office until you can pick it up or are home to receive it.

5. Protect your passwords on credit card, bank and telephone accounts.

* Keep your passwords in a secure place, and out of plain sight. Don't
share them on the Internet, over email, or on the phone. Your Internet
Service Provider (ISP) should never ask for your password.

* Avoid using easily available information like your mother's maiden
name, your birth date, the last four digits of your Social Security
number or your phone number or a series of consecutive numbers.

To make it tougher for hackers to try to figure out your passwords:

* Use passwords that have at least eight characters and include numbers
or symbols. The longer the password, the tougher it is to crack. A
12-character password is stronger than one with eight characters.

* Avoid common words: some hackers use programs that can try every word
in the dictionary.

* Don't use your personal information, your login name, or adjacent keys
on the keyboard as passwords.

* Change your passwords regularly (at a minimum, every 90 days).

* Don't use the same password for each online account you access.

6. Verify a source before sharing information.

Don't give out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or on
the Internet unless you've initiated the contact and are sure you know
who you're dealing with. Identity thieves are clever, and may pose as
representatives of banks, Internet service providers (ISPs), and even
government agencies to get people to reveal their Social Security number,
mother's maiden name, account numbers, and other identifying information.

7. Include on the essentials in your purse and wallet

Carry only the identification information and the credit and debit cards
that you'll actually need when you go out.

8. Store information in secure locations.

* Keep your personal information in a secure place at home, especially if
you have roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your
house.

* Share your personal information only with those family members who have
a legitimate need for it.

* Keep your purse or wallet in a safe place at work; do the same with
copies of administrative forms that have your sensitive personal
information.

9. Determine security procedures in your workplace or at businesses,
doctor's offices or other institutions that collect personally
identifying information.

* Determine who has access to your personal information.

* Verify that it is handled securely.

* Determine the disposal procedures for those records.

* Determine if your information will be shared with anyone else. If so,
ask how your information can be kept confidential.



Get additional ways to protect yourself at
http://www.howtocutyourexpenses.com/identity-theft.html

With over 20 years of experience as a personal financial educator and
counselor, Vernon Williams has developed in depth knowledge of what it
takes to achieve financial success. Today, he is a sought after trainer
and speaker by organizations from both the public and private sector. He
is the author of 425 Ways to Stretch Your $$$$ and 3 Rules that Guarantee
Financial Success. Visit him at http://www.howtocutexpenses.com
[http://www.howtocutexpenses.com]

Contact the Author
Vernon Williams

Finances/Money
vwilliams64@comcast.net
More Details about Identity Theft
here.