A Bag of Cookies

Here's a story to make one think...

A young lady was waiting for her flight in the boarding room of a big airport.

As she would need to wait many hours, she decided to buy a book to spend her time. She also bought a pack of cookies.

She sat down in the chair, in the VIP room of the airport, to rest and read in peace.

Beside the armchair where the pack of cookies lay, a man sat down in the next seat. He opened his magazine and started to read.

When she took out the first cookie, the man took one also. She felt irritated, but said nothing. She just thought…What a nerve! If I was in the mood I would punch him for daring!

For each cookie she took, the man took one. This was infuriating her, but she didn’t want to cause a scene.

When only one cookie remained, she thought…ah, What will this abusive man do now?
Then, the man, taking the last cookie, divided it into half, giving her one half.

Ah, that was too much. She was much too angry now. In a huff, she took her book, her things and stormed to the boarding place.

When she sat down in her seat, inside the plane, she looked into her purse to take her eyeglasses out and to her surprise, her pack of cookies was there. Untouched and unopened!

She felt so ashamed. She realized that she was wrong…She had forgotten that her cookies were kept in her purse.

That man had divided his cookies with her, without feeling angered or bitter.

While she had been angry, thinking that she was dividing her cookies with him. And now there was no chance to explain herself…nor apologize.

There are 4 things you cannot recover:
The stone…after the throw
The word…after it is said
The occasion…after the loss
The time…after it’s gone

Home Money Saving Tips

Now that the warmer weather is just about here, these home money saving tips can help stretch your monthly buget.

If you set your A/C thermostat a little higher during summer months, you'll reduce your cooling costs 3-4% for each degree of adjustment. Changing the temperature from 74°F to 77°F could lower your energy bill by more than 10%.

A whole house fan is a simple and inexpensive method of cooling a house, particularly during times when the humidity levels are not too high.

If you buy a new air conditioner, buy an efficient model that is sized and installed properly.

New air conditioners must have a minimum SEER rating of 13. Be aware of how the SEER rating can affect your energy use.

A properly ventilated home can significantly improve overall comfort levels and also reduce energy costs.

Use kitchen, bath, and other ventilating fans wisely. In just 1 hour, these fans can pull out a houseful of warmed or cooled air. Turn fans off as soon as they have done the job.

Insulate and seal all attic access openings properly.

Caulk and weather-strip doors and windows that leak air. You will be surprised about the amount of energy lost through the cracks and openings in a home.

Crawl spaces can be a significant source of energy loss during both summer and winter, and should be properly insulated.

One of the most cost-effective ways to reduce your energy costs is to reduce the air leakage within your home as much as possible.

When properly selected and installed, windows can help minimize a home's heating, cooling, and lighting costs.

Create a Healthier Environment

Spring is here! Now is the time to declutter your life, get organized and live in a healthier environment. Do the things you need to do and enjoy the most to live a healthier and happier life.

Do you have clutter at home?

Organize one room at a time. Start with anything stacked on the floor and then work up to the things stacked on the surfaces…tables, shelves etc… Before you decide to throw out an item, think about donating the item instead. What is garbage to one person, may be a treasure to another.

Go through your closets, handbags and accessories. If you haven’t worn it in a year, get rid of it. When tackling your dresser drawers, avoid having a ‘junk’ drawer. I can’t seem to get rid of mine! Go through one drawer at a time and discard any items you no longer use.

Having less clutter in your living space, makes for a cleaner, healthier home environment.

Do you have clutter in your life?

List the areas in your life that you have committed your time. Do you enjoy all you have committed to? List which things you enjoy doing and which things add value to your life. Delete the rest or learn to say 'no'.

Planning ahead also makes room in your life. Schedule those annual doctor visits in the beginning of the year. It's not too late...do it now.

Try running all your errands at one time. This will take less time away from you. Scattering them through out the week can just be tiring and may make your schedule each night feel more hectic.

If you commit to a little time to de-clutter your life, you will find you feel healthier with better surroundings, better organization and be more productive.

Get All The Facts About Credit Cards Before You Apply

Have you been touched by our nation's financial crisis? Do you find you are short on cash by the end of the month? If you are thinking now is the time to get a credit card and you are tempted to get one (or another one), please make sure you get ALL the facts about credit cards before you apply for one. Make sure to read ALL the fine print. Know what fees will be associated with that card.

Thinking about balance transfer credit cards? Some cards are offering a 0 interest rate, which might be better if your cards carry a higher rate. Transferring the balance could be a solution and might save you some money each month. But, be aware of the terms. This zero interest could just be an introductory rate and the interest could actually go higher than the cards you currently have.

DealsForCreditCards.com might be a website that can be useful in your search for the best terms on credit cards. This site allows you to comparison shop. It is wise to not just take the first offer that comes your way. Knowledge is power. As a consumer, you want what is best for YOU and this FREE information is there for the taking. Take advantage of the many articles they offer, which provides important information.

For example, I spoke about balance transfer credit cards above, there's an article on How To Find The Best Balance Transfer Credit Card and how this can help you financially. Read the whole article for some worthwhile tips.

Ways To Cut Back On Expenses

It seems more and more people are finding themselves on a tighter budget now a days. Living paycheck to paycheck, with most of their money paying for basics like food, gas and housing.

I believe I have mentioned these saving tips before, but I think it is a perfect time to mention them again. I’m sure if you truly analyzed your monthly spending, you would be able to find ways to cut back and save some money each month.

Some people on budgets fail to recognize what they really need vs. what they want. There is that possibility of saving money if you look at your spending habits and only make purchases on what you need.

If you feel comfortable raising your Homeowners and Auto Insurance deductibles, this could save you additional money. I know most insurance companies gives you a credit if you have multiple policies with them. You could also shop quotes for both insurances. You may be able to find lower insurance than what you already have for an additional savings.

I have made it a point to reduce food waste in my home. I began noticing the amount of food that was being thrown out and it really upset me. The leftovers that usually found their way to the back of the refrig which were forgotten, are now being used for additional meals. I have been doing this for awhile now and I honestly can say I save money each week this way. I also bring lunch to work. The savings by just doing that are alot each week.

You may be able to trim expenses by looking at your cable and cell phone bills. Do you really need those extra cable channels? How about that expensive cell phone plan that includes services you hardly use? If you are in a situation that you are having trouble meeting your more important bills, should you really be paying for those HBO channels? If you have both a land line phone and a cell phone, it may make more sense to delete one of those services. There would be a definite savings there each month.

Another way to cut back on expenses is by paying attention to the sales being offered. Clothing, for example, can take a chunk out of your monthly paycheck. Maybe shopping at a store which is less expensive...meaning you are not paying a higher price because of the 'name' of the store.

If you truly look at where your money is going and make a commitment to trim expenses, you can find ways to cut back and save each month.

Do you have any money saving tips to share?