Money Savers

Food prices up in 2009?

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Despite lower cost for gas , food prices are forecasted to go further up in 2009. Consumers can expect higher prices particularly for meat and poultry. In total, the Agriculture Departments expects food prices to climb about 4 percent in 2009, compared to an increase between 5 to 6 percent in 2008.

These are bad news for consumers.  But with some planning ahead, it’s possible to at least soften the blow. In the days after Thanksgiving and again after christmas, there will be like every year many sales and special offers. Consumers are good advised to use these sales and stock up on meat. Why not buy a fresh turkey next week and freeze it?

Coach 4 U Blog, Happiness

Health benefits of Gratitude – not only to Thanksgiving

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Though most of us live better than our parents and grandparents, we often forget to appreciate the abundance we enjoy.

That’s a pity because learning to be grateful for even small joys could improve many areas in our life. As it turns out, people who are grateful – not only to Thanksgiving, rather on a daily basis- sleep better, feel less stress and depression, have more energy, feel more alert, alive and positive. People with high blood pressure could even lower their blood pressure.

Grateful people focus more on the positive things in life and are less focused on pain and problems.

A few strategies help learning to become more aware of one’s own blessings:

  1. Start a gratitude journal and list daily or weekly the positive things that happened; whether you met an old friend, you cooked a delicious meal or the bus was on time……There is something to be grateful for on even the worst days.
  2.  For the coming holidays: List all the people in your life who you take for granted. Then picture your life without these people. How would it be? What would you be missing? In your holiday cards to these people thank them for being in your life and for the difference they are making.
  3. Make a sign for your fridge or bathroom mirror: This week, I’m grateful for…..

I’m grateful for being healthy. I’m now cancer free for 10 years. In addition, I’m thankful for my family.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Christiane is a professional Life & Career Coach (coach4u.net). In addition, she teaches Psychology at a Community College near Boston.

Money Savers

Don’t buy without bargaining

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Did you ever go to a big box store, set your eyes on a product and then tried to bargain for a better price? If not, try it next time. Chances are hight that you will save some money.

A while ago, I watched a special report on the evening news. Reporters tried to negotiate the price for TVs, refrigerators or even t-shirts. In more than half of the cases, they were successful and saved hundreds of dollars. Sometimes, the salesperson couldn’t help with the price but offered something else, like free delivery or free installation.

Right now with the sluggish economy, it’s a buyer’s market. Hence, chances are high that it will be even easier now to negotiate. Many people don’t try because they feel embarrassed or are hold back by the fear of appearing foolish. However, sellers of products like furniture or cars even expect haggling and marked their products up.

Consumer experts advise to be always polite and discreet, and not pushy. Further, it’s important to offer a price that is fair and reasonable. If your offer is too low, the salesperson will just reject it without even considering it or making a counter offer. Also, make sure that you are bargaining with a salesperson who has the authority to offer a discount. If you are not sure about that, ask for the manager.

And last but not least, don’t bargain if you are not ready to buy the product.

More tips on ConsumerReports.org

Money Savers

Save a Buck: Find Best Price With Online Shopping Helpers

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In economic difficult times like now, every buck saved is important. Comparing prices online before heading to the store is therefore a must for me.

For example, a few months ago I bought a new digital camera that was offered at $ 230 in one store and at almost $ 400 in another. In both cases, the price was for the camera body only, no extras.

Like many people, I’m not a huge fan of buying online (though I do it); I’m concerned about safety and I also like to see first with my own eyes what I’m buying. Pictures are sometimes deceiving. However, price comparing websites help me to find the right stores – and sometimes, after having seen the product in a store, I still end up buying it online.

Some of my favorite websites:
pricegrabber.com
bizrate.com
pricescan.com
pricingcentral.com
bestwebbuys.com
secretprices.com
And for the best gas prices near you gasbuddy.com

If you know of another great online shopping helper, please email me the link.

Coach 4 U Blog, Money Savers

Credit Card 101

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The other day, I heard in the news that the average American household owns 10 credit cards and owes more than $ 10 000 to credit card companies. Now, many lenders are pulling back by curtailing credit card offers and credit lines. At the same time, lenders are also increasing the APR of many credit cards. The APR of one of our cards for example was recently increased to 28 %! If we had debt on this card, it would be extremely tough to pay it off.

Lenders are pulling back because they fear that more people will default on their loans. In the first half of 2008, they had to write off about $ 21 billion in bad credit card loans.

For consumers, it’s therefore most important to increase their knowledge about credit card management and how to use them more wisely. Texas public accountants offer 5 tips for consumer squeezed by credit crunch:

Tip No. 1: Check your credit limit (because it may have been lowered recently).
Tip No. 2: Call your credit card issuer and negotiate for lower rates.
Tip No. 3: Read the fine print on future offers.
Tip No. 4: Consider using year-end bonuses and holiday gift money to pay down credit card balances.
Tip No. 5: Stick to your holiday shopping list and pay for gifts with cash.

Read more details
If you would like a crash course in Credit Card 101, read the Federal Reserve information on Credit Cards. There you will get excellent information about APRs, finance charges, or grace period, to name a few tems.

Coach 4 U Blog, Healthy Lifestyle

Brain, Food and Weight

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Overweight people just enjoy food more than people of normal weight and that’s the reason why they eat more and gain weight!

You think so? Think again!

Scientists at the Oregon Research Institute compared the brain responses of skinny and overweight people while drinking a milkshake. It turned out that a brain region called dorsal striatum, which the scientists describe as “a dopamine-rich pleasure center” became active. However, that brain region was less active in overweight people than in lean people.

Previous brain scans have already shown that overweight people have fewer dopamine receptors that normal weight people. This difference seems to be caused by genetics.

One of the senior scientists at the Oregon Research Institute concludes, based on the study results, that opposed to common belief obese people get in fact LESS satisfaction from food and to compensate for that they eat more.

More: Oregon Research Institute

Coach 4 U Blog, Happiness

Optimism key to White House?

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Researchers at the Positive Psychology Center at Penn University have determined that in the past 100 years, the most optimistic candidates have won more than 80 percent of presidential elections. The reason why voters prefer optimistic candidates could be that they inspire hope.

With regard to the current candidates, the psychologists find Barack Obama and John McCain to be equally optimistic and Sarah Palin slightly more optimistic than Joseph Biden.

To read more about the study go to: http://www.upenn.edu/pennnews/article.php?id=1452

Coach 4 U Blog, Job Satisfaction

Study shows: A laugh a day makes employees stay

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According to a new study, employers have no reason to be concerned if they hear occasional laughter coming from the work areas. On the contrary, they may even want to encourage the use of humor at the workplace, because it increases job satisfaction.

The Australian psychologist Maren Rawlings surveyed 300 workers from 20 different countries. She found that employees, who worked in a humor climate, were more satisfied with their jobs than those, who worked in a humor free climate or in a climate with negative humor like making fun of co-workers to put them down.

Previous studies have demonstrated that employees with high job satisfaction are more likely to stay in their company and are more productive.

Rawlings concludes: “If employers take measures to encourage a positive humor climate in the workplace, they are more likely to retain their staff. And with an ageing workforce it is vital for companies to keep good people.”
(from http://www.swinburne.edu.au)

Coach 4 U Blog, Job Satisfaction

Balancing Work and Life

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If you are like me, then there is always too much to do and never enough time to do it all. In consequence, many of us are controlled by their daily “to do list”.

On a weekly basis, how much time do you have left for some fun in your life? If you don’t know for sure, maybe you will find the work-life balance calculator useful that I recently found on cnn.com

Do you sometimes feel that your life could be better? As your Personal Life Coach, I will help you to clarify your goals, increase your happiness and live a fulfilling life. Coaching by phone, email or in person.