Lent is a religious season observed in the spring by christian churches. It serves as a time of spiritual discipline and renewal in preparation for Easter. Many churches hold special worship services during the season. Besides attending these services, Christians observe Lent with fasting, prayer, and self-sacrifice. Some Christians do charity work. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday in many churches. In the Easter Catholic and Easter Orthodox Churches, Lent begins on a Monday, which is sometimes called Pure Monday or Clean Monday. The Lenten season lasts approximately 40 days, excluding Sundays in Western churches, excluding Saturday and Sunday in Eastern churches. The number 40 recalls Jesus' 40-day fast in the wilderness, as described in the Gospels. Most churches reserve special observance of Jesus' Passion ( suffering and death ) for the last week of Lent, called Holy Week.
The word Lent comes from words meaning spring and long and probably refers to the lenthening of days as spring approaches. Lent Probably grew out of the early Christian church's practice of baptizing people at the Easter Vigil, a service held on the eve of Easter. During the Vigil, the church also accepted repentant Christians back into the faith. In the weeks before Easter, candidates for baptism fasted and received religious instruction. By the A.D. 900's, Lent had become a time of penance and preparation for Easter for all Christians.
Shrove Tuesday, is the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Its name comes from the custom of making confession of sin and receiving forgiveness ( being shriven ) on the day. Shrove Tuesday is a time of celebrating in many countries. It corresponds with Fastnacht in Germany and Mardi Gras in France and the Southern United States. The English celebrate Shrove Tuesday as Pancake Tuesday or Pancake Day. They traditionally cook and eat flat, thin pancakes on that day.
Ash Wednesday is the first the day of Lent. The day marks the beginning of season of dicipline and penitence that continues through the Lenten season. The day is observed by Western Christian churches, especially by Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran churches. In many churches, the observance of Ash Wednesday centers on ashes from burned palms used in the previous year's Palm Sunday procession. A priest or pastor blesses the ashes and uses them to marks a cross on the forheads of worshipers. This blessing is based on the Biblical passage,"... for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return," ( Gen. 3:19). Ashes also serve as a symbol of purification and penitence.
Holy Week is the final week of Lent.
Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter and marks the beginning of Holy Week in the Christian calendar. Palm Sunday worship recalls when people spread palms and clothing in front of Jesus as He entered Jerusalem. This happened several days before He was crusified. Palm Sunday marks a turn in Christian churches observance of Lent from a time of discipline and sorrow for one's sins to one of looking ahead to the Passion ( suffering and death ) of Jesus and His Resurrection.
By the late 300's Christians in Jerusalem were celebrating Palm Sunday on the first day of Holy Week. It was part of trend there to remember the last events of Jesus' life by holding services at sacred sites in the city. Today, Christians in many traditions observe the day with blessing and distribution of palms. Usually, the ceremony includes a procession.
Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday, recalls Jesus' last meal and His arrest and imprisonment. Many Protestant churches hold Communion services on this day. During Maundy Thursday Mass, Roman Catholic priest often wash the feet of 12 church members or poor people in remembrance of how Jesus washed the feet of His 12 disciples at the time of the final meal. A priest takes the Host ( the wafer of bread regarded as Jesus' body ) from the main altar to a shrine on the side. The shrine symbolizes the place where Jesus' was held prisoner after His arrest. All decorations are removed from the main altar as a symbol of the stripping of Jesus' garments before the Crucifixion.
Good Friday observes the death of Jesus on the cross. Most churches hold mourning services. Some of these services last from noon until 3 p.m. to symbolize the last three hours of darkness while Jesus suffered on the cross. The Eastern Orthodox Churches follow mourning services with ceremonies recalling how Jesus was taken down fron the cross and placed inside a tomb. In numerous Spanish- speaking countries, Christians hold processions in which people carry statues of dying Jesus and His mother, Mary. Many Christians eat little or no food on Good Friday.
Holy Saturday is chiefly a day of solemn vigil ( watch ). The major activity of the day comes at nightfall as observance of the Ressurection approaches. Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches hold vigil services that often include the baptism of new members. The vigil service leads up to a dramatic moments. The lights in each church are put out, leaving everyone in darkness. Then, the priest lights one tall candle, representing the risen Jesus. The flame from this candle is used to light other candles held by worshipers, which symbolizes the spreading of Jesus' light throughout the world. In Eastern Orthodox Churches, the ceremony is timed so that the priest lights his candle exactly at midnight. After all candles have been lit, the service becomes an Easter celebration, with joyous music and the reading ofthe Easter story from the Bible. Traditionally, newly converted Christian were baptized on this day, after having received religious instruction during Lent.
Easter Sunday celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches hold saturday evening services, but most Protestant churches wait until Sunday morning to hold their main Easter services. Many churches and communities, particularly in the United States, have additional outdoor Easter services at sunrise. At that time, the light of the rising sun recalls the light that comes back to the world with the newly risen Jesus. Catholic and Orthodox churches also hold additional services on Easter Sunday, especially for those who missed the long services of the preceding night. For many Christians, Easter Sunday is set aside for feasting and celebration.
The end of the Easter season. During the 40-day period beginning with Easter Sunday, Christian celebrate the time when Jesus reappeared to some of His followers. THis period ends on Ascension Day, or Ascension Thursday. On this day, The story of Jesus' rise to heaven is read in churches. In Catholic churches, the Easter paschal candle is put out on Ascension Day. The Easter season concludes 10 days later with the feast of Pentecost, when the apostles reported that the Holy Spirit had entered into them. Christian believe that the church began at that time.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Understanding Migraine Pain
Migraine is one of the severest types of headache. It is also called sick headache because the pain may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Migraine may be caused by increased stretching, swelling and throbbing of the arteries in the head. Such foods as chocolate and various cheeses may trigger migraines in some people. Migraine recurs from time to time and its often so painful that the victim must stay in bed. Some people suffer migraines as frequently as two or three times a week. In other cases, attacks occur several months or even years apart. For many sufferers, each migraine attack follows the same pattern. Before the pain begins, they may see flashing lights or have a blind spot in their field of vision. The pain usually strikes on one side of the head, and nausea and vomiting may follow. Some victims also shed tears, experience blurred vision, or have numbness in an arm or leg.
Different and painful.Migraine headaches bring crushing pain to many people. For some, what they eat may play a role. If your migraines are triggered by certain foods, it's possible that avoiding those foods may help you avoid a headache. A migraine headache can last from four to 72 hours. It's different and more painful than a tension headache you might get after a stressful day. A migraine may include throbbing and sometimes disabling head pain. Some or all the following may accompany the pain; blurred vision; flashing lights; nausea and vomiting; tingling numbness in you arms or legs; and ususal sensitivity to light, sound or odors. Some people with migraines also have food cravings, mood swings, irritability and frequent yawning.
A link to what you eat?
Almost anything in your lifestyle or invironment can trigger changes in your brain that lead to a migraine . But up to 20 percent of the time, migraines may be linked to a certain food and combination of foods. Although it's still an issue debated by doctors, there may be chemicals in some foods that cause widening of blood vessels in the brains of people who have migraine pain. Foods and food ingredients that are sometimes associated with migraines include:
Alcohol, especially red wine and beer
Aged cheese
Caffeine, especially cutting back
Chocolate
Fermented, pickled or marinated foods
Meats preserved in nitrates
Nuts
Pizza
Foods prepared with monosodium glutamate (vetsin )
The important thing to keep in mind is that not all of these foods cause migraines in e veryone who gets the headaches. In fact, most people with migraines can eat these foods and not get a headache. In addition, if your migraines are linked to what you eat, it may be that only the one food involved. And that food may not provoke a migraine every time you eat it. Unfortunately, this means it takes time and patience to find any dietary connection to your headaches.
Keeping a migraine diary is one of the best way to pinpoint migraine triggers, whether it's food or something else. Use a notebook to keep track of migraine information, and make sure you record;
1. The date and time of your headache.
2. The symptoms you had not only during migraine but before and after.
3. A description of the pain, its location and how severe it was.
4. The treatment you used, such as taking aspirin or using ice.
5. What you are, drank and were doing on the day of headache and the days preceeding it.
You may also want to nte ant changes in your life that took place near the onset of your migraine. For instance, was there a change in your daily stress level, or was the amount of time you slept different?
If you see a pattern developing in your migraine diary, you may wish to talk to your doctor- even if you've already been diagnosed with migraines. If your doctors agrees that your migraines may be triggered by what you eat, you may be advised to avoid a particular food or drink. You may also wish to see a registered dietitian. A dietitian can recommend substitutes for suspected food triggers and help you plan menus to reduce migraine attacks.
Understanding migraine pain because they involve blood vessels in your brain, migraines are also known as vascular headahces. Although much of the origin of headahces is unknown researchers believe that changes in nerve pathways and imbalances in brain chemistry may cause these blood vessels to dilate and become inflamed. The swollen vessels may irritate nearby nerves, causing the intense throbbing pain for which migraines are known.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
A Bonding Experience With Your Child
Reading is the major skill upon which all other learning is based. If you can help your children develop strong reading skills, they will likely succeed in most other areas of learning. And you can help them! How? It can be as simple as reading aloud. Just minutes a day will make a difference in abilities. Here are a few suggestions to get you started. You will think of more as you go along.
1.The earlier you start, the better. There are saying that an infant is reading at that magical moment when it first responds to a parent's smile. Important meaning is found in that smile, and that's what reading is all about- discovering meaning. It's never too early or too late to begin. As you read to young children, point to the pictures or move your finger under the words. They will soon learn that pictures tell story, that words tell about pictures, that sentences ( in many languages ) are read from left to right,and that pages are read from top to bottom.
2. Time means love. Set aside a regular block of time to read aloud. Avoid times when your child has obligations such as homework or wants to watch a favorite TV program. Make a commitment and atay with it. If necessary, turn down other appointments. Think about the positive message that will send to your child!
3. Listening shows commitment. There will be times when your child wants to share or talk about a book he or she has read. You can always drop everything, but when you can, do. When you must postpone the request, explain why, commit to a time later in the day, and keep your commitment. The younger the child, the sooner that time should be.
4. Selecting books teaches values. Listen to your children and discover their interests. As children grow older, involve them in selecting books. Introduce them to the library and make regular visits together. Not all books will appeal to your children, and not all are books you will want them to read. But you can intrduce them to a better quality of literature as you determine criteria together, and they will be better prepared to make their own selections in the future.
5.Discover your child's ability to understand. If your child wants to learn more about space exploration, use materials he or she can comprehend. Younger children will learn more from books with pictures. Knowing that a man traveled to the moon may be enough to satisfy a beginner. How he got there will interest older readers.
6. A good environment sets the stage. Have plenty of eye-appealing books and magazines in your home- some for you, some for your children. Choose a place where you will read together: a favorite chair, propped up on your child's bed, the porch swing, wherever. Provide a bookcase that will be the child's own and encourage him or her to store favorites there. It's also a good place to keep those library books so you can find them easily when it's time to return them.
When you're ready to read aloud, eliminate distractions. Turn off the TV or radio, and avoid times when friends or family members are likely to make demands of your time.
8. Practice your own laughter. When you read aloud, use voice inflection and tone that will make the story come to life. Share the humor, the pathos, the anxiety. Put some drama into your voice.
9. Keep them dangling. Start a book, arouse the child's interest, then stop while interest is high. This lets a child ask for more. Older children may ask for the book so they can finish reading it for themselves.
10. Make room for laughter. Share jokes, nonsense rhymes, funny stories, puns, words with silly sounds. Read aloud stories or examples of humor that appeal to children.
11. Accept your child's pace. Don't overdo it. Five or 10 minutes is enough at first. The younger the child, the shorter the attention span. You want the child to ask for more, not beg you to stop.
12. Teach your child how to find information. When kids ask tough questions about a topic in the book, be truthful. "I do'nt know, but I can help you find out" lets you lead them to the other books to find answers.
13. Expand the imagination.Begin reading a story, but stop before the end. Ask the child to imagine what might happen. After you have speculated together, read the rest of the story aloud- or better yet, let the child read the rest of the story, if able to do so, and share the ending with you.
14. Share the fun with others. Kids love to hear themselves talk. Taperecord them reading story, and send the tape to a grandparents or friends.
15. Seek a response and enlarge a child's horizon. Get a response from your child. Educators call it a comprehension check. Have the child act out part of the story. On other days draw a picture, summarize ideas, or review information. Encourage children to read favorite books and stories to a younger sibling or to share their new knowledge with older person.
16. Nurture a budding reporter. After a trip to the zoo, a visit to the park, encourage your child to talk and write about it. Younger children can dictate their story to you- a sentence or two is sufficient. Invite them to illustrate it with a picture, then read it to someone- a grandparent, a neighbor, an elderly friend, a cousin,etc. The refrigerator door is still a good place to display your child's craft.
17. Give the gift of approval. When your child shares a reading ( or any other ) experience, listen carefully and respond positively. Your child wants to please you. Your approval is a major source of encouragement.
1.The earlier you start, the better. There are saying that an infant is reading at that magical moment when it first responds to a parent's smile. Important meaning is found in that smile, and that's what reading is all about- discovering meaning. It's never too early or too late to begin. As you read to young children, point to the pictures or move your finger under the words. They will soon learn that pictures tell story, that words tell about pictures, that sentences ( in many languages ) are read from left to right,and that pages are read from top to bottom.
2. Time means love. Set aside a regular block of time to read aloud. Avoid times when your child has obligations such as homework or wants to watch a favorite TV program. Make a commitment and atay with it. If necessary, turn down other appointments. Think about the positive message that will send to your child!
3. Listening shows commitment. There will be times when your child wants to share or talk about a book he or she has read. You can always drop everything, but when you can, do. When you must postpone the request, explain why, commit to a time later in the day, and keep your commitment. The younger the child, the sooner that time should be.
4. Selecting books teaches values. Listen to your children and discover their interests. As children grow older, involve them in selecting books. Introduce them to the library and make regular visits together. Not all books will appeal to your children, and not all are books you will want them to read. But you can intrduce them to a better quality of literature as you determine criteria together, and they will be better prepared to make their own selections in the future.
5.Discover your child's ability to understand. If your child wants to learn more about space exploration, use materials he or she can comprehend. Younger children will learn more from books with pictures. Knowing that a man traveled to the moon may be enough to satisfy a beginner. How he got there will interest older readers.
6. A good environment sets the stage. Have plenty of eye-appealing books and magazines in your home- some for you, some for your children. Choose a place where you will read together: a favorite chair, propped up on your child's bed, the porch swing, wherever. Provide a bookcase that will be the child's own and encourage him or her to store favorites there. It's also a good place to keep those library books so you can find them easily when it's time to return them.
When you're ready to read aloud, eliminate distractions. Turn off the TV or radio, and avoid times when friends or family members are likely to make demands of your time.
8. Practice your own laughter. When you read aloud, use voice inflection and tone that will make the story come to life. Share the humor, the pathos, the anxiety. Put some drama into your voice.
9. Keep them dangling. Start a book, arouse the child's interest, then stop while interest is high. This lets a child ask for more. Older children may ask for the book so they can finish reading it for themselves.
10. Make room for laughter. Share jokes, nonsense rhymes, funny stories, puns, words with silly sounds. Read aloud stories or examples of humor that appeal to children.
11. Accept your child's pace. Don't overdo it. Five or 10 minutes is enough at first. The younger the child, the shorter the attention span. You want the child to ask for more, not beg you to stop.
12. Teach your child how to find information. When kids ask tough questions about a topic in the book, be truthful. "I do'nt know, but I can help you find out" lets you lead them to the other books to find answers.
13. Expand the imagination.Begin reading a story, but stop before the end. Ask the child to imagine what might happen. After you have speculated together, read the rest of the story aloud- or better yet, let the child read the rest of the story, if able to do so, and share the ending with you.
14. Share the fun with others. Kids love to hear themselves talk. Taperecord them reading story, and send the tape to a grandparents or friends.
15. Seek a response and enlarge a child's horizon. Get a response from your child. Educators call it a comprehension check. Have the child act out part of the story. On other days draw a picture, summarize ideas, or review information. Encourage children to read favorite books and stories to a younger sibling or to share their new knowledge with older person.
16. Nurture a budding reporter. After a trip to the zoo, a visit to the park, encourage your child to talk and write about it. Younger children can dictate their story to you- a sentence or two is sufficient. Invite them to illustrate it with a picture, then read it to someone- a grandparent, a neighbor, an elderly friend, a cousin,etc. The refrigerator door is still a good place to display your child's craft.
17. Give the gift of approval. When your child shares a reading ( or any other ) experience, listen carefully and respond positively. Your child wants to please you. Your approval is a major source of encouragement.
Preventing Low Back Pain
You probably don't even think about your back-unless it hurts. Fortunately, a sore back will often settle down or improve on its own within a month to six weeks. But with a little care and attention, you may be able to avoid an aching back in the first place.Your back is a balanced network of bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves. All of these work together to balance and bear the weight of your body and whatever you happen to be carrying.
Within this this network is a series of curves- in your neck, upper back and lower back. These curves help absorb the impact of day-to-day living. Of the three curves, the lower back (lumbar spine) is the most common site of pain. Any number of things may contribute to lower back pain, including poor muscle tone, excess weight ( especially around your middle ) and improper or heavy lifting.
In addition, poor posture and sitting or standing in one position for a long time puts extra stress on your back. To help prevent back pain you need to combine aerobic exercise, muscle strenght and flexibility, and proper baody mechanics.
Aerobic Exercise. Regular, daily aerobic activities that don't strain or jolt your back are often recommended for back care. These exercise can increase strenght and endurance in your lower back, allowing your muscles to function better. Appropriate activities might include walking, swimming or biking. Talk with your doctor about what activity might be best for you.
Muscle strenght and flexibility. Conditioned abdominal and back muscles work together like a natural corset for your back. Flexibility in your your hips and upper legs allows for proper pelvic bone allignment, which directly affects how your back feels.
Hamstring stretch- Sit on a firm bed. Keeping your back straight, slowly bend forward ( do not bounce ) at your hips until you feel a gentle pull in the muscles under your thigh. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat four times with each leg.
Maintain a neutral pelvic position- Ideally, the top of your hip should be level. Stand with your feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent. Gently tighten and pull in your abdominal muscles while slightly tucking under buttocks muscles.
Bridging- This strengthens abdominal, buttocks and lower back muscles. Tighten your abdominal muscles and slowly raise your hips as afr as you can without dis comfort. Hold for 10 to 30 seconds and repeat three times. Gradually increase the time as you improve.
Knee-to-chest stretch- Lie on a firm surface with your hips and knees bent and feet flat on the surface. Pull your left knee toward your chest with both hands. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat four times with each leg.
Proper body mechanics.
Stand- Maintain a neutral position. If you must stand for long periods of time, alternate placing your feet on a low footstool to take some of the load off your lower back.
Sit- Choose a seat with good lower back support, or place a pillow or rolled towel in the small of your back to maintain its normal curve. Keep your knees and hips level.
Lift- Let your legs do the work. Move straight up and down. keep your back straight and bend only at the knees. Hold the load close to your body. Never lift and twist simultaneously.
Sleep- When you sleep, give your spine a rest, too. Lie on your side with a pillow between your bent knees, or lie on yout back with a pillow under your knees. Following these simple precautions can help your back do its job- perhaps with- out reminding you it's even there.
Within this this network is a series of curves- in your neck, upper back and lower back. These curves help absorb the impact of day-to-day living. Of the three curves, the lower back (lumbar spine) is the most common site of pain. Any number of things may contribute to lower back pain, including poor muscle tone, excess weight ( especially around your middle ) and improper or heavy lifting.
In addition, poor posture and sitting or standing in one position for a long time puts extra stress on your back. To help prevent back pain you need to combine aerobic exercise, muscle strenght and flexibility, and proper baody mechanics.
Aerobic Exercise. Regular, daily aerobic activities that don't strain or jolt your back are often recommended for back care. These exercise can increase strenght and endurance in your lower back, allowing your muscles to function better. Appropriate activities might include walking, swimming or biking. Talk with your doctor about what activity might be best for you.
Muscle strenght and flexibility. Conditioned abdominal and back muscles work together like a natural corset for your back. Flexibility in your your hips and upper legs allows for proper pelvic bone allignment, which directly affects how your back feels.
Hamstring stretch- Sit on a firm bed. Keeping your back straight, slowly bend forward ( do not bounce ) at your hips until you feel a gentle pull in the muscles under your thigh. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat four times with each leg.
Maintain a neutral pelvic position- Ideally, the top of your hip should be level. Stand with your feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent. Gently tighten and pull in your abdominal muscles while slightly tucking under buttocks muscles.
Bridging- This strengthens abdominal, buttocks and lower back muscles. Tighten your abdominal muscles and slowly raise your hips as afr as you can without dis comfort. Hold for 10 to 30 seconds and repeat three times. Gradually increase the time as you improve.
Knee-to-chest stretch- Lie on a firm surface with your hips and knees bent and feet flat on the surface. Pull your left knee toward your chest with both hands. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat four times with each leg.
Proper body mechanics.
Stand- Maintain a neutral position. If you must stand for long periods of time, alternate placing your feet on a low footstool to take some of the load off your lower back.
Sit- Choose a seat with good lower back support, or place a pillow or rolled towel in the small of your back to maintain its normal curve. Keep your knees and hips level.
Lift- Let your legs do the work. Move straight up and down. keep your back straight and bend only at the knees. Hold the load close to your body. Never lift and twist simultaneously.
Sleep- When you sleep, give your spine a rest, too. Lie on your side with a pillow between your bent knees, or lie on yout back with a pillow under your knees. Following these simple precautions can help your back do its job- perhaps with- out reminding you it's even there.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Tips on Debt Reduction
1. Establish a Budget. Often, families who make a reasonably good income say they don't know where it all goes. You can find out by making all your purchases by check for a period of three months. Then simply study your checkbook register for that period. Many are surprised to learn how much money is spent on unnecessary items.
2. Set goals for your family. Many families live from paycheck. They aren't really enjoying life; they're just existing- just getting by. Why not set goals for your family? Pay off some debt by a set of date. Save money for your next car. Have the children start saving regularly for their college expenses. Setting goals and meeting them brings satisfaction.
3. Destroy your credit cards. Credit cards are of the major causes of family indebtedness. They are so easy to use and so hard to pay off. If you find that you are not paying off the cards in total each month or that you are using them to purchase items that you would not otherwise have bought, then you should destroy your credit cards before they destroy you or your marriage.
4. Purchase depreciating items with cash. In general, families who use cash to make their purchases spend less. For one thing, when you save up for an item, you are more likely to make sure you get the best deal available. On the other hand, you're more likely to purchase things that will soon be used up or eaten when you can delay paying for them than when you have to lay out the cold, hard- and hard-earned- cash.
5. Begin economy measures. Sometimes we're not aware of how mush we could reduce our monthly expenses just by watching some of the small things. Take utilities, or example, just setting your thermostat a little higher in summer and a little lower during the cold months and turning out the lights in rooms not being used can save a significant amount over the course of a year. You can also save by making fewer and shorter long-distance calls, by shopping on sale days and by eating out less often.
6. Have a sale.Most of us have closets and basements and garages cluttered with items that we never use again, things like children's clothes and toys; old books, magazine and record albums; tools and leftover building materials- the list goes on and on. Why not collect all this "stuff", have a yard sale, and place the proceeds on your debt?
2. Set goals for your family. Many families live from paycheck. They aren't really enjoying life; they're just existing- just getting by. Why not set goals for your family? Pay off some debt by a set of date. Save money for your next car. Have the children start saving regularly for their college expenses. Setting goals and meeting them brings satisfaction.
3. Destroy your credit cards. Credit cards are of the major causes of family indebtedness. They are so easy to use and so hard to pay off. If you find that you are not paying off the cards in total each month or that you are using them to purchase items that you would not otherwise have bought, then you should destroy your credit cards before they destroy you or your marriage.
4. Purchase depreciating items with cash. In general, families who use cash to make their purchases spend less. For one thing, when you save up for an item, you are more likely to make sure you get the best deal available. On the other hand, you're more likely to purchase things that will soon be used up or eaten when you can delay paying for them than when you have to lay out the cold, hard- and hard-earned- cash.
5. Begin economy measures. Sometimes we're not aware of how mush we could reduce our monthly expenses just by watching some of the small things. Take utilities, or example, just setting your thermostat a little higher in summer and a little lower during the cold months and turning out the lights in rooms not being used can save a significant amount over the course of a year. You can also save by making fewer and shorter long-distance calls, by shopping on sale days and by eating out less often.
6. Have a sale.Most of us have closets and basements and garages cluttered with items that we never use again, things like children's clothes and toys; old books, magazine and record albums; tools and leftover building materials- the list goes on and on. Why not collect all this "stuff", have a yard sale, and place the proceeds on your debt?
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