Work At Home Business Options

Archive for the ‘Home Life’ Category

I would like to wish all of my blog readers a Happy Holiday and/or Merry Christmas and I hope you all enjoy this special time of year with your family and your friends. ‘Tis the season that we all remember what is important in our lives and to always live our lives filled with love, joy and happiness.

I hope you all have a great holiday and thank you for reading the Work at Home Business Options Blog. See ya in the year 2012!

Human beings look at the world and see a complex network of interconnected individuals, each with their own autonomy and free will. This perception is a far cry from what credit card companies see. Instead, they view individuals as big bundles of data from which they can profit.

The Wall Street Journal recently reported both MasterCard and VISA are working on plans targeting online ads to consumers based on previous credit card purchases. The idea is you pick up a bag of dog food from the store and charge it to your credit card. When you get home and go online, you start seeing ads for corresponding products and services, like dog toys and dog grooming.

Despite the massive amount of personal data we transmit every day, there are still ways to protect yourself from targeted online ads. Try a few of these tips to avoid the watchful eye of Big Brother.

1. Don’t Over-share
Countless websites and stores ask us to provide phone numbers, email addresses and ZIP codes to help them build a marketing profile. Don’t bother sharing your details unless they’re essential to your purchase. If the guilt of creating fake information keeps you tossing and turning at night, GuerrillaMail.com provides temporary email addresses that last for just 60 minutes.

2. Cut Down on Cookies
“Cookie” is an important keyword here. These small files are stored on your computer every time you visit a website. They’re the reason you don’t have to log in to Facebook 10 times a day and why you see ads for a pair of shoes viewed yesterday when you’re checking your email today. Luckily, the Network Advertising Initiative can help you opt-out of advertising cookies. With just a few simple steps, you’re able to block major marketers from access to your browsing habits.

3. Privatize Your Purchases
Don’t forget about the main culprits in this personal information panic. All told, VISA and MasterCard process nearly 70 billion transactions each year. All the while, they’re collecting and analyzing this massive amount of data. Avoid having your information inspected by opting-out of their analytics programs. MasterCard makes it especially easy; all you have to do is follow this link and opt out of programs in which you don’t want to participate. VISA makes it more complicated, but look here for details.

4. Beef Up Your Browser
In response to growing discontent over privacy issues, popular Web browsers like Internet Explorer and Firefox are making it easier to protect personal information. Their latest versions include a private browsing option you can enable to keep your online habits confidential. The browser then won’t store such information as cookies, passwords and files you download.

5. Leave No Paper Trail
Paperless statements are good for the environment and also good for your security. Not only does online banking eliminate the amount of personal information you dump in the trash, it also lets you track each purchase instantly. It’s a smart security strategy to check your online bank accounts often. This way, you can ensure suspicious items don’t slip through the cracks.

6. Get Off the Grid
Credit has practically become our official currency. If you’re tired of stressing about credit card security, go old-fashioned. While cash doesn’t work online, it doesn’t require you share any personal details, either. Gift cards are another good way to avoid using credit. Buying gift cards at less than face value from sites like GiftCardGranny provides instant savings, plus you can use them both in-store and online. Even better, gift cards aren’t attached to any of your personal info.

7. Avoid Auto-Fill
Keeping your credit card number, billing address and shipping address on file at Amazon is handy, but it also makes you more vulnerable. Something simple like forgetting to log out at the library can place your personal details in the wrong hands. Though it’s tedious and takes extra time, enter your information anew with each order.

8. Ensure You’re Secure
It’s surprisingly easy to confirm an online merchant has secure checkout. Always look for “https” in the Web address, instead of just “http.” That extra “s” shows your connection is encrypted and unauthorized users will have to go to greater measures to get your information. You can learn more about site-specific security by clicking the appropriate box near the address bar in your browser.

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Andrea Woroch is a nationally recognized consumer and money-saving expert, having been featured among such top news outlets as Good Morning America, NBC’s Today, MSNBC, New York Times, Kiplinger Personal Finance, CNNMoney and many more. She is available for in-studio, satellite or skype interviews and to write guest posts or articles.

100 Days Left In The Year
Get Mentally Tough and Make Those Resolutions A Reality
By Steve Siebold

Remember those New Year’s resolutions you made on January 1? Today marks 100 days left in the year. If you forgot about your resolutions back in February, you can still finish the year off strong.

Whether it’s losing weight, quitting smoking, getting organized or climbing out of debt, everyone CAN reach their goals. People need to focus on their thoughts, beliefs, philosophies and attitudes – otherwise they are setting themselves up to fail before they even begin.

Here are a few tips for making the most of the last 100 days of 2011 and making good on those New Year’s resolutions:

· Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is. Many times the only thing that separates winners from losers is the thought process. Winners have a “whatever it takes” attitude. They’ve made the decision to pay any price and bear any burden in the name of victory.
· Expect to feel pain or suffer. Most people feel the pain or run into an obstacle and seek escape. Have a plan to push forward when this happens. If you’re not ready to suffer during adversity, you’re not going to be successful.
· Developing a world-class self-talk may be the most powerful mental toughness tool.
· Take risks. Don’t always have a “play it safe” or “stay below the radar” mentality. Without risk, there can be no progress.
· Avoid delusion and operate from objective reality.
· Feed your visions and starve your fears.
· Don’t focus on how to do it, but rather, why should I do it? Why do I want this goal to become a reality? The intensity of emotion with which this question is answered will determine whether the dream comes alive or dies.
· Embrace nonlinear thinking. Don’t give into the negative thoughts that the goal is impossible. Ask yourself how can it be done?
· Get really clear about what you want to change. Define what it is and then get totally committed to doing it.
· Compartmentalize your emotions and focus completely on the goal.
· Stop caring about what other people think about your dreams. Psychologists call it “approval addiction”, and once you overcome it to any significant degree, you are free of the psychological chains that bind most people from ever experiencing world-class success.

100 days is plenty of time to accomplish any goal you have. It’s time to get mentally tough and make a plan for long term success. While amateurs often live in the past, champions look toward the future. Focus on the present while creating your ultimate vision for, and landscape of the future. Future orientation allows you to dream of grand visions and unlimited possibilities. It will also keep you motivated and moving forward because it keeps the proverbial carrot out in front. It all begins with taking full responsibility for your life and your future.

Steve Siebold is one of the world’s most noted experts in the field of mental toughness training and is author of the international best-selling book 177 Mental Toughness Secrets of The World Class. His Fortune 500 clients include Johnson & Johnson, GlaxoSmithKline, Procter & Gamble, and Toyota. He began studying mental toughness training as a world-class junior tennis player in the 1970’s. He’s ranked in the top one-percent of income earners in the world in the professional speaking business. Visit http://www.speakerstevesiebold.com

If you are looking to save some money you can start by using homemade cleaning products to clean your home with. Not only are these inexpensive to make but most are eco-friendly too! I use a lot of baking soda and white vinegar around my home to kill germs and to keep my home clean. Here are a few other ideas to help you get your house cleaned up and do so on the cheap.

Vinegar – Vinegar can be used to remove mold, grease, and mildew. Vinegar will kill bacteria and germs. Just dilute down your white vinegar with tap water so that it doesn’t irritate your skin while using it.

Baking Soda – Baking soda can be used as a scouring agent and deodorizer. You can even brush your teeth with it. I like to make a baking soda paste by just adding a tad of tap water to it and then use it for scrubbing. It will also do a great job at deodorizing your garbage disposal. If your carpets have a stinky smell sprinkle plain baking soda onto your carpets and let it sit for an hour and then vacuum it up.

Bleach – I purchased an empty spray bottle and I put in 1/4 cup of bleach and then filled it with tap water. It now can be use to clean counter tops, toilets, tubs and sinks.

Salt – Your basic table salt makes for a good abrasive scouring powder so sprinkle some onto your stainless steel kitchen sink and use a sponge to scrub it down. A salt scrub also works well for removing baked on food from your cookware and bakeware too!

Lemon Juice – Lemon juice mixed with water makes a great all-purpose cleaner. I keep a spray bottle filled with lemon juice/water and spray down my kitchen countertops with it every day. It also is great for cleaning the microwave, stove-top and refrigerator.

As you can see…you don’t have to pay a fortune at the store for chemical household cleaners when you can spend pennies and make your own at home! Do you have any frugal cleaning tips to share with me today? If so, please leave me a comment.

Back to school is just around the corner. For many toddlers, it’ll be the first day of preschool and the very first day they’re away from mom and dad. My oldest daughter is starting preschool in the fall and just the thought of her going off to school for the first time gets me teary eyed.

How will I handle dropping her off at her first day of preschool? Better yet, how will she deal with her first day? If I know my daughter, I won’t be the only teary eyed person at the classroom door. Not only will there be some weeping, but possibly a tantrum or two while I peel her off my leg and try to make a get away.

To help make a smooth transition into the school year, I sat down with veteran moms and asked them how to survive the first day of school.

1. Tour the school with your child before the first day.
A tour will help your preschooler become familiar with her surroundings before getting dropped off by mom or dad. While visiting, meet the teacher, visit your child’s cubby, and get introduced to other children in the class. Make sure to act excited about everything you see. Your enthusiasm will help your child become more enthusiastic about school.

2. Go shopping with your child.
Yes, brave the toddler tantrums, grab your coupons, and take her to the store. Getting your child involved in picking out their own school supplies, backpack and clothes will help her mentally prepare for school. Give her the freedom to choose those gaudy, pink, sparkly shoes she loves. Tell her that she can wear them to school and show them off there. You can also have your child help you cut out or search for coupons for her school supplies. She’ll enjoy finding coupons for her items and will learn a simple lesson in savings. For a full list of places you and your child can search for coupons click here.

3. Let Her DIY
On the first day of school, allow her to pick out her outfit, help pack her lunch, and prep her school bag. Remember to be over enthusiastic about all her choices and be super duper EXCITED ABOUT EVERYTHING BECAUSE IT’S HER FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!!!! HIP HIP HOORAY!!!!!

4. Saying Goodbye
Now for the hard part — leaving your precious, screaming, teary eyed child at school. Give her a hug, kiss and a big smile at the classroom door. Wave goodbye and walk away. Don’t show any hesitation because, if she sees your uncertainty, it’ll make her uncertain about staying there.

5. Take It Easy Afterwards
The first day of school is over, but there’s one more tip for surviving the first day. Don’t plan on doing anything after school. Your child will likely be exhausted, so take it easy. Plan a nap and put together an easy dinner. The rest of the day, talk about what she experienced during her first day. Be upbeat about everything she tells you; remember she’ll have many more school days when you’ll both want to share the excitement.

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Maisie Knowles is the founder of BestBabyStuff.com, a website reviewing only the best baby products. She earned a B.A. in Communications from the University of Colorado in 2003 and currently spends most of her time at home with her two young girls.

Are you heading out soon on a road trip or family vacation and taking the kids along? If so, you will want to plan ahead and pack up several things that will keep the kids busy and keep them comfortable while you are traveling. How much you take along with you will depend on the number of children traveling with you and how long you will be traveling by car as children will need a nice variety of things to do so that they don’t get too bored.

Here are a few suggestions on things you could purchase and pack to help keep the kids busy and comfortable while traveling this summer.

* Hangman Game (Paper and Pencils)
* Tic, Tac, Toe Game (Paper and Pencils)
* I Spy Something (Color) Game (Paper and Pencils)
* License Plate Collector Game(Paper and Pencils)
* Crossword Puzzles & Activity Books
* Coloring Books and Crayons
* Sticker Books
* Classic Travel-Sized Board Games (Checkers, Chess, Sorry)
* Electronic Hand-Held Games
* Dice Games (Yahtzee)
* Classic Card Games (Uno, Go Fish, etc.)
* DVD’s and a DVD Player

In addition to packing games and activities to keep the kids busy while on a road trip you want to pack some cold beverages, various snacks, a few paper bag lunches, extra set of clothing for each person, a first aid kit, travel pillows and a few throw blankets.

Being prepared ahead of time while taking a road trip with the kids will save you a lot of stress and aggravation while out on the road.

Shelly Hill is the owner of the popular travel blog called Pennsylvania and Beyond located at http://pennsylvaniaandbeyond.blogspot.com where you can find valuable travel related articles, travel tips and lists of things to see and do across the United States.