Use Multiple Motivations For Frugality: Environmental, Simplicity, Health, Spiritual, Philanthropy
May 10th, 2012 | Posted by Global Investors
Reaching financial independence faster boils down to either increasing your income or decreasing your expenses. This is why so many books and blogs focus on frugality and saving money. However, too often the term frugality conjurs up the image of an old woman eating gruel while separating her double-ply toilet paper into single-ply.
After an interesting conversation about how vegetarians often have different motivations (religious, ethical, environmental, amongst others), I thought about the many driving forces that can result in frugality.
Purely Financial
Let’s start hypothetically, and say that all you care about is money and you cut expenses purely because you would rather invest that dollar and have it produce income for you. You could move into a smaller house, buy a fuel-efficient car, walk or use public transportation instead of driving when possible, make dinner from scratch at home instead of ordering dinner at the restaurant, and cancel the cable TV service. But if you won the lottery tomorrow, you’d drive your Hummer everywhere, eat at Morton’s Steakhouse once a week, and subscribe to everything from ESPN to HBO and add in the 5-DVD Netflix plan to top it all off.
Environmental / Green
But wait, you are rather concerned about preserving natural resources, so perhaps you’d still walk a little more and buy a fuel-efficient car. A smaller house would probably use up less electricity and heating oil as well. Using raw ingredients to cook uses less wasteful packaging made of plastic and styrofoam.
Simplicity / Minimalism
If you want to reduce chaos and clutter in your life, then you may still have a reason to move into a smaller home since that’ll force you to get rid of some extra things. Do you really need a big car, or is a hatchback or station wagon enough? Hey, the Europeans make do, as gas costs $10 a gallon there.
Physical Health
Walking or biking is much healthier than driving, so you won’t need that Hummer as much. Medical studies have shown that the more time you spend sitting, the shorter your lifespan, so you don’t want to be that TV-watching couch potato.
Self-Empowerment
Sure, you could pay someone to cook your food, but wouldn’t you feel great if you knew how to brine a turkey, make your own beer, or grow your own vegetables? This might also apply to whatever other skills you want to pick up. Home repair, appliance repair, auto repair, landscaping, investing…
Religious / Philanthropic
The sooner you reach financial independence, the sooner you can start giving more back to society and serving others instead of trying to make money.
So in the end, you could be the same person, with or without a big pile of money. (Maybe not. I’d get some cool toys.) A more practical idea would be to use these other motivations to make saving money more appealing. You’re not buying a compact car because you’re cheap, you’re being minimalistic and environmentally conscious. You’re not skipping Olive Garden because you’re broke, you’re doing it because you know how to can make your own risotto at home that’s even better. Find a different (higher?) cause. (The extra thousands of dollars growing in your brokerage account won’t hurt either.)
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Liquid Health, Inc. Launches New Raspberry Ketone Formulation to Help Burn Fat without the need for
May 5th, 2012 | Posted by Global InvestorsLiquid Health, Inc., manufacturer of quality liquid nutritional supplements unveils new Raspberry Ketone formula developed to target different segments of health-conscious consumers. This new formula of Raspberry Ketones as found in clinical studies and as featured on Dr. Oz.
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Patients Look to Lafayette Dentist’s Website for Reliable Dental Health Information
February 24th, 2012 | Posted by Global InvestorsFamily dentist in Lafayette, Dr. Crane, is passionate about dentistry and wants his patients to be too. That’s why he’s incorporated numerous pages of patient education into his interactive practice website, ensuring patients have around the clock access to oral health information when they need it.
When patients visit this Lafayette, LA dentist for cleanings, check ups and treatments, they not only receive exceptional care, but they are also given full attention from Dr. Crane. Dr. Crane takes the time to listen to his patient’s questions, and he also conserves enough time to educate patients about proper oral hygiene, treatment… View full post on Live News from PR-USA.net
Exemplar Health Resources offers RCM in accordance with the Health Legislations
February 14th, 2012 | Posted by Global InvestorsExemplar
Health Resources helps various practices in implementing Revenue
Cycle Management (RCM) in an efficient way to improve their overall
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Focus Softnet Acquires Stake in Insta Health Solutions
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Health Insurance Now Required To Provide Free Vaccinations
July 19th, 2011 | Posted by Global Investors
There are many changes to health care that have come and are coming from the Affordable Care Act. For example, if you are a young adult looking for health insurance, you can now be covered under your parent’s plan (if it covers children) until you turn 26 years old. (See here for more info.)
Another change that I was reminded about from this CNN Money article is that plans must cover “recommended preventive services” without charging a deductible, copayment, or coinsurance. In other words, it’s free as long as you visit an in-network provider. Something to consider if you’ve been putting them off due to cost.
The list of included preventive services is long and covers a variety of screenings, and also includes the cost of 10 vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Here is the list from CDC.gov. For adults, the CNN article highlighted the Influenza, Pneumococcal, Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis, and Zoster (shingles) vaccines, but I see other familiar ones like Hepatitis A, so talk to your doctor. The required frequency varies from annually for the flu to once total for the shingles vaccine. A family member got shingles recently and it was not a pleasant experience.
There are some exemptions for existing plans, but as time progresses almost all plans should participate. From Healthcare.gov:
Unless noted otherwise below, the recommended services must be provided without cost-sharing when delivered by an in-network provider in the plan years (in the individual market, policy years) that begin on or after September 23, 2010. For recommendations that have been in effect for less than one year, plans and issuers will have one year from the effective date to comply.
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Health Insurance Now Required To Provide Free Vaccinations from My Money Blog.
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Government of Canada Announces Funding for Manitoba Project That Supports Positive Mental Health
June 9th, 2011 | Posted by Global InvestorsThe Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, on behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, today announced federal funding of over $2.7 million to support a collaborative mental health promotion project designed to improve the mental health and coping capacity of new mothers in Manitoba. This funding covers both Phase I and Phase II of a $27 million national funding announcement by the Government of Canada. Through the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Innovation Strategy, this funding seeks to improve the mental health of vulnerable populations in communities across Canada.”Mental health is intricately linked to overall… View full post on Live News from PR-USA.net
Know what benefits health care speakers can provide to you
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Tufts Health Plan Receives National Recognition for Health and Wellness Resources
May 29th, 2011 | Posted by Global InvestorsTufts Health Plan recently received two Web Health Awards, which honor the nation’s best electronic health programs and web-based tools for consumers.
KeepingYouHealthy.com was awarded Gold recognition in the Social Network category and Merit recognition in the Microsite category. KeepingYouHealthy.com is a website offering Massachusetts and Rhode Island residents an array of resources for healthy living. In addition to highlighting local events focused on health, discounts, tips and seasonal activities, the site encourages user interaction among individuals who share ideas about fitness, nutrition, healthy living and offer solutions for overcoming common obstacles.
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Deepak Chopra: Weekly Health Tip: How To Ease Back Pain During Pregnancy
May 29th, 2011 | Posted by Global Investors More than two thirds of women who are expecting experience lower back and pelvic pain during their pregnancy, usually in the second and third trimesters.
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