Blog
Hardwired for Risk | Personal BALC #71
When you see people who are successful at dealing with financial risks, you know you’re looking at the product of hard work and careful planning. But what you’re also seeing are people whose innate hard-wiring made them more likely to be winners at this kind of game. The past several decades of research into human [...]
Chew on this: oral health should be a priority
I was driving home the other day, and quite literally passed four veterinarian offices. Every vet was advertising teeth cleaning discounts for dogs and cats. Maybe February is house pet oral health month? I don’t know, but it got me thinking about our own – human – oral health. Nearly one-third of all U.S. adults [...]
Fewer Foreclosures Could Mean Lower Home Prices | Financial BALC #71
We all know that distressed home sales put downward pressure on homes prices all around them. Close to 12 million borrowers are now in a negative equity position on their homes because so many other borrowers were unable to afford their mortgages. The logical assumption would then be that as foreclosures ease, organic home process [...]
February is American Heart Association Month | Physical BALC #70
I think the heart is the only organ that has a month entirely to itself – it’s the only organ that even has a month. So, in honor of February and the heart I have some information from the American Heart Association website reminding us to live right. BTW, heart disease is the number one [...]
We’re holding out for less | Personal BALC #70
A recently released study shows that many Americans are still holding off on buying homes in some of the country’s most expensive cities. On average, home prices nationally have fallen 23% since the housing crisis began, but the richest cities have experienced only modest home price declines – especially relative to their high home value. [...]
Let’s change it up | Financial BALC #70
When the financial world looks upside down, maybe it’s time to follow suit and turn over your money habits as well. Contrary to conventional advice, there are some regular money moves that are better done at the beginning of the year rather than the end. Five examples: Tap your flexible account early. Your employer provided [...]
Bottom line – how fit are you? | Physical BALC #69
If we asked 10 experts for their definition of fitness, we would get 10 different answers. Presumably, that’s because the definition depends on the type of performance one expects. Some athletes need to develop a particular type of fitness – marathon runners, powerlifters, etc. – but most of us are at our best when we [...]
Stay Healthy & Save Money | Personal BALC #69
It’s time to get to the core of the matter. Yes, we need to stay healthy. Yes, most people can’t afford to spend a ton of money on high-priced “healthy” food. We need to be able to purchase things that are good for us at the regular grocery store, not the “fancy food store” as [...]
What goals? And how do I get there? | Financial BALC #69
Quick… What are your top three financial goals? No, you can’t answer generically, like “financial security”. If we’re being honest, most of us haven’t thought much about financial objectives. We muddle through, spending to meet the day-to-day expenses that dominate our attention. The basics, or core, of this subject is to identify the financial goals [...]
Energize Your Life – Part 2 | Personal BALC #68
This week we’re sharing more great news from health experts about the most exciting research of 2011. For the first part of this advice, refer to the the Personal BALC #67. More of my favorites: Keep your cool for a good night’s sleep. Insomniacs who wear a cap that keeps their brain cool not only [...]
