Spot the difference.

Previously: I choose not to get a car
..because I'm expecting my boyfriend or husband to get one and drive me around

Currently: I choose not to get a car
...because it is financially  more practical not to.

It seems trivial but it makes a world of difference to me.

Empowerd woman, yeah!

9 "Harmless" Habits That Age You

By the Editors of Prevention
Thu, Jul 15, 2010

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Look Your Age—Or Younger!
It pretty much goes without saying that smoking cigarettes and frying your skin in the sun make you older, so kudos for quitting and slathering on the sunscreen religiously. But if you're trying to turn back the clock—or at least slow it down a little—don't overlook these other habits that may be sabotaging your efforts.

1. You keep your college bedtime
It's not uncommon for superbusy women to cram a day's worth of around-the-house to-dos into the late evening hours, a practice that pushes back bedtime into—eep!—Late Night with Jimmy Fallon territory. The problem with this is that too-little sleep is proving to be really, really bad for your health: Research links it to high blood pressure, diabetes, weight gain, and even just looking tired and older.

Act your age: We're not saying you need a perfect 8 hours every single night, but make sleep a priority more often and your body will thank you. Everyone's sleep needs are different; to find out what yours are, sleep experts recommend you turn off the alarm clock when you're well rested, and see how long you naturally sleep. (Most people need 7 to 8 hours.)

2. You have a soft spot for sweets
A sugar-packed diet can take its toll on your waistline, but now experts also believe it can make your skin dull and wrinkled too. To blame is a natural process known as glycation, in which the sugar in your bloodstream attaches to proteins to form harmful new molecules called advanced glycation end products (AGEs, for short). The more sugar you eat, the more AGEs you develop; these damage surrounding proteins like collagen and elastin, which keep skin firm and elastic. Once damaged, springy and resilient collagen and elastin become dry and brittle, leading to wrinkles and sagging. These aging effects start at about age 35 and increase rapidly after that, according to a study published in the British Journal of Dermatology.

Act your age: It's not easy to eliminate sugar completely, but limiting added sugar to no more than 10% of total calories can help. If you're a 45-year-old woman of average height (5-foot-4), that's 160 calories (or 10 teaspoons) from added sugar—about the number in one 12-ounce can of Coca-Cola or six Hershey's Kisses. By comparison, the average American consumes 31 teaspoons per day of added sugar, or the equivalent of 465 calories. Watch for stealthy sugar in unexpected foods, like salad dressing. Many prepared foods contain hefty amounts of sugar, but it's hidden under aliases—including barley malt, corn syrup, dextrose, fruit juice concentrate, maltose, maple syrup, molasses, and turbinado—on ingredient panels.

3. You're stressed more often than not
You don't feel good when you're stressed-out—be it from work projects piling up, a miserable commute, issues with the kids, etc.—and there's good biological proof why you shouldn't. Stress increases the concentration of the hormones cortisol and norepinephrine in the bloodstream, kicking up blood pressure and suppressing immunity. Over time, stress that doesn't go away can delay healing, harden your arteries, and possibly shrink areas of your brain involved in learning, memory, and mood—talk about feeling older!

Act your age: Stress will never go away completely, but how you manage everyday blips can keep hormones on a more even—and healthy—keel. Deep breathing is the top antistress pick of Prevention advisor Andrew Weil, MD: He makes time for it at least twice a day. "It only takes 2 minutes," he says. "I do it in the morning, when I'm falling asleep in the evening, and anytime I feel upset." Try it: Exhale strongly through the mouth, making a whoosh sound. Breathe in quietly through the nose for a count of 4. Hold your breath for a count of 7, then exhale with the whoosh for a count of 8. Repeat the cycle 3 more times.

4. You only exercise to lose weight
Exercise is one of the best turn-back-the-clock agents around, but too many of us don't reap its full benefits because we only associate physical activity with weight loss. If you tend to hit the gym in 2-week stints to shed a few pounds, but then take a few months off from physical activity, you're missing out on some major health perks. Research shows that vigorous exercisers have longer telomeres—cellular biomarkers that shorten as we age—compared with healthy adults who rarely work out. Being active consistently can help fight brain fog, reduce inflammation, and prevent type 2 diabetes and other chronic conditions that crop up over time.

Act your age: Don't let your sneakers get dusty. Choose any activity you enjoy—be it walking, cycling, or dancing—and aim for a minimum of 20 to 25 minutes a day. Break it down, if you have to, into two 10-minute sessions. Slowly increase the frequency, duration, and intensity in small increments. If you miss a day, don't let it become a habit; just pick up again the next day.

5. You blast your iPod
Nothing makes you feel 80 years old like having to cup your ear and say "Excuse me?" to get your friend to repeat herself... again. Hearing loss typically develops slowly, the result of prolonged exposure to thousands of high-decibel insults to the ear, many of which come from exposure to everyday gadgets, like iPods or hair dryers. MP3 players set at 50% volume can pump out sounds up to 101 decibels, well over the recommended safety threshold.

Act your age: To ageproof your iPod, keep the volume as low as possible. Use noise-canceling earbuds to block out ambient sounds, reducing your need to jack up the volume. Wear earplugs when you're around other loud noises too, like the garbage disposal, coffee grinder, lawn mower, etc.

6. You never see your girlfriends
Your friends were probably the meat and potatoes of your social calendar back in your 20s; now you spend most of your spare time shuttling your tweens around to their various get-togethers. But here's why making time to cultivate your friendships is so key: One study found that satisfying friendships predict longevity better than even close family ties, and they can protect against obesity, depression, and heart disease, among other health problems. No wonder you always feel reenergized after a marathon catch-up call with your best college friend or a girls' night out with your high school crew.

Act your age: Your friends keep you young—simple as that. So if hectic schedules keep you apart, consider carving a more permanent place in your schedule for friend time. Take advantage of Facebook or e-mail groups to stay in touch on a more frequent basis—even clicking through and commenting on a pal's recently uploaded vacation photos can help you feel closer.

7. You eat veggies—but not daily
You've likely heard that antioxidant-packed fruits and veggies can help you stay young. These powerful compounds fight free radicals that would otherwise wreak havoc on your body and skin, damaging cells that can lead to cancer and make you look older. But here's the rub: Antioxidants remain active for only a few hours and need to be continually replenished, so don't think you're set for the week after eating a big salad for lunch on Monday.

Act your age: ODing on veggies a couple of days a week or month—and skipping them the rest of the time—doesn't do your body any favors. To truly maximize their age-defying benefits, aim to eat antioxidants every 4 hours or so or with every meal.

8. You've shunned all fat from your diet
Cutting out artery-clogging saturated and trans fats is a heart-healthy move, but when it comes to your health and vitality, equally slashing unsaturated fats, like those found in fish, nuts, and olive oil, is like throwing the proverbial baby out with the bathwater. One kind, omega-3 fatty acids, is the ultimate anti-aging fat, essential for protecting your brain, heart, bones, joints, skin, and more. Another kind, monounsaturated, can lower bad LDL cholesterol, raise cardio-protective HDL cholesterol, and decrease your risk of atherosclerosis. Plus, studies suggest that a higher intake of these fats may contribute to longer life expectancy.

Act your age: Remember that fat isn't inherently evil, and it won't make you fat per se. About 20 to 35% of your daily calories should come from fat (mainly healthy, unsaturated fat) like those from the above sources.

9. You can't recall when you last had sex
Yep, sex feels good and does wonders for your mood, but it's also fantastically great for your health. Research shows that people with active sex lives have stronger immune systems, less pain, a lower cancer risk, healthier hearts, and less stress. The best news: It can even make you look younger—up to 12 years, a study shows.

Act your age: Rekindle the romance between you and your partner. To shake things up, try making the first move next time. "Some women are not active participants in their sex lives," says Pat Covalt, PhD, author of What Smart Couples Know. "A lot of men would like to be touched more, seduced more. Everyone wants to feel wanted."

Sleep-in-a-Bottle

5-hour-energy: Another energy drink but no sleep in a bottle...

 

There's also Cobra, Lipovitan, Extra Joss and a multitude of other brands claiming to give instant energy to the worn-out worker or sleep-deprived student. Variants that are low in sugar and calories are also available in the market for those who want the energy boost without adding extra poundage.

 

I, for one, am a student/worker who is constantly sleep-deprived and need the mental awareness and focus to do my work during the day and attend classes in the evening or cram a paper or two. Although I have derived benefits from downing a bottle of energy drink, at the end of the day, my body still craves for real honest-to-goodness sleep. The rush of energy from a caffeine or energy drink boost may give temporary focus and alertness, but when it wears off, the body crashes just like a cellphone out of battery. My body longs for the bed and I have to give up a day of productivity because I can't function anymore without enough rest or at least pockets of it.

 

Why hasn't anyone invented sleep-in-a-bottle? My hunch is that maybe the combined benefits of sleep are still too difficult replicate with the current technology. A full night's sleep will give one better complexion and skin tone, sharper vision (no bloodshot eyes!), focus, alertness, energy and a pleasant disposition to name a few. So far, scientists have only been able to replicate the focus, alertness, and energy part of the 8-hour sleep benefit.

 

My sleep deprived mind has been conjuring up different sleep-in-a bottle products that I would definitely buy if ever it becomes available in the market - for a reasonable price, of course. A great variant would be called Sleep Like a Baby which contains the potent 8-hour-deep sleep like that of a child - without cares and simply for recharging and growth. There can also be a Power Nap variant mimicking the benefit of power naps for those who can't even afford one (what a sad thought!). Another one to cater to call center agents would be called Good Night's Sleep because sleeping during the day with all the noise and lights versus sleeping during the night which is aligned with our normal circadian rhythm definitely has a big difference.

 

With these great ideas, maybe I should put up my own Sleep empire and pioneer these sleep-in-a-bottle products! There's definitely a need for this!

--
Grace

"Failure is not defeat unless you stop trying"

Secrets of Extreme Savers! Wow!

Secrets of Extreme Savers

You can put away a lot more than the average American without living a deprived life.

Avoid Debt

Courtesy of Ed Haskell

Super Savers: Ed Haskell, 50 and Debbie Chasteen, 52, daughter Laura, 15
Savings Rate: 50% of after-tax income
Home: Liberty, Mo.
Occupations: Ed is a retired Air Force officer; Debbie is a college professor

Since they married two decades ago, Ed Haskell and Debbie Chasteen have saved more than half their income every year. But Ed's aggressive savings habits go back even further. From his early 20s, Ed was determined to live frugally so that he didn't have to work into his 60s. When the couple was dating, Debbie realized how serious Ed was about saving when she needed a new car but didn't have the cash. Rather than have her borrow, Ed offered to put up the money so she could continue maxing out her 403(b) retirement plan. That avoidance of debt has been a key to their success.

[Click here to check savings products and rates in your area.]

Before they make any purchase, even big-ticket items like cars, they save up the cash. In 1996 they paid cash for their first home, a $105,000 townhouse in Macon, Ga. Five years later they bought their current three-bedroom home in the Kansas City suburbs for $200,000 -- in cash. "Sure, we could afford a bigger house and more expensive cars, but we're content with the things we have," says Ed, who retired 10 years ago and now teaches and consults. By the time Debbie retires in six years, Ed estimates they'll have a $2.5 million retirement nest egg.

Delay Gratification

Courtesy of Nicole Elovitz

Super Savers: Nicole, 40, and Mitch Elovitz, 44, daughter Maude, 11
Savings Rate: 35%
Home: Lake Oswego, Ore.
Occupations: Nicole is director of marketing for a clean energy technology company; Mitch is a manager for the county government

Nicole is a master of the long wait. She regularly holds off for three to six months before buying anything that costs more than $100, and she never spends more than $30 without first checking with Mitch (he does the same). She once put off buying a $3.99 ringtone for her cell phone for weeks to see if she really wanted it. And when she saw a $195 pair of earrings she liked, she trimmed the grocery budget for five months to find the cash. "I usually mentally buy something before I actually do it."

Nicole and Mitch budget for everything, from their property taxes (which they prepay to get a 10% break) to vacations ($250 a month) and entertainment ($400 a month). Because they've socked away $250 a month since the day daughter Maude was born 11 years ago, they already have $50,000 in her college 529 plan. And they constantly are looking for ways to save. But it's their ability to curb impulse buys that has fueled the family's savings. "We're not perfect, and sometimes we overspend. But if you have a game plan for savings, you don't get too far off track," says Nicole.

Create Multiple Streams of Income

Courtesy of Tiffani Murry

Super Saver: Tiffani Murry, 33
Savings Rate: 20% to 25%
Home: Atlanta
Occupation: Recruitment technology manger for a major consumer products company

Tiffani Murray's friends call her an extreme saver, but Murray prefers to call herself a smart saver. "From the time I was a kid, I liked to have money so if I wanted something I could buy it myself," says Murray, who opened her first savings account at age 12. Twenty years later she regularly uses coupons, always files for rebates, buys plane tickets with credit-card points and earns free stays at hotels in exchange for writing reviews about the service as a mystery shopper. "I have found many ways to stretch a buck and still live the lifestyle I enjoy."

Murray, who earns a six-figure salary, owns a three-bedroom home in Atlanta and drives a three-year old (recently paid off) Infiniti Coupe. "I could afford a bigger house or fancier car, but what I've got is just fine," she says. What's more important is her long-term goal of retiring by age 55.

To find more money to save, Murray turns her free time into extra cash. After work and on weekends, she writes freelance articles on career advice, retools résumés and even does event planning. This work she enjoys can add up to $25,000 a year in extra income. "I'd like to retire early and when I do, I won't have to want for anything," she says.

Live Below Your Means

Courtesy of Seitz family

Super Savers: Marcus, 44, and Sheila Seitz, 45, children Marisa, 18 and Alexander, 15
Savings Rate: 60%
Home: Alexandria, Va.
Occupations: Marcus is a lieutenant colonel in the Army; Sheila is a project manager for a training company

Marcus and Sheila Seitz earn more than $250,000 a year, but you might not guess that from the modest home they share with their teenage children, a 1,700-square-foot townhouse, or the family vacations of camping trips and visits to D.C.'s free museums. "We've always lived below our means," says Marcus, who hopes to retire by age 50. "By saving now, we will have unlimited options later on." Those options might include traveling for a year or moving to Vegas, where Marcus hopes to test out his poker skills and Sheila would like to teach.

With those goals in mind, the Seitzes do all they can to maximize their savings. By living in a townhouse rather than a McMansion, they not only have a smaller mortgage payment (their only debt), but they also pay less in property taxes, utilities and maintenance. The Seitzes also take advantage of the perks of being in the military (Sheila was also in the military before moving to the private sector), shopping at military stores and taking advantage of the post-9/11 GI bill, which allows them to transfer Marcus' educational benefits to their children so their college expenses will be covered.

Cut Down on Everyday Expenses

Courtesy of Arnheim family

Super Savers: Julie and Ralph Arnheim, both 43, daughters Natalie, 14, Isabelle, 12 and Emelia, 9
Savings Rate: 40%
Home: Los Altos Hills, Ca.
Occupation: Julie is a stay-at-home mom and co-founder of RubbingNickels.com; Ralph is a lawyer

Thanks to her husband's successful law career, Julie Arnheim has been able to stay at home full time for the past 10 years with her daughters, ages 9, 12, and 14 (she previously worked in sales for a financial software firm). But living in the San Francisco suburbs is expensive, and Ralph hopes to retire by 55 or 60, so the Arnheims do all they can to keep a lid on spending. Julie describes their savings strategy as "eco-thrifty" -- they cook at home six nights a week, skip Starbucks, get most of their fruits and vegetables from their garden and keep chickens in the backyard for eggs.

Instead of socializing in restaurants, Julie organizes pot-luck dinners with friends. The Arnheims swap items with neighbors, everything from books and kids soccer equipment to party dresses for their daughters and jewelry and scarves for the adults. Julie says some of their eco-thrifty habits are inspiring the neighbors too: "Several neighbors and local friends have either already gotten the poultry raising itch or are curious about it," she says.

Click here to see the complete list of Secrets of Extreme Savers

___

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This article is part of a series related to being Financially Fit

--
Grace

"Failure is not defeat unless you stop trying"

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