Sunday, May 15, 2011
Can You Survive $5 Gas?
by Patrick Sampson
Oil prices are up and you know what that means. Yep, gas prices are up. The question is whether you can survive paying $5 a gallon for gas at the pump. Here are some thought and tips on dealing with these gas prices.
Volatility
If these gas prices look familiar, they should. We've had them before - back in 2008. That was the last time when prices went up over $100 a barrel for oil. In fact, they went up over $140 for a bit of time. I'm sure we all remember what happened next. People stopped spending money and the economy went into the tank. The silver lining of the Great Recession was demand for oil dropped dramatically and so did prices. In fact, they fell to nearly $20 a barrel at one point.
Something similar will happen again. Pundits are suggesting we are ready for $5 a gallon gas. Well, they must be getting paid a lot more than I am because I certainly am not ready for it and I bet you aren't either. Enough people are not that we should see demand start to fall again soon and that will bring prices down as well.
Savings
Is there anything you can do until prices come down again? Yes. You just need to use some common sense in your approach to life. The first step is to get your car tuned up. Out of tune cars use excessive amounts of gas. Second, try to drive a bit closer to the speed limit instead of as though you are on a qualifying lap for the Daytona 500. Lead footing it around reduces the old bank account something fierce. Third, try planning out your day a bit better. Instead of taking three trips to run errands, try getting it all done in one. These are obviously basic things, but they add up and at $5 a gallon, they can make a real difference real quick.
Future
If I could predict the future, I would not be writing this. I would have invested in…oh, Microsoft, Google, Apple and Exxon when they went public. Sadly, this did not occur. Very sadly!
Today, however, we can predict the future. It is one with higher oil prices. China, India and other countries are growing like mad. They want the lifestyle we have and that means more energy needs. Put another way, they are going to need more oil and gas. We currently have roughly 300 million people in the United States and use 19 million barrels of oil a day. China has a few billion people in its population and uses less than 8 million barrels a day. As more of its billions start buying cars, what do you think will happen to oil prices? Yep, they are going to be going up.
Plan ahead. Start looking at alternative energy approaches to avoid these problems. More fuel efficient cars are the way to go for transport. You might also start growing a little garden because food prices will skyrocket along with oil since it is the critical to fertilizers and moving the food.
Can you survive $5 gas? Yes. More importantly, you need to start thinking about a future where oil prices are going to be much higher and take action now to minimize the future pain.
About the Author
Patrick Sampson writes about peak oil for ThePeakOilQuestion.com.
Oil prices are up and you know what that means. Yep, gas prices are up. The question is whether you can survive paying $5 a gallon for gas at the pump. Here are some thought and tips on dealing with these gas prices.
Volatility
If these gas prices look familiar, they should. We've had them before - back in 2008. That was the last time when prices went up over $100 a barrel for oil. In fact, they went up over $140 for a bit of time. I'm sure we all remember what happened next. People stopped spending money and the economy went into the tank. The silver lining of the Great Recession was demand for oil dropped dramatically and so did prices. In fact, they fell to nearly $20 a barrel at one point.
Something similar will happen again. Pundits are suggesting we are ready for $5 a gallon gas. Well, they must be getting paid a lot more than I am because I certainly am not ready for it and I bet you aren't either. Enough people are not that we should see demand start to fall again soon and that will bring prices down as well.
Savings
Is there anything you can do until prices come down again? Yes. You just need to use some common sense in your approach to life. The first step is to get your car tuned up. Out of tune cars use excessive amounts of gas. Second, try to drive a bit closer to the speed limit instead of as though you are on a qualifying lap for the Daytona 500. Lead footing it around reduces the old bank account something fierce. Third, try planning out your day a bit better. Instead of taking three trips to run errands, try getting it all done in one. These are obviously basic things, but they add up and at $5 a gallon, they can make a real difference real quick.
Future
If I could predict the future, I would not be writing this. I would have invested in…oh, Microsoft, Google, Apple and Exxon when they went public. Sadly, this did not occur. Very sadly!
Today, however, we can predict the future. It is one with higher oil prices. China, India and other countries are growing like mad. They want the lifestyle we have and that means more energy needs. Put another way, they are going to need more oil and gas. We currently have roughly 300 million people in the United States and use 19 million barrels of oil a day. China has a few billion people in its population and uses less than 8 million barrels a day. As more of its billions start buying cars, what do you think will happen to oil prices? Yep, they are going to be going up.
Plan ahead. Start looking at alternative energy approaches to avoid these problems. More fuel efficient cars are the way to go for transport. You might also start growing a little garden because food prices will skyrocket along with oil since it is the critical to fertilizers and moving the food.
Can you survive $5 gas? Yes. More importantly, you need to start thinking about a future where oil prices are going to be much higher and take action now to minimize the future pain.
About the Author
Patrick Sampson writes about peak oil for ThePeakOilQuestion.com.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Growing Old Gracefully??
Growing Old Gracefully??
by: Shi Cheverie
Ok ok ok I admit it. I’m not 26!! I’m 26 for a second time around and oh, by-the-way, I’m not really 5’ tall either, I’m 10’ tall. Yes, half the age and twice the height, it suits me just fine thank you. ( I seem to have repeated that a few times but, Oh well, pssst I’m actually 52 with sometimers) I have been told that I should, like any lady, “grow old gracefully” Uhhhmmm what does that statement mean? Does it mean that I should start to get out the rocking chair and knit? Does it mean that I should look back into my music and remember the music of my “youth” Not so much. This is a blog about me!!
Growing Old GracefullyIt has taken me a long time to grow this young and I am not willing to give it up without kicking and screaming, dancing and having fun all the way back to old. I’m not talking about dressing age inappropriate, nor doing things that are termed immature. What I am talking about, is living my life in the now to the best of my funability. Growing old is not exactly an option, you are going to get older no matter what. Somehow, I have no idea how, with every second of the day we age. What I do know is that, people grow older but, we have choices. We have choices to do less, care less, and be less and most people do for that matter. They have talked themselves into believing they are too tired, don’t have enough time, have seen enough or done enough. Poppy cock!! Life is about the living, it is about discovering or doing something new each and every day.
Try rediscovering yourself. We can change our diets, start exercising, start exercising our minds, change your hair do, and find the new improved and very experienced you. Believe me, this is fun. Once you start on your journey of growing old the way you want, you will find many along the way. I’m just a baby baby boomer and there are many of us that are ready to retire from careers and not from work or life. We see the changes and challenges as fun, exhilarating and rejuvenating.
Have any of you listened to today’s music? If not, why not? It’s fun, it’s fresh and you can enjoy the old and the new. My kids think I am a total lunatic at times, with the tunes cranked in the kitchen dancing away as I make dinner but, their friends all wish their mom was more like me. We’re not talking about teenage kids either here. My kids have grown and left and now have kids of their own. Yes, Grammy cranks the tunes up and dances with her grandbabies. Nothing is better to hear... “Grammy can we do it again”
In short, I am short, and life is too short. Do yourself a favor and grow young again as soon as your kids leave the house. Enjoy not only life but yourself. Rich or poor it’s a mind set and there is no getting out of this life alive but there is a way to have fun and feel incredible all the way to the end.
Have a funtazmagorical day and Always Keep the Faith.
Shi
by: Shi Cheverie
Ok ok ok I admit it. I’m not 26!! I’m 26 for a second time around and oh, by-the-way, I’m not really 5’ tall either, I’m 10’ tall. Yes, half the age and twice the height, it suits me just fine thank you. ( I seem to have repeated that a few times but, Oh well, pssst I’m actually 52 with sometimers) I have been told that I should, like any lady, “grow old gracefully” Uhhhmmm what does that statement mean? Does it mean that I should start to get out the rocking chair and knit? Does it mean that I should look back into my music and remember the music of my “youth” Not so much. This is a blog about me!!
Growing Old GracefullyIt has taken me a long time to grow this young and I am not willing to give it up without kicking and screaming, dancing and having fun all the way back to old. I’m not talking about dressing age inappropriate, nor doing things that are termed immature. What I am talking about, is living my life in the now to the best of my funability. Growing old is not exactly an option, you are going to get older no matter what. Somehow, I have no idea how, with every second of the day we age. What I do know is that, people grow older but, we have choices. We have choices to do less, care less, and be less and most people do for that matter. They have talked themselves into believing they are too tired, don’t have enough time, have seen enough or done enough. Poppy cock!! Life is about the living, it is about discovering or doing something new each and every day.
Try rediscovering yourself. We can change our diets, start exercising, start exercising our minds, change your hair do, and find the new improved and very experienced you. Believe me, this is fun. Once you start on your journey of growing old the way you want, you will find many along the way. I’m just a baby baby boomer and there are many of us that are ready to retire from careers and not from work or life. We see the changes and challenges as fun, exhilarating and rejuvenating.
Have any of you listened to today’s music? If not, why not? It’s fun, it’s fresh and you can enjoy the old and the new. My kids think I am a total lunatic at times, with the tunes cranked in the kitchen dancing away as I make dinner but, their friends all wish their mom was more like me. We’re not talking about teenage kids either here. My kids have grown and left and now have kids of their own. Yes, Grammy cranks the tunes up and dances with her grandbabies. Nothing is better to hear... “Grammy can we do it again”
In short, I am short, and life is too short. Do yourself a favor and grow young again as soon as your kids leave the house. Enjoy not only life but yourself. Rich or poor it’s a mind set and there is no getting out of this life alive but there is a way to have fun and feel incredible all the way to the end.
Have a funtazmagorical day and Always Keep the Faith.
Shi
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Baby Boomers, Online Businesses?
Ok, so I admit it, I’m a proud baby boomer. 52 years young ( telling everyone I am 26 for a second time around) and loving it.
We have seen so much in our lifetime just as all the generations before us. The one advantage that we have in the particular day and age is, that we saw the birth of the computer. We watched it develop, helped it develop , and most of us learned to love every aspect of it.
There are so many possibilities out on the net. With being a Boomer comes great experience from having learned things the hard way, ie: without a calculator or without the wonderful business tools that are so commonplace now.
Being a Boomer also means we have been hit hard in past few years. Lay offs, cut backs, pensions being reduced or crashed. Stocks and bonds plummeting, and watching our savings being washed away. The kids we so proudly raised, have hit hard times.
Most of us know now what it's like to have grown children with kids of their own come back home with no other avenues. Times are tough and many of you are looking for additional income to supplement your dwindling savings or a different way of life after having been forced out of work.
Many have never explored the internet and its infinite possibilities on how to make money online. But, all of us have had endless spam… join NOW!!, $79.99 special “how to do everything software” and make $30,000.00 the first 30 days. Yep, got it, and filed it in spam.
Don’t become overwhelmed! There are so many opportunities out there for you. The online marketing world is a whole new concept for most of you. It is going to take all you have to learn everything. But guess what, you don’t have to learn everything, as everything changes on the internet continuously. It’s going to take determination, dedication and sometimes every last nerve to learn as much you can about this whole new world.
You need to start with the basics. Just basic computer terminology and how to run a few simple programs. The rest will come along as you learn. Secondly, find a good mentor. Someone that can answer questions, guide and coach you and most of all, help you up when you fall, and when you are on that last nerve, and ready to pitch that new laptop right out of the window. You will learn to love the internet, as well as hate it, and make tons of mistakes while you‘re at it.
You will find so much false information, false promises, and scams thrown at you but you will quickly learn to “sift” Once you learn the basics and find a good product or company to represent, it will all start to make sense. It will all start to fall into place. You will quickly learn a new way of business. How search engines work, how to blog, and how to network market your business or product. Oh, by the way, it is net”work” marketing, it’s not net”luck” marketing. Anyone that tells you that you will be making a ton of money very quickly without any work is flat out lying or insane. Our generation learned, it takes hard work to get where you want to go and an online business is no different.
You must be wondering, so where do I even begin to start looking, and what do I really want to do?
Find your passion, find your passion, did I say yet find your passion? And if you don’t know what that is, do what you are good at and what makes you feel good. Yep, your passion.
If you are a great carpenter, and out of work, and are looking for online work, find a company that speaks to your knowledge and skill and represent them. Or set up a niche market blog site and promote tools and such. If you are an ex Human Resources Manager, set up an online consulting agency and market yourself. Again, If you are into health, find a product and a company to align yourself with and move forward. Just Do it!!
There is only one way you will become good at this and make money. Learn everything you can and work at it, day in and day out. Find your passion, your goal, your dream and live it, breathe it, eat it and sleep it. You WILL get there.
There is an old saying, “The only constant in life is change” and the internet is no different. It changes daily, so take baby steps. Start with something simple, like social networking. Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Amplify etc.. Its fast and easy, you get exposed to Social Media and make new contacts and friends. Once you have started there you can start exposing your new business. You will soon see how quickly you pick up all the little nuances and processes.
Take your business knowledge from your past and apply it along side of your new skills. Yes, these do go side by side. You bring a wealth of information regardless what background you came from and you will be lead to so many new open doors.
Life happens and we all have our story, the trick is to turn your story into a success story and not one of failure. We all have value and knowledge to bring to the table. It is going to take time and patience, a little money and a whole lot of hard work. Mix all these ingredients together with a pound of determination and you will be a success. You will have the future you so richly deserve. Time to do what you want, when you want, and how you want.
“Start Your Future Today” and become your own baby boomer success story.
We have seen so much in our lifetime just as all the generations before us. The one advantage that we have in the particular day and age is, that we saw the birth of the computer. We watched it develop, helped it develop , and most of us learned to love every aspect of it.
There are so many possibilities out on the net. With being a Boomer comes great experience from having learned things the hard way, ie: without a calculator or without the wonderful business tools that are so commonplace now.
Being a Boomer also means we have been hit hard in past few years. Lay offs, cut backs, pensions being reduced or crashed. Stocks and bonds plummeting, and watching our savings being washed away. The kids we so proudly raised, have hit hard times.
Image: jscreationzs / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Most of us know now what it's like to have grown children with kids of their own come back home with no other avenues. Times are tough and many of you are looking for additional income to supplement your dwindling savings or a different way of life after having been forced out of work.
Many have never explored the internet and its infinite possibilities on how to make money online. But, all of us have had endless spam… join NOW!!, $79.99 special “how to do everything software” and make $30,000.00 the first 30 days. Yep, got it, and filed it in spam.
Don’t become overwhelmed! There are so many opportunities out there for you. The online marketing world is a whole new concept for most of you. It is going to take all you have to learn everything. But guess what, you don’t have to learn everything, as everything changes on the internet continuously. It’s going to take determination, dedication and sometimes every last nerve to learn as much you can about this whole new world.
You need to start with the basics. Just basic computer terminology and how to run a few simple programs. The rest will come along as you learn. Secondly, find a good mentor. Someone that can answer questions, guide and coach you and most of all, help you up when you fall, and when you are on that last nerve, and ready to pitch that new laptop right out of the window. You will learn to love the internet, as well as hate it, and make tons of mistakes while you‘re at it.
You will find so much false information, false promises, and scams thrown at you but you will quickly learn to “sift” Once you learn the basics and find a good product or company to represent, it will all start to make sense. It will all start to fall into place. You will quickly learn a new way of business. How search engines work, how to blog, and how to network market your business or product. Oh, by the way, it is net”work” marketing, it’s not net”luck” marketing. Anyone that tells you that you will be making a ton of money very quickly without any work is flat out lying or insane. Our generation learned, it takes hard work to get where you want to go and an online business is no different.
You must be wondering, so where do I even begin to start looking, and what do I really want to do?
Find your passion, find your passion, did I say yet find your passion? And if you don’t know what that is, do what you are good at and what makes you feel good. Yep, your passion.
If you are a great carpenter, and out of work, and are looking for online work, find a company that speaks to your knowledge and skill and represent them. Or set up a niche market blog site and promote tools and such. If you are an ex Human Resources Manager, set up an online consulting agency and market yourself. Again, If you are into health, find a product and a company to align yourself with and move forward. Just Do it!!
There is only one way you will become good at this and make money. Learn everything you can and work at it, day in and day out. Find your passion, your goal, your dream and live it, breathe it, eat it and sleep it. You WILL get there.
There is an old saying, “The only constant in life is change” and the internet is no different. It changes daily, so take baby steps. Start with something simple, like social networking. Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Amplify etc.. Its fast and easy, you get exposed to Social Media and make new contacts and friends. Once you have started there you can start exposing your new business. You will soon see how quickly you pick up all the little nuances and processes.
Take your business knowledge from your past and apply it along side of your new skills. Yes, these do go side by side. You bring a wealth of information regardless what background you came from and you will be lead to so many new open doors.
Life happens and we all have our story, the trick is to turn your story into a success story and not one of failure. We all have value and knowledge to bring to the table. It is going to take time and patience, a little money and a whole lot of hard work. Mix all these ingredients together with a pound of determination and you will be a success. You will have the future you so richly deserve. Time to do what you want, when you want, and how you want.
“Start Your Future Today” and become your own baby boomer success story.
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