Five Ways to Make Ends Meet

(Family Features) In this economy, everyone could use a little extra cash to help cover the rising costs of food, fuel and just about everything else. Between work and raising a family, it may seem like there is no time, but here are five ways you can earn money on your own schedule.
Sell Products from Home. Direct selling is a popular way to earn money that allows you to be your own boss and enjoy a flexible schedule. Products range from cooking and jewelry items to health and beauty aids and more. Look for a company that is a member of the Direct Selling Association and that has products you feel good about promoting. Make sure to ask questions about compensation: there are many companies to choose from and some offer more lucrative pay than others.
One of the biggest benefits of direct selling is mobility; you can grow your business wherever you have contacts/relationships. XANGO is a global company that specializes in category-creating wellness products including premium mangosteen beverages, nutrition supplements and personal care products that are good for your family's wellness and financial health. XANGO does business in over 30 international markets so you can build income in your own community or grow a global business through international contacts.
Lisa Mullen's XANGO business provides much needed income during uncertain economic times. "I don't worry about paying my mortgage or filling the gas tank," says Lisa. "That kind of peace of mind is priceless." Find out more about direct selling at www.directselling411.com and more about XANGO at www.xango.com.
Freelance or E-lance. You don't have to put your skills to work in a 9 to 5 desk job. There are a number of websites that can help you find freelance work, and quite a bit of it can be done from home. Check out www.guru.com, www.odesk.com and www.elance.com to find potential clients and advertise your skills.
Tutoring. Tutoring can be more than just helping young students master math or English. Tutors can also help people learn a new skill. Your expertise in areas such as foreign languages, computers, music, sewing, art and more could help others learn and you earn.
Do What You Love. If you have a passion for cooking, start a catering or personal chef business. If you have a knack for handmade crafts or jewelry, there are online marketplaces that let you set up your own virtual shop and sell your products. Visit www.etsy.com, www.amazon.com or www.google.com/checkout to learn more about public marketplace opportunities.
Helping Hands. Just have a few hours per week or month? Start a side business doing yard work, housekeeping, handyman services or personal shopping. You may also consider starting a personal errand business, running errands for seniors or retirement community residents. Busy pet parents may need someone to walk their dogs during the work day or when they are on vacation. Print up some business cards and spread the word through friends and acquaintances.
SOURCE:
XANGO

How to Keep Warmth In and Pests Out

(Family Features) When the temperature drops, people aren't the only ones looking for ways to stay warm. Pests seek warmth indoors, too.
Protect your home from unwanted visitors this winter with these simple home preparedness tips from Terminix, the country's largest provider of pest control services.
Seal pests out and warmth in.

• Place weather stripping on the bottom of all exterior doors to ensure they seal tightly. Doors that do not have a tight seal can allow a variety of pests to enter the home and can allow warm air to escape.
   
• Use caulk to seal any holes or cracks in your home's exterior. Large holes should be stuffed with steel wool or wire before sealing with caulk or other materials.
• Eliminate cracks or openings around pipes and utility lines that enter the home. These are potential problem areas that can allow pests in and heated air out.
    
• Close the flue damper when the fireplace isn't in use. An open damper can allow a large amount of air out and can be an entry point for a variety of insects, rodents and wildlife.
   
• Ensure attic and foundation vents are equipped with tight-fitting 1/4-inch hardware cloth. This will help keep rodents at bay. Also install insect screening over windows, utility vents and other areas where small pests may slip through.   

Check the exterior.

• Move piles of firewood and other debris away from the home's foundation. Both provide ample sources of shelter for rodents and other pests such as termites, and could encourage them to live near the home.
   
• Trim tree branches and shrubs away from the home. Rodents and other insects can scale rough surfaces like trees or large shrubs in order to access your home's roof or other entry points in the home's exterior. 

Protect your investment.
Just because it's cooler, termites don't slow down their destructive behavior. Termites cause more than $5 billion in property damage each year, and most homeowners' insurance does not cover the damage.
It's essential to have an annual professional home inspection for termites from a reputable pest and termite control company. Prompt treatment and regular inspections can save thousands of dollars in damage repair. "Homeowners can ease their minds and protect their investment this winter by scheduling a proactive termite inspection and doing a few simple tasks to keep pests away," said Paul Curtis, Terminix entomologist. "The best tool to fight pests is prevention."
Additional tips for termite prevention:

• Repair roof or plumbing leaks. The moisture from these allows termites to survive above ground.
• Ensure gutters drain properly and direct moisture away from your foundation.
• Keep mulch or soil away from your home's siding. It's best to have a barrier of a few inches.
• Remove items like scrap lumber, boxes and even old books or newspapers from crawl spaces.
• Maintain adequate ventilation in crawl spaces.

For more helpful tips, visit www.terminix.com.

SOURCE:
Terminix

Care About Your Care - Nine Things You Can Do to Get Better Health Care

Nine Things You Can Do to Get Better Health Care

(Family Features) TV's Dr. Mehmet Oz is joining the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and government health agencies this month to launch Care About Your Care, a nationwide effort to increase awareness about what people can do to recognize and receive quality health care. In every community, both good and bad care is being delivered, but there are things anyone can do to improve their health and health care. Here are nine tips: 
Talk with your doctor or nurse. Share your beliefs and preferences for care. Make a list of all the questions you want to ask. Bring the list to each appointment and write down the answers. If you don't understand, ask again until you do.
Don't go alone. Take a friend or family member along to medical appointments. They can listen, take notes and help you remember what was said.
Learn about the best treatments for your condition. For many conditions like asthma, diabetes and heart disease, clear standards for treatment exist. Become familiar with what works for your condition. Learning more will help you understand what your doctor might look for or recommend, help you follow those recommendations and assist you in identifying what questions to ask during your appointment.
Find and use information on the quality of care provided by local doctors and hospitals to make health care decisions. Use information in publicly available reports to make decisions about doctors and hospitals. Look for a doctor who appears to provide the care you want for you and your family and is willing to work with you to make decisions. Look for a hospital that is highly rated by consumer groups or other organizations and has experience treating your condition.
Have one doctor or nurse coordinate your care. With one doctor or nurse who knows about all of the care you're getting, you're more likely to get the care you need and not get care that might be duplicative or harmful.
Create a medication list. List all medications and supplements you currently take, including over the counter medicines, prescriptions, vitamins and herbal remedies. Bring this list with you to every doctor's appointment.
Ask your doctor or nurse if they use health information technology - or Electronic Medical Records - to track and share information with your other health care providers. Tracking information electronically means all the information about your health is available to all your doctors, every time, no matter where you are. This reduces errors and unnecessary tests. 
Know the difference between more care and better care. Sometimes, getting more care can actually do harm or expose you to unnecessary risks. If you think you may be getting more care than you need, protect yourself by asking: How will this help me? What will we find out from this test?
Take responsibility for your health care. Learn about quality care. Talk with your doctor and follow their recommendations.
For more information and to get the tools you need to improve your health care visit www.CareAboutYourCare.org.
SOURCE:
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

I love watching Dr. M Oz.  I am informed and made aware of what's going on everyday and he provides advises to keep us fit.  Thank you Family Feature for providing my blog information which I can share to the people who reads my blog.  They may not know where to search, but through me I can be a channel to everyone for awareness.
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