Thursday, October 30, 2008

Finance tips for young adults

Money is an important topic for everyone. If you're young, and just starting out in the world of work, you may not have much of it yet! But it's never too early to learn some basics.

1. Understand the basics

Financial services often seem really complicated, but it's not hard for you to understand the basics for all financial services that you buy. Otherwise, you could get a nasty surprise if something goes wrong.

Before you sign on the dotted line, make sure you understand the basics of:

* What you have promised to do (eg make regular payments).
* What the company has promised to do (eg provide a loan, or cover a loss).
* Whether there are any exceptions or qualifications to these promises (eg an insurer may not have to pay your car insurance claim if you had been drinking when the accident occurred).
* What you should do if something goes wrong.


Don't be afraid or embarrassed to ask questions. Sometimes it can be awkward, but a good salesperson should give you enough time and information so that you can understand the product. You can also ask to take the documents away, so that you have time to read them and get advice.

Don't be pressured into signing something that you don't understand. You could regret it later.

2. Hold onto your paperwork

Anything to do with money often involves lots of paperwork - account statements, contracts, policy documents, terms and conditions and more.

If you're tempted to throw all this paperwork in the bin - stop! Even if you don't read it all straight away, get into the habit of keeping the important paperwork in a special file that's easily accessible. It will come in handy if you have a question or problem about your financial affairs.

You should also get into the habit of keeping notes from any important telephone calls you have with your finance institution. Again, they might help if you have a complaint.

Your notes don't need to be fancy, but it's important to record basic information such as the name of the person you spoke to, the date and time, and an outline of what was said. Keep this with all your other paperwork.

3. Reduce your costs

Some form of savings or transaction account is almost a necessity these days. But don't be complacent about your account - there are ways that you can reduce the costs.

For example, if you are a student or a recent graduate, you may be able to get a fee-free account. Ask your institution if they have one.

But what if you are not eligible for a fee-free account? You can still reduce your costs by changing how you bank. For example, it's often cheaper to use Internet banking than to visit a branch. But first, you'll need to understand how and when fees are charged on your account. Ask your institution to tell you about the main fees and charges, and whether you are entitled to a certain number of free transactions. You can use this information to help you develop cheaper banking habits.

4. Minimise the risk of unauthorised transactions - keep your PIN secret

Many complaints about unauthorised transactions are made each year. The best way to protect yourself from someone accessing the money in your account is to keep your PIN and/or password secret! Don't tell anyone your PIN or password - this includes your friends and family. Also, don't keep a copy of your PIN or password near your card, or on your computer (unless it's password protected).

Many institutions will let you choose your own PIN or password, and this can help you remember it. But, be careful with what you choose - don't make it so easy to remember that it will also be easy for a thief to guess.

5. Be very careful with direct debits

Direct debits can be a great way of making sure that the necessities of life - like your bills and rent - are paid on time. But make sure you know how to cancel a direct debit if you need to. For example, if you change your phone company.

To cancel a direct debit, you should tell both your institution and the company making the direct debit (eg the phone or electricity company). Writing a short letter is often best. Keep a copy of the letter, and if problems arise, contact your institution straight away.

Also, make sure you have enough money in your account to cover a direct debit. If there is not enough, you might have to pay an expensive overdraw fee.

6. Shop around for insurance like you shop around for a car or plan a holiday

When you're buying a car, planning a holiday, or taking out a loan, insurance is probably the last thing you want to think about. But you may need it, and it's important to spend a little bit of time shopping around.

Having a good insurance policy can make all the difference to your pocket - both now and if the worst happens and you need to make a claim.

So don't just accept the insurance policy that is offered by the car yard, or the travel agent, or the credit provider. Remember, the agent may be getting a commission for selling you a particular policy, even though it may not be the best one for you.

Shop around. The Internet and telephone call centres make this easy. Even if you make just three or four quick telephone calls to different companies, you'll find that the price might vary by $100 or $200 or more. And that's even before you look at the coverage and exceptions on the policy.

And before you sign a policy, make sure you understand what the insurer will and will not cover. For example, some travel insurance policies might not cover you if you are injured when bungy-jumping or white water rafting. If you don't choose a policy with the right coverage for you and your circumstances, you could end up with hefty expenses to pay.

7. Tell it like it is

When you apply for insurance, you'll have to provide lots of details to the insurance company. For example, if you are getting car insurance, you may be asked about your driving record, whether the car has been modified, and other things. Your answers will help the insurance company decide how risky it will be to insure you, and therefore how much your policy will cost.

Don't be tempted to massage the facts! If the worst happens, and you need to make a claim on your policy - your insurer may have grounds for refusing to pay your claim.

And this goes for renewals as well. You must tell the insurance company about any changes in your circumstances each time you renew your policy. The type of questions that were asked in the original policy application will be a good guide to the information you might need to disclose when you renew. And if you have any doubts - ask your insurer! (And keep a written record of what they told you.)

8. Think about insurance before you choose your car

If you are buying a car, its good to think about insurance before you choose the type of car that you want.

You might think that, if two cars cost the same amount to buy, they would cost about the same amount to insure. But the cost of insurance often depends as much on the type of car, as it does on the cost of the car.

For example, a sporty car might look great, and impress your friends, but it might cost you $200 or $300 more to insure than a basic car. And if your dream car has got modifications, like mag wheels, or has a bigger engine, insurance might cost you more again. It's better to be prepared for these extra costs than to get an unpleasant surprise after you have bought the car.

Also, remember that a finance company can require you to take out comprehensive insurance to cover the car, but you don't have to take out other types of insurance. For example, insurance to pay the loan if you become sick or unemployed may be too expensive or sold just because of the commissions. This type of insurance is not compulsory. You don't have to buy it even if the salesperson suggests you must have it.

9. Take things slowly and watch out for scams

If you're like most people, its easier to spend your money than to save it. But saving and investing are often the only way to achieve your big goals - buying a new stereo system, buying a car, going overseas.

Often it's easiest to save small amounts frequently - maybe by directly transferring some of your pay each fortnight to a special savings or investing account.

If you're thinking about investments - managed funds, shares, and others - you need to think about what level of risk you are prepared to take. The higher the return, the higher the risk that you will lose all your money.

Remember that there are no easy ways to "get rich quick". Stay away from investments that promise incredibly high returns for low risk and little work. They are usually scams.


Other warning signs for scams are:

* lots of exclamation marks and capital letters in the advertisements
* no 'real life' address - just an email address, or post office box and
* lots of assurances that the scheme is legal.


Be cautious. If you think an investment opportunity looks a bit dodgy, make some enquiries before you commit your money. Check out FIDO, our consumer website, or talk to a licensed financial adviser.

10. Keep track of your superannuation accounts
If you are just starting your working life, retirement will probably be the last thing on your mind. But you should check to make sure you are getting any superannuation you are entitled to. In addition to paying you your wages, your employer is required to contribute an amount equal to 9% of your earnings to your super fund, unless:

* you earn less than $450 a month; OR
* you are under 18 and you are working less than 30 hours per week.

If you change jobs frequently, or have more than one job at a time, it can be hard to keep track of your super. Keeping all your statements in one place should help.

You may also be able minimise the number of funds you have by asking to 'roll over' your accounts from your previous employment into your current fund. Ask your current fund for help with this.
http://www.fido.gov.au/fido/fido.nsf/byheadline/Top+10+finance+tips+for+young+adults?openDocument

5 Tips That Can Save Money and Home

Your home is likely your most valuable asset–make sure it is properly protected. While insurance agents will help determine the kind of coverage you can buy, it is ultimately your responsibility to know what the policy covers. And remember, insurance agents are salesmen and typically work on commission. This isn’t a bad thing, but be aware of what type of coverage you actually need so that you can spot it when you’re being sold something you don’t truly need.

This has been a topic of renewed discussion recently with all of the floods and severe weather in the midwest. Many people had assumed that they were in no danger of a flood, and now that their home is under water, they find their policy isn’t going to cover the damage.

1. Review your policies annually. A walk-through of your coverage needs with your agent may identify other coverages (i.e., jewelry, artwork, etc.) that you need, as well as ways to save on premiums such as bundling auto and home insurance coverage together with one provider or requesting higher deductibles to help contain your costs.

2. Identify risks you face that are not covered by your homeowners policy. Disasters such as floods and earthquakes need a separate policy or riders to protect your home if tragedy strikes.

3. Understand how much coverage you have. Many homeowners believe their insurance policy will replace their damaged or destroyed property regardless of the amount of damage incurred. Remember, it is generally not your home’s market value that is covered, but rather its replacement cost. Home additions and major kitchen or bath remodeling projects can add significant value to your home, which may not be covered by your current policy. It is important to that your coverage is sufficient, based on your home’s replacement cost.

4. Do your homework when shopping for insurance. Get quotes from different carriers. Since rates can vary, make sure you compare coverage on an apples-to-apples basis so you can spot when a lower price really just represents less coverage. Consider higher deductibles to help reduce your premiums or ask if discounts are available for installed safety and security devices such as smoke detectors and alarms.

5. Research carrier performance. Ask your friends and neighbors for references. Also research the financial strength of carriers through independent third-party sources such as state insurance departments, A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, and customer satisfaction ratings at the J.D. Power Consumer Center.

http://genxfinance.com/2008/06/12/5-quick-homeowners-insurance-tips-that-can-save-you-money-and-your-home/

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Quick Tips for Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance is something that can be confusing at first. There are many facets of life insurance and most people prefer to pass information and sign on the dotted line. What they do not realize, however, is that there are important things to consider when thinking about life insurance. If you follow a few simple tips you can be sure you make the right choices and perhaps even save a few dollars.

Term life insurance rates vary May
The number of companies that provide term life insurance is vast. If you limit yourself to an insurance agent or an insurance company, however, you begin May not to do anything close to the best deal for your term life insurance. Some insurance agents stick with their "favorite" for insurance companies. For this reason, they are not comparing prices and try to find the best company for you. If you have any health problems, it can be very beneficial to compare prices to see what companies are less aggressive with quotes.

Once you've found the company that you decided to go, you should compare prices for different amounts and types of coverage to understand what is best for you.

Getting the right amount of the term life insurance
The purpose of the mandate of life insurance is to cover the cost of debt and cost your family and your loved ones will take if you die. Term life insurance is essentially a security cover to let them behind you. For this reason, some people do not quite exactly the size of a policy they should apply. If you have a huge retirement fund, you May not need as many as far as life insurance is concerned. Most people, however, do not have enough coverage. Because they are not fully understand how much is needed, they under-insurance and wind with a life insurance plan that can not cover everything in case of an unexpected death.

Tell your family about this
Because of the difficult and emotional connotations that can come and talk with life insurance, many choose not to speak. Some people think it is difficult to start talking about the whole situation. It is important, however, talk to your family members and loved ones about your insurance policy. This will enable the two parties concerned. They need to know that policy exists, and how to collect once the time comes.

Another aspect that comes from this is the problem that some have with the idea that they will not see any money they put an end to insurance program life. Because the aim is to help parents and relatives with payments, debts or simply with money in general, it is an important subject. When you're evaluating a term life insurance policy, you should consider to help you with the plan itself and their needs.

Insurance Corporation May not cut
Because the employer is usually the insurance group insurance, it does not take into account your personal health and questions. This could mean that you pay more than you should be for your insurance or you may be more and more money for the amount you're paying. You are looking into different options for life insurance can help ensure that you get the best insurance for your money.

Tips to choosing the right health insurance

The best way to kick off your shopping is by doing a little research on your state's insurance Web site, says Kimberly Lankford, author of "The Insurance Maze: How You Can Save Money on Insurance and Still Get the Coverage You Need" (Kaplan Business, 2006). A good site will list companies available in your area, prices for both individual and family plans, and any lower-cost options your state offers if you meet certain income requirements.

Write out your priorities
Do you love your current doctors? Then you should choose an insurance company that covers their service. "It's so important that you make a list of the top five things important to you, and bring them up to the broker or insurance company," advised Michelle Katz, a healthcare consultant and author of "101 Health Insurance Tips" (LifeTips.com, Inc., 2007). This way you can really start to narrow things down by your needs, whether that means low premiums, customer service or the doctor you've been seeing since college.

Don't be afraid to use a broker
An insurance broker can be a huge help. He can do the legwork to find a well-suited insurance company, help shop for the best rates, and explain the ins and outs of your plan. To find a reputable broker, check credentials with either the National Association of Insurance Underwriters (nahu.org) or the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (naic.org). You also want to make sure he has a large "book," the industry term for the network of providers he works with. More options mean a better deal and a better fit.

Ask for a "free look"
Lots of things come with a trial period — your gym membership, magazine subscription and virtually anything hawked on an infomercial — but did you know that you can sometimes test-drive your insurance plan? They call this a free look, and it basically means that you can get your money back if you're unsatisfied within a set period of time, explained Katz. The key here, though, is staying on top of things and making sure you follow the guidelines. Restrictions vary by company and plan, but you could have anywhere from one to six weeks to ask for a refund — probably in writing.

Consider a Health Savings Account
An HSA is a great option for people who generally only have to whip out their insurance card once or twice a year. Maybe you go for a yearly checkup, and then to the doctor if you have the flu. It goes hand-in-hand with an insurance policy that has a high deductible ($1,100 for individuals; $2,200 for families), but low premiums. The money you save on premiums each month can be deposited into the HSA pre-tax, where it grows tax-deferred. You then use it to pay for any unexpected medical expenses. The bonus? Once you turn 65, you can withdraw any money you didn't use and spend it on anything you want, including funding your retirement.

Negotiate
You've chosen a plan, but you're still not home free. Bills can pop up everywhere, from services that aren't covered to doctor and hospital co-pays to costs for prescriptions. Many insurers have instituted a system of preferred pricing when it comes to prescriptions, meaning that if yours isn't generic and on a list, it could still cost a bundle.

"Now, even people with employer coverage are having to be smart shoppers for prescription drugs, especially if they have a regular medication that is pretty expensive," said Lankford. Keep your costs low by shopping around (prices can vary among pharmacies — your best bet is a discount store or price club) and asking for generics whenever available. You can also have your doctor write out a prescription for a longer period of time, so you'll get a 90-day supply instead of a 30, advised Katz.

The co-pay will be the same. And don't be afraid to negotiate with your doctor if you're paying out of pocket. In a recent Harris Interactive poll, three out of five people who did so received a discount. With the cost of a single visit often tallying over $200, it's definitely worth a try.

With reporting by Arielle McGowen.

Jean Chatzky is an editor-at-large at "Money" magazine and serves as AOL's official Money Coach. She is the personal finance editor for NBC's "Today Show" and is also a columnist for Life magazine. She is the author of four books, including "Pay It Down! From Debt to Wealth on $10 a Day" (Portfolio, 2004). To find out more, visit her Web site, www.jeanchatzky.com.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Earning Money With Paid Surveys

Can you really earn money taking surveys? The answer is YES! We've all seen them, advertisements, banner ads, even spam emails promising us extra cash just for taking the time to fill out a survey. But how much can you really make? What exactly do these companies want in return? Read on below to find out.

First, the survey companies actually do get a lot in return for their money. Whether they are researching and developing new products or experimenting with new advertising methods for existing products, the information these companies gleam from your consumer responses is invaluable to them. They can use your responses to find the right market for their product, gauge interest in certain products and even test advertising before they spend a huge amount of money on a national advertising campaign. Not only do the companies get a goldmine of information from consumer responses, but they can even use the aggregate information to form very specific ideas of what a certain market segment wants or needs. Consumer testing and surveys are one of the most important methods of research and testing that the big brand names use to research, develop and market their products, it's a win-win for them, for the consumer and for the people taking the surveys.

There are different types of paid surveys and they each have their own pros and cons, I'll list the two major types below:

Surveys For Cash – This type of survey is the most prized, because you give them your time and they pay you in real money. These survey companies will usually send you a check, but some of them send actual cash in the mail. Ranging from $2, $5 all the way up to $10 and $20. Higher payouts happen, but they are more rare and usually require much more time and information from you, such as keeping a daily journal of your shopping habits, Internet surfing habits or your banking habits or testing out actual products.

Surveys For Rewards – Some survey companies will offer you points for each survey you take, say 50 points or 500 points. Then these points can be redeemed for products, gift certificates, gift cards, airline miles and other items. Sometimes, the points can even be redeeemed for cash. There are more of these types of survey programs available since you must commit some time to faithfully taking the surveys they send in order to gain enough points to be redeemed for something worthwhile. However, these companies tend to send more surveys than the companies that pay cash, so you may have more opportunities to redeem your accumulated points for a cash or a tangible prize in the end.

Avoiding The Scams

Most survey companies are legitimate, but some you may want to watch out for. Listed below are some ways to make sure you are taking surveys for legitimate companies:

Reputation – Before signing up for a survey program, check it's reputation by doing a bit of research to make sure the company actually pays it's members or sends out their prizes. You can check with the Better Business Bureau online, check Google and the many message boards and forums dedicated to taking surveys and making money online in general. It should take you just a few minutes to find out if a company is for real or is just collecting information to spam you.

Privacy Policy – Make sure the site has a clearly stated privacy policy and be sure to read it carefully. Make sure they aren't going to keep and sell your personal information to third parties and that the information you do give is used for reasonable purposes.

Survey Directories – You can find some excellent listings of paid survey companies on the web. These directories will often have a description and review of each company. You'll often be able to see what types of payment or prizes they offer. Be sure to check these out. An excellent survey directory is PaidSurvey24.com.

Helpful Tools

There are some helpful tools available for those that would like to take surveys but don't type very fast or well. One of the best is the Google Toolbar. It's completely free and installs right to your browser. Once it's installed, you should click the OPTIONS tab on the bar and check the box next to AUTOFILL. Then click the AUTOFILL SETTINGS button and fill in all the information there. This enables the autofill form tool so that you can fill out forms asking for your name, address, email address etc. just once and then you can simply click the AUTOFILL button on your browser to fill in each of these fields. Extremely handy and a HUGE timesaver! With the Google toolbar, you can also search Google without having to go to Google's main page, so you can research paid survey companies even more easily. You can get it from Google's site, just go to their main page and click on MORE, then EVEN MORE and then click on TOOLBAR.

In summary, while you may not be able to make a living taking surveys, you certainly can make some extra money and earn some nice prizes. So the question is not, why would you want to take paid surveys, it's why wouldn't you want to take paid surveys?! It's easy, often fun and has many benefits! Good luck!

Lydia Quinn writes for PaidSurvey24.com, where you can find a completely free list of companies that will pay you or offer rewards for taking their surveys. Visit us at: http://www.paidsurvey24.com

Article source: http://www.expertarticles.com/article/Internet-Business/Earning-Money-With-Paid-Surveys.html

Monday, October 27, 2008

The Easy Way To Make Quick Money Online

The best way to make quick money is by owning a business but this takes a lot of time. You also need to develop a product or service, which involves large amount of funding. Unfortunately, most of us find it hard to pay off the monthly bills. So you need to find a way to make money in quick time with little investment. An easy way to make quick money online is by joining an internet network marketing company.

Network marketing has been around for quite sometime and it has created several millionaires in the United States. This success has been repeated by many people online through internet network marketing. There are numerous web sites dedicated to networking. These sites have been around for quite sometime and many people have doubled or tripled their annual income using these sites.

If you are dedicated and hardworking, network marketing is an easy way to make quick money online. The whole networking process is quite easy. Basically, you have to promote a product or service. For each business done through you, the networking company pays you a hefty commission. Now, the products to promote can be found on the network marketing company web sites. You can join these sites for free by giving your personal details. You can also select the product of your choice to market.

Select a product with which you are comfortable and which has maximum scope of selling. Study the product thoroughly and create a comprehensive free report. List all the benefits of the product or service. Use pictures of the product and quote experts and satisfied customers in the report. Do not forget to include your networking link in the report. Network marketing is an easy way to make quick money online mainly due to the flexibility it offers. You are free to select the product and the method of marketing.

Next step is to distribute the report. For this you can make use of the numerous free blogs and other community web sites. There are also numerous forums dedicated to networking. Apart from this you can also join those forums that have relation to your product or service. Many people raise questions regarding the product or service in these forums. Answering these questions accurately will give you an edge and people will buy the product through you.

This type of marketing is an easy way to make quick money online because you are not investing any money. And all you need to do is to spend some time on the internet. There are several organizations and groups dedicated to your type of product or service. Joining these groups will enable you to sell your products as well as introduce you to people with similar interests. You can also attract customers by providing free articles and reviews on the products.

If you are looking for an easy way to make quick money online, there is no doubt that network marketing is the best choice. It is simple and easy.

Jaz Lai is an Online Business Expert where he created $10,045 sales in 24 hours just by sending out 5 emails without any list or website. Click here to find out how he did it and what is the easy way to earn quick money online www.onlineearningmakeeasy.com/free-report, Further recommended resources www.jazlai.com

Article source: http://www.expertarticles.com/article/Internet-Business/What-Is-The-Easy-Way-To-Make-Quick-Money-Online-.html

Sunday, October 26, 2008

A Guide to Writing Articles on Unemployment

If you are a student of the Economics Department, tips for writing articles on unemployment may be right in time for you.

Actually, articles on unemployment are not that difficult to complete. In this article, we will present you the guidelines that will help you create an effective article on unemployment.

1. Searching for sufficient sources on unemployment

You have the general subject area – unemployment. So, look through the sources available. Recent research papers or some scientific articles on unemployment may come in handy. They will help you get the general impression of what you will be dealing with.
2. Narrowing down the scope of the subject area to a certain problem

There is a diversity of problems that articles on unemployment may be devoted to. So, you may consider the list of possible topics for articles on unemployment presented below:
* Unemployment in India: Economic Policy Scenario;
* Causes of Unemployment in the USA;
* Possible Solutions to the Problem of Unemployment.
3. Outlining the article on unemployment

Outlining is extremely important if you want to write good articles on unemployment. It helps think over each issue and detail that will be presented in article on unemployment. While working on an outline, mind logical consecution of the issues you are going to present.
4. Composing the text & editing

When composing the text of your article on unemployment, mind the simplicity of your language. Do not overuse too complicated sentences. It is even better to avoid them at all.


Revising and editing articles on unemployment is a must. This step to completing articles on unemployment is better to take some time after they are completed. Fresh mind will help you eliminate mistakes.

You can also find tips on writing an Economics research paper or an essay on corruption if needed on the blog of our website.

It is easy to find good writing tips for your essay or an article. Our database has information that will help you to accomplish any paper without the need for buying it online. If you still want your paper to be written by professional academic writers, then our service is the best choice for you!!!

source: http://custom-writing.org/blog/writing-tips/free-article-writing-tips/974.html

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Business, Ethics, And The Law

The primary objective of a business is to make money. Why would an individual or group of people start a business if he did not want to make money? An argument that is generated by some is: "Should profits be the only function of a business?"

The desire for businesses to make money can sometimes lead to what is considered unethical business practices. Keep in mind the words unethical and unlawful are two separate terms with two separate meanings. One side of the argument states that ethics should not play a part in business as long as the business abides by the law of the land then they should not concern themselves with ethical behavior, but they should act in the best interest of the organization. The other side of the argument states that for an economy to function in a capitalist fashion that businesses must act in an ethical fashion regardless if their actions are legal under law.

Milton Friedman contends that the sole responsibility of business is to increase its profits. Robert Almeder maintains that if capitalism is to survive, it must act in a socially responsible ways that go beyond profit making. The views of these two individuals go to the heart of the argument. This author believes that after reading their material that the views of both are exaggerated. I do believe that a business's responsibilities do go beyond what is legal. A business has a responsibility not only to the owners or stockholders, but also to the consumer who trust the business is acting not only in a legal manner but a safe and ethical manner as well. If a business goes out of its way to act in an unethical fashion then the business has broken their trust with the consumer. Once a business loses the trust of their consumers then profits will plummet. Seeing that profits are the primary function of a business then it is in the businesses best interest to maintain a trusting relationship with the consumers and continue to act in safe and ethical manner.

Keeping in mind that it is not the purpose of a business to propose or to dictate legislature nor ethical behavior to the individual, a business should not be held accountable for what a small population of consumers consider unethical. If the practice of the business is out in the open and hazards of their products are readily published and do not present the possibility of death involuntarily to the consumer then legislature should not dictate ethical behavior to business nor individuals for that matter.

About the author of Business, Ethics, And The Law

Joseph Brochin owns and operates http://Brochin.net. An IT & Telecommunications Solutions provider and consultant. http://brochin.net
source: http://www.article-tips.com/business/business-ethics-and-the/1742

How To Choose An Ideal Weight Loss Program

As you are probably aware, there are many weight loss programs out there.

However, there is no one single ideal weight loss program for everyone. To understand how to lose weight, you first need to understand that each program typically employs one or more of these elements:
1) exercise
2) dieting
3) plan
4) support group
5) drugs
6) surgery

1) Exercise
Exercise may not be the most exciting word in your vocabulary, but it has a ton of benefits. Getting your active dose of daily exercise not only makes us healthier in general, it will help you burn those unsightly fats off your body.

Exercise serves the purpose of burning calories. Thus, if your food intake remains constant, your body weight will reduce.

If you have never exercised before, do visit your medical doctor or physician before starting on any exercise regime. Also, exercising does not mean that you have to start with something strenuous or competitive. Any activity you enjoy such as walking, jogging or swimming or even climbing stairs on a regular basis would serve the purpose.

2) Dieting
How many times have you heard someone say, YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT ? We may laugh it off, concluding that is just another cliche. But the truth of the matter is that overeating and the choice of food are often the main causes of obesity.

Eating is at the opposite end of exercising as food and drink intake adds calories to your body. Thus, an weight loss program would typically specify what to eat, when to eat, etc.

3) Plan
To increase your chances of success, following a plan and encouragement is crucial. Weight loss programs can therefore include daily, weekly or monthly plans.

4) Support Group
Accountability is an important element of success in any endeavor including weight loss. An effective weight loss program could incorporate a support group to help you achieve your weight loss goals.

5) Drugs
Weight loss drugs or diet pills are usually used in 'lifesaving' situations where weight reduction is critical. Medicinal or herbal drugs are prescribed to change the fundamental bodily processes such as suppressing the appetite, altering the metabolism or restricting the ability to absorb specific nutrients.

6) Surgery
You might have heard of liposuction which is the surgical removal of fats beneath the skin. Another form of weight loss surgery - bariatric surgery reduces the size of the stomach so that food energy intake is reduced.

Armed with the knowledge of the above elements, you now know what to look for in a weight loss program and how to evaluate if it will most likely suit you as an individual human being with your unique characteristics, desires and needs.

About the author of How To Choose An Ideal Weight Loss Program

For more tips and advice on how to lose weight, check out Alice's web site at How To Lose Weight
source: http://www.article-tips.com/fitness/how-to-choose-an/898

Friday, October 24, 2008

Things to Do on a First Date

Your time has come! You have been dreaming for this. Finally, you will be meeting your first date tonight. Now, the question is: what should you do on your first date?

Below are some tips you should do on your first date:

Have a nice conversation. Remember, to have a first date means knowing your date better. Therefore, it is very important to have a nice conversation with your date.

Ice cream is perfect for sunny weather. You can buy your date an ice cream while walking in a part then have a romantic conversation at the beach.

Never date in your apartment. For a first date, it is a very big turn off especially for a girl if you invite to go to your apartment. This can be very intimidating for both of you because you are still in the process of knowing each other. So as much as possible do something that is in public.

Look for silent place. Again, to have a first date means know your date better. The best way to achieve this is through talking. Find a silent place so that both of you would understand each other.

Never look for a dark place. It is very important that on your first date, you have to see each other while talking. Look for place that has lights so both of you would able to see your gestures and expressions.

Cafes are the best location for a date. Cafes will not only obliged you to pay a lot of many but it is also a cozy and quiet place that is very perfect for both of you.

Talk about interesting topics. Never talk about topics that would make both of you boring. Never talk about your job because it would definitely bore your date. Interesting topic such as past experiences, family and friends would help your conversation fruitful. You can also talk about your funny experiences or your most embarrassing moments. That would definitely laugh your date.

Ask a lot of questions. The more questions you would be asking the easier to hold conversations of any topic.

Listening makes others feel very important. Generally, girls love to talk. So have your full ears in listening because she will feel how important she is. Also, never interrupt when she is talking.

Never impress your date. The worst thing you can do when talking with a girl is to let her know how rich you are, that you have to Mercedes Benz at home or any topic that would allows you to impress her.

Plan your date. It is very important to have a plan to have an organize date. Set a date and time as to when you will meet, set a place where would you eat, etc.

Other places to have a perfect date would be, watching ball games, such NBA, major league baseball, football. Watching concerts and movies would also be good options.

Lastly, enjoy life and have fun. Dating is a challenge but understand you might have to kiss a lot of frogs before you meet your prince or princess.

Virginia Beauty and Fashion consultant, Svetlana Polyakova from SecretstoImpress.com specializes in teaching men and women the fine techniques of how to meet to meet that special person, dress to impress, and beauty & Fashion tips and etiquette.

Article source: Expert Articles

Feng Shui Tips for Fertility

The Gua of the husband should be tapped first and foremost. Sleep in his Yan Nian (Relationship) direction to enhance fertility, promote spousal well-being as well as up the intimacy, romance and feelings of affection, too! You can consult our free Gua Calculator to determine this. If sleeping in his Yan Nian is not feasible, simply re-position your bed to face the direction. Easy!

Do stay away from decorating your home with fierce pictures of predatory animals in aggressive, dominant poses. These images will fail to nurture and consequently will ‘kill’ the warm fertile ambience you are striving for.

Dragon symbols, as you know, are terribly Yang in nature and should only be used outside the bedroom. But, in the case of trying for a baby, a little Yang magic by the bedside may help! An inconspicuous dragon item next to the bed can conjure up the precious Yang energy to aid conception. Hang a tassel with a bronze dragon or a small dragon charm next to the bed for this purpose.

A beaming Buddha statue with children climbing all over him symbolizes the joy of children. It is also said to be able to facilitate the laughter and happiness of your own future children to your home! Display the statue prominently in the East direction of the bedroom.

Your front door: make sure that there is nothing but open space directly out the front door. Trees, a street, or other objects in the immediate vicinity of this door is not good, since this is the main entrance of Qi. Keep this space clean and fresh-smelling!

Elephants are said to be the ultimate symbol of fertility and virility. They can also create auspicious “descendants’ Qi” – the very type you need! Place an elephant statue by the West or Northwest direction. If you wish for a son, lodge a stone on the back of the statue.

Cicadas are not just those bugs that make charming night creaks, they’re actually a potent symbol of marriage luck and fertility! Couples who are trying to conceive should definitely have an image of the cicada close by in the bedroom.

Do you like these Tips? Dragon-Gate.com sends monthly Feng Shui Tips newsletters to its members. To read past Feng Shui Tips, click here.

Corey Tsang is the resident Feng Shui expert of Dragon-Gate.com, and is well-known for his bi-monthly newsletters on Feng Shui Tips and Feng Shui Alerts of the Month. For more information, please contact Mr Tsang at corey@dragon-gate.com or visit our website at Dragon-Gate.com.

Article source: Expert Articles

Top Tips for Internet Riches

When most people think of making money online, they probably think of get rich quick scams. That̢۪s a shame, because the internet has enormous potential for creating wealth quickly, but only if you know what you̢۪re doing!

The best way is to sell your very own products online, information products are best, namely E-books. Why? Well, when you sell your own products, you make 100% of the sales in profit, but also, because if there is ANYTHING you know a lot about, absolutely anything at all, you can create an E-book and make good money from it.

So, here is a list of tips to help you on your way to internet riches.

1) Create a product. This could be on just about anything really, so long as you have good knowledge on the subject and provide quality information. If you struggle on how to write a good E-book, buy a couple on the same subject, its very important to invest in yourself.

2) Create a website. You don̢۪t need to be an expert website designer to do this; there is lots of simple website creation software out there, many of them free. Just remember to try and create a good quality website which is rich in content and encourages visitors to return in the future.

3) Promote your product. This is where most businesses fail. There are lots of ways to promote your product, many of them either free or very cheap.

4) Generate traffic. Hopefully the result of good promotion will be lots of quality, targeted traffic, as this is the kind of visitor who will be specifically looking for your product, thus will be a good chance they will buy the product, which is the name of the game!

5) Search Engine Ranking. This is one of the best ways to draw in lots of targeted traffic. Not always easy to get a good ranking though, but when you manage this, it really is worth all the effort!

6) Making Sales. Obviously, this is what you want to be doing! Not always straight forward though, takes a lot more to make lots of sales than people realise, but can definitely be achieved if a consistent effort is put in over time.

7) Multiple Streams of Income. This is one of the best things you can do in business, as it allows you to make lots of money, even if your sales take a downturn. Multiple streams of income include using googles adsense, selling free websites, affiliate programs etc.

8) Residual Income. This is an ongoing income stream which is a knock on effect of all your previous work, usually created by email marketing. Ever heard the saying â€Å“the money is in the list?” This is from email marketing, which will provide a longer term income also if done correctly.

This was just a quick run through of the basics of starting your own online business and making good money online. As you may have gathered, it is anything but easy, but is definitely possible and really anyone can do it, with the right information, determination and attention to detail.



About the author of Top Tips for Internet Riches

Chris Neill is an experienced online businessman and runs the website http://www.verysmartcash.com. This website provides information products that have all you need to know to run your very own online home based internet business.
source: http://www.article-tips.com/home-business/top-tips-for-internet/1803

Lose Weight Naturally & Effectively

This article has been written because we in the west are reaching crisis point in the problem of overweight people, and I hope that I can make some helpful suggestions if this is your area of concern.

Studies have shown that the number of people who are obese or are overweight has more than doubled in the past 10 years. There are many reasons for this such as the rise in the number of fast foods joints, drinks that contain a lot of saturated fat in the meals and the type of food purchased at the grocery store.

Though genetics, lifestyle and aging also play a significant factor, it is the choice of the person whether or not to consume the type of food that they do. Some people want an overnight solution to the weight problem but studies have proven this to be unsafe and leaves markings of loose skin which can only be removed through surgery.

People must understand that a natural weight loss system should be in place first before anything can happen. This is only after a doctor is able to analyze the patients weight, health, calorie intake, age, gender, lifestyle, stress level and routine.

Many doctors recommend exercise as the best and natural way to lose weight. Cardio vascular exercises can increase the persons heart rate and metabolism which in turn will burn those excess pounds weekly.

Those who dont work well with a personal trainer can join group exercises in the gym. Studies have shown that people can be driven to accomplish a lot of things in groups because it is fun and everyone will get an extra push from one another.

Others who dont have time to go to the gym can still accomplish this by jogging or running in the morning. Those who are not fond of doing these things can play a game of basketball or any other sport with friends.

This should be combined with a diet program that is designed by a dietitian. Though some people think using supplements will help increase the process, many professionals would rather advise the client to eat right and burn the calories gradually.

Oats, rice, fruits, vegetables, fish, meat and cereals give the person the much needed carbohydrates and fats. Since the average Joe does not know when enough has been taken in, the dietitian must come up with a plan to make sure everything is balanced.

This many mean substituting certain items with those that give a lower amount of calories or cutting down some in smaller portions. This just proves dieting does not always have to be giving up on certain foods.

An important part in making sure that the system works is going to the doctor for a regular checkup. This will help these professionals monitor the patients progress and recommend changes if these are necessary.

The individual should stick to the program and everything will fall into place. The improvements or the number of pounds lost for one will not be the same for the other. This is a long term project that could prevent diseases from happening and extending the life of the patient.

Some companies have tried to promote the use of laxatives to lose weight. Though this should only be used for a week, others have used it much longer and are in danger of causing muscle problems in the body.

Despite the advances in science, health professionals still believe the safest and best way to lose weight naturally is still through diet and exercise. The person must cooperate with the doctor and the dietitian so that a system can be made specifically to handle ones case.

There is of course a lot more information out there on this subject in such places as the local bookstore, the local library, and there are a number of very helpful Blogs which provide excellent advice.

About the author of How To Lose Weight Naturally & Effectively

john savage has a very helpful Blog which can be read by Clicking Here
source: http://www.article-tips.com/fitness/how-to-lose-weight/909

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Home Safety for Your Children

There are many concerns when it comes to your children’s safety. But it really comes down to what you do in your home that will determine the safety of your children. There is first and foremost the cleanliness and tidiness of the house. This is particularly important because you wouldn’t want your child to just pick anything up and put it in his or her mouth. Or he/she could stumble over a toy that you’ve forgotten to put away.

WHAT TO DO: Obviously, a clean and tidy home is what works best. Clean up all the clutter and store all prized possessions that you wouldn’t want destroyed or lost. Lock all dangerous objects like tools or poisons. Keep cleaning materials, chemicals, and products out of children’s reach. It would also be better to lock them up. Little details of your home also matters. For example, your child runs around and none of you notice that the edge of your rug is tilted upwards a little. Your child might trip on it and hurt him/herself. Try to look forward to what might happen if you’re not careful around the house. Leaving a toy on the floor could very well lead to your child stumbling over and hitting his or her head directly on the floor.

WHAT TO DO: Take a look around your house and try to evaluate every corner and every area. What could be a potential danger for your child? Here are some points you could use to make your house safer for your child:

  • Put sleeves on doorknobs to keep toddlers away from dangerous areas
  • Turn down temperature on your water heater to at most 120 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Secure curtain cords or any cords or strings that are carelessly within your children’s reach
  • Put childproof latches on cabinet doors and drawers
  • Place baby gates at the top and bottom of the stairway
  • Fence in your swimming pool and other dangerous areas
  • Cover sharp furniture and edges with foam tape and corner protectors
  • Tape down loose rugs and electrical cords
  • Cover unused outlets with plastic outlet plugs
  • Take away any protruding bolts or loose nuts and put on non-slip coating on slippery floors
  • Replace hard swing sets or play toys with soft material
  • Provide soft ground cover around play equipment and soften ground on play areas

These are just some of the many safety measures you can employ in and out your house. Regarding escape plans in cases of emergencies like fire or gas leak, it is important that your child understands what to do.

WHAT TO DO: Go over you escape plane with the whole family and make your child remember what he has to do in case trouble comes up. Be specific and detailed with your emergency plans. It would also be great if you have a drill on what to do. Make sure that emergency contact numbers are right next to your phone. You can also have your children memorize the emergency numbers just in case. You should also keep exits easy for your children. Keep escape ladders near second-story emergency exits, too.

http://www.expertarticles.com/article/Home-Family/Children/Home-Safety-for-Your-Children.html

How To Lose Weight - And Keep It Off

The best way to lose weight is about living a healthier life than what you may be living now. You will need a complete lifestyle change and you will need to be committed. The body loses about 2 pounds a week optimally and that's 2 pounds that stay off. When you drop at a faster rate your body could potentially rebound and either plateau your weight loss or put extra weight on. If you are committed then you should reach your goal.

There are 5 most important things that must go together in any workout program. These are part of changing your complete lifestyle to one that is healthier. They also help you to naturally optimize your metabolism. The faster your metabolism the better your body uses your food for energy, instead of storing it as fat.
I put them in the order of importance.

1. Eat more. Yes eat more. More meals that is. It is best to eat a small meal every 3-4 hours. The meal should be just large enough to where you are not hungry, as opposed to eating you are full. There is a difference, think of it as no bigger than the size of your two fists put together. Eating 1 or 2 meals a day slows your metabolism down. You should have at least 4-6 meals a day. For most a ratio of carbs-proteins-fats should be 50%-25%-25% is good, but each person is unique.

2. Drink more water. Most of us don't have enough water. This means our bodies are dehydrated. Two things a dehydrated body has trouble doing, one is releasing water. In order to lose fat you must be able to release water, because fat cells in your body are composed of mostly water. A dehydrated body cannot build very well. Muscle tone indicates a constant building state in your body. If your body isn't building that means it is losing muscle and it's never good to lose muscle that slows your metabolism and makes you look flabby.

3. Maintain a balanced workout regimen of cardio and resistance (weights). Cardio is good for fat burning and it's easy to do and to progress yourself. Resistance is a little harder because it's not as easy to know what to do. If weights aren't your thing then try Yoga or Pilates. Both are very effective resistance and core training and can help you maintain lean muscle and increase your overall metabolism.

4. Smart supplementation of your diet is your best solution to making sure you get the nutrients your food doesn't give you. A daily multivitamin will suffice in most cases, and if you don't like pills they sell it in liquid form. Plus cleanses, as well as detox formulas are awesome for eliminating toxins we take into our bodies without knowing.

5. Sleep is a very important part of any healthy lifestyle regimen. When we sleep our bodies and minds refresh themselves and allow us to function at an optimal level. Sleeping allows muscles to rebuild themselves and when they do that, it speeds your metabolism.

You may ask why I gave you this long list instead of just telling you what exercises to do. The reason is if you think that exercising is all you need then you are mislead. If exercising is all we needed to look and feel great then everybody who works out at the gym would have great bodies and be healthy. If you have been to a gym before you know its not true.

About the author of How To Lose Weight - And Keep It Off

Chris Navi - Find answers for losing weight at http://www.jtfit.com/ Also check out the daily tips blog at http://www.jtfitblog.com
source: http://www.article-tips.com/fitness/how-to-lose-weight/1427

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Online Dating - Have Fun, Be Smart, Be Safe or Be Sorry

The Internet is still pretty safe overall, even for seniors, according to research of various Internet safety sites who estimated a 90 – 97 percent “terrific” Internet. People are chatting with one another, making cyber-dates. However, there are some general rules of Internet etiquette or “netiquette” and some precautions to take for possible dangers lurking there. Here are some pointers compiled from several websites experienced in cyber-dating techniques.

SAFETY TIPS

1. Do Not Give Out Personal Information - Whether it’s via email, online chat rooms, message boards, in your personal ad, etc., do not disclose your personal information like your complete name, address, telephone number, work place, etc. Use a third party email address instead of one with your domain or work domain, that is easily traceable. For example, instead of using joe@seniortimes.com , set up an email account like joe@yahoo.com or joe@hotmail.com (search “free email accounts” for places like this). Preferred dating sites offer email forwarding so that members do not see private information.

2. Do Not Lie - Be up front about your age and appearance. Better to not be caught in lies later on or lead someone on falsely.

3. Be Tactful and Leary - Do not believe everything you read in posts, in emails or in general, online. You could be chatting with a child or someone faking their sexual orientation. The odds are that you will probably encounter someone a tad “undesirable” from time to time, so try to use appropriate replies, using tact, or ignore the encounter, if it suits the situation.

4. Use Caution in Sharing Images - Whenever you think about sharing a digital photo online, keep in mind that it may be possible for thousands to see it on the Internet, not just one person. Plus your photo can be copied, altered with different software out there today and posted elsewhere. If you do use your image, send one that shows you with a warm smile, not a frown.

5. Ask if Unsure - Go slow like the tortoise in the race with the hare and ask questions if you are unsure how to proceed in your contact and communications. Contact the site owner or webmaster (check for contact info when you register), ask trusted friends for helpful resources, check with local authorities. Remember that old adage, “Better safe than sorry!”

6. Be careful if you decide to meet for the first date. Remember there is safety in numbers, so meet in a public place with other friends around.

7. Keep copies of communications in a file so that you can show friends or the law in case your meeting or continued contact takes a bad turn. And do report any problems and cooperate with authorities. They can get information from your computer and communications to aid in tracking down culprits in some cases. Don’t try to take matters into your own hands and stalk the culprit yourself. Be safe.

8. Let men instigate online and offline relationships. Men still like to pursue. Online studies show that this has proven safer, too, especially with Internet dating. Men should make the first email move. And women should NOT reply to men’s ads; let the men pursue. (Sorry guys!)

9. So that you don’t appear anxious or desperate or both, generally wait for a day or 24-hour period before replying. And forget about replying on weekend and holidays, at least at first, and being available via instant messaging. This is especially important for women (double standards are still around and even exist in the Internet dating scene) – you want to “appear” socially active, confident – blah, blah, blah, even if you are just home washing your hair.

10. Don’t date someone who is already married to someone else – even if that person says he or she is getting a divorce. Let the divorce happen first. Otherwise things could get ugly. And you may even have to face the spouse / ex-spouse and children down the road. So think of others, too, when even considering someone who is not single.

11. If after several emails or letters you decide to talk on the phone, keep the first call short, around 10 minutes. Plan to have to “rush” off. Your goal is to hear the person’s voice and talk a short while only, not seeming over anxious.

12. Some gents do complain that the ladies do not reply to their emails. So ladies, reply! At least say, “No, thank you.”

13. Check their background. Most any company can run a name through a criminal database. But wouldn’t you have more confidence in the background check if it was done by a Licensed Private Investigator? PI’s are trained to check for the obvious, but to also look for the concealed evidence that often reveals the true nature of an individual. Misspelled names, altered dates of birth, incorrect social security numbers, maiden and/or alias names are just a few of the areas that PI’s regularly check, but most background check companies never even consider.

For less than the price of hamburgers and a movie, you can have piece of mind. Choose from a basic criminal check to a complete comprehensive background report. Don’t take chances.


NETIQUETTE

Here are some general guidelines for your online communications.

• Use respectful tones and wording. Swear words and hurtful remarks are not good for anyone. If someone presses you, for example, to share confidential information that you shouldn’t, just say, “No” and tell the site monitors / webmaster of the forum, chat room or online dating site, if necessary.

• Look for dating and other resource websites that list street addresses instead of post office boxes or nothing at all. Ask friends for referrals.

• Try to avoid stretching the truth about your accomplishments, job title, etc. Then if a relationship develops, things will run much smoother.

• Try to avoid many 1-word replies and 1-sentence communications.
Take some time to develop your thoughts and share in your paragraphs. In short, be a friend.

• Using all capital letters mean “SHOUTING” and is difficult to read at any length.

Take care, be smart, be safe and have fun with your cyber-dating!
source: http://www.expertarticles.com/article/Culture-Society/Dating/Online-Dating-Have-Fun-Be-Smart-Be-Safe-or-Be-Sorry.html

Buy A Franchise Or Start A Business?

A franchise business is definitely the safer opportunity according to US Department of Commerce figures. This study carried out over 7 years revealed that after seven years, over 90% of new franchises are still in business, as compared to only 20% of individual new start-up businesses.

Most people, who do start a business by themselves, end up failing and losing a lot of money. I now that this is a sad fact, but it's true!

If you start a business on your own, you have to make all the decisions regarding location, layout of premises and find and vet all suppliers.

With a franchise business, the franchisor will advice you on all the above. In fact, you might even find that you are told where to locate your business, who your suppliers are and have some choice in pre designed layouts.

A franchise business provides you with the consistency and quality throughout the franchisors territory. This leads to higher levels of customer satisfaction. The franchisor provides full training and support in running the business. If a site is required, the franchisor will assist the franchisee in selecting a site that fulfils the demographic requirements of the product.

A business start up has to learn from trials and errors until they hit on a formula that works. They have no training or support in managing their business opportunity. If any thing does go wrong, and in most businesses, it does, then they have no one to turn to for advice. The advantage they have is that there is no one looking over their back, telling them what to do and how to run their business.

The franchisee benefits from national marketing which is spread out amongst all the franchisees, enhancing the economies of scale. New products can tested in certain territories before they are rolled out nationally.

A new business will have to trail any new products with their own capital and take the full brunt if the experiment fails!

The relationship between a franchisee and a franchisor is well balanced. Both parties need each other to survive and create a profit. Ongoing support and training is usually available for franchisees who are struggling. Due to the higher success rate, banks are inclined to lend a higher percentage of start up costs in a franchise business then they are to an independent start up. They are also more likely to give extra leeway when more funds are required.

If you have decided to go down the franchising route then it is important that you choose a franchise that is right for you. Don't just go for the opportunity that will make you the most money, instead, choose a business niche that you will enjoy.

Decide how much capital you have to invest, and then choose the franchise opportunity that best fits your lifestyle. Decide how many hours you want to work and how many employees you are capable of handling.

Once you have made up your mind to buy a franchise, always have a contingency fund as there are always unexpected costs that arise in the initial years of running a business.

If you decide to go it alone, make sure you speak to other people running the same type of business in other parts of the country and learn from their experience. You will find other businesses in the same field as you more then happy to part with their experience once they realise that you are not going to compete in their territory.

Make sure that you take professional advice before deciding to follow the franchising route or starting a business on your own.

About the author of Buy A Franchise Or Start A Business?

Naz Daud is the founder of CityLocal.co.uk Business Franchises and UK Business Directory Business Franchise Opportunity
source: http://www.article-tips.com/business/buy-a-franchise-or/1738

Can You Start a Successful Diet

It's no secret that the key to a healthy life is an adequately balanced diet. Keeping an unhealthy, unbalanced diet leads to several disorders, the most frequent of which is obesity.

As you may know if you already tried one or more diets, the first couple of weeks are the hardest; starting a new diet with the wrong foot may not only be useless, but it may also lead you to eat even worse than before. Here are some tips that will help you start a new diet and successfully keep following it.

Don't even try a new diet without asking a professional: Although some diets are often advertised as very effective and very fast ways to lose weight, keep in mind that every body is different from each other, and consequently so are their needs. Always ask your nutrition professional about which diet suits you best, for he/she will always look for your wellness above all. After checking certain things like your lifestyle, your ideal desired weight and the overall health status of your body, he will be able to carefully plan a step by step diet for you, based on your body's actual needs.

If you think a diet plan you saw somewhere may be useful, show it to a professional and ask him to make any changes necessary to make it fit you. For instance, if you see "Angelina Jolie's new amazing diet" on a magazine and you think it may be useful for you, get a professional to evaluate it first. Chances are that the perfect diet for some people is harmful for others. Besides, a diet that is too hard will end up frustrating you, and a diet that is too easy will be quite ineffective.

Complement your diet with physical activity: Unless you have a very physically active lifestyle, obesity is not the effect of consuming an excessive amount of lipids, but of accumulating them. The key is to burn that fat as well as reducing its consumption: both must be done together. The best way to get rid of that excess of undesired fat is to complement a healthy diet with everyday exercising. A daily walk, playing a sport or doing aerobics may be suitable companions for your diet. But, again, ask your physician or professional personal trainer, he will tell you the right amount of physical effort your body can sustain, and set a plan to make it fun and useful for you.

Avoid temptations: When you have just started on a diet, it may be hard to follow it. That is because your body is used to eat disorderly, and it takes some time to get rid of that habit. It is a good thing to keep all that forbidden food out of your fridge, at least until your body gets used to your new eating habits and you are fully confident in being able to have access to that food and yet not take it. Let's be realistic; it is way harder to get on a diet if you have that piece of chocolate cake in your kitchen!

Get busy: Try to find a hobby or activity that keeps your mind away from food, especially at the beginning of a diet. Reading is a good activity to accomplish this, because it's fun, useful and a great way to get the time flying until dinner time.

About the author of Can You Start a Successful Diet

Zach Thompson is a Glyconutrients Representative. His clients range from actresses to pro athletes. You can get a free Glyconutrients consultation by visiting Glyconutrients. Clinical studies have shown that glyconutrients can help balance your immune system.
source: http://www.article-tips.com/fitness/can-you-start-a/891

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Choosing the Right Weight Loss Program

With the new year usually comes new promises to be fit and lose weight. So the pantry is cleared of junk, the gym membership is renewed, and those worn jogging shoes are replaced with the latest in running technology, for added spring to your step. You are determined that this is the year things are going to change for the better, and keeping that positive attitude is one way to see your goals to success.

Yet, different bodies require different things in order to successfully lose weight. While regular diet and exercise is good for everyone, the methods may not necessarily be applied the same way for everybody. Some people may benefit more from weight lifting than aerobics, and vice-versa. In terms of nutrition, what may be considered a healthy diet for one person may actually hinder another from losing weight!

When you decide to begin a weight loss program, whether as part of a New Year's resolution or for any season, it is important to know all the facts before you begin. The root of this knowledge starts with your own body. If you go into an exercise or diet program unarmed, chances are you may do more damage than good. As a result, you may become frustrated and quit.

That does not have to happen. By listening to your body and knowing what works and what does not, you can craft a diet and exercise program guaranteed to take off the pounds.

Diet

Do you have any known allergies or other bad reactions to certain foods? Do you have diabetes or any other ailments that may be affected by what you eat? Before you decide to give up dairy or meat, or dive into an all-protein regimen, find out first what your body can handle. Let your doctor suggest a meal plan best suited to your body, that what you eat is burned as energy and not stored as fat.

Exercise

Are you prone to injury? Do you suffer any ailments that may prohibit you from doing certain exercises? Do you take time to stretch your muscles before engaging in any strenuous activity? Believe it or not, exercising improperly can impede weight loss and result not only in physical pain but emotional as well. In today's fast-paced world, we are often led to believe that if results are not immediate, we have failed. Where weight loss is concerned, there is no overnight solution. To exercise means to train your body to a healthier lifestyle, and as you learn to move properly and regularly you will see the weight disappear.

Consult with your doctor before embarking on any type of exercise, find out what your body can do. If you are unable to afford a gym membership, you can still get the exercise you need. Look for free courses at your local community center, or just take a walk in the park, it will do wonders for you and your circulation.

Make wise choices before you begin your resolutions to better health. Losing weight doesn't have to be a chore. If you listen to the experts, and your own body, the results will be well worth the wait.
source: http://www.article-tips.com/fitness/choosing-the-right-weight/519

Monday, October 20, 2008

Our Children's Future

We worry about our kids: their well-being and happy future are our main concerns in life. We long for them to be content and successful at whatever they choose to do. We hope that we’ll be able to provide them with the same kind of help that many of us have received from our own parents. But how can we ensure that we’re doing everything in our power to make all of this come to pass?

We can, but there’s a process. First, take a few steps back and consider what we truly want for our kids. For example, when I asked a client of mine recently to think carefully of the three things she wished for her children, who range from 16 to 9 years of age, she responded “I want them to be loving, compassionate and responsible adults.” There was no mention of rich, famous or powerful. This mother really got to the root of what she knew to be the crucial characteristics necessary for her children to live happy and fulfilling lives.

Once we have this kind of clarity about the things we really want for our kids, we can then move forward towards instilling those traits in them. But first we must be completely clear. Here what to do:

1. Make a list of what you want for your kids. Be sure your list is unselfishly motivated! Financial security, love, happiness…even for them to be blessed with kids just like them! That’s what my Mother wished for me and it came true.

Once you have come up with a list of perhaps ten items, start from the top and compare the first two items. Which is most important? Take that choice and compare it to the next item on the list. Again, which is most important? Continue doing this until you have gone through your list and the item that remains is your number one choice.

Repeat the process for your number two, three, four and five choices. This is a list of the five most important things that you want for your kids. Having prioritized, now you can do your best to assist in creating a wonderful future for your kids.

2. Important rule: You are not making decisions about your children’s personal future. That’s their responsibility and their right to determine. However, as a parent, you are certainly able to influence their future.

3. As an example, let’s say that Financial Security is on your list. Do you know what it takes to create financial security? Think of people who have managed to achieve financial security on their own. What traits do they share? Perhaps you determine that responsibility is one of those traits.

How do you create responsibility? What do you know to be true about responsible adults? My own personal opinion is that these adults were taught early on about responsibility through actual experience. For instance, most of them probably had specific chores they did at home. Several probably worked in the summers. Many of them may have learned early on to take responsibility for their own lives and not place blame on others nor make excuses. At an appropriate age, the majority were undoubtedly taught to make decisions on their own and suffer the consequences. They learned not by being told what to do but in the actual doing.

Responsibility, coupled with other strong traits you might identify, will assist your kids in taking charge of their lives.

Be forewarned: It is so much easier to just let them do what they want versus being a watchdog. Teaching a child responsibility, or anything else for that matter, takes patience, determination and commitment.

4. Be a role model. Our kids model themselves after their childhood experiences and especially as they saw their parents. As much as we said we would never be like our own parents, how many of us can see our parents in ourselves? If you want your son or daughter to be responsible, be responsible. By being a true and consistent role model, you can have the most profound influence on your children.

5. Who is this child? I love the story a friend told me recently. Her son in New York City had a visitor, a young woman in her third year of college. After spending a week together, the student admitted that her major, biology, was not what she wanted to pursue but rather what her Mother suggested. She wanted to be a fashion stylist! How could her Mother have missed that?

Do you know what excites your kid? What moves them? What they love to do? Who they really are at their core? Honoring them for who and what they truly are is the greatest gift you can give your son or daughter. Take the time to connect with them and really listen. Listen on a level where you really are hearing them.

6. Praise the positive and attempt to minimize the negative. Of course you establish consequences for unacceptable behavior. But positive reinforcement is a much more powerful tool. It’s Pavlovian conditioning and it works.

7. I love this quote: “Expectations are predetermined resentments.” Don’t set yourself up for disappointment. If you are looking for fulfillment, look to yourself, not to your children. Don’t attempt to live vicariously through them. It will only end in unhappiness for everyone involved.

8. Try to remember what really ticked you off about your own parents when you were their age. Not that it was valid. Remember we were just kids and reacted in a childish manner much of the time. But it will help to empathize with how your own children are feeling, to understand their frustrations and to be able to communicate in a more effectual way.

Almost all of us find our way in life but it is so much easier if we have the necessary tools. You know now what you wish your parents had said or done back when. Break the chain! You are the most important person in your child’s life; you can provide those tools. That is how we ensure that their future is bright.

source: http://www.expertarticles.com/article/Home-Family/Children/Our-Children-s-Future.html

Sunday, October 19, 2008

5 Ways to Make Money Online with a Website

There are many ways to make money online and the best way for you is to simply be creative with your skills, knowledge, and abilities. However, the following five options are powerful ways to make money online with a website and definite something you should consider.

#1 Knowledge
You can always sell your knowledge, which many times is the best way if you are an “expert” of any type or subject matter. People are looking for your knowledge and input, regardless if it is self taught, learned in college, or wherever. People are always looking for answers online, so if you sell your knowledge you can simply make money from what you know.

#2 Affiliate Programs
Become an affiliate for products based on your website theme and then simply promote these programs where you earn money from referrals. It is easier than it sounds and only takes you creating a website full of rich content.

#3 Hard Goods
Selling hard goods is a traditional way of making money and it transfers to the online forum as well. No matter what hard goods you have to sell you can certainly find a buyer online. Create a website that focuses on your goods, have a good shipping plan in place, and then start selling online.

#4 E-books
Selling e-books, articles, and other written materials is also a powerful way to make money online and if you are good at writing it is certainly something you should consider. You can have your own website selling pre-written topics or else you can also write on demand, whatever works best for you and your web business.

#5 Auction Goods
Auction web sites are also very powerful ways to make money. The reason for this is you can sell a wide variety of products, do not necessarily need your own website although it helps, and can change your products from time to time as you need to. Many people enjoy working and selling via auction sites because any number of things can be sold from old personal items to new products as well.

The best way for you to make money online is for you to do something that you like and enjoy. When you do some thing you like and enjoy you will be able to commit yourself to doing it fulltime. The reason for this is working online can be difficult at times and if you do not enjoy it then it will be difficult for you to be successful making money via your website. by: Michael Turner

5 keys to making money online

Would you believe there are tens of thousands of people who have found ways to make money online? Not only that, but their incomes are significant and growing, due to little competition and low cost of entry. If I can do it, then there is no reason why you can't. You can literally begin making money right away.


There are many, many, opportunities online, but here are the 5 factors you really need to consider, to guarantee your success:

1. Set your goals.
As with any business you need to set goals. Goals help you visualize where you want to go, and keep you motivated when you get up in the morning. You goal may be to earn $500 or $10000 a month, it may be to take that dream vacation, or it may be to give up your job. These are all great goals. It is imperative that you write them down and reread them often. You need a short term goal - e.g monthly goal, to keep you motivated from day to day and a longer term goal 1-2 years - to keep you on track and prevent you from chucking it in. I am confident that if you adopt a positive attitude and embrace your goals then you will soon be making money online.

2. Take time to research.
As I alluded to earlier there are many people making money online - and there are thousands of different businesses that you can try. The internet is a mine field of information and “making money online” opportunities are not difficult to find. However you will need to decipher the genuine opportunities from the scams. Many online promises are just methods to extract money from you. Some do's and don'ts

DON'T fall for the “get rich quick schemes” that promise huge returns in record time
DO try and email or telephone for more information
DO search online for feedback on the opportunity e.g. try name of opportunity + scam
DON'T part with money without consulting a friend you can trust and/or sleeping on it.

3. Find something that you like.
You're the boss now - so do yourself a favor and choose something you enjoy. This will greatly enhance your chances of success. A few things to consider:
Do you enjoy writing?
Do you enjoy talking to people?
Do you enjoy working on the computer?
Do you have a flair for sales?
Are there particular things that you are passionate about e.g sports, music?
Do you want to be contactable 24x7?
Do you want to have flexible/fixed hours?
Personally I like to work on my computer on my own time and my choice of internet business matches this. Find out what suits you, and you can weed out the business ventures which are not for you. Don't settle for second best - choose something you are comfortable with.

4. Find something worth your while.
While it is a good idea to avoid the sales pitch that promises the sun, moon, and stars; it is also important that you don't take the safe option - that guarantees $5 an hour for sending emails, filling our surveys, or licking stamps. These amount to you underselling yourself, because the opportunities of making money on the internet are so much greater. Look for systems which offer a good monthly return for a few hours work a day - if you find something with a residual income all the better.

5. Anything for an easier life!
One of my motivations for venturing into internet marketing was to create an easier life for myself. As I sat in my day job I used to think - “There must be easier ways to make money” - and there are! Earning a living online means that you have the luxury of working from home and choosing your own hours. It is important that you can exploit these perks, by being able to take time off, take extra vacations and spend more time with your family. You need to avoid the 40-50 hours a week for the sake of your sanity.

You have taken the first step by reading this article - you now just need to act upon it. I wish you the very best in your online endeavors.

by: Keith Kingston
About the author:
Keith Kingston is a highly successful affiliate marketer who is dying to share the methods he uses with you. Find out today about his guaranteed way to make money online at
http://www.earnmoremoneyonline.com

Friday, October 17, 2008

Tips to Choose a Niche Topic for your Blog

Are You Interested in the Topic?

A friend of mine explained it this way recently:

“Probably the best place to start thinking about what your blog should be about is to consider what YOU are about.”

Perhaps that’s a slightly awkward way of saying start by identifying your own interests, passions and energy levels for topics. While it might be tempting to start blogs based on what other people are interested in or what makes commercial sense there is little logic in starting a blog on a topic that you have no interest in. There are two main reasons for this.

Firstly if you want to grow a popular and well respected blog it can take considerable time and you’ll be needing to take a long term approach to building it up. As a result it’s well worth asking yourself ‘can I see myself still writing on this topic in 12 months time?’ If you can’t I’d suggest finding another topic.

The second reason is that you readers will quickly discern if you are passionate about your topic or not. Blogs that are dry and passionless don’t tend to grow - it makes sense really as no one wants to read something that the author doesn’t really believe in.


Is the Topic Popular?

While the blogger’s interest is important it’s not enough on it’s own to build a popular blog. Another crucial ingredient is that people WANT to read information on the topic you’re writing on. The law of Supply and Demand is what most business students are taught in their first semester of of studying economics and it comes into play here also. You might be interested in your topic but unless others are also you’ll always have an uphill battle in building a highly read blog.

Of course keep in mind that you are writing in a medium with a global audience of many millions and as a result you don’t need a topic that everyone is searching, just one that some people are searching for because even it’s something that even a small percentage of people have an active interest in it can be a lucrative area.

Is the Topic one that is growing or shrinking?

Also keep in mind that popular topics change over time. Obviously it’s great to get on a topic before it becomes big rather than when it’s on the decline. This is not easy to do of course but predict the next big thing that people will be searching for and you could be onto a winner.

Get in the habit of being on the lookout for what people are into. I constantly ask myself ‘what will people be searching the web for in 6 to 12 months?’

Keep an eye on what people are into and what the latest trends are. Do this online but also keep an eye on TV, magazines, the papers and even the conversations you have with friends.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Earn Money Online-Without Any Investment

You can Earn Money Online without Any Investment or without any time limit. We can use internet earn with fun just give a little time inside other work. There is no need to stop any other work. We can earn with or without our daily routine. Here I tell you the complete method for online earning.

First Method »»»
Earn money with "Bux-to". You can earn through bux-to by clicking on ads on bux-to site. First you need to open an account at website:"Bux-to" .
Bux.to is a new innovative, international and FREE English based service that allows advertisers to reach thousands of potential customers by displaying their ad on our, "Surf Ads"page. A exact calculated percentage of all advertising revenue is paid to our members. Bux.to makes money via advertising, other advertising sources throughout the website as well as earning through direct sponsorship of other Bux.to members, just like a regular member does.

How you make money »
You view websites in 30 second sessions via the "Surf Ads" page. Once the 30 seconds is up, you'll either get a green tick sign or a red 'X'. The green tick sign means you've earned $0.01 and as premium member $0.0125 for the visit and the 'X' means you have not earned money for the visit. You'll get red X's when you have more than one website from the "Surf Ads" page open. When this happens, you get no credit.
A valuable benefit to both the members and the advertisers is the repeat exposure that the advertiser gets. Whenever you click and view a website, you can visit that website again in 24 hours as long as the visit cap hasn't been reached. That's right! After 24 hours you can click and view the website again. This gives the advertiser optimal exposure by using "repeat advertising" and it further increases the members earning potential.
Earnings example (based on current averages) »
» You click 10 ads per day = $0.10
» 20 referrals click 10 ads per day = $2.00
» Your daily earnings = $2.10
» Your weekly earnings = $14.70
» Your monthly earnings = $63.00

How do get paid »
If you have at least $10.00 accumulated, you can click on your account balance within your stats area and it will submit your request. Currently, only make payments via "AlertPay". They will soon be using other methods of payment.
AlertPay is the payment processing solution that we use to pay members. Your AlertPay address is the e-mail address you use to register with AlertPay. You can get a free AlertPay account at "http://alertpay.com".

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Love doesn't cost a thing

Online dating has become the most effective is presented to a large number of people. Meeting on the Internet has many benefits. Anything that applies to the Internet, applies to meetings online. Be sure to check the dating sites regularly, because someone could force you have signed up since the last visit in order not to miss.

It is so important to choose the right dating service. Because a good dating service will not only give you very comfortable and pleasant experience, it would increase the chances of success in your search for the perfect mate.

Vagr.com this site is a resource for free Online Dating Services. We examined all major dating services targeted to the American people, each of matrimonial agencies that we present a large database simple and offer the best security and privacy for members. They also state of the art technology for compatibility and an excellent search feature.
We invite you to read all the comments on this site and make your own decision. Try it, it's free. We wish you the best!

If you're bored of regular dating or you've heard about this thing called dating site and you are curious to try it, why not? The meetings on Internet communities are growing at the same time that the number of suppliers ready to help you promote your profile.

90% of people find accents sexy. You need to choose among the many websites which provide dating and personal.

Some dating sites personally screen members. You will get more answers from other members of your dating service online if you provide a photograph.

Be careful anonymity of the Internet. Meeting is fast, you can have as much privacy as you want and it is cheap. Remember to be cautious because anyone with Internet access has access to the dating Web sites online.

Internet users will find they need to do much research before using dating sites online.

The Best Dating Sites online offer various schemes, and they can be selected by users as they please. Sites meeting will be evaluated on various sites and comments will be given by experts and users. They will be very useful for people who are new to dating sites.

It is essential to explore comments on the best sites online meeting before signing. Sites online meeting will be based on different criteria. This will include the services they offer, what benefits and users will emerge from these sites. Most of the best dating sites online are those that offer free services completely, and those that allow users worldwide to register at the sites.

If you're looking for a good site, you must make sure you get a free service for a lifetime if the site is free.

Ultimate dating of tools and features are offered vagr.com best of all its All Free.

Those who seek the best dating sites online, because he knows they are the best when they see the rankings on search engines. These sites will ultimately have too much traffic, and will be visible on all sites reviewed. The best sites online meeting will also be seen on many review sites, and they have been explored by experts. Users will also give comments on the sites, and other suggestions May take forums and other sources.

There should be no hidden fees with free Online Dating Sites.

Hagop Bekian with vagr.com, a Top Dating Site, free romance and dating site that provides the Online Dating Services and Couples dating services at free of cost.