Control the Chaos

Two ways I make a few bucks online: Auctions and Wholesale Directories

2015-01-18T16:40:00.000-05:00

Image courtesy of worradmu at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Making money online is such a big-hitting topic these days. But no matter where you look, it seems that the only “legitimate” way to make more than a nickel is by clicking through a few thousand online surveys (like the ad below), or by simply owning a blog with a few million subscribers. Yeah...no. Nobody has that kind of time, and if you do, I envy you. Really, I’ve only ever made decent money by selling my stuff on eBay. And that's not a difficult thing to do. This post isn’t about eBay, though. Well, kind of. It is, and it isn’t. Let me explain.

Ebay is a great resource to list items cheap and make a quick profit. But the key to making profits is getting the items cheap enough to justify the effort and profit margin. I’m a big fan of finding neat items at local auctions and turning a decent profit on eBay. Provided that there is a local auction house nearby, and they are actually selling decent items, this can be a good start to making money online. Not a fortune, but a good start. However, a lot of auctions are plagued by having either too many customers present, thus driving up the prices, or not having items worth reselling online. You know how many auctions I’ve sat through that kept insisting that the hand-made blankets they were selling were actually worth something? Too many. For Pete’s sake, what’s with old people and their blankets? I digress.

I have run into this too many times at local auctions and began looking at wholesale suppliers online, but the only ones I could find required a lot of patience (shipping from China, etc.) or a lot of start up money that I don't have. After all, this is a hobby of mine, not a full-time business venture. Perhaps someday it will be, but until then…I needed something more flexible and something I could trust wouldn’t rip me off the second I hit the “submit” button on their website.

I stumbled upon a couple of different sites that created a wholesale directory of sorts, but they all seemed to be either super-expensive or super-sketchy. Then I found SaleHoo. I was skeptical at first, but then I saw that they were cheap ($67/year) and had a 60-day money back guarantee. Who else offers that? At an annual cost of $67, they’re not a bad deal. That’s under six bucks a month. They said they had over 8,000 legitimate suppliers, a hot-trends research lab and a decent support network with an active forum (with over 100,000 members). That’s not too shabby. There are some downsides, though, so I suggest you read my whole article before you decide to go out and hand over your credit cards. I’ve broken it down in two sections: Why, and Why Not.

Why?

Actual, Legitimate Suppliers

It’s tough to find real suppliers of brand-name products, especially for big names like Apple. But unlike their competitors, SaleHoo guarantees that all of their suppliers are legitimate, real people selling products. One of the strongest things that SaleHoo has going for them is their costs when compared to other wholesale directories. Add into that the good mix of dropshippers, direct-manufacturers, and liquidators and you have a recipe for a successful company. That’s exactly what SaleHoo did.

Awesome Online Support

Everyone needs a little help every now and then, especially when you’re just learning the ropes of making money online legitimately. SaleHoo provides awesome client support. Send them an email and they typically get you an answer within 24 hours. Have a question about which suppliers provide a certain niche product you’re looking for? Email it. They’ll get you a list of dropshippers for that particular product and their recommendations. Who else does that?! Add in the fact that they have a HUGEEEE active forum with other members, and you’re up and running in no time!

What in the world is the “Research Lab?”

This is actually a really cool perk of SaleHoo membership: the SaleHoo Research Lab. They actually track what is selling best on eBay and tell you what they are! You can dang-near guarantee success with that information! They even drill down to details like when to start and stop an auction for the best results. Who else does that?! If SaleHoo only had the suppliers and this feature, it’d be an awesome package, but they went way overboard with other features that make it worth a second look.

Why Not

SaleHoo doesn’t teach you how to use eBay

This can be a downside for new eBay sellers. They don’t include absolutely everything you’d need to get started in selling items on eBay if you’re just getting started. They don’t teach you things like how to make an effective auction ad or deal with unruly customers (sometimes, people just suck and you have to work with them). If you’re just starting out, I’d recommend taking Online Selling Tactics. It’s an online course packed with information that will get you up and running with a steady stream of online cash in no time.

Summary

So what’s the deal? Is it worth it or not?

Is SaleHoo worth 67 bucks a year? Everything considered, I would say, yes, it’s worth it. For practically the price of a latte each month, it’s not a bad deal. It has over 8,000 suppliers, which is just impressive by anyone’s standards. They have the lowest prices that I could find online without requiring ridiculously large bulk orders (I’m not running a Walmart here). This is a huge plus when you’re starting out. Their support staff is awesome and they even tell you which products are the best to sell and which ones aren’t selling. That prevents a lot of headaches compared to learning by trial and error (been there, done that, unfortunately). If you’d like to give it a shot or just learn more about them, please use my affiliate link below so I get credit for sending you their way. Best wishes and good luck with your online money making adventures!

Click here to visit SaleHoo to learn more.

The FDA smacks Delta Airlines with violations for downright nastiness.

2014-12-29T22:56:00.003-05:00

Image courtesy of hywards at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Thanks to the Freedom of Information Act, it recently became apparent that the food you eat on Delta flights might be, well, unsanitary. Back in February 2011, Delta Airlines was hit with an FDA Form 483 (the form given when the FDA finds violations of law during an inspection) for not keeping their galleys free of “flies, rodents, and other vermin.”

Specifically, the observation lists four violations:

The forward galley having 8-11 “apparent rodent excreta pellets” above where the food is prepared.
Another 10-20 excreta pellets found near the same area where food is prepared.
And yet another approximate “9-15 apparent rodent excreta pellets” found in what sounds like the carry-on luggage compartments above the seats.
Multiple overhead panels containing too many excreta pellets to count. These were found directly above where food and drinks were stored. In addition to that, the inspectors found six ceiling panels with apparent rodent urine present.

Eww. That’s just nasty. You always fear that this could be the case at your local greasy burger joint, but who would have thought that your $7 drink and crackers could be coming with more than you bargained for.

I really hope that Delta got their act together following this inspection in 2011. Given that I’ve personally flown with them more times than I’d like to admit during and since that time, I’d prefer to think that I'm not sitting near, eating, or drinking any more crap than they have always given me in the past. Oh, and by the way, your flight has been delayed until next week. Have fun driving to your destination!

So, not only do you have to wait in the “peasant line” while their Gold-Platinum-Diamond-Ruby-Emerald-Sapphire-I-paid-more-than-you-and-have-their-credit-card-members board first, now you have to worry about nastiness in your food, drinks, and storage areas. Gross. And to think, that’s only what they found during the inspection. It concerns me to think what was present that wasn’t found. Unfortunately, the vendors that supply a lot of the food provided to airlines have come under the gun multiple times in the past. Just search "airlines cited by FDA" for a stomach-turning night of light reading. However, it's not every day that the actual airline is found in violation of the law in such a grotesque manner.

Looks like I’m going to be flying Southwest or United from here on out. *shudders*

Surprised to learn this about Delta? Leave your comments below and please, feel free to share it so that others are informed. Help control the chaos by building a more informed consumer population!

So Keurig is in "Hot Water" over Recall? Surprise, Surprise.

2014-12-23T23:49:00.001-05:00

So, Keurig is now recalling 7.2 million units of their over-priced instant coffee makers. Coffee makers that, honestly, simply pour hot water over instant coffee packs...for $100 each. Whatever. They have their fans. However, USA Today reports that they are now issuing recalls due to risks that they can SPRAY OVERHEATED WATER ALL OVER THE USER. That's just an absurd way to screw up the engineering. I laughed a little when I read that. The visual that I got just had me chuckling. Sorry, it's not right, but I can't help myself.

I've used a Keurig before. Heck, I even have one that was a gift. It's pretty neat. Not $100 neat, but neat nonetheless. Even I've noticed that coffee coming out of that thing is burn-your-face-off lava hot. You think they'd be able to afford a higher quality engineering department for the price of each unit. Not the cheaply assembled plastic thing they've been putting out for the past few years. And don't get me started on the price of their instant coffee. Admit it. That's all it is.

If these recalls and stock price drops continue, the executives at these companies may be looking for work elsewhere. Perhaps they should visit Pro Resume Writing Services. And if you're in the market for a new resume, feel free to click my affiliate link for 50% off.

This year should go down as the "Year of Recalls." From the Graco car seat recalls and the myriad of class action settlements this year (Red Bull, anyone?), to this Keurig recall, the number of companies backtracking this year has reached astounding heights. Instead of rushing to put the next cheaply made product on the market, perhaps these companies should invest more in putting out quality products. There's a novel idea. Perhaps if they invested more in their quality engineering departments instead of their marketing departments, they'd be a lot better off.

We all would.

Why I traded in my minivan for a Chevy Cruze (with three kids still in car seats)

2014-10-28T23:14:00.000-04:00

A few years ago, I made the decision with my wife to trade in our four wheel drive Chevy Trailblazer for a minivan. To be more specific, my new daily ride became a white 2009 Chrysler Town and Country minivan. There were many reasons driving this decision, but the primary reason was that we had just had our third child, and the Trailblazer was just miserable to travel in when all three kids were still in car seats. Conventional wisdom led me to believe that a minivan would be much easier. After all, they’re built for families, right?

Well, it definitely was easier than the Trailblazer, but the thing drove like a boat. It had the Stow & Go features, so the extra storage space was very welcomed. I figured that the Town and Country would be our main staple for at least the next foreseeable decade. One year later, I changed my mind. I just couldn’t stand driving that gas guzzler everywhere. There HAD to be a better option. My wife, who wasn’t thrilled about the minivan idea in the first place, found a few options that could hold 3 car seats. A few were other SUVs, but there was one car that we found worth looking into: the Chevy Cruze. And the sucker had a turbo! A couple of months later, we swapped the minivan (and the crappy stereotype that goes with it) for a much sportier red 2012 Chevy Cruze LTZ with a 1.4L turbo engine. That car was light, fast, and sharp. Most importantly, however, is that it fit three car seats with ease. Here are a few of the main reasons that I traded in my minivan for a much more sporty Chevy Cruze.

Gas Mileage

The differences in gas mileage between these two vehicles is simply astounding. I nearly cut my gas bill in half! I used the website fueleconomy.gov to get a snapshot of the two vehicles compared side by side.

Now, in the real world, I averaged about 18 miles per gallon during daily driving with the Town and Country, and got a meager 21 miles per gallon on long interstate trips. Fast forward to my current Chevy Cruze, and those numbers skyrocket up to 30 MPG daily, and 38 MPG consistently on any interstate trip. The difference was night and day.

Three Car Seats

True, both vehicles accommodate three car seats. Surprisingly, the car has all of the car seat brackets necessary to do this the right way: Three upper latches across the top of the back seat, and the appropriate corresponding lower car seat latches in the back seat on the bottom. Most noticeably, though, was how fast it was to get everyone buckled in and out of the car compared to the minivan. There was no need to climb in and reach back to unbuckle the third kid who was often left in their own little world in the back of the minivan. Snacks and drinks became a much easier affair, too! My wife could simply pass snacks to the back seat, and everyone got their snack without having to stop the vehicle or hope that the last kid could catch while going down the highway.

Performance

There will be obvious differences here, since it’s like comparing apples to oranges. However, going from a sluggish, heavy minivan to a turbo-charged, lightweight street demon was the best part of the switch for me. No more of the “minivan dad” complex, and no more of the horrible body roll going through turns. Just point and go. No need to slow down to 20 MPH just to turn left. The thing is a blast to drive. Even better, I can drive like a mad man and still, STILL, get gas mileage that is head and shoulders above the minivan. Amazing. Now, it’s not a Corvette, but compared to the minivan, it damn near feels like it. I dropped off that minivan and never looked back. Still the best car decision I’ve ever made.

So, there you have it. If you have three kids in car seats, don’t panic! Your fate isn’t doomed to fall into the minivan crowd just yet. Fortunately, the folks at Chevy put the option out there for a three car seat car to be your saving grace. And did I mention the trunk space? I was surprised to see that our tandem dual stroller fit into the trunk better than it did into the minivan!

Have you had a similar experience or are you still trying to rock the minivan look? I’d love to hear your comments below!

New Dad Basics: How to make a bottle

2014-10-14T00:05:00.000-04:00

There are some very basic tasks that you will need to be able to execute to survive the first few weeks with a newborn in the house. This includes how to make a bottle to how to change a diaper. If you don’t know the standard procedures for these necessary tasks, your next few weeks will be hell. If you are prepared, then the transition will be much smoother and you’ll surprise the heck out of your wife.

Bottle-Making Basics

If you and the lady have decided to only give your child breast milk (for whatever reason), then make sure that there is a supply frozen in the freezer for the night time feedings. If she’s only producing enough milk to get by from feeding to feeding, then you won’t have to worry so much about the feeding aspect of your new role. Not much you can do from that stand point. However, if you do have some frozen, and the baby wakes up for her feeding in the middle of the night, here is how you proceed:

Get the frozen milk from the freezer.
Place the bottle of frozen milk in a cup of warm water.
Let it sit in the water and thaw out. You may have to change out the water a time or two to continually warm the milk. Do NOT use the microwave. Microwaves heat things unevenly and you can burn the baby. That’s not how you want to start out your father-daughter or father-son relationship.
Once the milk has come to room temperature (you can aid the process by periodically swirling the milk in the bottle), make sure that you have enough measured out for the feeding. This can be anywhere from 2 to 4 ounces. Start with 2 ounces, and make more if you need it. Try not to make more than you need. That’s stuff’s precious.
The milk is at a decent temperature, and the baby is hungry. You are ready to feed the baby.

If you are making a bottle with powdered formula, then this is an even simpler process. It’s typically a 2:1 ratio of water to powder. If so, then the following steps would apply:

Pour 2 ounces of distilled water (not tap water) into the bottle. The water should be room temperature and not refrigerated. Set the bottle on the counter and get down even with it to make sure you have 2 ounces, and not 3 or 4 ounces (especially important when you are half awake at 4:00am in the morning).
Add 1 scoop of powdered formula to the bottle. If you are making a 4 ounce bottle, then use 2 scoops.
Cap the bottle with a nipple.
Mix the formula by swirling it or shaking it sideways. Do not shake it up and down. The powder will get stuck in the nipple, blocking the flow of formula to the baby. You’ll end up with a very upset child and will have lost 20 minutes trying to figure out the problem.
Go forth and feed thy screaming child.

There you have it. You have now been upgraded to Baby Chef. Time for some epic feedings!

New Dad Finances: Part 3

2014-10-13T23:37:00.000-04:00

In Part 1 of this series, we looked at the preparation steps for becoming a New Dad. In Part 2 of the series, we discussed a few items that are good to know when the medical bills from the delivery start rolling in. This part focuses on your changing budget as a New Dad.

Step 5: Your New Budget

Now that you have a child in the house, you have to accommodate that change in the monthly budget. You’ve probably read studies that it costs several hundred thousand dollars to raise a child. That may be true, but that’s not including the mitigating effect of health insurance, either. If you had to front the money for all medical expenses associated with having and raising a kid, then I would agree that it would cost a fortune. Again, I am assuming you have decent health insurance, so I won’t bother with the monthly costs of routine health care such as vaccinations and such (most insurance companies deem these “well visits” and the cost of each visit is really low or free).

The true monthly costs that you will have to cover include diapering essentials (wipes, creams, powders, etc.), and formula. Of course, you’ll have to buy clothes as they need them, but if this is your first child, you probably have a TON of baby clothes from the baby shower (you did have one, didn’t you?). You can even mitigate the cost impact of the formula if you sign up for discount programs through each company. For example, Similac offers their Strong Moms program that sends you checks for their formula every so often, and it’s free. Similar things exist with the Enfamil brand. Sign up for all of the free programs you can with each company. I mean, why not? It’s free and it saves you money.

Realistically, you should expect to spend an extra $100 each month for the first several months. When they get a little older, around one year, you won’t have to worry about formula costs. Honestly, it’s not ridiculously expensive to have a baby. The month to month maintenance costs aren’t crazy like some internet news articles proclaim. I’ve read the same articles. They’re nonsense. Not every child needs to be wrapped in brand name diapers (seriously, try to remember what purpose diapers serve). If you are hell-bent on buying the best of everything, then you should plan to spend roughly three times as much, if not more. And you probably should be reading a different book. I’m not saying that you should be buying your formula off of Craigslist (never do that), but you should be responsible with the household income. Target brand diapers work just fine. Wal-Mart brand formula works just fine. Find what works, and stick with it. Kids aren’t that expensive, at least not now. In fifteen years or so, when they hit those fantastic teenager years, it will be a different story. But hopefully your family finances will continue to improve every year as you grow into your career, as well. Hopefully this chapter has helped to put you at ease a bit regarding the finances involved with your little one. In the following chapters, we’ll cover some of the more technical aspects of being a Dad, such as feeding, swaddling, and the other essentials that will enable you to survive the first month of fatherhood.

New Dad Finances: Part 2

2014-10-13T23:34:00.003-04:00

In Part 1 of this series, we looked at how to prepare for your new kiddo and the finances associated with it. Here, we'll discuss the delivery costs and how to navigate the medical bills.

Step 4: Managing the Delivery Costs

Be prepared to be shocked by the cost of delivery. This is why it’s very important to have health insurance. If the delivery is routine, then you can expect around $1000 for the anesthesiologist and another $15,000 for the hospital delivery charges. If you have insurance, you’ll be dealing with much smaller bills. If you ignore the earlier advice I gave you and you stick with your no-insurance employer, then may God have mercy on your soul. You just cost yourself a new car. If your delivery happens to be high-risk, as it was with my first, then you’re facing much, much larger bills. My daughter was born six weeks early and required a week in the NICU, and the week leading up to that my wife spent in the hospital trying to postpone the delivery. The bills before the insurance kicked in? Over $127,000. That’s a house. Insurance will save your ass, so make sure you have decent health care.

As soon as you can after the delivery, contact your insurance company and have your new bundle of joy added to your health insurance plan. Insurance companies typically give you a month or less to do this, but do it as soon as possible to prevent headaches with the billing departments. If you wait too long, you’ll find that you have to ask each billing department to resubmit the bills to your insurance company. That sucks. Don’t forget to add your kid to the insurance plan as soon as possible.

When you receive your bills in the mail, which is often a few weeks after the delivery, look them over closely. Make sure you request the detailed bill from the billing department if your bill only lists one item and a massive cost. They do this intentionally. There are a ton of hospital errors that incur more costs, and the only way to detect them is to look over the detailed billing descriptions closely. This could save you several hundred more dollars. You can also call the hospital’s billing department and ask for a billing audit prior to payment. They can try to scare you into avoiding this, saying that it may lead to a higher bill, but do it anyway. Most errors made at the hospital incur cost on your part; they don’t happen in your favor. It’s best to eliminate the erroneous costs as soon as possible.

Once you have a final bill from each of the departments (hospital, doctor, and anesthesia), you can now begin to figure out a way to pay them off without completely flipping your world upside-down. The hospitals are obligated to work with you to resolve the debt. It’s in their best interest to do so. Call them and first ask them if there is any way that this bill could be reduced so that it doesn’t impact your new family so hard. Often, just asking for a discount will get you a 10 to 20% discount. Some will even go 30 to 40% if you can pay it off immediately. However, do not pay this bill with a credit card. Credit cards charge interest. Hospitals do not.

If you cannot immediately pay the bill in one lump sum, then have a figure in mind that you can afford to pay (keeping in mind that you have a new baby to provide for, as well). Let’s say this number is $50. Ask the billing department to set up a monthly payment of $50 each month. This part is critical. If you only ask them to set up a monthly payment, they are going to try to have you pay it off in three or six months. That could be a few hundred bucks each month. Have your number in mind, and stick to it.

Another option to help resolve the medical bills would be to explore loan options with your retirement plan. Most 401(k) plans allow you to take out a loan (it’s technically your money), as long as you pay it back with interest (typically around 4.25%). I did this exact thing with my first daughter. I called the retirement plan up, asked for the loan on my account, and within a week, I had the money to pay off the medical bill. I didn’t mind paying it back with interest since the interest was also going into my account anyway. It was kind of like a forced savings plan. This ended up costing me $15 per pay. Not bad.

In Part 3 of this series, we'll take a look at some things to consider in your new budget.

Part 3 of 3: Your New Budget as a New Dad

New Dad Finances: Part 1

2014-10-13T23:30:00.001-04:00

Let’s start off with the hardest part of the adjustment to fatherhood for most young guys: money. Not only can you expect your monthly budget to increase (not as drastically as you might think, but we’ll get to that in a moment), but there’s also the cost of care for mom and baby, and delivery costs. I’ll walk you through some of my lessons learned from the beginning, from finding out you are expecting, to managing the myriad of medical bills associated with the delivery.

Step 1: So you’re expecting?

I’m going to assume that you have health insurance for you and your wife. If you don’t, then get some. The primary cause of bankruptcy tends to be lack of health insurance. Don’t get caught in that trap. If your employer doesn’t offer health insurance, then by all means find a new employer. That being said, I suggest calling your health insurance provider and asking them for the specifics: what’s the most you would be expected to pay for the delivery of a child, whether it’s a normal (vaginal) or a cesarean delivery? What are your deductibles? Also, ask if there is anything that you need to do for the insurance company associated with the delivery. This is important. Many insurance companies require you to call them within 24 – 48 hours of the hospital admission to “pre-certify” your delivery. It’s a bunch of insurance mumbo-jumbo, but what it means on your end is that if you don’t give them that call, in the time frame that they require, they could penalize you an extra $500 or so. Considering that the day you get that “It’s time!” scream of panic from your wife you will already be very distracted, I suggest writing down the phone number for your insurance company, any case number they give you, and the time frame in which they require you to call on a piece of paper. Put that piece of paper in the hospital bag that your wife has prepared for her delivery. This will make it very convenient when you remember, about three hours after the delivery and the fog settles, that you were supposed to call your insurance company. You’ll have the numbers on hand.

Step 2: Pick your hospital

This may be already decided for you depending on your insurance or your doctor, but in the event you have options, choose wisely. Browse the hospital’s website for their billing department. Look for anything along the lines of financial assistance or charity care program. They have different names at different hospitals, but most hospitals do offer some kind of discount to the parents who qualify for it based on your income levels. You might think you make too much, but you’d be surprised. Even if you only qualify for a 25% discount, that could be several thousand dollars that you wouldn’t have to pay. If you don’t find anything online about this, call their billing department and ask them if they offer any kind of financial assistance program. This could be the best financial call you make throughout the entire pregnancy. I was able to save over $5,000 with my first child by doing just this.

Step 3: Call the Doctor’s Billing Department

Do this early on in the pregnancy. Ask them to estimate your after-insurance costs that you will be responsible for after all is said and done. Don’t be surprised if this number is several hundred dollars. Ask them if they allow you to start paying monthly payments on this now. Some do, some don’t, but this will help you out a lot when your child is born. This could be $500 that you don’t have to worry about paying later, after all of the other medical bills come in. Remember, you’ll have to pay bills from the hospital, the doctor, and the anesthesiologist. None of these will be small bills. If you can get a head start now, then you’ll be much better off. If the doctor’s office doesn’t do this kind of thing, then start setting aside roughly $75 each month to cover this upcoming bill. You’ll be very glad you did, trust me.

In Part 2, we'll look at how to manage the medical bills associated with becoming a New Dad.

Part 2 of 3: Managing the Medical Bills

You're a Dad now! What's your purpose?

2014-10-13T23:25:00.000-04:00

It’s a great title to carry: Dad. It even has a nice ring to it. But what does that mean? What is expected of you now that you have hit that milestone in your life? A lot. And it won’t be easy, but man, will it be worth it! You will be expected to fulfill many roles, but mainly you will be a coach, provider, protector, and educator.

1. Coach

Just like you had growing up in little league, you now assume the role of a coach. Even more importantly, you will forever be your kid’s Life Coach. It’s your responsibility to teach junior the rules of the game, how to score, and how to win. You’ll also need to coach him through the tough times, drawing largely on your own experiences. As a mentor, you can help prevent your little one from making the same mistakes you have made in the past. They won’t always understand your reasons, but eventually they will grow up to realize that you already knew the pain of a mistake that they were about to create. That’s your goal: Coach your children through their life, putting them one step ahead of where you were at that same point. That’s how progress is made. That’s how the legacy grows.

2. Provider

There are millions of men who father a child, and don’t step up to the plate to provide for them. You aren’t one of those men. You never will be. That’s your goal here. No matter what happens, you will make sure that your children and your wife have everything that they need. No matter what. That’s the hallmark of a great father. You will provide for them financially, but also emotionally. No matter what they need, try to find a way to provide it to them. Your job as a Dad is to remove any roadblocks that may stand in the way of your family from reaching its goals. As far as the financial aspect, here’s a piece of advice I once had a friend offer me: I don’t mind telling my children “No” based on principle. But I’ll be damned if I have to say “No” based on poverty. That has been in the back of my mind ever since. Get a good job and earn your keep. And FYI, it starts with a decent resume. Don't have one? Give the folks at Pro Resume Writing Services a try (hint: use the affiliate link for 50% off).

3. Protector

I’m not saying that you have to go out and buy a gun. I did, but again, my first kid was a beautiful baby girl. I followed that up shortly with the license to carry the sucker, too, just in case I needed to shoot some fool for getting too close. But that’s me. No matter what, though, you are expected to protect your new baby from the world. You are the filter through which everything must pass. I don’t care if it’s the sun; your job is to make sure they have sunscreen. You purpose on this planet now is to make sure your family is protected, by all means necessary. In the beginning, you will need to protect your baby’s immune system, keeping the thousands of strangers from touching your kid (believe me, they will try). As they get older, it will mean protecting them from the horrors of this world that you know too well: drugs, poverty, avolition. Protect your family at all costs. I'd recommend a trip to Doberman Security to fortify your home.

4. Educator

You are now the primary educator in your child’s life. Do not, and I repeat, DO NOT rely on the public school system to teach your kid everything he or she needs to know to succeed in life. It won’t. I’m convinced that teachers are just like you and me, and the majority of them show up for a paycheck, nothing more. They don’t wear capes. They don’t possess super powers. And the majority of them have average intellect. I’m not trying to bash teachers here, but hopefully you get my point. Educating your kids is your job. You teach your kids everything they need to know, and you supplement that with school. It’s not the other way around. Besides, your kiddo will be bored to tears in some of the classes in school (you were, too), but you get to introduce them to the cool stuff, like rain, snow, wind, leaves, grass, and birds. Much cooler.

There are many more roles that you now are expected to fulfill, but these are the most important. Shortly, we’ll start discussing the logistics of fatherhood: finances, diapers, daily operations, and other specifics. You’re a dad now, but remember to be yourself, albeit a little more refined than you used to be. Oh, and start to curb the language now or you’ll regret it when your little one starts swearing in the grocery store and all of the old ladies stare at you in horror. Or you’ll laugh, but don’t let junior see you laugh. You’re a dad now. You’ve stepped up. Welcome to the plate.

Donating Blood Plasma: What, Why, and How?

2010-08-27T13:49:00.000-04:00

Having worked in the blood and plasma industries for several years, I often get asked the question, “What’s the difference between donating blood versus donating plasma?” The answer to this inquiry is detailed here.

First things first: What is plasma?

We all know what blood is, but very few people actually understand what plasma is. We are familiar with blood because we can easily see it when we are wounded. Plasma, however, is never seen by the average person in daily life, because it is a part of the blood tissue (and yes, blood is a tissue). Only after centrifuging the blood into its separate components can we see the clear straw-yellow liquid that comprises blood plasma. Plasma is primarily 90% water, but contains many of the blood clotting factors and various proteins that are critical to the immune system. Since these proteins and clotting factors cannot be produced synthetically in a lab, live donors are required to manufacture therapeutics that support treatment plans for people with primary immune deficiencies, hemophilia, or several other diseases. Your body naturally replenishes its supply of blood plasma daily, with a complete cycle time of around 48 hours. Therefore, you are not at risk of losing your own clotting or immune functions by donating your plasma.

How does it compare to donating blood?

Donating plasma is similar to donating blood in a few ways, but the two differ vastly as far as the procedures are concerned. Donating blood consists of an initial venipuncture, and the donor simply bleeds into a collection bag. Once full, the unit of blood is sealed and forwarded on for further processing. Donating plasma, on the other hand, has one striking difference: you get your blood back. Rather, your concentrated red blood cells, sans plasma, are returned to you throughout the process. The procedure starts with a venipuncture, and then proceeds into a collection phase, where your blood is extracted into a medical device (which generally functions to centrifuge the plasma from the blood – each plasma company uses a different version of this machine). The blood is extracted in small amounts, usually around 200 – 300 ml per cycle, of which 100 – 150 ml of plasma is donated. When one collection phase is complete, the concentrated blood cells are returned to you in the reinfusion phase. You do not feel the reinfusion phase; it is more of a resting period in between collection phases. The total donation will consist of 6 – 10 of these cycles on average, depending on the brand of plasmapheresis machine used. In the end, a donor can expect to donate between 690 – 880 ml of plasma, based upon their body weight. Often, saline is given at the end of the procedure to replenish the fluids lost, since plasma is mostly water content.

How often can I donate?

The FDA states that donating blood plasma is safe, and donations can occur twice a week (specifically, one cannot donate more than two times in a seven day period). If you are donating blood, on the other hand, you can only donate once every two months. It also helps to be well hydrated throughout the week, maintain a healthy diet, and be in good health when donating plasma.

Another point of difference: Compensation

Donating blood is performed simply for the good feelings it provides of helping others in need. However, with the exception of a select few, the majority of blood banks do sell your blood to hospitals and labs for profit. However, they do indeed give you cookies and juice afterward. Fair enough, right?

When you donate plasma, you will most likely be compensated for your time. Allow me to clarify this point: you are not selling your plasma. Plasma companies compensate you for your time, as it can take up to two hours for the entire process. Your plasma will be tested and then further processed into therapeutics for patients whose lives depend on them. The demand for plasma is far from met at any given time. Blood products expire and are destroyed if not sold to hospitals in a timely manner. Plasma has a ten year shelf life, and works wonders to stop profuse bleeding when a car crash victim is rushed to the hospital, among its various other wonderful applications.

However, both industries are absolutely necessary in the healthcare field. We need both blood and plasma donors, but you cannot donate both concurrently. For this reason, you need to consider the advantages and disadvantages carefully when deciding what kind of donor you wish to be. More people donate blood due to the fact that more people understand the process - it's simple. However, donating plasma is just as simple from a donor perspective, and the plasma you donate will help to meet the daily demand for patients whose lives depend on plasma products. Through reading this article, I hope you’ve gained a better understanding of the process of donating plasma and will consider contacting a plasma donation facility near you to get started as a new plasma donor.

You really are saving lives in more ways than you know.

Watch a quick clip regarding plasma donation below:

Raw Milk: Making a Comeback?

2010-08-26T16:28:00.000-04:00

Organic foods have made a significant impact in the marketplace. Should unpasteurized milk be among them?

In recent years, organic foods and other natural alternatives to processed foods have been gaining in popularity with consumers. For a great portion of these products, it is a welcomed transition in food manufacturing. It has led to better quality control over manufacturing processes, and better end products. However, when raw milk made the list of upcoming popular food choices, it garnered the attention of researchers and the FDA.

The FDA published an article in 2006 detailing the health dangers of consuming unpasteurized milk. Still,there is a strong following of people that claim that the pasteurization process destroys the nutrients in the milk. Research has proven this myth false. Perhaps the reason for this misconception is a wide misunderstanding of how the pasteurization process actually works.

Pasteurization of raw milk simply heats the milk up to a temperature at which bacteria is destroyed. The milk is then cooled down and bottled. Raw milk is full of bacteria that can cause a myriad of illnesses, some of which can be fatal. Hundreds die each year due to consuming unpasteurized milk. The risk to pregnant women is exponential. Women who are pregnant and consume unpasteurized milk are voluntarily placing their unborn baby at risk of Listeria, which can cause fetal death or deformity. What’s more frightening is that this damage can be done to the fetus even though you might not feel any symptoms of illness. Children, elderly, and anyone with a depressed immune system should not consume unpasteurized milk. Ever.

When consuming milk, be sure to check the package for proper labeling. The label should say Pasteurized. If it does not, then you should not drink it. This should be your primary concern if purchasing milk from a local farmer’s market or local dairy. Be sure that you are checking for this on the ingredients lists of yogurts, ice creams, and other dairy-derived products. Also, make sure that you refrigerate your milk promptly upon purchase, since the pasteurization process still leaves a small amount of microbes that could lead to spoilage if not refrigerated. This is why milk comes with an expiration date.

Simply put, consuming raw milk is an unwise choice, regardless of your stance on organic foods. Pasteurization heats the milk to kill harmful bacteria. That is all. Many of the same people who claim unpasteurized milk is a more healthy choice should consider eating their eggs and meats uncooked, as well. After all, where’s the consistency?

Real Estate - Smart Investing In A Soft Economy

2010-06-13T01:18:00.000-04:00

The economy sucks. We’re bombarded by media trash everyday about the soft economy, the continued job losses, and how bankruptcy is the new fashion trend for large corporations. However, those of you who still have jobs are still wondering when the economy will turn around. Let’s be real, though. Whether the economy trends up or down, if you’re still employed, nothing changes for the majority of people. Unless you have your millions stashed in the stock market, it really doesn’t affect you all that much, now does it? I know I don’t have my billions in the stock market, either…I think I just misplaced them at some point.

The real estate market seems to be all the rage with local news media these days. The “soft market” is riddled with horror stories of people not being able to sell their homes, being forced into foreclosure or worse. This brings me to the point of today’s article: your home is not an asset unless you separate the equity away from the house. Allow me to explain.

Your home is a great place to house your family, not your finances. Millions of people make the mistake of purchasing a home and pouring all of their extra money into paying off the mortgage. Big mistake! First of all, the interest paid on a mortgage is generally tax-deductible. If you pay off the mortgage, you will lose that tax shelter and thus increase your tax liability. Secondly, if you pour hundreds of extra dollars into paying off the mortgage loan, how much of a return do you generate in the process? We know that the debt incurred by the loan is decreasing, and the value of the home will generally increase, or appreciate in value over time, but how much of a return is there for paying more into your mortgage? NOTHING! ZIP! ZERO! NADA!

The mortgage company pays you zero interest on all of that money that you are paying them above and beyond the loan requirements each month. You would be better off paying yourself that extra few hundred dollars each month into a side fund that could earn an interest rate (make your money work for you, not against you).

The second concept I would like to bring up is one that I hinted at earlier: separating the equity from your home. How do you do that? Refinancing. The term “refinancing” brings forth negative feelings for most people, since you normally only heard of people refinancing their homes in tough times for the extra money. Allow me to introduce a new concept to you: refinance for profit. You should really try to refinance your home every two to four years as it appreciates in value to free up that equity into a liquid side fund where it can earn interest. I’ll give you an example.

Say you purchased your home for $100,000 four years ago with a mortgage charging 6% interest, and have been socking away money into that mortgage every month since in a futile attempt to reduce your debt. Perhaps your current mortgage debt is $90,000 (to keep the math easy). However, over the last four years, and with some property improvements here and there, your home has appreciated to $140,000. Great! But what good is that unless that extra equity is earning you more money?

The smart thing to do would be to refinance your home, often at a much better interest rate (but for the example we will stick with 6%). So say you refinance your home for $140k. That leaves you $50,000 after you pay the previous mortgage off. What should you do with that money? Buy a boat? A new car? Take a vacation with it? Absolutely not. You should put that money into an account where it can earn an average of 9-15% interest every year (indexed universal life insurance contracts are a great means of doing this – for more information I recommend the book Millionaire by Thirty by Douglas Andrew and his sons).

But wait, you are paying interest on that mortgage, aren’t you? Of course. We said it was 6%, right? So if you are earning between 9 and 15% interest on the side with that $50k, and are paying out 6% on the loan, you are still profiting between 3 and 9% interest (even more if you consider the tax advantages of deducting the mortgage interest). This technique is called arbitrage – you earn a higher interest rate than you are paying out, thus profiting the difference. This is what banks and credit unions do to make their millions. You would normally put your money in a bank to earn a pathetic interest rate, meanwhile they loan out your money at a much higher interest rate to amass a huge profit! So in this sense, you are becoming your own banker by separating the equity away from your house so that you can make a profit.

You should refinance your home every few years once it gets up over the $30k point in appreciated value, and add this money to your nest egg. If you want to fast track your way to an early retirement, consider doing this with a multitude of properties. Buy a few rental homes so that the mortgage and repairs are covered, and reallocate the equity into your nest egg to earn you compounding interest. Keep doing this, and you’ll be a millionaire before you know it.

Top 5 List of Job Sites on the Web!

2010-05-17T23:19:00.001-04:00

Note: Some links included in this post may be affiliate links for products the author supports.

So for some reason or another, you find yourself on the hunt for a new job – whether it’s because you need to relocate, or simply need a change of pace, there are several job sites on the web that help to connect job-seekers with their potential future employers. Since recently graduating, I have probably utilized them all at one point or another (or close to it). In my online job-hunting adventures, I have found five that are worth the time to actually use.
This is my Top 5 List of Job Sites on the Web:

1. Career Builder (www.careerbuilder.com)

Career Builder is a great resource for tracking new job openings in your area, or in any area of the country, for that matter. The thing that I like best about Career Builder is that they created an iPhone app that allows you to easily search for jobs from your phone (even when you’re on your lunch break at your current job!). Even better, once you create an account online with them and upload your resume, you can sync the app with your account and apply straight from your iPhone. This is the reason that Career Builder ranks #1 on my list.

2. Monster (www.monster.com)

Monster is my second stand-by job search site. Although not as easy to filter by salary, etc, it is a very popular option that many employers use. Since many employers use Monster, I suggest that it would be in your best interest to do the same.

3. Indeed (www.indeed.com)

Indeed is another site that ranks in my top 5 for the same reason as Career Builder: Indeed also has created an iPhone app that makes searching very easy. However, it is not as user friendly, nor as nicely constructed (it has a circa 1995 feel to it). It isn’t easy to apply to the job postings with the app, but the ability to search for jobs the instant your current employer pushes you too far is just far too cool.

4. Hot Jobs (www.hotjobs.yahoo.com)

Hot Jobs is a great site from a long-standing trusted resource: Yahoo! Given that Yahoo! has been around for longer than most of these sites, it is only fair that most employers would recognize the name, and thus use it to post their openings. And if the employers are flocking to a certain site, you should, too.

5. Glassdoor (www.glassdoor.com)

Although not necessarily a site for posting current job openings, Glassdoor certainly has made it easier to understand the vague salary jargon that current employers are using on the job search sites. Phrases like “Competitive Salary,” and “Compensation commensurate with experience” mean little to someone who is willing to relocate several states away. Glassdoor is a community where people can see what other companies are paying their employees. The caveat? In order to see the salaries, you must be willing to anonymously post your company name, the position you hold, and the salary you earn. Doing so will open the doors (pun intended) to all of the salaries of the positions that you have been looking at on other job search sites. This is definitely a useful resource when trying to prioritize your applications and potential interviews. Let's not forget, however, that getting the interview is one thing. Acing the interview is another altogether. For a great resource of job interview questions/answers to help you prepare for your upcoming interview, you can purchase this awesome interview guide available for download. It's definitely worth reading.

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below. Tell me what your favorite sites are for job hunting! And, if you need a resume, I recommend giving the folks at Pro Resume Writing Services a good look (click the link for 50% off).

My Top Ten Favorite Status Updates

2010-05-08T22:05:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite things about facebook, and the reason that facebook tends to be ever so distracting from reality, is the constant bombardment of status updates. Some of our friends take it even farther and add a dash of humor, making it seem worthwhile to be wasting time in our facebook adventures. With that being said, below are the top ten status updates that I have come across. Please feel free to post your favorites in the comments section!

1. TEIAM - Problem solved.

2. I just read the list of "Top 100 Things To Do Before You Die." I was pretty surprised that "yell for help" wasn't on the list.

3. What do we want? PROCRASTINATION! When do we want it? ...Next week.

4. Joe never questions authority, he annoys authority. More effect, less effort.

5. I have an oven with a 'stop time' button. It's probably meant to be a 'stop timer' button, but I don't touch it, just in case.

6. People reckon that I'm too patronizing (that means that I treat them as if they're stupid).

7. I got out of jury duty today by prefacing every answer with "according to the prophecy..."

8. Sue would rather check her facebook than face her checkbook...

9. Joe says that there is nothing to fear except fear itself...and concrete. Definitely concrete.

10. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.

There you have it! Those are the ten best status updates that I have seen in a while on my facebook. What are your favorites? Please post them in the comments below!