Jer Blog

1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. (Likely applies to half
world population)

2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often
mistaken for hunger.

3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one’s metabolism as much as 3%.

4. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100%
of the dieters studied in a U-Washington study.

5. Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could
significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

7. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory,trouble
with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a
printed page.

Check your smoke detector at least once every six months, if not more frequently, as it may not even be working.

Although the average life span of a smoke detector as long as 15 years, they could easily go on the blink and you would not even know about it.

About 30% of smoke detectors fail after 10 years according to a recent report from the National Fire Protection Association. The report also states that 50% of them shut down after 15 years.

Although it may emit a beep when you test it, that doesn’t necessarily mean it will alert you to smoke or fire.

Americans are buried in debt…

According to the Federal Reserve, consumers had racked up $944 billion in revolving credit debt by the end of last year.

If you run debt up so high that you can only make the minimum payment and you will soon find yourself in a situation that you cannot get out of.

For example, if you have $17,000 of unsecured debt, like credit cards, the first $400 you send in each month won’t even reduce the $17,000, it’s just taking care of the interest. What’s more, if you miss a payment, you may get hit with the “universal default” clause that is included in most credit card agreements - which gives your credit card issuers the right to raise your rates in any way that they see fit. This can cause your interest rates to soar and, in some cases, can double your monthly payments. Penalty rates can run from 19 to 24 percent, and folks with bad credit could see a rate of 29% or more!

If you are receiving a lot of unwanted email, you CAN take action.

Nothing can be done about spammers if their activities are not reported. If you report a spammer’s activities to the proper authorities, there is a chance that a spammer’s account will be closed. You will also be helping other people who get spammy emails form the same person or persons.

The FTC (Federal Trade Commision) needs your help in identifying spammers’ accounts and any “unsubscribe links” that are deceptive. Send copies of your unwanted emails with those deceptive unsubscribe links to spam@uce.gov. make sure you include the header information in the email that you send. To fill out a complaint form, go to www.ftc.gov/spam.

You can also report unwanted emails or deceptive emails to either your or the spammer’s internet service provider (ISP).

In today’s world, there are many topics that can creat a heated debate. Politics, animal rights and foreign policy are just a few. However, one that hits a little more close to home, is the subject of buying versus leasing a new car.

According to a recent survey, approximately 23% of the auto market is made up of leased vehicles. However, this large variance does not dictate which option is better, due to the fact that many businesses lease vehicles.

When considering your next auto purchase, how can you decide which path is the best to take? Here are some points to consider when you are thinking about leasing:

1. Lower payments: Lower payments aren’t the only reason to lease. Leasing also offers purchasing flexibility.

2. A worry-free drive: Drivers who lease do not have to worry about watching the value of their car drop every year or deal with hefty repair bills. At the end of the lease term, they can simply turn in the car and walk away.

Simple life changes can sometimes have complex consequences, particularly when it comes to long-term financial security for our families.

For example, the circumstances that create the need for financial protection-marriage, a new home, increased expenses or the birth of a new baby-can change at any time. A change in any one part of life can put a person’s or family’s lifestyle at risk.

Life insurance is a useful tool for protecting against such a risk. Traditionally, the purpose of the insurance is to provide a degree of financial security. As changes occur in a family’s income, assets and size, the amount of financial protection to keep it secure can change too.

Here are some questions to consider when reviewing your insurance coverage:

• How long ago did you buy your life insurance?
• Were your family circumstances different then?
• Have you had a new baby since buying coverage?

Gift baskets are a hot commodity with predictions of over 4 billion dollars in annual sales last year. Gift baskets are hard to beat as they can be tailored to just about any event, holiday or occasion. Whether you just got a promotion, had a baby, went to the hospital, retired, graduated from college or even bought a new home, a gift basket can be the perfect gift.

There are more and more sites offering premade gift baskets for sale, and even more starting to spring up that offer customised gift giving. Heck, you can even make your own gift baskets, tailored to the event or occasion or person. I have a few ideas outlined below:

Wine Gift Basket: Fill a wicker basket or picnic basket with cheese wedges, gourmet crackers, a cheese slicer, small cheese board, a bottle of wine, corkscrew, book or magazine about wine, or a gift certificate to local liquor store. It’s a nice idea to line the basket with a tea towel or cloth napkin with a wine theme.