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  1. 7 Ways to Find Cheaper Car Insurance

    May 14, 2012 by admin

    1. Shop Around
    Picking out the cheapest car insurance isn’t as hard as it once was. You can get an online insurance quote, and your choices are now more plentiful than ever.

    But don’t just limit your quest to the web. Ask your family and friends what insurer they use, and ask for any recommendations or warnings they might have about other agencies. You’re likely to receive an unbiased opinion.

    2. Get Married
    Don’t tie the knot for the sake of lower premiums. But when you happen to have recently gotten married, tell your insurance broker or agent – they might be capable of finding a cheaper deal. Many insurance organizations give cheaper rates to married people.

    3. Keep a Clean Driving Record
    The more accidents on your record, the worse your rates are going to be. Refrain from risky driving and speeding.

    4. Live Near Work.
    The distance of your everyday commute can also be taken into consideration. Those with shorter commutes are statistically not as likely to get involved in an accident because they spend less time behind the wheel.

    5. Reside in a Low-Crime Zone
    People that park in low-crime neighborhoods are statistically not as likely to have their car stolen, broken into, or damaged while it’s parked. So make sure your agent has your correct address on file.

    6. Avoid Sports Cars
    Sports cars and luxury cars will get charged higher rates kinds of cars. Why? These vehicles are able to reach much higher speeds. This raises the potential for an accident or breakdown, and your agent will charge you extra for that risk.

    7. Ask About Your Age
    The best premiums are given to motorists between 25 and 55. This age bracket is considered to be the least likely to be in a collision.

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  2. Why I Love My Garden

    May 4, 2012 by admin


    why i love my garden

    No, this isn't my garden. It's just a photo from the Internet.

    I love my garden during the spring, though it consists of only the most basic ground coverings, blossoming trees, a few silver ferns and a handful of potted perennials.

    It’s not like the manicured gardens across the street. And that’s okay.

    I like the way my garden’s crazy, untamed and un-coordinated overgrowth reminds me of the wilderness. I like how the plants are untamed, and they just grow where ever they want.

    It reminds me of being a child on the first day of summer break. I didn’t have to stick to a schedule  and I didn’t worry about getting my homework done.

    And now as an adult, some people want me to have a garden so manicured that it needs daily tending. It needs someone to pick off the dying flower heads, to trim back the foliage, to divide and transplant bulbs. It needs mulching, watering, and pinching. Yes, pinching. The flowers need to be “pinched” to spur growth.

    That sounds like a lot of unpaid work.

    One of my neighbors checks the ph balance of her yard, and adds lime or some other whatever to her garden if it’s too acidic (or too basic? I can’t remember the difference. Chemistry was never my strong suit.)

    And again, it sounds like a lot of unpaid work.

    I’ll stick with my garden the way it is, thank you. It reminds me of my unscheduled, unworried days of summers gone.

    Photo courtesy laudu

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  3. Best Budget Makeup

    May 2, 2012 by admin

    Don’t worry about spending a fortune trying to look like Gisele … here’s the best budget makeup for a frugal woman who can’t spend her entire paycheck on lipstick.

    #1: Bronzer
    A great bronzer adds color to your face and evens your tone. You can skip the primer and powder if you layer nice foundation with a good bronzer.
    Best Budget Makeup
    #2: Lip Gloss
    High-shine, here we come! Lip gloss can be as cheap as $5 – $10 per tube, and adds instant glamour to your lips.

    #3: Brushes
    The quality of your makeup is only half the battle; the other half is having the right tools to apply it to your face. Invest in some great brushes — you can buy a whole pack for $20 – $40. You’ll get the most mileage out of the makeup you have.

    #4: Liquid Lipstick
    Color stays around for a long time, reducing the need to re-apply. And unlike other colorstay lipsticks, this one won’t dry your lips out.

    #5: Concealer
    The ultimate budget buy. Covering up those dark circles will take 5 years off your face and freshen your look instantly.

    Photo courtesy Flickr user Skeleton Hands.

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  4. 10 Fascinating Food Facts

    April 30, 2012 by admin



    This blog is all about looking fantastic, on a budget — and we all know that beauty starts with what we eat. “Beauty from the inside-out,” as I like to say.

    So I was really interested in finding this graphic that shows 10 fascinating food facts. Among other things, I’ve learned that:

    #1: Pre-sliced bread was illegal in the U.S. — so much for “the greatest thing since sliced bread.”

    #2: Peanuts are not nuts. — who knew?

    #3: Coffee beans are not Beans. — now you’re blowing my mind.

    #4: Chef Boyardee was a real person. — so was Duncan Hines.

    #5: The 8 veggies in V8 — tomatoes, carrots, celery, beets, parsley, lettuce, watercress, and spinach. Tomato juice is the bulk of the drink, comprising 87 percent of the “100 percent” veggie juice.

    #6: Almonds are ALSO not nuts. — this is nuts.

    #7: Bananas are radioactive — this is bananas!

    #8: The volume of a pizza is “pizza” — I don’t totally understand this one.

    #9: A calorie has the same energy as one gram of dynamite — Wow, so I eat 2,000 grams of dynamite a day?

    #10: Red juice in raw meat is not blood — it’s actually water mixed with a protein called myoglobin.

    Enjoy the graphic!

    10 More Fascinating Food Facts Infographic

    Source: Today I found out

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  5. Check It Out!

    April 27, 2012 by admin



    You write checks all the time … but have you ever wondered where they came from? How did checks develop? How do we collectively entrust millions of dollars to tiny slips of paper?

    Did you know that the first known checks were used by 3rd-century Persian traders? Later, checks evolved into a payment method used by Christian pilgrims traveling to the Holy Land, when they didn’t want to carry heavy coins. And some people think the British used checks to “keep track of –” or, in other words, to “check on,” their colonies?

    Here’s an interesting visual that discusses the history of checks –  Check it out! (No pun intended.) … (You may have to click on it to see the whole thing).

    History of Personal Checks

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  6. The Cost of Being a Mom

    April 25, 2012 by admin

    Here’s another tribute to all the moms out there:

    Did you know that there are 5 million stay-at-home moms? 97 percent of all stay-at-home parents are moms (the other 3 percent are dads), and they have a grueling, unpaid job … having a child costs the average college-educated woman ONE MILLION DOLLARS in lifetime potential earnings, according to the latest research.

    I’m not saying this to scare people away from kids — I love kids! — I’m simply saying this so that we can appreciate everything that BOTH working moms AND stay-at-home moms do!!

    Anyway, here’s an interesting visual about moms and money … (Click on it to enlarge it / see the whole thing).

    What is a Mom’s Work Worth? [infographic]
    Via: DegreeSearch.org

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  7. What Is The American Dream?

    April 23, 2012 by admin

    The American Dream calls for owning a home in a safe neighborhood, raising a family, providing your kids with a good education, and being able to heat and cool your home and own basic appliances like a refrigerator and a washer and dryer.

    The American Dream says that all people – with hard work and sacrifice – should be able to achieve this, regardless of what circumstances they were born into.

    So here’s some data — below — that shows how well people are doing at achieving that dream.

    The good news? Despite the recession, home ownership has stayed stable, at about 65 percent. (Keep in mind that this data includes people in their twenties who are saving up for a home but haven’t been in the workforce long enough to have enough saved yet.)

    The bad news? The cost of health care, housing and college have risen dramatically since 1990, even after adjusting for inflation. (Want to save money on beauty? Learn how to make your own beauty products.)

    Check out this fascinating info. (P.S. Want to see more cute, colorful informative graphics? Check out this one about the best time to buy a car.)

    Infographics: American Dream
    Courtesy of: CreditDonkey

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  8. Life Insurance Explained

    April 20, 2012 by admin

    Life insurance is a way to protect your dependents in the event of your death. Life insurance will provide financial benefits to make sure your dependents do not suffer economic hardship. Life insurance is not designed to directly benefit the living person who takes out the policy. Rather, the life insurance policy is designed for those left behind.

    There are many expenses that occur with someone’s death. If it was a long term illness that resulted in the death, there may be reimbursed medical expenses to pay. Funeral and burial arrangements must be made, which can also be rather expensive.

    All of these concerns can be alleviated with the financial benefits afforded to beneficiaries through a life insurance policy. Upon the death of the insured, the beneficiary must submit a death certificate to the insurance company. This provides the necessary documentation for the life insurance proceeds to be paid out.

    There are different types of life insurance policies that can be selected. Some policies may only need to have premiums paid for a designated amount of time. Other policies may simply require payments for most of the duration of the policy.

    In some situations, the life insurance policy can be quite flexible depending upon one’s financial situation. The premium may be lowered when one is experiencing financial difficulty. Later on when things improve, the premium can be raised to make up for the decrease in payments.

    Everyone’s situation is different. For this reason, life insurance companies offer an array of life insurance products. Before choosing a specific kind of life insurance, make sure you determine the intricacies of each policy. There may be fine print that would make one kind of policy less applicable to your situation. Insurance agents are very helpful and know these products well. They can provide needed guidance.

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  9. How to Get Great Looking Skin for Less

    April 18, 2012 by admin

    great looking skin for lessLots of people want to get great looking skin but have tight wallets.

    Don’t worry. Protecting your skin is not as expensive as you might think. Here are a few ways you can achieve great skin for less.

    #1: Work out! Exercising not only secretes out the sweat and the dirt from your body, it also makes your metabolism more efficient, which is indirectly good for your skin.

    #2: Learn to be gentle when it comes to skin care. The skin is a delicate organ and has to be handled with care. Don’t tug or pull at your skin, especially around your eyes. Gentleness is the key to good looking healthy skin.

    #3: Exfoliate your skin when you shower. This will make sure that all the dead skin cells from the skin surface are removed, making space for the new ones cells. Many dermatologists stress that you should properly cleanse your skin.

    #4: Moisturize your skin during harsh weather. In winter, skin tends to get dry and flaky. Prevent chapped skin by applying moisturizers daily.
    how to get great skin for less
    #5: Keep yourself hydrated. Drinking plenty of water moisturizes your skin from the inside-out.

    #6: Try not to go out in the sun much. Too much sun exposure leads to premature aging and wrinkles. If you have to go outside, apply a broad-spectrum SPF product, which will save your skin form harmful UVA and UVB rays.

    #7: Avoid soaps and other skin products that are laden with harsh chemicals. Use natural products instead.

    #8:Use natural herbs and plants, like aloe, to treat your skin. These natural products are safe to use and have no side effects.

    #9: Avoid greasy foods. Eating too much oily food leads to skin problems such as acne.

    #10: Load up on fruits, veggies and whole grains. Remember: skipping meals (and depriving your body of nutrients) deteriorates your skin and leaves it lifeless.

    Photo courtesy Flickr user Tucia.

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  10. How to Increase the Life of Your Razor Blade

    April 16, 2012 by admin



    How to Increase the Life of Your Razor Blade
    Do you shave your legs, armpits, and all kinds of other body parts on a daily or near-daily basis?

    If so, you probably go through a ton of razor blades. The cost of these can really add up.

    So – to promote beauty on a budget – here’s a trick for getting your razor blade to last a little longer.

    Step One: Find an old pair of jeans that you’re not too attached to.

    Step Two: Put those jeans on a hard, flat surface, like a table or floor.

    Step Three: Quickly run the razor blade up the pant legs about 20-30 times. Point the razor in the “opposite” direction as you would if you were shaving. So, in other words, don’t “shave” your pants. Point the razor so that the top of the razor is facing towards the direction in which you’re rubbing. Your goal is to make sure that the razor is pointed in the direction that the blades are NOT going to cut your jeans.

    make your razor blade last longer

    This trick will make your razor blade last longer ...


    Why Am I Doing This?
    The denim threads on the jeans are fixing little tiny bends in the blades that naturally form when you shave. By fixing these bends, the razor blade stays sharp for a longer period of time — thus increasing its lifespan.

    What If My Blade Is Already Dull?
    Do this same thing, except use 50-100 swipes.

    How Much Money Will I Save?
    A 12-pack of Gilette Cartridges costs about $30, including tax. Let’s assume you go through one razor per month, or a 12-pack per year. Your cost-per-year, obviously, is $30.

    By using this technique, let’s assume you can triple the life of your razor, so you only use one razor every three months. Now your cost-per-year is only $10. YOU SAVE $20!!

    “Big deal, it’s just twenty bucks,” you might be thinking. That’s true — but it’s $20 you otherwise wouldn’t have.

    And how much time does it take to swipe your razor across some denim? A couple of seconds? (Hint: If you’re going to throw away a pair of jeans, just clip off part of the pants leg and stash it in the spot where you normally keep your razor).

    That extra $20 per year can buy you a tube of nice mascara or lipstick, a “budget” pair of shoes, or a nice dinner at an Italian restaurant. Wouldn’t you rather have that?
    __________
    Photo courtesy Derek7272 and Andy Page.

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