A Month of Money Saving Penny-Pinching Tips

Normally, articles on this blog are about ways to make money or earn more efficiently. This one's about saving, because at th
e core of making money is saving it. Like Benjamin Franklin pointed out, money saved is income. Not spending or spending less means more money for other things.

Penny pinching and saving money has been likened to building a dam. The large holes are obvious. The small crevices are less noticeable, but if left to slowly leak, will eat up funds quickly. Here's a month of easy budget repairs to prevent financial leaks.

Number 1: Stop buying beverages from restaurants or travel. Instead of stopping for a coffee or picking up a soda or bottle of water, put that money into a jar. Buy a reusable water bottle or make one with a recycled one. With a family of six,  I've saved $180 doing this (now if I could just break my husband's Biggby addiction!)  A Month of Money Saving Penny-Pinching Tips

Seven Reasons This Work at Home Mom is Logging Out of Facebook

Over a third of Facebook users are spending less time on the social network, says a recent study in Reuters. I'm not surprised. Though I still use my account for networking and sometimes specific work-oriented groups, I've been avoiding Facebook for general use. We online freelancers were particularly vulnerable when Facebook came calling. It promised networking (which we need to promote our work) and (more importantly, I think) social interaction. Working at home, most of us spend WAY too much time in our own heads. We prone to loneliness like no other group of people.  So here's why I'm cutting excessive social networking and why, speaking from nearly a decade working online, you should too.

* Unprofessional. Compared to the puerile Myspace, with its kitschy impedimenta, I liked the spartan feel of Facebook. Now I realize that despite this, Facebook can still make us look pretty silly. Granted we do it to ourselves sharing weird photos, sayings and way-too-much-information updates. Whether I personally do this, I'm tarred with the same brush if I hang out with people who do.  Seven Reasons Freelancers Should Nix Excess Facebook Interaction

Spring Weather Ushers in Allergy and Migraine Season

With temperatures rising above freezing (and waking up allergens), the barometer playing tennis and high humidity and precipitation, spring ushers in many health conditions. Barometric pressure migraines, seasonal allergies and aches and pains. Online writers, freelancers and those who work at computers or in offices--don't think you're not susceptible just because you may work indoors or at home. Now's the time to boost vitamin C and zinc and get fresh air. Stale office air breeds germs too.

* Seasonal allergies. My allergist says his office is much quieter during winter, when the ground frost and snow send plants into hibernation. Once the temperatures rise above freezing and the plants and trees start to wake up, he's a busy man. OSENTA (Ottawa Shores ENT Associates) has put together a helpful bibliography of allergy and ENT resources covering conditions, drugs, procedures and treatment options.  Spring Weather Ushers in Allergy and Migraine Season