Important Updates From Saabkyle04 1/30/2010 **Must Watch**!!!

ALSO, I forgot to mention, I am going to have to find another alternative to using sound demos on the radio due to complications with youtube and they're overzealous music policing. I'm trying to come up with ideas, but it'll be different from what I normally do, not sure yet though. Important updates I've been meaning to get out for some time now. I talk about future dealings with school, messaging, future videos to come and topics! Also some stats, what to expect in my future videos and some housekeeping details! Thanks for watching!

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Cloth Diapers: An Affordable And Efficient Solution

Diapers are definitely necessary items for babies. There are a lot of things you can do without, and a lot of things you can cut back when you have little ones, but diapers is not one of those things. They are a necessity. It is estimated that over the diapering stage of each child, a parent will spend upwards of $3000 just on disposable diapers. That is a lot of money being put toward something that you are merely throwing away when you are finished with it. For this reason among many others, some parents are now turning to an alternative: cloth diapers.

There was a time when all the self respecting mothers would have turned up their noses at cloth diapers. However, these products have come a long way since their debut. At one time, they were merely a small piece of cloth that had to be pinned around a baby bottom. It was hard enough to get the diaper to stay up, and a mother would always worry that a pin would come undone and poke the precious little one. And then there was the unfortunate problem of the baby constantly wetting through the material. These diapers were simply not effective. So when the disposable diaper arrived on the scene, everyone welcomed it with open arms.

However, here we are again, decades later, with millions sunk into disposable diapers, landfills overflowing with the things, and babies who are experiencing allergic reactions and more serious illnesses as a result of the chemicals used in the diapers manufacturing. Once again, we are looking for another solution.

Companies like BumGenius recognized the need for a more affordable diapering solution that was also effective for modern day use, earth friendly, and safe for use on baby. The result is a true work of innovative craftsmanship. Every mother who has ever tried BumGenius Organic Cloth Diapers are thrilled with their ease of use and affordability.

This is a world where we are all counting our pennies and praying that our paycheck will stretch until the end of the month. Many have experience pay cuts, and with the lagging economy, no one can afford any extra expenses. This situation has caused many of us to rethink the money that we are spending and consider if it is truly necessary.

There is no question, diapering is a necessity, but perhaps there is a better way than the method we have been practicing for years. Why are we throwing our money into the trash can with each disposable diaper when we could invest in a few well made cloth types that would likely last for the entire diapering stage of our children? The savings would be incredibly amazing, and give us a little extra money that we would rather spend other places anyway.

At the same time, you can put your child in cloth diapers that are not only extremely comfortable and safe for use next to babies skin, but are easy to clean and maintain. These are not the cloth diapers of old.

In a new more modern world, we are learning how to care more for our environment. We are learning to care more about being conservative with our money. And we are learning how to choose products that are effective and yet safe for use. In this modern world, many are realizing how much better cloth diapering choices really are.

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Talking with Your Child's Teacher - 5 Tips for Success

Your child will have numerous teachers over the course of his/her school
career. Effective communication between parents and teachers helps facilitate
success for a child. Below are five useful tips in establishing a valuable
relationship with your child's teacher.

1. Introduce yourself to your child's teacher within the first month of
school. Introducing yourself to the teacher will help establish a positive
rapport. It also affirms for your child that you are interested in staying abreast
of his/her time spent at school. It is preferable to do this introduction face to
face, perhaps at "back to school night" or during an open house, but you can
also do so in an email, phone call or written note.

2. Keep in contact with the teacher throughout the school year. It
is common mistake to wait until parent-teacher conferences to discuss any
questions and/or concerns. Since most schools only have these conferences
twice per year, many parents are not privy to their child's specific achievements
and/or needs within the classroom. Occasional notes, emails or phone
messages are powerful tools in monitoring your child's progress and do not
require much time for parents or teachers. This continual dialogue not only
informs you and the teacher but your child will benefit greatly from this
partnership.

3. Always make an appointment to speak with your child's teacher
about important issues. Before and after school are very busy times for
teachers. Trying to "catch" the teacher during these times will not result in a
thoughtful, informative discussion regarding your concerns. Scheduling a 10-
minute conference either over the phone or in person will allow the teacher to
prepare and give your questions his/her full attention.

4. Come prepared to the meeting. Write down any questions or
concerns you may have as they come up. This will ensure nothing is forgotten
and lets the teacher know that you take the meeting seriously. Come prepared
with any ideas that may help facilitate the discussion such as important tidbits
about your child (interests, strengths, areas of need, what s/he responds to,
etc.), information from previous teachers, and relevant details about your
home-life.

5. Work together to find solutions. Be careful not to rely on the
teacher to come up with the entire plan of action. A good teacher wants to
work collaboratively with parents. If you are unhappy with the results of a
conversation or meeting do not hesitate to give your feelings a voice, first to
the teacher and, if necessary, the school Principal.

When parents and teachers work together, they provide the child with the
strong foundation necessary for academic and social success. You may not
"love" every teacher your child has during his/her student career, however, if
you keep the above points in mind, you will be able to communicate effectively
and advocate for your child when necessary. For more educational information
and ideas please visit http://www.child-works.com/>Child-Works

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Organizing Kitchen Accessories : Kitchen Appliance Organizing

Organize your kitchen appliances based on how often they are used. Learn about appliance organizing with tips from an organizing expert in this free housekeeping video. Expert: Abigail Jones Bio: Abby Jones helps friends, family and clients move into, organize, arrange and decorate their homes and offices professionally and just for fun. Filmmaker: MAKE | MEDIA

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Cooking Turkey - How Much Time Does it Take to Cook a Turkey?

Some people get really uptight at the thought of cooking a turkey, but their worry is unfounded. Actually roasting a turkey is one of the easiest cooking feats to accomplish successfully. Allow for adequate turkey cooking time, and you can be successful your first time out. By following a few simple cooking tips, anyone can roast a perfect turkey to complement their Thanksgiving feast or any other meal.

The traditional way to cook a turkey is to roast it. Even roasting can be done a number of different ways. To start with, always wash a turkey thoroughly. Check it over for any remaining pin feathers, and cut off large chunks of fat. Tying the drumsticks together with a piece of string and securing the wings with toothpicks will help ensure even browning. If you aren't going to stuff your turkey, salt the bird's cavity well. Stuffing will increase the turkey cooking time you will need to allow for.

If you have a roasting pan with a lid, that is ideal to roast your turkey in. If not, a large baking pan will do. Spray the pan with cooking spray and then cover it with aluminum foil for ease of cooking. Put the turkey into the pan, and tent another sheet of foil over the top. Your turkey cooking time is going to depend on the way you cook it. A good rule of thumb in roasting an unstuffed turkey is to allow a half hour for each pound your turkey weighs. Roast your turkey until a meat thermometer inserted into the breast reads 170 degrees or 180 degrees in the thigh. The touchiest part of roasting a turkey this way is not to cook it too long which will cause it to dry out.

If you want a shorter turkey cooking time, you can invest in a roasting bag. These bags are quite inexpensive and will save you a lot of roasting time. Using a bag, a ten pound turkey can be roasted in about 2 hours. A timetable comes in the box with the bags which gives you the exact times depending on the size of your turkey and whether it's stuffed or not. All you have to do is add a tablespoon of flour to the bag to keep the turkey from sticking, pop in your prepared turkey, and use the enclosed tie to secure the end of the bag. Your turkey will brown beautifully and remain juicy.

Probably the fastest, although most expensive, way to cook your turkey is by frying it. This method is costly, because you have to invest in a turkey fryer and several gallons of oil. However, if you're pressed for time or oven space, this may be the way for you to go. It will only take about three minutes per pound to cook your turkey this way, and it will turn out very moist and flavorful. One caution, however. Frying also adds a large number of calories to low-calorie turkey meat.

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Dr Oz Miracle Diet - How I Lost 25lbs Using Two Free Diet Products

If you're like me, you probably know that keeping the pounds off can sometimes feel impossible. I've tried to no success many of the weight loss programs and diet products that many others have ... Atkins, South Beach, Jenny Craig, just to name a few. I even tried enrolling in a few exercise programs but found it very difficult to make the time.

The good news is that it doesn't have to be that way. I was able to loss all my weight with two products I saw mentioned on by Dr.Oz on the Oprah Winfrey show.

Dr.Oz was talking about this new Brazilian "superfood" called the Acai Berry. It's about the size of a grape and is just loaded with amazing health benefits .... Including fast weight loss. Used with all natural colon cleansing, Dr.Oz explained about how people were able to lose weight quickly and safely without killing themselves in the gym or being calorie-counting expert.

I decided to try the Acai Berry and colon cleanse that they talked about to see if I could slim down my lumpy body. The great thing about this diet duo is how quickly I lost weight ... without feeling hungry or tired. The Acai berry boost energy levels and makes it so much easier to start my day ready to conquer the world. Not only that, it's just loaded with antioxidants and all the good stuff that keeps you healthy and feeling great.

I wish I had found this diet sooner. After years of struggling to keep the weight off, finally I found a weight loss program that's simple and affordable ... and most importantly works!

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House Cleaning & Stain Removal : The Best Way to Clean Grout

The best way to clean grout is to use a toothbrush and a mixture of baking soda and vinegar to scrub all of the grout on the floor. After cleaning grout, use a bleach pen to keep the grout looking cleaning and white. Find out why getting white grout is not recommended with information from a professional house cleaner in this free video on cleaning grout. Expert: Rachel Yatuzis Contact: www.greenkleeninc.com Bio: Rachel Yatuzis is a professional house cleaner in Nashville, Tenn., specializing in using everyday household items for cleaning purposes. Filmmaker: Tim Brown

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Best Anti Wrinkle Cream Review - Revealed by Dr Oz on Oprah's Show

Anti wrinkle creams are now available for use by those people who wish to eliminate these lines under the eyes and wrinkles on the forehead. But as there is a flurry of products it is a Herculean task to select the best one. So we have to do a fair bit of research before going for a product. According to Dr. Oz, The best anti aging products are the ones which have the natural extracts of red wine, Matrixyl 3000 and other essential fatty acids to boost the skin tightening.

Completely Natural:

According to a recent research conducted by a leading dermatological company, Dermacai is the best anti aging cream till date. The reason being the effects it has on the skin at the first instance itself. You can feel the aura of the cream and its action almost instantly. But you may have to wait for two to three weeks for the miracle to happen.

Wrinkle Cream must have Natural Contents Like:

The extracts of the red wine like Resveratrol
Collagen extracts
Matrixyl 3000
Natural Cream base

Best Wrinkle Cream Comes With Following Advantages:

Clears Darkening Under the Eyes
Stimulates Renewal of Skin Cells
Rejuvenate the aging skin
Restore the youthful radiance

Actually selecting right product is most difficult thing. But I saw Dr. Oz on Oprah's Show suggesting Dermacai (For Removing Wrinkles) and Resveratrol Supplement (For Controlling Aging Process). I did lot of research to find to right Source for both Products. While doing my research on net, I found that few Companies offering Free Trail as they are very confident about results.

I went ahead and placed order on both sites offering the free trial of Dermacai and Resveratrol. It actually worked and changed my life.

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Car Housekeeping - Interior Cleaning

Housekeeping people do their job cleaning rooms or areas in malls or in hotels by following certain procedures. They also have the necessary materials and equipment for a specific texture that they are intending to clean. That is why they always get a good result.

This also relates in cleaning car interiors. Some elements of housekeeping are applied in car cleaning procedures.

In general, they start from the upper part to the bottom and from one side to the other. These are the basic in the concentrated effort in providing a clean car. Taking care of your car is a focal point of protecting your investment.

The fundamental parts of a car interior are made of leather, plastic, cloth, glass, and metal. Almost all material elements are present. Each texture has corresponding chemicals that can help easily in cleaning. It also has equipments and other necessary materials advised to be used. However, the differentiations in chemical application are dissimilar.

Normally using substance in cleaning has added ingredients that can be harmful to ones help. A room and a car as we know are two different areas, and its usage differs. That is why there are specific car cleaning chemicals in the market today that should be used.

These are the steps in cleaning the car interior.

1. Remove the carpet and the fabric cover and remove all dirt and unnecessary elements. As much as possible wash them with soap and water and let dry or if there are spares use them.

2. Remove dust in all corners from top to bottom and from one side to the other.

3. Using a stiff brush, utilize this in areas that could not be reaching by wiping or sweeping. One example is the car radio buttons.

4. Using a vacuum cleaner for car, remove dust on the same manner as you were sweeping the interior.

5. After these, apply all the chemicals that need to be drawn on. Use a clean cloth or car fiber to prevent from scratches or other results that may harm the car surface. Read on how to use the chemical.

6. After cleaning the car interior, dress the car with its carpet and seat cover. This is the time to condition the car by letting the chemical dry or unwanted smell goes.

These are the basic steps in cleaning the car interior which is very applicable. It is simple and effective.

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Chain of Fools

It seems the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval has been replaced by Oprah Winfrey when it comes to a validation of credibility ...

Having said that, if I'm not mistaken, all the former ever meant was that the product or service in question paid to advertise in Good Housekeeping magazine.

Still, in the vast anonymity of the cybermarket, a claim of credibility is vital to those who wish to convince us to send them money. Via her phenomenonally successful syndicated television show, Ms Winfrey's excellence at accurately portraying causes, incidents and situations has earned her a lofty mantle as the Anointess of Authenticity.

We can even see this phenomenon at work on the Longer Life Group's website that hosts my column, as there are products advertised which espouse her name. That's fine, of course, as it's easy for us to discern that the claims of these products are real in that respect (eg- Bob Greene really is her personal trainer). They are, no doubt, good products. If I ever feel the need to lose ten pounds in thirty days, I'll give them a try.

However, in the wild world of cyber-commerce, it seems that some salesmen decided to take a shortcut in this process. They figured it was good enough to merely claim their product was featured on Oprah.

As you've maneuvered through the spam and detritus of cyberspace, it's odds-on you've seen this headline:

'As Seen On Oprah! Teenager Makes $71,000 by Mailing a Simple Letter!'

The sales pitch relates the tale of a kid who diligently sent God-knows-how-many chain letters and wound up with a closetful of $10 bills, or something like that. The pitch goes on to state that this story was also featured on an American newsmagazine, 20/20, and featured in the Wall Street Journal. However, those outlets are merely there for support. It's Oprah that gives this story 'legs,' as they say in the movie business.

The object of the exercise is to induce you to buy into the chain by sending money to one or more of the names on a five-deep list, then removing the top name and adding your name to the bottom, so you can take your turn at collecting all that cash. You're surely aware of the drill.

In theory, this works to an exponential level. Then again, in theory, so does communism in mass society.

Need I say more?

From my research, it's false. Untrue. Never happened.

I went straight to the source and posed the question to the staff of Oprah, asking if any teenager ever appeared on the show and told how his chain letter made him $71,000 or more. Here's the e-mail I received:

"Date: 10 Oct 09:04

"Dear Viewer,

"We don't find any Oprah Show that talked about anyone making a fortune on a chain letter. References to chain letters include the cabbage soup diet, Mrs. Fields cookies and the Angel Network."

"Thank you,

"Oprah Tapes and Transcripts"

While I do admit a temptation to start a chain letter in hopes of receiving sackfuls of Mrs Fields' cookies by associating it with a real e-mail from Oprah's staff --- after which I would click on that ad featuring Bob Greene so I could buy his weight-loss program --- my common sense tells me that it just wouldn't work.

Still, the purpose of making such claims is to attempt to override your common sense, to get you to think that if Oprah gave credence to the story, then perhaps there is something to it. So, when the 'target' amount they want you to pay is set at the price of a couple of beers or a handful of lottery tickets, the hook is well and truly baited.

What a logical way for you to lose a few bucks! And you will. Whether you send out letters or e-mail, you will lose your money and look silly to your recipients while doing it. Again, we'll discuss that next time.

For now, suffice it to say that as far as this story goes, I'm convinced that Oprah never aired it. The only reference we'll confirm is that Aretha Franklin sang it.

'Chain of Fools.'

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NADCA's Safety in the Die Casting Workplace - Machine Gaurding

Incident rates in the die casting workplace average two times the rates of all other private industries. This is an astounding number. NADCA produced this safety video to assist the die caster in learning to recognize the hazards in the die casting environment. This video demonstrates how to work in a safe manner to reduce potential injury to themselves and their co-workers. This video covers lock-out/tag-out of equipment, personal protective equipment, metal melting and handling, die casting machine guarding, hazardous communication, and housekeeping. All of these topics are essential for the die caster to know in order to work safely and to maintain a safe work environment. This video was made possible through funding from the HL Red Harvill Foundation. The Harvill Foundation was established to provide support for continuing education opportunities in the die casting industry. This video is available for purchase at: www.diecasting.org/publications Item: #V908-DVD

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How to Give a Residential Cleaning Estimate

Residential Cleaning is a great business with low over head and high profit potential. Unlike commercial cleaning, it's not very difficult to give a residential cleaning bid. Here are common ways to do it:

Step 1) Call existing house cleaning businesses in your geographic area and ask for COMPS. Make sure to ask for comparables per square foot and per project performed. Now, don't lie to your competition by telling them you're a customer when you are clearly not--be honest. Even if the existing company does not tell you their rate per square foot and per project, they will respect you for your honesty and candor.

Step 2) Take into account cleaning supplies used. Go to discount places like Dollar General and Dollar Tree to purchase your supplies as much as possible as you will save a bundle of money getting your supplies from such stores.

Step 3) Use your own experience. Clean your own home and take into account a) the square footage of your home, b) how long it took you to clean your home at a reasonable pace, c) the cleaning projects you performed in your home, and d) the cost of cleaning supplies used. Write all this information down. Then, when you give an estimate to someone who wants you to clean their home, you will be able to price accordingly. This is an EXCELLENT way to price a residential cleaning bid.

Step 4) Often times, customers not only want you to clean their home, but also want you do landscaping, yard work, and mowing of their lawn. Do not turn away this additional business! If you can't perform these projects yourself, contract them out to someone who can. Just ensure you know your subcontractor's rates when you give your initial bid otherwise you could lose alot of money doing this.

As a professional how to business book writer, I've met with many professionals in the house cleaning business and the preceding 4 steps are tried-and-true methods of giving a residential cleaning estimate. For more information, check out the resource box below.

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Housekeeping Tips and Home Cleaning Techniques : Expert Tips on Bathroom Sink Cleaning

Cleaning the bathroom sink is one of the toughest jobs of the housekeeper, get expert house cleaning and housekeeping tips in this free video. Expert: Paige Williams Contact: www.porchproductions.net Bio: Paige Williams has an MFA in Media Arts and is the owner of Porch Productions. Filmmaker: Paige Williams

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How To Fold Bed Sheets : Tips for Folding Twin Fitted Bed Sheets

Learn how to fold a twin fitted bed sheet in this free good housekeeping video, with tips for keeping a clean home. Expert: Karen Weisman Bio: Karen Weisman graduated from Boston University with a degree in Hotel and Food Management. Since then, she has helped a national grocery store chain develop and launch a gourmet food division. Filmmaker: Karen Weisman

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Frozen Pina Colada Recipe

Here's a classic recipe for the popular sweet party drink, the Pina Colada. Good Housekeeping Videos: www.goodhousekeeping.com Good Housekeeping Magazine: www.goodhousekeeping.com Subscribe to Good Housekeeping: subscribe.hearstmags.com -

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House Cleaning - Computers and Televisions

To view the next video in this series click: www.monkeysee.com

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Ratatouille Recipe

Make this delicious Provencal classic and serve it hot or cold. Good Housekeeping Video: www.goodhousekeeping.com Good Housekeeping Magazine: www.goodhousekeeping.com Subscribe to Good Housekeeping: subscribe.hearstmags.com -

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Knife Techniques: Julienne

Master the method of julienne vegetables. It will make your presentation stand out but will also ensure more controlled cooking. Good Housekeeping Videos: www.goodhousekeeping.com Good Housekeeping Magazine: www.goodhousekeeping.com Subscribe to Good Housekeeping: subscribe.hearstmags.com -

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Comparing Skin Care Products - The DermaNew Microdermabrasion Kit Vs The Clarisonic Skin Care Brush

If you enjoy watching "The Oprah Winfrey Show", chances are you have seen her segment "Oprah's Favorite Things" which discusses innovative new consumer products. Recently she featured an item called the Clarisonic Skin Care Brush System, which is designed to remove dirt and oil from your skin, leaving it healthy and refreshed. However, another similar product offers all of the same features and benefits of the Clarisonic Skin Care Brush and much more, at less than half the suggested retail price: the DermaNew Microdermabrasion Total Body Experience Kit.

The Design of the DermaNew

The DermaNew Home Microdermabrasion Tool was designed by two salon owners in Beverly Hills, California. Finding that spa microderm treatments were costly for consumers and required the salon staff to have extensive training and expensive equipment, they designed the first DermaNew Home Microdermabrasion Tool. With this new skin care device, the average consumer can enjoy a full body micro dermabrasion treatment whenever they like at less than the cost of one salon visit. In 2006 the DermaNew System won the "Redbook" 2006 MVP Beauty Award, and has since been featured in "Good Housekeeping", "Vogue", "Cosmopolitan", and "InStyle".

What separates the DermaNew from skin care brush devices such as Clarisonic is the additional functionality beyond its cleaning abilities. Like its competitors, it also features a skin care brush with soft bristles designed for cleansing and polishing. Contrary to popular belief, however, a brush is not designed for deep cleaning and is not considered a form of skin treatment, so it fails to reach a large amount of dirt and oil in your skin and leave your skin in the best possible condition. To properly exfoliate your skin, clean additional debris, remove dead skin cells, microdermabrasion treatment is far more effective than a simple brush cleaning.

Accessories and Added Benefits of DermaNew vs. Clarisonic

The primary advantage of the DermaNew system is the price of the kit and the number of products and accessories that are included with it. The Clarisonic system includes two brush heads, the handle with charging cradle, and a two ounce sample of cleanser. The brush has an integrated rechargeable battery which must be charged using the included cradle. The DermaNew system includes microderm attachments for the face and the body, a callus softening tool, a skin brush attachment, a sixty day supply of microdermabrasion cream, polishing body wash, skin moisturizer, and batteries. The DermaNew uses standard AA batteries so that when you travel with the kit you do not have to worry about bringing a charger with you. The enclosed accessories for the DermaNew are all available separately and cost much less than the accessories for the Clarisonic.

The DermaNew is the Better Deal

When you consider the factors of functionality versus cost along with the added products that are included with it, the DermaNew Microdermabrasion Total Body Experience Kit is far superior to the Clarisonic Skin Care System in every way. Fully portable, very inexpensive, and designed for users of almost any skin type, the Total Body Experience is designed to give your skin the treatment it deserves.

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Megans Chores

Unfortanatly, Windows movie maker is STILL spazzing out. (You may notice, there is no clip for cleaning the miror, and that too is WMM fault) But, hopefully, I will get a new editing system for my birthday =]

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School of Hard Knocks - IT Certification Bootcamps Go Bust As E-learning Advances

In December 2009, thousands of IT students received a nasty holiday surprise as leading IT certification bootcamp providers ComputerTraining.edu and Vigilar's Intense School suddenly announced they were going out of business, effective immediately.

Online IT forums flooded with panicked posters desperate to determine whether they would be able to continue their coursework and obtain refunds for training they'd never receive. Many posts took on a tragic tone as concerned colleagues and other training firms lamented the fate of the victims. "The worst are the clients who have bought classes that will not be delivered or clients who have bought a large quantity of vouchers worth absolutely nothing, some of them losing their yearly training budget. This is the tragedy in all of this," stated Sondra J. Schneider, the founder and CEO of Security University. It appears both training firms may have fallen victim to the ongoing credit crunch.

Although the suddenness of the announcements came as a shock, industry insiders were not surprised that investors and banks abandoned training programs based on antiquated business models. Many noted that although expensive classroom instruction was once the primary option for IT certification, elearning has replaced it as firms focus on cost-efficiency and increased ROI. For organizations struggling to do more with less for the foreseeable future, e-learning advancements may even represent the difference between potential growth and stagnation.

Are Classroom Bootcamps Worth the Risk?

There's no denying the value classroom training bootcamps have provided the IT industry. Courses are usually led by highly qualified subject experts. Students receive attention in small to moderate sized groups. Ideally, their focus is not diverted from the subject by outside distractions and competing job duties. Although some executives continue to view classroom training bootcamps favorably, the exorbitant cost is unfortunately becoming a luxury few organizations can now justify. Training firms that continue to count on luxury spending in 2010 will undoubtedly struggle and fail.

Although companies still rely on quality IT certification training, only 48% of the IT certification courses conducted in 2009 occurred via traditional instructor-led classroom-based training. (1) In 1999, that figure was 71%. In 2010, only the training firms that offer a variety of affordable e-learning alternatives can be expected to survive.

Vetting IT Certification Bootcamp Providers

In the wake of the closings of bootcamp providers ComputerTraining.edu and Vigilar, IT bootcamps may pose a significant investment risk. Since courses are often paid for weeks or even months in advance, and the training firm's financial records are not common knowledge, there's no way to anticipate where the ax could fall next. Even training institutions that appear to be thriving could be in trouble.

For example, Vigilar's Intense School advertised a 95% pass rate on exams. The company's website continued to post news of awards and achievements during the months before the school's closing, including an appearance by school representatives on the Today Show. News that the school had been named a finalist in the 2010 SC Awards for outstanding achievement in IT security came mere days before the Intense School closed its doors for good.

Statistics like these prove that there is no foolproof way to vet IT certification bootcamp providers in today's economic climate. Unlike e-learning products that can be provided immediately upon payment, bootcamp courses are usually scheduled in advance, increasing the risk of loss if the company's fortunes fade quickly. In a statement posted on the company's website, ComputerTraining.edu representatives claimed to have been shut down by BB&T Bank "with no forewarning or notice.

Several training providers have offered to provide similar courses for free or at a reduced cost to Vigilar and ComputerTraining.edu students. Clients can also contact their state educational regulators to try to recoup some of their lost investment. Many remain hopeful, but these limited and often inconvenient options just aren't good enough. IT executives are wary of becoming overly dependent on training programs wedded to outdated business models and fearful of bootcamp failures derailing their own training objectives.

Relying on Bootcamp Guarantees?

Before bootcamps began closing, the principal risk associated with purchasing the courses involved paying significant upfront fees only to have poorly prepared students later fail the exams. Of course, classroom bootcamp vendors offer satisfaction guarantees to help you mitigate your investment risk. But how often are those guarantees actually implemented? Take this example: Employee A fails to pass the PMPcertification exam after you've paid $1900* (plus travel expenses) for the 4-day classroom test prep course. You request a refund from the vendor, but you are only eligible for an initial refund of $275, and your employee must take the exam again within the next 30 days to be eligible for any additional funds.

In fact, IT training vendor PMStudy maintains a refund policy that requires students to fail the PMP exam three times before the company will refund the entire course price - and that refund only applies if the student took the first exam within 30 days after the bootcamp and makes each subsequent attempt within the next 30 days, and the next 30 days, and so on...

So although you could potentially recoup your entire investment in this scenario, the process won't exactly be painless. And, of course, you won't be able to recoup lost travel fees, the price of accommodations, or the employee's lost time away from work while he was attending the bootcamp.

What's the E-Learning Cost Comparison?

Using our previous example, suppose that Employee A decides to forego the $1900 bootcamp and instead selects a comprehensive PMP exam prep package** from the same vendor, only this time in an e-learning format. The cost savings? At least $1500, and possibly more, since many e-learning vendors provide a variety of packages that allow employees to receive only the materials they actually need. Add in fees for travel, accommodations, and lost work hours, and the numbers can change from red to black in a hurry.

How Much Time Can You Save with E-Learning?

Since e-learning programs allow students to study at their own pace, employers control the amount of time lost during the workweek. Some employees are permitted to study solely during non-working hours, while others enjoy study periods during any downtime that occurs throughout the workday. Unlike classroom training, e-learning is flexible, so employees and employers have the power to determine when studying should occur. Unfortunately, many employers are now short-staffed due to the recession, so they can't often spare key employees for offsite bootcamp courses.

E-learning affords businesses the opportunity to enhance the skills of their core workforce without sacrificing employee productivity. Contrary to popular belief, computer-based training also actually requires less time than instructor-led training. The time required to complete an e-learning course ranges by an average of 40-60%, with some students spending up to 80% less time on coursework. (2)

How Easy Are E-Learning Courses to Use?

Many e-learning vendors provide courses that appeal to several senses by integrating text, graphics, and audio features. This inclusion is critical, since most educators believe that students what they hear and see.

IT employees often prefer e-learning formats since they allow them to experience course materials in the format in which they are already most comfortable. Ask any IT worker whether he'd prefer to sit in a classroom with other students listening to a lecture or participate in a self-paced computer-based course.
You probably won't be surprised by his answer.

What's the Value of a Self-Assessment?

Self-assessments are one of the most unique features of any quality e-learning program. Students can take a pre-test before they even begin studying in order to gauge their strengths and weaknesses. This feature enables students to proceed with a program customized to meet their needs. Many are often surprised by the results, unaware of how much or how little they actually know about certain subject areas. By obtaining this information ahead of time, the student can then tailor his program to focus on the areas in which he needs the most assistance instead of wasting it on areas he may have already mastered. Self-assessments were created specifically to address the frustration many students experience by one-size-fits-all classroom or self-study courses that give equal weight to all course material regardless of the skill level or experience of the individual student.

How Does E-Learning Reduce Test Anxiety?

One of the most common obstacles experienced by potential test-takers in any field is classic test anxiety. Forcing an anxious employee to participate in a classroom setting can only exacerbate this problem.

Allowing students to study alone and take practice tests in the format they'll actually use for the examination can go a long way toward reducing their anxiety. Taking advantage of e-learning products that offer self assessment features are also helpful, since they give students immediate feedback on their progress.

Computer-based pre-tests can reassure students who are unsure of their abilities. Many are pleasantly surprised to learn they have already mastered certain areas of the exam. Even providing guidance on the areas in which they should focus can have a calming effect. Most importantly, e-learning affords test anxiety sufferers the comfort of studying and learning in private, and based on their own schedule.

Using E-learning to Standardize Staff Skill Levels

One of the most popular features of e-learning is the ability to use the medium across a large and diverse group of employees. In the past, the prohibitive cost of classroom bootcamps and accompanying travel requirements often led employers to select only a few choice staff members for IT certification training. Unfortunately, those decisions also meant that large numbers of IT staff remained uncertified and unfairly dependent on the lucky few who had received formal training. Since untrained staff members tend to underutilize existing technology, additional technical resources were routinely wasted, something no organization needs, especially in the midst of a struggling
economy.

Industry studies show that Microsoft certified teams are 28% more productive, and teams in which more than half of the team members are Microsoft certified demonstrate a 15-17% improvement in job capabilities.(3)

What Types of E-Learning Formats Are Available?

One of the strengths of the e-learning industry has been its acknowledgment that no two students learn in the same way. Elearning vendors know that Employee A prefers CBT training, but Employee B learns best by listening to audio courses during his commute, and Employee C just wants to take as many practice tests as humanly possible. Video, audio, and CBT options abound, as do more traditional workbook and textbook alternatives. Students can choose individual products or select a combination of tools in order to maximize their learning potential and improve their chances of passing certification exams on the first attempt. Computer based reporting features and constant feedback further validate their progress.

Conclusion

The sudden insolvency of two reputable and respected IT certification training firms has given the entire industry a reason to re-evaluate its training methods. As classroom bootcamp training becomes less of a standard and more of a luxury, e-learning presents a cost-effective alternative for organizations looking to do less with more, and do it quickly. Utilizing e-learning programs enables a global workforce to enhance skill sets without expensive travel and inconvenient scheduling headaches. Staff productivity levels are preserved, and learning becomes more individualized as students choose from a variety of video, audio, and CBT learning formats. Employees prefer the adaptability of e-learning. It reduces test anxiety and provides invaluable and immediate, student-specific feedback that can't often be duplicated in a classroom setting. Paid certification opportunities can certainly help you lure and retain the best and brightest technical minds, but providing these benefits to your workforce doesn't have to fracture your firm's bottom line. Utilize e-learning alternatives to strengthen your workforce while enjoying increased productivity and elevated employee morale.

Notes

*Actual 12/09 online cost of PM Study's 4-day PMP Bootcamp
**Actual 12/09 online cost of PMP Training: 40 PMI contact hours,* 4 Simulated Practice Tests,
Guides and Chapter Tests on all Knowledge Areas
(1) "Learning's Reinvention Jumpstarted by Tough Economy," Catherine Upton, Group Publisher
of Elearning! and Government Elearning! magazines, January 2010
(2) Hall, B., Web-Based Training Cookbook
(3) "Value of Certification: Team Certification and Organizational Performance," IDCWhite
Paper, November 2006.

How to Choose Your Bathroom Accessories Furnishings for Your Home

Cleaning Floors : Cleaning Laminate Flooring

Cleaning laminate flooring can be done in a variety of ways, including with a vacuum cleaner, with vinegar and water or with Windex and water. Dry up freshly cleaned laminate flooring to avoid warp with cleaning tips from the owner of a housekeeping service in this free video on cleaning...

How to Choose Your Bathroom Accessories Furnishings for Your Home

Which 'Green' Cleaning Products Work Best?

Good Housekeeping tested many environmentally-friendly cleaning products to see which ones are the best.

Furnishings for Your Home How to Choose Your Bathroom Accessories

Bathroom Shower Tile Deeply Impacts People's Perception Of Your House

Your new house will never be complete until you can proudly claim that it is well furnished. Who would want a lavish house without a living room or bathroom that matches its elegance? Lovers of interior decoration and housekeeping magazines can relate to the importance attached to a well furnished bathroom. At this stage, I must make it clear that you don't need to spend a fortune on a bathroom, but you certainly need to focus your mind on designing one and choose carefully from the mind boggling variety of accessories.

One of the most vital components of a luxurious bathroom is bathroom shower tile, however, we seldom realize its significance. Bathroom shower tile often takes up the most surface area of your bathroom, which makes it a major criterion for determining the look and aesthetics of your bathroom.

There are different types of shower tiles available at all hardware stores. That is a good thing as it provides you with options to choose from. This ensures that you can pick a bathroom shower tile that conforms to your individual taste. The drawback is that too many options can also end up confusing you. To make shopping easier, it is a good idea to write your ideas on a piece of paper before you actually visit a hardware store to look at shower tile.

Bathroom tiles made of ceramics can last many decades and retain their sheen for many years. So, ceramic tiles are definitely a good option for your bathroom. Moreover, these tiles are much cheaper than granite or marble tiles.

It is important to understand that the size of the bathroom tile is critical. If the tile is too small, it will spoil the beauty. However, large tiles are much more expensive and the cost of their replacement is also much higher. Your choice of tile size will depend in part on your budget and what is available in the colors you want.

It is equally important to employ the services of a professional mason for installing bathroom shower tiles. These tiles should not be laid completely flat. Tiles that act as tub surround or tiles that are located in corners need to be placed at a gradient to ensure that water is allowed to run-off into the drain. The gradient is best understood by a mason. Unless you are experienced at installing ceramic tile, it's usually best to hire a professional, otherwise your bathroom renovating could turn out to be more expensive that you had planned.

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Good Housekeeping Magazine Subscription: Secret Behind Elegant Home Decor

You are careful about the beauty of your house. You have seen some elegantly decorated houses of your friends and have wondered the secret behind it. Though you have tried different methods, you could not bring that unmatched beauty to your home. Recently, you have checked an issue of a housekeeping magazine and have found it useful for your purpose. The decoration tips that you have received in this magazine have really impressed you and you have decided to purchase the issue regularly. Though the magazine is really good and you like it truly, you are hesitating to purchase every issue of it for its price. Your expenses will increase significantly if you take the magazine issue regularly and so you are hesitating to purchase it.

Well, each new issue of the good housekeeping magazines will give you new ideas to improve the décor theme of the house. Therefore, it will become easier for you to get the desired look of the house. However, if you feel that purchasing the issue of the magazine regularly from the newsstand will increase your expenses significantly, you can check out for the subscription offers. Many people who are fond of reading this housekeeping magazine prefer to opt for the good housekeeping magazine subscription. There are several factors for which the readers now opt for the subscription offers of magazines and newspapers.

As you do not want to increase your expenses in a significant manner, it is better for you to go for the subscription. By opting for these offers, you will have to pay the price of the magazine issues for a few months. As you pay the price of the magazine issues for a few months in advance, you will be entitled to get a discount on the price of the magazines. Therefore, you will be able to make some savings without compromising your interest of reading the magazine.

The discounts and deals of the subscription offers are generally based on the time period for which you have selected the offer. Therefore, before selecting any subscription package, you should check out which one is offering you the best deal. If you can find the best deal on the magazine package, it will become easier for you to get the best value of your money. When you are making subscription to good housekeeping magazine or any other housekeeping magazine, you should ensure to fill the form correctly. Check out the postal address that you are providing in the form. Always remember a little mistake in filling up the form can create huge problems later. So, be careful when you are entering the information in the subscription forms.

By selecting a subscription package of a magazine, you will be able to avoid the hassles of visiting the newspaper stands to purchase your issue. The magazine will be delivered to your doorstep on the address you have provided in the form. Therefore, you will not have to remember the date of publication and rush to the newsstands to get hold of the copy before it becomes unavailable in the newsstands.

Furnishings for Your Home How to Choose Your Bathroom Accessories

Information About No-Fault Car Accident Benefits

1. I was injured in a car accident. Am I entitled to compensation?

In addition to the possibility of a lawsuit to recover a money award or settlement for injuries, pain and suffering and other losses, Ontario's government requires automobile insurers to provide certain mandatory benefits to most people who are injured or killed in car accidents. These benefits are called "statutory accident benefits". The statutory accident benefits system operates on a "no-fault" basis. This means that, subject to some limited restrictions, you may be entitled to compensation even if you are the one that caused the accident.

As an injured party, you may well be entitled to receive benefits regardless of whether you were a driver, passenger, cyclist or pedestrian. You, as well as your family members and dependants, can often receive benefits even if you did not have car insurance at the time of the accident.

There are often disputes about what benefits you are entitled to and what insurance assessments you are required to attend. It is often a good idea to consult with a personal injury lawyer to determine what you are entitled to and what steps you need to take to protect your interests.

2. What kind of benefits can I receive?

Income Replacement Benefits - these benefits are designed to reimburse you for some of the money you lose as a result of being unable to work due to an injury suffered in a car accident. Benefits are not payable for the first week and you must meet a disability test to qualify for the benefits. The disability test becomes more difficult to meet after more than two years have passed since the accident.

You can receive income replacement benefits whether you are an employee or a self-employed individual. The maximum that you can receive is generally $400 per week, unless other optional increased benefits are purchased.

If you are self-employed, your income calculation will be more complicated and insurers often hire accountants to assist them with these calculations.

Non-earner Benefits - you may receive these benefits if you are 16 years of age or older and have suffered a complete inability to carry on a normal life as a result of the accident within 104 weeks after the accident. A lawyer can assist in explaining what "complete inability to carry on a normal life" means and how that term has been interpreted by the cases. The benefits are only available to certain classes of people, ie: unemployed but enrolled in school on a full-time basis, or have completed your education less than one year before the accident and not be employed in a job that reflects your education and training.

The amount of the non-earner benefit is generally $185 per week, although nothing will be payable for the first 26 weeks of the disability. However, if your disability has lasted for more than 104 weeks, you will be entitled to receive $320 per week following the initial 104 week period.

Caregiver Benefits - these benefits may be payable if you (the injured person) were living with a person in need of care (such as a young child or an elderly parent) prior to the accident and were not being paid for these services. You may be able to recover reasonable and necessary expenses up to a maximum of $250 per week for the first person in need of care and $50 per week for each additional person. You should note that when it comes to the income replacement, non-earner and caregiver benefits, only one of these three benefits can be paid at any given period of time.

Medical and Rehabilitation Benefits - this benefit deals with reimbursement for reasonable and necessary expenses such as medical, surgical, dental, optometric, hospital, nursing, ambulance, audio metric, speech-language pathology, chiropractic, psychological, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, medication, prescription eyewear, dentures, hearing aids, wheelchairs, prostheses, orthotics, transportation to and from treatment sessions (excluding the first 50 kilometers of the trip in the injured person's vehicle), workplace/home/vehicle modifications, life skills training, counseling, and vocational assessments.

Subject to some exceptions set out in the pre-approved framework guidelines, you must submit a treatment plan to the insurance company prior to beginning treatment. If you do not submit a treatment plan, the insurance company could refuse to compensate you for treatment. The treatment plan must be prepared by a health professional and signed by one of the following - physician, psychologist, physiotherapist, dentist, or optometrist.

You can receive a maximum reimbursement of $100,000 for "reasonable and necessary" expenses acquired in the period of 10 years following the accident. If you suffered "catastrophic impairment", you may be entitled to receive up to $1,000,000 incurred over your lifetime.

Attendant Care Benefits - this benefit may provide compensation for services of an aide or an attendant who is assisting you due to your injury. This could include services of a family member or other aide looking after you at home, or services provided by a long-term care facility including a nursing home, home for the aged or chronic care hospital.

You may be entitled to a maximum of $3,000 per month for two years following the accident. If you suffered "catastrophic impairment", you may receive up to $6,000 per month up to a maximum of $1,000,000 without a time limit. The insurer may ask you to provide it with a certificate from a health professional confirming that you require attendant care services.

Funeral and Death Benefits - when a person dies due to a car accident, his or her estate may be entitled to reimbursement of funeral expenses to a maximum of $6,000.

The deceased's spouse, dependants and caregivers may also be entitled to death benefits. Death benefits are usually only payable if the deceased died within 180 days after the accident, or, if the deceased was continuously disabled as a result of the accident, within 156 weeks after the accident. No benefits will be payable to a person who dies before the deceased or within 30 days after the deceased.

A spouse may receive $25,000 if the deceased was married. If the deceased was not married, but had dependents, the $25,000 would be divided equally among the dependents. On top of the $25,000, each of the dependents and former spouses of the deceased (to whom the deceased had an obligation to pay spousal support) will be entitled to $10,000.

If the deceased was himself or herself a dependent at the time of the accident (ex. if the deceased was a minor child), $10,000 would be payable to the person upon whom the deceased was dependent (ex. parent or grandparent) or, if that person is dead, to that person's surviving spouse or dependents.

Visiting Expenses - if you sustained injury in a car accident, your family members and individuals who were living with you at the time of the accident may be entitled to reimbursement for all of their reasonable and necessary expenses incurred as a result of coming to visit you during your treatment or recovery. The visitors will only be reimbursed for expenses incurred within 104 weeks after your accident, unless your injury is catastrophic.

Lost Education Expenses - if, due to your injuries, you are unable to continue in the education program in which you were enrolled at the time of the accident, you may be entitled to claim for your lost education expenses up to the maximum amount of $15,000. You may get reimbursed for expenses incurred before the accident including tuition, books, equipment or room and board.

Housekeeping and Home Maintenance Expenses - you may receive compensation for reasonable and necessary housekeeping and home maintenance expenses, if your injury resulted in a substantial inability to do your housekeeping and home maintenance and you normally performed home maintenance services before your accident. Your housekeeping and home maintenance expenses may be paid for 104 weeks to a maximum of $100, unless the injury is catastrophic, in which case the time-limit does not apply.

Psychological and Mental Injuries - your family members and dependents (whether related or not) may be entitled to receive benefits if they have suffered psychological injuries as a result of your accident.

Cost of Examinations - you may be reimbursed for reasonable fees charged by health care providers in preparing disability certificates, reviewing and approving treatment plans, preparing applications for approval of assessments or examinations, preparing assessments of attendant care needs, and preparing applications for determinations of catastrophic impairment. You are normally required to obtain consent of the insurer before incurring examination expenses. However, there are certain exceptions. Your treatment providers may well be able to assist you in applying for these benefits

Other Expenses - you may be entitled to be reimbursed for all reasonable expenses you incurred in repairing or replacing clothing, prescription eye wear, dentures, hearing aids, prostheses and other medical or dental devices that were lost or damaged as a result of the accident.

3. How can I claim my benefits?

Compensation will not be paid to you automatically following your accident. In order to receive benefits, you should notify your insurer within seven days of the date of the accident that you wish to submit an application. Late applications are made in many cases and you could discuss this with a lawyer. The insurer will then be required to send you the application forms as soon as possible. You will have to complete the forms and send them back to your insurer within 30 days. If you will not be able to meet the 30-day deadline because of the severity of your injuries, it is probably a good idea for you to advise your insurance company (but you may well wish to seek legal advice from a lawyer).

4. Which insurance company will provide my statutory accident benefits?

If you have car insurance or if you are a listed driver on someone else's auto insurance policy, your own insurer will likely be responsible for providing you with benefits.

If you do not have auto insurance, and you were injured in a car accident as a pedestrian or a cyclist, you may be able to apply to the insurance company that insured the car that hit you. If you were a passenger, you may well be able to apply to the company that insured the car in which you were riding.

In some situations, no insured drivers are involved. In such cases, you may be able to claim compensation from a special government fund (the "Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Fund") set up to handle these type of scenarios.

It is important to remember that statutory accident benefits will generally only compensate you for losses that are not covered by some other private insurance policy or employment benefits plan. If these other policies or plans will cover only part of the losses incurred, the statutory accident benefits can be used to compensate you for the balance, subject to some limitations.

5. What can I do if the insurance company denied my claim for benefits?

If you are having problems recovering benefits to which you are entitled, you may be entitled to sue the insurer in court or try to enforce payment through arbitration. However, before you can proceed to court or to arbitration, you are required to mediate the dispute with the Financial Services Commission. It is extremely important to initiate mediation within two years from the date that the benefit was denied. An injury/car accident lawyer can provide further details with respect to this.

Furnishings for Your Home How to Choose Your Bathroom Accessories

5s Training Video - an aide for managers and trainers

want to have a 5s housekeeping campaign in your workplace. This video is great as an icebreaker to get the ball rolling. It's another lesson from aitch the lean improvement consultants

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Can New Dishes Help With Portion Control?

New plates, dishes and containers claim to help with portion control. But Good Housekeeping found they didn't always get the job done.

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Oruchuban Ebichu ep. 24 (eng. subs)

Ep. 24 Ebichu the Housekeeping Hamster. (You can drink whatever You want.)

Furnishings for Your Home How to Choose Your Bathroom Accessories

Debt Management, Budgeting and Financial Controls - Planning The Budget

Planning the Budget

In the previous exercise, we have identified all costs and all income and now have a clear picture of the current situation. Using this information, the budget we set will, in effect, be an overview of how we live our lives from this point on. There will be certain rules that we have to stick with, but we will know that sticking to the rules will allow us to achieve our future financial goals.

The next part of the process is a little more painful and certainly more laborious than the last, but nevertheless must be done. Begin with the easy stuff first. This is the middle section on the budget sheet, i.e.:

- motoring expenses;

- food and housekeeping;

- miscellaneous goods and services;

- personal and leisure;

- sundries and emergencies.

There will be lots of low hanging fruit here (easy savings to be made).

For example, let's say your daily expenditure diary reveals that on your commute to work you buy a newspaper at the railway station and a coffee while you wait for the train. You buy lunch at the deli around the corner, but go to the local pub for a sit down lunch and a drink on a Friday. You have a drink with colleagues after work on average 2 nights a week and buy an evening paper to read on the train on the way back from work. This is what this expenditure looks like over the week:

Morning coffee: 1.50 x 5 = 7.50

Morning paper: 0.60 x 5 = 3.00

Lunch at the deli 2.50 x 4 = 10.00

Bar lunch: 7.50 x 1 = 7.50

After work drinks: 2.80 x 2 = 5.60

Evening paper: 0.50 x 5 = 2.50

Weekly total: 7.50 + 3 + 10 + 7.50 + 5.60 + 2.50 = £36.10

Look at this again. Every single item is discretionary, yet it will cost you £144.40 in a 4 week month.

You may not be able to give everything up on the list, but taking a flask of coffee to work with a packed lunch may be a start. Many newspapers now offer yearly subscriptions that will cut the weekly bill by more than half - if you still need to have a newspaper every morning and every evening (do you?). The pub lunch could be dropped and the drinks with the colleagues after work cut back to one drink one evening a week - still sociable enough for most people.

In this example we might get back something like £130 per month. If there are two of you doing it, it might be more like £260 per month.

You need to do this type of breakdown and cost reduction exercise on each line item. Drop things like takeaways to a once a month treat and (if you do not already) learn to cook and cut out ready meals and other prepared food. You will not only save money, you will find you start living healthier too.

Examine closely how you do your motoring. Could you mange with one car instead of two? Could you get rid of the gas guzzling 4 x 4, which would reduce insurance, maintenance, road tax and fuel bills - all at once? Hopefully you are getting the idea by now.

Once the individual figures have been reviewed and cost reductions identified, you can put the new figures into the budget sheet and we can now start to see the new budget taking shape.

Next we can look at the first section. That is:

-housing costs;

-rates and utilities;

-important household services;

-personal insurances.

These are largely fixed costs, but there are opportunities here too. Housing costs such as rent or mortgages can be reduced. Mortgage deals can be switched to take advantage of new lender deals, or fixed rate schemes taken on if interest rates look like rising in the near future. The term of the loan can be extended or (if things are really tight) payments dropped to interest only for a while. You need to ask the question.

If you are renting, could you manage with a smaller property, or a one in a less fashionable area? Could you move closer to work at the same time and reduce daily travelling costs?

Take a look at what seems to be fixed costs such as personal, or household, insurances and compare rates and benefits. Deals in this area change literally every week.

Gas and electric costs can be reduced by switching supplier or, better still, turning down the heating and switching off lights and appliances when they are not being used. Focus on this for a while and you might be pleasantly surprised at the difference it will make.

And so on.

The last cost section is the credit card and unsecured debt one. Much like insurances this may be a more flexible area than you think. If your credit rating is good then you have lots of room here to take on new cards and deals with 0% interest rates. Make sure when you do this that you close down the accounts you are transferring from. That is, you do not increase your overall indebtedness, or availability of debt.

If your credit rating is already poor, or bad, this may not be an option for you, so you will have to find other ways to reduce your repayments. One thing that creditors like to see is that their debtors are in control of the situation. A well put together budget sheet like the one we are in the process of outlining here can be a huge help.

Using the budget sheet you can identify all income and expenditure that needs to be made before handling your unsecured debt. This will leave you a set amount that can be used to negotiate reduced payments to your creditors.

This is a separate subject in its own right, but showing you are in control of your own finances may allow you to negotiate a reduced payment plan with the companies concerned.

Any other thing you can do in this area to consolidate debt and reduce overall interest payments needs to be examined closely.

However, you need to resist the temptation to make any loan consolidations that involve using your property for security. There is probably another way, so explore the other ways first.

The last section is income. You may have been tough with yourself in the cost section, but the other dimension to the budget is of course income. The more you increase your income, the less you need to cut back (or the bigger the benefit if you do).

Whilst writing 'increase your income' is very easy for me to do, in reality it is much harder to do. However, there may be opportunities you had not considered which may be worth exploring such as overtime, weekend shifts, unsociable shifts, additional responsibilities that could be taken on, or even a second job. Switching jobs could also be an option as could be starting a completely new career.

In other words increasing income is not always about getting further up the greasy pole, sometimes it is about taking a sideways move into any area you had not considered before.

One last point on income: while you have the budget sheet in front of you it is worth evaluating the cost of work. In other words, when you add up travel, parking, fuel, dry cleaning, child care, work wear etc then subtract it from your income - that will give you a true figure of what you earn.

Finalising the Budget

The above represents a substantial investment in time and effort. The end result will be a budget sheet which is accurate, personally optimised and which puts you in control of your own finances.

Having made this effort, you should now have identified specific allowances for each item and you now need to be sure that money is allocated each month to cover those items whether they occur weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly.

It is unlikely that you will be able to reduce all of your costs, move house, change jobs, etc, all at once, so you may have recognised already that this budgeting exercise can be a progressive thing that happens over time.

Therefore, to begin with, you will need to ensure that costs are under control and, as a minimum, outgoings equal income. Over time you will look for cost savings and income increasing opportunities and, once taken advantage of, you can then revisit the budget sheet, put in the new figures and move on.

One completely free benefit to all of this is that, once it is all complete and you are sticking to it, you get a full night's sleep whenever you want.

Next

Sticking to the budget

How to Choose Your Bathroom Accessories Furnishings for Your Home

Home Organizing Tips : How to Create a Household Organizer

Create a household organizer by using a file drawer or big notebook with different files for each family member. Whether creating a system to write down phone messages or chores to be done, organizing a family's busy schedule is simple and easy with ideas from a professional house cleaner and organizer in this free video on housekeeping. Expert: Ann Myrick Bio: Since 1997, Ann Myrick has been a professional decorator, house cleaner, home organizer and planner. Filmmaker: Tim Brown

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Housekeeping Tips : How to Remove Sweat Stains

In order to remove sweat stains from clothing, use a combination of water and aspirin to make a mixture for cleaning spot stains. Wash a piece of clothing in the washing machine after cleaning sweat stains with help from a professional house cleaner in this free video on removing stains and cleaning tips. Expert: Rachel Yatuzis Contact: www.greenkleeninc.com Bio: Rachel Yatuzis is a professional house cleaner in Nashville, Tenn., specializing in using everyday household items for cleaning purposes. Filmmaker: Tim Brown

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How to make a proper habbo retro [no debbo] [no hamachi]

Here are all download links: holo cms: rapidshare.com winRar: www.rarlab.com MySQL: dev.mysql.com xampp: www.apachefriends.org Microsoft Visual C#: www.microsoft.com TortoiseSVN: tortoisesvn.net -------------------------------------------------------------------------- v23 dcrs link: rapidshare.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------- local host link: localhost (remember to have Apache and MySQL running or it wont work) local host change password localhost local host admin: localhost ----------------------------------------------------------------------- dcrs for lazy people: External Texts field: www.habbohotel.co.uk External Variables field: www.habbohotel.co.uk Habbo DCR field: images.habbohotel.co.uk ----------------------------------------------- how to add the v23 dcrs to your retro: Installing your own dcr's: 1. Download the V23 DCR's in the link above. 2. Extract them to your Desktop. 3. Now you'll have a folder on your desktop with the DCR files in it. 4. Make a folder in C:\xampp\htdocs\ and call it v23. 5. Put all the stuff in the map to the map you've created in htdocs. 6. Open external_variables.txt. 7. Search for: ''yourip'' without quotes for some times untill you've got them all. 8. Change them to your ip, 127.0.0.1 or your Hamachi IP. 9. Save. 10. Go to Housekeeping. 11. Go to Site & Content. 12. Fill everything in, it will look like this: External Texts field: OpenDNS External Variables field: OpenDNS Habbo DCR field ...

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The Henry Vacuum Cleaner is a Popular Vac

The idea of a vacuum cleaner as a housekeeping tool was brought to us by an Englishman named Henry Cecil Booth. In the 1950s, this man invented the very first one and dubbed it "Puffin Billy". It started as a gasoline powered machine, but nonetheless was the beginnings of the Henry vacuum cleaner.

The body of the vacuum cleaner was left outside while it was in use due to its large size, the smoke, the horrible odor and the noise. This equipment ran using lengthy, lightweight hose put through the home's window in the room that was being cleaned.

There is a change from the vacuums of the past to those of the present day.

The initial model of the Henry vacuum cleaner was very big in size and made a lot of noise. Obviously, this was not a very popular model and didn't sell well. James Sprangler introduced some simple modifications which changed the vacuum cleaner into the cleaning tool that we know today, e.g. a fan, a pillow covering, and a box type structure.

Sprangler as well as the Henry vacuum cleaner project was unable to continue with his venture, he then sold his patent to Henry Hoover whom invented the Hoover. The Henry Vacuum cleaners paled in comparison with the updated Hoover design of later years.

The Hoover brand of vacuum cleaner was a runaway success; even today the brand has its command and presence in the market, and Hoover is known as one of the few organizations that deliver on their promise. The Henry vacuum cleaner is now available for use!

After starting out with only very simple designs, the company now boasts more than six models of Henry vacuum cleaners, including cylinder, upright, centralized, wet vacuum cleaners and more!

You need to analyze each one for its strengths and weaknesses individually, in order to avoid offering so much that you don't pay attention to warning symptoms. The best for your home is not the most expensive or the most beautiful, but the one which can take care of your needs in the house. But odds are the Henry vacuum cleaner will suit your requirements.

Furnishings for Your Home How to Choose Your Bathroom Accessories

Meet Success: Business Profile of Sylvia Acevedo, Communicard Owner

Sylvia Acevedo needed a break from her technology job so she bought an old Victorian house to remodel into a bed and breakfast. "Being an engineer working in technology, I really felt I didn't do a lot of tangible work. But with the bed and breakfast, at the end of the day, I felt like I had actually done something."

And, of course, she had—because as she renovated the house, she transformed it into a beautiful B&B. She had no problem communicating with the construction crew, who were mostly Hispanic, because she grew up speaking both Spanish and English. "My mother was from Mexico and all of my grandparents lived there," she says.

"People would see me talking to a crew of workers and I literally would have contractors stop and hand me the phone, asking me to translate for them," she says. That's how she realized communication between Hispanic construction workers and non-Spanish-speaking supervisors was really a problem.

Being a software engineer, Sylvia's mind immediately went to solving the problem. "I think it's because I've always been an innovator and I see things maybe in a way that provides a side-door solution. I don't just look at the situation and say, 'Okay, it's a bottleneck'. I try to look at new ways to solve the problem. And in this particular situation, the problem was communication." But she didn't follow through on her ideas for a few more years.

After two years of renovating and running the B&B, Sylvia was ready to get back into the technology field, so she hired a manager for the bed and breakfast, and started a software development company with three others. A few years later, Sylvia and her partners later sold the software company.

"That was really interesting," she says, "because we sold it for stock and then the stock market crashed. But that was an important learning lesson because I learned a lot about creating a company that supported intellectual property and taking it from literally concept to actually building a company."

By this time she had also sold the B&B for a tidy little sum and was ready to solve the communication problem she saw a few years before. She realized there were a lot of non-Spanish-speaking people in the United States who were hiring people who only spoke Spanish for service jobs. "And you have a challenge because how do you direct the work that needs to be done?" she says.

The solution? The CommuniCard, easy-to-use Spanish/English communication cards. There's a deck of housekeeping cards with pictures of the tasks and English/Spanish translations, and several accordion-folded, laminated pocket cards for the construction industry showing tools, tasks and translations, and a similar pocket card for the lawncare industry. This allows the supervisor to merely show the card to the worker to communicate. For instance, one of the cards shows a person cleaning a big window with a spray bottle in one hand while using a squeegee in the other. The wording below the illustration says, "Clean the windows. Limpia las ventanas." So if the worker cannot speak English, or even read, it is clear what is being asked.

Before putting it into production she tested it extensively, first in Texas, and then across the United States. "I went to Northern California, Southern California, New Mexico, Colorado and across the South and Texas. I found the biggest needs were in construction and housekeeping," she says. She began by interviewing the people who hired these workers—everyone from Junior Leaguers, to people in office settings who hired workers, to companies and construction firms. She also began to go to day-labor sites and construction sites to interview the workers. But the supervisors weren't appreciative of her being on jobsites, even if she only spoke to workers while they were on their breaks.

"So I would approach them at bus stops, churches, and schools." And what she learned was very informative. "We began to get a lot of feedback and the product changed dramatically as a result," she says.

All in all, she spoke to over 4,000 people. After the informal research, it was time for something a little more elaborate. "We've done many focus groups, and we do them on all the products," Sylvia says. The interviews are conducted by a professional, trained moderator who's bilingual.

"And that's a very important issue," she says. "When you have a vision for a product, you really need to get customer input. But there's also a fine line between getting too much input and not enough. I didn't want to go into analysis paralysis or information overload."

One of the important outcomes of the focus groups was that one person in the first focus group had such a huge need to solve the communication problem that he approached her about investing in the company. She accepted, and for a stake in the company, he paid for the initial production of the cards.

The company is now in the middle of its second year and sales are increasing. So far, they've sold thousands of the cards, but it's slow going. Sylvia originally thought the product would be sold through retail stores, but she found that her previous distribution experience was no longer valid.

"My experience was dated. It was years before Wal-Mart had taken over and many of the people that I went to call on in the industry were no longer there. In fact, the businesses were gone."

Finding a roadblock in the path to retail distribution was a big disappointment, but the company simply adjusted its thinking and found another way. Now, instead of selling through national retail chains as she had hoped, CommuniCard products are sold through trade associations and the company's website, as well as through a few local retail stores.

To promote the innovative product, Sylvia doesn't use traditional advertising. She has found that public relations works best because it's such a new product that requires too much education and explaining.

It's a low-price-point item, with the housekeeping cards selling for $15.95 and all the others selling for less than $10, so Sylvia has found that tradeshows are not particularly effective, either. "You're competing with so many giveaways at tradeshows that I found it really diminished the value of our brand. People would say, 'Gosh, they just gave me this really cool saw that's worth 30 bucks and you're not going to give me this for $10?' So I found it to be very expensive and unproductive," she says.

Nevertheless, in its first year of business CommuniCard -- found at [http://www.communicard.com] -- sold well over 5,000 units of the housekeeping cards, and somewhat less of the others, generating just under a $100,000 in sales.

The company has branched out into consulting as well as product sales because there's a need for the expertise Sylvia has acquired through all her research. "Most marketing firms focus on selling consumer products to Hispanics," she says. Instead, she focuses on solving problems. For instance, the bus company hired her to find out why so few Hispanics ride the bus.

Sylvia was also recognized in 2004 as the National Businesswoman of the Year by the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

CommuniCard recently introduced a new set of cards for law enforcement, and police departments have had great interest in them. Sylvia offers to customize the cards with the police department's badge, and this requires an order of hundreds, which customers are readily doing.

The company has also been researching other languages to see what new products might be developed, but so far they haven't found the right match. "When we tested the (original) cards in Chicago, people wanted cleaning cards in Polish. But that's such a small market. We'd only be able to sell those in New York, Chicago and maybe Boston. Whereas the housekeeping cards in Spanish/English are selling across the country," she says.

One of the things that Sylvia made sure to do was protect her idea. She has a patent pending and, of course, everything is copyrighted and trademarked. As a result of her software engineering background, she knew how important this was. She says she often urges other women inventors to protect their assets, and she has helped several either copyright or trademark their ideas.

One of the things that has surprised her is people need these products so urgently they are willing to pay FedEx delivery charges to get them overnight. "I bet we get no less than three orders per week where people want the product so fast that they're willing to pay more in shipping than the product costs," she says, which leads her to wonder if the product is correctly priced. "We're constantly evaluating," she says.

Furnishings for Your Home How to Choose Your Bathroom Accessories