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7 Facebook Mistakes You Should Never Make

2009-07-01 12:23:15

Written by: Matt S. , Image by: marcopako

It's not uncommon to hear girls complain about all of the creepy and horrible things guys do to them online. Stalking, excessive poking, memorizing profile information are just a few, but sadly the list goes much further. No matter what your situation is with a particular girl, committing any one of these Facebook crimes will surely get you in trouble and tarnish your reputation (you don't want to be known as "That Creepy Facebook Guy"). If you know what to avoid doing on Facebook, you'll have a higher chance of success.

1. Memorize Every Part Of Her Profile
The first and most common mistake guys make on Facebook is memorizing a girl's profile information. Her interests, favorite music, favorite movies, favorite quotes, and everything else she puts online. If you take the time to read every inch of her profile and commit it to memory, you'll never have any fun learning about her in real life. Plus, if she gets the idea that you memorized all of her profile information, she will easily get scared off.

2. Friend Her Before Meeting In Real Life
Maybe you saw her at a party, or know her from math class, but you haven't actually said hi or introduced yourself. Why not initiate contact through a more casual and safe medium like the internet, right? Wrong! One of the first rules of Facebook is to not add people you don't know. This can lead to online and real world awkwardness that just isn't worth it. If you know of a girl, and want to friend her on Facebook, just hold your horses and find another girl to be distracted with in the meantime.

3. Look At All 1,364 Tagged Photos Of Her
She probably has a cute face and a banging body, but still, there's no reason to go through all 1,364 tagged photos of her. This is especially true when you first meet a girl. If you're so interested in her from the get go, she'll see less of a challenge in you and might be turned off by it. Also, if any of your friends see you madly clicking through all of her photos, they might catch on to your latest crush.

4. Bookmark Her Profile
Bookmarking a girl's Facebook profile is a huge warning sign of a stalking problem. If you visit a girl's profile so often that you feel like you need it bookmarked, you really have to think twice about what you're doing. Bookmarking a girl's profile makes it easier for others to find out about your creepy crush. Imagine what would happen if you actually start dating this girl and she sees the bookmark on your computer. Even worse, imagine if you start dating a different girl and she sees the bookmark on your computer. These are two bad situations that can come from bookmarking her profile, but the main reason why this is a mistake is because it encourages creepy behavior.

5. Poke Her Constantly
Poking a girl on Facebook is a great way to innocently get her attention, but when done excessively, it can be just plain annoying. Keep poking to a minimum, and unless she initiates new pokes, don't go back and poke her again.

6. Investigate Every Guy That Writes On Her Wall
If you're not even dating a particular girl and get jealous that other guys are trying to get her attention by writing on her wall, you have to get used to it. If a girl is even remotely attractive and has an active presence on Facebook, you better believe every single guy and his brother is already trying to pursue her. If you feel insecure and feel the need to size up your competition, you're making a big mistake. The first reason for this is that people can portray themselves much differently online than in real life. This can give you a distorted perception of what your competition is really like. The next reason why sizing up your competition online is that it shouldn't be your concern. Unless you're dating her (and even if you are) you shouldn't feel like you have to investigate other guys she talks to. This conveys nothing buy insecurity which is a huge turn off.

7. Ask Her Out
If you've been talking to a girl for a while and are thinking about asking her out, don't do it on Facebook. This bears repeating: don't do it on Facebook! Asking out a girl online is like asking to be rejected.

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5 Forms Of PDA That Won't Piss Anyone Off

2009-06-23 17:33:02

Written by: Soo L.

Every person has a different level of tolerance when it comes to PDA (for those of you who are wondering, PDA is short for Public Displays of Affection). If you're with your girlfriend in public and feeling horny, you may feel the urge to examine the inside of her mouth with your tongue. Unfortunately for you, extended make out sessions in public places are usually frowned upon. If you want to share intimate moments with your girlfriend, it's best to do so in the privacy of your own living space. Although most people do not take kindly to most forms of PDA, there are still other more innocent and acceptable ways you can share your affections with your favorite gal. If you're looking to get away with a little PDA, limit it to these five forms and you won't have anyone telling you and your misses to get a room.

1. Holding Hands
If you're with your girlfriend in public, holding hands is a perfectly acceptable way to show that you and your girlfriend are a couple. Holding hands not only helps make this distinction, it also helps keep you and your girlfriend physically close to each other. If you two are in a crowded event or party, it can be especially helpful to hold hands with each other to avoid being separated.

2. Arm Around The Shoulder, Around Waist
This is another great way to show your affections to your girlfriend without upsetting anyone around you. When you have your arm over her shoulder or around her waist, make sure you and your girlfriend are able to walk without too much trouble. If there is a significant height difference between you and your lady friend, it might be best to stick to hand holding. Although this is a perfectly acceptable form of PDA, a significant height difference can make you and your girlfriend look awkward when your arm is slung around her much lower shoulders.

3. A Peck On The Cheek
A peck on the cheek is a simple way to boost the hellos and good byes you share with your significant other without getting any nasty looks from those around you. When you do peck her on the cheek, limit it to just one and make sure your peck is appreciated by her. If she's closing her eyes and wincing every time you try to kiss her in public, take it as the hint that she doesn't want to be kissed while others are present. Trying too hard to show your affections toward her can make you look cheesy.

4. Hugs
If your girlfriend doesn't approve of giving or receiving even little kisses in public, hugging is your next best option. Hugging is something that is innocent enough for anyone to do in public without attracting any negative attention.

5. The Occasional Butt Squeeze
Don't worry now, you can still get away with some more interesting forms of PDA if you're discreet about it. When you squeeze your partner's butt, make sure you avoid doing it in the view of too many people. If you're up against a wall or in a dense crowd of people, squeeze away. An important tip when it comes to butt squeezing is to make sure your girlfriend enjoys this type of PDA. If she doesn't, you might get publicly admonished for your behavior. If she is into it (and chances are she will be) encourage her to return the favor and give your tush a good squeeze every now and then.

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7 Steps To The Perfect Make Out Session

2009-06-15 17:41:26

Written by: Matt S. , Image by: davidChief

Even a good make out session can beat bad sex. That's just how good a make out session can be, but it has to be done right. If you're new to necking, this article will serve as a primer for your budding skills. If you're already the king of kissing, it won't hurt to brush up on the fundamentals. Knowing what is necessary to have a perfect make out session will make your life more enjoyable and your dating life more successful.

1. Keep Your Eyes Closed
While kissing another girl, it is of utmost importance to keep your eyes closed. The main problem with not keeping your eyes closed is that if they're open, it looks like you're staring, which can be creepy for any girl. So when your lips are touching hers at any point, just keep your eyes shut. Not only will this prevent you from starting, it will also make her kisses feel better. While your eyes are closed, your brain won't be busy processing your visual senses and will have more computing power to process your tactile senses.

2. Match Her Mouth Size
Chances are that the girl you are making out will have at least a slightly smaller mouth than you. This can become a problem if you don't know how to shape your mouth to fit hers. If you engulf her lips with yours, she won't have a fun time and will have to wipe your drool off of her face. This could definitely kill the mood for both of you. The correct approach to take is to keep your top lip aligned with her top lip and your bottom lip aligned with her bottom lip. Your tongues will meet happily in the middle. This way, your bigger mouth won't interfere with your make out session and you'll both be better off because of it.

3. Keep Your Lips Together To Begin With
To start things off, lead with your lips; your tongue will get its turn eventually. One key to a successful make out session is starting it off correctly, and using your lips to do so is the correct approach. If you probe around with your tongue too early, you could easily come off as a creeper, or worse yet, a bad kisser. Remember that when you deploy your tongue it should be a welcome visitor. Don't probe around her mouth with it unless her lips are parted first. If you have to force your tongue into her mouth, you might get slapped. When her lips are parted and she gives you her tongue, reciprocate and just go with it.

4. Don't Slobber On Her Chin, Nose, Or Cheeks
When you are making out with a girl, make sure your saliva touches no part of her face (chin, nose, or cheek). If you slobber on her face on a regular basis, she might not want to lock lips with you anymore. If she's someone you really like, it could be a heart breaking deal breaker. The point about matching her mouth size will help you the most with this one. If you remember that her mouth may be a little bit smaller than yours, you'll be able to keep your drool sauce to a minimum.

5. Smile
Even if she doesn't see you smile, she'll feel you smile. If she knows you're having fun, she'll feel more at ease and will put on a smile herself. Smiling is hardly ever mentioned when making out is being discussed, but it can have a profound effect.

6. Know What To Do With Your Hands
In the heat of a make out session, you should know what to do with your hands. If you just keep them in your lap, you're forfeiting many great benefits for both you and your kissing partner. If you don't know what to do with your hands while you're making out with a girl, here's a quick list to get you started:

Stroke her hair
Unhook her bra
Fondle her
Gently hold her head
Rub her inner thigh
Put your hands on her hips
Encourage her to use her hands

Using your hands in these ways will help you and your partner have a more enjoyable make out session. The important things here is to remember that as a man, it is your responsibility to take things further in the interaction. Be confident and push things to the next level when you feel it's right. If you feel any hesitation from her, just wait longer and let it come naturally. If you push too aggressively, you could end up alone for the night, so try to match her pace.

7. Know What To Do Next
A make out session can easily lead to foreplay and sex, which you should be prepared for. Have a condom on hand so that you'll be able to make this transition more easily. If things don't lead to sex, don't take it personally and definitely don't act frustrated. Acting whiny after being rejected is almost worse than begging for sex. It also puts all the power in her hands, which can put you at a disadvantage later on.

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8 Helpful And Money Saving Garage Sale Shopping Tips

2009-06-09 22:59:46

Written by: Soo L. , Image by: femaletrumpet02

Visiting a local garage sale is a great way to spend a summer afternoon and save money. If you have any garage sales in your area, you should definitely go out of your way to check them out. People are very willing to part with whatever they're selling which can lead to deals you won't find anywhere else. If you're convinced that garage sales are right for you, here are a few helpful tips to maximize your savings and shopping efficiency.

1. Visit Nicer Neighborhoods
When you go garage sale shopping, try to visit nicer neighborhoods first. The reason for this is because nicer neighborhoods will generally have better quality items at potentially lower prices. Households in nicer neighborhoods also can afford to part with their used goods for bargain prices. For these two reasons, going garage sale shopping in nicer neighborhoods is a great way to find deals.

2. Prepare To Pay With Cash For Everything
Going to a garage sale with nothing but a credit card will get you no where. Before visiting a garage sale, prepare some cash to pay for anything you buy. It's best to bring too much money than too little. If you have too much, you can just put the excess cash back into your bank account. If you have too little, you might miss out a great bargain.

3. Just Because It's Used Doesn't Mean You're Getting A Deal
Before you buy something at a garage sale, remember that just because it's used doesn't mean you're getting a deal. A lot of garage sale shoppers will blindly snap things up just because they think they're getting a good deal. Before going garage sale shopping, have an idea of what you're looking for and what you're willing to pay. If you encounter something that you'd like to do some quick price research on, it never hurts to call a friend who knows more than you about a particular product. If you have internet access on your phone, you can also do a quick search online.

4. Map Out Your Garage Sale Route
Some neighborhoods arrange events where many households sell their used goods over a single weekend. This is a great way to visit many garage sales at once without wasting time and gas. To maximize the potential bargains you encounter, be prepared to navigate all of the garage sales as efficiently as possible.

5. Always Negotiate
Negotiation goes hand and hand with garage sales. A lot of times, families that have garage sales simply want to get rid of their junk; the money is just a bonus. Keeping this in mind will help you remain steady while negotiating. Like any negotiating process, it does help to point out defects in the what you're interested in to knock a few dollars off the price. It's also important to be respectful and to remember that negotiation is a form of cooperation. Work with the seller to reach a fair agreement for both of you.

6. Avoid Certain Items
Whenever you buy used, there are always a few things you should steer clear of. Some items might be unsafe while others might be completely obsolete. If you avoid the following items, you should be in the clear.

Child car seats
Helmets
Things you can't try out on the spot
Certain electronics
Anything that you don't know the fair price of
Underwear

7. Visit The Same Garage Sale Twice
Visiting the same garage sale twice will allow you to pick up great bargains twice. If you visit a particular garage sale early, you can pick up any items you're interested in before anyone else. Before leaving the garage sale for the first time, ask the seller when the last day will be and visit again on that day. When you visit on the last day of a garage sale, you'll be able to negotiate much more successfully than if you visit earlier. The reason for this is that at the end of a garage sale, the seller will be much more willing to part with their goods than any previous day. The more they get rid of on the last day, the less they have to clean up.

8. Assume All Sales Are Final
Before making any purchases, assume that all sales are final. Garage sales are very informal and because cash is used for every transaction there won't be any receipts. Although some sellers might record each transaction, don't depend on it. Instead, think each of your decisions through and only buy what you are absolutely sure you won't want to bring back.

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5 Old Fashioned Dating Customs That Don't Make Sense Today

2009-06-04 08:36:27

Written by: Matt S. , Image by: Sunshine Rabbit

Although dating is a much different game than it was a generation ago, many old fashioned dating customs are still in use today. The problem is that these customs don't always have the same positive effects as they did in the past, and can even hurt your dating success. No matter how much dating experience you have, you might learn a thing or two from this list.

1. Waiting Three Days Before Calling
So you have a beautiful girl's number, now what? Wait three days before calling, right? Wrong! Unless you're out of town or have a serious emergency, waiting three whole days to call a girl after getting her number is a bit ridiculous. Girls are very aware of this rule and might be put off if you try it. Waiting three days is also a problem because it just kills your momentum. If you had a good initial meeting with a particular girl and wait three days to call her, she might start having second thoughts about you in the meantime.

You don't have to call her immediately after meeting her, but it doesn't hurt to call her the next day or just two days later. The purpose of the three day rule is to not appear desperate, but the truth is that calling after even three days you can still do plenty to make yourself look desperate. On the flip side, if you call the next day, there's plenty you can do to make yourself not look desperate.

Some important things to do are to call her just to talk and possibly arrange a date. Keep everything casual and have at least a vague idea of what you would like to do on a future date. As long as you keep things casual and not make it seem like you have to see her right away, you won't come off as desperate. In fact, being straight forward early on is definitely a sign of confidence, which will bring you more luck than waiting three days to call her.

2. Buying Flowers And Gifts On A First Date
If you still think you need to buy flowers and gifts for a girl on a first date, you're living way in the past. These days, buying flowers on a first date can make you come off too strong, which is never a good thing. Flowers and gifts still have a place in dating, but not as early as a first date. If you start things off with flowers and gifts, you'll put a lot of pressure and expectation on your date. Instead of buying flowers, just bring yourself to the date. The main purpose of dating is to get to know other girls, and all you need for that is yourself.

3. The Dinner Movie Date
If you ask your parents if they've been on a dinner movie date together, the answer will probably be yes. Dinner movie dates are very old fashioned and are still used frequently, but they don't make a whole lot of sense. While a nice dinner does facilitate good conversation, a movie hardly helps. If you go to a movie theater with a girl, how can you even talk to her? If you can't hold a conversation with a girl during a date, you're just wasting time. Another problem with dinner movie dates is that they feel too date-like. When you're just trying to get to know a girl, spending a very date-like evening together will put unneeded pressure on both you and your date.

Again, the dinner portion of a dinner movie date is fine, it's the movie portion that is the issue. Instead of following dinner with a movie, try something different like taking a walk at a nearby park or visiting an art gallery. Anything that will keep the interaction and conversation going in a meaningful way will allow you and your date to get to know each other better, which is exactly what you want. Only after getting comfortable with a girl and spending more time with her should you take her on a dinner movie date.

4. Paying For Everything
It doesn't hurt to pay for a date, but it isn't something you should feel required to do. If you feel like you have to pay for every date you go on, you might be taken advantage of. You could attract the attention of a girl that enjoys being wined and dined on your tab. To avoid this type of situation, you should just refuse to pay for all of the dates you go on, right? Unfortunately it's not that simple. If you refuse to pay or insist to split every bill, you run the risk of appearing cheap, which can be a huge turnoff.

The best approach to take is to offer to pay for the first bill that comes your way. If your date tries to pull out her wallet, tell her she can get the next one. If she makes no effort to pay her fair share, don't worry. She might be doing this just to avoid fighting over the bill. Eventually, she'll offer to pay for something, but if she doesn't, you might have a mooch on your hands. When you're dating a girl, she should be just as excited to see you as you are to see her. If she really wants to see you, she'll eventually pick up the bill.

5. Being Overly Chivalrous
If you want to make a good impression on a girl, it might seem like a good idea to open doors for her, help seat her, and act like a complete gentleman. While these things are all well and good, they don't always help improve your chances of impressing girls. Acting overly chivalrous can get in the way of normal social interaction and can even make your date feel insulted.

It's still a good idea to be respectful and courteous towards your date, but you don't want to overdo it. By being overly chivalrous, you run the risk of putting your date on a pedestal, which can easily land you in the friend zone. Instead, you should be flirting with your date while keeping an interesting conversation going. Acting rigid and overly chivalrous can create barriers between you and your date which won't help either of you.

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5 Common Excuses For Not Exercising

2009-05-29 20:57:17

Written by: Soo L.

Everyone has an excuse to avoid exercising. Why? Because exercising is work. It takes substantial amounts of both time and effort to produce any visible results. It's no wonder people would rather not exercise if given a choice. The problem with this though is that exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. The purpose of this list is to show that the most common excuses for avoiding exercising don't hold very much water.

1. I Don't Have Enough Time
This is the most common excuse people use to avoid doing exercise. The reason why this excuse is used so often is because everyone else uses it. If everyone is too busy to exercise, why can't I be too busy too? The problem with this attitude is that most people have horrible diet and exercise habits, so following the majority is not such a great idea. If you feel like you don't have enough time in your day to exercise, consider how much time you waste watching television and surfing the internet. If you devoted just a half hour each day to exercise, you'd be in much better shape.

2. Exercising Is Too Expensive
Another common excuse people use to avoid exercising is that it's too expensive. Gym memberships aren't free and buying equipment for a home gym is costly and requires a lot of space. These two excuses are legitimate to a certain point. If you want to get a full body workout, it does help to have access to a full gym, but doing basic cardio hardly takes anything more than a little willpower and a pair of running shoes. If the weather outside isn't agreeable, you can always spend a few dollars on a jump rope which is both cheap and hardly takes any space to store.

3. I'm Going To Start Next Week/Month/Year
Because exercise requires a lot of work, it's no surprise that exercise is something that is easy to put off. Of course a person would be more inclined to exercise later rather than sooner. If you find yourself using this excuse yourself, ask yourself what is stopping you from exercising today, and even right now. If you're reading this article, you probably have some free time on your hands. Is there anything getting in the way of you exercising except procrastination?

4. I'm Scared Of Messing Up
If you don't go to the gym very often, you may feel a bit uncomfortable going there. There are several reasons for this. People who are at the gym frequently are usually in great shape. No matter which gym you go to, you'll probably encounter at least one or two muscle heads. It can be intimidating trying to work out around huge guys who can bench hundreds of pounds without even breaking a sweat. It can also be hard if you don't know how to use the workout equipment properly. If you're scared of messing up when you go the gym, it's important to educate yourself. Learn as much as you can about workouts that fit your needs and goals. Find out what equipment to use, how to use it properly, and how long you should use it for. You can also use a personal trainer to help familiarize yourself with a workout that will suit you best.

5. I'm Already Skinny
A lot of people who don't exercise do so because they believe they're already in good shape. If you're naturally lean and don't exercise because you look like you're in shape, consider this: people who don't exercise, no matter their body type, are still susceptible to certain health risks, namely heart disease. A study conducted by Dr Gary O'Donovan of Brunel University involving lean exercisers, lean non-exercises, and obese non-exercisers showed that the non-exercising participants, both lean and obese, had a higher chance of developing heart disease. What this means is that to avoid certain health risks like heart disease, it's important for even skinny people to exercise.

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5 Signs That Tell You're Finally Over Your Ex

2009-05-28 08:49:13

Written by: Matt S. , Image by: Krosstok

When you spend months and years together with a particular girl, it can be very difficult to suddenly be without her. It can be especially difficult if she was unfaithful or was just leading you on. We've all been there, and it's never a fun experience. If you've been hit with a tough breakup, it's important to get back on track and put your life back together. Here are a few ways to tell whether or not you're completely over your ex.

1. You Don't Have Any Urge To Contact Her
If you still have feelings for an ex, you may have the urge to express them to her. Because modern technology provides so many ways to contact your ex (call, text, email, instant message, Facebook, Myspace), it can be tough to resist reaching out to her. When a relationship is over for good, sometimes it's best to break off all ties with your ex. With a relationship in your history, it can be very difficult to start a normal friendship with your ex, especially when you still have lingering feelings for her.

2. Question Why You Even Dated Her
One of the best ways to tell you're finally over an ex is if you start to question why you even dated her in the first place. When you're in love with a girl, it can be easy to overlook her flaws. She might have had some annoying quirks that you simply ignored because she was your girlfriend. After breaking up with your ex, you'll slowly begin to see her as she really is.

3. Start Noticing Other Girls
When you're still fresh from a tough breakup, it can be hard to want any other girl than your ex. Fortunately, after enough time passes you'll start noticing other girls again. This is an important turning point after a relationship because you're looking for other girls to date instead of trying to get back together with your ex. You're acknowledging that other girls can make you just as happy as your ex did. Getting to this point tells that you're finally ready to move on to new things.

4. Thinking About Her Doesn't Affect Your Mood
When you're not completely over an ex, thinking about her can make you feel all sorts of different emotions. Sometimes they're good, sometimes they're bad. Either way, if you've been apart from your ex for a long time, they should have less of a hold on you. The more an ex affects the way you behave today the less control you have over your own life. This is a problem for obvious reasons. If you're not in control of your life and are still haunted by the thought of your ex, it will be very difficult to move on and start dating other girls.

If you still think about your ex frequently and can't quite get her out of your mind, start doing things that will keep you busy. You can work out, volunteer, take classes, or work a part time job. Whatever you can do to keep yourself busy is the most important thing. When you're too busy to think about your ex, you'll have a much easier time forgetting her.

5. You Stop Wondering What She's Up To (Or Who She's Dating)
When you're still not over your ex and don't see her very often, you may wonder what she's up to or who she's dating. This is a perfectly natural thing to wonder about after a recent breakup. If you still have feelings for your ex, you'll definitely feel hurt if you see her with another man (especially if she seems happier). This is why it's necessary to stop wondering or caring what your ex is up to before you can be completely over her. If you can see her in the arms of another man without being phased, you're on the right track.

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10 Warning Signs Of Uncontrollable Debt

2009-05-23 06:55:10

Written by: Soo L. , Image by: TheTruthAbout...

Debt isn't always a bad thing. It can help you afford an education, buy a house, or start a business. Although having debt can put more buying power in your hands, it can also get you into a lot of trouble. If your debt reaches a certain point, it can be almost impossible to pay off. What makes uncontrollable debt even more dangerous is being completely unaware of the problem. Here are ten warning signs of uncontrollable debt you can use to assess your own debt load.

1. No Idea Of Total Debt Amount
Do you know how much total debt you have? If not, you may be ignoring a very costly problem. When people are unaware of how much money they owe, they have no sense of urgency to fix their financial problems. This only leads to continued poor spending habits and mounting debt. If you're unaware of how much you owe, take out a calculator and financial statements to figure out your total debt. It might be painful to do so, but not knowing exactly how much money you owe can easily make your debt uncontrollable.

Once you know how much your total debt is, you will be in a much better position to correct your financial problems. You can also project how long it will take to rid your debt and what your living standards will be during that time. Taking these steps to prepare yourself will help you pay off your debt for good.

2. Living Paycheck To Paycheck
When people live paycheck to paycheck, it means that they can barely afford their living costs. If you can't live comfortably with the amount of money you're making, the two choices you have is to make more money or cut back on your expenses. Usually the easier of the two is to cut down on your expenses. Develop new habits to curb your spending and your debt load will become lighter and lighter. Eventually you'll be able to put money from your paycheck into savings instead of your debt payments.

3. Frequent Letters And Calls From Collection Agencies
Having large amounts of debt is stressful enough, but when you add frequent letters and calls from collection agencies, things can feel even worse. Being harassed by collection agencies on a daily basis forces you to confront your debt head on. If you're getting contacted by collection agencies on a regular basis, it's really time to start changing your habits and ridding your debt.

4. Always Use Credit Cards
If you use your credit cards all the time because you don't have any cash, you have a problem. This is basically the very thing you want to avoid, spending more money than you make. The problem with using your credit card all the time instead of cash is it's easier to make frivolous purchases using a credit card than with cash. A credit card puts thousands of dollars right in your wallet and can be easily used just about anywhere.

If you're making all of your purchases on your credit card because you don't have any cash, it's definitely time to start cutting back on your spending. Leave your credit card at home and keep a small amount of cash in your wallet to avoid unnecessary spending. Carrying and paying with cash makes you see the dollars leave your hand which can be a lot more difficult than simply swiping a card. By limiting your spending, you'll be able to eventually conquer your credit card debt and live a richer and more financial free lifestyle.

5. Use Payday Loans And Cash Advances
Payday loans and cash advances are two of the most expensive ways to obtain cash. If you're using payday loans and cash advances, it points to the classic problem of overspending. The danger of using payday loans and cash advances is that they're designed to snowball very quickly. Some payday loans have finance charges and annual percentage rates over 300% (this makes even credit card rates look good). If you use payday loans and cash advances, pay them back as soon as possible and cut back on your spending. It is very risky to leave these debts unpaid.

6. Multiple Maxed Out Credit Cards
Having many maxed out credit cards is one of the biggest warning signs of uncontrollable debt. If you have more than one credit card that's maxed out, your debt will grow very quickly. Unless you change your habits, it's likely that you'll take on new credit cards and more debt. To deal with this warning sign, the answer is simple: spend less. It is easier said than done, but if the problem is ignored, it will only grow worse.

7. Have No Idea How Much You Spend
Having no idea how much money you spend is just as bad as not knowing how much debt you have. Without knowing these numbers, you'll have a much harder time adjusting your spending habits to get out of debt completely. Fortunately, this problem can be solved using nothing more than simple math and budgeting. Pull out credit card and bank statements to see how much money you spend per month. Knowing how much money leaves your hands per month will help you create a realistic budget to beat your debt. It will also give you a time table for how long it will take.

8. Only Pay Minimums On Credit Cards
Paying only the minimum on your credit cards can make it almost impossible to beat your debt. The way credit card interest works greatly disadvantages the consumer. This can easily lead to repayment cycles that last for decades. If your credit card debt is getting bigger and bigger each month, there's no better time to change your spending habits than now. The longer the problem persists, the exponentially worse it will get. As mentioned earlier, it is important to limit your spending and budget your money to improve your financial situation.

9. Stress, Anxiety, Depression Stemming From Financial Problems
Having large amounts of debt can lead to unhealthy levels of stress, anxiety, and even depression. Taking an emotional hit from your troubled financial situation is never any fun. If you find that your debt is always on your mind, it is important to take action and start dealing with it. Once you take more control of your financial situation, it will give you enough satisfaction to continue working towards paying your debts off.

10. Borrowing Money From Friends And Family
If you're frequently borrowing money from friends and family just to get by, there's a good chance you're on the path to uncontrollable debt. Borrowing money from friends and family can be especially troublesome if the money is never paid back. When this happens, friendships and family bonds can easily fall apart.

If you are borrowing money from friends and family, add up all of the money you've borrowed and pay it back as quickly as possible. If you're having trouble paying it back, keep your lender friend or family member informed. It's important to cut down your spending to show that the money is actually necessary and not just a handout.

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5 Tips To Balance Your Money And Happiness

2009-05-13 06:11:54

Written by: Soo L. , Image by: e-magic

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are three of our inalienable rights as stated in the US Declaration of Independence. This article will focus on the pursuit of happiness and its relationship to money. Balancing your money and happiness isn't always an easy task. If you spend too little, you can miss out on many life experiences, but if you spend too much, you can easily fall deeply into debt. This is why it's so important to strike a balance between your money and happiness. Here are a few tips to help you out.

1. Don't Be Too Frugal
Frugality is generally a good thing, but if it's overdone, it can do more harm than good. If you live too frugally, you might miss out on opportunities to live your life to the fullest. To avoid this mistake, evaluate your financial situation and determine whether you're being too frugal.

If you're not spending enough money on yourself and your own enjoyment, you might want to change your habits. Instead of putting all of your money into untouchable savings, you may want to start a vacation, or rainy day fund. This will help you continue your healthy saving habits, while putting some of your money into your own enjoyment.

2. Find Out What Gives You The Most Happiness Per Dollar
Using the metric of happiness per dollar can help you save money and pursue what makes you happiest. Determining the happiness per dollar of your favorite activities can also help you track your hobby related spending. If you don't track and budget your spending, you can easily squander away a lot of your money.

To determine what yields the highest happiness per dollar, start off by firing up your favorite spreadsheet program. List all of the activities and hobbies you enjoy and rate how much relative happiness they each give you on a 1 to 10 scale (10 being the most). In another column, write down the annual costs related to each particular activity and hobby. In the third column, put the two values into a happiness per dollar ratio. The next step is to sort the results by happiness per dollar.

The information won't be perfect. Even if, say, cars bring in a 10 on your happiness scale, it may have a low happiness per dollar ratio because of the high costs of car ownership and maintenance. Although there may be some abnormalities in your results, putting together a spreadsheet like this can put things into perspective and set you on your way to having a more satisfying life while spending less.

3. Don't Fall Into The Debt Trap
Falling deeply into dept can be one of the costliest mistakes you could ever make. Because of the way interest works, debt can snowball very quickly and can become virtually impossible to pay off. Being financially trapped by debt can make it very difficult to enjoy the activities and hobbies that bring you the most satisfaction. They say the best things in life are free, but not having money is certainly no walk in the park.

To avoid falling into the debt trap, practice frugality, and spend within your means. This can take a lot of discipline but can benefit you tremendously in the future. By keeping your personal debt under control, you'll have more time and money to enjoy your life.

4. Volunteer And Donate To Charity
One of the most satisfying things you can do is to give your time and money to a worthy cause. Volunteering and donating can have many positive effects on both you and your community. If you've never volunteered or given to a charity, it's never too late to start. You can search online for local non-profit organizations to give your time and money to. One particularly helpful website for connecting volunteers to non-profits is VolunteerMatch.org.

One important side effect of giving your time and money to others is that money will have less of a hold on you. If you live frugally and pinch all of your pennies, you can easily become a miser. Being able to share what you have may not have immediate monetary benefits, but will help you keep your life more balanced.

5. Turn A Passion Into A Second Job Or Business
Everyone has at least one thing they're very passionate about. Typically if you're passionate about something, you probably have a high level of expertise in the area which can lead to a second job or successful business. This can help you spend more time doing what you love while making some extra money on the side.

If you do have a particular passion you'd like to turn into a second job or business, the first thing to do is to see what's out there. If there are many businesses in the area you're interested in, it might be a better idea to find employment instead of starting your own business. A crowded market is never easy to break into, but if your passion lies in a small niche, you might have what it takes to start and run a successful business.

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5 Investing Adages That Are Still Relevant Today

2009-05-04 08:21:11

Written by: Soo L. , Image by: woodleywonderworks

Being able to rely on long standing investing adages can help you keep a level head when investing. Human nature hasn't changed much since the birth of investing, which makes many adages relevant for years and years. If you're new or old to investing, here are a handful of adages that can help you stay on top of your game.

1. Bulls And Bears Get Rich, But Pigs Get Slaughtered
This is a classic investing adage with an important message. If someone is overly greedy, he/she will end up getting slaughtered. Greed can be a big problem if you let it control you. When greed makes your decisions, you can be hasty and uncareful in what you do, which can cost you big when making investments. If you don't do your homework and due diligence on your next investment and make an impulsive buy, you could easily get slaughtered.

The adage states that bulls and bears get rich, meaning those who don't succumb to greed get rich. This isn't true in all cases, but the message is still valid. If you stay disciplined and careful, it doesn't matter which side of the fence you're playing (either a bull or a bear), you can still make a handsome profit. To help put this adage to work in your investing life, remember to keep your your emotions and greed in check.

2. Be Fearful When Others Are Greedy, And Greedy When Others Are Fearful
When others are fearful, there is less demand, and when there is less demand, and prices are lower. This adage teaches that it is important to take advantage of these types of situations because, like greed and other emotions, fear can make people act irrationally. If you follow the crowd and are greedy when others are greedy and fearful when others are fearful, you'll just be following the trends and playing catch up with the crowd. This type of investing strategy is hardly effective because usually all of the profits are taken before everyone else learns about it.

The adage teaches to take advantage of opportunities in markets where fear has an unrealistic effect on the price of things. An example of this was on September 11th, 2001 where stocks plummeted so quickly that the US markets had to close. Fear had a tremendous effect on the entire stock market and there were certainly bargains for any investor.

As with any investment, there is no certainty in anything you do, Even if you are greedy when others are fearful won't automatically make you rich, but having a non-herd mentality can give you an edge. The first adage on this list gives a warning about the danger of greed, which is still relevant to this adage. Even though it recommends being greedy, it is still important to keep your greed under control.

3. Never Try Catching A Falling Knife
This adage is an important counter to the previous one. While it is important to not be another sheep in the herd, it is also important to not be too much of a contrarian. If you see other people are fearful over a certain investment and are selling, there is a chance that they're letting their fears get the best of them, or there is a very legitimate reason why people are selling. If you get involved in an investment that's plummeting and you try to catch it like a falling knife, you could get cut.

Again as the first adage states, it is always important to not be too greedy. You have to do your homework and research before getting into any investment. If you don't, you might as well gamble your money at the casino. By avoiding falling knife investments, you'll be able to protect yourself from seriously damaging your portfolio. Stay away from industries and sectors that really have no future. Investments are only successful if they increase in value, which is impossible in a dying industry or sector.

4. A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats
When the economy is doing well, most companies do well as a result. This is the reasoning behind this old adage. If you ignore rising tides in economies, industries, and sectors, you could miss out on big profits. Missing out on these types of profits can hurt you because trend following is one of the easiest and most reliable investing strategies (as long as you're not the last one that follows).

If you see trends forming early on in any market, and invest in that market, you can make a very nice profit. The important part again, is to do your homework to identify the most credible trends and take advantage of them before anyone else. The earlier you get in on an upward trend, the better off you'll be.

5. Let Your Winners Run, Cut Your Losers
When you invest, it is easy to sell your successful investments and keep your failing ones. This is what comes intuitively to most investors but can end up costing you a lot of potential profits. By selling your winners too early, you could miss out on huge gains. By keeping your losers too long, you could realize many losses. This isn't always true, but it makes mathematical sense; if you keep your money in losing investments instead of winning ones, you'll more likely end up losing money.

If you have an investment that has been performing consistently well, there is no good reason to sell it. As the adage states, it is important to let your winners run. By selling too early, you could miss out on a lot more than holding onto a losing investment for too long. When holding onto a losing investment too long, you can only lose the money you initially spent. If you sell too early, you could lose many times the amount of money you initially spent. By letting your winners run, and cutting your losers, you can do much better than doing the opposite. As with all investments, it is still important to do your homework.

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