Effective Ways to Lose Weight by Drinking Coffee

Long ago, many studies that prove the benefits of coffee to improve human health. In consumption is not excessive, coffee can make mood awake even lower the risk of oral cancer. In addition to making healthy, recent research shows that coffee can lose weight.

Reporting from the site Geniusbeauty.com, researchers from the University of Queensland for the possibility that coffee can lose weight. Results of clinical trials showed that the average coffee fans have a slender body. This is because coffee can reduce appetite and amount of food to be consumed.

The study involved volunteers who enjoy caffeinated coffee and decaffeinated coffee enthusiasts. They enjoy the drink at breakfast. The researchers noted how their appetite before lunch. In volunteers who consumed coffee with caffeine, they could starve than volunteers who drank decaffeinated coffee.

In a previous study, Japanese scientists reveals that drinking coffee every day can reduce the risk of stroke. While researchers from Norway showed that drinking one cup of coffee before work can reduce pain or soreness.

Although healthy, coffee consumption should not be excessive. Two cups is enough to keep you fresh and healthy throughout the day.

Get It Together! 5 Steps to Organizing Your Financial Life

Let's talk about organization. In today's society,the importance of keeping things organized has diminished because it takes time and dedication to make it happen effectively. If you are willing to take the steps, however, you will find that getting your financial house in order isn't quite as bad as it sounds. 
  
Here are five steps to help you on your path to financial organization, and ultimately, freedom from debt. 

• Collect all necessary documentation in a single location. 
• Take a day off each quarter from work, known as a "personal finance day," to gather your account information and place it in organized files. Ideally, there will be files for banking information, credit cards, investments, mortgages, and insurance. 
• If you are not utilizing your bank's online resources, sign up for an account. Many banks provide an array of tools that can also aid in organizing expenses and income. 

  

• Create a written budget, and review it monthly. 
• Once you have gathered all your account information in a safe, central location, create an accurate budget that includes a savings trigger and properly notates your money needs. Adjust spending in key areas such as food and entertainment, and allocate those funds to debt elimination and savings. 
• At the beginning of each month, review your budget. Holidays and special events will give your budget a different look than in other months, and your spending plan should reflect those changes to give you the best idea of where your spending should be for that time.

  

• Set a schedule for paying bills. 
• When creating your monthly budget, write down specific dates to pay various bills. As a rule of thumb, it is best to pay bills in bulk on key days of the month. For example, if Sam & Diane's mortgage is due on the 1st, their phone bill on the 5th, and electric bill on the 7th, it would be ideal to pay all three bills on the 1st. This ensures these bills are satisfied, and eliminates any chance of incurring late fees from the creditor, or overdraft fees from their bank. 

• Write down all one-time expenses for the year
• One stumbling block many face when embarking on budgeting is the occurrence of one-time expenses that pop up throughout the year. These may include license plate renewals, professional dues, or insurance premiums. Divide these costs by 12, so that you can include them in your monthly budgets. By employing this method, you can save towards those costs as they come, rather than losing large amounts of your monthly income in one fell swoop. 

• Shred, shred, shred!!
• If possible, invest in a shredder. In the age of rampant identify theft, it is imperative that you take every available precaution to protect your personal information. Not only will shredding documents keep you safe from possible theft, it also frees your home of tons of unnecessary paper. 

By taking these steps, you are, in a way, deputizing yourself to free yourself from the prison of indebtedness. It all begins with a willingness to say, "Yes, I'll do it." We'll be here to help you along the way. 

With you on the journey, 

Daniel Sims

 
Daniel Sims is the newest member of the Madam Money team. He is the creator & host of Financial Rebirth Live!, a personal finance podcast on BlogTalkRadio.com, and managing partner of RDSF Consulting in Little Rock, Arkansas. We look forward to his insights in the coming months. 

Karaoke: Made in the Philippines?

Who really invented the karaoke machine?

Filipinos do love singing, and they usually go to bars with karaoke machines or KTV bars to entertain themselves. Singing in karaoke machines also benefited some Filipinos bringing them to stardom, like Arnel Pineda of Journey.

Sadly, this way of entertainment of Filipinos irritated some of the sensitive-eared people, who just wanted a very quiet day. Even some of the foreigners were annoyed of this. Well, I can't blame Filipinos if they like to put a karaoke machine in every celebration they hold outside their houses, especially in the streets. They just wanted to show others that they were happy. I don't know if that's the reason.

Anyway, let's go to the main event.

If you ask someone about who invented this machine, some Filipinos would answer it was invented by a Filipino, but some would say its the Japanese. So I would like to put this confusion in clarity because it even led itself to an urban legend. What makes this an urban legend? Well, it's because many people ignored the truth about it.

Introduction

The word karaoke came from Japanese words kara (which means empty) and oke (simplified word for okesutora or orchestra in English). It is a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music (a music video) using a microphone and public address system.[a]

In a karaoke machine, the typical songs installed are pop songs such as that of Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra and etc. It also includes some of the local songs where the karaoke is used. However the songs on it doesn't have the voice of the original singer, only the sound and lyrics of the song.

Japanese Karaoke

The considered inventor of the first karaoke machine is the Japanese musician Daisuke Inoue. He invented what he called the Juke-8 in 1971.

Japanese drummer Daisuke Inoue was asked frequently by guests in the Utagoe Kissa, where he performed, to provide recordings of his performances so that they could sing along. Realizing the potential for the market, Inoue made a tape recorder-like machine that played songs for a 100-yen coin each. Instead of giving his karaoke machines away, Inoue leased them out so that stores did not have to buy new songs on their own.[a]

Philippine Karaoke

Here in the Philippines, the considered inventor was Roberto del Rosario, the president of the Trebel Music Corporation. He invented his Karaoke Sing Along System in 1975, which is 4 years after Daisuke Inoue invented his version.

Roberto del Rosario described his sing-along system as a handy multi-purpose compact machine which incorporates an amplifier speaker, one or two tape mechanisms, optional tuner or radio and microphone mixer with features to enhance one's voice, such as the echo or reverb to stimulate an opera hall or a studio sound, with the whole system enclosed in one cabinet casing.[b]

But because he patented his invention and put it in commercial purposes, he was considered the first inventor - the first patented producer.

Other Karaoke

Aside of the two persons above, there was actually another company who was also considered the first inventor - the Clarion company. They were actually the first producer, but there is no existence of the patent.

Sources:
a. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karaoke
b. http://inventors.about.com/od/filipinoscientists/p/Karaoke.htm

5 Signs You're Ready for Financial Coaching

Have you (or someone you know) ever thought about hiring a Financial Coach to help you create and accomplish your financial goals? Check this out ... 

The sense of frustration has become epidemic with today's economy, challenges are becoming more prevalent with personal financial matters. Building financial stability and wealth can be a confusing and complex huge pill to swallow. So, where is a person supposed to find the time to become a financial expert and learn what is necessary to build the financial stability desired?
  

Are You Ready for ...

  

Hiring a financial coach provides a competitive advantage by leveraging the person's time with specialized financial expertise that cuts through the clutter, confusion and contradictory information by teaching them what is relevant - efficiently and with minimal hassle.
  
Here are 5 Signs that You may be Ready Financial Coaching.

1. You're tired of procrastinating and ready to start building wealth and living your dreams.
2. You want to develop your own personalized action plan for building financial security based on principles that are custom designed to fit your specific situation - not a cookie-cutter or generic plan.
3. You want an accountability partner to help you maintain focus on your financial goals.
4. You're just "not interested" with traditional financial planning where all they want to do is sell you investment products. Instead, you want straightforward advice without all the sales pitches.
5. You realize that "true wealth" is not just about more money ... you want to balance your life while working toward financial freedom so that you don't make the mistake of sacrificing your family, health, or a fulfilling life in pursuit of money.

So, if you're ready to start working with a financial coach, feel free to contact me at Prosperity Now Financial Management Services.

  

Financially True,

  

Tarra Jackson, Making Money Sexy!

Spells to Drive Away Ghosts and Prevent Hauntings.

This summer has been insane and my blog posts have become less and less frequent.  I apologize for that.  Work and life have kept me busy, but I always try to save some time for reading and working on my next book.  I am currently working on my next book about a witch.  This book has required more research than usual because I didn't know much about witchcraft.  One of the wonderful books I got was call The Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells by Judika Illes.  This is a wonderful book for me because I can find all kind of magical mischief for my protagonist.  It is also wonderful because it offers a vast collection of  spells and folk remedies to prevent and end hauntings from around the world.    I thought I would put a couple of these wonderful spells here for all those who are struggling with a haunting and looking for a supernatural remedy.  If you want more remedies, you'll have to buy the book because it has enough ghost away spells to clean out a cemetery.  These few are just the tip of the iceberg.

*  Get Away Ghost Bistort Spell
1.  Burn bistort, waft the fragrance through the home and reserve the ashes.
2.  Pour boiling water over the powdered herb.
3.  Sprinkle the bistort infusion throughout the home
4.  Sprinkle the ashes over thresholds
5.  Repeat regularly- at least once a week

* Mesopotamian Ghost Spell
1.  Braid a strand of unbleached wool and a strand of red wool together.  Use red wool that will not bleed into the other strand.  The finished strand should be long enough to tie around your forehead.
2.  Make seven knots in the braid, while focusing upon your desires. 
3.  Bind the braid around your forehead, while chanting an incantation like this:
      "Until red turns white and white turns red,
        that ghost that haunts me can't come back again."
4.  Sleep in the braid overnight
5.  Afterwards, carry it as a talisman, in a charm bag.

* Ghost and Poltergeist Protection Spell
1.  Maintain fresh bay laurel branches and leaves within the home
2.  Replace them as their green color fades

*Haunted House Prevention Spell
1.  Sprinkle a strong infusion of bayberry inside and around the perimeter of a house to exorcise existing ghosts and repel new ones.  For added power, asperge with a bay laurel branch.

* Rest in Peace Spell
1.  Place a small doll in a tiny coffin.
2.  Have a great send off for the doll.
3.  Bury the coffin in a remote area or in a cemetery.

Let's Regress

I'm going through a patch of technology trouble at the moment which has left me yearning for the good old days when life was less complicated and the language more colourful...

Pray welcome, good gentlefolk.

Forsooth this cursed machine is so temperamental it might turn a man's brain to curds. Such is my frustration I have hence forsaken all modern instrumentation. Likewise have my utterances regressed to the language of yore.

Pray address your remarks in the appropriate manner of learned gentry. Thou canst hail loudly in the general direction of the shire of Nottingham, direct your missive by carrier pigeon or transport such documents via stagecoach.

Gadzooks! The first option is surely effective if standing atop a bell tower within sight of the highway known in these parts as M1. Only select the second if said bird is sound of wing. The latter is most likely to succeed but may perchance take up to three days.

I am told I must expend up to four hundred Guineas to replace this infernal contraption. What thinkst thou? Stap me vitals! I wouldst sooner allow my wife to find gainful employment in the local whorehouse than waste my hard-earned wealth.

I must away now to partake of my lunch of stewed rodent. Then I must toil about my duties - berate my wife for her spendthrift ways, beat the servants for their indolent conduct and abuse my neighbours for lack of breeding and deficiency of wit.

May your quills stay sharp and your ink be as black as my heart.

Until the morrow.

Exit Strategies: How to Leave Financially Abusive Relationships

Have you (or someone you know) ever been caught up in a financially abusive relationship and desperately needed an exit strategy? I have.

   

There are many consumers that are in financially abusive relationships with financial institutions that seem to be “not that into” them. They are dealing with ridiculously high loan interest rates, very low deposit rates, too many and extremely high fees, as well as poor customer service.

   

Being in a financially abusive relationship not only angered ME, but it made me feel weak and hopeless because I didn’t know how or if I could escape.  Then one day … I did!  So, here are a few effective Exit Strategies for getting out of a Financially Abusive Relationship.

   

Talk About It

There may be an opportunity of improving the situation by talking with the right person at the financial institution. So, before deciding to break up with the financial institution …

 

Be sure to

1. Share concerns with a Customer Service Representative,
2. Speak with a Branch or Department Manager about concerns for resolution, or
3. Write a letter to the Senior or Executive manager about concerns.

If efforts to resolve the matter are not addressed appropriately or ignored, move to the next strategy.

   

Start Financial Dating

Begin the process of financially dating other financial institutions to find one (or two) that can meet, at least, most of the required financial needs (deposit accounts, loans, internet banking, etc.). In my book Financial Fornication, I share the 5 phases of Financial Dating to avoid financially abusive relationships. These phases should not be skipped.  It is necessary and worth taking the time to get to know financial institutions to ensure they are right for a particular financial situation.

    

So, be sure to

1. Explore financial options (banks vs. credit unions).
2. Investigate the financial institution(s) selected via the internet or word of mouth (research).
3. Experience the Introduction by going to the branch(es) or calling customer service to ask questions.
4. Start slow Courting by using one or two of their financial services (open a savings or checking account), when ready!
5. After all 4 phases have been executed, Commit to the new primary financial institution (PFI) by using more of their products and services. 

   

Once a new financial “main squeeze” is found, it will make it easier to leave an existing financially abusive relationship.

  

Exit Slowly & Deliberately

Whether a new financial “main squeeze” is on standby or not, another Exit Strategy is to slowly stop using the financial institution’s products and services.

  

Be sure to

1. Review bank statements carefully to identify all direct deposit or automatic payments coming out of the accounts.
2. Stop or change automatic payments from the account(s) and update payment information with the new financial account information, if available.
3. Ensure that all accounts are in good standing or current. This will ensure a clean break. The last thing wanted is a reason for the abusive financial institution to remain in contact.
4. If possible or necessary, refinance loans to the new financial “main squeeze.” If this is not possible, keep this in mind … having loans with a financial institution is like having a child(ren) with an estranged spouse or mate.  Leaving the relationship does not diminish the responsibility of the child(ren). Therefore, leaving the financial institutions does not diminish the legal responsibility of the credit obligation.  If refinancing is not an option, continue to make loan payments to the financial institution on time until it is paid in full to avoid collection and credit report drama.
5. Lastly, stop or reduce direct deposit into the account.

 

Once these steps are executed, a clean breakis relatively available.

  

Even though the financial relationship may seem extremely challenging right now, just know that all financial institutions are not alike. There are lots of really good financial institutions out there that value and appreciate their customers.  Once you find them, some of them even provide an easier method of transiting automatic payments and direct deposits to them through what is called Switch Kits.

  

So don’t give up. There is hope. And most importantly, you deserve better!

    

Financially True,

 

Tarra Jackson, Making Money Sexy!