Showering represents roughly 17 percent of residential water use in the United States which equates to more than 1.2 trillion gallons of water consumed annually. From 1950 to 2000, the U.S. population doubled; however in that same time period the demand for fresh water more than tripled. Americans now use on average 100 gallons per day, a statistic that puts enormous stress on existing water supplies and distribution systems. This high usage threatens both human health and the environment. A recent government survey has revealed that 36 states are anticipating severe local, regional, or statewide water shortages by 2013.

The good news is that you can help. By shortening your shower time you can severely cut back on your personal water use. The average showerhead dispenses about 5 gallons per minute, meaning for example a 15 minute shower uses 75 gallons of water. Taking a shorter shower doesn’t require any new products or installations; it’s a simple a step with a significant impact.

Just by cutting a 15 minute shower to 12 minutes can save 105 gallons of water per week, and 5,460 gallons per year. With rising water costs, you’ll start noticing the difference in your monthly bills as well.

You say you know where your money goes and you don’t need it all written down to keep up with it? I issue you this challenge. Keep track of every penny you spend for one month and I do mean every penny.

You will be shocked at what the itty-bitty expenses add up to. Take the total you spent on just one unnecessary item for the month, multiply it by 12 for months in a year and multiply the result by 5 to represent 5 years.

That is how much you could have saved AND drawn interest on in just five years. That, my friend, is the very reason all of us need a budget.

If we can get control of the small expenses that really don’t matter to the overall scheme of our lives, we can enjoy financial success.

The little things really do count. Cutting what you spend on lunch from five dollars a day to three dollars a day on every work day in a five day work week saves $10 a week… $40 a month… $480 a year… $2400 in five years….plus interest.

See what I mean… it really IS the little things and you still eat lunch everyday AND that was only one place to save money in your daily living without doing without one thing you really need. There are a lot of places to cut expenses if you look for them.

Set some specific long term and short term goals. There are no wrong answers here. If it’s important to you, then it’s important period.

If you want to be able to make a down payment on a house, start a college fund for your kids, buy a sports car, take a vacation to Aruba… anything… then that is your goal and your reason to get a handle on your financial situation now.

No one has made a contract with God that they won’t get sick. Most people are aware that life can be unfair and that being financially comfortable today doesn’t guarantee being comfortable in the future. It may all come as a result of a sudden death. Anything is possible for anyone, but what about the insecurity that will knock on your door and will deprive you from your goals and dreams?

It is a fact that some people think they don’t need life insurance because they assume enough money by the time a death occurs in the family. However, this assumes either that the time of death is predetermined or that the family will have sufficient funds at any given time to pay for any expenses related to an unexpected death. The first challenge that arises from this perspective is related to the cost of life, which increases from year to year while income levels remain stable. Therefore, a family that depends on job income to live will certainly not be able to afford the expenses of a sudden death.

Life insurance provides enough coverage and assists a family to anticipate financial burdens should a death occurs in the household. Although, people don’t like to think about dying, loved ones should be protected and their financial future has to be taken care of.

Life insurance offers security and protection. There are people that believe that the monthly cost of life insurance is excessive and that premiums are paid for no reason if the unexpected event never occurs. It is a fact that insurance money seems wasted if insurance policy is never used. It is also true that it may exceed the cost of life thus burdening the family’s budget even more. However, there is no guarantee that this will be the case. Death is inevitable and unpredictable. Wouldn’t it be better for the family to have a large sum of money at hand?

Life insurance works for single people as well. A low-risk life insurance would cover funeral costs; at the same time you can invest the premiums you would have paid should you had a high-risk insurance. In that sense, life insurance is a wealth optimizing tool. It can provide liquidity to pay off personal or business loans or good returns on investment, which could be a beneficial way for saving necessary funds for retirement years.

If still you are not convinced that we need life insurance ask yourself simple questions. What immediate financial expenses will your family face upon your death? How long would your dependents need financial support? How much would you want to leave behind to fund your children’s education? Would you want your family to be financially doomed because of your sudden death?

The Pitfalls of Payday Loans

Many consumers are victims of payday loans; they appear to be a convenient solution to get you out of a bind; a quick fix so to speak. Consumers beware… there are a few things you should consider before pursuing this option.

Case scenario… Jacob needed $250.00 to pay a nagging bill that was standing in his way of getting the credit he needed to purchase a used car.

Jacob fell into the trap of taking out a payday loan. After paying off the debt, he succeeded in getting the credit he needed to purchase a car to replace his washed-out `86 Buick.

Jacob returned to the lender the following payday, paid the $40.00 fee and asked the lender to extend the loan until the following payday. Circumstances prevented Jacob from meeting his expensed for an additional eight months.

Let’s do the math… Jacob paid the $40.00 fee every two weeks for a total of nine month without ever paying the $250.00 principal. He finally borrowed the money from his brother to get out from under the debt. That $250.00 loan ended up costing $720.00 in fees over and above the original $250.00 he borrowed; he paid a total of $970.00 for a $250.00 loan.

In recent years, lenders have discovered new ways to profit from other’s hardships. These lenders have come to be known as payday loan or cash advance establishments, among other various titles. These lenders typically charge anywhere from 300% to as much as 1,000% interest for the convenience of easy accessibility to quick cash. If you are unable to repay the loan you risk the potential of an endless cycle of recurring debt.

Lenders emphasize the convenience of getting the cash you need on the spot; they make it seemingly easy to secure a loan. All that’s required is a postdated check in the amount of the loan to include their fee. When the loan becomes due, the lender either cashes the check, or you can extend the loan and pay the fee again. Statistics show the average payday loan is estimated to rollover an average of six to ten times. The lender can typically recover the principal balance of a $200.00 loan in less than three extensions of the loan; after that the lender derives 100% profit on each rollover.

Seek Alternative Ways to Borrow:

If you don’t qualify for a traditional loan, seek the help of family or friends.
Negotiate an alternative payment schedule with your creditors.
Look into getting overdraft protection for your checking account.
If you have a credit card, take out a modest cash advance.
If you simply must take out a loan explore your options. Often times credit unions offer considerably better rates. A credit union is a cooperative financial institution, owned and controlled by the people who use its services. These people are members. Credit unions serve groups that share something in common, such as where they work, live, or go to church. Credit unions are not-for-profit, and exist to provide a safe, convenient place for members to save money and to get loans at reasonable rates.

Ways to Save:
Pay yourself first. Open a savings account and commit to depositing a modest amount each payday to serve as a resource to fall back on in the event of an emergency.
Evaluate your monthly expenses, eliminate unnecessary purchases.
Take your lunch to work instead of eating out.
Find a co-worker to car pool to work with.
Create a budget you can live with and stick to it.

In today’s economy, financial risks are lurking around every corner. It’s important that you set aside funds you can fall back on in the event of an unexpected emergency.

Finances can be very overwhelming, if you need assistance, find a nonprofit organization to help you get you finances under control. Be certain to analyze each one and compare. It’s equally important that you get recommendations from people who have used their services. The Federal Trade Commission offers helpful advice and resources for consumers who need assistance in credit counseling.

With the faltering economy, companies are using the tool of terminating their employees to ease their own and their shareholders’ pain. But according to litigation laws, companies engaging in wrongful termination could create big trouble for themselves.

Under such economic crunch, if an employee feels that they have been terminated wrongfully, he should consult a lawyer; such wrongful termination can certainly be acted upon. While you are working hard at your job, expecting a fair compensation for the same, and you end up becoming a victim of wrongful termination, do not stress, as wrongful termination laws protects employees from losing their jobs unfairly.

Under increasing competitive pressure from home and abroad, organizations require better performance on the part of all their members. As such, greater pressure is exerted on managers at all levels to be more effective and efficient in leading their operations. In such a complex and demanding environment, if the managers fail to play their part efficiently, companies tend to fire them without any prior notice. Such wrongful termination is actionable.

You should immediately contact your lawyer, If you believe you are about to get fired. You can look through the internet, if necessary, but if you think you are about to be fired contact a lawyer and discuss the case with him. Your attorney can suggest immediate steps and you can insert your lawyer between you and your employer.

A litigation lawyer will accept your claim if the termination is against the conditions specified by law or contract. Your litigation lawyer or attorney can help you in filing a case against your employer and can handle all the detailed presentations which are quite complicated. A good and competent lawyer may not charge you for first time consultation and can easily go through your case for filing against your employer. On terms of actual termination by your employer, the litigation attorney can tell you what to do and take measures accordingly.

Looking for wrongful termination lawyers, you can get access from websites, online forums, and blogs. The national employment lawyers association can also help you in finding suitable lawyers in your state who can fight for the injustice done to you.

One of the most daunting experiences after being wrongfully terminated is to get a new job for you. There are lawyers who can help you to restore your source of income, so consider this in looking for wrongful dismissal attorneys to defend your case.

Are you looking for a way to supplement your income? Do you need money to replace a lost or reduced income? Not long ago I was like you are today. I had been laid off for the second time in less than a year and was trying to figure out how I was going to be able to support my family. I was willing to try anything. I spent hours searching the internet for a job or anyway that I could possibly make some money.

I had no idea how to create a web site so I was not looking in that direction. I must have seen the ads for making money at home a thousand times and dismissed them because I didn’t know enough about the internet. Finally out of desperation I clicked on an ad to make money online. I was amazed when I saw how easy it was to create a page and make money, by using a time tested method. I didn’t need to do the research and development of the website because someone had done that for me. Now I am able to add needed income right from my computer.

The key to discovering a way to make money is simple. Just ask! There are thousands of places online willing to help you make money. These require very little computer knowledge and most have step by step instructions to start you on your way. You can pay as little as $10 or as much as $500, the choice is yours.

The Google network has provided the perfect platform for internet marketers. These systems are real and can provide a good income stream with very little effort on your part. Think of what you could do with an extra $150 or more dollars every day. You get all of the information to start making money. What are you waiting for? Get started on the road to financial success today.

Many people have tried different approaches, some have failed and some have achieved incredible success. Take my advice and don’t try to do it by yourself. I tried that without any success. It can be done, but you will have to try all of things that others have done before and failed. Skip the trial and error method and start making money today with a proven system.

Now you can have access to these proven methods. Just sign up for the program and they will send you all the information to get started. Once you receive your packet you can review the information included and decide which program you are going to use. Now all you need to do is implement the strategy you have chosen.

Google based programs are the easiest way to make money today. Anyone can do it, you do not have to be a great salesman or know how to program a computer. All you need to do is follow the instructions and don’t give up. Try the programs for at least 90 days and see what it can do for you. Many people fail because they want to see the profits now. Many people have failed to make money simply because they gave up. You will not make a ton of money instantly. You need to follow through with each step and develop your business. Yes I said business because that is what you are building and like any other business you have to follow through and allow it to grow.