by  tobi_digital 

We all need a little down time during the course of our busy working lives – even if it’s just for five minutes. The problem is that most of us just don’t do this because we don’t have to at any given time. So what we do is procrastinate continually. One of the most common promises we make to ourselves is the one that we’re going to “learn to relax”. But when is this going to happen exactly; the twelfth of never?

So instead of putting it on the back burner – a great way to make yourself relax is to take five – at regular intervals – five times per day. And unless there’s a really urgent reason not to – you have to promise yourself that you will adhere to the five times five schedule. If you do this, I promise you, you will be more relaxed and re-energised.

1) Take a five minute break to rediscover your childish self. Kids could teach us a lot about the benefits of play. As adults, we often seem to lose the ability to play, but by playing a game that demands all our intention for just a few minutes, to the exclusion of all else, can really give us a mental pick-me-up. It doesn’t have to be a physical thing. We all have the ability to be online all day these days, but it doesn’t all have to be about work. This is where you can take five too, playing a quick game of something like a word puzzle or, better yet, something that doesn’t demand any concentration. You can play free bingo online anytime. There are new bingo sites and existing ones, which continually update their games to keep them interesting. Simply register with an online bingo site for free and you’ll soon see what we mean; it’s an amazing aid to relaxation. Listening to the numbers being called out and watching the software marking off your numbers can be almost hypnotic. Of course, if you’re about to win, it’s not quite as relaxing, but it does get pretty exciting!

2) The tea/coffee break; we all take these though the course of the day, but they’re usually incidental to what we’re doing. In other words – we keep on working. But the tea/coffee break can be a great ‘reminder’ of the need to take five. Simply go somewhere quiet if you can each time you have a drink, close your eyes and think of nothing else but the process of the act of drinking. The tea/coffee break is meditation by any other name – as is the bingo game. But of course, you don’t need either of these things. Instead – simply find somewhere quiet; close your eyes for five minutes and concentrate solely on your breathing. If you’re having a stressful day, this can be a really great way to clear your head and refresh.

3) Go for a walk. Sometimes a change of scene is all you need for a five minute break. Instead of staying at your desk, leave the building and take five minutes to walk. Whether it’s around the block or to a local park and back, a quick breath of fresh air and a bit of exercise will clear the cobwebs and leave you feeling energised.

4) Take five in the car. The next time you’re in a traffic jam and going nowhere fast – instead of getting anxious because you’re running later or whatever – try to use the time for what it really is; a period of enforced do-nothingness. In this way, you can actually enjoy just sitting there, taking in the quiet inside your vehicle while the rest of the world gets stressed. There’s nothing you can do about it anyway – so accept it, and then use it for a little down time.

5) Finally – how about a facial self-massage for five minutes? This can be a wonderful way of calming yourself and zoning out. Concentrate only on the massage technique, somewhere quiet and preferably dark if you can.

Prom has become an age-old tradition and probably the most exciting night for high school students (well, unless your football team wins the championship, but that sure didn’t happen at my school). It’s the one night you get to be dolled up and stay out late dancing like there is no tomorrow. And honestly, if I could do it all over again, I would. I absolutely adore the spring when prom dresses start popping up in every storefront and this year certainly didn’t disappoint.

The styles this year are simple. Now I don’t mean plain and boring, but simple in the sense they aren’t those gaudy sequin dresses of my day. I, at least, am happy about that. I mean how awful was it when you got your dress stuck on something and next things you know, a quarter of the sequins are hanging loose? I know somebody out there knows what I mean. There’s nothing like having to worry about that all night.

There are sequins popping up this year, but in less abundance. The 2013 prom dress trends point more towards sequins in a concentrated area—specifically on the bustier and who doesn’t love a dress with a bustier? It allows just enough sparkle on your special night without outshining or blinding your date.

Not in to the bustier? Have no fear there are several other styles that are hot this year.

Necklines

I absolutely adore the lace high necklines that I’ve seen featured everywhere. You really can’t go wrong with this look. If you want to stay on the sophisticated side, I’d suggest looking for a dress that’s all one color. But, and I love this, if you want a little more pop, you must go for a two-tone dress.

Another neckline that is popular this year is the asymmetrical neckline. I personally like to take advantage of any opportunity to not wear a bra so this style would have me sold. It’s not a huge detail, but as I said, the styles this year are more simple. The neckline jazzes up the dress just enough for you to feel a little edgy while still keeping it classy.

Peplum

Need I say more? From the runway to weddings, this style is popping up everywhere. It’s a great classy look that really allows you to feel confident no matter what body type you have. Not only does the extra layer help to slim you down and hide any areas you may be uncomfortable with, but it really works to give you that hourglass shape that girls dream of. As an added bonus, it totally shows off your legs.

Vintage

Okay, so I might have slightly fibbed about sequins not being as widely used this year. The vintage flapper dress that is popping up definitely has sequins, but it puts a whole new spin on the sequins used when I went to prom. The flapper dresses are fun and flirty with their short length and tassels. I just can’t get enough of them.

Mesh Cut Outs

Some girls believe sexy has to mean cleavage, but I’m personally the opposite. I like to allude to a hidden sexiness so the mesh cut outs featured this year are awesome. They allow a peek-a-boo appeal without revealing too much.

Colors

Dresses this year range from neutral hues to a lot of reds and oranges. I think it’s really more about what you feel comfortable in, but I love the ombre look that’s trending. It allows you to have the best of both worlds and it works with most of the styles trending. Another popular look that sort of took me by surprise is the prints and embroidering. Floral? Bring it on. I love it.

Sleeves

Sleeves this year are all over the place. From the one sleeve to the capped sleeve, I’ve seen more sleeves in both wedding fashions and prom fashions. They really are making a comeback.

No matter what style of dress you choose, you really can’t go wrong. It’s your prom. You only get to go once so pick something you feel comfortable in and I’m sure you will rock it.

This post was written for A Mom and Her Blog by Monica Fortini. Monica is the fashion purchaser for CC’s Boutique, the premier Tampa Bridal Shops.

Make no mistake, humans are a strange bunch! All over the world they take part in weird and wonderful festivals and celebrations while we all look on in wonderment! Here are a few of the best, or definitely the most unusual of them all.

In no particular order:

1) Japan. The land of the rising sun and the naked butt! The Hadaka Matsuri involves hundreds of men taking their clothes off in public. Yes, you heard it right, they take to the streets and strip to their undies, making sure that only their most intimate body parts are, kind of, covered – often wearing only a fundoshi or Japanese loin cloth. They do this because they believe that naked men are particularly good at absorbing the evil spirits so anybody who manages to grab a feel of– okay, touch–one of the naked men will be completely free of all evil.

2) We’re still in Japan, although Greece does have their own version of these phallus festivals, yep, you read it right. Basically, these fertility festivals involve parading the streets with an enormous penis. In Japan they have a phallic shrine (the God of prostitutes) which really gets the party going. There’s lots of flirty festival fertility fun at this one. If you do attend one of these festivals be prepared to get involved – you could be encouraged to kiss a giant model penis – and that’s not something most of us do every day.

3) Mexico. We’ve all heard of Halloween, but in Mexico they take this event to an entirely different level. The “Dia de los Muertos” or “Day of the Dead” is celebrated in cemeteries (well, I suppose they’ve got a captive audience). Anyway, the Mexicans basically have a cemetery party where they indulge in drinking tequila, smoking big fat cigars, and eating lots of traditional festival food.

4) Thailand has a monkey buffet. Now, I know there’s often a mad dash as soon as the buffet is open at normal parties and celebrations, but this is not quite the same. Basically, the Thai locals prepare a huge buffet spread with delicious fruits and veggies to honor the monkey God Hanuman – you’ve probably guessed what happens next. Form an orderly queue, monkeys – NOT! The monkeys arrive in their hordes gorging on the food and getting mighty close to the spectators. This festival has really grown in recent years and has actually helped to place the small province of Lopburi, Thailand, on the tourism map.

5) New parents look away, now – there’s a tie for the last weird and wonderful festival. It’s between putting babies on the road and having grown men dressed as devils jumping over them in the village of Castrillo de Murcia in Northern Spain, or having two almost naked enormous sumo wrestlers in Japan hold babies at each other to see who can make them cry the first. They both sound like so much fun! To be fair the Japanese do believe that babies who cry grow fast which means that if they start screaming and wailing it proves that they are healthy. As for the Spanish, they believe that it helps to cleanse the babies’ souls and bring them health and good luck. They’ve been jumping babies since 1620, but the local priests are strictly forbidden to attend–on orders from the Pope!

This article was written for A Mom and Her Blog by Andrew Schmid. Andrew is the technology director of Premier Parking USA, the leader in discount parking.

Back pain can be sudden or recurring, and it often takes more than some rest and a few pain pills to feel better. Instead of dealing with chronic pain, take proactive measures that will both prevent back pain and make your current discomfort better. If you can make your core stronger, you will have a better ability to move with proper form. This does not mean you have to spend hours at the gym building enviable muscles. Instead, you must practice a few exercises that will give you more control over your legs, back, spine, hips, neck and shoulders. When you strengthen your core, you strengthen your posture and your ability to carry your body.

Even if you are being treated for your back pain by a chiropractor, you will be advised to exercise your core. Keeping your body and spine in alignment is the best way to prevent future injuries. Physical therapists are also recommending exercise programs that focus on the body’s core in order to help their patients heal faster and stay stronger. Talk to your therapist or trainer about specific exercises you should incorporate or avoid. Staying limber is important. Stretching before and after any exercise program is essential. You can even strengthen your core by stretching when you are not consciously exercising. Standing up at your desk during the work day to raise your arms over your head and take a deep breath will help balance and strengthen your core. Your muscle groups need to stay in balance, and sitting in front of a computer all day long will not help your back pain. Get up and stretch every 20 to 30 minutes. Walk around the office, and move your body.

If you are looking for a specific plan or method to follow, there are a couple. You can try the multifidus solution, which focuses on that one particular back muscle – the multifidus. Some healers and practitioners believe that this specific muscle holds the key to relieving back pain. You can learn moves and exercises that strengthen the muscle, and if you achieve the level of flexibility and strength you need, the entire back will respond. The egoscue method is also practiced by some to relieve their back pain. These exercises are designed to assist your back in learning how to move properly. We knock it out of alignment with our lifestyles. People who practice the egoscue method address their chronic pain with a series of very specific exercises.

You do not need a “method” or a “practice” to strengthen your core. Simply embrace a few basic exercises that make you feel better. You might find good luck with yoga or low impact aerobics. You might want to try the water, where you can feel buoyant while strengthening your core. You might also get the best results just by increasing your physical activity. Instead of driving places, try walking or biking to keep your back strong and get your body moving. Efforts to keep yourself from inactivity will seamlessly strengthen your core. Take the recovery process slowly, and work with a physical therapist or a chiropractor to bring your back pain under control and better manage your physical core.

This post was written for A Mom and Her Blog by Dr. David Kulla. Dr. Kulla is a licensed New York Chiropractor and a nutritionist as well as owner of Synergy Wellness in Manhattan.

Bingo has been around for centuries, evolving from a way for governments to raise money into one of the most popular online games in the world – today, not only does it give busy moms like us the chance to blow off some steam at home, but it’s also a great way to win some extra cash without having to leave the house.

These days, bingo is gradually moving away from traditional clubs and online sites, with more and more of the biggest operators developing apps exclusively for smartphones and tablets, giving us even more opportunities to play the game we love. Whether it’s accessible through a mobile browser or a dedicated app, mobile bingo looks set to take over, with full-featured versions of many of our favourite sites now available in the palm of our hands.

The great thing about this is that none of the social aspects are lost – most mobile versions still have all of the chat functions that make the game so special, allowing us to keep on interacting with our online friends, while also playing the latest bingo games and slots. Dozens of providers are now choosing to go down the mobile route, taking advantage of improving touchscreen technology and super-wide screens to provide an unbeatable bingo experience on the move.

One of the newest entrants to the mobile bingo market is Wink Bingo, and their recently launched mobile app is a great example of the direction in which the industry is going. Sponsored by the delightful Dream Idols, their app is currently available on iPhone and is full of games to keep you entertained all day long. It’s easy to get started thanks to their simple mobile sign up process, and there’s even a 200% welcome bonus to help newcomers top up their accounts before they get playing!

Not only can you play 90-ball bingo from as a little as a penny, but there’s also a range of fantastic instant-play slot games, meaning that there can now be hours of mobile entertainment just waiting for you in your pocket. It’s all completely safe, with deposits and withdrawals handled on the main website, so there’s no need to worry about your payment info either.

Mobile bingo looks set to be the future of online gaming, adding to the convenience that online bingo sites already give us – it allows us to concentrate fully on our children when at home, safe in the knowledge that we can enjoy our favourite bingo games when we finally get some peace and quiet when we’re on the move!

Nowadays it’s almost mandatory to install security systems in our homes – we just don’t feel safe without them anymore. So perhaps you finally came to a decision to install a home security system, but you’re not sure where to begin the search. There are just so many products on the market. This blog will help you by arguing that wireless home security systems are the way forward.

Before you start shopping around for the cheapest security system out there though, remember that there are many scammers pretending to install home security systems and ending up stealing your money. Always be weary of this, especially when a door-to-door salesman comes knocking in the summer months. Watch for a few simple signs for a security scams, for example, making a very limited offer and forcing themselves into your home.

It is always best to shop around when you’re investing in something major like a home security system, so steer away from the convenience of the person that knocks on your door and rather do some active research yourself.

Now that you know that you’ll avoid a scam, you can start looking into the benefits of wireless home security systems.

Firstly, the installation is much cheaper than with wired security systems. In many cases, a wireless system is much easier to install on your own. Many wireless systems can be installed in just twenty minutes (this, of course, depends on the number of sensors and monitoring systems).

The wireless systems also have the advantage of not needing any holes drilled in your walls. And if you do decide to move home – because few families stay in the same home for 20 years nowadays – you can easily pack up and take your security system with you. This portability can save you a lot of money in the future since you won’t need new equipment when you move.

Traditionally, wired security systems rely on pre-installed telephone lines to work. A few years ago, this would’ve been a problem, but in today’s world, many households rely solely on cellphone communication and it’s not necessary for them to install phone lines. Some, not all, wireless systems out there don’t need telephone lines in order to work – saving you even more effort and money.

It really seems as if wireless home security systems are the way forward, but still do your research to find out if this is really the right decision for your home. When you’ve decided, have a look at the fine print and the length of the contract. In some instances, the security company will have you signing a 2-3 year contract. This is all well and good if you’re planning long term safety, but just be sure that you read the contract properly before signing. It happens way too easily that companies get you to sign a contract that implies hidden costs. Perhaps the security system seems really affordable to start with, but the price increases considerably over the coming years. For this reason you have to read the contract properly before signing.

In the end, you’ll feel much safer in your home and out of it once your security system is installed

So, here we are, spring time in Vermont. Or so they say. It’s kind of hard to believe it’s spring around here. It’s freezing! We had a snowstorm on the first day of spring. The ground hog said we were in for an early spring. I guess figuring out the weather is as hard as picking Grand National 2013 odds. The ground hog sure did get it wrong!

This time last year, the weather was beautiful. It was 80 degrees. In March. In Vermont. It was so weird, because the landscape all still looked like winter (bare trees, dead grass), but everyone was out and about in their shorts. The local beach was flooded with college students enjoying the warmth. I was really hoping for a repeat. Wishful thinking!

Yes, I’m looking forward to warmer weather. After living so much of my life in Florida, it’s been tough to adjust to Vermont winters. I don’t go anywhere (except to work) and I get lazy. Really lazy. It’s making me gain weight! I don’t want to gain weight, lol. I want it to be sunny and warm, so I will feel like getting out and doing stuff. I’m looking forward to walking down by the lake. Going to the farmer’s market. Picking wild raspberries. Going to Ben and Jerry’s for ice cream. Getting a tan!

Oh well. We’re almost there, that’s what I keep telling myself. Winter can’t last forever. Soon enough, I’ll be hitting the beach. Until then, I guess I’ll be happy wrapped up in my down comforter, watching Law and Order SVU marathons. Let me know when summer gets here!

As children get older, it’s important that parents begin teaching their kids about budgeting. If you can instill these principles in your child at a young age, you are setting them up for success in the rest of their life. A person can make all the money in the world, but if they cannot budget it then it will not do much good. Instill good budgeting practices in your kids, and you’ve created a great foundation for the rest of their life. Things like limiting their spending, giving them “expenses” and creating a money plan are a few ways to teach budgeting lessons.

Limit Their Spending

Parents do a lot for their children. As a mother, you want your kids to be happy and not go without anything. Kids meals, toys from the store and ice cream after the doctor are just a few of the ways that you try to make them happy. But how can you make them happy while teaching them about finances at the same time? Set a cap on the money you spend on fun things. Create a chart and have them keep up with how much “fun money” they have left for the month.

Give Them “Expenses”

As kids get a little older, they’ll want to actually have money of their own. Implement an allowance, but don’t let them off the hook that easy. This is about more than teaching them that they have to work for money. You also need to teach them that with money comes responsibility. Set up expenses like rent, electricity and groceries that they’ll pay back to you. This should be no more than 10% of their allowance. Set the money aside and save it to give back to them later on.

Create a Money Plan with Them

Whether you’re giving them money through an allowance or simply giving them a figure to deduct from, it’s important to follow it up with a money plan. How much will go into savings? How much will they give away? What’s coming up that month that they need to plan for? If they have a day at the mall with their friends, then they need to save up some extra money to shop with. If a group of his buddies want to go play some golf, he should find things like GolfNow.com coupons to make it less expensive. It’s all about planning and figuring out how to make your dollar go as far as possible.

As a parent, it is your responsibility to make sure your child knows about money. You should do everything you can to help them become responsible adults. Whether that means limiting their fun money or helping them find coupon codes for GolfNow.com, by taking a proactive approach to their financial education you are doing your part.

America’s Latest and Most Effective Energy Behaviors

For a long time the United States got almost all of its power from fossil fuels. Over the last thirty years, though, more and more measures have been taken to decrease our dependency on these fuels for our energy (check out energy security resouces for more detailed information on this shift). Here are just a few of the things that Americans have been doing to reduce our dependency upon this specific type of energy production.

Getting Around

In the 1990s steps started being taken to shift cars away from gasoline and toward alternative power. Electric cars made a brief appearance. Information was published that detailed how to convert a diesel fuelled engine to an engine that was powered with vegetable oil. The hybrid car made its appearance and has been growing in popularity in spite of issues with the battery. More and more car manufacturers are creating cars that can offer gas mileage that is comparable to that of a hybrid without the car actually being a hybrid.

Aside from cars, more people have been choosing to transport themselves via bicycle and public transportation.

Domesticity

Every day there are more articles published that detail how people can reduce their individual energy consumption rates. In the last ten years alone, people have been clued in to phantom power surges. They’ve been taught about the minutiae of a carbon footprint (there is more involved than how often you leave your lights on).

More products are made available in household varieties to keep energy consumption low: CFL and LED lights, solar chargers, energy efficient appliances, tankless water heaters, etc—they’re all more affordable than they’ve ever been.

The Grid Isn’t So Bad After All

All over the country alternative energy farms are being built. Wind and solar farms are the most popular, though geothermal and water energy (dams) are being implemented across the nation. Most importantly, these alternative energy farms are being used to supplement the traditional energy that is run to everybody’s homes and offices. Even when you do not opt in to the alternative energy program with your utility provider, a portion of your power is provided via these farms. The ratio varies from area to area, but it’s there.

The rate at which awareness is growing is encouraging. Awareness breeds innovation, especially where things like power production and consumption are concerned. If things keep trending the way they have been, we might be able to eventually eliminate our dependence upon fossil fuels entirely.

Buying a family car can prove to be a difficult experience if you’re not taking the right steps. Why? Because most of the time we simply look at how the car drives and how reliable it is, instead of focusing on the practicality of it depending on the number of family members.

Also, everybody in the family needs to be a part of the whole car buying experience. Right from children to parents to grandparents (if any). This way it ensures that you’re not just buying a car for the sake of buying, but because it will be mega useful to your family. In the following article we look into factors that you should keep in mind in order to find that perfect family ride…

1. Choose a Hatchback Over a Saloon

If you look closely, saloons are not as big and flexible as they look when compared to hatchbacks. So which one should you go for when it comes to your family car? If you look comfort wise then you should definitely choose a hatchback over a saloon.

You’ll find that loading prams and pushchairs into some of those saloon boots can be difficult, because of the narrow openings. On the other hands, hatchbacks allow you to load these easily, and also let you to transport your pets while saloons don’t.

2. Go for an MPV If You Can

If you have any assumptions/perceptions about MPVs, then let them go. Because if you’ve got three or more young children (all of whom need to be seated in baby car seats), larger 4×4 drive vehicles are the best and the most viable options to transport the entire family safe and sound.

MPV’s such as Jeep and Dodge hold their value and are totally worth the money if you’re planning on buying a vehicle keeping family safety in mind. They are not only fairly priced but will most definitely suit all your needs. If you want to find more information on Jeep and Dodge then check out Holt Chrysler Jeep Dodge.

3. Look for Child-Friendly Features

There are many child friendly features that you need to look out for when you’re shopping around for your family vehicle. Features such as UV-filtered “tinted” rear windows or integrated sunblinds so that your children are safe from the harmful sunrays while you’re traveling.

Also, when choosing the interiors for dark colors since they help in hiding the spills and stains made by your kids. If possible, go for leather as it’s easy to wipe. The more child-friendly your vehicle is, the better.

Buying a family car doesn’t have to be an arduous process. Making it complicated won’t serve any purpose. The only thing that you need to keep in mind when buying a family car is your own preferences.

Don’t compromise on quality, but at the same time see to it that you’re not leaving out any important features, such as the ones we discussed above. The more you focus on these basic yet fundamental factors, you will find that finding a good family ride completely depends on your approach and expectations.

Depending on where you live and how much money you make, some parts of the United States can be expensive when it comes to cost of living.

A $100,000 salary won’t go as far in Los Angeles as it will in Dallas, for example. Start with the fact Texas has no state income tax while California has some of the highest tax rates in the nation.

What makes certain cities so expensive? There are numerous factors which come into play. Let’s take a look at five cities in the United States and examine some common themes.

1. New York

The Big Apple, the financial institution of the world, the town so nice they named it twice… these are common nicknames and descriptions for the city. It is an expensive city to visit, with some of the highest hotel rates in the nation. Try finding a hotel in Manhattan for less than $150 a night. Now try living there.

Supply and demand for New York rental and living properties is at a standstill. There isn’t much room for growth. Combine that with high utility costs, a lower minimum wage and higher food prices and it’s easy to see why New York takes a bigger bite out of wages.

New York is a state that lets residents go online to shop for competing utilities. The Energy rates New York has to offer can be less of a burden on your pocketbook if you look around for the right price.

New York has a personal income tax of between 2.5 and 3.5 percent, depending on how much you make, and the state tax is 4 percent in most areas. That makes New York City one of the most expensive places.

2. San Francisco

Believe it or not, there may be one city more expensive than New York. In this case, it has to do with rent.

Rents in the Golden Gate city are the highest in the nation. Strict zoning laws and building codes limit the amount of space available for apartments. This results in prices for your average two-bedroom apartment zooming up to a shade over $1,900 a month. At this rate, you will need a rich government or financial job to afford those prices.

Jobs in high-tech are also prevalent out here, driving up salaries north of $75,000 a year. Apartment owners that are savvy to what people make in California can charge high rents accordingly. Combine this with some of the highest gas prices in the nation (over $5 a gallon in high-demand times) and it is easy to see what makes San Francisco a great place to visit but a headache to live in.

3. Honolulu

Sure, a visit to Hawaii is enough to make someone swoon, but try living in the 50th state. The answer is simple why Honolulu is expensive.

Most prime rental and housing property has a great view of water and beaches, specifically Waikiki Beach, the most well-known beach in all of Hawaii. Because fuel, food and other daily staples have to be shipped in from the mainland, it results in higher prices for all of these items. The irony is Hawaii has some of the lowest tax rates in the nation, thanks to all of that tourism.

4. Los Angeles

Gridlock on the freeways, the need for insurance on homes in the event of an earthquake… all of the taxes common to San Francisco… the combined Los Angeles-Orange County area has gained a reputation as a great place to visit.

It can be a great place to live as well, but its freeway system and drawn-out size (just how big is the metro area, anyway?) mean travel from north to south or east to west can cost time and money… not to mention lots of gasoline.

If you can find a job in the movie or TV industry chances are it pays pretty well, but look out for jobs in other fields. If you’re a struggling actor or new to the job market, chances are your salary won’t go very far in this city.

5. Boston

Expensive Ivy League schools and large financial corporations make their home in this big Massachusetts metro market. They do not call this state “Taxachusetts” for nothing.

Rents for one-bedroom apartments often rise above $1,000 a month in this market, and long commutes to avoid high rents often chew up valuable gas and time spent on the roads. If you live in the central city, rents or housing rates can go even higher.

Urban renewal projects throughout the city have torn down older properties in favor of newer, pricier houses.

With all of the changes that have happened in the banking industry over the last few years it’s no wonder that you’re trying to find a new bank for your family…especially if your own bank was bought up by another. Here are some of the criteria that matter most when you’re trying to find a new bank for your family.

1. Who runs your bank? Believe it or not this is something that really does matter. Obviously not every banking CEO can be as steadfast and committed as Brian F. Prince, President of Aozora Bank. At the same time knowing what kind of financial values your potential bank’s president and CEOs have is important. Are they in favor of, for example, corporate personhood? Does your bank’s current president often give large donations to causes or campaigns that you endorse (or find repugnant)? You speak with your dollars within the world of retail, right? You should speak with your dollars where your bank is concerned as well.

2. What kind of customer service does your potential bank offer? When trying to find a good bank, the battle of big-but-trustworthy vs. small-but-great-customer-service is a big one. Obviously you’re going to hope for the best of both worlds, but the truth is that the larger, multi-national banks often fall short in the customer service arena. Small banks, though, often lack the savings programs and interest rates that the larger banks offer.

3. When trying to pick a new bank, you need to ask yourself: what do you want your bank to do for you? Are you mostly interested in growing your money? Do you typically spend as much as you deposit? Are you a fan of cash or do you prefer to use your debit card? Do you want to spread your money out over several types of different accounts? Do you want to set up accounts for your kids so that they can learn money management at an early age? Your banking habits and needs are going to play a major role in your figuring out which bank is right for your family.

4. Fees matter. They really and truly matter. Unfortunately finding a bank that offers truly fee-free accounts is rare. Even if they say you can avoid monthly and annual fees, you will probably have to do something (like maintaining a minimum balance, making a certain number of transactions, depositing a certain amount each month, etc) to meet your end of the bargain. Figure out what kind of agreement you’re willing to make as opposed to which fees you’re willing to pay.

Remember: it’s okay to go check out a potential bank in person. In addition to independent research, it is important to actually go in and talk to a personal banker at a local branch of each bank you’re considering working with. This is the best way to figure out which bank is right for you.

Thrifty Fashion

Fashion trends are constantly changing. This can make it challenging to stay on top of the latest styles each season so that a person will always be looking good for any occasion. Fortunately, there are several ways for a person to save without having to sacrifice their passion for fashion. By taking a few ideas from the following suggestions, it is possible for anyone to update their look while staying well within their fashion budget for the season.

Revamp Your Closet

When trying to put together a thrifty wardrobe, one of the first places anyone should go is to their own closet. Many times, perfectly fashionable pieces get pushed to the back of one’s wardrobe. Because fashion trends often come back around, it is possible that a skirt or shirt from a few years back can be worn in a new way today. Sometimes, all an item needs is to be shortened, lengthened or hemmed with some decorative trim in order to become a hot new item that will provide a unique look to a person’s wardrobe.

Trading With Friends

While scouring the closet, be sure to pull out a few nice pieces of clothing to trade with friends. This is especially true of anything that a person may have outgrown or that no longer fits their personal style. Because a person’s sizes and tastes change, it is possible that their friends also have a few things that they would like to trade. Once everyone has gathered their clothing, throw a party, and take turns trying on new outfits.

Thrift Stores and Outlets

Sometimes, it is necessary to go shopping in order to update a wardrobe. Fortunately, there are lots of inexpensive ways to find new and fashionable things to wear. Thrift stores and outlet boutiques can offer tons of options for building up a new wardrobe. These are especially great places to shop for hard-to-find items such as vintage jackets and shirts. Because their stock rotates on an almost daily basis, they can also offer a constantly changing array of clothing to choose from when trying to find the perfect thing to wear to a special occasion.

Online Deals and Steals

Whether a person decides to visit the mall or their favorite clothing store’s website, there are always specials that can be found online. In fact, ladies love these prices on pricegrabber, where the latest styles and fashions can be found at a reasonable cost that will ensure that they stay within the top fashions for the season. By choosing to find the best deals on their clothing, a person will be able to expand their wardrobe without the guilty of blowing their budget.

Shopping for new styles does not have to break a person’s bank. Fortunately, there are tons of ways for a person to expand their wardrobe without diving too deeply into their purse. By exploring the clothes that they and their friends already have, visiting thrift stores and shopping around for the best deals, a person can enjoy have a top-quality fashion line that is thrifty yet beautiful.

Humanitarians in Business

For many the words business humanitarian may seem like an oxymoron. Often businessmen are thought of as individuals who are only interested in their own well-being, and humanitarians seek the welfare of others. The reality is some of the most successful businessmen have been amazing humanitarians as well.

Charles Feeney was born mid-19th century and went on to become cofounder of the Duty Free Shoppers Group. These shops have become world famous as tax free havens to buy high end goods. Since the 1980’s Feeney has secretly given away billions of dollars to philanthropic endeavors. It has been written that Feeney would like to give away all of his money and die broke.

Humanitarian and accomplished businessman Ehsan Bayat is another important titan to take note of. Born in Ghazni, Ehsan earned an engineering degree in the U.S. before returning to Afghan and creating the Afghan Wireless Communication Company. Mr. Bayat also owns Ariana Radio and Television Networks, and TSI (Telephone Systems International). Part of his humanitarian efforts founding Bayatfoundation.org which serves to “nourish the lives of Afgans”. This charity helps with education, water, needy families, as well as women and healthcare.

Co-founder of Intel Corporation, Gordon Moore has been listed on Forbes’ billionaires, 400 lists. Moore was chairman of Intel and part of the original wave of inventors in Silicon Valley. He also donated the biggest financial gift ever to a college or university when he gave Caltech $600 million. Since the beginning of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, they have given away hundreds of millions of dollars to science, conservation, and technology.

They may not be as famous as Oprah, Bono, or Bill Gates but their contributions to both business as well as philanthropy are equally as important. These three businessmen worked hard to become educated and build immense businesses that impacted the world. Now as humanitarians they are leaving a legacy of giving that will likewise change the world. They are also proving that just because someone can be savvy and determined in the hard arena of business, don’t mean they can’t be in tune with to the heartbeat of humanity.

How To Hire The Best People For The Job

Even though hiring the right individuals is a crucial part of keeping a business alive, as CEO & Founder Michael Fertik found out, it can be a task that many business owners or members of upper management find daunting. This is generally because they do not have all of the best tips at hand to determine would make for good hiring practices. Also, many interviewers fall victim to various myths about the hiring process, which only prevents them from ensuring their company is getting the best-suited individuals for the job.

Define Qualified To Yourself

When you are interviewing someone, you have to dig deep and really get to know that person as well as you can. Just because someone does not interview well does not mean that they are not qualified for the job or that he or she would not be the perfect fit. After all, you can probably think of a few people that had excellent interview skills that proved to be completely unfit for the position once hired. Therefore, you want to make sure that you are focusing more on the person than on the interview process itself.

Be Clear To Those You Interview

It is important to make sure that those you are interviewing have a perfect understanding of the job description. It is your job to make this happen. If there are pre-requisites that are not and will never be negotiable in the future, then you will want to use terms such as “required” or “mandatory.” This will ensure that you are getting your point across.

Common Myths To Avoid

One common myth is that a degree is more important than experience. While it is nice to have a degree, there is nothing better than life experience and personal discipline. If you find a candidate that is very appealing in every way, with the exception being the lack of a degree, you may want to consider giving him or her a chance anyways.

Another myth is that there are specific skills and requirements that are required when you are interviewing someone that has a disability. The fact is that you will conduct the interview in the same manner as you would when interviewing anyone else. If you need to know whether their particular disability will affect their job performance, all you need to do is ask them.

What To Look For

In the end, you want to look for someone that is qualified for the job from their past experiences and that has the confidence to get the work done. When you search for this, you will be amazed at what you will find.