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Money Saving Tips > Personal Finance Primer

Four tips for saving money during your vacation

A great family vacation is filled with memories you’ll typically never forget. But, these same memories can also be quite costly. Keeping the following tips in mind while on your next trip will help to cut down on expenses, and will give you more money to spend on having fun.

1. Work Out a Budget

Establishing (and sticking to) a budget is the first step to controlling your spending while on vacation. Before you leave, figure out how much money you can comfortably spend on the entire trip and decide how much of that money you want to go toward things like snacks and souvenirs. This way, you’ll avoid spending more money than you can afford on spur-of-the-moment purchases.

2. Stay in a Smaller Town

When you’re planning a trip to a major tourist destination, the cost of food and accommodations will likely be higher there than in smaller cities nearby. While you may need to travel to the destination you have in mind, finding a hotel in a smaller city saves you money and also keeps you away from larger crowds.

3. Eat a Big Lunch

If you want to make the most of your vacation meal budget, eating a big lunch helps more than you think. Many diners and restaurants offer lunch specials that are bargain priced, compared to their dinner specials.

By eating earlier in the day, you avoid dinner-time crowds. Not only that, eating a big lunch can actually be better for you than eating a big dinner. Eating before you take on the majority of the day ensures that you’ll have the energy until bedtime.

However, eating a big dinner shortly before turning in for the night loads you down with calories that you don’t have time to work off and might even affect how you feel the next day.

4. Reduce Power Usage at Home

Many people already turn off lights and electronic devices when they’re about to take a trip. However, that’s only the first step to keeping the power bill down while you’re away.

Turn down the heat on your water heater’s thermostat to save the money you would otherwise spend keeping your water warm. Some water heaters come equipped with a “vacation” setting for doing so. Depending on when you plan to travel, set your thermostat a little lower in the winter or higher in the summer. This means your furnace or AC runs less.

Keep in mind that taking a vacation is all about having fun. Spending a bit more than you planned on isn’t so bad. However, if you do your best to stick to the budget you laid out before the trip, you’ll generally end up with more money to put toward the next one.

Four ways to slow down on spending

Scads of people don’t realize just how much money they could save on a daily basis. Many unnecessary costs can actually be reduced or eliminated altogether. Don’t be like them. Here are some tips to help you curb your spending, allowing you to add to your piggy bank.

1. Prepare Your Own Meals

Buying breakfast from a fast food restaurant on your way to work isn’t too expensive on its own. But, doing so even once a week can quickly add up to a significant amount. If you find yourself ordering food every day, consider preparing breakfast or lunch at home so you’ll be able to eat when you need to.

Cooking for yourself at home tends to be much cheaper than eating out regularly. This applies to coffee, too. Brewing a thermos full of coffee in the morning will save you the time and money you would spend heading to the nearest coffee shop. Sorry Starbucks!

2. Give Generic a Try

Many stores offer generic or store-brand alternatives to both food and household products. If you see a generic alternative to a product you’re shopping for, give it a try at least once. If you like it, you could save money that you would basically be spending on the label otherwise. Some brand-name products contain up to twice as much (in volume) as their generic counterparts, so switching to generic products can lead to significant savings on your grocery bill.

3. Ditch the Disposables

Some of the products you use from day to day are only used once, then thrown away. Paper towels are handy when you want to clean up a mess in a hurry, but reaching for one after every spill can become an expensive habit. Instead of paper towels or napkins, use washable rags or handkerchiefs. Using them will create a bit of extra dirty laundry, but will also cut out the cost of these disposable products altogether.

4. Use Homemade Household Cleaners

At first, the thought of giving up commercial cleaning products may leave you with some doubts. However, you can make alternatives to many of these products at home. Vinegar is a very effective natural disinfectant with many uses around the home. Not only is it useful on its own, but it also works well with other cleaners to take care of all kinds of messes.

In addition to surface cleaning solutions, you can also make your own laundry detergent, fabric softener, shampoo and toothpaste. There are all sorts of recipes for commercial cleaning alternatives on the internet.

These are only a few of the ways you can lower your expenses. You can find even more ways to save by keeping track of the money you spend in a month. This will help you to identify areas where you need to start cutting back. Don’t forget – every little bit helps!

Five disposable products with reusable alternatives

The modern world is full of products that are meant to make our lives easier. However, many of these products are also disposable and simply thrown away after their initial use. Not only is this bad for our environment, it also leads to unnecessary spending. Here are five disposable products you probably use every day that have reusable alternatives.

1. Cleaning Towels

For many people, reaching for a paper towel is the first step in eliminating a mess. But, making a habit of using disposable towels can lead to an added expense when it’s time to go shopping. Instead of paper towels, invest in rags or washcloths that can be washed and reused. While this could mean extra loads of laundry, the money you save on buying paper towels is well worth the extra laundry costs.

2. Batteries

Many devices, including toys and remote controllers need batteries to function. Before you know it, you could end up buying batteries every time you go to the store. Fortunately, many battery manufacturers offer rechargeable versions of commonly-used sized.

These rechargeable batteries come with a home charger that plugs into a wall outlet that typically charges four batteries at a time. If you invest in enough of these batteries to supply all of the electronic devices you use every day, you eliminate the need to buy more disposable batteries in the future.

3. Food Storage Bags

For most people, buying meat in bulk also means buying plastic storage bags to keep it fresh in the freezer until it’s ready to be cooked. However, throwaway bags aren’t the only way to keep food fresh. An inexpensive set of plastic storage containers is ideal for keeping food fresh, as well as easier to store in your freezer efficiently.

4. Facial Tissue

While using a reusable cloth instead of facial tissue or toilet paper may not seem appealing, doing so can save a lot of money during cold and flu season. Boxes of tissue can disappear fast, but a cloth napkin or handkerchief can be washed and used day after day. Like the cleaning towels, using cloth napkins will lead to more laundry, but the money you save will outweigh the cost.

5. Paper Plates

Paper plates are handy for picnics, packed lunches, parties and more. But, they are also usually overpriced compared to their alternative. Reusable plastic plates, bowls, drinkware and cutlery can all be found pretty cheaply. Yes, washing all of this after an event might be a chore. But you won’t need to worry about buying new plates for future events.

While many of these products may require a bit of effort on your part, they can save you money and reduce the amount of waste you produce. Better yet, think of all the things you could buy with money that you would otherwise be throwing away.

Go green and save

Are you ready for some exciting news when it comes to “going green?” Great! Here it is: not only does staying environmentally conscious help the planet, this same train of thought allows you to save money too. Even better, it probably doesn’t take as much effort as you think. Consider the following examples to get you started.

Opt for Paperless Billing

Many companies trying to cut down on printing and postage expenses offer consumers a slight discount to switch to paperless billing. The discount is typically in the form of a digital coupon or pre-determined amount off of their bill. This won’t add up to huge monetary savings, but every little bit helps. And reducing the number of statements received annually helps to save a tree… a tree that turns carbon dioxide back into oxygen and provides shelter to our forest friends.

Take Advantage of Rain Water

Using rain water to irrigate your lawn or garden saves you money on your water bill (from $100 to $300) and conserves precious water supplies in dry climate areas. Depending on location, it’s estimated that the average homeowner uses 20 to 60 percent of their monthly water consumption for outdoor watering needs. In essence, this adds up to a lot of water, which can easily be put to better use.

Recycle Electronics

We live in an electronic age. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more than two million tons of discarded electronics make their way to landfills each year – with a little help from uneducated consumers. Yes, two MILLION! Can you believe it?

Before you throw any of these devices out, check to see if you can sell or donate them. Gazelle.com is just one example of websites that buy back used electronics. This particular site even offers a bounty to those who refer a friend to do the same.

Eat Less Meat

Eating less meat, especially red meat, is just plain healthier. Not only that, data indicates that approximately one-fifth of the planet’s (man-made) greenhouse gas emissions are generated by the meat industry during the processing phase.

Further studies prove that preparing a meatless lunch or dinner once a week is as beneficial to the environment as not driving a vehicle for three entire months. There are hundreds of tasty recipes that don’t call for meat as an ingredient. Chances are, it won’t take long to find a few that your family thoroughly enjoys.

These are just a few of many ways to go green for less. Obviously, there’s no rule that says you have to try all of them. But, the more proactive you are, the more money you’ll save. Mother Nature and your wallet will thank you for it.

Save money on gas

Fortunately, gas prices are much more affordable than they used to be. But, that doesn’t mean there’s no longer a need to save money, right? The more money you save on fuel, the more you’ll have to spend on something else. Here are a few ways to do just that.

Clean Out the Trunk

If the trunk of your vehicle looks more like a storage unit, it’s time to clean it out. Studies indicate that for every hundred pounds of excess weight inside and outside of your car, you lose as much as a mile of travel per gallon of gas.

Avoid Cold-Weather Warm-Ups

Are you in the habit of warming up your car in cold weather? If so, you might want to bundle up more instead. Experts tell us that vehicles under 20 years old are perfectly capable of warming up during the first few minutes of driving. Simply stated, an idling engine wastes gas.

Turn Right – Not Left

Many drivers are surprised to learn that turning left typically uses more fuel than turning right. The premise behind this is the fact that it’s not uncommon to wait longer to turn left than right on a busy two- or four-way street. Again, when an engine idles, fuel is wasted.

Check Your Tires

It’s extremely important to monitor the air pressure of your tires – not only to save money on gas, but also to help to ensure that they last as long as possible. Believe it or not, as many as 85 percent of drivers don’t know how to check tire pressure. And, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, these drivers are losing as much as 11 cents per gallon of gas purchased. Over a year’s time that averages out to approximately $60.

Keep the Gas Tank Full

For those who can afford to do so, keeping the gas tank full is a money saver. Driving on an almost empty tank causes the sludge that settles on the bottom to flow through your fuel system. This, in turn, makes the fuel pump work harder. So, it’s important to refuel (with as much gas as you can afford) before your low-fuel light comes on.

Maintain a Consistent Speed

Depending on your current driving habits, maintaining a consistent driving speed can save you between 5 and 20 percent on the cost of gas. Repeated acceleration and braking does not conserve fuel; it uses it up much faster. In addition, driving at an even speed is just plain safer.

These are just a few tips to consider in regard to saving money on gas. As you can see, it’s quite easy to accomplish and doesn’t break the bank.

Saving money on utilities

Utilities represent an expense that typically can’t be avoided. Whether you own or rent your home, you’re responsible for them. The good news is, there are many things you can do help lower these costs. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Invest in a Programmable Thermostat

If you don’t already have one, it’s an excellent idea to invest in a programmable thermostat. It’s an even better idea if you happen to work long hours or live alone. There’s no point in keeping your home at its warmest when you’re not there, or at night when you can take advantage of cozy blankets. Once you program the thermostat to regulate the temperature, it turns the heat up and down automatically. Just set it and forget it!

Put a Brick in Your Toilet Tank

Older toilets are not as water efficient as the newer models. Cut down on your water consumption by putting a brick or a jug of water in your tank. The idea is to take up space so that less water is required to fill the tank back up after you flush. It should be noted, however, that you don’t want to displace too much water. When this happens, you’ll probably have to flush twice, which doesn’t save any water at all.

Use Power Strips

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, electronic devices that still use power even when they’re turned off account for as much as 11 percent of all household energy use. That number represents an astonishing $10 billion per year. What a waste!

You have the option of purchasing a power strip that you turn on and off manually, or one that automatically turns off components after a certain amount of idle time passes. Either way, it’s a great way to conserve energy.

Switch to Energy-Saving Light Bulbs

Switching to energy-saving CFL or LED light bulbs might seem expensive at first, But, you’ll end up saving quite a bit of cash. These bulbs last 10 to 25 times longer and use up to 75 percent less energy than their traditional counterparts. Some brands even are marketed to last “a lifetime.”

Dry Clothes on the Line

Yes, it takes a little bit longer to hang clothes on a clothesline. But, it’s definitely worth the extra effort – especially when the line is located outside. Garments end up smelling extra fresh. Probably not so surprisingly, the clothes dryer is one of the most expensive appliances to operate. So the less you use it, the more money you’ll save.

The sooner you start putting some of these ideas into play, the sooner you’ll notice a savings reflected on your utility bills. Not only that, all of these tips benefit the environment as well.

Six ways to save money on groceries

Groceries are expensive, no matter what part of the country you live in. Much of the time, it seems like prices are getting worse instead of better, doesn’t it? But, there’s no reason to panic. It’s probably easier to save money on groceries than you think. Here are several tips to consider before you embark on your next shopping trip. They’ll all save you money.

1. Make a Menu

Menu planning is a good idea for more than one reason. In addition to reducing the possibility of a “spontaneous shopping binge” or an unnecessary trip to the store to pick up that one missing ingredient, it also makes it much easier to plan healthier meals.

It’s also helpful if you find yourself making the same boring meals, week after week. Take 30 minutes or so to thumb your favorite cookbook. Chances are you’ll find at least one new recipe to try.

2. Don’t Go Shopping Hungry

No matter how much willpower you have (or think you have), it’s never a good idea to go grocery shopping when you’re hungry. Why? You’ll probably come home with much more than you bargained for, even if you’re trying to stick to a list.

3. Buy Generic Brands

There’s certainly nothing wrong with buying generic brands. In truth, a wide variety of store brands are produced by national-brand manufacturers and repackaged for the particular store you frequent. Of course, it all comes down to a matter of taste. But, many consumers will be the first to tell you that they actually prefer a generic brand over the comparable name brand.

4. Utilize Your Local Dollar Store

Along the same lines as buying generic, you’ll typically save money on certain items purchased at your local dollar store. This includes items such as spices, cleaning supplies, personal items (like toothpaste and deodorant) and even cookware and tableware.

5. Familiarize Yourself with Store Policies

This tip is especially important if you use coupons to save money. Familiarizing yourself with store policies helps to ensure that you get the biggest bang for your buck, and prevents what could be an embarrassing situation in the checkout line.

6. Buy Local and in Season

Buying local and in season not only saves you money, it also supports local farmers. When fruits and vegetables are in season, they are at their best and less expensive than other times of the year. Purchase extras to freeze or can, and enjoy them year round.

Obviously, there are more than these ways to save money on groceries. This is just a start. Even though it may take a bit longer to make a list and shop, the amount of money you save makes it worth it… at least it does for most people. Who knows, it might even become an enjoyable addiction.

Top three ways to save money in college

For many college students, money represents a huge obstacle. A concern for money is one of the top reasons given by students who’ve considered dropping their courses. While a lack of funds may be stressful, the rewards of completing your college career outweigh whatever financial discomfort you may face during your time there. Here are four useful tips for students who are looking to save money on college expenses.

1. Stick to a Budget

Deciding to buy things on a whim has a much deeper impact on your finances than you realize. Spending even a few dollars every day for breakfast adds up to a substantial amount by the end of the semester.

Setting up a budget and following it when you buy things is the first step in cutting down on spending. Start by keeping track of every dollar that you spend during a month (or even a week). This way, you can track exactly where your money goes. Use this information to establish spending limits in areas where you sometimes spend more money than absolutely necessary.

2. Keep Meals Healthy and Affordable

College life is often busy, and fast food may seem like the perfect option when it comes to dining. However, even if you don’t seek out the healthier (and often more expensive) options at fast food restaurants, routinely buying meals like this adds up in a hurry. Instead, prepare meals and snacks at home or in your dorm and save dining out for special occasions. Not only is this often healthier than a fast food habit, but your home-cooked meals will cost much less than the alternative.

3. Don’t Buy New Textbooks

According to the National Association of College Stores, students spent an average of $313 on books and other required course material during the fall 2014 term. The best way to cut down on these costs is to buy used books. You can often find used books at the campus bookstore, but make sure you shop around online to see if you can find a better deal.

Another alternative to buying new books is renting, a service offered by many campus bookstores. As long as you return the book in good condition, a rental plan saves you money over buying a brand new book – especially when it comes to expensive math or science books.

College can be very stressful on a student, especially when you also have to worry about financial issues. But, if you find ways to stay within a reasonable budget throughout the semester, you should be relatively worry free.

Anything you can do to save a dollar or two helps. Don’t be afraid to ask friends and relatives if they can help at all, whether it’s with hand-me-down furniture or even money-saving tips

Cutting expenses after retirement

Are you nearing retirement age? Are you concerned that you may have to cut expenses? If so, you’re certainly not alone. Thousands of people feel the same way. On a happier note, there are many ways to successfully live for less after retirement. Here are a few for your consideration – providing you’re willing to admit your age.

Re-Evaluate Your Insurance Coverage

For many people, one of the best ways to cut expenses after retirement is to re-evaluate their insurance coverage. Depending on your current situation, you may not need to continue paying for certain coverage. For example, because you no longer work, you can sometimes forgo disability insurance. If you don’t have dependents, you may want to consider discontinuing your life insurance. Speaking to a financial advisor is the best way to go over your options.

Sell a Vehicle

Do you own a second or luxury vehicle that doesn’t get driven as much as it used to? If so, selling it will cut down on monthly expenses, such as insurance, maintenance and gas. There is no use letting it gather dust in the garage, especially when selling this vehicle will put extra money in your pocket.

Downsize Your Home

If you have children, it may be difficult to consider selling the home that they grew up in. But, it’s a wise financial decision that’s definitely worth considering. This move will ultimately allow you to save money on all kinds of things – including taxes, utilities and general upkeep. It’s also appropriate if you live in a multi-level home and have trouble getting from one floor to another.

Travel Off-Season

If you do a lot of traveling, you’ll save money by traveling during off-peak times. This means avoiding travel during school breaks and major holidays. An additional perk of traveling off-season is the fact that most popular tourist destinations won’t be as crowded.

Ditch Your Landline

Although you won’t save a ton of money, ditching a landline typically saves you between $175 and $900 per year. If you already have a cell phone, chances are you aren’t using your landline as much as you used to anyway.

Utilize Senior Discounts

More and more businesses are choosing to offer their patrons a senior discount. The age requirement to receive each discount varies. However, the minimum age range is generally 50 to 52. When you take the time to research these savings, you’ll probably be surprised by how much they really add up over the course of a year.

Don’t ruin the enjoyment typically associated with retirement by worrying about reducing day-to-day living expenses. Even if you don’t take advantage of all of the suggestions mentioned here, you’ll generally save money utilizing just one or two of them. The choice is totally up to you.

Why saving money is worth it

Everyone has likely been advised to save their money at one time or another. Avoiding frivolous spending and putting money in a savings account are two popular suggestions. But why? Keep reading to discover some of the reasons that saving money now can help you in the future.

Start Building Capital

Once you’ve saved up a fair amount of money, you can choose to invest it to make sure your wealth continues to grow. There are many investment options to choose from, including stocks and real estate. However, in order to be able to make a meaningful investment, it’s typically necessary to build up a substantial amount of capital.

Be Ready for Retirement

The sooner you start saving up for retirement, the less you’ll have to worry about it in the future. Check with your employer to see what sort of retirement plan they offer. Then, work out a savings plan that’s on track with the retirement plan offered. This way, by the time you’re ready to start seriously considering retirement, you’ll have already banked all (if not most) of the money you need.

Prepare for the Future

In the future, there’s always the chance that you’ll invest in a new car, house or other major piece of property. When you buy or lease something like this, it helps to have money available. Making a substantial down payment on a home can lead to better interest rates or even a bigger home. Also, making bigger payments toward a house or car (or even paying for them in full) frees you from house or car payments later in life.

Save Up for Fun

Vacations or large-ticket items can be difficult to budget for if you don’t save up ahead of time. If you have already amassed some savings, you can cut down on the time between planning a vacation and actually taking the trip. Of course, you should tap into your savings sparingly and not plan too many trips at the expense of your savings.

In Case of Emergencies

You never know when a costly emergency might occur. Damages to your car, your house or even yourself can be easier to handle if you have money held back in a savings account. Without savings, dealing with an emergency like this could put you into debt, which can be costly to recover from.

Saving money may take a bit of effort and discipline, but it will keep you ahead of financial situations in the future. You won’t have to worry about loans or payment plans when you make major purchases and will ultimately pay less by avoiding interest rates. Remember, setting money aside today is one of the most versatile and effective ways of securing your future.

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Productive Gardening Tips > Gardening Primer

Six tips to help you grow the best tomatoes ever

It probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise that tomatoes are one of the most popular plants grown in home gardens. What is surprising, however, is the fact that there are more than 7,500 different varieties of tomatoes. Amazing, isn’t it?

If you’ve always wanted to try your hand at growing this tasty fruit or if you haven’t had much success at it, this information is for you. Here are six quick tips to help you grow the best tomatoes… EVER!

1. Warm the Soil

This is an awesome tip that many people don’t realize. Approximately two weeks before you plant your seeds or seedlings in the ground, preheat the dirt in your garden. Cover the area with a large plastic tarp. Red or black works best. This increases the heat in the soil and guess what? Tomato plants thrive in the heat.

2. Train Your Seedlings

If you’re starting the seedlings inside, you can actually train them to withstand windy weather. Set them in front of a small fan for up to 10 minutes, twice a day. Another strengthening method is to rub your hand gently, back and forth, across each one for a few minutes. Your plants will be ready to better withstand a strong breeze in no time.

3. Don’t Overcrowd

Don’t overcrowd your plants. Tomatoes need room to grow. As a general rule, plant three seeds per container. Transfer to the garden or in individual four-inch pots, as soon as each plant begins to get its own leaves.

4. Bury Plants Deeper

Bury plants deeper in the garden than they were in the pot. This allows them to develop roots along more of the stem and produces a much stronger plant.

5. Let There Be Light

Tomato plants love sunlight… the more direct, the better. If you choose to grow tomatoes indoors, you’ll generally need to purchase an artificial light source to shine on the plants at least 14 hours a day.

6. Pinch Off Suckers

Pinch and discard any small “suckers” that you find growing in the joint of connecting branches. Leaving them alone just saps energy from the plant. As the tomato plant grows, remove any leaves that start to turn yellow. For best results, water tomato plants on a regular basis.

Now that you’re privy to some of the secrets of growing delicious tomatoes, there’s nothing holding you back. Whether you grow them outside in a traditional garden, or inside (with the help of hydroponics), there’s no better time to get started.

You may not grow the world’s biggest tomato (the current record holder produced a tomato weighing in at just under 8.5 pounds). But, you’ll be well on your way to growing yummy tomatoes with your own two hands. Bon appétit!

Before you create a new garden area consider these things

Thinking about creating a new garden? Great! Whether it’s strictly for growing vegetables or for decorative purposes, it’s important to consider the following information BEFORE you start investing your time and resources to do so.

Start with a Plan

Each type of garden area has its own set of specific needs, and it’s important to start with a plan. Decide what sort of plants you want to feature in your new garden – be it vegetables, herbs or flowers. If flowers are your first choice, think about whether you prefer annual varieties, which last for a single season, or perennials that come back to life every spring.

Choose an Ideal Location

Sunlight is a vital part of the life of every plant. Once you have a garden spot in mind, spend the day monitoring it. Watch for shadows that creep into the area when the sun rises and sets.

Many plants easily tolerate periods of shade. Some may even benefit from a break from the rays of the sun.

Make sure that the area you choose is easily accessible and close to a water source, so that caring for your plants turns out to be as convenient as possible. Enclosing your garden area with a fence or barrier is something else to consider. This will keep it safe from wildlife that might otherwise enjoy a vegetarian meal.

Prepare the Soil

The first step when planting your garden is making sure that the ground is prepared. Digging up and loosening or tilling the top few inches of soil is an effective way to remove old plant material and give your new seedlings loose soil to take root in.

Make your soil an even better home for your plants by adding organic mulch. Dry leaves or grass clippings tilled into the soil break down and provide nutrients that plants need to grow.

Plant Selection

There are many things to consider when choosing the plants you’ll ultimately add to your garden. If you’re budget conscious, try purchasing plants that are native to the area you live in. They will be cheaper and better acclimated to the environment, ensuring easy overall maintenance.

If you’re planting a decorative garden, make sure your plants are aesthetically compatible with each other before you purchase or plant. If you’re planting trees or shrubs, take the height and width of each (when it reaches maturity) into consideration.

Maintaining a garden can be a lot of hard work. But, it’s also a very rewarding and therapeutic hobby. Remember, by considering the specific needs of each plant and how those needs can be met, you help to ensure that your garden thrives with a minimal amount of effort on your part.

Consider your neighbors when gardening

When planning a new garden space, it’s important to consider your neighbors. Not everyone has the same level of enthusiasm for plants, trees and other garden-related paraphernalia that you do. The last thing you want is to (unintentionally) create bad feelings, which then have the potential to morph into a full-blown, neighbor-versus-neighbor feud.

Unfortunately, small “neighbor-compatibility” issues sometimes turn into much larger ones. Small claims court dockets are proof of this. These issues can turn living in the home of your dreams into a real nightmare. Of course, it’s impossible to please everyone. But, the more mindful you are of certain courtesies, the better off everyone will be.

Please note that if you live in an apartment complex or condo, this information is geared especially for you.

Be Considerate of Noise

For many people, the whimsical melody of wind chimes are as uplifting as they are soothing. Thanks to the wide variety to choose from, it’s quite easy to end up with a collection of them before you know it.

However, not everyone appreciates the same Mother Nature-created melodies that you do. To avoid problems, consider using just one or two small wind chimes in your garden space. Place additional chimes inside your home, near windows and doors, where they can take the most advantage of the afternoon breeze.

Be Considerate of Boundaries

If you share boundary lines such as a balcony, fence line, driveway or other type of structure, don’t plant anything that will eventually grow enough to cross over to the other side. This includes things like bushes, ivy and flowering groundcover. While it’s true that some neighbors won’t mind, others won’t be appreciative of the intrusion.

Be Considerate of Upkeep

Everyone has the best of intentions when it comes to garden upkeep. But, sometimes it’s hard to find the extra time to keep a garden looking its best. Be considerate when it comes to curb appeal. This includes everything from weeding and watering to making sure that all of your garden accessories and decor are clean and in good shape.

Your neighbors definitely won’t appreciate looking out their windows, only to see an overgrown garden in disrepair.

These are just a few tips to consider when planning or upgrading your garden. Obviously, if neighbors in close proximity isn’t an issue, this information really isn’t for you – unless, of course, you happen to have a housemate who is somewhat opposed to gardens.

Gardening is an enjoyable hobby, so much so that it sometimes turns into obsession. Regardless of the category you fall into, it’s easy to keep it as pleasurable as possible by taking the time to consider your neighbors during (and after) the planning stage. They’ll be glad you did.

It’s a myth that you need a large space to have a garden.

Container gardening in small spaces

There is absolutely no reason to cheat yourself out of the enjoyment of gardening because of limited space. Container gardening is more achievable than ever before.

Here are a few great ideas to consider. And don’t forget that for best results you’ll want to use a premium brand of potting soil. This helps to ensure the best level of water retention possible.

One-Pot Garden

One-pot gardens are just what the name implies, a variety of flowers and/or vegetables growing in a single container. Drill drainage holes in your desired container. Hint: a galvanized water trough is perfect for this. Fill it with dirt and plant things that go well together. One example of this is jalapenos, cherry tomatoes, chives, basil and plum tomatoes. Salsa, anyone?

Rain Gutter Garden

A rain gutter garden is quite ingenious when you think about it. Securely attach two or three rows of plastic rain gutters to the side of your house that receives the most sunlight. Placing the gutters high enough off the ground discourages pesky intruders. Fill with soil and plant whatever your heart desires. Save money and do your part to recycle by using salvaged gutters. In good condition, they work just as well as new ones.

Water Garden

Have you ever thought about “planting” a water garden? If digging in the dirt just isn’t your thing, aquatic plants are for you. It’s also a fun, low-maintenance project for your kids.

Any kind of waterproof container works. Simply fill it approximately three quarters of the way full with marbles, florist foam, pebbles, sand or something similar. Get creative and use your imagination. Add water and a small amount of liquid fertilizer.

Plants that work well in aquatic gardens include:
* Chinese evergreen
* Wandering Jew
* Philodendron
* English ivy

Square-Foot Gardening

Chances are that you’ve heard of square-foot gardening. The concept has been around for many years. The typical size of these above-ground planter boxes is 4 x 4 feet, although smaller sizes work just as well. The idea is to section off the box into individual square-foot sections and plant as much as you can in each square. You’ll no doubt be pleasantly surprised at the size of your bounty.

It should be noted that your desired containers will yield more flowers and vegetables when you choose plants that grow vertically. This makes the best use of tight spaces.

It’s also recommended that you include at least two or three focal points in your overall garden space. Believe it or not, this makes the area look bigger than it actually is. Consider things like small statues, groups of brightly colored flowers or an interesting birdhouse… the birds will love you for it.

Creating and linking different rooms in your garden

Outdoor garden rooms are separated areas throughout your garden that each fit a specific theme or purpose. Utilizing rooms while landscaping allows you to create connected yet unique environments within your garden. Keep the following in mind while preparing to create garden rooms of your own.

Types of Garden Rooms

There are many different options when it comes to what exactly to include in your garden room. Flower or vegetation-based garden rooms focus on creating a relaxing space to take in beautiful plants and flowers. A garden room might also feature a pool or fountain, providing a place to rest and enjoy the water. Different rooms also focus on themes such as texture or fragrance.

Plan Things Out

Before you get to work on bringing your own garden rooms to life, it’s a good idea to decide on exactly how you want things to come together. Make a list of elements you want to include in each room of your garden. Look into any special caretaking needs that may apply to any of the plants you plan to use.

Choose the Right Location

The size of your property affects where your garden rooms will be located. A large area provides more choices for where to place the rooms. While a smaller property may be less accommodating for larger garden rooms, you may still create multiple garden rooms if you wish. For small property garden rooms, you might want to consider using a rear corner of the property.

Keeping Things Separate

In order to separate two adjacent garden rooms or to break up different elements of the same room, you might put a wall between them. These could be actual walls, smaller fences, hedges, or even rows of plants. In England, “tapestry” hedges are also commonly created. These are rows of an assortment of plants that grow together and intertwine into a hedge.

Linking Things Together

When garden rooms are next to each other, linking them together is as simple as keeping the path between them clear. However, depending on the layout of your landscape, you might employ a path between the two. Rooms that are linked together can benefit from common elements, such as use of similar plants or decor. That way, even though each room feels like a separate environment, the garden still feels connected as a whole.

By dividing your garden space into rooms, you can design areas that cater to a multitude of needs. Planning out different rooms can also give you direction when it comes to expanding your garden. Just like the rooms inside your home, garden rooms have the potential to become whatever you can imagine.

From drab to fab – it’s all in the details you incorporate

Are you putting together an outdoor room or garden? Are you having trouble getting the space to stand out? Small, simple touches go a long way toward giving your garden a unique identity of its own. Keep the following advice in mind, to help you create an outdoor space that your friends won’t stop raving about.

Plan Ahead

Before you start to put your outdoor space together, think about how you plan to use it. Is your dream garden a lush paradise for your plants, or an elegant seating area where you can entertain company? Consider the lighting needs of all of the plants you’d like to incorporate and choose a location that gets adequate sunlight.

Create Separate Spaces

Separating your garden area into separate spaces keeps your landscape from becoming cluttered or disorganized. Different areas of your garden can be used to showcase different colors, textures or themes. You might even separate larger areas with walls or hedges, to create two different environments.

Make Them Your Own

Adding decorative pieces that reflect your own interests and tastes allows you to express yourself through your landscaping. There are all sorts of outdoor accessories available, but creating your own can save you money and make your décor even more personal. You can also look for older decorations at yard sales or thrift stores and restore them yourself.

Add Some Lighting

Incorporating lighting into your outdoor area allows you to comfortably use it throughout the evening. Candles, torches and solar lamps can be used to shed light on dinner parties. Solar powered lighting operates on energy from sunlight stored throughout the day, so it provides light for a long time with little maintenance.

Keep Comfort in Mind

Invest in furniture for your outdoor area so you and your guests have comfortable seating options. Plastic furniture is inexpensive and easy to paint, so it can easily fit in with the rest of your décor. You also have the option of sprucing up the furniture with outdoor covers or cushions.

Don’t Overdo It

Too much of anything can take your garden from tasteful to tacky. If you have a large collection of garden decorations to display, you may want to consider using a few at a time rather than displaying the whole collection at once. Remember that the atmosphere of your outdoor space should be relaxing and not overbearing.

Keeping your outdoor area chic is all in the small, personal touches you put into designing and decorating it. Furniture, lighting and accessories all come together to create an environment, just like inside the rooms of your house. By paying close attention to the details, you can keep your garden looking classy in no time at all.

How to choose a garden theme that works for you

Theme gardens are becoming more and more popular with each passing season. With so many different themes to choose from, you might be hard-pressed on deciding which one is best for you. But, there’s no need to panic. Here are a few themes to hopefully make your decision a simpler one.

Butterfly Garden

Butterflies are interesting little insects, not to mention beautiful. If you enjoy watching them, why not consider planting a butterfly garden? This theme requires a variety of bright, sweet-smelling flowers in several colors. Possibilities include asters, lantana and zinnias. Host flowers, such as milkweed and fennel, are also required. Butterflies use these plants to lay their eggs on.

Herb Garden

If you do a lot of cooking, a herb garden is right up your alley. This theme garden is a good “beginners” garden. Use herbs fresh, when in season. Dry some to use during the fall and winter months. Easy-to-grow herbs include rosemary, chives, dill, basil and parsley.

Cottage Garden

Crazy about roses? Consider a cottage garden theme. These informal gardens utilize lots of fragrant flowers and herbs, especially roses. Add a charming touch using garden accessories, such as wind chimes, birdhouses and maybe even an arbor or two.

Woodland Garden

A woodland garden is perfect for a shady area. Groundcover varieties of flowers and bushes work well for this theme. It’s easy to plant both spring and fall bulbs in the same area. Make it whimsical by adding a few small fairy houses among the flowers.

Craft Garden

Crafters save money by planting a craft-theme garden. Ideal plants to incorporate into this garden include straw flowers, gourds, baby’s breath, marigolds, nettle and ornamental grass… any plant or flower used in craft projects are game.

Other great themes to consider include:

* Asian garden
* Tropical garden
* Shakespearean garden
* Formal garden
* Dry climate garden
* Children’s garden
* Cutting garden
* And the list goes on!

Now that you have a few things in mind, the best thing to do is spend some time looking at ideas. Sites such as Pinterest are ideal for this. They really get your creative juices flowing.

One of the biggest benefits of a theme garden is that it’s typically easier to plan. In addition, if you’re a first-time gardener, you probably won’t feel so overwhelmed with the whole process.

Remember, there’s nothing that says you can’t have more than one garden theme. Many people make use of two or three smaller garden spaces, assigning a theme to each one. This works best if you have a big enough yard to spread the spaces out a bit. The choice is up to you.

How to decorate without being tacky

Are you planning to add a personal flair to your garden? If so, remember this: when choosing decorations to put on display, it’s easy to cross the line from tasteful to tacky. Here are some things to keep in mind so that doesn’t happen.

Choose Your Colors Carefully

When in bloom, most gardens are full of natural color. However, this natural beauty can easily be overshadowed if you incorporate too many brightly colored decorations into the mix.

Let your plants be the focal point of your garden, by excluding decorations that are more pigmented than your plants. Invest in décor that complements the different color blooms and foliage growing in your garden.

Ditch the Duplicates

While your garden is a wonderful place to display decorative pieces, too much of a particular theme typically detracts from the space’s overall feel. If you have a garden gnome collection, for example, try adding a few pieces at a time rather than setting them all out at once. This allows you to instill creativity into your garden without the décor becoming overbearing.

Remember to keep your personal touches scattered throughout the garden, rather than grouping them all in the same area. This helps you keep the focus on your garden as a whole, rather than each individual decoration.

Keep Things Natural

The plants you choose to keep in your garden are, in themselves, pieces of décor that affect the feel of the space. If you’re having trouble deciding where to put all of your decorations, it may be best not to use the majority of them and let the plants take the spotlight. Vines, bushes, shrubs, and flowers all provide unique sights, smells and textures to your garden space.

Consider Lighting and Furniture

Lighting is a very useful tool to consider when planning out the décor for your garden. Lights can transform an area into an attractive and inviting space during the evening hours, as well as help to prevent any type of falling or stumbling accident.

Invest in lights recommended for outdoor use. But, use them sparingly. Too many or the wrong kind of lights can overpower your garden and make it look tacky. Furniture is also a nice addition to any garden. Again, just make sure it’s meant for outdoor use and that it doesn’t take up way too much space.

Colors or decorations that stand out too much will draw attention away from the overall beauty of your garden. Stay conservative with your decorations and you’ll achieve a look that is both classy and full of character. Most importantly, remember to do what you enjoy and incorporate the décor that most appeals to you.

How to highlight different points of interest in your garden

As you can probably guess, the purpose of a garden-related focal point is to draw the eye to a specific area of interest. The premise works the same regardless of the size of your garden. However, smaller gardens are sometimes a bit more challenging. The good news is that there are many ways to achieve your goal.

Focal Point Placement

Because it’s natural for the eye to follow a line, it’s important to place your focal point on a visual intersection in the garden. Mentally divide your garden space into sections. Take what you can see from inside your home and other areas of your yard into consideration. Once you do that, you’ll find it much easier to choose the proper intersection.

Never center a focal point and plant around it. Whatever object you’re using looks better when placed a bit off center of your intersection line. If you have a circular-shaped garden, it’s recommended that you place the focal point near the back.
It’s also recommended that you never incorporate a focal point that’s actually an afterthought. Chances are you’ll have to squeeze it in and the end result won’t be as pleasing as you hoped.

Using Plants

You have hundreds of options when it comes to using plants as focal points. For best results, choose a heartier variety that holds up well and isn’t a dietary choice of the local wildlife.

Bright blooms are visually pleasing. Reds, yellows and pinks are big attention-getters. Tall plants or ornamental grass is another good option. A small bush or tree isn’t out of the question either. The choice is totally up to you.

Many gardeners opt to incorporate seasonal focal points into the garden. However, this takes a little more advance planning and effort. The basic idea is to plant (in close proximity) something that blooms or looks its best early in the season and something that is meant for fall viewing. By the time the first plant is ready to die off, the second plant is ready to take its place.

Using Objects

The sky is the limit – almost – when using an object as a point of interest. Common examples include statues, waterfalls, arbors, large ornamental pots, birdhouses and small sections of fencing. If you prefer something more on the whimsical side, try incorporating a cast-off like an old bicycle or even a vintage sewing machine.

Creating a focal point or points in your garden isn’t an absolute necessity. It’s a personal design choice. For many gardeners, it’s a matter of trial and error. Like them, it may take a few tries until you get it right. But, let’s face it, that’s half the fun of gardening.

Tips for novice gardeners

Hopefully, this course has whetted your appetite for starting a garden. Caring for plants, whether they’re vegetables or ornamental, is also a productive and relaxing hobby. Here are some things to keep in mind as you begin to plan your garden.

Start Planning Early

It’s never too early to start thinking about your garden. Even if it’s still winter, you can decide what plants you eventually want to include. Seeds are usually much cheaper during the off season. This also gives you time to do any landscaping you want to do to prepare your garden, so you’ll have less to do when spring arrives.

Use Your Space Efficiently

While gardening in long rows is the traditional method, it’s really only more effective in the case of large farms using farming equipment. Instead, plant your vegetables in three- to four-foot wide raised beds. This allows you to get around each bed for better access, while saving room compared to row planting.

However, it’s important that you give each individual plant enough room to grow. Most seed packets list information in regard to how close you can safely plant things next to each other.

Invest in the Right Tools

Having the right tool for every garden task will save you time when it comes to routine maintenance. A sprinkler system or garden hose saves you from filling up the watering can, which adds up to a considerable amount of time over the season. Organic fertilizers and mulches can also be used to make your soil as good a home for your plants as possible.

Keep Track of Everything

One of the most important things you can do when maintaining a garden is to keep a record of your plants. This method is a useful tool for keeping a record of the location of your plants and when you planted them. It also provides a place to jot down helpful tips that you’ve learned along the way, as well as any mistakes that might occur. This will ensure that you don’t make the same mistakes in the future.

Start Out Small

While you may be excited to grow as many different types of plants as you can, it’s best to start out with only a few varieties. This results in a bigger yield of each individual crop, and makes it easier to keep track of everything while you maintain your garden.

Gardening is a hobby that anyone can enjoy, partly because it’s relatively easy to get into. From saving money to providing a space for you to unwind, gardening offers many great opportunities that everyone can benefit from. Why not take the plunge and get started today?

Related Info Products:

Aquaponics 4 You – Grow More in Less Time

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Getting Started in Hydroponics – Expert Tips, Plans & Secrets

 

Fun & Functional Gardening > Free Garden Report

Gardening report “Fun & Functional Gardening” looks into “There are literally thousands of ways to incorporate fun and functionality into a garden space. Even better, there are no “set in stone” rules and the outcome is totally up to you. This report features a wide variety of suggestions to inspire you”. Click “Fun & Functional Gardening” to download (336 KB pdf) this free report.

Fun Functional Gardening

Detoxing Your Body > Health & Wellness Primer

Why detox your body?

A body detox can help you in many ways, maybe even ways that you haven’t considered. Doing a detox can make you feel a lot better and help you get rid of bad habits. You may detox by drinking more water, going on a water fast, drinking more green juice, or by simply choosing to eat clean.

Detoxing can:

* Jump-Start Your Diet – If you have problems turning down food that is not good for you, and you’re snacking a lot, a planned detox such as a juice cleanse can help jump-start your new diet. It can help you get over cravings, shrink your stomach and deliver more nutrition to your body to help you become stronger.

* Help Prevent Chronic Disease – Many people who go on a detox plan such as a water detox, green juice detox or other similarly strict plan, end up preventing and even reversing chronic disease. People often see marked improvement and a lowering of medication for diseases like type II diabetes and high blood pressure.

* Increase Energy – A good detox can help you get your energy back. This is because you will get rid of bloating, food reactions, and other things that get in the way of a good night sleep, like caffeine or junk food.

* Improve Your Skin – When you let your digestive track rest and drop certain foods from your diet such as dairy, you will improve your skin pretty quickly. Most people see a change in their skin within just a couple of weeks when they restrict their food intake.

* Overcome Addiction – When you have trouble turning down things like wine, French fries, pie and so forth, a detox of some kind can help you get control over yourself and help you overcome those addictions that develop.

It’s clear that if you detox your body, you can improve your life substantially. It’s super important to learn about the different types of detoxes that you can do. Each detox will help you take care of various problems that you may have.

Small things mean a lot

You don’t always have to do a full-fledged strict detox to reap some of the benefits of a detox.

* Try a Breakfast Smoothie – Make a smoothie from spinach or kale, bananas, hemp seed, and plant-based milk or yogurt each morning. You’ll get in some of your veggies for the day, and jump-start your metabolism.

* Drink Fresh Juice – Make your own cold-pressed juice to drink each day for a snack. You can make juice out of cucumber, orange, and ginger with a little wheat grass for added nutrition. Drinking just six to eight ounces of fresh juice a day can help rebuild good gut bacteria and ward off colds.

* Omit Dairy – If you just do one thing to help detox your body, omit dairy from your diet at least 80 percent of the time. Dairy can cause phlegm in adults, acne in teenagers and adults, as well as a myriad of stomach issues.

* Drink Water – You may already drink some water each day; you know it’s good for you. But, did you know that other fluids (even fresh, green juice) isn’t a substitute for fresh filtered tap water? You need at least 64 ounces of fluids per day. If you still feel thirsty, or even hungry, try drinking a glass of water before doing anything else.

* Shop the Perimeter – Eating food as close to its natural form is important for good health. Shopping the perimeter of the store means you’re going to skip the processed food and go straight for the fresh produce.

* Change Your Plate – Make half your plate veggies in order to get the most benefits from them. Veggies are low in calories and fat and have more nutrition per serving than any other type of food.

Very small changes made each day can make a big difference in your life. Try making each change, one at a time, for at least 28 days to see what happens as a result of the change. You can’t know how much well any one change is doing without taking the time to test whether or not the change worked.

Do you have chemical sensitivity?

Many people have allergies, and some people simply have multiple sensitivities. Allergies can actually be life threatening, while sensitivities are usually just an irritant. However, they can become full-blown life-threatening conditions if they’re not identified and treated. The main treatment is to avoid the item in question. Health can improve greatly when one avoids any issues with allergies or multiple chemical sensitivities.

Allergies and sensitivities can cause dizziness, seizures, paranoia, eczema, headaches, and more. If you have any type of reaction going on that is bothering you, it may be a sensitivity issue.

So, how do you find the food or foods that are causing the sensitivity? It’s not always easy, and often you have to test by elimination.

Elimination Diet Steps

There are certain foods that we know cause more issues than others, so you want to get rid of those first.

* Nightshades – This includes potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, tomatillos and goji berries. Nightshades cause inflammation in some people. They can cause bloating, diarrhea, gas, joint pain, headaches, and even depression.

* Sugar – Table sugar in all its forms (coconut, white, brown and so forth) has either no or nearly no nutritional value whatsoever when consumed in normal serving sizes. All it offers is more calories and empty carbohydrate. While it can be a source of energy, the crash that comes after more than cancels out any value in eating it. Plus, for some people sugar can cause severe fatigue, feed cancer, and contribute to diabetes.

* Overt Fat – Fat that is not found naturally in plants is not good for you. Even cold pressed olive oil has as much saturated fat as chicken. Eating fat found naturally in the whole food, such as an avocado, is okay but eating fat that’s been processed out of a plant is not healthy and can cause a whole host of problems, from excess weight to high blood sugar and heartburn.

* Salt – While we all need a little salt and iodine for health, most of the time if you eat enough raw plants you’ll automatically get your quota without even trying. Too much salt causes high blood pressure, bloating, and general discomfort.

* Soy – Other than when it comes to food sensitivities, soy is relatively healthy. However, those who have issues with soy can have an increased incidence of skin problems and asthma.

* Nuts and Seeds – All nuts and seeds have a lot of fat, and are very prone to cause problems with people who have sensitivities. Some nut allergies are so bad that they can cause death. If you have stomach issues and eat nuts, eliminate them first.

* Meat and Fish – A lot of people have trouble digesting meat and fish. It can cause constipation, skin issues and other problems for those who are sensitive. If you have bumps on the back of your arms, this is likely caused by meat.

* Dairy – There isn’t enough room to note all the issues with dairy. This should be the first food eliminated on any elimination diet. Acne, eczema, stomach issues and more can all be made worse by dairy.

* Fake Food – Fake sugar, fake fat, processed food is rife with problems that can contribute to a multitude of health issues from headaches, to skin rashes, to stomach problems and more. If you can’t pick it, you shouldn’t eat it on an elimination diet.

* All Beverages – When you’re on an elimination diet, your only beverage should be water.

* Chocolate – As much as we love it, chocolate is actually an allergen for many people and can cause stomach issues, headaches, heart palpitations and more.

Try to eliminate all these foods first, for at least 21 days. You can try one at a time, 21 days each, or do all of them at once – adding back each item one at a time every 21 days to find out what causes a reaction.

Types of detox diets

There are more types of detoxes than we can list, but these are some of the most healthful and popular.

* Juice Detox – This is literally what it sounds like. You make homemade juices from plants like peaches, cucumbers, and apples. You can even add greens to your juices to make them even more healthful.

* Water Detox – A water detox is exactly what it sounds like. You fast and drink nothing but water. This is a difficult detox to do but one that, under the right circumstances, can be very helpful to figure out what is causing problems.

* Plant-Based Detox – Eating a whole food plant-based diet can work as a detox without having to suffer deprivation. Simply eat plants without a lot of additives, fat, sugar or salt, and you will reap the benefits.

* Raw Food Detox – This is also what it sounds like, but it doesn’t include raw eggs or meat. However, do eat raw plants, fruit, veggies, berries, and in some cases even honey. Enjoy these foods to your heart’s content.

* Elimination Detox – Cut out the foods you think are causing the problem such as dairy, gluten, fat, sugar, salt and so forth until you find the culprit. Remember, sometimes the culprit is a combination of ingredients, so don’t start adding things back until you figure out what it is. Then add food back slowly.

Detoxes can be a very important part of determine what is causing your symptoms. If you have skin rashes, headaches, general fatigue, body pain, acne and other issues, trying a detox is important. If you do have diagnosed illnesses such as psoriasis, fibromyalgia, diabetes, and even cancer, a detox can make a huge difference in your life. Check with your doctor before starting your detox, though.

Try an elimination diet first, and then get stricter until you figure out what is causing your issues.

What can juicing do for me?

Juicing means that you extract the juice from fruits and veggies to make a very potent and healthy drink sans fiber, so that your digestive system can rest.

The resting of your digestive system while still ingesting an enormous amount of vitamins and minerals is very powerful for generating healing on your body. Your body gets the same benefits of water fasting without starvation. Sometimes starvation is good, believe it or not, but in most cases you can heal yourself without going that far with a juice fast.

Many people who juice for at least three days experience:

* Higher mental clarity – If you find yourself feeling cloudy sometimes, juicing will increase your mental alertness.

* Weight loss – Push yourself off a plateau or jump-start your weight loss journey.

* Elimination of addictions – If you find it hard to say no, going “cold turkey” will help you get a handle on your addictions.

* Better hair – More vitamins mean glossier and better hair that grows faster.

* Improved skin – Many people eliminate acne and even psoriasis with a juice fast.

* Brighter eyes – Regular juicers seem to have whiter eyes than those who don’t.

* Lowered blood pressure – If you have issues with high blood pressure, a juice fast can eliminate stress on your organs and decrease your blood pressure.

The benefits of juicing correlate to the length of time you choose to juice. It’s important to be mindful of how you feel during the experience to ensure that you’re not having any symptoms of danger. Some people who have underlying health issues that they did not know about, will realize it during a juice. This can include hypoglycemia. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to how you feel, and don’t be afraid to break your fast earlier than you planned with fresh fruit or dates.

To experience the best benefits from the juice fast, juice only organic produce, in a masticating juicer that will not heat up the juice past 105 degrees Fahrenheit. You want it to stay cold or room temperature in order to keep the active digestive enzymes working. The sooner you drink the juice after preparing, the more benefits you’ll receive from it.

Benefits of detoxing

* More Energy – When you detox your body and get rid of all the sludge that’s holding you down and making you feel heavy and sluggish, you’ll feel more energetic than ever. Usually it takes at least a three-day cleanse to get these benefits, so don’t expect one day to make it work. Shoot for at least three days.

* Emotional Release – During a detox, when you are restricting your diet severely, you have less opportunity to drag yourself out of thoughts that make you think. This will often cause pent-up emotions to be released. It’s shocking how food acts as a drug on your body to hide your emotions.

* Less Anxiety – After experiencing an emotional release, you’ll start to feel less anxious about your life and the things that happen in it. You’ll realize how much you really do control different aspects of your life.

* Feeling More Connected – Getting in touch with nature can make you feel connected to the physical world and to other humans on a whole new level. You’ll increase your connection to the earth, and that will make everything better.

* More Control – The act of putting yourself through a detox may seem impossible, but if you take it one day at a time you’ll make it through. You’ll learn that you have so much more control over yourself than you ever thought possible.

You can reap all these benefits and more detoxing your body. There are many types of detoxes you can try, and you’ll have to decide which one best addresses your issues. But pretty much all of them will give you these benefits.

How massage can assist with detox

Massage is a tried-and-true method of eliminating toxins from your body, pushing them through your lymphatic system.

Your lymphatic fluid system is essential to your good health. It works directly in concert with your cardiovascular system. When you get a massage, the rhythmic pressure and movements work to push things through the system faster. This is good because if your system becomes sluggish for some reason such as illness, it will make you feel worse. A good massage can help you get well faster.

Massage can assist with:

* Chronic Pain – Many people report less pain when getting regular massage. It’s one reason chiropractors have added massage to their services. Massage is a proven way to help loosen muscles, push toxins through your system, and make you feel better almost immediately.

* Muscle Pain from Exercise – When you exercise, toxins can get stopped up and stored in your joints and muscles. Getting a post-workout massage can help avoid that tight feeling you sometimes get after a lot of exercise. This is why sports professionals get a lot of massages.

* Colds – Even allergies can be lessened with regular massage. Certain types of massages can clear sinus cavities and passageways, making it easier for you to breathe. This in turn helps you sleep better at night and get well sooner if you have a cold.

* Puffiness and Swelling – Most of the time puffiness and swelling has to do with being dehydrated, but it can also be due to a build-up of toxins. Drink a lot of water before your massage to help clear your system even faster.

* Fatigue – If you find that you’re tired a lot, it may be due to a build-up of toxins in your body that is preventing you from getting a sound night’s sleep. A massage as close to bedtime as you can manage will help you sleep better at night. And, sleeping better will give you more energy.

* Headaches – Most headaches are caused by tension and if you think about it, tension is a type of toxin that you don’t want to have inside your body. A good massage will help you release all that tension and thus help you lower incidents of headaches.

For some people, the idea that they have toxins in their body making them sick seems ridiculous. But, for those who practice regular body detoxes via juices, water fasting, or eating clean – along with regular therapeutic massages – it’s a magical experience. If you want to be serious about detoxing your body, adding massage will help.

Why water is your most important beverage

Hey, it’s understandable that you want to drink tasty beverages like soda, tea, alcohol and other flavored beverages – especially those with a lot of sugar and fizziness in them… but the truth is, this is the worst thing you can do with your health. These things may taste good (but do they really?) but the long-term effects are bad.

Think about this: every cell, organ and tissue in your body uses water. You can go a lot longer without food than you can water, and still live. Water is as important as blood to your survival. Thankfully you can get water into your body in a variety of ways, but nothing is as good as some good, filtered tap water.

Many of us are so used to ignoring our thirst that we no longer even notice the signs that we are becoming dehydrated.

If you…

* Have dark urine
* Little urine
* Dry mouth
* Fatigue
* Thirst
* Hunger when you’ve eaten
* Headache
* Confusion
* Light-headedness
* Lack of tears

…you may be either dehydrated or getting close to being dehydrated. If you’ve been ignoring your need for water and hydration for some time (maybe years), it’s very important that you start measuring what is going in.

Measure It

Purposely drink 64 ounces of fresh water each day. Get a big glass and fill it up in the morning, and make sure you drink all the 64 ounces by the end of the day. Keep water with you at all times. In reality, 64 ounces is not that much. It’s only about 1/2 of a gallon of fluid. Ensure that you get this minimum amount for at least seven days before trying to add more, so that your body can adjust.

Eat Fluid-Rich Foods

Fruit and vegetables have a lot of fluid in them. The more of these you eat, technically the less water you have to drink to get your minimum hydration. But, if you keep drinking the 64 ounces of water, plus water-rich fruit and vegetables, you’re going to be that much more hydrated and feel even better.

As you get used to being fully hydrated, you’re going to start notice that your thirst comes sooner than it did in the past. Do not ignore it. Drink when you’re thirsty so that you can stay hydrated, and the cells in your body will stay healthier and function better.

Seven reasons to eliminate caffeine

In addition to a big cause of dehydration, you’ve probably heard all the reasons in the past about why caffeine is not good for you. Yet, most people have an addiction to caffeine – hence the high sales of almost any coffee shop that opens. But is it really that bad? In short, yes.

Eliminating caffeine will:

1. Reduce Hunger – Some people think that caffeine is an appetite reducer, but the truth is most people drink their caffeine with a lot of sugar and dairy products (fat), which is a hunger stimulant. Drink less coffee, and you’ll be less hungry.

2. Improve Sleep Quality – You may not even realize that your morning cup of coffee is affecting your night-time sleep, but it is. Numerous studies have shown that even one cup of coffee or one soda with caffeine changes your quality of sleep at night.

3. Lessen Anxiety – Caffeine can make you feel extra anxiety. If you drink even one cup a day or one serving of caffeine in other forms (like hot chocolate, soda, or worse, an energy drink) and you have any stressful moments in your day, they’ll be worse and more likely to bring anxiety to your day.

4. Reduce the Risk of Early Death – People who drink a lot of caffeine, especially teenagers, may even have a greater chance of dying young. The reason is that most people who drink beverages with caffeine have no idea that they can overdose on caffeine. It’s best to avoid it entirely.

5. Lower Blood Pressure – Since caffeine is a stimulant, it can make you have high blood pressure. By stopping the use of caffeine, you can lower your blood pressure and reduce the risk of stroke.

6. Help Prevent Gout – This disease is caused by an overabundance of uric acid in the blood, which can cause very painful deposits of stones that manifest as painful gout in the joints, especially the knees and toes. This hurts very badly. Not drinking caffeine may help stop gout from developing.

7. Stop Heartburn – One of the biggest causes of heartburn and indigestion is what you put into your body, and caffeine is a big cause of this condition. Most people who eliminate tea, coffee, hot chocolate, soda and other caffeinated beverages from their diet get rid of heartburn quickly.

In addition, too much caffeine can lead to dehydration because people tend to substitute these highly sweet, sugary and caffeinated beverages for water. Aim to slowly cut down on your caffeine ingestion over time, because if you stop it suddenly you will experience horrible withdrawal.

Detoxing with exercise

If you are in the middle of a detox diet, it’s essential that you still keep exercising. However, the type of exercise you do should take into consideration the kind of detox you’re doing.

* Water Detox – You don’t want to move around too much and use up too many calories. So, the best exercise to do while water fasting is to do easy stretching exercises and posing exercises like yoga. The reason is that you will not have enough energy to do much more. But, you want to avoid too much muscle loss, so incorporate some very careful resistance moves using bands, or your own body such as planks.

* Raw Food Detox – The great thing about the raw food diet is that you do not need to slow down the type of exercise you do. In fact, you should be able to work out harder than ever. Consider bike riding, rowing, rebounding, and pretty much any type of exercise. Don’t forget to hydrate in advance and after.

* High Carb Plant Based – This diet incorporates a lot of cooked starches, and you will need to burn off the extra calories you may ingest. You’ll have a lot of energy, so you can do anything during this type of detox. Perform exercises that make you sweat for extra results.

* Juice Detox – When you do a juice detox you will still be eating enough calories to exercise. However, you may experience some measure of weakness so you should be careful about the type of exercise you do until you’re sure about how the juice detox will affect you. Try careful exercises like walking, stretching and swimming.

Even if you aren’t doing a specific diet detox for your body, you can use exercise to help detox by doing work that make you sweat. Stay hydrated the entire time before, during and after the exercise, and make sure that you listen to your body as you work hard enough to sweat. Take a shower after to wash all the toxins away and off your body to avoid rashes associated with sweat.

Detoxing your body is good for you, will improve your health, and make you feel great. You can get started today.

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How to Prepare for a New Puppy in Your Home > Pet Care

Nothing is more exciting than bringing home a lovable four legged member of the family. Dogs bring so much joy and laughter to pet owners – plus they give unwavering love and loyalty.

But when you add a new puppy to the fold, you have to remember that there might be some period of adjustment because having a puppy can be a little like having a new baby at home. They have to have their needs met and be taught acceptable behavior from non-acceptable behavior.

Choosing Your Puppy

There are many pros for getting a puppy. One is that most puppies don’t have any bad habits already ingrained in them so they’re open to your style of training. When you do decide that you’re ready for one, you first have to decide what kind of puppy it is that you want to get.

There are small, medium and large dogs. You’ll want to choose the puppy that you get depending on your lifestyle, your home and the members of your family. Some puppies are better suited to families where they’re the only dog.

Other puppies work better when there are multiple dogs in the home. Puppies that get large pretty fast such as Labradors or Great Danes don’t always realize their strength when they play.

So you’ll want to keep that in mind if you have small children in the home. You’ll need to know if you want a purebred puppy or a mixed breed. Both have a lot to offer a family and can be great pets.

After you figure out what kind of puppy you want to get, you’ll need to know where you’re going to get the dog from and you do have a lot of options. There are pros and cons for getting a puppy from someone whose dog had a litter versus getting one from the local shelter.

When you choose to get a puppy from someone whose dog had a litter, you can know the puppy’s breeding history. You’ll be able to see the puppy’s parents. This can be helpful in determining any type of health issues that your puppy might face in the future.

Plus, a dog that’s from someone you know usually has his first shots as well as his first wellness checkup at the veterinarian’s office. One thing that you do want to avoid is getting a puppy from a puppy mill.

These are places that breed dogs solely for the purpose of making money, usually forcing the dogs to have litter after litter often before it’s safe for the female dog to be bred again.

There is little thought given to the well being of the breed dog or the puppies. Puppies from puppy mills are often neglected, have numerous health issues and are often not well socialized.

These puppies are often kept in inhumane conditions. By buying a puppy from one of these places, you’re giving money to keep that business operating. These places are usually operating without a business license and try to fly under the radar to avoid being shut down.

When you choose to get a puppy from the no-kill shelter, you’re helping to save the lives of not only your puppy, but other ones, too. These puppies are loved and well cared for and can make fantastic pets.

Puppy Supplies You’ll Need

Before you ever bring the puppy home, you’re going to want to be prepared for his arrival. Because puppies are a lot like human babies, they’re going to go through a teething stage.

You’ll want to go through this stage with them by making sure that you give them something that they can chew on. Puppies that are teething have been known to chew on whatever they can find to help meet that need.

They’ll chew on the legs of your furniture, your shoes and even on the edges of walls that protrude out enough for them to be able to bite. Not only will this be a habit that you don’t want to put up with, but it has the potential to make your puppy sick and even cause his death if he ingests something that will harm him.

So you’ll need to make sure that he has some puppy toys that he can chew on. Buy the ones that are puppy age appropriate. Make sure that these toys are strong.

You might have to spend a little more to get a good chew toy, but the cheaper ones are usually made of materials that will tear easier and you don’t want that. Next, you’re going to need to make sure that you have a supply of dog food.

Since your puppy is still a baby in dog years, you’re going to need to purchase his food according to his age. Many brands will have their foods listed by dog age to make it easier for you to choose.

Pick the brands that are known for their high nutritional level or are recommended by veterinarians. Your puppy is going to need more calories at his age than an older dog will and you should change his food based on his nutritional and calorie needs as he grows.

Remember not to leave his food out all day. He needs to have regularly scheduled meal times. After food, you’ll need to think about where your new puppy is going to sleep.

In the bed with you is not a good option at this stage in his life. Not only could he fall off the bed and get hurt, but he could also go to the bathroom on the bed, making it uncomfortable for both you and him.

A puppy needs his own space and puppies prefer an enclosure. It makes him feel safe. The first bedding option for a new puppy that still needs to be potty trained is a dog crate.

You’ll want to buy one according to his size and make sure that there’s something soft for him to lie on inside of it. You can find a doggy bed that’s crate sized.

The reason it’s a good idea to put a puppy bed in his crate is because dogs are reluctant to go to the bathroom where they sleep, so this will help in the potty training phase.

Puppy Proofing Your Home

Just like babies, puppies want to get to know their surroundings. They’ll find things that they want to check out and if you’re not careful, they can easily get into something that’s not healthy for them.

Because of that, you’re going to want to puppy proof your home. It really isn’t that different than preparing for a baby in the house. Don’t leave things on low tables such as end tables that your puppy can knock over and get into.

This includes things like medications, plants – because many of them are toxic to puppies – batteries, and hair clips or hair bands. Keep your puppy out of the bathroom.

Like human babies, puppies are top heavy and can fall headfirst into a toilet and can struggle to get out. It can be easy to forget to put the lid down so buy a toilet seat latch.

Keep anything sharp or medicinal out of your puppy’s reach. In the kitchen, don’t leave anything that you use to clean your home within the dog’s reach. Some puppies quickly learn how to flip open a cabinet door.

You can buy cabinet latches to prevent him from being able to get into stuff that could harm him. Anything that sticks out is something that your puppy will find fascinating.

This includes cords on appliances, gaming devices and more. If he’s not watched, he’ll quickly start chewing on the cord, not realizing that he could get hurt.

Keep all cords out of the puppy’s sight. One thing that puppies love to chew on is a sock. Because puppies do have sharp teeth, they can easily separate some of the material and swallow it.

When a puppy swallows any kind of material, it can cause a blockage in his intestines and this can be a medical emergency for your puppy. Yarn, string, thread, and dental floss are also often targets that puppies love to chew on.

Keep these and small objects out of his reach. Puppies love to run and they don’t have the experience or the coordination to navigate stairs with skill. If you live in a home that has a set of stairs, then you’ll need to use a baby gate.

You’ll want to have one for the top of the stairs and another one for the bottom of the stairs. When you’re in the kitchen cooking, make sure that your puppy isn’t underfoot.

It can be easy for him to get burned by a hot stove. Keep anything that you would eat away from your puppy and only feed him food designed for him. Puppies don’t have the right digestive system to be able to handle the foods that humans can eat and some of these foods can be fatal to them.

Potty Training Your Puppy

If you start when you first get your puppy, it won’t take you long at all to get him accustomed to doing his business outside. Potty training is one of the reasons that you’re going to want to buy him a crate.

This is the easiest and most reliable method for training him in this area. You have to be patient with your puppy because accidents are going to happen. Remember that he’s little and when the urge to go hits him, he doesn’t know any better than to just go when he needs to – wherever that is.

The younger the puppy, the more difficult it might be to train him. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is that for a puppy, when food or water goes into his system, he’s going to need to go to the bathroom within about half an hour to forty-five minutes later.

You have to be consistent and you have to keep him on a regular bathroom break schedule. As he grows older during the potty training phase, you can slowly start to extend the time between his bathroom breaks.

But in the beginning, be as consistent as clockwork at getting him outside. The minute you get up in the mornings, take your puppy outside. Do this before you get into the shower of have coffee or anything else.

He’ll learn to associate waking up with having to go outside. Always make sure that you take him outside through the same door. When you do this, once he’s trained, he’ll let you know he needs to go by standing in front of that door.

Every half an hour throughout the day, take him outside. If you can’t be home during the day for extended periods of time, you can’t leave your puppy and expect him to hold his urge.

Someone will have to be there to care for him while you’re gone. Regardless of how much time has passed from the last time of his bathroom break, after he eats, get him outside.

He’ll learn to associate eating with going to the bathroom. Puppies do have shorter digestive tracts and their food will pass through their system quickly. Your puppy needs to have a designated area to do his business.

The reason for this is because he’ll also learn to associate that area with needing to eliminate. Every single time your puppy does his business, you need to give him something as a reward so that he recognizes what he’s done as good behavior. You can use doggy treats for this.

If you catch your puppy in the act of squatting in the house, you need to startle him to get him to stop the behavior to get him outside. You can startle him by using several pennies in a can and shaking it vigorously and saying no.

Obedience Training Your Puppy

Puppies are eager students and can be taught what’s right and wrong behavior. But if they’re left to themselves, you could end up with an overgrown furry baby who won’t listen to you.

Dogs will either follow or they’ll lead and if you don’t lead them, they can develop destructive habits that can be dangerous for them or for you. You want your puppy to know that he has to listen to you.

You can enroll him in obedience training lessons, but if you’re willing to put the work in, you can also teach him yourself at home. Just make sure that you praise and reward his behavior when he gets it right.

He needs to learn what he can and can’t do. Puppies respond best to reinforcement and if you don’t stay consistent, you can’t expect him to either. They need to learn a few basic commands such as come, stay, down, out, in, quiet and no.

You can add to words he’ll be able to associate with meaning as you go along. Puppies are all highly intelligent but they don’t have the ability to understand commands that are several words long.

Keep them simple. So instead of saying, “Come over here to me” you would only teach him to “come” and most puppies will willingly run to their people whenever they’re called.

When he does come whenever he’s called, reward him with praise and a treat. Teach a puppy how to stay by pressing gently on his hindquarters while you say the word.

Then slowly back away. If he gets up and comes toward you. Repeat the lesson. When you back all the way up, then reward him for staying. Puppies love to jump up on people.

It’s how they show affection. But they can accidentally scratch people or injure a child. Teach your puppy “down” from the first time he jumps on someone. Every time you take your puppy outside to do this business, tell him, “out” and then when you return to the house, say “in” and he’ll learn to associate those two words with being outside or indoors.

When a puppy barks, many pet owners will immediately say, “quiet” but there are times when you don’t want to do that. Barking is his way of communicating. Sometimes he’s doing it because he’s trying to tell you something.

If someone knocks on the door and you say “quiet,” you’re teaching him not to protect his home and you don’t want to do that. A puppy will bark just like a baby will communicate by crying. It could mean that he’s tired, bored, hungry, lonely, afraid, or wants to go outside.

Make sure you only use the word “quiet” after you’ve checked everything out and ensured that he’s not trying to alert you to anything important. Preparing for a puppy can be a lot of work, but it’s rewarding when you four-legged friend is well-trained.

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A Beginner’s Guide to Home Canning > Cooking & Recipes

Canning food at home is something that’s been done for decades because people didn’t have the easy, convenient access to grocery stores what we have now. This method of preserving food caught on in the United States in the 1800s.

Home canning is a great way to enjoy delicious, healthy foods all year ‘round. Not only will you be eating better, but you’ll save money, too. You’ll also be able to save time because you won’t be running back and forth to the store as often.

What Is Home Canning?

Home canning simply means that you’re going to take food and can it to save it for later use. You can use food from your garden or foods that you pick. Beginners often have the mistaken impression that canning foods is something that’s done in the spring or summer to have food set aside for the winter.

But this isn’t the case. Home canning is something that can be done all year long. This way, you won’t miss out on the delicious foods that nature offers in the cooler months of the year.

Some people also tend to think that home canning is a long, drawn out and complicated process, but it’s not. It’s easy and convenient and if you can cook, then you have the ability to can foods.

So if you’ve been toying with the idea of getting into home canning but were worried that it would be too hard, rest easy. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to do it easily. There aren’t a lot of steps to home canning, but each step has to be followed carefully.

You have to make sure that you have the right equipment for the preserving as well as for the actually cooking. When you want to can food, whatever item it is that you’re canning has to go through a process in order to preserve the food inside the jar.

This keeps the food from going bad and it also keeps the food from becoming contaminated with dangerous bacteria. The most popular foods that are canned are usually fruits and vegetables, and even some kinds of meats.

Regardless of the food that you choose to preserve, you need to take the home canning steps to properly save the food. If you don’t, then you can end up with a severe case of food poisoning or botulism that can be extremely dangerous.

The number one reason that anything unsafe occurs with home canning is because of improper cooking method, wrong sealing method or a problem with the containers where the food is stored. By being diligent, you can prevent all of those issues from happening.

There’s a balance to be had between how long you can heat the food without destroying its nutrients and how long you must heat it to destroy the potential for any dangerous organisms.

Types of Canning Methods

When you decide to start home canning, you’ll need to choose the method that’s right for you. There are two basic home canning methods that have been proven to keep food nutritionally sound and prevent the development of bacteria.

You can use the pressure method or you can choose the boiling water method. Either one of these methods is able to keep air from spoiling the food and to seal it up tightly for future use.

You may end up using each of the different methods because the method that you use will be dependent on the kind of food that you want to preserve. You’ll determine the method based on the acidity in whatever it is that you want to preserve.

High acid foods should not be canned in the same manner that low acid foods are done. The low acid foods are things like vegetables and meat. These foods are more susceptible to giving people who use home canning problems with the potential to make someone sick.

When you have a low acid food, it means that there’s no safety mechanism within the food that will impede bacteria. You can’t preserve low acid foods using the boiling water method.

The reason that you can’t do this is because the boiling water method won’t kill the microorganism that can cause botulism poisoning. This means that if you use the boiling water method and the spores aren’t eliminated, they will thrive within the jar because you’ll store these jars on the shelf at room temperature – which is perfect for the growth of botulism.

To make sure that you and your family are not at risk of botulism with low acid foods, you have to use a pressure cooker. The heat inside a pressure cooker is a greater temperature than that of boiling water.

It’s different with foods that are high in acid. Foods that are high in acid make it more difficult for botulism spores to survive. You can use boiling water to can highly acidic foods.

But be aware that if you mix a high acid food with a low acid food in the same process, the low acid food is at risk even if you combine it with foods that have a higher acid amount.

Remember that if you want to combine two foods such as fruit with vegetables, choose the pressure cooking method to make sure the items are preserved at the higher temperature.

If you’re not sure if the food is low acid or not, look it up before simply taking a chance on a method. Through the water boiling method, the temperatures from the boiling water flows around the jar with the food in it.

The jar remains in the water long enough to kill off any organism or bacteria. The amount of time that the jar of food should be in the water will be determined by what the food is.

When you’re using boiling water as your method of canning food, make sure that the water reaches the correct temperature. The boil needs to be a hard boil, not a soft one. If you’re processing hot food, the temperature has to reach at least 180 degrees.

If you decide that you’re using a pressure cooker, you’re using steam to preserve the food that you want to store. The steam heats the food to the proper temperature. But you want to make sure that that the pressure level is kept at the temperature it’s supposed to be at to prepare the food. If it varies, then you need to begin your time again.

Picking Out Your Canning Jars

One of the most important things about canning – besides the method that you choose to use – is what you’re going to put your food in. You have to have jars in order to can the foods that you want to save.

One of the most often used kinds of jars are commonly called mason jars. You’ll find these by their proper name which is Ball jars – and these are specifically made for home canning.

Another good brand to use is Kerr. You’ll want to figure out which ones you’ll need as far as the size goes before you buy the jars. What most people who’ve been doing home canning for awhile do when they pick out their jars is they pick them out according to what they’re putting in them.

You’ll find that some canning recipes will tell you to use a bigger jar – such as a quart size. So it depends on what you need the size for. Regardless of which brand of canning jars that you choose, make sure you get one that’s a good quality.

Never assume that because you’re buying these jars new at the store that they’re in the perfect condition for home canning. There can always be defects that can make them unsafe to use.

It’s imperative that the jar be free from any cracks. This means not only should you check the body of the jar but the rim as well. And you should do this with each jar. If the jars are sealed at the store and you can’t check them at the store, then check them at home before you use them.

A jar that has a crack in it can cause bacteria to grow in your food because the jar won’t seal properly during the canning process. Some home canners will buy new jars for every batch of food that they make.

This can become expensive over time. It’s okay to reuse jars as long as they’re in good condition and seal well. Because the sealing is where you can have issues, it’s best to replace the lids every time you can something new so that you get that tight seal.

Your lids should have a flat metal piece that lays across the top of the jar. This piece should have a way to seal onto the jar and then be held in place with the ring. Never use lids where the flat piece and the ring are one part.

These don’t seal as safely. You’ll want to avoid jars that come with pushed out or oddly shaped areas because it may not be possible to correctly seal these types of jars. One thing that you’ll need to watch out for is sudden breaking.

This is what will happen if the food is not the same temperature as the jar. You can shatter the jar if the food is hotter than the temperature of the jar. Because a lot of home canning recipes are geared toward bigger quantities of food, if you’re not sure how much time you’re supposed to use for smaller portions, then look up the timing that’s required for the bigger one and go by that time.

After you’ve canned the food, you’ll want to push your finger down in the middle of the lid. If you feel any give to it, it means the seal isn’t good. If the lid doesn’t move beneath your finger, then it sealed properly.

The Home Canning Equipment That You Need

To get started in home canning, there are some supplies that you’ll need. If you’re going to use the water boiling method, then you’ll need a Dutch oven or a large stockpot. You’ll also want to make sure that you have pots that you can use to boil the lids for the jars.

Because the water that you’ll be using is going to be scalding hot, you’re going to need a safe way to get the jars out of the water. What many home canners have found very helpful for this task is a jar lifter.

You can use the jar lifter to pick up the jars once they’ve gone through the processing period. The jar lifter that you get should have rubber on the bottom grips that hold onto the jar so that the jars won’t slip free.

You can find these lifters separately or sold as part of a home canning kit. You’ll also want to buy a lid lifter. This is a tool that has a magnetic end on it so that the lids will stick to it and come up out of the water easily.

Having a funnel for home canning is a must. Trying to get the food into the jars can be a hassle because you’ll have to deal with splash over. Since the funnel is wider than the mouth of the jar, it makes the process of transferring food to the jar faster and neater and it keeps food from the rim of the jar.

You’ll also want to get an air bubble remover. This is an expensive tool. You can find them for less than a dollar in some stores. But it allows you to be able to remove the air bubbles from the jars to ensure that your food is safe.

Make sure you have something that you can use as a headspace tool. When you can foods, you have to have some headspace because the food that you put in the jar will expand.

For meat have between an inch to an inch and a half of headspace. Use at least an inch for vegetables and a half an inch for fruit. If you’re going to make jelly or some kind of spread, you only need about a fourth of an inch of headspace.

Avoiding Spoilage and Storing Your Home Canned Foods

Food can be more inclined to spoil if you don’t use good foods to start with. Don’t try to can food that’s overripe – even if it’s a bargain. Foods that are overripe can spoil faster and then won’t be safe to use.

When you’re going through the canning process, make sure that all of your canning equipment is sterile. Sterilize the jars and the lids and when you’re done, put them on a clean rack.

Bacteria from the utensils can cause the food to spoil. Boil your utensils before use and make sure that all your counters and jar cooling items such as the lifter are sterilized. Never just wing it when it comes to the processing time of the food.

Use specific guidelines that are set out for the recipe that you want to can. Once your foods are properly prepared, you’ll want to be sure that you label them. You might be able to easily recognize them now, but after a few months, you might not be able to tell exactly what’s in the jar.

So use food labels to write down what’s in the jar and when you canned it. When you put the jars away, you need to keep them away from light. Put them somewhere out of the way that doesn’t have access to direct sunlight.

You’ll also want to make sure the place that you store them is free of moisture. The temperature shouldn’t get above 65-70 degrees or below 40. Check the foods after they’ve been stored for a while to see if there’s anything wrong with the food.

Sometimes, when you stack jars away out of sight, they can slip or fall over and this can break the seal. If you see something that looks like white fuzz inside the jar that means that mold is growing and the food should be tossed out.

You’ll also want to check for foods that noticeably change colors, this can be a clue that there’s fermentation going on and that can damage the taste and safety quality of the food that you canned.

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How to Host a Successful Local Event > Free Business eBook

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Living with Narcissism > Self Development Primer

Is there a cure for narcissistic personality disorder?

If you have been diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder or you love someone who has, you may be feeling and thinking a lot about the diagnosis. You’re probably wondering what caused it and how your life is going to change, and you may be hoping that there is a cure.

Unfortunately there is no cure for narcissistic personality disorder. It’s a disorder, not a disease, and it’s a personality disorder on top of that. Personality disorders are often deeply ingrained patterns of behavior, usually a specific type of behavior that impacts how the person functions in society.

Personality disorders usually manifest during adolescence and last for the rest of a person’s life. Narcissistic personality disorder is no different. If you’ve been accurately diagnosed with this disorder, then it’s something that you will live with.

However, just because there isn’t a cure doesn’t mean it’s hopeless. There are treatments. You can learn to manage narcissistic personality disorder. Treatments are generally lifelong and usually involve therapy and learning to recognize and alter or manage your behaviors.

It’s important to note that a personality disorder like narcissistic personality disorder is not a mental disorder, like schizophrenia. In fact, it is estimated that about 10 percent of the population suffers from a personality disorder, which is good news for you or your loved one.

Treatment Is Management

Narcissism can have a dramatic impact on your life. It can negatively affect your relationships, your job, your family, and your success. However, just because there isn’t a cure for it doesn’t mean it can’t get better.

Psychotherapy or talk therapy is the best treatment for narcissistic personality disorder. Treatment sessions will revolve around learning to identify the thoughts and behaviors that have a negative impact on your life. You’ll learn to understand the cause of your behaviors so you can modify them. You’ll also learn how to better relate to others. One of the foundations of narcissistic personality disorder is an inability to have empathy for others and this is something that you can work on.

There are no medications to directly treat narcissistic personality disorder. However, if you’re experiencing depression or anxiety, you may be prescribed medications to relieve those symptoms and conditions.

One of the biggest concerns for many dealing with narcissistic personality disorder is their relationships. It can be difficult to be in a loving relationship with a narcissist. However, there are steps that you can take.

Can a narcissist have a relationship?

It’s difficult to love someone who only loves themselves, right? That’s the challenge when having a relationship with someone who has narcissistic personality disorder. Actually, it’s important to know that narcissists can and do feel love for others. The challenge is to have a healthy relationship with a narcissist.

What a Healthy Relationship Looks Like

A healthy relationship is one where both parties:

* Have empathy for one another
* Support and encourage one another to succeed and be happy
* Respect one another
* Share
* Communicate
* Trust
* Support fairness and equality

Issues with a Narcissistic Relationship

The challenge for a narcissistic personality is to genuinely feel these emotions. Narcissists often experience emotions that are quite different, and in a loving relationship it can become difficult. For example, a narcissist often makes their spouse or loved one part of their identity. When the loved one fails to fulfill that role, there is conflict.

They may also demand attention and unconditional support even when they fail to provide the same support. A narcissistic relationship can often be a rollercoaster of being put on a pedestal and idealized, to rage and blame when you don’t fit the ideal. Common relationship behaviors include but aren’t limited to:

* Emotional blackmail and guilt
* Isolating you from friends and family
* Tracking your movements when you’re not at home (and snooping)
* Lying
* Withholding sex or intimidating you to have sex
* Threatening to leave or cause harm
* Jealousy

Can a Narcissist Have a Relationship?

Narcissists can and do have relationships. Not all of them are healthy and it can be a dramatic and chaotic environment. However, if the narcissist is diagnosed and working on managing their behavior, and the partner is understanding and supportive while also able to hold firm to their own boundaries, the answer is yes. A narcissist can have a healthy relationship. It takes work, but all relationships take work.

Should someone with narcissistic personality disorder have children?

It’s a difficult question to ask and an even trickier one to answer. After all, you may be a narcissist, or you may love someone with narcissistic personality disorder, and still want children. Rather than try to provide a blanket “yes” or “no” answer, let’s take a look at some of the concerns and how they can be overcome.

Concern #1 A Lack of Empathy

One of the primary behaviors for a narcissist is that they lack empathy. They are unable and often unwilling to view a situation from another person’s point of view. Children require a tremendous amount of empathy. Small things can be a big deal to a child.

Concern #2 The Picture Perfect Family

Many people with narcissistic personality disorder live within a world of ideals. They have a picture of how they want their life to look. That picture can include a perfect husband or wife and perfect children. Narcissists will manipulate, threat, and do everything in their power to perpetuate this perfect image.

The problem is that no one is perfect and children rarely behave when you want them to.

When the picture perfect family doesn’t cooperate, a narcissist can become very angry and even aggressive. They can blame, generate guilt, and threaten. Children who grow up with this type of manipulation and need to be perfect, often grow up with significant emotional problems. However, there are an abundance of support groups for children with narcissist parents.

Concern #3 Power and Control

A narcissist’s behavior is all about control and getting others to go along with them and do things their way. Children are often easy to control and thus they can be considered a plus for a narcissist. It’s not uncommon for a narcissist to want to have children because not only do they gain a little person to control, they now have more leverage over their spouse.

Is It Ever Possible to Have a Healthy Family?

If a narcissist is in therapy and truly committed to changing their behavior, which generally doesn’t happen, then it is possible for a narcissist and their partner to raise a healthy and well-adjusted child. It’s not common. However, with a lot of hard work, help, and commitment to personal growth, it is possible.

Tips on living with a narcissist

Do you love a narcissist but you’re not sure you can live with them? People with narcissistic personality disorder have two faces. They have the personality that they share with the world, the one that is pleasant and often fun to be around, and then they have the one that can be quite unpleasant when they don’t get their way. And who gets to see the unpleasant face most often? The people that they live with. So while it can be quite easy to love a narcissist, it can be difficult to live with them. The following tips and strategies can help.

1. Know What’s Causing the Behavior

Narcissists can be manipulative, controlling, and downright annoying. However, if you understand where the behavior is coming from, it can help you have clarity and better manage your own emotional response to their behavior. That isn’t to say that you should accept their behavior and allow it. We’re simply saying that understanding where it comes from can help you make the best decisions for yourself.

2. Get Them Help, And Maybe Some for Yourself

There are different types and degrees of narcissism. Some people with narcissistic behavior disorder behave this way because they’re masking deeper insecurities. Others really and truly believe they’re wonderful. If you’re dealing with someone who is masking insecurity, they can get help. Psychotherapy can be a useful tool to begin to modify behaviors. And you can get therapy to help you develop coping strategies.

3. Establish Boundaries

Most narcissists will push you as far as they can. Their goal is to control you and your behavior so that you fit into their ideal. When you establish clear boundaries and stick to them, you may be able to establish a positive relationship. That may mean not allowing their manipulations, emotional outbursts, or threats.

It’s possible to both love and live with a narcissist. However, you’ll want to make sure that you’re prepared both mentally and emotionally to handle it. It takes a strong person to deal with this personality disorder day in and day out. Many people find that they cannot manage the Jekyll and Hyde type behavior. With outside support, a strong awareness of your own needs and goals, and an understanding of the disorder, you can get through it.

Next time we’ll take a look at some of the many prevalent myths surrounding narcissism.

Myths about narcissism

The only way to understand a condition like narcissistic personality disorder or NPD is to uncover the myths and reveal the truth. If you’re trying to deal with narcissism and you aren’t aware of the truth, the myths can really get in the way of management. So let’s talk about those myths.

Myth #1: Narcissists Have Tremendous Confidence

The truth is that there are different types of narcissists and that narcissism comes from a few different perspectives. There are some that do believe that they are the king or queen of the world. They have an abundance of confidence. However, other narcissists have low self-esteem and strive to control the world around them to protect it. After all, your self-esteem can’t be hurt if everyone around you does what you want them to do, right?

Myth #2: Narcissism Is about Vanity

This just isn’t true. Sure, some narcissists are vain and believe themselves to be physically beautiful, and maybe they are, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Other common behaviors and beliefs include materialism, entitlement, and antisocial behavior, as well as career, control, and relationship problems.

Myth #3: Narcissists Are Highly Successful

Nope. This one isn’t true either. Many are successful and some of that success may be attributed to their narcissism. However, depending on the type of narcissism they’re dealing with, they may also be so fearful of failure that they’re not willing to take big risks. Usually, great success requires someone to not only be willing to fail but also to be willing to take large risks in order to succeed.

Myth #4: Narcissists Are Abusive

Some are. Some narcissists resort to rage and anger when they don’t get their way. Not all do, though. Most resort to manipulation and coercion instead of anger and rage. Remember that narcissists strive to control the world around them and to sustain an image of their ideal or perfect life. Violence doesn’t always play a role in that perfect world.

Myth #5: Narcissism Can Be Cured

Again, this is a myth. Narcissism is a personality disorder. It generally starts when the person is very young. Over time, a pattern of behavior becomes ingrained. While the behavior can be modified through psychotherapy and support, it cannot be cured.

Narcissism is a difficult condition to live with. Understanding the myths can help you begin to make better decisions for yourself about how to manage the condition. Next time we’ll take a look at how narcissistic personality disorder can and does impact relationships.

How narcissistic personality disorder impacts relationship

Narcissists have a difficult time with relationships. It’s not a surprise; they’re not great at sharing, empathy, or boundaries. There are tell-tale signs that you’re in a relationship with a narcissist. If someone has NPD or narcissistic personality disorder, it can have a negative impact on their relationships. Let’s take a look at how.

1. Trophies and Ideals

Narcissists often choose their partners based on their ideals. They look for someone who makes them look good. If you’re the partner, this may feel like a bit of a compliment. After all, you’ve been chosen because you’re awesome.

However, you’re also being idealized. No one can live up to the ideal. It’s just not possible. When this happens, when the real world hits, it can cause problems. Narcissists resist any disruption to their perfect world and their partners just can’t live up to the ideal. Arguments, manipulations, and frustrations ensue.

2. Entitlement

Narcissists feel entitled to everything – the best jobs, the best material items, and the best people. The list could go on and on. Entitlement can be exhausting. If you’re on the receiving end of a narcissist then you may be treated as if you exist to serve them. There’s no balance; no sense of fairness and support. Most relationships cannot handle this type of power struggle.

3. Manipulations

People who have narcissistic personality disorder are manipulative. That’s how they get others to bend to their will. It’s a trait and a behavior that they learn when they’re very young. It may feel fun at first in a relationship to be put on a pedestal. However, later when the manipulations begin, it can be exhausting. Boundaries are crossed, feelings are hurt, and relationships often don’t last.

Other considerations with NPD are trust issues, fidelity, materialism and more. It can be extremely difficult to have a healthy relationship with NPD. However, it’s not impossible. If you love someone with NPD or you have NPD, there are steps you can take to manage it.

How does NPD impact your job and career?

It’s estimated that narcissistic personality disorder, NPD, impacts up to six percent of the population and it’s more prevalent in men than it is in women. It can be a difficult disorder to manage and even more difficult to live with. People with NPD can struggle with their relationships and social connections. One area that’s not commonly addressed is the professional world. Let’s talk about how NPD can impact your job and career.

It’s Good as Long as It’s Good

When everything is going their way at work, narcissists can be very easy to work with. They can be extremely charismatic. In fact, many narcissists make excellent sales professionals and entrepreneurs. They’re incredibly persuasive and have years of practice working to get what they want.

It Can Go Wrong, and Often Does

However, when it’s bad and things aren’t going their way, then it can get really bad. Narcissists can become too pushy, too manipulative, and even threatening when they don’t get their way. This can be a fast way to push away co-workers and make enemies at work. Narcissists can be skilled at making everyone’s life miserable, and they’re known to be vengeful.

If a narcissist feels challenged or threatened, which happens in the workplace, then they can begin to behave in a not so pleasant way.

Arrogance, Entitlement, and Self-Importance

Narcissists often come across as arrogant and self-important. They believe they deserve the best, which is good because everyone should have confidence, but they believe it to the expense of others. This doesn’t always make them very easy to work with. As managers and team leaders, they’re not so effective. They can quickly turn off the team of people they’re supposed to be leading.

The Good, The Bad, and The Reality

The good news about some narcissists, because there are different types, is that some of them can be really effective in the workplace. These are the people who are incredibly charismatic and believe that they deserve the best. They make good sales people. For example, a real estate agent doesn’t have to work with a team and their relationships with their clients are often short-lived. They might be able to sell homes quickly and never show their darker side.

However, other narcissists have fragile self-esteem and are unwilling to take any steps that might shatter their perfect world. That means they often don’t push themselves at work and they don’t take risks. They may not have much success in the workplace.

The reality is that most people have to work with narcissists at some point, and narcissists need to make a living. Understanding one another and learning to work together is possible and necessary. If you have NPD, learning to understand your behaviors and managing them can help you have a more successful professional life.

You might be surprised to learn that NPD often goes hand in hand with other personality disorders and diseases.

Personality disorders that frequently occur with narcissistic personality disorder

Did you know that personality disorders often come with a whole handbasket of other conditions that a person can be susceptible to? Unfortunately, it’s true. However, when you know what to watch out for, you can be prepared to take fast action. Whether you have narcissistic personality disorder, NPD, or you know someone who does, it’s good to know which other personality disorders they may be at risk of developing.

Depression

Depression isn’t a personality disorder, but it is a condition that people with narcissistic personality disorder often deal with. They often struggle with two different depressive disorders, namely persistent depressive disorder and major depressive disorder. And while there are no medications for NPD, there are medications for depression. It’s important to see a therapist and to talk with your doctor if you have NDP and are experiencing depression.

Eating Disorders

People with NPD have a desire, a deeply rooted need, to be perfect. They don’t see the world like others do, and this can lead to eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa is a common eating disorder that a narcissist may struggle with, and bulimia is another.

Substance Abuse Problems

You might be surprised to learn that people with NPD may struggle with substance abuse. It’s a coping mechanism for some. For others, it’s a way to perpetuate their feeling of being in control and on top of the world. Cocaine for example, is a common substance that is abused.

Paranoid Personality Disorder

This may make sense to those who are familiar with NPD. They often exhibit jealousy in their relationships and don’t easily trust others. They cross personal boundaries and invade privacy when they feel like they’re being threatened. Paranoia is a common personality disorder that goes hand in hand with NPD.

It’s not uncommon for many disorders, diseases, and conditions to cause new problems. The same is true for narcissistic personality disorder. However, when you know what to look for, you can take quick action and manage the condition.

Personality disorders that can be mistaken for NPD

Personality disorders are fairly common. In fact, it’s estimated that one in ten people has a personality disorder. Diagnosing them can be extremely difficult, as many personality disorders share the same or similar behaviors and traits.

Bipolar Disorder

At the core of narcissism is a struggle to maintain the world around them. It can manifest in many different behaviors, including those that may seem similar to bipolar disorder. A narcissistic person will often have two distinct personalities. One may be quite charming, albeit manipulative and persuasive. The other can be quite insulting, aggressive, threatening and even depressed.

Basically, when a narcissist feels as if they’re not getting their way or their view of their world and life is being threatened, they can become depressed or angry. Bipolar individuals can also have extreme highs and lows. They can vacillate between being manic, energetic, and happy to sleeping for days and being extremely depressed. The two conditions are quite different and are absolutely treated differently, but they can be mistaken for one another.

Antisocial or Sociopathic Personality Disorder

Someone with this disorder, a sociopath, completely disregards the feelings and rights of other people. They don’t have any awareness of or empathy for other people. They can also appear arrogant or narcissistic. A narcissist also struggles with empathy. They want people to bend to their will. However, narcissists are not impulsive, aggressive, or deceitful. Sociopaths are.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline personality disorder, BPD, and narcissistic personality disorder share many of the same characteristics. However, BPD folks tend to be much more aggressive and after their attacks they feel remorse. People with NPD tend to be more verbally manipulative and critical and do not feel remorse for coercing people or belittling them. They also may seek revenge for feeling wronged, but the vengeance is not usually physical.

It’s critically important to get an accurate diagnosis for your condition. There are treatments for narcissistic personality disorder and they’re quite different from treatments for other disorders. Treatment is the key to living a full life and that’s what we’ll talk about next time as we answer the question, “Can someone with NPD live a full and happy life?”

Can you live a good life with narcissistic personality disorder?

If you have narcissistic personality disorder, NPD, or you know someone that has it, you may be concerned. It’s a condition that can cause a lot of problems for the person struggling with it. It can cost them relationships. It can impact their professional life and ultimately it can impact happiness and fulfillment. However, with all of that, it is possible to live a good life.

Awareness Is Key

Those with narcissistic personality disorder are often difficult to convince that they have a problem. It can often take many hard lessons before they’re willing to admit anything. Imagine if you think the world revolves around you and that everyone should bend to your will. Now imagine that someone tells you that you’re wrong and not only that – but you’re also so wrong that you have a disorder. It’s difficult for someone with NPD to admit they have an issue.

Treatment Is Essential

Being aware that you have NPD and managing it effectively enough to have satisfying relationships, success in your job, and a fulfilling life are two different things. It’s not enough to just know you have a disorder; you actually have to want to treat it. Treatment requires psychotherapy and many people just aren’t willing to take that step. Psychotherapy guides someone with NPD to begin to recognize not only their behaviors but also how those behaviors impact others.

Understanding Friends and Family

People with NPD need folks around them who are willing and able to be understanding while also able to keep their boundaries. Someone with NPD will work hard to manipulate and persuade. If the people around a narcissist don’t have good boundaries, the narcissist will walk all over them. It’s also important to keep in mind that a “good life” may be defined differently by a narcissist than by someone else. A narcissist may define a good life as one where everyone does their bidding. Someone else may define it as a life that is filled with love, family, and friends.

Awareness, treatment in the form of psychotherapy, and a supportive community of family and friends are essential for someone with NPD. If you’re ready, willing, and committed to changing your behaviors (which can take hard work and years of time) then it’s possible for a narcissist to live a good life.

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Personal Money Management > Personal Finance Primer

1. Why emergency accounts are essential

Do you have an emergency savings account? It’s an account that holds on to a predetermined amount of money in case of a financial emergency. So what’s a financial emergency? It’s any financial surprise that could potentially derail your money management. For example, you get into an accident and have to pay a $2000 deductible, or your water heater explodes.

Emergency savings accounts are an essential element of any good financial management system. You never know what’s going to happen with your life and your finances. You might be just fine this week and then next week your washing machine breaks down. If you’re not prepared these financial setbacks, it can be devastating. They can result in debt, late payment fees and stress.

If you have the money saved to cover them, that stress just goes away. You’re able to deal with the financial emergency, rebuild the savings, and move forward.

Easy to Set Up

Emergency savings accounts are also very easy to create. You simply set up an automatic weekly or monthly deduction of 5 to 10 or even 100 dollars from your checking account into your savings account. You just set it and forget it. When you reach the emergency savings goal that you’ve established, you stop the monthly deductions.

If you have a financial emergency and you deplete your account, then you go ahead and implement the same system to rebuild it.

It is of course important to decide in advance what an emergency account looks like to you. For some people, all they can afford is $500. That’s fine. Others would prefer to save 3 to 6 months of their living expenses as an emergency savings account and that’s fine too. Whatever you decide is your goal, implement systems to achieve it.

Not having an emergency savings account often happens because people hold on to myths about money. For example, “I never have enough money to pay my bills and get ahead,” is a money myth that can hold you back.

2. Identify and let go of your money myths

What do you believe about money?

There are many myths that people believe about money. You may have grown up with a few of them yourself. For example, the old adage that “money doesn’t grow on trees” implies that money is limited and hard to come by.

Or what about “the rich get richer and the poor get poorer” mentality? It implies that if you’re struggling right now, you will always be struggling or it’s going to get worse.

Most of the myths that we have about money just aren’t true. And yet we hold on to them and we base our financial decisions on those myths.

In order to be financially successful and to be comfortable with managing your money, it’s important to identify and let go of your myths. There are a couple of different steps in the process.

1. Become Aware of Your Money Myths

To become aware of your own beliefs, you might sit down and write out a list of the things that you believe about money. As you’re writing this down, you might also pay attention to the things that you say to yourself and other people about money. For example, do you ever find yourself saying, “Oh I’m never going to be able to afford that?” This may be a money myth that you perpetuate with your language.

2. What’s True?

The second step is to go through those myths and your beliefs about money and to assess whether or not they’re actually true. Ask yourself where the myth came from and why you believe it to be true. In many cases you’ll find that the belief that you have about money has no basis in your reality or experience.

3. Let It Go

Let go of the money myths and beliefs that don’t serve you and embrace new beliefs about money that support you to manage your money better. For example, if you believe that you have to have a degree in finance to be an investor, a little research will show that there are numerous investor success stories where the investor had little to no financial education.

What you believe about money can help you or hurt you. Identify what you believe, assess whether it’s true, and embrace beliefs that support you to succeed.

3. Mobile apps that help you track your money

Do you have a smartphone? If so, the following mobile applications can help you stay on top of your spending, savings, debt and even your investments.

Mint.com

This free application is one of the best and most widely used. It can be used on a variety of operating systems including iOS, Android, and Windows. It provides you with all the tools that you need to track your income, expenses, saving goals and budget. It syncs with all your accounts from a wide variety of financial institutions. It is a comprehensive application that can make managing your money quick and easy.

Mvelopes.com

This is another free app that works for both iOS and Android. It works a lot like Mint and can help you sync many of your accounts so you can access your information all in one place. It also strives to guide you to make smart money decisions by asking questions about your financial goals.

BillGuard.com

BillGuard is also free and for the iOS and Android systems. It is designed to help you protect your identity and to help you manage your spending habits. It syncs to your bank accounts and tells you how much you spend each month.

Also check with your financial institutions to learn what mobile applications they have available to use. Your credit card lenders, banks, and investment brokerages all have mobile apps that can help you manage your money better.

4. Do you really need a budget?

Do you have a budget? If you’re like the vast majority of people, you believe that you have a pretty good handle on how much you spend and how much you bring in. Unfortunately, that’s probably a faulty belief. And why would you leave it to guesswork? This is your money we’re talking about. The more knowledge that you have about you financial situation, the easier it is to make your money work for you. Do you really need a budget?

If you want to make the most of your money and achieve your financial goals then the answer is yes – you do need a budget. Here’s what a budget does for you.

Alleviates Guesswork

A budget can tell you exactly how much you have to spend in any given category. If you want to go out to eat, you can look at your budget and see that your dining category has been depleted for the month but you might see that you have extra money in your clothing allowance. You can then make a decision on whether you want to spend that extra on clothing or go out to eat. Knowledge is power.

Achieve Savings Goals

A budget helps provide you with a framework to save money. The general rule is to set aside about 10 percent of your monthly income in retirement. You might save an additional 5 percent for big ticket items like a new car. Your budget can tell you at a glance where you are in terms of achieving your savings goals, and it can help you know how much to set aside each month.

Less Stress

The bottom line is that a budget alleviates stress about your money. You know exactly where your money is going and what it’s doing for you. Money is a tool that serves you. However, it can’t serve you well unless you know how it’s being used. A budget simply guides you to make the most of it.

It’s not a doctrine. You can change your budget. It’s a guideline and a means to control your finances. Create a budget today and start using it to manage your money quickly, easily and stress free.

5. How to get over the “B” word

What is your physical reaction when someone mentions the word “Budget?” We really should call it something else because most people sneer, grimace, or physically shiver in revulsion when the word is uttered in their presence.

It’s a bad word. But why?

One reason that many people detest the budget concept is that they believe that a budget is restrictive. It might remind them of when they were kids and their parents made them save money. Denial is another reason that people abhor budgets. When you know how much you have coming in, you also realize that you’re probably spending too much.

The truth is difficult to face and there’s nothing like a list of your expenses and your income to remind you about how much or how little you actually have to spend.

So how do you get beyond this limiting factor? How do you embrace a budget and use it for good?

1. It’s Not Law

What you put into your budget isn’t a law. There are no budget police that are going to come and knock down your door if you spend too much in one category. A budget is a guideline or a plan that YOU create. It’s a simple tool to manage your money and you can change it however you see fit. If you decide this month that $100 is enough for dining and then next month you realize that you need more like $200, then you can change it. It’s entirely under your control.

2. It Is about Control – Your Control

A budget helps you control your money. It puts you into the driver’s seat and lets you make all of the important decisions. And who else should be making these decisions? No one, right? A budget can feel extremely freeing, especially when you are able to see that some expenses aren’t necessary and that by eliminating them, you have more money to spend in other areas.

3. More Money in Your Pocket

When you create a budget, it also sets the tone to start paying more attention to your finances. For example, it’s not uncommon for someone to sit down and create a budget only to realize that they’re giving their bank $10 a month in fees, they’re paying 30 percent interest on their credit card and that they are spending $75 a month on a gym membership that they never use. This adds up quickly. A budget helps you stop the gaps and seal the cracks so you keep more of your hard-earned money.

6. Three simple ways to save more money each week

Who wouldn’t like more money in their bank account or pocket? The more money you have, the more money you can spend on things that you enjoy, right? And the more money you can save. So, let’s talk about three simple ways you can save money each week. And no – we’re not talking about cutting your own hair or reusing coffee filters. We’re talking about legitimate ways to save money.

1. Bank Fees

The first tip is to look at your bank fees. How much are you spending each month in bank fees? Ideally it should not cost you money to bank. If your bank is charging you fees, give them a call and see if you can open up a different type of account, a no fee account or switch bank. It’s a competitive market and they’ll likely waive your fees.

2. Insurance

The second thing to look at is your insurance – your car insurance specifically. You can save hundreds of dollars a month by simply comparing companies and policies. Take a look at how much you’re spending with your deductible and how much your insurance costs are. Get online and start comparing options. There are online comparison services that you can use to rate car insurance, and you can also just pick up the phone and start calling.

3. Cell Phone

A third way that you can save money each week is to take a look at your cell phone plan. You want to compare what it costs each month and what you get for that money, as well as monthly fees. Many companies will actually pay you money to switch, and you can do it without a contract.

If you want to save money, start comparing policies and plans. One additional way that you can save money (and we’re going to talk a little bit more about this next time) is with your credit card interest rate. Take a look at what you’re paying in interest on your credit cards. There’s a very good chance you’re paying 20 even 30 percent on your credit card purchases. If you don’t pay the balance each month, it can really add up. Next time we’ll look at how to negotiate a lower credit card interest rate.

7. Negotiation can save you thousands

Do you have credit card debt?

Credit card debt is highly destructive. It can take a large toll on your monthly income and it can be quite stressful. Negotiation is one way to save yourself thousands of dollars each month. Last time we talked about how you can negotiate many different things to save money. You can negotiate the price of your phone, insurance on a car, and the fees that you pay your bank.

Anything you spend money on is negotiable. One area which can have a dramatic impact on your month-to-month finances is your credit card interest rate.

Here’s a simple example of how interest rates really impact your monthly finances…

Let’s say you go out for a really nice dinner with friends and you spend $250. If you only pay the minimum payments on the $250, it will take you two and a half years to pay it off. You’ll end up spending a total of $297 and that’s at a 14% APR. There’s a very good chance that your APR is much higher than that.

If you would rather keep your money than give it to the credit card company, then it pays to negotiate your interest rate.

1. Call the company

Call your credit card company and ask to speak with someone. Tell them the interest rate you’re paying and then ask if they can reduce it to a specific amount. For example, if you’re paying 14% you might ask to reduce it to 10%.

2. Prepare for the “No”

Chances are they’re going to come back with, “we can’t do that.” You can then ask to speak to someone else or you can talk about taking your business to a different credit institution. Generally speaking, they’ll either “talk to their supervisor” or let you talk to them.

3. Be patient

You may have to talk to a few people before you get a reduction in your interest rate. It’s worth the effort. Each percentage point can mean hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars saved. Over time, that savings will make it much easier to pay off your debt.

Keep in mind that you can use the same strategy with your cell phone, with your bank fees, and with just about any type of regular customer account that you have. There is room to negotiate and pay less each month.

Just like you don’t need a degree to pick up the phone and call your credit card company and negotiate a lower interest rate, you do not need a degree in finance to invest your money.

8. You don’t need a degree in finance to invest your money

Joe has a degree in art history. Does that mean that Joe is destined to be eternally broke and always live from paycheck to paycheck? He doesn’t have a degree in finance. He never even took an accounting course. Actually, Joe is quite well off and that’s not because he’s a walking encyclopedia about Byzantine mosaics. No, it’s because he followed the basic investing guidelines and has been able to make his money work for him.

What are those guidelines?

1. Start Investing NOW

The sooner you start investing, meaning today, the more money you’ll have down the road. It’s the simple concept of compound interest. Even if you only save $100 a month, if you start today, that can mean an additional $50,000 when you retire. That’s a lot of money!

2. A Little Research Goes a Long Way

Many people believe that you have to chase stocks and have a ticker scrolling across your smartphone to make money in investments. Really, while some people do that for a living, the average person isn’t going to invest this way. Rather, it’s better to do a little research and look at the numbers of funds. Look for low-cost diversified funds that deliver consistent returns. This isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme; it’s a get-rich-slowly plan.

3. Leverage Retirement Accounts

Take advantage of your company’s 401K and of the IRA laws and invest in both. You get free money with your company’s 401K, and tax free investing with your IRA.

There’s really no reason to not take advantage of this free money. Open your accounts and start investing today. If you have to choose just one to focus on, focus on your retirement. You can’t borrow for retirement.

9. Making the choice between savings and paying off debt

Do you feel like you just don’t have enough money to save and to pay off debt? It’s a common conundrum. It makes people feel like they have to choose. The truth is that in most cases you can take care of both at the same time.

1. Negotiate

Pick up the phone and call all of your financial institutions where you owe money, and negotiate a lower interest rate. This may be a bit tedious but as mentioned before, you can actually save a few hundred dollars a month by simply talking to someone at your credit card company. Imagine what you can now do with a few extra hundred dollars. You might also call your banks and your cell phone and insurance company and negotiate a lower plan.

2. Choose a Card

Choose one card to focus on. You’ll pay the minimum balances on all of your cards and a little more on the one that you’re focusing on.

3. Look at Your Savings Goals

After negotiating, you should have some extra money each month. Divvy it up. Decide how much is going to pay off debt and how much is going into savings. Look at your savings goals. Ideally, the first thing that you’ll save for is your emergency savings account. If that’s the case then consider dividing your extra cash up 50/50. Half into emergency savings and half for debt.

Once your emergency savings is built up, then shift it so that you’re paying 75/25. 25% to savings and 75% to debt. You can save money and pay off debt at the same time. The first step is to look at the fees and interest rates you’re paying and to negotiate a better deal. That extra money can be put to work. If you have to choose whether to pay off debt or save, build your emergency savings first, and then focus on your debt. Other savings, with the exclusion of your 401K, can wait until debt is taken care of.

We’ve talked a lot about saving, investing, and managing your money. But what if someone steals your identity and spends your money? What can you do?

10. Are you protected against identity theft?

Have you had your identity stolen? Has someone spent your hard-earned money by stealing a credit card, bank account number, or worse…your social security number? While you cannot completely protect yourself from identity theft, there are some simple steps that you can take to reduce the risk.

1. Free Credit Report

Get your annual free credit report and review it. Look for discrepancies and pick up the phone and inquire about any questions or issues that you have. A free credit report helps you stay on top of what’s going on with your finances and it makes sure that no one is using your name to support their spending habits.

2. Credit Monitoring

Most credit cards today, and bank accounts too, offer monitoring. That means they send you a text or email alert anytime money is spent on your card or your account. Sign up for this and review the messages. If someone fraudulently uses your account, you’ll be able to catch it quickly and have the account frozen. And in most cases you won’t be responsible for the charges.

3. Shred It

Shred your statements. Make sure that anything with account numbers is kept out of sight and destroyed rather than thrown away. You’d be surprised how many people get financial information right out of the trash.

4. Protect It

Don’t use your credit card, bank account websites or information on an unsecured wireless connection. That enables anyone with a little tech know-how to access your information and go shopping. Stay safe.

5. Look Out for Signs

Skimmers are little devices that can be used to scan the information from your card. You’ll find them at ATM machines, gas station pumps and even wait staff can skim your card. When in doubt, use cash. There’s really nothing wrong with using cash. If you feel like something is suspicious or you just don’t want to risk it, pay cash.

Protecting your money is about staying smart, implementing systems that support you, and spending a little time learning how to invest your money wisely. Money management doesn’t require a higher education or savvy financial knowledge. It does require a little time, patience, and a desire to make the most of the money that you earn.

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