Blogging A Better Life

In Honor of Earth Day

2010-04-22T06:09:00.000-07:00

Today is Earth Day, so instead of preaching--like I normally would--about how we should live Earth Day everyday we'll be looking at some internet services that take that green approach. First on the list:

EnviroFile is a rather small file sharing website. What's different about this one from all the countless others. Well, whenever a person downloads your file from this site you earn money. Pretty neat, huh? What does that have to do with Earth Day, you say? Well, 10% of this site's profits are donated to environmental organizations. So, in effect, by uploading a file to this site and getting people to download it you are profiting and saving the planet all at the same time and with little effort. Yeah, I thought it was neat too.

Want to host your own website? Look no further than AISO.net, located in sunny California. This webhost uses solar energy to power its fleet of servers. This not only helps stop the production of excess carbon emissions, but saves them money. These savings conveniently comes across to you the consumer with plans starting at $9.95/month. AISO (which stands for Affordable Internet Services Online btw) has an impressive resume and a guaranteed 100% uptime. Sounds like a good deal to me.

You know how you trade in your old cell phone for a new on every two years. What do you do with those old phones? You can recycle them or you can sell them to a company that will repurpose them and give them new use. That's right with Green Phone you can keep that cell phone from filling up a landfill and fill up your pockets instead!

Got a cool site that's not on the list? Leave it in the comments!

Save the Planet, Again!

2010-04-21T07:51:00.000-07:00

Earth Day is tomorrow! Surely you know what Earth Day is but just in case... Every April 22nd many people around the globe celebrate Earth Day as a way to inspire and promote awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment.

As we all know, we are facing a climate crisis of epic proportions and something must be done to ensure that this problem is handled. This year the Earth Day Network are organizing a rally on The National Mall to demand that Congress pass a strong climate bill this year. They are also celebrating their 40th anniversary, so this is quite a big year for them. Here's hoping we see a great turnout and result!

Check out the Earth Day website for more information on how you can help.

Amazon: now more like the real thing

2010-04-12T19:35:00.000-07:00

Amazon.com has opened a green store front in celebration of Earth Day 2010. There are links to various green products and updates about how Amazon is becoming more eco-friendly. Solar panels are even a featured item. On the right there are some resources to help you better understand some of the environmental rating systems we have in place and Amazon's efforts. The best part of this storefront is that it will be a permanent fixture, so you can make every day Earth Day. I think my favorite addition in this new initiative is the Amazon Green blog which promises to keep you informed on all sorts of new green products. If only more store would devote an area to green products year-round.

Don't forget Earth Day 2010 is on April 22!

Turn Off Those Lights

2010-03-26T10:13:00.000-07:00

Last year 80 million Americans willingly shut down their lights and electronic lives for a solid hour. Their actions were part of combined global effort to raise awareness of the climate change crisis and save some power while they are at it. Tomorrow, they'll do it again as Earth Hour 2010 is set to be held on March 27th at 8:30pm.

Earth Hour 2010 is seemingly on track to become the largest Earth Hour yet, by surpassing last year's participation of over one billion people. 121 countries are currently signed up for Earth Hour this year.This global effort wasn't always world-wide as its roots lie in Sydney. Earth Hour was organized in 2007 from a partnership between the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper. That year, over 2 million Sydney residents participated.

This year, you have a chance to join the cause. Will you flip the switch?

Earth Hour Website

Funny Fridays: Film Lovers

2010-02-12T06:28:00.000-08:00

This short film is appropriately titled as anyone familiar with film will love it.

That Knowledgable Science Guy Speaks

2009-11-22T13:12:00.000-08:00

Let your voice be heard. Add your message to the Wall.

Funny Fridays: The Comedy of Terrors

2009-10-30T16:04:00.000-07:00

Vincent Price stars in this classic dark comedy about a funeral home director whose business is lacking, so he decides to make some more. I only thought it fair to post this since it available for free via Hulu and it fits in nicely with the piece we posted earlier this week about the business of death. Conveniently enough its also a great movie for Halloween. Enjoy!

For more free-to-watch movies and TV shows check out our previous article "Save Money By Cutting the Cable".

Going Out In Style

2009-10-28T06:25:00.000-07:00

Who knew the after-life could be such a lucrative venture? It's more than just a funeral director, there are the florists, the tombstone manufacturers and countless other players; it all adds up to an $11 Billion a year industry, according to Good Magazine. They've got a spectrum of ways to get rid of the body and all of them are expensive. Its almost like a post-mortem guilt trip for those left behind by someone who hasn't made their own funeral arrangements. You don't want to skimp when it comes to honoring the life of your loved one, you also don't want to be filing for Chapter 11 down the road.

Today--conveniently enough just days before Halloween--we are going to look at some of the more creative and unorthodox ways of being laid to rest.

Greener pastures. You can help save the environment even in death! As seen in the video above, funerals can leave a negative impact on the Earth. Why not invest in a cardboard casket? Sure, it won't stop embalming fluids from seeping into the drinking water supply, but it will decompose quickly and cleanly. It will also save us from throwing away perfectly good wood and steel. The price? As low as $50. Some Assembly Required. The cons as pointed out by Ms. Helda of Associated Content is that these caskets cannot hold over 350 lbs and top out at 7 feet. Amazons and fatties need not apply.

Pimp my hearse. Birmingham hippies rejoice! You can have you corpse carried to the grave-site in a stylish VW camper van/hearse. They also offer a stretched VW Beetle. The internet is full of odd customized hearses, some even used for funerals. So take a look around you might want to take your last cruise in something unique. Just remember the wind will most likely not be in your hair.

Buried in advertising. Forget regular coffins and urns! Nothing spells out your legacy better than M-L-B. That's right, advertise for your favorite Major League Baseball team with your passing. Eternal Image has a selection of licensed coffins to suit your needs. Want to be launched into space like Mr. Spock in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn? You can get a replica casket from them, but you'll have to make the space arrangements yourself.

A Stone Age. A those souls who mandate their headstone be decorated with some clever phrase. We love them. Then there are those who go overboard so to speak. Hubpages has a great list that I'll just link to here.

She always said her feet were killing her
but nobody believed her.

Have a safe Halloween.

The Lucrative Business of Death

2009-10-26T10:43:00.000-07:00

60 Minutes recently did a report (included below) on Mark Roesler, agent to stars. His clients include well-known celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, Babe Ruth, Frank Lloyd Wright and Amelia Earhart. What's that? They are all dead you say? Well, they wouldn't be his clients if they were alive, I would reply. Roesler is an agent to deceased stars. He acquires their image rights from the family and licenses it out for different products, like this classy lunchbox-thing.

Technology has introduced new methods for these stars to be reanimated, if only to hock new products. In 1997 Dirt Devil aired a Super Bowl commercial that included Fred Astaire dancing with one of their newest products. They had superimposed the image of their product over the original prop with the permission of his estate. You can see it here. There were three commercials of this nature produced for the Super Bowl that year starring Mr. Astaire.

It appears each celebrity makes more money as a dead legend than as a living one. In fact, its an $800 million a year industry, and that number is only poised to get larger with the death of Michael Jackson this year. Elvis, who died in 1977 (depending on who you believe), still earns $50 million a year.

Elvis' Graceland rakes in $28 per person contributing to this number and one can only assume Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch will do the same to become a tourist's destination. The amusement park rides that adorn it are likely to help.

While Elvis' music career is mostly dormant as far as new music goes, there have been other examples of artists, such as rapper Tupac Shakur, releasing music on a regular basis after their death. Knowing there is much unreleased music in Jackson's catalog, I'd wager on occurring with him too.

Video provided by CBS News

Funny Fridays: A Dapper Short

2009-10-16T04:52:00.000-07:00

Enjoy the classic 1989 Oscar-winning Creature Comforts, where zoo tenants give some insight into their accommodations. Surprisingly, a TV series was developed from this short film in 2003. Unsurprisingly, the American version--at 30 minutes an episode--was short lived. The entire original series and the single canceled American season are available on DVD.

Don't Be Greedy, Save The World

2009-10-15T19:06:00.000-07:00

World leaders will meet in Copenhagen this December to negotiate a global response to the greatest threat to our future. Its effects are already bearing down on us and their impact will only get worse. Global warming is here and it brings with it disaterous climate change. There are some things you can do on your own that can make a difference.

Be conservative. Turn the lights off when you leave a room. Shower instead of taking baths to conserve hot water. In general, don't be greedy; only use what you need. Don't leave the water running when brushing your teeth. Unplug energy leaching electronics when not in use and replace high-energy drain devices with Energy Star approved products.

Recycle! Save that forest you used to play in as a kid and that rather large rainy one in South America too. Not only does recycling keep our land from getting polluted it also allows us to reuse our resources instead of plundering for more.

Trash talk. The breakdown of materials in landfills produces methane, which is "25 times more potnent in terms of warming potential than CO₂". Cutting back on the waste you produce will help prevent this. You can do this by avoiding products with unnecessary packaging and buying your vegetables and fruits from the produce section.

Shorten your commune. Every gallon of gas you use releases 20 pounds of CO₂ into the atmosphere. Check the air in your tires; under-inflated tires can cause your car to be less efficient and use more gas as well as being less safe. Think about moving closer to your work or using public transportation. Purchasing local products means they don't have to be shipped to you saving the ozone and supporting your local businesses.

Invest in the future. Purchase solar panels and wind turbines to tap into free & clean energy, which you can potentially make money from. Many power plants burn coal to produce the power you use. Using new technology you can grab the energy produced by Mother Nature for free and stop the power plants from emitting that much more CO₂ into the atmosphere. Septic tanks also produce methane gases, invest in a household treatment system.

Make some noise. Bring attention to this issue in your local community. Write your local representatives to ensure they know that this is an important issue to you. Ensure that your local recycling center recycles as many components as possible.

This post is part of the Blog Action Day movement which is participated in by bloggers all over the web to bring attention to a specific cause. This particular cause seemed to suit my interests quite well. Read more about your environment here.

A New Age of Video Games

2009-10-14T00:41:00.000-07:00

Games have traditionally been for children. We grow up playing games of tag and jump rope, but there comes a time when we have to leave those "childish" things behind. It is at that moment we begin investing ourselves in new "more adult" activities. That just never happened with video games; they defy their own name.

This week, I found a blurb on video games in a recent issue of the AARP Magazine. That's not especially odd in and of itself; there have been plenty of articles in this magazine relating to video games before. The article is small and you probably wouldn't even be inclined to call it an article but its contents say something about the changing demographics. I've included this article to the left below. What does it say when a magazine for retired peoples starts writing articles about bettering your game?

You see video games have evolved with those young children of yesteryear. They've grown to accommodate thier changing tastes. The boys and girls who used to play these games have become the men and women who now make them. Mature themes have exploded onto the scene as the average age of the video gamer rises. Currently studies put the average age of video game players at 35. Its also noted that of Americans aged 50 and up, 26% play video games in 2008. That's a 9% increase since 1999. Video games are mainstream, and more so everyday.

The release of the Wii in 2006 seems to have expedited this. Nintendo, makers of the Wii, sought to remedy the barrier to new gamer players by making the controller more accessible. The result is a controller that can be used to mimic real-life actions, such as swinging a tennis racket or golf club. It also has pointer functionality, traditional buttons and can be attached to supplemental controllers for playing more traditional games. The Wii has currently sold more than 50 million units worldwide.
What's more amazing is the impact this device has had on the senior community at large. Retirement homes are now supplying their patients with Wiis so that they may partake in activities such as bowling from the comfort of their commons area and without the weight of the bowling ball impeding on their ability to play. Trivia games and programs designed to exercise and stimulate the brain are also available and can have a positive impact on seniors lives.

Wii Fit and its included balance board encourages "players" to exercise on a regular basis by providing them with a variety of interactive activies and allows them to track the progress they make. A follow-up to the 20+ million selling Wii Fit has just been released and is expected to take the idea even further.

You can still find classic games and genres on the Wii making an incredibly well-rounded system. Nintendo's Virtual Console is a back-catalog of games from the past 30 years, while new entries in the Super Mario series are also exclusively available to Nintendo's platform.

Will there ever be a day when everyone plays video games? That's incredibly likely. Video games are still a relatively new form of entertainment and will likely become a hallmark like movies before them. Some video games even have narratives that trump many films. However, if video games have one advantage, its their versatility. They embrace new technology to improve more than their looks but their interactivity, making their future bright and almost limit-less.

Thank you GoNintendo for linking to this article!
Statistics taken from GRABstats.com.

How Will You Be Remembered?

2009-10-12T03:45:00.000-07:00

You have it all planned out. You know what you want to do in life and what you want to get from it. Everyday is a step towards your goal. The legacy you leave behind will be one of love and success. And then it happens: a plane falls out of the sky--crushing you. Or maybe something more conventional like a car accident or choking, but that's beside the point. You are now dead.

Most people don't think about it until its too late. Those that do tend to make something more meaningful out of their life. When you die, how will people remember you? Think about that. How do you want others to perceive you? Now, how do you think they actually perceive you?

In the classic Citizen Kane, Orson Wells character rises to a life of riches only to have it taken away shortly before his death. People see him as a power hungry man, but they don't know anything about him as a person. They don't know about the poor roots that he is constantly running away from. What they "know" is an image they have made in their mind of the man. All of their interactions (or in this case observations) with him are used in the picture. All the bad things he's done and all the good. Hopefully, the good outweighs the bad, but that's not always the case. Sometimes a moment of bad judgment can overtake the positive accomplishments one has made. On the other hand one small good deed can leave a positive impact on someone for a lifetime. Either way it's this image that lives on after your death.

Another film, Frost/Nixon, portrays an ex-president beaten down by his choices refusing to take the blame and yet trying to build some positive PR for the upcoming release of his memoirs. Nixon had his hands stained with scandal and is seen as a poster-child for political corruption. He's unable to escape from that image throughout the movie as he's convinced he did the right thing.

Your own idea of how you believe others perceive you may be distorted compared to the reality. To really understand, you have to put yourself in their position. None of us live this life alone and we should live accordingly, taking criticism from our peers and filing it away. Using that information to make better choices in our lives. We should, however, never go by popular opinion to justify what we do. In that case we would just be mindless sheep.

Rosebud...

Funny Fridays: Don't Be Like These People

2009-10-09T01:14:00.000-07:00

An ode to America's Funniest Home Videos or AFV as they now call themselves. Out of all the bones that you've broken may your funny bone still be intact.

10 Better Ways To Tell The Truth (or Framing Your Candor)

2009-10-07T05:50:00.000-07:00

They say you have nothing to worry about if you just tell the truth. Or do you? Sometimes the truth hurts. But is it the truth that hurts or the harsh words? I like to think its the delivery with a few small exceptions. We’ve already covered some of the reasons you don’t tell the truth. Now let’s look at some ways to soften the blow when telling the truth, making it more attractive and effective.

Framing goes a long way in making the truth more palatable. Nobody wants to hear how they are wrong or that they are a jerk. Simple changes to the words used to express these opinions can make or break your case in the other person’s mind.

“We need to talk.” Do not do this. This puts pressure on them and they will instantly assume the worst. You want to spring it on them in natural conversation. So, if you need a private place, you’ll have to plan this out ahead of time in a way that fits with your normal interaction.

Please don’t feed the ego. Actually, in this case, do. It will instantly put them in a good frame of mind with you. If possible let them know, how valuable they are to you in a roundabout way.

Be a wise man. Bring a sort of gift. You can even claim an extra bag of chips came out of the vending machine to avoid making yourself appear too generous or seeming suspicious. Going to a movie and paying for their ticket or snack is anther way. “I’m just feeling generous today.” Might even be a fine excuse. Like the step before, this is meant to start the conversation positively.

Don’t spring the trap early. Make sure you don’t immediately drop the truth bomb on your acquaintance. Leave ample time at the beginning and end of your conversation as a buffer against any unforeseen negative occurrences.

Leave your army at home. Whether you admit it or not, people talk about others when they are not around. Don’t let your conversational partner in this exercise know you’ve been doing so about them. It will make them feel outnumbered and will lead to a defensive conversation. Thats the last thing you want. You want this person to be open-minded and willing to help. If you must bring the other person’s feelings into the conversation, make it from an observational perspective.

Don’t point. Avoid putting any blame specifically on them. Doing so will--again--just make them defensive, in which case they won’t bother listening to anything you say; they will be too busy trying to counter your arguments. If you must place blame, place it equally on all involved. Unless, you have done something to them, in which case you must take all of the blame.

Understand your opponent. What does he or she want? Is it to be appreciated, bowed down to? Why do they do what they do? Make sure you feed their desires and ward off their worries. (This does not mean sex. I know there are some of you who are thinking this.)

Make them the hero. Here’s where you hit them with the truth, but let them know in a way that makes everyone happier. Everyone wants to be better, sometimes they just lack incentive. Give them an one, if possible.

Laughter is the best medicine. After you’ve told them whatever truth you needed to tell, have a joke planned. Something connected to what you previously said would be nice. This way the conversation ends, just as it begun, on a good note.

Plan for the worst. There is always a chance that you could hit a nerve that you hadn’t planned for and the conversation may go south. Plan accordingly and tread softly while acting normal. If things do go badly, do not get angry. Keep your cool and the other person may feel bad about their actions later on. Even if things do go well you have to foster this truth after you’ve released it. It could potentially be a sensitive subject matter and all things loosely related to it may remind the other person of this.

Share your stories in the comments.

6 Reasons You Don't Tell The Truth

2009-10-05T05:38:00.000-07:00

We’ve all told lies, even if they’ve been small ones--though I’m sure many of us are willing to confess to having made larger ones. But why do we do it when it can be an impairment on our ability to communicate? Let’s examine a few examples...

The politician makes promises he knows he cannot keep. This seems like a good idea, at the time, as it may potentially net him the political seat he lusts after. He tells the people what they want to hear to gain a short-term advantage. What happens when he doesn’t deliver on his impossible promises? Its always good to shoot for the stars, but its also important to be honest about the possibilities.

The little girl promises through chocolatey lips that she didn’t eat the cupcakes. Unfortunately, for this little girl its obvious she did, but why didn’t she confess? Obviously, she was afraid of the consequences that would follow breaking her mother’s rule.

A mother tells her children that babies are delivered by the stork. A simple statement and maybe not one many would consider lie. But since babies are not delivered by storks it is just that, even if it has good intentions. Sometimes we believe that the person on the receiving end of the information will not be able to understand the truth, so we modify it. Is it our place to do so? Wouldn’t a planned timeline of information serve a better purpose, to slowly inform them?

“Santa Claus is coming to town.“ Sometimes we lie to make things more interesting. Though, if we conceded that it was a mere fairy tale it wouldn’t be lying.

Sharing the truth with someone can be a bonding experience. Sometimes people share intimate secrets with others as a sign of trust. You might be afraid to open yourself up to another person or afraid they will think differently of you when they know this hidden facet of your life.

You may not be able to tell the truth if, in fact, you do not know it. If your boss is extorting money from your workplace and upon being asked about it you fervently deny such charges, are you lying? If you didn’t know the facts and to the best of your knowledge those words were true then no. But were you telling the truth? The truth is factual and the facts indicate that your boss was stealing money from the company. Are truth and fact the same?

For better or worse, I’ve posed a lot of questions throughout this article, I’d love to hear your truth in the comments below!

Funny Fridays: Late Night Bumps

2009-10-02T19:51:00.000-07:00

Monday night, during filming Conan had a freak accident, which he played off pretty well in the moment considering he had a concussion. I'm glad Conan wasn't severely hurt. I'm also glad Andy is back in the copilot's seat.

Also in the normally non-existant late-night news, information about an extortion attempt on David Letterman. Apparently, Letterman had some affairs with members of his staff. Why would anyone want to put that image in other people's minds. :)

Late-night hosts fight for the ladies.

Save Money By Cutting The Cable

2009-09-29T00:23:00.000-07:00

You like to watch TV. I understand that; I really do, but the cost of cable television can really add up over time. Consider this: If your monthly cable bill is $50 (which quite often its higher), you are throwing $600 a year away on something you could be getting free. "Free?" you say. Yes, free. Read on, I'll tell you how and it's not by using "bunny ears".

Ok, so I lied. Many local news sites publish their content online, but if you want to see your local news on your TV you may have to have to use an antenna. . However, much like televisions have advanced since the days of its invention so have the antennas that attach to them. Bunny ears are still available and work just fine, but there are new designs that do a better job at picking up reflected signals in densely populated urban areas and the suburbs and some that are made to tune a signal that was previously unattainable in rural country areas. The best part is all of these antennas--even your old rabbit ears--will pick up HD programming as long as you have an HDTV.

A cheaper subscription to entertainment. Movies rentals are a great way to forget about that nasty cable service, but they too can be expensive at just over $5 per movie. That's where Netflix comes in. Netflix is an online DVD rental service. You create a list of movies you wish to see on your computer and Netflix starts from the top and ships the DVDs to your home. In addition to their catalog of over 100,000 movies Netflix also offers TV shows on DVD. You can keep them as long as you wish (no late fees!) and when you return the disc they ship the next one on your list. Subscriptions start at $8.99 a month for unlimited DVDs. That's not all though! Members can use their site to watch streaming movies and TV shows the day after they air.

Blockbuster offers a competing service that also allows you to exchange movies in-store for an extra fee.

The rise of internet programming. A large percentage of broadcast and cable television is available online now. A good portion of that is supported by advertising and is free. Let's take a look at all the different sources.

YouTube Movies & TV Shows - The largest online streaming service on the web was a little late to the party when it comes to television shows, but they have an admirable collection. Video quality is great, however, the quality of the titles in their collection can leave a lot to be desired.They have a rather large collection of anime and public domain film.

Hulu - This is by far the largest online publisher of streaming major television shows and it should be considering it was created by the top television networks. Hulu is host to shows from ABC, NBC, Fox, USA and others. They also host some movies, though most of them are older. Shows are usually added to the roster within days of their initial airing and the catalog of episodes available from each show spans the five most recent episodes. Shows are supported by ads but there are significantly less than in their traditional counterparts. They also have web-exclusive content.

TV.com - This site is a bit different from the others in that it contains original content in the form of previews, reviews and news blurbs. Its lineup overlaps Hulu's on occassion, covering shows from ABC, NBC, Fox and most notably CBS. As the name implies movies are not featured on this site.

Fancast - Another network whose programming overlaps with Hulu's. Much like TV.com, Fancast has features, but they are downplayed compared to the prior.

Joost - Here you'll find a more niche selection of content, including Marvel comics and plenty of anime. They have a section exclusivly devoted to music videos.

Or go straight to the source. Some of these sites may not syndicate their properties through one of the sites listed earlier and may host web-exclusive series or web-exclusive content that compliments a show. Be warned that a few of them require you to download proprietary codecs to watch entire shows.
ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, Comedy Central, TBS, TNT, USA, HGTV, MTV, ABC Family, VH1, CW, Adult Swim, Showtime, Discovery Channel, A&E, History Channel, Disney Channel, Disney XD, Syfy, Oxygen, Lifetime

Closing thoughts. Using this plan you could potentially save thousands of dollars that could be used for anything from purchasing a new vehicle to vacationing at an island getaway. You could also try turning that $50 saved into something more with a little investing. The choice is yours. At the very least, you'll be saving a poor tree from becoming a cable bill.

So, what do you think? Did I miss your favorite channel? Let me know in the comments.
Image of the old TV provided courtesy of avlxyz.

5 Tips To Stretch That Paycheck

2009-09-28T12:42:00.000-07:00

Do you always seem to be coming up short on cash? Maybe you barely squeeze by paying the bills every month. Well, this article is for you. We are going to look at the ways you can tweak your budget for the better.

We won't be looking to drastically reduce the amount you shell out to debtors in this article, which may include making some lifestyle changes. That is for a different article. We will be looking at ways in which you can optimize your cash-flow through smart, small changes.

Pay essential bills such as rent/mortgage, electricity, etc. first! Not all bills are created equal. If your cable is turned off no big deal, if your car is repossessed that may be a problem. Sort through your bills and make a priority list. Housing should be at the top followed by utilities. I know this seems like common sense to some of you, but I think you would be surprised how many people ignore this.
Plan ahead for other recurring expenses. You know you are going to need gasoline to scuttle around town everyday and you probably use about the same amount every week. So keep an eye on how much you regularly pay at the pump and take that into consideration when making your budget. If you have to eat out for lunch everyday then that is an expense and it should be worked into your plan accordingly. Rent a movie every weekend? Add it in.
Pay off those credit cards and loans! Every month you spend paying the minimum payment on those credit card bills is like taking the cash and flushing is down the bank's toilet. You should have paid the minium balance to you credit card in step one as it is an essential bill, but only because you've already racked up the debt and want to keep the nice things you bought with it. Once you have budgeted the minimum payment, invest some of that saved money into the rest of that bill. You'll pay it off quicker and in some instances (like car loans) shrink the monthly payment. Once paid off you'll have the money you used to hand over to the bank every month in your pocket.
Give yourself an allowance. After you have paid the bills, cut yourself a small check for personal purchases. Use this money any way you please. Buy any little knick-knack you wish. Just don't spend more than you budget for yourself. This will get you in the habit of thinking through your purchases and hopefully help you spend it more wisely in order to avoid going over.

Save the rest or invest! Putting aside some money from every paycheck is preparing for the future. You never know when something bad will happen. A minor car accident may have you paying an unexpected deductible of $250 or more. Besides you never know when you might decide you want to make a really big purchase. It's best to have some extra cash on hand.

If you'd rather not have your money sitting in a lonely account gathering dust, you can always invest in something worthwhile and make more money. That's another paycheck to apply these tips to!

Share your own tips in the comments below!

Images provided by MorgueFile.

Another Argument--Just To Be Fair

2009-09-27T14:50:00.000-07:00

After posting this the other day, I wanted to pull back the curtian on a different viewpoint and give it a chance here.
That is all.

Comments? ;)

Funny Fridays: Unicorns vs. Narwhals

2009-09-25T08:54:00.000-07:00

I don't know if you know this, but I'm a big fan of hand-drawn animation. There is just something amazing about the process of drawing 24 images for every second of one-and-a-half-hour movie. That's 129,600 frames of animation. Well, today's video is only four minutes and twenty-four seconds and not entirely animated yet, but that doesn't make it any less amazing.

This gives me great hope for Disney's return to traditional animation. The market has been flooded in computer-generated animation through Pixar's success. Most films not having the same quality of the standard Pixar film. Pixar was recently acquired by Disney and the minds behind Toy Story are now behind the rebirth of Disney's animation department as it once was. The first classically animated film to be released will be The Princess & The Frog on December 11th. And its to launch with an animated short sure to bring back some nostalgia from Disney's classic fare.

Look At That Beautiful Blue Planet...

2009-09-24T11:02:00.000-07:00

"1st Successful Amateur Hi-Def Video from The Edge of Space."

Watch in full-screen HD for best effect.

How The Federal Reserve Is Quietly Killing This Country

2009-09-23T20:32:00.000-07:00

Ron Paul, the doctor, the Congressman, and the twice Presidential hopeful. He's always tried to help people and spread that very same opinion used by presidents and he has just released a new book entitled "End The Fed". The book entails the rise of the Federal Reserve and the men behind it--most notably rich businessmen the Rockefellers and Morgans. When the United Steas first introduced the dollar it was redeemable for its face value in gold. Now the dollar has no real value beyond what the Federal Reserve says it is worth. Its a fresh perspective on our economy, even if its one he's preached for years.

Now, let's do something interesting. Let's tie this recent book release to another current event...

"Special interests have replaced the concern that the Founders had for general welfare. Vote trading is seen as good politics. The errand-boy mentality is ordinary, the defender of liberty is seen as bizarre. It's difficult for one who loves true liberty and utterly detests the power of the state to come to Washington for a period of time and not leave a true cynic."

Following this speech Paul was replaced by the previous state representative Tom DeLay who later stepped down amidst claims of illegal finance contributions from lobbyists. Incidentally, Mr. DeLay can now be found on ABC's Dancing With The Stars keeping the dream alive.

Back to the original topic, Ron Paul has had a long career and with it he's made plenty of bold statements cementing his place as a free thinker as opposed to the traditional Washington-man who gauges an issues popularity or follows the scent of money being trailed behind lobbying corporations. Give his book a chance and it may just open your eyes.

Getting Laid Off And How That Affects Other's Opinions Of You (Pun Not Included)

2009-09-22T17:05:00.000-07:00

When people hear that you aren't employed it's an immeadiate red mark against you. When you are first laid off they may offer you some sympathy, but it doesn't last long. In the dating world it lasts an even shorter period of time. Your potential mates want someone who can help support them instead of being relied on to support you themselves. Now, I've know the odd guys and girls who actively search out people to date by how they can support their non-existant work habits, but this is different; Unemployment is at record highs. It's just interesting how one small change in your life can impact you on so many levels.

What I'm lookin forward to: Laid Off, Now What? is getting a refresh very soon with a late 2009 edition! Its an interesting read, full of insight into why you most likely got laid off and how to turn it around. Also, another invaluable tool is this read on building the perfect resume. Best of luck job-seekers in employment and relationships!

Funny Fridays: Business Cards and the Rich Jerks Who Own Them

2009-09-18T07:09:00.000-07:00

I found this ridiculous video the other day and just had to share it. Its a little old but I'm sure some of you have yet to see it and that just won't do. Apparently, when you get rich you can act like a jerk.

This guy claims to make several million dollars a year on the internet doing practically nothing. Well, except for being a jerk of course. His website is almost worth the read for the same unreal attitude it exudes. I'm almost sure that this is an act used to drum up business. If it is, its most certainly working.

Real or not; it does remind me of this great scene from American Psycho, a movie I wasn't particularly fond of for its graphic nature, but one that has a few standout moments such as this.

Remember laughing is healthy and pop-up business cards are all the rage.