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The Pocket Idiot's Guide To Living On A Budget, 2nd Edition

Ideas For Living on a Budget

By Benjamin Robert Ehinger

Do you have to live on a budget because you do not make a lot of money? 
Maybe you just want to be able to save so you want to know how to live on a 
budget. There are plenty of things you can do to save some money. 
Here are 4 ideas for living on a budget.

First, go to the grocery store with a list. It is proven that if you go to the grocery with a list you will be able to save up to 40% on your grocery bill. As long as you stick to the list you will only buy what you need and you will be able to avoid the impulse buys.

You can also clip coupons and buy things that are on special. Many grocery stores have a membership card that is free and you can save a lot of money buying things that are on sale with their card. Sometimes they have 10 for $10 sales and if it is on something that you use a lot of you might as well stock up and save money.

Second, you can save money by using energy saving light bulbs. These bulbs are great for the environment and are proven to help you cut your energy bill. You can save a few dollars each month by using the light bulbs. On top of that you will not have to pay for as many light bulbs because the energy saving bulbs last up to 10 times as long.

The last idea for living on a budget is to get rid of your ATM card and put your money in directly into your bank account. If you have a checking account get rid of your debit card and leave your check book at home.

This will allow you to put money in the bank and have very little access to it. By eliminating the access to your money you will not be as tempted to spend it on things you don't need.

You can use these ideas for living on a budget to help you save money. You should also stop eating out as much and watch how much money you spend on things like beer and wine. Going out eats up a lot of peoples budget and with a little discipline you can live on a budget without any money troubles.

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Ideas For Living On A Budget

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The Complete Idiot's Mini Guide To Understanding Healthcare Reform

Obama's Healthcare Prescription For America

By Joe DelCasino

America's understanding of healthcare reform needs to move beyond news headlines and 30-second sound-bites toward a deeper understanding, and Wednesday night's ABC-TV presentation by the president - Prescription for America - did little to further that cause. The president seemed to be over his head talking about the issue, which probably explains why the audience appeared distant, bored and even catatonic.

Most of the audience questions and anecdotes were off-point and not relevant to the big picture and the president's comments seemed at times to be incoherent and confusing. ABC's news anchors Charles Gibson and Diane Sawyer did their best to focus and clarify the discussion, but even they were unsuccessful keeping the session on track. It was 60 minutes of regurgitated Obama-ganda and not his best effort.  

President Obama asserted that one-third of current healthcare costs are unnecessary, but didn't elaborate. He should have offered some details, such as where those unnecessary costs reside in the system. Is it with the doctors, the hospitals or the drug companies? Is it the routine doctor visits or the (hopefully) once-in-a-lifetime hospital stays that are causing the unnecessary costs? The president also said "we know what works and what doesn't work" in providing healthcare, but offered no examples of either.

One of the factoids posted on a slide before a commercial break indicated that 50% of America's healthcare costs can be attributed to heart disease, diabetes and obesity.  Important, big picture findings such as that deserve some commentary and clarification, wouldn't you agree? Specific answers and examples might have helped set the stage for serious discussion and debate, which was the stated purpose of his presentation. As important, they might have given the growing number of skeptics in America confidence that their political leaders and bureaucrats actually know what their talking about on the healthcare issue.  

Furthermore, I was amazed that the president could talk for an hour about healthcare reform without even mentioning tort reform, which many believe is needed to contain healthcare costs going forward (and many other costs in our economy). If he is serious about reforming healthcare, he needs to put aside the long-standing allegiance of the democrats to the civil trial lawyers of America who represent a major party constituency.  

Tort reform refers to making changes to our civil justice system that would limit the amount of, and monetary damages arising from, litigation. Should victims of medical malpractice be compensated for their misfortune? Absolutely, but does the average settlement need to exceed a million dollars, and should that practice be allowed to paralyze and potentially bankrupt our healthcare system? Anyone seriously attempting to tame our healthcare cost burden must at least put tort reform on the table for discussion. Serious omissions such as that undermine the administration's credibility and confirm our worst suspicions about how politics can distort our nation's most important institutions.  

Some democrats contend that America 's economic survival depends upon successful healthcare reform and just as many republicans contend that democrat proposals for reform will push us further into an economic abyss. Most disturbing, however, is that lawmakers from both sides of the aisle seem to be approaching the problem piecemeal and from the perspective of what will sell politically, rather than what will successfully reform our healthcare system.  

The Obama administration promised government transparency and post-partisan decision-making. Now would be a good time to make good on its promise. We need to engage in a substantive discussion of the real issues surrounding healthcare reform, not just those that will lead to a politically expedient solution.

More articles by this author are available at http://joedelcasino.blogspot.com. Books are available athttp://www.Xlibris.com

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The Complete Idiot's Guide To Staging Your Home To Sell

How House Auctions Can Help You Sell Property Fast   

by dijual jual
Sellers got aware of having the upper-hand because patrons knew there would be competition for a good property and so that they were willing forgo the wrangling over value to make certain of securing a property they wanted. Since mortgage rates had been way down at almost all-time lows and this additionally led to rapid appreciation of realty values, so typical consumers naturally thought that even once paying a premium themselves, they'd soon conjure for it on the property price upswing.
Things have now modified, as they forever eventually do, and also the cooling down of the real estate market implies that it's turning into a buyer's market.
Here are some tips to sell your house faster when your neighbors are selling too.
1. Propose a joint open house.
Competition needn't invariably be antagonistic; competition can be friendly and supportive too. Of course, it is not simple to convince competing sellers to assist each other, but with robust market conditions, they could just give it a try. A combined open house happening on an equivalent day will attract more people as they will have additional decisions to look at. It conjointly gives patrons a way of how peaceful, friendly, and harmonious the neighborhood is.
2. Promote your entire neighborhood.
The first tip would give buyers a glimpse of what the neighborhood is like, however you'll even go the additional mile by blatantly promoting your neighborhood. These days, it is not enough to just sell your house, you've got to convince patrons that they're moving in to a good neighborhood. therefore go ahead and hype it up - tell them about how safe it is to run in the middle of the night, how smart the education is at the local public faculty, and the way pleasant the neighbors are.
But why are you moving when things are thus great? it is a question that consumers can surely have. Tell them it's as a result of you would like to be near your parents, or that you got a job somewhere, something positive. offer them the impression that you just are leaving something good behind.
3. Be open for surprise showings.
If there are several homes listed on the market, it's entirely attainable that buyers may have overlooked your house whereas searching online. but when they visit your neighborhood, they would possibly see the "for sale" sign in your yard and might ask their agent to indicate them your property. You never know when you are going to seek out the correct buyer, thus build yourself obtainable for showings the maximum amount as you'll be able to. It's understandable of course that you'd wish to be notified 1st, however do not make it too tough for patrons to ascertain your home.
4. Stage your home.
When you are competing against such a lot of other houses, you will need to stand out. a technique of doing this is often to stage your home. Here some tips from Julie Dana, author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Staging Your Home to Sell."
? make sure your address number will be easily and clearly seen from the curb, otherwise consumers may end up on your neighbor's doorstep.
? At night, activate the lights both within and outside the house. Draw the curtains. And add some lights outside if there is not enough. Some people do a night drive-by.
? close up and remove all clutter. you should not have your kids' toys lying around. Toiletries should be kept within the cupboards, and don't post your mails all over your refrigerator's door.
? Depersonalize. it is necessary to relinquish patrons a feel of how it will be once they move in, so remove the trophies, vacation and family photos.
5. worth it right.
In the current housing slump, everything else matters therefore very little compared to the price tag of your home. Stop thinking about how much you paid for your house, how much you continue to owe, or what quantity you think it's value currently. the reality is, it's only worth the value patrons would need to shop for it for. worth it to a small degree lower than the value of a comparable house selling in your neighborhood, and you will be ready to sell your house faster.

About the Author

most complete property site in Indonesia. You can sell the house, rental house, or look for properties Dijual Rumah

The Complete Idiot's Guide To Stretching Your Dollar

Most Affordable Places to Live After Retirement - Stretch Your Dollar In These Cities!

By Benjamin Hedley

With the reduced revenue that pension provides, as well as the economic system declining and hardly making any way of recuperation, finding locations to retire that fit in the current pension spending budget are difficult to locate.

The majority of retired people immediately think about the sunshine, however here are a few suggestions that not offer only comfortable (and retirement investing friendly) retirement locations, but are also just as popular and beautiful.

This country's least expensive locations to retire originate from study about the living costs, to price of real estate and senior transportation expenses. When searching for a location to live in retirement, taking a look at retirement spending budget preparing is very important.

The ideal retirement place can be a little bit out of your budget range, however other less expensive locations may have all of the facilities you are searching for! Planning for a retirement spending budget requires a great deal of time, practice, and study.

Here are a few metropolitan areas to get your research going ahead. These are the least expensive American metropolitan areas on the retirement spending budget:

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Typically a university city, this area offers a lot of totally free venues retired people will like: live shows, artwork festivals, classes, sporting events, galleries, and so on. Senior citizens will also get totally free bus service and discounted cabs!

Asheville, North Carolina

Being 2 hours away from a significant town, situated in the Blue Ridge Mountain tops, the town allows pension finances to extend to its maximum with out allowing the retired person to lack enjoyment. The local North Carolina Center for Inventive Retirement is actually positively involved with this area.

Aurora, Colorado

You will find 7 golfing courses, 10,000 miles of recreational areas, paths and open spaces combined with the average house cost ranging in the higher $130s. This is a high decline from the next-door neighbors, Denver, with an average house cost of about $180,000.

Columbia, South Carolina

This particular town is among the most breathtaking and culture wealthy regions of South Carolina. Typical house taxes come in just over a grand and also the real estate choices for retired people ranges from previous historical properties to the brand new riverside esplanade.

Eugene, Oregon

Eugene is renowned for its fantastic Sunday marketplaces that mix ridiculous inexpensive costs with fantastic meals, clothing, music and a bohemian ambiance. Additionally there is walking and other totally free outside actions around to make retirement enjoyable.

One of these fine retirement locations could be a great choice for you if you are looking to stretch your retirement dollars to the max!

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The Pocket Idiot's Guide To Interview Questions And Answers

Job Interview Questions and Answers - How To Answer "Walk Me Through Your Resume"

By Adwoa Jones

Job interview questions usually open up with an introductory question that requires you to give a brief overview of your resume. Now, you are probably thinking that they already have the resume in front of them and they have already reviewed it so there's no need to go over this in detail right? Wrong.

How you answer this job interview question is crucial. Not only is it an opening question, but it gives you the advantage to take control of the interview and lead the way forward.

You have to keep in mind that the Hiring Managers have probably reviewed hundreds of resumes for this job and interviewed several applicants for the job.

Therefore, you can't be passive in the interview and treat this question as if you assume they already know what you have to offer. The way you appear on paper is one thing, the way you present yourself in person is another.

Use these 3 tips to develop your answer strategically.

First, start off by analyzing the job description in detail. You should know exactly what they are looking for and be ready to demonstrate how you meet all their requirements. The job interview only provides a limited time to show you have the skills for the job and you are the right fit. Once you understand what they need, you can tailor your answer to focus your attention on their top concerns.

Second, you always want to organize your answer so the Hiring Managers can follow along easily. I personally prefer it when a candidate starts from their first job and works their way up to present day. If you choose to take this route, keep in mind that your earliest job may not be as relevant so don't spend too much time describing these in detail. Prepare a one-line description stating your experience and a key accomplishment in each job.

Finally, you should have a simple outline you can use to quickly position yourself. Call it an elevator pitch if you want. This is your 2-3 minute summary of who you are and what you can do. Focus on what they have said their key requirements of the job are. For example, "I have my BA degree and a total of 6 years working in retail banking. My first job was..., then I moved on to..., and my most recent job as a..."

Job interview questions like this give you a chance to summarize your experience quickly but also draw their attention to your key attributes that they may have missed when reviewing your resume.

By the way, do you want more strategies to answer job interview questions confidently for your next job interview? Click here for my free video course: Free Job Interview Training

Or download my free ebook "Irresistible Interviews: The Secret To Transform Yourself Into The Confident, Capable And Credible Job Seeker That Every Hiring Manager Is Desperately Looking For!" here: Free Job Interview Secrets Ebook

Adwoa M. Jones is a former HR Manager and Founder of Crystal Clear Interviews, the #1 Job Interview Coaching Program teaching talented professional women how to get hired...in ANY job interview...in ANY economy!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adwoa_Jone
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The Complete Idiot's Guide To Making Money With Craigslist

Cashing In With Craigslist - A Newbie's Guide To Flipping Items On Craigslist

By Justin H Young

Craigslist may be one of the plainest looking sites on the internet but with over 20 billion page views per month, it is also one of the most popular and currently sits as the 7th most visited website on the internet.

Craigslist is an excellent place to look for items to flip. Flipping items is where people purchase items for cheap and resell them for much larger profits.

Many people will take advantage of the free classified advertising offered by Craigslist to get rid of their unwanted items they no longer have room for. Because of this, you can often find "rock bottom prices" on items if you know where to look. Often times you can find excellent deals on items that just need a minor repair or a little elbow grease cleaning to increase its value. Sometimes people may advertise their listings in an unpopular category or they may turn away prospective buyers by not providing the right information or pictures of the item.

Here are some tips to help you get started flipping items on Craigslist:

Search for items in your location early in the morning. Similar to garage sales, your chance of scoring that bargain is early in the morning before everyone else sees it.

Use the phone instead of email. Obviously this only works if a seller posts their phone number in the listing, but generally you can get a lot more information about an item from a phone conversation than an email message. Sometimes even the sellers tone of voice can que you in on information you may not otherwise receive from email. You may also be able to work out a deal with a seller faster through a phone conversation thereby eliminating competition with other prospective buyers.

Don't forget about the "free stuff" category. Sometimes you can find some really good stuff in there. All you have to do is pick the item up from the seller and clean, fix it, etc. and resell it for a profit.

Buy items on Craigslist and resell them on eBay. Surprisingly, many people don't think of this. Craigslist is broken up into geographic locations. Depending on the item for sale, this can be a disadvantage for sellers. For example if you live in St. Louis and you listed an antique silverware set to sell on Craigslist, only people in the St. Louis area would see your listing. If you listed the same item on eBay, you could have more viewers since people worldwide would be able to view your listing. Obviously large items such as furniture are best sold locally due to the excessive shipping fees.

Invest a small amount of money to start. If you are flipping items for the first time, don't go out and purchase everything you see. Start small. It may take a little time and experience to know what items will sell and how much they are worth. The last thing you want is to become overwhelmed and end up with a garage full of junk that you can't get rid of. Once you have some experience buying, selling and negotiating, then you can reinvest the money you make into higher profit margin items.

As you can see, it is not difficult to make money with Craigslist, just be very careful because there are a lot of dishonest people out there. Craigslist does not have the fraud protection services that sites like eBay and PayPal have so you must take fraud prevention into your own hands. Be sure to read Craigslist's page about avoiding scams and always trust your instincts.

Would you like to make more money online but are not sure what to do or where to start? If so, Justin Young would like to invite you to visit http://10waystomakemoneyfast.net. Here you can find information about the latest online money-making tips, ideas and techniques.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Justin_H_Youn
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The Complete Idiot's Guide To A Successful Family Business

How to Build a Successful Family Business Without Leaving the Family Home

By Barry G Russell

Every business person with children dreams about bringing them into the company and creating a legacy for them, so that they need never worry about money or be vulnerable to the whims of fickle employers.

And parents of kids who graduated in the last year into an unprecedentedly savage global financial crisis probably feel more frustration than the youngsters themselves, as they watch their talents going to waste and their expectations going into freefall.

So how can we boost our businesses, start new ones and open up a bright and prosperous future for our children? The answer is actually at the fingertips of the kids themselves as they click and tap their way through Social Networking sites, through YouTube and through Google. If the future depends on the next generation then it will also be inextricably linked to the exponential growth of the internet and how it pervades every aspect of our working and social lives. So keep it simple, Stupid, and build an Online Business!

Here are five steps that will enable you to make it happen.

Step 1: Everyone in the family will have a different take on the internet, so get around the kitchen table and map out what everybody knows, and what everybody feels and believes about it. That will be one of the most powerful and revealing discussions you will ever have.

Step 2: Figure out what you want to achieve in the long term and what you need to achieve in the short-term and write it down together with the timescales you are working to.

Step 3: Allocate tasks to get you to where you need to be, bearing in mind any existing study or work commitments. Everyone should be involved in some short term and some long term projects to keep everything balanced, focused and fair. As you climb the experience curve together you can begin to specialize, just like any work team would do. Set a time each week to get together to check progress and make any necessary adjustments. Don't skip this!

Step 4: Even if you don't need to generate a short-term income, you should have a short term strategy, as it is a cheap way to learn. Go for Affiliate Marketing - selling other people's products - and website subscriptions, much of which you can do for free. As you progress you will become familiar with the immensely powerful (and free) Competitive Analysis Tools available in Google and elsewhere.

See a competitor looking good and doing well in a sector you want to sell into? Take a look at their site traffic, customer demographics, press releases and backlinking and set up free automated alerts that tell you every time they do anything at all. For any inquisitive member of the crew this online spying is great fun as well as invaluable to your growing business.

Step 5: While you are enjoying the quick wins you will quite naturally find long term projects - your own websites - that different members of the family are drawn to and the research skills honed in Step 4 will enable you to laser focus in on them and make sure that all your efforts are right first time.

Keep in mind that passion leverages profit, so go for projects that at least one member of the family is passionate about, because that will drive the business harder, faster and more effectively than something that you do just for the money. Whether it's cookery, music, health products or rock climbing, there is so much out there to go for that there really is no need to do anything other than something you absolutely love.

The key to your family business, realizing that dream of a secure, successful future for you and your children is right there, right now at your fingertips. For the sake of the next generation don't let it slip past them. Call that meeting today.

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The Pocket Idiot's Guide To Investing In Mutual Funds

World's Simplest Guide to Investing in Mutual Funds

By James Leitz

A mutual fund guide could basically be called a guide to investing in stocks, bonds, and money market securities. This is because about 99% of the time, if you own mutual funds your money will be invested in one or more of the above investments types. Funds are not just another investment option; they represent the best way for most people to invest in investment securities.

When I was a financial planner a prospective client once asked me, "should I invest in stocks, bonds, IRAs, or mutual funds?" That question told me a lot about the lawyer asking it. He needed a financial planner, and also needed access to a good basic guide to investing as well. I explained that mutual funds were the easiest way for the average investor to invest in stocks and bonds, and that this could be done in either an IRA and/or in various other types of accounts, like in a joint account with his spouse.

In this simple guide to investing we cover the four basic types of mutual funds, their financial objectives, and the cost of investing. All of these funds are simply professionally managed pools of investors' money. You invest a dollar amount, and in return own shares in a large portfolio of securities like stocks and bonds. The financial objectives range from safety and stability of principle, to high income, to high growth or profit potential.

Money market funds invest in safe short-term debt like U.S. Treasury bills, with safety and liquidity as the primary objectives. They pay competitive interest rates in the form of dividends, and the value of their shares is pegged at $1 and rarely fluctuates in value. Bond funds invest in bonds, longer-term debt, to produce higher interest income for the investors. The value of investor shares will fluctuate with changes in prevailing interest rates, so risk is moderate in bond funds.

Equity funds invest your money in common stocks with the objective of earning higher returns or profits for investors. Risk is higher here, as the price or value of shares can fluctuate significantly. The fourth category is balanced funds, which invest in a combination of money market securities, bonds, and stocks. The objective is to provide both moderate growth and dividend income at a moderate level of risk.

No guide to investing in mutual funds is complete without considering the cost of investing. You can invest through a middleman and pay as much as 5% or more in sales charges called "loads" or you can invest directly in no-load funds and avoid them. While all mutual funds charge for yearly expenses, you can pay 2% a year or more, or less than ½% in well chosen no-load funds.

A retired financial planner, James Leitz has an MBA (finance) and 35 years of investing experience. For 20 years he advised individual investors, working directly with them helping them to reach their financial goals.

Jim is the author of a complete investor guide, Invest Informed, designed for average investors or would-be investors of all levels of financial background and experience. To learn more about investments and investing and his new financial guide go to http://www.investinformed.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Leitz

The Complete Idiot's Mini Guide To Project Goals For Project Managers

Using Strategy Goals in Project Management to Deal With Economic Struggle

By Sam Miller

As far as business strategies are concerned, it is always best to have strategy goals in project management. For obvious reasons, this is because these goals can always help each business achieve their objectives in the right time. In fact, the importance of having goals in your business has something to do with the recent recession. Since businesses are still trying to emerge from this economical turmoil, it is important that they follow specific objectives so they can gain something good out of it.

Most of these businesses are still struggling from the troubles they encountered under the duration of the economic crisis. Unless they find a way to triumph over it, they have to stick with creating productive goals. For this, there are numerous establishments that have gotten a knack for planning their projects. Aside from hoping to surpass the challenge of the crisis, executives also want to make sure that they get to convert their goals into real results.

With regards to planning projects, it is usually a process which involves implementing different strategies. But just because you are able to develop such strategies, it does not immediately mean you will get to use them in favor of your business. There are several factors that need to be considered as well as the successful implementation of such strategies. For this, there must be clear execution of the strategies so that a favorable result can be obtained.

In terms of having a successful project planning process, here are some of the things that are considered essential:

Executive Involvement and Commitment

As an executive, you need to know that when you want to achieve things in the organization, you need to be involved and fully committed to the process. This does not mean that you should only stick to verbal or written decisions. You need to be on your toes and be alert on how you implement the strategy. When you do, you will get to answer the problems of the strategy with clear goals.

Effective Questioning

This is another key that you need when you want to be successful in project planning. The reason why this is important is because you need to be the one to give answers to the different dilemmas that may arise in the process of you trying to accomplish your goals. If you let inexperienced resources deal with such matters, you cannot expect the same results to be produced. This is why you need to be sure you have a hands on commitment to the whole process. Since you are using costly resources (money, time, skilled personnel), it is important that you make the most of these so you can stay on track as to what you want to achieve.

When you want things to get done in your organization, you need to know that you can depend on yourself to make them happen. Since there are several factors that can sidetrack you from achieving your goals, you need to follow a strict method for converting your strategy goals in project management into a reality. When you do, you will get to see just how effective you are as a leader.

If you are interested in Strategy Goals in Project Management, check this web-site to learn more about Strategy Goals in Project Management.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sam_Miller

The Complete Idiot's Guide To Value Investing

The Complete Idiot's Guide To Drawing Basics Illustrated

You Can Draw Today

By John Pagan

If you're interested in learning how to draw but don't know where to start, or feel it would be too time consuming to attend an Art class, you'll be glad you started reading this article. A few years ago, I asked several co-workers if they knew how to draw anything and the facetious reply was often, "Yeah, I can draw a smiley face" or "Well, I can draw a stick man." Since most people are able to draw the aforementioned simple figures, they would already be half way there to a simple character face. I thought it would be a great idea to use that as a starting point to drawing a simple character face. The stick-man also makes a great starting point for the character body and that could easily lead to other drawings in a relatively short amount of time.

Once one has learned to draw the character, it is then a simple matter of learning how to shade your drawing using the basics of light and shadow. With practice, and some time, this will lead to more detailed, artistic sketches. So, how do you begin? The following is an overview of the simple process used to draw a character face from a smiley face. For an illustrated example of how it is done, please use the link at the end of this article.

All you need to get started is a pencil and paper. Fancy art pencils and or art paper are not necessary at this time. A typical number 2 pencil would work well for this. When starting out, apply light pressure as you work so that you can cleanly erase any mistakes later.

To begin, erase the sides of the smiley face and replace them with straighter lines. The upward curving corners of the smile, or mouth, are then erased until the smile appears like a straight line. At the ends of the line, add very small "c" shapes to form the corners of the mouth. (A reverse "c" is used for the right mouth corner.)

Add a slightly curved line under the mouth line and darken it a little. It should be shorter than the mouth. Above the mouth line, draw a very small, apostrophe or a single curving quotation mark shape, to represent the vertical groove, or philtrum, of the upper lip.

Above the philtrum, draw a "u" shape but darken it a bit. This is the shadow under the nose. Erase the spots for eyes and replace them with small but thick "c" shapes. Then simply draw a slightly curved line above them for the brows. Follow up by adding "C" shapes for the ears. You should now see a face that resembles a comic book like character. If you would like to add hair and face lines, please use the link provided below this article.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more, send me an email, I'll be glad to help.

johnpagan@furyinthegarden.com

http://www.quazen.com/Arts/Animation/Sketchmaster-Draw-Today-Simple-Character-1.137078

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Pagan

The Complete Idiot's Guide To Retiring Early

Early Retirement Planning Ideas

By Andi Sachs

It seems no matter where you go these days some one is talking about early retirement. Most working age individuals seem to want to get out of the rat race as soon as possible but don't know that in order to do so they will need to do some early retirement planning. For early retirement to become a reality and not just a dream careful planning needs to be done, you need to start saving early and be disciplined to achieve your goals.

First you need to figure out how much your life is going to cost you, if you are retiring early then you will still be quite active and may require more discretionary funds then a person who retires later in life. Most people in retirement need about 70-80% of their re-retirement income, but if you plan on doing say a lot of traveling you may require more. You should also consider your retirement in two stages. First make sure you've saved enough in your registered plans such as RRSP's, LIRA's, TFSA & pension plans in Canada or 401(k)s, IRA's & pension plans in the United States.

Once you've figured out how much you will need after age 59 in the USA or 60 in Canada including long-term health care costs then you can start to figure out the period of retirement before this. If you have maxed out your contributions to registered pension plans than you can start save money in a non-registered investment account. You should consider investing in assets that reward you to own them for example by way of a dividend.

In Canada if you invest in qualified Canadian corporations that pay you a dividend you will pay a reduced rate of tax than you would on say employment or interest income. In fact with an annual income under $40,970 in 2010 you would pay little to no Federal tax at all on your dividends from qualified Canadian corporations.

Early retirement planning is key if you want to achieve your goal of retirement at a young age. A solid plan for saving money is the only way you will be able to achieve it short of winning the lottery, you must be disciplined in your approach and review your plan yearly to make sure you are on track to meeting your savings requirements. You may need to make periodic adjustments to your plan as your life changes. No one said it was going to be easy but if your goal is to exit the 9 to 5 daily living you'll need to make sure you stay on track.

This article was written by Andi Sachs. Visit Retire Early Guide to learn more tips on how you can effectively save for your future. This blog is dedicated to helping investors achieve financial independence! Or for easy to understand articles on options investing terms visit us at The Stock Options Trading Guide!

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The Complete Idiot's Guide To Economics

An Everyman's Guide to Basic Economic Theory

By Lee Estrada

These 3 political/economic theories can be best illustrated on a continuum.

At the left is communism, simply stated; From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.

At the right is capitalism, simply stated; Winner takes it all, Loser takes the fall.

In the middle lies socialism, simply stated; He's got the whole world in his hands...

Pros and Cons (Whether these aspects are Pro or Con is a personal choice)

Communism - No reason or incentive to produce or excel. Government controls all aspects of your life..) There are no taxes as there is no income. Production and innovation are severely limited.

Socialism - Government controls most of the major aspects of life. Education, Medical, Retirement, and Housing to large extent. Taxes (60% -80%) are very high and the demand for services often exceeds the supply, resulting in excessive waiting periods, shortages and/or rationing. There is some incentive to produce, however, there is little reason to as all or most basic needs are taken care of.

Capitalism - Government controls few aspects of everyday life. Supply and Demand governs all economic functions and survival of the strongest/smartest is the rule for most other aspects of life. Taxes are low with proceeds designated for defense, law enforcement, and administration. The citizen has the most to gain but also the most to lose. Innovation and Productivity are maximized.

In a perfect world all 3 of these systems are sound and will have a large measure of success. It is not a perfect world which has shown each of these systems wanting. Attempting some type of amalgamation has had some success, but requires a delicate balancing act.

Current events would seem to indicate that several of the world's economies are out of balance. The US and the rest of the world are trying to walk the fine line between providing a basic safety net yet still providing a reason and an incentive to excel.

In summary

COMMUNISM: You have two cows. The state takes both of them and gives you a portion of the milk.

SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The state takes one cow plus a portion of your milk and gives it to someone else.

CAPITALISM: You have two cows. You sell one, buy a bull and start a ranch.

http://www.APoorRepublican.com

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The Complete Idiot's Guide to the New World Order

The Complete Idiot's Guide To Motor Scooters

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Motor Scooters $14.95 The new, economical, and popular way to travel. With oil prices soaring and people looking for alternative means of commuter (and cruising) travel, motor scooters have exploded across the country as a viable means of transportation. Here’s the book for both scooter newbies and accustomed riders that includes a complete listing of scooters available by size and power, advice on evaluating and buyin…

Buying Your First Motor Scooter

By Alan C Hearnshaw

Are you being bitten by the scooter bug?

You're not alone. Motor scooters are generating a lot of interest right now. The most obvious reason for this, of course, is the ever-rising cost of fuel. Many scooters can achieve upwards of 100 miles per gallon.

But there are many other great reasons to consider a scooter for your transport needs. Here are just a few: 

• They are perfectly suited for urban travelling. Think of how many people are using empty SUV's for all those little, local journeys because it's all they have. Do you really need to sit in the traffic in a 3,000 pound car just to get the bagels on a Sunday morning?
• They are nimble, and easily manoeuvrable in traffic. A scooter can often go many places a car can't.
• They are easy to park. There are many places you can find to park a scooter close to your destination that simply cannot accommodate a car.
• They are good for the environment. Obviously, one or two people on a motor scooter are going to use much less of our precious resources than a full-size car.
• They are fun! Sometimes, this one comes as a surprise to a new scooterist, but there is nothing like that feeling of freedom and being "at one" with your surroundings that a scooter or motorcycle gives. It is the nearest thing to flying, and it is something of which car drivers are largely unaware.
• Some people really get "the bug", and become life-long riders who would rarely choose any "lesser" form of transport.

So, having decided that you'd like to try the scooter lifestyle, how do you go about choosing which scooter is right for you?

Luckily, there are just a few things that you need to take into consideration to help you to decide the best scooter for you. These are: 

• The average speed of the traffic in the areas which you will be riding.
• Whether your riding will be confined to in-town, or you will be considering longer journeys.
• Your previous riding experience (if any).
• New or Used.

Average Speed of Traffic

As a rough guide, here is a chart that outlines the usual top speeds that can be achieved by modern scooters of various engine sizes - along with an estimate of miles per gallon: 

• 50cc - 30 MPH (48 KPH) - 100 MPG (43 KPL)
• 125cc - 55 MPH (88 KPH) - 80 MPG (134 KPL)
• 150cc - 60 MPH (96 KPH) - 70 MPG (30 KPL)
• 200cc - 75 MPH (121 KPH) - 65 MPG (28 KPL)
• 250cc - 85MPH (140 KPH) - 63 MPG (27 KPL)
• 500cc - 100 MPH (160 KPH) - 55 MPG (23 KPL)
• 650CC - 115 MPH (185 KPH) - 48 MPG (20 KPL)

Using the above chart as your guide, you can match the size of scooter to the average top speed of the traffic where you will be riding.

Riding in Town, or Longer Journeys?

The traditional style of scooter (think the iconic Vespa) offers less wind protection than some of the more modern styles of scooters. If you will be doing longer journeys, you may consider looking into some of the more modern styles of scooter which sometimes offers better wind protection.

Ergonomics play a part in this also. While the more upright position of a traditional style scooter is great for in-town riding because you are sitting up straight and have excellent view, some of the larger scooters which are designed for longer distances have a more "laid-back" seating position which you may find more comfortable if you are considering long trips.

Previous Riding Experience

You may be surprised at just how agile scooters are. A little 125cc scooter will often beat most cars away from the lights.

For this reason, if you haven't ridden on two wheels before, it may be more prudent for you to start out small, and upgrade to a larger scooter once you have more experience "under your belt".

Of course, if you have previous experience of riding a motorcycle, then that should stand you in good stead in the scooter world.

New or Used?

There are indeed some bargains to be found when searching for used scooters. There are also advantages such as the original owner (hopefully) having sorted out any teething problems with the scooter, and already haven taken care of the initial servicing.

Also, you can sometimes benefit from extras such as after-market accessories which the original owner has paid for, but rarely figures much into the equation when selling the scooter used. If these extras just happen to be the same ones you would have bought yourself, you could be on to a winner!

Of course, buying used brings its own set of concerns and things to look out for. If you haven't much previous experience of scooters, then I would highly recommend asking a more experienced rider to go along with you when you take a look at any potential purchases.

If you don't know anybody to help you, you could consider joining a scooter forum online. You may be surprised at just how helpful the scooter community can be, and you are very likely to find someone willing to give up a little of their time to help you with evaluating a potential purchase.

I hope this helps you along the way to joining the happy band of scooter riders. You're taking the first step toward something which could become a lifetime of enjoyment.

Alan Hearnshaw is a keen scooter rider, and motorcyclist who has been actively involved with motorcycle safety training and education for the past twenty years.

He is the author of the book: Buying Your First Scooter - The First Time Scooter Buyer's Guide.

Read interesting and informative articles about safe scooter riding - and all things scooter - at:www.ScootSafely.com

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The Complete Idiot's Guide To Social Security And Medicare, 2E

What Are The Differences Between Medicare and Social Security Benefits?

By Jim A Allsup

Contrary to the commonly mistaken belief, Medicare and Social Security benefits are not one in the same program.

Medicare and Social Security benefits are both funded by federal employment and payroll taxes, but that's where the similarities end. Many people may receive benefits from both programs as they retire or because they have a disability. For people with disabilities, Social Security disability provides financial benefits and Medicare provides medical insurance.

What is SSDI?

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a program that provides monthly income to people with disabilities after they are determined to be eligible. It is funded by payroll taxes through the federal government.

What is Medicare?

Medicare is a federally funded health insurance program with four parts: A, B, C and D. These parts (in different combinations) cover physician visits, hospitalization, prescriptions and other necessary healthcare services.

What is the difference between Medicare parts A and B?

Medicare Part A provides coverage for hospitalization, paying a percentage of someone's inpatient care. Given specific medical scenarios, Medicare Part A also extends coverage for hospice, home healthcare and skilled nursing facilities.

Medicare Part B provides medical insurance that covers physician visits, specified outpatient procedures and certain preventative health services (for example, mammograms, blood glucose tests, flu shots and more).

Medicare Parts A and B also are known as "original Medicare."

Medicare recipients also can choose to enroll in Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part C, which combines the healthcare benefits from Parts: A and B, and sometimes prescription drug coverage, or Part D. (Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage.)

If an SSDI applicant qualifies for Social Security Disability Insurance, is he or she automatically eligible for Medicare benefits?

Not necessarily. Generally, SSDI beneficiaries must wait 24 months after receiving cash SSDI benefits in order to receive Medicare coverage, with some exceptions.

There are a number of prerequisites for receiving Social Security disability benefits, including meeting certain medical criteria. The application, review and approval process for Social Security Disability Insurance can be lengthy. One of the steps for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) applicants is to prove that they are unable to work at any capacity for at least one year.

With Medicare, people can qualify either by age (65 and older) or disability, in other words, by receiving SSDI benefits. As mentioned earlier, 24 months after the award of SSDI benefits, most recipients become eligible for Medicare. Certain exclusions apply. For instance, with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or a kidney failure diagnosis, patients qualify three months after the first date of dialysis. Individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease-do not have to wait the typical 24 months to start receiving Medicare benefits. Medicare enrollment guidelines differ for different medical scenarios.

Are there professionals who can help with both applying for SSDI and enrolling in Medicare plans?

Absolutely. Several national firms, such as Allsup, provide Social Security disability representation, as well as unbiased support in understanding Medicare benefits and obtaining a Medicare plan.

Allsup has provided Medicare plan related services to the business community since 1994. An experienced and trusted resource that specializes in helping people obtain their SSDI benefits, we have expanded our Medicare assistance services to individuals who are eligible for Medicare.

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