Blogs

An iReport from Janet Bollero of Winter Garden, Florida, caught my eye today.  Bollero says tomorrow’s election is stressing her out.  In fact, she’s ‘measured’ how anxious she is with a Stress-o-meter.  Bollero registered at “frightfully frazzled.”  Now granted that the “stress-o-meter” is nothing more than a novelty, Bollero makes an interesting point. Psychologists tell [...]

Long lines, canceled flights, snarled traffic….those are just a few of the things that make me angry.  Since I know I can’t control most of these situations, I usually take a deep breath and wait it out. It turns out, that’s just what you’re supposed to do to control anger before it controls you. The American Psychological Association offers [...]

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the candidates, the issues and even the process of voting. But here’s your guide. 1) Know where to go Just getting to the polls sometimes can be challenging. To find out where you have to go, check out your state’s board of elections Web site. You will also be able to [...]

It’s Halloween and we all know what that means–your kids will have a stockpile of chocolate and sugary treats. But just how bad is all that candy for your kid’s teeth? And do you really know how many extra calories are kids adding to their diet from a ‘handful’ of goodies each day? As parents, [...]

The sinking U.S. economy is keeping more and more people from sinking into slumber. According to a new survey from ComPsych Corporation- a provider of employee assistance programs — 92 percent of workers surveyed reported that economic worries are keeping them up at night, leading some employers to increase efforts to reassure their employees in [...]

The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates today. That would be the ninth consecutive rate cut this year. Here’s what this means to your wallet. 1) Tame your expectations If you’re in the market for a loan today, the rate cut won’t mean very much to you. Of course when the Fed cuts the federal [...]

Even though the government is moving to bail out the U.S. economy, now suffering one of the worst financial crises since the Great Depression, big three-digit point swings in the stock market are still commonplace and unemployment numbers are going way up. As of this week, the S&P 500 has dropped 285 points in October; its [...]

During the next couple of months, hunters all across the country will take their rifles and bows and head into the woods looking for wild game. While you might think the biggest danger is getting hit by a stray bullet or arrow, experts say some hunters are more likely to suffer a fatal heart attack. Cardiologist Eric Good of [...]

Rising unemployment and fewer benefits—that’s just a small part of what employees can expect down the road. Here are tips on how you can hold onto your job and navigate those tough choices ahead. 1) Evaluate your options Chrysler is the latest company to announce that it’s cutting 25 percent of its workforce and offering buyouts to [...]

Teen drug and alcohol abuse is a serious issue; one affecting a lot of families in America. In fact, there has been a 212 percent increase in 12- to 17-year olds abusing prescription drugs since 1992. So where do you think these teens are getting their drugs? Officials says some parents may be enabling their teens’ [...]

Issue #1 continues to be the economy. The latest CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll shows 61 percent of respondents believe the economy is their primary concern this election season. A big issue among voters who go to vote in the next couple of weeks will be taxes. Both Barack Obama and John McCain want to keep the Bush [...]

The financial crisis has grabbed voters attention less than two weeks before the presidential election - - but the real trouble - a deep recession - will linger long after the race for the White House ends. Here is what to expect. 1) Know what to expect First, although an official recession has not been declared [...]

Does thinking about the economy have you down? Do you wince when you see a “Wall Street Journal?” Do you fear for the health of your favorite banker? Well believe it or not, despite the economic meltdown and the now routine giant swings in the stock market (Wednesday’s massive sell-off marked the second biggest one-day point [...]

The American Heart Association estimates one in three adults in the U.S. has high blood pressure and nearly a third don’t even know they have it. Left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack and heart or kidney failure. The Heart Association has some tips on how to control what is often called [...]

Lenders are boosting the credit scores they require to lend consumers money. Just last week, GMAC, the finance arm of GM, said it would require a score of 700 in order to lend to borrowers buying cars. Here’s what you need to know. 1) Pay your bills on time That’s 35 percent of your score right there. [...]

Snoring is not only bad for the snorer, but also for the person lying next to him or her. In fact, one study found 23 percent of spouses of snorers report having to sleep in another room because the noise got so bad. Snoring occurs when the tissue and muscle in the throat get so relaxed, [...]

News reports today are reflecting another painful toll of the nation’s financial crisis:  A growing number of suicides linked to the economic difficulties we’ve been living with for the past weeks and months. The tragedies include a 90-year-old widow who shot herself right before being evicted and a 45-year-old former money manager who shot his [...]

When the $700 billion bailout passed through Congress on October 3, the results were anything but immediate: the credit market remained frozen and investors were still jittery, resulting in massive stock sell-offs last week. So Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, and President Bush buckled down and set to work deciding how exactly the [...]

I’ll never forget the thrill and chaos of bringing our first-born child home from the hospital.  My husband and I had spent so much time focusing on the birth process we weren’t quite prepared for life with a fragile newborn.   We must have done something right over the years because our daughter is now a healthy, well-adjusted high school freshman.  For [...]

Your 401k is plummeting. Your bank needs a bailout. You’re worried about your job. Never perhaps since the Great Depression has there been a more legitimate time to stress out. A new study by Emory University researchers suggests a new, yet old, way to de-stress. Drawing on ancient Tibetan Buddhist teachings, Compassion Meditation teaches people to [...]