Sunday, November 30, 2008
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
- Use only your own bank's ATMs. Save the service charge.
- Don't go to Starbucks, brew your own coffee and bring it in a thermos to work.
- Rent a DVD three times a month instead of going to the movies.
- Ride your bike around town instead of joining a gym.
- Borrow a book from a friend instead of shelling out $25 bucks every time you go to Barnes & Noble.
- Hand wash your 'dry clean only' items.
- Take your family on a road trip vacation instead of flying somewhere.
- And lastly, brown bag your lunch 3 times a week instead of buying it everyday.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Here I have the answers to all your holiday questions!
- Let’s start with the best way to send baked goods through the mail. According to food expert Ted Allen author of “The Food You Want To Eat,” pack all items at room temperature to avoid condensation. Then use the double box technique: Make sure the first box, which will keep your food fresh, fits snugly around the cake, cookies, or fudge you’re shipping. Then place that box into a second box filled with packing peanuts. Get your package to the post office by December 15th – that’s the last day to mail parcel post if you want it there by Christmas.
- Your next holiday conundrum – what to bring the hostess with the mostest? Party expert Cynthia Rowley says if it’s a family gathering, bring something fun to do, like a board game or a sled. If it’s an evening adult party, bring something for the morning after, like hot cocoa mix. Don’t bring a scented candle – which may not go well with the aroma of the food being served and don’t bring flowers that need a vase. That means the host has to stop everything to put them in water. So bring them in a vase, or send them a day ahead of the party.
- What should you give the boss? Career Builder says, if you don’t socialize with your boss outside of work, get him something for the job. A nice pen, a new organizer, a plant for the desk, or a nice paperweight.
- So when’s the best time to shop? The vice president of Loehmann’s Department stores says Mondays are generally the least busy day. Or shop mid-week, early in the day.
- If you can’t handle the mall, here are the hot keywords to type in on eBay to find the best gifts: handbags, watches, jewelry, iPod, perfume, cuff links and vintage.
- One of the first signals that someone is interested in you is: rapid eye blinking. The average person blinks 20 times a minute. But if they blink faster than that, they’re either under stress – or they’re attracted to you.
- Then there’s the mimic. If someone’s “into” you, they’ll mimic your behavior. For example, if you stretch, yawn, or lean, they do it, too. It means they’re paying attention to your actions and displaying a natural rapport. So, if you want your date to know you’re interested, make a point to mimic their behavior.
- Another way to tell someone likes you is if they touch anything you usually carry. Like your cell phone, pen, or blackberry. Those things are called “body extensions,” and touching them means they may be getting ready to touch your hand.
- There’s also the male reach. Men often reach toward someone they find attractive. Without making actual physical contact. For example, he reaches toward you across the table, and pats the tablecloth for emphasis.
- There’s the hair preen. People tend to touch their hair, twirl the ends, or run their fingers through it when they’re near someone they like. Why? Because it calls attention to their face.
pwfm Men & Money
Want to save money? Here are a few key phrases to help you save at hotels, car rental agencies, and stores that sell furniture, electronics, jewelry, appliances, and antiques. These come from Family Circle magazine and Michael Soon Lee, coauthor of Black Belt Negotiating:
Okay - but what if you hate to haggle? Get over it! Experts say that sellers get asked for discounts all the time. It’s a normal part of doing business and haggling is win-win for both parties. After all, most retailers would rather sell today for less, than wonder if it’ll sell at all. Also, asking for a markdown doesn’t make you look cheap – it simply shows that you’re savvy about how you spend your money. |
Monday, November 24, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
If you’re worried about the economy, here’s some good news to set your mind at ease: Most people who lived through the Great Depression say that things aren’t nearly as bad now as they were in the 1930s and they’re confident we’ll survive these tough times, if we remember some lessons learned during the Depression years. We found these on CNN.
- Lesson #1: Never carry debt. During the Depression, the idea of running up credit card debt – or any kind of debt – was unheard of. If you couldn’t afford to pay for it upfront, you didn’t buy it. Simple as that! In fact, as things got more desperate, saving became second nature for anyone lucky enough to be earning money and nobody borrowed money without having a clear plan for how they’d pay it back.
- Lesson #2: Be self-reliant. When President Franklin D. Roosevelt started his New Deal in 1933, families were encouraged to grow gardens and raise chickens. They also learned to keep a freezer full of meat for the winter, and to keep storage containers full of basic ingredients like water, flour, rice, and pasta. Because home-made food is always cheaper than anything you can buy in a grocery store and a home-cooked meal is far more satisfying than this Depression-era staple: stewed squirrel brains!
- Lesson #3: It’s okay to be a packrat. Just as people saved their money and food, they also held on to any item with potential value – like fine silverware, old clothes and shoes, sewing tools, or rare family keepsakes. That way, they’d have something to barter with in case money ran short.
- Lesson #4 is for business owners: Work hard, regardless of your status. During the Depression, nobody was “too good” to earn a living. Women worked just as hard as men and rich and poor people alike worked to grow businesses, and get the economy moving again.
- Lesson #5: Always dream big. In the 1930s, many families were forced apart – as mothers and fathers scattered in search of jobs. One thing that kept people going through the toughest of times was faith. Faith that they’d build a better life for their family, discover their mission, and stick with it no matter what.