Search Results for: blog how to control your spending

Is it Ever Ok to Bribe your Kids?

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How do you get your children to do what you want them to? What do you do to encourage them to do certain things and to refrain from doing other things? Many parents have, at least sometimes, resorted to bribing their children. Is that necessarily a bad thing? Is it ever ok to bribe your kids? New findings reveal some interesting answers to these questions. First, it would be helpful to figure out what a bribe is (and what it isn’t). Author Ellen Perry points out that there is a continuum to be aware of. Motivation is one one end, … Continue reading →

Three Ways to Control Impulse Buying at Christmas

The shiny decorations, the pretty lights, the wonderful smells, the bustle of shoppers, the increase in commercials, and the demanding kids all combine at Christmas to raise the risk of impulse buying. Many debt services report that the number of phone calls they get for help really drops off in December, as people put aside the idea of debt and just go ahead and spend. Of course, the calls in January are another story. These agencies often see their highest traffic then, as people find themselves in debt crisis. Don’t let this happen to you. Control your impulse buying at … Continue reading →

Five Signs that You Are Living Beyond Your Means

You could be living beyond your means and not realize it. Why is this a problem? Well, when we live beyond our means, we can quickly run up debt. This debt can snowball until it becomes hard to manage, a real crisis. That is why it is so important to recognize the early warning signs and make the changes that are necessary to get your finances back on track. Sometimes it seems as though you are supporting your lifestyle and don’t have a problem paying for anything. After all, your credit cards aren’t being turned down at the store, and … Continue reading →

Spending on Pets Skyrockets

Despite our recession (though apparently it’s recovering), some industries are on the rise. One of them, according to BBC News, is the pet industries. That’s right, in a time when pet food banks are growing at Animal Control facilities across the country and some people are still losing/struggling to stay in their homes, Americans are spending more on their pets than ever before. As you might guess, 65% of the overall amount spent is on food and veterinary costs. More people are also buying pet insurance. Maybe this just indicates that more people are looking to own more pets. This … Continue reading →

Manage What You Can to Increase Your Income

Increasing your income can be easier than you think. You just need to stop concentrating on the things that you can’t change and start focusing on the things that you can. Managing the areas that are under your control is a quick way to start making your money grow. There are some things that you just can’t control when it comes to your money. Two good examples are if the stock market goes down or if gas prices go up. You can’t really manage those things. You can, however, manage other areas to increase your income. Manage Your Debt Finding … Continue reading →

Get A Bunch of Free Books for Your Kindle!

There are plenty of people who were given a Kindle as a Christmas gift. Does that describe you? If so, then you have probably purchased and downloaded a few books by your favorite authors. You might have selected some classics, as well. Now is the time to check out the many books for Kindle that you can download for free. Kindle is an electronic book reader. It makes a nice gift for people who love to read. Family members of people who are big readers might hope that by giving that person a Kindle, there would be a few less … Continue reading →

Brighten Your Desk with House Plants

A home work space or office should be functional, inspire work, and have an atmosphere of calmness even in the midst of a storm. We cannot prevent the storms that come with business but if we decorate in a way that calms our nerves yet does not put us to sleep we may be able to control our reactions to the storms. When my desk is messy I feel disorganized and messy. I always feel more productive when my area is clean and functional. I also like adding a bit of personality and life to my area. My office space … Continue reading →

Safety Preparations for the Do It Yourself-er

Do it yourself is a wonderful way to get your household projects done exactly the way you want them and with a minimum cost. But the emergency rooms across the country are filled with people who got injured from do it yourself projects. Here is what you need to know to be prepared before you start your next home project. A little preparation could just keep you healthy and safe, so you can admire your hard earned results instead of spending time recovering from them. Have an Emergency Plan While we want to prevent accidents, you still need to know … Continue reading →

Talking to Your Parents About Their Finances

There are many things that people tend to become concerned about as their parents get older. Things like the physical and mental health and well being of their elderly parents are often top of mind for many adult children. The finances of elderly parents are also often a cause for great concern, especially if the adult children do not live close to them. How can you help to ensure that your parents stay current with their bills and stay away from scam artists who target the elderly without offending them? It is a delicate path to walk, to be sure, … Continue reading →

Another Reason Why Obesity Runs In Your Family

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Obesity is one of the health conditions that runs in families. Some of the reasons why are environmental, and have to do with patterns of behavior that a person learns from his or her family. Other factors that influence obesity have to do with genetics. Researchers have found what they are calling the “master switch” gene for obesity. It has been established that if a person consumes more calories than the person burns, that this will lead to weight gain. We live in a society where it is easy to get large quantities of fast food for a very low … Continue reading →