2008/2009 Everyday Heroes Project
Go Visit it only takes a few seconds to swing by one of the following places
Local Fire Department
Local Police Department
EMT Dispatch Center
Hospital
In addition, you could visit any other service places within your area of town!
Take cookies, cakes, pies, etc. with you. This is an effort to say "Thank You" to the unsung heroes who perform miracles everyday. Take along your camera and friends can go with you as well. You can personally bake the goodies or get your local Wal-Mart, K-Mart or grocer to donate the items. You can visit any local department at any time they are always welcoming and invite you to look at the Fire Trucks, police cars, etc. Also, you can make appointments to meet with them and tour the grounds... Make it a family event or Birthday party event you could learn something new. Who knows maybe someone you know may be or become as one of those unsung heroes!
Most of all volunteer your time it only takes a little time from your day as you run those errands of the afternoon!
Thanks for volunteering!
10.21.2008
How to Save $5,087 This Year
Common-cents math that can really make a difference.
Looking to cut down on your expenses? Here are a few simple ways to squeeze out more money from even the tightest budget.
Grow your savings account. Some major credit-card providers help you save with programs that round up purchase totals to the next dollar. So if you spend $39.17 on new sneakers for your child, 83¢ goes into your savings account. Savings limits vary by card and accrue according to how much you use that card — but even one dollar’s worth of rounding up on most days of the year could net you $300.
Make your own lattes. Instead of buying $3 lattes every weekday morning at a pricey café, purchase an espresso machine for around $40 and make your own. Even after your $40 investment, you’ll save around $740.
Consolidate credit-card debt. You can save money by getting a card with zero interest for the first year and paying it off before the 12 months expire. On a $5,000 balance, with an annual rate of 18%, you’ll save $900 in interest expense.
Enjoy drinks at home. Restaurants make a lot of money on alcohol sales. Outsmart them by having a glass of wine (about $8) or bottle of beer (about $4) before you go out or when you get home. Or choose a Bring Your Own Bottle (BYOB) restaurant, where you supply the drinks and pay a nominal corking fee. Do this once a week and save $624.
Consider carpooling. With gas prices hovering around $3 per gallon, scale back on unnecessary trips. Do you drive your child five miles to gymnastics class three times a week? Carpool with other parents and cut out two of those round trips. If you get around 10 miles a gallon, your yearly savings will be $312.
Cut cell-phone costs. Got teens? Texting costs an average of 10¢ per message. Some companies offer a $40 per month plan that offers unlimited texting. If your teen sends 200 messages a week — and this is conservative for most — that’s a whopping $20 per week, or $1,040 a year. After paying, say, an extra $60 per year (including the additional $5 a month for the unlimited texting) on the plan, you save $980.
Hop online for coupons. Look for two-for-one dinner coupons or check out www.restaurant.com to get $25 coupons for only $10. That’s a net savings of $15 on your meal. Do this every week and save $780.
Use a programmable thermostat. If you’re typically out during the day, your home doesn’t need to be maintained at a comfortable 72°. A programmable thermostat allows you to pre-program temperature settings. You can buy a basic model at most hardware stores for about $33. According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Website, using this technology can save you about $150 a year in energy costs, for a net savings of $117.
Read newspapers online. Here’s a way to save both money and trees: Cancel your newspaper subscription and read the paper online for free. For a major paper, you would save $143.
Raise your homeowners insurance deductible. If you have a low deductible, consider bumping it up to $1,000. You’ll save as much as 24% on premiums. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average annual premium for homeowners insurance is $764. Increase your deductible and save $191.
Looking to cut down on your expenses? Here are a few simple ways to squeeze out more money from even the tightest budget.
Grow your savings account. Some major credit-card providers help you save with programs that round up purchase totals to the next dollar. So if you spend $39.17 on new sneakers for your child, 83¢ goes into your savings account. Savings limits vary by card and accrue according to how much you use that card — but even one dollar’s worth of rounding up on most days of the year could net you $300.
Make your own lattes. Instead of buying $3 lattes every weekday morning at a pricey café, purchase an espresso machine for around $40 and make your own. Even after your $40 investment, you’ll save around $740.
Consolidate credit-card debt. You can save money by getting a card with zero interest for the first year and paying it off before the 12 months expire. On a $5,000 balance, with an annual rate of 18%, you’ll save $900 in interest expense.
Enjoy drinks at home. Restaurants make a lot of money on alcohol sales. Outsmart them by having a glass of wine (about $8) or bottle of beer (about $4) before you go out or when you get home. Or choose a Bring Your Own Bottle (BYOB) restaurant, where you supply the drinks and pay a nominal corking fee. Do this once a week and save $624.
Consider carpooling. With gas prices hovering around $3 per gallon, scale back on unnecessary trips. Do you drive your child five miles to gymnastics class three times a week? Carpool with other parents and cut out two of those round trips. If you get around 10 miles a gallon, your yearly savings will be $312.
Cut cell-phone costs. Got teens? Texting costs an average of 10¢ per message. Some companies offer a $40 per month plan that offers unlimited texting. If your teen sends 200 messages a week — and this is conservative for most — that’s a whopping $20 per week, or $1,040 a year. After paying, say, an extra $60 per year (including the additional $5 a month for the unlimited texting) on the plan, you save $980.
Hop online for coupons. Look for two-for-one dinner coupons or check out www.restaurant.com to get $25 coupons for only $10. That’s a net savings of $15 on your meal. Do this every week and save $780.
Use a programmable thermostat. If you’re typically out during the day, your home doesn’t need to be maintained at a comfortable 72°. A programmable thermostat allows you to pre-program temperature settings. You can buy a basic model at most hardware stores for about $33. According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Website, using this technology can save you about $150 a year in energy costs, for a net savings of $117.
Read newspapers online. Here’s a way to save both money and trees: Cancel your newspaper subscription and read the paper online for free. For a major paper, you would save $143.
Raise your homeowners insurance deductible. If you have a low deductible, consider bumping it up to $1,000. You’ll save as much as 24% on premiums. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average annual premium for homeowners insurance is $764. Increase your deductible and save $191.
10.01.2008
October - National Disability Employment Awareness Month
This October marks the 63rd celebration of National Disability Awareness Month. Congress commemorated the month in 1945 to increase public awareness of the contributions and skills of the more than 51 million people classified as disabled in the United States today (U.S. Census Bureau).
What is National Disability Employment Awareness Month?
Congress designated each October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM).
This effort to educate the American public about issues related to disability and employment actually began in 1945, when Congress enacted a law declaring the first week in October each year "National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week." In 1962, the word "physically" was removed to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to "National Disability Employment Awareness Month."
Since 2001, the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) in the U.S. Department of Labor has been responsible for planning NDEAM activities and materials to increase the public's awareness of the contributions and skills of American workers with disabilities. Various programs carried out throughout the month also highlight the specific employment barriers that still need to be addressed and removed. ODEP provides information online that can to be used for National Disability Employment Awareness Month, as well as other educational programs throughout the year on its Publications webpage.
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