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Making The Most Of Hard Times

Monday, May 26, 2008

If you are struggling to make ends meet, start making plans today to overcome possible problems tomorrow. Making the most of hard times means being as prepared as possible for any circumstances that come your way.

Food prices are skyrocketing. Gasoline is going higher every week, sometimes every day. Foreclosures are up. There are many more expenses climbing at rates never seen before.

It is time to start planning for changing times. Those who have a plan and have prepared, even a little, will have an easier time than those who just go with the flow until it is too late.

What type of plan can you make? What can you do today to prepare for tomorrow. Traditionally, people have been told to save money. Often 10% of your income is the amount you hear to save. When you are having trouble paying the bills, it is hard to start saving $1.00 much less 10% of what you earn.

Most people find themselves in trouble before they know what is happening. They get laid off or down sized. Sometimes someone gets ill or hurt and cannot work. The causes of trouble are numerous, but with some well laid out plans you could avert some of the disasters you see others encountering.

To start make a list of all of your expenses. The obvious ones like rent, utilities, gasoline and groceries are easy. The hidden ones like money spent on sodas at work or coffee at the local kiosk also add up. Figure out what you spend.

Plan to cut expenses wherever you can and lower expenses in other areas. Totally eliminating something often saves a lot of money. Cutting back may save even more.

Cut back on the cuts of meat you buy. Cut out expensive snacks and substitute healthier fruits and vegetables. This article is about is getting you thinking today and preparing for tomorrow.

Do you drive a large vehicle? Could you pay the payments on a smaller car with the savings it would give you on gasoline? 28 to 35 miles per gallon instead of 8 to 15 MPG might save you from problems.

A recent article said the older Geo Metro was getting close to 45 miles per gallon of gas. Could you downgrade to a clunker for most of your driving?

Carpooling was a big push back when gas was well under $2.00 a gallon. Maybe it is time to find two or three people to carpool with.

Go online and search for “frugal living” or “money saving ideas”. Start now to prepare for tighter times tomorrow.

If your house is in foreclosure, it is too late to start saving to protect your investment. Today is the time to start planning on how to get through and maybe even thrive as prices go higher all around you.

Finally, if you see problems in your future, think of getting a second, part time job. Two to six extra hours a day may mean you are tired for a while, but it also may mean you have time to get the answers you need to make life better for yourself and your family.

Filed in Business, Finance, Other | | Comments (0)

Tips for teaching ADHD children to read

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Teaching a child with ADHD to read as any parent or teacher will tell you can be frustrating as their hyperactivity and inattentiveness makes focussing on any one task difficult.
The ADHD child has no trouble paying attention, the problem is they pay attention to everything and have difficulty ‘tuning out’ distractions.

Therefore specific strategies need to be implemented while reading to your child. Not every approach will work so try different methods until you discover which ones works for you. Only then will the process of reading be easier for everyone.

1. If you are wanting to improve your child’s reading then read. Read as much as possible and let your child see you reading. We don’t just read books, throughout our daily lives we read things such as adverts, labels, timetables, newspapers warning signs, leaflets. Read them to your child and talk about what you have read.

2. Visit the library and choose books suitable for your child’s reading age. If you are unsure ask the teacher for suggestions. If books appear too daunting at this stage, try looking at children’s magazines or comics.
One type of book which proves to be very useful are cook books. They are excellent for incorporating the following elements:-
a. Reading - by reading the recipes.
b. Maths - working out the measurements and quantities.
c. Cooking - which allows the ADHD child to be creative and kinesthetic as well as answering his need to do something.

3. A calm environment is necessary while helping your child to read. Pick a quiet spot away from distractions. Read together and take it in turn to read pages or paragraphs depending on reading level and ability to focus. If you are homeschooling see if you can enlist a family member to help with the reading. You can even pair readers of different abilities together to enhance your child reading ability.

4. ADHD children fidget constantly so allow them to fidget even while reading. Giving them something to squeeze, tap or play with will help to keep their attention. Remember ADHD children can focus on multiple things at once, so by giving them something to do there is no longer the need to look for anything else.

5. Break down reading into small chunks. Read for a short time then allow your child to play or do something else, before turning back to the task in hand. Read another paragraph or so again then allow another break. Continue this process until you have finished the chapter or story.
This method works very well because your child’s brain is wired to focus on more that one thing at a time. After the reading ask for the child’s account of what he or she has read, jot down his or her words and review the next day.

6. Have your child listen to stories or reading matter on tapes whilst following along in the text. Use pods and mp3 players to record reading material the child can listen to. By seeing and hearing the words being read the child will be better able to focus.

7. Use a computer to aid your child’s reading. They are many ‘learning to read’ CDs and DVDs that can benefit your offspring and as most children love computers you can use this tool to your advantage.

8. Finally be liberal in your praise and encourage. Most children want it, particularly those that suffer from low self-esteem which is true for most ADHD children. Give rewards and positive feedback. Whichever way you choose to say ‘well done’ to your child, do it! They need it and it will certainly go a long way in helping them master the art of reading.

Filed in Health, Other | | Comments (0)

How to Handle a Difficult Discussion

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Whether it involves talking with your teen about sex or drugs, your spouse about finances or housework, or your employee about attendance or performance issues, the prospect of initiating a difficult discussion is daunting to many, if not most, people. Mix in the tendency to procrastinate tackling unpleasant tasks, then feeling guilty about putting something so important off, and you can wind up feeling even more miserable and anxious about the impending conversation. You might even lose sleep over it.

Initiating such a discussion doesn’t have to be nearly so painful. With the proper mindset and some preparation, you can learn to handle even the most difficult topic with ease and confidence. The following tips will enable you to do just that.

1. Realize that by having the discussion, your goal is to benefit others as well as yourself. Whether or not he shows it, your teen will most likely appreciate that you care enough to talk to him about things that concern or matter to you. In the case of the employee with the performance issue, she will have an opportunity to correct or improve on it, or face consequences. In either event, the other members on your team will certainly appreciate that you took steps to address the situation, because they will see the poor performer either stepping up to the plate or terminated.

2. Focus on the possible positive outcomes of having the discussion sooner rather than later. The employee’s performance could most certainly improve. Or you may have the opportunity to replace a poor performer with someone more willing and able to do the work and follow company or departmental policies. Either way, the performance of your team as a whole will benefit, which will be a positive reflection on your own performance.

3. Prepare for any possible reaction to the discussion. Have contingency plans for handling any behavior or response to what you have to say, whether it be anger, denial, silence or disbelief. Knowing in advance exactly how you will deal with any of these will give you the confidence you need to proceed. Understand that you cannot control a person’s reaction, and in many cases you cannot predict it either. But you can always prepare for any possibility.

4. If the topic for discussion is an especially difficult one for you, have a reward planned for yourself when you complete it. Take a half day off to do something you enjoy, or treat yourself to something you ordinarily would not. After all, you just accomplished something that doesn’t come easily for you. You deserve something special.

Following these tips will not make handling difficult discussions any more fun, by any means, but doing so when the necessity arises will make you a better and more competent communicator, manager, parent and/or spouse. And who wouldn’t benefit from that?

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Feed Your Body What It Really Wants and Just Say No To Junk

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

The human body was built to eat natural whole foods. Your meals were meant to be eaten slowly - not eaten on the run. Your body was meant to breathe in fresh air and drink in clean refreshing water.

Unfortunately if you are eating the Standard American Diet (SAD) you are probably filling your belly with so much processed food that your body may be experiencing toxic shock. With all the garbage we are putting into our bodies it is sometimes a miracle that our bodies even function as well as they do.

Did you hear about the movie “Super Size Me” by the film maker Morgan Spurlock? He is the guy who wanted to evaluate just exactly what the fast food industry was actually doing to our health. So for thirty days he ate three meals a day at McDonald’s restaurants. The results he experienced were frightening. In just 30 days of McDonald’s meals, he gained 24 pounds, began to experience heart palpitations and caused damage to his liver. All of these horrible results were due to a diet of mainly fries, burgers and soda.

The sad thing is that the movie is not that far off from the way that people really eat on a daily basis in America. Junk food makes up a huge part of our country’s diet. Even when we do not want to admit it, we still consume loads of sugars, starches, artificial ingredients, chemicals, and fats. No much really healthy stuff makes it way on to our plates.

You may say you are eating healthier because you are eating more salads. And in fact, it is great to add salads and lots of fresh raw vegetables and fruits to your diet. However, if your salad if just slathered with high fat salad dressing, cheeses, bacon bits, croutons and other toppings then you may have been better off just eating a burger.

Americans consume a lot of processed foods that are filled with artificial ingredients used to enhance the flavor and add to the shelf life of the product so it can sit on the store shelf for a long time before a consumer finally buys it.

Try this experiment. Take a bite of a fresh carrot or sweet crunchy apple and chew it for about 30 seconds. Notice the flavors? Can you taste the natural sweetness? Did the taste last until you swallowed it? Now try the same thing with a potato chip. After only a few seconds, the taste is not very good. The crunch is definitely gone. You may taste grease that is now coating your mouth and throat.

Now let’s get real about this. If you are honest you will find that natural foods just taste better and because they are so good for you - you may find that you will have a positive sense of well being every time you care about your body and feed it something that will energize you for the next task you need to undertake.

Help your health out and start switching away from processed foods and fast foods and start working in more healthy natural whole foods into your diet. Your body will thank you!

Filed in Other, Weight Loss | | Comments (0)

The Art of Being Nonjudgmental

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

It is often difficult to refrain from being judgmental of others when their behaviors and characteristics are so different from our own. At these times it is good to remember that each one of us is unique. Each of us have our own abilities that we were born with, distinct behaviors, and personal interests as well as flaws and levels of interest from no interest at all to a very high interest level in any number of subjects.

The behaviors and characteristics of each of us are influenced by our own particular unique abilities, background and experiences, and our culture. While we tend to categorize and organize all things, including the characteristics of people, it is important to remember that every person is unique.

While we may be impatient and become irritated or angry with those we encounter socially, those with whom we work, or other adults that we live with or are joined with through family relationships, it is much better if we can learn to relax and let go. Allow yourself to be accepting of them just the way they are, and know that they are on their own path. You are not responsible for their behaviors or their characteristics.

For instance, one of the most frustrating things that spouses or partners can do to each other is to try to change one or the other and shape them into a mold that would be more pleasing to them. This sort of attempted behavior management never works, and will only cause greater frustration, irritation, and anger for you and for them.

It is a very cumbersome burden and an impossible task to attempt to change someone else. Any person can make changes and adjustments in their behaviors; however, it must come from within them.

Even though we each tend to think that our own characteristics and behaviors are those that other people should measure up to, if the truth were known and other minds could be read, we would each, undoubtedly, discover that other people in our lives may be just as irritated and annoyed with certain of our characteristics and behaviors as we are with theirs.

We expect others to accept us just the way we are, even though we may or may not be aware that certain of our behaviors and characteristics annoy other people around us from time to time. We recognize and accept our own uniqueness and will find life to be much easier if we accept the uniqueness and differences of others as well.

Holding onto judgmental feelings which cause us to become irritated or angry at others is unhealthy physically and mentally. It serves no worthwhile purpose and only alienates the possibility of coming to an understanding of one another. It is good that we are different. The differences that exist in humans is displayed in the seeds of creativity and changes that make the world interesting and continuously new.

Instead of reacting with judgment and anger, it is far better, whenever possible, to attempt to open communication and get to know from a deeper level the source and reasoning behind someone else’s behaviors. This communication, however, must be done without judgement, because behaving or speaking from a judgmental viewpoint anywhere in the communication will defeat the purpose.

So relax, develop a sense of humor about the differences, learn to appreciate the positive aspects, and above all, know that you are not responsible for their behaviors and must not attempt to make yourself responsible. You are ok, and they are ok.

Filed in Other, Self Improvement | | Comments (0)

$4.00 A Gallon Gas and Sanity

Saturday, April 26, 2008

The world is going crazy. Prices are up around the globe. People are giving up food to pay the rent and the list goes on. What can you do to help offset spiraling expenses? Where can you cut back to make your paychecks go farther? Let’s take a look at options that may not be too obvious.

An obvious expense is buying your lunch every day and the just as obvious answer is take your lunch from home. Not quite as obvious is the vending machine candy bar every afternoon or the coffee machine eating quarters. Just one dollar a day in vending machines is $250 a year you spend by dropping quarters in machines. (250 working days in a year with a two week vacation)

If you can find 3 or 4 or even 10 places you can save an average of one dollar a day, you can easily make an annual dent of $1000, $2000 or more in your expenses. $2000 in the coming year might be enough to pay off a credit card, or at least buy a little extra gasoline each week.

Specialty coffees every morning can add up in a hurry. You could save $17.50 a week by giving up a daily latte that cost $3.50. Does your morning caffeine fix cost more or less? Add another evening iced coffee and you might be spending more than you realize.

A few dollars at a time never seems like a lot of money, but if you total those single expenditures for a week, a month or a year, you’ll find that you spend a lot more money than you realized. Two hundred and fifty days of $3.50 coffee totals $875 in a year’s time.

So far we have saved $1.00 a day in vending machine expenses and $3.50 in coffee costs and have $1125 in savings over our normal expenses.

Another way to look at that savings is that it is 1125 gallons of gas. OK, not actually, but if you think of gas at $3.00 a gallon and then at $4.00 a gallon, you have covered yourself for the difference in price for over 1000 gallons of gas. If you could afford $3.00 a gallon gasoline, you can now afford $4.00 a gallon gas based on cutting a few expenses.

By saving on just a couple of expenses you have in effect lowered your price of gas back down to $3.00 a gallon. Maybe that is still too high a price, but what can we do? We can make use of our current resources more effectively.

Start looking at your recurring expenses. Find some where you can cut back or cut out the amount you spend. Cutting back will often be painless. Drink 2 sodas (from home) instead of 3 a day. Smoke 15 cigarettes a day instead of 20. Change your home heater or air conditioner by 2 degrees or more to save on energy.

If you have a job, it is difficult to get more money. However you can learn to save more until you can increase your income by getting a higher paying job or creating a part time income.

There are several frugal living websites online. Do a search for “frugal living” and you will find a number of “living better for less” type websites with hundreds of ideas on how to stretch your dollars and survive in a world gone crazy.

Filed in Finance, Home / Family, Other, Wealth | | Comments (0)