Updates Blog

Explore Your Happiness: The Happiness Inventory is a questionnaire by the authors of How We Choose to Be Happy, Rick Foster and Greg Hicks. Anyone can read about areas of their lives that they can improve upon to achieve greater happiness. The authors say “as a start, try improving your happiness level a little at a time and you will find that, in fact, you will be able to choose to be happy!”

1. 2008 Consumer Action Handbook

The 2008 Consumer Action Handbook covers many subjects. Part I “Being a Savvy Consumer” covers shopping tips, anti-telemarketing methods, protection against ID theft, buying new cars,
using credit wisely, health care tips, housing scams, insurance advice, and utilities. Part II “Filing a Complaint” tells you how to resolve disputes and if necessary go to small claims court. Part III “Consumer Assistance Directory” lists many institutions you can ask for help if you have a problem or complaint.

Preview at: http://www.consumeraction.gov
Order by mail:  http://www.consumeraction.gov/caw_orderhandbook.shtml
Download now: http://www.consumeraction.gov/pdfs/2006revisedCAH.pdf
(1.4 MB)

2. Free Guides From State Tourism Agencies

State tourism agencies usually will send you free maps or guides by mail, hoping to encourage a visit. Each state decides what to send out, which may include:

• Entertaining destinations you can visit
• Info on state parks, trails, and scenic drives
• Listings of accommodations and campgrounds
• Calendars listing festivals and other events

See a list of state tourism sites at: http://www.statelocalgov.net/50states-tourism.cfm

A bare-bones version of 10Life.com is available now. All it does now is list seven of our sites that have great consumer tips and tools. In less than two months, we want to add a “fun and friends” twist to it, in order to encourage a lot of people to go take advantage of great consumer-friendly advice.

Every week or two, we pick five or more of the best articles that various consumer-friendly web sites have recently published. Here’s a chance for you to improve your health, safety and financial freedom with this week’s consumer blurbfest:

1. 10 borrowing do’s and don’ts (BankRate.com): 

1. Do save money while repaying debt
2. Do find the best interest rate
3. Do read the fine print
4. Do pay on time — every time
5. Do remember that borrowed money is not free
6. Don’t borrow frivolously
7. Don’t fall victim to bad loan products
8. Don’t borrow money without telling your spouse
9. Don’t carry credit card balances
10. Don’t borrow more than you can afford

2. 6 steps to credit card serenity (BankRate.com): 

1. Know where you stand
2. Pay highest-interest cards first
3. Get a better deal
4. Consider using a different card
5. Beef up your credit score
6. Avoid penalties and fees

3. Credit Card Smarts (Kiplinger.com):  For cardholders, these seven habits will stand you in good stead:

1. Take it slow when it comes to getting new credit.
2. Start building credit safely.
3. Charge only what you can afford to pay.
4. Pay on time and in full.
5. Don’t max out your credit cards.
6. Insist on low interest rates, but don’t cancel old cards.
7. Carry a balance? Do it right and pay on time.

4. Ten Ways to Protect Your Finances From the Crisis (MarketWatch.com): 

1. Check that your bank accounts are federally insured.
2. Make sure your brokerage accounts are federally insured, too.
3. Put money in thy purse: “Cash is King.”
4. Set up a home equity line of credit while you still can.
5. Refinance your mortgage.
6. Stop pulling a “Monty Python” when it comes to your worst investments.
7. Don’t panic: Journalists, like markets, tend to move in herds.
8. Take care of your short-term money needs first.
9. If you are investing for five years or more, buy some stock.
10. If you want to worry about anything, worry about your taxes — they almost HAVE to go up no matter who wins the election.

5. 13 things you can get for free (MoneyCentral.msn.com):  A surprising number of valuable products can be had for free — or at least for a deep discount. The ones I like best are free movies and TV episodes on your computer, and free vacations using home exchanges. Interestingly, the article shows how you can drive other people’s vehicle(s) from your area to miscellaneous spots around America, when they are relocating and don’t want to drive it there themselves.

6. 4 New Ways to Stop Stress Eating (Prevention.com):  If your weight-watching tends to break down because of work stress, here are some innovative solutions you can try.

7. Four Places to Seek Help From While Job Hunting (SmartMoney.com):  Could you use some help finding a new job? You can find a career coach, visit a career website (e.g. Monster.com and Vault.com), visit a free government Career Center, or try the Trade Adjustment Assistance program for those workers who lose jobs because of outsourcing or cheap imports (you could even get money for job retraining and job searches.)

8. 7 Pains You Shouldn’t Ignore (WebMD.com):  These types of pain require prompt medical attention:

No. 1: Worst Headache of Your Life
No. 2: Pain or Discomfort in the Chest, Throat, Jaw, Shoulder, Arm, or Abdomen
No. 3: Pain in Lower Back or Between Shoulder Blades
No. 4: Severe Abdominal Pain
No. 5: Calf Pain
No. 6: Burning Feet or Legs
No. 7: Vague, Combined, or Medically Unexplained Pains

9. Recipe Makeovers: 10 Commandments of Healthy Cooking (WebMD.com):  For almost any recipe, you can use some of these ten ideas listing healthy tweaks to counteract the undesirable effects of not-so-healthy ingredients.

10. 4 Ways to Stop Age-Related Memory Loss (WebMD.com):  The article talks about exercise, a balanced diet, the right vitamins and lifelong learning.

11. 10 Easy Ways to Make Exercise a Habit (WebMD.com): 

1. Do a variety of activities you enjoy.
2. Commit to another person.
3. Make exercise a priority.
4. Exercise first thing in the morning.
5. Or, exercise on your way home from work.
6. Exercise even when you’re “too tired.”
7. Log your activity.
8. Be aware of all the indicators of progress
9. Walk — with a pedometer (or a dog)
10. Reward yourself.

12. 10 Workout Secrets: Expert Exercise Tips (WebMD.com):  The article suggests some great tips, backed up by quotes from expert professionals:

1. Be Consistent
2. Follow an Effective Exercise Routine
3. Set Realistic Goals
4. Use the Buddy System
5. Make your plan fit your lifestyle
6. Pick an Activity you Enjoy
7. Try to work out when you have the most energy
8. Call in the Pros
9. Get Inspired…maybe by other people losing weight
10. Be Patient