Archive for April 2020

How to Stop Binge Eating and Save Money

April 27, 2020 Saving No comments
eating

When was the last time you had food just to satisfy your tastebuds and not your hunger?

According to NIH, anyone who eats a large amount of food within a short period of time and does it at least once a week can be identified as a binge eater. Binge eating is not just a bad habit you need to get rid off but it is a serious disorder.?

Once a person begins to binge eat, he or she is more likely to do it again in several different scenarios. Most people binge eat to get rid of the bad feeling like guilt, negativity, fatigue, loss of a loved one, so on and so forth. Let?s have a look at a few ways you can stop binge eating and save some money.

eating

Here Are the 5 Ways to Stop Binge Eating Without Relapsing Ever Again

1) Do No Consume Sugar

If you cannot stop binge eating even after trying everything, it might be wise to take an indirect approach. Stop consuming sugar and food items that contain added sugar. Sugar makes you feel full for a while. After the initial rush is gone, most people resort to binge eating. In other words, sugar creates a void in your system which causes you to binge eat.

2) Find Healthy Alternatives

The next time you feel like numbing your emotions with tasty food, make sure you have a healthy alternative to curb the cravings. Going for a quick walk can help. Divert your attention towards your body instead. Having a bottle of sugar-free yogurt or eating a bowl of healthy salad could also work. If the situation gets out of control, call up a friend or your therapist immediately.

3) Do Not Hide Your Habit

Do not make binge eating a thing that only you know about. Make sure you share your feeling with your loved ones. Often times, emotional support can solve problems that no other remedy can. Moreover, by keeping this a secret, there is a likelihood of the situation escalating even further.

4) Meditate Before You Eat

If you binge eat once or twice a week and wish to not do it again ever, it would help if you could dissociate food with whatever problems you have in your life. To break the pattern, you should consider mediating at least five minutes before dinner. Meditation will give you the space to think and process your inner unconscious urges.

5) Be Aware of Your Environment 

It?s possible that the environment you spend most of the day may be triggering you to eat more. If there is a cafeteria near your workplace? Do you work from home? Either way, make sure you stay away from the smell and sight of food. If you work from home, it would help immensely if you can sit in a room with the door closed. So, even if someone in the other room is cooking food, you would get triggered. 

Conclusion

You may not realize but this condition is also causing you to spend more money than you otherwise would. It is hard to find a binge eater who prefers healthy food. Most often they binge on oily and buttery food which is both unhealthy and expensive. Hence, it is advised to follow the above-mentioned tips.

How to Break a Bad Habit Quickly

April 20, 2020 Lifestyle No comments
bad habits

Why it is so important to get rid of a bad habit? 

A bad habit like smoking, excessive drinking, physical inactivity, negative thinking, etc can lead to more serious problems then you think. According to a report by NewsMax, 70 percent of the American population has at least one bad habit that could shorten their lives to a great extent. We all know that smoking tobacco is harmful to health but you will be surprised to learn that Sleep Deprivation has even more adverse effects than that.?

bad habits

What Are Easy Ways to Break a Bad Habit Quickly?

1) Replace It With a Good Habit 

This is the easiest way to get rid of a bad habit. A bad habit is nothing but a quick fix. People try to fill the inner void with as sorts of illegal drugs and also with legal items like food, movies, toxic people, etc. Hence, instead of filling the inner void with something negative, replace it with good things like exercise, a clean diet, positive and successful friends, etc.

2) Use the Power of Accountability

If you find yourself relapsing and going back to your old habits, make sure you have someone to keep a watchful eye on you. Share the details about your bad habit with your friend or a sibling and ask them for help. In short, you need to ask them to be your accountability partner. An accountability partner is someone who will see that you do what you promised to get done. 

3) Be Honest With Yourself

Every addict knows where they are screwing up. But most of them fail to acknowledge the fact that they have a problem. It is very easy to ignore the problems in your life and continue to live as everything is fine. This is why you need to be honest with yourself. Accept that you have a bad habit.

4) Associate Pleasure With Pain

There is a reason you go back to your old habit. Even after promising not to relapse, something drags you back to it. Before you can get rid of a habit, it is imperative that you understand how addiction works. You are attached to your old habit because it gives you some sort of pleasure. What you need to do is learn to associate it to pain. For instance, consider doing five push-ups every time you feel like smoking.

5) Recognize the Patterns

All habits–whether good or bad–function in patterns. Your job is to recognize them so you can break the chain that leads you to your bad habit. For instance, if you are binge eater, it would benefit if you can identify the exact time of the day when you feel like overeating. Are you overeating during the day or you feel like eating a lot during and after lunch?

Is It Really Easy to Get Rid of a Bad Habit?

Honestly, no. It is not easy to get rid of a bad habit. Especially, when it an old one. It takes time for you to form a habit. Habit always gets formed with repetition. Hence, to get rid of, you need to re-program your mind–which takes significant time and effort.

Meet the Steve Jobs of the Personal Finance Industry: Suze Orman

April 13, 2020 Business No comments
Steve Jobs

In the world full of websites, YouTube channels, and Instagrammers, it is difficult to find a legitimate personal finance guru. These days every other person is claiming to be a guru of their domain. But how do you verify their credentials? 

As far as personal finance and financial advice are concerned, you cannot take any chances. Make one bad decision and you will have to regret it for a long time. This is where Suze Orman comes in.?

Along with others like Rober Kiyosaki, David Bach, Barbara Corcoran, Dave Ramsey, and Ali Velshi, Suze Orman is one of the most trusted financial gurus. In this post, you will learn a bit about her background and three of her best tips on managing your money.

Who Is Suze Orman?

Suze is originally from Chicago and was born in the year 1951. His mother worked as secretary to a Rabbi, whereas her Romanian father was an employee in a chicken factory. Even after coming from such a modest family, Suze had high aspirations and hence went on to finish her education from the University of Illinois. 

Suze Orman?s Contributions to the Personal Finance Industry

Suze Orman is one of the most renowned authors in the personal finance industry. With ten consecutive New York Times bestselling books she is one the most reputed people in the industry. Currently, she runs her company Suze Orman Financial Group. They offer financial services to businesses and individuals all over the nation.?

Furthermore, she also has her own show called The Suze Orman Show on CNBC. The show was quite successful and still considered one of the best. 

Top 3 Personal Finance Tips From Suze Orman

1) Always Track Your Finances  

Most people do not see the value in keeping track of all their assets and liabilities. They continue to live their life as it comes. Instead of reacting to the money problems as they arrive, Suze recommends keeping a track of all your finances so you can see things coming way before it arrives. This way you can be more prepared. Make a list of all your debts, retirement plans, daily expenses, etc and categorize them either as a fixed expense or variable expense.

2) Keep an Eye on Your Credit Score

A credit score is a statistical number based on your credit history. A credit score is a key determinant of your creditworthiness. Lenders, landlords, credit card issues, etc will look up your credit score every time you wish to do business with them. 

3) Save Money Each Month No Matter What

According to Suze, most people only save money when they have a positive balance at the end of the month. At other times, they simply accept the fact that there is no money and move on. This has to change. How can I save at the end of the month if all the money I earn gets spent??

You can do that by lowering your standard of living. This does not mean eating low-quality food and wearing cheap clothes but you have to put a halt to purchasing needles and leisurely items.  

How Much Money You Can Save With A Home Warranty?

April 9, 2020 Real Estate, Saving No comments
home products

A home warranty is a smart solution that will make every homeowner feel more peaceful. Important appliances and systems can fail anytime, which brings huge costs for you. A home warranty is here to have you protected from unexpected costs. If you haven?t obtained your plan, you might have to face costs that can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. We know that it can save you a lot of money on costly repairs, but really how much?

Average repair costs

Unexpected malfunctions are very common. Without a home warranty, you will face high repair costs for your home systems and appliances. And you can?t postpone the repair for later. Imagine finding out that your fridge isn?t working. For individual repair, you can pay around $600. If your fridge is too old and needs to be replaced, you will need to divide about $1,500 from your budget. If the dishwasher fails, then you will need around $200 for a repair or around $600 for replacement. But, the madness doesn?t stop here. You are expected to pay even more if crucial home systems fail. For example, a replacement for a water heater can cost as much as $850. If you find out that the furnace isn?t working, you can pay around $500 for a repair. If the system needs to be changed, then it can climb up to $6,000. 

We know that not every household has an emergency budget specially dedicated for home repairs. Another thing that you should have on your mind is the fact that a few appliances or systems can fail during the year. When you add the costs up, you will get to a high sum of money.?

The cost of a home warranty

The average cost for a home warranty plan ranges between $350 and $600 for a year, depending on the coverage. Basic plans will cost around $350, while advanced plans have extended coverage. Some will include the roof, spa, pool, or septic systems. These bring high costs for repairs, so it is better to have them included in your home warranty plan. Having the costs for individual repairs in mind, this is a feasible option.

The best home warranty plan for you is the one that offers proper coverage. Keep in mind that a plan that covers only cheap appliances is not feasible. Check and compare different plans to find the most convenient one for you.?

 Keep in mind that each service call is starting from $75. Despite paying the yearly or monthly fee, you will pay for each service call too. But when you do the math, it is feasible. Even if you include the service call, you will save money for the whole year. Another thing that you should have in mind is that you can experience a few fails of different appliances and systems during the year. When you sum it all up, a home warranty will definitely pay off. 

Product Report Card Review- Get Paid to Share Your Opinions

April 6, 2020 Money Management No comments
product report card

If you already have experienced the magic of survey sites, you should look into another amazing survey site called Product Report Card. As the name suggests, the site is based on the opinions and feedback of product users.

However, unlike other sites like InboxDollars, YouGov or SurveyClub, this platform is a bit complex and hence intended for advanced surveyors only. A newbie can explore Product Report Card without anything to lose, but it?s always better to be prepared for what?s about to come.

About the Creator of Product Report Card

Product Report Card is a Texas-based fintech firm founded in the year 2001. This survey site is run and maintained by Softlayer technologies–the father company. Zac McGrath, an entrepreneur, and tech enthusiast founded this company to help major organizations like Gillette and Ikea understand their customer well. This is a market research company that pays you for your opinions, reviews, and feedback on a variety of products.

How Does the Product Report Card Work?

profiles

To begin your money-making journey with Product Report Card, you simply have to sign-up for free completing a series of questionnaires. This is the most tedious and boring part of Product Report Card. Looking at the length of the forms, most people give up thinking this is just a scam website that need personal information.

The questionnaires are called Profiles. There is a separate profile for each facet of your life like household, employment, mobile phone, health, the products you use, etc. None of the above profile will ever ask your bank details. Still, if you find comfortable providing the general details of your life, go ahead and sign-up. Or else, kindly look for another survey site.

What I Like About Product Report Card

I like the fact that Product Report Card is not just a survey site. There is more than one way to earn money. If you fit the criteria, Product Report Card can also offer you an opportunity to do product review–they send free product for you to use and review. Furthermore, you can also participate in studies done by nation?s biggest labs and research centers.

What I Don’t Like About Product Report Card

The process of creating a profile is quite lengthy. There are a total of ten forms you need to fill up before moving ahead with the survey. Although, once you get through this phase, things get easier. You will also realize why Product Report Card needs so much of your personal information.

Product Report Card- Legit or Scam?

Product Report Card is not a scam. However, some users have complained of getting disqualified after or during the process of the survey. This can be really frustrating as your effort and time are wasted.

However, please note that this is only the case for people with weak profiles. For instance, major corporations do not value the feedback provided by immigrants staying in the United States or Canada. They want people who have are long-term residents of North America.