If you’re moving or just want to get rid of some extra things around your home, here are six tips to help you make the most of the online marketplace at www.craigslist.org:
- Look at the "wanted" section to see if anyone wants what you're selling. You may sell your item before creating an ad!
- Research competition to see if your price is right. Search for similar items to set a competitive price, but leave room to negotiate.
- Use your ad's title to bring traffic. Be specific and state the price to get more people to click on your ad. "Nice brown couch" is not as good as "Lightly used Brown 60 inch Crate & Barrel couch $500." Research similar products advertised and be more descriptive to make your ad stand out.
- Include pictures or people may skip your ad. You don’t need a lot of pictures, but use at least one. Also, give specific details in the description (dimensions, attachments, etc.) to encourage serious buyers to contact you. And, specify “cash only,” “pick up only,” “all sales final,” “price is firm” or “OBO” (Or Best Offer).
- Respond quickly by phone or email. Buyers have a lot of options and may move on to the next seller in the same day.
- Keep your ad near the top. Every time you post an ad it appears at the top of the page, pushing other ads down. Check again tomorrow and it's far down the page. Repost the ad every other day, or at least weekly, to increase the chance it gets noticed.
You can save money on home, auto, or life insurance by being a savvy shopper. Here are the four best tips that an insurance agent may not tell you:
- Raise your deductibles. According to the Insurance Information Institute, raising your homeowner’s deductible from $500 to $1,000 could save up to 25% on your annual premium and 40% savings by raising your car insurance deductible from $200 to $1,000. Put this extra money into a savings account for emergencies.
- Ask for a list of available discounts. For example, tell a home insurer if you've installed a home alarm system or a car insurer if you carpool. Also, see if there's a discount for bundling your home and auto insurance with the same company.
- Shop for insurers when you have a change in your life (marriage, new car, etc.), or a rate hike on your present policy. Search online to compare rates or look at: www.carinsurance.com , www.homeinsurance.com , or www.intelliquote.com for life. Also, there are consumers guides for home, auto, and life insurance under Consumer Resources at www.naic.org. The auto guide, for example, gives you a list of questions to ask an insurer and suggests checking the state insurance department’s website, which has a tool to help you compare specific providers and premiums.
- Make sure you’re not under or over-insured. For example, you need enough insurance to completely rebuild your home and replace all of your belongings in case of a disaster. For $7.95 you can get a rebuilding cost estimate by going to: www.accucoverage.com. Compare this value to your current homeowner’s insurance policy.
Now that you can access the Internet from your smartphone, iPad, laptop or computer, is your data really safe? You know you should have strong passwords, but here’s how to add an extra level of security:
- Sign up for 2-step authentication if you use Gmail, Twitter, LinkedIn, PayPal or Facebook. This will protect your accounts by using both your password and your phone to sign in. Look for this under Settings, Profile, or Account (depending on the website).
- Use “private browsing” (also called “incognito”) on your browser when checking your bank account or paying bills online. This prevents the browser from storing information. Look under File on Firefox or Chrome, or Safety for Internet Explorer.
- Use a passcode on all your devices (usually under Settings). For more protection, download one of the many security apps available. For example, Avast Mobile Security or Lookout (both free) for Android, and WISe ID (free) or mSECURE ($9.99) for iPhones.
Medical studies show that eating the right foods in the right amounts and exercising regularly reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, and stroke. The trouble is there’s so much conflicting information in the media and on the Internet that it’s hard to know what to believe. Here are seven common myths – and the facts you should know – to help you make healthy-eating decisions and fight disease.
Myth #1: All fats are bad.
Truth: Your body needs fats to give it energy and support cell growth, but not all fats are equal. Knowing which fats raise LDL (bad) cholesterol and which ones don’t is the first step in lowering your risk of heart disease. For example, you should reduce the amount of saturated and trans fats (which are solid at room temperature, like a stick of butter) in your diet and increase the amount of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (which are more liquid, like vegetable oil.)
Myth #2: A calorie is a calorie.
Truth: Doctors say this myth is one reason why obesity is increasing. The calories you eat don’t all have the same impact on your body. 100 calories of broccoli are not the same as 100 calories of cupcakes. It depends on whether you’re eating healthy or unhealthy calories.
Myth #3: Carbohydrates make you fat.
Truth: Eating sugary and refined-carbohydrate rich food such as white bread and doughnuts can raise your risk of problems like heart disease. But vegetables are carbs too! The closer the carb is to its original form, the better it is for you. Whole grain brown rice is good, while white rice that has been stripped of its bran and germ doesn’t offer health benefits.
Myth #4: Red meat is bad for your health.
Truth: Red meat has more cholesterol and saturated fat than chicken, fish, or vegetable protein. However, you can eat it as long as you limit the amount (one portion = three ounces), choose leaner cuts (“round” or “sirloin”), trim the fat, and cook it by baking, broiling, or grilling.
Myth #5: A gluten-free diet will help you lose weight.
Truth: Whole grains are good for you, but those that contain gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley, are harmful for people with celiac disease and gluten intolerance. Other people may lose weight by cutting out gluten, but it’s because they are eliminating foods (like breads, pasta, pastries) that they were probably overeating.
Myth #6: Eggs are bad for your heart.
Truth: One egg contains 185 milligrams of cholesterol. For people with normal LDL cholesterol, the daily recommended cholesterol limit is 300 milligrams. The American Heart Association says most people (except those with diabetes or a history of heart problems) can eat one egg per day – if they also watch how much cholesterol they consume from other sources, such as meats, poultry, and dairy products.
Myth #7: You should drink 8 glasses of water each day.
Truth: Water keeps your body hydrated (and you also consume it by eating some fruits and vegetables). But the amount you need varies daily, depending on your gender, size and activity level, as well as things like heat and humidity. To test it, check the color of your urine. Clear or light yellow means you’re well hydrated; if it’s a darker color, drink more water.
For more information on ways to eat healthier and fight disease, visit www.heart.org and click on Getting Healthy.
-Chuck Michael -- www.ChucktheRealtor.org
For more money saving tips, FREE monthly prizes and everyday ‘useful’ information please forward to a friend and sign up for my FREE personal newsletter titled "MainStreet Life! by clicking here.
You feel lousy. Does it matter whether it’s a cold or the flu? Yes. It’s important because the influenza virus can have very serious complications, such as pneumonia, and can be deadly. While both colds
and the flu are caused by viruses that produce some of the same symptoms (sore throat, headache, nasal congestion), there are some definitive symptoms you should look for. Ask yourself these questions:
Do I have nasal congestion, a stuffy nose or frequent sneezing?
Do I have a runny nose with thick discharge?
Do I have a moist cough?
If your symptoms are from the “neck up” and come on gradually,
it’s probably a cold, caused by the rhinovirus or more than 200
other viruses.
Do I have a high-grade fever (102 degrees or above)?
Do I have chills, extreme fatigue, muscle aches, and pains?
Do I have difficulty breathing or shortness of breath?
If your symptoms come on suddenly and your body feels weak and
tired, it may be the flu.
What You Should (And Shouldn’t) Do…
If you have a cold:
Rest and drink water, juice, broth or warm lemon water with
honey to loosen congestion and prevent dehydration. Avoid
alcohol, coffee and caffeinated sodas, which are dehydrating.
Eat chicken soup. Even the Mayo Clinic says it might help by
acting as an anti-inflammatory and speeding up the movement of
mucus.
Gargle with salt water (1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt dissolved in an 8-
ounce glass of warm water) to temporarily relieve a sore throat.
Try an over-the-counter medication to ease your symptoms, but
read the labels to make sure you don’t overdose on acetaminophen
(Tylenol).
Don’t take antibiotics (they attack bacteria, not viruses). If your
symptoms don’t improve after a week, however, you may have a
bacterial infection that could be treated with an antibiotic.
Use a saline nasal spray to rinse the virus out of your nasal
passages.
Put a humidifier in your room. Cold viruses thrive in dry
conditions (that’s why colds are more common in winter).
Consider herbal remedies like Echinacea, vitamin C and zinc
(some people have great success), but talk to your doctor first.
Don’t believe the adage “starve a cold, feed a fever” or vice
versa. There’s little scientific evidence either way works.
If you have the flu:
♦ Try to avoid it in the first place by getting a flu shot. The U.S.
Centers For Disease Control recommends that everyone over six
months of age be vaccinated annually.
♦ Get to a doctor fast. He or she can take a nasal or throat swab to
see if you test positive for the flu. Prescription anti-viral
medications like Tamiflu and Relenza, which shorten the length and
severity of the illness, should be taken within 48 hours of the onset
of the symptoms.
♦ Don’t take antibiotics -- unless you have a complication. If
you’re coughing up green phlegm spotted with blood, you may have
a bacterial infection and antibiotics could be appropriate.
For more money saving tips, FREE monthly prizes and everyday ‘useful’ information please forward to a friend and sign up for my FREE personal newsletter titled "MainStreet Life! by clicking here.
What are employers looking for in today's market? Here are skill areas in demand according to top career specialists:
- Project management. This includes schedules, budgeting, and organizational expertise. To gain experience, volunteer to lead a project for a local non-profit and put it on your resume. If you're serious about that field, check into coursework offered by the Project Management Institute (www.pmi.org) or look online for "A Guide To The Product Management Body Of Knowledge."
- Sales Experience. Companies are looking for people with in-person or phone sales skills. If you don't have past experience, join a team that raises money for a charity you support.
- Internet marketing. Professionals who know how to use social media and other online promotional tools are in demand. Start by promoting a friend's business to get experience.
For more money saving tips, FREE monthly prizes and everyday ‘useful’ information please forward to a friend and sign up for my FREE personal newsletter titled "MainStreet Life! by clicking here.
No one wants to think about getting in an automobile crash. But every day there are over 25,000 vehicles involved in police-reported crashes in the U.S. alone. Look for these important safety features when you buy a new or used car, and some you can add to an existing car to protect yourself and your family.
Standard features on new cars (look for them on used cars):
- Electronic stability control (ESC). This helps keep the car under control during cornering and prevents it from skidding. Having it reduces the risk of rollovers by more than 70 percent.
- Advanced air bags. "Frontal" air bags work with laps/shoulder belts to protect the head and chest from hitting the steering wheel or windshield to avoid serious injuries. Most new models include "side curtain" bags to protect the head, and some have air bags for back seat passengers.
- Anti-lock brake system (ABS). This prevents lock-ups and skidding, even in slippery conditions. Anti-lock brakes have been proven to save lives by helping drivers keep control of a vehicle. Having the system can be the difference between stopping in time or rear-ending another car.
Features you can add to your current car to make it safer:
- Blind-spot mirrors. You stick these on your side rear view mirrors to see cars in your "blind spot". Get them at WalMart/Target for $3-$10.
- Bluetooth add-on. This lets you talk through the car stereo so you can make hands-free calls and prevent distracted driving. Ask a local mobile-electronics shop or check on Amazon.com, and expect to pay about $50 to $150 for the adapter plus installation.
- OnStar FMV (For My Vehicle). OnStar lets you talk to a real person when you need help 24/7, and if air bags deploy, will notify emergency vehicles for you. To See if you can get it on your car (from $19/month or $200/year), go to www.onstar.com.
For more money saving tips, FREE monthly prizes and everyday ‘useful’ information please forward to a friend and sign up for my FREE personal newsletter titled "MainStreet Life! by clicking here.
