April 16th, 2007

There are many reasons why a person should adopt frugality as a lifestyle. Frugal living doesn’t just help your budget; it can make you feel and look better, too. While many people begin budgeting out of necessity, they soon find that life is better that way in all respects. Below are 15 ways in which people can become happier, healthier, and sexier as a result of frugal habits.

1. Leave the Car at Home
   While this isn’t always an option, you should try to walk or bike to wherever you are going. Quick runs to the corner store, even a family outing down to the park, can be made on foot or bicycle. It is a given that your gas bills will start to shrink, but soon you’ll see the same reduction in your waistline. If saving money and losing weight isn’t enough to make you happier, then the fresh air is. Spending time outdoors in the sun will raise your serotonin, the chemical in your brain that regulates your moods.
2. Become a Homemade Beauty
   One of the best ways to cut costs around the house is to make one’s own cosmetic products. This doesn’t just apply to the ladies, either. Men have plenty of grooming habits that rack up the bills. From shaving cream to facial wash, all of these toiletries can be made at home for a fraction of the price of store-bought items. Natural blends of beauty products have been around for ages and work just as well, if not better than commercial brands. Also, using natural products will be much healthier for you, as many cosmetics contain harsh chemicals.
3. Plant a Vegetable Garden
   Ben Franklin once said, "Rather to go to bed supperless than rise in debt". That’s a pretty hardcore frugalist. Thankfully, you won’t have to starve or go into debt if you start growing your own food. While you don’t have to become a farmer to save money, a simple vegetable garden is an effective way to lower your grocery bills and shed some pounds. Also, reducing the amount of processed foods in your diet has been proven to make your sex life better, as scientists are now linking weight gain with low libidos.
4. Get a Tan the Old-Fashioned Way
   According to the Indoor Tanning Association, Americans spend an average of $5 billion dollars a year on their tans. Considering that sunlight is free to enjoy by everyone, that figure is a bit ridiculous. This year, make a resolution to only develop a tan the way nature intended. Not only is sunlight great for your mind and body (in moderation), a healthy glow is very sexy. So, avoiding the tanning salon is one of the simplest ways to achieve happiness, good health and sex appeal while saving some hard-earned money.  
5. Avoid the Medicine Cabinet
   While some ailments and conditions demand intervention, many of us are too quick to grab an over-the-counter medication when we get the slightest tickle in our throat. Whether you have a mild headache or a runny nose, you don’t always have to go running for the medicine cabinet. Try some natural remedies first, such as hydrating yourself or resting. This will not only save you money, it will strengthen your natural immunity and physical stamina, which comes in handy in the bedroom.
6. Make Your Own Fun
   Rather than depending on other people and things to entertain you and the family, try spending some time without the unnecessary stimuli. Cancel your cable service, stop texting people all the time and stop buying the kids all those video games. Not only are these things extremely expensive, they are standing in the way of your interpersonal relationships. Without the distraction and noise, you will be more apt to exercise (i.e., get healthy) and rediscover your spouse/partner (i.e., become sexier).
7. Overcome Greed
   We all feel it at times, don’t we? Your boss gives you a raise, but you were hoping for more. The waiter brings the dessert out, but you’d prefer a larger slice of cake. Even if your greedy side is a small one, you need to overcome it, as it only sets you up for disappointment. Frugal living isn’t just about saving money, it is about setting goals and actually achieving them. The more you want and the more you spend, the more you will be disappointed when greed takes over your life. So, spend conservatively and the little things will make you happy once again. You will, in kind, take control of your money, your health and your love life.
8. Pay Off Your Debt
   By adopting a frugal lifestyle, you can finally begin to pay off your debt. While it is true that money can’t buy happiness, paying off your debt is essential for your mental well-being. Scientists are now linking debt-induced stress to poor physical health, as well. By slowly paying off your debt with your frugal habits, you will be nursing your mind and body back to health, which increases your libido as a result. So, being a debt-free person means being healthy, happy and sexy.
9. Learn to Compromise
   Frugal living involves a lot of compromise. To be frugal, you may have to opt for store brand peanut butter instead of Jif or you may have to trade in your SUV for an economy car. Every compromise you make as a frugalist will improve your character and health. A person who isn’t afraid to be flexible will try new things and be more relaxed when life brings the unexpected. This is the type of person who will attract more people, live a healthy lifestyle and, ultimately, find true happiness.
10. Retire Early
    People live frugally for a reason: they are working toward a goal. Whether you are trying to reduce your credit card debt or make this month’s rent, you are moving everything in the right direction by making frugal choices. A person with this kind of drive and financial know-how will be more likely to retire early. Not only will early retirement make you happier, it will make you healthier and sexier. How, you ask? You will have all the time in the world to devote to your body and your romantic life. A long day at the office will no longer be your excuse for not jumping on the treadmill or snuggling with your significant other.
11. Simplify Everything
    Frugal people often employ the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) principle. Even the most seemingly insurmountable stress is easy to overcome when examined closely. Whether you are being frugal in order to survive or to save up for a yacht, you will do it one dollar (or penny) at a time. This philosophy will carry over into other areas of your life, as well. You can achieve weight loss goals with less pessimism and you will have a much higher self esteem when your mind can let go of irrelevant problems. The result? A happier, healthier, sexier you.
12. Pay It Forward
    You should never mistake frugality for greed or selfishness. With every dollar saved by living frugally, that is a dollar which could be put to good use by someone in need. The occasional donation to charity will not dwindle your savings, rather improve your outlook on life. Even if you are the most tight-fisted miser, think of it this way: it is a tax deduction. As a result of paying it forward, you will be a happier person. Healthy minds make for healthy bodies and there’s nothing sexier than someone who puts others first.
13. Clip Coupons With Discretion
    When people decide to start living frugally, one of the first things they do is clip coupons. Don’t fall into the pitfalls of unhealthy coupon clipping. Just because Frito Lay is offering great savings on a Triple Coupon Weekend, it doesn’t mean you need a pantry filled with potato chips. Choose your coupons wisely and you can plan a healthier life. When browsing your Sunday paper with your scissors, opt for low-fat snacks and meals. Also, improve your self esteem and sex appeal by finding coupons for the high-end beauty products you hardly ever spring for.
14. Say Goodbye to Luxury
    Here’s something rich people don’t want to hear: luxury makes you dull and fat. If you pamper yourself with too many unnecessary amenities, you will become lazy and incapable of self-sufficiency. Think about it. Dependency on the "spell check" button makes us poor spellers, just as dependency on fast food makes us a chubby nation. Getting back to nature not only saves you money, it makes you healthier in mind and body. Developing a closer relationship with natural things will also make you more passionate both in and out of the bedroom.
15. Stay Hydrated
    How much money do you suppose you spend a year on beverages, excluding water? Whether at home or in a restaurant, your cheapest drink option will always be water. That isn’t the only benefit of exclusively drinking water. Doctors blame dehydration for many common health complaints, including headaches, fatigue and mood swings. The simple fact is, most of us are drinking less water than we should. Not only does it make us feel better by keeping us well-hydrated and flushing out toxins, it aids in weight loss. Drinking lots of water is easily the cheapest way to become happier, healthier and sexier.

Frugality isn’t just a philosophy about money; it is a lifestyle. The benefits to being frugal will be enjoyed in every aspect of your existence, too. As you think more consciously about your spending habits, you will begin to see the true value in things. Life isn’t about what you can buy, but what you do with the things you have. As a frugal person, you can easily achieve happiness, good health and sex appeal.

Posted in Features

April 10th, 2007

The race is on for organizations and corporations to erase their carbon footprints with carbon offsets. While larger businesses can maintain budgets to promote these programs, you might wonder how you — as an individual — can contribute to this offset craze and still remain frugal. In most cases it takes money to become carbon neutral, especially if that carbon footprint is larger than King Kong’s.

One way to offset your individual footprint is to choose to use green products, or products produced by companies who embrace a carbon reduction philosphy. And what better way to make those purchases than through a credit card that’s so green that it’s made from corn instead of plastic?

The Visa GreenCard is the first card that offers consumers the option to purchase via green credit. Tendris Holding B.V. launched this card card in the Netherlands in 2004, and this company is now working with Bank of America to bring this green option to U.S. consumers. But, before you hug a tree with joy about this development, you might want learn more about how carbon offsets work and, eventually, whether this card is right for you. If not, we’ll offer you some alternatives.

Carbon Offset Issues

Carbon offset options provide individuals and organizations the opportunity to reduce their CO2 emissions. One way to minimize a carbon footprint is by reducing actions that produce CO2 emissions. Another route is to replace items that produce emissions with new options that reduce energy impacts. Finally, carbon emissions can be displaced by actions that nuetralize carbon footprints with carbon offsets. These displacement options vary from renewable energy to energy efficient practices, but tree planting — or reforestation — currently represents the most common CO2 displacement practice.

For example, say that a company produces 10,000 tons of CO2 per year and that the government has placed a cap on that company for 8,000 tons. The company must then purchase carbon credits to offset that extra 2,000 tons per year . Say that 2,000 tons requires the purchase and planting of 46 trees. The company can equate that output to a trade that supposedly "erases" their pollution. Carbon credits can be exchanged between businesses or bought and sold in international markets at the prevailing market price. The Chicago Climate Exchange and the European Climate Exchange currently represent the only two international exchanges for carbon credits.

Basically, the tree-planting offset has turned into a market based upon monetary values.

So, while tree planting might resonate with your inner Johnny Appleseed, many environmentalists disagree with the basic tenets behind this practice. George Monbiot, an English environmentalist and writer, has criticized tree planting in his book, Heat: How to Stop the Planet From Burning. He has compared carbon offsets to the practice of purchasing Indulgences during the Middle Ages. People with money could purchase forgiveness for their sins rather than confess and change their ways. And, while Monbiot admits that offset programs measure carbon impacts with trades that are verifiable, he states that the companies that use these programs suffer from complacency, political apathy and self-satisfaction with the statement, "You cannot buy the survival of the planet."

The absence of any adequate market regulation or standards in this new industry illustrates how volatile this market can become. The Economist stated in February that, "Unless they [carbon credits] are implemented under a cap-and-trade system, these sorts of environmental efforts are plagued by something called the rebound effect, which is to say that using more efficient technologies causes the price to fall, which causes people to use more of the carbon-emitting substances in question."

This phenomenon recently was illustrated by Professor Catrinus Jepma of the University of Amsterdam, who warned that both the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme and the UN’s Clean Development Mechanism were in danger of failing. The prices used for carbon credits under both schemes now are predicted to reach just a few cents. According to Green Business, the price for carbon credits is already below one euro, which means that there is little incentive for firms to cut emissions. Why bother when it’s less expensive for these companies to buy into credits to offset pollution?

One other controversy within these offset programs includes the question on whether offsets actually meet proclaimed goals. In March this year, BusinessWeek revealed that the carbon offsets gifts that Vail Resorts and a Seattle power company offered to presenters and performers during the 2007 Academy Awards amounted to little more than feel-good hype. The problem, according to Randy Udall, director of the Community Office for Resource Efficiency (CORE) in Aspen, is that consumers don’t know what is used to offset carbon emissions, let alone how, when, or where carbon credits are used. Therefore, these credits amount to little more than "vaporware."

On the other hand, no authoritative studies have been performed to date that concern offset buyers’ behaviors. Would companies take other measures to reduce their CO2 output if these credits weren’t available, or is it business as usual with salvation offered through payment to companies like Tendris Holding’s RePay International to offset their pollution?

About Tendris Holding B.V.

An online search for the Tendris Holding B.V. company reveals little other than the fact that they’re an investment firm located in the Netherlands and that Warner Philips is a principal at Tendris USA. Lemnis Lighting, a technology company that offers a new, innovative sustainable LED (Light-Emitting Diode) solutions for the lighting market, is a Tendris subsidiary. Additionally, Dutch Innovation, a company set up by Gemex Consultancy and a number of patent managers, has found large-scale support for its production and worldwide marketing through Tendris.

Through these press releases and the introduction of their Visa GreenCard, it appears that Tendris Holding is a company that initiates the development of sustainable projects and businesses. The reports that brought the news about Tendris GreenCard expansion into the U.S. also revealed that Tendris is the holding company for RePay International. According to Fast Company, RePay International "calculates the carbon emissions associated with each purchase, based on a formula developed by CE, a Dutch engineering company. Its software then figures the amount of sustainable credits needed to mitigate the greenhouse gases." In this case, the mitigation consists of tree plantings in the Netherlands, Ecuador, and Uganda through the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) on Mount Elgon National park and in Kibale National park.

From this information, it appears that GreenCard users won’t suffer from the "vaporware" theory, as they’ll know where their trees are planted. And, as you use that green card, you don’t need to be concerned about whether the company you purchase goods and services from is "green." Instead, RePay International makes you green as it figures your impact and translates your footprint into carbon credits. From the GreenCard’s Netherland Web site (paraphrased):

"Suppose you fuel your car with 40 litres of petrol and settle up that bill with your GreenCard. RePay International calculates how much CO2 is released as a result of your full tand and the GreenCard is compensated with the cultivation of new trees. ‘It’s very simple,’ as those trees takes on the CO2 that you released into the atmosphere."

The site offers a table that shows how your spending habits are translated into carbon credits. And, further on into the site the company states that these units are durably "fixed" CO2 bunches for Uganda and Ecuador. What this company does not explain is whether those credit exchanges will change with fluctuations in the carbon exchange market. But, they make certain that you know that the onus is on you and that when you use this credit card you can erase all your pollution sins. You, after all, are the reason for global warming. And, this site makes sure that you know that "the scientists" back them up on this claim.

About Your Decision to Use This Card

According to the Fast Company news blurb, when you receive your GreenCard statement from Visa, you’ll view both your emissions and offsets in addition to your balance. On the plus side, this accounting for your activities might make you more aware about the significance of your personal carbon footprint. What it doesn’t tell you is if the companies that you do business with also met their carbon credits.

Additionally, this credit card acts like any other credit card on the market. You will be faced with monthly bills, interest rates, and all the other bells and whistles that you expect from a line of credit. And, it seems that individuals who own the GreenCard tend to use it more than their other credit cards — Fast Company states that consumers use it three times more — which makes this card highly profitable for Tendris Holdings.

Frugal and Environmentally Positive Credit

You might wonder how much the GreenCard will cost you in interest rates and annual fees, especially if you’re looking for a card that’s both environmentally friendly and frugal. The cost of the American card isn’t available yet, but there is one benefit that the GreenCard brings to the table that’s only offered by one other card. The fact that this card isn’t made from PVC plastic
can make a huge impact on the environment depending upon how many people use it.

The only other known credit card that doesn’t use this plastic is the PVC-Free WWF-UK Visa. The consumer who uses this card will provide the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) with money for opening the account as well as an additional amount for every retail transaction on the card. This card, offered only in the U.K., provides cardholders with a 15.9% APR and a 0% p.a. introductory rate for nine months on balance transfers with no annual fee.

Another card that provides an option to the GreenCard is the Salmon Nation VISA Card offered by ShoreBank Pacific (a local community bank) in partnership with Salmon Nation. A full one-half of the income derived from the Salmon Nation Visa program goes directly to Ecotrust — another partner in this enterprise — to support building Salmon Nation. This card offers a 12.9% variable APR and a six-month 8.9% APR for balance transfers with no annual fee.

Other cards, such as the Working Assets Card, donate monies to various organizations. This card is considered the "greenest" affinity card by financial experts at Co-Op America, according to TreeHugger. And, it’s probably the most frugal with its 9.9% APR and no annual fee. Plus, if you want your card to make a political statement, Working Assets would make you proud. One recent action included a call to Apple Computer to take back its used products. The only drawback to this card, if you call it a minus, is that it is backed by MBNA. MBNA has made large contributions to the Republican party and has been accused by consumers of predatory practices; but Michael Kieschnick, Working Assets president, believes that the good his company does offsets any negatives from its association with MBNA.

So you have choices, and some of them are as frugal as they are practical in dealing with environmental issues. But, I should point out — if you haven’t made the connection yet — that MBNA is the Bank of America, thanks to a merger. This is the same bank that will bring the GreenCard to America this month.

Posted in Features

April 5th, 2007

If you have old credit cards lying about the house, you may be at risk for credit card fraud, and you could be missing out on just how cathartic it really is to destroy those little money fiends. Here are some fun ideas to help you destroy your old credit card. Fun doesn’t necessarily mean safe, so try these at your own risk.

1. Find a shredder — There’s not much that’s more satisfying than watching your old credit card be shredded into a bunch of tiny little pieces, especially if it’s a cross cut shredder. Gather up all of your old bills and have a shredding party, just make sure it’s a shredder that can handle cards.
2. Contact your local bomb squad — The next time your local bomb squad needs to detonate a suspicious package, ask if they can toss your old card in before they press the button. They’ll most likely say no, and you may even end up in jail, but it’s worth a try.
3. Toss it in a burning building — The next time you’re watching a building go up in flames, toss in your old credit card and rejoice that it’s being melted into a noxious little mess in there.
4. The “Make Sure It’s Really Gone” Approach — If you can’t destroy your credit card enough, shred it, burn it, and then throw the ashes in the river. How very cathartic!
5. Flatten it at the Indy 500 — Auto racing fan? Toss your old credit card in the path of 33 blazing automobiles and rejoice as it’s flattened into the raceway.
6. Make a Collage — Too attached to really get rid of your old credit card? Find the other ones you can’t part with and make a collage to remind you just how in debt you really are.
7. Throw it in the East River — Take your old credit card, put in a bag with a rock and chuck it in the East River. You’ll get extra double bonus points if you can do your best Corleone impersonation while you do it.
8. Stomp it to Death — While this method isn’t particularly effective, it sure is fun. Once you’re done stomping, try one of the other suggestions above to completely destroy it.
9. Toss it in with the Cat Litter — Can’t say enough nasty things about your old credit card company? Let your cat do the talking for you. Toss the card in their litter box and giggle manically while it’s covered in, well, you get the picture.
10. Give your fish a new toy — Want a constant reminder of your credit problems? Toss your old credit card in the fish tank and let your fish gape at it constantly.
11. Torch it — Grab a safety mask and gloves, a silicone mat, some training and the nearest blow torch and have yourself a great time watching the plastic melt.
12. Put it on the dartboard — Have some fun tossing darts at your credit card and see just how long it takes until it’s completely unrecognizable.
13. Try a new experiment — If Coca-Cola can dissolve a nail, why not a credit card? Pour a can of coke in a bowl, and toss in your card. Record its progress day by day until it’s eaten away.
14. Let the ants do it — Cover your old Visa or MasterCard with a mixture of sugar and water and see how many ants it will take to lift it and carry it back to their queen. Might want to make sure it’s canceled first though, just in case.
15. Give it to the rats — Live in a big city? Got a rat problem? Let them destroy your card by hiding it in some filthy hole under your sink. Once again, make sure it’s canceled first. You know how rats are.
16. Try the old credit card in the lock trick — This trick never fails in the movies, but chances are, you’ll be able to snap it in two if you try to open your door with your old card. See how long it takes before it breaks or the door opens.
17. Make your card famous — Video record your card’s demise and post the video on YouTube to let your old card have one last fleeting moment of fame.
18. Feed it to some piranha — Next time you’re in South America, find a river with some really hungry piranha, coat your card in a disgusting substance that they might like, and toss it in. Just remember to buy your return ticket first.
19. See how many pieces you can cut it into — Grab a pair of scissors, and see how many teeny tiny pieces you can get out of your credit card before your hand freezes up or you reach the end. Bonus points if you turn the leftovers into something useful.
20. Feed it to your man-eating plant — Coat your card in once again something disgusting that a man-eating plant might like and see if they’ll digest it easier than you ever managed to digest your bill.
21. Two words: “Throwing Stars” — Bring out your inner ninja and get some target practice by tying your old card to a tree and seeing how many times you can hit it with your throwing stars.
22. Find an alkali lake — Really worried about identity theft? Find the nearest alkali lake and drop your card in. It should be eaten through in no time.
23. Melt it with your old PowerBook — Remember the vintage PowerBooks? The ones that could sear your lap? See how long it takes to melt your old card by placing it under the computer. Might want to wear a mask though, noxious fumes and all that. Note: This also works for laptops with Sony batteries, but you may lose your desk.
24. Tie your card to your tires and go mudding — While it may not be the smartest way to get rid of your card, it sure is fun. But hey, if someone wants to dig through a bunch of yucky mud to steal your old credit card, they sure need another hobby.
25. Cremate it and spread the ashes — If there’s a way to safely cremate your old card without being overcome by the fumes, you can hold a little funeral ceremony and toss the ashes into the Grand Canyon, or somewhere where they won’t fine you an arm and a leg for littering.
26. See just how many times it can make it through the dryer — You’ve already washed it a few times, haven’t you? Well, find out just how durable that old card is by repeatedly running it through the washer and dryer. May take awhile, but think of the valuable data you’ll gain.
27. Drop it into Mel’s Hole — Whether you believe the story of Mel’s Hole or not, it sure sounds like a good place to get rid of an old credit card. At an estimated 80,000 feet deep, if you believe Mel, and most people don’t, it’s a pretty effective way to ditch your card.

Posted in Features