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Blog
01.28.10 Four Web Sites to Get Geeked About Posted under: Lifestyle Posted by: Will.i.x
coupons.com
Basically, there are hunreds of coupons you can search for on everything from lotion to pet care. So skip the newspaper clipping and instead click, search & print and you’re ready for a budget-friendly trip to the store.
extrabux.com
Truth: You’re going to shop from time to time. False: There’s no good way to save on the stuff you really want. With extrabux.com you can earn cash back on your purchases. Extrabux lets you search for a particular product from different stores, and when you buy that product, they receive a sales commision from the retailer that they then pass [the majority of it] on to you. Extrabux is comparison shopping with coupons and cash back discounts, so you’re sure to find the best price on the web.
Mint.com
Interested in a free, effortless way to manage your money? Wake up and smell the coffee; mint.com could be the web site for you. Mint automatically downloads and categorizes all of your transactions every day so you can see what you’re spending and where you’re spending it 24/7. It will even monitor your investments, income and credit cards and offer advice on better ways to save your money based on the accounts you have.
responsibletravel.com
responsibletravel.com is the world’s leading travel agent fo, well, responsible travel. With thousands of great trips benefitting different countries, people, animals and the environment, you should have no trouble finding one to bring out the eco-tourist in you.
No Comments »01.22.10 Just Like A Wardrobe Posted under: Investing Posted by: Will.i.x
Like a wardrobe, figuring out what financial portfolio looks best for you takes time, money and experience. Financial portfolios are also unique, in that not every outfit works for every body. One thing is for sure, just like a great outfit, a great financial portfolio can really pay off.
A few guidelines:
1. Set aside some money. You don’t want to put all your eggs in one basket. Investing isn’t risk-free, so it’s good have a stash to use for this particular financial vehicle (not the money you have to pay rent with next month).
2. Research. Know the difference between different investment vehicles, i.e. savings certificates, IRAs, stocks, bonds, money market accounts, etc. Some are higher risk than others, so you want to make sure you determine the best place to invest your money depending on the risk factor you’re willing to accept.
3. Get Started. There are primarily three ways people begin investing: through a full-service broker, a discount broker or through a financial institution. Here at Georgia’s Own Credit Union, we offer investment services for our members. For more information on that last option, contact Thad Guyton at 1-800-533-2062.
01.19.10 Why you, why now? Posted under: Investing, Money Management, Saving Posted by: Will.i.x
The million dollar question is why you, why now? Why worry about money and saving and finances? You’re young, you’ve got your whole life ahead of you and plenty of time later to save and start investing in your financial future, right? Wrong.
The truth is, the sooner you start investing and saving, the better your accounts will look down the road. And let’s face it, it wouldn’t hurt to learn a little about APRs, loans, lines of credit and things like that because whether you are 16 or 26, soon enough you’ll be buying a car or a house or getting a credit card or looking to rent.
So…why you, why now? Because your financial future depends on it. The bottom line is that when it comes to your money, ignorance is not bliss…it’s financial suicide.
No Comments »01.07.10 Shape Up (Buttercup)-Conquer the Most Popular New Year’s Resolution Posted under: Lifestyle Posted by: Will.i.x
Who needs a gym, anyway? All the who’s who, see and be seen, ‘my biceps are bigger than his biceps,’ ‘oh he’s looking at me, one more crunch…’ is enough to make anyone want to shy away from a gym. Not to mention the outrageous costs associated with membership! As you may have noticed, New Years is just around the corner, and since getting in shape is the most common New Year’s resolution, what better time to talk about getting fit and doing it on a budget. Get prepped with these tips so come January, you’re ready to conquer you fitness resolution!
Get Outdoors
Who needs a gym when you’ve got the great outdoors (my favorite workout spot)? There’s hills, steps, tracks, basketball and tennis courts, and the list goes on and on. There are tons of options when it comes to working out outside. For example, find your nearest steps or stadium and run up a flight and walk down, or side-step up and run down. And, there’s not much you can do to beat a good incline, whether you run up the hill and walk down, do lunges up the hill and run down, the options are endless. Get creative and get outside!
Ditch the Routine
Routines are no fun. They get old, and then I get bored and end up quitting. Try mixing it up. Go for a run one day, and the next day focus on strength-building cardio and do four sets of 10 push-ups, 10 sit-up, 10 squats & 10 lunges for example. Or, try going to your nearest track and briskly jog for 400 meters (1 lap) followed by 25 squats, and repeat 3 times. Time yourself and do it again later to record your improvements. If you run out of ideas, don’t worry, there are great workouts online. Search the web for workout routines and include what type of workout you want to do. Whether it is cardio, leg workouts, or abs, you’ll find something on the Internet to get your creative juices flowing.
Capitalize on Cable
Many cable companies now have an On Demand channel, or something similar. If you have cable, there’s probably a workout or fitness program offered on there for free. It may be dance, step, or kickboxing, but it’s sure to get your heart rate up and get the job done.
Buy A DVD
Stop by your local Wal-Mart, Target, or similar retail store, and check out the fitness DVDs. There are lots of different options and different workouts for everybody, and even at $30 or $40, you’ll come out spending way less than you would on a month-to-month gym membership.
Update Your iPod
It’s amazing what music can do for your workout and at $0.99 each, it’s pretty doable; just add a few great songs to your iPod or mp3 player to help get you through your workout. Or remember, Christmas is right around the corner. Ask you parents or relatives for iTunes gift cards and use them to update your playlists. Ten 3 minute songs will get you through a 30 minute workout for only $10! Pretty good deal, right?
Knock it Out in the A.M.
Get your day started off right. The morning is a great time for a workout. It’s still cool outside, it jumpstarts your metabolism, and you immediately start burning fat because there’s no food or carbs to burn through first. It may be hard not to hit the snooze button, but at the end of a work or school day when you’re tired, you’ll be glad you got the workout out of the way. Don’t worry though if you don’t have time in the mornings, or if mornings just aren’t your thing. Just make sure you get a workout in at some point during the day at least 4 or 5 days a week. And if you’re really busy, just remember doing some sort of physical activity for 15 minutes is better than doing nothing at all.
Be Resourceful
Instead of the free weights and machines that you would find at a gym, be resourceful and use common items around your home. For example, hold a book in each hand for curls, or grab two soup cans and do lunges or use them for shoulder presses. Stand on the edge of stairs or a phone book and work out your calf muscles with calf raises. You can even loop a towel around a pole or other sturdy object, and do rows to work out your back. Again, lots of options. Keep it fun by timing yourself, recording how many reps you did, and improving on that number.
My Last Two Cents:
According to a study by the Department of Health and Human Services, only 31% of adults in the U.S. get the recommended amount of physical activity. Doing something is much better than doing nothing, and with all these great ways to get in shape without all the cost, what reason is there not to try it?!
Take Advantage of Free Online Tools
Set up a Nutrition Program:
To kick start your new routine, try thedailyplate.com. The Daily Plate is a FREE way to keep up with what you’re eating, how much you’re exercising, and it will even set up a program just for you depending on what your goals are.
Create A Personalized Workout:
Go to www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity and check out the tab that says Adding Physical Activity to Your Life to get ideas on what your workout should look like week to week. Feel free to mix it up, but it is a good starting place.
