Saturday, October 31, 2009

Top Ten Medical Insurance Tips



source :http://www.shulayim.com

Having health insurance can give you peace of mind, knowing that you won’t have a large financial burden should you have any short-term health problems.

These top tips will help you choose the policy that’s right for you, at the best price.

1. It’s never too early to invest in health insurance for you or your family – As a general rule, the younger you are, the lower your health insurance premiums are likely to be. Additionally, when you are young you’re less likely to have developed pre-existing conditions which would be excluded from your policy cover. Even when you’re older, it isn’t too late to sign up for health insurance though, and you’ll still be able to reap the benefits.

2. Don’t skimp on cover - Not having enough health insurance cover could be a false economy, Do some research into how much some procedures cost and ensure you have the necessary insurance.

3. Choice - Look for a policy provider that offers you choice about when, where and by who you’re treated.

4. Check your records - Make sure that your doctor’s records are correct and up to date. Any incorrect information could mean that you end up paying higher premiums or can’t get cover for certain conditions.

5. Assess the excess options - Paying a higher excess fee can be one way to keep your medical insurance premiums low.

6. Shop around - Do your research before you sign up to any insurance policy. Don’t just accept the first quote you’re offered. Experts recommend that anyone shopping for health insurance gets a minimum of three policy quotes before making a decision.

7. Understand the policy - Make sure that you fully understand what is and isn’t covered by your health insurance policy. If you make presumptions without checking the facts, you could get caught out if you become ill.

8. Read the small print - Ask for clarification on anything that isn’t clear and seek independent advice if necessary. Don’t be embarrassed to query anything as it’s important you know what you’re signing up for and that you get the policy that’s right for you.

9. Avoid stress - Conditions such as depression or stress can increase the premium prices and avoiding stress can make you less prone to illness.

10. Be healthy - Leading a healthy lifestyle can help you keep your insurance premiums as low as possible and is clearly just better for you. Cut down on smoking and drinking and watch your weight. Try to take exercise for at least 20 minutes, three times a week.

Source :http://www.buzzle.com

eye care tips for Computer users

In today’s tech world people spend a lot of time sitting before computers and laptops; this is 100% true in the case of software engineers, computer geeks, internet addicts, and online gamers. Those people who involve in these activities do face several eye related problems at some stage of their life and this is because they don’t care or think about their eyes. And for those people who are really interested to overcome these problems, I hope my tips on how to take care of eyes will certainly come in handy.


1. Eye exercises:

this is one of the best tips in eye care where you should try to create some short breaks from your regular work and in those breaks try to do follow this exercise which is very simple and easy – “ blink your eyes first for several times and after that keep your eyes closed and just roll your eyes clockwise and anticlockwise and in between this process take several deep breaths and breathe out slowly and open your eyes” do this exercise for about 1 minute and repeat it for 2 – 3 times before going to work.





2. Look distant objects:

if you are spending long hours, look at distant objects in your work place or outside. This method of looking at distant object and returning to normal near vision helps the eyes to focus better. Try to do this for about 5min every 1 hour.


3. Follow the palming method:

in this method rub your hands against each other till you get them warm and with this you cup your eyes for about 1 minute. This helps to relax and soothe your tired eyes. There are two advantages of this method where your eyes get relaxed and elbows get exercised.




4. Have a walk:

in between the breaks you take a walk, which helps in relaxing your body as well as your eyes with good blood supply.




5. Water magic:

you can use water for several ways: a) You can splash water on your face which helps you feel refreshed and relaxed. b) Drink more water which helps in reducing puffiness of your eyes.



6. Take healthy food: eat fruits especially citrus, tomatoes, spinach, green vegetables and dairy products which contain vitamins like A, C and E.





Some more points to be noted specially are:



a) Visit physician: visit the eye specialist, at least once in a year and if you have any problems related to eye then immediately visit him.




b) Reduce intake of alcohol and smoking: nicotine and alcohol contain several toxins which affect the optic nerve in the long run so avoid taking alcohol and cigarette.


c) Please don’t rub your eyes: never rub your eyes when any dust particle enters your eyes rather just blink your eyes so that the tears which are produced clear off the dust material. Rubbing of eyes will irritate and sometimes damage eyes, further if you any problem in removing the dust particle immediately consult the doctor.





d) Better use anti glare glasses: these glasses are used to focus on any object. These glasses can be used while working with the computers as suggested by some physicians.

Source : http://www.medicine2life.com

Ekahau's T301W wristband-GPS Tracker



What's the best technology to use to track people who like to wander off? You might be inclined to say GPS, but stagger into a cave or basement (or, sometimes, a city street) and suddenly you're off the grid, man. Not with Ekahau's T301W wristband: it uses Wi-Fi to beam location information. Yes, we know that your average cave doesn't have Wi-Fi, but Ekahau has a range of beacons available that will fix that, and when in the presence of those beacons (or any other configured Wi-Fi network) a wristband can be located to within a few feet. It's the latest of a variety of similar devices from Ekahau, but the first small enough and waterproof enough to be wearable, which has the company envisioning everyone from cruise ship captains to secret service agents slapping these on their visitors. At $60 a pop, though, we're not sure how many organizations will be able to afford that many.

Source : http://www.engadget.com

HP SKY ROOM Video Conferancing



HP recently established a new category in videoconferencing by shedding light on their HP SkyRoom, where it is touted to be an affordable, high-definition videoconferencing software which will offer live, real-time collaboration for instant face-to-face meetings. All this without having to fork out a single cent for subscription fees? Sounds like a dream, eh? The HP SkyRoom will be based on breakthrough video and image communication technology that was developed in HP Labs, where elements of this technology has already seen action in NASA’s Mars rovers which transferred high-resolution images back to earth from the Red Planet with huge success. The HP SkyRoom is touted to be the only videoconferencing tool that can offer real-time collaboration for up to four people over a standard business network, costing the company a mere $149 which is much less compared to a round-trip airfare from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

HP SkyRoom will soon be part and parcel on selected HP business desktop and mobile workstations, and even better news for organizations that are looking for means and ways to cut cost – the SkyRoom will be free for a trial period on a fair number of upcoming HP premium business PCs and notebooks as well. If you happen to own workstations or PCs from other manufacturers such as Dell, Lenovo or Sun, fret not – HP SkyRoom is compatible on those platforms as long as they meet minimum technology requirements.

The breakthrough innovation behind HP SkyRoom is derived from the merging of high-definition, multiuser videoconferencing and a sophisticated capability that will share display information more securely compared to the actual transfer of data and processing functions. In layman’s terms, the video engine will allow everyone to view the presenter’s display as well as each other without suffering from stuttering frame rates, via a multiway videoconferencing session. The video engine itself is multithreaded in order to take full advantage of today’s multiprocessor and multicore processing technologies. Apart from that, it can also handle 2D and 3D graphics, full-motion video and multidisplay – even if your system has but a 2D graphics card.

Source :http://www.coolest-gadgets.com

oOFDM Technology to improve internet speed



A new technology that applies the same principles used by ADSL to improve the capacity of data transfer over copper and wireless broadband could potentially increase the data capacity of optical fiber cables tenfold. It’s creators say the technology, known as optical Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (oOFDM), offers an inexpensive way drastically boost the capacity of increasingly strained broadband networks and improve download times around the world.

Australian researcher, Prof Arthur Lowery, who pioneered the innovation at Melbourne’s Monash University and has started a company, Ofidium, to commercialize the technology, uses a musical analogy to explain oOFDM. He likens existing data transmission to transmitting a series of single notes. Over long transmission distances, optical fiber dispersion ‘smears’ adjacent notes into one another. Dispersion management in these systems is complicated and expensive at 40Gbps, and will be more so at 100Gbps.

He says his oOFDM technology solves this problem by transmitting entire ‘chords’ of data. Since more data is packed together into the chord, more information can be sent in a way that is extremely robust to dispersion impairments over long transmission distances. The technology offers to increase long-haul capacity from the current transmission rate of 10Gbps to more than 100Gbps, over new and existing optical fiber.

Source :http://www.gizmag.com

Thursday, October 29, 2009

HP Photosmart Premium With TouchSmart Web - A World’s First Web-Connected Home Printer



HP is bringing the power of the web directly to the printer and combining it with HP’s TouchSmart technology to give people quick, easy, touchscreen access to popular digital content.

Designed for the digital generation and connected households, the HP Photosmart Premium with TouchSmart Web features an entirely new web-based printing platform with HP applications (apps). Similar to other Internet-connected devices, these apps, which are viewable on an extra-large, intuitive-to-use TouchSmart panel, allow people to connect instantly with fun, informative and personal content.

In addition to receiving apps preloaded on the printer, people can download new ones as they become available at the HP Apps Studio to suit their interests and needs. With the sweep of a finger, users will be able to browse and view popular web destinations and simply touch the app of their choice to launch a web page where they can customize and print content on demand in an easy-to-read format.

As pioneers of this new content-on-demand delivery platform, the world’s first HP app partners will be USA TODAY, Google, Fandango, Coupons.com, DreamWorks Animation, Nickelodeon, Web Sudoku and Weathernews Inc. Through these apps, people will have free access to customized daily news, maps, coupons, coloring pages, movie tickets, recipes, personal calendars and more – all at the touch of a finger.

The new printers also will connect directly to a user’s Snapfish account to view, print and upload photos. People additionally can access projects from the HP Creative Studio.

People will be able to create and share their own apps to customize their printers through the HP Apps Studio starting in late 2009.

World’s first web-connected printer

The HP Photosmart Premium with TouchSmart Web has an extra-large 4.33-inch touchscreen – the largest LCD touchscreen of any all-in-one inkjet printer on the market.

The versatile printer prints, faxes, copies and scans – producing laser-quality text documents and lab-quality photos – making it ideal for multitasking households. With a full range of wired and wireless connectivity options, the printer provides the flexibility to print directly from Wi-Fi-enabled PCs, Bluetooth®-enabled devices, the Apple iPhone and the Apple iPod touch using HP iPrint Photo.

ENERGY STAR® qualified, the all-in-one printer helps users save paper with automatic two-sided printing and reduces packaging waste by shipping in an innovative, reusable bag made from recycled plastics.

http://www.printergeek.com

Skin Care

our skin is a delicate organ and needs to be kept in balance to look good. You need to look after your skin in order to look your best. Here are 7 tips to help you do this.

1. Consider your skin type:

a. Oily: if you have oily skin you should be careful to use light makeup and clean your face well before you go to bed.
b. Dry: try to use a good moisturizer. Dry skin can also be quite sensitive so natural makeup is often the best choice.
c. Neutral: Neutral skin is good but you may also find you have patches of oily skin around the nose. This can easily be taken care of by cleaning this area well with basic soap and water.
2. Your skin tone:

choose basic make up that will compliment your skin tone. If you have a pale complexion you can use warmer colors like brown instead of black mascara and a little brown eyeliner. Pink lipstick and lip gloss will bring some warm color to your lips. Use some light eye shadow to bring out your eyes. Light blusher will add some color to your face. If you are dark complexioned you can use brighter colors as light ones will not be very effective. You can try using a bronze foundation to set off your skin tone.

3. The role of vitamin E and diet:

diet is very important for a healthy body and skin. “You are what you eat” is very appropriate for your skin. Try to eat a healthy diet with less junk food and refined sugar. Whole grains are better than refined foods and have less additives and chemicals in them. Try to eat more fruits and vegetables as these have valuable vitamins and minerals for your skin. They also have vitamin E and antitoxins which are good for your skin.

4. Water:

always drink as much water as you can. Try to replace sodas and sugared juices with water. It will help to keep your skin smooth and hydrated. It will also flush away toxins from the skin and keeps your skin looking clear and fresh.

5. Anti wrinkle creams:

Be careful when you use these creams as all of them are not what they say they are. The best ones are those using natural ingredients. When you use these types of anti wrinkle creams you will have less reactions and side effects. Read ingredients carefully and always try a patch test when using new products.

6. Cleansers Moisturizers:

You should always wash your face every morning and evening. If soap dries your face you can use a natural face wash or moisturizer after washing. It is important not to use too many chemicals and cleansers on your face. This area of your skin is very delicate and easy to misbalance. A mild soap should be sufficient to keep your face clean. A daily bath or bathing on alternate days will keep your whole body skin clean. If you suffer from dry skin bathing every other day will stop your skin from drying out.

7. Sunlight:

10 to 15 minutes in the early part of the day will help your skin. If you are going to spend more time outside, especially if you are near the water, always protect your skin with sun screen. Olive oil works well as a natural sun screen.

source : http://www.easyskincaretips.net

Foot care Tips



source : http://www.dermaxime.com

When your feet hurt it is tough to think about taking care of the rest of your body. You may feel the weight of the world on your shoulders, but it's your feet that carry you around. When your feet hurt nothing works. You stop exercising because you hurt. It is an effort to move anywhere. It is even hard to smile because your feet hurting.

Most foot problems can be prevented especially when you think about how you may be abusing and neglecting your feet Here are some foot care tips that should help you.

Practice Good Foot Care

Check your feet regularly. Have a professional such as a podiatrists or primary care doctor check your feet They are qualified to treat most foot problems. They are also the professionals to recommend a dermatologist or orthopedic surgeon if you need one.

Maintain Good Circulation in Your Feet

Prop your feet up whenever you can - at your desk, reading, watching TV. This helps to keep blood from poking in your leg veins and discourages foot swelling. While your feet are up, rotate them around to stretch your ankles and calves. Ladies, this can help get the kinks out after high heeled shoes.

-Get up and stretch if you've been sitting for a long time.
-Avoid sitting a long time with your legs crossed.
-Epsom salt foot baths can dry out your skin. Don't do this if you have diabetes.
-If your feet are dry, apply a lotion to your feet two or three times a day.
-If your feet are cold, wear socks or hose to keep them warm.
-You can relieve heel pain by rolling a golf ball or tennis ball with the arch of your foot.
-Make sure your shoes fit.

Keep in mind that the size of your feet changes as you grow older so have your feet measured before buying shoes. Also, the best time to measure your feet and buy shoes is at the end of the day when your feet are their largest.

Other tips for buying shoes:

-Most of us have one foot that is larger than the other so be sure to fit your larger foot first.
-Select a shoe that is shaped like your foot.
-Make sure the ball of your foot is positioned in the widest part of the shoe.
-Do not buy shoes that feel too tight and then expect them to stretch out and fit.
-Maintain a healthy weight. Shedding extra weight can take a load off your feet.

See a doctor if you have continual pain, swelling, stiffness, redness, numbness or unusual sensations in your feet If you have diabetes or a circulatory disorder, it's important to have your feet checked regularly by a foot doctor. It is better not to self treat unless your doctor approves, because of the increased risk of infection.

Source : http://ezinearticles.com

Successful Stock Trading Tips

Trading stocks online isn’t for the faint at heart, especially when one good market day can result in an unexpected crash the next. The vast number of stock trading platforms from some of the biggest names in finance offer stock solutions to experts right on down to a day trader or novice. Before you begin investing your life savings into an unpredictable market economy, keep these stock trading tips in mind.

• Pay attention to industry trends-If an up and coming website or company gets extensive media attention or business, consider purchasing stock from them.

• Don’t be afraid to invest for fear of loss…the quicker you buy stocks, the faster you can make a profit.

• Know your trade options: some services allow you to use your mobile phone for trades, as well as faxing or over-the-phone.

• If you cancel a trade, make sure it’s complete before making another trade. Simply because you receive a cancellation receipt, it may have already gone through. Know who to contact for trading.

• Don’t trade with a company you don’t know anything about. If possible, look into their investment history, so you know you’re trading reputable stock.

• Join an online stock trading service that provides up-to-date market forecasts and comprehensive market overview features. When trading, you need access to instant stats.

6Star Reviews cites online stock trading services TD Ameritrade and Zecco as great choices in personal investment that incorporate the latter. Zecco offers great rates and 10 free trades a month if stock brokers meet the minimum balance requirement.

Source : http://www.streetdirectory.com

Eight Green Computer Tips



Tips for Green Computing

1. Like anything else, only buy what you need. You can be excessive about computers, just like a house or car. I’m online all the time for work, so I do have a little bit bigger monitor, special tech add-ons, and a better than average processer. All of which create energy drains that someone who uses a computer infrequently shouldn’t have. Go for smaller systems if you can.

2. Turn that sucker off. Leaving your computer on all night is no good, and a waste of energy.

3. Recycle your computer items. Tossing them in the trash is terribly sinful – trust me, this stuff does not break down in your local landfill.

4. Buy used or recycled computer equipment like discs, paper, printers, and anything else you can find that’s not virgin new. You can even find refurbished or slightly used computers – bonus – you save $.

5. Research! Buy a computer with a good track record. You want your computer to last and last.

6. Don’t forget to recycle all that packaging from the computer and all related equipment.

7. In case you forget to turn off your computer, make sure you have all the power saving options set correctly. Such as, you want your computer to automatically turn off, or go to dark, when not used in a few minutes. These settings are usually under your control panel and then power options.

8. If it would work out for you, get a laptop computer, rather than a desktop. Laptops generally use less energy; up to 50% less in some cases.

Source : http://www.treehuggingfamily.com

Simple tips for healthy teeth



source : http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk

Dental treatments are among the most expensive in modern era. These simple tips will ensure that you save your valuable time, money and energy from combating dental problems. If you are already suffering from dental ailments, these can help you reverse the same. These age-old proven tips from India can put the best of dentists in awe. Follow it for a few weeks to test yourself.

Please note that some of these tips also relate to general health. So once you start following them, you will find difference in overall health apart from stronger teeth.

1. Drink lots of water. At least 2 liters are recommended unless you have any medical constraints.

2. Avoid chilled water. Water at near body temperature is best.

3. Do not consume frozen food or cold fluids immediately after hot food.

4. Do not swallow food. Chew it until is becomes a paste.

5. Do not gulp water or other fluids. Rinse each sip gradually in mouth and then slowly sip in.

6. Ensure that mouth is tightly closed and jaws tightly clenched while urination or excretion. This single practice can bring wonders to your teeth health.

7. Wash your mouth after every meal. The right method of washing is to use your index or middle finger to massage the teeth and clear any remnants of food in mouth.

8. Avoid consumption of soft or rubbery foods like chocolates, pizza, chewing gum etc. Some claim that chewing gum helps exercise gum. The next point lists a better and sure-shot method for strong teeth.

9. Develop a habit of cleaning your teeth and gum with tongue every now and them. Imagine as if the tongue is a broom.

10. Needless to say, cleaning of teeth twice a day is a must. At least once a day is inexcusable.

11. The best way to clean teeth is by using any fine Ayurvedic tooth powder. Most tooth-pastes are marketing gimmicks focusing more on flavor and color than dental health. Use tooth powder and use your index or middle finger for cleaning teeth. No toothbrush can match the maneuverability and effectiveness of finger. Make sure you have a habit of cleaning your hands regularly with soap. The procedure is as follows (for a right-handed person): put some tooth powder on left palm. Slightly wet your right index or middle finger. Now touch this finger over the tooth powder on left hand. The powder will stick to the finger. Put it in mouth and use it as a tooth brush. Do focus on massaging the jaws. Repeat it until the tooth powder on left hands is over. Keep the powder in mouth for few minutes. You can wash your hands and finish off other tasks meanwhile. Then clean your teeth with plain water as usual.

12. The rock salt formula is extremely effective. You can do it in night, at least once in 2 days. If you have time, you can do it in morning or night and follow it up with normal tooth powder cleaning. Read about this formula here: Get back your teeth

13. Ensure that the first thing you do after waking up in morning is to rinse your mouth and consume at least a litre of lukewarm water slowly. Resist the urge for urination or excretion until you complete this.

14. Avoid dental-cleaning and whitening treatments. Try these tips before deciding for tooth removal.

Source : http://agniveer.com

Portable Air Conditioner



This device would be a relief of a hot summertime. It is powered by 4xAA batteries to run for 5 hours, you could also power the handy cooler using a power outlet or through your usb port.


Suffer no more, ye overheated masses! Take cool air with you with our new Handycooler personal air conditioner! Evaporative cooling is the trick here. Simply drizzle a few ounces of water onto a sponge, and place it in a device a little bigger than a cordless phone, and enjoy cool breezes wherever you go. The fan draws air over the damp sponge, cooling it by up to 25 degrees Fahrenheit. The ducted fan rotates to move the air where you want it, but you’re gonna want to blow that heavenly cool air right past your sweating noggin. Ah, there. That’s the stuff.

Features

* Effective evaporative cooling technology utilizing a water filter
* Humidifying effect alleviates allergies and soothes breathing
* Small and portable. Hand held and/or desktop usage.
* Battery-operated (4 AA, not included), USB power compatible, home socket power compatible
* Battery life approximately 5 hours
* Patent-pending new invention. The only handheld swamp cooler.
* 2.5 x 2 x 7 inches

source : http://www.thecoolgadgets.com

Acer Aspire 1420P Multi-Touch Convertible Tablet



Windows 7 has spawned a number of new computer systems already. And following in the footsteps of its main competitors, Acer has recently detailed its upcoming multi-touch tablet PC – pre-loaded with the latest Microsoft operating system. Dubbed Aspire 1420P, the new 11.6-inch tablet from Acer features a special convertible design that allows you to use it as a photo frame, portable cinema, or as a presentation tool. You can also fold it up like a notepad to take notes, read ebooks or navigate maps.


What’s more, this Aspire features a built-in accelerometer that automatically rotates images! Smaller than a magazine, the Aspire 1420P still offers total usability – thanks to its Acer FineTip full-size keyboard with larger keys for better typing. And guess what? All it takes is a one-time battery charge to handle your entire day’s communication and infotainment needs. Power-saving technologies extend battery life so you can do more and enjoy more.

On the inside, the Aspire 1420P powered by an Intel Celeron or Core 2 Duo ULV processor, coupled with up to 8GB of RAM, a 250/320GB hard drive and the Intel GMA 4500MHD integrated graphics chip. It also includes a multi-in-one card reader, Gigabit Ethernet and wireless 802.11b/g/Draft-N with Bluetooth and 3G, a multi-gesture touchpad, HDMI output, and Acer Crystal Eye webcam, Video Quality Enhancement technology, and built-in mic that make sure your video calls are as good as they can get.

Source :http://www.geekiegadgets.com

Monday, October 26, 2009

What is a remortgage

A `remortgage` is exactly what it sounds like - it`s a new mortgage which a homeowner can take out. This will pay off their current one, leaving them to start repaying the new one instead.

Remortgaging is an important matter for homeowners, especially in today`s market, where a remortgage can be a great idea - if it`s an option:

* on the one hand, it`s often possible to remortgage to a much better deal than those that were available a few years ago, thanks to today`s record-low base rate;

* on the other hand, due to the credit crunch and falling house prices, remortgage deals can be harder to come by than they were a few years ago.

Of course, that`s not to say that it`s impossible to get a remortgage. And as the mortgage market begins to recover - as many economists believe it is doing - we may begin to see more deals available.

Why do people remortgage?

There are many reasons why people remortgage. Here are some of the most common reasons:

Coming to the end of an existing deal

If you`re coming to the end of your existing mortgage term, you`ll probably need to choose between finding a new deal or reverting to your lender`s SVR (Standard Variable Rate). If you can`t find a new deal, you may have no choice but to revert to the SVR.

Getting a lower rate

Even if you aren`t at the end of your current deal, it can sometimes make financial sense to switch to a mortgage deal with a lower interest rate.

For example, if you`re currently paying 6% interest on a mortgage you took on three years ago but you can now get a deal charging only 4%, you could save a lot of money on a month-to-month basis by switching.

However, be aware that there may be an `exit fee` or `early repayment charge` on your current deal that could make switching a very expensive option in the short term. You`d need to compare how much you`d save and how much it`d cost you.

Source : http://www.thinkmoney.com

Structured Settlements



Source :www.telsense.info

Structured settlements were created to help persons who had settled tort lawsuits out of court receive their payments based upon on a time schedule. These settlements were instituted by the federal government as a means to guard claimants from spending their lump sum payments and ending up with no money. They even provided unbeatable incentives to make structured settlements more palatable.

Consequently, there are no federal or state taxes on these arrangements. In addition, studies have demonstrated that most people who receive lump sum payments have no money within five years. Bearing in mind these factors, you may be wondering why individuals are selling their settlements.

With the nation in a depression, numerous people have lost a lot of money in the last few years. As a result of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, wealth has been eradicated and safety nets incinerated. Annuities are an exceptional means of acquiring liquidity in a short period of time.

In order to acquire money for your structured settlement, you sell the outstanding value of your annuity. Before agreeing to do this, make sure that you have a trusted lawyer or broker to make sure that you receive the best stipulations possible.

The money you receive from selling a structured settlement can be used for a variety of purposes. Depending on the amount, you could pay for large items such as a car or home. You could use it to catch up on mortgage payments, loans, or pay down credit card debt. Before deciding to sell future annuity payments, do some investigating into the various structured settlement firms.

There are plenty of companies that help persons that are trying to sell structured settlements. While structured settlements were designed to help people organize their annuities in a number of ways that would prove advantageous to them, it is essential to realize that if you wish to sell your structured settlement, you will not incur any state or federal taxes. You should make sure that you understand your rights.

Source : http://www.ezinearticles.com

Secured Loan Calculator

Introduction

A secured loan is a loan backed by the borrower's collateral; the collateral is forfeited to the lender if the borrower cannot pay the loan. Secured loan calculators help borrowers estimate the monthly cost and interest of a loan so they can decide if they'll be able to make loan payments and what terms will be best for their finances.

Step 1:

About Secured Loan Calculators While not all online secured loan calculators are identical, you should be able to enter basic information on all of them, such as:
The loan amount.
The total amount of money you will borrow.
The repayment period.
Also known as the term of the loan or the life of the loan, this is the number of months or years you have to pay off the loan.
The interest rate.
The exact interest rate on your loan.


Step 2:

Check Your Loan Provider's Website Often your potential lender (the bank or lending institution) will have a secured loan calculator available on their website.
Step 3: Search Online If your loan provider does not have a secured loan calculator, just type "secured loan calculator" into your favorite search engine and select from the results.

Source :
http://www.mahalo.com

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Real Estate Tips



Source : www.sellyourevents.com

10 Things an Owner Can Do to Increase The Value of Their Home

There are many things a home owner can do to increase the value of their home. This can be done interior or exterior, from do-it-yourself for the smaller projects to hiring a contractor for the larger jobs.

You can give your home a face lift a little at a time. Most home owners don’t have the finances for a complete over haul done all at once. To most people, their home is their largest investment and they would like to keep it in prime condition. Although the price of your home is mostly determined by the current market conditions, there are several things you can do to maximize your homes value.

1. Decorative moldings can be used throughout the home for interior to exterior, to trim doors, floors, walls, windows, fire places and ceilings. These moldings can be found at practically all home improvement stores and are fairly easy to install to enhance the look of any room.

2. Kitchens tend to be the greatest investment that many potential buyers look at the most. Replacing cabinets and counter tops, can be done gradually at your own discretion or you may choose a more creative way to improve the old ones by painting the cabinets and replacing the knobs or handles.

3. Vinyl windows are a great way to increase the value of any house. These windows function better than the old wooden windows by opening for easy cleaning and they conserve more energy in the months when heat or central air will be used the most. They do not require painting and they can really make a house look beautiful.

4. Adding a new roof can make a very strong impression. The roof is the first thing people see and this can play a strong role in how much your house will sell for. A new sturdy roof provides protection from leaks that make ugly stains on the ceilings in your house that can lead to more damage.

5. Installing vinyl siding, if you don’t already have it, this can add up to $10,000 to the value of your house. If you have fairly decent vinyl siding already, you can hire a power washing company to clean the siding and give your house a fresh new look.

6. Painting the interior or exterior of a house can transform a house completely with a few coats of paint. You can be as colorful and creative as you like and you can take your time doing so, one room at a time.

7. Flooring absolutely makes the difference in any room. Whether you use linoleum, tiles, wood or carpet, a new floor can make all the difference.

8. Adding new appliances such as a refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, washer and dryer can greatly improve the value of your home. Along with adding a new water heater, furnace and central air unit.

9. Exterior landscaping can enhance a homes value by keeping a well maintained yard to adding strategically placed flowers and shrubs. You can also plant an attractive garden or install a small fish pond. Deciding to install or replace a fence along your property line will also be a great attraction to potential buyers, especially the ones who have children.

10. Adding a new deck is a great asset to the exterior look of your home. These can be made from a variety of wood and sealed to preserve the natural appearance. A new deck will provide the outside recreational area to grill out, while relaxing in a comfortable patio set and enjoying the great outdoors and fresh air.

Adding value to your home can be as simple and as affordable as you want it to be. Most improvements can be accomplished a little at a time, all depending on your time and budget. Smaller improvements can be made by simply adding potted plants along the stairs up to your freshly painted front door or by adding a small table or work of art in your foyer.

A visit to the home improvement store or looking through magazines can spark creativity when remodeling your home. Even if you have no idea where to start, one spark can lead to another and another, until before you know it, you have created a beautiful home that you may never want to leave.

Source : http://www.real-estate-marketing-talk.com

Top Ten Money Saving Tips

# Save Money Tip 1

Spend Less. This is not over simplifying the best way to save money! It is essential if you are serious about being a long term money saver. Review what you spend and look at ways you can save money. Consider making telephone calls for instance only at off-peak times. Do you really need to have newspapers and magazines delivered? Can you do without those coffees you buy at break time everyday - would a flask of coffee taken to work save you money? What about using the public lending library instead of buying books or music CDs? Once you start looking for ways to spend less you will quickly become an expert and really save money.


# Save Money Tip 2

Establish a personal budget. This is essential for families and individuals. You will not be able to save money unless you know how much money you have coming in, and how much money you have going out. Once you have prepared a budget of incoming money and outgoing money, you will be able to identify areas where you can save. It is MUCH more difficult to save money over a long period of time (the rest of your life?) without a budget.


# Save Money Tip 3

Bulk is good. Think about shopping and buying in bulk. You can also save money by cooking in bulk. This is a real way you can save money with little preparation and almost no extra outlay. Always purchase generics when you can. Prepared foods and convenience foods will always be much more expensive than the generic ingredients needed to make the food. Preparing food in bulk and in advance also gives you the opportunity to plan ahead and be more accurate in your budget. Save Money by buying in bulk whenever you can. One thing to be aware of when buying in bulk is to be sure that any product you buy will get used before it goes bad - you won't save money if you have to throw stuff away. Buying in bulk is not only a good way to save money it is also a good strategy for coping with and surviving emergencies.


# Save Money Tip 4

Make sure a sale is a sale. By this I mean do your price research before you commit to making an expensive purchase in a retailers money-off sale. You have to be sure the sale really is a sale and not a creative marketing strategy of the store to encourage you to spend your money without thinking. Once you have researched the true price of a product (any product) you are in a good position to take advantage of a sale, special offer or discount and really save money. "Buy one get one free", "50% off", and "Huge Discount" will only help you save money if the actual price you pay is lower than you would pay somewhere else for exactly the same product.


# Save Money Tip 5

Buy used. Sure, we all like to buy new. But there are huge money savings to be made in buying used. Typically cars lose one-third of their value in the first 24 months from new. Why not buy a car 24 months old? Other items such as clothes can be worth even less just the day after new. Look for ways to buy "as good as new" items and save money. Typical products you might consider buying used to save money include: cars, clothes, electrical goods, garden items... tools and sheds, household items... pots and pans, the list of used goods where you can save money is endless.


# Save Money Tip 6

Don't carry excessive debt. Some debt in our lives may be essential. We may need a mortgage to purchase a home, we may need to use our credit card to make purchases until pay-day, but your aim to save money should be to have as little debt as possible. Credit Card deb is typically the most expensive debt we may carry. You will be able to save money every month if you make it an absolute rule to pay off your outstanding balance every month. If you can have the discipline to do this you will save money by effectively having no debt, and thus no interest charge on your credit card(s).


# Save Money Tip 7

Save Money. No, I mean really save some money. Each week or each month get into the habit of putting an amount, however small into your savings. You could start by saving a very small fixed amount each time and then move to putting in larger amounts once you begin to save money from your other money saving strategies. You will find that by saving money on a regular basis you will quickly build up a store of reserve money and also feel motivated to save more. The hardest part is to take the first step and start saving money - so START TODAY and save some money NOW! If you find it impossible to save money once you have it, consider having money deducted from your paycheck direct each month. This can be a great way to save money rapidly as once it is set up you will not notice it is being collected and your savings will grow with no more effort from you.


# Save Money Tip 8

Shop Wisely. Consider markets, superstores, farmer's markets, local shops, marts and stores. Anywhere is worth checking out to see if you can save money. Farmer's Markets can be particularly good places to save money. Typically you are buying direct from the producer of the product so the savings are passed on to you. Use your bulk buying strategy here - farmer's markets often offer opportunities to save money by buying larger quantities of staples, for instance potatoes, rice or corn. Save money and shop wisely.

# Save Money Tip 9

Eat in rather than out. This is a huge area where you can save money. A cup of coffee taken out could easily cost you TWENTY times (or more) what it would cost you to make it at home. So think before you drink when you are out. Eating is the same. Fast food restaurants are counting on you eating food that you perhaps don't really need at that time but buy just because it is quick. Why not wait until you get home and have a more nutritious meal and save money at the same time.

# Save Money Tip 10

Use less. This money saving tip is a lesson we all need to learn. We live in a consumer society where waste is a huge problem. If we could all use and consume less there would be less waste, less power consumption, and the benefits for you are SAVING MONEY. Consider using less shampoo when you wash your hair, this may not mean washing your hair less effectively it means not flushing the excess shampoo and your money down the drain. What about saving on heating? Turn the thermostat down or put on extra clothes when you are cold. Turn off lights, the TV and the computer when they are not in use. Each little saving you make will build up and enable you to save money. Huge savings in energy can be made which will save you money and be good for our planet and the other people on it.

Source : http://www.ieke.com

What is Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. Malignant cells develop in the mesothelium. The mesothelium is a protective lining that covers most of the human body's internal organs. The most common location is the pleura which is the outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall. Mesothelioma can also occur in the peritoneum which is the lining of the abdominal cavity, the pericardium which is a sac that surrounds the heart, or in the heart itself.

The majority of people who develop mesothelioma have worked in jobs where they were exposed to asbestos. Inhaling asbestos particles, leads to mesothelioma. People who develop may also have been exposed to asbestos fibers or dust in other ways. It could be possible that washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos could put a person at risk of mesothelioma.

Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking, but smoking greatly increases risk of other asbestos-induced cancer. Compensation via asbestos funds or lawsuits is an important issue with mesothelioma sufferers.

Although chemotherapy and surgery are the most common forms of treatment, participating in clinical trials can provide you with alternative mesothelioma treatment options. Increased awareness of mesothelioma and other asbestos-caused diseases has led to an increase on medical research to cure and control asbestos-caused cancers and related asbestos heart and respiratory diseases. Despite treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery, the disease carries a poor prognosis. Research about screening tests for the early detection of mesothelioma is ongoing.

The symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath due to pleural effusion or fluid between the lung and the chest wall. Chest wall pain, and general symptoms such as weight loss are other symptoms. The diagnosis may be suspected with chest X-ray and CT scan, and is confirmed with a microscopic examination and biopsy. Inserting a tube with a camera into the chest can be used to take biopsies. It allows the introduction of substances such as talc to obliterate the pleural space, which prevents more fluid from accumulating and pressing on the lung.

Source : http://whatismesothelioma.com

Medifast Diet Plan-Weight Loss



The Secret to Losing Weight on the Medifast Diet Plan

Obesity is a problem that affects a lot of people in this day and age and unfortunately it isn’t as easy as it should be fixed. A lot of information on the web and media confuses the issue and makes losing weight a lot more complicated than what it should be. The Medifast Diet Plan is one solution available that removes the confusing and helps to make weight loss as simple as possible and achievable for anyone who has a bit of motivation and desire to reach their goal.
What are the Medifast Diet Plans?

These are generally a liquid shake based diet that is based around substitutes low in fat, low in calories, and low in carbohydrates. The diet works around the concepts of ketosis where the body if forced into a cycle which causes it to burn its fat rather than its muscle which is common for many diets based on low energy intake.
Other Diet Plans

As good as the Medifast diet is, it might not be suitable for everybody or maybe it isn’t available in your Country or region. Luckily there are many alternatives that might deliver what you need.

Optifast and Slimfast are two such liquid diets.

Optifast is a shake based meal supplement weight loss program that is a medically monitored clincally proven diet. It is popular in many countries and you will find many testimonials of how good it is. Slimfast is designed to stop hunger cravings with its shakes which work together to help you lose weight. Both diet plans use a form of ketosis.

Nutrisystem diet plans are another type of weight loss program that has cooks prepare fresh and healthy food for you so all you need to do is warm it up and eat it. It takes the guess work out of it while you learn the ropes and allows you to eat real food. You might even start to love the healthy meals and stop craving the fat and sugary stuff.

For people who really get motivated by counting numbers and being part of a team then Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig are great programs. They spend more time on training how to eat properly rather than a fast approach. It is a good idea to look into these program while doing a liquid diet as they will really help you keep all your lost weight off for a long time. It should actually never be a problem again!

Have a read around the site and you should be able to find the information required to decide whether the Medifast Diet Plan is the one for you or how to really make it help you lose weight, fast.

Source : http://www.medifastdietplan.com