The road to better health may sometimes involve an extra expense here and there, but you should be careful about wasting money on diet ideas with promises that are more based on myth than fact. Identified below are four diet strategies that may be ineffective and financially expensive. Vitamins and Supplements Americans spend more than $25 billion on vitamins and supplements every year. But is that money well spent? Scientists disagree about the efficacy of many [...]
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, productivity losses linked to employees not showing up for work cost employers $226 billion annually, or $1,685 per worker.¹ Business owners and managers understand very well the rising cost of health care and the loss of productivity associated with absenteeism and employee disengagement. Which is why 98% of employers surveyed by Willis Towers Watson, a global advisory firm, say they're committed to health and productivity improvement in the [...]
Of those aged 65 and older, 10 to 20 percent have mild cognitive impairment. In addition, women have a 1 in 6 chance — and men have a 1 in 11 chance — of developing Alzheimer’s during the remainder of their lives.¹ There are three basic forms of cognitive decline associated with aging: Age-related changes in memory are a natural consequence of aging. Mild Cognitive Impairment involves mild memory loss, such as forgetting important events or appointments, or an [...]
The average American household with debt owes $132,158. And credit card debt accounts for $15,675 of that.¹ Little wonder that money worries are a major cause of stress. The Link Between Stress and Health Humans have an innate response called “flight or fight.” It is nature’s way of launching our bodies into action; consider the physical responses we feel during moments of stress—faster heartbeat, accelerated breathing, tightening of muscles, and increase in sweating. These are [...]
Most Americans know the fundamentals of good health: exercise, proper diet, sufficient sleep, regular check-ups, and no smoking or excessive alcohol. Yet, despite this knowledge, changing existing behaviors can be difficult. Look no further than the New Year's Resolution, with its 9% success rate.¹ Generally, negative motivations are inadequate to affect change. (“I need to quit smoking because my spouse hates it.”) Motivation needs to come from within and be positively oriented. (“I want to [...]
Benjamin Franklin once said, “a penny saved is a penny earned.”¹ The modern upgrade to that observation might be that $100 not spent is more like $143.² One way to find the money to meet your spending or saving needs is to examine your current spending habits and consider eliminating money wasters. Top Money Wasters Bargain Shopping ... and its Expensive Cousin, Impulse Buying Fire sales and impulse buying (such as buying products sold on [...]
The cost of a membership to your local fitness center can be pricey, especially if you are looking for a modern facility with a wide selection of the most current equipment. But there are ways to improve your physical fitness without denting your fiscal fitness. Ways to Save on a Fitness Center Membership Don’t Pay List Price—There are ways to save on the quoted fee schedule. Take advantage of free trials. They may be as short [...]
Imagine driving a car without a basic understanding of the rules of the road, or even how to operate it. Scary thought. Yet many Americans are operating their personal finances with only the barest minimum of knowledge. One study found that, when asked five basic questions about finances and the markets, 61% of Americans were unable to answer more than 3 correctly.¹ The study also found that 18% of Americans routinely spend more than their [...]
College marks a great milestone in a child’s life. It may be the first time he or she will live away from home. Dropping off your child at college may be an experience loaded with emotions, so here are a few tips for a smoother transition. Accept that the Parent-Child Dynamic Has Changed Your child is always your child, and will need you as much as ever. However, parents need to understand that their role [...]
If you look up “currency” in Merriam-Webster, you will find it defined as “the money that a country uses” and “the quality or state of being used or accepted by many people.” Recent news stories involving a new form of currency, bitcoin, have sparked the interest of many individuals. How Bitcoin Works Bitcoin has emerged as a digital currency that exists virtually. It is a “cryptocurrency” which uses cryptography to manage the creation of units, [...]
