We have enough to worry about without stressing about personal files and documents being lost. Most people either fret about something happening to their computer or don’t worry about it enough–until something happens to it. Internet backup for all your financial records is a great way to keep it all secure while allowing yourself some peace of mind. This way, if your computer ever is stolen, crashes, or is ruined by natural disaster, you still have all your vital information.  So, backup, relax, and enjoy life!

Clothing your family can get incredibly expensive–especially in our current economic slump. But there is still a way to let your children have great, fashionable clothing without having to take a personal loan. Wholesale clothing is a great way to do just that. Not only do a lot of wholesale companies have great clothing, their prices are unbeatable.

Not too long ago we remodeled our kitchen (see post entitled Summer Indulgence) and I caught the remodeling bug.  Now we’ve started in on another project- the bathrooms.  The bathrooms were updated a few years ago, so there isn’t as much remodeling to do as in the kitchen.  We’re  keeping the same theme, neutrals with bold red accent colors.  We just finished the downstairs bathroom and it’s amazing what a new shower curtain, towels, cupboard handles and fixtures can do to update a room.  My favorite addition are the gorgeous Grohe faucets we’re installing on each of the bathroom sinks.  They are sleek, yet completely classic and really liven up the bathroom.

How many times have you gone to the store and as the clerk hands you your receipt she says, if you go online and fill out a five minute survey you’ll receive a $10 coupon off your next purchase?  And how many times have we gone home and completely forgotten or disregarded the online survey all together? This week was the first time ever I actually went home and filled out the survey and guess what, sure enough, after the survey popped up a $10 coupon towards my next purchase.  With a five minute survey I earned $10, not bad! With a little more research I found out that companies actually give great weight to these surveys.  In the business world they call it Enterprise Feedback Management and it allows for customers to drive product management - as the company obtains feedback from customers they can in-turn ensure quality service.  So, next time you’re at the store that is offering compensation for filling out a survey, take five minutes and fill out the survey - not only will you make $10 for your time, but you can ultimately affect the way certain aspects of the company are managed.

That would be a dream come true, right? But there are ways to earn an income without having to leave the house. Here are just a few:

• Daycare: If you are already are watching your kids during the day, what’s a few more? No, but seriously, this is a great way to earn some extra money.
• Telemarketing: Companies that specialize in telemarketing services are generally lenient when it comes to your work schedule. And some companies even offer that you can work from home.

The kids were away all week at summer camps which meant I had the house to myself.  You may be thinking I spent the week sipping pina coladas, reading good books, and relaxing by the pool, but instead my summer indulgence this year was remodeling the kitchen.  The kitchen has been on my list of things to do for two years and after months of saving we were finally able to get it done.  We painted a couple accent walls a dark red and put down the most beautiful oversized distressed granite tile for the floor.  The counters are dark brown rolled granite that pulls the color from the walls and the floor together perfectly.  Brand new stainless steel appliances complimented the new Blanco sink we installed and added a modern and very clean touch to the room.  I can’t believe remodeling the kitchen made such a difference to the entire feel of our house – it’s amazing.  The kids are in for a surprise when they get home!

So, summer is here and that means time to dust off the chinaware and bring out the beautiful flatware for my annual cocktail party. This past Christmas, one of my kids accidentally dropped one of my china plates as we were cleaning up after dinner, he felt awful! Luckily I found a website that sold me a china replacement piece identical to my set! I was so relieved! So, back to the dinner party- we’re having the most delicious hors d’oeuvres, grilled salmon with a mango salsa, and a scrumptious salad with almonds and bleu cheese. What a night it will be!

There’s no better feeling than to pay the last mortgage payment and officially own your own home! The burden of mortgage payments can cause a lot of stress, not only financially, but emotionally as well.  As my husband and I have been looking into a few different accelerated payment options for mortgages, we came across U1st’s money merge account that allows you to consolidating regular income and savings to reduce the balance owing on your line of credit.  In theory this is supposed to cut years off our mortgage.  We’re excited to check it out!

Get this! Toto Toilet’s new “Intelligence Toilet” will not only make sure you have the cleanest toilet in town, but it will make sure you’re the healthiest person in town as well. The Intelligence Toilet system automatically measures urine sugar, blood pressure, body fat and weight on a daily basis and will transmit the information to your PC for you to view. Who would have dreamed a toilet could ever do all that?

What girl doesn’t like buying new clothes (except for the spending money part maybe)? But one thing to remember while you are losing weight is that it is OK to buy yourself new clothes even though you haven’t reached your ultimate fitness goals. Most people punish themselves by holding off until they have dropped all their weight. The fact is, you need to feel good about your self and your progress the entire time you are losing weight and working hard toward your goal. Reward yourself for the progress you have already made. And if you are looking to drop more pounds but need a little boost, try Akavar 2050. Sometimes your body plateaus and it is impossible to get over that wall. Sometimes you just need a little help. Remember, love yourself no matter what size you are!