How To Stop Foreclosure
by Janet Wickell
Steps You Can Take to Avoid Foreclosure and Save Your Home
A loss of a job, medical expenses and other life-altering occurrences can happen to anyone, causing us to fall behind in our loan payments. If we neglect paying our credit cards it hurts our credit rating, but if we stop paying our home loan the situation is even worse, because the lender can foreclose, taking ownership the home.
Don't Be Embarassed
You must put your pride on hold if you're truly serious about stopping the foreclosure process. Lenders do not want to foreclose, and will usually work with you to get you back on track.
Rule #1: Contact your lender as soon as you know your payments will be late.
Rule #2: Never ignore the lender's letters or phone calls. Ignoring the problem won't make it go away.
Rule #3: Never assume your situation is hopeless.
Solutions for Temporary Problems
Reinstatement Reinstatement might be possible when you are behind in your payments but can promise a lump sum to bring payments current by a specific date.
Forbearance In forbearance, you are allowed to delay payments for a short period, with the understanding that another option will be used afterwards to bring the account current.
Lenders sometimes combine Forbearance with Reinstatement if you know you'll have the funds to bring your account current by a specific date.
A Repayment Plan If your account is past due, but you can now make payments, the lender might agree to let you catch up by adding a portion of the past due amount to a certain number of monthly payments until your account is current.
Solutions for Longer-Term Problems
Mortgage Modification If you can make your regular payment now, but cannot catch-up the past due amount, the lender might agree to modify your mortgage. One solution is to add the past due amount into your existing loan, financing it over a long term.
Modification might also be possible if you no longer have the ability to make payments at the former level. The lender can modify your mortgage to extend the length of your loan (or take other steps to reduce your payments).
Selling Your Home If catching up is not a possibility, the lender might agree to put foreclosure on hold to give you some time to attempt to sell your home.
Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure When the lender allows you to give-back your property--and forgives the debt. It does have a negative impact on your credit record, but not as much as a foreclosure.
The lender might require that you attempt to sell the house for a specific time period before agreeing to this option, and it might not be possible if there are other liens against the home.
For FHA Loans
The lender might be able to help you receive a one-time payment from the FHA Insurance fund. Your loan must be at least 4 months but no more than 12 months past due and you must show you are able to begin making full mortgage payments.
1. You must sign a promissory note which allows HUD to place a lien on your property for the amount received from the fund.
2. The note is interest free, but must eventually be repaid.
3. The note becomes due when you pay off the loan or when you sell the property.
For VA Loans
VA VA Regional Loan Centers offer financial counseling that's designed to help you avoid foreclosure. Call 1-800-827-1000 and ask for the phone number of the Loan Service Representative in your area.
Contact a HUD-Approved Counselor
If you don't want to talk with your lender first, contact a HUD-approved counseling agency. A counselor can help you determine which options might be available to you and negotiate with your lender to work out a repayment program. You can find an approved agency on the Web.
Put the Process in Motion
Your lender won't automatically put you into a program to bring your loan up-to-date. You must put the plan into motion and provide the lender with the documentation they require to analyze your financial situation.
Although lenders do not want to foreclose if it can be avoided, they do want to make sure you can follow-through on any promises you make to bring your account current.
Be prepared to share all details about your financial situation with your lender.
An explanation of your current financial circumstances.
Details about your current income.
A list of your household expenses.
The lender will review and analyze your situation before offering a solution to bring your loan up-to-date.
Repairing Your Credit
If your home loan is past due, your other obligations probably are too. A nonprofit credit counseling agency might be able to help you work with your creditors to reduce your monthly payments by lowering interest rates or extending repayment periods.
The key word here is nonprofit. Steer clear of companies that promise you quick, easy results for all of your credit problems--if you pay them a large fee. You know better--that's not how it works in the real world. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling is a good place to start.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Teens and drugs
Teenagers say drug problems at school are getting worse, and parents express doubts about ever making such schools drug free, a new study says.
The percentage of teens who say they attend high schools with drug problems has increased from 44 percent to 61 percent since 2002, and the percentage in middle schools has increased from 19 percent to 31 percent, according to the survey. Four in five teens in high school told researchers they have witnessed the use, sale or possession of illegal drugs on high school grounds, or seen someone who was drunk or high on campus. Some 13 percent of teens said they had tried marijuana, and 4 percent said they had used it in the past month.
The percentage of teens who say they attend high schools with drug problems has increased from 44 percent to 61 percent since 2002, and the percentage in middle schools has increased from 19 percent to 31 percent, according to the survey. Four in five teens in high school told researchers they have witnessed the use, sale or possession of illegal drugs on high school grounds, or seen someone who was drunk or high on campus. Some 13 percent of teens said they had tried marijuana, and 4 percent said they had used it in the past month.
Vitamin E and heart disease
Vitamin E proved to be a bust for preventing heart disease and cancer in a widely publicized study in women, but intriguing results from the same trial suggest a role for the vitamin in reducing the risk of life-threatening blood clots.
Researchers warn that the findings must be confirmed, and they say no one taking prescription blood thinners to prevent deep vein blood clots should stop taking them. But Harvard Medical School professor of medicine Robert J. Glynn, PhD, says vitamin E shows promise for preventing the potentially deadly clots in high-risk patients who aren't on prescription blood thinners like warfarin.
Researchers warn that the findings must be confirmed, and they say no one taking prescription blood thinners to prevent deep vein blood clots should stop taking them. But Harvard Medical School professor of medicine Robert J. Glynn, PhD, says vitamin E shows promise for preventing the potentially deadly clots in high-risk patients who aren't on prescription blood thinners like warfarin.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Higher gas prices = smaller waistlines
Just as rising gasoline prices are forcing many Americans to tighten their financial belts, new research suggests higher fuel costs may come with a related silver lining — trimmer waistlines.
Higher gas prices could deflate a ballooning public health problem in this country, obesity. At least that's what one Washington University PhD student says. Charles Courtemanche looked at two decades worth of government health surveys. He found that when gas prices rose, people got more exercise. They also ate out less often. And, they lost weight.
Higher gas prices could deflate a ballooning public health problem in this country, obesity. At least that's what one Washington University PhD student says. Charles Courtemanche looked at two decades worth of government health surveys. He found that when gas prices rose, people got more exercise. They also ate out less often. And, they lost weight.
Do's and Dont's of Entertaining
Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years will be here before you know it and that means...parties!!!
There's an art to throwing a successful party — and pitfalls aplenty. Peyton Mays offers a few tips and suggestions on how to fashion a festive fete while forestalling a fiasco. Cheers!
There's an art to throwing a successful party — and pitfalls aplenty. Peyton Mays offers a few tips and suggestions on how to fashion a festive fete while forestalling a fiasco. Cheers!
Tips to save for retirement
"If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as of getting."--Ben Franklin.
Are you afraid that you won't have enough money saved for retirement? You are not alone: in a study commissioned by Merrill Lynch, 77 percent of baby boomers believe they are setting aside too little for their retirement.
The best way to a financially secure retirement is to save steadily throughout your lifetime.
But says Suzanne Boas, president of Consumer Credit Counseling Service, "Even if your retirement is fast approaching, you should get in the habit of saving now."
Boas points out that with compounding, your savings can grow quickly. For instance, a $50,000 lump sum invested at ten percent will grow to $100,000 in about seven years and to $200,000 in less than 15 years.
To help consumers save, CCCS offers the following tips:
Keep your eyes on the prize. Regularly remind yourself of why you are saving. You should save for both medium-range goals (a vacation, a new car) and long-term plans (a down payment on a house, college tuition, retirement). Post a picture of your dream house on the refrigerator for inspiration. Congratulate yourself as your bank or investment balances grow.
Pay yourself first. one of the first rules of saving money is to pay yourself first. Write a check to your savings account or have money automatically transferred from your pay check. If your employer offers a 401(k) or other pre-tax retirement plan, contribute the maximum; most employers will match a certain percentage. You can also make automatic investments to many mutual fund companies.
Keep paying loans. You may currently have a monthly loan payment. once you have paid off the loan, continue to make the same regular payments to your savings or investments account.
Put away unexpected money. When you earn a raise, receive a refund or cash gift, win a bet--invest the money. You know you can get by without it now, and the money will be worth even more later.
Adjust your withholding tax. Make sure your W-4 form is filled out to your best advantage. It is better to have a little extra money each pay period than to wait until tax time to get your refund. But put that extra money into savings!
Put your money to work for you. You should have the equivalent of about three months' worth of expenses in a savings account. Any additional money should be invested or put into a CD or other high-yield investment.
Reduce monthly fees. A monthly bank checking account fee of $10 adds up to $120 a year. Eliminate services that you pay for but don't use, such as call-waiting or premium cable channels.
Cut corners. If you save $20 a week by bringing your lunch to work, put $20 into savings. Same with clipping coupons at the grocery store. Going to a movie? Catch the matinee with discounted prices and make a deposit of the difference in your savings account on the way home from the theater. The entire family can make a game of looking for ways to reduce expenses, particularly if you are saving for a vacation or other item you all want.
Are you afraid that you won't have enough money saved for retirement? You are not alone: in a study commissioned by Merrill Lynch, 77 percent of baby boomers believe they are setting aside too little for their retirement.
The best way to a financially secure retirement is to save steadily throughout your lifetime.
But says Suzanne Boas, president of Consumer Credit Counseling Service, "Even if your retirement is fast approaching, you should get in the habit of saving now."
Boas points out that with compounding, your savings can grow quickly. For instance, a $50,000 lump sum invested at ten percent will grow to $100,000 in about seven years and to $200,000 in less than 15 years.
To help consumers save, CCCS offers the following tips:
Keep your eyes on the prize. Regularly remind yourself of why you are saving. You should save for both medium-range goals (a vacation, a new car) and long-term plans (a down payment on a house, college tuition, retirement). Post a picture of your dream house on the refrigerator for inspiration. Congratulate yourself as your bank or investment balances grow.
Pay yourself first. one of the first rules of saving money is to pay yourself first. Write a check to your savings account or have money automatically transferred from your pay check. If your employer offers a 401(k) or other pre-tax retirement plan, contribute the maximum; most employers will match a certain percentage. You can also make automatic investments to many mutual fund companies.
Keep paying loans. You may currently have a monthly loan payment. once you have paid off the loan, continue to make the same regular payments to your savings or investments account.
Put away unexpected money. When you earn a raise, receive a refund or cash gift, win a bet--invest the money. You know you can get by without it now, and the money will be worth even more later.
Adjust your withholding tax. Make sure your W-4 form is filled out to your best advantage. It is better to have a little extra money each pay period than to wait until tax time to get your refund. But put that extra money into savings!
Put your money to work for you. You should have the equivalent of about three months' worth of expenses in a savings account. Any additional money should be invested or put into a CD or other high-yield investment.
Reduce monthly fees. A monthly bank checking account fee of $10 adds up to $120 a year. Eliminate services that you pay for but don't use, such as call-waiting or premium cable channels.
Cut corners. If you save $20 a week by bringing your lunch to work, put $20 into savings. Same with clipping coupons at the grocery store. Going to a movie? Catch the matinee with discounted prices and make a deposit of the difference in your savings account on the way home from the theater. The entire family can make a game of looking for ways to reduce expenses, particularly if you are saving for a vacation or other item you all want.
Kids and stress
Stressed out by your high-pressured job? Don't assume your kid is any less stressed out by school, especially if she's a she.
Young people experience stress at a high rate, and females more than males, an extensive survey shows. A similar divide exists in terms of fears and safety: Girls and young women are less likely to feel safe in their neighborhoods, in schools, or from terror attacks. The source of stress changes as we get older, the survey shows. Among 13-17 year olds, school is by far the most commonly mentioned source. Among 18-24 year olds, it's jobs and financial matters. In all, fully 85 percent of young people said they felt stress at least sometimes.
Young people experience stress at a high rate, and females more than males, an extensive survey shows. A similar divide exists in terms of fears and safety: Girls and young women are less likely to feel safe in their neighborhoods, in schools, or from terror attacks. The source of stress changes as we get older, the survey shows. Among 13-17 year olds, school is by far the most commonly mentioned source. Among 18-24 year olds, it's jobs and financial matters. In all, fully 85 percent of young people said they felt stress at least sometimes.
News for women on the pill
New research brings encouraging news for women who use birth control pills. Researchers wondered whether woman's natural hormone cycle with the pill could increase women's cancer risk. A new study shows the opposite is true. Doctors examined health reports from the women's doctors and cancer cases included in a national registry, compiling around 45 years of information on the women's health. They found that women taking birth control pills had a 12 percent lower risk of cancer. Pill users had particularly strong reductions in the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer. However, women taking the pill for eight or more years had a 22 percent increase in their overall odds of cancer. The risk for ovarian and uterine cancers still remained lower, no matter how many years women used oral contraceptives.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
15 Ways Stores Trick you into Spending
Don't succumb to retailers' simple ploys. Here's how they get you to buy -- and 10 ways to fight back.
By The Simple Dollar
Ever notice how you can go to a store to pick up just one thing and then, by the time you get to the check stand, you have five or six things in your cart and a bigger bill than you had anticipated?
This happens over and over because department stores use an array of techniques (grocery stores use many of the same tactics) to get you to pick up these items. By itself, each technique isn't very strong -- it's the use of them in combination that is powerful.
Here's a list of 15 of the best tricks. After the list, watch for 10 ways to combat these techniques so you can get in and out of stores with your finances intact.
1. Shopping carts. Most department-store customers enter the store intending to buy only an item or two, but the shopping carts are right there by the entrance and, oh, wouldn't it be convenient to have it so I can lean on it a bit while walking around and to put my stuff in it?
The cart has a huge bin compared with the size of most items for sale in the store, making it psychologically easy to toss in an item you don't need -- after all, there's room for plenty more, right?
2. Desirable departments are far away from the entrance. Most of the items I go to a department store to buy, such as light bulbs and laundry detergent, are located many, many aisles from the entrance. This means I spend my time walking by a lot of consumer goods on my way to find the item I want.
Because these consumer goods are effectively marketed to me, there's a good likelihood that I'll spy something that I don't necessarily need and toss it in the cart.
3. The toy section is far, far, far away from the entrance. Naturally, if I take my son to the store, he wants to visit the toy section. He gets excited and starts shouting "Ball! Ball!" to me when we go in because he remembers the enormous plastic balls in the toy section.
I tell him that if he's good, we'll go look at the balls, and at the end of the trip, we usually make our way over there. What do we see? Lots of children in that area, which means that there are parents that follow their children.
4. Impulse-oriented items are near the checkouts. Stores stock the latest DVD releases and "froth" magazines there, along with overpriced beverages and candy.
Why? Because people leaving the store are thirsty, and they're going to be standing in line for a bit, which is the perfect place to hook them with some entertainment options.
5. The most expensive versions of a product are the ones at eye level. Take a look sometime at the arrangement of different choices for a particular product, such as laundry detergent. Almost every time, the most expensive options per unit are placed at eye level, so you see them first when you enter an aisle. The bulk options and better deals are usually on the bottom shelves.
6. Items that aren't on sale are sometimes placed as though they are on sale, without using the word "sale." I noticed this over and over with diapers; the department store would display a rack of them with a huge sign above them displaying the price, but it would be the same price I paid for them a week ago. Unsurprisingly, the diapers displayed like that were always the most expensive kind.
7. Commodity items, such as socks, are surrounded by noncommodity items, such as shirts and jeans. If I'm looking to buy some socks, I have to traverse through a number of racks full of different types of clothing in the clothing section just to reach them.
Why? If my mind is already open to the idea of buying clothes, I would be more likely to look at other clothing items.
8. Slickly packaged items alternate with less slickly packaged items. Look carefully at an aisle of, say, potato chips. The ones with the bright and slick packaging are generally more expensive, which isn't surprising.
But notice that there usually isn't a section of just inexpensive chips -- in most stores, they're sandwiched between more-expensive items. If there is a section of just inexpensive items, they're down by your feet (think about the inexpensive bagged cereals at your local supermarket).
9. Stop, stop, stop. You add items to your cart only if you stop, right? So stores are designed to maximize the number of stops you have to make: aisles in which only two carts can fit, colorful and attractive layouts, escalators and, my favorite of all, sample vendors. Even if it's not conscious to you, every time you stop moving in a store, you increase your chances of putting something into your cart.
10. Staple items are placed in the middle of aisles, nonessential and overpriced items near the end. Why? If you enter an aisle to get a "staple" item (i.e., a high-traffic item), you have to go by the other items twice -- once on the way in and once on the way out. That gives these items two chances to make their pitch at you.
11. Prices are chosen to make comparison math difficult. Instead of selling the 100-ounce detergent for $6 and the 200-ounce detergent for $11 (making it easier to figure out the better deal), they sell the 100-ounce for $5.99 and the 200-ounce for $10.89.
Hey, look, they're basically the same, right, because five is half of 10? Uh, no.
12. Stuff in bins isn't always a bargain. Higher-end stores will sometimes put items in "bins" to emulate the bargains found at cheaper stores, but the prices are still quite high. They just use the visual cue of a "bargain store" to make you think it is a bargain.
13. High-markup items are made to look prestigious. If you see something in a glass case that has lots of space around it, your gut reaction is to believe that it is valuable and prestigious to own, and for many people it can be as attractive as a light to a moth. The truth is that these items typically have tremendous markup -- you're literally just buying an idea, not a product.
14. The most profitable department is usually the first one you run into. Ever noticed that at Younkers, JC Penney, Kohl's and such stores, the cosmetic department is front and center? That's because it's very profitable, and by putting it in a place where people walk by time and time again, customers are more prone to making a purchase on an item with a very big markup.
15. Restrooms and customer services are usually right by the exit or as far from the exit as possible. Why? If you need to use either one in the middle of a shopping journey, you have to walk by a lot of merchandise to reach the needed service, thus increasing your chances for an impulse buy.
How can I fight back?
Is there any wonder why people end up buying more than they need or buying sizes that are poor deals? With an array of techniques at their disposal, retailers can make a mint.
Had enough? Here are 10 things you can do to fight back against these techniques:
1. Don't use a shopping cart unless you need it. A cart, most of the time, is just a place to put stuff you don't need. If you're carrying a product, you're a lot more likely to consider whether it's a worthwhile purchase.
2. Make a shopping list and stick to it. A list makes you focus on the items you intended to buy. Without it, you are much more prone to wandering and stumbling into "great buys" that you don't really need.
3. Look at nothing but the prices and sizes. That's all the information you really need -- everything else is marketing. Find the one that has the best price for its size, get that one, and move on.
4. Start at the back and work toward the front. If this is an option at all for you based on the store layout, do it. When you go in, head directly for the most distant item, then progress back toward the checkout aisles. If you do it the other way, you're prone to walk more slowly and tiredly toward the front after your shopping is done, leaving you open to lots of impulse buys on the way.
5. Always look at the bottom shelf first. If you've found the section you want, start looking at the bottom shelf first. This is usually where the better per-unit deals are.
6. Don't stop unless you're actively selecting an item. Displays are designed to beg you to stop for a moment and just look, which is often enough to get you to pick out the item. Even if something looks interesting, keep walking. You can study it as you go past and make up your mind later about the item.
7. Never go by an item twice unless absolutely necessary. If you go down an aisle, start at one end and continue all the way out the other. Walking by an item once lets it sink into your short-term memory, giving just a hint of familiarity when you walk by it again, sometimes just enough to persuade you to buy it.
8. Carry a pocket calculator -- or know how to use the one on your cell phone. Do the math yourself to find out what the best buy is because stores try to choose numbers that make drawing false conclusions quite easy.
9. If you don't know for sure that it is a good deal, don't buy because you think it is a good deal. Stores use all kinds of visual cues to make you think something is a bargain when it's not (like the bin trick mentioned above). Don't buy anything because it's a "deal" unless you're sure that it really is an excellent bargain -- just walk away.
10. At the checkout, rethink everything you put in your cart -- and don't hesitate to hand an item to the cashier and say you've changed your mind. Many people seem to have a guilt, or obligation, to buy an item that they've put into their cart. Don't. You're the customer -- you have the right to choose whether to buy. If you find something you don't want to buy, tell the cashier and don't buy it.
This article was written by the founder of The Simple Dollar, a blog offering a peek at his recovery from near bankruptcy.
By The Simple Dollar
Ever notice how you can go to a store to pick up just one thing and then, by the time you get to the check stand, you have five or six things in your cart and a bigger bill than you had anticipated?
This happens over and over because department stores use an array of techniques (grocery stores use many of the same tactics) to get you to pick up these items. By itself, each technique isn't very strong -- it's the use of them in combination that is powerful.
Here's a list of 15 of the best tricks. After the list, watch for 10 ways to combat these techniques so you can get in and out of stores with your finances intact.
1. Shopping carts. Most department-store customers enter the store intending to buy only an item or two, but the shopping carts are right there by the entrance and, oh, wouldn't it be convenient to have it so I can lean on it a bit while walking around and to put my stuff in it?
The cart has a huge bin compared with the size of most items for sale in the store, making it psychologically easy to toss in an item you don't need -- after all, there's room for plenty more, right?
2. Desirable departments are far away from the entrance. Most of the items I go to a department store to buy, such as light bulbs and laundry detergent, are located many, many aisles from the entrance. This means I spend my time walking by a lot of consumer goods on my way to find the item I want.
Because these consumer goods are effectively marketed to me, there's a good likelihood that I'll spy something that I don't necessarily need and toss it in the cart.
3. The toy section is far, far, far away from the entrance. Naturally, if I take my son to the store, he wants to visit the toy section. He gets excited and starts shouting "Ball! Ball!" to me when we go in because he remembers the enormous plastic balls in the toy section.
I tell him that if he's good, we'll go look at the balls, and at the end of the trip, we usually make our way over there. What do we see? Lots of children in that area, which means that there are parents that follow their children.
4. Impulse-oriented items are near the checkouts. Stores stock the latest DVD releases and "froth" magazines there, along with overpriced beverages and candy.
Why? Because people leaving the store are thirsty, and they're going to be standing in line for a bit, which is the perfect place to hook them with some entertainment options.
5. The most expensive versions of a product are the ones at eye level. Take a look sometime at the arrangement of different choices for a particular product, such as laundry detergent. Almost every time, the most expensive options per unit are placed at eye level, so you see them first when you enter an aisle. The bulk options and better deals are usually on the bottom shelves.
6. Items that aren't on sale are sometimes placed as though they are on sale, without using the word "sale." I noticed this over and over with diapers; the department store would display a rack of them with a huge sign above them displaying the price, but it would be the same price I paid for them a week ago. Unsurprisingly, the diapers displayed like that were always the most expensive kind.
7. Commodity items, such as socks, are surrounded by noncommodity items, such as shirts and jeans. If I'm looking to buy some socks, I have to traverse through a number of racks full of different types of clothing in the clothing section just to reach them.
Why? If my mind is already open to the idea of buying clothes, I would be more likely to look at other clothing items.
8. Slickly packaged items alternate with less slickly packaged items. Look carefully at an aisle of, say, potato chips. The ones with the bright and slick packaging are generally more expensive, which isn't surprising.
But notice that there usually isn't a section of just inexpensive chips -- in most stores, they're sandwiched between more-expensive items. If there is a section of just inexpensive items, they're down by your feet (think about the inexpensive bagged cereals at your local supermarket).
9. Stop, stop, stop. You add items to your cart only if you stop, right? So stores are designed to maximize the number of stops you have to make: aisles in which only two carts can fit, colorful and attractive layouts, escalators and, my favorite of all, sample vendors. Even if it's not conscious to you, every time you stop moving in a store, you increase your chances of putting something into your cart.
10. Staple items are placed in the middle of aisles, nonessential and overpriced items near the end. Why? If you enter an aisle to get a "staple" item (i.e., a high-traffic item), you have to go by the other items twice -- once on the way in and once on the way out. That gives these items two chances to make their pitch at you.
11. Prices are chosen to make comparison math difficult. Instead of selling the 100-ounce detergent for $6 and the 200-ounce detergent for $11 (making it easier to figure out the better deal), they sell the 100-ounce for $5.99 and the 200-ounce for $10.89.
Hey, look, they're basically the same, right, because five is half of 10? Uh, no.
12. Stuff in bins isn't always a bargain. Higher-end stores will sometimes put items in "bins" to emulate the bargains found at cheaper stores, but the prices are still quite high. They just use the visual cue of a "bargain store" to make you think it is a bargain.
13. High-markup items are made to look prestigious. If you see something in a glass case that has lots of space around it, your gut reaction is to believe that it is valuable and prestigious to own, and for many people it can be as attractive as a light to a moth. The truth is that these items typically have tremendous markup -- you're literally just buying an idea, not a product.
14. The most profitable department is usually the first one you run into. Ever noticed that at Younkers, JC Penney, Kohl's and such stores, the cosmetic department is front and center? That's because it's very profitable, and by putting it in a place where people walk by time and time again, customers are more prone to making a purchase on an item with a very big markup.
15. Restrooms and customer services are usually right by the exit or as far from the exit as possible. Why? If you need to use either one in the middle of a shopping journey, you have to walk by a lot of merchandise to reach the needed service, thus increasing your chances for an impulse buy.
How can I fight back?
Is there any wonder why people end up buying more than they need or buying sizes that are poor deals? With an array of techniques at their disposal, retailers can make a mint.
Had enough? Here are 10 things you can do to fight back against these techniques:
1. Don't use a shopping cart unless you need it. A cart, most of the time, is just a place to put stuff you don't need. If you're carrying a product, you're a lot more likely to consider whether it's a worthwhile purchase.
2. Make a shopping list and stick to it. A list makes you focus on the items you intended to buy. Without it, you are much more prone to wandering and stumbling into "great buys" that you don't really need.
3. Look at nothing but the prices and sizes. That's all the information you really need -- everything else is marketing. Find the one that has the best price for its size, get that one, and move on.
4. Start at the back and work toward the front. If this is an option at all for you based on the store layout, do it. When you go in, head directly for the most distant item, then progress back toward the checkout aisles. If you do it the other way, you're prone to walk more slowly and tiredly toward the front after your shopping is done, leaving you open to lots of impulse buys on the way.
5. Always look at the bottom shelf first. If you've found the section you want, start looking at the bottom shelf first. This is usually where the better per-unit deals are.
6. Don't stop unless you're actively selecting an item. Displays are designed to beg you to stop for a moment and just look, which is often enough to get you to pick out the item. Even if something looks interesting, keep walking. You can study it as you go past and make up your mind later about the item.
7. Never go by an item twice unless absolutely necessary. If you go down an aisle, start at one end and continue all the way out the other. Walking by an item once lets it sink into your short-term memory, giving just a hint of familiarity when you walk by it again, sometimes just enough to persuade you to buy it.
8. Carry a pocket calculator -- or know how to use the one on your cell phone. Do the math yourself to find out what the best buy is because stores try to choose numbers that make drawing false conclusions quite easy.
9. If you don't know for sure that it is a good deal, don't buy because you think it is a good deal. Stores use all kinds of visual cues to make you think something is a bargain when it's not (like the bin trick mentioned above). Don't buy anything because it's a "deal" unless you're sure that it really is an excellent bargain -- just walk away.
10. At the checkout, rethink everything you put in your cart -- and don't hesitate to hand an item to the cashier and say you've changed your mind. Many people seem to have a guilt, or obligation, to buy an item that they've put into their cart. Don't. You're the customer -- you have the right to choose whether to buy. If you find something you don't want to buy, tell the cashier and don't buy it.
This article was written by the founder of The Simple Dollar, a blog offering a peek at his recovery from near bankruptcy.
Stop the eating binge!
Want to free yourself from habitual eating that can eat away at your willpower, and instead fill up those favorite jeans instead? Then try the S.T.O.P. method, from weight-loss expert Dr. Kenneth Schwartz:
1) Slow down- cravings usually last less than 15 minutes, so you might be able to stave it off by simply calling a friend, or go for a walk.
2) Think about what caused the craving- knowing your emotional eating triggers can be half the battle.
3) Open your mind- let your thoughts come into your mind, because they might tell you something about why you want to eat, like "I'm so angry right now, I just want to eat!"
4) Pay attention- now that you've let your thoughts run free, spend a few minutes analyzing them.
1) Slow down- cravings usually last less than 15 minutes, so you might be able to stave it off by simply calling a friend, or go for a walk.
2) Think about what caused the craving- knowing your emotional eating triggers can be half the battle.
3) Open your mind- let your thoughts come into your mind, because they might tell you something about why you want to eat, like "I'm so angry right now, I just want to eat!"
4) Pay attention- now that you've let your thoughts run free, spend a few minutes analyzing them.
Tips to get motivated
Having a hard time getting motivated? Here's some intel to help you stop slacking!
1) Start small. Ask yourself, "Why is it too hard to do this for just 15 minutes?" Once you get going, you're likely to stick with it, and even enjoy the job a little more.
2) Challenge the idea that you can't do it. Might take a few attempts, because sometimes we just learn by trial and error.
3) Keep tabs. Write your accomplishments down in a journal; we're more likely to stick to our plans if we monitor our progress to that goal.
4) Commit to others. Make a public commitment to complete a task. The motivation you get from others will make you more focused on getting things done.
5) Reward yourself. Relaxation differs from laziness; it's good to reward yourself for a job well done.
1) Start small. Ask yourself, "Why is it too hard to do this for just 15 minutes?" Once you get going, you're likely to stick with it, and even enjoy the job a little more.
2) Challenge the idea that you can't do it. Might take a few attempts, because sometimes we just learn by trial and error.
3) Keep tabs. Write your accomplishments down in a journal; we're more likely to stick to our plans if we monitor our progress to that goal.
4) Commit to others. Make a public commitment to complete a task. The motivation you get from others will make you more focused on getting things done.
5) Reward yourself. Relaxation differs from laziness; it's good to reward yourself for a job well done.
Heart medicine for children
Carvedilol, a newer member of the beta blocker drug family that has been effective for adults with heart failure, did not help children with the condition, a new study found.
The rate of improvement -- and the lack of it -- was almost exactly the same for 103 young heart-failure patients given the drug as it was for 54 youngsters who got a placebo. It's still possible that the drug, which is marketed as Coreg, might help some children with heart failure. An analysis of subgroups of patients in the study did show some improvement for children whose problem rested in the left ventricle. Based on this study, there might possibly be a differential effect, which depends on the type of heart problem.
The rate of improvement -- and the lack of it -- was almost exactly the same for 103 young heart-failure patients given the drug as it was for 54 youngsters who got a placebo. It's still possible that the drug, which is marketed as Coreg, might help some children with heart failure. An analysis of subgroups of patients in the study did show some improvement for children whose problem rested in the left ventricle. Based on this study, there might possibly be a differential effect, which depends on the type of heart problem.
Heart health news for women
Performing coronary bypass procedures without using the heart-lung machine can shrink the gender gap in survival and boost women's outcomes after these procedures, a new study finds.
The isolated bypass surgeries studied involved bypass grafts alone rather than multiple types of heart procedures, the researchers noted. In the study, women who had bypass surgery at Emory using the traditional heart-lung machine had a 2.5 times greater likelihood of dying than in the "off-pump" mode. And, in another step forward for women's cardiac care, a new study finds that vitamin E supplements reduces a woman's risk of deep vein and pulmonary thrombosis, according research from Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston.
The isolated bypass surgeries studied involved bypass grafts alone rather than multiple types of heart procedures, the researchers noted. In the study, women who had bypass surgery at Emory using the traditional heart-lung machine had a 2.5 times greater likelihood of dying than in the "off-pump" mode. And, in another step forward for women's cardiac care, a new study finds that vitamin E supplements reduces a woman's risk of deep vein and pulmonary thrombosis, according research from Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Don't stress the small stuff
Daily life delivers nagging little stressors like spilled coffee, hair that has a mind of it's own, or someone cuts in front of your or cell phone drops in the middle of an important conversation. Well, don't sweat the small stuff...your health depends on it. Learn what you can do.
Radio City Auditions
When I was chatting with the Rockettes this morning we talked about auditions for girls for Radio City Music Hall. Here is the link with more audition information.
Need a SunPass?
If you missed out earlier this year on picking up a SunPass at a discounted price, you’re in luck, they’re about to go on sale again.
Click here for details.
Click here for details.
Do you give your family the flu shot?
Getting the flu shot for a young child protects both the little one and his or her family from getting sick this season, research shows.
In fact, if half of U.S. children between six months and five years old got their flu shots, more than 2,000 hospitalizations and up to 650,000 outpatient visits due to flu could be prevented. Check with your doctor.
In fact, if half of U.S. children between six months and five years old got their flu shots, more than 2,000 hospitalizations and up to 650,000 outpatient visits due to flu could be prevented. Check with your doctor.
Ladies need their Zzzzzzzzzzzzz's
New research reveals that women’s health is much more at risk from sleep deprivation than men’s.
The researchers looked at men and women sleeping less than or equal 5 hours a night to see if their risk of having hypertension was any higher than men and women getting the recommended 7 hours or more of sleep a night. Among other problems increased hypertension does increase the risk of cardiovascular problems. The researchers found that the those women in the study group who slept less than or equal to 5 hours a night were twice as likely to suffer from hypertension than women who slept for the more recommended seven hours or more a night. The researchers found no difference between men sleeping less than 5 hours and those sleeping 7 hours or more.
The researchers looked at men and women sleeping less than or equal 5 hours a night to see if their risk of having hypertension was any higher than men and women getting the recommended 7 hours or more of sleep a night. Among other problems increased hypertension does increase the risk of cardiovascular problems. The researchers found that the those women in the study group who slept less than or equal to 5 hours a night were twice as likely to suffer from hypertension than women who slept for the more recommended seven hours or more a night. The researchers found no difference between men sleeping less than 5 hours and those sleeping 7 hours or more.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Beauty shortcuts
Are you always trying to slap on some lipstick while driving to work? Dabbing on mascara at stoplights?
Is it a race every morning to get your kids ready and off to school and then hardly any time to do anything with yourself? I understand because I get up at 3:00am so I'm getting ready with one eye open. I found these beauty shortcuts that may help. Check them out. And have a beautiful day.
Is it a race every morning to get your kids ready and off to school and then hardly any time to do anything with yourself? I understand because I get up at 3:00am so I'm getting ready with one eye open. I found these beauty shortcuts that may help. Check them out. And have a beautiful day.
Myths about Love and Marriage
WHICH ONES ARE TRUE?
There is a marriage made in heaven, with each person having one ideal partner on earth.
FALSE: This is not supported by research.
People will marry someone just like Mom or Dad.
TRUE: Research indicates the parental image theory may be a factor in mate selection.
Opposites attract.
FALSE: How often do we look at a couple with dissimilar traits, abilities, and interests and wonder how they ever got together? Though we often hear about this 'complementary needs' theory, there is little support for it.
Likes attract.
TRUE: People with similar values often appeal to each other. We like to be supported.
You never get something for nothing.
TRUE: This 'social exchange' theory suggests that mate selection is really barter at a subconscious level. I'll share my social status, physical attributes and business acumen with you if you commit your attention to me and share your personality attributes and professional status.
You get what you expect.
TRUE: This suggests that we look for a partner who fits our expectations of how life-roles should be performed.
Modern technology can help you find your "perfect" mate.
MAYBE: The interesting thing that the computer has allowed to do through dating services is articulate our best traits -- if we're being honest. It has allowed you to refine the search a little bit. We probably learn more about each other from that system than some others. Be careful, of course- most of us tend to lie.
There is a marriage made in heaven, with each person having one ideal partner on earth.
FALSE: This is not supported by research.
People will marry someone just like Mom or Dad.
TRUE: Research indicates the parental image theory may be a factor in mate selection.
Opposites attract.
FALSE: How often do we look at a couple with dissimilar traits, abilities, and interests and wonder how they ever got together? Though we often hear about this 'complementary needs' theory, there is little support for it.
Likes attract.
TRUE: People with similar values often appeal to each other. We like to be supported.
You never get something for nothing.
TRUE: This 'social exchange' theory suggests that mate selection is really barter at a subconscious level. I'll share my social status, physical attributes and business acumen with you if you commit your attention to me and share your personality attributes and professional status.
You get what you expect.
TRUE: This suggests that we look for a partner who fits our expectations of how life-roles should be performed.
Modern technology can help you find your "perfect" mate.
MAYBE: The interesting thing that the computer has allowed to do through dating services is articulate our best traits -- if we're being honest. It has allowed you to refine the search a little bit. We probably learn more about each other from that system than some others. Be careful, of course- most of us tend to lie.
How much vacation time do you get?
FACTS AND STATS: WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE:
Age at which the average woman got her first job: 14
What it was in: retail sales
Hourly rate: Under $7
Her salary now: $32,168
Percentage of CEOs who are female: 27
Average annual salary of a female executive: $71,561
Percentage of businesses that are woman-owned
Number of hours per week average moms spend at the office and caring for the kids: 94
City with the smallest disparity between sexes: Washington DC
City where the average woman is most likely to love her job: Boston
Percentage of women who are burned out by their job: 77
Number of women who say they've gone out for a drink on company time: 1 in 5
Number of vacation days the average woman receives each year: 14
Number of years the average woman stays at a job: 5 years
Length of the average woman's commute: 24 minutes
Number of hours in the average woman's workday: 7
Age at which the average woman got her first job: 14
What it was in: retail sales
Hourly rate: Under $7
Her salary now: $32,168
Percentage of CEOs who are female: 27
Average annual salary of a female executive: $71,561
Percentage of businesses that are woman-owned
Number of hours per week average moms spend at the office and caring for the kids: 94
City with the smallest disparity between sexes: Washington DC
City where the average woman is most likely to love her job: Boston
Percentage of women who are burned out by their job: 77
Number of women who say they've gone out for a drink on company time: 1 in 5
Number of vacation days the average woman receives each year: 14
Number of years the average woman stays at a job: 5 years
Length of the average woman's commute: 24 minutes
Number of hours in the average woman's workday: 7
Protect kids on the internet
Florida has a new educational program designed to help protect children from predators on the Internet.
More than 75 million children use the Internet everyday and one out of every seven will be solicited for sex, according to Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum. Now the attorney general's cybercrime unit has developed an Internet safety program to be taught in Florida's middle and high schools this fall. It will teach students about the dangers of the Internet and offer safety tips. McCollum says he hopes the information prompts children to take precautions and in the end -- save lives.
More than 75 million children use the Internet everyday and one out of every seven will be solicited for sex, according to Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum. Now the attorney general's cybercrime unit has developed an Internet safety program to be taught in Florida's middle and high schools this fall. It will teach students about the dangers of the Internet and offer safety tips. McCollum says he hopes the information prompts children to take precautions and in the end -- save lives.
Breast cancer and African-American women
A new study suggests a possible biological explanation for why breast cancer is more deadly for black women. The study says black women are more likely to have tumors that won't respond to a hormone-based treatment. It accounts for about 39 percent of invasive tumors that are resistant to the treatment in black women versus 22 percent in white women. The study's lead author says other tools like chemotherapy, radiation and targeted biological drugs are more important for women with the stubborn tumors, and doctors should consider this when they evaluate black women with breast cancer. Traditionally, the higher rate of death has been blamed on social factors, such as black women getting fewer mammograms and less aggressive treatment.
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