Tap Into Google Local Your Personal Chamber Of Commerce
The Internet has revolutionized the way we live in countless ways. We are able to access news as it's happening, email friends and relatives all over the world, and purchase anything from cars to vacation packages with a few clicks of the mouse.
What's ironic is that we frequently neglect to use this amazing resource when it comes to finding things in our local area. That's where Google™, the world's leading search engine, comes in. Google has produced a search tool, called Google Local, which you can use to locate anything from an Italian restaurant or golf course to a dentist or CPA, all within a few miles of your home!
To access Google Local, you may go there directly (www.local.google.com) or you can click on the "Local" link at the top of the page at www.google.com. Once there, specify what you are looking for and in which location. You can even select the search radius you prefer, at increments of 1 mile, 5 miles, 15 miles, or 45 miles.
One of the many benefits of this tool is that you receive a map with the locations of your search results available for viewing. Click on a map marker, and you can obtain driving directions right away. In addition to the item's address, phone number, and map, Google also provides relevant links and color-coded online reviews when they are available. (Red reviews are negative, green are positive, and yellow is neutral.)
Google Local is available free to local businesses, as opposed to yellow pages in the phone book which are updated annually and charge a fee. Next time you are searching for a local resource, give Google Local a try. You might be surprised to learn what is in your own backyard!
Google™ is a trademark of Google Inc.
Do you have a favorite web resource that you would recommend? Please contact me and tell me more about it!
Design It Yourself Novelty Websites Abound
Once in a while, we take a picture that is worth more than a thousand words. The subject matter could be a scenic vista from your last vacation, your baby's first steps, or even just a simple picture of your faithful canine companion resting happily in the grass. Thanks to the Internet, you can now have that image placed onto any number of products, including postage stamps, for your viewing pleasure! If you're in search of a creative gift idea, or if you'd like to see products from other amateur artists like yourself, the websites below are ready to assist you!
CafePress® - Launched in 1999, CafePress offers over 70 different products that can be customized to suit your needs. These range from the typical t-shirts, hats, and mouse pads to slightly more unique items such as note cards, messenger bags, and even self-authored books! With no minimum purchase requirements, it's a wonderful way to express your creativity without breaking the bank.
If you're in need of inspiration, visit the "In the news" section and see some of the products that other users have created. The website has over two million active members and many of them have opened storefronts where you may purchase their wares. You may also choose to open your own storefront and share your designs with the world. How many times have you been told how talented you are? (And not just by your mom.) Here's an inexpensive way to test the waters before you start that new career. Visit www.CafePress.com and express yourself today!
Zazzle® - While Zazzle carries fewer product categories than CafePress, they do provide access to an amazing library of images and personalization options. Zazzle currently sells shirts, posters, cards, and even postage stamps! You may personalize these items using your own images and text, or you can access their library of over 500,000 digital images.
Zazzle has partnered with the Walt Disney Company, the Library of Congress, and several other organizations to obtain licensed art that users may incorporate into the product of their choice. A certain amount of personalization is allowed, although there are restrictions depending upon the product. For example, if you choose to create a Winnie The Pooh t-shirt, you can add a person's name and select a phrase from a drop-down menu of Pooh-related sayings.
The same venture capitalists who supported Google®'s development have now invested heavily in Zazzle, so it's worth keeping an eye on this website's progress! www.zazzle.com
Whether you're looking for t-shirts for the company softball team or a work of art to grace the wall of your new home, stop by these websites and see what they have to offer!
Do you have a website that you'd like to recommend? Please tell me about it!
Boost Your Savings Account ...Without Even Trying
Annual income aside, there's not a person among us who wouldn't welcome the idea of having more money in their savings account. This is the money we use on everything from yearly vacations to family presents. Come holiday time, wouldn't it be nice to have an extra thousand or so dollars at your disposal? Here are a few ideas that can help to make that possible. The best part is you'll hardly feel it!
Bring Your Lunch to Work - The average person spends $6 when they buy their lunch yet only $2 when they pack it themselves. That's a potential savings of $20 a week or $1,040 dollars a year.
Durable over Disposable - Using products like Handi-Wipes (semi-disposable rags) as opposed to paper towels, and a rechargeable razor rather than the disposable kind, can save you up to $200 per year.
Hold an Annual Yard Sale - You should have no problem making at least a hundred bucks. Besides, you'll get rid of all that household clutter in the process. Whatever you don't sell can be donated to charity and used as a tax write-off.
Ask for Discounts - From buying airline tickets to paying a medical bill, always ask if there's a discount to be had. The worst that can happen is you'll be told no.
Get a Library Card - As opposed to buying a book for $20 or renting a DVD for $4, get it for free. If you average 3 movie rentals a month, you'll save yourself over $140 a year.
Watch Those Utilities - Changing over to energy saving light bulbs and low flow showerheads is a great start. Also, most utility companies offer a home audit you can complete online. If not, go to http://hes.lbl.gov for a virtual inspection of your home. You may be surprised to learn how much energy (and money) you could be saving.
The good news is suggestions like these are merely a start. Only you know where your household may be wasting money. Find inefficient habits and figure out a solution. Remember, every little bit counts. The final step is when you save money on something, put the savings into an earmarked account. Then leave it alone until it's the appropriate time to use it.
Do you have any tips on boosting your savings? If so, give me a call and tell me about them!
Disaster Preparedness Simple Steps Everyone Can Take
Natural disasters are a fact of life. Each area of the country has its own challenges, from hurricanes on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts to tornados in the Plains and earthquakes in California. Regardless of where you live, it's important to have plans in place to ensure that you and your family are prepared should an emergency arise.
Begin by researching which types of events could occur in your community:
Contact local authorities to learn how community alerts are issued and the evacuation routes you will need to follow.
Inquire about emergency plans at work, school, and any other locations that family members frequent on a regular basis.
Determine how to care for your pet(s) since most temporary shelters only permit service dogs to enter. Start by visiting the American Red Cross website's Animal Safety section to learn about suggested alternatives (www.redcross.org).
Next, develop a Family Emergency Plan:
Create contact information cards for each family member.
Select a reliable out-of-state relative/friend who family members should contact if local communications are down.
Establish home escape routes and practice them.
Learn how to shut off your utilities.
Procure proper insurance coverage and protect your vital records.
Create a short list of what to take in case of a fire.
Finally, create a Disaster Supply Kit for your home, your car, and your office. Your home kit should include:
Food - Select prepackaged, ready-to-eat food and beverage items that your family will enjoy. Try to avoid anything that's too salty in case the water supply is limited.
Water - Store one gallon of water for each family member per day, and plan on a minimum of three days.
First Aid Kit and essential medications.
Non-electric can opener, knife, and utensils.
Battery-operated radio, flashlights, batteries, pens and paper.
Be sure to review the contents of the kit every six months, and replace anything that's about to expire.
Your office and car kits should contain a pared down collection of the items mentioned above, as well as comfortable shoes. In addition, you'll want to add flares and jumper cables to your car's inventory.
Do you have any tips on this subject that you would like to share? Please call and tell me about them!
Buy Household Products Online The Savings will Surprise You!
Since its inception, the Internet has caused a fair share of controversy. Some people see it as a valuable tool while others consider it the devil's playground. Wherever you stand, one thing is certain - it has changed our idea of commerce forever.
eBay® is a perfect example. On this website, the economic theory of supply and demand is played out on a daily basis as consumers bid against each other to purchase an array of products. In many cases, items once thought to be rare collectibles are now readily available from a variety of sellers. This is good news for buyers, who are able to obtain these items at lower prices. Sellers, on the other hand, are finding themselves with a lower profit margin than they originally anticipated.
The eBay principle can be applied to other websites as well. Someone is always willing to either do it or sell it cheaper than the next guy. So, in the spirit of consumerism, here are some websites where you can buy household items - necessities if you will - for a lower price than you can find in any store:
1800contacts.com - Who'd have thought that we'd ever be able to buy contacts online? Not only is it cheaper, this site even ships for free!
Vitacost.com- This company advertises a savings of up to 80% on over 6000 vitamins, diet supplements, and skin care products. Most of the products are in stock, and orders usually ship the same day.
Batteries.com- Batteries are such an expensive item to buy in stores. Use this site, and you'll save money and time. They sell every type of battery under the sun, so it's literally one-stop shopping.
Valleyvet.com - Valley Vet Supply is a small company out of Kansas that offers great savings on a myriad of pet products. This company also ships many items for free. If that's not enough, residents outside of Kansas pay no sales tax!
PriceGrabber.com - Recommended by Kiplinger's, this is a great site for comparing prices when it comes to household needs and more. Use it to confirm that you're actually getting a good deal.
These are just five examples of the great savings you can find online. Whatever your shopping needs may be, I would suggest making the world wide web your first stop.
If you know of any money-saving websites, please call and share them with me!
Cooking With Kids It's Fun for the Whole Family!
Have you ever cooked dinner with the help of your children, grandchildren, or nieces and nephews, as the case may be? You've probably asked them to set the table or help with clearing and washing the dishes. What about the actual preparation of a sit-down meal? Have they ever participated as assistant chefs? While this may seem like a minor activity, cooking with your kids could have many more benefits than you may realize!
You'll receive help in the kitchen. Our frantic schedules have already led to a significant decrease in the number of family dinners we're able to enjoy. Here's a way that we can create a home-cooked meal and quality family time as well.
This activity instills positive values. Chores not only teach kids about social responsibility, they also promote the idea of making a contribution. The best part is that you're able to take part in the process, unlike when they're cleaning their room or taking out the trash.
You're teaching your kids a practical and marketable skill. You never know, you may have the next Wolfgang Puck on your hands! Besides, can you imagine how grateful they'll be when they're out on their own and trying to cook for themselves?
Cooking teaches kids to take pride in what they eat as well as the importance of nutrition and health. As a nation, we need to be sure that we're making proper choices when it comes to our dietary habits. According to the National Institute of Health, childhood obesity is at an epidemic level. One in every five children is overweight due to poor eating habits.
Preparing meals with your children will leave lasting memories. A mid-week dinner may not excite them as much as the new Xbox, but wait until they're all grown up. That's when you'll see the lasting effect of your efforts.
Here are some suggestions to help you get started cooking as a family:
Make sure that the tasks assigned are age-appropriate.
Supervise your children at all times, especially when handling knives or anything hot.
Concentrate on giving them duties that are fun (i.e. rolling meatballs, mixing meatloaf, making hamburger patties, etc.).
Give your kids a sense of autonomy by providing them with their own cutting boards and select equipment. Many kitchen stores sell plastic (kid-safe) knives, perfect for cutting lettuce and softer vegetables.
Let your kids set the menu. If you have multiple children, let them take turns.
Teach as you go. Explain everything you do and why you are doing it.
If you would like to obtain some kid-friendly recipes, visit the Food Network's website at: www.foodnetwork.com/food/lf_kids. While you're cooking, remember to have fun, too! They'll be grown up before you know it.
Do you have any fun activity ideas for the family? Give me a call, I'd love to hear about them.
Get to the IRS on Time: Even If You Can't Pay
Have you ever completed your tax returns only to find out that you owe way more to Uncle Sam than you were expecting – or worse, that your tax bill is more than you can possibly afford to pay right now?
Don't worry. If this is the case, you're not alone. And, more importantly, you're not going to jail just for being a little short on cash. Rest assured, the IRS only seeks criminal charges for those who the agency can prove intentionally chose not to file and pay taxes. So, even if you can't pay your bill right away, file your return on time, and not only will you stay off the IRS' bad side, you'll avoid some hefty financial penalties in the process.
Penalties According to the IRS, the penalty for filing late is generally 5% per month, or up to 25% of the total tax amount due. Not to mention interest charges, which the IRS changes quarterly, and which range between 4% and 9%. This interest applies to the unpaid balance, penalties, and to any interest that has been charged to the account as well.
If no effort is made to pay back-taxes, the IRS can impose stricter penalties, including levying bank accounts, wages, other income, or taking other assets like houses and cars. A Federal Tax Lien could also be filed, which could ruin your credit history for years to come.
The penalty for filing on time but paying late, however, is only half of one percent or .5% per month, up to 25% of the total amount owed. If you choose an installment plan to pay your debt, interest will accrue on the unpaid debt amount only. Therefore, when you file your return, pay as much as you can and cut down the penalties even more.
Extensions It is possible to get a 30 to 120-day extension to pay your taxes after filing a return on time. Soon after filing, the IRS will send you a tax bill for the amount you still owe. Simply call the number on the bill and request an extension and explain your situation. If granted an extension, the penalties and interest will be much lower.
If you cannot pay any part of your tax bill, the IRS may temporarily delay collection until your financial situation improves, although interest and penalties will accrue throughout this time. But this extension is reserved for what the IRS calls "significant hardship."
I'd appreciated any thoughts or stories you might have on this subject. Please feel free to give me a call!
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The Internet has revolutionized the way we live in countless ways. We are able to access news as it's happening, email friends and relatives all over the world, and purchase anything from cars to vacation packages with a few clicks of the mouse. 
Once in a while, we take a picture that is worth more than a thousand words. The subject matter could be a scenic vista from your last vacation, your baby's first steps, or even just a simple picture of your faithful canine companion resting happily in the grass. Thanks to the Internet, you can now have that image placed onto any number of products, including postage stamps, for your viewing pleasure! If you're in search of a creative gift idea, or if you'd like to see products from other amateur artists like yourself, the websites below are ready to assist you!
Annual income aside, there's not a person among us who wouldn't welcome the idea of having more money in their savings account. This is the money we use on everything from yearly vacations to family presents. Come holiday time, wouldn't it be nice to have an extra thousand or so dollars at your disposal? Here are a few ideas that can help to make that possible. The best part is you'll hardly feel it!
Since its inception, the Internet has caused a fair share of controversy. Some people see it as a valuable tool while others consider it the devil's playground. Wherever you stand, one thing is certain - it has changed our idea of commerce forever.
Have you ever cooked dinner with the help of your children, grandchildren, or nieces and nephews, as the case may be? You've probably asked them to set the table or help with clearing and washing the dishes. What about the actual preparation of a sit-down meal? Have they ever participated as assistant chefs? While this may seem like a minor activity, cooking with your kids could have many more benefits than you may realize!
Have you ever completed your tax returns only to find out that you owe way more to Uncle Sam than you were expecting – or worse, that your tax bill is more than you can possibly afford to pay right now?