Planting the First Seeds

First Lady Michelle Obama is a revolutionary! She's leading the way to a new American diet, one that's organic, local and healthy.

By bringing children into the White House garden to harvest the early veggie crop and to help cook their own lunch this week, Michelle Obama is inspiring others to look at the health implications of our national food policies.

She pointed out that nearly one third of our children are obese and that roughly the same percentage will eventually have diabetes. She said "those numbers are unacceptable." She called for new menus and food sources for school lunch and breakfast programs, where many American kids get most of their daily nutrition.

It's so heartening to see a First Lady who sees the crisis we're in and who will be a big influence in reaping a healthier, more promising future for our nation. Go Michelle!

Staying Healthy in Stressful Times

As we listen to hourly reports about the growing global financial crisis and read the daily columns about the huge debts we face as a nation, it's challenging to stay calm in the midst of all this anxiety-provoking news. One strategy most of my friends are following is to avoid looking at the balances in their dwindling 401(k) accounts. But there are other self-care strategies that can help us stay centered, lower our stress and improve our outlook, even in tough times.

The first strategy is to remember to breathe. We breathe all the time, of course, but probably not as fully or consciously as we should. Take a few minutes every day to sit in a quiet, comfortable place, close your eyes and take several long, deep breaths way down in your belly. Yawn, sigh, or let out any other sounds you've been holding inside. A session of mindful breathing will slow down your heart rate, increase the oxygen to every cell in your body and improve your mood. It's a simple but powerful tool. And it feels so good you could easily make it a habit!

A second strategy is to connect with nature. Take a walk in the park or woods, and as you do, consciously let go of any thoughts of your work, your budget, your retirement account. Instead, just listen to the sounds of the birds, notice the warm sun on your face and feel energized by the cool fall air. Staying present for this type of experience can move you out of "fight or flight" mode and into the "rest and digest" state that we all need to counteract the stress of everyday life.

A third strategy is to eat well. Join the "slow food" movement by doing more cooking at home. Chopping fresh fruits and vegetables for a salad or homemade soup can be a kind of meditation itself. Eating a healthy, mostly plant-based diet will give our immune systems the boost we need as we get ready for the winter season.

Cleaning, Coupons and the Cost of Living

In our family, my husband is the saver. He clips coupons, does most home repairs himself and buys "wrinkle resistant" cotton shirts from LL Bean to save on dry cleaning bills.

As a Certified Financial Planner, Mark is always calculating ways to save a few bucks. And as we all face a serious and long-term economic global downturn, maybe it's time for the rest of us to take some of his advice on the following list of everyday ways to save:

* Don’t buy extended warranty contracts. Most are never used by consumers. Home electronics and appliances usually come with a basic warranty, and if the product is a lemon, it often shows up within the warranty period.
* Avoid shopping as entertainment. Do not shop with big spending friends. They will encourage you to buy things that are too expensive, that you would otherwise be able to pass up.
* Before you buy an expensive discretionary item, wait 24 hours. The urge may pass.
* Sell stuff you don't need or use on eBay.
* Shop resale shops, estate sales, and clearance racks.
* Travel just before or after peak season to get better rates on flights and hotels. Works especially well for empty nesters who can avoid travel during school vacations.
* Don't renew subscriptions to publications you don't have time to read.
* Use the public library to check out movies or books free.
* Re-think expensive health club memberships. Exercise outdoors or at home.
* Wash your car at home and save $10.
* Review phone bills to see if you are paying for services you don’t use. We discovered we were paying $10 a month for extras we didn’t use or want.
* See if you can drop your landline, and just use your mobile phone. Why do we pay for two services that do the same thing?
* Look at your cable TV bill to see if you are paying for channels you don’t watch. It takes time to check this out, but if you discover a way to cut the charge, you enjoy the savings month after month.

Coupons to Cash: Clip Smart to Save More

Shoppers save around $3-billion a year by redeeming coupons. Clipping and organizing coupons is an investment in time and effort. Here are some clipping tips to stretch coupons a little further:
* Plan to spend 15 to 20 minutes clipping Sunday paper coupons with the goal of saving $5 to $10.
* Get a file to organize coupons by product categories. File the earliest expiration coupons in the front of each category. Clear out expired coupons.
* Call company 800 numbers and ask for coupons. Many manufacturers will mail coupons if requested. Coupons are also available online at sites such as http://www.coolsavings.com/.
* Before shopping, go through the file to select coupons for use that day. Plan a menu around coupon items.

Coupon Do’s and Don’ts

* Do stock up when items can be stored and will not spoil. Don’t use coupons to buy multiple packages of high fat or sugar foods. When that stuff is around in large quantities it is eaten more quickly. Bad for health, waistline and budget.
* Do look for coupons that can be used at drug stores, restaurants and other retailers. More outlets are going to this form of promotion.
* Don’t buy an expensive brand just because there is a coupon. A cheaper alternative may be a better buy even with the coupon savings off the high priced product.

Coupon Resources
* For more information on the smart use of coupons, visit a website run by the Promotion Marketing Association Coupon Council http://www.couponmonth.com.
* For information on using coupons to feed the hungry go to http:// www.cutouthunger.org.

Capture the Savings

If you save a few dollars on lunch or ironing your own pants, you are not likely to go to the bank with eight bucks and make a deposit. If you leave the money hanging around in your wallet you will be tempted to spend it on something else. The best way to capture the savings is to make a commitment to save a certain amount extra each month. It could be $100 or $200 or more. Then have that money taken directly from your checking account and invested in a mutual fund. Or, take that much more out of your paycheck and put it in your 401(k). The saving is done upfront automatically, and then you can pan for gold with all these savings tips so you’ll never even miss the cash you added to savings. If you save an extra $200 a month earning a 7 percent rate of return, you’ll build up $14,300 in five years. Keep it up for ten years and you’ll sock away $34,600.

Saving money takes some effort. But look at it as a part-time job that pays you in tax-free dollars.