Ball State

» FINDING AFFORDABLE FAMILY HEALTH INSURANCE IS POSSIBLE

By China at 9:26 AM

These days finding affordable family health insurance is on the mind of many middle and lower class American citizens. Many people say that it is impossible to find an excellent health care plan that covers your major medical expenses, hospitalization costs and other miscellaneous health expenses. The important thing to realize is that it is possible. In life, everything is possible if you believe. I heard that once from a motivational business keynote speaker that came to our office for a seminar. I know it may sound corny, but it really is true. People can and will believe anything and make it a part of their reality every day, so why is it then that no one can believe that finding affordable family health insurance is actually possible. I will tell you why, because the media makes us believe that it is impossible. The power of the television is to put in our head the images that imprint our minds. So if the tv says that we are all going under in some horrible financial crisis, and we see pictures, graphs, and images that reinforce this, then to our minds this is our reality.

There are some really affordable options available and they are out there. Even if you are unemployed, for instance did you know that for the moment the government is helping to pay the COBRA benefits for people? And we are not just talking $20 or something, they are actually paying 65% of peoples COBRA payments for a period of nine months to help people stay insured. Or did you know that if you have kids, even if you are above the poverty level, there is a state run children's insurance plan that you may be eligible to put them on? I bet you didn't and you know why, because these options are not what the media is focused on. So if you find yourself believing that all is grim, then shut off your TV and don't turn it back on, instead go for a walk or go to the gym. Allowing these images and thoughts to invade your mind, is just creating your negative reality.

» Losing Weight and Keeping it off

By China at 3:38 PM

I recently lost about ten pounds from an accident I was in. A friend of mine was driving and we got hit by a car. I was on medication for pain and had stitches and could barely eat for about a week or so. I ended up losing ten pounds which is probably the bright side of the whole situation because for about the past few months I have been trying to lose those last few pounds.

While this isn't the ideal way to lose weight and I probably wouldn't go around recommending it, it definitely wasn't a terrible side effect to this terrible accident. So while I have lost it (cheating kind of ha) I also want to keep it off now. So now that the weight loss part of it is over, the maintenance part has begun.

I talked to a friend about the right way to keep off the weight and I am going to try a diet pill that she recommended. I haven't always been a fan of diet pills, but after looking in to them more and hearing other people's success (and health still intact) I have decided to give them a try.

So I am taking a diet pill daily as well as drinking an obscene amount of water. I fill up this 32 ounce water bottle in the morning and bring it to class with me and throughout the day I probably refill it four or five times. Also I am trying to eat more fruit and vegetables in my meal and adding more ‘good' meats like fish and chicken.

And the best part, I am training for a marathon in May so I run daily which is great for keeping the weight off once you have lost it. Another thing that I haven't done in the past was lift weights. I was afraid to bulk up and I kind of get a headache when I do it, but I have seen results and more muscle burns fat faster.

I am so excited about his transformation and even though it came about in a terrible way it kind of seems like a blessing in disguise (also kind of frustrating though because I was working so hard and couldn't lose those last pounds). But now that I have, I am going to try my hardest to keep it off and do the best that I can.

» Surviving our economy right now

By China at 9:33 AM

People are in debt and it isn't just a little bit either. Homes are being foreclosed on and families are having trouble just getting dinner on the table and we need help. And when gas prices skyrocketed families were forced to ride bikes and carpool because they couldn't afford to drive to work every day there and back.

People need to realize that there is debt help out there and that they aren't alone. There are ways to get out of debt and while you may be embarrassed to admit how far you have let it go, the sooner you face reality the better off you will be. You don't want to let yourself get deeper and deeper and often when you turn to a professional they can help you grasp the situation and it may not be as bad as you think.

I was reading this book the other day about how to get out of debt even in today's economy and get on the right foot to saving and it talks about the fact that you can save and accomplish this goal on no matter what salary you make. There is always a way to save money you just need to explore every option.

There are so many opportunities out there to get help and help yourself.Credit card debt consollidation is something to look into and talk to a professional about lowering your interest rate or calling the credit card company directly. There are also so many ways you can cut bills, changing light bulbs, changing cell phone plans, there are always little ways to save money, you just need to find them.

There are also more ways to make money than most people think. Maybe babysitting every once in a while for a neighbor or just putting your name in an ad in the paper. Or donating plasma you can make about 30 dollars each time so if you are tight that day or month that is an option. Also I heard that people who collect their loose change in a jar can make up to 500 dollars a year that is usually wasted by people.

Everywhere you look there are ways to save and earn money, you need to check all of your resources and exhaust every option before giving up. Because we are all in the same boat right not and everyone understands how tight things can be. We just need to hang in there together and ride this out.

» HOW TO FRANCHISE INFORMATION LEADS TO SOME INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES

By China at 9:10 AM

I was reading up on owning your own business, and the article I was reading suggested that for those who are considering opening their own business in this tough economy, that the best options available right now are buying franchise and online opportunities. The article said that both of these options provide you with a great opportunity for success and limited risk. I had never really thought about it quite like that, but for many years, I had always just thought about running my own business. It really had never occurred to me that I should consider working for someone else. Now this article made it seem as if I really couldn't take a chance that opening my own business, it might fail. Especially right now, since I have a baby on the way. Having a family adds to the pressure of it all, I will tell you that. As young men, we are taught that it is our job to provide for our families in the best way possible, and that is why I have decided to look into how to franchise.

Apparently, it is a lot simpler that you would think. There are actually franchises all over the place. Big companies like McDonalds, 7-eleven, and the UPS store, just to name a few. I really didn't know where to begin. I knew of a few businesses that were franchises, but then I came across an incredible resource that allowed me to plug in my criteria for the type of franchise I was looking for, hours, and location, and this site took my information and matched it to different franchises that are looking for people. The great thing is that my wife doesn't work, so I know that realistically we can move anywhere that a job opportunity comes up, and this makes me a more viable candidate than most. I will be finishing up school in just a few months, so I want to get in with a franchise quickly, so that I can go through their training program as soon as I get through school. I think that this will be the best and most secure way to open my own business and still be able to provide my family with the security that they need.

» I could write a book

By China at 8:43 AM

I seriously think that if I were a good enough writer and had the time and resources, I could write a book about weight loss. I read every single article of every health or fitness magazine and am constantly looking for tips on how to get fit and how to lose weight. Everything from weight loss pills to fasting have been tried by me.

I think I finally figured it out though. It is going to sound absolutely insane when I say what I am about to say, but its okay. I finally decided that the cure for weight loss is a healthy diet plan, a workout schedule and maybe even a supplement of a weight loss pill or shake of some sort. I know, it sounds crazy because that is what people have been saying for years and years. But the thing is, no one every listens. Everyone always wants to take the easy way out and there really isn't one right now.

So the plan is to make a plan (sounds funny right?) Well as a college student I have tried every easy way out and after reading this enlightening weight loss pill review about making them work for you, I finally understand. You need to work out daily. If not to lose weight, then just to be healthy and stay that way. You also need to eat right. Having a snack or cheating every one and then won't kill you, but constantly eating crap can. You may not feel it now, but those extra pounds can hurt you in the future health wise.

You can't just eat whatever you want and over work out, you could get injured that way and your body doesn't need all of that crap. And you can't starve yourself either and not exercise. And you certainly cannot just take a weight loss pill and do nothing else. All of these things work as a team to make you better. So balancing them daily and weekly will help your body now to lose weight, but also in the future to stay healthy, maintain that weight loss and to protect you from scar things like cancer or heart disease or even weak bones. You need to make smart decisions as a teen and young adult, so you can get to older ages and life you life then too.

» DISCOVERING DUAL ACTION CLEANSE HAS IMPROVED MY HEALTH

By China at 10:51 AM

One of the most important things that you can do for your health is a dual action cleanse. About a year ago I found this out first hand when my mother had some major issues with her colon. It is then that I first heard of a colon cleanse, and quite frankly thought it was a little strange. Then I found out that even holistic people believe in using all natural colon cleanses to keep their colon clean and functioning well. Honestly, I have even read the research and studies show that people who do colon cleansing, are actually healthier. One of the main reasons is the types of foods that we eat. As a society our food is killing us. We eat too much, too fast, and do very little ingesting of the foods like fruits and vegetables that would cleanse our colons normally. If you have any children, then you can actually see that although their bodies are smaller, they actually have a larger bowel movement than their older counter parts. This is actually becuase gradually as you age your colon begins to get clogged up releasing less and less waste and storing more of it. This is why so many people say that they have more energy after using a colon cleanse. This waste is actually keeping them from experiencing full health. Also, it is not publicized as such, but did you know that a colon cleanse alone can actually stop your stomach from bloating, giving you a thinner appearance, and has even caused some people to lose weight? I didn't believe it either, but since my mother had to do it, and it came so highly recommended I gave it a try and honestly, it wasn't until after my second cleanse that I really began to feel and see the difference. My bowel movements became more regular and I noticed that I was feeling a lot more energetic, and felt like I was resting better. I dropped a few pounds, but mostly I noticed that I didn't have that bloated appearance in my gut anymore. I won't guarantee you anything, but I will say try a dual action colon cleanse and I think the results will speak for themselves.

» NOW IS AN EXCELLENT TIME TO CONSOLIDATE DEBT

By China at 9:26 AM

Right now is actually an excellent time to consolidate debt. If you have a lot of bills, even if you are still able to barely pay them, you should consider debt consolidation or debt settlement. The reason these things are important is because more and more people are losing their jobs, and the cost of things keeps rising. Paying off your debt is truly the only way to become debt free and just free in general. It is important that you start to live on a very strict budget, and begin to take steps towards financial security. The one thing that is extremely important is understanding the differences between debt consolidation and debt settlement services.

Debt consolidation, essentially takes all your debt and puts it into one lump sum payment each month. It is helpful not only in paying your debt down and off, but also in helping you to keep better track of your finances and monthly payments. You can't balance things if you don't even know what you owe.

On the other hand, debt settlement services, take all of your debts and will settle them for pennies on the dollar. This will help you reduce your debt and get debt free quicker and without filing bankruptcy, which has become much more difficult to do. Debt settlement will not fix your credit score, but in a few years your credit will most likely get better as opposed to the 7-10 years that you have to wait to get credit after a bankruptcy.

Be sure that if you have credit card debt that you seek out some type of advice to lower your bills and get your debt paid off as soon as possible. Doing this will afford you the ability to live life on a budget, and that will be a good feeling. Don't allow the past to keep hanging over your head, address these issues today. They won't go away, so you may as well take care of them.

» Marketing Class Project

By China at 9:01 AM

www.advancedtele.com is a mobile marketing blog that I came across the other day while I was searching for information on the mobile marketing association for a project for one of my classes.

We have to do a project for my business and marketing class about the most popular forms of advertising in 2008 and 2009. We found that online advertising and mobile advertising were two of the most popular forms and we had to write a paper about what we had found and reasons to back that up as well as do a presentation on it (in a businesslike manner).

So for our presentation we showed text messages that we had got (I received one the other day about an ad for a local gym and a magazine subscription and a few of my classmates had gotten the same ones and others). Then we hooked up the computer to the overhead projector so that everyone could see what we were doing. We then proceeded to go about what an average college student would do online daily. But instead of just doing these acts, we would count the number of ads that came up. So when I signed on to my email account we counted three ads and coupons for varies stores (bath and body works and the campus bookstore as well as another clothing store I shop at) and then we went onto the chase website so that I could check my bank statement (we didn't actually sign on, but we didn't even need to to make our point) and counted how many we saw there. And finally we hit the jackpot when we signed onto face book (something students do about fifty times a day randomly) and we counted again how many ads popped up.

All together in the ten minute session that we had online we counted about 80 ads that we saw (this didn't include pop ups because we blocked them to make the presentation go more smoothly). It is amazing to see how bombarded we are when we sign on to any sort of technology now a days and we barely even blink at the mass amounts of ads that we see. I think we clearly made our point in our presentation and the teacher thought that we did a great job at conveying it to the rest of the class.

» Putting Thought into it

By China at 8:58 PM

I think so many people make decisions off of other what's thoughts or actions but really don't think about what they want or need (which may or may not be a good thing). For example, when I was doing my finance project we had to look and compare different CA car insurance providers and see which ones were the best. I think that just in general people don't do that. When making big life choices (and car insurance really is a big life choice, or any insurance in general actually) you need to weigh all of your options and decide which is best for you as an individual or as a family maybe.

For my project we also had to talk to our parents about the kind of the insurance that they have for their cars (well for ours too since they are paying for it still ha) and we had to ask them what was appealing to them and why they ended up with that particular provider and then we had to compare it with other ones and go back to our parents with the results.

It turns out that the auto insurance that we currently have is one of the best providers and while it may be a little expensive (maybe closer to the higher pricing) it is definitely getting the biggest bang for your buck (especially with 2 young girl drivers ha, sorry dad). However, I did find out that my dad went with this kind of insurance just because that is what my grandparents had and he felt comfortable in not looking around since they have had a good experience with it. While that is lucky, and he probably would have found that he liked this one the best after researching, it is a smart idea to compare your options.

So for the rest of our project, we spent the day in the computer labs looking up cheap web auto insurance and deciding whether price was an issue when it came to quality and also instant web automobile insurance and getting quotes right then and there instead of having to call or go in and talk to a person. It is nice to have the internet to be able to do background research so that you can make sure that you and your family are getting the best service and it isn't hard or time consuming at all!