The John Tesh Blog

In an economic recession, what happens to pet care?

If you're like most pet owners, you treat your furry friend as well as — if not better than — you do yourself. A recent poll of female shoppers found that while about 68 percent of  women were willing to switch brands of their OTC medications and certain staples to save cash, only 29 percent would change their brand of pet food. And the American Pet Products Association forecasts that total pet spending in 2009 will reach $45.4 billion, up from $43.2 billion in 2008. Given the state of the economy, that's pretty impressive, and tells a lot about how Fido and Fluffy get treated. But just because you want to give your pets the best doesn't mean you have to sit back and watch your bills escalate. Instead, try these smart tips from Goodhousekeeping for spending less — while still showering them with love.

Lower Food Costs

Feed less. If you can't see or easily feel your pet's ribs, he could probably stand to shed a few pounds. And if so, he's hardly alone: Some 44 percent of dogs and 57 percent of cats in America are overweight, the 2008 National Pet Obesity Awareness Study found. If a medical condition isn't to blame, you may be unintentionally overfeeding. "Most pet food label feeding guides are based on the caloric needs of un-neutered/un-spayed, active adult animals," explains veterinarian Ernie Ward, president of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. "A spayed or neutered pet's metabolic needs are 25 to 30 percent lower than that." Petobesityprevention.com will tell you your critter's true caloric needs. Then, feed the lowest recommended amount on your pet food package. If your pet stays at a healthy weight, you may help him avoid diabetes, kidney disease, and other ailments — and you'll definitely save cash. Say you pay $30 for a 17.5-pound bag of Nutro Ultra Adult dry dog food. The feeding guide for a 40-pound dog recommends 1¾ to 3⅓ cups daily; feed the lower amount, and you'll save about $210 a year. Will pets complain about getting less food? "You bet your last kibble — there's a strong behavioral component to overeating," says Ward. To survive the pleading eyes, Ward advises playing with your pet: "By rewarding 'begging' with physical and emotional interaction, pet owners will soon see an improvement."

Supplement wisely with scraps. Think twice before you toss your leftovers; they could stretch your pet's diet. "We keep a container in the refrigerator and add things like chopped broccoli stems, green bean ends, meat loaf, and scrambled eggs. Then we mix it with high-quality dog food daily," says Liz Jenkins, 44, of Nashville. "We've cut our pet-food costs in half, and our dog loves it — and she's fit and trim." A smart move, according to Babette Gladstein, a veterinarian at Bglad Veterinary Services in New York City — but don't just treat your pet like a garbage disposal with a tail; rather, feed her as if she were your 90-year-old grandmother. "No spices, no dairy; be careful with fat; most lean meats and fish are good, as well as vegetables," Gladstein says. "Start your pet on a small amount of the food and, if she reacts well, incorporate more of it into her diet, up to 50 percent of her meals." Some human foods are dangerous for animals to eat, though. Check this list from the ASPCA to be sure you're familiar with which foods are toxic to pets.

Bulk up. If you don't already buy your pet food at a warehouse club, start now. At Costco, we found a case of 24 22-ounce cans of Pedigree Chunky Beef dog food for $24.99, versus $33.36 at a local supermarket; Purina Fancy Feast cat food was $17.49 for a case of 36 three-ounce cans at Costco, versus $28.80. Or try Costco's house brand, Kirkland Signature; 40 pounds of dry dog food were being sold for $23.99 and 25 pounds of dry cat food for $15.89 at press time.

Practice portion control. "Break treats into tiny pieces," says veterinarian Amy Attas, chief veterinary advisor for webvet.com (a pet wellness information site), so a pack goes further. "Pets don't measure the size of the treat; they only know they're getting one."

Try fruits and veggies. "Most pet treats are expensive," says Gladstein. "A 10-ounce bag of Beggin' Strips costs about $6 — more than a good steak at your supermarket!" She suggests offering apples, bananas, and baby carrots (all good for, ahem, regulating the digestive tract). Never give grapes or raisins, though — they're toxic to many pets.

Make your own goodies. If you enjoy baking for the rest of the family, try this easy homemade dog-friendly Gingerbread Cookie treat (oh...you will be loved!) from Brooklyn Dog Bites:

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup molasses 
• 2 tablespoons honey 
• 1 1/4 cups water
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 3 cups organic whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh ginger

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°.

In a large bowl, combine molasses, honey, water, and olive oil. In another bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. Mix dry ingredients into wet. Divide dough into 2 balls, wrap, and refrigerate for 3-5 hours.

Roll out chilled dough to 1/4-inch thickness and cut into desired shapes.

Bake for 10-15 minutes.

Let cool completely and decorate with melted yogurt chips or carob, if desired.

New Uses for Old Things in Holiday Style

If you're getting filled to the max with holiday things (and your spouse is threatening to toss them with the approach of a new year!), try giving your keepsakes and favorites some new life by making them useful with some ideas hatched up by Real Simple:

Cookie Cutters and Ornaments as Window Decor

When you just can’t bake another batch of holiday cookies, turn the tin cutters―angels, bells, stars―into sun catchers. Mix shapes and sizes, string them with various lengths and colors of ribbon, and tack the ribbons to the window casing. Same for all those old ornaments that have been getting passed down through generations of your family: string some favorites on holiday ribbon, staggering them 4 or 5 inches apart per ribbon, giving them a place of honor this year as a new, festive window dressing.

Red Ornaments as Hungry Bird Deterrents

Hang unbreakable ornaments on tomato plants early in the season. When pesky sparrows or blue jays come to peck, they’ll find the hard bulbs (instead of juicy treats) and abandon their attacks by the time the real fruits ripen.

Candy Canes to Decorate Your Valentine's Day Cupcakes

Stow some candy canes away in the freezer to use for a whimsical touch for your sweetheart come Feb. 14th. Remove the cellophane wrapping from the canes and form hearts by placing them hook to hook and tail to tail on a nonstick baking sheet or one lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350°F for 2 to 4 minutes (depending on the canes’ size) or until they stick together when you pinch the ends lightly. Cool thoroughly and remove with a spatula. If you want to make flat hearts with psychedelic stripes, bake for 8 to 10 minutes.

Use Ribbons as Dresser Pulls, for Your Cuff Links, or to Tie Hang Your Shower Curtain

Don’t let all those scraps you've been saving from the holidays go to waste. Transform a  child’s bedroom by tying colorful ribbons around the knobs on a chest of drawers. In your bathroom, an easy and inexpensive way to hold up your shower curtain and give your bathroom a jolt of color is to lace a ribbon through each hole and tie it in a knot, as shown. Snip off the ends at an angle.

Muffin Tin for Your Table Centerpiece

A centerpiece of mini muffin tins filled with tea candles turns a simple dinner into a special occasion. Mix in a few Christmas ornaments that have lost their tops to add splashes of shiny color.

Foil Cupcake Liners Can Decorate a String of Lights

For a string of mini lights that takes the (cup)cake, poke the pointy bulbs through foil cupcake liners. Use them for the tree or around your little girl’s bedroom mirror to make her feel like a holiday star.

Last Year's Christmas Greeting Cards Become Gift Tags, or Favorite Wrapping Paper Is Now This Year's Table Runner (works best under a glass tabletop.)

Artificial Holly as a Table Centerpiece

Plastic greenery tends to look, well, plastic. But place boughs of holly, evergreens, or mistletoe in clear glass jars or vases and they make for a glossy yet understated table decoration. Group various sizes and shapes together for a stronger statement.

Any ideas you have for new-using holiday decorations? Get creative (and maybe you won't have to send Aunt Jennie's old plastic wreath to the "scrap heap" this year!)

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

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Bye buy Black Friday- any deals left for you?

So you decided to stay in on Black Friday, instead of joining in the shopping frenzy, huh? And Cyber Monday came and went before you became one of the 4 million people per  minute shopping online? Wow That's a lot of people. Are there any deals left for your holiday shopping? Absolutely- so start your buying online! Here’s what you need to know, courtesy of Real Simple magazine.

• Start early. As in – well...if it wasn't on Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday or Cyber Monday- let's get going! Regina Lewis is a consumer advisor for AOL, who recommends starting your shopping early. By early, she means really early. Most major online retailers – like Kohl’s, Target and Best Buy- tend to make changes to their website overnight, from about 1 A.M. to 4 A.M. Lewis says this is the online equivalent of restocking the shelves and doing markdowns. So, you can log on when you get up and take advantage of the sales!
• Get advance copies of store circulars. Just go to GotaDeal.com. They posts ads and circulars weeks before the big shopping day, featuring everything from clothing to technology to house wares, and more.  
• Check social networks! Charlie Graham is the founder and CEO of ShopItToMe.com – a site that locates clothing sales. He says that tweeting will emerge this year as one of the best ways to learn about can’t-miss deals in real time. On social networking sites, post a question like, “Looking for an iPod dock for under $150. Any leads?” You Facebook friends and your “tweeps” – that’s slang for your Twitter posse – are likely to respond quickly with tips and links.
• Print out your receipts! Lewis says don’t think of it as “game over” once you’ve made your purchases. Keep an eye on prices for two weeks afterwards. Many stores will make an adjustment to your credit card if an item you bought goes even lower in price.

Most retail experts say that more than ever, this will be the year you don't want to put off your shopping until the last minute. Retailers have put themselves on a rather limited budget themselves, by stocking less this year. Which means, in a nutshell, that your bargains are still out there even if you missed "the biggest shopping days", but they'll not be waiting for you come Christmas Eve or even earlier. Catch the worm now, okay?

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

A white Christmas is great, but how about a "green" Christmas?

Thanksgiving 2009 is one for the history books, now (Tom Turkey's breathing a sigh of relief!), so how about the festive holiday cheer in and around your house for Christmas? Time to get going, and even be a little eco-friendly in the process. And the best part of these "green" Christmas ideas from This Old House is that they'll be even more spectacular when you get your white Christmas, too!

Leader of the Pack

Bound to be the shining star of your block, this weatherproof LED reindeer consumes 90-percent less energy than incandescent bulbs, and lasts 10 times longer to boot. Measures 31 ½ inches high and just over 23 inches wide- cost: About $54.99.

Bright Idea

Spread holiday cheer with weather-resistant indoor/outdoor LED light strings. They use  90-95 percent less energy than old-fashioned incandescent bulbs, and 50-60 percent less energy than , and shine on for 200,000 hours of use. Available in multiple styles and colors including the traditional C7, featuring 25 lights, in faceted sapphire blue (shown), ruby red, green, and white. Also available is C9, strung with 25 lights, in multicolor (shown), red, pure green, pure white, warm white, and sapphire blue. Cost upfront is a little more than  traditional lights, but you'll see your costs re-couped soon, and look forward to getting them out of the box next year still working! Cost: about $13.80–19.55 for C7 and about $19.05–24.25 for C9.

New Ideas Come to Light and Leave Lasting Family Memories

This recycled light bulb ornament will brighten your tree—with its charm, that is. Each one will be unique and hand-painted. Bring everyone around the table with craft paints and  burned out light bulbs (shown here- used in bathroom track-lighting- round bulbs with smaller base than traditional light bulbs), and watch the family keepsakes come to life! Costs: about nothing if you can gather burned out bulbs, and craft paints, available at craft stores for around $4 per color.

Grow Some Holiday Cheer for Someone all through the Winter

Keep your green thumb active with a holiday-perfect red Amaryliss kit, or give a favorite gardener some optimism for things to come in the Spring with a beautiful flower to enjoy through the Winter months.

Plant a Live Tree to Grow Alongside your Kids

This year, instead of your traditional cut Christmas tree, consider putting a live, 4-foot Fraser fir in your home, then plant it in the backyard after Christmas. By next year, you'll have an outdoor tree to decorate also.

While building memories, your family is also planting an evergreen legacy that will give pleasure for many years to come. Using landscape plants bought at a nursery or tree farm in lieu of a typical cut tree, or in addition to one, is a growing yuletide trend. Nationwide, 5 to 7 percent of the 32.4 million trees sold last holiday season were living varieties, estimates the National Christmas Tree Association. "For a little more money than a cut Christmas tree, you're getting a valuable landscape product," says Steve Mannhard, an Alabama tree farmer whose annual holiday sales of 1,000 living trees are mostly Leyland cypresses, which run about $49 wholesale for a 6 ½-foot tree in a container.

Welcome back to work and school this week, and I hope your Thanksgiving break was great!

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

Your guide to all the naughty and nice of holiday dinners- but we'll start with Thanksgiving!

I haven't talked yet this week about the annual start of "putting on a few pounds"- but it's not Thanksgiving Day yet- therefore, not too late! Thanksgiving Dinner is delicious- I'll be the first to shout that out- but traditionally- a real fat, calorie, and sodium wallop!

Before you dig into that Thanksgiving spread this year, complete with all the family favorites from Aunt Liz's secret recipe cornbread stuffing, to your mom's "nothing but rich" pecan pie- take time to think about what’s in front of you. This is where we use the phrase "conscious eating." The traditional spread contains a staggering amount of calories, as well as dietary nightmares like fat, sugar and salt. However, it’s not ALL bad. Here’s an eating guide that’ll have you giving thanks long after the holiday is over, courtesy of Janice M. Horowitz, a writer for Time magazine. And even the foods that are pretty high up on our "not so good" list can still be eaten, and enjoyed...just with a little thought before you throw caution to the wind! 

• The bird. If you’re preparing the turkey, don’t buy the “self-basting” kind, which is injected with a solution that’s supposed to help “improve” the flavor and juiciness of the meat. Those turkeys have nearly twice the fat and salt as the old-fashioned kind. Skip the skin altogether – that’s where almost all the fat resides.
• Cranberry sauce. As long as it doesn’t come in a can, go ahead and load up! Cranberries are high in vitamin C and tannins, the heart-healthy compounds also found in red wine. Research shows that cranberries reduce bladder infections by sweeping away bacteria that adhere to the urinary-tract lining. Just make sure the sauce isn’t loaded with sugar, like the canned kind.
• What about stuffing? To make it really healthy, use whole-wheat bread or high-fiber grains like wild rice. Cook it outside the bird, where it won’t get soaked in fatty drippings. If someone else has made the stuffing and they didn’t follow those guidelines – skip it.
• Watch out for gravy, which is basically salty, flavored fat. If you must have some, use a teaspoon to put a small amount on your food and skip the ladle.
• Sweet potatoes. One potato has nearly zero fat and only 120 calories – not bad at all. Just don’t douse it with butter. Sweet potatoes also contain an anti-oxidant that fights cancer, and reduces the risk and severity of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis.
• The big winner is Brussels sprouts. These little cabbage heads are an excellent source of fiber, and contain vitamin C, iron and the B vitamin folate - which may lower the risk of heart disease and Alzheimer’s. If you insist on greasing up the sprouts, make sure you substitute olive oil for butter.

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

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How may bodies do we get in a life? Oh, yes- ONE. Let's keep it cancer free.

Health care reform is a pretty tough issue that has everyone concerned these days. No matter your thoughts, your opinions- one thing we call all agree on is that anything we can do individually to make our bodies healthier, the better! MSN Health & Fitness reports with Self magazine's Aviva Patz to give you the rundown you need to run your risk of cancer DOWN. Little lifestyle changes can lower your odds of hearing the dreaded diagnosis. Slip them into your routine and sleep better tonight.

Stay weight wise

Excess pounds boost cancer risk, a study in The Lancet shows. Build an exercise habit now to head off trouble: The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends aiming for 30 minutes of activity five days a week.

When you hit your 45th birthday, make sure you're also doing 45 minutes of strength training twice weekly to minimize metabolic slowdown. "Beginning in our mid-40s, we lose up to a third of a pound of muscle a year and gain it back as fat, and fat burns fewer calories than muscle," says Miriam Nelson, Ph.D., director of Tufts University John Hancock Center for Physical Activity and Nutrition in Boston.

Nibble a bit of chocolate

Hooray- an excuse (except- you don't need one!) Researchers have discovered a compound in dark chocolate that fights fast-growing cancers such as colorectal cancer. "It requires the activity of an enzyme called kinase, which causes cancerous cells to die but leaves normal cells alone," says Richard Pestell, M.D., director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. The finding could even lead to adding chocolate to current cancer treatments.

Practice peace

Say ahhh! High levels of the stress hormone cortisol may inhibit a key gene from suppressing tumor growth, findings in the journal Genes, Chromosomes & Cancer suggest. Tame tension with this formula from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Healthy Lifestyle Program:

• Take deep belly breaths. You slow and elongate brain waves, bringing on calm.
• Watch your favorite comedy. Enjoying a good laugh activates the areas of the brain that govern humor, in turn suppressing the brain's stress regions.
• Adopt an uplifting mantra. Try "I love my life!" and repeat it when you're happy. You will train your mind to associate the phrase with being content. Then when you're on edge, chant your mantra and you'll immediately feel at ease.

Bake, don't burn

Grilling beef, poultry and fish until it's charred to a crisp can turn amino acids and other substances in the meat into heterocyclic amines (HCAs), compounds that have been linked to cancer. "HCAs are 10 times more potent than most other environmental carcinogens," says Kenneth Turteltaub, Ph.D., a toxicologist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. Try these ideas:

• Marinate meat before grilling. Soaking chicken breasts in a mixture of cider vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice and spices reduced HCA formation by 92 to 99 percent, notes a study published in Food and Chemical Toxicology. "Marinating creates a barrier between the hot surface and meat, enough to lower the temperature and prevent HCAs from forming," Turteltaub says.
• Keep the grill temp below 325 degrees, the point at which HCAs begin to form.
• Grill meat or fish in punctured aluminum foil to protect against flare-ups. When fat drips on the hot coals, it forms HCAs, plus other carcinogens called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that rise with the smoke.
• Microwave beef burgers for one to three minutes before browning; doing so reduces HCA production by 95 percent, according to a study in Food and Chemical Toxicology. Prior to grilling, discard the juices, which contain the building blocks of HCAs.
• Flip burgers often—about once a minute. This action keeps meat juices from getting too hot and activating HCA formation.

Avoid needless tests

Those full-body computed tomography scans you sometimes see at the mall are bad news: CT scans deliver a dose of radiation 50 to 200 times that of a conventional X-ray. A study from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston found that for every 1,000 patients screened, an average of 908 would have at least one false-positive result, requiring further testing.

Stick to shopping when you're at the mall, and if your doc orders a non-emergency CT scan (say, to investigate headaches), ask if a radiation-free ultrasound or an MRI can be used instead, says Devra Davis, Ph.D., director of the Center for Environmental Oncology at the Uni­versity of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute.

Breathe easily

Radon is a leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers. The odorless radio-active gas is linked to up to 22,000 cancer deaths annually, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

It is released during the decay of uranium, an element found in many soils, and can seep into your house. "When inhaled, radon can break down cell DNA and lead to cancer," Davis explains. To test your home, look for a do-it-yourself kit at a home-improvement store.

Steal these secrets

Cancer rates in some countries are significantly lower than in the United States, and many experts attribute this to the lifestyles of people in these areas. Adopt these disease-fighting behaviors from afar:

 

• Spice things up. In India, where breast cancer rates are about five times lower than in the United States, people cook with an abundance of cancer-fighting spices such as cumin, ginger and turmeric.
• Go for whole grains. Finland natives are known for eating loads of dark rye and other whole-grain breads, which likely contributes to their low colorectal cancer rates.
• Kick butts. West Africans smoke much less than Americans, which may in part explain why their rates of esophageal cancer are about 60 times lower than ours.

Cut back on coffee

The number of esophageal cancer cases has jumped 300 percent in the past 20 years, the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reports. A primary cause: chronic reflux, which bathes the throat in stomach acids that can erode tissue.

 

To put out the flames, avoid top triggers like caffeine and alcohol. "They relax the sphincter muscle at the bottom of the esophagus, allowing stomach juices to splash up," says Yvonne Romero, M.D., assistant professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minn.

Be sunscreen-savvy

Melanoma rates among young women jumped 50 percent between 1980 and 2004, the Journal of Investigative Dermatology reports.

 

Apply sunscreen properly: Put on the amount that would fill a shot glass 30 minutes before heading outdoors, then reapply every two hours or after swimming or major sweating. Also, look for broad-spectrum coverage and UVA-filtering ingredients such as Mexoryl, avobenzone and zinc oxide.

Ask about daily aspirin

It's not only for heart disease: One a day reduced estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer risk by 16 percent, NCI research finds. "Aspirin may block cyclooxygenase, an enzyme that could disrupt cancer development, in part by reducing estrogen levels," says lead researcher Gretchen Gierach, Ph.D. More research is needed, though; long-term aspirin use can cause ulcers.

Beware of false promises

At least 25 companies have misleadingly marketed products containing ingredients like shark cartilage, exotic mushrooms and wild yam as cancer treatments or preventives, prompting the FDA to issue a warning this summer. One supplement, CancerGene, claimed to "help switch on all three genes that inhibit cancer." "These products aren't proven safe or effective," says FDA spokeswoman Rita Chappelle in Rockville, Md.

These ideas are not meant to take the place of regular check-ups with your doctor- you know that. But I guess what I'm thinking is...certainly not going to do you any harm at all to devote yourself to the best health you can create for your body- after all, it's the only one you'll ever have!

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

10 retirement mistakes you don't want to make.

A few days ago, I touched on the challenges of interviewing for those over 50, and some newer perspectives to make that meeting a success. But being in the over 50 group, how about your retirement plans? These are tough times for retirees and for those planning for retirement. Nest eggs have been demolished by the economic meltdown. Job cuts have forced many people into early retirement with insufficient funds to sustain them in their golden years. While there’s not much that can be done about the past, anyone can avoid making mistakes that will make a bad situation worse.

WalletPop brings in retirement expert Dan Solin, author of the new book The Smartest Retirement Book You'll Ever Read, to take a look at the ten biggest money mistakes a retiree can make.

Overconfidence in Your Investing Skill

Investors generally, and men in particular, like to think that they can handle their investment decisions. But guess what? Studies show that the average equity investor who handles his own investments has a much smaller return than the S&P 500, even less than the rate of inflation. If you rely on your own investing skill to fund your retirement, it may be time to worry.

Using a Market-Beating Broker

We've all heard about the so-called financial experts who say they can pick stocks or mutual funds that beat the market. If so, what accounts for their dismal investor performance? The truth is, no one can be certain what tomorrow may bring. A diversified portfolio with appropriate asset allocation is the best bet -- and that goes double for retirees.

Fleeing to Safety

Fleeing to safety is a natural instinct when things look bad. And it’s true that keeping all your investments in Treasury bills, bonds, or even under the mattress may preserve your assets. But there is a hidden cost -- inflation. Retirees have to not only protect themselves from the risks of the market, but protect the value of their assets as well.

Believing All Bonds Are Safe

Stocks are the risky investment choice while bonds are safer, right? Well, no, as many investors have learned the hard way. As with any investment, the higher the offered return, the more risk you assume. Even the tried-and-true municipal bonds can be shaky as the recession pushes towns and communities toward the breaking point.

Being Tempted by ETFs

Both exchange-traded funds and low-cost index funds can make attractive investment options. But guess which option is often less expensive? Which one requires a brokerage account with commissions that reduce your return? Which one automatically reinvests dividends? And which one encourages you to pick certain sectors -- the opposite of diversifying your portfolio?

Ignoring Immediate Annuities

While retirees may want to avoid variable annuities and equity-indexed annuities as poor investments, the same can not be said of immediate annuities. Annuitizing a portfolio can greatly reduce the chances that an investor will run out of money in retirement. Some fixed annuities even include inflation protection.

Retiring Too Early

Remaining in the workforce can dramatically improve a retiree’s chances of eventually affording a comfortable retirement. It increases Social Security payments and the value of 401(k)s. It also delays depletion of retirement funds. So, working for another year or three can make a big difference, especially in these days of recession-depleted nest eggs.

Not Having a Current Will

We've talked about this before, my friend, and it's still as important as it was, even if no one wants to confront his own mortality and the many issues it can bring. But those who don't create a will can cost their heirs a bundle in avoidable estate taxes. And who wants government officials making critical decisions about who inherits their property and their portfolio? Better to designate a spouse, a trusted friend, or professional fiduciary for that.

Remarrying Without a Prenup

Second or even third marriages can bring with them a whole host of questions about who has rights and responsibilities for what. What better way to establish clear financial obligations than with a prenuptial agreement? But retirees shouldn't try to draft a prenup on their own; only experienced legal counsel can ensure that the prenup is enforceable.

Taking Social Security Too Soon

You are eligible to start receiving your Social Security benefits once you've turned 62. So why wait? The money is just waiting there. One reason: wives often outlive their husbands and become dependent on Social Security benefits to live. These benefits would have been higher had the husbands put off receiving benefits until later. Not married? Your best solution could be to take the benefit earlier. Talk to a financial planning professional you can trust to know what's best for you.

It's not easy, and you may have felt nothing near hopeful in this last year or so, and whatever nest egg you had doesn't look so great... Stay positive, make some of the tough changes you may know deep down inside you need to make, and find a trusted advisor to help you understand where you are today- because tomorrow can be much better, and wouldn't you like this nest egg better?

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

Eat Your way to Better Health, and without popping a pill

Your body can throw you for a loop at any time. You wake up with a sore throat on the day of your office Christmas party, a seafood-salad sandwich leaves you with grumbling indigestion, or you overdo it at the gym and arrive home with a stiff neck. Wouldn't it be great to have a live-in doctor/therapist/trainer to tend to your everyday aches and pains?

There's a pill to cure anything, anymore, right? Well, no doubt about it- countless numbers of patients have healthy lives thanks to their doctor-prescribed medications. But, sometimes...well, sometimes maybe it's worth a try to cure your body of what ails it without popping a pill first. Prevention magazine helps to open nature's medicine chest you might find in your kitchen pantry! And the best part? These remedies are surprisingly effective, and inexpensive!

Stomach nausea:

Try frozen ginger chips. Add pieces of fresh ginger to hot water. Strain, then freeze the infusion in ice cube trays. Crush the cubes and suck the icy chips throughout the day to provide your tummy with a steady soothing treatment. Ginger's anti-nausea properties are particularly effective during pregnancy or after surgery.

To soothe a sore throat:

Gargle twice daily with a solution of six pressed garlic cloves mixed into a glass of warm (not hot) water. Follow the regimen for three days. A recent study shows that fresh garlic juice has antimicrobial properties that fight pain-causing bacteria. The warm liquid soothes inflamed tissue.

To curb a cough:

Indulge in a square or two of dark chocolate. Researchers found that chocolate's theobromine compound is more effective than codeine at suppressing persistent coughs without the side effects of drowsiness and constipation. To calm a nagging cough that keeps you awake at night, take 2 teaspoons of honey (1 to 2 teaspoons for kids; don't give to children younger than 1), along with 500 mg of ester C 30 minutes before bed. The vitamin C boosts the immune system in the early stages of your cough, and the non-acidic ester type won't upset your stomach. Recent research shows that honey works better than either a cough suppressant or no treatment at all for relieving children's nocturnal coughs and promoting sleep.

To cool a fever:

Sip linden-flower tea, which works in two ways: It stimulates the hypothalamus to better control your temperature, and it dilates blood vessels, inducing sweating. Steep 1 tablespoon of dried herb (available in health food stores) in a cup of hot water for 15 minutes, then sip. Drink three to four cups a day. If you still run hot after a day of sipping tea, seek medical attention. For a high fever (above 102°F), take a tepid bath, which simply cools the body to match the water temperature. Bathe until your temperature decreases to 101° to 102°F, then sip linden flower tea to help lower it even more.

To cool a burn:

If you grazed your skin with a hot-from-the-oven holiday cookie pan, apply aloe vera gel to the burn as needed. The soothing and anti-inflammatory gel creates a second skin to protect it from air, which irritates nerve endings.

To quiet flatulence:

Take two enteric-coated peppermint capsules (500 mg each) three times daily. Peppermint kills bacteria that cause bloating and relaxes gastrointestinal muscles for smoother, spasm-free digestion. Enteric coating prevents capsules from opening in the stomach and increasing discomfort by causing heartburn and indigestion. The peppermint then releases and goes to work lower in the gastrointestinal tract, where gas-plagued people need it most.

To stop foot odor:

Soak feet nightly in one part vinegar and two parts water to eliminate odoriferous bacteria. Or take a daily foot bath in strong black tea (let it cool first) for 30 minutes. Tea's tannins kill bacteria and close the pores in your feet, keeping feet dry longer; bacteria tend to thrive in moist environments. You'll see results in a few days to a week. One caution: Only do the soak when your feet are free of cuts.

To sweeten bad breath:

Gargle with a small cup of acidic lemon juice to kill odor-causing bacteria. Then eat a bit of plain unsweetened yogurt, which contains beneficial lactobacillus bacteria. These so-called probiotics compete with and replace the reeking bacteria. The lemon-yogurt combo instantly neutralizes odor and lasts 12 to 24 hours.

To soften chapped lips:

Rub on anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, moisturizing olive oil two or three times a day to soothe, soften, and lubricate. Your lips will feel immediately better, but it will take a few days before they start to heal on their own. Preliminary research on mice shows that applying extra virgin olive oil to skin after sunbathing may prevent skin cancer.

To relax a stiff neck:

A stiff neck often results from slowed circulation and lymph flow to muscle tissues. Use contrast hydrotherapy—a quick blast of hot, then cold water—to get the blood pumping again. In the shower, first run hot water over your neck for 20 seconds to increase blood flow, then switch to cold for 10 seconds to constrict blood flow. Alternate three times, always ending with cold. When you get out of the shower, your body will send the blood back out to the skin, which results in a final dilation of blood vessels and—voilà!—a looser neck. OR- You can soothe sore joints with cooked vegetables. A recent Greek study found that people who ate cooked vegetables every day were 75% less likely to develop arthritis, compared to people who rarely ate them. Experts say the heat from cooking breaks down cell walls in the vegetables, allowing your body to absorb more of their valuable nutrients.

To end snoring:

If you snore mostly when on your back, put a tennis ball in a shirt pocket cut from an old T-shirt and sew it to the midback of your tight pajama top. The discomfort forces you to roll over and sleep on your side—without waking you up.***If your snoring is severe and persistent, check with your doctor- you could have sleep apnea, a serious medical condition.

To beat insomnia:

Before bedtime, eat a handful of cherries, which scientists discovered are jam-packed with melatonin, the same hormone created by your body to regulate sleep patterns. Then steep yourself in a hot bath to relax your muscles and your mind. In bed, rest your head on a lavender-filled pillow—the fragrance induces sleepiness.

To revive puffy, tired eyes:

Black tea is chock-full of astringent compounds called tannins that can help deflate and tighten the bags under your eyes. Activate the tannins in a tea bag by dipping in a cup of hot water for several minutes. Cool in the fridge, then apply the damp bag as a compress to the closed eye for 10 minutes.

To whiten stained teeth:

Crush a few fresh strawberries into a scrubbing pulp that you mix with a pinch of stain-removing baking soda and enough water to make a paste. Apply the mixture to a soft-bristled toothbrush and polish for a few minutes once every 3 or 4 months. (More often can erode tooth enamel.) The astringent malic acid in strawberries helps buff coffee and red-wine stains from teeth.

To prevent a headache:

Try relaxing magnesium (200 to 400 mg) to reduce the muscle tension and spasms that can cause your noggin to throb. But not any type will do. Make sure the supplement contains at least 200 mg of active elemental magnesium. Because magnesium is more preventive than curative, the treatment works best on, say, premenstrual headaches because you can predict when they're coming; take a dose a day in advance. Those with kidney problems should consult a health care practitioner before taking magnesium.

To heal dry skin, rashes and eczema:

Bathe in your breakfast. Although oatmeal is a centuries-old skin soother, researchers only recently recognized the avenanthramides in oats as the key compounds that calm inflamed, itchy skin. Put whole oats in a clean, dry sock. Seal the open end with a rubber band, and then drop the sock into a warm or hot bath. Soak yourself for 15 to 20 minutes.

Want a few more? We talked about these recently on the show.

• You can reduce bruising with broccoli! Registered dietician Cyndi Thompson says frequent bruising is a sign that your body isn’t getting enough Vitamin K. That’s a nutrient which helps strengthen blood vessel walls, making it harder for them to break and leave you black and blue. Eating two cups of broccoli each week should supply enough Vitamin K to keep your skin looking flush and healthy.
• You can cure hiccups with a spoonful of sugar. Dr. Maria Tobin is a physician who says sugar granules under your tongue will stimulate nerve endings in the back of your throat, and block out the brain signals causing your hiccups.
• You can ward off an asthma attack with fish. Experts say the magnesium found in one serving of seafood is enough to improve lung function, and reduce the frequency of asthma attacks! In fact, research shows that asthmatics who ate fish on a regular basis spent less time in the hospital, compared to patients who rarely ate seafood.
• You can lower your blood pressure with a daily glass of orange juice. High blood pressure is often a sign that you have too much sodium in your bloodstream. Studies show the potassium and Vitamin C found in one eight-ounce glass of O.J. may be enough to protect your kidneys from excess sodium, and lower your risk of heart disease by 40%.

Think that's enough to chew on for the weekend (and keep you out of the doctor's office!)? Have a great one!

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

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Put a patch on what ails your car- you can, you know, all on your own!

So you've decided to hang on to your car, and get every single mile out of you can. Good for you- but it's going to cost you! Relax- probably not as much as if you decided to buy a new car, but what you can't afford to do is ignore repairs- sometimes you don't have a choice! But repairs don't have to be costly- in fact, many can be patched yourself! How?- Charles Pluddeman writes for MSN Autos- it's not as hard as you might think!  In the military, it's called field expedience: making do with what you have available. If you're driving an older car or truck, the application of a little field expedience could just save you a few bucks — maybe more — in the short term. No military experience? Were you a Girl, or a Boy Scout? Ah-ha- now that motto is coming back to you: Be prepared.

If you are keeping a clunker on the road, make that motto yours. A few basic tools and materials stashed in your vehicle's trunk will greatly enhance your field-expedience success rate. If your odometer is reaching, or is passed! the 200,000 mile mark, better put together a do-it-all-just-in-case tool kit that stays in your car, and includes in it some basic hand tools, like a multitip screwdriver, locking pliers and an adjustable wrench. Other good ideas for your kit: a wire cutter, plastic zip ties, a few feet of mechanic's wire, a small multi-tool and, of course, a roll of duct tape.

Please remember to exercise as many safety precautions as possible when attempting any repairs on your vehicle — even the most minor ones. Autos are heavy machines, so chock a tire to keep the car from rolling, take care around belts or other moving parts, and let engines and mufflers cool before touching them. Consult an auto repair manual for any further safety precautions. 

Here are 14 patchwork repairs anyone can accomplish:

Blown Hose

While generous wraps of duct tape can be used to patch a failed radiator or heater hose temporarily, you need to get a new hose pronto, since the heat will deteriorate the adhesive quickly. Another adhesive on the market is called Rescue Tape- much more expensive than duct tape, but another option. It's a self-fusing silicone tape specifically designed to withstand extreme pressure and temperature, and used in place of duct tape for other repairs/fixes you might have. If the hose has failed close to its end, it may be possible to unclamp the hose, cut that portion off and reattach the remainder. A blown hose usually means a loss of radiator fluid, so remember to top off the cooling system with a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water as soon as you can.

A Squeaky Belt

Try a dab of a non-abrasive cleanser to quiet a squealing serpentine belt, which drives the alternator and other accessories on late-model engines. One mechanic says he puts a few drops on the inside of the belt where it goes around the lowest pulley, and the mild abrasive removes the shiny glaze from the belt. Of course, you do this while the engine is off. Otherwise, this is a dangerous repair.

Hanging Exhaust Pipes...

The exhaust pipes of most late-model vehicles are made of stainless or coated steel that resists corrosion, but the fasteners and other components that hold it up can still fail, leaving your muffler dragging on the pavement. The pipes are often hung from the chassis with rubber donuts or straps that can break. You can secure the pipe to this hanger with wire — a piece of coat hanger will do the job. (Coat hanger in the kit: check.)

Or a Noisy Exhaust

An exhaust pipe that has broken or has a hole in it can often be mended with a soda can and a couple of stainless-steel hose clamps. Cut the ends off the can, and then cut it lengthwise (scissors can cut an aluminum can). Wrap the can around the affected section of pipe, and secure it on each end with the hose clamps. A thicker piece of metal, such as an old license plate, will last longer. This should always be a temporary repair, of course, since any exhaust leak under the car can be dangerous.

No Brakes

A professional mechanic tells the story of how he once got home after a brake line failed. When the brake pedal went to the floor, he discovered one of the steel brake lines had failed near a back wheel. He cut the line, bent it over itself, and crimped it tight with a vise grip (yep- so go ahead and include one of those in your kit.) This left him with brakes on three wheels and, after topping off the master cylinder to replace the lost fluid, he was able to limp to a shop.

Dead Battery

Without jumper cables or an emergency jumper battery, you are stuck. That is, unless your car or truck has a manual transmission, in which case you can practice the ancient art of "bump starting." You'll need a hill to roll down, or friends to push the car. The driver turns on the ignition key, puts the transmission in second or third gear, and holds in the clutch. Get the car rolling, and then let out the clutch. The car's momentum turns over the engine, and it will start. This almost always works on older vehicles with carburetors. Cars with fuel injection need to generate enough electrical charge to energize the fuel system, and if the battery is stone dead a bump start might not work. It's easier just to carry jumper cables.

Frozen Door Lock

If moisture from rain or the car wash gets into the key slot of the door lock (and you don't have remote entry), you could be locked out on a freezing morning. First, of course, try another door if that's an option. If not, try warming the key. A pocket lighter can be used — the key does not have to be red hot, just warm. Slide it into the lock and wiggle it a little. The warm key will thaw the moisture, and you're in. Later, shoot a little WD-40 into the lock to displace the moisture.

Locked Out

It used to be easy to break into a locked car with a coat hanger snaked past the window frame. But it's even easier to simply unlock the door with a spare key you've stashed someplace on the car, like a tie wrap under the right, or left, front bumper...or someplace else, since that location is now "out there"! For late-model cars, get a duplicate made of the key that opens just the door (not the $150 microchip-equipped ignition key). If your car door can only be unlocked electronically, you'd probably be wise to practice some with that coat hanger.

Leaking Fuel Tank

This one is absolutely a temporary repair. A small fuel tank leak caused by a rock or other sharp impact (perhaps you've been off-road with the Corolla) can be fixed by placing a rubber washer over a sheet-metal screw, and then turning the screw into the hole. You'll need a screw big enough to fit tightly in the hole. Look in the plumbing-supplies aisle for the washer. This works on steel or plastic fuel tanks.

Smearing Windshield Wipers

Wiper blades can often be renewed by scrubbing them with some window cleaner and a rag, or the abrasive side of a kitchen sponge. This removes the oxidation, dirt, oil and dead-bug residue that causes the blades to leave streaks behind.

Stuck Lug Nuts

It's impossible to change a flat tire if you can't loosen corroded or overtightened lug nuts. Too many cars come with dinky lug wrenches that do not provide much leverage. Try this: Place the wrench on the nut so its handle is horizontal at the 9 o'clock position. Then stand on the wrench. Try bouncing a little. If this does not work, get someone heavier to stand on the wrench.

Stuck Wheel

In regions that get lots of snow, road salt and de-icing chemicals can cause the center of an aluminum wheel to fuse to the steel or iron hub behind it. If the lug nuts are off but the wheel is stuck to the car, try this: Thread the lug nuts back on, but leave them loose. Lower the jack so the car's weight is back on the wheel. Then, give the side of the car a couple of good shoves. This should break the wheel free, but the lug nuts will keep it attached to the car. You could also try driving the car a few feet on the loose lugs if pushing it doesn't work, but don't go too far.

Broken Antenna

Radio reception can often be restored by inserting a length of wire cut from a coat hanger into the remains of a hollow antenna that's been snapped off. Secure the wire with a little duct tape. Bend the wire into a clever shape for a custom look.

Broken Window

Some heavy plastic and duct tape can be used to make a surprisingly effective repair over a broken window or one that's stuck in a down position. NASCAR pit crews use tape to secure fenders on cars that can travel at 200 mph, so it should also work for you. For plastic, a garbage bag will work in a pinch, but heavier-gauge sheeting from a home-repair store will last longer and, if it's clear, probably offer better visibility. Cut the plastic to a shape slightly larger than the window opening, and secure it with tape around the edges. After you get the window fixed, WD-40 will dissolve the adhesive residue left behind by the duct tape.

Harder work than you might be used to when it comes to your car? Well, yes. But it's better than paying a whole lot lot of money that you might just care to use for something else- hello, holidays!

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

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Re-finance? Save money.

Mortgage rates have gone down again, and there are many folks interested, again, in re-financing their current rate. Are you one of them? Maybe you should be. I've got some quick tips here from WalletPop.com- a personal finance site that's helping consumers keep pretty up to date on what you can do to start saving some mortgage money!

For the past year, the mortgage market has taken aspiring homeowners for quite a ride filled with lots of ups, and plenty of downs. Foreclosures have been epidemic, and interest rates have skyrocketed. In recent months, the market looked like it was staging a comeback, thanks to a drop in mortgage rates and new legislation that helped borrowers refinance even when their homes had lost value.

But these much-needed financial breaks appeared temporary -- in mid-October, rates inched back above 5%, and mortgage applications plunged almost 14% over the previous week. Low interest rates help both buyers and owners hoping to finance or refinance. The 30-year fixed-rate loan inched up to 5.07% from 5.02% this week, which is still historically low.

Interest rates had been declining steadily since August, down to 4.92% on 30-year loans and 4.37% on 15-year loans, with fees averaging 0.7 percent. Such low rates enticed new homeowners to get in on the game, but the federal Making Home Affordable plan also helped money-losing homeowners get a slice of the action, too, like one homeowner in Md. whose house value plummeted over $140,000! This homeowner didn't refinance, but qualified for the program, saving about $400 monthly off the mortgage payment.

For those who meet the eligibility requirements of being current on their mortgage payments and owing less than 125 percent of their primary home's value, the legislation can mean saving thousands per year.

But today's low rates are already inching north and probably won't stay low for long, says David Wind, president of Guaranteed Home Mortgage Company, based in White Plains, N.Y. "We anticipate that the rates will stay attractive for the next three to six months," he says.

A few tips can help homebuyers and homeowners get the best deals.

Boost your credit. Before heading to a lender, examine your credit report, and then ask for help if it needs improvement. "If someone is interested in getting a loan or refinancing, they'll have to have a FICO score of 660 or better to be a good candidate," says Wind. "If their score is too low, they might want to see a credit-counseling service."

Be persistent. Meeting loan qualifications is only half the battle. Conquering the paperwork is the other. "I called two and three times a day to get my lender to process the paperwork," says Schreiber, the Maryland homeowner. "The pleasant persistence paid off. I'm actually using the savings on the refinance to pay off a second loan."

Mind the requirements. Those relying on the Making Home Affordable plan for refinancing help should note that eligible candidates must be refinancing their primary home, have a loan owned or guaranteed by Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae, and show evidence that they can reasonably make new mortgage payments.

Ready to go? Here are a few last tips about refinancing:

• Spend Less -- Refinance Your Mortgage
  If you are stretching to meet your monthly payments on your mortgage, you may need to consider refinancing options. If you can get a lower interest rate than you currently have, you'll be able to save substantially on your monthly payment. The key is to look down the road. Don't get yourself into an incredibly low interest 3 year ARM program unless you plan to sell your home or refinance again within that timeframe.
• Refinance -- Fixed or ARM?
  Refinancing is very popular nowadays, especially since interest rates have been low. There are also several different refinancing options you may explore. For instance, you can opt for a fixed rate or an adjustable rate mortgage. A fixed rate mortgage will usually be for a term of 15 or 30 years and the interest rate will stay the same for the duration of the loan. An adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) means that after a term (usually of 3-5 years), your interest rate can change (usually upwards).
• Home Improvements? Cash Out Refinancing!
  If you have equity built up in your home and you have an expanding family, you may want to improve your existing home. After all, with the way many home prices are going, you might not be able to afford to move back into your own neighborhood! If you decide to improve your home, you can easily refinance and pull out money to add a bathroom, a bedroom or upgrade your septic system. Banks and mortgage companies often offer special incentives for home improvement equity loans. In some cases they even have special loan programs for higher amounts.

Enjoy your home sweet-maybe a little less expensive-home! And have a great weekend!

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.