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Teaching you to embrace today while making yourself a millionaire!

I wish I would have understood how easy it is to become a millionaire by starting to save small amounts of money when I was younger...

I feel compelled to share the simple concepts you can apply today....

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27 February 2010

Snowed In and Loving It




We have spent hardly any money this winter on activities or eating out. Why? Because we have been snowed in most of the winter. I need to remember this lesson when the weather breaks and I am free to roam anywhere I please.


Over the past few months we have not been bored. In fact, just the opposite.


We started out with the usual cabin fever stuff -- watching TV, watching TV and watching TV then we got bored. We started a backgammon tournament, creative cooking, watched a season of the Wire (which we owned), organized our file system and offices (happiest day of my life), had a snowball fight, wrote actual letters to our elderly relatives, spent more time with neighbors, read books from the library, hot baths and relaxation, used the treadmill in my basement and enjoyed the Olympics to name a few of our favorite past times.


My biggest accomplishment was finishing a book project I have been working on. Stay tuned for more info on that ... surprise it is not on Finance.


With all the articles and tips on saving money - it really goes back to the basics of spending time with people you care about, exercising and being healthy, organizing your environment for success and having fun.


Stay tuned.....


19 February 2010

Make Sure You are Here to Enjoy Retirement and Help Those You Love Too

From Yahoo and Women's Day Staff

Protect Your Heart at Every Age
Follow these easy health tips specific to every stage of aging

By Woman's Day Staff -You're never too young—or too old—to start lowering your
heart disease risk. Of course, exercising, eating healthy and reducing stress are key throughout life, but due to physiological changes that happen as we age, certain risk factors do become more of a threat.

In Your 20s
Stub Out a Social Smoking Habit
Smoking is enemy number one when it comes to heart disease, and even just a few cigarettes can do damage: New research from McGill University in Montreal found that smoking just one cigarette a day stiffens your arteries by a whopping 25 percent. Plus, smoking erases the hormonal advantage you have from estrogen, which can leave you vulnerable to a heart attack before menopause, explains Dr. Bonow.

Don't Ignore the Birth Control Factor -Remember that hormonal contraceptives slightly increase the risk of blood clots, so if you've ever had one, make sure to discuss it with your doctor before going on birth control. And if you're currently a smoker, don't take oral contraceptives, because the combo can be especially dangerous, says Sharonne N. Hayes, MD, director of the Women's Heart Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Watch Your Alcohol Intake - Moderate amounts of alcohol can have a beneficial effect on your heart. (By "moderate," we mean one drink a day or about 5 ounces—but many restaurants serve far more than that.) Overdoing it can raise triglycerides, increase blood pressure and lead to weight gain, thanks to all those empty calories.

In Your 30s
Get a Grip on Stress - When you're juggling career and family, it's crucial to find stress management techniques that work. "Untamed stress has a direct negative impact on heart health," says Dr. Stevens. "The constant bombardment of adrenaline raises blood pressure and destabilizes plaque in your arteries, making it likely to cause a clot or heart attack."
Lose the Baby WeightNo, you don't have to fit into your skinny jeans by the time the baby's 6 months old, but do aim to get back to your pre-pregnancy weight within one to two years. "Carrying around extra pounds can lead to high
cholesterol, high blood pressure and other heart disease risk factors," Dr. Bonow says. Also remember that it's easier to lose weight in your 30s than in your 40s, when your metabolism slows down.

Stay Social - It's important to stay connected to friends and family for the sake of your mood and heart. Research at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine found that high levels of loneliness increase a woman's risk of heart disease by 76 percent. On the flip side, having strong social support can help lower your blood pressure and improve other cardiovascular functions. Set aside time once or twice a week to call friends, or make a monthly dinner date.

In Your 40s
Make Sleep a Priority - Thanks to peri-menopause, fluctuating hormone levels can interfere with a good night's
sleep. But not getting at least seven hours of shut-eye regularly can lead to increased blood pressure, low-grade inflammation and higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol, all of which are harmful for your blood vessels and heart, explains Jennifer H. Mieres, MD, a cardiologist at New York University School of Medicine and coauthor of Heart Smart for Black Women and Latinas. Lack of sleep has also been linked to weight gain. So establish good habits: Turn in (and wake up) at the same time every day—even on weekends—and do your best to relax before going to bed, whether it's watching a favorite funny TV show or reading.

Reassess Your Risk FactorsYou may discover that your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar levels have changed in this decade, even if you aren't doing anything differently, says Dr. Hayes. In fact, 22 percent of 40-something women have high blood pressure and 50 percent have high cholesterol (a jump from 38 percent of women in their 30s), according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Also, be sure to get your thyroid checked around 45; hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland), which becomes more common as women get older, can negatively affect your cholesterol levels as well as your heart.

Step Up Strength Training - You start to lose muscle mass more rapidly in your 40s, which causes your metabolism to slow down since muscle burns more calories than fat. Unfortunately, this makes it harder to stave off those extra pounds. To help maintain muscle and keep your metabolism going, aim for two 15-minute sessions weekly of lifting weights, using a resistance band or doing other toning exercises.

Carve out Personal Time"Between the demands of work and family, it becomes even more challenging to find time for yourself in your 40s," says Dr. Mieres. But it's crucial to do so—not only to help ease stress but also to guard against depression, which commonly crops up in this decade and can raise your risk of heart disease. "Find at least 10 minutes of ‘me' time every day to do something—even if it's just chatting on the phone with a friend—that helps you destress and regroup," says Dr. Mieres.

In Your 50s
Move More Around menopause, you tend to gain extra weight around your belly, which can lead to insulin resistance, inflammation and heart strain. Cardiovascular fitness also starts to decline, particularly if you're not that physically active to begin with. "Unfortunately, at this point, women have to burn more calories to stay at the same weight," Dr. Stevens says. Start taking the stairs instead of the elevator whenever you can, walk faster around the mall, or jog to the mailbox to send letters instead of sticking your hand out the car window as you drive by. Small changes really do add up.


Have an ECG - Silent heart abnormalities become more common in your 50s, and an electrocardiogram (ECG) to check your heart's electrical activity can pick them up, says Dr. Goldberg. Also ask your doctor if you should have a stress test; this is especially important if you're just starting to exercise.
Add FiberBesides being good for your cholesterol and blood sugar, pumping up your fiber intake (think whole grains like oatmeal, brown rice and flaxseeds, as well as beans, fruits and veggies) can help prevent constipation, which becomes more of a problem as you get older and your digestive system starts to slow down.


In Your 60s
Get Even More Vigilant About ScreeningsAfter you go through menopause and get older, your blood pressure and cholesterol tend to go up, and blood vessels get stiffer. "Have your blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol measured yearly," advises Dr. Goldberg.


Consider Medication - If you have hypertension or high cholesterol, the way you've been managing it before may not be enough. "As you get older, you may need more aggressive therapy," Dr. Bonow says. "High blood pressure that was controlled with one medication may now require three to control it." Talk to your doctor about whether you need to add to or adjust your medications to control your risk factors.

Be Alert to Symptoms - Now is when the first noticeable symptoms of heart disease may appear, so it's important to know what's normal for your body and be on the lookout for worrisome signs like chest discomfort, shortness of breath or changes in exercise tolerance—meaning you suddenly feel winded going up a flight of stairs or feel unusually tired for no apparent reason, says Dr. Mieres. If these appear, see your doctor pronto!

18 February 2010

They Were Right Along... Who Knew?


I am back! I am so sorry for the lapse in posts but I had a few personal issues to deal with and actually working on another project that I will post about in a month or so.
So in the past week I have spoken to friends of mine whose kids have recently moved into their own apartments. I thought I would share the thoughts their kids have shared with them since moving out.
1. I didn't know a dog could eat so much. I am at Wal-Mart buying more food.
2. My roommate never shuts the lights out. It is so frustrating.
3. Have you seen the cost of milk this week?
4. The cute little cat I found has medical issues - the vet bill is over $400. No extras for me for quite a while. I had to put it on my credit card.
5. Had friends over for a pot luck dinner - to watch the Olympics. (Who knew they had a clue about a pot luck dinner).
6. I can't afford gas for my car.
7. How do you put plastic on the windows? It is really drafty and the gas bill is sky high.
8. Did you know you can get TV for free with rabbit ears?
9. Can I go to Costco with you to check prices?
10. Wow, now I understand why you were always on me about being more aware of my actions - all the little things add up to alot of money!
I love being on my own but I have a totally different view now that it is my house and my money!
So GenM pay attention to your parents - they are really giving good advice and not just trying to irritate you.

Stay tuned......



01 February 2010

Sorry for Disappearing!

I am so sorry for the lack of posts. I have been out of town for personal reasons and will be home after February 16th. I will attempt to get a post out prior to that. If I am not able to I will have regular posts after February 18th.

Thanks for your support!

Stay tuned.......

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