To Live Better: September 2010

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Fabulous Freebies 2010

It's been said that the best things in life are free. And we couldn't agree more. That's why we're back with our fourth annual list of our favorite freebies.

We looked for primo goods and services -- no useless junk allowed. And, boy, we found them, from financial tools to entertainment to cold, hard cash. So put away your wallet -- your money is no good here.

Free Wi-Fi

Rejoice! About 6,800 Starbucks and 11,500 McDonald'snationwide recently began offering free Wi-Fi.

You can also go to WiFiFreeSpot.com to find places to surf free when you're away from home. The database includes airports, restaurants, hotels and more.

Free Business Advice

More from Kiplinger.com :

Save Money on Practically Anything

The Best Buys of Fall

10 Expenses You Don’t Need

Free Business Advice

Run your own business and you're bound to have questions. Go to SCORE.org to get free, confidential small-business advice. The nonprofit has 12,400 volunteer counselors, who are working and retired executives and business owners. Drop in to one of SCORE's 364 offices nationwide for a face-to-face consultation, or chat with an expert online.

Another great resource is the Small Business Administration. It often hosts free local workshops, and its Web site (SBA.gov) has an extensive list of tools and resources for entrepreneurs.

Free Car Repair Help

It won't fix your car free (darn), but RepairPal.com will help you find out whether your mechanic is quoting a fair price.

Enter your car's make, model and year, plus your zip code. Then choose among dozens of fixes to get a price range for the job at dealerships and independent shops in your area.

Free Cash

Don't let your short-term savings stagnate. Stash it in a high-yield online savings account such as ING Direct or HSBC Direct. They're FDIC-insured and were recently paying 1.1%. (For every $1,000 in your account, that's $11 free every year.)Online interest-bearing checking accounts from ING Direct and Everbank are also a good deal. They pay from 0.25% to 1.46%.

Another source of free cash: Some employers will match your contributions to your workplace 401(k) plan. For instance, if you contribute $100 per month, they may toss in another $50. You've got to save for retirement anyway, so take the free cash if it's offered.

Free Tech Support

If you're a member of Sam's Club or Costco, you can get free tech support -- even if you didn't buy the device at their store.

Or, for PC problems, anyone can head to TechGuy.org or 5starsupport.com for free help. You can search the forums for your computer's particular ailment or post a question to receive a timely response from the sites' groups of geek volunteers. And don't forget to try themanufacturer's web site. Many post user manuals and FAQs to help you solve your dilemma.

Free Credit-Card Perks

By simply carrying a credit card, you're entitled to some pretty cool freebies. For example, most credit cards come with freerental-car insurance, and some will cover the cost of yourvacation if you have to cancel your trip. Some cards will even cover the cost of an item you bought that gets lost, stolen or destroyed, or will allow you to return an item to them that the store won't take back (like those shoes you bought on clearance). You might also score a free extended warranty on your purchase.

Call your card issuer to ask for a list of your benefits.

Free Treats

Your favorite snack shop or fast-food restaurant may have an annual freebie day. Mark your calendar for free IHOP pancakes in February; free Ben & Jerry's ice cream, Rita's Italian ice, and a Starbucks pastry in March; free Pretzel Time pretzels and a Cinnabon treat in April; free Haagen Daas ice cream in May; a free Krispy Kreme doughnut, Sonic root-beer float and TCBY frozen yogurt in June; and a free Chick-Fil-A meal in July -- to name a few.

You can also sign up to score free food on your birthday from Famous Dave’s BBQ, Cold Stone Creamery, Denny’s and other eateries. Search the Web for "birthday freebies," or call your local restaurants to ask whether they offer such a deal.

Free Education

Many colleges and universities, such as Johns Hopkins, University of Notre Dame and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, post course material and lectures on their web sites. You won't get credit toward a degree, but you can pursue an interest, sharpen your skills or even learn a language.

You can also go to Apple's iTunes U to access more than 250,000 free lectures, videos and other materials from 600 universities, including Oxford, Stanford and Yale.

Free Credit Report and
Credit Score

Free Credit Report and Credit Score

One of our all-time favorite freebies isAnnualCreditReport.com, which gives you a free copy of your credit report from each of the three credit bureaus. (Don't fall for other sites that offer "free" credit reports, which often end up enrolling you in expensive credit-monitoring programs that you usually don't need.)

But your credit score has usually been costlier to come by. Now you can get a free score from CreditKarma.com and Quizzle.com. The sites give you a real credit score. While it's not the FICO score that most lenders use, you'll still get a good idea of where you stand.

Free Financial Apps

There's a slew of free apps for your mobile phone that can simplify your financial tasks.

Among our favorites are apps from Mint.com to track your spending and investments, Allpointand Moneypass to find surcharge-free ATMs nearby, Yowza for coupons on the go andCheckPlease Lite to easily calculate a tip or divide a restaurant check.

Free RX Drugs

Bring in your prescription, and you can get free antibiotics at some pharmacies, including those at Giant, Meijer, Publix, Stop & Shop and Wegmans. You can also get free prenatal vitamins at Meijer and Schnucks.

Free Tax Software and
Tax Filing

Free Tax Software and Tax Filing

Some tax professionals and tax-prep software charge you extra to actually file your return -- which seems downright silly. After all, you already paid them for their service, not to mention you already paid your taxes.

Check out the IRS's Free File program. If you make less than a certain amount (for 2009 returns filed this past Spring, the limit was $57,000 of adjusted gross income), you qualify for free tax-prep software and filing. Make more than that, and you can still file for free, but you don't get the free software.

Free Books, Music, Movies and More

You'll find the mother lode of freebies at your public library. All the books, magazines, audio books, video games and CDs you can carry won't cost a cent. Many libraries also have free Wi-Fi, DVDs and e-books. You may be able to go online to place your order for materials and a librarian will have them waiting for you when you arrive.

And that's not all. Your library may host free book clubs, lectures, film screenings, children's story times, craft activities and other community events.

Free Computer Protection

Is your computer vulnerable? You can download malware-protection services available free online.

We recommend PC Magazine's Editor's Choice: Panda Cloud Antivirus. Or try Microsoft's Security Essentials, which PCWorld.com says renders subscription antivirus services unnecessary.

Free Financial Advice

Kiplinger.com is a treasure trove of free financial advice, if we do say so ourselves. Our tools and calculators will help you get on the right financial track.

Our expert columnists answer your personal-finance questions on everything from general queries to family finances to ethical matters. Plus, we have loads of informative videos andpodcasts, top-notch stock and mutual fund analysis, and an active reader's community.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

5 expert secrets to looking younger than you are

by Liz Brody, Shine Staff, on Thu Sep 16, 2010 4:42pm PDT

Fabulous hair, a great plastic surgeon, personal trainers, stylists, and chefs who make house calls—when it comes to maintaining a youthful appearance, it's true, celebs have it easier than the rest of us. But, never fear, our panel of experts revealed a surprising number of ways to defy your age, and none of them require red carpet access.

THE COSMETIC DERMATOLOGIST

Who: Heidi Waldorf, MD, associate clinical professor at Mount Sinai Hospital's department of dermatology in New York.

Top Secret: Diligently apply sun protection. (You knew that was coming.) "Most women miss the jawline, neck, chest, and hands, and they're all very telling of aging skin," says Waldorf. Beyond that, if you're not planning to get pregnant, use topical retinoids a few times a week. You can get them in OTC products or in higher concentrations from a dermatologist. "Studies show they help aged skin look more normal microscopically," Waldorf says.

Next Best Tips: Once you hit 40, regular, gentle exfoliation helps keep the complexion lustrous. Of all theanti-aging products on drugstore shelves, Waldorf recommends RoC Deep Retinol Correxion Wrinkle Serum and SkinMedica TNS Essential Serum, which she calls, "chicken soup for the skin."

THE IMAGE CONSULTANT

Who: Kelly Machbitz, certified image consultant in Tampa, Florida, and author of All About Face.

Top Secret: Soften the eyeliner. "Women tend to go too heavy, which drags the eyes down and makes them look older," says Machbitz Instead of black, try a slate or grey. "Then, with your pencil or brush, just dot along the rim where your lashes are, and lightly connect the dots without drawing a harsh line straight across."

Next Best Tips: Lose the dark-outline lip trick. "You can create a much fresher look by using a nude lip liner to define the shape, and then filling in with a clear or subtle gloss," says Machbitz. And when it comes to choosing the right foundation it's worth a one-time splurge at the makeup counter to have a specialist help you pick the right foundation so it looks like you're not wearing anything. Before buying, let the product dry on your skin (the color can darken) and check it outside in the daylight. Once you have the perfect shade, you can always match it with a less pricey product.

THE DATING COACH
Who: Rachel Canis, professional matchmaker and president of Best Foot Forward, a Chicago dating service.

Top Secret: Downplay. "Make sure you're not going into dead-on cougar attire," says Canis. "I'm talking about wearing really tight clothes that show it all. I don't care how great your body is. After a certain age, it looks like you're trying too hard, and you just come off older." Then again, she says, "dressing super corporate can age you too." Young women have a sense of feeling comfortable with themselves, which is why Canis recommends mixing in some softer fabrics. "Try a structured piece with a flowy piece, or a tight tank top with a fuller jacket," she says. "I always seem to meet people when I'm wearing a cocktail dress and a pair of funky flip-flops."

Next Best Tips: Err on the side of less makeup, versus more. Peachy colors and a little shimmer are all you need for a young and dewy appeal, says Canis. Also trendy can be tricky. "The short, sculpted hairdos are great in your twenties, but when you're older, they frumpify you. And at a certain age, you really don't want to be doing green nails."

THE PHOTO DIRECTOR

Who: Katherine Schad, director of photography at O, the Oprah Magazine.

Top Secret: If you're posing for a photo, "black and white film is more forgiving than color," says Schad. "And shoot outdoors—an interior flash can be glaring if the photographer isn't a pro." The key to projecting "young", she says, is being relaxed. One tried-and-true trick: Look away from the camera and then turn back so the "click" will capture your spontaneous energy.

Next Best Tips: Schad, who often shoots real women for her magazine's makeovers, re-dresses her subjects in a classic look with a fun little twist: "Maybe a cute black dress with a pair of great red shoes, or jeans and a crisp, white shirt, with an unusual appliquéd jacket," she explains. As for hair? Overly-fussy updos are a little dated, she adds. When in doubt, get a blowout.

THE "REAL AGE" DOCTOR

Who: Micheal Roizen, MD, author of RealAge: Are you as young as you can be? and coauthor, with Mehmet Oz, MD, of YOU: Staying Young.

Top Secret: Above and beyond everything else, the No. 1 key to looking younger is a healthy attitude, says Roizen, who chairs the Wellness Institute at the Cleveland Clinic. "And the trick to that is re-focusing on how fortunate you are. Instead of griping, that jerk cut me off, you want to be thinking, At least I'm not as obnoxious as he is—or, in as much of a hurry."

Next Best Tips: Number 2 on the list (take Roizen's test to determine your "real age") is avoiding cigarettes, including second-hand smoke, which is "amazingly detrimental to your skin and health." Number three is exercise. To get maximum youth benefit for minimum sweat, find 30 minutes each day to walk, and every week do the following: a half-hour of resistance training plus three 21-minute bouts of cardio in which you go as fast as you can for the 10th and 21st minute. Not only will these interval blasts boost your metabolism, says Roizen, "but they'll increase the size of your hippocampus, which will keep you remembering long into the future."

Things You Can Do To Prevent Water Waste

Save Water in the Bathroom

Check your toilets for leaks
Stop using the toilet as an ashtray or waste basket
Put plastic bottles in your toilet tank - Put an inch of sand or pebbles inside each of two plastic bottles, fill them with water, and put them in your toilet tank, safely away from operating mechanisms. The bottles may displace and save 10 or more gallons of water a day.
Take shorter showers
Install water-saving shower heads or flow restricters
Take baths - use only a partially-filled tub
Turn off water after you wet your toothbrush
Rinse your razor in the sink by filling the sink with a few inches of warm water
Check faucets and pipes for leaks

Save Water in the Kitchen and Laundry

Use your automatic dishwasher only for full loads
Use your automatic washing machine only for full loads
If you wash dishes by hand, don't leave the water running for rinsing
Don't let the faucet run while you clean vegetables
Check faucets and pipes for leaks
Kitchen sink disposals require lots of water to operate properly. Start a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing food waste instead of using a garbage disposal. Garbage disposals also can add 50% to the volume of solids in a septic tank which can lead to malfunctions and maintenance problems.

Save Water Outside

Water your lawn only when it needs it. As a general rule, lawns only need watering every 5 to 7 days in the summer and every 10 to 14 days in the winter. A hearty rain eliminates the need for watering for as long as two weeks. Plant it smart, Xeriscape. Xeriscape landscaping is a great way to design, install and maintain both your plantings and irrigation system that will save you time, money and water. For your free copy of "Plant it Smart," an easy-to-use guide to Xeriscape landscaping, contact your Water Management District.
Deep soak your lawn - water long enough for the moisture to soak down to the roots
Water during the cool parts of the day - early morning is generally better than dusk. This reduces losses from evaporation.
Don't water the gutter - position sprinklers so water doesn't land on paved areas
Install sprinklers that are the most water-efficient for each use. Micro and drip irrigation and soaker hoses are examples of water-efficient methods of irrigation.
Raise the lawn mower blade to at least three inches. A lawn cut higher encourages grass roots to grow deeper, shades the root system and holds soil moisture better than a closely-clipped lawn.
Avoid over fertilizing your lawn. The application of fertilizers increases the need for water. Apply fertilizers which contain slow-release, water-insoluble forms of nitrogen.
Plant drought-resistant trees and plants that need less watering
Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants
Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks
Check for leaks in pipes, hoses, faucets, and couplings