Have you ever wanted to be your own boss? Spending your days doing what you want where you want and with who you want because you have the time to do it finally! It was a startling realization to me to find how much time that we actually have when we don't have to commute to work on a daily basis. I spend my days learning new skills, reading books, golfing and other such fun and entertaining past times, and you can too provided you take all the right steps. If you take your time, and you're patient you too can build a steady full time income by working from your home for just a few hours a week!
Skeptical? I thought so. I spent my fair share of time being tricked by all the "Get Rich Quick" schemes out there, and trust me, there are a lot of them. My main goal was to find a business opportunity that didn't require a large initial deposit, and then I came across a business that not only didn't require large investments to get started but also walked me the whole way through the process, in fact they are still helping me to this day as I participate in the knowledgeable webinars where they explain how to build your own internet business and how to make it stand out.
I'm sure you've heard a lot of hype about a lot of different scams out there trying to swindle you out of your good hard money, and I've been fooled into a few of them, but after a couple of trial and errors I was able to discover how to work the business to leverage my earnings and the best part of it all: it runs on auto-pilot! Incredible right? I do the things I enjoy doing while I earn money on the side. I don't know about you but when it fully set in that this is what working from home could do for me then I never wanted to go back.
Don't be fooled by the idea that you can make thousands of dollars in your first few months though. Take it one step at a time and build up the business at your own pace, which means that you can spend however much time you would like at the startup building it up so that it will be more and more successful in the future. The key to working at home is to get the word out about your products as well, which is something you could do yourself, or, for a very reasonable price you can have the company do it for you! It's called an SEO service. It stands for search engine optimization, and it is the core of your business and how you attract people to your products, and when you have this on autopilot you don't have to do anything while they build up your business for you. Overall I'm overjoyed and you can be in the same place as me earning a full time income from working at home.
Now you know what you need to know to get started. Are you still interested in giving it a try? You can visit this site here for legitimate and already researched and reviewed opportunities you can take a look into.
The Giants' Race to Map the World
Gone are the days of having hereditary knowledge of surrounding areas or having to persuade a confused passenger to trace their finger along an over-sized map in order to get anywhere. Gone were these days in 2005 when Google introduced Google Maps (or to give it it's former name, Google Local). Now what stands, seven years on, is a developed version of yesteryear's primitive offering, and it is surrounded with competition from the intimidating likes of Apple and Microsoft.
Throughout its existence, Google has built a reputation as an organization that is very much 'alive', keeping tech-news sites ripe with tales of innovation as it implements game changing alterations that keep such fields as the SEO industry on its feet at all times. With attempts at social networking and creating its own web browser in the long list of ventures the Google name has been put through, one of the most successful undertakings was Google Maps. Year after year it expands and develops with such features as the 'Hybrid view' and the widely popular 'Street View', introduced in May 2007 and has led to the software enjoying a long reign as the ultimate web mapping application, facing little competition.
2012 has so far seen Google's endeavor into bringing a third dimension to the maps by employing a fleet of planes to photograph cities across the world. While an ambitious and characteristically controversial plan on Google's part, it has been caught up in rivalry from former allies, Apple.
The most recent movement in a distressing relationship between the two giants, Apple have recently hinted at dropping Google Maps from future devices in favor of their own version of the application.
Alongside this, Microsoft has been steadily contributing to the map rivalry a long time. As well as the ongoing rivalry between Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Google's browser, Chrome, the Microsoft map offers much the same service as its Google counterpart, complete with street view. The Microsoft map has undergone many changes over the years, but now offers more serious competition as it is branded under their Google opposing alter-ego, Bing which is also running as a realistic alternative to Google as a search engine in the future. But the rivalry between the giant corporations, made of electronics companies and search engine industry leaders (as they recognize internet mapping as a worthy interest) is nothing more than healthy competition that ultimately progresses towards a better user experience.
To stay abreast of the latest developments in web-technology, keep http://www.searchengineoptimisationcompany.co/ bookmarked. With regular updates about all things tech and SEO, you will never fall behind the curve again.
Throughout its existence, Google has built a reputation as an organization that is very much 'alive', keeping tech-news sites ripe with tales of innovation as it implements game changing alterations that keep such fields as the SEO industry on its feet at all times. With attempts at social networking and creating its own web browser in the long list of ventures the Google name has been put through, one of the most successful undertakings was Google Maps. Year after year it expands and develops with such features as the 'Hybrid view' and the widely popular 'Street View', introduced in May 2007 and has led to the software enjoying a long reign as the ultimate web mapping application, facing little competition.
2012 has so far seen Google's endeavor into bringing a third dimension to the maps by employing a fleet of planes to photograph cities across the world. While an ambitious and characteristically controversial plan on Google's part, it has been caught up in rivalry from former allies, Apple.
The most recent movement in a distressing relationship between the two giants, Apple have recently hinted at dropping Google Maps from future devices in favor of their own version of the application.
Alongside this, Microsoft has been steadily contributing to the map rivalry a long time. As well as the ongoing rivalry between Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Google's browser, Chrome, the Microsoft map offers much the same service as its Google counterpart, complete with street view. The Microsoft map has undergone many changes over the years, but now offers more serious competition as it is branded under their Google opposing alter-ego, Bing which is also running as a realistic alternative to Google as a search engine in the future. But the rivalry between the giant corporations, made of electronics companies and search engine industry leaders (as they recognize internet mapping as a worthy interest) is nothing more than healthy competition that ultimately progresses towards a better user experience.
To stay abreast of the latest developments in web-technology, keep http://www.searchengineoptimisationcompany.co/ bookmarked. With regular updates about all things tech and SEO, you will never fall behind the curve again.
How an IT Certification Can Help
I'm sure that you don't need anybody to tell you that the economy is not where it needs to be. This has caused many people to have problems, not only financially but also emotionally as well. One of the biggest things that can happen during this time is that it is possible that you could lose your job due to downsizing or other challenges. When that is the case, there are some things that need to be done in order to ensure that you can secure the job that you need and to be able to take care of your family's financial needs as well.
One of the first things that you need to consider when looking for a job in today's economy is the competition that is available. You're going to find this competition, regardless of whether you are applying for a job at your local mall or if you're trying to get into a technical career. Of course, there are going to be things that can be done to make yourself stand out among the competition, one of those being a well written and updated resume. There are a lot of resources that are available online to help you with your resume and this can help to have it stand out and move closer to the top of the stack.
Another thing that needs to be considered when applying for a job is that it is not simply enough to hand in your resume and hope it does the best for you. It is very important for you to continue to follow up on that information and to become the squeaky wheel. In doing so, it will be a lot more likely that your resume is going to end up on the top of the stack or perhaps even in front of the individual that is reviewing those resumes personally.
Have you considered increasing your education and perhaps even acquiring an A plus certification? This is something that can certainly help you in the technical field, although you do need to be cautious about the type of certification that are available. CompTIA certifications are considered to be the industry standard and you can find information about the certifications online. This can not only help you to get your foot in the door with many companies, it can also help to improve your odds of moving ahead within the technology industry as well.
If I could give you one more piece of information about how to find a job in today's economy, it would be to step outside of the box every once in awhile. It is not simply enough for you to follow the rest of the crowd when it comes to applying for work, you really need to work at finding work. Continue to be diligent in your efforts and put out as many resumes possible in order to give yourself a better opportunity to land a job that you need. Even if you have to start at an entry level position in a company, it is still getting your foot in the door and can serve you well for many years to come.
Isaac Pola is the author of this article about how IT Certifications in particular CompTIA certifications and A Plus Certification can help you find a job. He has been a network administrator for over 25 years and currently teaches classes on IT Certifications.
One of the first things that you need to consider when looking for a job in today's economy is the competition that is available. You're going to find this competition, regardless of whether you are applying for a job at your local mall or if you're trying to get into a technical career. Of course, there are going to be things that can be done to make yourself stand out among the competition, one of those being a well written and updated resume. There are a lot of resources that are available online to help you with your resume and this can help to have it stand out and move closer to the top of the stack.
Another thing that needs to be considered when applying for a job is that it is not simply enough to hand in your resume and hope it does the best for you. It is very important for you to continue to follow up on that information and to become the squeaky wheel. In doing so, it will be a lot more likely that your resume is going to end up on the top of the stack or perhaps even in front of the individual that is reviewing those resumes personally.
Have you considered increasing your education and perhaps even acquiring an A plus certification? This is something that can certainly help you in the technical field, although you do need to be cautious about the type of certification that are available. CompTIA certifications are considered to be the industry standard and you can find information about the certifications online. This can not only help you to get your foot in the door with many companies, it can also help to improve your odds of moving ahead within the technology industry as well.
If I could give you one more piece of information about how to find a job in today's economy, it would be to step outside of the box every once in awhile. It is not simply enough for you to follow the rest of the crowd when it comes to applying for work, you really need to work at finding work. Continue to be diligent in your efforts and put out as many resumes possible in order to give yourself a better opportunity to land a job that you need. Even if you have to start at an entry level position in a company, it is still getting your foot in the door and can serve you well for many years to come.
Isaac Pola is the author of this article about how IT Certifications in particular CompTIA certifications and A Plus Certification can help you find a job. He has been a network administrator for over 25 years and currently teaches classes on IT Certifications.
What Is Alcoholic Liver Disease?
Alcohol abuse leads to a condition known as alcoholic liver disease. The liver performs the important function of detoxification and that includes processing alcohol. Excessive consumption of alcohol is the leading cause of liver damage in the western world.
Factors that increase the risk for this condition include the average amount of alcohol consumed in a sitting over a period of time, drinking when not eating, gender, pre-existing conditions, etc. You don't have to drink yourself silly every time to be a candidate for this condition. And not every alcoholic gets alcoholic liver disease. Diet and nutrition play an important role; if you have a healthy diet you can probably keep the condition at bay. Diagnosis of alcoholic liver disease is done through blood tests, scans, and if required liver biopsy.
Symptoms of the condition include dryness in the mouth, tiredness, loss of appetite, weight loss, jaundice, and fluid accumulation in the legs. The skin may turn dark or pale; motions may be tarry due to blood in them; bleeding gums; and giddiness are other symptoms.
Alcoholic liver disease progresses in stages. The first stage is characterized by the condition known as fatty liver, followed by alcoholic hepatitis, and then cirrhosis. One in four alcoholics suffering from a fatty liver may get cirrhosis.
Fatty liver - In this condition, there is an accumulation of fat in the cells of the liver. Fortunately, this condition is not irreversible. FLD can happen from a number of causes but the most common cause is alcohol abuse. The condition can often pass unnoticed or is diagnosed when liver diagnosis is carried out for some other purpose. Early detection can enable reversing of the steatosis. If left till later, there are chances that cirrhosis may lead to heptocellular carcinoma.
Alcoholic hepatitis - Four out of ten heavy drinkers get alcoholic hepatitis. The condition is characterized by the inflammation of the liver. The condition may or may not lead to cirrhosis but with heavy drinkers the chances of liver cirrhosis following this condition are quite high. Symptoms include liver enzyme elevation, fluid in the abdomen cavity, and jaundice.
Cirrhosis - This is an irreversible condition that occurs from sustained heavy drinking for more than ten years or so. The condition is graded A, B, C based on severity. The prognosis for "C" is poor. Treatment for cirrhosis consists of trying to prevent further damage to the liver and if required, liver transplant. Hepatitis vaccines are given and certain medications such as NSAIDs are discouraged. Alcohol, of course, is a strict no-no.
In general, the first thing to do when treating alcoholic liver disease is to give up alcohol and start with a healthy diet while avoid fatty foods. Diuretics are sometimes given to reduce ascites. Some treatment methods prescribe the use of anti-oxidants to minimize free radical damage.
Tim Laker takes keen interest in the field of laparoscopic surgery and occasionally writes on the subject.
Factors that increase the risk for this condition include the average amount of alcohol consumed in a sitting over a period of time, drinking when not eating, gender, pre-existing conditions, etc. You don't have to drink yourself silly every time to be a candidate for this condition. And not every alcoholic gets alcoholic liver disease. Diet and nutrition play an important role; if you have a healthy diet you can probably keep the condition at bay. Diagnosis of alcoholic liver disease is done through blood tests, scans, and if required liver biopsy.
Symptoms of the condition include dryness in the mouth, tiredness, loss of appetite, weight loss, jaundice, and fluid accumulation in the legs. The skin may turn dark or pale; motions may be tarry due to blood in them; bleeding gums; and giddiness are other symptoms.
Alcoholic liver disease progresses in stages. The first stage is characterized by the condition known as fatty liver, followed by alcoholic hepatitis, and then cirrhosis. One in four alcoholics suffering from a fatty liver may get cirrhosis.
Fatty liver - In this condition, there is an accumulation of fat in the cells of the liver. Fortunately, this condition is not irreversible. FLD can happen from a number of causes but the most common cause is alcohol abuse. The condition can often pass unnoticed or is diagnosed when liver diagnosis is carried out for some other purpose. Early detection can enable reversing of the steatosis. If left till later, there are chances that cirrhosis may lead to heptocellular carcinoma.
Alcoholic hepatitis - Four out of ten heavy drinkers get alcoholic hepatitis. The condition is characterized by the inflammation of the liver. The condition may or may not lead to cirrhosis but with heavy drinkers the chances of liver cirrhosis following this condition are quite high. Symptoms include liver enzyme elevation, fluid in the abdomen cavity, and jaundice.
Cirrhosis - This is an irreversible condition that occurs from sustained heavy drinking for more than ten years or so. The condition is graded A, B, C based on severity. The prognosis for "C" is poor. Treatment for cirrhosis consists of trying to prevent further damage to the liver and if required, liver transplant. Hepatitis vaccines are given and certain medications such as NSAIDs are discouraged. Alcohol, of course, is a strict no-no.
In general, the first thing to do when treating alcoholic liver disease is to give up alcohol and start with a healthy diet while avoid fatty foods. Diuretics are sometimes given to reduce ascites. Some treatment methods prescribe the use of anti-oxidants to minimize free radical damage.
Tim Laker takes keen interest in the field of laparoscopic surgery and occasionally writes on the subject.
Three Questions to Ask When Choosing a Medical Clinic
Not all issues of infertility can be blamed to women. Mark Peloe of Georgia reproductive Specialists says that infertility is a 50/50 issue, wherein the male are also partially responsible with half of the case. According to survey, infertility in men accounts for 30% of couples' infertility problems. The varying factors that affect infertility account for another 20%.
Infertility in men is caused by a variety of factors, such as sperm abnormalities (i.e. low sperm count or oligospermia, poor sperm motility or athenospermia, and abnormal sperm morphology or teratospermia), genetic disorders, anatomical issues, and hormonal imbalances.
Many couples have been experiencing fertility problems in the past years. However, before opting to a medical treatment which can be expensive, most them first try to consider diet as one of the most significant steps to fertility. In fact, starting fertility diet at an early stage helps reduce the risk of infertility in men. A good fertility diet for males typically includes eating the right kinds of foods that boost up fertility.
Which foods to include?
- Oysters - Because of their high zinc content, oysters are considered as one of the best baby-making ingredients. Zinc is an essential nutrient that helps boost up sperm and testosterone production. You can also get zinc from beef, poultry, dairy, nuts, eggs, whole grains, and beans.
- Fruits and vegetables - Dried fruits, cranberries, and collard green are rich in anti-oxidants that help protect sperm from cellular damage and keep them strong and speedy. Also include the rich sources of Vitamin A and folic acid, such as the leafy greens, carrots, and apricots. For sperm motility, boost your Vitamin B supply by eating oranges, and tomatoes, grapefruit, and broccoli.
- Pomegranate juice - Pomegranate is also rich in anti-oxidants that help boost up sperm production.
- Pumpkin seeds - Rich in omega 3 and essential fatty acids, pumpkin seeds can stimulate blood flow to the sexual organs thus enhancing sexual functions while increasing the production of testosterone and quality sperm. Other foods such as flaxseed, almonds, salmons, and sardines are also rich in omega 3 and essential fatty acids.
Which foods to avoid?
- Junk or fast foods - Eating too much junk or fast foods increases the volume of fats and sugar in your body, which can impair the production of healthy and high quality sperm. Examples of junk and fast foods include those ready-to-eat foods, such as pizza, hamburgers, French fries, tacos, and other foods purchased in retail chains.
- High-mercury fish - Swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish, tuna steak, and shark are known to have high mercury content and are link to a variety of fertility related problems in both men and women. They also increase the risk of birth defects and infant disorders in babies.
- Caffeine - Coffees, teas, and soft drinks are only few of the sources of caffeine that you should start minimizing today. As much as alcohol adversely affects the production of healthy sperm, caffeinated drinks also increase the risk of infertility. As per expert's advice it is good to limit caffeine intake to at least 2 cups a day.
Louise Collins writes articles about pregnancy and fertility. If you would like more advice on what to eat to increase your fertility try looking at this site you can find dietary tips to increase your fertility and increase your chances of getting pregnant.
Infertility in men is caused by a variety of factors, such as sperm abnormalities (i.e. low sperm count or oligospermia, poor sperm motility or athenospermia, and abnormal sperm morphology or teratospermia), genetic disorders, anatomical issues, and hormonal imbalances.
Many couples have been experiencing fertility problems in the past years. However, before opting to a medical treatment which can be expensive, most them first try to consider diet as one of the most significant steps to fertility. In fact, starting fertility diet at an early stage helps reduce the risk of infertility in men. A good fertility diet for males typically includes eating the right kinds of foods that boost up fertility.
Which foods to include?
- Oysters - Because of their high zinc content, oysters are considered as one of the best baby-making ingredients. Zinc is an essential nutrient that helps boost up sperm and testosterone production. You can also get zinc from beef, poultry, dairy, nuts, eggs, whole grains, and beans.
- Fruits and vegetables - Dried fruits, cranberries, and collard green are rich in anti-oxidants that help protect sperm from cellular damage and keep them strong and speedy. Also include the rich sources of Vitamin A and folic acid, such as the leafy greens, carrots, and apricots. For sperm motility, boost your Vitamin B supply by eating oranges, and tomatoes, grapefruit, and broccoli.
- Pomegranate juice - Pomegranate is also rich in anti-oxidants that help boost up sperm production.
- Pumpkin seeds - Rich in omega 3 and essential fatty acids, pumpkin seeds can stimulate blood flow to the sexual organs thus enhancing sexual functions while increasing the production of testosterone and quality sperm. Other foods such as flaxseed, almonds, salmons, and sardines are also rich in omega 3 and essential fatty acids.
Which foods to avoid?
- Junk or fast foods - Eating too much junk or fast foods increases the volume of fats and sugar in your body, which can impair the production of healthy and high quality sperm. Examples of junk and fast foods include those ready-to-eat foods, such as pizza, hamburgers, French fries, tacos, and other foods purchased in retail chains.
- High-mercury fish - Swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish, tuna steak, and shark are known to have high mercury content and are link to a variety of fertility related problems in both men and women. They also increase the risk of birth defects and infant disorders in babies.
- Caffeine - Coffees, teas, and soft drinks are only few of the sources of caffeine that you should start minimizing today. As much as alcohol adversely affects the production of healthy sperm, caffeinated drinks also increase the risk of infertility. As per expert's advice it is good to limit caffeine intake to at least 2 cups a day.
Louise Collins writes articles about pregnancy and fertility. If you would like more advice on what to eat to increase your fertility try looking at this site you can find dietary tips to increase your fertility and increase your chances of getting pregnant.
Calcium - Killer or Saviour
The first data along these lines was from Prof Reid Auckland University here in New Zealand. Originally published in the prestigious British Medical Journal, it was a summary of a number of selected trials involving 27,000 participants. He claimed that those who took a calcium supplement were 25% more likely to have a heart attack than those that relied wholly on food as a calcium source. He postulated that a large spike in blood calcium after taking the supplement caused the problem. The second data set was from Swiss university researchers who looked at 24,000 participants aged from 35-65 years of age and found similar results with a doubling of the heart attack rate in those taking a simple calcium supplement, this was published in Heart. Then just recently a Denmark university hospital group looked at 8 clinical trials with over 1,000 participants aged over 70 years. Here they found a significant increase in life expectancy from those taking calcium supplements.
Another recent study of 11 clinical trials covering 31,000 people 65 years and over found that Vit D supplementation when taken at 800 International Units per day reduced the risk of hip fractures by 30%
How do we explain all this? Critics say the trials were.
Trials specially selected to say what the researchers wanted
Didn't include or show effect of Vit D in the calcium trials
Were almost all with calcium carbonate or similar simple calcium compound
Used calcium alone - not along with other minerals that are critical to calcium uptake and bone health
All of the above may be correct, but when you look at the numbers and the standing of the researchers involved, it means we have to look closely at the result and try to work out just what does it mean, in practical terms, to the average older person who has concerns on both their bone health and their heart health.
Given the scientific data on osteoporosis available, we now know that low bone density affects almost all women after menopause and most men over 65.
Also we know this group is also at risk of heart attacks.
In my view there is a likely danger in taking a large dose of a simple calcium supplement on a regular basis. Ideally we should get our full calcium requirement from our diet. This is what Prof Reid recommends. Milk is probably the best means to do this; it contains the calcium in a complex form and has other minerals and proteins for bone health in it. With this combination you are unlikely to get the dangerous calcium blood spike. The problem is you probably need 4 large glasses a day to get your full calcium requirement.
However that in practical terms is not possible for all of us. So what should we do if we do need to take a calcium supplement to improve bone strength and avoid a fracture?
My recommendation is as follows.
Do not use a simple calcium compound such as calcium carbonate
Make sure Vit D3 is included
Make sure the other critical bone health minerals that affect uptake are included
Spread dose rate as much as possible - if dose is two capsules take morning and night - 3 take at lunch as well
Always take with food
Following these recommendations should give you the benefits of improved bone strength without increasing the risk of heart attack and increase life expectancy.
To find the right supplement is not too difficult, but it is more expensive than taking a simple cheap calcium carbonate or similar calcium compound. There is a wide range that fit the above criteria available on the Internet.
The best way to get the right blend of minerals is to use calcium hydroxyapatite. This in simple terms is bone itself. This in many trials has shown greater bone strengthening ability to the simple calcium compounds. The cheapest form is finely ground beef bone, produced in New Zealand from animals certified free of Mad Cow disease and exported worldwide. This is really taking calcium as food with collagen (protein) and a full critical mineral range in a complex combination. This finely ground whole bone is often referred to as MCHA.
Another form of calcium hydroxyapatite available commercially is from deer antler taken at a special stage of growth. This contains a special bioactive that increases bone strength.
Research on Red Deer stags growing antlers show that at a certain growth stage 30% of the calcium in the deer skeleton is transferred to the antlers in a matter of days. Research has isolated that growth phase and a product developed from hard antler harvested at this stage patented.
This product is not only better than most supplements at increasing bone strength but safer as well. It is really taking calcium as a complex food in small portions not as a supplement.
For more information on the deer antler product go to http://www.seniorhealthcare.co.nz
Another recent study of 11 clinical trials covering 31,000 people 65 years and over found that Vit D supplementation when taken at 800 International Units per day reduced the risk of hip fractures by 30%
How do we explain all this? Critics say the trials were.
Trials specially selected to say what the researchers wanted
Didn't include or show effect of Vit D in the calcium trials
Were almost all with calcium carbonate or similar simple calcium compound
Used calcium alone - not along with other minerals that are critical to calcium uptake and bone health
All of the above may be correct, but when you look at the numbers and the standing of the researchers involved, it means we have to look closely at the result and try to work out just what does it mean, in practical terms, to the average older person who has concerns on both their bone health and their heart health.
Given the scientific data on osteoporosis available, we now know that low bone density affects almost all women after menopause and most men over 65.
Also we know this group is also at risk of heart attacks.
In my view there is a likely danger in taking a large dose of a simple calcium supplement on a regular basis. Ideally we should get our full calcium requirement from our diet. This is what Prof Reid recommends. Milk is probably the best means to do this; it contains the calcium in a complex form and has other minerals and proteins for bone health in it. With this combination you are unlikely to get the dangerous calcium blood spike. The problem is you probably need 4 large glasses a day to get your full calcium requirement.
However that in practical terms is not possible for all of us. So what should we do if we do need to take a calcium supplement to improve bone strength and avoid a fracture?
My recommendation is as follows.
Do not use a simple calcium compound such as calcium carbonate
Make sure Vit D3 is included
Make sure the other critical bone health minerals that affect uptake are included
Spread dose rate as much as possible - if dose is two capsules take morning and night - 3 take at lunch as well
Always take with food
Following these recommendations should give you the benefits of improved bone strength without increasing the risk of heart attack and increase life expectancy.
To find the right supplement is not too difficult, but it is more expensive than taking a simple cheap calcium carbonate or similar calcium compound. There is a wide range that fit the above criteria available on the Internet.
The best way to get the right blend of minerals is to use calcium hydroxyapatite. This in simple terms is bone itself. This in many trials has shown greater bone strengthening ability to the simple calcium compounds. The cheapest form is finely ground beef bone, produced in New Zealand from animals certified free of Mad Cow disease and exported worldwide. This is really taking calcium as food with collagen (protein) and a full critical mineral range in a complex combination. This finely ground whole bone is often referred to as MCHA.
Another form of calcium hydroxyapatite available commercially is from deer antler taken at a special stage of growth. This contains a special bioactive that increases bone strength.
Research on Red Deer stags growing antlers show that at a certain growth stage 30% of the calcium in the deer skeleton is transferred to the antlers in a matter of days. Research has isolated that growth phase and a product developed from hard antler harvested at this stage patented.
This product is not only better than most supplements at increasing bone strength but safer as well. It is really taking calcium as a complex food in small portions not as a supplement.
For more information on the deer antler product go to http://www.seniorhealthcare.co.nz
Three Questions to Ask When Choosing a Medical Clinic
Healthcare is an important aspect to everyone's life. There is nothing that means more to the individual than his or her health. This being the case, it is of vital importance that you have all of the information you need when deciding which medical clinic to go to. The best way to accomplish this is to ask plenty of questions. This will allow you to make the best decision for your health and the health of your family. Be sure to find out whether or not the office you are considering accepts insurance, how long it takes to schedule an appointment, and what types of services they provide.
What Insurance Do You Accept?
Before making an appointment at a medical clinic, it is important to find out what type of insurance they accept. Health care can be extremely expensive, and if you don't have insurance the bills can pile up fast. Thus, it is important to make sure that the office you go to accepts your insurance. If you don't have health insurance, be sure to find out whether or not the office accepts Medicare, Medicaid, or if they offer any discounts for low income individuals.
How Long Before I Can Get an Appointment?
A medical clinic can, in many cases, have a very large patient pool. When this happens it can be difficult for you to schedule an appointment, and it is not uncommon for some clinics to have very long waiting lists. You should always find out if this is the case before choosing an office to go to. You do not want to find yourself in a situation in which you are waiting several weeks to receive care or medication that you need right away. Try your best to find out how many patients the prospective office services and how long you can expect to wait for an appointment.
What Services Do You Provide?
Finally, you will want to find out what sorts of services the medical clinic provides. If you have a family, make sure that they have a pediatric doctor that can treat and diagnose your children. You should also be careful to select an office that is equipped to handle any particular condition for which you might require treatment. You don't want to find yourself seeing a doctor that is unable to meet your needs.
Finding a medical clinic can be difficult. However, if you have all of the necessary information, your decision will be much easier to make.
Come to a local Englewood medical clinic can help assess and address your problems such as non-life-threatening injury or severe illness. Get more info at http://www.doctorsexpressenglewood.com.
What Insurance Do You Accept?
Before making an appointment at a medical clinic, it is important to find out what type of insurance they accept. Health care can be extremely expensive, and if you don't have insurance the bills can pile up fast. Thus, it is important to make sure that the office you go to accepts your insurance. If you don't have health insurance, be sure to find out whether or not the office accepts Medicare, Medicaid, or if they offer any discounts for low income individuals.
How Long Before I Can Get an Appointment?
A medical clinic can, in many cases, have a very large patient pool. When this happens it can be difficult for you to schedule an appointment, and it is not uncommon for some clinics to have very long waiting lists. You should always find out if this is the case before choosing an office to go to. You do not want to find yourself in a situation in which you are waiting several weeks to receive care or medication that you need right away. Try your best to find out how many patients the prospective office services and how long you can expect to wait for an appointment.
What Services Do You Provide?
Finally, you will want to find out what sorts of services the medical clinic provides. If you have a family, make sure that they have a pediatric doctor that can treat and diagnose your children. You should also be careful to select an office that is equipped to handle any particular condition for which you might require treatment. You don't want to find yourself seeing a doctor that is unable to meet your needs.
Finding a medical clinic can be difficult. However, if you have all of the necessary information, your decision will be much easier to make.
Come to a local Englewood medical clinic can help assess and address your problems such as non-life-threatening injury or severe illness. Get more info at http://www.doctorsexpressenglewood.com.
Vein Removal for Venous Reflux Disease
If you are struggling with venous reflux disease, vein removal treatments may hold the solution to your issue. Normal veins work hard to make sure that the blood travels through the body to reach each and every organ and tissue. When they do not work properly or the valves are blocked, a person begins to experience a noticeable problem with the way they feel. Instead of leaving the situation untreated, there are laser options available.
What It Is
Varicose veins can sometimes be nothing more than an unsightly blemish on the legs. They don't look great but they don't cause any problems. Sometimes, they turn into venous reflux disease, also known as venous insufficiency. It is also possible for a patient to develop the disease without the presence of varicose veins. In either case, vein removal is an option.
The disease develops when the valves of the veins fail to function as a one-way form of travel for the blood. Instead of the blood moving forward, it travels backwards and goes back into the legs. As it is pushed into the legs, it lacks the necessary oxygenation. This causes the pain and discomfort for the patient.
Symptoms
As the blood flows backwards into the legs, all sorts of problems are created. The diseased valves often cause a patient to feel pain, throbbing, aches and in some cases, swelling and fatigue. This can easily limit a person's mobility and his or her ability to participate in everyday activities. Because of this, treatment should be sought out as soon as possible.
Treatments
In the past, patient did not have the benefit of laser vein removal. Instead, they would go through a surgery that would attempt to reroute the blood flow to other veins. The surgery takes place on the veins near the groin area and they would be stripped. This was a major undertaking and patients would be out of commission for at least six to eight weeks. They would be wrapped up from the groin all the way to the ankles and mobility was severely limited.
Now, with the help of lasers, vein removal can be done in office without an extended recovery time. The laser obliteration of the veins works well for most patients. It is important to talk to a physician for an accurate diagnosis and to find out whether or no vein removal can help.
Whether you can already see the varicose veins developing or you are experiencing pain in your legs, make an appointment with your doctor. When left untreated, venous reflux disease can continue to cause complications and become more difficult to deal with.
Abilene TX vein removal medical professionals are ready and waiting to help you get rid of unsightly varicose or spidery veins. Learn more at http://www.laserandneosculptcenter.com.
What It Is
Varicose veins can sometimes be nothing more than an unsightly blemish on the legs. They don't look great but they don't cause any problems. Sometimes, they turn into venous reflux disease, also known as venous insufficiency. It is also possible for a patient to develop the disease without the presence of varicose veins. In either case, vein removal is an option.
The disease develops when the valves of the veins fail to function as a one-way form of travel for the blood. Instead of the blood moving forward, it travels backwards and goes back into the legs. As it is pushed into the legs, it lacks the necessary oxygenation. This causes the pain and discomfort for the patient.
Symptoms
As the blood flows backwards into the legs, all sorts of problems are created. The diseased valves often cause a patient to feel pain, throbbing, aches and in some cases, swelling and fatigue. This can easily limit a person's mobility and his or her ability to participate in everyday activities. Because of this, treatment should be sought out as soon as possible.
Treatments
In the past, patient did not have the benefit of laser vein removal. Instead, they would go through a surgery that would attempt to reroute the blood flow to other veins. The surgery takes place on the veins near the groin area and they would be stripped. This was a major undertaking and patients would be out of commission for at least six to eight weeks. They would be wrapped up from the groin all the way to the ankles and mobility was severely limited.
Now, with the help of lasers, vein removal can be done in office without an extended recovery time. The laser obliteration of the veins works well for most patients. It is important to talk to a physician for an accurate diagnosis and to find out whether or no vein removal can help.
Whether you can already see the varicose veins developing or you are experiencing pain in your legs, make an appointment with your doctor. When left untreated, venous reflux disease can continue to cause complications and become more difficult to deal with.
Abilene TX vein removal medical professionals are ready and waiting to help you get rid of unsightly varicose or spidery veins. Learn more at http://www.laserandneosculptcenter.com.
Making the Right Choice - Urgent Care or Emergency Room?
Unfortunately accidents happen to everyone at some point in their lives and having an emergency room or urgent care clinic close by is a good thing when the pain is intense or there is bleeding involved.
Most of us think of both as being the same thing and can be used interchangeably. Both are necessary when the medical attention is needed immediately, such as if your child gets hurt at school, you cut yourself at home, or a co-worker collapses while on the job. In these situations the first thing we think of is the emergency room, however, recently you can have some of the same services that you could have done at the hospital performed in an urgent care clinic. There are some major differences between the two types of emergency care.
When you are comparing the situations in the previous paragraph, the person who collapsed at work would probably be served best by the care in the emergency room over urgent care as it could be a heart condition that led to his collapse and these should get immediate treatment by a cardiologist which would be available in most hospitals that are attached to the emergency room. However, if the emergency is a broken bone or cut that may need a few stitches, an urgent care facility may be the best in those situations.
One of the main differences between an emergency room and a private clinic is that the clinic is able to create its own hours because it is privately owned, unlike a hospital that is funded by the government. This way it is able to help a patient in an emergency situation when their regular doctor office is closed.
Another major difference between the urgent care clinic and the emergency room is the cost. Most hospitals are required to provide emergency attention to someone whether they can pay for it or not; therefore, the hospital often charges insured patients more so that they can recover some of their losses, which is why you may see a 200 dollar bandage, which may normally cost around 5.00 at the drug store.
Because the private clinic can refuse service to patients who do not have insurance, they are able to keep costs down. Often the physicians who choose to practice at these clinics will also charge less so that the bills won't be too shocking later. They will also only be handling one trauma situation at a time so your wait time will be less.
Depending on your emergency and your need, you can get the care you need right when you need it at your urgent care clinic.
A new jersey urgent care clinic can be cheaper and more convenient that an emergency room. To find out more about the treatment and services available, visit http://www.carestationmedical.com.
Most of us think of both as being the same thing and can be used interchangeably. Both are necessary when the medical attention is needed immediately, such as if your child gets hurt at school, you cut yourself at home, or a co-worker collapses while on the job. In these situations the first thing we think of is the emergency room, however, recently you can have some of the same services that you could have done at the hospital performed in an urgent care clinic. There are some major differences between the two types of emergency care.
When you are comparing the situations in the previous paragraph, the person who collapsed at work would probably be served best by the care in the emergency room over urgent care as it could be a heart condition that led to his collapse and these should get immediate treatment by a cardiologist which would be available in most hospitals that are attached to the emergency room. However, if the emergency is a broken bone or cut that may need a few stitches, an urgent care facility may be the best in those situations.
One of the main differences between an emergency room and a private clinic is that the clinic is able to create its own hours because it is privately owned, unlike a hospital that is funded by the government. This way it is able to help a patient in an emergency situation when their regular doctor office is closed.
Another major difference between the urgent care clinic and the emergency room is the cost. Most hospitals are required to provide emergency attention to someone whether they can pay for it or not; therefore, the hospital often charges insured patients more so that they can recover some of their losses, which is why you may see a 200 dollar bandage, which may normally cost around 5.00 at the drug store.
Because the private clinic can refuse service to patients who do not have insurance, they are able to keep costs down. Often the physicians who choose to practice at these clinics will also charge less so that the bills won't be too shocking later. They will also only be handling one trauma situation at a time so your wait time will be less.
Depending on your emergency and your need, you can get the care you need right when you need it at your urgent care clinic.
A new jersey urgent care clinic can be cheaper and more convenient that an emergency room. To find out more about the treatment and services available, visit http://www.carestationmedical.com.
The Cure To Illness Is You
As of the year 2012 we are considered to be at the most advanced point in human history. At no time in our existence are we said to have had the technology that we possess today. The sciences are developing new theories daily as new entities are discovered in the universe. Progress in technology amazes us daily as we are introduced to new gadgets, with each subsequent version being smaller and more powerful than the last. Yet, in spite of these amazing advances, one thing seems not to be advancing, our health. Have you ever wondered why? If we are making all these advances in other fields, would you not expect advances to be made in the health industry?
As of this very moment, cancer has never been so prevalent amongst humanity. More and more people are dying of it every year, and that is not just because the population is increasing. More people are dying of the flu, but we are meant to have the best and most advanced vaccinations ever created. We seem to be advancing in other areas but are going backwards in health and medicine, why is that? "The cure is out there" the experts tell us, "we just haven't found it yet". The truth is, they will never find it, because the cure to illness is not outside of us, it is within us.
This is the missing link and is the reason why current medicine is making no real progress. Most people are taught from a very young age that colds are caught from others, that viruses are transferred from one person to the next and that certain illnesses are genetic. It is commonly thought that cancer and other life threatening illnesses are just random and there is currently no explanation as to why some people live through it and why some don't. In the eyes of most, illness is just random, and when one is afflicted with it they ask, "why me?" What a different world it would be if we all understood that we are not only the cause of our illnesses, but we are also the cure.
Admittedly, this can be a bit hard to swallow for most of us. The first impulse is to either reject it, or to jump on your own back and ask in despair, "So you mean it's my fault?" Firstly, it is not about fault. We live in a universe of perfect order where nothing is random. Every effect has a cause, and there is not an effect without a cause. Illness is always an effect, it is never the cause. There is always an underlying cause to any illness, which is what is currently missing from current medicine. Illness is only a symptom; it is not the cause itself. Illness is like the oil light on your car dashboard, it lights up to let you know that something is wrong in the engine; it is not the cause itself.
Current medical treatment can be compared to pulling out the fuse on the oil light, so that it can't be seen anymore. It does not deal with the real cause, which exists somewhere else. Current medicine alleviates the symptoms for a while, but it does not cure the cause. For some it may seem as healing has taken place, but it will always come back as the same thing or something else. We cannot cure something physical with something physical, as that is trying to cure effect with effect. We can only cure effect by being at cause.
You see, the mental and emotional levels are the level of CAUSE, whereas the physical level is only the level of EFFECT. Nothing physical is the cause of a physical effect. In other words, contrary to popular belief, nothing outside us (physical) can make us sick. Most people catch colds because of their belief in catching a cold. Do away with the belief (mental) and you do away with the illness (physical). This is how it works, always and in all ways.
The body acts as medium for the mental and emotional levels to express themselves. The physical level does not create anything; it merely reflects that which is created on the deeper levels. The problem is most of us are not aware of our thoughts and emotions. This is where illness comes in, as illness is our (physical) bodies attempt at helping us become aware of these underlying thoughts and emotions. Illness is a tap on the shoulder from the body, letting us know something is unbalanced within us.
When we are balanced and whole within, we are balanced and healthy without. In other words, when we perceive the world with a balanced perspective, we receive no feedback in our bodies. Conversely, when we have an unbalanced perspective, we receive feedback to let us know that we are no longer balanced and acting out of love. Again, this is because most of us are unconscious of what is going on within. In one way, illness is a tool to wake us up, to help us become conscious of our unconscious thoughts and emotions.
This is why being at the effect level does not get us anywhere. Until we realise and accept that we are both the cause and the cure, we will not make any real progress in medicine. All illness is actually a blessing, it is there to serve us and move us forward in life. In reality, illness is 100% positive in its intent and purpose. We can only see it as this once we move from the EFFECT level to the CAUSE level.
There is no cure outside us that we need; every cure to every illness exists within us already. The question is, are YOU ready to accept this? Is it time for you to move from effect to cause in your life? Living at effect gets us nowhere, being at cause gets us everywhere. Everything in life is either an expression of love, or a call to love. All illness is a call to love, are you ready to heed that call?
As of this very moment, cancer has never been so prevalent amongst humanity. More and more people are dying of it every year, and that is not just because the population is increasing. More people are dying of the flu, but we are meant to have the best and most advanced vaccinations ever created. We seem to be advancing in other areas but are going backwards in health and medicine, why is that? "The cure is out there" the experts tell us, "we just haven't found it yet". The truth is, they will never find it, because the cure to illness is not outside of us, it is within us.
This is the missing link and is the reason why current medicine is making no real progress. Most people are taught from a very young age that colds are caught from others, that viruses are transferred from one person to the next and that certain illnesses are genetic. It is commonly thought that cancer and other life threatening illnesses are just random and there is currently no explanation as to why some people live through it and why some don't. In the eyes of most, illness is just random, and when one is afflicted with it they ask, "why me?" What a different world it would be if we all understood that we are not only the cause of our illnesses, but we are also the cure.
Admittedly, this can be a bit hard to swallow for most of us. The first impulse is to either reject it, or to jump on your own back and ask in despair, "So you mean it's my fault?" Firstly, it is not about fault. We live in a universe of perfect order where nothing is random. Every effect has a cause, and there is not an effect without a cause. Illness is always an effect, it is never the cause. There is always an underlying cause to any illness, which is what is currently missing from current medicine. Illness is only a symptom; it is not the cause itself. Illness is like the oil light on your car dashboard, it lights up to let you know that something is wrong in the engine; it is not the cause itself.
Current medical treatment can be compared to pulling out the fuse on the oil light, so that it can't be seen anymore. It does not deal with the real cause, which exists somewhere else. Current medicine alleviates the symptoms for a while, but it does not cure the cause. For some it may seem as healing has taken place, but it will always come back as the same thing or something else. We cannot cure something physical with something physical, as that is trying to cure effect with effect. We can only cure effect by being at cause.
You see, the mental and emotional levels are the level of CAUSE, whereas the physical level is only the level of EFFECT. Nothing physical is the cause of a physical effect. In other words, contrary to popular belief, nothing outside us (physical) can make us sick. Most people catch colds because of their belief in catching a cold. Do away with the belief (mental) and you do away with the illness (physical). This is how it works, always and in all ways.
The body acts as medium for the mental and emotional levels to express themselves. The physical level does not create anything; it merely reflects that which is created on the deeper levels. The problem is most of us are not aware of our thoughts and emotions. This is where illness comes in, as illness is our (physical) bodies attempt at helping us become aware of these underlying thoughts and emotions. Illness is a tap on the shoulder from the body, letting us know something is unbalanced within us.
When we are balanced and whole within, we are balanced and healthy without. In other words, when we perceive the world with a balanced perspective, we receive no feedback in our bodies. Conversely, when we have an unbalanced perspective, we receive feedback to let us know that we are no longer balanced and acting out of love. Again, this is because most of us are unconscious of what is going on within. In one way, illness is a tool to wake us up, to help us become conscious of our unconscious thoughts and emotions.
This is why being at the effect level does not get us anywhere. Until we realise and accept that we are both the cause and the cure, we will not make any real progress in medicine. All illness is actually a blessing, it is there to serve us and move us forward in life. In reality, illness is 100% positive in its intent and purpose. We can only see it as this once we move from the EFFECT level to the CAUSE level.
There is no cure outside us that we need; every cure to every illness exists within us already. The question is, are YOU ready to accept this? Is it time for you to move from effect to cause in your life? Living at effect gets us nowhere, being at cause gets us everywhere. Everything in life is either an expression of love, or a call to love. All illness is a call to love, are you ready to heed that call?
Why Science Fiction Will Lead to a New Renaissance
I mentioned in a previous article that science fiction serves a necessary and important role the sustaining of the integrity of the human psyche, as the world moves into the future. Here I will try to explain its role as a bridge to a new renaissance-like age of art.
The first step to clearing our heads, is to redefine, for ourselves, what exactly science fiction is. One of the main definitions that has been put forward is by the theorist Darko Suvin. He defines the genre as providing 2 functions. One he calls "estrangement", which simply means that the reader senses the events and surrounding of the fictional world, as "feeling" different from ones own. The second condition, which is harder to grasp is "cognition", which means that somehow, the reader looks at the world in such a way that while they find it foreign, they see it as logically built up from some common, basic building block, that is shared with the normal world. This permits the reader to reevaluate his own world thus producing "cognition".
Now, estrangement, without cognition, Suvin simply defines as "fantasy". In other words, we accept the world as foreign, and don't demand an explanation as to why. When estrangement is combined with cognition we get science fiction. Specifically, cognition lines up with science, and estrangement lines up with fiction, and thus science fiction is a synonym for cognition estrangement.
Why this definition is important, is that it allows us to reevaluate all literature and art, in terms of these conditions. Of course he did not intend it, but it does really fit the task of illuminating art to the point where its value can't be denied. And I believe that it will give the theoretical push to collective creativity, that we may find more, and more wonderful ways, of producing those 2 caveats he suggested, cognition and estrangement.
We can apply these conditions to any work, take for instance Oliver Twist, by Dickens. When we interpret the city of London as some incomprehensible dream world, it gives the story a whole new aspect of worth. It can be directly read to increase the imagination, and the patterns found therein can be used in any other art form. All of these years it has been slowly and sneakily building the foundation for a renaissance.
Once we take science fiction seriously, it can begin to serve its purpose as the backbone of a new and more fantastic art form.
Alex Tayrien is a fan of science fiction and has broadened that interest to a business selling sci-fi themed accessories at http://www.dragontablespro.com/novelty-dragon-items
The first step to clearing our heads, is to redefine, for ourselves, what exactly science fiction is. One of the main definitions that has been put forward is by the theorist Darko Suvin. He defines the genre as providing 2 functions. One he calls "estrangement", which simply means that the reader senses the events and surrounding of the fictional world, as "feeling" different from ones own. The second condition, which is harder to grasp is "cognition", which means that somehow, the reader looks at the world in such a way that while they find it foreign, they see it as logically built up from some common, basic building block, that is shared with the normal world. This permits the reader to reevaluate his own world thus producing "cognition".
Now, estrangement, without cognition, Suvin simply defines as "fantasy". In other words, we accept the world as foreign, and don't demand an explanation as to why. When estrangement is combined with cognition we get science fiction. Specifically, cognition lines up with science, and estrangement lines up with fiction, and thus science fiction is a synonym for cognition estrangement.
Why this definition is important, is that it allows us to reevaluate all literature and art, in terms of these conditions. Of course he did not intend it, but it does really fit the task of illuminating art to the point where its value can't be denied. And I believe that it will give the theoretical push to collective creativity, that we may find more, and more wonderful ways, of producing those 2 caveats he suggested, cognition and estrangement.
We can apply these conditions to any work, take for instance Oliver Twist, by Dickens. When we interpret the city of London as some incomprehensible dream world, it gives the story a whole new aspect of worth. It can be directly read to increase the imagination, and the patterns found therein can be used in any other art form. All of these years it has been slowly and sneakily building the foundation for a renaissance.
Once we take science fiction seriously, it can begin to serve its purpose as the backbone of a new and more fantastic art form.
Alex Tayrien is a fan of science fiction and has broadened that interest to a business selling sci-fi themed accessories at http://www.dragontablespro.com/novelty-dragon-items
Ideas For An Online Home Based Business
It is often a dream for many to be their own bosses. Whether the goal is to earn enough money to supplement a full-time income or to replace a full-time income altogether, side-businesses are viable options. An online home based business can be operated with very little overhead and can be quite fulfilling and profitable.
Creating a store on an online auction site is still a profitable business to run from home. However, research should be done to determine which types of products are highly sought after. For instance, a storage unit full of high value antiques will sell better to an antiques dealer, but brand new products obtained via a wholesale re-seller will sell well on an auction site if listing prices undercut larger retailers. If auction sites do not appeal but a sales-oriented business does, a combination of blogging and affiliate marketing may be a better option.
Find books, music, toys, clothing, software, services and other marketable items online that have affiliate programs attached to them and sign up for the program. Start a blog or use an existing one and begin to write reviews of products and services and include the related affiliate link in the post somewhere so readers can go buy if they are inclined to do so. Readers can often tell when a so-called review has been written by someone who hasn't used the product or service being featured. Greater success with affiliate sales will happen when the writer has clearly tried the product and is measuring it against certain criteria.
Freelancing is another profitable option for a viable online home based business, and it isn't just for writers anymore. Any skill can be marketable. For instance, people who can program cell phone apps and games are in high demand right now. People that are good at painting portraits from pictures of people and animals can make quite a bit of money selling that service online. Graphic artists and photo editors can sell those services, as well. Accountants, bookkeepers, web designers, payroll experts and any other profession that requires nothing more than a computer and a skill to work is doable at home.
While it is true that any of these skills and business ideas can be used to supplement or replace income, it is necessary to be realistic about the transition from working for someone else. Putting up a website selling a service is one of the essential steps, but another important step that cannot be skipped is marketing. Optimize sales pages for search engines, list the business in directories and post services and products via social media. Success with a home based business online may not be immediate but it is possible.
Cynthia Minnaar, the owner of http://www.cyns-home-biz.com, works full-time from home online. Visit her online business ideas website which contains a variety of resources and proven opportunities to help you start your own online home based business
Creating a store on an online auction site is still a profitable business to run from home. However, research should be done to determine which types of products are highly sought after. For instance, a storage unit full of high value antiques will sell better to an antiques dealer, but brand new products obtained via a wholesale re-seller will sell well on an auction site if listing prices undercut larger retailers. If auction sites do not appeal but a sales-oriented business does, a combination of blogging and affiliate marketing may be a better option.
Find books, music, toys, clothing, software, services and other marketable items online that have affiliate programs attached to them and sign up for the program. Start a blog or use an existing one and begin to write reviews of products and services and include the related affiliate link in the post somewhere so readers can go buy if they are inclined to do so. Readers can often tell when a so-called review has been written by someone who hasn't used the product or service being featured. Greater success with affiliate sales will happen when the writer has clearly tried the product and is measuring it against certain criteria.
Freelancing is another profitable option for a viable online home based business, and it isn't just for writers anymore. Any skill can be marketable. For instance, people who can program cell phone apps and games are in high demand right now. People that are good at painting portraits from pictures of people and animals can make quite a bit of money selling that service online. Graphic artists and photo editors can sell those services, as well. Accountants, bookkeepers, web designers, payroll experts and any other profession that requires nothing more than a computer and a skill to work is doable at home.
While it is true that any of these skills and business ideas can be used to supplement or replace income, it is necessary to be realistic about the transition from working for someone else. Putting up a website selling a service is one of the essential steps, but another important step that cannot be skipped is marketing. Optimize sales pages for search engines, list the business in directories and post services and products via social media. Success with a home based business online may not be immediate but it is possible.
Cynthia Minnaar, the owner of http://www.cyns-home-biz.com, works full-time from home online. Visit her online business ideas website which contains a variety of resources and proven opportunities to help you start your own online home based business
How To Start a Christmas Tree Farm
If you're looking for a profitable cash crop for your small acreage, consider growing Christmas trees. They are a low maintenance crop, ideal for a spare time project, and can produce a good income for years to come. By planting a portion of your acreage with new trees each year, it will provide a steady income as the trees mature in an average of eight years and are harvested and re-planted.
How much income can Christmas tree farming produce? Most tree varieties are ready to harvest at the popular height of 5 to 7 feet in around eight years. Allowing for loading areas and access roads every 12-15 rows, you can plant about 1,500 trees per acre, using the standard 5' x 5' spacing. To provide a stable yearly income, most growers plant or re-plant one-eighth of their acreage every year, which is about 200 trees per acre.
According to the American Christmas Tree Association, the average price of a tree at a u-cut lot was $46 last year. With 200 ready-to-harvest trees per acre, that's $9,200. As the costs of growing Christmas trees are mostly labor for maintenance, such as mowing for weed control and shearing the young trees, a small grower who does their own work can keep most of the profits.
The three most popular Christmas trees are Balsam fir, Douglas fir and Scotch pine. Balsam fir is a popular tree species in the eastern U.S., where colder winters and cool summers provide ideal growing conditions. Balsam fir has a natural cone shape, so it needs fewer shearing to look perfect.
Douglas fir is the most widely grown Christmas tree in the northwest U.S. It holds it's needles after cutting and is also naturally cone shape, so it needs minimal shaping. Douglas fir prefers a mild growing climate, with well-drained soil.
Scotch pine is popular with growers because it is a fast grower in a wide range of soils and climates. Because Scotch pine develops a deep tap root, it is more drought-tolerant than many other species. However, it does require regular shearing to develop the desirable cone shape of a traditional Christmas tree.
Most growers purchase their trees as seedlings or transplants ( a seedling that has been transplanted to a new growing bed to encourage root growth) from one of the wholesale growers around the country specializing in conifers. The cost of seedlings or transplants is low when you consider that the mature trees can be harvested two years sooner than trees grown from seed. Trees that will be harvested at a height of 5-7 feet, which is 90% of the Christmas tree market, are planted on a 5' x 5' grid to allow plenty of room for sunlight to reach the young trees so growth will be even and not lopsided.
One of the big attractions of Christmas tree farming is the small amount of work it takes. Little is required for the first four years, then an annual pruning helps the trees bush out for the fuller shape that buyers prefer.
Many growers make as much, or more, from selling greens, garlands and wreaths than from their cut tree sales. Wreaths can be simple and affordable, or elaborate and expensive, with some costing as much as $100. Some growers prefer to hand wire their wreaths, while others prefer a simple foot-powered wreath machine that uses metal clamps. An experienced wreath maker can produce 6 to 8 wreaths per hour.
Growers near a town find selling their trees direct to customers brings the best profits, although it takes more time. Families with kids love a "cut-your-own" tree farm and finding the perfect tree. For other growers, selling their trees with the help of a community organization such as Kiwanis or Rotary makes sense, as the prices are higher than selling to wholesalers.
You may be surprised to learn that the market for live Christmas trees is growing, as the buying public is turning it's back on plastic artificial trees in favor of the 'real thing.' Sales of artificial trees peaked in 2007, and have been declining since. That's why the number of small Christmas tree farms is growing steadily every year. If you're interested in a sustainable and profitable crop, why not start tree farming on your small acreage. In addition to making a good income, you'll be providing erosion control, wild life habitat and improving the environment. This green business can be a win-win for you and our planet.
Craig Wallin is the author of the book, Growing Trees For Profit, about growing high-value specialty trees, and four other books about growing profitable plants, such as herbs, flowers, garlic, mushrooms, ginseng, bamboo and landscaping plants. To learn about growing trees and other high-value specialty crops, visit http://profitableplants.com
How much income can Christmas tree farming produce? Most tree varieties are ready to harvest at the popular height of 5 to 7 feet in around eight years. Allowing for loading areas and access roads every 12-15 rows, you can plant about 1,500 trees per acre, using the standard 5' x 5' spacing. To provide a stable yearly income, most growers plant or re-plant one-eighth of their acreage every year, which is about 200 trees per acre.
According to the American Christmas Tree Association, the average price of a tree at a u-cut lot was $46 last year. With 200 ready-to-harvest trees per acre, that's $9,200. As the costs of growing Christmas trees are mostly labor for maintenance, such as mowing for weed control and shearing the young trees, a small grower who does their own work can keep most of the profits.
The three most popular Christmas trees are Balsam fir, Douglas fir and Scotch pine. Balsam fir is a popular tree species in the eastern U.S., where colder winters and cool summers provide ideal growing conditions. Balsam fir has a natural cone shape, so it needs fewer shearing to look perfect.
Douglas fir is the most widely grown Christmas tree in the northwest U.S. It holds it's needles after cutting and is also naturally cone shape, so it needs minimal shaping. Douglas fir prefers a mild growing climate, with well-drained soil.
Scotch pine is popular with growers because it is a fast grower in a wide range of soils and climates. Because Scotch pine develops a deep tap root, it is more drought-tolerant than many other species. However, it does require regular shearing to develop the desirable cone shape of a traditional Christmas tree.
Most growers purchase their trees as seedlings or transplants ( a seedling that has been transplanted to a new growing bed to encourage root growth) from one of the wholesale growers around the country specializing in conifers. The cost of seedlings or transplants is low when you consider that the mature trees can be harvested two years sooner than trees grown from seed. Trees that will be harvested at a height of 5-7 feet, which is 90% of the Christmas tree market, are planted on a 5' x 5' grid to allow plenty of room for sunlight to reach the young trees so growth will be even and not lopsided.
One of the big attractions of Christmas tree farming is the small amount of work it takes. Little is required for the first four years, then an annual pruning helps the trees bush out for the fuller shape that buyers prefer.
Many growers make as much, or more, from selling greens, garlands and wreaths than from their cut tree sales. Wreaths can be simple and affordable, or elaborate and expensive, with some costing as much as $100. Some growers prefer to hand wire their wreaths, while others prefer a simple foot-powered wreath machine that uses metal clamps. An experienced wreath maker can produce 6 to 8 wreaths per hour.
Growers near a town find selling their trees direct to customers brings the best profits, although it takes more time. Families with kids love a "cut-your-own" tree farm and finding the perfect tree. For other growers, selling their trees with the help of a community organization such as Kiwanis or Rotary makes sense, as the prices are higher than selling to wholesalers.
You may be surprised to learn that the market for live Christmas trees is growing, as the buying public is turning it's back on plastic artificial trees in favor of the 'real thing.' Sales of artificial trees peaked in 2007, and have been declining since. That's why the number of small Christmas tree farms is growing steadily every year. If you're interested in a sustainable and profitable crop, why not start tree farming on your small acreage. In addition to making a good income, you'll be providing erosion control, wild life habitat and improving the environment. This green business can be a win-win for you and our planet.
Craig Wallin is the author of the book, Growing Trees For Profit, about growing high-value specialty trees, and four other books about growing profitable plants, such as herbs, flowers, garlic, mushrooms, ginseng, bamboo and landscaping plants. To learn about growing trees and other high-value specialty crops, visit http://profitableplants.com
Essential Skills For Running A Home Based Business
When thinking of starting a home based business there are several areas of business set up that need looking at before making a final decision. It is easy to get excited (I know I have been there) and charge ahead without really thinking out the long-term ramifications of starting and running the business long-term.
Starting a business takes time to get going and in most cases money, so it is important to look at the whole picture and the long-term chances of keeping the business making a profit.
Take A Long Hard Look Realistically
When we are excited about a new business prospect we often get so carried away with the idea that we don't look at the negatives, or even if we do, we choose to ignore them. But they are there and they will come back to cause problems you if you do not work through those negatives and work out how you will counteract them so that they do not impact on your business.
Tips For Owning A Successful Business
Know your small business inside out.
Be a knowledge source in your niche. Small businesses thrive with expertise.
During tougher economic times a small business owner has to hone their skills, cut back their stock to the essentials and learn to be an aggressive marketer.
Train your staff if you have them
Make sure that what you take on is going to last the distance in terms of long-term customer demand
You will see some small businesses that thrive no matter what the economic climate is. The owners just seem to have the know how. But in actual fact the owner has a clear picture of how they want the business to run, how they will promote it and what their long-term goal is for the business.
Some people can run a successful business by instinct but in today's market it has become so much more difficult to be successful without putting in a lot of effort and also a lot of hard work.
Here are 14 business essentials:
Sourcing or making a product or service that is in high demand
Good budgeting and money management skills
Having sufficient capital to start the business and back up capital to fund the ongoing business, and your personal expenses, until you are making a profit
Good legal advice regarding any legal commitment you may have to make
Be known as a source of excellent information in your niche
Well trained staff in sales and customer communication
Giving above average customer service at all times
Attitude and determination to succeed
Know how to market your business or employ someone to do it for you
Have a Business Plan
Have a Marketing Plan
Choosing a memorable business name
Registering your business name
Registering a domain name and having an optimized website
If starting a business and you realise that there are skills you need to learn, then try to take the time before out-laying your capital, to obtain these skills. As soon as you start operating your business, you will be concentrating on the sales, and getting your business running smoothly. Learning new skills will be the last thing on your mind.
When you start out you won't know all there is to know but as long as you have some good grounding in business then you can learn as you go.
If you are unsure about any area of starting or managing a home based business then find your answers at http://homebusinesssuccessideas.com/ which covers: start up, planning, pricing and the all important marketing online and offline.
Starting a business takes time to get going and in most cases money, so it is important to look at the whole picture and the long-term chances of keeping the business making a profit.
Take A Long Hard Look Realistically
When we are excited about a new business prospect we often get so carried away with the idea that we don't look at the negatives, or even if we do, we choose to ignore them. But they are there and they will come back to cause problems you if you do not work through those negatives and work out how you will counteract them so that they do not impact on your business.
Tips For Owning A Successful Business
Know your small business inside out.
Be a knowledge source in your niche. Small businesses thrive with expertise.
During tougher economic times a small business owner has to hone their skills, cut back their stock to the essentials and learn to be an aggressive marketer.
Train your staff if you have them
Make sure that what you take on is going to last the distance in terms of long-term customer demand
You will see some small businesses that thrive no matter what the economic climate is. The owners just seem to have the know how. But in actual fact the owner has a clear picture of how they want the business to run, how they will promote it and what their long-term goal is for the business.
Some people can run a successful business by instinct but in today's market it has become so much more difficult to be successful without putting in a lot of effort and also a lot of hard work.
Here are 14 business essentials:
Sourcing or making a product or service that is in high demand
Good budgeting and money management skills
Having sufficient capital to start the business and back up capital to fund the ongoing business, and your personal expenses, until you are making a profit
Good legal advice regarding any legal commitment you may have to make
Be known as a source of excellent information in your niche
Well trained staff in sales and customer communication
Giving above average customer service at all times
Attitude and determination to succeed
Know how to market your business or employ someone to do it for you
Have a Business Plan
Have a Marketing Plan
Choosing a memorable business name
Registering your business name
Registering a domain name and having an optimized website
If starting a business and you realise that there are skills you need to learn, then try to take the time before out-laying your capital, to obtain these skills. As soon as you start operating your business, you will be concentrating on the sales, and getting your business running smoothly. Learning new skills will be the last thing on your mind.
When you start out you won't know all there is to know but as long as you have some good grounding in business then you can learn as you go.
If you are unsure about any area of starting or managing a home based business then find your answers at http://homebusinesssuccessideas.com/ which covers: start up, planning, pricing and the all important marketing online and offline.
Work From Home Online and Follow Your Heart's Desire!
Some of America's largest companies are creating opportunities for people to work from home online. In particular, the healthcare industry is recognizing that people who telecommute are generally happier with their jobs and tend to stay with their employers longer.
When you're able to make money from home, you can take advantage of several significant benefits. You avoid the stressful daily commute and the stressful office environment. And, your expenses are lower.
Employers are realizing that they benefit too. For example, they can reduce their management hassles by reducing the number of people on-site. In some cases, they can close down office buildings, and save themselves significant rental expenses.
Allowing employees to work from home online makes a great deal of sense from everyone's perspective. Employees are happier and employers are saving money. When you're able to make money from home, it's a win-win situation.
UnitedHealth Group, headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, is a Fortune 500 health insurance provider that recognizes telecommuting is advantageous for everyone. The company serves more than 75 million people throughout the world, operating in the fields of employer and individual health insurance, retirement and Medicare, and community and State. UnitedHealth Group employees work from home online as Medicaid specialists, contract managers, medical coders, consultants, auditors and analysts.
The company also hires nurses for various positions. Some of UnitedHealth Group's nurses telecommute only, while others are hired to visit patients' bedside, while using telecommuting as their base. You can look for these opportunities by selecting "Yes" under the "Telecommuter Positions" category in the drop-down menu on UnitedHealth Group's website. The pay will depend on your location, experience and qualifications. UnitedHealth Group is one of the many Fortune 500 companies that allow you to make money from home.
You can transform your life by telecommuting online, from the comfort and convenience of your kitchen table. What you probably don't realize is that you have plenty of options open to you now. The opportunities to work from home online have changed significantly over the last few years. Why? The technology available to employers has changed, dramatically. Technology companies are creating the hardware and software needed, to make it easier for employers to manage you, should you decide to make money from home.
If telecommuting has been your heart's desire for a number of years, isn't it time that you look into it? There's a lot for you to know about the new world of telecommuting that will knock your socks off!
Lee Evans provides information and ideas about Jobs, Employment and Working at Home at http://Free-Job-Search-Websites.com. For more tips on working at home, stop by the site today.
We encourage your questions! Sign up for our Newsletter! http://Free-Job-Search-Websites.com/make-real-money-online.html Post your resume, or just stop by and say hello.
When you're able to make money from home, you can take advantage of several significant benefits. You avoid the stressful daily commute and the stressful office environment. And, your expenses are lower.
Employers are realizing that they benefit too. For example, they can reduce their management hassles by reducing the number of people on-site. In some cases, they can close down office buildings, and save themselves significant rental expenses.
Allowing employees to work from home online makes a great deal of sense from everyone's perspective. Employees are happier and employers are saving money. When you're able to make money from home, it's a win-win situation.
UnitedHealth Group, headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, is a Fortune 500 health insurance provider that recognizes telecommuting is advantageous for everyone. The company serves more than 75 million people throughout the world, operating in the fields of employer and individual health insurance, retirement and Medicare, and community and State. UnitedHealth Group employees work from home online as Medicaid specialists, contract managers, medical coders, consultants, auditors and analysts.
The company also hires nurses for various positions. Some of UnitedHealth Group's nurses telecommute only, while others are hired to visit patients' bedside, while using telecommuting as their base. You can look for these opportunities by selecting "Yes" under the "Telecommuter Positions" category in the drop-down menu on UnitedHealth Group's website. The pay will depend on your location, experience and qualifications. UnitedHealth Group is one of the many Fortune 500 companies that allow you to make money from home.
You can transform your life by telecommuting online, from the comfort and convenience of your kitchen table. What you probably don't realize is that you have plenty of options open to you now. The opportunities to work from home online have changed significantly over the last few years. Why? The technology available to employers has changed, dramatically. Technology companies are creating the hardware and software needed, to make it easier for employers to manage you, should you decide to make money from home.
If telecommuting has been your heart's desire for a number of years, isn't it time that you look into it? There's a lot for you to know about the new world of telecommuting that will knock your socks off!
Lee Evans provides information and ideas about Jobs, Employment and Working at Home at http://Free-Job-Search-Websites.com. For more tips on working at home, stop by the site today.
We encourage your questions! Sign up for our Newsletter! http://Free-Job-Search-Websites.com/make-real-money-online.html Post your resume, or just stop by and say hello.
How to Start a SIMPLE Mail Order Business
Many of today's well established companies, such as Sears, L.L. Bean, Spencer Gifts, and Victoria's Secret started out as small mail order businesses, utilizing catalogs, magazines, and newspapers as their primary means of advertising. If these same merchants were starting their businesses today they may have found selling on the internet to be frustrating and complicated.
Consumers that shop online overwhelmingly use a search engine, such as Google, to find the items they are looking for. Just to be considered by a potential buyer searching for a product on the internet, your company's website address listing must rank high, at least within the first few pages, in the search engine results. To get your website listed on the top of the search results, your business must pay a premium for pay-per-click advertising, or attempt to optimize your website to post high in the free or "natural" listing of the results.
The cost of pay-per-click advertising is based on a bidding process, whereas the website owner bids on specific key words and phrases that relate to the products their website is selling. Competition for popular key words and phrases can be fierce, driving bids to high levels, requiring a substantial advertising budget. Alternatively, optimizing a website, which in part, is modifying the site's design and structure to improve search results in the "natural" free listing, can be a daunting task to even the most skilled webmaster because search engine ranking standards are constantly changing.
A Simpler Solution
In recent years, as a result of intense competition from the internet, the publication industry has been offering sharply lower advertising rates. This trend has created a great opportunity for the small mail order business seeking an alternative to costly internet marketing.
I am not suggesting that you take a full-page display ad in Good Housekeeping Magazine. I do recommend, however, that you start out with testing ads in the classified section of magazines and other periodicals. This is an excellent way to get into the mail order business.
Where and How to Advertise
Where to advertise will be contingent on the product you select to sell for your business. The first thing you want to do is obtain a copy of Standard Rate & Data Service (SRDS) catalog, which is a listing of circulation data and advertising rates for thousands of publications. Many public libraries have SRDS either online or in print. Review the "Consumer Magazine Media" section of SRDS and write to every magazine listed in it with a circulation of about 50,000. Give yourself a company name, and request from each magazine a sample copy and a "rate card."
Look through the classified sections of each magazine you receive, and make notes about the types of products and ads that are marketed in it. I suggest you choose a currently successful product and ad and emulate it. Note that I said "emulate it" and not copy it. Then do a test run of an ad. If it is a winner place ads in other magazines. If it is not a winner, do additional testing. If you test consistently and take your time you will eventually be successful!
Keep Your Business Organized
To keep your mail order business well organized, and to keep track of your orders, back-orders and advertising results, it is essential to have a good order and inventory management computer program or software. The price of mail order management software can range from several thousand dollars to being free. Since you are just starting out in business, and unless you have the funds to purchase one of those expensive software programs, I suggest you use a good free mail order software program such as OrderAce Free Edition by TruVes Software ( www.orderace.com ).
John Keidel recommends an easy-to-use free mail order software to manage your orders and inventory, such as OrderAce Free Edition by TruVes Software. You can download OrderAce from www.truvessoftware.com/orderace
Consumers that shop online overwhelmingly use a search engine, such as Google, to find the items they are looking for. Just to be considered by a potential buyer searching for a product on the internet, your company's website address listing must rank high, at least within the first few pages, in the search engine results. To get your website listed on the top of the search results, your business must pay a premium for pay-per-click advertising, or attempt to optimize your website to post high in the free or "natural" listing of the results.
The cost of pay-per-click advertising is based on a bidding process, whereas the website owner bids on specific key words and phrases that relate to the products their website is selling. Competition for popular key words and phrases can be fierce, driving bids to high levels, requiring a substantial advertising budget. Alternatively, optimizing a website, which in part, is modifying the site's design and structure to improve search results in the "natural" free listing, can be a daunting task to even the most skilled webmaster because search engine ranking standards are constantly changing.
A Simpler Solution
In recent years, as a result of intense competition from the internet, the publication industry has been offering sharply lower advertising rates. This trend has created a great opportunity for the small mail order business seeking an alternative to costly internet marketing.
I am not suggesting that you take a full-page display ad in Good Housekeeping Magazine. I do recommend, however, that you start out with testing ads in the classified section of magazines and other periodicals. This is an excellent way to get into the mail order business.
Where and How to Advertise
Where to advertise will be contingent on the product you select to sell for your business. The first thing you want to do is obtain a copy of Standard Rate & Data Service (SRDS) catalog, which is a listing of circulation data and advertising rates for thousands of publications. Many public libraries have SRDS either online or in print. Review the "Consumer Magazine Media" section of SRDS and write to every magazine listed in it with a circulation of about 50,000. Give yourself a company name, and request from each magazine a sample copy and a "rate card."
Look through the classified sections of each magazine you receive, and make notes about the types of products and ads that are marketed in it. I suggest you choose a currently successful product and ad and emulate it. Note that I said "emulate it" and not copy it. Then do a test run of an ad. If it is a winner place ads in other magazines. If it is not a winner, do additional testing. If you test consistently and take your time you will eventually be successful!
Keep Your Business Organized
To keep your mail order business well organized, and to keep track of your orders, back-orders and advertising results, it is essential to have a good order and inventory management computer program or software. The price of mail order management software can range from several thousand dollars to being free. Since you are just starting out in business, and unless you have the funds to purchase one of those expensive software programs, I suggest you use a good free mail order software program such as OrderAce Free Edition by TruVes Software ( www.orderace.com ).
John Keidel recommends an easy-to-use free mail order software to manage your orders and inventory, such as OrderAce Free Edition by TruVes Software. You can download OrderAce from www.truvessoftware.com/orderace
Different Types of Long Term Investments
In investing, there is no unique and safe type of venture that offers a fast and profitable return on investment. Each and every investment whether long or short, gains profits slowly but surely. But let us focus more on long term investing. Long term investments are defined as investments made by investors for a relatively long period of time that ranges from a year or more. These types of investments are listed on the assets section of a company's balance sheet. They can be classified as cash, real estates, bonds and stocks investments.
When investing in long term, it is important to evaluate the form of investment a potential investor should take. They must know too that investing in long term is different from short term investing. Because investing in long term ventures needs a large amount of savings to be shelled out unlike short term investing.
There are different types of long term investments that an investor can choose from. Potential investors can go for Bonds; these are certificates that confirm an investor's "loan" in the government or in a company. There are different types of bonds and each has their own associated risks, conditions and terms. These types of investments can either be refunded on a fixed time with interest or an approved time or that will be based on the bond's stock market values which in return can double the investor's initial investment.
Second on the list are Gilts or Gilt-Edge Stocks; these are also classified as bonds too although these are more of "loans" to the government than to the private sector. These types of investments are considered to be one of the safest since it is quite impossible for the government to declare insolvency. On the other hand, gilts are being sold and bought on the stock market which means; its value may either appreciate or depreciate. Once an investor invests, the government repays them back semi-annually with fixed returns. Another on the list is Pensions; these are also considered as long term savings. These are savings made not just by investors but private citizens as well.
An employee can easily save for their pension by arranging a part of their salary to be deducted by the company and given to their pension scheme provider. Once the employee retires, the savings will become their pension. Pensioners are allowed to get a lump sum amounting to 25% of the total value. Last on the list are stock investments, these are also long term savings. These are investments made in a company through a form of shares which normally either appreciate or depreciate in value depending on the company's stand in the stock market. In purchasing stocks, investors should consider looking at the stock market first and see which company has better earnings, before they invest their money on it.
With long term investments, it is still important that one must set their goal to get the most profitable returns with their chosen mode of investment. Investors should be prepared to take risks with their money with this type of venture.
The best way to invest money
When investing in long term, it is important to evaluate the form of investment a potential investor should take. They must know too that investing in long term is different from short term investing. Because investing in long term ventures needs a large amount of savings to be shelled out unlike short term investing.
There are different types of long term investments that an investor can choose from. Potential investors can go for Bonds; these are certificates that confirm an investor's "loan" in the government or in a company. There are different types of bonds and each has their own associated risks, conditions and terms. These types of investments can either be refunded on a fixed time with interest or an approved time or that will be based on the bond's stock market values which in return can double the investor's initial investment.
Second on the list are Gilts or Gilt-Edge Stocks; these are also classified as bonds too although these are more of "loans" to the government than to the private sector. These types of investments are considered to be one of the safest since it is quite impossible for the government to declare insolvency. On the other hand, gilts are being sold and bought on the stock market which means; its value may either appreciate or depreciate. Once an investor invests, the government repays them back semi-annually with fixed returns. Another on the list is Pensions; these are also considered as long term savings. These are savings made not just by investors but private citizens as well.
An employee can easily save for their pension by arranging a part of their salary to be deducted by the company and given to their pension scheme provider. Once the employee retires, the savings will become their pension. Pensioners are allowed to get a lump sum amounting to 25% of the total value. Last on the list are stock investments, these are also long term savings. These are investments made in a company through a form of shares which normally either appreciate or depreciate in value depending on the company's stand in the stock market. In purchasing stocks, investors should consider looking at the stock market first and see which company has better earnings, before they invest their money on it.
With long term investments, it is still important that one must set their goal to get the most profitable returns with their chosen mode of investment. Investors should be prepared to take risks with their money with this type of venture.
The best way to invest money
Tips for Investing Without All the Stress
Financial management can be confusing, exciting, thrilling, and even a bit stressful at times. It's full of risks, with interest rates, option pricing, and volatility in the market. Rather than becoming anxious or stressed out about your investments, however, why not consider a few time-tested methods that can give you peace of mind and help you relax after you set up your investment plan?
In the following, we are going to discuss a few tips and strategies that can help you understand how to reduce your stress in financial management.
Taking Control of Your Financial Management and Reducing Stress
When you build a house, you want that house to sit on a firm foundation. And while you can expect that some days you are going to look out your windows and find sun and some days you'll find rain, you know that the firm foundation under you will not be affected. Once you have established this foundation and placed your home on it, you don't want to move it, or it could break apart.
This is the same philosophy you should use for your investments. When you develop a foundation of knowledge and strategy, you will be secure, no matter which way the market turns. And once your investment begins to produce profits, you should let it stay on that foundation, otherwise you could risk seeing it break apart.
So what do you need to establish this firm foundation?
Tools- When you are involved in financial risk management, having the right tools for the job can greatly affect your ability to be successful in your investments. By using an online financial risk management tool, you can manage your interest rate risk, foreign exchange, and gain insightful reporting on your everyday decisions. This type of tool is much more cost-effective than using spreadsheets and provides you with a wide range of benefits you need to ensure you are compliant with policies and are able to record all of your transactions.
Calculations-Ensuring you get the best price for your options is tricky, especially when you consider how historical volatility and implied volatility can affect these prices. However, if you truly want to obtain the fair market value for your options, using an option calculator is an easy and effective way of gaining the knowledge you need to make the right decisions.
Assessments- Before you enter into any type of investment, take a look at your financial resilience. This term indicates your ability to withstand financial loss. If something goes wrong with your investment, is your business going to go under or will it be able to take the blow and still stand tall? Understanding your resilience will help you make better choices regarding the amount of risk you are willing to take.
Notice a theme here? The basis to any investment or management technique is one thing: knowledge. With knowledge, you can obtain the right tools you need, like an option calculator, to determine the value of your options, see how volatility will affect your derivatives, and determine whether an interest rate swap is a good idea for your company.
Need a cost effective alternative to spreadsheets? Try Hedgebook! We make it simple for you to reduce your financial risk, manage your foreign exchange, and manage your interest rate risks. We are here for all your option calculator, option pricing, and hedge accounting needs.
In the following, we are going to discuss a few tips and strategies that can help you understand how to reduce your stress in financial management.
Taking Control of Your Financial Management and Reducing Stress
When you build a house, you want that house to sit on a firm foundation. And while you can expect that some days you are going to look out your windows and find sun and some days you'll find rain, you know that the firm foundation under you will not be affected. Once you have established this foundation and placed your home on it, you don't want to move it, or it could break apart.
This is the same philosophy you should use for your investments. When you develop a foundation of knowledge and strategy, you will be secure, no matter which way the market turns. And once your investment begins to produce profits, you should let it stay on that foundation, otherwise you could risk seeing it break apart.
So what do you need to establish this firm foundation?
Tools- When you are involved in financial risk management, having the right tools for the job can greatly affect your ability to be successful in your investments. By using an online financial risk management tool, you can manage your interest rate risk, foreign exchange, and gain insightful reporting on your everyday decisions. This type of tool is much more cost-effective than using spreadsheets and provides you with a wide range of benefits you need to ensure you are compliant with policies and are able to record all of your transactions.
Calculations-Ensuring you get the best price for your options is tricky, especially when you consider how historical volatility and implied volatility can affect these prices. However, if you truly want to obtain the fair market value for your options, using an option calculator is an easy and effective way of gaining the knowledge you need to make the right decisions.
Assessments- Before you enter into any type of investment, take a look at your financial resilience. This term indicates your ability to withstand financial loss. If something goes wrong with your investment, is your business going to go under or will it be able to take the blow and still stand tall? Understanding your resilience will help you make better choices regarding the amount of risk you are willing to take.
Notice a theme here? The basis to any investment or management technique is one thing: knowledge. With knowledge, you can obtain the right tools you need, like an option calculator, to determine the value of your options, see how volatility will affect your derivatives, and determine whether an interest rate swap is a good idea for your company.
Need a cost effective alternative to spreadsheets? Try Hedgebook! We make it simple for you to reduce your financial risk, manage your foreign exchange, and manage your interest rate risks. We are here for all your option calculator, option pricing, and hedge accounting needs.
The Advantages of Hedge Accounting
Hedge accounting refers to the process of hedging, which reduces or controls risk associated with certain financial risks. This is typically done by taking a position in a future market that is the complete opposite of the current one in an effort to reduce or limit the amount risk associated with the changes in price.
This is generally a two-step process. Any gain or loss to a company's cash flow position because of changes in price will be directly countered by the value of an option in a future position. For instance, let's say a farmer decides to sell his corn futures before the harvest to protect their value. If the price of corn falls, this loss in the current cash market will be countered by the futures market and will result in a gain.
Types of Hedging
There are two types of hedging you should be aware of when dealing with hedge accounting.
Long Hedge- A long hedge, also known as a buying hedge, indicates you are purchasing a futures contract in an effort to reduce the risk of your current cash position. This can be very beneficial, as it could allow you to replace your inventory at a lower cost and protect uncovered forward sales. Most of the time, long hedges are used by companies who have made a commitment to deliver a product or service to another party at a specific date in the future for an agreed up on amount, but do not currently have the necessary supplies to fulfil that commitment immediately.
Short Hedge- Also known as a selling hedge, this occurs when one party decides to sell a futures contract in order to reduce the amount of financial risk they have.A few benefits of this type of hedge accounting strategy is the ability to cover the finished product's cost, to protect inventory that is not involved in a forward sale, and to cover the cost of producing new products.
Benefits of Hedging
So, what are the benefits of hedge accounting?
When you purchase options, exchange interest rates or foreign exchange, or do almost anything on the market, there is always risk because of volatility, or changes that may affect option pricing. Because hedging deals with future contracts instead of current ones, you can reduce the amount of risk associated with investments because the future market will react oppositely of how the current market reacts. Of course, there is still a slight risk of the current market's rates rising, but this implied volatility can be calculated using an option calculator and can be planned for. This is one of the most important benefits of hedge accounting, but the advantages don't stop there.
Protection against price movements
Obtain the ability to offer long-term sales at a fixed price
Improve forecasts relating to your profits and costs
Exchange your current inventory for cash
Manage forward sales so you can get cash now and deliver inventory at a later date
If you are considering financial risk management, there is no better choice than hedge accounting. Make sure you take advantage of its many benefits today!
Need a cost effective alternative to spreadsheets? Try Hedgebook! We make it simple for you to reduce your financial risk, manage your foreign exchange, and manage your interest rate risks. We are here for all your hedge accounting, option pricing, and interest rate swap needs.
This is generally a two-step process. Any gain or loss to a company's cash flow position because of changes in price will be directly countered by the value of an option in a future position. For instance, let's say a farmer decides to sell his corn futures before the harvest to protect their value. If the price of corn falls, this loss in the current cash market will be countered by the futures market and will result in a gain.
Types of Hedging
There are two types of hedging you should be aware of when dealing with hedge accounting.
Long Hedge- A long hedge, also known as a buying hedge, indicates you are purchasing a futures contract in an effort to reduce the risk of your current cash position. This can be very beneficial, as it could allow you to replace your inventory at a lower cost and protect uncovered forward sales. Most of the time, long hedges are used by companies who have made a commitment to deliver a product or service to another party at a specific date in the future for an agreed up on amount, but do not currently have the necessary supplies to fulfil that commitment immediately.
Short Hedge- Also known as a selling hedge, this occurs when one party decides to sell a futures contract in order to reduce the amount of financial risk they have.A few benefits of this type of hedge accounting strategy is the ability to cover the finished product's cost, to protect inventory that is not involved in a forward sale, and to cover the cost of producing new products.
Benefits of Hedging
So, what are the benefits of hedge accounting?
When you purchase options, exchange interest rates or foreign exchange, or do almost anything on the market, there is always risk because of volatility, or changes that may affect option pricing. Because hedging deals with future contracts instead of current ones, you can reduce the amount of risk associated with investments because the future market will react oppositely of how the current market reacts. Of course, there is still a slight risk of the current market's rates rising, but this implied volatility can be calculated using an option calculator and can be planned for. This is one of the most important benefits of hedge accounting, but the advantages don't stop there.
Protection against price movements
Obtain the ability to offer long-term sales at a fixed price
Improve forecasts relating to your profits and costs
Exchange your current inventory for cash
Manage forward sales so you can get cash now and deliver inventory at a later date
If you are considering financial risk management, there is no better choice than hedge accounting. Make sure you take advantage of its many benefits today!
Need a cost effective alternative to spreadsheets? Try Hedgebook! We make it simple for you to reduce your financial risk, manage your foreign exchange, and manage your interest rate risks. We are here for all your hedge accounting, option pricing, and interest rate swap needs.
Common Terminology to Know When Using Interest Rate Swaps
Interest rate swaps occur when one party agrees to exchange their payment for another with a willing party. While there are many types of swaps that can be performed, the most basic is known as the plain vanilla swap, where one fixed rate is exchanged for a floating one.
Businesses use this investment tools all of the time to reduce risk, manage debt, improve profits, and for portfolio management. If you are here reading this article right now, there's a good chance you have been thinking of using this type of derivative for your business as well. However, jumping into this type of financial risk management can be confusing and costly if you don't know what you are doing, so let us help you with just a few basics.
In the following article, we are going to discuss some of the most common terms you will come across when performing interest rate swaps.
Common Rate Swap Terminology
Notional - The notional, or notional principles is what all payments for your fixed and floating rates are based on. For instance, if you were swapping a loan worth 'x' amount of money, the swap's notional would be equal to 'x' as well. This element is generally only used for determining how much should be paid for each coupon, and is usually never exchanged.
Fixed Rate - The amount and number of payments paid by the fixed party is known as the swap's fixed leg. These payments are calculated using a fixed rate.
Coupon Frequency - Rates of interest can be exchanged more than one time between two parties, and this is known as coupon frequency. This coupon frequency generally occurs monthly, quarterly, or annually, but can occur much more often, depending on the agreement between the two parties. If the interest rate swap is a plain vanilla swap, the payment streams may vary in frequency, but the coupons for both parties should maintain the same frequency.
Floating Index - The floating index determines which index will be used on floating coupons. In general, LIBOR, or the London InterBank Offered Rate, is used by most investors and traders.
Business Day Convention - This term determines how the dates established for coupons are adjusted for holidays and non-business days. Most of the time the following business day or a modified following day are used as conventions.
Effective Date - When two parties agree to take part in an interest rate swap opportunity and begin accruing their first coupon, this is known as the start, or effective, date of the swap.
Maturity Date - Before the swap's effective date, the two parties come to an agreement about many factors of the swap. One of those factors must always be the maturity date of the rate of interest swap. This date signifies the end date of the coupon and relinquishes both parties from any obligations they may have had during the rate swap.
Volatility - Interest rate swap, like many parts of financial management, is a risk and is often governed by a volatile market. Understand volatility, or changes that occur in the market and affect rates of interest and option pricing is essential to a successful swap.
If you are thinking of taking part in interest rate swaps because it will benefit your business, make sure you know and understand the most common terminology so you can be successful.
Need a cost effective alternative to spreadsheets? Try Hedgebook! We make it simple for you to reduce your financial risk, manage your foreign exchange, and manage your interest rate risks. We are here for all your interest rate swaps, option pricing, and hedge accounting needs.
Businesses use this investment tools all of the time to reduce risk, manage debt, improve profits, and for portfolio management. If you are here reading this article right now, there's a good chance you have been thinking of using this type of derivative for your business as well. However, jumping into this type of financial risk management can be confusing and costly if you don't know what you are doing, so let us help you with just a few basics.
In the following article, we are going to discuss some of the most common terms you will come across when performing interest rate swaps.
Common Rate Swap Terminology
Notional - The notional, or notional principles is what all payments for your fixed and floating rates are based on. For instance, if you were swapping a loan worth 'x' amount of money, the swap's notional would be equal to 'x' as well. This element is generally only used for determining how much should be paid for each coupon, and is usually never exchanged.
Fixed Rate - The amount and number of payments paid by the fixed party is known as the swap's fixed leg. These payments are calculated using a fixed rate.
Coupon Frequency - Rates of interest can be exchanged more than one time between two parties, and this is known as coupon frequency. This coupon frequency generally occurs monthly, quarterly, or annually, but can occur much more often, depending on the agreement between the two parties. If the interest rate swap is a plain vanilla swap, the payment streams may vary in frequency, but the coupons for both parties should maintain the same frequency.
Floating Index - The floating index determines which index will be used on floating coupons. In general, LIBOR, or the London InterBank Offered Rate, is used by most investors and traders.
Business Day Convention - This term determines how the dates established for coupons are adjusted for holidays and non-business days. Most of the time the following business day or a modified following day are used as conventions.
Effective Date - When two parties agree to take part in an interest rate swap opportunity and begin accruing their first coupon, this is known as the start, or effective, date of the swap.
Maturity Date - Before the swap's effective date, the two parties come to an agreement about many factors of the swap. One of those factors must always be the maturity date of the rate of interest swap. This date signifies the end date of the coupon and relinquishes both parties from any obligations they may have had during the rate swap.
Volatility - Interest rate swap, like many parts of financial management, is a risk and is often governed by a volatile market. Understand volatility, or changes that occur in the market and affect rates of interest and option pricing is essential to a successful swap.
If you are thinking of taking part in interest rate swaps because it will benefit your business, make sure you know and understand the most common terminology so you can be successful.
Need a cost effective alternative to spreadsheets? Try Hedgebook! We make it simple for you to reduce your financial risk, manage your foreign exchange, and manage your interest rate risks. We are here for all your interest rate swaps, option pricing, and hedge accounting needs.
The Basics of Option Volatility
When it comes to buying and selling options, most traders, whether beginners or experts, know a little about the Black-Scholes model of option pricing. This model, developed by Myron Scholes and Fisher Black in 1973 was invented to help traders determine what the market value of an option was based on expiration time, strike price, and historical volatility.
For some reason, though, many traders don't use this, or even an option calculator for that matter, to determine the fair price of their options before they purchase them.
This type of behaviour generally occurs because traders believe that an option's value can increase when a call or put option is exercised. While this may be the case in some situations, you have to stop and think about the many variables that tend to get in the way.
Think about this for a moment; would you buy a car or home without researching the neighbourhood first and determining the fair market price? You wouldn't, because you would be concerned about paying too much or not being able to sell the asset at the right price later on. In the case of options, deciding to purchase without careful assessment can actually lead to a lower option value because the expected move of the derivative has already been factored into the price.
To truly understand the mysteries of option pricing and understand why careful assessment is needed, a good look at volatility is needed. In the following, we will discuss what volatility is and how this important element can affect your option pricing.
Option Volatility Explained
Volatility is an element used when calculating option pricing and is defined as the measure of the magnitude and rate of the price change of a derivative. This refers to both changes that increase and decrease. When volatility is high, the price of an option is high; when it is low, the option's premium will reflect it.
There are two types of volatility:
Historical Volatility - This type of volatility, also called statistical volatility, refers to the known changes in an option's price. These changes are known because they are actually based on recent changes that have occurred with a derivative. This type of volatility has a rate of change, similar to a car speeding down the road. While we can measure the speed of the car over an hour, we can do the same with this changing rate as well, although it is done over a course of a year. If the derivative has been moving along at a certain rate per year, we can theoretically expect it to move at the same rate in the future. However, this does account for trend or direction.
Implied Volatility - Implied volatility takes things a step further than historical, by using the historical data and the current market prices to determine the option price. Typically, the current price is calculated using two of the closest out-of-the-money strike prices. This type of volatility has a huge effect on the price of options, because it depends so much on the activity of the marketplace. As a result, when implied volatility increase, the option prices does too, as long as other factors remain the same.
If you loved trading currency or stocks, make sure you are getting the fair market price for your options. Take the time to assess the option pricing and derivative and determine what the historical and implied volatility are using an option calculator.
Need a cost effective alternative to spreadsheets? Try Hedgebook! We make it simple for you to reduce your financial risk, manage your foreign exchange, and manage your interest rate risks. We are here for all your option pricing, rate swaps, and hedge accounting needs.
For some reason, though, many traders don't use this, or even an option calculator for that matter, to determine the fair price of their options before they purchase them.
This type of behaviour generally occurs because traders believe that an option's value can increase when a call or put option is exercised. While this may be the case in some situations, you have to stop and think about the many variables that tend to get in the way.
Think about this for a moment; would you buy a car or home without researching the neighbourhood first and determining the fair market price? You wouldn't, because you would be concerned about paying too much or not being able to sell the asset at the right price later on. In the case of options, deciding to purchase without careful assessment can actually lead to a lower option value because the expected move of the derivative has already been factored into the price.
To truly understand the mysteries of option pricing and understand why careful assessment is needed, a good look at volatility is needed. In the following, we will discuss what volatility is and how this important element can affect your option pricing.
Option Volatility Explained
Volatility is an element used when calculating option pricing and is defined as the measure of the magnitude and rate of the price change of a derivative. This refers to both changes that increase and decrease. When volatility is high, the price of an option is high; when it is low, the option's premium will reflect it.
There are two types of volatility:
Historical Volatility - This type of volatility, also called statistical volatility, refers to the known changes in an option's price. These changes are known because they are actually based on recent changes that have occurred with a derivative. This type of volatility has a rate of change, similar to a car speeding down the road. While we can measure the speed of the car over an hour, we can do the same with this changing rate as well, although it is done over a course of a year. If the derivative has been moving along at a certain rate per year, we can theoretically expect it to move at the same rate in the future. However, this does account for trend or direction.
Implied Volatility - Implied volatility takes things a step further than historical, by using the historical data and the current market prices to determine the option price. Typically, the current price is calculated using two of the closest out-of-the-money strike prices. This type of volatility has a huge effect on the price of options, because it depends so much on the activity of the marketplace. As a result, when implied volatility increase, the option prices does too, as long as other factors remain the same.
If you loved trading currency or stocks, make sure you are getting the fair market price for your options. Take the time to assess the option pricing and derivative and determine what the historical and implied volatility are using an option calculator.
Need a cost effective alternative to spreadsheets? Try Hedgebook! We make it simple for you to reduce your financial risk, manage your foreign exchange, and manage your interest rate risks. We are here for all your option pricing, rate swaps, and hedge accounting needs.
The Many Uses of Rate Swaps
Rate swaps are agreements made between two specific parties that allow these parties to exchange one interest rate for another. For instance, many companies can use this type of swap to exchange a fixed payment for one that is floating. Most companies use this type of swap to reduce their exposure to fluctuations in the market or to obtain lower interest rates.
There are many other reasons, however, why this tool might be used. In the following we are going to discuss several reasons interest rate swaps are utilized by companies every single day.
Why Interest Swaps Are Used
Risk - One of the most beneficial uses of rate swaps for companies is their ability to hedge risk. When a company wants to avoid risk with their interest rates, they exchange the interest rate. This can greatly impact their overall cost, as the variances in different interest rates can produce a significant impact.
Cost - Many large companies use interest rate swaps to lower their costs. They can not only lower the amount of interest they must pay for certain assets, but can also avoid paying fees that are often associated with other types of debt.
Profits - The main purpose of most big businesses is to make money. However, with a fixed rate of interest and a fixed cash outflow, sometimes businesses have trouble staying out of the red. When companies are allowed to use swaps, they can choose to swap that fixed interest rate out for a variable rate, which can either increase or decrease. If the rate increases, but the cash outflow still remains the same, the swap is actually profitable for the business, and they are able to stay out of the red.
Debt - While rate swaps can be profitable on their own, they can also offset and optimize debt in the same manner. Let's say a company has a variable rate and a fixed amount of debt. If the floating rate is too high, they may have to continually borrow funds to cover their interest. By exchanging the unpredictable rate for a lower, fixed rate, they can actually afford their debt and the rate has the potential to actually be profitable.
How These Swaps Are Used
When two parties agree to swap interest, for any of the specific reasons listed above, they typically use the most common type of swap: the plain vanilla swap. This type of derivative involves the exchange of two cash flows in the same currency that are paid either annually, monthly, quarterly, or at specific intervals both parties agree on.
With this type of swap, one floating rate is exchanged for a fixed rate for a certain period of time. This time varies, depending on the agreement between the two parties. The amount of interest exchange also varies, although most investors use LIBOR, or the London Interbank Offer Rate, as a base for the variable rate. This is the typically rate of interest used by banks in London when deposits from Eurodollar market banks make deposits.
If you are considering an interest rate swap, consider how these derivatives could benefit you. Will they help you stay out of the red, reduce costs, manage debt, or manage risk in the market? If so, you should consider using rate swaps in the future.
Need a cost effective alternative to spreadsheets? Try Hedgebook! We make it simple for you to reduce your financial risk, manage your foreign exchange, and manage your interest rate risks. We are here for all your rate swaps, option pricing, and hedge accounting needs.
There are many other reasons, however, why this tool might be used. In the following we are going to discuss several reasons interest rate swaps are utilized by companies every single day.
Why Interest Swaps Are Used
Risk - One of the most beneficial uses of rate swaps for companies is their ability to hedge risk. When a company wants to avoid risk with their interest rates, they exchange the interest rate. This can greatly impact their overall cost, as the variances in different interest rates can produce a significant impact.
Cost - Many large companies use interest rate swaps to lower their costs. They can not only lower the amount of interest they must pay for certain assets, but can also avoid paying fees that are often associated with other types of debt.
Profits - The main purpose of most big businesses is to make money. However, with a fixed rate of interest and a fixed cash outflow, sometimes businesses have trouble staying out of the red. When companies are allowed to use swaps, they can choose to swap that fixed interest rate out for a variable rate, which can either increase or decrease. If the rate increases, but the cash outflow still remains the same, the swap is actually profitable for the business, and they are able to stay out of the red.
Debt - While rate swaps can be profitable on their own, they can also offset and optimize debt in the same manner. Let's say a company has a variable rate and a fixed amount of debt. If the floating rate is too high, they may have to continually borrow funds to cover their interest. By exchanging the unpredictable rate for a lower, fixed rate, they can actually afford their debt and the rate has the potential to actually be profitable.
How These Swaps Are Used
When two parties agree to swap interest, for any of the specific reasons listed above, they typically use the most common type of swap: the plain vanilla swap. This type of derivative involves the exchange of two cash flows in the same currency that are paid either annually, monthly, quarterly, or at specific intervals both parties agree on.
With this type of swap, one floating rate is exchanged for a fixed rate for a certain period of time. This time varies, depending on the agreement between the two parties. The amount of interest exchange also varies, although most investors use LIBOR, or the London Interbank Offer Rate, as a base for the variable rate. This is the typically rate of interest used by banks in London when deposits from Eurodollar market banks make deposits.
If you are considering an interest rate swap, consider how these derivatives could benefit you. Will they help you stay out of the red, reduce costs, manage debt, or manage risk in the market? If so, you should consider using rate swaps in the future.
Need a cost effective alternative to spreadsheets? Try Hedgebook! We make it simple for you to reduce your financial risk, manage your foreign exchange, and manage your interest rate risks. We are here for all your rate swaps, option pricing, and hedge accounting needs.
Getting Value on Your Family Grocery Shopping
It's harder to find bargains when you're shopping for a large number of people. Children can be fussy eaters and suddenly bringing in new food because it's on offer won't always be met with approval. Consider the following money saving tips the next time you're planning on doing your weekly grocery shopping.
Downgrade Brands
The simplest way of saving money instantly is by downgrading the brands you are currently using. For instance, if you're currently using premium brands on some products and mid-range plans on others, consider moving one step down the brand ladder. The premium products often taste the same as the mid-range brands and even the store-branded items.
If you're too scared to make the jump all at once, consider changing brands of a couple of products at a time. This will give you an idea of what items you don't mind downgrading on and those that you want to keep paying premium prices for.
Bulk Buy
If you're lucky enough to have a bulk-buy supermarket near you then visiting it to buy non-perishable items is always a good plan. If you don't have one nearby you can find certain sites online that will deliver these goods to you. Good items to buy in bulk are; toilet paper, tinned food, cleaning products and food you can deep freeze for a long time. Buy these monthly, or even quarterly if you have the storage space and you can get discounts on such buying in such big quantities.
Another good idea is buy items on offer that can be frozen. Only buy items you would normally have bought anyway and know you will use in the future, else you will be wasting money.
Make a Meal Plan
An excellent way of saving money is to reduce waste you produce. Consider your household as a machine - if you're not wasting anything in the house then you're working efficiently. Figure out what items you don't really need on your list. A family meal planner is ideal in these situations as you'll know exactly what everyone is eating on a daily basis and how much of each item you will require.
Don't forget to include the occasional treats - value is great but a happy family life is better!
Consider Costs
The value of shopping is calculated in the amount you pay indirectly as well as directly for the groceries. Consider where your current supermarket is located - are you going to the closest one? If there is a closer supermarket then you should consider swapping to it. While prices may be slightly higher, you could be saving the same in transport costs and time.
It's also a good idea to sit down and figure out when you do your shopping. Do you follow a weekly schedule? If you end up driving past the supermarket on other days when you have time to pop in and do you shopping then you could contemplate making your shopping time flexible rather than on a set day.
Opportunists will always get the better value with these money saving tips.
Downgrade Brands
The simplest way of saving money instantly is by downgrading the brands you are currently using. For instance, if you're currently using premium brands on some products and mid-range plans on others, consider moving one step down the brand ladder. The premium products often taste the same as the mid-range brands and even the store-branded items.
If you're too scared to make the jump all at once, consider changing brands of a couple of products at a time. This will give you an idea of what items you don't mind downgrading on and those that you want to keep paying premium prices for.
Bulk Buy
If you're lucky enough to have a bulk-buy supermarket near you then visiting it to buy non-perishable items is always a good plan. If you don't have one nearby you can find certain sites online that will deliver these goods to you. Good items to buy in bulk are; toilet paper, tinned food, cleaning products and food you can deep freeze for a long time. Buy these monthly, or even quarterly if you have the storage space and you can get discounts on such buying in such big quantities.
Another good idea is buy items on offer that can be frozen. Only buy items you would normally have bought anyway and know you will use in the future, else you will be wasting money.
Make a Meal Plan
An excellent way of saving money is to reduce waste you produce. Consider your household as a machine - if you're not wasting anything in the house then you're working efficiently. Figure out what items you don't really need on your list. A family meal planner is ideal in these situations as you'll know exactly what everyone is eating on a daily basis and how much of each item you will require.
Don't forget to include the occasional treats - value is great but a happy family life is better!
Consider Costs
The value of shopping is calculated in the amount you pay indirectly as well as directly for the groceries. Consider where your current supermarket is located - are you going to the closest one? If there is a closer supermarket then you should consider swapping to it. While prices may be slightly higher, you could be saving the same in transport costs and time.
It's also a good idea to sit down and figure out when you do your shopping. Do you follow a weekly schedule? If you end up driving past the supermarket on other days when you have time to pop in and do you shopping then you could contemplate making your shopping time flexible rather than on a set day.
Opportunists will always get the better value with these money saving tips.
What Are The 10 Primary Premarital Counseling Concerns?
When you are going through premarital counseling and filling out a premarital counseling questionnaire, you will find the variety of subjects the counselor will say so that you can make the choice about your marriage. A premarital counseling question can help you talk about a particular topic for you and your partner, in order to learn exactly where you both stand on a particular subject. Here are the ten premarital counseling subjects and questions that frequent in counseling and that you will discuss.
1.) What are your expectations of marriage?
This can reveal a lot about you and your partners ideals of marriage and what each other expects. Many people are often surprised by the answers there partners give for this question. You want to know before you get married what your partner feels about marriage in general and what you can expect during your married life.
2.) What are your life goals?
In order to share in each other's life, you need to know what each other's dreams and goals are and what they want to accomplish in life. A premarital counseling question about each other's goals and dreams can help you bring out your future plans.
3.) Why do you want to marry them?
What is it about the other person that makes you want to marry them? Marriage needs to be based on more than just infatuation or physical desire. What draws you to that person to make you want to spend your life with them.
4.) What are your thoughts about Spirituality/Religion?
This is one of the most important questions on the premarital counseling questionnaire. Your religion or spirituality is a major part of your life and if the two of you are not compatible in this area, it can create huge problems.
5.) What do you believe the role of the husband/wife should be?
It is crucial to the health of your marriage that you know ahead of time what is expected of each other. Your partner may have expectations of you that do or do not fit your ideas.
6.) What are your thoughts about your sexual life?
Sex is a big part of your married life and your sexual attitudes have a lot to do with your compatibility with each other. If your partner has different attitudes about sex than you do, it can cause problems in your marriage.
7.) What are your thoughts about Work/Money?
This is also a major issue in a marriage. You need to decide if you are both going to work or if just one will be the breadwinner as well as who is better at handling the money to pay the bills.
8.) What about Family/Children?
The question of having children and when to have them is a big part of your marriage. You need to know what each other feels about having children and how they fit into your plans. You need to know if they want to have children at all.
9.) How do you resolve arguments?
Arguments in a marriage do happen. How you resolve them is an issue you need to bring up, so you can have a healthy marriage. When couples respond to arguments with physical actions, it can have very severe results on your marriage.
10.) What are your ideas on politics?
This may not seem like a big issue, but it can be one of those things that leads to arguments if you do not agree on how to discuss it. Some people have very strong political opinions, while others could care less.
Premarital Counseling explained.
1.) What are your expectations of marriage?
This can reveal a lot about you and your partners ideals of marriage and what each other expects. Many people are often surprised by the answers there partners give for this question. You want to know before you get married what your partner feels about marriage in general and what you can expect during your married life.
2.) What are your life goals?
In order to share in each other's life, you need to know what each other's dreams and goals are and what they want to accomplish in life. A premarital counseling question about each other's goals and dreams can help you bring out your future plans.
3.) Why do you want to marry them?
What is it about the other person that makes you want to marry them? Marriage needs to be based on more than just infatuation or physical desire. What draws you to that person to make you want to spend your life with them.
4.) What are your thoughts about Spirituality/Religion?
This is one of the most important questions on the premarital counseling questionnaire. Your religion or spirituality is a major part of your life and if the two of you are not compatible in this area, it can create huge problems.
5.) What do you believe the role of the husband/wife should be?
It is crucial to the health of your marriage that you know ahead of time what is expected of each other. Your partner may have expectations of you that do or do not fit your ideas.
6.) What are your thoughts about your sexual life?
Sex is a big part of your married life and your sexual attitudes have a lot to do with your compatibility with each other. If your partner has different attitudes about sex than you do, it can cause problems in your marriage.
7.) What are your thoughts about Work/Money?
This is also a major issue in a marriage. You need to decide if you are both going to work or if just one will be the breadwinner as well as who is better at handling the money to pay the bills.
8.) What about Family/Children?
The question of having children and when to have them is a big part of your marriage. You need to know what each other feels about having children and how they fit into your plans. You need to know if they want to have children at all.
9.) How do you resolve arguments?
Arguments in a marriage do happen. How you resolve them is an issue you need to bring up, so you can have a healthy marriage. When couples respond to arguments with physical actions, it can have very severe results on your marriage.
10.) What are your ideas on politics?
This may not seem like a big issue, but it can be one of those things that leads to arguments if you do not agree on how to discuss it. Some people have very strong political opinions, while others could care less.
Premarital Counseling explained.
Five Important Premarital Counseling Subjects To Discuss
When you are preparing for, it's ideal to go on premarital counseling. You'll find numerous premarital concerns that need to be dealt with so your marriage will last a lifetime. Premarital counseling with a minister or counselor is beneficial to solving future troubles that may not be aware of. Talking about these factors just before you get married can save you from heartache and other problems later on on.
During your marriage, there will be many issues that will come up that may be considered small issues that you can easily work out by talking about them. But there are certain issues that not only need to be talked out prior to marriage, but are almost mandatory in order to have a healthy marriage. These questions are what will help you to become one person as a whole, instead of two people who are living separate lives under one roof. Learning to communicate your ideas and make adjustments to your way of living if needed is how you will move your marriage from two individuals to one. The key is that it starts with communication, communication, and more communication when you talk about these particular issues. Here are five of the top premarital questions that need to be discussed before you marry.
Work/Money
One of the biggest issues that comes up during a marriage is whether one person is going to be the breadwinner or are both of you going to work. Adjusting your work schedules may be needed in order to create a healthy marriage environment. Children, parents, and job expectations need to be taken into consideration. Along with your work life, money issues is the cause of more divorces than anything else. Discussing how money and general finance will be handled is critical to your marriage. It is often found that one person in the marriage is better at handling the money and getting the bills paid. That doesn't mean that you don't both have a say over what happens to the money or what is paid, but it is better to acknowledge and give control of the handling of money to the person who is better at it.
Religion/Spiritual Life
What you believe and how you practice your spiritual life is critical to the marriage. If you are both of the same faith, you have the opportunity for a stronger marriage as well as a stronger spiritual life together. If you have opposite views on your spiritual life, you need to discuss how you are going to conduct your married life with differing religious views. Again, children and parents should be thought of when discussing this sensitive topic. Not to say it can't be done, but it does require a lot more communication to keep your marriage strong.
Children
This is another critical issue that needs to be discussed prior to marriage. It is a factor that affects, or will affect, almost everything that you do. Do you both agree on when or if you want children and how they will be raised? Do you agree what you will do if children come along before one or both of you are ready? Will your parents be involved in helping to raise and look after the kids, or will you use a nanny? Raising children is a great joy and can bring a lot of happiness in your home, but they also require that the two of your agree on things like education, discipline, etc.
Household Chores
This may seem like it should not belong in a list of premarital counseling questions, but how the household chores are taken care of is another big issue that causes problems in the home. Many couples overlook this topic, but household chores is the one issue that produces the most emotional buildup and backlash. You need to both understand what each others feelings are concerning this issue and figure out who does what.
Dreams and Goals
Premarital counseling allows you to look into the future a bit and talk about what you want to accomplish in your life, both individually and as a marriage couple. Your future spouse may not even be aware of what your dreams may be and what you want to do. This is an opportunity to learn more about each other and encourage, support, and strengthen your relationship.
Premarital counseling questions are asked so that these topics, and more, are specifically addressed before you actually enter a marriage. While it may not be the absolute key to a perfect marriage, asking questions to your partner is known to be a very common factor for a successful marriage.
Prepare for the most exciting part in a couple's life - marriage. Go on a Premarital Counseling now.
During your marriage, there will be many issues that will come up that may be considered small issues that you can easily work out by talking about them. But there are certain issues that not only need to be talked out prior to marriage, but are almost mandatory in order to have a healthy marriage. These questions are what will help you to become one person as a whole, instead of two people who are living separate lives under one roof. Learning to communicate your ideas and make adjustments to your way of living if needed is how you will move your marriage from two individuals to one. The key is that it starts with communication, communication, and more communication when you talk about these particular issues. Here are five of the top premarital questions that need to be discussed before you marry.
Work/Money
One of the biggest issues that comes up during a marriage is whether one person is going to be the breadwinner or are both of you going to work. Adjusting your work schedules may be needed in order to create a healthy marriage environment. Children, parents, and job expectations need to be taken into consideration. Along with your work life, money issues is the cause of more divorces than anything else. Discussing how money and general finance will be handled is critical to your marriage. It is often found that one person in the marriage is better at handling the money and getting the bills paid. That doesn't mean that you don't both have a say over what happens to the money or what is paid, but it is better to acknowledge and give control of the handling of money to the person who is better at it.
Religion/Spiritual Life
What you believe and how you practice your spiritual life is critical to the marriage. If you are both of the same faith, you have the opportunity for a stronger marriage as well as a stronger spiritual life together. If you have opposite views on your spiritual life, you need to discuss how you are going to conduct your married life with differing religious views. Again, children and parents should be thought of when discussing this sensitive topic. Not to say it can't be done, but it does require a lot more communication to keep your marriage strong.
Children
This is another critical issue that needs to be discussed prior to marriage. It is a factor that affects, or will affect, almost everything that you do. Do you both agree on when or if you want children and how they will be raised? Do you agree what you will do if children come along before one or both of you are ready? Will your parents be involved in helping to raise and look after the kids, or will you use a nanny? Raising children is a great joy and can bring a lot of happiness in your home, but they also require that the two of your agree on things like education, discipline, etc.
Household Chores
This may seem like it should not belong in a list of premarital counseling questions, but how the household chores are taken care of is another big issue that causes problems in the home. Many couples overlook this topic, but household chores is the one issue that produces the most emotional buildup and backlash. You need to both understand what each others feelings are concerning this issue and figure out who does what.
Dreams and Goals
Premarital counseling allows you to look into the future a bit and talk about what you want to accomplish in your life, both individually and as a marriage couple. Your future spouse may not even be aware of what your dreams may be and what you want to do. This is an opportunity to learn more about each other and encourage, support, and strengthen your relationship.
Premarital counseling questions are asked so that these topics, and more, are specifically addressed before you actually enter a marriage. While it may not be the absolute key to a perfect marriage, asking questions to your partner is known to be a very common factor for a successful marriage.
Prepare for the most exciting part in a couple's life - marriage. Go on a Premarital Counseling now.
What Exactly Are The Targets Of Premarital Counseling Questions?
When you are preparing to get married, whether for the first time or whether you are getting married again, premarital counseling for couples is a great way to get started in your marriage. When two people are getting ready to merge into one couple there are several premarital questions that should be discussed. Premarital counseling questions are a great way to discuss some things that need to be brought out while you have an unbiased person there who can guide you through any tough issues before you take your vows. The goals of premarital counseling are to discuss any issues that might come up before you get married to see if you both are really compatible.
Marriage is a great institution, and those who choose to get married can help each other to have a very happy life together. But before you commit to each other, you need to find out just how compatible you really are. The idea of sharing your life with someone is an exciting prospect, but if you are not with someone who shares your views on life as well as personal dreams, it can become a very disheartening and contentious relationship. The statistics today show that over 50 percent of those who marry will end up divorced at some point in their marriage. This could be a result of many common attitudes toward marriage, going into it with the idea that if it doesn't work out, you can always get divorced.
While getting a divorce is much easier today than it used to be, the emotional effects of divorce on two people does not get any easier. Preparing for the marriage by having premarital counseling can help you save a lot of pain later on. If you find out that you are really not compatible, it is much less painful to separate before the marriage than after. Marriage counseling can also have the effect of showing you just how compatible you are, which is also the goal premarital counseling. Going through premarital counseling questions with a minister or counselor can help to bring out the real feelings of both parties, providing a forum for you to talk about some issues that really need to be discussed before you get married.
When you make the decision to get married, you are agreeing to give up your own independence in order to share your life with someone else. It doesn't mean that you are not your own person. You still have your own identity, but the decisions that you make will now involve someone else as well, instead of affecting only yourself. Those important questions that you have about life and your dreams will now involve another person, requiring that the decisions be made together. For many people, giving up that much independence is a tough thing to do. That's why premarital counseling for couples can be a very important step in the marriage process.
The goals of premarital counseling are not to discourage anyone from getting married, but rather to give the marriage a stronger start by discussing premarital questions that are going to come up at some time during the marriage. Many couples will tell you that had they discussed these things before getting married, it could have prevented a lot of heartache and problems. The simple fact is that the goals of premarital counseling are to help you get a much clearer picture of the person you are about to marry so you can make the best decision for your life. Premarital counseling for couples could be the best thing for your marriage.
Ask yourself "Am I sure" before you say "I do". Go on a Premarital Counseling now.
Marriage is a great institution, and those who choose to get married can help each other to have a very happy life together. But before you commit to each other, you need to find out just how compatible you really are. The idea of sharing your life with someone is an exciting prospect, but if you are not with someone who shares your views on life as well as personal dreams, it can become a very disheartening and contentious relationship. The statistics today show that over 50 percent of those who marry will end up divorced at some point in their marriage. This could be a result of many common attitudes toward marriage, going into it with the idea that if it doesn't work out, you can always get divorced.
While getting a divorce is much easier today than it used to be, the emotional effects of divorce on two people does not get any easier. Preparing for the marriage by having premarital counseling can help you save a lot of pain later on. If you find out that you are really not compatible, it is much less painful to separate before the marriage than after. Marriage counseling can also have the effect of showing you just how compatible you are, which is also the goal premarital counseling. Going through premarital counseling questions with a minister or counselor can help to bring out the real feelings of both parties, providing a forum for you to talk about some issues that really need to be discussed before you get married.
When you make the decision to get married, you are agreeing to give up your own independence in order to share your life with someone else. It doesn't mean that you are not your own person. You still have your own identity, but the decisions that you make will now involve someone else as well, instead of affecting only yourself. Those important questions that you have about life and your dreams will now involve another person, requiring that the decisions be made together. For many people, giving up that much independence is a tough thing to do. That's why premarital counseling for couples can be a very important step in the marriage process.
The goals of premarital counseling are not to discourage anyone from getting married, but rather to give the marriage a stronger start by discussing premarital questions that are going to come up at some time during the marriage. Many couples will tell you that had they discussed these things before getting married, it could have prevented a lot of heartache and problems. The simple fact is that the goals of premarital counseling are to help you get a much clearer picture of the person you are about to marry so you can make the best decision for your life. Premarital counseling for couples could be the best thing for your marriage.
Ask yourself "Am I sure" before you say "I do". Go on a Premarital Counseling now.
Improve The Foundation Of Your Marriage
You have probably been dating for many months and won't be able to seem to see enough of each other. You can get very cozy with each other and share common passions. Communicating has never been a headache and you see that your future goals match. Startlingly, you see yourself thinking seriously for the very first time that you experienced that this is the one person in the world you could see yourself enjoying the rest of your life with. A year goes by and you become even closer. The talk of weddings is mentioned and happily, a marriage date is set for up coming fall. Now what's next? Must you talk to your best pal your premarital questions or perhaps your mum? Is going into a relationship counseling right before the big day a choice or would it result in rift in your fairly ideal relationship? Breathe deeply and continue reading.
Firstly, absolutely no union is perfect and if you think yours might be you must speed up the union counseling to be able to broach matters of which sometimes lovers be put off by. Areas such as having kids, income, your individual relatives, your friends, your work, your own lifestyle set up, faith, political opinions and more. It is fine if you have a solid impression one method or another on one or even more subjects. The true secret to find is that you both listen to each other's thoughts and opinions and discover if you possibly can come across some sort of common ground in order to meet on. For example, let's say you want 3 children and your lover wants 1 but isn't sure about more than that. She was raised in a huge family and fought to get everything they had and don't want that manner of living for any kids they may possibly carry into the world. Are you willing to bargain for this and say that perhaps one or two children would be fine or perhaps it is non-negotiable?
Make a list of additional premarital queries you could have and determine those that could possibly be plan breakers. It is crucial you're sincere with yourself and with your second half. Talking over these matters could be the oncoming of creating a firm foundation for your love. A lot of couples, specifically those that do not reside with each other first, go into union assuming it'll be similar to a fairy tale and are generally devastated when their royal prince or princess or queen begins acting human. Marriage is not a movie; it really is effort and hard work. It will take two people who're ready in the very beginning of their romance to decide on a partnership in good times as well as in difficult times. It's going to take maturity, when oftentimes one of you isn't mature enough. It requires patience, whenever one of you may display a poor mood without any patience. Most importantly it will require a great deal of appreciation and sacrifice.
Toss away just about any concepts of perfectionism you could be wanting in your loved one and add a vibrant amount of comedy in your union. Start out and conclude the day having a talk along with touching, even whether it's simply a light hug on the forehead. Keep in contact throughout the day if at all possible and speak, talk, talk. Connection, adoration, commitment and respect are the stones in the groundwork of the best relationships. Guarantee yourself and your loved one that you will always work on maintaining that framework intact and enjoy a wonderful, long, beneficial relationship.
Read helpful tips and resources on how to make a marriage work. Learn about premarital counseling and the benefits your relationship gets when you decide to go through it. More practical tips over at Premarital Counseling Questions website for practical tips and tricks
Firstly, absolutely no union is perfect and if you think yours might be you must speed up the union counseling to be able to broach matters of which sometimes lovers be put off by. Areas such as having kids, income, your individual relatives, your friends, your work, your own lifestyle set up, faith, political opinions and more. It is fine if you have a solid impression one method or another on one or even more subjects. The true secret to find is that you both listen to each other's thoughts and opinions and discover if you possibly can come across some sort of common ground in order to meet on. For example, let's say you want 3 children and your lover wants 1 but isn't sure about more than that. She was raised in a huge family and fought to get everything they had and don't want that manner of living for any kids they may possibly carry into the world. Are you willing to bargain for this and say that perhaps one or two children would be fine or perhaps it is non-negotiable?
Make a list of additional premarital queries you could have and determine those that could possibly be plan breakers. It is crucial you're sincere with yourself and with your second half. Talking over these matters could be the oncoming of creating a firm foundation for your love. A lot of couples, specifically those that do not reside with each other first, go into union assuming it'll be similar to a fairy tale and are generally devastated when their royal prince or princess or queen begins acting human. Marriage is not a movie; it really is effort and hard work. It will take two people who're ready in the very beginning of their romance to decide on a partnership in good times as well as in difficult times. It's going to take maturity, when oftentimes one of you isn't mature enough. It requires patience, whenever one of you may display a poor mood without any patience. Most importantly it will require a great deal of appreciation and sacrifice.
Toss away just about any concepts of perfectionism you could be wanting in your loved one and add a vibrant amount of comedy in your union. Start out and conclude the day having a talk along with touching, even whether it's simply a light hug on the forehead. Keep in contact throughout the day if at all possible and speak, talk, talk. Connection, adoration, commitment and respect are the stones in the groundwork of the best relationships. Guarantee yourself and your loved one that you will always work on maintaining that framework intact and enjoy a wonderful, long, beneficial relationship.
Read helpful tips and resources on how to make a marriage work. Learn about premarital counseling and the benefits your relationship gets when you decide to go through it. More practical tips over at Premarital Counseling Questions website for practical tips and tricks
My Dog Keeps Digging Holes In My Garden!
It is instinctive for a dog to dig, and once they have filled this need, they want to lie in that cool soil they unearthed. The answer is not to keep your dog cool however!
I learned that if I transplanted Bleeding Heart Plants into each end of my flower garden, no animal, whether it was a dog or a cat, went into my flower bed and we were all happy. The reason the animals don't like the bleeding heart plant is due to the fact that this plant is poisonous to any animal and animals seem to sense danger when they get near these plants, so the animals tend to stay away (much to your satisfaction).
Since I thought Bleeding Heart Plants were the answer to my prayers, I also put a plant in each corner of my vegetable garden and this would work - depending on the size of your home vegetable garden. Please note that these awesome bleeding heart plants only work on the small domesticated animals, not such animals as deer or bigger wildlife.
For your domesticated animals, you could also try applying a fungicide called Ropel or Thymol. Simply let this repellent dry, and then apply a second coat. But be careful, this repellent may cause damage to tender young plants, so test first on a plant or two.
Another good deterrent is methyl nonyl ketone. It is important to note that this must be applied to the ground every week or so. Also bear in mind that methyl nonyl ketone is poisonous so you should always wear gloves when touching it. Be careful if you have children around as well.
I have heard of using mothballs, but never had any faith in them - they hurt my nose more than any animal!! Quite recently, I heard that human hair hung in pantyhose works, but this doubting Thomas doesn't believe that either. After all, if we want something bad enough, the only thing that will stop us is some sort of deterrent that will physically make us sick unless I am mistaken.
The one small detail you never want to forget about repellents is that they are a short-term fix. Any and all repellent has to be re-applied after rain and the instructions should be followed at all times.
For persistent problems, especially with digging dogs (such as I had), a fence is the most permanent solution. (I used a lattice fence that was a bit higher than the dog was when the dog was lying down - this seemed to scare him and he refused to dig anymore after the fence was put up)
A word to the wise: look up which plants are poisonous to animals - I have found that Elephant Ear works as well; whereas the cactus seems to beckon the animals into the garden, along with a few other plants!
Do some research and see what you can discover to solve this recurring problem in your home vegetable garden/flower bed.
Are you willing to go that extra little bit to have a beautiful garden and a happy pet?
As an avid gardener in the Province of Saskatchewan, I highly recommend going to http://www.ezyhomegardening.com.
You receive encouragement at that website, and you are shown it is possible to succeed in spite of the weather.
The blog posts are ongoing and a great source of information. What you thought was impossible is not really impossible!
Check it out today!
I learned that if I transplanted Bleeding Heart Plants into each end of my flower garden, no animal, whether it was a dog or a cat, went into my flower bed and we were all happy. The reason the animals don't like the bleeding heart plant is due to the fact that this plant is poisonous to any animal and animals seem to sense danger when they get near these plants, so the animals tend to stay away (much to your satisfaction).
Since I thought Bleeding Heart Plants were the answer to my prayers, I also put a plant in each corner of my vegetable garden and this would work - depending on the size of your home vegetable garden. Please note that these awesome bleeding heart plants only work on the small domesticated animals, not such animals as deer or bigger wildlife.
For your domesticated animals, you could also try applying a fungicide called Ropel or Thymol. Simply let this repellent dry, and then apply a second coat. But be careful, this repellent may cause damage to tender young plants, so test first on a plant or two.
Another good deterrent is methyl nonyl ketone. It is important to note that this must be applied to the ground every week or so. Also bear in mind that methyl nonyl ketone is poisonous so you should always wear gloves when touching it. Be careful if you have children around as well.
I have heard of using mothballs, but never had any faith in them - they hurt my nose more than any animal!! Quite recently, I heard that human hair hung in pantyhose works, but this doubting Thomas doesn't believe that either. After all, if we want something bad enough, the only thing that will stop us is some sort of deterrent that will physically make us sick unless I am mistaken.
The one small detail you never want to forget about repellents is that they are a short-term fix. Any and all repellent has to be re-applied after rain and the instructions should be followed at all times.
For persistent problems, especially with digging dogs (such as I had), a fence is the most permanent solution. (I used a lattice fence that was a bit higher than the dog was when the dog was lying down - this seemed to scare him and he refused to dig anymore after the fence was put up)
A word to the wise: look up which plants are poisonous to animals - I have found that Elephant Ear works as well; whereas the cactus seems to beckon the animals into the garden, along with a few other plants!
Do some research and see what you can discover to solve this recurring problem in your home vegetable garden/flower bed.
Are you willing to go that extra little bit to have a beautiful garden and a happy pet?
As an avid gardener in the Province of Saskatchewan, I highly recommend going to http://www.ezyhomegardening.com.
You receive encouragement at that website, and you are shown it is possible to succeed in spite of the weather.
The blog posts are ongoing and a great source of information. What you thought was impossible is not really impossible!
Check it out today!
How Does a Person Stuff Any Home Made Crocheted Toys?
Soft and cuddly toys, which can often be made from the scraps of leftover yarns you have on hand, make very special gifts for friends and family.
Batting, small pieces of plastic foam and fiberfill can all be used to stuff toys.
Choose a washable stuffing and yarn for a toy which will need frequent washing. A baby's toy should be stuffed with something quite soft and pliable; toys for older children can be stuffed more firmly.
Stuffing the various pieces correctly will ensure a perfect shape.
Simple tubular shapes are easily stuffed by inserting small pieces of stuffing into the lower end and working upward until the shape has been completely filled. Knead and mold the shape while stuffing so that the stuffing is evenly distributed throughout.
If the toy is made from several different pieces, start by stuffing the outer points. Take small pieces of stuffing and start with the end, using a small piece of dowel or a small stick to push the stuffing firmly into the lowest point. Continue to stuff the outer sections first, working toward the center. Use small pieces of stuffing each time so that it is evenly distributed.
To strengthen a narrow piece, use a pipe cleaner that has been bound with cotton tape. Twist the pipe cleaner to form a loop at each end.
Wrap stuffing around the pipe cleaner, and bind once more, catching the tape with a few stitches to hold in place. Now insert the "strengthener" into the piece, pushing extra stuffing down each side if necessary.
Some of the most effective toys can be made using simple shapes. With the addition of ears, legs and different faces, a number of different creatures can be made from one basic shape. The "sausage" shape is extremely versatile. All you need to begin is a long strip worked firmly in single crochet. These instructions will tell you how to make a toy snail and turtle. If needed, insert a small amount of stuffing into the tubular shape while stitching the seam to give the best shape.
Make sure that the center seam is sewn firmly and neatly together on the underside of the basic shape so that it will not be seen once the toy has been completed.
Use a "sausage" to make a snail's shell by rolling it up from one end, making sure that there are no creases in the crochet.
Hold the spiral in place by catching two sections at intervals with small even stitches. Always sew seams as firmly as possible so that the toys do not fall apart as soon as they are used. If necessary, use a stronger thread than the one used to make the main fabric.
Use small stitches to hold the shell in position on the main body. Sew on heads, ears, arms, etc., in the same way, making the seam as invisible as possible.
Try to use the coil horizontally instead of vertically; combine it with a tube and embroidery to make a simple turtle and enjoy!
There is a wealth of information to be found at http://learningeasycrochet.com.
Not only is there information, but it supplies encouragement as well.
When you get stuck, as we all do sometimes, leave a question in the comment box and you will get an answer within 24 hours.
When you sign up for a membership, you will receive a crochet pattern of your choice along with the help you may need to complete that project!
In the members area, you will shown "how to" and much more along with tips and tricks to speed up your progress.
Check it out today!
Batting, small pieces of plastic foam and fiberfill can all be used to stuff toys.
Choose a washable stuffing and yarn for a toy which will need frequent washing. A baby's toy should be stuffed with something quite soft and pliable; toys for older children can be stuffed more firmly.
Stuffing the various pieces correctly will ensure a perfect shape.
Simple tubular shapes are easily stuffed by inserting small pieces of stuffing into the lower end and working upward until the shape has been completely filled. Knead and mold the shape while stuffing so that the stuffing is evenly distributed throughout.
If the toy is made from several different pieces, start by stuffing the outer points. Take small pieces of stuffing and start with the end, using a small piece of dowel or a small stick to push the stuffing firmly into the lowest point. Continue to stuff the outer sections first, working toward the center. Use small pieces of stuffing each time so that it is evenly distributed.
To strengthen a narrow piece, use a pipe cleaner that has been bound with cotton tape. Twist the pipe cleaner to form a loop at each end.
Wrap stuffing around the pipe cleaner, and bind once more, catching the tape with a few stitches to hold in place. Now insert the "strengthener" into the piece, pushing extra stuffing down each side if necessary.
Some of the most effective toys can be made using simple shapes. With the addition of ears, legs and different faces, a number of different creatures can be made from one basic shape. The "sausage" shape is extremely versatile. All you need to begin is a long strip worked firmly in single crochet. These instructions will tell you how to make a toy snail and turtle. If needed, insert a small amount of stuffing into the tubular shape while stitching the seam to give the best shape.
Make sure that the center seam is sewn firmly and neatly together on the underside of the basic shape so that it will not be seen once the toy has been completed.
Use a "sausage" to make a snail's shell by rolling it up from one end, making sure that there are no creases in the crochet.
Hold the spiral in place by catching two sections at intervals with small even stitches. Always sew seams as firmly as possible so that the toys do not fall apart as soon as they are used. If necessary, use a stronger thread than the one used to make the main fabric.
Use small stitches to hold the shell in position on the main body. Sew on heads, ears, arms, etc., in the same way, making the seam as invisible as possible.
Try to use the coil horizontally instead of vertically; combine it with a tube and embroidery to make a simple turtle and enjoy!
There is a wealth of information to be found at http://learningeasycrochet.com.
Not only is there information, but it supplies encouragement as well.
When you get stuck, as we all do sometimes, leave a question in the comment box and you will get an answer within 24 hours.
When you sign up for a membership, you will receive a crochet pattern of your choice along with the help you may need to complete that project!
In the members area, you will shown "how to" and much more along with tips and tricks to speed up your progress.
Check it out today!
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