NBA Star Zach Randol

NBA Star Zach Randolph has his 2007 Cadillac Escalade for sale. So Hot… http://htxt.it/ItkI

To Help the Economy, Leave Your Credit Cards Home

 

Raise Your Credit Score in Just 30 Days, Legally Remove Negatives

by Jim Vrana

The United States economy depends on people spending money. These days, the economy needs all the help it can get. With a local economy, extra benefits are obtained when shoppers buy goods and services in retail stores, rather than online. Better still, patronizing locally owned shops, rather than a national chain store or restaurant, will keep even more money flowing in the local area economy.We have all heard that you should help your local area by shopping in locally owned stores. This is true. Many cities have even setup websites to list and promote locally owned businesses. A chain store certainly provides jobs and pays taxes. But when you purchase goods at a chain store, much of that money is sent to its corporate headquarters, which is probably not in some far away city.

To maximize the positive effect that your purchase will have on the economy, those purchases should be paid for with cash, checks, or even debt cards. Not a credit card.

Simply put, using a credit card strips money out of the pocket of the retailer or service provider. Somewhere between 2% to 6% of your credit card purchase is kept by the banks and the credit card companies. That’s money taken out of circulation (i.e. the economy) and stuffed into the pockets of the bank.

As an example, suppose there is a local store or restaurant that does $1 million in annual sales. Not $1M in profit, but $1M in annual sales. That’s an average of about $2800 of sales per day, which is easily obtainable by many successful businesses. After the subtraction of normal business expenses (employee salaries, taxes, insurance, utilities, rent, advertising, inventory, etc) the final profit may be $100,000. Pretty good profit actually.

Now if the sales of that store were made using credit cards, then about 3% of those sales are taken away and sent to the bank. Remember, its 3% of the sales, not 3% of the final profit. In our example, that’s $30,000 removed from the pocket of the retailer, and out of the local economy. In this scenario, the business’ profits are actually reduced by 30%.

What’s an extra $30,000? It’s the ability to hire another employee. Or two part-time employees. Not from extra sales, just the same sales paid by cash. This example is just one store. Think of this scenario in all the stores in your area, and the numbers are staggering.

In addition, your personal economy is enhanced by keeping your credit cards at home. Without using credit cards, you will not be paying extra interest or other fees. Interest paid is just more money out of your pocket, sent to the bank. For nothing! Just wasted money.

Think about this the next time you pull out your credit card. Help your local retailer and economy by putting that credit card back. Pay with cash or check. If you like the convenience of a credit card, consider using a debt/check card. Be sure the clerk processes the transaction as a debit card. Processing the debit card as credit will cost the retailer their 2 – 6 %. If the retailer cannot process your transaction as a debit card, then return to the old standby. Pay with cash.

The retailer pays a small transaction fee when accepting payment via a debit card. It’s a flat fee, and usually very minimal. Nowhere near 2% – 6% of your purchase. This is why some stores will offer cash back when using a debit card. It does not cost the store any extra money, and it may save you a trip to the ATM, and perhaps an extra ATM fee. Which is more money sucked out of your wallet. Wasted.

Raise Your Credit Score in Just 30 Days, Legally Remove Negatives

 Hope you enjoyed the article,

Matt Soares
SurveysNation.com
AllOutGiftCards.com

Health Mind Really Does Mean Healthy Body

 Lower Your Cholesterol in Just 33 Days

by Anne Wolski

Research has found that the power of our thoughts plays a definite role in our body’s immunity and defense against illness. Obviously, it can’t be claimed that positive thinking will cure you of all illnesses but it can help in your recovery.Our thoughts affect our chances of getting many common illnesses such as colds and influenza.

Such is the power of our mind and our subsequent attitude to life that it has been shown that a healthy mind does indeed help to maintain a healthy body. By banishing negative thoughts from our mind and replacing them with positive thoughts, our body will respond physically.

Of course, you must still eat a healthy diet and live a healthy lifestyle but do not discount the importance of a healthy mind in the process of wellness.

There is no doubt that life throws us many challenges and that with some of these challenges, it is difficult to remain positive. However, self blaming serves no purpose and neither does blaming others. So, if something goes wrong, remain positive and look for a way to improve things for everyone concerned.

As long as you do your best in every facet of your life, you are successful and this comes down to retaining that positive outlook. By taking this attitude, you will ensure happiness and a sense of pride in the way you have conducted yourself.

Look at the ways in which you handle tasks and take those accomplishments as a valid part of who you are. Let others know and encourage them to follow your lead. Show them how taking that positive attitude into tackling a task makes a difference. They will appreciate it.

If you approach a task with a worried mindset, just contemplate what could be the worst outcome. If its not life and death, then reconsider your attitude and tackle the task with positivism. Most people worry too much and, if things don’t turn out as planned, avoid self pity. It achieves nothing.

Have you ever noticed that people who practice positive thinking tend to be happy and energetic and fun to be with? On the other hand, a negative person tends to drive people away through their attitudes.

Your attitude also affects your perception of your physical self. For instance, you do what you can to look good through wardrobe and grooming but you also must look at yourself in a positive way, accepting and embracing who you really are. Looking at yourself in a negative manner only makes you unhappy and less satisfied with your life.

Having a positive attitude about yourself leaves your mindset open to new challenges and experiences which will enhance your positive sense of self.

There are a number of ways of overcoming negativity such as:

• Relaxation exercises • Meditation • Listen to a hypnosis CD • Take a walk in the fresh air • Listen to music • Go out for coffee • Phone a friend

Every situation in life is a learning experience and increases our knowledge and wisdom. Having the wisdom to learn through the experience of others is part of that learning experience. Keep an open mind and continue to learn regardless of how old you become.

  Lower Your Cholesterol in Just 33 Days

Hope you enjoyed the article,

Matt Soares
GarageSaleWarrior.com
QuickMovingHomes.com

3 Most Important tips for safe online Shopping

Protect Yourself From Identity Theft

by William Hauselberg

Online shopping has gained great popularity through the recent years. One of the main reasons for the huge popularity of online shopping is the comfort ness it offers. With the introduction of many online shopping facilities with door deliveries, people don’t have to wait in queues and drive all around to buy products. Though the consumer gets many advantages by shopping online, there are many traps where they can loose money. Today’s Internet is full of scammers and hence it is necessary to be smarter than the scammers. Just keep reading on the article to know how to shop online safely and securely.1. Always purchase from a reputable company New online shopping websites are created each day like mushrooms. As there are countless numbers of online shopping websites out there, it will be difficult to sort out the genuine ones. There a few factors that decides the reputation of the company. Look for customer testimonials from those who have already dealt with them. Check for an active customer support. An active customer support is essential because you can easily contact them in case of a wrong or damaged product delivery. Dealing with reputable online shopping companies will eliminate the risk of getting scammed.

2. Opt for online shopping sites with a secured server The secured server comes into play when you are shopping online using your credit card. Identity theft is a major problem that prevails in today’s online shopping world. Personal information is comprised mostly at the payment gateway. The secure servers safeguard your personal information (say) the credit card numbers. Identifying whether you are in a secured page is very simple. You will be able to see a padlock symbol in the address bar of your browser if you are in a secured page. Shopping using your credit card in such websites is safe.

3. Manage your shopping debts with Credit Counseling As the name indicates, credit counseling refers to the professional counseling that helps the people to settle their debts properly. Let it be an online shopping or traditional shopping, credit counseling is indispensable to avoid shopping to punch holes in your household budget. Moreover, in this rock bottomed economy condition, the consumer credit counseling services will be of much use. With the easiness of getting a credit card, and high credit limits, people shop for products more than what they can really afford. Hence credit problems often come to the head. Shopping using credit cards have become a great burden to many people today. Overused credit cards leading to growing balances that are getting out of hand are destroying many peoples peace of mind today. A credit counseling service can be of great help if you are in such a position. The CCCS will assist you in finding out the best credit help that is available to you.

Bottom line When it comes to shopping, debt management programs and consumer credit counseling services are indispensable. The credit counseling service will lend you a helping hand, saving you from drowning in the credit ocean.

 Protect Yourself From Identity Theft

 Hope you enjoyed the article,

Matt Soares
SoAuctionIt.com
CompForLife.com

6 Steps to achieving your goals in 2009

by Joseph William

A person without goals is like a ship with no rudder – Earl NightingaleYou have the right to pursue any worthy ideal. You can through your choices achieve any goal you want to; your only limit is your imagination. How do you REALLY want to live your life?

It is essential that we set goals, our ambitions will never happen by accident! If we don’t decide where we are going, we substitute our hopes and dreams for a less desirable outcome.

What do you really want this year? Do you believe you can do it? How much effort and sacrifice are you prepared to put in to achieve your goals?

1. DECIDE – Decide what it is you really want, what are your priorities? Tune into your inner compass! Which direction do you want to go?

2. IMAGINE – Feel and imagine what it would be like to achieve your goals. Would all the blood, sweat and tears be worthwhile in the end?

3. BELIEVE – Truly believe that the realisation of your goals are possible

4. PLAN – Make specific plans as to the attainment of your goals

5. ACTION – Put your plan into action! (Quite possibly the most important step and hardest to do)

6. PERSEVERE – Persist with your goals

Steps 3 and 5 can be stumbling blocks. Take time to increase your faith, believe that the goals you set yourself are within your ability to achieve. Then last of all make sure you actually follow through on your plans. Don’t give up at the first signs of failure or struggle.

Get a piece of paper and pen or open a word document. Put these 5 headings:

Relationships and family Personal Spiritual Physical Financial

Make a few specific goals for each area of your life; if you follow through on your plans and hit your targets then come 2010 you will have grown in self confidence and belief, faith, become better at making real decisions and ready to make your next set of goals.

 

Hope you enjoyed the article,

Matt Soares
WW Surf.com
MS Tweaks.com

Top New Year’s Resolutions 2009

by Kevin Ngo

Are you expecting this year’s top New Year’s resolution to be much different than last year? We humans don’t change all that much. This year’s top New Year’s Resolution will be about the same as last year’s and next years will be just about the same as this years. You would think that after about 5 years, most people would have half of these top New Year’s resolution checked off as accomplished, but sadly that’s not the case.

This post should really be called Top Last Year’s Resolution. Doesn’t it seem like every year people just recycle their old resolutions? Well, let’s look at the top resolutions and see if any of them really surprise you.
1. Make more money

2. Spend less money / Get out of debt

3. Lose weight / Get fit

4. Spend more time with family and friends

5. Quit smoking / Quit drinking

6. Travel somewhere / Learn something

7. Help others / Do charity work

8. Get a new job / Keep current job as long as possible

9. Stick with top New Year’s resolution as long as possible

10. If all else fails, set the same resolutions next year
And there you have it. Did I do any research on this? No. This isn’t based on any polls or any facts or figures. I just guessed. Now your job is to go research on this year’s top resolution and see if the majority of my list is accurate. I bet it is. I think I will make this year’s resolution to have next year’s resolution NOT contain any of these resolutions. The only way to do that is by actually accomplishing all of these resolutions this year.
Don’t put off till next year what you can do this year. Here’s what you do. Make this a 5-10 year project. Take your top ten resolutions that you keep recycling every year and just focus on 1 or 2 of them a year. Stick to it till it’s done even if it may take 2 years. It’s really comes down to focus and sticking to it until it’s accomplished. After that, it’s about maintenance. This is where most people trip up. Maybe that’s why resolutions they’ve already achieved in the past pop back up on their list again. Something to think about.
You’ll know if you’ve succeeded if next year’s resolution isn’t the exact same as this year’s resolution. Good luck!

 

Hope you enjoyed the article,

Matt Soares
SoAuctionIt.com
CompForLife.com

Who Are Your True Friends?

 

by Regina Jacques

 

My spouse and I don’t drink, however we do like to go out on the weekends and spend time with our friends that do. Often we feel like outcasts since we don’t! It’s simply our own preference. Neither of us wants to feel vulnerable or not in control of ourselves. We don’t feel we need to do that to disentangle, just getting out does that for us.

We enjoyed attending the Halloween parties, and monitored the web of en laced drama around us. We live in a very arduous society. There will (ceaselessly be someone who is envious of you for whatever reason, and always going to be others talking smack about you who are sweet as pie to your face. I have realized early on in my existence that even those who you think are your buddies, unfortunately many times really aren’t.

I have ceaselessly been partial to pets over people when it comes to comradeship. I have been burned so many times after being the kindest, most caring person I could be, that I find comfort in my association with them! The possibility of them turning on you is much lower than that of a person, and they never judge.

My spouse always says that when they pass on, it’s going to be so painful that he doesn’t want any more to have to go through with it again. I on the other hand will appreciate the fact that they gave me so many smiles and so much happiness the past 10-20 years, and in return have comfort in knowing that I had given them the best existence they could have possibly lived. If he were to die before me, I would probably be known as the cat woman!

It saddened me to read about the Chihuahua that was thrown and killed by a black bear right here in Florida!

It’s not often that we hear of these situations, but apparently they do occur. If you are walking in the woods with your pet, or if you are in an area where there are bears, please remember you can be on guard to protect yourself with bear spray.

Also pet blinkie safety lights are a nice thing to have on your pet’s collar when out for a nice cool autumn evening stroll. It’s important for people to be able to see them, and if God forbid, they should get loose or away, you will have a much easier time finding them! I’ll never forget having to run after my black Labrador retriever in the dark! He was a really sly dog, and ceaselessly discovered a way to get free, out or away. If only I had one of these on him back in the day! It’s something you can just put on them before sending them outdoors at night.

It’s also nice to have some sort of light on yourself such as an LED safety light. I couldn’t tell you how many pedestrians and bikers have been killed because they weren’t seen. I’m sure they never would have envisioned it can happen to them, but it did. Bicycle safety lights and pet blinkies can also make excellent life saving stocking stuffers. Check them out today!

 

Hope you enjoyed the article,

Matt Soares
ValueEbook.com
MonsterChange.net

Auto Coalition Says That Six Million Jobs Disappear If U.S. Automakers Expire

 

by Matthew C. Keegan

 

If you haven’t heard that executives from America’s major automotive manufacturers are meeting with Congress in a bid to secure tens of billions of dollars in loan cost loans, then you are missing one of the news items of the year.

Executives from General Motors Corporation, the Ford Motor Company, and Chrysler LLC are asking Congress and the President to approve a loan guarantee program that would allow each automaker to secure funding, monies they say is essential to whether they stay in business or close down shop. Last month these same executives flew to Washington in corporate jets and were roundly criticized for this action. This month, the executives ended up driving some of their most economical cars to the event including a pre-production version of the hybrid Chevrolet Volt, the hybrid Ford Fusion and the hybrid Dodge Aspen.

Several groups have been speaking out in favor of federal government intervention and some have spoken out against assistance. One group wanting to see Congress intervene is a group that calls itself the “auto coalition” and group of auto suppliers, dealers, and other interested parties representing some six million people in the U.S. What they said follows.

“With six million supplier, dealer and related jobs at risk nationwide, failure of the domestic auto industry is not an option,” said Timothy D. Leuliette, president & CEO of Dura Automotive Systems, Inc. “In addition to the ‘Big Three’ auto companies, countless supporting companies drive good jobs in local economies all across the nation. These are hard working men and women struggling to support their families and communities in the midst of this global economic crisis. Congress must act now to support a bridge loan – not a bailout – for America’s auto industry.”

Given the urgency of the situation and the need to counter misinformation about the vital role the domestic auto industry plays in the U.S. economy, The Engine of Democracy coalition was formed to give voice to the six million people whose jobs are directly or indirectly tied to the health and vitality of domestic automakers. With minimal publicity, the interactive website, www.TheEngineofDemocracy.com, launched on Monday and received more than 15,000 visitors in just four days, generating more than one thousand grassroots emails and letters to Capitol Hill in support of the automotive bridge loan program.

“The American auto industry has long been our nation’s engine of democracy. In World War II, it turned on a dime and became what President Roosevelt called ‘The Arsenal of Democracy.’ After September 11, automakers responded by slashing prices and loan rates to jump-start a needed economic rebound. With the global economic crisis, now is the time for the government to help automakers help the American economy,” said Carl Galeana, who owns several new car dealerships across the country.

America’s car companies play a crucial role in the nation’s economic engine. Almost 4 percent of U.S. gross domestic product is auto-related, and vehicle manufacturing represents 10 percent of U.S. industrial production by value. According to The Automotive Trade Policy Council, the U.S. auto industry invests $10 billion in this country in plants and equipment each year. In addition, the U.S.-based auto industry is second only to the semiconductor industry in R&D spending – $12 billion last year alone.

“If Congress does not take swift action to prevent the collapse of our domestic auto industry, the already hard hit automotive Midwest will be ground zero, but the economic fallout will instantly spread through local economies all across the country,” said Neil DeKoker, president of the Original Equipment Suppliers Association.

 

Hope you enjoyed the article,

Matt Soares
SoAuctionIt.com
CompForLife.com

Blame it on the Economy; Everyone Else Does

by Stephen Van

I’ve been half-teasing lately with my career services colleagues that the banks and GM aren’t the only ones in need of a bailout. Job seekers should ask for one too. Why not? It seems that in today’s environment the more corporate leaders mismanage their businesses, the more attractive they are for getting bailed out by the U.S. tax payer.So why should job seekers be any different?

It is no secret that most job seekers are ill prepared for their job search. They spend money in the wrong places. They pin their hopes on the wrong things. They have very little idea of what to expect (although they think they know it all). They try all kinds of tricks and shenanigans to make things work for them.

And then they are upset when they don’t have positive results. Or when they don’t land the career of their dreams.

I spent a great deal of time the other day trying to work with this woman in Jackson, Mississippi. She’s been searching for a job for a little less than 30 days, and she is looking for a sales position with an earning potential of about ~$150,000.

She’s frustrated. She wants the resume “fixed,” she wants the economy “fixed,” she feels victimized by her last employer, and she wants this job search over within 45 days or else…..she doesn’t know what “else” is exactly, but she really means it. It better be over in 45 days, or she is going to do something!

After talking her down off the ledge, I spent some time 1) discovering how she has been conducting her search so far and 2) figuring out where these expectations came from. As I suspected, kind of like the housing market, when people aren’t making 150% profits from their homes, then they’re suffering…

So you tell me, is my client from Jackson a victim of the economy or of herself:

When I explained to her that as a full-time job seeker, she should be sending out somewhere between 35 and 50 resumes per week (because she is only sending out ~5/week now), she told me that there weren’t 35 to 50 jobs posted in her area in Jackson each week. Her exact words were “Recruiters are telling me to wait until after the new year.”

Like most job seekers, networking and cold calling are foreign concepts to her. Instead, she is just planning on waiting around for that job to open up (within 45 days or else, of course!).

When I asked her how she was spending her 40 hours/week since now she is unemployed, she confessed that she has no idea how much time she is really spending (remember she is only sending out ~5 resumes/week). But again, there was little for her to do because Jackson, MS, doesn’t have many job postings…

When I told her the average job search time for someone making $150,000/year is about 4 months for ~40 hours/week of time spent searching, she simply recited to me all her stellar credentials. And then blamed Bush and the economy. When I told her that those stats are nothing new, and have been around for a while, she still blamed Bush.

Basically, no matter what I said, in her mind, if she didn’t have a job offer within 45 days, either her resume service ripped her off or it was all Bush’s fault.

So what am I to conclude here? You think maybe she is a rare case?

I’m afraid not.

Listen…is this a tough job market? Sure it is. I don’t think that is in dispute. But tough does not mean impossible, and too many job seekers give up without hardly trying. And most of the time, they went into the search with poor expectations in the first place.

Perhaps the oddest thing about my friend in Jackson is that, of all things, she is a sales person. She can tell you all about the sales life cycle, all about branding and product positioning, all about selling in a tough market. But when it comes to her job search, she cannot apply those same principles.

It never ceases to amaze me just how emotional the job search process is. It challenges you to move outside of your comfort zone and put yourself out there. Most people go into it kicking and screaming, on a good day. So as soon as there is something out there to blame, to latch onto as the reason for all our problems, we so easily take the bait.

Then what are we left with? Demotivation? Looking for that genie in a bottle?

No worries. The government is into redemption these days.

 

Hope you enjoyed the article,

Matt Soares
ValueEbook.com
MonsterChange.net

Work at Home Cash Income, Right Opportunity At The Right Time

 

by boris tomson

 

Work at Home Cash Income, Right Opportunity At The Right Time

Legitimate Work From Home Jobs – A Guide Easy to Get Residual Income

So you’ve been dreaming work at home for years and yet you’re still not sure, is a work from home business right for you? Sometimes people get confused by the terms work at home job and business opportunity. They are two different ways to work at home. Some people think they are interchangeable, but they really each have their own characteristics. When working a work from home, home business work from internet job, you are in complete control of where and when you do your work.    http://www.amazingnewopportunity.com/enroll.cgi?uid=57

 

The work from home, home business market has become extremely large. You have so many different home based business opportunities available, that it can be down right confusing.

But when you join here, it can be very easy to become distracted and let other tasks interfere with what you want to accomplish.You just remember to stay focused on the goals you set for your work from home, home business and you will be successful.If you want to become a home-based worker or Internet entrepreneur and you need a place where you can review the best ranked, legitimate work-at-home opportunities, you’ve come to the right place if you want make money here.I recomand 3 Best home business to that your aim will be to find good products and services that will fit your customers needs.

Home Business- “Six Figure Yearly income is without a doubt for teens, the best of the best online,” says like other websites. She reveals to you her secret technique for pulling cash out of our electronic super highway and then pulling it out of her ATM! I can tell you that it is legal? But she has had amazing results. I didn’t believe her when I read her income claims. Making $77,000 in one month is very hard to believe. However, I was able to verify her income claims with the bank statements she sent to me. After that, I decided to put her information to the test. When I meet someone that makes that kind of money, I am more then willing to listen to what they have to say! I am sure you would agree. Make sure you take advantage of her information.”

Home Job- If you aren’t quite so ambitious and want the finance freedom, family time, and one-minute commute of a home based job, Teens Home Jobs gives the gold to the Home Job Group. These guys get a 10 out of possible 9 in their category. Miller says the income potential, depending on the job (and there’s a huge array of them for you to choose from), is anywhere from legitimate $15,000 to $100,000 per year.

Paid Surveys- The best benefits of having a home job are freedom, convenience, saving commute money, and more time with your family. Finally, there are the Surveys for pay that you can find advertised all over the Internet. With these: your income potential can be anywhere from $100 to $10,000 a month (Depends on how many you do); you control when you work (The more you take the more you make).

Another key to success, when you decide to start a work from home, home ,is to remember that your business is not a hobby, but rather something that will have to be worked.Most people would like to get residual income. Something even better it could make a realistic $200 to $4000 monthly at first month. Most people would jump at the chance. All you would have to do is exchange about 5 hours of your time weekly, and in a matter of a few months get that extra money to pay some of those nagging bills.

Getting actual cash in your hands every month is much better than just dreaming about making thousands but not getting paid a single cent for all your efforts. It is now possible to earn free residual income from the Internet .   http://www.amazingnewopportunity.com/enroll.cgi?uid=57

Hope you enjoyed the article,

Matt Soares
SoAuctionIt.com
CompForLife.com