Prairie Eco-Thrifter

How Pinterest Can Save You Money

Happy Homeowner (Staff Writer) — Tue, 22 May 2012 06:38:19 +0000

Don’t forget to enter to win an iPad 3 here at PET.

If you’re anything like me, you’ve most likely found yourself sucked into the wonderful world of Pinterest at least once. With a few clicks of your mouse, it’s easy to build boards of inspiration for countless numbers of items, interests and passions. But did you know that Pinterest is also a fantastic resource for saving money?

Whether you’re spending minutes or hours pinning photos of your favorite meals, outfits or vacation destinations, there is a wealth of money-saving knowledge floating around on those boards. As long as it’s not blatantly a sales gimmick, when you pin a photo that you love or one that inspires you to do something, make sure to check out where it’s linked to. Chances are, it may take you to a blog or website that provides plenty of money-saving advice for the exact things you’re looking for.

The next time you’re working your ways through the myriad of photos on Pinterest, keep the following money-saving ideas in mind:

Pinterest: The Ultimate Window Shopping Extravaganza

Instead of spending my hard-earned dollars on shopping trips to the mall or through random spurts of online shopping, I now curb my desire to spend simply by building boards of items I’d like to buy, have in my house and/or admire. While it’s certainly not the same as having the tangible items in my hands or experiencing the thrill of being at a dream vacation destination, I’ve found that the simple act of pinning what I like gives me the motivation to work harder, earn more and save more in order to potentially have these things in the future. What is most interesting is I usually forget about at least 80% of these “wants” after just a few minutes, thereby avoiding any actual impulse spending (which enables me to acquire what I truly desire at a later time).

DIY on a Dime

Pinterest has given me absolute loads of DIY inspiration. A self-professed DIY and Curbside Diva, I pride myself in spending very little to beautifully, sustainably and sensibly furnish and decorate my home. Some of the projects I’ve completed have included a custom shelving unit made only from plumbing pipes and hand-cut pine boards, lighting fixtures, picture frames that double as thermostat covers, pillows and even a hand-stenciled rug that resides in my bedroom that I happily walk on each day. They key to DIY bliss on Pinterest is seeking out budget-friendly projects that don’t take weeks to complete. The cheap, easy projects I choose bolster my motivation and confidence to one day tackle even larger ventures.

Style Me Pretty

Through the thousands of photos I’ve pinned (yes, perhaps I have a bit of an addiction??), I’ve honed a much better sense of style thanks to the endless amounts of wardrobe inspiration floating around on Pinterest. My strategy for finding great outfits that I can actually afford to put in my closet is to use what I find on the site simply as a source for ideas. As with most popular sites on the web, Pinterest has become a channel for online retailers, so if I were to purchase everything that I liked exactly at the price I find it, it’s safe to say that I’d quickly be broke or worse, back in credit card debt. Instead of throwing my finances out the window during my quests to become more fashionable, I’ll print out my favorite outfits or style inspirations and take them with me if I do decide to shop. Once in the store, I make sure to find discounted or cheaper alternatives to what I’ve pinned–you’d be amazed how many variations of the same type of article of clothing are available! Utilizing this system has allowed me to amass a stylish, updated wardrobe at a fraction of the suggested retail price.

Are you a fan of Pinterest? Has it helped you save money? If so, how?

Want to Travel the World for Free? Then Do This.

Miss T. (Owner and Head Writer) — Mon, 21 May 2012 06:34:11 +0000

Don’t forget to enter to win an iPad 3 here at PET.

We’ve all heard the saying that the best things in life are always free. But most people assume this rule only applies to life’s little pleasures like smelling flowers, a walk in the park, or laughing with friends. And sure, those are great, but what about those bigger pleasures, like jetting off across the world? Can you do that for free too?

Well, if not for free, then for very cheap. If you’re looking for an international experience but don’t have the cash to pay for, this article is for you. Much to many peoples disbelief, you don’t need thousands of dollars to get yourself on the road. In fact, all you need is a little originality, some guts and enthusiasm, good planning, and some ideas to get you started.

Remember, travel isn’t just for the wealthy; anyone can travel, even if they have little money to fund their trip. If you dream of travelling to far-off lands, here are 6 ways I have found to travel the world for free; Or at the very least, almost free.

House Swap

You can find several house swap sites online that put people, who are interested in house swapping, in touch with each other. Many of these sites charge a registration fee, which in some cases, is quite high. However, by using such a company, you do have some protection against being harassed by non-genuine people. You can also find home swapping opportunities on websites like Gumtree, Craigslist , Home Exchange, or Loquo.

You need to be comfortable with total strangers living in your home for this to work for you though. To help break the ice, try to get to know your prospective house swapper by exchanging emails and photos before you commit to an arrangement. It also helps to look to swap with someone in a similar lifestyle or stage of life. If you’re a young couple, you’re probably more likely to find a good fit at the apartment of another young couple than at the home of an older, retired gentleman.

House Sitting

When people go on vacation, they may not want to leave their home unattended. This is where the opportunity to house sit comes in. This is a great opportunity to live rent-free in another part of the country or across the world. There will probably be some jobs that you need to do in the house however, like weeding and watering the garden, feeding and walking the dog etc, as well as generally looking after the house so take note of this and decide if this is for you. Not everyone wants to do chores on their vacation. If this option interests you, check out websites such as housesitworld.com and caretaker.org to find house sit opportunities in the areas you want to travel. You can also talk to relatives and friends that live in other places. I have house sat for numerous family members and it has worked out great. They get away, I get away, and the house is looked after.

Get a Job

There are always job opportunities in most countries. Once you are living and working overseas, it is a simple matter to explore the surrounding area and even neighboring countries. You are being paid, so you have funds but you won’t have to pay expensive air fares to get overseas; you are already there. Some large corporations have exchange programs in which you go to work in the office in another city or country. I have had friends who have done this and have really enjoyed the experience.

Teaching jobs are available overseas, in American or UK schools that cater for the children of expats living there. These positions often come with attractive packages that include rent, health benefits and travel expenses. Engineers, accountants, electricians and builders are also among other positions that are often available overseas. This is something my husband and I are actually looking into right now. We might work overseas for year or two. I will keep you posted as to what we decide.

There are also summer camp in the US and Canada where you can work. A working holiday is a great way to see the world without dipping into your savings or running up a huge credit card bill. You basically get paid to go on vacation.

Volunteer

The opportunities for volunteering overseas are numerous. You might like to offer your work talents in third world countries, volunteer in wildlife sanctuaries that are working to protect endangered species, help build houses or community projects in poor areas, teach English or life skills to the underprivileged, join the Peace Corps or be a WWOOFer on an organic farm somewhere. Volunteering is a great way to see the world and help those less fortunate at the same time. Indulge a passion or use a talent for the good of mankind while you travel. Projects Abroad has some very detailed information about this if you want to take a read.

Travel as a Companion

There are people who need a companion to travel with them. Positions include being a nanny, guide or companion. You will usually get to travel and stay for free in return for various duties, depending on the type of position you have. A great place to start is connecting with someone at your local senior centre.

Hitch Hiking and Couch Surfing

There are lots of opportunities for free or low-cost travel. Hitchhiking is safe in many countries but check it out before you travel. Be friendly to the locals you meet and trust in your instincts to find people everywhere who are happy to offer you a meal or a bed for the night. Look for opportunities to do odd jobs, especially in the country areas, in return for a meal and a place to sleep. Check out CouchSurfing.com or Global Freeloaders to find members around the world who are prepared to give tourists a ’couch’ for the night.

As you can see there are numerous ways you can save money on travel and live your dream of exploring other cultures and lands. You don’t need to have a fat wallet to make this possible.

Need some inspiration to get you started in fulfilling this dream? Here are some memorable quotes I love:

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine
“The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.” – Samuel Johnson
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller
“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” – Miriam Beard

So, are you a travel bug like me? How have you saved on travel? Or, if your dream is to travel and you haven’t done so, what is holding you back?

7 Ways to Save Money on Dinner

YFS (Staff Writer) — Fri, 18 May 2012 06:50:15 +0000

Don’t forget to enter to win an iPad 3 here at PET.

Dinner is an important meal, and it is usually the largest one of the day. As a result, preparing dinner for the family can get expensive. If you are interested in saving money while still providing quality food for your family, you should take a look at these seven money saving tips.

Plan Ahead

You will want to plan your meals a week at a time. This means on Sunday or Monday, you take some time to sketch out what you will be cooking each night of the week.

This way you can make one shopping trip a week (or every two weeks if you can), and that will help you save money because you’re less likely to make impulse buys (because you’re in the store less often) or to overbuy (because you know what you’re cooking).

Miss T: We do this very process once every two weeks. We pick 30 minute or less recipes that we can cook during the week and we schedule them in the calendar. We write down what ingredients we need and this plans out our grocery shop. It has become a very efficient process and our wallets and health have thanked us.

Meat

Meat can get expensive, but there are ways to reduce costs and still keep the protein in your diet. For example, you can choose inexpensive cuts of meat, such as a ground beef instead of a filet. You can also go with chicken, and you can even buy whole chickens, which can be deboned, and cooked. You can even use the bones to make homemade chicken stock.

You can also try out some inexpensive fish like tilapia every once in a while.

Vegetables

When it comes to vegetables, you will want to buy things that are in season. Even though your grocery store will have just about everything all the time, some vegetable prices vary throughout the year. You can look up the vegetable seasons for your area of the country and try to buy those vegetables when you can.

If you want try canning vegetables, tomatoes are especially easy. Canned vegetables can be used when the vegetables are not available or when they are not in season (and more expensive).

Make Vegetarian Dishes

Vegetarian dishes are often less expensive than meat based dishes simply because vegetables are less expensive than meat. To cut costs, you should try to work a vegetarian dish into your dinner schedule once or twice a week.

You can make dishes like vegetable fajitas or primavera pasta. For more, great vegetarian dish ideas, check out this site – http://vegetarian.betterrecipes.com/vegetariandinnerrecipes.html

Miss T: Apart from the health benefits we have reduced our food bill by 25% or more as a result of going vegetarian.

Rice, Beans, and Pasta

These three items are staples that you can buy in bulk and add in to a number of dinner recipes. They are inexpensive and healthy, and when you buy them in bulk you can save even more money.

Tip – You will want to buy dried beans instead of canned ones because they are much less expensive. They are also lower in sodium and you can cook them in a crock pot which frees up your time.

Cut Out Soda and other Processed Drinks

Soda and other processed drinks can be expensive if you buy a lot of them. Instead, you can buy tea in bulk, including hot teas and iced tea. Also, water and milk are cheaper and healthier than soda.

Make Homemade Desserts

Instead of buying premade items, you can make desserts once a week (or more or less). You can also try making things that will last a few days like cakes or cookies so that you do not have to bake as often. Ingredients for these items are much cheaper (and even healthier) than the premade desserts.

As you can see you can greatly reduce your meal cost with a bit of planning and organization. For us it has been well worth the effort.

So, what do you do to save money on dinner?

Prairie Eco-Thrifter Was Included in Six Carnivals This Week

Miss T. (Owner and Head Writer) — Fri, 18 May 2012 06:10:53 +0000

Many thanks to Well Heeled Blog who hosted the Yakezie Carnival – My Momma Told Me Edition and included my post, Interview with Tour des Trees and the TREE Fund.

My post, Start Saving Early for Retirement: Tips for Young People Just Starting Out, was included in the Best of Money Carnival #155 hosted by Stock Market Basics as well as the Carnival of Retirement #19 hosted by Portfolio Princess and Carnival of Financial Camaraderie #33 hosted by One Smart Dollar.

Moneywise Pastor, who hosted the Festival of Frugality #337 , included Marie’s post, Using Nature’s Bounty.

Finally, my post, Start Small; Dream Big: Achieving Financial Security from Small Beginnings, was included in the Carnival of Personal Finance #361 hosted by One Cent at a Time.

The Prairie Eco-Thrifter Giveaway Extravaganza: 2nd Anniversary with an iPad 3 and over $200 Cash To Be Won Plus a Bonus Prize

Miss T. (Owner and Head Writer) — Thu, 17 May 2012 06:20:51 +0000

I am still in shock. I cannot believe I started this blog just over two years ago. I started this site as a way of meeting some new people and having some interesting conversations and it has transformed into something much more than that. The site has grown and changed so much and I owe it all to you, my readers. Thank you.

While many personal finance sites focus on things such as getting out of debt, saving for retirement, and investing, what really matters to me the most is how we can live healthy prosperous lives. Everything we do should have a purpose and be part of our “big picture” of what we want life to be. Like I state on my About page I want to ‘maximize’ my life and enjoy it as much as possible. My philosophy is to be balanced and that is why I not only focus on personal finance on this site but also discuss the other fundamentals of our existence: being healthy, living green, working hard, and giving back. Our lives are not one dimensional and we need to live in a way that honours that. By paying attention and looking after every part of our lives we can find true contentment and happiness.

This site, like life, has taken me on a journey. It has been filled with uphills, downhills, curves, and forks in the road. There are times when I have lost my motivation and wanted to just quit. There have also been times where I have found myself with a smile of joy because someone on the site commented in a way that really touched me. Like anything in life, there have been challenges and rewards on this journey.

The most enjoyable part of this whole thing though has been meeting all of you. In the last two years I have made some amazing friends whom I never would have had if it wasn’t for this site. I have also had the opportunity to become a member of one of the most amazing networks one can be a part of, the Yakezie. I have learned so much from all of you and I can’t wait to see what another year brings.

Two Years of Blogging

Here are some highlights from the last 24 months:

Top 8 Most Viewed Articles:

Why Being Rich is Overated

How to Make Your Own Clothes

How to Build A Bird Feeder from Recycled Materials

5 Ways to End World Hunger

How to Make Millions with Passive Income

Frugal Anniversary Gifts that Will Win Her Over

How to Save Hundreds of Dollars a Year on Your Water Bill

Why Donations to Charity Are Important

Top 8 Referrers:

8 Most Active Commenters:

Krant Cents

Watson Inc.

Sustainable Personal Finance

8 Most Discussed Articles:

Is Traveling Overated

5 Ways to End World Hunger

How to Save Money on Food Costs

Top 20 Foods for Brain Power

How to Make Millions with Passive Income

Why Being Rich is Overated

What Buddhism Teaches us About Personal Finance

How to Waste Less Food

I am sincerely thankful to everyone who has participated on this site and left thoughtful comments on the articles. Thank you for helping me and teaching me so many different things. You have made the last two years unforgettable.

Two Year Blogversary Giveaway!

To celebrate, I’m throwing a two-year giveaway as a thank-you to my readers; you are the main reason I have continued with this site and still share my thoughts on various subjects.

Before I get to the prizes though, lets have a shout out to my generous sponsors:

Sustainable Personal Finance

Budgeting in the Fun Stuff

Stock Trend Investing

Money Q&A

This That And the MBA

Daily Money Shot

Invest it Wisely

Happy Girls Ebay Adventures

Now on to the prizes:

Grand Prize

My awesome blogging pals Mr. & Mrs. SPF owners of the site Sustainable Personal Finance have graciously offered to co-sponsor giving away an iPad 3 , the grand prize.

Other Prizes

My sponsors collectively have put together over $200 cold hard cash to be won. In addition a couple fantastic personal finance books are also up for grabs.

Bonus Prize

Yes there is a bonus. If the following numbers are reached before the giveaway closes, everyone’s entry will be put into a second draw for a new iPod Touch. This is incentive for you all to spread the word about this site as much as possible. The iPod Touch is up for grabs if PET reaches:

2000 Readers by RSS or Email

3000 Twitter Followers

1500 Facebook Followers

300 Google Plus on the Site

Prizes and How to Enter

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Contest Entry Rules: Winning entries will be selected using Rafflecopter. Winners will be contacted by email. Winners must be 18 years of age or older at the time of winning. In the case that shipment is not possible or is prohibitively expensive, a prize of equal value will be substituted less any applicable fees. Winners will have one week to respond and to claim their prize once contacted. If their prize is not claimed, it will go on to the next winner. If you tweet, Twitter accounts must have at least 10 followers. If you link from your site, sites must be established and reputable. Successful entries will then be announced on the site. I reserve the right to reject entries that we consider fraudulent, spam, or otherwise as invalid.

Good luck!

Reader Story: It’s Never too Late to Start: Personal Finance Planning for Over-40s

Guest — Wed, 16 May 2012 06:20:38 +0000

This guest post from Jim is part of the “reader stories” feature at Prairie Eco-Thrifter. Some stories contain general advice while others are tales of how a PET reader achieved success or failure. These stories feature people from all backgrounds and levels of financial maturity and with all sorts of incomes.

If you’re like many people, you didn’t see the need to have a financial plan when you were young and just starting out. This was me, that’s for sure. I mean, I was young, life was good, things were happening; what did I need all that finance stuff for? I was doing OK!

Then life got in the way – my career took off, I got married, had a couple of kids and settled into a busy lifestyle. I was nearly forty-one before I realized that I had been coasting along, financially, and had no idea where I was headed. As for retirement; well, it was in the distant future.

Oh sure, I had a few 401Ks from different jobs I’d had through the years but I had no firm financial plan in place. I had never given any thought to how much I would need to live on in retirement, let alone develop a plan to achieve it!

Luckily, I woke up to myself and got some good advice about financial planning. It turns out that over 40s can successfully plan for retirement; it’s just much better if you start earlier. I am proof that it’s never too late too start.

It seems that many people find themselves at forty years of age without any sort of financial plan in place. Like me, when they were younger, it didn’t seem a priority and then life became busy with careers, children and juggling activities. ‘Better late than never’ is a good approach to personal finance for the over 40s.

Get Professional Advice

The best thing I could have done was to seek professional advice. There are lots of financial advisors out there who are trained in the art of financial planning, debt reduction and other financial strategies. Find one who is also experienced with helping late starters, like me.

Calculate Your Retirement Fund

The first important thing to do is calculate how much you estimate you are going to need to fund your retirement. To do this, you need the age you intend to retire, the number of years you intend to live and how much money you think you’ll need to maintain your current lifestyle each year. If you think these numbers are impossible to calculate, you’re right; so just work on averages to get started. You can adjust the figures as you go along.

Try not to get bogged down with too much detail here and don’t panic when you see the final figure. If you like, you can use one of the many free online retirement calculator programs to help you with this estimate. When you have a retirement figure, divide it by the number of years you intend to keep working and you will have the amount you need to save every year until you give up work.

Save Each Paycheck

You then have to work out how to be able to save that amount out of each pay check. You may need to look at some areas where you are over-spending; for me it was dining out too often and expensive entertainment. I found I was able to shave $50 dollars a week from these two areas alone; my financial guy said that, over the next 20 years, this would grow to around $80,000 at 4% interest! I’m looking for ways to shave even more off our spending to improve on this figure.

Adjust Your Plan

One strategy you might have to consider is to keep working after retirement age, so you have built a bigger nest egg before you retire. Even working for just an extra 3 years can make a huge difference to the cash you will have in retirement. Some people take on a second job to help fund their retirement; others do part-time work during retirement to keep some income coming in to augment their savings. Another reason for staying in the workforce longer is to delay getting Social Security. Each year you delay, the benefit goes up about 8% up to age 70.

Find Out Where You Stand Now

The next important thing to do is to work out the value of savings, investments and retirement plans you already have. These can help to fund your retirement and increase the amount of disposable cash you have during those years. Another tip I learnt – you may be losing money in fees and charges if you have multiple accounts. Get advice about consolidating them into one or two.

Search for Options

Look for the best ways to save for retirement. If you don’t participate in your employer’s retirement plan, open one now and start contributing the maximum you are allowed. The tax laws now allow workers over 50 to increase their contributions, so if this is you, find out more. Ask if your employer matches your contributions – this is free money that you need to tap into.

A big problem faced by the over 40s, as they work towards a comfortable retirement, is debt. The last thing you need after retirement is debts you are still paying off. It is important to address these now; seek professional advice about consolidation of debts, debt management and early pay out of debts, especially credit cards. Going into retirement debt-free is going to make life so much easier for you.

Look at ways you can improve your financial position if you are an empty-nester.

As your kids grow up and leave home, you might consider down-sizing your home to reduce or eliminate your mortgage. You might decide you don’t need two family-sized cars anymore. If you invest the savings, your retirement accounts will look so much healthier.

Bottom Line

The message here is – start now; don’t delay retirement planning any longer!

So, is there anyone else out there like me that started saving in their 40′s? I would love to hear your story so please share.

Reminder: This is a story from one of your fellow readers. Please be nice. Remember that this guest author isn’t a professional writer, and is just learning about money like you are. Henceforth, unduly nasty comments on readers stories will be removed or edited.

PS: If you have story to share, please submit it here.

Why Buying Green Is Not Always Eco-Friendly.

David (Staff Writer) — Tue, 15 May 2012 06:41:30 +0000

You’ve seen the ads on television, in magazines, an at the mall. “Go Green” by purchasing this reusable bag! Be more “Eco-Friendly” by picking up one of our 100% recycled-plastic doo-dads! “Love the Earth” by replacing your t-shirts with new designer-brand organic cotton ones! The greenwashing of our retail world knows no bounds, as major corporations jump on the green bandwagon and market products that most of us aren’t interested in, nevermind even need. They have assembled teams of charlatans with the goal of tricking you into buying products you don’t need just because the product is “green” – and they are very good at their jobs.

Don’t fall for it. Don’t let them get you.

If you do not need an item, you definitely don’t need a green version of it. If your bookcase or desk still works just fine for your needs, you don’t need to replace it with one made from sustainably-sourced hardwood from a local supplier. The one you have is perfectly good, doesn’t require any new materials to be harvested at all, and won’t end up in a landfill. Imagine if everyone replaced the items they already own with new eco-friendly versions. What a mess that would make, all in the name of going green!

A few years back I received a press release about a “green” mansion that some billionaire was building. Reading the specs I kept saying to myself that there is no way this house is green. A giant pool, waterfalls, a 7 car garage, a dock for a yacht, 11 bathrooms, and 15,000 square feet of living space. How in the world is that considered green? Because it has a few solar panels out back? That’s the furthest thing from green that I could possibly even imagine, yet here was this PR puppet sending out information to green bloggers in hope of getting coverage. And you know what? She got it, and not from just a few sites. Many covered it without nary a mention of greenwash or the hypocrisy of it all.

That’s frightening. And it’s not a welcome trend.

I am all-too-often hearing fellow eco-writers talk incessantly about all the swag they picked up at one of the many “green” conferences they attend each year. Pens, bags, pins, stickers, frisbees… When did they stop being environmentalists and become swag hoarders? Just because something is free does not mean one needs to take it, especially if it’s nothing needed nor useful. There is nothing green about that at all.

The word “green” has become a catchall term without much meaning anymore. “Buying Green” is even worse; just the fact that we use that phrase kind of takes away from what green used to mean. Yes, we can buy more eco-friendly products when we need them. But buying and replacing just for the sake of buying green is the complete antithesis of what the movement is all about. It’s about reducing, reusing, repurposing, recycling, and regifting – not shopping.

So before you run out and “buy green”, ask yourself 10 very important questions:

Do I even need it?
If I am replacing something I already own, is the one I have working just fine?
What will I do with the old one?
How much energy is exerted to make the “green” version?
How far away was it made?
Who made it?
How long will it last?
Am I falling for greenwashing?
Is this bringing value to my life?
And again, do I need it?

No one will ever begrudge you for buying what you need. And when you buy what you need, look for an eco-friendlier version. Need a new lightbulb? Buy a CFL or an LED bulb. Looking at new cars? Why not take a gander at a new hybrid from Toyota or Honda. Out of batteries? Pick up a set of rechargeable batteries that will last you at least 5-7 years.

We all need to shop and purchase items once in a while; it’s to be expected. But if you are buying green to replace something that doesn’t need replacing, or even worse buying something you don’t even need, you aren’t doing the planet nor the environment any good. Not all “green” is created equal.

So readers, have you replaced perfectly good items in an effort to be green? If so, what did you replace? Or, if you have gotten free stuff, how much of it have you actually used?

Reader Question: How to Stay Positive When Times are Tough

Miss T. (Owner and Head Writer) — Mon, 14 May 2012 06:21:05 +0000

This week I received a question from a reader asking how to stay positive in a bad situation. Here is what is going on:

I’m in a very difficult situation and would like to have your suggestions to be able to think positive. My father suffers from a serious cancer, and I have developed a major depression after learning the news, and right now I’m on sick leave. I have almost no social support (no friends) except members of my family. My family like me is tired because we have all been taking care of my father. I have always worked hard at school, but even then things haven’t come easy. I have never had a passion for anything that I could now rely on to try to get out of my situation. What should I do?

First off, I want to say I am sorry to hear about your father’s diagnosis. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

The impact of cancer is a tremor felt by every member of the family and it is never easy to deal with. I can only imagine what you and your family are going through.

When I have faced adversity in my life, I have found a few things that I can do that seem to provide some relief and comfort. I can only hope they will provide some solace for you. Below is what I have done:

Breathe

When we are stressed and overwhelmed our basic body functions are affected, even our breathing. The first I do when I am upset or stressed is take a few deep breaths. I find it grounds me and I feel a release. For each moment in a day when you feel like you have hit your max, stop and take 5 deep breaths.

Think about Today not Tomorrow

I find that being mindful about what is happening right now and not worrying about tomorrow helps a lot. I save a ton of energy because I only need to focus on one thing. I also am able to relieve myself of worrying about things I don’t even know for sure are going to happen. Dealing with things as they come and in the moment has been a great stress reliever for me.

Find a Positive Influence

Associate or mix around with people who can provide something of value. Avoid those who zap your energy and motivation. If you can’t avoid them, or don’t want to, learn how not to let them get you down. I find volunteering a great way to meet new people and take my mind off things. When you volunteer you are focused on doing something good and everyone around you is happy and appreciates the effort. You can’t help but go home feeling good about how you spent your time. This feeling good can transfer into others areas of your life.

Try New Things

You mentioned you don’t have any passions. Well it is time to find one. Experiencing a wide variety of life in a positive light will do wonders. Something as simple as trying a new restaurant can lead to new tastes and different sensations. It’s all about the simple pleasures of life.

Read a Book

Read about how those people who fought fear with courage and succeeded in life. Through reading, you will gain new knowledge and understanding and it will help you clear your mind and create a new perspective. It is also a great distraction for your mind.

Exercise

I find exercise really helps with my moods and emotions. When we exercise our body releases endorphines which are ‘feel good’ hormones. Not only will you feel good after exercising but you will also sleep better which is great for helping you cope and manage the day to day.

These are just a few things that I have found to help me cope and stay positive during rough times. There are many other options out there. This is just a start.

Above all else, remember this quote: “I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.” – Martha Washington

Readers, how would you try to stay positive and get through this situation? What kinds of things do you think they should try? Please share as your ideas may just be the key to providing some relief in this troubled time.

PS: If you have a question, please submit it here.

Benefits of the Great Outdoors

Marie (Staff Writer) — Fri, 11 May 2012 06:21:48 +0000

How much time do you spend outside of a building vs. indoors? If you are like most, you spend a whole lot more time inside.

Humans aren’t meant to be indoor animals. It is not good for us to be inside all of the time. Yet most people in developed countries spend most of their days indoors.

Why should you take time to be outside? Below are 6 reasons:

Find your place in the universe.

Being outdoors helps you understand your place in the universe. You feel closer to the earth, its plants, animals, winds, tides, mountains, hills, valleys and streams. It helps you realize that you belong to the Earth’s systems – it helps you be one with the Earth.

Being part of the natural world teaches us that we are part of a natural system which includes the entire Earth and all of its systems.

An article in the American Psychological Association ‘Getting Back to the Great Outdoors‘ quoted Richard Louv, author of “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit-Disorder” (Algonquin Books, 2005) as saying “Beyond the health and cognitive benefits children may gain from free and unstructured play outdoors, nature also provides them with a sense of wonder and a deeper understanding of our responsibility to take care of the Earth. Yet increasingly, nature is the last place you’ll find children, research shows.”

Lose your daily problems.

Your daily problems fade when confronted with the splendor and enormity of nature. Being outside helps you meditate on the beauty and complexity of nature and lifts you out of yourself and your man made problems, and may even heal physical ailments sooner.

The Daily Mail reported that Professor Roger Ulrich, a leading expert in the benefits of natural green space noted that hospital patients who had a room with a natural view went home 2 – 3 days before patients that had a room with a view of buildings.

Reduce stress.

Studies, again by Professor Roger Ulrich, prove that heart rate and blood pressure drop faster if stressed people are in a natural surroundings as opposed to indoors. Feeling the wind on your cheek, letting your eyes scan the distance, hearing the water in the stream and the birds in the trees gets us outside of ourselves, helping us forget our stressors.

Get nutrition.

The very best source of vitamin D is natural sunshine – obtained outdoors.

Move more.

Physical movement feels good and is good for you. Outdoor exercise is more physically challenging and mentally stimulating than indoor exercise. When you are outside, you do more and enjoy it more. Your children get more exercise, mentally and physically. They become more fit and creative if they get nature time outdoors.

Sense more.

Being outdoors enlivens your senses of sight, sound, smell, touch, and hearing. You have an increased ability to focus after returning indoors.

In the article, “Great Outdoors – 6 Benefits for Kids iVillage quoted the American Journal of Public Health as saying “exposure to ordinary natural settings in the course of common after-school and weekend activities may be widely effective in reducing attention deficit symptoms in children.”

Celebrate the day.

Of course we have a special day, National Get Outdoors Day (GO Day) here in America to encourage folks to get outside. This year it is June 9. On that day federal agencies, non-profit organizations and recreational organizations are teaming up to offer information and activities across the nation.

According to the National Get Outdoors Organization website:

” The pilot effort of National Get Outdoors Day was launched on June 14, 2008. Building on the success of More Kids in the Woods and other important efforts to connect Americans – and especially children – with nature and active lifestyles, the USDA Forest Service (FS) and the American Recreation Coalition (ARC) agreed to lead an inclusive, nationwide effort focusing on a single day when people would be inspired and motivated to get outdoors.”

How much time do you spend outside? How about your kids? What kinds of things do you like to do and what kinds of benefits have you found?

The Eco-Friendly Benefits of Being Vegetarian

Carnival of Financial Planning – Money Management Edition #236 – May 11, 2012

Miss T. (Owner and Head Writer) — Fri, 11 May 2012 06:14:23 +0000

Welcome to the May 11, 2012 Edition #236 of the Carnival of Financial Planning.

This edition is arranged by subject heading, so that you can browse efficiently.

Enjoy!

The Skilled Investor, Editor

Budgeting and Economics

Little House presents The Five Tool Budgeter posted at Little House in the Valley, saying, “In baseball, a five-tool player is one who excels in some of the game’s major skills: fielding, base running, hitting for power, hitting for contact, and throwing ability. As we move to your budget, there are five areas where you must excel to find financial success

Philip presents My Accountant Reviews QuickBooks Online vs Desktop posted at PT Money Personal Finance, saying, “Since I don’t know as much about how QuickBooks Online compares to the desktop version, I asked my accountant to share his opinion on the two based on his experience.

Janet presents Expense budgeting posted at Fee Only Financial Planner , saying, ” Many people do not track their living expenses and do not understand the magnitude of their consumption. Failure to monitor your consumption expenditures means that they are flying blindly regarding their future finances. ”

Dr Dean presents iPads And Tablets: Ten Ways To Keep ‘Em Safe While Traveling posted at The Millionaire Nurse Blog, saying, “iPad’s size and weight make them great for traveling Read all about how to help keep yours from the black hole that is ‘ airline lost and found.’

Financial Planning

Ashley presents Should I Get Married with Debt? posted at Money Talks Coaching, saying, “Money and marriage. They go together like peanut butter and jelly

Kyle presents Earn $5 for Taking a Picture of Your Grandparents and 12 other weird things… posted at The Penny Hoarder, saying, “Fotokoi is an online market that allows people to exchange photos. The best part is, people interested in your work will pay you for rights to your photo.

YFS presents What Is Asset Allocation and Why Is It Important? posted at Your Finances Simplified, saying, “One of the things that investment gurus always emphasize is to diversify, diversify and diversify. Supposedly, diversification will help improve the overall performance of your portfolio since it doesnt ride on just one investment vehicle.

PPlan presents U.S. Companies Exploit International Workers – Lack of Fair Wages posted at Provident Plan, saying, “Learn more about Infosys and why U.S. companies should not treat workers this way.

Jester presents The Importance of Vacations For Kids posted at The Ultimate Juggle, saying, “This article explains the reasons that we prefer to take destination oriented vacations for the kid’s sake.

Robert presents 5 Steps Toward Post College Financial Bliss posted at The College Investor, saying, “Over my past few posts, I’ve highlighted key transitions that have financial ramifications in any college graduate’s life: The job search and managing life in your first apartment. Today, I will round out this series with some tips on how you can help solidify a strong financial foundation for years to come.

Savvy Scot presents Defining Purpose and the Importance of Moderation posted at Savvy Scot, saying, “This post seeks to find the purpose in what you are doing. Savvy Scot controversially talks about how to spend money and what so many financial bloggers are doing wrong!

Tushar presents How to Dodge Investment Scams posted at Start Investing Money, saying, “How to Dodge Investment Scams on Start Investing Money”

Dave presents Active Alpha Returns posted at Wall Street Nerds , saying, ” The Old Testament of indexing is Burton Malkiel’s classic A Random Walk Down Wall Street, first published in 1973 by W.W. Norton and now in its ninth edition. For typical individual investors, without special access to information, it offers what is likely the best financial advice they will ever get: It is hard to consistently beat the market, especially after fees. A passive strategy will do better in the long run. ”

Ryan presents Retiring Early is Only Going to Get Harder posted at Early Retirement Investments, saying, “Why Your Children Should Open a Roth IRA at Age 18

Jen presents Using Extra Income to Pay for Luxury Items posted at Master the Art of Saving, saying, “I was under the incorrect assumption that I had already told you guys how I afford to pay for my luxury items.

Wayne presents Unexpected Costs of Pet Ownership posted at Young Family Finance, saying, “Pet ownership can be quite expensive. If you are considering getting a new pet, make sure to consider these costs.

PFP presents Investment Tax Management posted at Pasadena Financial Planner , saying, ” As you move your cash, bond, and stock financial assets into lower cost, more broadly diversified investment mutual funds and/or ETFs, you should also consider how to “locate” your investment asset allocation with respect to more optimal taxation.”

A Blinkin presents Should I Buy A House? posted at Funancials, saying, “I rarely divulge details from my personal life, but today Im looking for some feedback. Let me give you the full story: I have been dating Miss Blinkin for approximately 1 year and 4 months. Without giving too much information, I foresee an engagement in the coming months.

Maria presents Politics and economy in the Eurozone part 1 posted at The Money Principle, saying, “The people have spoken in France and Greece. They do not like this austerity business one little bit. Can you blame them? After all it was not the people who caused the problem so why should they suffer while the banks get off scot-free?

Frank presents Passively Managed Funds posted at Individual Investor Strategies, saying, “Short-term mutual fund trading is a zero sum game played against other very well informed mutual fund traders and other securities market traders. On average, higher mutual fund turnover is far more likely to result in lower investment fund performance — instead of superior risk-adjusted performance.”

Jason presents Why We Didn’t Sell Our Car on Craigslist posted at Work Save Live, saying, “Last week I detailed why we considered buying a car through CarMax, and I wanted to do a follow-up on a service of theirs that we actually used.

Income

MMD presents What Did You Learn From Working as a Teenager? posted at MyMoneyDesign, saying, “Was your job as a teenager a complete waste of time, or did you learn some incredibly valuable life lessons that prepared you later on in life to be a better working professional? I present to you 17 lessons I learned from my early days of employment that I still carry with me today.

Mike presents May Blog Evolution Report… + Income Stats! posted at The Financial Blogger, saying, “The online income for May.

Madison presents Credit Card Application Spree to Maximize Sign Up Bonuses posted at My Dollar Plan, saying, “It’s time for a round of credit card applications to make some money! Readon for some great bonuses.

Beating Broke presents I Quit My Job: Back to Work posted at Beating Broke, saying, “If you’ve been following the I Quit My Job series, you’ll know that I quit my full-time job back in November 2011 and have been working a part-time job and running my websites ever since. With any journey that entails so much change, things are always changing. Several weeks ago, I made the decision that it was about time to start looking for a new full time job.

Insurance and Risk

Hank presents What Is Gap Insurance On Your Car And Why You Need It posted at Money Q&A, saying, “What is gap insurance? And, do you need it? Gap insurance is a type of car insurance policy that is designed to cover the gap between what the value of your car actually is, and what you owe on the vehicle.

Larry presents Identity theft protection posted at Objective Financial Planner, saying, “As a threat to your financial security, you should take the potential for identity theft very seriously. Identity theft sometimes entails a loss of your money, but whether or not you lose money, it can take a very large amount of your time to rectify.”

Green Panda presents 2 Great Reasons Why Young People Need Life Insurance Too! posted at Green Panda Treehouse, saying, “Why you should purchase that plan.

Investing

FMF presents 80-20 Your Investments posted at Free Money Finance, saying, “While many people seem intimidated by investing and don’t know where to begin or what to do, being a successful investor is not that complicated. In the end it comes down to three basic (but important) steps.

Larry presents Your investment risk tolerance posted at Independent Fee Only Financial Planner , saying, ” Individual investors with different levels of investment risk tolerance for financial risks tend to be more satisfied with risk management strategies, which are better aligned with their financial risk and return profile.”

Squeezer presents Instructions on how to get started in dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPs) posted at Personal Finance Success, saying, ” I give my thought processes and what to look for when wanting to invest in a dividend paying company. I explain how to get started by purchasing the minimum amount of shares or dollars.

Dividend Growth Investor presents Build your own Berkshire with dividend paying stocks posted at Dividend Growth Investor, saying, “Buffett’s strategy of using Berkshire’s cash to purchase more businesses is similar to what dividend growth investors like to do. By creating a diversified portfolio of world class blue chip dividend paying stocks, investors are essentially creating a cash machine that would throw off enough cash to buy more shares in quality companies or to provide for in retirement.

William presents Superior Mutual Fund Performance posted at No Load Funds , saying, ” Screen out inferior mutual fund performance — but only after using other ETF and mutual fund selection criteria. Superior or even average mutual fund performance in the past simply does not predict similar fund performance in the future.”

Pierre presents Do You Mind Non Voting Shares? posted at Intelligent Speculator, saying, “Do you trust companies like Facebook and Google?

Div Guy presents Using Dividend ETF’s In A Dividend Portfolio posted at The Dividend Guy Blog, saying, “We help you improve your portfolio.

Frank Pinter presents No Load Bond Funds posted at Cheapest Bond Funds, saying, “Investment research overwhelmingly shows that lower cost fixed income funds tend to yield higher bond investing returns.”

FMF presents The Efficient Frontier posted at Free Money Finance, saying, “The efficient frontier measures investments on a scale of risks and return.

Managing Debt

Paul Vachon presents The Effect of FICO Credit Scores on Wealth Creation posted at The Frugal Toad, saying, “We all know that a good credit score can result in a better interest rate on loans but you may be surprised to learn that a bad credit score can affect you in ways you might not have thought about. In addition to paying higher interest rates, a poor credit score can result in higher insurance premiums, denial for employment, or having to pay a security deposit when leasing an apartment or opening a utility account.

KT presents In Debt Consider Paying Cash for Your Purchases posted at Personal Finance Journey, saying, “Are you in debt besides the mortgage? Do you have thousands of dollars worth of student loan debt and/or credit card debt? If you are struggling to make your payments, one of the best things you can do is to stop using credit and begin to use cash.

MR presents Is Now The Time To Buy Real Estate? posted at Money Reasons, saying, “With the low mortgage rates, is this the perfect time to buy real estate? I find myself looking more and more often.

John presents The Goal of Work is Retirement: Rule 10 posted at Married with Debt, saying, “This is Rule 10 in my 10 Rules to Eliminate Debt and Change Your Life The reasons I started Married with Debt are twofold: to help people get out of debt, and help them change their lives.

101 Centavos presents Wall Street Hates Wal-Mart posted at 101 Centavos, saying, “After running a just-for-fun post a while back on a Redneck-themed stock portfolio, some readers suggested adding Wal-Mart WMT to the mix.

Debt Guru presents Actively Avoiding Debt posted at Debt Free Blog, saying, “Find out how you can actively avoid debt by not having a wish list or items that you want to buy next.”

Real Estate

Corey presents How to Furnish Your Apartment for Cheap posted at 20s Finances, saying, “One of the most common places that people overspend in their budget, in addition to buying food or groceries, is in home furnishings. It’s easy to see why this is one of the most expensive areas for people. Furniture and major appliances are expensive.

Aloysa presents How to Make it in America posted at My Broken Coin, saying, “I am sure you know that it is not easy to make it in America. Making it whatever it means for you requires a lot of work and determination. It also requires bravery and courage. For someone like me, making it in the land of opportunity was not just about hard work and determination.

FG presents Betting on the Future President posted at Financial God, saying, “Have you ever visited Intrade, which brands itself as the leading prediction market? You can make a market in almost anything these days, it seems. Intrade is a prediction market based in the Republic of Ireland, and lets you bet on predictions in all kinds of areas, including the future president of the United States.

Nick presents How much house is too much posted at Step Away from the Mall, saying, “Buying a house is never a simple process… Here’s my thinking about how to buy just enough house for my family.

Retirement

Jon the Saver presents When Should you go for a Reverse Mortgage? posted at Free Money Wisdom, saying, “Reverse mortgages are tricky things. Instead of avoiding them, why not research them and see if they would work for your financial goals!

Franklin presents Traditional IRA Versus Roth IRA posted at Better Retirement Planning , saying, ” Many taxpayers puzzle over whether to contribute to traditional versus Roth tax-advantaged retirement plans. For most people, contributions to traditional tax-advantaged plans will probably provide a higher net present value over their lifetimes.”

Boomer presents Turning 60: Some Things To Consider Before You Retire posted at Boomer & Echo, saying, “If you’re still working at age 60 you may be thinking of retirement now, or in the near future. It’s time to consider how you will spend your days.

Whitney presents Retirement Planning Worksheets posted at Retirement Saving Plans, saying, “While personal wealth should measure current financial investments and other salable assets, it should also measure your ability to sustain your household budget, build up your investment portfolio, and weather potential financial risk and misfortune across your lifetime.”

Savings

Martin presents http://studenomics.com/application/switch-online-banking/ posted at Studenomics, saying, “Why you need to save your money in the right places.

TSI presents Hard work determines wealth posted at The Skilled Investor , saying, ” How much you earn, spend, budget, and save are by far the most dominant determinants of your long-term financial well-being. Self-control in your financial decision-making regarding budgeting and consumption is far more important than clever investing. ”

Liana presents Review: Bank of America’s New Travel Rewards Credit Cards posted at Card Hub, saying, “Bank of America just made travel a whole lot sweeter for their customers. With three new travel rewards cards on the market, it looks like they are taking on their competition. But how do these new offers really stack up when it comes to saving on travel?

Suba presents How to Save Money on Hotel Rooms posted at Broke Professionals, saying, “How to Save Money on Hotel Rooms is a post from: Broke Professionals if you enjoy it, please visit us and subscribe to the Feed. You dont have to be rich to take a trip or go on a vacation, but they do cost money.

Taxes

Super Saver presents Taxes are Going Up – Even for the 99% posted at My Wealth Builder, saying, “Warning! Taxes are going up in 2013 for everybody

Paul Tabbet presents Retirement Planning Worksheet Software posted at Tax Planning Software, saying, “Retirement planning software should automate the development of lifetime projections that incorporate tax laws and rules associated with tax-advantaged retirement investment incentive programs such as traditional IRA, Roth, 401k, 403b, SEP, Keogh, and other retirement plans.”

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of Carnival of Financial Planning using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

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